What do you think?
Rate this book
Dance With A Gunfighter
The Price of Vengeance
Gabriella Devere wants vengeance. She grows up quickly when she witnesses the murder of her family by a gang of outlaws, and vows to make them pay for their crime. When the law won't help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what happened to Gabriella's family, and what she plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn't save his own family. But the price of vengeance is high and Gabriella's willingness to sacrifice everything ultimately leads to the book's deadly and startling conclusion.
This is a harsh and gritty tale of the old West, somewhat reminiscent of Charles Portis' True Grit or Nancy Turner's These is My Words.
Gabriella Devere wants vengeance. She grows up quickly when she witnesses the murder of her family by a gang of outlaws, and vows to make them pay for their crime. When the law won't help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what happened to Gabriella's family, and what she plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn't save his own family. But the price of vengeance is high and Gabriella's willingness to sacrifice everything ultimately leads to the book's deadly and startling conclusion.
This is a harsh and gritty tale of the old West, somewhat reminiscent of Charles Portis' True Grit or Nancy Turner's These is My Words.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2011
46 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 1, 2020
Excellent Novel
I’ve had this book downloaded since 2013 but didn’t read it until now. What a fool I was to wait so long.
I can’t describe my pleasure while reading this incredible story. Gabe and Jess are wonderful characters and the story is engaging, historically honesty, descriptive and written well. It’s a story than spans nearly a decade and graciously deals with family, loss, societal norms, racism, vengeance, forgiveness, redemption and love.
Memorable and poignant. Just lovely.
I’ve had this book downloaded since 2013 but didn’t read it until now. What a fool I was to wait so long.
I can’t describe my pleasure while reading this incredible story. Gabe and Jess are wonderful characters and the story is engaging, historically honesty, descriptive and written well. It’s a story than spans nearly a decade and graciously deals with family, loss, societal norms, racism, vengeance, forgiveness, redemption and love.
Memorable and poignant. Just lovely.
March 17, 2022
One of the good books. But....
Its hard to overlook the sex scenes but besides that it had an excellent plot. The characters were well developed and were believable. I enjoyed this book mostly.
Its hard to overlook the sex scenes but besides that it had an excellent plot. The characters were well developed and were believable. I enjoyed this book mostly.
May 6, 2017
Dance with a gunfighter was super!
I was glad this developed into a good story with fun people and evil bad guys and it all ended well.
I was glad this developed into a good story with fun people and evil bad guys and it all ended well.
March 14, 2022
I was bored and didn't finish. It wasn't what I wanted it to be. I liked the idea of the story but I wish it was written better.
February 7, 2013
PDF via author for honest review
Years ago Jess McLowry found an angry and hurt young girl named Gabriella "Gabe" outside a town dance. He thought her to be spunky, outgoing, pretty, and very young and wrong for a man like him, a hired gun. She was told by her Pa to stay clear of him and he was glad, as she made him feel things for her that were not right for him to feel. When he left he never forgot that spunky young girl who was anything but a "proper" lady, but he assumed he would never see her again. Gabe too, never forgot the gunman, Jess, she dreamed of him and yearned to be with him, but knew she never would. Years later when Jess stops a "young man" from shooting people at a hanging, he finds himself staring, not into a young man's face, but that of none other than Gabe's. Gabe is shocked to see Jess as he is now, but still harbors her strong feelings for him. However, Gabe is out for revenge now, not love. She watched and did nothing as her family was killed by a gang of ruthless men and now she is out for their blood and lives to make amends. When Jess learns this he tries to talk her out of finding and killing the men, but discovers there will be no persuading her out of her ideas. So, he does the next best thing, says he will help her and travel with her because as a woman she will not get answers to questions like a man would. Jess's other motive? Trying to talk her out of it so he can take her back to her home. But vengeance runs deep in Gabe's blood and she is no "normal" lady. Soon floods of feelings come to Jess about Gabe and he doesn't know what to do with them, and the same happens to Gabe for Jess. Can Jess talk Gabe out of her revenge in time to save her life? Will Gabe see her revenge may cost more than the lives of the ruthless gang she is after, like her's or even Jess's? Will these two make a romance out of a spark that was felt all those years ago? Is revenge as sweet as it would seem it would be?
