What do you think?
Rate this book
Callahan-Warren #2
Wildfire In His Arms
#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey’s passionate new tale about a gunfighter running from his past who finds his future when he escorts a beautiful outlaw to her hanging. Featuring one of Lindsey’s most intriguing heroes: the dangerous and mysterious Degan Grant from One Heart to Win.
With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.
But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.
Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.
With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.
But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.
Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2015
About the author
Johanna Lindsey
163 books7,017 followersJohanna Helen Howard was born on March 10, 1952 in Germany, where her father, Edwin Dennis Howard, a soldier in the U.S. Army was stationed. The family moved about a great deal when she was young. Her father always dreamed of retiring to Hawaii, and after he passed away in 1964 Johanna and her mother settled there to honor him.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
September 5, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
I have had this book sitting on my kindle collecting dust (if that is even possible) since I have had it since it was first published in 2015 and I am finally picking it up. I don't know why I waited so long for this one, because once I picked it up I just didn't want to put it down. Of course, Johanna Lindsey has the beautiful way of writing a romance you can easily get into and fall in love with. Wildfire In His Arms was a book that I wasn't expecting to be as good as it was. After reading the first book, One Heart To Win I felt like this book had quite a bit to live up to and it was pretty great. Maybe not as great as book one, but I still have so much love for this one. I swear that westerns are Lindsey's talent. Of course she can do just about any setting, but there is something unique about her when she writes in this setting.
Now this tale begins when our hero, Degan is leaving Colorado. Even though he is going to miss the friends he has made here, he also feels the need to move on. So he ends up in montana, after agreeing to do a favor for a friend. His job is to bring three outlaws to justice. Degan is one of the most well known gun slingers in the country. But there is one outlaw, who needs to be returned to Texas, for murder. But the boy he needs to bring in, he learns is no male at all...but a woman. But she claims that she is innocent, but Degan is reserved to believe anything she says, especially when she runs away every chance she can get. Maxine, grew up in a small town, but when the mayor attempted to rape her, he ended up shot and she left and has never returned. But she knows he was alive and well when she left, but apparently she is wanted for his murder. Now she must find a way to escape or convince Degan that she is innocent.
Degan and Maxine go through some adventures together, and some turmoils as well. At the beginning of the story, there is a LOT of mistrust for sure. I mean they are on opposite sides here, practical enemies. But as they travel together, Degan starts to trust in Maxine and doesn't believe her capable of murder. And Maxine finds herself drawn to this dark and mysterious stranger. I think what impressed me most was seeing the slow building romance here. The ways they build trust in each other, the ways they go out to protect each other and they make a great team together in the end. And seeing the past become resolved for both Maxine and Degan was simply wonderful. It was great the way this story played out from beginning to end. There was such a flawless way in the development of the plot and the building of the romance. The "smexiness" of the story is lighter though. Which is strange coming from this author. She has always been known for her steamy scenes, but this book they seemed tamer than normal. Which was fine with me to be honest, the building up of the relationship was the focus point here. And seeing Degan and Maxine build a home together with their friends and family was everything I could have asked for in a ending. A story to delight, stimulate, encourage and make you fall in love all over again!!
I have had this book sitting on my kindle collecting dust (if that is even possible) since I have had it since it was first published in 2015 and I am finally picking it up. I don't know why I waited so long for this one, because once I picked it up I just didn't want to put it down. Of course, Johanna Lindsey has the beautiful way of writing a romance you can easily get into and fall in love with. Wildfire In His Arms was a book that I wasn't expecting to be as good as it was. After reading the first book, One Heart To Win I felt like this book had quite a bit to live up to and it was pretty great. Maybe not as great as book one, but I still have so much love for this one. I swear that westerns are Lindsey's talent. Of course she can do just about any setting, but there is something unique about her when she writes in this setting.
Now this tale begins when our hero, Degan is leaving Colorado. Even though he is going to miss the friends he has made here, he also feels the need to move on. So he ends up in montana, after agreeing to do a favor for a friend. His job is to bring three outlaws to justice. Degan is one of the most well known gun slingers in the country. But there is one outlaw, who needs to be returned to Texas, for murder. But the boy he needs to bring in, he learns is no male at all...but a woman. But she claims that she is innocent, but Degan is reserved to believe anything she says, especially when she runs away every chance she can get. Maxine, grew up in a small town, but when the mayor attempted to rape her, he ended up shot and she left and has never returned. But she knows he was alive and well when she left, but apparently she is wanted for his murder. Now she must find a way to escape or convince Degan that she is innocent.
Degan and Maxine go through some adventures together, and some turmoils as well. At the beginning of the story, there is a LOT of mistrust for sure. I mean they are on opposite sides here, practical enemies. But as they travel together, Degan starts to trust in Maxine and doesn't believe her capable of murder. And Maxine finds herself drawn to this dark and mysterious stranger. I think what impressed me most was seeing the slow building romance here. The ways they build trust in each other, the ways they go out to protect each other and they make a great team together in the end. And seeing the past become resolved for both Maxine and Degan was simply wonderful. It was great the way this story played out from beginning to end. There was such a flawless way in the development of the plot and the building of the romance. The "smexiness" of the story is lighter though. Which is strange coming from this author. She has always been known for her steamy scenes, but this book they seemed tamer than normal. Which was fine with me to be honest, the building up of the relationship was the focus point here. And seeing Degan and Maxine build a home together with their friends and family was everything I could have asked for in a ending. A story to delight, stimulate, encourage and make you fall in love all over again!!
What do you love most about reading Johanna Lindsey?
What is most fun about enemies to lovers trope?
[foogallery id="43922"]
October 15, 2018
3 stars
This was a decent story overall, but not my favorite by this author. For me, it was way too drawn out/convoluted. I have it on my Kindle, but I listened to most of it on Audible while driving during a long trip, so I didn't have the chance to read the "blurb" about the book before I started it. It took me way too long to figure out who was the main female character in the story --- I'm not sure why the author dragged it out quite that long as it felt unnecessary. Also, the main female character was described unappealingly for so long that it was hard to transition my train of thought to consider her as a desirable woman. The story itself was interesting, and the HEA was sweet, but I didn't feel as much of a connection to the characters as a couple, and the love scenes were mostly just "meh" --- not what I expect from a Lindsey historical romance novel.
This was a decent story overall, but not my favorite by this author. For me, it was way too drawn out/convoluted. I have it on my Kindle, but I listened to most of it on Audible while driving during a long trip, so I didn't have the chance to read the "blurb" about the book before I started it. It took me way too long to figure out who was the main female character in the story --- I'm not sure why the author dragged it out quite that long as it felt unnecessary. Also, the main female character was described unappealingly for so long that it was hard to transition my train of thought to consider her as a desirable woman. The story itself was interesting, and the HEA was sweet, but I didn't feel as much of a connection to the characters as a couple, and the love scenes were mostly just "meh" --- not what I expect from a Lindsey historical romance novel.
