The Mackenzies: Zach

The MacKenzies #8

by Ana Leigh

Rugged Zach MacKenzie has a dangerous secret that could cost him his one chance to win the woman he wants... Rose Dubois became a Harvey Girl and came West looking for a new life and a husband - preferably a wealthy rancher. She certainly knows better than to get involved with a no-account cowboy like Zach MacKenzie. He's strong and good-looking enough to stop a girl's breath - but the dangerous ruffians he runs with are surely heading for bad ends. So why can't Rose calm her pounding heart whenever he's nearby? But Zach's only pretending to be no good in order to infiltrate an outlaw gang. If he tells Rose he's really a Texas Ranger, not only is his mission in jeopardy, but both of their lives as well! Yet this spirited filly is everything he ever dreamed of. Her lips are downright irresistible, and her passionate fire burns hot enough to make a smart man do something real stupid ... like fall in love.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Wisconsin natives, Ana Leigh and her husband, Don, have three children and five grandchildren. From the time of the publication of her novel, LOVE'S LONG JOURNEY, by Leisure Books in 1981, Ana successfully juggled her time between her chosen career and her hobby of writing, until she officially retired in September of '94 to devote more time to her "hobby." In the past she has been a theater cashier (who married the boss,) the head of an accounting department, a corporate officer, and the only female on the Board of Directors of an engineering firm.

This best selling author (New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists) received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award nomination for Storyteller of the Year in 1991, the BOOKRAK 1995-1996 Best Selling Author Award for her May release, THE MACKENZIES: LUKE, the Romantic Times 1995-1996 Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance, and the Romantic Times 1996-1997 Career Achievement Award for Historical Storyteller of the Year. Ana still considers her proudest achievement as that of homemaker.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strong suit of this book is the snappy dialogue. The two main characters are clever when they interact with each other. Rose Dubois is a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who has made a life for herself as a Harvey House girl. She's intimately familiar with poverty and has decided that she will wed a rich rancher and be a good wife.

That plan is fractured by Zach MacKenzie, who is traveling with a group of shiftless drifters. Although Rose is not attracted to Zach's lifestyle, they are instantly interested in each other. When Rose attracts that rich rancher she's been looking for, she can't understand why she isn't more enthralled by her new fiance'.

The story bogs down with too much romance and not enough action. However, the ending chapters were tedious because every MacKenzie in this series comes to be part of the ending. I love to see older characters (from previous books) updated in later stories, but I thought there was just too much added at the end.

Mackenzies
1. Luke (1996)
2. Flint (1996)
3. Cleve (1997)
4. David (1998)
5. Peter (1998)
6. Jared (1999)
7. Jake (1999)
8. Josh (2000)
** 9. Zach (2001)
10. Cole (2002)

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it was an OK read. Though it left me wondering why would the main heroine agree to merry a hero if he behaved as a stubborn mule most of the time :) And almost get them both killed!