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Reidsville #1
Never Love a Lawman
USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman delivers a thrilling tale of small town greed that may have big time consequences--unless two strangers open their hearts to a highly unconventional arrangement. . .
Rachel Bailey may seem like just a beautiful newcomer to most of Reidsville, Colorado, but Sheriff Wyatt Cooper knows she's much more. Through a twist of fate, Rachel is the inheritor of a very valuable control of the railway that keeps the isolated mining town connected to the world. That is, she will be, if she agrees to the surprising stipulation in her benefactor's will--that she marry Wyatt.
Rachel has no refusing the marriage could put all of Reidsville in the hands of an outsider--and not just any outsider, but the cruel tyrant she has come here to escape. Yet living with Wyatt will be her greatest challenge. For he has a tempting way about him that makes Rachel forget theirs is a marriage in name only--until her frightening past shows up to remind them exactly how much they have at stake. . .
Rachel Bailey may seem like just a beautiful newcomer to most of Reidsville, Colorado, but Sheriff Wyatt Cooper knows she's much more. Through a twist of fate, Rachel is the inheritor of a very valuable control of the railway that keeps the isolated mining town connected to the world. That is, she will be, if she agrees to the surprising stipulation in her benefactor's will--that she marry Wyatt.
Rachel has no refusing the marriage could put all of Reidsville in the hands of an outsider--and not just any outsider, but the cruel tyrant she has come here to escape. Yet living with Wyatt will be her greatest challenge. For he has a tempting way about him that makes Rachel forget theirs is a marriage in name only--until her frightening past shows up to remind them exactly how much they have at stake. . .
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
57 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Jo Goodman
60 books479 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 30, 2015
Wow.
Well, I've just found another fav author :)
LOVE the writing. Just love it.
Well, I've just found another fav author :)
LOVE the writing. Just love it.
August 13, 2016
3.5-stars
I really enjoy The Last Renegade, my first book from Jo Goodman. (ps: check out Jill review.) Like the Last Renegade, the best features in here are the writing style, characterization, and the slow-burn romance that may begin awkwardly ends on a delicious, heartfelt HEA.
What’s awesome in the Last Renegade and Never Love a Lawman?
5-stars charming, loyal heroes: They beat the villains not with guns and muscles, but with their intelligences.
Witty dialogue
Character-driven
No insta-love
No melodrama
Overall, I think the Last Renegade still tops this book because the storyline is better thought-out and more evenly-paced. HTH:)
I really enjoy The Last Renegade, my first book from Jo Goodman. (ps: check out Jill review.) Like the Last Renegade, the best features in here are the writing style, characterization, and the slow-burn romance that may begin awkwardly ends on a delicious, heartfelt HEA.
What’s awesome in the Last Renegade and Never Love a Lawman?
5-stars charming, loyal heroes: They beat the villains not with guns and muscles, but with their intelligences.
Witty dialogue
Character-driven
No insta-love
No melodrama
Overall, I think the Last Renegade still tops this book because the storyline is better thought-out and more evenly-paced. HTH:)
October 25, 2010
While this book wasn't my favorite by Jo Goodman I definitely enjoyed it. I loved the interactions between the two main characters. Jo Goodman has a definite talent for making every dialogue exchange seem meaningful and filled with undercurrents. Most all of the conversations Rachel and Wyatt had seemed to be filled with sly wit and dry humor. They were muted, but definitely there.
I love how the characters are as much of a mystery to the reader as they are to each other. I enjoy watching the character's personalities and feelings slowly unfold right alongside the other characters. By the time I finish the book I feel confident in the hero and heroine's relationship because I feel that after watching them grow together I know them well enough to predict that they can weather any problem together.
I felt that Rachel and Wyatt's personalities meshed very well. Wyatt's easygoing attitude amused me when tested against Rachel's more intractable moods. I thought that both characters were fully fleshed out although I think more time was spent on developing Rachel than exploring Wyatt's character.
I enjoyed the side characters and felt that were fleshed out pretty well. It didn't seem like they were written in just to provide a foil to the main characters. I loved the feel of the period and the small glimpse into the life of people who lived then. It all felt very authentic to me, although I'm definitely no expert.
Even though I enjoyed the story I did have some issues with a few things. I felt uncomfortable when Wyatt sprang the conditions tied to the inheritance on Rachel. It definitely wasn't his fault but I still didn't like the fact that it was a requirement. I know he told Rachel his reasons for their reduced interaction before that point but I never really agreed with them. Also, I wanted to smack Rachel when she decided to keep a dangerous encounter that occurred at her house to herself instead of sharing it with Wyatt. I felt like I didn't understand her at all right then.
All in all it was a good book and one that I'll reread.
I love how the characters are as much of a mystery to the reader as they are to each other. I enjoy watching the character's personalities and feelings slowly unfold right alongside the other characters. By the time I finish the book I feel confident in the hero and heroine's relationship because I feel that after watching them grow together I know them well enough to predict that they can weather any problem together.
I felt that Rachel and Wyatt's personalities meshed very well. Wyatt's easygoing attitude amused me when tested against Rachel's more intractable moods. I thought that both characters were fully fleshed out although I think more time was spent on developing Rachel than exploring Wyatt's character.
I enjoyed the side characters and felt that were fleshed out pretty well. It didn't seem like they were written in just to provide a foil to the main characters. I loved the feel of the period and the small glimpse into the life of people who lived then. It all felt very authentic to me, although I'm definitely no expert.
Even though I enjoyed the story I did have some issues with a few things. I felt uncomfortable when Wyatt sprang the conditions tied to the inheritance on Rachel. It definitely wasn't his fault but I still didn't like the fact that it was a requirement. I know he told Rachel his reasons for their reduced interaction before that point but I never really agreed with them. Also, I wanted to smack Rachel when she decided to keep a dangerous encounter that occurred at her house to herself instead of sharing it with Wyatt. I felt like I didn't understand her at all right then.
All in all it was a good book and one that I'll reread.
