3: A rare 5 stars!
Wow -- this book works on so many levels. I couldn't put it down except to reach for more Kleenex!It's beautifully written with sharply-defined characters -- one of whom is a "photographer lady" and another a judge who has seen too much death. While many might not consider it a "proper" romance because the romance doesn't start to heat up until halfway through the book, it still is all about the love relationships between people: friends, family, potential lovers. I don't usually read westerns, but I'm sure glad I sat down with this one! Highly recommended -- a definite Keeper for your bookshelf. (Just have at least a quarter box of Kleenex on hand.)
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4: Painted by the Sun- A Splendid Romance
Elizabeth Grayson has been writing since the age of fifteen with her first published book released in 1985. With nine books (including those written under her other name, Elizabeth Kary) under her belt, I would have expected I had heard of her before now. She creates a strong heroine for whom you find yourself cheering. Painted is the story of Shea Waterston, a traveling photographer who was forced to place her toddler son on an orphan train ten years ago. She follows the path that the orphan trains took, moving from town to town in the hopes that someday she will find the child she loved. When she stumbles upon the change to photograph a hanging, she knows it could make her career, only the town judge does not think a woman should watch such brutality. Not one to take no for an answer, the judge places her in a jail cell to ensure she misses the brutal event. Judge Cameron Gaillmore is a stubborn man with no time or love for women. When Shea saves his life, he has no choice but to start trusting her. And pretty soon, he can't fight his growing attraction. But they both have secrets; will those secrets pull them together or rip them apart? A beautifully written story with excellent historical details, you feel as if you are on location watching the story unfold before your eyes. Rich details abound from the minute details of the scents surrounding the characters while out in the wilderness to the textures and colors of the clothes they wear. Cameron and Shea come across as people you know. You feel Shea's heartache from having to give her son away in order to better care for him. I found myself crying right alongside Shea desperately wanting to hold her hand and let her know she was only doing the best for her child. Cameron's stubborn attitude had me wishing I could jump into the book time and time again and help him see around his pride. While it was not an original plot line, there were plenty of refreshing twists and turns to keep the reader excited. After reading this story, I can't wait to find her older books and lose myself in them. Vtavidreader......
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