The Education of Madeline (Paperback)

by Beth Williamson (Author)
Key Phrases: Beth Williamson, Miss Brewster, Plum Creek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Madeline Brewster practically owns Plum City, Colorado. But at thirty-two, she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Until she finds a tall, strong, handsome Irishman on the wrong end of the hangman's noose. Suddenly this unconventional woman comes up with an outrageous idea...Teague O'Neal has rugged cheekbones, tousled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, even if he is caked in Colorado mud. The men insist they caught him horse-thieving, and there's something desperate about him that says he'd do anything for a buck. Maybe it was pure chance, or maybe it was something more that brough Madeline and Teague together. But one thing's clear, between a woman who has just about everything she could ever want, and a man who's lost that and more, they might find something in between worth living for.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Brava (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758234694
• ISBN-13: 978-0758234698
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #343,147 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun Reconstruction Era romance, March 8, 2009

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1872 in Plum City, Colorado, at thirty-two years of age, Madeline Brewster feels her chance for happiness has passed her by. She has never found love and besides the locals place her as out of reach due to her family owning much of the town. Making her loneliness feel worse, the spinster cannot even bury her isolation by managing her family fortune; her stepfather controls her family's wealth since her mom died.

Irishman Teague O'Neal arrives in town only to be accused of being a horse thief. The mob starts to lynch him, but Madeline intercedes. She offers the handsome rogue a deal: his life for teaching her the pleasure of being a woman. Feeling roped in, he agrees. As they fall in love, someone wants Madeline dead while Teague is willing to die to keep his beloved safe.

The lead couple is an interesting duo as none of the townsfolk would expect the spinster to fall in love especially with an Irish rogue. Although her stepfather is never fully developed beyond villainous status, Western romance readers will feel transported to Reconstruction Era Colorado to bear witness to the love between the on the self feisty female and the rakish handsome horse thief.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprised, March 25, 2009

By	[e-mail] "Roni@romancebooksc... (Oakley, California) - See all my reviews

Not generally one to like period pieces or westerns, I was pleasantly surprised after reading The Education of Madeline. I loved the authors writing style and the plot behind the story. The fact that women were so mistreated in those days is well documented and the author incorporates the issues well in her book. I liked both the heroines strength and the heros weakness for her. Both tortured souls Madeline and Teague make a perfect match. I love the ending to the story as well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Bookmarks from Wild on Books!, February 28, 2009

By	Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Madeline Brewster knows she shouldn't be eavesdropping but is unable to help it. From what she can gather, a man is going to be hung for stealing a horse. The situation is perfect for what Madeline has in mind. She has a plan but before it can work, she has to get to the accused horse thief before the sheriff in order to save his life. Madeline rushes and makes it to the end of town and finally is able to convince the country sheriff to allow the man to remain in her custody for thirty days, long enough for the judge to show up and oversee his trial. With the dirty, ragged man in tow Madeline sets off for her home and the first thing on the agenda is a bath for her new tenant.

Madeline thinks about what she needs to do while the man, Teague O'Neal, bathes. After he finishes and Madeline sees him, she is understandably shaken. What once was a dirty, smelly, and shabby man has been replaced by one of the most handsome and compelling men she has ever seen. Now all she has to do is convince Mr. O'Neal to overlook her shortcomings and agree to oversee her education - her sexual education.

Teague O'Neal doesn't really care what happens to him - he is tired, worn out, and has pretty much given up. But, his bout of feeling sorry for himself comes to an end when a tantalizing but forceful spinster comes to his aid and keeps him from hanging. He knows she has a hidden agenda, what about however, he has no idea. After his bath, Teague can't believe what he is hearing. His new jailer, albeit a red haired beautiful one, wants Teague to educate her in the art of what goes on between a man and a woman. Unable to give her an answer Teague asks for time to decide. Three days later, Teague's will power is shot. Madeline is about to become educated and Teague can't wait to be her professor!

THE EDUCATION OF MADELINE by Beth Williamson is a terrific and wicked hot western historical romance. Teague and Madeline's attraction for each other starts as a slow simmer which leads up to a full blown, fiery hot, scorching love. Teague's coming clean to Madeline endeared him to me but most of all, I love him for the way he treats Madeline. His loyalty to her is what makes his character shine. Madeline, a woman begging to foist off the constraints and archaic rules for women of this time period, is a force all of her own. She does not suffer fools lightly and I watched more than once in awe at how devoted she was to her friends and how nicely she dealt with people who treated her horribly. I could not have been as kind.

Fans of well written, evocative, and fascinating historical romances with a western twist and touch of alpha manliness won't want to miss a single word of THE EDUCATION OF MADELINE. So, grab some spurs, a lariat, and a lace up corset and get ready for the naughty goodness that is Teague and Madeline's story!

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***