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Bitter Springs #1
The Last Renegade
SHE HIRED HIM TO PROTECT HER TOWN
As the owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon and Hotel, Lorraine Berry is privy to almost everything that goes on in Bitter Springs, Wyoming--including the bloodshed plaguing its citizens. With all of the good men dying at the hands of a local rancher and his three sons, Raine hires a shootist to be the town's protector. But her handsome new employee is more than a hired hand; he's a man who keeps his guns close and his secrets closer.
BUT NOTHING COULD PROTECT HER HEART
After a chance encounter on a train, Kellen Coltrane travels to the Pennyroyal to carry out a dying man's last wish. But once he meets the hotel's fiery-haired proprietor, Coltrane finds himself assuming the role of the shootist's accomplice and agrees to protect Bitter Springs. And as he learns more about Raine's own tragedy, Coltrane can't deny his growing desire for the courageous widow, or the urge to protect her from the threat that draws near...
As the owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon and Hotel, Lorraine Berry is privy to almost everything that goes on in Bitter Springs, Wyoming--including the bloodshed plaguing its citizens. With all of the good men dying at the hands of a local rancher and his three sons, Raine hires a shootist to be the town's protector. But her handsome new employee is more than a hired hand; he's a man who keeps his guns close and his secrets closer.
BUT NOTHING COULD PROTECT HER HEART
After a chance encounter on a train, Kellen Coltrane travels to the Pennyroyal to carry out a dying man's last wish. But once he meets the hotel's fiery-haired proprietor, Coltrane finds himself assuming the role of the shootist's accomplice and agrees to protect Bitter Springs. And as he learns more about Raine's own tragedy, Coltrane can't deny his growing desire for the courageous widow, or the urge to protect her from the threat that draws near...
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2012
89 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
About the author
Jo Goodman
64 books480 followersTo find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
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November 2, 2012
4.5 stars.*****Review completed November 2, 2012
"Are you going to tell me again that I'm decent?"
"Your kisses aren't."
"There's a mercy."
October 1888, Wyoming Territory
Kellen Coltrane is traveling by train to Salt Lake City when he meets a badly injured man. It is the gunslinger Nat Church which was hired by Lorraine (Raine) Berry who's seeking justice for her dead sister. Church is telling Kellen that he was headed to the Pennyroyal Hotel and Saloon at Bitter Springs. Raine is the owner of the Pennyroyal. When it is obvious that Nat won't survive his injury, Kellen decides to go to Bitter Springs impersonating Nat Church's accomplice to unveil his murderer. Once arrived though, he is impressed by Raine and decides to stay at her hotel to protect her as well as to help her to right a wrong. I can't give away too much here but when people start dying, Kellen is getting more than he bargained for…
The plot of The Last Renegade is very well thought out and engaging. Even though the pace is rather slow the author did a mighty fine job at developing the storyline with plenty of wonderful and witty dialogue. I absolutely loved it!
Kellen Coltrane--what a super cool name is that, huh?
Before he met Raine, he thought of himself as something of an explorer, an adventurer. He was not searching for a particular thing but searching for meaningful things.
He'd always believed he traveled with purpose, but what if he had merely been drifting?
And he found someone very meaningful. Raine. She anchored him, gave him a home, affection and love. Kellen is one seriously handsome hottie. Additionally, he is a very calm and highly intellectual character. With that said, Kellen comes from a long line of academics which I found truly interesting, and he features a rather mysterious past that kept me guessing time and again.
"You shouldn't look at me like that. I don't deserve it, Raine. I can't hang the moon for you. It doesn't matter that I want to. I can't. I'm not who you think I am."
Yup. What a nice surprise… :)
Make no mistake though, Kellen is not your common cowboy. Yes, he can ride a horse but he is no cowboy at all. Naturally he is very quick at drawing his gun as well, however, he prefers to resolve a delicate situation by using his wit and not by shedding more blood. It's true, the pen is mightier than the sword. Granted, I love a historical western that displays quite a bit of action, but on the other hand the (almost) non-existent action in The Last Renegade didn't bother me because the whole story thrives through in-depth characterization and dialogue.
Raine:
"Why are you still here? I told you where the key is."
Kellen's reply:
"I am confounded by the problem of what to do with the key after I unlock the door. If I leave it behind, then I'm leaving you alone, in your bath, I might add, with no way to immediately lock the door after me. If I lock the door after I exit, not only am I in possession of your key, but you have no simple way to get out. You see my quandary."
The two rascals Rabbit and Finn were very entertaining and smart. They made me laugh time and again. *snicker* The romance between Kellen and Raine develops rather slowly yet steadily and their chemistry was palpable from the beginning. That said, the kissing and love scenes are very sensual and beautifully written. Even though the love scenes are not uber explicit, they felt pretty steamy. Hence, I think the author has a subtle hand at writing those scenes because they have such an intimate feel to it. Simply lovely. Furthermore, I loved Kellen's deadpan humor and the banter between him and Raine was so charming. Raine was not a damsel in distress.
"Are you trying to be insulting or is it an unfortunate consequence of your overwhelming arrogance? Don't answer that. I'll work it out on my own. Are you concerned that I'll lie and say I need you just to keep you around?"
Then again, she is not ashamed to admit that she needs help, however, on the other hand she is quite self-assured, very clever and independent. Raine was a convincing heroine and I really liked her. A lot.
"Am I allowed to kiss you?"
"Only if you want frostbite."
He chuckled. "I take my chances."
(….)
He shook his head. He pecked her cheek again, but this time he whispered, "I'm wearing a gun belt."
Overall verdict
The Last Renegade was my first read by Jo Goodman but certainly not my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its well drawn and likable characters. A good murder mystery, a lovely romance and a very good writing style made me a happy camper! Highly recommended to every historical western fan.
He brushed his lips against her hair. "I do love you."
She whispered back, "Tell me something about you that I don't know."
Steam: 2.5 to 3 / Chemistry: 4 / Sensuality: 4 / Eroticism: 2.5 to 3
"Are you going to tell me again that I'm decent?"
"Your kisses aren't."
"There's a mercy."
October 1888, Wyoming Territory
Kellen Coltrane is traveling by train to Salt Lake City when he meets a badly injured man. It is the gunslinger Nat Church which was hired by Lorraine (Raine) Berry who's seeking justice for her dead sister. Church is telling Kellen that he was headed to the Pennyroyal Hotel and Saloon at Bitter Springs. Raine is the owner of the Pennyroyal. When it is obvious that Nat won't survive his injury, Kellen decides to go to Bitter Springs impersonating Nat Church's accomplice to unveil his murderer. Once arrived though, he is impressed by Raine and decides to stay at her hotel to protect her as well as to help her to right a wrong. I can't give away too much here but when people start dying, Kellen is getting more than he bargained for…
The plot of The Last Renegade is very well thought out and engaging. Even though the pace is rather slow the author did a mighty fine job at developing the storyline with plenty of wonderful and witty dialogue. I absolutely loved it!
Kellen Coltrane--what a super cool name is that, huh?
Before he met Raine, he thought of himself as something of an explorer, an adventurer. He was not searching for a particular thing but searching for meaningful things.
He'd always believed he traveled with purpose, but what if he had merely been drifting?
And he found someone very meaningful. Raine. She anchored him, gave him a home, affection and love. Kellen is one seriously handsome hottie. Additionally, he is a very calm and highly intellectual character. With that said, Kellen comes from a long line of academics which I found truly interesting, and he features a rather mysterious past that kept me guessing time and again.
"You shouldn't look at me like that. I don't deserve it, Raine. I can't hang the moon for you. It doesn't matter that I want to. I can't. I'm not who you think I am."
