Lawman

Outlaw #2

by Lisa Plumley

In rough-and-tumble Arizona Territory, the desert sun burned hotter than Pinkerton agent Gabriel Winter's need to bring an elusive stagecoach robber to justice. There, he quickly encountered a formidable obstacle—Megan Kearney, the suspect's daughter. He wondered how such a rare beauty had avoided marriage in a town crawling with bachelors...Until he discovered she was holding out for true love. On top of that, the spitfire spinster hotly defended her father's innocence. For some reason, Gabriel wanted to believe not just her naïve claims about her father, but her outlandish romantic notions as well. Still, no outlaw had ever slipped through his fingers, and he wasn't about to risk that hard-earned reputation for the pleasures promised in Megan's fiery gaze.

Megan had to find her father before Gabriel did—which meant monitoring his every move. Accompanying him amid the saloons and brothels crowding Tucson's dusty streets, Megan intended to clear her father's name—even if it meant using her feminine wiles to charm the city slicker detective. She would prove that the maddeningly self-assured Gabriel had underestimated her resolve. But Megan soon discovered that she had underestimated the powerful feelings one man could arouse in a heart that ached for passion...and everlasting love.

Genres: Historical Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Best-selling author Lisa Plumley has delighted readers worldwide with more than three dozen popular novels. Her work has been translated multiple languages and editions, and includes contemporary romances, historical romances, paranormal romances, and a variety of stories in romance anthologies.

Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.

Lisa’s alter ego is cozy mystery writer Colette London, whose Chocolate Whisperer mystery series featuring globe-trotting chocolatier (and amateur sleuth!) Hayden Mundy Moore includes Criminal Confections, Dangerously Dark, and The Semi-Sweet Hereafter. It will continue with Dead and Ganache in October 2017 (all from Kensington Books).

Reviews

[Christina ~ Brunette Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be so much more, but unfortunately it fell flat for me after the first few chapters.

Gabriel Winter, a tough and dashing Pinkerton agent, has just arrived in the Arizona Territory to track down a stagecoach robber. When he's about to snatch his prey and bring him to justice, a most formidable obstacle gets in the way in the form of the alleged outlaw's spinster daughter.
Megan Kearney is sure her dear papa didn't rob that train... problem is he instead disappeared with her nest-egg only to likely blow it all during one of his last gambling sprees. And she desperately needs the money! Why, with just three days left to drive the bargain in order to buy the place she's been dreaming of turning into a dressmaker shop of her very own. But it all will come to naught if she doesn't convince that stubborn detective she's telling the truth about her father. While sparks start to fly, goes without saying.

Sounds promising on paper and I was already anticipating a wild western romp, too bad the story didn't hold my interest for long. There were some great humours and witty parts at the beginning, but they soon started to fizzle out at around hitting the 25% mark. While I persevered because the writing per se was quite decent (a pity, given my eventual reaction), the middle section kind of dragged all the way through and the plot never picked up momentum. Not enough tension. The supposed "outlaw" old boy was almost always at large, so we never got to see some of his shenanigans, which I think would have provided some badly needed action (and fun). Even the chemistry between the leads didn't work. The hero gave me the impression to constantly waver from regarding her as a scheming flirt to (and I quote) "I'll slay your dragons, sugar" and the heroine, few scattered spunky moments aside, ultimately came up as rather whiny and in need of too many reassurances about her attractiveness and self-worth for a 28 yrs-old woman, spinster or no.
Add also a roughly sketched setting that I never felt was able to fully bring out the right western "spirit" and I'm out. I've read a lot of books in this particular romance sub-genre and I know it can be done so much better, whether by exalting the more romanticised and comedic aspects of the Old West (as in this case) or the more realistic, grittier and epic ones.

I love to alternate my romance readings between new releases and older books and I'm always happy when I'm lucky enough to stumble upon a seasoned goodie, but I'm afraid Lawman hasn't aged well. So no, I'm sorry, but I can't recommend it.

[Staci Vorreyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow read. It was ok but it isn't something I'd spend money on.