Customer Reviews

The Reward (Malloy Family, Book 3)

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That's the best way to describe this book. Combustable from the word go. I really love the way Beth tells a story. She sure doesn't leave anything to the imagination in this one. Very good book. You'll enjoy it. Have a cold beverage handy.

Beth Williamson's Malloy Family series takes a bit of a detour in this third instalment as we follow Nicky Malloy's favorite bandito, Hermano. Homesick and lonesome, he decides that 15 years of rough living have taken their toll and that now is the time to revert to his real name, Malcolm, and to return home to make peace with his father. Dad's ineffectual parenting had left Malcolm at the mercy of his virago of a stepmother, and her no-good son, Malcolm's sadistic half-brother, Damasco.

Meanwhile, Malcolm's childhood friend, Leigh is also finding life to be no bed of roses. Having taken control of her late husband's ranch, she continually has to ward off Damasco's unwanted attentions, certain in the knowledge that he is responsible for the loss of her cattle, leading her toward financial ruin.

I must admit to being a little apprehensive at the thought of reading a book largely about Hermano/Malcolm. His previous appearances in this series had not left me enamored, mainly, and this is not a criticism of the author but rather my own lack of forbearance, because of the repetitive utterances of Spanish words and phrases that litter his speech and thoughts. I suppose several years posing as a Mexican bandit is difficult to shake off. He accidentally loses his accent a couple of times in front of Nicky's husband. I just wish he'd lost it entirely for the start of this novel.

The romantic aspect is handled neatly and, as she has done in previous titles in this series, Beth Williamson employs the effective device of rapidly changing the point of view of the leading characters so that both male and female perspectives are explored. The erotic content is sizzling hot. My only complaint is that there was not more. This novel also boasts the sexiest cover of the seven in the series: half-naked girl, hand and arm coyly placed over her breasts while in the foreground, a cowboy's hand is ready to grab his gun. Nice!

Although this novel appears in the Malloy Family series, I did wonder if it really belonged here as opposed to being a stand-alone novel. However, various Malloys appear in the proceedings and Malcolm's close friendship with Nicky Malloy places him, as she says, as part of the family. The importance of family, blood tied or not, is this story's constant refrain.

This is another highly entertaining read from Beth Williamson. It's more serious in tone than the first two books in the series. The Bounty (Malloy Family, Book 1) and The Prize (Malloy Family, Book 2) had more humorous situations in their stories. Nevertheless, `The Reward' is an enthralling and spicy tale.

Hermano has spent the last 15 years running from who he is and where his roots are. It is now time for him to return home. The outlaw Hermano is actually Malcolm Ross y Zarza, the illegitimate son of a Spanish rancher and his Scottish cook. Malcolm had to leave his home, Rancho Zarza, fifteen years ago in order to escape his father's vindictive wife and her gopher, his half brother Damasco. Figuring it is time to exercise his demons, Hermano/Malcolm heads towards home to find his mother and have it out with his father. It is also time to claim Leigh Wynne, the woman he loves; the woman he left behind.

Cattle rustlers, thieves, and other parties wishing her ill are slowly driving Widow Leigh Wynne O'Reilly bankrupt. Almost at her wits end, Leigh notices a new ranch hand. Malcolm, the only man she has ever loved, is back after 15 years! Leigh welcomes him back with open arms. She enlists his help with her ranch and to find out who is behind the attacks. What they find changes their relationship and lives.

With Leigh and Malcolm working as a team, things come a head and an all out range war is imminent. Will they be able to handle the fight on their own or does Leigh have something, or rather a certain family up her sleeve?

The Reward by Beth Williamson is the story of Hermano/Malcolm, Nicky Malloy's outlaw friend from the two prior Malloy family novels, The Bounty and The Prize. Thrilled beyond words that Malcolm had his own story, I was not disappointed. Lovable as an outlaw, Malcolm is scorching hot as Leigh's lover and protector. Leigh's character was strong yet tender and I adored how Malcolm loved her.

As the third book of the Malloy Family series, The Reward truly delivers. I finished The Reward with a happy heart for a story well told. I can't wait for The Treasure, the next book about this wonderful Malloy Family!

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I read the entire series and loved each and every book. Not the most erotic - true - BUT some very HOT spots and lots of wonderful dialogue and family interaction. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for true 'calgon take me away' reads.

ALL THE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE WONDERFUL, WICKED AND WANTON. THEY ARE GREAT READS.

Hermano was born as Malcolm Ross y Zarza. An incident fifteen years earlier had forced him to leave his home and everything that he treasured. Roja made Hermano realize the importance of family and so he's returning home with the desire to see his mother that he hasn't contacted since he left Millerton and the Zarza ranch.

Leigh Wynne O'Reily took over her husband's ranch after his death two years earlier. She's been plagued with incidents, accidents, and unexplainable events that threaten to ruin her and the ranch. Amidst all her frustration she wishes for the friend she's missed over the past 15 years. Malcolm had been her best friend and her first and only love. Her husband, Sean, had been a friend, a friend who'd married her in order to protect her, but they'd never loved each other.

Hermano snuck out of the Calhoun's home. Nicky, the sister of his heart whom he affectionately calls Roja convinced him of the importance of family and he can see by watching hers just how important they all our to each other. Longing for his home and mother that he hadn't seen in fifteen years, Hermano is going home to Texas, besides, Wyoming is just too cold. It isn't until two days later that Nicky's husband, Tyler catches up with him. Nicky sent him out with a saddlebag full of the things he would need plus a few extras. Tyler is a bounty hunter and he's picked up on Hermano's slip ups in his speech when he's accidentally "lost" his accent. Before the two men part to head their separate ways, Tyler wheedles Hermano's real name and destination out of him.

Leigh inherited the Circle O ranch when her husband, Sean died. She has a fierce pride in owning the ranch and had angered neighbors and even a few ranch hands by treading where few women would dare to tread. Leigh isn't like most women. In addition to the normal risks associated with running a ranch, somebody is obviously trying to scare her or force her into bankruptcy. While enduring the goings on and trying to keep going, Leigh dreams of Malcolm, even though she hasn't seen him in fifteen years. She's tired of having to be so strong all the time and wants her friend back to lean on, like they did when they were children. It isn't until Malcolm arrives on her ranch as a drover looking for work that Leigh finds out her old friend is back, and Malcolm realizes his cover as Hermano is blown when he realizes that not only is the boss of the Circle O ranch a woman, but she's also his childhood friend, Leigh, and she knows who he is regardless of what name he goes by now. Can the childhood friends reunite and vanquish the trouble on Leigh's ranch? And maybe find a little happiness in one another . . . Malcolm struggles hard to keep from claiming Leigh as his woman, will he succeed?

If you haven't been reading Beth Williamson's MALLOY FAMILY series, you've been missing out. Each story has been heartwarming and thrilling to read. The characters are larger than life, bold as brass, and women included fight for what they believe in. We first met Hermano in THE BOUNTY, I was intrigued by him then and loved the banter between Tyler and him, so of course, I was thrilled to see it continue throughout THE REWARD. Ms. Williamson brings Hermano's past and present together to allow us to see the development of this amazingly wonderful man and the woman he's loved since childhood. I'm really hoping there will be a fourth book to the series. Ray Malloy needs a wife and mother for his daughter and if there's a man that deserves a good woman than this man is definitely deserving.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)