Yup. What a nice surprise… :)
Make no mistake though, Kellen is not your common cowboy. Yes, he can ride a horse but he is no cowboy at all. Naturally he is very quick at drawing his gun as well, however, he prefers to resolve a delicate situation by using his wit and not by shedding more blood. It's true, the pen is mightier than the sword. Granted, I love a historical western that displays quite a bit of action, but on the other hand the (almost) non-existent action in The Last Renegade didn't bother me because the whole story thrives through in-depth characterization and dialogue.
Raine:
"Why are you still here? I told you where the key is."
Kellen's reply:
"I am confounded by the problem of what to do with the key after I unlock the door. If I leave it behind, then I'm leaving you alone, in your bath, I might add, with no way to immediately lock the door after me. If I lock the door after I exit, not only am I in possession of your key, but you have no simple way to get out. You see my quandary."
The two rascals Rabbit and Finn were very entertaining and smart. They made me laugh time and again. *snicker* The romance between Kellen and Raine develops rather slowly yet steadily and their chemistry was palpable from the beginning. That said, the kissing and love scenes are very sensual and beautifully written. Even though the love scenes are not uber explicit, they felt pretty steamy. Hence, I think the author has a subtle hand at writing those scenes because they have such an intimate feel to it. Simply lovely. Furthermore, I loved Kellen's deadpan humor and the banter between him and Raine was so charming. Raine was not a damsel in distress.
"Are you trying to be insulting or is it an unfortunate consequence of your overwhelming arrogance? Don't answer that. I'll work it out on my own. Are you concerned that I'll lie and say I need you just to keep you around?"
Then again, she is not ashamed to admit that she needs help, however, on the other hand she is quite self-assured, very clever and independent. Raine was a convincing heroine and I really liked her. A lot.
"Am I allowed to kiss you?"
"Only if you want frostbite."
He chuckled. "I take my chances."
(….)
He shook his head. He pecked her cheek again, but this time he whispered, "I'm wearing a gun belt."
Overall verdict
The Last Renegade was my first read by Jo Goodman but certainly not my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its well drawn and likable characters. A good murder mystery, a lovely romance and a very good writing style made me a happy camper! Highly recommended to every historical western fan.
He brushed his lips against her hair. "I do love you."
She whispered back, "Tell me something about you that I don't know."
Steam: 2.5 to 3 / Chemistry: 4 / Sensuality: 4 / Eroticism: 2.5 to 3
April 2, 2016
4,5 Stars
Set in 1888 Wyoming, Lorraine Berry, owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon, and Keller Coltrane's destinies meet in Bitter Spring, between secrets they keep and harsh conflicts. Both are not what they let the world see, but facing the threats and prevarications a powerful family is unleashing upon the frontier town will have them form a bond of trust soon leading to unexpected passion.
As usual, Goodman's writing is top notch flawless and engaging, her characterisations well-crafted, from the leads to the villains and even to secondary sidekicks lightening the atmoshpere and bringing some touches of humour to an otherwise gritty mood. The subtle and gradual tension build-up of the plot heading toward the final showdown is perfectly echoed by the slow-burning attraction of the two sensual, intelligent and mature protagonists. Like many of her heroes, Keller possessed a sort of quiet intensity I found much more appealing than many "louder" traits now often associated with the alpha category and Lorraine, though harder to like at first due to her wariness, ended up being his worthy match.
One of the best I've read in a long time, combining a more genre typical storyline with an intriguing whodunnit sub-plot and making for an original and solid Historical Western.
August 30, 2025
This was an interesting story. MMC Kellen Coltrane is traveling on a train when he encounters another man who has been stabbed in a terrible way. The dying man tells Kellen his name is Nat Church and proceeds to let him know about meeting a woman in Bitter Springs, Wyoming. Kellen finds a doctor on the train, but there's nothing to be done to save Nat. (It's important to note here that "Nat Church" is a well known adventure author/character of popular dime novels in 1888. So it's an alias the dying gun man chose to use in lieu of his real name.)
When Kellen arrives in Bitter Springs, his curiosity is piqued. He decides to find "Ms. Penny Royal" to deliver the news that Nat Church won't be meeting her after all. What he learns from the station manager is that the Pennyroyal is a saloon and hotel owned by FMC Lorraine ("Widder") Berry. The UP station character is Jeff Collins who has two young grandsons that he uses to assist and deliver passengers with their luggage to the hotel. They're nicknamed Rabbit (about 10) and Finn (approximately 7) and these boys steal pretty much every scene they're in:
"There aren't any dancing girls in Bitter Springs," Finn said. "Leastways not the kind that kick their legs so high in the air you can see..." He leaned forward, looked around Kellen for his brother, and asked, "What do you call it?"
"France," Rabbit said. "They kick their legs so high you can see France."
Finn nodded. He looked up at Kellen. "You ever seen France?"
Kellen sighed feelingly. "Not in a long while."
Let's just say that before the book ends, Kellen does indeed "see France."
Over the course of the book, the reader learns that FMC Raine had hired an out of state gun man to help protect the town where citizens felt terrorized by the Burdick family. When said gun man is killed on the train, Kellen Coltrane steps into help. There's murder, mystery, a slow burn romance, and a few surprises thrown in by the author. Some surprises this reader did not see coming.
I rated this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the book overall, there were too many things left unresolved. Some questions might be answered in the next book in the series, but others could have been tied up in this one and weren't. I enjoyed the author's writing and her creativity in designing the story. I definitely plan to read more of her work.
When Kellen arrives in Bitter Springs, his curiosity is piqued. He decides to find "Ms. Penny Royal" to deliver the news that Nat Church won't be meeting her after all. What he learns from the station manager is that the Pennyroyal is a saloon and hotel owned by FMC Lorraine ("Widder") Berry. The UP station character is Jeff Collins who has two young grandsons that he uses to assist and deliver passengers with their luggage to the hotel. They're nicknamed Rabbit (about 10) and Finn (approximately 7) and these boys steal pretty much every scene they're in:
"There aren't any dancing girls in Bitter Springs," Finn said. "Leastways not the kind that kick their legs so high in the air you can see..." He leaned forward, looked around Kellen for his brother, and asked, "What do you call it?"
"France," Rabbit said. "They kick their legs so high you can see France."
Finn nodded. He looked up at Kellen. "You ever seen France?"
Kellen sighed feelingly. "Not in a long while."
Let's just say that before the book ends, Kellen does indeed "see France."
Over the course of the book, the reader learns that FMC Raine had hired an out of state gun man to help protect the town where citizens felt terrorized by the Burdick family. When said gun man is killed on the train, Kellen Coltrane steps into help. There's murder, mystery, a slow burn romance, and a few surprises thrown in by the author. Some surprises this reader did not see coming.
I rated this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the book overall, there were too many things left unresolved. Some questions might be answered in the next book in the series, but others could have been tied up in this one and weren't. I enjoyed the author's writing and her creativity in designing the story. I definitely plan to read more of her work.
April 12, 2025
The main characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kellen kept his head when a total stranger covered in blood slumped into the seat across him on a westbound train. Before he dies, the man gives Kellen some information: “Bitter Springs….Pennyroyal…tell her…she’s waiting.” Kellen will discover later that the stranger has given him a few more things besides information.
In Bitter Springs, WY, Kellen finds Raine, the owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon and Hotel, a woman expecting the retired marshal she hired to protect her town and her neighbors from retribution from the Burdicks, the ruthless family who own most of the town and the land around it. The Burdicks are killing anyone who participated in the trial of the youngest Burdick, unexpectedly convicted for raping Raine’s younger sister, who died in childbirth as a result of the rape.
Both main characters are intelligent, grounded, interesting, and likable.
The Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In spite of the quick connection the reader feels between Kellen and Raine, the romance was credibly built and felt authentic, with layers building on layers until the relationship feels solid and right.
The Setting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This author is excellent at portraying this time and place in history, balanced between the precarious lawlessness of the Old West and westward creeping civilization.
The Plot ⭐️⭐️
The plot generally propels the story to its unlikely climax, and keeps the reader interested. It’s not until the novel is finished that plot holes and detours become apparent: Don’t even get me started on the big “courtroom” climax at the end—that was nonsensical.
