Customer Reviews

The Education of Madeline

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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 What once was a dirty, smelly, and shabby man has been replaced by one of the most handsome and compelling men she has ever seen.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***

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

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.

Author Beth Williamson has written an old-fashioned, sexy, historical, western novel that pulls you in at the first page. Madeline Brewster and Teague O' Neal are two of the most unlikeliest of people to be brought together. She practically owns Plum Creek, Colorado and at 32 she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Despite his rugged cheekbones, touseled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, he finds himself at the end of the hangman's noose. Madeline comes up with an outrageous idea and what follows is a most enjoyable read that keeps you turning page after page to see what's going to happen next to these two unlikely people from 1872.
Ms. Williamson is a breath of fresh air to the writing world. She is able to tell a great story that definitely will have you putting her at the top of your list of 'must read' book list. She is an author on the move. This is a keeper.

Just love the story line and the plot. Read all three books and they where great. Can't wait the another series from Beth Williamson. Just love her books.

I'm beginning to enjoy romance with a western story line or maybe I just love the cowboy types. Anyway I loved the story and I loved the 2 main characters. Their chemistry was electric. I especially like the insight into the plight of women back then.

Madeline Brewster may own the vast majority of Plum Creek, Colorado, and have enough money for two lifetimes but she's lonely, a spinster, and a virgin. While she secretly dreams of finding love and marrying, realistically she accepts that she's tied to this town and has no prospects. Madeline's willing to settle for a man who will teach her about the intimacies between a man and woman.

Teague O'Neal lives the life of a drifter. He'd stopped caring about actually living with any sense of a purpose. He'll do just about anything for money that he then throws away on booze and prostitutes. When he gets caught with a horse that doesn't belong to him he's charged with horse thievery because the owner would never give him up. Because stealing a horse is a hanging offense, he unwittingly becomes a key player in some of the town citizen's plot against Madeline.

When Madeline hears talk of a hanging about to take place, she realizes that this is her chance to get a man to teach her about sexual intimacy. Because the law is corrupt and both the judge and the sheriff are idiots, Madeline is aware that the man about to be hanged is more than likely not a horse thief. With the owner of the horse out of town for a month, there's no way to question him about the drifter's story. Madeline will not allow these incompetent fools to hang an innocent man and takes him into her home while they await Old Clem's return in order to verify or disprove Teague's story. Madeline is blissfully unaware that the almost hanging is a set up. Everyone is aware of just how much Madeline hates hangings and having her interrupt this one and allow him to stay in her home is all part of the plan to destroy her. Nobody expects her to capture Teague's heart or to fight back.

Once again, Beth Williamson has delivered an awesome tale full of intrigue, passion, realistic kick-butt characters. THE EDUCATION OF MADELINE is a story you will fall in love with. Madeline has spent her whole life in the shadow of her father, even though he's deceased, she still pays for his 'crimes.' Teague has been through his own private hell and is merely existing. Madeline's gentle manner and caring nature touch him far more than he wants to admit. I love that Madeline decides to fight back against the people behind the plot against her. Two of the characters that I adored and I would love to know what happens with their situation are Madeline's friends, Micah and Eppie. They're both wonderful characters and deserve their own happily ever after. Fortunately, Eppie and Micah will have their own story entitled THE REDEMPTION OF MICAH and it's due for release July 2009
The Redemption of Micah

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)