Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, Charming and Totally Enjoyable!, November 24, 2003
Dr. John Calloway, chief surgeon for the North West Mounted Police in Calgary, Canada had finished surgery after a very long day. Short handed since his best friend and assistant surgeon, Wesley Quinn, had been murdered the only thing he needed was a little rest. Heading for his quarters he couldn't help but notice some strange smirks and smiles on the faces of the men he passed. Once he reached his room, he was surprised to find a pretty young woman who appeared to be going through his closet - slightly embarrassed at being caught - yet smiling as if he should know who she was. Sarah O'Neill was not expecting to see such a handsome man walk through the door, although very pleasantly surprised, and even though she had arrived early - something didn't seem quite right that her future husband didn't seem to even recognize her name! What Sarah didn't know, of course, was that he had no idea who she was! The men under his command, as a practical joke but with good intentions, thought that their commanding officer needed some companionship. They paid for an advertisement, exchanged letters in his name, selected a woman, then sent her a ticket to come to Calgary! Unfortunately, for Sarah, John's opinion on mail-order brides was that he didn't believe that any self-respecting woman should be that desperate to accept that type of marriage and probably had no backbone to begin with! John, thinking that all he had to do was furnish her a ticket home, was surprised when she announced that she would be getting a job and staying! The author based this story upon an actual incident where North West Mounties procured a mail order bride for their commanding officer. In the real life incident the woman was sent home but in this story the author gave us a charming story of what could have been! She used the incident to create a beautifully drawn out, plucky and courageous heroine who possessed a very unusual talent for her day and age, that of being a gunsmith. While the author portrays the physical attraction between John and Sarah with a deft hand showing humor and sensuality, she also lets you feel the pain and anguish of two people who really knew nothing of each other and holding back that very important element of any good relationship, namely communication and trust. Personally, there were times reading this that I wanted to shake them both! All else aside, I found this author's writing rift with wit, charm and portraying life in Northwest Canada as the next best thing to being there. Bottom line, I found this was a very enjoyable and original story that I do highly recommend.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A wife shouldn't be a surprise package!, March 6, 2004
There was one thing that John Calloway didn't need - a mail order bride! That was exactly what he found waiting for him in his quarters one night, though, and he was completely shocked at the "joke" that had been played upon them both. Although he was fast approaching 40 and had always longed for a family of his own, he was dedicated to serving as a doctor in the Mounties regiment. He valiently tried to save the lives of his fellow soldiers and the locals, but he couldn't get over the fact that he had lost his best friend, Wesley, to a raid by a cattle-rustling gang. It'd take a special woman to put up with the demanding life he led! Sarah O'Neill was a special woman...John just didn't know it quite yet. She had come west with an ulterior motive, but John didn't know THAT, either. Once John told her of the cruel joke that had sent her out west, Sarah was determined to stay in town and make it on her own! As John and Sarah spent time around one another, though, neither could deny the attraction that was building between them - but was attraction enough when neither could trust the other? This book was really different. Not only was it set in the Canadian West (something I know very little about, and was such a refreshing break from the traditional American West), but the heroine wasn't a virgin (a "non-traditional" heroine - I love it!), and the relationship between the two wasn't perfect right away. This book was, therefore, was quite different - and that made it that more interesting. Even better, there was real character growth in the book - something that I always enjoy to read about. Unfortunately, I usually have a knack at figuring out the ending, and I did this time, too. Nevertheless, this was a good book, and a keeper in my opinion.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL LOVE STORY - A CHANGE FROM THE AMERICAN WEST, December 23, 2003
For the Canadian Mountie surgeon John Calloway turning forty causes him to consider his lack of family. Even under the shock of meeting Sarah O'Neill he finds an attraction that he refuses to consider. She was a temptation. Sarah found a pleasant surprise when John entered his room minus his shirt. Maybe this man would learn to love her. Ah, but for her hidden agenda! Keenan O'Neill who was probably in trouble with the law. And John Calloway saw the of right and wrong in "Black 'n White", a nickname given to him by his fellow mounties. Poor John was short of help both in his medical profession and in the number of Mounties needed to keep the law in Calgary. The ranchers were being plagued by the ellusive Grayveson gang who were responsible for killing his friend, Wesley Quinn. I was intrigued with Sarah's knowledge of guns and gunsmithing and loved the way she worked to help John and the quaralsome blacksmith. He thought he knew it all about gunsmithing. By that time Sarah was already John's wife and had finally decided to trust him with her secret agenda and provided all the help she could give to him. It is a very moving love story of two deserving people and how their lives affect the town and history of their part of the world. What great characters and a wonderful story to be enjoyed by those of us that love to read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - A story that will be enjoyed a second time around. Definitely a keeper!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