December 12, 2016
This is my least favourite Jo Goodman book to date. The humour and witty banter were there, but it seems that Goodman's engaging storytelling couldn't save this story. It was boring and dragged on for a long time. I read other reviewers say the same thing before I decided to start this book, thinking that it wouldn't be me who found this book boring. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe it was the needlessly convoluted drama surrounding the h and her backstory, sudden inheritance, and eleventh hour appearance of the bad guy. Maybe it was the "I let you believe your erroneous assumptions about me, but surprise! you were wrong" revelations that have gotten a little old. I don't know.
I do have to say this: I wasn't expecting much romance. Indeed, it seems like that most romantic book by Goodman that I've read so far is In Want of a Wife. The other two Bitter Springs books were sadly lacking in that department, and this book was no exception. I'm personally not a fan of books where the MCs only claim to like each other for the majority of the book. There were no declarations of love until almost the very end and I found them unconvincing. It didn't help that the H knew that he'd probably marry the h at some point, kept visiting his favourite prostitute all the while, never making an attempt to get to know the h. I also found it really off putting that he admired the h . Now I come to think of it, I'll probably downgrade the story another half star just for that. Why the author felt the need to introduce the H to us like that is beyond me. It's not romantic. It's gross.
Besides my issues with the H, the h was also pretty boring. I understood that she was courageous, loyal, and fiercely independent, but I didn't really care. I hope the other book of this series is better. I have three of Goodman's westerns on my desk right now and I'm afraid to crack them open.
I do have to say this: I wasn't expecting much romance. Indeed, it seems like that most romantic book by Goodman that I've read so far is In Want of a Wife. The other two Bitter Springs books were sadly lacking in that department, and this book was no exception. I'm personally not a fan of books where the MCs only claim to like each other for the majority of the book. There were no declarations of love until almost the very end and I found them unconvincing. It didn't help that the H knew that he'd probably marry the h at some point, kept visiting his favourite prostitute all the while, never making an attempt to get to know the h. I also found it really off putting that he admired the h . Now I come to think of it, I'll probably downgrade the story another half star just for that. Why the author felt the need to introduce the H to us like that is beyond me. It's not romantic. It's gross.
Besides my issues with the H, the h was also pretty boring. I understood that she was courageous, loyal, and fiercely independent, but I didn't really care. I hope the other book of this series is better. I have three of Goodman's westerns on my desk right now and I'm afraid to crack them open.
January 2, 2021
Not bad not super good
Nice but something is lacking
3 stars
Nice but something is lacking
3 stars
July 20, 2017
This book has one main fault: it's boring beyond belief. But I trudged along as I had just DNFed an other of her books for the same reason. I admit I felt petty and forced myself to keep reading.
An unfortunate experience, alas. The book is boring to the bitter end. It improves maybe in the last pages, if it does. All of this highlights the clichés the author uses, above all the structure of the romance, exactly the same of some of her other books I read .
All her main characters sound the same, and they are not "personas" I like at all. The women lack any backbone. The "sass" is always fake. The men aren't alphas, they are my worst nightmare: the manipulating ones. (I prefer my battles frontal :P)
A second nit I have, minor probably, is the lack of a real love story in my eyes. They are married by the first chapters, as a ruse to move the story forward, and all of a sudden the heroine trembles thinking of him. I have to believe all of a sudden that maybe she loved before? Is it lust all of a sudden?
I didn't really like the characters, but even so I really should have felt/seen/read about love.
The usual positive point: she knows how to write a town as a character. Unfortunately it doesn't cover the rest of the many negative points.
An unfortunate experience, alas. The book is boring to the bitter end. It improves maybe in the last pages, if it does. All of this highlights the clichés the author uses, above all the structure of the romance, exactly the same of some of her other books I read .
All her main characters sound the same, and they are not "personas" I like at all. The women lack any backbone. The "sass" is always fake. The men aren't alphas, they are my worst nightmare: the manipulating ones. (I prefer my battles frontal :P)
A second nit I have, minor probably, is the lack of a real love story in my eyes. They are married by the first chapters, as a ruse to move the story forward, and all of a sudden the heroine trembles thinking of him. I have to believe all of a sudden that maybe she loved before? Is it lust all of a sudden?
I didn't really like the characters, but even so I really should have felt/seen/read about love.
The usual positive point: she knows how to write a town as a character. Unfortunately it doesn't cover the rest of the many negative points.
December 1, 2009
Rating: 2.5 / 5
This book was a total random buy for me (something I don't do much of lately). I saw it at the grocery store book section. The cover caught my eye and the synopsis sounded interesting...though the hefty thickness of the book made me a little indecisive. But I bought it...and though I won't say it was a total waste, I will say I probably wouldn't buy it again if I had to do it over.
Summary:
I'm going to skip the extended summary this time because I think the one on the book page here at GR gives a pretty good idea of what happens in this book.
Review:
The first half of this book just really dragged for me. I kept reading and reading and reading and felt like I was getting absolutely no where in the story. Everything was so mundane and uneventful. I was bored, honestly. More than once I considered putting the book in my DNF pile. I mean, I didn't think it was a horrible book, but it just wasn't appealing to me on any level. There was no oomph to the story at all.
Things did pick up later on in the book. There's some more action and the romance finally picks up. Wyatt and Rachel had a really slow build up to their relationship. You just keep waiting and waiting for something to happen between them. And while their romance wasn't bad, it was missing something for me. Not sure what, but I just wasn't all that into them as a couple or as characters.
Which is a common sentiment for me about just about everything in this book. Nothing was really all that horrible, but there always seemed to be something lacking and there just wasn't enough excitement or emotion. The book came off as a very lackadaisical tale.
I'm not sure I'd want to read something else by this author again. I don't think her writing style is something that appeals to me very much, but I can see how others with different reading tastes would really enjoy her books.
This book was a total random buy for me (something I don't do much of lately). I saw it at the grocery store book section. The cover caught my eye and the synopsis sounded interesting...though the hefty thickness of the book made me a little indecisive. But I bought it...and though I won't say it was a total waste, I will say I probably wouldn't buy it again if I had to do it over.
Summary:
I'm going to skip the extended summary this time because I think the one on the book page here at GR gives a pretty good idea of what happens in this book.
