Just West of Heaven [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 13, 2001

Ridge Hawkins doesn't tale the job of sheriff lightly--and Tanglewood, Nevada's transformation from outlaw outpost to civilized small town, is proof of his respect for the law. Ridge doesn't expect trouble from the new schoolteacher, but when she arrives with a precocious daughter in tow--and the suspicious air of a woman harboring a secret--Ridge knows he won't hesitate to deliver it.

Sophie Dolan has never taught a day of school in her life, but she's willing to do anything to keep little Jenna safely away from someone who wants to exploit the child's gift of sight. The fact that Jenna is her sister, not her daughter, is only one of the things that Sohpie needs to hide--and after one run-in with Ridge, she knows exactly whom she has to hide the truth from. The problem is, Sophie has the sight herself, and she knows that the no-nonsense sheriff has not only guessed her secrets,but stolen her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kane offers her reader highly unusual characters and a clever plot...charming."--Booklist

About the Author

KATHLEEN KANE is a native Californian, who still spends most of her time longing for an actual change of season. When she isn't staring out the window daydreaming (she refers to this as plotting), she's writing historical novels with just a touch of wonder in them.

She's been married forever to a very patient man, has two grown children and a psychic Golden Retriever. She loves to travel and incorporates most of her 'adventures' into her stories. She also loves to hear from her readers. Write to her at: P.O. Box 1883, Westminster, California 92684-1883.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (August 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312977662
• ISBN-13: 978-0312977665
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,190 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 A heavenly western romance, August 9, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just West of Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1889 Albany, New York, Sophie Dolan argues with Charles Vinson over the care of her half-sister Jenna. Sophie's recently deceased mother gave guardianship to Charles. He plans to lock the little girl up in a room except when he wants to use her gift for predicting the future to make his fortune on the stock market. Sophie wants Jenna to live a normal, happy life. A desperate, Sophie, accompanied by Jenna, flees to Tanglewood, Nevada where she accepts the job of schoolmarm and pretends to be a widow and Jenna's mom.

In Tanglewood, Sophie has a run in with the sheriff Ridge Hawkins when Jenna calls him "daddy." Sophie remains worried because she believes the "gift" that Jenna has is a curse since it makes people afraid. Although she has fallen in love with Ridge, Sophie assumes that the townsfolk will soon ostracize the little girl for her accurate predictions, making it time to flee again. Ridge must persuade her otherwise.

JUST WEST OF HEAVEN is a heavenly western romance that contains an amusing paranormal twist of a precocious little girl speaking out loud the future of the townsfolk. Sophie and Ridge are wonderful lead characters, but the novel belongs to Jenna who not only innocently saves lives, but also talks to the horses on a first name basis. Fan of western romances with an entertaining sidebar will fully relish Kathleen Kane's refreshing novel and search for the author's previous works such as WISH UPON A COWBOY and CATCH A FALLEN ANGEL.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me giggling -- Very highly recommended, August 1, 2001

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just West of Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1880, Sophie Dolan considers the gift of sight more curse than blessing. In a world of conformity, the ability to see the future or form an empathetic connection to others merely sets her apart from the town folk of Albany, New York. Now the gift threatens to make her little sister Jenna a prisoner of her guardian's greed. Consequently, Sophie flees with the four-year-old child, answering an advertisement for a schoolteacher in Tanglewood, Nevada. Perhaps if they start over, their new anonymity will allow her to protect the child. Too bad Sophie can't hide a vibrant child like Jenna in a world of gray.

Ridge Hawkins once rode with gunmen until a good deed resulted in a pardon and a chance to start over. With a new, intense respect for the law, Ridge sees the world in black and white, never dreaming that Tanglewood's new schoolteacher will bring the concept of "shades of gray" a whole new meaning. Sophie's fiery red hair, passion for rebuilding the school and love for her "daughter" capture Ridge's imagination and set him aflame. Sophie makes this sheriff want far more than a tin star and a fast horse, but he knows she's hiding secrets. The question remains as to how Ridge will react when he realizes that Sophie's a kidnapper. Indeed, with four-year-old Jenna inexplicably insisting upon calling him Daddy, Ridge finds his heart a risk to both females.

Kathleen Kane brings a paranormal element to the Wild West, giving JUST WEST OF HEAVEN a marvelously original, entertaining flair. With strong, loveable characters, well-balanced tension and a vividly realized background, Kane brings a rare sensitivity to her writing style; indeed, JUST WEST OF HEAVEN is perfect for an afternoon's escape from the mundane. Humorous situations and repartee kept me giggling even as emotional by-play touched my heart. I couldn't put this book down as Kane wrapped me in her spell, luring me into a world of romance, friendship, and magic. Very highly recommended.

3.0 out of 5 stars Second sight, October 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Just West of Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

This book caught your interest with its storyline, but Sophie left a trail anyone could have followed. It was an OK story but I just felt that something was missing.