I am not normally a Western reader, but this book intrigued me when I was approached to read it, so I accepted. I am glad I did, I really wasn't expecting much in the way of enjoyment out of this book, but I was shocked to find that I did enjoy the book. I am glad I stepped out of my "comfort zone" to read this wonderful western romance tale. The book simply flowed and was captivating. The plot was great and the adventure of Gabe and Jess was a great way to read about the West. I absolutely was mesmerized by the characters of Gabe and Jess. They were so opposite, yet the same. I watched as Gabe, a wonderful spitfire of a girl, grew up fast with the killing of her family, into a opinionated spitfire of a woman. I loved how this girl was not like other girls, no matter how much she knew she "should" be. She was a free thinker who did what she liked and was happy doing, not what others wanted her to do or thought she should do. I also enjoyed watching Jess, the hard gunfighter, gain a soft spot as he interacted with Gabe and wanted to protect her. Nothing makes a great story like a persistent woman who feels the need for revenge on people who harmed her most prized belonging, her family. After only a few chapters I was quickly lassoed into an old West tale of killing, revenge, gunslingers, and romance. The whole book was a great tale and is nothing to be shoved aside. Even if you aren't a Western reader I recommend trying this book out. It is Western, but it's more than that too. Hard to really explain, but I didn't feel like I was reading a Western like others I tried and failed to read, but one that was a story with a Western twist to it more so. I guess I would say it is more great story with a Western touch added in. The conclusion is nothing to sneeze at either! This is a must read, the author did a great job with this book (writing, plot, and characters)!
4/5 Stars!
Years ago Jess McLowry found an angry and hurt young girl named Gabriella "Gabe" outside a town dance. He thought her to be spunky, outgoing, pretty, and very young and wrong for a man like him, a hired gun. She was told by her Pa to stay clear of him and he was glad, as she made him feel things for her that were not right for him to feel. When he left he never forgot that spunky young girl who was anything but a "proper" lady, but he assumed he would never see her again. Gabe too, never forgot the gunman, Jess, she dreamed of him and yearned to be with him, but knew she never would. Years later when Jess stops a "young man" from shooting people at a hanging, he finds himself staring, not into a young man's face, but that of none other than Gabe's. Gabe is shocked to see Jess as he is now, but still harbors her strong feelings for him. However, Gabe is out for revenge now, not love. She watched and did nothing as her family was killed by a gang of ruthless men and now she is out for their blood and lives to make amends. When Jess learns this he tries to talk her out of finding and killing the men, but discovers there will be no persuading her out of her ideas. So, he does the next best thing, says he will help her and travel with her because as a woman she will not get answers to questions like a man would. Jess's other motive? Trying to talk her out of it so he can take her back to her home. But vengeance runs deep in Gabe's blood and she is no "normal" lady. Soon floods of feelings come to Jess about Gabe and he doesn't know what to do with them, and the same happens to Gabe for Jess. Can Jess talk Gabe out of her revenge in time to save her life? Will Gabe see her revenge may cost more than the lives of the ruthless gang she is after, like her's or even Jess's? Will these two make a romance out of a spark that was felt all those years ago? Is revenge as sweet as it would seem it would be?
