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Mad, Bad, and Dangerous To Know: A Western Christmas Novella
He was going to be hanged on Tuesday
English-born Andrew Kane had enjoyed the adventurous life of a gambler in the Wild West, but after winning a ranch in Colorado, he was ready to settle down. Then his attempt to protect a young tavern girl led to a shoot out and a wrongful conviction for murder.
On his journey to the gallows, he meets despairing young widow Eliza Holden who intervenes when he's being beaten by his guards. Together, they find comfort and a stunning sense of connection. Can Eliza create a Christmas miracle for them both?
Praise from
"Mary Jo Putney always delivers wonderful stories that hold my interest and leave me feeling wonderful!"
"I am a fan of all of Mary Jo's books. She creates very likeable characters. I have read all of her books."
"The main characters have personal struggles which they approach with grit and honor. Of course the love and peace of the Christmas season helps them resolve and love. I really liked the story set in the West especially because there are so few good stories set there."
"This was a really unique and memorable romance and much different than anything I've read from MJP before. It contains some serious subject matter...just be aware that it's not a light and easy read."
English-born Andrew Kane had enjoyed the adventurous life of a gambler in the Wild West, but after winning a ranch in Colorado, he was ready to settle down. Then his attempt to protect a young tavern girl led to a shoot out and a wrongful conviction for murder.
On his journey to the gallows, he meets despairing young widow Eliza Holden who intervenes when he's being beaten by his guards. Together, they find comfort and a stunning sense of connection. Can Eliza create a Christmas miracle for them both?
Praise from
"Mary Jo Putney always delivers wonderful stories that hold my interest and leave me feeling wonderful!"
"I am a fan of all of Mary Jo's books. She creates very likeable characters. I have read all of her books."
"The main characters have personal struggles which they approach with grit and honor. Of course the love and peace of the Christmas season helps them resolve and love. I really liked the story set in the West especially because there are so few good stories set there."
"This was a really unique and memorable romance and much different than anything I've read from MJP before. It contains some serious subject matter...just be aware that it's not a light and easy read."
- GenresHistorical Romance
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2024
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
171 books2,271 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 24, 2024
It's a typical Mary Jo Putney story. Well written, good characters and an engaging story.
January 23, 2026
This is a really cute novella featuring Liza, whose husband was just killed and she's pregnant. His family is overbearing and he was abusive, so she's sort of better off but also facing life as a "brood mare" as the family expects her to live with them and the baby (and/or just take the baby).
Meanwhile Drew is being taken across the state to face his excecution for murdering ... Liza's husband! She saves him from being beaten to death by the deputies and ends up spending the night in a cellar of some sort with Drew. They have a one night stand and the next day he's taken off to face his hanging. Drew has told Liza she can have his ranch in Colorado and she can say they were married, so a few days later she heads to CO to the ranch.
Also meanwhile, Liza has sent a neighbor's son to try to find a non-corrupt judge to save Drew. Without giving any spoilers, it's a HEA for this very cute couple.
Meanwhile Drew is being taken across the state to face his excecution for murdering ... Liza's husband! She saves him from being beaten to death by the deputies and ends up spending the night in a cellar of some sort with Drew. They have a one night stand and the next day he's taken off to face his hanging. Drew has told Liza she can have his ranch in Colorado and she can say they were married, so a few days later she heads to CO to the ranch.
Also meanwhile, Liza has sent a neighbor's son to try to find a non-corrupt judge to save Drew. Without giving any spoilers, it's a HEA for this very cute couple.
December 24, 2024
Lovely short story.
Worth of Ms. Putney from the first letter to the last.
I've read lots of novels by her, but I loved this Western/romance/Christmas story just on December 24th, 2024.
A very happy Christmas for me, and obviously for Mary Jo Putney.
Worth of Ms. Putney from the first letter to the last.
I've read lots of novels by her, but I loved this Western/romance/Christmas story just on December 24th, 2024.
A very happy Christmas for me, and obviously for Mary Jo Putney.
November 11, 2024
Great Christmas Story
Loved this book so much! Mary Jo is always a brilliant writer. Read it in one sitting, it was so good! Got me right out of a reading slump I was in.
Loved this book so much! Mary Jo is always a brilliant writer. Read it in one sitting, it was so good! Got me right out of a reading slump I was in.
November 24, 2024
never disappoints
This is only a novella, but it packs a punch: interesting premise, likable characters, and a wonderful Christmas idea of redemption.
This is only a novella, but it packs a punch: interesting premise, likable characters, and a wonderful Christmas idea of redemption.
February 27, 2025
This is exactly what I want in a Christmas novella. Warmth, hope, just enough tension to keep it interesting, and a sweet hea!
June 13, 2025
Good, fast read- keeps you reading and not wanting to put down.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews