Customer Reviews

Much Ado About Marshals

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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Award-winning novelist Jacquie Rogers has surpassed her Down Home Ever Lovin' Mules Blues with a delightful new western romance. She brings her unique humor to create comedic relief in Much Ado About Marshals, currently available as an eBook. The paper version will be available next month.

The story, set in the late 1800's in Idaho Territory, is well splintered with historical bits and pieces as the heroine Daisy Gardner, a twenty-two year old spinster, resists marriage to a rancher, and being stuck in the hinterland forever. What does Ms Gardner want in life? She wants to be a detective-- a female detective just like Honey Beaulieu, the lead character in her favorite pulp novel series.

The small Idaho town, Oreana has hired its first town marshal, Sidney Adler. However, because of a gunshot wound in the leg, Sidney's arrival is delayed. The guy doesn't realize that Daisy Gardner plans to plant herself in his life as his wife and in that way continue her life's desire to be a detective.

Her plans are complicated by a bank robber who also suffers a gunshot wound in the leg. Unwittingly, she mistakes him as Sidney Adler, the town's new marshal. Things just get western wild after this.

Rogers' love of western history shines as she brings her characters to life upon the author's stage. Much Ado About Marshals is entertainment.

Set in 1885, Oreana, Idaho Territory. Daisy Gardner is a twenty-two year old spinster. Though she has nothing against marriage, Daisy does not want to end up wed to some rancher and stuck out in the sticks forever. Daisy wants to be a female detective, just like Honey Beaulieu, the lead character in her favorite dime novel series. Recently, Oreana has hired its first town marshal, Sidney Adler. But Adler's arrival has been delayed due to his being shot in the leg. Daisy plans to woo and wed the new marshal as soon as possible. (It is the only way she could continue with her detective work and be married at the same time.) So when a man named Bosco Kunkle rides into town asking for a doctor to help an unconscious man near town (who has a gunshot wound in his leg), everyone assumes the new marshal has arrived.

Cole Richards runs a ranch on Sinker Creek. Two miners, Porker and Gib Rankin, have sluiced his ranch's creek into a muddy dribble. Cole makes the mistake of telling Bosco that if the bank in Silver City loans the miners any money, the ranch would then be in a world of trouble. Bosco, who is not too bright at times but is the best-hearted man Cole has ever known, decides to rob the bank of the miners' would-be money. While trying to stop Bosco, Cole ends up getting his leg shot by the female teller, Iris, and the duo find themselves on the run.

After blacking out, Cole revives to find himself in the small town of Oreana and being sworn in as Marshal Sidney Adler. He cannot do much about the misconception except play along, or he and Bosco (who has been sworn in as a deputy) would be suspected of holding up the bank in Silver City. Cole plans to leave town as soon as his wound allows, but who should happen to be in Oreana than the Rankin brothers? Cole decides it is in his best interests to play marshal for a bit and find out what the miners are up to.

Daisy has just received a fingerprinting kit in the mail, the latest in crime solving advancements, when a stranger enters town claiming to be Adler. Subtle clues inform Daisy that the man is lying. This stranger is hardly gotten rid of before another one appears. However, this short stranger really is Sidney Adler. Upon learning that "Marshal Adler" has been keeping Oreana running pretty smoothly for a month, Sidney's decides to keep his real name hidden until he could figure out who is impersonating him and why. So he introduces himself as Sam Jones.

While all this is going on, Cole is doing his best to avoid Daisy. Her parents do not want Daisy to wed a lawman because they often die young, leaving their widows and children without income or protection. Unfortunately, Daisy is not making it easy for Cole to avoid her. In fact, she is as wily as a fox and determined to rope her marshal. As Cole is slowly losing his ability to dodge Daisy's lasso, Daisy's sister comes to Oreana to visit her family. The sister turns out to be Iris, the lady who had shot him in Silver City. Should Iris see them, Cole and Bosco may hang.

***** FIVE STARS! A hilarious, yet romantic, comedy of errors and assumptions that kept my emotions in constant turmoil. One minute I am nodding and agreeing with Daisy's logical deductions, the next I am worried she is sticking her nose into the business of someone who would cut if off her face. One minute I am worried the locals would see through Cole's charade and the next I am loudly laughing at his methods of solving the town's unusual problems. One minute my heart is melting as Cole and Daisy are falling in love, the next I am giggling at some sort of humorous interruption. I grinned. I frowned. I worried. I sighed from tension relief. I snickered at Bosco's romantic troubles with two widows. I often found myself laughing until I thought my side would split.

Author Jacquie Rogers penned a fabulous historical romance and then inserted her own brand of wackiness. As a result, this story quickly grabbed me by the throat, kept me reading long past my bed time, and earned a place of honor upon my Keeper Shelf. Unforgettable! I cannot recommend this title highly enough. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Mayhem reigns in Jacquie Rogers' Much Ado About Marshals! When Cole Richards, shot for bank robbery, finds himself appointed marshal of a small town, I had to keep turning pages to see how much deeper this hole would get! I laughed out loud at the heroine Sarah Gardner, whose obsession with "Honey Bileau, Female Detective" carries her on a parallel track--and when the two collide, watch out! No spoilers here, but this book was a hoot from start to finish with twists galore. A fast, fun and frolicking western!