I am not normally a Western reader, but this book intrigued me when I was approached to read it, so I accepted. I am glad I did, I really wasn't expecting much in the way of enjoyment out of this book, but I was shocked to find that I did enjoy the book. I am glad I stepped out of my "comfort zone" to read this wonderful western romance tale. The book simply flowed and was captivating. The plot was great and the adventure of Gabe and Jess was a great way to read about the West. I absolutely was mesmerized by the characters of Gabe and Jess. They were so opposite, yet the same. I watched as Gabe, a wonderful spitfire of a girl, grew up fast with the killing of her family, into a opinionated spitfire of a woman. I loved how this girl was not like other girls, no matter how much she knew she "should" be. She was a free thinker who did what she liked and was happy doing, not what others wanted her to do or thought she should do. I also enjoyed watching Jess, the hard gunfighter, gain a soft spot as he interacted with Gabe and wanted to protect her. Nothing makes a great story like a persistent woman who feels the need for revenge on people who harmed her most prized belonging, her family. After only a few chapters I was quickly lassoed into an old West tale of killing, revenge, gunslingers, and romance. The whole book was a great tale and is nothing to be shoved aside. Even if you aren't a Western reader I recommend trying this book out. It is Western, but it's more than that too. Hard to really explain, but I didn't feel like I was reading a Western like others I tried and failed to read, but one that was a story with a Western twist to it more so. I guess I would say it is more great story with a Western touch added in. The conclusion is nothing to sneeze at either! This is a must read, the author did a great job with this book (writing, plot, and characters)!
4/5 Stars!
October 9, 2013
I'm fairly certain Dance with a Gunfighter by Joanne Pence is the first western I've ever read. I'm not sure what I expected, but reading it reminded me why I hate genre labels... I would've missed this gem simply because it's a western if I hadn't been asked to review it. Pence drops the reader in the middle of an Old West desert landscape complete with throats parched from thirst, pounding heat from the sun, and cold nights. When Gabe and McLowry meet at a town dance, they never expect to see one another again. After all, she's an innocent teenager and he's a gunfighter. Years later when Gabe finds herself alone and seeking revenge for her family, McLowry reappears and becomes her reluctant protector. As they grow closer, Gabe's inability to behave like a "lady" coupled with her innocence of how the world works confounds McLowry. They travel together looking for the people Gabe seeks to kill for revenge for her family all the while McLowry seeks to convince her to give up her vendetta and return home. Their love for one another can't be denied no matter how hard they try... I was caught up in these characters and wanted to strangle and hug them both alternately and on a regular basis. Pence butts up against stereotypes and manages to twist them in interesting ways. Dance with a Gunfighter is more than a love story set in the Old West, it is a story of life, of survival, of family, of courage, of acceptance, of strength.
August 26, 2012
The sweeping nature of this novel and the fabulous descriptions of the Old West are what drew me into the story. Never has a setting more captivated me than it did in this book. I could see it all, the desert, the wild towns. The plot was well-developed and continued from the first page to the last non-stop. There were some head-hopping issues, jumping from Gabe's POV to Jess's. And I had an issue for some reason with her description. I just could not wrap my head around her being a skinny tomboy and then think of her as a woman a man would desire. That said, however, the romance is what kept me turning the pages. The author drew it out, but so subtle that until the very end, I still prayed for a happy ending. I appreciate that she concentrated more on the feelings between the two characters, than sex scenes, and developed their love over a longer period of time. Jess McLowery is a superb gunfighter character who personifies the Old West for me. That he was tender toward Gabe made him all the more appealing. In fact, more so to me than she was, and for him I kept reading. The ending totally surprised me. Really great Western Romance writing, which I recommend.
January 14, 2013
Dance With a Gunfighter introduces readers to two characters who seem to be complete opposites. One is a young, sweet girl, age 16, at a town dance. The other is a war-hardened gunfighter, like a real one because this all takes place in the Old West. But despite being such dissimilar creatures, something draws each one to the other. They share a magical dance together to create the title of the book...and the rest of the drama that follows.
What follows is action, surrounded by several sweet scenes, and a burning motivation of dark revenge. This story is well-layered, and richer in plot than most romances, but at times it does become a bit much. Too many obstacles appear between the couple, and it starts to feel forced. It becomes hard to like Jess, the title gunfighter, and Gabe (the heroine) was hard for me to relate to.
But the writing is solid. Strong imagery, honest dialogue and tense action scenes make this book a good read. I would certainly recommend it to fans of romance novels.
What follows is action, surrounded by several sweet scenes, and a burning motivation of dark revenge. This story is well-layered, and richer in plot than most romances, but at times it does become a bit much. Too many obstacles appear between the couple, and it starts to feel forced. It becomes hard to like Jess, the title gunfighter, and Gabe (the heroine) was hard for me to relate to.
