Determined

Lipstick and Lead #5

by Sylvia McDaniel

Revenge or Reprieve? Hell hath no fury like a woman betrayed.

After Hannah Williams is trained to be a bounty hunter, her first goal is to kill her stepfather and rescue all the girls from Mrs. Hutchin’s whorehouse. Knowing her life is in danger, she returns to Hide Town, Texas only to discover the handsome preacher who had refused to help her, being beaten. Hating him for how he’d turned his back on her, she can’t walk away and leave him to die. Showing him mercy, she takes him to her hideout where she soon learns the preacher has secrets of his own.

Jackson Colster learns another young girl has been sold into prostitution and helps her to escape until he’s caught and beaten by the madam’s goons. Left to die on the prairie, he’s soon rescued by the one face he can’t forget, Hannah Williams. The girl he refused to help.
Can the preacher keep the girl from seeking the revenge she craves and heal her wounded past or will she help him get over his haunting nightmares? A small-town church, a town run by a corrupted lawman and a crooked madam stand between these two wounded souls.

Genres: Historical Romance, Westerns, Romance, Historical

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2015

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Sylvia McDaniel has published more than forty western historical romance, contemporary romance and even a few sci-fi novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.

Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.

Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.

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Reviews

[Jane Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok and had some good parts, but weaknesses in how the plot is moved.

I liked the initial character definitions, but it could have used more character development. Most of the focus was Hannah worried that the church women would never accept her because she was an ex-soiled dove (former prostitute).

The back story:
Hannah was sold into forced prostitution by her stepfather. Madam Hutchins runs the Hide Town saloon and brothel. The Sheriff works with Hutchins. Hannah escapes from the brothel and trains to become a bounty hunter. I wish the author showed her escape and training. That could be an exciting escape story plus the anticipation of watching her change. But the story starts with Hannah wearing guns and arriving in Hide Town planning revenge against her stepfather and Madam Hutchins.

The story also begins with Jackson being beaten by Hutchins’ goons. The reason is that he helped another kidnapped woman escape. That wasn’t shown. I wish it was.

Hannah gets Jackson to safety to heal. A little later in the story she and Jackson decide to clean up the town.

The plot planning bothered me. The sheriff, Hutchins, and her goons are all planning to hurt Hannah and Jackson. So why does Hannah keep going out alone walking down the street? And why does Jackson keep going out alone to work in the church? They are in enemy territory and need to stay together. Bad things happen when they are alone.

I received a complimentary copy from the author for review.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 2,574 (153 pages). Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1. Setting 1880's west Texas. Copyright: 2015. Genre: western historical romance.

[Aemelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold by her despicable step-father to the madam of the local whorehouse, Hannah Williams is out for revenge. When she comes across Pastor Jackson Colster being beaten by the madam's goons, she hesitates before helping him out. Hannah sought out the reverend to ask him for help while she was being held captive, but he thought she had chosen to become a prostitute and refused to see that she needed help.



Hannah's animosity toward Jackson is understandable. His unwillingness to help her is not something that she can easily forgive. Jackson truly regrets not helping her, he wants to assist her into assimilating back into society. But society doesn't just accept a former soiled dove into their open arms. As time moves on, Hannah still wants revenge. Her step-father is attempting to kidnap young girls for the madam, the sheriff of the small town is corrupt, and the madam has no remorse. Jackson and Hannah's feelings are growing, but how can a preacher marry a former harlot?



Hannah & Jackson's romance was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I like Sylvia McDaniel's writing style and as fan of western romance, I will most definitely be picking up other books by her.


*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori Duhoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is a bounty hunter who has come back to town to get revenge on her step father for selling her to the local madam. She ends up helping Jackson the Preacher who refused to help her escape the brothel when he was beaten up. Their story unfolds as they stop her step father from kidnapping another young girl and then they are able to also stop the local madam from running her business. Together they clean up the town. They are also able to overcome the unwelcoming congregation and find the love that they both needed. Together they heal not only themselves but the town that they live in.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Williams has finally escaped her enslavement in a brothel. She has been trained by her bounty hunter friend Ruby and now she's ready to return to the town to exact her revenge to include the stepfather who sold her, the madame, and the corrupt sheriff. Jackson Colster is the town's preacher, who failed to help Hannah escape when she first asked. Now, with a better understanding, he has helped another girl escape from the brothel and he's been beat up by the brothel security for his efforts. Hannah rescues Jackson and they form a partnership to clean up the town. Along the way, they develop feelings for each other. Can an ex-prostitute and a reverend find lasting love?

