BOOK REVIEW- FIRE & ICE

BOOK REVIEW- FIRE & ICE-Bailey Wilde is the oldest sister--and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.
Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within it. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land--and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...
Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect--and maybe find love in the process?   AMAZON  I gave it 5 Stars.

I liked this whole series and was so hoping this one didn't disappoint. Good news. I loved it. Bailey was one tough cookie but then she had to be. Life and her father had not been kind to her. Of course, I had read about her in the other 2 books about her sisters. But in this one, we got to see more of what made her tick. Both Bailey and Gage were interesting people. They had some similarities but also just enough differences to make it interesting. Fire & Ice was a good description of the two of them, making the title perfect for this story. When they weren't battling each other, there was plenty of other trouble to be dealt with. There was some twists and turns that kept the story going in a way that I just seemed to fly through the story. It kept me interested. After awhile, Bailey began to see that under Gage's hard ways was a good man. She wasn't a woman who trusted easily especially men, any man. Baley's Pa was one mean, manipulating man, who really didn't value anyone but his dead son, Jimmy. Everything and everyone was supposed to bow to honor him and leave a heritage all about Jimmy. One thing that I found difficult to swallow was Gage, when it came to being a gutless wonder when it came to his mom. I t added to the story but made me want to smack him in the head. Its okay, it does get dealt with at the end, but not before Bailey suffers more; something she really didn't need. Insults are insults even when they are wrapped up in so called kindness.
Faith in God also played a part in this story but without being heavy handed about it.

I received a free copy of this novel from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program, and I am under no obligation to write a positive review.