Customer Reviews

Into the Sunset

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A typical stereotype: Innocent lady branded an outlaw, Federal Marshal with personal interest of crime locates her, they fall in love, happily-ever-after ending.

---NOT!---

Here is one I would NOT call typical! I closed this book with a wonderous sense of warmth, love, and satisfaction! Shelly Thacker gave depth to every character in the small, "has been" silver mining town. I felt the author hinted at a possible book for each one. This book centered on Annie (the innocent AND guilty outlaw) and Lucas (the Federal Marshal).

I believe this to be a stunning story! Well worth purchasing for anyone who loves historical romances even just a tad. I hope this author plans a book for Rebecca, another for the doctor, and a third for Travis!

In 1878, pregnant Antoinette "Annie" Sutton runs from the law even as she grieves the accidental killing of her lover, James McKenna in Missouri. Everyone believes she murdered James. James's brother, renowned US Marshal Lucas McKenna, plans to bring the slut to justice. Adding fuel to his hatred of "Lady" Antoinette is observing his nephew and niece mourning the loss of their beloved father.

Lucas catches up with Annie in Colorado where she is recovering from a miscarriage. He arrests her after she tries to escape, breaking her ribs in the process. To his shock, the townsfolk rally around the whore. Even worse, Lucas finds himself very attracted to the vulnerable woman, who behaves entirely differently than he expected. As she heals from her broken ribs, the lawman and the kept woman of his deceased brother fall in love. Still, the memory of his weeping family reminds him that he must keep his distance.

INTO THE SUNSET is an angst-laden western romance that showcases the talents of super Shelly Thacker. The complex story line builds it energy around Annie,s murder of James and the growing passion between her and her adversary. The lead characters are fun, but it is the various support cast that brings depth and color to a novel that sub-genre fans will relish for years to come.

Harriet Klausner

If you can get past the fact that Annie was first the mistress of Lucas' brother James and then fell for him (Lucas), then you are golden. Annie running from the law after killing James is being pursued by Lucas, James' brother who is also a Marshall. He catches up with her in a small town where many have secrets but who seem to accept Annie as one of their own (well most of them anyway), even after they learn her painful secrets. James sets up a jail in the town to await the end of the snow and keeps her his prisoner. Much to his dismay he finds himself wildly attracted to this brother killer. It's a great story with a great ending. At first I didn't think there was any way this young lady was going to be able to explain what happened and still be innocent but that's probably why I'm not the writer... A must read for anyone who likes Marshalls in small towns and the woman they try to protect.

One of the greatest pleasures in reading is finding a new author who simply oozes talent. Shelly Thacker's INTO THE SUNSET is captivating from start to finish and if this is any indication of this author's storytelling ability, then I plan to read a great deal of Ms. Thacker!

Mini Synopsis:
The Heroine - Annie Sutton is a genuinely good person. She readily offers a quick smile and a tender heart. Which is remarkable, because throughout most of her life, Annie has felt like a fish out of water, but now the people of Eminence, Colorado are offering friendship and protection. And for the first time, Annie begins to feel at home! Difficult to understand? Not really! For Annie Sutton is a generous, admirable and caring person. Still, the question remains: has this former rich man's mistress found true acceptance or will the good people of Eminence turn their backs once they learn of her devastating background?

The Hero - U.S. Marshall Lucas McKenna is a dangerous man who chafes under the prejudice the good folks of Eminence show toward him. Yet, much more annoying are the unfamiliar sensations Antoinette Sutton pulls from him! For the first time in his life, Lucas McKenna is experiencing troubling feelings toward a prisoner! What is wrong with him? What has happened to his judgment? The woman HAS confessed! She has confessed to shooting his brother; she has confused to stealing his brother's money; she has even confessed to a baby - his brother's baby! In Lucas' mind, there is no doubt, Antoinette Sutton is immoral, contemptible and guilty, yet in Lucas' heart, Annie Sutton is courageous, honorable, and very innocent!

Reviewer's Comments:
There are many, many good things in Shelly Thacker's book. First of all, Lucas and Annie are two very enjoyable characters. Annie jumps from the pages as a lovely young woman, who is genuinely distressed over the mayhem her former lifestyle packs. And U.S. Marshal Lucas McKenna appears to be a good lawman, a lawman who doesn't know quite what to do with his prisoner or with his growing masculine feelings! Some good sexual tension crackles between the two, further heightened by the occasional reference to Annie's 'fancy woman' background. And this makes for delightful reading!

So why the slip from this reviewer's PERFECT grade? Although Thacker's dramatic climax is wonderful, it played out a little too tidy or maybe a little too forced! Still in the end, every character got their just dues and for that I was in total agreement! Conclusion: INTO THE SUNSET is a fabulous romance that's as captivating as it is tender. If you find a copy, do buy it, and read it . . . allow Shelly Thacker to steal your heart.

Status: Worth Reading Again
Grade: A-
Sensuality: Tender

MaryGrace Meloche.

Ms. Thacker handles this, her first western, with amazing expertise. She's written a highly unique, innovative, compelling and emotional story you won't want to miss, even if you don't usually read westerns. I was totally captivated by the vivid, introspective characterization and the wealth of unpredictable aspects that only an author of this caliber could have written. A truly fantastic book!

Its an enjoyable story about a women(mistress) who kills her lover and his marshall brother who chases her down. The heroine of the piece comes from a less than ladylike background and bemoans the "i'm nothing, nobody likes me" line much longer than I cared for. In all fairness she is a goodhearted soul who proves to have backbone and eventually stands up for herself.
Lucas, our hero, is full of the "I am god" syndrome.......he gets to know annie and eventually sees thru her goodness that she must be innocent. He than puts hit macho determined "bring her to justice" attitude into the same effort to save her. The cute little town of eminence, col with all its good hearted busybodies is a delight. The 2-3 loves scenes were pretty brief and superficial. I rate a book according to whether I would read it a second time. I had to rate this low because although I enjoyed it, once was enough.

I have just finished reading INTO THE SUNSET and found it a book hard to put down. The plot-story line is so different than the "usual" historical romance a refreshing change! I highly recommend this book.

It is my first book written by Ms. Thacker, needless to say, I am ceertainly going to read more of her writings.

Shelly Thacker's new book, Into the Sunset, is her best yet. A wonderfully suspensful and romantic read about two people who really pull at the heartstrings as they try to do the "right thing". Lucas McKenna a lawman, and Annie Sutton the woman who pulled the trigger on the gun that killed his brother become caught up in events that are beyond their control.They swiftly become people that you care about and you're cheering all the way for both of them.

Having read all of Shelly's books I was estatic to see a new one on the shelves. And once again she has produced a definite page-turner. From the moment I was "introduced" to Annie Sutton and Lucas McKenna I couldn't put this book down. Shelly has a way of drawing you into the story, from Annie's first bumpy moments on a stagecoach to her first meeting with Lucas, through "trials" and tribulations. I laughed and cried and I couldn't imagine how ever in the world Shelly would be able to get her hero and heroine to an ending that I would be happy with. But I should never have doubted her for a moment. So, once more, Shelly has delighted me with a story I have taken to my heart. Now I am patiently impatient for the next book by a truly unique and delightful author.

INTO THE SUNSET is a classic western romance with well developed characters and intrigue, while at the same time achieves a level of tenderness and compassion not often seen in today's romance novels.