Review:
The first half of this book just really dragged for me. I kept reading and reading and reading and felt like I was getting absolutely no where in the story. Everything was so mundane and uneventful. I was bored, honestly. More than once I considered putting the book in my DNF pile. I mean, I didn't think it was a horrible book, but it just wasn't appealing to me on any level. There was no oomph to the story at all.
Things did pick up later on in the book. There's some more action and the romance finally picks up. Wyatt and Rachel had a really slow build up to their relationship. You just keep waiting and waiting for something to happen between them. And while their romance wasn't bad, it was missing something for me. Not sure what, but I just wasn't all that into them as a couple or as characters.
Which is a common sentiment for me about just about everything in this book. Nothing was really all that horrible, but there always seemed to be something lacking and there just wasn't enough excitement or emotion. The book came off as a very lackadaisical tale.
I'm not sure I'd want to read something else by this author again. I don't think her writing style is something that appeals to me very much, but I can see how others with different reading tastes would really enjoy her books.
March 15, 2015
3.75 stars.
The first 60% of the book is spent showing the development of the romance. There was a lot of dry, witty dialogue between the hero and heroine and I was smiling all through the reading. They have tons of chemistry and I was hooked. The book was working its way into 5 star territory.
Then the focus turned toward the plot revolving around the inheritance Rachel received and the reason for her marriage to Wyatt. I felt like the pace slowed down even though I think it probably actually sped up. There were a lot of scenes that were in keeping with the characters and style of the book but made me lose interest as I felt they were redundant or superfluous to the story. I wanted a quicker wrap-up.
I thought the secondary romance wasn’t fleshed out very well. I never really got to know why there was an attraction between the deputy and the local Madam, but I did appreciate it because it helped keep the tension up a bit after the leads got together.
I found the town’s acceptance of the whores and their intermarriage with the other citizens a bit weird. The town was a little too perfect and the only bad people were outsiders.
The author’s writing took a few chapters to get used to. She head hops within scenes and sometimes after a single sentence.
Favorite line (this whole book is very quotable): "You changed my heart, Rachel." Wyatt is a fantastic hero and I loved how he charmed and courted Rachel without her realizing it.
Worst line: any that included "that no-account Beatty boy.” I could’ve made a drinking game out of that phrase. It didn’t make sense to use it so frequently and jarred me out of the story many times.
The first 60% of the book is spent showing the development of the romance. There was a lot of dry, witty dialogue between the hero and heroine and I was smiling all through the reading. They have tons of chemistry and I was hooked. The book was working its way into 5 star territory.
Then the focus turned toward the plot revolving around the inheritance Rachel received and the reason for her marriage to Wyatt. I felt like the pace slowed down even though I think it probably actually sped up. There were a lot of scenes that were in keeping with the characters and style of the book but made me lose interest as I felt they were redundant or superfluous to the story. I wanted a quicker wrap-up.
I thought the secondary romance wasn’t fleshed out very well. I never really got to know why there was an attraction between the deputy and the local Madam, but I did appreciate it because it helped keep the tension up a bit after the leads got together.
I found the town’s acceptance of the whores and their intermarriage with the other citizens a bit weird. The town was a little too perfect and the only bad people were outsiders.
The author’s writing took a few chapters to get used to. She head hops within scenes and sometimes after a single sentence.
Favorite line (this whole book is very quotable): "You changed my heart, Rachel." Wyatt is a fantastic hero and I loved how he charmed and courted Rachel without her realizing it.
Worst line: any that included "that no-account Beatty boy.” I could’ve made a drinking game out of that phrase. It didn’t make sense to use it so frequently and jarred me out of the story many times.
October 24, 2015
First, I have to mention that I have never read a book by this author before and I am not sure why. I have come across her name but, honestly, I categorized Ms. Goodman with many of the writers that first published romances in the mid-80's, someone to look at one day when I have the time. No rush, no foul.
Well, I was wrong with this POV. Maybe I just got lucky but I am going to have to look for more books by this author. NEVER LOVE A LAWMAN epitomizes what I love when I read a juicy romance.
The characters are fleshed out. The buildup between the hero and heroine is like honey: slow, smooth and sweet. It contains great banter that many romances lack, with witty word play in almost every conversation between Sheriff Wyatt Cooper and seamstress Rachel Bailey.
On teaching her how to protect herself and learn to shoot:
"Use the sight."
"I will when you tell me where it is."
"The raised bit near the end of the barrel. Line it up with your target."
"Oh, I see. Well, yes, that is better."
He lowered her arm a little more. "This weapon has a kick. They all do. It's going to make your arm jerk when you fire. You need to aim lower than where you want to hit. If you want to hit a man in the chest-and usually you do-then you need to aim at his privates."
"And if I want to hit him in the privates?"
"You're a whole bucket of sass, aren't you?"
You won't find insta-sex here. Some reviewers have felt that Rachel was rather cold but I didn't see it that way. Suspicious? Yes. Somewhat naive? Of course. But she had reason to be when you read about what went on before she finally settled in Reidsville. When Wyatt and Rachel eventually acknowledge their relationship and something happens, I thought it was worth the wait.
The addition of the townspeople with all their different flavors helped to add interest to the storyline. Shy Molly, that no-account Beatty boy, and Abe Dishman and his monthly proposals were just a few of the curious characters that made up the 'unexpectedly rich, I don't mean wealthy' community.
The downside? It is long, over 450 pages and some might get bored. The villain's character might have been written with a little more 'Omph!'. And readers that want instant passion will have a problem with this romance. But if you enjoy 'slow and sweet' give this story a try.
Well, I was wrong with this POV. Maybe I just got lucky but I am going to have to look for more books by this author. NEVER LOVE A LAWMAN epitomizes what I love when I read a juicy romance.
The characters are fleshed out. The buildup between the hero and heroine is like honey: slow, smooth and sweet. It contains great banter that many romances lack, with witty word play in almost every conversation between Sheriff Wyatt Cooper and seamstress Rachel Bailey.
On teaching her how to protect herself and learn to shoot:
"Use the sight."
"I will when you tell me where it is."
