Sandy M’s review of Audrey and the Maverick by Elaine Levine
Historical Western Romance published by Zebra 1 Feb 10
I was in the mood for a western romance lately, so I picked up this book. For the most part, it works. But it has a couple of issues that don’t make sense. Even when those issues have to do with the characters, Ms. Levine still does a credible job of giving readers a nice read chockful of cowboys, danger, and love western style.
Audrey Sheridan is under the Defiance sheriff’s thumb. He’s threatening the orphaned children who now make up her family. Either she does as he says or the children will get hurt. Having no choice, Audrey steals Julian McCaid’s pouch of money just after he steps off the train, putting herself right in his path and calling his attention to her.
Julian is in Defiance on his way to his sheep ranch, determined to get it in order before he heads back east where he’ll begin to court a short list of ladies, one eventually becoming his wife. He has his future all thought out, and no one will ever be able to shame him again because of his past.
Punishment for stealing his money, Audrey will spend the next month at Hell’s Gulch as the new cook, until she works off the total amount. She leaves her children in her brother Malcolm’s care, promising to return when the kids’ abandonment issues rise to the fore again.
Audrey has spunk. She’s had to survive not only for her and her brother but also the orphans, so she’s good at making ends meet. But once she’s been on the ranch with Julian for a bit, I never understood why she just didn’t tell him the truth and ask him to pack up the children and bring them to ranch. Problem solved. At least as far as the children are concerned. The sheriff would have to find another way to threaten Julian to leave the area if that happened. Her trust in Julian comes much, much later and that’s a little disappointing.
Julian also has a couple of inconsistencies that don’t make sense. He has a very small amount of Negro ancestry in his blood, so he’s vowed to never marry, and he knows if anyone ever found out, his business would go south and any would-be wife would be shamed. But he’s contemplating that short list of potential wives I mentioned earlier.Well, make up your mind, Julian, one way or the other.
On his ranch he’s building a large, very beautiful house. Audrey falls in love with it and begins to decorate it for him. But as soon as all of his affairs are straightened out, he’s back on the train headed east. Why bother with furniture and curtains and beds and all that goes into making it a home if he’s not going to live in it? Of course, there is a use for it later on, but that doesn’t come out until near the end of the book, so all the decorating seemed pointless for the longest time.
What I especially like about Julian, however, is when he begins to unconsciously fall for Audrey, he accepts her children with qualms at all. And he’s just wonderful with all of them, even the youngest. There are a couple of scenes with Julian and those youngens that will make you quite misty-eyed.
Overall, I like this book. I’m able to get past those few issues because I truly do like these characters. Ms. Levine has a terrific voice for this genre and she paints a really pretty picture of the old west, danger and all. She’s also intrigued me with the characters who will be featured in the next book, Leah and the Avenger. Now I just have to find the first book to get totally caught up with those characters who also have a part in this book.
If you’re a western fan, try this one. Keep an open mind and I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Grade: B-
Summary:
Virginia financier Julian McCaid has put his troubled past behind him. His plans for the future don’t include Audrey Sheridan, the extraordinary frontier woman he met just once, but it’s because of her that he’s come to the Dakota Territory to investigate problems at his ranch. And it’s all the more surprising when he discovers she isn’t the innocent he believed. Now nothing but her complete surrender will purge her from his soul.
If it weren’t for the children she cares for in her makeshift orphanage, Audrey would have left Defiance long ago. Now the sheriff is blackmailing her to distract the man who might derail his corrupt schemes—a man who can offer Audrey not just protection, but a passion bold enough to make them claim their place in this harsh and beautiful land…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
