BOOK REVIEW- RACHEL AND THE HIRED GUN

When Rachel Douglas left her aunt's house in Virginia for the wilds of the Dakota Territory, she knew the journey would be long and arduous. But she didn't realize that she had been summoned west to be used as a pawn in a ranch war with her father's neighbor--or that her fierce, sudden attraction to Sager, her father's hired gun, would put her heart and her life in jeopardy. 

Seducing Rachel and feeding a bitter feud between the two ranches was Sager's plan of vengeance against those who slaughtered his Shoshone family. Instead, Rachel's guileless mix of courage and vulnerability touches the conscience he thought he'd buried long ago, and draws them both into a passion without rules, without limits--one that will change their destinies forever. . . AMAZON 4.5 STARS


This story starts with action right out the gate.  I really enjoyed this book.
It doesn't take long to realize that so many people have taken advantage of Rachel.  I think a better way to say it is that they used her.  To her aunt and uncle she was treated as a servant.  Even when she is taken under a family's sponsorship on the wagon-train.  They were getting the best of the deal, with her once again being treated like an overworked, undervalued servant.  Yes, she escaped the unbearable situation with the aunt and uncle but once again she had to walk a tightrope in order to survive.  Kindness was something she had not experienced much and those two things were just a quick view into how ill-treated she had been.  She was an interesting contrast;  she was so brave and stood up when she had to but even as Sager noticed she was also afraid of what he thought were strange things.  They weren't that strange when you got to see why she was afraid of it.  Then it made perfect sense.    Sager, was a different kettle of fish, he had some years of being loved in a family but he also had his share of great sorrow.  And some of it was continuing on into his adult years in this story.  I liked both of them a lot and it was easy to get drawn into their story. There were many times when Sager showed kindness and tenderness towards Rachel. Even when he knew it was probably going to bring trouble at some point or other.  Of course it wasn't just kindness and tenderness that he felt for her; there also was a really strong physical attraction too.  And she began to feel it too.
There were some pretty interesting secondary people in the cast and Sager's brother, Blue Thunder was just one of them.  Sid, Logan and Old Jack are a few others.  I'm not going to mention the villains of the piece, because why ruin it for future readers?  Just to let you know there will be action, twists and turns and a few surprises.  A few sex scenes and romance that has to fight its way into a HEA.
This story starts with action right out the gate. I really enjoyed this book.
It doesn't take long to realize that so many people have taken advantage of Rachel. I think a better way to say it is that they used her. To her aunt and uncle she was treated as a servant. Even when she is taken under a family's sponsorship on the wagon-train. They were getting the best of the deal, with her once again being treated like an overworked, undervalued servant. Yes, she escaped the unbearable situation with the aunt and uncle but once again she had to walk a tightrope in order to survive. Kindness was something she had not experienced much and those two things were just a quick view into how ill-treated she had been. She was an interesting contrast; she was so brave and stood up when she had to but even as Sager noticed she was also afraid of what he thought were strange things. They weren't that strange when you got to see why she was afraid of it. Then it made perfect sense. Sager, was a different kettle of fish, he had some years of being loved in a family but he also had his share of great sorrow. And some of it was continuing on into his adult years in this story. I liked both of them a lot and it was easy to get drawn into their story. There were many times when Sager showed kindness and tenderness towards Rachel. Even when he knew it was probably going to bring trouble at some point or other. Of course it wasn't just kindness and tenderness that he felt for her; there also was a really strong physical attraction too. And she began to feel it too. You just wondered when they were going to give into it. There was times of such tenderness between the two of them and not just on Sager's part.
There were some pretty interesting secondary people in the cast and Sager's brother, Blue Thunder was just one of them. Sid, Logan and Old Jack are a few others. I'm not going to mention the villains of the piece, because why ruin it for future readers? Just to let you know there will be action, twists and turns and a few surprises. A few sex scenes and romance that has to fight its way into a HEA.

I don't think I have read any books by this author before. But since I really liked this one, I will be looking to read more of them.