Need a break? This is a FUN book (seriously--when's the last time you read a laugh-out-loud book?)! Turn off the iphone, kick off yer boots (or Jimmy Choos) and let Jacquie Rogers provide that mini-vacation you KNOW you need!

What a great book!! From the very beginning I knew I was going to have a hard time putting this book down. Much Ado About Marshals was such a joy to read. I laughed throughout the book, Jacqui has a way with her words. She also has great characters that you do not forget and by the end of the read you know them like friends. I would highly recommend you pick this book up and read it!! I was happy to find out this was the first in a series.

Full of laughs, sexy scenes, and exciting adventures, this book is like a fun romp through the Old West. Daisy is a hoot and so full of energy that she kept me thoroughly tickled through the last page. Cole is rugged and sexy and just trying to do the right thing--my kind of hero! The plot is such a great concept for a book, and Bosco is sure to be a favorite. Jacquie Rogers knows how to entertain!

Daisy Gardner is determined to be a detective. A twenty two year old "spinster" living in the inauspicious town of Oreana, Idaho, Daisy seeks most of her information about life and love from the escapades of her dime store novel heroine Honey Beaulieu. When a particularly thorny task presents itself Daisy turns to Honey Beaulieu Mysteries for a surefire answer.

Daisy's parents think it is high time Daisy marries -- preferably to the wealthiest man they can finagle. Not so Daisy. To be a detective one must solve crimes and live in town quickly eliminating numerous potential husbands. Ranchers are out, as are farmers. Don't even think about miners. Nope, Daisy insists the single best husband for her is a Marshal -- so she set out to snare one. In Daisy's carefully planned universe, Marshals are tall, typically dark and, of course, handsome.

Enter Cole Richards. Cole fits the physical bill. Plus he is as sexy as any Honey Beaulieu hero and sends tingles up Daisy's spine. The only problem is Cole is wanted for bank robbery. In a series of twists and turns worthy of a Shakespeare comedy, we meet not one but three "marshals" who claim to be Sidney Adler, the Marshal who answered Daisy's call.

The most reluctant imposter is Cole. The only reason he's in Oreana is his unfortunate attempt to prevent his long time sidekick Bosco Kunkle's bungled attempt to rob a bank. Cole is shot in the botched robbery by the single person who can identify him as the outlaw -- none other than Daisy's sister Iris. And so the fun begins.

Eager to avoid a necktie party where he is the honored guest, the wounded Cole reluctantly becomes the Marshal. Until his wounds heal his biggest challenges are avoiding discovery and beating off the amorous overtures of a most determined Daisy. Neither are easy tasks especially since Cole is as intrigued with Daisy as she is determined to marry him.

Rogers has peopled her delightful novel with a cast of characters worthy of Rooster Cogburn and his ilk as well as Don John and Claudio. There is Doc Maybry, the town physician, Daisy's father, Cyrus Gardner, who owns the local Mercantile and doubles as the town preacher and Mayor; Winky the dog who overturns an outhouse with Mrs. Courtney perched unceremoniously inside; and two "Widder" sisters who come to blows over the portly Bosco Kunkle charged with the impossible task of determining which Widder makes the best raisin pie. Finally there is the real Marshal-- looking nothing like Daisy's (or Honey's) imagined hero. The real Marshal is nearly bald, one inch over five feet, practices Kung fu and his heroic mount is Molly, his mule.

But all's well that ends well. Cole is redeemed, the bad guys are captured, the town is saved and Daisy gets her man. In the process we meet hilarious characters, memorable colloquialisms, a clever, engaging plot and fine writing. All of which recommends Roger's Much Ado About Marshals as everything to do about a charming, well-written romp.

Much Ado About Marshals was such a fun and engaging story I couldn't put it down! Ms. Rogers is a master story teller who has the rare gift to write humor that is actually laugh out loud funny. From page one this charming comedy of errors kept me turning the page well into the night. Loved Cole who is so caught up in an impossible situation, loved the feisty, wanna-be detective, Daisy(!), and Cole's sidekick, Bosco, is an absolute hoot! What a rollicking, romantic adventure in the Old West!!!

From page one, I knew, this book would not be put down. Cole had me by the heart as soon as he described Daisy's eyes. I won't give it away here, but, wow. Totally sigh worthy. What I loved most is how effortlessly every little and big complication shows up on scene from the fingerprint kit (Uh-oh) to the rest of the total comedy of errors that you just can't imagine working out. Then it does. Well Done!!

Much Ado About Marshals

Cole Richards Was Caught Up In The Middle When His Friend Thought Robbing The Silver City Bank Would Save His Ranch From Two Miners Panning For Gold And Cutting Off His Water Supply, But He Got Shot In His Thigh, Passed Out From Getting Away, And Awoke To Find A Pair Of The Greenest Eyes He Had Ever Seen On A Beautiful Young Lady! Now Daisy Gardner Thought He Was Sidney Adler The Real Marshal!

Ms. Rogers Pens A Very Funny Story About Cole Being Mistaken For The Real Marshal By Daisy Who Is Convinced That Another Man Shot Him And Wanted To Take His Place And Is Determined To Get Him To Marry Her So That She Could Continue Her Detective Skills! Unknowing That Her Sister Shot Cole, Daisy Decided To Seduce Him!!