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One Lonely Night
Margaret had lived alone for so long, she knew that any opportunity for romance and marriage was left far behind her. When a half-dead gunslinger stumbled to her door, she took him in, never dreaming of the fiery passion he'd ignite in her. For a lifetime of memories she would risk one night. For a chance to hope she would risk everything.
356 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2016
There was a blizzard swirling outside Margaret Thayer's cabin in the Dakota Territory. It was 1884 and she was celebrating her birthday. By herself. She had never married and was thirty-five years old.
'Please. I just want something good to happen.'
And then there was a sudden bang. Startled at the stranger propped by her door outside, the man's slurred words and ice-crusted duster indicated he needed help. Throwing caution to the wind, Margaret brought him inside. With nurse-like efficiency, she sought to get him warm except the man insisted she take care of his horse. First. Or in his own words, a soft-spoken but firm, "Now."
~~~
This was a typical historical romance from the late 1990s with the exception of several items. The MCs were older than the norm and neither one was handsome or beautiful. The H was written as an alpha but more often than not acted as a beta male. The romance included a mystery. I enjoy both genres but it takes a skilled writer to mesh the two together. I should have finished this story within a couple of days but it took me much longer.
Kieran McDermott was a 40-something bounty hunter. People paid him to find others. He made it his mission to track down bad men but expected he might get shot some day. Different than other seekers of criminals, he was known to use his reward to help the victims. Besides trying to identify the villain, I wanted to know what happened to Kiernan in the distant past to form the man he was that day. The reason I gave the story three stars was because I liked Kiernan and Margaret even when I thought the plot was muddled.
Margaret's care of her bitter mother had always come first. Eventually her parent passed on. She thought of herself as long past finding someone to love. Remembering it was the 1880s, I found it difficult to believe they
One Lonely Night changed them forever.
'Please. I just want something good to happen.'
And then there was a sudden bang. Startled at the stranger propped by her door outside, the man's slurred words and ice-crusted duster indicated he needed help. Throwing caution to the wind, Margaret brought him inside. With nurse-like efficiency, she sought to get him warm except the man insisted she take care of his horse. First. Or in his own word
~~~
This was a typical historical romance from the late 1990s with the exception of several items. The MCs were older than the norm and neither one was handsome or beautiful. The H was written as an alpha but more often than not acted as a beta male. The romance included a mystery. I enjoy both genres but it takes a skilled writer to mesh the two together. I should have finished this story within a couple of days but it took me much longer.
Kieran McDermott was a 40-something bounty hunter. People paid him to find others. He made it his mission to track down bad men but expected he might get shot some day. Different than other seekers of criminals, he was known to use his reward to help the victims. Besides trying to identify the villain, I wanted to know what happened to Kiernan in the distant past to form the man he was that day. The reason I gave the story three stars was because I liked Kiernan and Margaret even when I thought the plot was muddled.
Margaret's care of her bitter mother had always come first. Eventually her parent passed on. She thought of herself as long past finding someone to love. Remembering it was the 1880s, I found it difficult to believe they
One Lonely Night changed them forever.
February 28, 2021
I wanted to read "One Lonely Night" because it features a 35-year-old spinster and a hired gun who is over 40. Without knowing much about each other, they spent one night together and parted ways. I loved this part of the book: two lonely people stranded together during a spring storm... I wish their isolation had lasted much longer. Sadly, the reason that brought Keiran to Redemption was why I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. In order to solve the case, Kieran and Maggie became partners and dedicated a lot of time to finding the bad guy. To me the book lost its initial charm and intimacy.
Bottom line, I believe my expectations were too high. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the writing and I'll definitely be reading more from Susan Kay Law.
Bottom line, I believe my expectations were too high. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the writing and I'll definitely be reading more from Susan Kay Law.
May 31, 2021
If the reason to give this book a mere 3 stars is the fact that the plot centers around a lonely 35-year old woman who gave herself up to complete stranger only 48 hours after meeting him (as the reviews here indicated), then you’ve never experienced heart-wrenching loneliness.
The first four chapters of the book, in my opinion, are the best parts of the story. The author does an excellent job of portraying this common yet barely discussed affliction called loneliness. Few other romance novels have affected me like what this one did.
What do you have to lose when you’re 35 and alone in the world with no one to love and hold? Not even a cat or a dog? A heifer is not really a great option for a pet (our heroine has one). The rest of the world have moved on and have passed by Maggie. All her friends have either moved to different places, or now have children (and even grandchildren) of their own. She took care of her mother until she died. There were suitors who didn’t really see her as a desirable woman; they were only interested in turning her into a farm help because she’s capable.
She was celebrating her 35th birthday alone in her small little house while the snowstorm outside raged and ravaged, wishing something good would finally happen to her drab unremarkable existence. And that’s exactly what happened. The storm brought in a handsome man who was suffering from hypothermia.
To be continued
The first four chapters of the book, in my opinion, are the best parts of the story. The author does an excellent job of portraying this common yet barely discussed affliction called loneliness. Few other romance novels have affected me like what this one did.
What do you have to lose when you’re 35 and alone in the world with no one to love and hold? Not even a cat or a dog? A heifer is not really a great option for a pet (our heroine has one). The rest of the world have moved on and have passed by Maggie. All her friends have either moved to different places, or now have children (and even grandchildren) of their own. She took care of her mother until she died. There were suitors who didn’t really see her as a desirable woman; they were only interested in turning her into a farm help because she’s capable.
She was celebrating her 35th birthday alone in her small little house while the snowstorm outside raged and ravaged, wishing something good would finally happen to her drab unremarkable existence. And that’s exactly what happened. The storm brought in a handsome man who was suffering from hypothermia.
To be continued
June 15, 2019
Margaret Thayer is a 35-year-old spinster, living alone and somewhat careworn by poverty. During a snow storm, a handsome stranger comes to her door, frozen and insensible. Margaret tends Kieran McDermott and saves him from frostbite.
I just didn’t buy this plot; Margaret was so starved for the affection she’d missed all these years that she seduced a stranger. And Kiernan was a do-gooder on a horse. This book did not speak to me.
One of the themes was about taking chances. Margaret, because of her life growing up, had been discouraged from taking chances. Kieran took a chance every time he confronted someone. Margaret did this because she was afraid; Kieran did it because he didn’t care about life.
I felt the story was well-written but extremely unlikely.
I just didn’t buy this plot; Margaret was so starved for the affection she’d missed all these years that she seduced a stranger. And Kiernan was a do-gooder on a horse. This book did not speak to me.
One of the themes was about taking chances. Margaret, because of her life growing up, had been discouraged from taking chances. Kieran took a chance every time he confronted someone. Margaret did this because she was afraid; Kieran did it because he didn’t care about life.
I felt the story was well-written but extremely unlikely.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews