Rachel and the Hired Gun (Zebra Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Elaine Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009 | Series: Zebra Historical Romance

When Rachel Douglas left her aunt's house in Virginia for the wilds of the Dakota territory, she knew the journey would be long and arduous. But she didn't realize that she has been summoned west to be used as a pawn in a ranch war with her father's neighbor - or that her fierce, sudden attraction to Sager, her father's hired gun, would put her heart and her life in jeopardy.Seducing Rachel and feeding a bitter feud between the two ranches was Sager's plan of vengeance against those who slaughtered his foster Shoshone family. Instead, Rachel's guileless mix of courage and vulnerability touches the conscience he thought he'd buried long ago, and draws them both into a passion without rules, without limits - one that will change their destinies forever...

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420105515
• ISBN-13: 978-1420105513
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT MY WORK:

I make stuff up. And I have fun doing it.

Genre fiction gives me the perfect medium to build worlds where readers can join me for fun adventures. Pick up one of my Men of Defiance historical western romances and slip your fingers around the Colt .45 of a legendary gunslinger, be a scout for a wagon train, or ride shotgun on a stagecoach. Pick up one of my Red Team romantic suspenses and join the battle against international druglords and home-grown terrorists with a hot team of counter-terror experts.

Romance fiction lets you be, for a few sweet hours, something you're not. Which is cool, because every time you look at life through someone else's eyes, you learn more about yourself.

So read often...become who you were meant to be.

And email me => [e-mail]. I love hearing from readers! Drop by my website (www.elainelevine.com) for more information about my books!

ABOUT ME:

I was born a poor, white child into a modestly affluent family, third daughter to a father who wanted only sons. I cooked and cleaned and mended my evil stepmother's and stepsister's ball gowns until my very own Prince Charming stole me away. We had two beautiful children, a boy and girl, who left our granola-eating, tree-hugging family to be warriors and, well, Republicans. Our son heard the siren call of the woman he loves and presented Prince Charming and me with two beautiful grandchildren, a girl and a boy. Our daughter continues on the warrior's path and yearns for a lifemate more alpha than she but has an adorable to dog to occupy her attention in the meantime. And if you believe this fairytale, you'll certainly love my books, so give them a try!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE ++ STARS FOR THIS WONDERFUL DEBUT NOVEL!!!, April 14, 2009

By 

M. Hebdige "Nanette Hebdige" (California - Las Vegas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rachel and the Hired Gun (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Every once in a while, I love a good romance western - complete with shoot-outs, Indians, cattle rustlin' and wagon train treks, where the bad guy gets the girl!

This book is no exception and it is without a doubt one of the best written Romances, I have read in quite a while.

For a debut novel, Elaine Levine has created a cast of memorable characters in an unforgettable story of bad guy, half-breed Sager tamed by the love and gentleness of Rachel Douglas.

Rachel has run away from her guardians. A mean spirited aunt and uncle who treated her all her life like a hired servant and not their niece. Sent there by her father, after the death of his wife, Old Jack now wants his daughter back home.

Sager has been hired by Old Jack to bring Rachel home. She has been traveling with a wagon train and is found by Sager and saved from the attack of a rabid wolf. As Sager escorts Rachel to his father's ranch, he is incredible drawn to Rachel, whose courage and sweetness brings out a protective instinct in him he never realized he had.

Sager's angst vs. his father and the struggle of the murders of his mother and sister are a stain that fuels his need for revenge. Those plans include Rachel, as he knows that Rachel's father wants her to marry his stepbrother, Logan to end the bitter feud between his father and Old Jack.

Cattle is disappearing from the Crippled Horse - Old Jack's ranch and the Taggart spread - Sager's father's land. The tension runs high between the rustling and the growing attraction between Rachel and Sager. Sid Taggart loves both his son's - and wants to reunite with Sager, but the hatred that Sager's has harbored for so long prevents him from making amends with his father.

There are many twists and turns in the plot and many likable characters. This was a really beautifully written novel and the main protagonists make a beautiful couple. I really enjoyed their story and hope that Logan gets his story as well! ENJOY!!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written debut, January 23, 2009

By 

Melissa (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Rachel and the Hired Gun (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Rachel and the Hired Gun is like a good casserole, combining a lot of ingredients can be tasty, this novel has a little bit of many elements of a good western, a lonesome cowboy/scout, a wagon train, cattle rustlers, and an endearing heroine.

Rachel is on her way via a wagon train to her father's ranch the Crippled Horse (this was one aspect of the book I did not like; it was a terrible name for a ranch). While searching for a lost child from the wagon train, Rachel is saved from a rabid wolf by hero, Sager, the man her father hired to escort her to the ranch.

Sager has his own agenda. He is half Native American and at odds with his father who owns the neighboring ranch next to Rachel's. He intends to seduce Rachel since his father plans for her to marry his step brother Logan. Sager is captivated by Rachel who is totally unpretentious and kind hearted. She sees past his protective armor to the self reliant man who has survived much trauma. Rachel's good nature makes Sager totally rethink his plans about her and he decides to escort her untouched to her father.

At her father's ranch, Rachel discovers that cattle are being rustled not only from the Crippled Horse but from Sager's father too. Since both sides believe the other is the guilty culprit, a match between Logan and Rachel should end the rustling but Rachel is in love with Sager. He tries to keep his distance but Rachel is a very determined woman.

There are many little surprises in this novel. The pacing is quite good and Rachel and Sager are an engaging couple. Rachel is determined, honest and selfless, no wonder Sager loved her. I wonder if Logan will get his own story, I certainly hope so.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read, September 21, 2009

By 

Haley "Mama to 3 boys" (Roll Tide) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rachel and the Hired Gun (Zebra Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a fantastic read. I felt as though I were there in the story. Not every writer has this ability. It has mystery, romance, adventure, and even a little comedy in Rachels dad. And a real connection between Rachel and Sager. I stayed up late reading and read some more while I had my morning coffee. Can't wait for her next books. Add this book your collection.