January 5, 2019
4,5 Estrellas
Hacía mucho que no leía un libro de esta autora y la verdad es que ya tenía ganas.
La historia me ha gustado mucho y me ha parecido muy entretenida. Me la he leído en apenas un par de días de lo enganchada que estaba.
Los personajes están muy bien y me ha gustado que saliesen los de la novela anterior.
Espero poder leer pronto más libros de esta serie.
Hacía mucho que no leía un libro de esta autora y la verdad es que ya tenía ganas.
La historia me ha gustado mucho y me ha parecido muy entretenida. Me la he leído en apenas un par de días de lo enganchada que estaba.
Los personajes están muy bien y me ha gustado que saliesen los de la novela anterior.
Espero poder leer pronto más libros de esta serie.
July 18, 2015
Case of not enough chemistry and romance but too much of everything else.
That's ok, I still love ya JL!
That's ok, I still love ya JL!
June 22, 2016
3,5 estrellas
Aunque es una historia que se puede leer de forma independiente recomiendo leer antes el primero. No porque influya en esta historia sino al revés. Porque esta te destroza la anterior, prácticamente te hace un resumen, detallado, de la misma.
Me gustó más este libro que el primero aunque la autora no me termina de convencer con sus libros ambientados en el oeste. No sé si es que estoy en una etapa inconformista o qué.
Los diálogos son divertidos, la personalidad de ella también. Si me sorprendió cuando él se declarra enamorado, no me lo esperaba para nada porque a pesar de estar compartiendo aventuras y viaje, él no parecía especialmente interesado en ella, ni ella tampoco. Más allá, de como he dicho, las situaciones propias de su aventura y de los intentos de escaparse de ella.
Parece que la autora tiene intención de continuar con la serie, al menos eso he intuído con lo que se deja entrever de Morgan...
Aunque es una historia que se puede leer de forma independiente recomiendo leer antes el primero. No porque influya en esta historia sino al revés. Porque esta te destroza la anterior, prácticamente te hace un resumen, detallado, de la misma.
Me gustó más este libro que el primero aunque la autora no me termina de convencer con sus libros ambientados en el oeste. No sé si es que estoy en una etapa inconformista o qué.
Los diálogos son divertidos, la personalidad de ella también. Si me sorprendió cuando él se declarra enamorado, no me lo esperaba para nada porque a pesar de estar compartiendo aventuras y viaje, él no parecía especialmente interesado en ella, ni ella tampoco. Más allá, de como he dicho, las situaciones propias de su aventura y de los intentos de escaparse de ella.
Parece que la autora tiene intención de continuar con la serie, al menos eso he intuído con lo que se deja entrever de Morgan...
June 8, 2016
5 stars
When I first opened the ebook and saw 55 chapters my warning bells went off. I have nothing against epic long novels - sometimes I just find the author adds too much obstacles and angsty drama to make a long story. Happily this was not the case, I enjoyed this adventure and chapters flew by.
This has a Clint Eastwood Wild Wild West feel to it. And like rhise movies, you have to leave some sense of reality at the door and enjoy it for what it is.
Maxine our heroine is a wanted "criminal" for a crime she didn't commit. Degan, a hired gun, decides to reel this fish in - he wants to capture 3 wanted figures on his trip. Max was his first and while he contemplates her version of the story and her insistence of innocence he brings her along as he finishes his hunt.
Degan is honorable, a little bit mysterious at first, and definitely more of the strong silent type. But when he shows his emotions or when the author switches to his thoughts, wow - those scenes were so powerfully moving and memorable for me. When he is sweet he could be so sweet. Not with words, but with looks or gestures. You know those quotes that are so good, you can almost quote word-for-word in your head hours after you read it.
Maxine is an awesome heroine. Despite her situation she manages to laugh and keep her optimism. She is loyal, has a good head on her shoulder and keeps calm in dangerous situations. A sharp shooter, she helps the hero out more than once. I love the part where she helps him out during an ambush. As gun shots ring out, she knows she can't afford a second to look at Degan, she just has to assume he's taking care of himself while she takes care of her share of trouble.
The journey through Degan bringing down the other criminals were an adventure. It also allows the two to grow together. Max helps him out more than once and nurses him back to health when he gets wounded.
Another fun story from Johanna that I loved. I haven't ventured much into Westerns and now I think I will try a few more (recos totally appreciated).
I did notice some lukewarm reviews so maybe I'm in the minority but I unapologetically love this. Your mileage may vary...
At A Glance
Cheating
Descriptive sex w OW/OM
Other safety concerns
HEA
When I first opened the ebook and saw 55 chapters my warning bells went off. I have nothing against epic long novels - sometimes I just find the author adds too much obstacles and angsty drama to make a long story. Happily this was not the case, I enjoyed this adventure and chapters flew by.
This has a Clint Eastwood Wild Wild West feel to it. And like rhise movies, you have to leave some sense of reality at the door and enjoy it for what it is.
Maxine our heroine is a wanted "criminal" for a crime she didn't commit. Degan, a hired gun, decides to reel this fish in - he wants to capture 3 wanted figures on his trip. Max was his first and while he contemplates her version of the story and her insistence of innocence he brings her along as he finishes his hunt.
Degan is honorable, a little bit mysterious at first, and definitely more of the strong silent type. But when he shows his emotions or when the author switches to his thoughts, wow - those scenes were so powerfully moving and memorable for me. When he is sweet he could be so sweet. Not with words, but with looks or gestures. You know those quotes that are so good, you can almost quote word-for-word in your head hours after you read it.
He thought she made a much better view. She'd changed into one of the dresses she'd left behind, a blue-and-green gingham that bought out the blue in her eyes. She looked beautiful, even in an old dress, even with butchered hair, but he'd like to see her in silk, just once, before...
He didn't finish the thought. Usually he looked forward to moving on, but not this time.
...
[...]they'd gotten in the habit of watching the sunset together each evening. [...] He always glanced down at her to catch her smile just as the sun slipped below the horizon, and she would look up at him. She liked the way he looked at her at that moment. For some reason, when their eyes met, she found it more intimate than kissing.
Maxine is an awesome heroine. Despite her situation she manages to laugh and keep her optimism. She is loyal, has a good head on her shoulder and keeps calm in dangerous situations. A sharp shooter, she helps the hero out more than once. I love the part where she helps him out during an ambush. As gun shots ring out, she knows she can't afford a second to look at Degan, she just has to assume he's taking care of himself while she takes care of her share of trouble.
The journey through Degan bringing down the other criminals were an adventure. It also allows the two to grow together. Max helps him out more than once and nurses him back to health when he gets wounded.
Another fun story from Johanna that I loved. I haven't ventured much into Westerns and now I think I will try a few more (recos totally appreciated).
