Audrey and the Maverick [Mass Market Paperback]

Elaine Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

Virginia financier Julian McCaid has put his troubled past behind him. His plans for the future don't include Audrey Sheridan, the extraordinary frontier woman he met just once. But it's because of her that he's come to the Dakota Territory to investigate problems at his ranch. And it's all the more surprising when he discovers she isn't the innocent he believed. Now nothing but her complete surrender will purge her from his soul. If it weren't for the children she cares for in her makeshift orphanage, Audrey would have left Defiance long ago. Now the sheriff is blackmailing her to distract the man who might derail his corrupt schemes - a man who can offer Audrey not just protection, but a passion bold enough to make them claim their place in this harsh and beautiful land...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It’s 1868 in the Dakota Territory, and young Audrey Sheridan is so busy trying to make enough money to feed her brother and the eight orphaned and abandoned children she’s brought into her small house that she doesn’t notice the changes in the town of Defiance until it’s too late. Once a respectable place to live, Defiance has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff and his band of ruffians. Now the sheriff wants to use Audrey to gain control over Julian McCaid, who has come from Virginia to check out the reports of trouble on his ranch. The sheriff threatens to kill Audrey’s little band of children one-by-one if she doesn’t obey him. Then Audrey begins to fall for Julian, and their romance puts all of them in danger. This is the second book in the exciting Men of Defiance trilogy, following Rachel and the Hired Gun (2009). Stay tuned for coverage of the next book in the series. --Shelley Mosley

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books; Original edition (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420105523
• ISBN-13: 978-1420105520
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT MY WORK:

I make stuff up. And I have fun doing it.

Genre fiction gives me the perfect medium to build worlds where readers can join me for fun adventures. Pick up one of my Men of Defiance historical western romances and slip your fingers around the Colt .45 of a legendary gunslinger, be a scout for a wagon train, or ride shotgun on a stagecoach. Pick up one of my Red Team romantic suspenses and join the battle against international druglords and home-grown terrorists with a hot team of counter-terror experts.

Romance fiction lets you be, for a few sweet hours, something you're not. Which is cool, because every time you look at life through someone else's eyes, you learn more about yourself.

So read often...become who you were meant to be.

And email me => [e-mail]. I love hearing from readers! Drop by my website (www.elainelevine.com) for more information about my books!

ABOUT ME:

I was born a poor, white child into a modestly affluent family, third daughter to a father who wanted only sons. I cooked and cleaned and mended my evil stepmother's and stepsister's ball gowns until my very own Prince Charming stole me away. We had two beautiful children, a boy and girl, who left our granola-eating, tree-hugging family to be warriors and, well, Republicans. Our son heard the siren call of the woman he loves and presented Prince Charming and me with two beautiful grandchildren, a girl and a boy. Our daughter continues on the warrior's path and yearns for a lifemate more alpha than she but has an adorable to dog to occupy her attention in the meantime. And if you believe this fairytale, you'll certainly love my books, so give them a try!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner, February 15, 2010

By 

Haley "Mama to 3 boys" (Roll Tide) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Audrey and the Maverick (Mass Market Paperback)

I couldn't wait for this book after reading Rachel and the hired gun. Audrey is struggleing to make ends meet raising her brother and 8 orphaned children. (She's not much more than a child herself) Julian McCaid has a scarred past and they were brought together when Audrey pick pocketed Julian. He does not know she is being controlled by the corrupt sheriff of the town. This is a great book, I have to say it had a slow start for me. I wasn't sure I would get into it at first but the more I read the more I wanted to read. My only complaint would be the communication between Audrey and Julian. I never understood why she didn't want him to know the smallest orphan wasn't hers. She knew he believed her to be a whore at one time and then believe she had been raped. I understood why she kept the other 7 a secret from him for a while, she was worried about their safty because of the sheriff. But why let him think the only one he had seen and knew about was hers? If they had talked more it would have solved so much between them. But The good side of the book way out numbers the bad. The charaters were great, Elaine Levine does a great job describing the scene and making you feel like your there. The kids are wonderful. My favorite parts in the book involved the children. I loved the charaters and loved the story, I can't wait for the next story that I assume will be Jace and Leah:) You also get to hear from Sager and Rachel a time or two in this book which was nice. I recommend this book along with Rachel and the hired gun. Happy reading:)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!, March 2, 2011

By 

jstpeachy (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audrey and the Maverick (Mass Market Paperback)

Audrey and the Maverick was a great read, once I started I couldn't put it down!

Audrey has been put in a difficult situation by the town's corrupt sheriff. He is threatening her makeshift family, consisting of eight adopted children and her brother, in order to keep Julian McCain occupied and out of town. After Audrey pickpockets Julian she is made to head out to Hell's Gulch, Julian's ranch, to become the cook and work off her debt. In the attempt to keep her involvement with the Sheriff's plans a secret she also keeps her children a secret, except for young Amy who she brings along.

Julian has desired Audrey since their first meeting the previous year. However he has a plan for his life, primarily his unborn children's lives, that includes marrying a woman that can trace her bloodline back to the founding fathers. He is quick to make assumptions about Audrey that help to ease his conscience while he attempts to seduce her into his bed.

With the Sheriff riling up the bordering ranchers, Julian finds that he not only has to keep his ranch safe but Audrey safe as well.

I read Audrey and the Maverick as part of a challenge, "Read a book that has been rated D or F on All About Romance." I waited until after I finished reading the book before I read the review placed on their site. I am pleased to disagree with the reviewer in this case. I found this book to be quite enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and I am looking forward to Jace's story!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun western romance, February 18, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Audrey and the Maverick (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1868, Virginian financier Julian McCaid returns to his ranch in Defiance, Dakota Territory. He muses how far he has come from his rustic rough roots as he plans on marrying a Southern belle.

However, he has one flaw with his perfect pan for the perfect family: Audrey Sheridan. She has issues caused by the return of Julian. Sheriff Kemp and his henchmen order her to cause havoc and distraction for Julian; or he will kill her family of young orphans. She steals Julian's money and obtain job as a cook on his spread. As she admires her employer and falls in love with him, she knows she cannot afford to be distracted by her heart as the sheriff is the crooked deadly law in town. At the same time Julian is revising his plan for the perfect family.

This western romance sequel to Rachel and the Hired Gun stars another Virginian who falls in love in the Wild West. The cast makes the tale fun to read as the lead couple has some history, a present and apparently a doubtful future. The villain is terrific as Elaine Levine purposely makes him over the top of the Mount Rushmore (not built yet) as a nasty who uses orphan kids to extort what he wants. Readers will enjoy the escapades of Audrey and the Maverick who repaints his vivid picture of the perfect family.

Harriet Klausner