The Mavericks [Large Print] [Paperback]

Leigh Greenwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2006

Hawk and Zeke have been inseparable ever since boyhood—two loners, outsiders, as free as the wild horses they chase across the Arizona desert. So when they join up with two misplaced dancehall girls on the trail, they react about the same way as unbroken mustangs to the saddle. Kicking and bucking at every step of the way, the bachelors are gentled by soft touches and warm caresses until each finds himself riding the range with a brand-new partner.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Greenwood's latest he catches up with Hawk and Zeke, who banded together as the two misfits in the Maxwell clan. Hawk is the son of a Comanche chief and a white woman, and Zeke was a black slave sold to the same farmers who abused Buck in The Cowboys: Buck (1998). Resigned to a future as bachelors and social outcasts, they sink all their money into a small Arizona ranch and a string of horses they plan to breed. As they bring the last of the mares, heavy with foals, home, they spy a broken-down wagon and stop to help. It's full of saloon girls, and Hawk and Zeke elect to escort them on the trail, although their lives are complicated immeasurably by the attraction they feel for two of the women. Greenwood's compelling western romance offers cameo appearances of characters from his earlier series, including Seven Brides, and it is chock-full of action and adventure, brimming with colorful scenery, and bristling with clashes between well-developed characters. Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 479 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597222291
• ISBN-13: 978-1597222297
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,598,882 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 Fabulously Sensitive and Thrilling Western, December 5, 2005

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mavericks (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - Arizona Territory 1888 --- Adopted brothers Zeke and Hawk Maxwell were driving their latest acquisition of broodmares to their newly purchased run-down ranch near Tombstone when they were shot at. They might have expected horse thieves, but what Zeke never expected to find holding the end of the rifle was one of the most beautiful black women he'd ever seen - with an attitude bigger than the state of Texas!

Along with Josie, three other women had been stranded when their wagon had lost a wheel. Suzette, the blonde seemed much more open to accept their help in repairing their wagon, and in gratitude, reluctantly offered to share supper with them. With Zeke being black and Hawk, part Indian, it was difficult to believe that they were brothers. Their explanation of being adopted helped in easing the tension between the men and woman.

Zeke and Hawk thought they'd just be on their way the next day, never to cross paths with the bristly females again, but they realized that to leave the women alone in the desert was not a gentlemanly thing to do. Suzette and Josie protested that they could take care of themselves, though they grudgingly admitted to themselves that the men's escort was comforting. Along the way they discovered that stubborn pride was easier to let go of when sharing the dangers along the trail, especially when love and compassion entered the equation.

*** I truly enjoyed this wildly entertaining and sensitive entry in Leigh Greenwood's `Cowboy' series, but would have entitled it differently - rather than The Mavericks, more appropriately - The Misfits! The lead characters were all so terribly wounded! Each bore childhood betrayals and self-esteem issues that it seemed as though they'd need a miracle, or a bunch of them, to ever get up the gumption to take a chance in accepting one another and the love that blossomed. Greenwood masterfully built relationships and situations that helped to bridge these wonderfully strong characters into would be partners. Additionally, lively dialogs and illuminating descriptions of trudging through the western landscapes pointing out both the beauty and dangers along their journey were great! It is certainly easy to see why Leigh holds his place as a leader in the historical romance genre for his compassionate and sensitive storytelling. I would suggest this as highly recommended reading for all lovers of historical American West romance!

Marilyn, [...]

3.0 out of 5 stars Ladies of the Night, May 23, 2008

By 

Ruth Thompson "Weaver of Tales" (Venice, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mavericks (Mass Market Paperback)

Zeke and Hawk are returning to the ranch with their broodmares and stumble on a wagon with four ladies of the night. They cannot leave the ladies out there on the trail. This is an interesting and entertaining situation. Greenwood takes you on a trip with all these ladies through the wilds of the old west. Are there some attachments made along the way? Read it and find out what happens. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER GREENWOOD GEM..., December 4, 2005

By 

stacey renee (rochester new york) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mavericks (Mass Market Paperback)

MAVERICKS IS A PAGE TURNER IN THE SENSE THAT YOU NEVER WANT IT TO END. THE CHARACTERS ARE MULTI DIMENSIONAL AND THE BOOK FIGHTS STEREOTYPES. BROTHERS HAWK (HALFBREED0 AND ZEKE (HALF BLACK) ARE AS CLOSE AS ANY BROTHERS ADOPTED OR NOT CAN BE. THEY HAD HORRENDOUS CHILDHOODS UNTIL THEY WERE TAKEN IN UNDER THE WINGS OF ADOPTIVE PARENTS OF 11 KIDS. THEY ARE BUILDING A HORSE BREEDING PROGRAQM ON THEIR SMALL RANCH AND ARE TAKING THEIR PRIZED MARES HOME TO FOAL. THEY RUN INTO STRANDED TRAVELLERS LED BY JOSEY (HALF BLACK WOMAN WHO HATES MEN) AND FRENCH CANADIAN JOSETTE WHO WAS A VICTIM OF FAMILY ABUSE. THESE GALS ARE SALOON DANCERS BUT HANDLE A RIFLE AND PISTOL JUST AS WELL AS ANY MAN. FOR VARIOUS REASONS BAD GUYS ARE AFTER THEM AND SO THEY AGREE, RELUCTANTLY, TO TRAVEL TOGETHER.. IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER READ AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHY I LOVED IT. HOW DO MEN AND WOMEN WITH INGRAINED BIASES LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. GREAT DIALOGUE, LOTS OF 'ISSUES', AND JUST PLAIN DELIGHTFUL. INCREDIBLE EVOLUTION OF PEOPLE AND HOW THEY GROW WITH THE HELP OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.....GREAT JOB LEIGH.!! YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY BUY LIST AND THIS ONE IS GREAT.