This story has a bit of everything: adventure, mystery, humor, and romance. Laurel Beth Morrison runs a stagecoach station (where horses are exchanged and meals served) and has done so since her father and brothers were murdered at the station. The book takes its time to mosey around to the conclusion. In the meantime, the reader gets to learn about a Colorado town and the coming railroad.
There are layers of different stories that meld into one great tale. Laurel doesn't trust men because, although men have indicated that they are interested in her, that interest didn't occur until she owned the Morrison Station. She may be attractive, but she knows the local men are more interested in what she has vs. who she is. All that comes to a grinding halt when McCall Landry passes through on the stagecoach. He is immediately struck by Laurel's strength of character and personal poise. I found the banter between the couple to be the strongest part of the book.
I found each person to be fully-realized and they help populate this story with engaging characters. In the opening chapters, there is a slick payroll robbery with Laurel, Call, and the stagecoach driver, the natural suspects. Instead, the payroll owner hires Call to recoup the money and he heads back to Morrison Station, the most likely scene of the crime.
Call's slow progress was very realistic; crimes take time to unravel. It also takes time to fall in love and Laurel and Call take their time to explore each other before they make up their minds about a lifetime commitment.
There are layers of different stories that meld into one great tale. Laurel doesn't trust men because, although men have indicated that they are interested in her, that interest didn't occur until she owned the Morrison Station. She may be attractive, but she knows the local men are more interested in what she has vs. who she is. All that comes to a grinding halt when McCall Landry passes through on the stagecoach. He is immediately struck by Laurel's strength of character and personal poise. I found the banter between the couple to be the strongest part of the book.
I found each person to be fully-realized and they help populate this story with engaging characters. In the opening chapters, there is a slick payroll robbery with Laurel, Call, and the stagecoach driver, the natural suspects. Instead, the payroll owner hires Call to recoup the money and he heads back to Morrison Station, the most likely scene of the crime.
Call's slow progress was very realistic; crimes take time to unravel. It also takes time to fall in love and Laurel and Call take their time to explore each other before they make up their minds about a lifetime commitment.