"The raised bit near the end of the barrel. Line it up with your target."
"Oh, I see. Well, yes, that is better."
He lowered her arm a little more. "This weapon has a kick. They all do. It's going to make your arm jerk when you fire. You need to aim lower than where you want to hit. If you want to hit a man in the chest-and usually you do-then you need to aim at his privates."
"And if I want to hit him in the privates?"
"You're a whole bucket of sass, aren't you?"
You won't find insta-sex here. Some reviewers have felt that Rachel was rather cold but I didn't see it that way. Suspicious? Yes. Somewhat naive? Of course. But she had reason to be when you read about what went on before she finally settled in Reidsville. When Wyatt and Rachel eventually acknowledge their relationship and something happens, I thought it was worth the wait.
The addition of the townspeople with all their different flavors helped to add interest to the storyline. Shy Molly, that no-account Beatty boy, and Abe Dishman and his monthly proposals were just a few of the curious characters that made up the 'unexpectedly rich, I don't mean wealthy' community.
The downside? It is long, over 450 pages and some might get bored. The villain's character might have been written with a little more 'Omph!'. And readers that want instant passion will have a problem with this romance. But if you enjoy 'slow and sweet' give this story a try.
September 29, 2009
While I did enjoy this story, it's not quite right. It has a decent plot & the interaction between the H&H, while it's slow getting started, heats up nicely in the second half. It's just muzzy somehow. Character development isn't very distinctive, and what internal monologue there is doesn't reveal all that much. I had to draw too many conclusions based on what's apparent from dialogue and behavior; there's not enough narrative to it & too much of the backstory is revealed through dialogue, which was often sketchy in that regard. The secondary romance was the same - no depth there either. I read a review that called it "sweet", but I really didn't see that, because neither character was developed well enough to evoke any kind of emotional response from me. I had my hands full as it was just trying to flesh out the H&H fully enough to sympathize with. All that said, it's still a pretty decent book, maybe B grade, so worth a read, especially if you're a Goodman fan. This one is a bit of a departure from her last few novels. I just wish I could say it was unique in some other way.
Grade: B
Sensuality Rating: R
Grade: B
Sensuality Rating: R
January 6, 2012
Rachel Bailey might think she's buried the secrets of her past in Sacramento when she moved to the small mountain town of Reidsville, Colorado, but the past comes back with a vengeance when she inherits the local railway spur and half the local mine from her former benefactor. But there's a catch, as one of the terms of the will says she has to marry Sheriff Wyatt Cooper, or it all goes back to her benefactor's grandson (and he's an evil evil baddie). Well, this being a romance and all sparks start flying as our pair denies their mutual attraction and the bad guys come to town bent on evil doings (natch).
While it isn't the most original plot ever, I did enjoy this a lot, especially the verbal bantering between Rachel and Wyatt. If I'd had a Kindle edition I'd probably have marked half of the book up with my favorite quotes (that was soooooooooooooome shooting lesson). While you don't get anything outside of a few heated kisses until halfway through, when the sex does come it is fairly explicit (but you can skim them). I've already read the sequel Marry Me (Zebra Historical Romance), and will definitely be picking up the third book in the series when it does come out.
While it isn't the most original plot ever, I did enjoy this a lot, especially the verbal bantering between Rachel and Wyatt. If I'd had a Kindle edition I'd probably have marked half of the book up with my favorite quotes (that was soooooooooooooome shooting lesson). While you don't get anything outside of a few heated kisses until halfway through, when the sex does come it is fairly explicit (but you can skim them). I've already read the sequel Marry Me (Zebra Historical Romance), and will definitely be picking up the third book in the series when it does come out.
May 9, 2016
The byplay between Wyatt and Rachel was really fun, as two really smart people trades quips hiding the fact of just how smart they were. Antoher wonderful read and I can't wait to read the next one.
December 30, 2021
I adored the love scenes written by Jo Goodman. They’re so tender and intimate.
November 29, 2016
No. boring. Boring. Boring. And don't get me started on the opening scene. Yeah, like I really want my hero quietly lusting after the heroine from the balcony of the whore he is in the process of screwing. No. Just no.
February 10, 2010
I ended up not finishing this book. Its not a bad book per se, just slow and excruciatingly "average". I finally gave up out of sheer boredom.
July 27, 2011
Wow. I picked this book up just to skim the first few pages, and I could not put it down. I’ve not read Ms. Goodman before. Have a feeling I’ve been missing quite a number of good books. But I’m now determined to find out what it is I have been missing all this time. Any book I come across by Ms. Goodman is being promoted to the top of the TBR pile.
The first thing I have to mention in reading this story is how things are not what they seem, as evidenced by the prologue right out of the gate. I was amazed somewhere in the middle of the book that what I got is not anything like what I thought I’d be reading about.
Next are the characters, especially Wyatt and Rachel of course. From the moment I met them in the pages of this book, I was hooked. I was totally invested as their personalities were revealed, along with their situation and the resolution thrown at them by Rachel’s benefactor. Rachel is confident and sassy and has stayed pretty much to herself in the fifteen months she’s been in Reidsville, moving there when life became too volatile and dangerous due to her circumstances. Wyatt is the town sheriff, and I fell in love with this man instantly. He’s intelligent, has a way with people, is alpha when he needs to be, loyal to the core, and eventually Rachel falls for him just as hard as I did.
But with the death of the owner of the railroad and part owner in the town’s very lucrative mine, both of which keep Reidsville afloat, suddenly folks want to get to know Rachel, but it’s Wyatt who’s the bearer of the amazing news she never expected. Their banter is just marvelous. Rachel holds her own with Wyatt and he has to appreciate and respect her for it, and I love the fact they never lose ease and camaraderie between them, even after their forced marriage and subsequent growing feelings for one another. Their attraction steadily grows, Wyatt making his wants known, and when Rachel finally decides he’s what she wants, these two are even better than before once they become one in all aspects of their life.
The townspeople of Reidsville are many and as varied as can be. They take care of their own, including Rachel once it’s revealed how she’s now connected to all of them. This is the kind of town I always pictured in the Old West, and Ms. Goodman gives it life, living and breathing around and through its inhabitants.
Ms. Goodman’s writing is so rich. She takes her time weaving every layer of the story together, then just as slowly pulling that one thread that will unravel every question raised until you end up with such a beautiful tapestry, you don’t know which part you like best. It’s nearly impossible to like one part over another anyway, though.
This is one of the best books I’ve read lately. I’ve been telling everyone I talk to about it. Have you read it yet??
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
The first thing I have to mention in reading this story is how things are not what they seem, as evidenced by the prologue right out of the gate. I was amazed somewhere in the middle of the book that what I got is not anything like what I thought I’d be reading about.
Next are the characters, especially Wyatt and Rachel of course. From the moment I met them in the pages of this book, I was hooked. I was totally invested as their personalities were revealed, along with their situation and the resolution thrown at them by Rachel’s benefactor. Rachel is confident and sassy and has stayed pretty much to herself in the fifteen months she’s been in Reidsville, moving there when life became too volatile and dangerous due to her circumstances. Wyatt is the town sheriff, and I fell in love with this man instantly. He’s intelligent, has a way with people, is alpha when he needs to be, loyal to the core, and eventually Rachel falls for him just as hard as I did.
But with the death of the owner of the railroad and part owner in the town’s very lucrative mine, both of which keep Reidsville afloat, suddenly folks want to get to know Rachel, but it’s Wyatt who’s the bearer of the amazing news she never expected. Their banter is just marvelous. Rachel holds her own with Wyatt and he has to appreciate and respect her for it, and I love the fact they never lose ease and camaraderie between them, even after their forced marriage and subsequent growing feelings for one another. Their attraction steadily grows, Wyatt making his wants known, and when Rachel finally decides he’s what she wants, these two are even better than before once they become one in all aspects of their life.
The townspeople of Reidsville are many and as varied as can be. They take care of their own, including Rachel once it’s revealed how she’s now connected to all of them. This is the kind of town I always pictured in the Old West, and Ms. Goodman gives it life, living and breathing around and through its inhabitants.
Ms. Goodman’s writing is so rich. She takes her time weaving every layer of the story together, then just as slowly pulling that one thread that will unravel every question raised until you end up with such a beautiful tapestry, you don’t know which part you like best. It’s nearly impossible to like one part over another anyway, though.
This is one of the best books I’ve read lately. I’ve been telling everyone I talk to about it. Have you read it yet??
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
June 3, 2014
Never Love a Lawman, Jo Goodman (B+) - Another solid one from probably my most consistent "comfort"-reading author. As with most Goodman novels, I enjoyed the steady and reliable hero and the prickly heroine who has hidden reasons for her reserve. Wyatt is nicely attuned to Rachel's feelings and is often displayed as a strategic player in their relationship, which is fun to witness. I like heroes that work hard for their romance, and Goodman almost never fails in this respect.
I did have some minor issues though with a number of plot developments that detracted a bit from my enjoyment. Slight spoilers ahead. Wyatt agrees to a marriage to Rachel before even meeting her. I kept waiting right up to the very end for a better explanation of why he would agree to what certainly could have been a loveless marriage, aside from the reason he gives, which is that he was bereft at the loss of his wife in a tragic shooting incident and didn't care about finding love again. For some reason I really felt certain he was going to confess his unrequited love for Rachel as his motivation and when he didn't, his initial reasons for wanting to marry her seemed somewhat flimsy. Also, Goodman has a long-standing habit of creating heroines that have been abused by men in their lives and the abuse is sometimes pretty traumatic and challenging to read. Here though, Rachel is basically sexually harassed by her employer's son and flees the house to escape him. He's clearly a misogynistic bully, but other than that, I didn't get a strong sense of why he was such a threat to her. I didn't really understand why he spent so long hunting her down, and in the end I didn't feel that the villain here was very fleshed out. Some plot developments later in the novel involve Rachel hiding her encounters with the bully from Wyatt, and her reasons for her secretive behavior weren't believable. It also wasn't really clear why Rachel rejected Wyatt as a bed-partner after they had already consummated their marriage. So, all in all, I had a number of questions about the plotting.
I still enjoyed reading the book and found the couple well-matched. I just didn't feel that this book broke any new ground that hasn't already been done before in a number of Goodman books.
I did have some minor issues though with a number of plot developments that detracted a bit from my enjoyment. Slight spoilers ahead. Wyatt agrees to a marriage to Rachel before even meeting her. I kept waiting right up to the very end for a better explanation of why he would agree to what certainly could have been a loveless marriage, aside from the reason he gives, which is that he was bereft at the loss of his wife in a tragic shooting incident and didn't care about finding love again. For some reason I really felt certain he was going to confess his unrequited love for Rachel as his motivation and when he didn't, his initial reasons for wanting to marry her seemed somewhat flimsy. Also, Goodman has a long-standing habit of creating heroines that have been abused by men in their lives and the abuse is sometimes pretty traumatic and challenging to read. Here though, Rachel is basically sexually harassed by her employer's son and flees the house to escape him. He's clearly a misogynistic bully, but other than that, I didn't get a strong sense of why he was such a threat to her. I didn't really understand why he spent so long hunting her down, and in the end I didn't feel that the villain here was very fleshed out. Some plot developments later in the novel involve Rachel hiding her encounters with the bully from Wyatt, and her reasons for her secretive behavior weren't believable. It also wasn't really clear why Rachel rejected Wyatt as a bed-partner after they had already consummated their marriage. So, all in all, I had a number of questions about the plotting.
I still enjoyed reading the book and found the couple well-matched. I just didn't feel that this book broke any new ground that hasn't already been done before in a number of Goodman books.
March 1, 2010
Ultimately, this book is a DNF... for now. I can see myself picking it up in the future. I enjoyed it enough while I was reading it. The problem was it constantly failed the put down/pick up test, and after a week away from the story, I seemed to be spending more time trying to remember what happened in past pages.
So while Wyatt held a lot of promise as a hero, and I have yet to learn Rachel's secret, I will remain in suspense.
So while Wyatt held a lot of promise as a hero, and I have yet to learn Rachel's secret, I will remain in suspense.