I did notice some lukewarm reviews so maybe I'm in the minority but I unapologetically love this. Your mileage may vary...
At A Glance
Cheating
Descriptive sex w OW/OM
Other safety concerns
HEA
March 30, 2021
¡Me ha gustado mucho!
June 23, 2015
When a US Marshall that saved his life calls in a favor Degan Grant finds himself in search of three outlaws on the Marshall’s most wanted list. For a gunslinger, Degan is noble, educated and downright sexy. He has an issue with trust, and Lindsey did an excellent job of giving us his backstory and making me swoon for this man of few words. Men and women fear him that is unless they want to try to outdraw him.
What he thinks will be his easiest apprehension turns out to be rather complicated when he discovers a man wanted for murder and robbery is actually a woman. Maxine is fearless and her story about the incidents in her hometown of Texas are one complication Degan is not looking for, but the sassy and pretty Maxine is about to turn his life upside down. I love complications and became completely wrapped up in their story.
I love strong characters, snark and delicious banter. Maxine and Degan begin with a cat and mouse chase as she tries desperately to escape and outwit him. Degan is smooth and seems to know her next move making the game interesting. You could feel the sexual attraction between these two and their denial just made me smile. Lindsey allowed their relationship to develop slowly increasing the tension and making unexpected kisses sizzle.
We see character growth as the couple is forced to trust the other. Aside from these two figuring out their feelings, the relationship angst was low and felt genuine. Lindsey weaved in a couple of romantic tropes from haters to lovers to forced arrangement. She took these and made them her own while adding humor and heat.
Lindsey kept the romance center but added in suspenseful threads from Degan’s past pursuing him to the capturing of the other outlaws on his list. Each thread was developed, allowed us to grow closer to the characters and to better understand what drives them.
The author brought the West to life from the trails to the towns that popped up around gold mines. I could not imagine living life on the trail, but Degan does it in a sophisticated way, in fact, he is a smartly dressed cowboy who insists on sleeping in a bed. It made him downright sexy with just the right amount of cockiness.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
What he thinks will be his easiest apprehension turns out to be rather complicated when he discovers a man wanted for murder and robbery is actually a woman. Maxine is fearless and her story about the incidents in her hometown of Texas are one complication Degan is not looking for, but the sassy and pretty Maxine is about to turn his life upside down. I love complications and became completely wrapped up in their story.
I love strong characters, snark and delicious banter. Maxine and Degan begin with a cat and mouse chase as she tries desperately to escape and outwit him. Degan is smooth and seems to know her next move making the game interesting. You could feel the sexual attraction between these two and their denial just made me smile. Lindsey allowed their relationship to develop slowly increasing the tension and making unexpected kisses sizzle.
We see character growth as the couple is forced to trust the other. Aside from these two figuring out their feelings, the relationship angst was low and felt genuine. Lindsey weaved in a couple of romantic tropes from haters to lovers to forced arrangement. She took these and made them her own while adding humor and heat.
Lindsey kept the romance center but added in suspenseful threads from Degan’s past pursuing him to the capturing of the other outlaws on his list. Each thread was developed, allowed us to grow closer to the characters and to better understand what drives them.
The author brought the West to life from the trails to the towns that popped up around gold mines. I could not imagine living life on the trail, but Degan does it in a sophisticated way, in fact, he is a smartly dressed cowboy who insists on sleeping in a bed. It made him downright sexy with just the right amount of cockiness.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
March 2, 2017
4.5/5
Cada vez me gustan mas las novelas ambientadas en el antiguo Oeste y esta me ha encantado.
Un libro lleno de suspense, venganzas y un amor que va creciendo poco a poco, con unos protagonistas fuertes y valientes que se van conociendo a base de interactuar juntos para solventar situaciones que no se resolverias de otra manera.La accion es adictiva, te apremia a seguir leyendo queriendo saber mas.
Ahora me toca leer el primer libro de la saga ("Un corazon por conquistar"), ya que no sabia que este es el segundo, aunque se puede leer independiente porque el protagonista es un secundario del primero.
Cada vez me gustan mas las novelas ambientadas en el antiguo Oeste y esta me ha encantado.
Un libro lleno de suspense, venganzas y un amor que va creciendo poco a poco, con unos protagonistas fuertes y valientes que se van conociendo a base de interactuar juntos para solventar situaciones que no se resolverias de otra manera.La accion es adictiva, te apremia a seguir leyendo queriendo saber mas.
Ahora me toca leer el primer libro de la saga ("Un corazon por conquistar"), ya que no sabia que este es el segundo, aunque se puede leer independiente porque el protagonista es un secundario del primero.
June 20, 2015
Wildfire in His Arms by Johanna Lindsey is a 2015 Gallery Books Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the S&S XOXperts- The official street team of XOXO After Dark in exchange for an honest review.
When I received this book and I was so excited. I have not read a book by Johanna Lindsey in a really long time. I loved her older historical romance novels and couldn't wait to get reacquainted with her work.
This story is a Western Historical centered around legendary gunman Degan, and Maxine, a young woman on the run after allegedly committing murder.
Degan owes a US Marshall a huge favor so when the man asked Degan to help him haul in a few “most wanted” criminals, Degan can't refuse. First up on the list is Max, wanted in Texas for killing a man.
When Degan finally catches up with Max, he gets a lot more than ever bargained for. Max insist she is innocent, but that's not Degan's concern. His job is to bring 'em in, a jury can decide the rest. But, if Degan turns Max in, she could very well hang for a crime she didn't commit. Will Degan help her or will he maintain his calm, cool, unemotional veneer all the way to Texas?
Recently I have been on my soapbox a little because I feel like historical romance novels are focused too heavily on the Regency-era and we seldom get to read about a different time frame. Dukes, Earls, ball gowns and society rules are fun, but after awhile it seems like reading the same story over and over, only with the names changed.
So, on top of getting to read a new Johanna Lindsey novel, I get to read a Western, a sub-genre of historical romances we don't encounter nearly enough, in my opinion. So, while I wanted to stretch this one out and make it last, I ended up reading it in one evening, staying up way past my bedtime in the process. But, while my head was a bit foggy the next day, I had a smile on my face remembering how much fun this book is.
Degan is from Chicago, but has left his old life behind for good to become one of the most feared gunslingers around. Men quake in his presence, and Degan never refutes his hard earned reputation. But, when he finally catches up with Max, he is puzzled by her lack of fear. In fact, she defies him at every turn, is spirited, crafty and clever, keeping the unemotional, dark and brooding Degan on his toes at all times.
You will love Max and her constant chattiness, her resourcefulness and openness. Her character is honest, is so much fun, and if I had lived in the old west, I could see us being friends. Degan is more bark than bite, but boy is he stubborn!! He's practically immovable, but you will be able to see past all that, even though he did try my patience at times.
