Customer Reviews

Her Lone Protector

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Mercenary Creed Sherman returns to California to discover his love married to his father. Hurt, he intends to go back to his mercenary ways but his plans change after meeting Italian immigrant Gina.

Gina has come to America with her mother with big plans. She wants to open her own dress shop but currently she and her mother work in a shirt factory. Gina witnesses arson in the factory and is separated from her mother in the fire. She is saved from certain death by Creed.

When he discovers that she knows the arsonist and that this same man is leading a band of anarchists he realizes he has to protect her and that means getting her out of Los Angeles to his father's ranch. She resists this plan because she believes her mother is alive and she wants to search for her in the city. Ultimately, Creed wins this battle and the two stay in a line shack. Creed, being a patriot, has every intention of sneaking into the anarchist group to disrupt their plans to assassinate President McKinley.

Gina is determined to assist. This is where the novel became troublesome. Gina becomes a heroine I very much dislike. She never listens to reason, is stubborn, prideful and so bent on her own revenge that she endangers those around her. Several times she must be rescued from her own plans. Her redemptive quality is a real desire to bring peace to Creed and his family and she accomplishes this pretty smoothly.

The romance between these two is not all consuming. Their romantic scenes are a bit lukewarm. Creed is a bit overprotective but it is understandable since he is the expert when it comes to violent men. Gina is just too headstrong. The events surrounding the romance, arson, anarchists and assassins, were much more interesting than Creed and Gina's story.

I maintain a good review must list some or most of the characters ---

Creed Sherman has returned from his mercenary [soldier] pursuits in 1898 in the hopes of marrying Mary Catherine, the girl from the ranch next to the Sherman ranch. Just outside of Los Angles.

On his way in he stops off at Collett's Fine Ladies Wear to pick up a gift for Mary Catherine - after a bit of flirting on Collett's part he meets up with Graham Dooling who is with the United States Treasury Department's Secret Service division. Not even the President was going to stop him from going home.

When he arrives home his world is shattered ------- he meets up with Marcus, his brother and the problems start.

Would you believe he is riding a Palomino, not exactly meant to melt into the background at night.

Then he meets Gina Briganti from Sicily and saves her from the factory fire and takes her to her tenament appartment - but Gina is desperate to find her mother. Therein lies the backbone of the story, well almost.
The fire being started by the revolutionist, Nikolai, who wanted freedom from everything. Creed must use all his skills to seek out the dangers to the President and keep Gina safe.

With Gina's knowledge of the Mafia I am surprised that she has so little sense of self-preservation and like most females seems to put herself in danger with no thoughts of the consequences. Nieve or just plain dumb?

So, yup, there is attraction that builds? and gets acted upon? again the hormones seems to drive the characters. Ah well.

The story is very good entertainment - will definitely recommend --m

Once again, Mrs. Crooks has written an enjoyable book to read. She is blessed with a skill that I envy! I recommend any of her books. You will not be disappointed.