To bounty hunter Jace Gage, Defiance is just another town, another job. A civil war veteran betrayed by love, Jace found a reason to live through the barrel of a gun and clearing out law breakers from Texas to the Dakotas. Jace is bound to rid Defiance of a twisted, greedy Sheriff, who controls the town and everyone in it. Seasoned in dealing with the worst of the worst, Jace knows what he’s up against, but he didn’t expect to stay. He certainly didn’t plan on wanting to call somewhere home again, until he meets Leah.
Defiance is the only home Leah Morgan has ever known. She is a tough, independent woman, who’s used to surviving on her own. To Leah, Jace is just another murdering gunman; albeit a hot, gorgeous gunman who awakens strange emotions in her. He quickly decides to place himself in the role of her protector, though she believes that she’s better off protecting herself. When things get steamy Leah has to decide if this gunman is worth getting involved with or if she’s better off keeping her heart locked away and her sight on survival.
The latest installment in Elaine Levine’s Men of Defiance series is an emotional rollercoaster that gives you a look at the life in the wilderness of the West. Now, I haven’t read any of Levine’s previous Men of Defiance books but you don’t need to. This novel is just as good as a standalone. Though, I can say with a certainty that you will probably find yourself wanting to read the previous stories, as characters from them make guest appearances in this one.
The situations in this book were at some points a little gritty, but I felt that they made the story more realistic. The villain portion of this story is just a small part and more of the conflict is found in the emotional struggles of the hero and the heroine. One of my favorite parts of the book is where the Sheriff is trying to force Leah into a shot gun marriage, I won’t tell you why, and Jace bursts in during the excitement:
Kemp’s face reddened. “Get on with it,” he ordered the shopkeeper.
“I wouldn’t, Jim,” Jace warned.
“Leah’s got to be married. She needs protection.”
“She has my protection.”
Jace glared at the boy named Sean. The kid sent a nervous glance beyond Jace to the sheriff, then back again. Jace arched a brow, and the boy decided to back away.
“If Leah’s marrying anyone today,” Jace said as he took Sean’s spot, “she’s marrying me.”
Whether they marry or not, you’ll have to read to find out. Bottom line: If you’re looking for romance found in the wilderness of the Dakotas, with a dose of what life was like in that time, Leah and the Bounty Hunter is the way to go.
~ Landra |