The story did get just a little monotonous around the half way mark and I was beginning to wish for a little action, one way or another. But, the pace picks up again in no time and things do get pretty heated, and there is lots of action.
There was no super heavy angst or drama, just a light and easy , funny, sweet, sensual, love story set in the west, and a delightful read all around.
It was fun watching Max melt Degan's heart, turning the hardened gunslinger into pure mush and seeing Max finally content and happy with her new life and love.
Even if you think Western style historical romance is not your thing, I think you will find this one fun and entertaining and of course Johanna Lindsey is a seasoned author with quite the resume so you know it's going to be well written.
This one gets four stars
When I received this book and I was so excited. I have not read a book by Johanna Lindsey in a really long time. I loved her older historical romance novels and couldn't wait to get reacquainted with her work.
This story is a Western Historical centered around legendary gunman Degan, and Maxine, a young woman on the run after allegedly committing murder.
Degan owes a US Marshall a huge favor so when the man asked Degan to help him haul in a few “most wanted” criminals, Degan can't refuse. First up on the list is Max, wanted in Texas for killing a man.
When Degan finally catches up with Max, he gets a lot more than ever bargained for. Max insist she is innocent, but that's not Degan's concern. His job is to bring 'em in, a jury can decide the rest. But, if Degan turns Max in, she could very well hang for a crime she didn't commit. Will Degan help her or will he maintain his calm, cool, unemotional veneer all the way to Texas?
Recently I have been on my soapbox a little because I feel like historical romance novels are focused too heavily on the Regency-era and we seldom get to read about a different time frame. Dukes, Earls, ball gowns and society rules are fun, but after awhile it seems like reading the same story over and over, only with the names changed.
So, on top of getting to read a new Johanna Lindsey novel, I get to read a Western, a sub-genre of historical romances we don't encounter nearly enough, in my opinion. So, while I wanted to stretch this one out and make it last, I ended up reading it in one evening, staying up way past my bedtime in the process. But, while my head was a bit foggy the next day, I had a smile on my face remembering how much fun this book is.
Degan is from Chicago, but has left his old life behind for good to become one of the most feared gunslingers around. Men quake in his presence, and Degan never refutes his hard earned reputation. But, when he finally catches up with Max, he is puzzled by her lack of fear. In fact, she defies him at every turn, is spirited, crafty and clever, keeping the unemotional, dark and brooding Degan on his toes at all times.
You will love Max and her constant chattiness, her resourcefulness and openness. Her character is honest, is so much fun, and if I had lived in the old west, I could see us being friends. Degan is more bark than bite, but boy is he stubborn!! He's practically immovable, but you will be able to see past all that, even though he did try my patience at times.
The story did get just a little monotonous around the half way mark and I was beginning to wish for a little action, one way or another. But, the pace picks up again in no time and things do get pretty heated, and there is lots of action.
There was no super heavy angst or drama, just a light and easy , funny, sweet, sensual, love story set in the west, and a delightful read all around.
It was fun watching Max melt Degan's heart, turning the hardened gunslinger into pure mush and seeing Max finally content and happy with her new life and love.
Even if you think Western style historical romance is not your thing, I think you will find this one fun and entertaining and of course Johanna Lindsey is a seasoned author with quite the resume so you know it's going to be well written.
This one gets four stars
June 16, 2015
This was the perfect book to enjoy in a courtyard with a glass of wine. It was a fun romp through a cowboy's adventure, and it threw in enough twists that it wasn't overly formulaic or predictable.
Wildfire In His Arms follows Degan, who, after a family falling out, moved out west and learned to shoot. He is, of course, a dark brooding man who carries himself like a big bad cowboy. He can outshoot almost anyone, and he's clever. These were par for the historical cowboy romance course. What switched it up and made it fun was that Degan was a bit of a snob! He insisted on hotels and hot baths and served meals almost every town they went in to. I was rather amused by that trait. He was also not a jerk. He takes on a job to help an old friend catch some wanted men, so that 1) the old friend can have some family time, and 2) so that the old friend won't risk being injured by the bad guys since he has a wife and kids. Who doesn't love a cowboy with heart?
One of the outlaws he decides to apprehend is the murdering Max Dawson. What he doesn't expect is for Max to actually be Maxine, and to not have murdered anyone at all. Max was a perfect change from the typical heroine. She's feisty, clever, and doesn't feel intimidated by Degan. He finds himself believing in her innocence, and together they set off to finish rounding up some outlaws, and then head back to clear her name. Hijinks, of course, ensue, as does romance. But really, who can resist a sexy cowboy, and what said sexy cowboy can resist a feisty woman?
There were a few typical brooding moments, where the big bad cowboy won't just tell the girl he loves her, and she just can't be with a man who doesn't love her... Eh, this was expected and not drawn out enough to be annoying. The side story with Degan's fiancée was a little hard to believe when it all came to light at the end, and the way that Max's problems were resolved annoyed me a little. The problems stemmed from them not wanting to resolve them that way in the first place, but now everything is fine?
Overall though, this was a perfect ‘let go and enjoy a cowboy’ read. A classic style that I know and love, and it paired really well with a marathon reading session and a bottle of wine! ~ George, 4 stars
Wildfire In His Arms follows Degan, who, after a family falling out, moved out west and learned to shoot. He is, of course, a dark brooding man who carries himself like a big bad cowboy. He can outshoot almost anyone, and he's clever. These were par for the historical cowboy romance course. What switched it up and made it fun was that Degan was a bit of a snob! He insisted on hotels and hot baths and served meals almost every town they went in to. I was rather amused by that trait. He was also not a jerk. He takes on a job to help an old friend catch some wanted men, so that 1) the old friend can have some family time, and 2) so that the old friend won't risk being injured by the bad guys since he has a wife and kids. Who doesn't love a cowboy with heart?
One of the outlaws he decides to apprehend is the murdering Max Dawson. What he doesn't expect is for Max to actually be Maxine, and to not have murdered anyone at all. Max was a perfect change from the typical heroine. She's feisty, clever, and doesn't feel intimidated by Degan. He finds himself believing in her innocence, and together they set off to finish rounding up some outlaws, and then head back to clear her name. Hijinks, of course, ensue, as does romance. But really, who can resist a sexy cowboy, and what said sexy cowboy can resist a feisty woman?
There were a few typical brooding moments, where the big bad cowboy won't just tell the girl he loves her, and she just can't be with a man who doesn't love her... Eh, this was expected and not drawn out enough to be annoying. The side story with Degan's fiancée was a little hard to believe when it all came to light at the end, and the way that Max's problems were resolved annoyed me a little. The problems stemmed from them not wanting to resolve them that way in the first place, but now everything is fine?
