Customer Reviews

Rachel and the Hired Gun (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!!

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.

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.

Ahhhh, Rachel Douglas, what have you gotten yourself involved in?

Her mother died years before the start of her story. Her father sent her to live with his wife's family back east who were not the upstanding kind people others thought them to be. At 18 years of age she runs away to find her father, now living in the Oregon territory. On the way she meets Sager, a hired gun her father sent to bring her safely to him for the remaining trip. Yes, there are some inconsistencies but overall the narrative was quite good for a western historical romance.

The story has an interesting opening that will pull the reader pulled in. Rachel and Sager both have secrets and their time together at the start is a little bumpy, (I believe) written that way intentionally. The tension and chemistry between the two is good. Older, Sager is a hard man and has had a rough life but Rachel slowly softens his ways. He learns to care about someone and show it. A plus is that they talk about what is bothering them instead of the usual bickering found in so many other romances. It was enjoyable to see them mature in different ways.

The secondary characters are interesting, too. So much so that you want them to have their own story. AUDREY AND THE MAVERICK is the sequel. Enjoy!

Never read anything by this author before, but I hope she has more books--or plans to write more. The story is an interesting western romance about two ranching families and the drama and intrigue between them. The story is good and fast-paced, but it is the characters that make this book worth reading. They are real and their conflicts are emotionally involving. A well-conceived romance.

This well written story has completely likable and believable characters and a story line that is both entertaining and plausible. The story flows seamlessly from start to finish with well written word-pictures, allowing you to visualize the story as it unfolds and drawing you in completely.

Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down until you've finished it. In Rachel and the Hired Gun, Ms Levine has shown herself to be a rising star in this genre. This one goes into my permanent library and I intend to re-read it while waiting for her next publication, which I look forward to with enthusiasm.

Very well written.

I love the dining table scene when they discretely tried to touch each other with their legs. So cute, so hot!

Sager had lingered in my mind for weeks after I finished the book.

I love downloading to my Kindle at work on night shift. This was one that I was able to finish in a few hours, but I enjoyed the read.

The romance between the characters was believable, though I do have to suspend disbelief that in the 1800s, females would be applauded for getting pregnant before marriage.

That being my only real beef with this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to the last book in this trio which should come out next year...I'm sorry to have to wait.

Great story. I found that I could not put the book down until I had finished. I also found that the story and characters stayed in my mind for several days following and I ended up re-reading the story again a week later. The main characters are very different and both very interesting. I highly recommend the book for a an enjoyable read and a happy ending.

Had never read anything from this author! I just finished this and it is a great story, hope she writes more like this.