The Pace⭐️
Glacial. Would you like to get to the story that you came for? Too bad. This author wants to introduce you to every character in every scene and wants to give you their backstory and describe their day. No conversation gets to the point right away. No distraction goes unnoticed. Oh look! A squirrel! Let’s chase that for awhile. Sometimes it adds flavor, but most of the time it’s testing the reader’s patience. I really wish someone would put Rabbit and Finn in a cage in their grandpa’s basement. How many scenes can two young rapscallions dominate anyway?
So you see the problem with rating this book. I ended up favoring the characters and romance and forgiving the messy plot because I really did enjoy this book. It’s my favorite Jo Goodman so far.
Kellen kept his head when a total stranger covered in blood slumped into the seat across him on a westbound train. Before he dies, the man gives Kellen some information: “Bitter Springs….Pennyroyal…tell her…she’s waiting.” Kellen will discover later that the stranger has given him a few more things besides information.
In Bitter Springs, WY, Kellen finds Raine, the owner of the Pennyroyal Saloon and Hotel, a woman expecting the retired marshal she hired to protect her town and her neighbors from retribution from the Burdicks, the ruthless family who own most of the town and the land around it. The Burdicks are killing anyone who participated in the trial of the youngest Burdick, unexpectedly convicted for raping Raine’s younger sister, who died in childbirth as a result of the rape.
Both main characters are intelligent, grounded, interesting, and likable.
The Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In spite of the quick connection the reader feels between Kellen and Raine, the romance was credibly built and felt authentic, with layers building on layers until the relationship feels solid and right.
The Setting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This author is excellent at portraying this time and place in history, balanced between the precarious lawlessness of the Old West and westward creeping civilization.
The Plot ⭐️⭐️
The plot generally propels the story to its unlikely climax, and keeps the reader interested. It’s not until the novel is finished that plot holes and detours become apparent: Don’t even get me started on the big “courtroom” climax at the end—that was nonsensical.
The Pace⭐️
Glacial. Would you like to get to the story that you came for? Too bad. This author wants to introduce you to every character in every scene and wants to give you their backstory and describe their day. No conversation gets to the point right away. No distraction goes unnoticed. Oh look! A squirrel! Let’s chase that for awhile. Sometimes it adds flavor, but most of the time it’s testing the reader’s patience. I really wish someone would put Rabbit and Finn in a cage in their grandpa’s basement. How many scenes can two young rapscallions dominate anyway?
So you see the problem with rating this book. I ended up favoring the characters and romance and forgiving the messy plot because I really did enjoy this book. It’s my favorite Jo Goodman so far.
September 26, 2012
4.5 stars
“Folks are dropping like flies.”
Wyoming Territory, 1888. Kellen Coltrane finds himself in the midst of a mystery when his train ride is interrupted by a stranger with a fatal knife wound. Before he breathes his last, Nat Church asks Kellen to finish his journey to the Pennyroyal Saloon in Bitter Springs where he had accepted employment as a hired gun. When Kellen arrives he's met by the hotel's owner, Lorraine (Raine) Berry, who makes the erroneous assumption that Kellen is Church's partner, and Kellen decides to continue the deception.
Why did Raine need to hire a gunman? I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil, but there was a trial a few years back that convicted one of the sons of powerful ranch owner, and it seems that some of the jurors who convicted him are having fatal *accidents*. OK, so you know who the baddies are at the get go, but things aren't all cut and dried and there's plenty of other dirty dealing and secrets going on underneath the surface to keep you guessing. Not everyone is what they appear to be (that includes Kellen), and it's up to our pair to put the pieces together and catch the baddies, plus taking time to fall in love (this is a romance novel after all).
This was great fun with a good solid mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end - and that includes Kellen's mysterious past (loved it!). I really like the way Goodman uses dialogue and characters to move the story along, instead of long-winded, lengthy paragraphs of oh-so-tedious inner analyzing. Kellen and Raine have good chemistry from the get go, but it is slow to build while they're getting to know each other - and I loved their bantering as much as I did the romance:
"Am I allowed to kiss you?"
"Only if you want frostbite."
"I'll take my chances."
Kellen was a serious dishy hunk of a hero, Raine was definitely more than another pretty female, but my hands down favorite characters who stole every scene were the two young scamps nicknamed Rabbit and Finn. Picture a pair of very young cowlicked Ronnie Howards running loose in town and you'll know what I mean.
"We saw him from our bedroom window on account Finn had to piss and didn't want to use the privy."
"Rabbit was trying to shut the window on my-"
Rain's quelling look stopped Finn cold."
Lol, and those boys were everywhere and into everything. This was a solid four-star read for me, but I'm tacking on an extra half star for the awesome finish as well as the big reveal on Kellen's secret past. I loved every page. 4.5/5 stars.
Book source: library loan.
“Folks are dropping like flies.”
Wyoming Territory, 1888. Kellen Coltrane finds himself in the midst of a mystery when his train ride is interrupted by a stranger with a fatal knife wound. Before he breathes his last, Nat Church asks Kellen to finish his journey to the Pennyroyal Saloon in Bitter Springs where he had accepted employment as a hired gun. When Kellen arrives he's met by the hotel's owner, Lorraine (Raine) Berry, who makes the erroneous assumption that Kellen is Church's partner, and Kellen decides to continue the deception.
Why did Raine need to hire a gunman? I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil, but there was a trial a few years back that convicted one of the sons of powerful ranch owner, and it seems that some of the jurors who convicted him are having fatal *accidents*. OK, so you know who the baddies are at the get go, but things aren't all cut and dried and there's plenty of other dirty dealing and secrets going on underneath the surface to keep you guessing. Not everyone is what they appear to be (that includes Kellen), and it's up to our pair to put the pieces together and catch the baddies, plus taking time to fall in love (this is a romance novel after all).
This was great fun with a good solid mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end - and that includes Kellen's mysterious past (loved it!). I really like the way Goodman uses dialogue and characters to move the story along, instead of long-winded, lengthy paragraphs of oh-so-tedious inner analyzing. Kellen and Raine have good chemistry from the get go, but it is slow to build while they're getting to know each other - and I loved their bantering as much as I did the romance:
"Am I allowed to kiss you?"
"Only if you want frostbite."
"I'll take my chances."
Kellen was a serious dishy hunk of a hero, Raine was definitely more than another pretty female, but my hands down favorite characters who stole every scene were the two young scamps nicknamed Rabbit and Finn. Picture a pair of very young cowlicked Ronnie Howards running loose in town and you'll know what I mean.
"We saw him from our bedroom window on account Finn had to piss and didn't want to use the privy."
"Rabbit was trying to shut the window on my-"
Rain's quelling look stopped Finn cold."
Lol, and those boys were everywhere and into everything. This was a solid four-star read for me, but I'm tacking on an extra half star for the awesome finish as well as the big reveal on Kellen's secret past. I loved every page. 4.5/5 stars.
Book source: library loan.
June 4, 2014
What a wonderful unexcpeted gem this book is!
The thing I enjoyed most is the feeling of the period I got. The way the story is told, the way all the characters act and speak, the descriptions of the town were so beautifully done that I has the feeling I was there and in that period!!
It was like watching those wonderful old John Wayne's westerns. It was fantastic!
The main characters were great too!
Raine was a fantstic heroine: strong, determined, intelligent. She had big problems and deal with them in a very clever way. She didn't do anything stupid and I appreciate very, very much that characteristic!
Kellen was a fresh breath were heroes are concerned. He was like a silent force that slowly, but inexorably lead everybody to the conclusion he wants! His reasoning and this way of acting were so good and so right both for Raine and the town. It was a pleasure to read!
The dialogues between Raine and Kellen were one of the best I've read! The way they expressed their mind and feelings were so good and enjoyable that sometimes I just had to re-read them to enjoy them once more!