October 31, 2010
I liked it but I wasn't crazy about it: it was too long and too dispassionate. Jo Goodman is hit and miss for me ... I often feel like there's a barrier between me (the reader) and the plot. Not a great explanation but there it is.
Edited to add, and not to be picky, but it just occurred to me: I don't care for Houses of Ill Repute where all the ladies have hearts of gold and the madam is just as delightful as she can be. Come on. That's supposed to be realistic?
Edited to add, and not to be picky, but it just occurred to me: I don't care for Houses of Ill Repute where all the ladies have hearts of gold and the madam is just as delightful as she can be. Come on. That's supposed to be realistic?
August 15, 2016
Wonderful western character driven romance with strong hero and heroine. Their chemistry is palpable, their interactions both witty and poignant. Secondary characters are well and realistically portrayed. The author has a gift of transporting you in time to the little town in Colorado at the end of 19th century. The only thing that made me lower the rating is the second part of the story went way too long.
July 16, 2015
Really a 2.25, honestly I'm surprised this series had a 2nd book. The first is not even all that great at table setting, missed the mark by a lot. BUT because I had read and enjoyed the second book I pushed forward.
The second book Marry Me set the hook early and kept reeling me in. Definitely a much better book. Bypass this one and read the second.
The second book Marry Me set the hook early and kept reeling me in. Definitely a much better book. Bypass this one and read the second.
March 13, 2010
It's been awhile since I read a JG book and since I've been in the mood for westerns, I was excited to read this book. However, I felt like it was lacking somehow. I'm used to JG delivering books that are packed with emotion and deep love. I didn't feel it here. In the end it all comes down to me making a connection with the characters and I just couldn't get in there.
January 21, 2015
I really liked this one (though the cover is atrocious). It's a better version of the plot she did for the second book in her Bitter Springs series, except that it's actually coherent. The beginning threw me a little, it was a little ehhhhh, but the rest of the book was adorable! And her character interactions were lovely!
March 21, 2022
Disappointed.
Well, I like reading about complex characters, but I am not sure complex would be the right …description?? I felt as if I were mostly reading about a patient and her therapist, or an attorney and his client?
The hero, Sheriff Wyatt, I found him to be both pretentious and boring. Doesn’t make you a bad person; just not especially likable nor interesting. Although he cares about his town and the people in it he spends more time using words he learned in law school as if he were leading a dissertation class other than leading the hard working good folks of his town.
Rachel, the heroine, is a seamstress who shows a friendly side, but spends most of her time alone and lost in her unhappy past. Her past time seems to be going rounds with cynical retorts and one-liners with Wyatt’s continued interrogation of her.
Although the banter between the two was entertaining, for me, it mainly came down to a lot of boring conversations back and forth between the two about how privy Wyatt was regarding Rachel’s past -continually sizing her up-which included a shocking stipulation in a contract left to her at the death of an older man she took care of. Important, yes, but took up way too many pages! There are some good moments, of course.
I think the author should have spent more time in evolving her main characters rather than the amount of time she used on her porn scenes. I like passion and sizzle like the next person but spent way too much time on it.
This author’s writing is also convoluted. Took too much energy to read. I just can’t recommend this author.
Well, I like reading about complex characters, but I am not sure complex would be the right …description?? I felt as if I were mostly reading about a patient and her therapist, or an attorney and his client?
The hero, Sheriff Wyatt, I found him to be both pretentious and boring. Doesn’t make you a bad person; just not especially likable nor interesting. Although he cares about his town and the people in it he spends more time using words he learned in law school as if he were leading a dissertation class other than leading the hard working good folks of his town.
Rachel, the heroine, is a seamstress who shows a friendly side, but spends most of her time alone and lost in her unhappy past. Her past time seems to be going rounds with cynical retorts and one-liners with Wyatt’s continued interrogation of her.
Although the banter between the two was entertaining, for me, it mainly came down to a lot of boring conversations back and forth between the two about how privy Wyatt was regarding Rachel’s past -continually sizing her up-which included a shocking stipulation in a contract left to her at the death of an older man she took care of. Important, yes, but took up way too many pages! There are some good moments, of course.
I think the author should have spent more time in evolving her main characters rather than the amount of time she used on her porn scenes. I like passion and sizzle like the next person but spent way too much time on it.
This author’s writing is also convoluted. Took too much energy to read. I just can’t recommend this author.
August 21, 2022
I've been whipping through Jo Goodman's back catalog as I'm enjoying her books set in various historical periods. She does a great job in getting the historical details correct as well as telling very interesting stories.
Rachel Bailey is the seamstress in the small town of Reidsville when she inherits the local railroad spur on one condition - she must marry Wyatt Cooper, the town's marshal. The spur is essential to the town's mining operation, but the inheritance means that Rachel can no longer hide from her enemies.
The tension between Rachel and Wyatt is unique as Wyatt's been aware of the condition while it's a complete surprise to Rachel. There's an attraction between them, but Rachel has ignored all the men in town, wanting to be left on her own. Parts of the story reminded me of the Dennehy sisters' books, also by Ms. Goodman, that I enjoyed. I like books where the heroine and the hero are both strong personages.
I really enjoyed the story and the history. It's another winner by Ms. Goodman.
Rachel Bailey is the seamstress in the small town of Reidsville when she inherits the local railroad spur on one condition - she must marry Wyatt Cooper, the town's marshal. The spur is essential to the town's mining operation, but the inheritance means that Rachel can no longer hide from her enemies.
The tension between Rachel and Wyatt is unique as Wyatt's been aware of the condition while it's a complete surprise to Rachel. There's an attraction between them, but Rachel has ignored all the men in town, wanting to be left on her own. Parts of the story reminded me of the Dennehy sisters' books, also by Ms. Goodman, that I enjoyed. I like books where the heroine and the hero are both strong personages.
I really enjoyed the story and the history. It's another winner by Ms. Goodman.
August 5, 2020
Copyright 2009. First in the series. Set in a 1882 Colorado mining town.
