Sandy M’s review of A Touch of Forever (Cowboys of Colorado, Book 3) by Jo Goodman
Historical Romance published by Berkley 4 Jun 19
Every time I think Jo Goodman has written my favorite characters ever, the next book always shows me how wrong I am. We met Lily in an earlier book, know all about her nearly unbearable life, and now we pick up to see how she’s doing after the horrible event that has left her and her children free at last. Thank goodness Roen doesn’t back down each time he intersects with Lily and the kids.
Lily keeps to herself in town since her husband’s death. Church and work are her routines now and again. Roen is in Frost Falls on behalf of the railroad, and is fascinated with Lily and the kids when he observes them in church. He knows there’s a story that goes with this family, but it’s a good thing he’s a patient man. I like his not-so-subtle attempts to put himself in Lily’s sphere of influence, even going so far as to manipulate a fizzy drink for Lily’s youngest to stretch their chance meeting out a bit. Roen also employs Lily’s son Clay to assist in the rounds he’ll make around the countryside to determine the best direction for new railroad tracks.
It’s after a few of these meetings and getting to know Lily a tad better that Roen works out a proposal for her, all to keep his past from rearing its ugly head again. So they end up in a marriage of convenience, after some negotiating on Lily’s part of course, and all involved have a new normal to get used to. I so love how Roen takes to Lily’s kids just as much as he takes to her. He comes from a family of renowned artists, of which he is lovingly called the black sheep with no artistic ability, so it’s easy to see what kind of parent he will be to the children. And he has no problem at all being a husband when Lily finally decides that step needs to be taken.
Roen’s patience comes in handy again when Lily’s secrets need to come out. Keeping her safe is his priority, and she helps keep Roen’s former lover at bay when she begins to wreak havoc all over town. It was good to catch up with previous characters, especially Ben and Ridley. As usual I love the banter between characters, the feeling of being smack dab in the middle of the old West, and the emotion that always results when reading Jo Goodman. Roen and Lily are now my favorites, but I can’t wait to see who will usurp their place when Ms. Goodman’s next book hits the shelves.
Grade: A
Summary:
Lily Salt has sworn off men. After finally gaining her independence, the last thing she needs is another man telling her what to do. But the handsome railroad engineer from New York isn’t at all what she expected. He’s kind, gentle…and tempting enough to make her wonder what a second chance at love might be worth.
A self-acknowledged black sheep, Roen Shepard knows what it means to feel alone. Recognizing a kindred spirit in the reserved widow whose fascinating blue-green eyes have seen too much, and charmed by the warmth of her ready-made family, the two begin an unlikely friendship.
When a complication from his past follows him to Frost Falls, Roen proposes a mad scheme to protect the new life he’s built and keep close the stubborn woman he’s accidentally fallen for—a marriage of convenience. But Lily has secrets of her own, and the closer he gets to uncovering them, the more he comes to realize that the only truth that matters is the secret to unlocking her heart.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