Overall though, this was a perfect ‘let go and enjoy a cowboy’ read. A classic style that I know and love, and it paired really well with a marathon reading session and a bottle of wine! ~ George, 4 stars
August 31, 2015
I just finished this book and I'm so disappointed. I can't believe I skimmed a good portion of this book. I was bored and it seemed like there was a lot of filler. I used to love reading Johanna Lindsey. I feel I need to read one of her older books so I can love her again.
At this point I don't even know what to write in a review. It took me forever to read this book, re-newed my checkout from the library twice! I usually read a book in a day or two. The characters didn't capture my interest, although they had potential. The plot seemed "wash and repeat" to some degree. There was nothing new and it just dragged.
At this point I don't even know what to write in a review. It took me forever to read this book, re-newed my checkout from the library twice! I usually read a book in a day or two. The characters didn't capture my interest, although they had potential. The plot seemed "wash and repeat" to some degree. There was nothing new and it just dragged.
June 22, 2015
Johanna Lindsey is one of my all time favorite historical romance authors. It is a given that I am excited to read this book.
I was very disappointed...
I hate to say it... but... it was... boring. There are no other words for it. Nothing about it thrilled me at all. There was absolutely no chemistry between the main characters and I also found the plot a bit too dragging. Where is the Johanna that I grew up reading? I am not giving up on her, however, and still look forward to her future novels!
I was very disappointed...
I hate to say it... but... it was... boring. There are no other words for it. Nothing about it thrilled me at all. There was absolutely no chemistry between the main characters and I also found the plot a bit too dragging. Where is the Johanna that I grew up reading? I am not giving up on her, however, and still look forward to her future novels!
June 2, 2016
Me ha gustado la historia, pero me ha faltado más romance.
El anterior libro, el de Hunter, me gustó muchísimo más.
En este caso, la protagonista, Max, me ha gustado mucho, pero Degan no ha conseguido convencerme.
Me ha parecido en todo momento muy seco y arisco con Max y me ha resultado demasiado dificil creerme el flechazo por parte de él.
No obstante, quitando esos peros, el resto fenomenal.
El anterior libro, el de Hunter, me gustó muchísimo más.
En este caso, la protagonista, Max, me ha gustado mucho, pero Degan no ha conseguido convencerme.
Me ha parecido en todo momento muy seco y arisco con Max y me ha resultado demasiado dificil creerme el flechazo por parte de él.
No obstante, quitando esos peros, el resto fenomenal.
April 25, 2017
De los clásicos que nunca fallan.. precioso.
August 2, 2015
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books
Wildfire in His Arms is a fun historical western romance with a twist. Degan Grant is a gunfighter/peacekeeper doing a favor for a U.S. Marshall friend when he apprehends Maxine “Max” Dawson. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out that the young boy he is dealing with is actually a young lady.
Their adventures that follow include escape attempts, her saving his life, determined ex finances, crooked home town sheriffs, and a very dishonest mayor with an agenda. After a bit of a slow start, this book ended up being enjoyable. Degan and Max are both great characters and their interactions together range from aggravating to sweet to funny to passionate.
I loved how the romance aspect of the story was an undercurrent to their adventures, you really don’t notice it too much at first. But, now that I have finished the book, it’s easy to look back and see some of the small things that Degan did to show his growing feelings for Max. The changes for Max weren’t as subtle, but they were still fun to see.
Quirky secondary characters and the adventure aspects of the plot made this book for me. If you enjoy an adventure/romance set in the Old West with an unusual heroine, then this would be a great one to try.
Reviewer information can be found under the Tags section of the post on our site.
Wildfire in His Arms is a fun historical western romance with a twist. Degan Grant is a gunfighter/peacekeeper doing a favor for a U.S. Marshall friend when he apprehends Maxine “Max” Dawson. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out that the young boy he is dealing with is actually a young lady.
Their adventures that follow include escape attempts, her saving his life, determined ex finances, crooked home town sheriffs, and a very dishonest mayor with an agenda. After a bit of a slow start, this book ended up being enjoyable. Degan and Max are both great characters and their interactions together range from aggravating to sweet to funny to passionate.
I loved how the romance aspect of the story was an undercurrent to their adventures, you really don’t notice it too much at first. But, now that I have finished the book, it’s easy to look back and see some of the small things that Degan did to show his growing feelings for Max. The changes for Max weren’t as subtle, but they were still fun to see.
Quirky secondary characters and the adventure aspects of the plot made this book for me. If you enjoy an adventure/romance set in the Old West with an unusual heroine, then this would be a great one to try.
Reviewer information can be found under the Tags section of the post on our site.
June 18, 2016
Reseña completa: http://cazadorasdelromance.com/critic...
Me gustó más la historia de Tiffany y Hunter, pero este argumento recuerda más a las novelas de Johanna Lindsey. Prefiero esta serie del oeste a las últimas novelas de los Malory.
Me gustó más la historia de Tiffany y Hunter, pero este argumento recuerda más a las novelas de Johanna Lindsey. Prefiero esta serie del oeste a las últimas novelas de los Malory.
June 29, 2020
1.5
La idea de un pistolero y una fugitiva de la justicia me parecía muy interesante y más siendo una novela romántica. Pero eso es lo único que salvo. La idea y el desarrollo inicial. Porque lo demás ha ido cuesta abajo y sin frenos.
Ha habido muchísimo relleno/paja innecesaria relativa a otros fugitivos y que, en verdad, no aportaban nada excepto la cantidad. Con lo que han llenado el cupo y se han quedado más tranquilos. Pero aportar aportar... Solo ha conseguido que me aburriera cada vez más.
Lo que es la relación de ellos dos al principio va avanzando poco a poco pero es que luego se como estanca y en las últimas páginas le dan el toque final. Y mira, no.
Y vamos a no hablar de las escenas de sexo porque han sido prácticamente inexistentes y Lindsey les habrá dedicado un máximo de 2 minutos de mimo.
Y para rematarlo, hacia el final han metido unos dramas que mira, a estas alturas no lo entiendo.
En resumen: solo quería que se acabara este sufrimiento porque hay poco que salvar. Y hasta aquí ha llegado mi relación con Johanna Lindsey.
La idea de un pistolero y una fugitiva de la justicia me parecía muy interesante y más siendo una novela romántica. Pero eso es lo único que salvo. La idea y el desarrollo inicial. Porque lo demás ha ido cuesta abajo y sin frenos.
Ha habido muchísimo relleno/paja innecesaria relativa a otros fugitivos y que, en verdad, no aportaban nada excepto la cantidad. Con lo que han llenado el cupo y se han quedado más tranquilos. Pero aportar aportar... Solo ha conseguido que me aburriera cada vez más.
Lo que es la relación de ellos dos al principio va avanzando poco a poco pero es que luego se como estanca y en las últimas páginas le dan el toque final. Y mira, no.
Y vamos a no hablar de las escenas de sexo porque han sido prácticamente inexistentes y Lindsey les habrá dedicado un máximo de 2 minutos de mimo.