All the secondary charactes were excellent too. Rabbit and Finn; just perfect! Walt, thought by everybody to be slow of mind, but to me he came out just as wise to keep his mouth shut! :)
An excellent book! Highly recommended!
The thing I enjoyed most is the feeling of the period I got. The way the story is told, the way all the characters act and speak, the descriptions of the town were so beautifully done that I has the feeling I was there and in that period!!
It was like watching those wonderful old John Wayne's westerns. It was fantastic!
The main characters were great too!
Raine was a fantstic heroine: strong, determined, intelligent. She had big problems and deal with them in a very clever way. She didn't do anything stupid and I appreciate very, very much that characteristic!
Kellen was a fresh breath were heroes are concerned. He was like a silent force that slowly, but inexorably lead everybody to the conclusion he wants! His reasoning and this way of acting were so good and so right both for Raine and the town. It was a pleasure to read!
The dialogues between Raine and Kellen were one of the best I've read! The way they expressed their mind and feelings were so good and enjoyable that sometimes I just had to re-read them to enjoy them once more!
All the secondary charactes were excellent too. Rabbit and Finn; just perfect! Walt, thought by everybody to be slow of mind, but to me he came out just as wise to keep his mouth shut! :)
An excellent book! Highly recommended!
July 14, 2012
Very good western historical. More of a mystery than action story. I enjoyed it a lot.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine in the September issue. http://affairedecoeur.com
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine in the September issue. http://affairedecoeur.com
July 16, 2016
Jo Goodman, is not for everyone.
But lucky for me, I love her characters.
In a way Jo Goodman reminds me of Mary Jo Putney: mature, practical, low drama, deep thoughts. There is nothing theatrical in their books. Just solid characterization and top notch story telling.
For me the love story itself, is 3 stars. I wish Kellen and Raine's private relationship had taken the center stage instead of the murders. But I love Kellen and Raine as characters. They are so perfectly authentic and blessedly practical about everything. It's not a "funny" book but Kellen's sense of humor got to me. Raine was a great heroine. No fuss, no drama. Just "I love you", no fears and no regrets. I just wish Kellen and Raine had a real "falling in love" story, not a murder mystery.
Kellen came to Bitter Springs because a stranger, who told Kellen on the train why he was going to Bitter Springs. A Mrs. Adam Berry, had hired the guy to find out why people were dropping dead in this town. This guy however, was murdered on the train. Before he passed away, he asked Kellen to tell Mrs. Berry what happened because she was depending on him. Kellen kept his promise and came to Bitter Springs to find Mrs. Adam Berry.
Mrs. Adam Berry turned out to be Lorraine Berry, aka Raine, who claimed to be the widow of a certain Adam Berry but there was more than what met the eyes. Kellen took residence in Raine's hotel and decided to help Raine with the murders. Other than the above, I cannot say anything more about Kellen and Raine, because Kellen and Raine's interactions cannot be described or summarized. You have to read the book to feel what was between them. Jo Goodman built a story where Kellen and Raine came to know each other. It is impossible to tell exactly what happened between them. Something did, and I love how subtle and natural they came together. Like I said, no drama, nothing theatrical. Just solid characterization.
Kellen and Raine are the reason why the book got 4 stars from me. The murder plots did not appeal to me so much but it did provide the ground for the relationship to grow in. I won't recommend the book but I liked it a lot. It isn't a loud book, so it doesn't have a lot of excitement which seem to permeate the current HR genre. I can only say that I was drawn to it because of Kellen and Raine, and Jo Goodman's calm and steady way of telling a story.
But lucky for me, I love her characters.
In a way Jo Goodman reminds me of Mary Jo Putney: mature, practical, low drama, deep thoughts. There is nothing theatrical in their books. Just solid characterization and top notch story telling.
For me the love story itself, is 3 stars. I wish Kellen and Raine's private relationship had taken the center stage instead of the murders. But I love Kellen and Raine as characters. They are so perfectly authentic and blessedly practical about everything. It's not a "funny" book but Kellen's sense of humor got to me. Raine was a great heroine. No fuss, no drama. Just "I love you", no fears and no regrets. I just wish Kellen and Raine had a real "falling in love" story, not a murder mystery.
Kellen came to Bitter Springs because a stranger, who told Kellen on the train why he was going to Bitter Springs. A Mrs. Adam Berry, had hired the guy to find out why people were dropping dead in this town. This guy however, was murdered on the train. Before he passed away, he asked Kellen to tell Mrs. Berry what happened because she was depending on him. Kellen kept his promise and came to Bitter Springs to find Mrs. Adam Berry.
Mrs. Adam Berry turned out to be Lorraine Berry, aka Raine, who claimed to be the widow of a certain Adam Berry but there was more than what met the eyes. Kellen took residence in Raine's hotel and decided to help Raine with the murders. Other than the above, I cannot say anything more about Kellen and Raine, because Kellen and Raine's interactions cannot be described or summarized. You have to read the book to feel what was between them. Jo Goodman built a story where Kellen and Raine came to know each other. It is impossible to tell exactly what happened between them. Something did, and I love how subtle and natural they came together. Like I said, no drama, nothing theatrical. Just solid characterization.
Kellen and Raine are the reason why the book got 4 stars from me. The murder plots did not appeal to me so much but it did provide the ground for the relationship to grow in. I won't recommend the book but I liked it a lot. It isn't a loud book, so it doesn't have a lot of excitement which seem to permeate the current HR genre. I can only say that I was drawn to it because of Kellen and Raine, and Jo Goodman's calm and steady way of telling a story.
January 23, 2021
I’m forcing myself back to the beginning of my TBR list because I just keep adding to it and reading the recently added! Anyway when I went to buy this one as it’s on my TBR list for nearly 2 years I discovered I had already bought it and not read it for reasons unknown. Firstly I love Jo Goodman’s writing and this book was no exception. Her characters feel mature and wise , when a romantic relationship develops it’s a loving emotion at the forefront but yet sparks can fly and I enjoy the way she writes loves scenes . Anyway really liked the mc’s, good back story , funny secondary characters, maybe a bit too much made of the suspense or maybe too many entanglements and the concluding ‘trial’ felt a bit far fetched but overall I really enjoyed !
May 9, 2016
Loved, loved this book. The mystery part of the book was just as good as the romance part of the book. Because throughout the entire book, you aren't sure who or what Kellen is, so as the read we are just as suprised as Raine is when she figures it out. Awesome read, with the sexual tension sparking off the page. Can't wait for the next in the series, True to the Law. :-) This one really put me in my happy place.
May 25, 2015
3.5 stars
I could finish it in very long time because of illness issues. So I couldn't concentrate on story well. Maybe I'll read it again in future.
I could finish it in very long time because of illness issues. So I couldn't concentrate on story well. Maybe I'll read it again in future.
April 5, 2017
4.5 stars
When the hero decides to fulfil a dying man's mission, to help a town defend against a family that won't stop at anything until they get what they want, he doesn't suspect how much his life is going to change in the process. Upon meeting the 'Widder Berry', the woman who hired Nat Church to protect the town from the Burdicks, he's impressed by her looks, her strength and her mind. She on the other hand, is not impressed by the man who took over Church's job and asks him to leave.
I loved everything about this book: the plot which had me guessing and changing my mind about the villain more than once, the witty, humorous dialogues that had me laughing out loud more than once and the perfect accord between the hero and the heroine. Those two understood each other from the start which didn't mean that they were all cheesy words and love declarations: they disagreed, they bickered, they teased, but they never, ever turned mean or tried to hurt one another. Both were smart people and actually acted as such for the entire length of the story; no silly misunderstandings, fear or distrust, no going back on their words or trying to save the day -and the city- by sneaking out in the dark to fight all the bad guys alone. And still, it was not a sweet-cheesy-peachy story; there was anxiety, their was tension, there were issues to be solved and secrets to be told that kept the story moving at a fast pace. Add in the twists that half of them I never saw coming, the clever dialogues and excellent writing, the entirely likable but not perfect characters from the main heroes to the secondary one, and you have an excellent book on your hands.
