Zeke Blackwood has hit rock bottom, and the bottle is the only thing keeping him from having to face it—or so he thought.  Until the town of Tanger, torn up by lawlessness, puts a badge on the former Confederate. Gratefully he’s got his Confederate “band of brothers” (the Devils on Horseback) around him from those war days, including his hot-headed younger brother Lee. He’s going to need every one of them if he’s going to pull himself out of his misery, misery caused by seeing the woman he loved killed and not being able to do anything about it.

Naomi Tucker is running away from demons of her own, ones that robbed her of her father and her innocence. She’s looking for a fresh start in Tanger, but a woman, alone, unwilling to compromise her principles has a hard row to hoe. That is until the saloon keeper, Lucy, agrees to let her serve drinks without having to work on her back too.

When Zeke first encounters Naomi, its not so much sparks that fly but tempers. She’s full of pride, he’s got none left. But he’s the sheriff and she’s a saloon girl and he needs to make clear what he expects. Still, there isn’t much reason Zeke should be hanging around the hall, particularly given his drinking problem. He’s on probation and this is his last chance to make something of himself.

Life has a way of testing us and that is certainly the case for Zeke and Naomi. Zeke can’t seem to resist this pint-size blond-haired, blue-eyed, temper-straining woman who speaks her mind to anyone who listens. Suddenly he’s right back in the action—and the bottle soon follows as he tries to blunt both his desire for her and his fear of failing. Naomi, for all her pride, is falling for the big devil of a sheriff even knowing all his problems. She sees his potential and she’s not willing to sit on the sidelines and let him sink further into the muck of his life. But Naomi soon learns it takes more than love to turn someone from the demon alcohol. Because first Zeke must love himself before he can accept and return love. Whether Zeke has the heart or the will to sober up and whether Naomi will be there if he does is anyone’s guess.

Ms. Williamson has a knack for getting under the skin of her characters and she does so once again in this erotic novel. Her characterization of Zeke’s trials and failures in keeping away from liquor has the ring of truth about it. But even as he throws away his latest opportunity for redemption you can’t help but root for him—and Naomi.