Y para rematarlo, hacia el final han metido unos dramas que mira, a estas alturas no lo entiendo.
En resumen: solo quería que se acabara este sufrimiento porque hay poco que salvar. Y hasta aquí ha llegado mi relación con Johanna Lindsey.
October 31, 2018
I love a good romantic western and Johanna Lindsey never disappoints! This is the second book in the Callahan-Warren saga and this time we follow Degan the gentleman gunslinger.
Degan is tasked to bring in some outlaws as a favor to his sheriff friend. Enter Max. A spitfire Texas girl who is wanted for murder and robbery. Lots of cute romance with him discovering Max is a girl and not quite as guilty as the wanted posters claim.
Great characters and a wonderful story.
Degan is tasked to bring in some outlaws as a favor to his sheriff friend. Enter Max. A spitfire Texas girl who is wanted for murder and robbery. Lots of cute romance with him discovering Max is a girl and not quite as guilty as the wanted posters claim.
Great characters and a wonderful story.
September 30, 2019
Los hechos de esta historias me han parecido sumamente interesantes, desde el principio mis ganas de leer han ido en aumento, sin duda se trata de una situación bastante peculiar en la que encontrar el amor.
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
March 9, 2023
Me costó mucho leerlo, no es mal libro, pero te bombardean con tanto nombre en un comienzo, que se hace súper lento… el desarrollo de la historia es bueno, pero el final me dejó sorprendida, lo encontré un tanto ridículo , cómo historia de amor, pasable.
February 18, 2024
3.5/5⭐️
Una historia típica del oeste en el romance clásico, chica que se hace pasar por chico, pistolero, viaje.
Excelente ambientación y descripciones. El romance de supo a poco.
Mucha aventura, muchas cosas que pasan, pero más allá de la proximidad forzada y eso de que los que se rechazan se atraen, (un concepto muy del romance de los 80s), no encontré un gran desarrollo en la relación y los sentimientos de la pareja.
Final satisfactorio, cabos sueltos atados y todos contentos.
Una historia típica del oeste en el romance clásico, chica que se hace pasar por chico, pistolero, viaje.
Excelente ambientación y descripciones. El romance de supo a poco.
Mucha aventura, muchas cosas que pasan, pero más allá de la proximidad forzada y eso de que los que se rechazan se atraen, (un concepto muy del romance de los 80s), no encontré un gran desarrollo en la relación y los sentimientos de la pareja.
Final satisfactorio, cabos sueltos atados y todos contentos.
July 15, 2024
It was a fine book. Listening to it as an audio book made me laugh since a man was reading the female parts. Hard to get into the romance but the story was fine.
June 22, 2015
Wildfire In His Arms is a historical romance set in the wild west. There is action, romance and suspense which make for a perfect escape from reality. This was a fun and easy read.
Degan Grant is the dangerous and mysterious peacemaker from Johanna Lindsey’s One Heart to Win novel. This book is a spinoff and we do meet characters from the previous book but the author provides the right amount of details to make it easy to follow the story. Degan is about to travel to California when he is offered a temporary position as a U.S. Marshall. His job is simple – he needs to arrest three of outlaws. Based on his experience Degan assumes this is going to be an easy job but all that changes when he meets one of the outlaws, Maxine “Max” Dawson. Max claims to be innocent and Degan can’t decide if he believes her. Having caught one outlaw Degan works on capturing the remaining two outlaws. But as Degan and Max spend time together there is an attraction between them that is difficult to ignore. Turns out that Max isn’t the only one running from a problem. Can she be the one person to breakdown the tough guy image that Degan hides behind? You have to read this to find out!!
I really enjoyed these characters. Max is smart, feisty and says what’s on her mind. She’s survived on her own while on the run and her sassiness made this fun to read. Degan is stubborn but slowly he eases up. This is written in dual point of view but primarily in Max’s voice. I wished it would have been equally divided between them since it became repetitive hearing Max’s concerns about her future. There were some slow parts of the story so perhaps an even division between Max and Degan’s POV could have helped with this. But overall I did like this book.
I’ve read Johanna Lindsey’s previous books and I’ve always enjoyed her stories. The amount of details of the era she includes her stories makes me feel as if I’m time travelling to that time. I enjoyed this book so much that I want to read One Heart to Win and I hope she writes another book for the supporting characters that we were introduced to.
I received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review. Visit XOXOAfterDark.com for the best in romance, urban fantasy and women’s fiction.
Degan Grant is the dangerous and mysterious peacemaker from Johanna Lindsey’s One Heart to Win novel. This book is a spinoff and we do meet characters from the previous book but the author provides the right amount of details to make it easy to follow the story. Degan is about to travel to California when he is offered a temporary position as a U.S. Marshall. His job is simple – he needs to arrest three of outlaws. Based on his experience Degan assumes this is going to be an easy job but all that changes when he meets one of the outlaws, Maxine “Max” Dawson. Max claims to be innocent and Degan can’t decide if he believes her. Having caught one outlaw Degan works on capturing the remaining two outlaws. But as Degan and Max spend time together there is an attraction between them that is difficult to ignore. Turns out that Max isn’t the only one running from a problem. Can she be the one person to breakdown the tough guy image that Degan hides behind? You have to read this to find out!!
I really enjoyed these characters. Max is smart, feisty and says what’s on her mind. She’s survived on her own while on the run and her sassiness made this fun to read. Degan is stubborn but slowly he eases up. This is written in dual point of view but primarily in Max’s voice. I wished it would have been equally divided between them since it became repetitive hearing Max’s concerns about her future. There were some slow parts of the story so perhaps an even division between Max and Degan’s POV could have helped with this. But overall I did like this book.
I’ve read Johanna Lindsey’s previous books and I’ve always enjoyed her stories. The amount of details of the era she includes her stories makes me feel as if I’m time travelling to that time. I enjoyed this book so much that I want to read One Heart to Win and I hope she writes another book for the supporting characters that we were introduced to.
I received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review. Visit XOXOAfterDark.com for the best in romance, urban fantasy and women’s fiction.
July 1, 2015
A gentlemen gunslinger and a lady outlaw. Johanna Lindsey once again tells a grand tale of adventure and love with Max and Degan, who you cant help but fall in love with. Something about her writing just moves the story along and keeps you hooked to every detail, with twist and turns that ultimately brings it all home. Part of you wants a happy ending for them while the other doesn't want the story to end.
January 12, 2016
3 stars. I liked this one better than the first in the series and it looks as if there may be at least 1 more in this series. This was better writing (NOT even close to other Johanna Lindsey's previous works). The only part that didn't really work was Allison. No way she could just keep showing up everywhere that he was. And, the conversation they had in front of the Mayors house didn't jive with the ending.