Highly recommended!
When the hero decides to fulfil a dying man's mission, to help a town defend against a family that won't stop at anything until they get what they want, he doesn't suspect how much his life is going to change in the process. Upon meeting the 'Widder Berry', the woman who hired Nat Church to protect the town from the Burdicks, he's impressed by her looks, her strength and her mind. She on the other hand, is not impressed by the man who took over Church's job and asks him to leave.
I loved everything about this book: the plot which had me guessing and changing my mind about the villain more than once, the witty, humorous dialogues that had me laughing out loud more than once and the perfect accord between the hero and the heroine. Those two understood each other from the start which didn't mean that they were all cheesy words and love declarations: they disagreed, they bickered, they teased, but they never, ever turned mean or tried to hurt one another. Both were smart people and actually acted as such for the entire length of the story; no silly misunderstandings, fear or distrust, no going back on their words or trying to save the day -and the city- by sneaking out in the dark to fight all the bad guys alone. And still, it was not a sweet-cheesy-peachy story; there was anxiety, their was tension, there were issues to be solved and secrets to be told that kept the story moving at a fast pace. Add in the twists that half of them I never saw coming, the clever dialogues and excellent writing, the entirely likable but not perfect characters from the main heroes to the secondary one, and you have an excellent book on your hands.
Highly recommended!
November 11, 2012
It's been years since I read a historical western romance. Although Hummingbird by LaVyrle Spencer was the book that originally got me into romance many years ago. This is a particularly well written, character driven story. All the characters are complex and mysterious and often not what you initially thought them to be. There is an underlying thread about a fictional (or is he??) character from a dime-store western series called Nat Church which I loved. The two boys Rabbit and Finn were so funny. The villains were genuinely scary although the motivations and identity of all the bad guys was not apparent till the end. The romance was lovely although subdued. It was definitely the plot that engaged me more with this book. Thanks to Pal and Sue for the great rec!
November 1, 2015
Life just doesn't have enough Rabbit and Finn. I loved this book. Ms. Goodman's Westerns are every bit as good as her Regencies and a hell of a lot funnier.
February 21, 2016
3,5 Convincing but cold stars
In search of a better Western experience, I followed goodreads hints to this book. I've watched millions of western films as a child, I can't believe this is only the second book I read in the same context. Very different from my previous experience with Wild Burn, this is a good book in many respects, a slow paced crime investigation with a romance weaved through it.
The opening throws the reader immediately in a world of mystery, violent death and unexpected twists, you feel compelled to follow the trail of death and solve it together with the male protagonist, the bodycount keeps growing, more and more layers are added and if it weren't for the incredible observing skills of our antihero Kellen, we would have missed the significance of a lot of little bits. Kellen is an intellectual impersonating a gun-for-hire and taking on many different coats depending on which kind of information he needs to get from the various people in town. A master of inferring, hinting and omitting. I enjoyed the working of his mind, with a couple of exceptions.
The heroine Raine is also a very thoughtful observant person, caring, generous, genuinely concerned and emotionally strong. No disturbing vanity or insecurity episodes. Their banter is highly enjoyable.
The town of Bitter Springs really comes to life, the territory too, there are tons of side characters and they are all alive and believable, it was lovely to spy the lives coming and going through the Pennyroyal hotel and saloon. I obviosuly wanted to try all the damn food, yes, that's me. The most adorable characters of all, of course, where those two little scoundrels Finn and Rabbit. Totally stealing every scene they were in.
So why no more stars? Because after such a huge built-up towards the solution of all the murders, there was no real relief, the fake trial scene was at the same time to dragged and abruptly ended. Because some twists I had seen a long time coming and I wish they had been better utilized. Because even if I really liked the main couple together, they got better and better together by the end of the book, and even if the sex scenes were realistically described without too many frills or voyeurism, I found a certain coldness underlying it all. I found hard to reconcile two people so drawn to each others, so trusting and open at physical level even, to be so reticent and oddly distant after moments of intimacy or not discussing/admitting/talking certain things through just as openly. Maybe is the era gap and I'm forgetting the rigidity of roles and relationships back then, yet neither Kellen nor Raine are ordinary people, they both made unconventional choices.
To sum it up, an engaging, entertaining book, a good romance, just a bit too cool for me.
In search of a better Western experience, I followed goodreads hints to this book. I've watched millions of western films as a child, I can't believe this is only the second book I read in the same context. Very different from my previous experience with Wild Burn, this is a good book in many respects, a slow paced crime investigation with a romance weaved through it.
The opening throws the reader immediately in a world of mystery, violent death and unexpected twists, you feel compelled to follow the trail of death and solve it together with the male protagonist, the bodycount keeps growing, more and more layers are added and if it weren't for the incredible observing skills of our antihero Kellen, we would have missed the significance of a lot of little bits. Kellen is an intellectual impersonating a gun-for-hire and taking on many different coats depending on which kind of information he needs to get from the various people in town. A master of inferring, hinting and omitting. I enjoyed the working of his mind, with a couple of exceptions.
The heroine Raine is also a very thoughtful observant person, caring, generous, genuinely concerned and emotionally strong. No disturbing vanity or insecurity episodes. Their banter is highly enjoyable.
The town of Bitter Springs really comes to life, the territory too, there are tons of side characters and they are all alive and believable, it was lovely to spy the lives coming and going through the Pennyroyal hotel and saloon. I obviosuly wanted to try all the damn food, yes, that's me. The most adorable characters of all, of course, where those two little scoundrels Finn and Rabbit. Totally stealing every scene they were in.
So why no more stars? Because after such a huge built-up towards the solution of all the murders, there was no real relief, the fake trial scene was at the same time to dragged and abruptly ended. Because some twists I had seen a long time coming and I wish they had been better utilized. Because even if I really liked the main couple together, they got better and better together by the end of the book, and even if the sex scenes were realistically described without too many frills or voyeurism, I found a certain coldness underlying it all. I found hard to reconcile two people so drawn to each others, so trusting and open at physical level even, to be so reticent and oddly distant after moments of intimacy or not discussing/admitting/talking certain things through just as openly. Maybe is the era gap and I'm forgetting the rigidity of roles and relationships back then, yet neither Kellen nor Raine are ordinary people, they both made unconventional choices.
To sum it up, an engaging, entertaining book, a good romance, just a bit too cool for me.
May 13, 2014
I opened goodreads to review my re read of this and found I had already done it. Most of this stands, though I think I was even more frustrated by the quick and unclear resolution of all the plot threads in the final trial scene. Still a little confused after two years, but still a great book.
I hesitated between 4 and 5 stars, so for wishy-washy people, I really think they should allow half stars ;)
This is an excellent book.
The hero and heroine are both so complete and well-rounded as characters that I felt a bit sad that the book was over because I really liked them. My only quibbles with them were that the hero was a bit too complete. There wasn't much character arc for him because he was so private about not getting attached that even the reader never really saw that side of himself. The heroine had that huge, gaping hole in her life caused by the loss of everyone and having constantly to see the people she blamed for the worst of her losses. I could have used more distrust between the hero and heroine - and more opening up, especially by the hero, who was hiding way too much. The secondary characters were excellent, both good and bad ones.
The plot was well done, definitely. We know who the big bad is from the start, but there's no way to prove it and no court willing to try it. And we don't know who's working for the big bad and who's on the side of justice. Sometimes, Goodman's books drag as she sets up the bits and pieces of her plot here and there, but I didn't get that feeling from this one. There were moments when I felt like nothing was happening, but it was quickly revealed that things were happening behind the scenes or someone would be killed.
