Hell for Leather (Malloy Family, #8) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Oct 11, 2008 Auntee rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009_reads, erotic-romance, western-romance, tortured-hero

This was a very sweet, quick read, about a former gunslinger who is trying to turn his life around and who just wants to be left alone, and the feisty widow who comes into his life and gives him everything he thought he could never have. There were plenty of "awww" moments for me--I just felt so bad for him at times--he was way too down on himself and was really lacking in self esteem. I really wished that I had read the author's Malloy family series before this, especially the books where the c This was a very sweet, quick read, about a former gunslinger who is trying to turn his life around and who just wants to be left alone, and the feisty widow who comes into his life and gives him everything he thought he could never have. There were plenty of "awww" moments for me--I just felt so bad for him at times--he was way too down on himself and was really lacking in self esteem. I really wished that I had read the author's Malloy family series before this, especially the books where the character was first introduced ("The Gift", "The Tribute") but since I didn't, I will definitely seek those books out. The author does give you the necessary background on his past, so this book can be read as a stand-alone, even though it is clearly an offshoot of the 'Malloy Family' series.

The story takes place in 1889 New Mexico, with the former gunslinger 'Kincaid'(now calling himself Cade Brody) trying to (literally) bury his past as a hard-drinking, womanizing gunslinger-- burying his pistols and his clothes in the dirt near his newly acquired New Mexico log cabin. After spending months with his friend Brett Malloy and his family, he realizes he needs to move on with his life and find a different path. So with his 'blood money' he buys a secluded cabin in a little valley with plans to be a hermit (sort of). But of course he needs supplies for the coming winter, so he ventures into the small town of Eustace, not knowing how his life is all about to change, in ways he'd never dream. When he meets the beautiful widowed shopkeeper Sabrina Edmonds, it's lust at first sight--an instant connection for both of them. But he's determined nothing will come of it--he's not good enough for this feisty, independent woman, no matter how much she tempts him. He won't get his hopes up. And he just wants to be alone--doesn't he?

Sabrina doesn't know why she's drawn to this dark, morose stranger. Okay, he's wildly attractive, and they do seem to have a spark. Everyone in the small town seems to be against him though, and tries to warn her away from him. But if anyone ever needed someone to care for him, it's Cade, even though he tries to deny it. Sabrina's determined to follow her heart for once, and grab happiness while she can. But will stubborn Cade let her in?

I really loved these two together. Cade is your wounded hero with a horrible, horrible past. You just want to grab hold of him and give him all the love he clearly needs. But he's also the kind of hero who feels he's not worthy of love. It would take a very strong person to get through to him, and Sabrina is just that person. She's intelligent, feisty, and tough, with a huge heart with a lot of love to give. And she wants to give it to Cade, no matter what the smalll town of busybodies thinks. She's got a sister warning her off of him, a rejected suitor and his precocious daughter standing in her way, and other townsfolk warning her to stay away from the 'dark' man. There's a young abandoned preteen who helps bring the couple together in an unusual way, and I can just imagine her story being written in a few years. The book comes to a heartwarming conclusion when the town who once was against Cade, stands up together and fights for him. It brought a few tears to my eyes, seeing that Cade finally had a 'family' and some people he could count on. Very sweet. And when Sabrina told him she loved him...(*sigh*)

While there was plenty of sexual tension, there wasn't a whole lot of love scenes (maybe two or three), but they were sweet and hot, but fell just short of being erotic. Which was fine, because they worked within the context of the story.

This was a very enjoyable, easy to read book, and I'm sure I would have given it another half star if I had a little more background on Cade by reading the previous Malloy books. I'm definitely interested enough to read more if this becomes a series--4 stars. ...more

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May 07, 2009 Mitzi rated it liked it

Shelves: writer-beth-williamson-aka-e-lang, genre-romance-historical-western, heat-5-scorching

Gunslinger Kincaid moves to New Mexico to start a new life with new name (Cade Brody) and vows no more booze. He meets Sabrina Edmonds (a widow) that owns the local store. Didn't care for this story. It was slow and I just didn't feel the relationship between H/h was very strong. ...more

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