So, JG has this bad habit of having her hero screwing another woman at the beginning of many of her books. This book is one of them. It's I guess a minor irritant in an otherwise very good romance, but still not very romantic. Especially when the heroine sees him standing on the other woman's balcony half dressed.
I really liked the H/h. The story is interesting & moves along at a good pace. The villain is properly villainous & the side characters are fun too. There is explicit sex.
My youngest son saw this book lying on my TBR pile & made fun of the title & cover. Wyatt does look very western lawman squinty eyed.
So, JG has this bad habit of having her hero screwing another woman at the beginning of many of her books. This book is one of them. It's I guess a minor irritant in an otherwise very good romance, but still not very romantic. Especially when the heroine sees him standing on the other woman's balcony half dressed.
I really liked the H/h. The story is interesting & moves along at a good pace. The villain is properly villainous & the side characters are fun too. There is explicit sex.
My youngest son saw this book lying on my TBR pile & made fun of the title & cover. Wyatt does look very western lawman squinty eyed.
June 3, 2017
From my blog 28/11/10:
I really like Jo Goodman's books - I bought this one shortly after it came out but for some reason, it languished on my TBR until recently. Marry Me, Reidsville #2 is just out and it's winging its way to me as I write. I thought I'd better read book 1 first. The only other Jo Goodman books I've read have been mainly set in England and I haven't read a lot of historical Westerns so that's maybe why it took me so long.
What it's about: The book starts off with a mysterious prologue told from a mystery male's point of view, then flashes forward some 18 months to where Rachel Bailey is living alone in Reidsville, Colorado and working as a seamstress. She is beautiful and the town's gentlemen are quite taken with her but she keeps pretty much to herself, rarely inviting anyone into her house and not making much by way of small talk. The local sheriff is Wyatt Cooper. He signed a contract some years before agreeing to marry Rachel on the death of one Clinton Maddox, rich railway owner. (Clearly Clinton is someone from Rachel's past but just who he was to her isn't clear at the beginning.) Rachel of course doesn't know anything about this contract. Cue sparks. Rachel [reluctantly] agrees to marriage - but in name only - no funny stuff. Cue more sparks. Reidsville sits at the end of a rail spur and has a gold/silver mine which is very prosperous but the town keeps it fairly secret, managing the sale of bullion in small regular amounts so that no-one gets suspicious. Turns out, Clinton (and now , via a bequest, Rachel), Wyatt and the town are each 1/3 owners of the mine. The rail spur (which Rachel will inherit if she agrees to marry Wyatt) is the only way for goods (including bullion) in/out of Reidsville. If the evil Foster Maddox (grandson of Clinton) inherits the spur, he will probably close it down which will kill the town. If he finds out how prosperous the mine is, there is a risk to Rachel and her inheritance.
What worked for me: It's been quite a while since I've read a Jo Goodman book, but I have participated in various blog threads about her books. There seems to be a commonly held view that her books are serious, slow and character-driven. I've never found her books particularly slow (although I'm apparently in the minority). Certainly her villains are usually pretty dark and some of the topics covered are very serious. She is also certainly a writer who is heavily character-driven. That's good. I like. It may be that I'm mis-remembering but I think this book had more "lightness" to it than others. There seemed to me to be more snappy banter and humour in the book than I remember being in others (but truthfully, it might just be that I've been influenced by semi-recent blog discussions and have forgotten the actual content and what I thought of it at the time). In any event, this one does have a delightful humour to it. The inhabitants of Reidsville are nicely drawn without becoming caricatures and well enough developed to give flavour to the story without overtaking it. I loved the story of how "that no account Beatty boy" got his name - what a hoot! But, it is the banter between Rachel and Wyatt in particular that I enjoyed. From the first they strike sparks off one another. However, Rachel is desperately trying to maintain her status quo and doesn't much appreciate Wyatt's intrusion into her life. I liked Wyatt - not only gorgeous, he is cheeky and sneaky (in the best possible way) and clever and witty and hard to offend - which is just as well because Rachel is defensive (for good reason), acerbic, secretive and prickly (he calls her a "hedgehog"). Wyatt has a lot of work to do to get under Rachel's defenses to the real, vulnerable and lovely woman underneath. What is especially nice is that he never doubts that she is there and what made me smile is that he never doubted he'd get to her.
The interplay between the two is funny, quick and clever and shows the reader very clearly the attraction and humour of the two characters. Like this where Rachel says to Wyatt:
"You shouldn't sneak up on people."
"I didn't know I was. I thought I heard you tell me to come in."
"Now, that's just a lie, plain and simple."
"Oh, he doesn't lie, Miss Bailey. He's the sheriff." [Molly, part time domestic]
Wyatt nodded once at Molly. "Thank you for that stout defense." He then regarded Rachel with a slip of a smile. "See? I don't lie. I'm the sheriff."
...
...
"I thought you were going to stab me with those shears" he said conversationally.
Rachel didn't look up from cutting. "I thought I was, too. What's the penalty for killing a lawman?"
"Hanging, most likely. Of course, if there're mitigating circumstances - "
"Oh, there are, since you sneaked up on me."
"A jury would have to decide that, but let's say they're sympathetic to the defense's explanation., then you might only have to spend the rest of your days in jail. Folks around here are partial to me, so I think you'd hang."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
Much of the book is the two characters getting to know each other and gradually falling in love and that is the part of the book I enjoyed the best.
What didn't work for me: The suspense part of the plot - ie, evil Foster Maddox was the weakest part of the story for me. I thought it was a bit convoluted and unrealistic and stopped the book from being an A read.
What else? There is a cute secondary romance involving "that no account Beatty boy" and the local madam, Rose. I would have been happy for that aspect of the story to be expanded further.
Grade: B+
I really like Jo Goodman's books - I bought this one shortly after it came out but for some reason, it languished on my TBR until recently. Marry Me, Reidsville #2 is just out and it's winging its way to me as I write. I thought I'd better read book 1 first. The only other Jo Goodman books I've read have been mainly set in England and I haven't read a lot of historical Westerns so that's maybe why it took me so long.