The sex was hot, so people who get shy about that sort of thing will have to skip several pages at a time. I liked it because I'm a naughty wench or whatever. It also was handled as definitely part of the growing relationship, not sex for sex's sake. It didn't jar me. Well, maybe the first scene because... of reasons I can't go into without giving away an important plot point.
When did she start writing for Berkley? It threw me when I opened up the book on my nook and there was only one book listed on her back list. And does anyone know if she's going to write more regency-era historicals, too, instead of only 1880's westerns? Because If His Kiss is Wicked (awful title) is my favorite book by her.
I hesitated between 4 and 5 stars, so for wishy-washy people, I really think they should allow half stars ;)
This is an excellent book.
The hero and heroine are both so complete and well-rounded as characters that I felt a bit sad that the book was over because I really liked them. My only quibbles with them were that the hero was a bit too complete. There wasn't much character arc for him because he was so private about not getting attached that even the reader never really saw that side of himself. The heroine had that huge, gaping hole in her life caused by the loss of everyone and having constantly to see the people she blamed for the worst of her losses. I could have used more distrust between the hero and heroine - and more opening up, especially by the hero, who was hiding way too much. The secondary characters were excellent, both good and bad ones.
The plot was well done, definitely. We know who the big bad is from the start, but there's no way to prove it and no court willing to try it. And we don't know who's working for the big bad and who's on the side of justice. Sometimes, Goodman's books drag as she sets up the bits and pieces of her plot here and there, but I didn't get that feeling from this one. There were moments when I felt like nothing was happening, but it was quickly revealed that things were happening behind the scenes or someone would be killed.
The sex was hot, so people who get shy about that sort of thing will have to skip several pages at a time. I liked it because I'm a naughty wench or whatever. It also was handled as definitely part of the growing relationship, not sex for sex's sake. It didn't jar me. Well, maybe the first scene because... of reasons I can't go into without giving away an important plot point.
When did she start writing for Berkley? It threw me when I opened up the book on my nook and there was only one book listed on her back list. And does anyone know if she's going to write more regency-era historicals, too, instead of only 1880's westerns? Because If His Kiss is Wicked (awful title) is my favorite book by her.
December 14, 2012
First off, THANK YOU JILL for recommending this book!
The Last Renegade is everything I want in a romance novel; intelligent, seductive, funny, witty, dramatic and more. It's one of the most intensely satisfying books I've ever read. Kellen Coltrane, is an unlikely hero, a man with his own secrets who meets his match in the fiery and independent hotel and saloon owner, Lorraine Berry. They are one unforgettable passionate pair.
I usually read at a fast clip, but this is one story I wanted to just savor and enjoy. I will be reading more of Jo Goodman's books and getting my hands on the rest of Jill's recommendations!
The Last Renegade is everything I want in a romance novel; intelligent, seductive, funny, witty, dramatic and more. It's one of the most intensely satisfying books I've ever read. Kellen Coltrane, is an unlikely hero, a man with his own secrets who meets his match in the fiery and independent hotel and saloon owner, Lorraine Berry. They are one unforgettable passionate pair.
I usually read at a fast clip, but this is one story I wanted to just savor and enjoy. I will be reading more of Jo Goodman's books and getting my hands on the rest of Jill's recommendations!
June 3, 2014
4.5 Fabulous Stars!
My first read by this author but definitely not my last! I loved the setting, the romance and the mystery surrounding this tale kept me turning the pages. A well written Western Romance with a delicious hero and an adorable, lovable heroine!
My first read by this author but definitely not my last! I loved the setting, the romance and the mystery surrounding this tale kept me turning the pages. A well written Western Romance with a delicious hero and an adorable, lovable heroine!
May 21, 2024
Excellent story that’s really more a murder mystery than an historical romance book. The heroine Raine, who runs the hotel and adjoining saloon in a small Wyoming town hires a man via correspondence to be the town’s protector. Quite a number of men in Bitter Springs have either been killed or disappeared. After a chance encounter on a train, Kellen Coltrane arrives to be the shootist and solve the mystery.
There’s loads of violence in this mystery of many layers and many secondary characters. As I do like a good mystery (Christie, Penny, Leon, Sayers etc) I was totally engrossed in the book even tho the romance and passion between Raine and Kellen developed slowly and wasn’t very sizzling hot. There were a few sex scenes and they did get their HEA. Most important tho the mystery was solved. A really good read!
There’s loads of violence in this mystery of many layers and many secondary characters. As I do like a good mystery (Christie, Penny, Leon, Sayers etc) I was totally engrossed in the book even tho the romance and passion between Raine and Kellen developed slowly and wasn’t very sizzling hot. There were a few sex scenes and they did get their HEA. Most important tho the mystery was solved. A really good read!
March 3, 2023
4 Stars For Nat Church!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had been wanting to try a Jo Goodman book for a long time and I was pleasantly surprised by her writing. It wasn’t my favorite and the story got a bit confusing at times, but all in all it was a well put together story with interesting town folk and main couple. I would have liked a bit more in the romance department, but I really enjoyed how these two worked together to take down the assholes who thought they owned the town.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good western or books with many intriguing characters with a touch of mystery. I’ll definitely look into more books from her in the future! 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had been wanting to try a Jo Goodman book for a long time and I was pleasantly surprised by her writing. It wasn’t my favorite and the story got a bit confusing at times, but all in all it was a well put together story with interesting town folk and main couple. I would have liked a bit more in the romance department, but I really enjoyed how these two worked together to take down the assholes who thought they owned the town.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good western or books with many intriguing characters with a touch of mystery. I’ll definitely look into more books from her in the future! 💕
October 29, 2012
Based on other reviews it seems I'm in the minority on this, but I felt that the romance in this book took a backseat to everything else that was happening. Besides one kiss (which felt like it came from out of the blue), there was almost no build up to the relationship between Kellen and Raine. It lacked the emotional tension and/or excitement that I like to see in my romances as the characters get to know each other and fall in love. Over 100 pages in they have their first kiss with literally no build up to explain it. It just seemed to happen out of the blue. At no point before this was I shown or told that there was anything between them. And then eventually they get together, but again I was given very little indication of any deep feelings between them. The second half of the book became a little more emotive, but I still felt like their whole relationship had materialized out of thin air.
As for the mystery/action part, which I felt was more of the focus of the book, I wasn't completely satisfied with the final explanation. It's hard to get into it without giving anything away, but there were some loose ends that were never resolved, and certain questions that weren't fully answered, IMO. One character in particular, I still don't understand how he factored into everything b/c it was never fully explained.
I loved the characters of Rabbit and Finn, they constantly had me smiling. I almost wished they had played an even bigger role.
This was still an entertaining read, I finished it in one day.
As for the mystery/action part, which I felt was more of the focus of the book, I wasn't completely satisfied with the final explanation. It's hard to get into it without giving anything away, but there were some loose ends that were never resolved, and certain questions that weren't fully answered, IMO. One character in particular, I still don't understand how he factored into everything b/c it was never fully explained.
I loved the characters of Rabbit and Finn, they constantly had me smiling. I almost wished they had played an even bigger role.
This was still an entertaining read, I finished it in one day.
September 9, 2012
4.5
Wow... I didn't realize that I haven't read a good western romance in like forever until I read this book. I was instantly sucked into this story by the first page and I was thrilled and charmed by the adventures of Kellen and Lorraine, "Raine", in Bitter Springs, Wyoming. I was very impressed by Ms. Goodman's story. Not only did she give me a sweet, satisfying romance but a mystery as well. At first it seemed a bit cut and dry. Widow hires gunslinger to avenge her family from the dominating, murderous cattle baron, but it turned out to have so many more twists and turns that I was glued to the page. I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and I loved how Kellen and Raine helped each other. They complimented each other so well while still maintaining their individuality and were genuine, three dimensional people. Their romance flowed so very naturally and well and I was charmed by their falling in love. I'm definitely hooked and I'm going out to find more of Ms. Goodman's books.