February 20, 2023
Degan was definitely a diet version of Chandos and the heroine was annoying as hell almost on the border of unlikable. There wasn’t really any sexual chemistry between the two main characters and their personalities didn’t mesh very well in my opinion.
I will say the ending was super cute though with the dad being obsessed with western dime novels (relatable) and the gun drawing competition.
I will say the ending was super cute though with the dad being obsessed with western dime novels (relatable) and the gun drawing competition.
May 30, 2017
Good book. I was fascinated by Degan in One Heart to Win, as he filled his role as bodyguard. There was something about him that said there was more to his story than just being a gunfighter for hire. In this book, he is ready to move on, following his plan to go to California, when an old friend calls in a favor. The marshal has some outlaws to capture, but also a family conflict, so he asks Degan to catch them for him. As there aren't too many people willing to tangle with a man of Degan's reputation, he figures it should be an easy thing to do. But things don't go quite as expected when his first capture turns out to be a young woman rather than the man he expected.
Maxine Dawson had been on the run for two years, accused of murdering the mayor of her hometown. Growing from a pretty child to a beautiful woman, she wasn't happy with the type of attention she was getting, and defending herself made things worse. She's certain that she'll be hanged without a trial if the sheriff succeeds in getting her back to town.
I loved the first meeting between Max and Degan, as it really set the tone for their entire relationship. He succeeds in catching her, but Max is smart and feisty and determined to stay free. From the start she really keeps Degan on his toes. Degan is strong, silent and honorable. Initially he plans to simply turn her over to the law and let a jury decide her fate. He keeps her with him while tracking down the other two outlaws, giving him the chance to decide if he believes her story.
It was great fun to see the contrast between the talkative, open and outspoken Max and the silent, mysterious Degan. Her frustration at his silence was obvious, as was his amusement at her efforts to get him to talk. During their travels they slowly get to know and trust each other. I really enjoyed Degan's confusion at her complete lack of fear of him and his reputation and Max's enjoyment of watching others fall all over themselves to do what he wants. I also loved that after two years of surviving on her own, she doesn't turn into a helpless female. There are a couple great scenes where she actually saves his life thanks to her own shooting skills. She also nurses him back to health after he gets injured. I also loved the contrast of the ruthless gunfighter with the man who really likes his creature comforts. The visuals of people hurrying to satisfy his requirements for baths, real beds and dinners were really amusing.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Degan has been burned once before and now keeps his emotions well in hand. After suffering through so many unwanted advances, Max isn't in any hurry to settle down with someone who doesn't want her for who she is. Neither can deny the powerful attraction between them, though they certainly try to resist it. The heat builds between them until it bursts into flame. I liked seeing their feelings grow, though admitting it seemed out of the question. Though he has quite the hardened reputation, there is actually a softer side to Degan that Max brings out. I loved seeing those sweet and tender moments because they were so unexpected. When they are forced into marriage, Max is determined not to hold him to it, not wanting to tie him down. I loved their return to Texas, and Degan's protectiveness as Max faces her enemies. I also loved Max's support of Degan as he faces his own past. Their trip to Chicago emphasized how much she had come to care for him. I loved watching her get up the courage to face him about their future, and the way she did it was perfect for the relationship they had. I loved their decision on where to build their life together. I hope that there will be more Callahan-Warren stories.
Besides the building relationship between Max and Degan, I enjoyed the other threads of the story. Degan's past is dogging his heels as his ex-fiancée shows up, trying to get him back to Chicago. Her dogged pursuit of him finally gets explained at the very end, though the reasoning is convoluted. He also has a man on his trail who is looking for revenge for something he blames on Degan. Degan's restraint is amazing, and I loved how Max's protectiveness toward Degan is shown here.
Their pursuit of the other outlaws, one very simple and one very dangerous, was really good. The face-off with the vicious killer and his gang was a real nail-biter, as Degan tried to protect Max and she ends up in the middle anyway. Max's level-headed nature and trust in Degan really comes out in this part.
Maxine Dawson had been on the run for two years, accused of murdering the mayor of her hometown. Growing from a pretty child to a beautiful woman, she wasn't happy with the type of attention she was getting, and defending herself made things worse. She's certain that she'll be hanged without a trial if the sheriff succeeds in getting her back to town.
I loved the first meeting between Max and Degan, as it really set the tone for their entire relationship. He succeeds in catching her, but Max is smart and feisty and determined to stay free. From the start she really keeps Degan on his toes. Degan is strong, silent and honorable. Initially he plans to simply turn her over to the law and let a jury decide her fate. He keeps her with him while tracking down the other two outlaws, giving him the chance to decide if he believes her story.
It was great fun to see the contrast between the talkative, open and outspoken Max and the silent, mysterious Degan. Her frustration at his silence was obvious, as was his amusement at her efforts to get him to talk. During their travels they slowly get to know and trust each other. I really enjoyed Degan's confusion at her complete lack of fear of him and his reputation and Max's enjoyment of watching others fall all over themselves to do what he wants. I also loved that after two years of surviving on her own, she doesn't turn into a helpless female. There are a couple great scenes where she actually saves his life thanks to her own shooting skills. She also nurses him back to health after he gets injured. I also loved the contrast of the ruthless gunfighter with the man who really likes his creature comforts. The visuals of people hurrying to satisfy his requirements for baths, real beds and dinners were really amusing.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Degan has been burned once before and now keeps his emotions well in hand. After suffering through so many unwanted advances, Max isn't in any hurry to settle down with someone who doesn't want her for who she is. Neither can deny the powerful attraction between them, though they certainly try to resist it. The heat builds between them until it bursts into flame. I liked seeing their feelings grow, though admitting it seemed out of the question. Though he has quite the hardened reputation, there is actually a softer side to Degan that Max brings out. I loved seeing those sweet and tender moments because they were so unexpected. When they are forced into marriage, Max is determined not to hold him to it, not wanting to tie him down. I loved their return to Texas, and Degan's protectiveness as Max faces her enemies. I also loved Max's support of Degan as he faces his own past. Their trip to Chicago emphasized how much she had come to care for him. I loved watching her get up the courage to face him about their future, and the way she did it was perfect for the relationship they had. I loved their decision on where to build their life together. I hope that there will be more Callahan-Warren stories.
Besides the building relationship between Max and Degan, I enjoyed the other threads of the story. Degan's past is dogging his heels as his ex-fiancée shows up, trying to get him back to Chicago. Her dogged pursuit of him finally gets explained at the very end, though the reasoning is convoluted. He also has a man on his trail who is looking for revenge for something he blames on Degan. Degan's restraint is amazing, and I loved how Max's protectiveness toward Degan is shown here.
Their pursuit of the other outlaws, one very simple and one very dangerous, was really good. The face-off with the vicious killer and his gang was a real nail-biter, as Degan tried to protect Max and she ends up in the middle anyway. Max's level-headed nature and trust in Degan really comes out in this part.