Author Sylvia McDaniel has written another page-turner in the Lipstick and Lead series. Although it is a stand-alone, the previous book in the series sets the groundwork for this book. This book is full of imperfect characters, lots of action, themes of forgiveness, and passion.

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is out for revenge! And her stepfather is at the top of the list. She's heading back to Hide Town were Ruby rescued her from an evil madam and her partner in crime is the Sheriff. Hannah helps the preacher man after the madam's goons leave him for dead. Jackson Colster, the preacher for Hide Town, realizes Hannah has deep emotional scars that hopefully kindness, patience and love will help heal. One soiled dove and a preacher man embark on a action-packed  rollercoaster ride with tension-building twists in this soul-stirring story with all the danger, drama, sizzling passion, turmoil, angst, hope and as tensions escalates the suspense builds and evil abounds will keep you on the edge of your seat in Determined.

[Earlene Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson and Hannah

This is a well written story and the plot was well thought out. The characters, both recurring and new ones, were well thought out too. Hannah had been sold to the local brothel madam by her stepfather, but with Ruby’s help she escaped. She return to the town after being schooled in bounty hunting to bring in those criminals there. She and the local preacher man find themselves cleaning up this criminal infested town. I recommend this story for your reading enjoyment.

[Scarlett G. Novack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series!

Once you read the first book, I hope that you will be as hooked on this author as I am. They are certainly different from your normal western. Just sit back, read and enjoy. Some great humour as well!

[Serina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best

In the middle of the series, this stand alone story made my heart melt. When two people are able to move forward in their lives by actually listening an discussing life, great things can happen. Take a wild ride with Hannah and the preacher. You won’t regret it.

[Jackie Parrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justified

This was a pretty good western .I liked the story plot.I'm glad the preacher stopped her from ruining her life.

[Donna Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Williams was trained to be a bounty hunter. Her step father sold her to the madam in town so she had to become a prostitute. Her sister Ruby had rescued her in book 4 of this series. Hannah was returning to her hideout when she seen some goons beating up a man. They left him for dead. She managed to get him on her horse after the men left. As she was taking him to her hideout she asked his name and he said Jackson Colster, the preacher. She wanted to throw him down but she didn't. She tried to get him to keep her from being sent into prostitution but he didn't do anything. He was new in town and didn't really know what they were doing. Spending time with Jackson she had started to see a different side to him but she was still out to get the madam and her step father. this book does contain a little sex. It is a really good read as Jackson and Hannah join forces to try and get the criminals out of town. Will the town people accept her or drive her out of town. Read this one

[Lisa C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this installment in the series. There wasn't much character development and you really need to read the preceding books to figure out who everyone is. I felt like I came into the middle of a play and tried to catch up. The premise was definitely different but it was just an okay story. A former prostitute is thrown together with a preacher, who conveniently happens to be the guy who could have helped her but didn't. The story was mostly focused on Hannah's anger and Jackson's attempt at getting her back in the good graces of God and his church.

One thing I have to note that absolutely drove me wild. When Jackson was trying to clean up the town, he was going to call in the Calvary, if necessary. No. No. No. He would call in the CaValry. Someone should have caught that and the use of council instead of counsel. For a writer of this caliber, I would have expected a better job of editing. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[BROWN2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this series since the first book was written. I have loved every book. They just keep getting better. The strength the women portray and how the love of a good man evens out their temperament. They are only trying to get by in the world they find themselves living in. Hannah is sold into prostitution and is eventually saved. She trains to become a woman bounty hunter and goes back to the town where she was held to get revenge. The town preacher, Jackson, who wouldn't help her before, has finally realized what is going on his town and is beaten for his interference. Hannah has to learn forgiveness before she can begin her mission of vengeance. Jackson is an amazing character. You really feel like you are in the book when you read this series. You can picture it all. I have to admit, yes I did cry when learning Hannah's story. You know that these things really happened in the old west and it makes you think. I truly hope you will give this series a try.