Wow... I didn't realize that I haven't read a good western romance in like forever until I read this book. I was instantly sucked into this story by the first page and I was thrilled and charmed by the adventures of Kellen and Lorraine, "Raine", in Bitter Springs, Wyoming. I was very impressed by Ms. Goodman's story. Not only did she give me a sweet, satisfying romance but a mystery as well. At first it seemed a bit cut and dry. Widow hires gunslinger to avenge her family from the dominating, murderous cattle baron, but it turned out to have so many more twists and turns that I was glued to the page. I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and I loved how Kellen and Raine helped each other. They complimented each other so well while still maintaining their individuality and were genuine, three dimensional people. Their romance flowed so very naturally and well and I was charmed by their falling in love. I'm definitely hooked and I'm going out to find more of Ms. Goodman's books.
January 27, 2013
4/5; 4 stars; A-
Jo Goodman builds her stories on the very solid foundation of excellent characters. This book managed to have some light hearted moments, a mystery, some horrible moments, a sweet romance, and bit of a twist at the end. Very enjoyable read.
Jo Goodman builds her stories on the very solid foundation of excellent characters. This book managed to have some light hearted moments, a mystery, some horrible moments, a sweet romance, and bit of a twist at the end. Very enjoyable read.
September 14, 2012
Holy hot cowboys!
July 10, 2022
Raine's husband owned the Pennyroyal and she inherited it when he died. She lived there with her sister before she sister died in childbirth. Her sister was raped and became pregnant. The man who raped her, was brought to trial and found guilty. He escaped and the jurors are being killed, one by one. Raine hires an outside man, a shootist to protect the town from the Burdicks who do what they want when they want. Kellen meet the shootish and was curious, so when he is killed, he decides to go to the town and determine what is going on/how he can help.
This was a nice western mystery. It was interesting to read about the land surveys when it came to water and women's suffrage. I did have to admit an annoyance when it came out Raine was a virgin. It is explained, so it makes sense, but still a bit annoyed, because Kellen has been around.
Ripped Bodice Bingo: Widowed Protagonist square.
This was a nice western mystery. It was interesting to read about the land surveys when it came to water and women's suffrage. I did have to admit an annoyance when it came out Raine was a virgin. It is explained, so it makes sense, but still a bit annoyed, because Kellen has been around.
Ripped Bodice Bingo: Widowed Protagonist square.
September 24, 2025
DNF at about 25%. It seemed like it couldn't decide if it was a romance or a drama and was just too meandering for my taste.
January 24, 2013
Sigh. This book ended up in the wrong stack in the many stacks of books around me and my desk, so it didn’t get reviewed nearer to the release date back in September. I hope you’ll give it a chance all these months later, because this is a wonderful read. Jo Goodman has written two terrific characters brought together by circumstance, something one knows and the other doesn’t. They’re up against the old west villain we’ve seen before – own the town to own the people. It’s a good thing Kellen and Lorraine have something to say about that.
Lorraine Berry has lost so much in Bitter Springs, all thanks to family Burdick who run roughshod over everyone in town. So taking the town’s interests into her own hands, she hires a gunslinger to take care of the problem. What she doesn’t know when she meets the man is that Kellen Coltrane is not the original gunslinger she hired. Unfortunately, he died on the train en route to Bitter Springs.
Trying to mind his own business, Kellen gets pulled into a dangerous situation that’s nothing to do with him. But deceased Nate Church – the man stole the popular dime novelist’s name – has left Kellen intrigued and needing to help. Meeting the Widder Berry begins his journey to rid this small town of a man and his sons who have stooped to murder to get what they want. One by one those who served on the jury of Raine’s sister’s murder trial are disappearing, then turning up dead. The way Kellen decides to take care of the problem is to do so from the inside.
And thus begins putting all the puzzle pieces together to come up with the best and safest way to protect the town and its citizens. Thus begins the slow-growing romance between Kellen and Raine, which is an easy but intense relationship when it really starts to heat up. Kellen is the laid-back, take-his-time cowboy in every sense of the word. I find myself smiling and sometimes chuckling at his reactions to people and goings-on and loving his banter with Raine. And she is his perfect match, and it’s just terrific to watch her very slowly give in to his charm and fall into bed with him. But she’s also a strong woman who keeps control of her bar and rebuffs the advances of the oldest Burdick son.
I really like Finn and Rabbit, the town’s precocious young boys who know who’s doing what when and why. And anything else you’d want to know. Their arguing just like brothers do, running around town, elbowing each other to be first, talking to their elders like they’re much older than they are comes off the page so effortlessly you could swear you’re right there with them. They steal so many scenes. Another favorite character is Walt, the one in town every ridicules or pities, and they’re all wrong as can be. He’s a gentle soul and loyal to a fault.
The star of this book for me is Kellen. He has plenty of twists and turns that Raine isn’t aware of and even some the reader doesn’t know about until the end. He’s exactly what I always pictured a real cowboy from way-back West to be. Ms. Goodman is one of very few who is able to get the American West and the cowboy down on the page so accurately and who involves you in the characters and storyline so completely. A must read.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Lorraine Berry has lost so much in Bitter Springs, all thanks to family Burdick who run roughshod over everyone in town. So taking the town’s interests into her own hands, she hires a gunslinger to take care of the problem. What she doesn’t know when she meets the man is that Kellen Coltrane is not the original gunslinger she hired. Unfortunately, he died on the train en route to Bitter Springs.
Trying to mind his own business, Kellen gets pulled into a dangerous situation that’s nothing to do with him. But deceased Nate Church – the man stole the popular dime novelist’s name – has left Kellen intrigued and needing to help. Meeting the Widder Berry begins his journey to rid this small town of a man and his sons who have stooped to murder to get what they want. One by one those who served on the jury of Raine’s sister’s murder trial are disappearing, then turning up dead. The way Kellen decides to take care of the problem is to do so from the inside.
And thus begins putting all the puzzle pieces together to come up with the best and safest way to protect the town and its citizens. Thus begins the slow-growing romance between Kellen and Raine, which is an easy but intense relationship when it really starts to heat up. Kellen is the laid-back, take-his-time cowboy in every sense of the word. I find myself smiling and sometimes chuckling at his reactions to people and goings-on and loving his banter with Raine. And she is his perfect match, and it’s just terrific to watch her very slowly give in to his charm and fall into bed with him. But she’s also a strong woman who keeps control of her bar and rebuffs the advances of the oldest Burdick son.
I really like Finn and Rabbit, the town’s precocious young boys who know who’s doing what when and why. And anything else you’d want to know. Their arguing just like brothers do, running around town, elbowing each other to be first, talking to their elders like they’re much older than they are comes off the page so effortlessly you could swear you’re right there with them. They steal so many scenes. Another favorite character is Walt, the one in town every ridicules or pities, and they’re all wrong as can be. He’s a gentle soul and loyal to a fault.
The star of this book for me is Kellen. He has plenty of twists and turns that Raine isn’t aware of and even some the reader doesn’t know about until the end. He’s exactly what I always pictured a real cowboy from way-back West to be. Ms. Goodman is one of very few who is able to get the American West and the cowboy down on the page so accurately and who involves you in the characters and storyline so completely. A must read.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
August 13, 2016
The Last Renegade, Jo Goodman - This is just a really good book that blends romance artfully with a truly compelling mystery. In this case it's hard to say which I preferred more as The Last Renegade is a unique book that manages to depict not only a lovely romance with two very intriguing protagonists but a mystery that kept me hooked until the last page. From the opening pages, it appears that a serial killer(s) is loose in Bitter Springs, Wyoming, and after the death of beloved family members, Raine Berry, the proprietress of the town's only hotel, hires an outsider to come in and bring justice and peace. In a fascinating opening chapter, the hired gun is knifed and killed on the arriving train and passenger Kellen Coltrane follows his instincts and curiosity and assumes the hired gun's place instead. What follows is a lovely courtship between Kellen and Raine as they work together to solve the mysteries and fall in love in the course of it all.
