To Have And To Hold

WESTERN:  For widow Tempest Whitney life is hard - living in a dirt dugout, with two small children, a drunken father and no one to protect or provide for her. But she'd rather run her ranch on her own than to remarry like everyone in Deception Canyon wants. Tempest's husband Skeet left her two years ago and was then shot and killed robbing a stage. Buck Maddux promised the dying Skeet that he would look after his wife when he found him two years ago.  Unfortunately for Buck's good samaritan works, he was convicted as Skeet's partner-in-crime. When Skeet deeds his land to Buck, he goes in search of Skeet's wife to keep his promise.

Set in Utah in 1888, this is an captivating American historical worth reading for both the adventure and the romance!  Not much is left wanting in this story that incorporates descriptive scenes in setting and era, fine touches of humor and deep characterizations of the protagonists and secondary characters. Tempest's four-year old daughter Angel is a stand-out and the first to break through Buck's reserve. Jonas Creedy is the antagonist and though his character provides the necessary tension and conflict, he is drawn with a somewhat heavy hand and comes across as the stereotypical villain. Nevertheless, 'To Have And To Hold' is a wonderful historical romance:  entertaining, and well worth reading!

Jill MacKenzie