Customer Reviews

Pearl's Redemption (Five Star Expressions)

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After inheriting the ranch from her abusive dead husband, Pearl transforms the place from a house of ill-repute to a haven for the women trapped into service there, as well as other women who need a refuge.

But the so-called `good' townspeople want Pearl and her girls out of town, and they'll stop at nothing to make it happen, including illegally selling the property out from under her.

When the handsome gentleman from Boston shows up on her doorstep claiming to own the ranch, Pearl's world changes for good. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't believe Mr. Davidson Smythe is lying.

Even worse, this man gets to the lonely widow in ways her husband never could...

I will be frank here - I do not usually gravitate towards the historical western genre. I don't dislike them, they are just not normally my first choice. C.H. Admirand, however, is an author who is always among my first choices in reading material, so it was a no-brainer for me when the new book in her Irish Western series was offered to CK2S Kwips and Kritiques for review. I knew I wanted it and I had every expectation of enjoying it. Once again, Ms. Admirand did not disappoint this reviewer!

Pearl's Redemption is the kind of story that makes you forget all about what genre it is and focus on the story itself - the plot, the characters... Everything worked. I could almost feel as if I were living in the Old West watching these people live their lives.

Pearl may have her flaws, but she is most certainly the kind of heroine a woman could hope to emulate. Her issues are borne of a hard life, married to an abusive husband who did his utmost to turn his wife into a harlot for hire as he did with the women who worked for him. While Pearl maintained her virtue in this respect, it doesn't stop the majority of the townspeople from believing the worst of her. Still, this courageous woman keeps her head held high and trudges on, doing good where she can with no thought of recompense for herself. Of course, those who mess with the people under her care are very likely to see the barrel end of her shotgun. Pearl is no one's victim, that is for sure.

In true hero form, Davidson Smythe is a man of indisputable honor. When he realizes his claim to Pearl's ranch may not exactly be on the up and up, he is unwilling to pursue that claim, no matter that all of his assets are tied up in this purchase. Instead, he works diligently to ferret out the culprits responsible for the shady land deal, helping to save Pearl and her girls from being cast out into the streets - or worse. And, of course, working side by side with the lovely Pearl, it is only natural that he comes to care passionately for this strong, devoted woman...

Although I have not yet read the two books that precede Pearl's Redemption, I had no trouble at all following the storyline. At no time did I feel lost or that there was a missing back-story necessary for me to enjoy this book. This story worked very well as a standalone. Of course, the operative phrase here is that I haven't read them YET. Meeting the good folks of this western town made me very curious about their stories and I will be picking up copies of both The Rancher's Heart and The Marshal's Destiny very soon!

If you are looking for a good romance novel with a great deal of action and suspense, you will not want to miss this book. Grab your copy of Pearl's Redemption and settle in for the evening, because you will not want to stop reading this captivating historical western romance until you have turned the very last page!

Series Order:
The Marshal's Destiny
The Rancher's Heart (Five Star Expressions) (Five Star Expressions)
Pearl's Redemption (Irish Western Series)

With the death of her husband, Pearl Lloyd became the sole owner of their ranch. Changing it from the house of ill repute that her husband desired to a haven for the women that live there, she spends her days trying her best to make ends meet and keep her girls safe. While the `Committee for the Betterment of Emerson' wants Pearl run out of town, she refuses to give up her home. This is all fine and dandy except for one really huge dilemma - Pearl 's ranch has been purchased by Davidson Smythe, a stranger from Boston.

Davidson Smythe has spent his inheritance on a ranch in Emerson. Seeing an ad in the newspaper, he decides to make a fresh start away from Boston and the memory of the death of his beloved twin brother. When Davidson shows up to claim the ranch he purchased in good faith, there seems to be a misunderstanding - and she is holding Davidson at gunpoint.

Pearl enlists the help of Emerson's sheriff to rid herself of the man making a claim on her ranch. Unable to find her deed and unwilling to vacate the premises, Pearl teems with Davidson to investigate the series of events leading to his arrival. Since Davidson and Pearl are often in each other's company, sparks fly and lines previously drawn are erased. The two find the love of a lifetime in spite of their less than perfect introduction. They are bound together to find the true culprit who sold Pearl's land and home proving that through adversity, love reigns supreme.

I love C. H. Admirand's work. She takes me to another realm where I can see and hear her characters in my mind. I can feel their emotions both happy and sad. PEARL'S REDEMPTION continues where THE RANCHER'S HEART ended and I was treated to another look at previous characters. Pearl was loyal to her girls but guarded her woman's heart closely. Hurt by her husband, she was afraid of letting another man close. It took patience and kindness for Davidson to win her heart, and win it he did. He was loyal and gentle and when he loved Pearl, he loved her completely and without doubts.

Heart warming, heart wrenching, and heart pounding - PEARL'S REDEMPTION is the epitome of a western historical romance at its best. C. H. Admirand continues to be a favorite author of mine and it's work like PEARL'S REDEMPTION that keep me coming back for more! PEARL'S REDEMPTION releases in June 2008 from FiveStar and my copy is already reserved!