There are still enough patterns here that I've detected after reading a number of Goodman books that keep me from giving it a complete endorsement. Having said that I do enjoy the plot devices she uses and they obviously work well in nearly all of her stories. One common one that never fails to entertain is the art of pillow talk. So many confessions, declarations and reflections take place in her books immediately after sex. After their first sexual interlude, Kellen internally reflects on the experience and observes in what is one of my favorite lines that, "He'd always believed he traveled with purpose, but what if he's merely been drifting" (195). Kellen might be my favorite of all Goodman's heroes now. He has so many of the great Goodman traits in men, including strength and compassion, and an overwhelming amount of patience to stick with the heroine through her rehabilitation. Raine captures so well the fascinating aspects of Goodman's heroes when she states that, "He had always been able to seduce her with his calm" (316). Aside from his tremendous projection of calm and assurance, Kellen also has a great amount of wit and intellectual curiosity that allows him to handle the craziness of the town in a logical and peaceful manner. I love that the hired gun is a thinker first. In fact, I love that Goodman gives Kellen a family heritage of a feminist mother and a English professor father, all giving rise to a cowboy gunman like none other I can recall. All in all an excellent book and among my favorites of Goodman's now.
There are still enough patterns here that I've detected after reading a number of Goodman books that keep me from giving it a complete endorsement. Having said that I do enjoy the plot devices she uses and they obviously work well in nearly all of her stories. One common one that never fails to entertain is the art of pillow talk. So many confessions, declarations and reflections take place in her books immediately after sex. After their first sexual interlude, Kellen internally reflects on the experience and observes in what is one of my favorite lines that, "He'd always believed he traveled with purpose, but what if he's merely been drifting" (195). Kellen might be my favorite of all Goodman's heroes now. He has so many of the great Goodman traits in men, including strength and compassion, and an overwhelming amount of patience to stick with the heroine through her rehabilitation. Raine captures so well the fascinating aspects of Goodman's heroes when she states that, "He had always been able to seduce her with his calm" (316). Aside from his tremendous projection of calm and assurance, Kellen also has a great amount of wit and intellectual curiosity that allows him to handle the craziness of the town in a logical and peaceful manner. I love that the hired gun is a thinker first. In fact, I love that Goodman gives Kellen a family heritage of a feminist mother and a English professor father, all giving rise to a cowboy gunman like none other I can recall. All in all an excellent book and among my favorites of Goodman's now.
September 17, 2012
I've been in a reading slump for a long while now. This book by the divine Jo Goodman picks me right out of it, and I'm ever hopeful again as the last quarter of the year is drawing near when series of books by my very favorite authors are scheduled to parade out.
Kellen Coltrane was in the wrong place at the right time when he shared a car with a dying hired gun who called himself Nat Church, a popular fictional hero in serialized dime novel. The circumstance of the man's death and curiosity in his part lent Kellen to do the stranger's bidding by stepping of the train at a small town named Bitter Springs to pass along the dead man's message to his employer, Penny Royal Hotel and Saloon's proprietress, the Widow Berry. And then the story takes off including multiple murders. Although it's not hard to guess the id of the culprit, I still commend the author for blending in the mystery elements so well she kept me at the edge of my seat for most of the story. The pacing which I usually found inconsistent in this author's previous books is not a problem here.
I stated several times in my other reviews that I love Anne Stuart's heroes because they're dangerously delicious.To be more precise, I love to read about them. But in real life would I choose this type of guy for myself? NO. Jo Goodman's heroes are another story. They're gorgeous, sexy, witty, reliable and just plain goodness. They're not as dark or as uber-alpha, but they also have some challenging, dangerous elements that don't make them cross into boringly good territory. So I'll just say I love them, period. Another superior quality of Jo Goodman's writing lies in her heroines. They share traits of self reliance, intelligence, sensibilty, morality and, above all, strength, all of which I'm attracted to in female characters. However, I often feel turned off by the extent of tragedy/violence the author threw at them, not so much in this book because it's not done to Lorraine directly (the scene is very brutal nevertheless). And maybe that's why I feel this book believable, more so than her previous ones, because it's hard for anyone to even be normal if they experienced what the heroines of Jo Goodman had gone through.
Kellen and Lorraine are a match in every word and I can definitely see them last. One point deduct for an overly easy plot solving at the end. 4 stars.
Kellen Coltrane was in the wrong place at the right time when he shared a car with a dying hired gun who called himself Nat Church, a popular fictional hero in serialized dime novel. The circumstance of the man's death and curiosity in his part lent Kellen to do the stranger's bidding by stepping of the train at a small town named Bitter Springs to pass along the dead man's message to his employer, Penny Royal Hotel and Saloon's proprietress, the Widow Berry. And then the story takes off including multiple murders. Although it's not hard to guess the id of the culprit, I still commend the author for blending in the mystery elements so well she kept me at the edge of my seat for most of the story. The pacing which I usually found inconsistent in this author's previous books is not a problem here.
I stated several times in my other reviews that I love Anne Stuart's heroes because they're dangerously delicious.To be more precise, I love to read about them. But in real life would I choose this type of guy for myself? NO. Jo Goodman's heroes are another story. They're gorgeous, sexy, witty, reliable and just plain goodness. They're not as dark or as uber-alpha, but they also have some challenging, dangerous elements that don't make them cross into boringly good territory. So I'll just say I love them, period. Another superior quality of Jo Goodman's writing lies in her heroines. They share traits of self reliance, intelligence, sensibilty, morality and, above all, strength, all of which I'm attracted to in female characters. However, I often feel turned off by the extent of tragedy/violence the author threw at them, not so much in this book because it's not done to Lorraine directly (the scene is very brutal nevertheless). And maybe that's why I feel this book believable, more so than her previous ones, because it's hard for anyone to even be normal if they experienced what the heroines of Jo Goodman had gone through.
Kellen and Lorraine are a match in every word and I can definitely see them last. One point deduct for an overly easy plot solving at the end. 4 stars.
January 15, 2013
3.5 Stars! I'm a little behind, but this was the December B.o.t.M. at the Western and Medieval Romance Lovers group. Finally was ready for it after settling down from the holiday/post-holiday rush. Never heard of this author before, but the cover, and the book description drew me in, so I went and bought it. I've been on a bit of a Western kick lately, they seem comfortable or something to me, I keep going back to them. So I was pretty excited to read this one. Especially since the heroine owns a hotel, and is independent. Sounded good. I liked the beginning, when Kellen meets Nat Church on the train, it just tossed me right in for the ride, setting off immediately with no drawn out preamble. I liked the characters in town, the kids Finn and Rabbit, and the girls at the hotel, and both Kellen and Raine. I could picture it nicely, I think it'd make a good movie. The mystery/investigation was really the main focus, and I enjoyed it, though at times it moved kind of slowly. But once the end-game was all set up, and the story was coming out with the mock courtroom there in the saloon, it was quick. Almost too quick. I even kind of liked how Eli was handled, and his brothers and father. The other villains were almost a surprise, I wasn't sure if it was all of them or not, so that was good too. As for the romance aspect, I don't know, it seemed almost a little rushed to me. Like they didn't know each other except as patron and hotel owner, then all of a sudden they're kissing, and then a couple days later it's all 'I love you'. Maybe it was more than a few days and I just didn't notice that part. But it seemed like maybe the relationship could've been a little more developed. Not that it was bad though, I did really like their banter, and the way they prickled when they were together, but in that nice way. The steam level was kind of a medium, and I was hoping for a little more heat, but it was still nice :)
It was definitely an interesting read though, I liked the author's writing. I'll probably try the next one that was sampled at the end of this one. 3.5 Stars!
It was definitely an interesting read though, I liked the author's writing. I'll probably try the next one that was sampled at the end of this one. 3.5 Stars!
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