Wyoming Wildflower [Mass Market Paperback]

Pam Crooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

One of her father's daughters...

All Sonnie Mancuso wants is to be needed by her father. Unfortunately, he already has a daughter--six, to be exact--and all *he* needs is a son.

One of her father's men...

Orphaned in the slums of New York, 15-year-old Lance Harmon needs a home. Sonnie's father gives him one on the cattle-rich Rocking M Ranch. Through the years, Lance learns to love the land, the work...and Sonnie.

And their legacy...

But Vince Mancuso's health is failing, and there's trouble on the Wyoming range. Sonnie returns home to claim the legacy that's rightfully hers...but learns Lance has already earned it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Pam Crooks writes a much different but very interesting take from the usual Western fare. A very satisfying book!" 4 1/2 Stars! -- Affaire de Coeur

"A well-crafted tale!" 4 Stars! -- Romantic Times, March, 2001

"All Western fans will want to take this great adventure. I highly recommend'Wyoming Wildflower'!" -- Carol Durfee, Romance Readers Connection

"I thoroughly enjoyed this first book by Pam Crooks!" -- Kathy Boswell, Romance and Friends

"Powerful emotions boil over in this gripping epic. Ms. Crooks is a writer of immense talent who is sure to garner legions of fans." -- Rendezvous

From the Inside Flap

"Poignant! Compelling! I loved it!" Bobbi Smith, Bestselling Author

A Tantalizing Truce

Her lips softened in a smile. Reaching out, she trailed a knuckle along his cheek, faintly stubbled with the shadow of a beard.

"In the meantime, shall we call a truce, Boss-man?" she challenged quietly.

He seemed unable to resist touching her in return and took her hand. He drew his palm over her wrist to her elbow. Sonnie held her breath, transfixed by the sheer tenderness of his caress. He did not stop but continued toward her shoulder and onto her back, his work-roughened skin a pleasurable contrast to hers.

His hand splayed, slid along her shoulder blade, one side and then the other, before ending his journey at the barrier of her corset. He seemed hungry to explore, to learn the feel of her.

Her gaze melded with his. She couldn't pull herself away, though the intimacy of the moment suggested she should.

He fingered the pink satin ribbons, as if he contemplated undoing them as slowly as he'd undone the back of her dress. His whiskey-shaded eyes, smoldering with the desire he held in check, settled on her lips, and his breathing took on a definite ragged edge.

"Truce, Sonnie," he whispered.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843948434
• ISBN-13: 978-0843948431
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,089,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dear Reader,

While living a childhood in the ranch country of Nebraska's sandhills, I grew to love the Old West. It seems I've written forever about that era-from the time my four daughters were just toddlers, in fact. Now, I'm a grandmother (but a young one, right?)

When we moved to eastern Nebraska and after I discovered Romance Writers of America and my local chapter, I learned the nuts and bolts of the publishing business. I studied, wrote, got rejected and wrote some more. Gradually, I began to place in contests, then win them. My writing became good enough that an agent signed on to represent me. I kept writing, got more rejections, but persevered, until one day-at last!-I sold a manuscript to Dorchester Publishing for their Leisure Books line.

I went on to release four novels from Dorchester, and Harlequin Historicals picked me up with my fifth book. As you read this, I've released my fourteenth romance, and I'm currently working on a project that's new and different and quite exciting. Stay tuned.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit more about me!

Pam Crooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Bright New Star, April 2, 2001

By 

Jen (Somewhere in the South) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wyoming Wildflower (Mass Market Paperback)

Pam Crooks is a bright new star making her debut into the world of romance with this endearing story of two hearts searching for love.

Sonnie Mancuso returns to her father's Wyoming ranch after learning her father has fallen ill. After years of attending school in Boston and studying animal husbandry, Sunnie is prepared to take over the ranch, but she is unprepared to find that someone else has already fulfilled that position: Lance Harmon, a ranch hand that had grown up on the Rocking M.

Lance had always watched and dreamed of the beautiful Sonnie Mancuso from afar. Sensing her need for her father's love, Lance could identify with wanting a love that always seemed elusive. Orphaned at a young age, Lance was brought to Wyoming by Sonnie's father, Vince Mancuso and given a job on the ranch. He grew up learning everything about the Rocking M and harboring a secret love for the youngest Mancuso daughter.

Now Sonnie is back just when there is trouble at the ranch. Danger and threats are coming from every direction. Slowly, Sonnie realizes that Lance is the one she can trust and depend on. After a soulful kiss, a yearning of her own spreads like wildfire. Together Sonnie and Lance would face the danger and fight for their beloved ranch.

Pam Crooks has captured the essence of the western romance with true to life situations and laces the love story with just enough spice and building passion. Pam Crooks will surely have her place among the historical romance writers.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 chili peppers, December 3, 2000

By 

Crazy for Words - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wyoming Wildflower (Mass Market Paperback)

When Sonny Mancuso was summoned to her ailing father's side, she jumped at the chance to leave Boston. The youngest and most exasperating of six girls, Sonny had been sent to her aunt in the hopes she would receive polish her father had not been able to provide. But all Sonny ever wanted was to be needed by her father. Now was her chance to prove she could be as good as, if not better, than the son her father never had. The Rocking M would not only survive the current threat it faced, but under her care it would thrive.

When he was fifteen, Sonny's father had rescued Lance Harmon from the slums of New York. Lance fell in love with the land and learned enough to become Vince's top man. But the land was not the only thing Lance fell in love with. Sonny brought light into his life from the very beginning, and the fire burned stronger after her return from the East.

Sonny sees Lance as a threat to her position at the ranch, fearing her father sees Lance as the son he'd craved. Nevertheless, her attraction to the handsome foreman is strong. Lance resolves to hide his feelings for Sonny, not wanting to bring pain to her, as all men had to his mother. He will not ever do that to a woman.

Ms. Crooks gives readers a nice read in her debut novel. While the theme of the story is familiar, she infuses it with an original style full of western flavor and vivid characters. A talent to be watched!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Surprised, May 20, 2004

By 

Lisa "LovesBooks" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wyoming Wildflower (Mass Market Paperback)

I was pleasantly surpised with this book. I was skeptical about reading this book, but it turned out to be a pretty good book. It held my interest from page one till the very end. I am glad that I took a chance and did not miss reading this book.