Review

Jenna Kernan offers up another rousing western historical romance adventure in Gold Rush Groom.

Lily Shanahan is a real pistol and she wears one on her hip.  Lily wants adventure more than anything, and the perfect place is the Yukon during the gold rush. Earning money anyway she can. She provides hauling services in Dyea, Alaska. Lily is immediately struck breathless when a tall, handsome Jack Snow steps off the boat from Seattle.

 Jack Snow looks every inch the greenhorn. Lily needs a partner for the perilous trip to the Yukon and tall strapping Jack could fit the role. With her Newfoundland mix dog Nala, she offers Jack an offer he can't refuse.

Jack in his gentleman finery and his New England accent is also eager to make his fortune. Jack is very young only twenty and handsome as sin, Lily is certainly affected. She is twenty years of age as well. 

Jack is trying to restore his family's fortune that his father lost. Lily is the daughter of an impoverished Irish immigrant. They are from totally different worlds, but decide to partner up for the dangerous journey to Dawson.

The attraction between them is immediate, especially when Lily catches Jack shirtless, washing up. With just a slight touch, the flame is ignited. However attraction takes a back seat while the pair starts out on their journey.

The journey is great; I felt I was right along with them. Lily makes biscuits and sells coffee for extra money on the way. Night after night of sharing the same tent is taking its toll, the attraction is getting harder to ignore. 

Jenna certainly did her research, great detail throughout the book. Jack and Lily give in to their passion during the journey which complicates things. The trip through the rapids was exciting and by the time the couple reach Dawson you are solidly behind them and hoping for a happy ending. Jack and Lily are such opposites but endearingly appealing, 

Once they reach Dawson Jack becomes involved in an invention of his own making and how to sell it. Lily takes a job singing and life moves on. Not for long, a whole new set of adventures crop up drawing in Jack and Lily and drawing them back to each other. Jack is a fine hero, he maybe a young gentleman who went to Princeton, but he is more than up to every adventure that comes his way. Lily is a more than a match for Jack; she may come across as crusty on the outside, but inside is a soft heart. Great characters.

A solid romance/adventure, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Reviewed by Karyn