More than meets the eye

The prologue for this book is powerful. Had me tearing up within the first few minutes of opening the cover. From that point on, you have to know what will happen to the orphan characters, because you've become connected to them on a heart level, every single one.

Logan and Eva are both beautifully flawed characters, and their journey is a delight to read. From the heroine's unique family and newfound friends to a horse and pet pig named after Old Testament prophets (one of which wears a red bow to avoid becoming ham steaks), the secondary characters display show-stealer potential. Their plot weaves in and out with the main characters' goals so well. I have a hunch we'll be seeing Zach's story soon, and the anticipation is getting to me already. The jaded son of a riverboat gambler who gave up his dreams to raise two orphans? I have a feeling his story is going to be well worth the wait.

I was delighted to see a dual romance thread in this book. Smart, protective men and strong-but-feminine women shine through all the ups and downs of finding love in tough circumstances. The nerd in me loved to see a bookish romance between secondary characters, while the western-loving part of me smiled at the roguish antics of the tough and gruff leading man with his Lady Sunshine.

One aspect that sets apart the main romantic story, is the hero's "wooing" the heroine to get information from her that will advance his goals, which of course accidentally turns into a real courtship, leaving our hero with lots of well-deserved inner conflict! I enjoyed watching him squirm under the glaring light of his conscience while wrestling between serving up justice and admitting his heart had found its home with a plucky little farm-girl sporting mismatched eyes.

Overall, this story delighted me with surprises and fueled my curiosity for the next book in the series. There were only a couple times I didn't quite understand the hero's decisions in relation to the villain, but the resulting danger and edge-of-your-seat moments saw me turning pages faster to keep up with the action! The author's trademark wit, adventure, and warm western charm saturates this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys inspirational western romance with a giggle.