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Amanda Bradshaw dreams of the Old West where a man would protect his lady with his dying breath. She can't find anyone like that in modern day New York. She is a librarian, and volunteers at a museum in an Old West reenactment. She receives a book about a town named Calico, and an outlaw named Matt Mallory. She is fascinated by his appearance and finds herself drawn to his photo. While she's volunteering, the museum curator nudges her into a hole in his office. She falls and lands in a stagecoach as it arrives in Calico.
Matt Mallory is a man with a watch he found that opens time portals. He found Amanda and knew she was the woman for him. He's a rancher outside Calico, and is vilified by the townspeople who believe him to be a thief. The marshal, Austen Riley seems to lead the pack. Matt doesn’t defend himself against the accusations, and his men are rowdy whenever they come to town. Matt is impatient for Amanda who is now known as Amy to recognize they were made for each other. He is quite pushy in his pursuit of her. And the more he pushes, the further she draws back.
It is only when Amy sprains her ankle, and needs care, that she allows herself to get to know Matt. To her surprise, he is nothing like the rumors about him, and she falls in love. The love scenes are hot, and tender. But an enemy lurks, wanting to ruin Matt and claim Amy for himself. Matt and Amy have to pull together to save each other and their relationship from their adversary.
Jennifer Lynn has written good dialogue and an interesting plot, however, there were holes in the story, such as how Matt found Amanda, that detract from the main plot. Her hints about the villain are too direct and spoil the mystery. In addition, there is a sequence in the beginning of the book that is strongly reminiscent of the neighbor in Romancing the Stone, even to her calling the heroine “Pumpkin”.
I enjoyed the book, but it’s not quite in the keeper category.
Reviewed by Nancy
Riggins-Hume for The Road to Romance
June 9, 2004
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