Title: Hawk's Gift
Author: Mary M. Forbes
Genre: Historical Romance
Review Rating: Four Stars
Reviewer: Linda Hays-Gibbs
     Roberta (Bobbie) Taylor is caught in a very precarious position. She is being auctioned off as a virgin at a house of ill repute. She seems too naive for words. She doesn't know how this could happen when she went to this place to interview the Madame about her brothel. She's forced onstage and everyone seems drunk.
     Damien Larocque is a Métis Indian enjoying his liqueur when he sees the beautiful girl with long blonde hair being auctioned on stage. He decides in his inebriated state that he will bid for her even though he has no money. He will simply fight his way out of the place with the little thing under his arm.
     Needless to say he carries her away and gets carried away .she is a high born rich lady and he is a wild heathen. He remains carried away and savage throughout this lovely romance.
    The characters have myriad flaws to overcome and obstacles to overcome in their war torn world. In a world where the beautiful wilderness of Canada is described and the battles between whites and Aborigines are waging a miracle happens.
Boy meets girl and love blossoms.
    I was amazed at the History and circumstances of the across the border happenings with the US and Canada too. I love finding out new perspectives and information in my romance novels.
    Mary Forbes delights me in all aspects except for some typographical errors and the ending. I wanted more. I wanted to know what happened between the fighting forces. I wanted to know about their friends, Marie and Pierre, her father and brother, and I wanted to see the couple's future a little more. It ended too abruptly for me. It is just such a great novel and not really short but with so much happening...maybe there is a sequel. I do hope so. I did thoroughly enjoy the writing, characters, plot and problems.
I thank the author for a wonderful exciting erotic engaging read.
Linda Hays-Gibbs

Title:  Written in the Cards
Author: Lauren Linwood
Genre: Historical Fiction (Western, 1868)
Review Rating: Four Stars
Reviewer: Linda Hays-Gibbs
     Ben Morgan has his share of bad luck. His wife and baby were killed by Indians and now he's a gambler. The problem is the guy he's playing cards with is cheating and his brother, Black Tex Lonnegan is a hired killer. If He don't call Jimmy Lonnegan out for cheating he will lose money, but if he does call him a cheat, his brother may kill him.
     Finally, he can take no more and he calls the guy for cheating. He draws killing another fellow before Ben kills him. Needless to say Ben leaves quickly. He joins a cattle drive to head to Abilene, Kansas hoping the killer won't follow.
     Margaret Rutherford is about to march down the aisle when she finds out her fiancée only wants her money. He's deep in debt from his father and her money is his only hope. She leaves out the back door with him standing at the alter. Her brother, Marcus Rutherford, head of Rutherford Publishing left a car out front of the church for her.
     Next, years later in Abilene a bunch of cowboys come off the Chisholm trail. Margaret wants to interview one of them for her latest book. She sees the most handsome scrumptious specimen and goes directly for him. She doesn't waste time in getting her interview and information but before she leaves he grabs her and gives her the most delicious kiss ever. She is smitten and doesn't  know what has hit her.
     Maggie's near marriage was nothing to the feelings Ben Morgan makes her feel. Her books are selling. She never wants to go back to New York or marry but this new man has her going in circles.
     Ben leaves to visit his brother and finds him at death's door. He was in an accident saving his daughter from a runaway carriage. The girl Jennie can't hear because of having mumps now and didn't hear the carriage coming. He saved the girl but he wasn't so lucky.
 Rebecca, Jennie's mother is nursing Ben's brother Adam but he dies. Ben promised his brother he would see about Jennie and the new baby that was coming. He works at his brother's store and helps his brother's family.
     Maggie turns up in Easton to see her friend Frank Stansel. Seeing Ben there surprised her. She has an accident and they all take care of her. She falls more deeply in love with Ben.
     This is an endearing story of love in the old West. It was exciting and all together lovely. There was only one thing that I had a little trouble with and it was that Maggie traveled alone. Maggie acted completely against the conventions of the times. It was hard for me to see a woman acting like she did in that day and age. It was just highly improbable. That kept me a little twisted and some of the language was off too. I just don't think they talked that way then. Of course, if you can ignore that it is a delightful take of romance in the West.
      I gave this fine author Four Stars and look forward to reading more of her work. She is unique, insightful, and very interesting.  I think her characters were completely fleshed and interesting and her plot true.
Linda Hays-Gibbs