Norah Hess, Dylan

Dylan

Norah Hess

Leisure, Mar 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0843950587

In the 1860s in Wyoming Territory, her abusive dad sold Rachel to an individual who may be the only breathing critter who is even meaner and viler than her father. However, Rachel believes in God when minutes after her groom says "I do" he dies. Still, she fails to land on her feet as her pop still plans get rid of his unwanted daughter through marriage. He selects a new husband, a ranching relative named Dylan Quade.

Dylan does not want a wife as he has enough troubles, but especially not one from his lowlife relatives that he always avoided. However, he reluctantly agrees to take Rachel off the hands of her father for her sake; she has other ideas and finds a kind trading post owner willing to hire her. Little did Dylan, a confirmed loner, anticipate falling in love, but he does. Rachel also begins to fall in love with the tender Dylan, but hides those feelings from him because she knows he never wanted her. Two stubborn, proud individuals refuse to reveal to the other their deepest secret, the regard they hold the other in, that if told would make their lives infinitely greater.

DYLAN is a fine western romance starring two likable protagonists who in spite of the attraction fear a relationship because they have seen firsthand how disgusting their extended family members are. The storyline grips the audience from the moment Rachel's abusive father sells her to an even greater male abomination and never slows down until the lead couple begin to find one another as the answer to loneliness. Though the odious brutes seem over the top, fans will enjoy Norah Hess' latest tale.

Harriet Klausner