Constance O’Banyon, Hawk's Pursuit

Hawk's Pursuit

Constance O'Banyon

Leisure, October 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0843956364

In 1865 reporter Jena Leigh Hawk believes in telling the truth to her readers, yet she hides her gender behind the male sounding name of J. L. Rebel. She does that because she knows men have a better chance of getting the story, while she hopes this job enables her to complete her quest, finding her siblings. She also hides her beauty behind thick glasses and shabby over-sized clothing, as she does not want anyone to hit on her.

Her current assignment is personal, as she has found some clues that lead her to Galveston, Texas, in search of her two brothers Whit and Drew. However, her efforts are made complicated by Colonel Clay Madison who rescues her from a union soldier, and he somehow seems to see past her drab garb to her beauty and her cynical exterior to the heart of the matter. While she investigates a prostitute's homicide and continues her search for her family, he insists on protecting the woman he loves, who is now the target of a killer.

The third Hawk tale (see HAWK and HAWK'S PASSION) is a terrific western romance due to the fearless fiery female who rejects male intervention and protection, which leads to stormy battles with, in her mind, overly protective Clay. The storyline is action-packed, as J.L. seeks clues to finding her brother, but the not so civil gender war makes the tale fun to read.