Bed of Roses [Paperback]

Rebecca Paisley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 1996

In a hidden canyon of the Sierra Madres in Mexico, Zafiro Talavera is the caretaker of her grandfather's once-fearsome band of outlaws, and the task is not easy.  She is constantly watching out for bounty hunters and other desperados searching for the loot her grandfather has hidden away.  Equally daunting is coping with the eccentricities of the decrepit Talavera Gang.  Zafiro's most fervent dream is of living in a normal town with a normal family.  Then into her carefully guarded "fortress" comes a mysterious, wounded man known only as Sawyer.  Has he come to steal her gold or her heart?



She enlists Sawyer to teach her men to be the outlaws they once were so they can defend themselves against the evil bandit sworn to steal Zafiro away from them.  Sawyer resists the task of teaching a drunk, a deafman, and a codger who believes himself to be St. Peter how to ride and shoot.  But when the threat finally comes, Sawyer and the men rally, defeat the enemy and save Zafiro.  



Paisley is a master comedienne.  This delightful story has characters that will make you laugh out loud and a love story that will give you goosebumbs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers charmed by Paisley's fanciful Basket of Wishes will find the same sparkling writing and funny characterization in her latest historical set in Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains. Sawyer Donovan is suffering from amnesia when he stumbles across the hideout of Zafiro Maria Quintana. Zafiro inherited many things from her father, but chief among them was guardianship of his multifarious band of geriatric outlaws: deaf 73-year-old Lorenzo; moonshine-guzzling Maclovio; and Pedro, a Saint Peter the Apostle wannabe. Then there are the hangers-on like Azcuar, an ex-prostitute who, at 82, believes she is still in her prime; 71-year-old Tia, who is convinced that Sawyer is her long-lost little boy; a bed-hogging chicken; a pet cougar; and Zafiro herself, who constantly fractures idioms by saying things like, "my ears are telling lies" when she means, "I can't believe my ears." The love story between Sawyer and Zafiro is a good conventional yarn, but it is the charming and eccentric Quintana gang that takes it to a higher level.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

In a hidden canyon of the Sierra Madres in Mexico, Zafiro Talavera is the caretaker of her grandfather's once-fearsome band of outlaws, and the task is not easy. She is constantly watching out for bounty hunters and other desperados searching for the loot her grandfather has hidden away. Equally daunting is coping with the eccentricities of the decrepit Talavera Gang. Zafiro's most fervent dream is of living in a normal town with a normal family. Then into her carefully guarded "fortress" comes a mysterious, wounded man known only as Sawyer. Has he come to steal her gold or her heart?

She enlists Sawyer to teach her men to be the outlaws they once were so they can defend themselves against the evil bandit sworn to steal Zafiro away from them. Sawyer resists the task of teaching a drunk, a deafman, and a codger who believes himself to be St. Peter how to ride and shoot. But when the threat finally comes, Sawyer and the men rally, defeat the enemy and save Zafiro.

Paisley is a master comedienne. This delightful story has characters that will make you laugh out loud and a love story that will give you goosebumbs. Copyright 1996 by Rebecca Boado Rosas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 389 pages
• Publisher: Dell (May 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440221579
• ISBN-13: 978-0440221579
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,745,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutly Wonderful!! I give it a ten!!!!, December 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bed of Roses (Paperback)

In some places this story was so poignant I felt it deep down and in others I laughed so hard my sides split! Each character is unusual in his or her way. There is Sawyer Donovan who does not remember anything other than his name. As it turns out he has a very mysterious past. Zafiro Quintana who loves American expressionism, except she always mangles the expressions and they turn out quite different then the way it originally was meant to be. The cast of secondary characters lead for much comic relief Azucar, a former prostitute, who is over eighty, but still believes she is the reavishing temptress she once was. Sawyer is her next customer. Tia, who young son died many years ago. She believes Sawyer to be that son and she treats him as is he were a little boy. Maclovio, who his constantly drunk and threatens repeatedly to smash Sawyers face in. Lorenzo, who is so deaf that one has to shout at him and even then he always misunderstands. Pedro, who believes himself to be Saint Peter and is always telling bible stories except he never gets them quite right and what he comes up is always an hilarious combination. I guarantee you will laugh your whole way through. You'll have no choice, between these unusual characters and the man eating chicken who lays eggs on Sawyers bed and peck marks up and down his arm to the lovable mountain lion, Mariposa, who first tries to kill him and then adores him and Caraje the vicious black stallion. You won't regret reading this book so go ahead and buy it, you'll never forget it!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time classic funnies!, December 16, 2002

By 

BarkLessWagMore (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bed of Roses (Paperback)

I originally submitted this review in 1996 (before Amazon created the About You Page) and am resubmitting it under my public account as directed by Amazon's Customer Service. The original review will be deleted via Amazon.

Zafiro Quintana is the sole provider and caretaker for an aging group of outlaws. Zafiro and her wacky gang are hiding from the law and a madman who wants to kidnap Zafiro. You see, she possesses the ability to sense danger.

Sawyer Donovan stumbles upon the hideway and is nearly murdered by Zafiro's pet cougar. Zafiro fears Sawyer is a threat to her *family* and decides that he must die. It's a darn shame he just happens to be the most gorgeous creature she's ever laid eyes on. Instead of killing him outright she takes him prisoner.

What follows made me laugh out loud. This book contains some of the most hilarious scenes I've read yet. The *snake* scene is priceless. What I love most about Paisley's writing is that while she has the rare ability to make me laugh she can also make me cry buckets with her tender characterization and gut wrenching scenes. Her many characters are well drawn and add charm (as well as laughs) to the story. I enjoyed and never became annoyed by all of these wacky, wild characters. Zafiro is a lovable nut and Sawyer is a wounded soul that is absolutely to die for. I give this one my highest rating and highly recommend it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly enchanting story!, January 31, 2001

By 

inkypink (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bed of Roses (Paperback)

I've never read Rebecca Paisley before but decided to pick this up because everyone just have been giving her books such glowing reviews! I am glad I did, because this book was spectacular. It was just so beautifully written - I felt totally immersed in the story, the characters just spring out of the book. The main characters of Zafiro and Sawyer are just amazing. As are all the secondary characters. The interactions between each other are just spectacular, this book had me laughing out loud more than a couple of times! I definitely recommend this book, I'm surely reading more Rebecca Paisley from now on.