Barbara White Daille, Court Me, Cowboy

Court Me, Cowboy

Barbara White Daille

Harlequin American, November 2006, $5.50

ISBN: 0373751443

Gabe Miller holds the gold band as a symbol of failure. The ring was given to him by his beloved Marissa, who's "Forever" turned out to be three weeks before she left him and ultimately divorced him. His life lessons are not to trust women and love.

Several months later Marissa returns, informing Gabe they remain married and that she is pregnant. She still wants to divorce him, while Gabe prays that he persuades her to stay with him, for he fears she will bolt, child and all. Marissa knows that she loves Gabe, but fears that love because things happened so fast. Gabe has his work cut out for him if he wants her and their unborn with him forever.

This is a fine second chance at love romance, though Marissa's issues seem too deep to end happily. She drives the tale with her seemingly schizoid personality, as she loves Gabe and believes he loves her back, but does not trust in the staying power of these new feelings that sprung up upon first sight. Readers will feel for Gabe who knows what he did wrong in his desire for his beloved, and what he must do differently. Barbara White Daille displays a fine skill at characterization with this charmer.