But the writing is solid. Strong imagery, honest dialogue and tense action scenes make this book a good read. I would certainly recommend it to fans of romance novels.
June 30, 2013
What an absolutely wonderful book! Sadly, this one sat on my Kindle a long time because it appeared to be just another silly Western bodice-ripper--was I wrong! This is a great Western romance set within a darn-tootin' great Western. Loved the characters, loved the atmosphere, loved the story. I probably shouldn't have loved it so much because the heroine bordered on the dreaded Too Dumb To Live stereotype, but otherwise her character was well-developed, with warmth and humanity, and it was fairly well explained that she was young, driven to crazy obsessive extremes by what happened to her family, what she felt she owed to her father and brother, yadda, yadda. Besides, I just enjoyed this book too darned much to get picky about any short-comings.
February 5, 2013
I enjoyed the well-written western setting. The language wasn't over-the-top, Wild West vernacular, which for me is a dealbreaker when it comes to Western fiction. Characters were predictable, although there was a little relationship twist I didn't see coming. The romance was predictable, as well. Clean, as far as language and sex go, with minimal descriptions of violence/wounds. An enjoyable Western/romance read.
June 18, 2015
Nerve Racking!
Almost 5 stars, because I almost chucked it. Didn't care for the level of revenge, most would hound the Marshall and get justice. To more than one refuse to do their job was suspicious and suspected a pay off. Guess it was closer to right than not. If it's books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, it's because the author succeeded in writing a very good book. Recommendations, sure!
Almost 5 stars, because I almost chucked it. Didn't care for the level of revenge, most would hound the Marshall and get justice. To more than one refuse to do their job was suspicious and suspected a pay off. Guess it was closer to right than not. If it's books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, it's because the author succeeded in writing a very good book. Recommendations, sure!
December 24, 2012
Right in the heart of the old west. A freebie I am glad I downloaded. A deep in-depth tale that you can sink into and really get to know the characters. Pretty well written, some minor grammar issues, nothing to offend just enough to notice. I enjoyed the characters and the pace of the story. I'd read this author again.
December 29, 2012
Awesome historical western romance novel!! I completely love the character especially Jess and Gabriella ah!! This book had me on the edge every time I reading it!! Shocking revelation in the end that I kept myself from falling over the chair!! Freaking love it!!! I TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
January 24, 2013
oh my goodness. I started this book with low expectations. I mean the name alone isn't great. But I could not put it down. Great love story, suspense, and surprises. I am rarely surprised while reading this type of book. Loved it!
May 9, 2013
I very much liked this book. Like someone else said, it reminds me of True Grit. The only disappointment I had was all of references to sex or rape. Is was too much for my personal taste, but the story wouldn't have been as good if that wasn't there.
December 12, 2012
3.6
Some typos and some larger than life events but still a solid and enjoyable read.
Some typos and some larger than life events but still a solid and enjoyable read.
Want to read
January 21, 2013Free on Amazon and good GR rating 1/21/2013
Want to read
January 23, 2013Downloaded a handful of freebies for the Kindle, this is one of 'em.
January 29, 2013
Great story. Very well written
February 24, 2013
This was pretty good -- a bit forumulaic and cliche, but I liked it. It had a touch of "Western Romance", but it was nicely written and I enjoyed it as a good "escape" read.
May 15, 2013
It was a good book. Had a good twist I didn't expect at the end. Good for people who enjoys westerns and strong female characters.
Read
January 3, 2014FALSE
March 6, 2016
Emotionally thrilling!
I can't say enough! This story will keep you engaged from the first page to the last! Wonderful characters and true love that endures. Highly recommend!
I can't say enough! This story will keep you engaged from the first page to the last! Wonderful characters and true love that endures. Highly recommend!
May 2, 2019
I really loved the book it had me all giddy and I could feel the feeling they felt,it was such a good book I lost sleep because I couldn't put it down!
kindle-i-own-to-read
November 20, 2012Amazon Freebie 11/19/2012
February 14, 2013
Good read ,but the ending could have been better .
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews