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5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL LOVE STORY!, Jul 26 2002
Not passion driven but a wonderful love story where the man respects his woman enough to marry her before seducing her.U.S. Marshal Jonathan Cleary was recouperating from being wounded and on an undercover assignment when he found Augusta McBride. Augusta had left the East and moved to Collins Creek, Texas after passing through Dallas where she was being hounded by Roger Hampton for her inheritance. She has a driving ambition to help save the "soiled doves" and give them a haven if they want to change their lives.
She has picked up 4 young women who need help -- Honey - Pearl - Janine and most recently Glory and has Bertha to help with the cooking and teaching these girls to learn homemaking. In asking for funds to help with her house, Augusta must have caught Cleary in a very weak moment for he showed up the next day to offer his physical help with repairs around the grounds. Their developing love story and "Gussie's" determination to remain a spinster lead to some great dialogue - with both of them holding secrets from each other. And then Cleary begans to suspect that he jailed Augusta's brother. He knows that that information will put paid to his wooing. Then he comes over one night after being wounded again and Augusta helps take him home and stays with him all night. Not ignoring the fact that he was laid out flat and in no condition to make a move on Augusta, when the preacher and his wife show the next morning, Cleary insists on marrying Augusta. [grin] He was no fool. Now she was his wife. [sneaky devil]. [Ouch!] Augusta's brother, Wilson shows up and causes a flurry with the ladies, especially the pregnant Honey. Augusta must decide where her loyalities lay. Don't want to give everything away - Definitely Recommended -- Wonderful love story - great characters - great author. Closer to my idea of what a lot [not all] of the characters actually were like in that day and age.
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