Historical
Lawless
By Chrissy Dionne
Jul 5, 2008 - 9:39:15 AM

Spring, 1876, Colorado

Laurel Daniels's trip home from visiting her grandmother goes very wrong when her train is held up by a notorious gang and one of them decides to take her as a bonus.  Fortunately, she’s not a weepy, woe-is-me kind of girl.  It’s obvious that she’s scared and just when it seems that her situation can’t be much worse, she becomes the focus of a disagreement amongst the gang.

Cal Riker was horrified when he saw Norton pull the beautiful woman from the train.  He may be running with the gang of outlaws but he isn’t truly one of them.  Rather than let them take turns raping her, Cal offers his share of the profits in exchange for her.  If there’s any hope of his saving her from their lecherous intents then he’ll have to make them believe he wants her all to himself.

Laurel’s shocked to learn that Cal is the legendary killer she’s heard so much about but his actions aren’t what she’d expect of a ruthless man.  It would have been simple for him to take advantage of her but instead he protects her and insists that he’ll deliver her safely to her family. 

Laurel quickly realizes that she’s extremely attracted to Cal and for the first time in her life she’s willing to put her heart on the line. Cal tries to play a tough-as-nails outlaw but there’s a softer side to him.  They spend a lot of time alone together after leaving the gang and neither of them regrets it when they become lovers.  Cal assumes that their time together will come to an end when she returns home.  Laurel has other ideas.  She’s determined to make a life with him and with her family’s influence she’s sure that it’s a possibility.  Is there any hope that he can escape his past and become the model citizen she’s sure he can be?

Emma Wildes tells awesome historical tales and this story is a prime example of why she’s an author on my auto buy list.  LAWLESS is full of all the historical wonders, emotional angst and sexual tension I’ve come to appreciate in my reading material.  Laurel is a spunky character who’s found herself in a difficult situation that would have reduced most women to tearful begging.  Cal is an honorable man who does what he believes is right - and it’s cost him the sort of life that he should have lived.  This is a wonderful tale that leaves you with a smile in your heart which in my opinion is always the best sort of story.