Series: Callahan-Warren (Book 2)
With his work in Montana completed now that the
Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant
sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to
forget--until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has
to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal's list and turn them over to
the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.
But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew
up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown
that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the
handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt
sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.
Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists
she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at
bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds
his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that
it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at
a future with her in his arms forever.
Good book. I was fascinated by Degan in One Heart to Win,
as he filled his role as bodyguard. There was something about him that said
there was more to his story than just being a gunfighter for hire. In this
book, he is ready to move on, following his plan to go to California, when an
old friend calls in a favor. The marshal has some outlaws to capture, but also
a family conflict, so he asks Degan to catch them for him. As there aren't too
many people willing to tangle with a man of Degan's reputation, he figures it
should be an easy thing to do. But things don't go quite as expected when his
first capture turns out to be a young woman rather than the man he expected.
Maxine Dawson had been on the run for two years, accused
of murdering the mayor of her hometown. Growing from a pretty child to a
beautiful woman, she wasn't happy with the type of attention she was getting,
and defending herself made things worse. She's certain that she'll be hanged
without a trial if the sheriff succeeds in getting her back to town.
I loved the first meeting between Max and Degan, as it
really set the tone for their entire relationship. He succeeds in catching her,
but Max is smart and feisty and determined to stay free. From the start she
really keeps Degan on his toes. Degan is strong, silent and honorable.
Initially he plans to simply turn her over to the law and let a jury decide her
fate. He keeps her with him while tracking down the other two outlaws, giving
him the chance to decide if he believes her story.
It was great fun to see the contrast between the
talkative, open and outspoken Max and the silent, mysterious Degan. Her
frustration at his silence was obvious, as was his amusement at her efforts to
get him to talk. During their travels they slowly get to know and trust each
other. I really enjoyed Degan's confusion at her complete lack of fear of him
and his reputation and Max's enjoyment of watching others fall all over
themselves to do what he wants. I also loved that after two years of surviving
on her own, she doesn't turn into a helpless female. There are a couple great
scenes where she actually saves his life thanks to her own shooting skills. She
also nurses him back to health after he gets injured. I also loved the contrast
of the ruthless gunfighter with the man who really likes his creature comforts.
The visuals of people hurrying to satisfy his requirements for baths, real beds
and dinners were really amusing.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Degan
has been burned once before and now keeps his emotions well in hand. After
suffering through so many unwanted advances, Max isn't in any hurry to settle
down with someone who doesn't want her for who she is. Neither can deny the
powerful attraction between them, though they certainly try to resist it. The
heat builds between them until it bursts into flame. I liked seeing their
feelings grow, though admitting it seemed out of the question. Though he has
quite the hardened reputation, there is actually a softer side to Degan that
Max brings out. I loved seeing those sweet and tender moments because they were
so unexpected. When they are forced into marriage, Max is determined not to
hold him to it, not wanting to tie him down. I loved their return to Texas, and
Degan's protectiveness as Max faces her enemies. I also loved Max's support of
Degan as he faces his own past. Their trip to Chicago emphasized how much she
had come to care for him. I loved watching her get up the courage to face him
about their future, and the way she did it was perfect for the relationship
they had. I loved their decision on where to build their life together. I hope
that there will be more Callahan-Warren stories.
Besides the building relationship between Max and Degan,
I enjoyed the other threads of the story. Degan's past is dogging his heels as
his ex-fiancée shows up, trying to get him back to Chicago. Her dogged pursuit
of him finally gets explained at the very end, though the reasoning is
convoluted. He also has a man on his trail who is looking for revenge for
something he blames on Degan. Degan's restraint is amazing, and I loved how
Max's protectiveness toward Degan is shown here.
Their pursuit of the other outlaws, one very simple and
one very dangerous, was really good. The face-off with the vicious killer and
his gang was a real nail-biter, as Degan tried to protect Max and she ends up
in the middle anyway. Max's level-headed nature and trust in Degan really comes
out in this part.
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