Sandy M’s review of Man of the West by Sadie Callahan
Contemporary Western Romance published by Signet 6, April 10
I was in the mood for a western, some cowboys, so I picked up Man of the West, since I had been pleasantly surprised by Ms. Callhan’s Lone Star Woman that I reviewed last year. While the overall story of this latest book is good and I like the characters, I do have some disappointment when it comes to the hero and heroine.
Jolie has finally decided to leave her no-good ex-husband, so on a stormy night she packs up her daughter and very few belongings, sneaks out of her old life to head toward a new one on the other side of Texas. She has been employed by the Strayhorn family as their cook, and when she arrives, Jolie is amazed at the home she now has and at the people who welcome her and make her feel safe.
Deciding to come home to Willard County, Jake Strayhorn is the new sherrif and he does his job well. He’s drawn to Jolie from the moment they meet, and though he can tell she’s hiding from something or someone, he doesn’t push and begins to slowly get to know her. And that’s the problem for me with these two characters.
The relationship goes too slow. It’s their book, their story, their love but their romance is nearly put on the back burner while we get more romance from other couples in the book. That’s definitely too bad, because these are two very strong people who finally deserve some happiness, and I want them to have it. I also want more. But everything between them is strung out to the very end and between the goings-on in the bedrooms of Pat and Suzanne and J.D. and Maisie. I don’t really mind the addition of scenes for secondary characters, but I do want the same for main characters, and that’s just not here in this book.
Now, that isn’t to say that what is here isn’t good, because it is. Jolie is brave as hell for picking up stakes and taking off like she did, knowing her ex will follow if he can once he’s out of prison. Jake has to take a look at his life and make difficult decisions when he confronts his feelings for Jolie. And I like the fact that her innocence in life and lack of education doesn’t make a difference to him. The scenes between them are nice. But that’s as far as it goes. I just want so much more between them.
The other two relationships are a little more interesting, each not going the way you’d think they would when life throws them curves. I especially enjoyed Pat and Suzanne, and I thought they were doomed when an old love returns to mess up their happiness.
It’s also nice to catch up with Brady and Jude from Lone Star Woman. All of these characters are woven into this story much more than you’d anticipate, and for the most part it works. There’s a lot packed into this book, but I think a few extra love/romance scenes for Jake and Jolie would help out so much more.
Grade: B-
Summary:
Over the last 130 years, the Campbell-Strayhorn dynasty has endured triumph and tragedy. Now, the future of the sprawling Circle C ranch—even the survival of their tiny Texas town—rests on the shoulders of the current generation…
There’s a newcomer in Willard County, and Sheriff Jake Strayhorn is as drawn to her vulnerability as he is intrigued by her beauty. Jolie is clearly on the run from something, but she refuses to reveal her past—or let any man into her heart, including Jake. Still, Jake can’t turn his back on her—even if she winds up bringing trouble to his town …
Settling on an old, sprawling cattle ranch, Jolie Jensen is doing her best to mind her own business and make her little house a home for her and her daughter. It’s the perfect hiding place from her abusive ex-husband—or so she thinks. She knows her past is about to catch up with her, even as t Jake, the man who’s vowed to protect her and made her believe happiness is possible, will be caught in the fray…
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