What it's about: The book starts off with a mysterious prologue told from a mystery male's point of view, then flashes forward some 18 months to where Rachel Bailey is living alone in Reidsville, Colorado and working as a seamstress. She is beautiful and the town's gentlemen are quite taken with her but she keeps pretty much to herself, rarely inviting anyone into her house and not making much by way of small talk. The local sheriff is Wyatt Cooper. He signed a contract some years before agreeing to marry Rachel on the death of one Clinton Maddox, rich railway owner. (Clearly Clinton is someone from Rachel's past but just who he was to her isn't clear at the beginning.) Rachel of course doesn't know anything about this contract. Cue sparks. Rachel [reluctantly] agrees to marriage - but in name only - no funny stuff. Cue more sparks. Reidsville sits at the end of a rail spur and has a gold/silver mine which is very prosperous but the town keeps it fairly secret, managing the sale of bullion in small regular amounts so that no-one gets suspicious. Turns out, Clinton (and now , via a bequest, Rachel), Wyatt and the town are each 1/3 owners of the mine. The rail spur (which Rachel will inherit if she agrees to marry Wyatt) is the only way for goods (including bullion) in/out of Reidsville. If the evil Foster Maddox (grandson of Clinton) inherits the spur, he will probably close it down which will kill the town. If he finds out how prosperous the mine is, there is a risk to Rachel and her inheritance.
What worked for me: It's been quite a while since I've read a Jo Goodman book, but I have participated in various blog threads about her books. There seems to be a commonly held view that her books are serious, slow and character-driven. I've never found her books particularly slow (although I'm apparently in the minority). Certainly her villains are usually pretty dark and some of the topics covered are very serious. She is also certainly a writer who is heavily character-driven. That's good. I like. It may be that I'm mis-remembering but I think this book had more "lightness" to it than others. There seemed to me to be more snappy banter and humour in the book than I remember being in others (but truthfully, it might just be that I've been influenced by semi-recent blog discussions and have forgotten the actual content and what I thought of it at the time). In any event, this one does have a delightful humour to it. The inhabitants of Reidsville are nicely drawn without becoming caricatures and well enough developed to give flavour to the story without overtaking it. I loved the story of how "that no account Beatty boy" got his name - what a hoot! But, it is the banter between Rachel and Wyatt in particular that I enjoyed. From the first they strike sparks off one another. However, Rachel is desperately trying to maintain her status quo and doesn't much appreciate Wyatt's intrusion into her life. I liked Wyatt - not only gorgeous, he is cheeky and sneaky (in the best possible way) and clever and witty and hard to offend - which is just as well because Rachel is defensive (for good reason), acerbic, secretive and prickly (he calls her a "hedgehog"). Wyatt has a lot of work to do to get under Rachel's defenses to the real, vulnerable and lovely woman underneath. What is especially nice is that he never doubts that she is there and what made me smile is that he never doubted he'd get to her.
The interplay between the two is funny, quick and clever and shows the reader very clearly the attraction and humour of the two characters. Like this where Rachel says to Wyatt:
"You shouldn't sneak up on people."
"I didn't know I was. I thought I heard you tell me to come in."
"Now, that's just a lie, plain and simple."
"Oh, he doesn't lie, Miss Bailey. He's the sheriff." [Molly, part time domestic]
Wyatt nodded once at Molly. "Thank you for that stout defense." He then regarded Rachel with a slip of a smile. "See? I don't lie. I'm the sheriff."
...
...
"I thought you were going to stab me with those shears" he said conversationally.
Rachel didn't look up from cutting. "I thought I was, too. What's the penalty for killing a lawman?"
"Hanging, most likely. Of course, if there're mitigating circumstances - "
"Oh, there are, since you sneaked up on me."
"A jury would have to decide that, but let's say they're sympathetic to the defense's explanation., then you might only have to spend the rest of your days in jail. Folks around here are partial to me, so I think you'd hang."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
Much of the book is the two characters getting to know each other and gradually falling in love and that is the part of the book I enjoyed the best.
What didn't work for me: The suspense part of the plot - ie, evil Foster Maddox was the weakest part of the story for me. I thought it was a bit convoluted and unrealistic and stopped the book from being an A read.
What else? There is a cute secondary romance involving "that no account Beatty boy" and the local madam, Rose. I would have been happy for that aspect of the story to be expanded further.
Grade: B+
May 1, 2024
Just like all of Jo Goodman’s books- this was very well done. The characters had depth, the storyline was fairly fast paced and interesting. There was witty, sarcastic dialogue and 4/10 spicy bits.
The relationship between Wyatt and Rachel is healthy and realistic- but nothing chest bursting. They make sense together and they approach their relationship almost matter-of-factly (in a slightly romantic way).
I did feel like this book was heavier on the surrounding description and lighter on the soul grabbing depth of pain and healing that I usually find in her novels. For this reason I will give it a 4/5. I would definitely reread this, but it’s not making it on to my favourites list.
The relationship between Wyatt and Rachel is healthy and realistic- but nothing chest bursting. They make sense together and they approach their relationship almost matter-of-factly (in a slightly romantic way).
I did feel like this book was heavier on the surrounding description and lighter on the soul grabbing depth of pain and healing that I usually find in her novels. For this reason I will give it a 4/5. I would definitely reread this, but it’s not making it on to my favourites list.
August 15, 2018
I found Rachel and Wyatt's story set in fictional mining town Reidsville, Colorado quite endearing. Rich characters with several plot twists that is classic Goodman style. Of all the "mail order bride" type stories this one takes the cake for ingenuity and being far removed from the formulaic approaches other authors I've read take. All the elements of a good western romance are here - a bank robbery, coal-powered steam train, mining town, bad guys, heros and sheros.
July 23, 2017
2.75 Stars.Read this because Reidsville #2 sounded good and #1 was at the library, so why not...
I never felt like I was pulled into this story, and there were a few interlocking pieces that didn't quite feel like they worked properly. I'll read another Jo Goodman but it'll really have to impress me if I'm going to try anything after that.
I never felt like I was pulled into this story, and there were a few interlocking pieces that didn't quite feel like they worked properly. I'll read another Jo Goodman but it'll really have to impress me if I'm going to try anything after that.
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