July 20, 2020
I think...if I'd read these in order, I would have really been irritated with book #3. The two overlap quite a bit. time-wise.
So our H - scary gunslinger who thinks of himself as a peacemaker - has a favor called in, and finds himself acting as a US Marshall. And... he'd just spotted someone who fit the description of one of the wanted posters. ( I must interject that shortly before he came to be in this town, he was challenged by a kid in a yellow slicker. Hmmm... Did we get a glimpse of a v. young Angel?). So with a bit of deductive reasoning and a question or two, he heads off and finds himself with... well... And now he has a dilemma - does he turn her in or...?
Our h, accused of killing someone, and robbing a bank, did neither - she was making a withdrawal and the banker gave her someone else's money too by accident - we assume anyway. Is possible he did it deliberately. She's been on the run and hiding for 2 years. And now she's caught.
He doesn't turn her in, for personal reasons, not that he admits that even to himself. Just says it's because she's a girl. Much adventure...ok, hunting down of criminals...later, a kidnapping by the sheriff in her home town, and his running them to ground, a hasty marriage (because otherwise the supposedly dead person has sued for guardianship of her and her brother until she's 21 or married), a bit of intimid-ahh-conversation with said not-dead-yet mayer later, and he gives in and goes to his home...to figure out what's going on. Because...our gunslinging H is the oldest son of a *banker* in Chicago, and he apparently bravely ran away away after shooting his brother for screwing his fiance' and being ordered by dear old dad to marry her anyway.
Thoughts about it. The h talks...a lot... For someone on the run, she doesn't hide her tracks very well. Then again, he would never have seen her in the first place if her friend hadn't let her sleep late.
The H...is maybe a little too good at hiding his emotions, which leads to a lot of uncertainty on the h's part.
The story, in and of itself, is good. It could almost be seen as entertaining, though I think her constant chatter grated a bit too much on me for much amusement, and the behavior of the sheriff and his deputy bothered me a lot - they treated her like a criminal and it wasn't until the H caught up to them that they came clean about the charges being dismissed and them collecting her for her guardian.
So our H - scary gunslinger who thinks of himself as a peacemaker - has a favor called in, and finds himself acting as a US Marshall. And... he'd just spotted someone who fit the description of one of the wanted posters. ( I must interject that shortly before he came to be in this town, he was challenged by a kid in a yellow slicker. Hmmm... Did we get a glimpse of a v. young Angel?). So with a bit of deductive reasoning and a question or two, he heads off and finds himself with... well... And now he has a dilemma - does he turn her in or...?
Our h, accused of killing someone, and robbing a bank, did neither - she was making a withdrawal and the banker gave her someone else's money too by accident - we assume anyway. Is possible he did it deliberately. She's been on the run and hiding for 2 years. And now she's caught.
He doesn't turn her in, for personal reasons, not that he admits that even to himself. Just says it's because she's a girl. Much adventure...ok, hunting down of criminals...later, a kidnapping by the sheriff in her home town, and his running them to ground, a hasty marriage (because otherwise the supposedly dead person has sued for guardianship of her and her brother until she's 21 or married), a bit of intimid-ahh-conversation with said not-dead-yet mayer later, and he gives in and goes to his home...to figure out what's going on. Because...our gunslinging H is the oldest son of a *banker* in Chicago, and he apparently bravely ran away away after shooting his brother for screwing his fiance' and being ordered by dear old dad to marry her anyway.
Thoughts about it. The h talks...a lot... For someone on the run, she doesn't hide her tracks very well. Then again, he would never have seen her in the first place if her friend hadn't let her sleep late.
The H...is maybe a little too good at hiding his emotions, which leads to a lot of uncertainty on the h's part.
The story, in and of itself, is good. It could almost be seen as entertaining, though I think her constant chatter grated a bit too much on me for much amusement, and the behavior of the sheriff and his deputy bothered me a lot - they treated her like a criminal and it wasn't until the H caught up to them that they came clean about the charges being dismissed and them collecting her for her guardian.
March 31, 2020
*Reread Review*
I was super excited to get into book 2 in this series. Tried out the audio via Audible Escape.. while I couldn't exactly find a set reason for not liking the audio, I like to never made it through to the end. Could not stay involved in the audio and eventually just switched back to the physical. In the past this has been my favorite of the series but due to the audio, I found myself constantly irritated with the irrational behavior of the FMC, who in actuality does throw herself into every bad plot every brought in front of her. Its never bothered me before but this audio really brought it to the forefront.
Degan our gun slinging mercenary from book one gets the MC spot here as he travels off to track down some outlaws as a U.S. Marshal for a friend of his. Upon spotting his first outlaw however, Degan is thrown for a loop as the wanted, Max Dawson, is actually a female with a story that noone could believe, himself included. Maxine is bound and determined to stay away from her home town after the town owner tried to force her into a marriage by bedding her. Not only is her old enough to be her grandpa, but her confounded brother tried to save her and the man ended up shot. Not staying around to get in any more trouble Maxine runs off to survive on her own, only to be tracked down by this fancy man and dragged back for a hanging. Things are not as they seem though, and as the couple journey together and get into more and more scrapes and escapades, usually Maxine's fault, Degan begins to realize something is off about Maxine's story and he believes her. Now if only they could find a way to bring the truth out around them..
Once I picked up the physical the pages flew by and I Had absolutely no trouble staying involved in the story. Still is my favorite of this series!
I was super excited to get into book 2 in this series. Tried out the audio via Audible Escape.. while I couldn't exactly find a set reason for not liking the audio, I like to never made it through to the end. Could not stay involved in the audio and eventually just switched back to the physical. In the past this has been my favorite of the series but due to the audio, I found myself constantly irritated with the irrational behavior of the FMC, who in actuality does throw herself into every bad plot every brought in front of her. Its never bothered me before but this audio really brought it to the forefront.
Degan our gun slinging mercenary from book one gets the MC spot here as he travels off to track down some outlaws as a U.S. Marshal for a friend of his. Upon spotting his first outlaw however, Degan is thrown for a loop as the wanted, Max Dawson, is actually a female with a story that noone could believe, himself included. Maxine is bound and determined to stay away from her home town after the town owner tried to force her into a marriage by bedding her. Not only is her old enough to be her grandpa, but her confounded brother tried to save her and the man ended up shot. Not staying around to get in any more trouble Maxine runs off to survive on her own, only to be tracked down by this fancy man and dragged back for a hanging. Things are not as they seem though, and as the couple journey together and get into more and more scrapes and escapades, usually Maxine's fault, Degan begins to realize something is off about Maxine's story and he believes her. Now if only they could find a way to bring the truth out around them..
Once I picked up the physical the pages flew by and I Had absolutely no trouble staying involved in the story. Still is my favorite of this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews