Whirlwind Baby

In Fleeing Her Past, She Found A Future... Jake Ross's life changes in a day when he finds a baby on his doorstep! Then he's thrown into a spin by the quiet beauty who hires on to look after his unexpected delivery. On the wild Texas frontier, everyone has something to hide - and Emma York is no exception. Jake can see that she has secrets, but the sexy rancher's sure he can take care of her... if he can only find out what she needs protection from! When her past shows up in Whilrwind, guns blazing, Emma must learn a hard lesson. Can she trust Jake... and trust her own heart?

Jake Ross was woven into most all the other stories as a shy, background kind of guy. He attended Susannah's etiquet class. He was always backing up Davis Lee and showed some interest in Catherine when she came to Whirlwind. Now he blossoms in his story as the ranch owner of the Circle R Ranch where he lives with his uncle Ike, his cousin Georgia, who has a handicap and his younger brother, Bram. He is still in recovery from his wife, Delia's death and the death of their child. She was six months pregnant when she bled to death. Her brother, Quentin in a burst of rage tries to kill Jake and gets wounded himself. Jake has spent the last few years looking after Quentin and baring the brunt of his brother-in-law's nasty attitude. Into this mix is thrown the baby, Molly. All of the Ross's fall for the child but Jake can't stand the sight of the child when he had wanted a family so badly with Delia. Yup! you got it. Emma York shows up looking for a job in answer to Jake's ad. She has to stay close to Molly. And in taking care of Molly, Emma works her way into Jake's heart. Maybe by also being a good cook but don't forget being a shy, easily embarrassed female sure did help. The "corsett" surely became very obvious as it was construed as being helpful [to the party taking it]. Emma is introduced to Davis Lee in trying to pinpoint a theft. She also meets Josie, who makes clothing for most around Whirlwind and especially corsetts. Josie is upset because the ones she makes are being stolen. bad for business. Zoe Keeler works for Josie and is allowed to watch Molly when Emma is in the store. Zoe has a mentally slow brother, Zeke and a sister, Diane she is taking care of. I do love all the reasons why none of the previous characters can take Molly. Riley and Susannah have a second child -- Jericho and Catherine find that they are expecting -- Davis Lee and Josie have just lost a child. Through the whole book we enjoy the romance of Jake and Emma and their emotional traumas and finally Quentin gleefully [with malicious intent] puts a spike in the wheel by directing Sharpton to Jake's ranch. Sharpton and the Senator are out to get Emma. What a conclusion! Cudos to D. Cowan for such a delightful set of stories - just wish it didn't take so long to plot them all out. But seeing as how I surely don't have that kind of patience I rely on excellent authors for wonderful stories. Such a delight from all those hop-in-bed [or where-ever] contemperary stores. I guess all the libertines and mistresses don't all live in the Regency era. Definitely Recommended -- definitely a keeper set.

In 1885 West Texas, rancher Jake Ross finds baby Molly dumped on his doorstep with a pleading note from the infant's mom saying she was dying with no family or friend nearby and had noticed his recent kindness to a distraught child. Jake tries to find a home for the baby, but fails. Instead he hires stranger Emma York, who claims to be a widow from up north, because she can gently quiet the crying youngster. Jake and Emma are attracted to one another although he does not like her vague responses to his questions about her past and suffers some guilt over moving on past his late wife, which annoys his brother-in-law. Still Jake dreams of making love with Emma while believing he can protect the two females who recently turned his life upside down in a good way. Soon he will have a chance to test his hypothesis as her past has arrived in town. Although the abandoned baby serving as a matchmaker is an ancient theme, fans will appreciate how skillfully talented Deborah Cowan refreshes the concept in her latest warm Whirlwind historical romance (see WHIRLWIND BRIDE, WHIRLWIND GROOM, and WHIRLWIND WEDDING). The lead couple is a fabulous pairing as she obviously is hiding something, but though he knows that he still believes she is great for Molly and soon concludes him too. Interestingly both feel guilt; he over his late wife and she for bringing trouble to two people she now loves. Readers will enjoy this whirlwind western romance. Harriet Klausner