As the eldest of three brothers, Brady Wilkins carries the heavy burden of keeping the family ranch going despite a blood feud with the vengeful survivors of the original Spanish grant holders. He’s weary to the bone of the loss, the fighting and the unrelenting life in the New Mexico outpost. The ranch is the only thing that keeps him going because without the ranch, his life, his very survival when others have perished, has no meaning.

Jessica Thornton is a survivor. She’s running from her proper home in England carrying a scandalous secret. Running is the only way she can guarantee her own life and the life of her unborn child and keep alive hopes of saving her family’s estate from ruin.  When the stagecoach she is on crashes and the weather beaten, scruffy man who just joined the party saves her, she is both terrified and grateful. When he takes the survivors of the wreck to his rustic ranch, she struggles to make the best of a difficult situation. But when the doctor issues the edict that she must stay put for three months until her baby, or perhaps babies, are delivered she is nothing short of distraught. Because Jessica Thornton finds herself drawn to Brady despite his harsh exterior. Will familiarity breed contempt or will she find a man she can count on under all that dust?

For Brady, being attracted to a prissy female is not an option, even if she makes him laugh. And tweaks his temper. And snags at his heart. Life in New Mexico is hard and this feud makes it doubly dangerous. But can he control his feelings or will his feelings control him?

Kaki Warner brings a new, strong, rich voice to the western historical romance genre. The banter between Brady and Jessica is filled with snappy, wry humor, sexual tension and male/female insight that was a delight to read. Jessica and Brady come to life in vivid color as they struggle to overcome the emotional and physical challenges of survival.  On the cover is a blurb from Jodi Thomas that reads “A wonderful read I couldn’t put down.” I heartily concur. This is the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait for the next one.