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The soiled dove and the preacher. Although soiled dove is so sad considering that Hannah was sold to the brothel without any say so whatsoever. Life was hard in those days of the wild west. Loved Hannah being such a strong character after the hardships that she endured. Enters the preacher Jackson. Jackson having his own devils to tame, stands up for Hannah and stands along side her in their quest for ridding the town of the corruption that keeps people silent. This is the first book I have read in the "Lipstick and Lead Novels, but it will not be my last. I was given a free copy of "Determined" by the author for an honest review.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I thought Hannah's past and her aversion to men was realistic. Jackson's guilt for his history in the war also seemed realistic. I thought that Hannah's anger toward Jackson for not helping her escape the bordello was understandable, but she seemed to move on from it a little too quickly. I thought that their first few kisses were kind of abrupt and awkward, and seemed somewhat out of place. I liked that Jackson was patient with Hannah, but also challenged her. There are a lot of references to God, faith, and forgiveness but it did not feel out of place.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesia Chambliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tackling a preacher and a soiled dove in a romance is a difficult task, but Sylvia McDaniel did a wonderful job. Preacher Jackson played his part to perfection! A brave and determined man with a haunted past of his own, and Hannah, who was rescued and now a bounty hunter is determined to get revenge on those who took her life from her. These two will take you on an exciting adventure, and leave a town wondering what hit them. This book did not disappoint me, and I hope you'll read this Lipstick and Lead series of strong women of the west from Sylvia McDaniel.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Determined is another great story in the Lipstick and Lead series. Hannah Williams, a soiled rove, out for revenge discovers the Preacher who didn't believe her when she asked for help leaving the powerful Madam. Jackson is badly beaten, yet she can't just leave him to die. Together, Hannah and Jackson, work to bring justice to Hide Town, TX. Ms. McDaniel has taken a soiled dove and a Preacher and created a match made in Heaven. i really enjoyed the wit of Hannah and the humor through out the story. Determined is just a really great read. Enjoy, I did!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Determined was such a great read of overcoming stereotypes. Hannah was a women whos only family sold her into prostitution, tried getting help to get out then did it her own way. Now trying to exact revenge on those who did her wrong comes back to town with guns blazing. Jackson is a pastor who let his beliefs over run what was right, letting Hannah stay where he believed she asked to be. When these two meet again their chemistry sets the pages aflame. Such a great read that was skillfully written.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the main characters in this story. A preacher and an ex-soiled dove turned bounty hunter are not easy characters to write. The author does a great job of balancing a past that neither one is proud of with the present and bringing them together for a future together. The book has a great plot, but the story has an abrupt jump toward the end that goes from a content H & H to the climax of the plot. I would have liked a transition showing the shift into the climax more than being told how the hero ended up in that chair. Aside from that I really liked the story.

ARC for review

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a repentant Preacher stop a DETERMINED bounty hunter from seeking revenge?

Preacher Jackson Colster tries to do right by everyone these days because he's learned the hard way that appearances are deceptive. His biggest regret is that he didn't help a young girl who asked him for help. Instead, he judged Hannah Williams based on his belief that a young girl working in a bordello chose to be there. Now he knows better, but it's too late to help Hannah. Or is it?

Hannah Williams was sold into prostitution by her step

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with a free copy of this book for an honest review. It is a fun read with action, romance, bad guys and good guys. Hannah defies the norm being an independent woman with gun and riding skills. Our fierce but broken heroine meets Jackson a preacher with a past and the fun begins. Their challenges include an unforgiving congregation, a corrupt Sherriff and a town full of bad guys. I mean, what more could you want? This is a romantic western with everything I wanted.

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved riding along with Hannah as she embarked on a scary adventure to seek revenge against those who'd wronged her. Then she met up with Jackson and everything started to take different turns. I fell in love with Jackson. The townsfolk were a little hard to take, but did their part well. Sylvia Daniels has a way to draw you in and get you familiar with the characters and fall in love with them too. Given by author in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical western fiction romance novel. However, it is not a typical story. There is drama that pulls you in from the beginning. The book keeps you in suspense as to whether the conflicts in the book will be resolved until the very end of the story. The plot is complicated yet well-written. I very much enjoyed this story and will look for others by the same author. It is always nice to discover a new author!

Reads-a-lot-44

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah and Jackson's story was awesome. It had me hooked from the get go! All the things that Hannah has went through just breaks my heart for her and I felt like crying for her. That is how real the story felt while reading it. Sylvia did a fabulous job on this book! I am stoked for the next in the series!

[Tina Wickham duckwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The is the first book I have read from the author and I enjoyed the storyline and characters. Having an ex prostitute and preacher team up to clean up a town was a good twist. I plan on reading more from this author.

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Irisdiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Sylvia McDaniel. Two twisted souls working on revenge and forgiveness. I loved the tension between these two and some great heat as well. I received this book free for an honest review.

[Elizabeth W Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the Lipstick and Lead series.

Each book is great as a stand alone or as part of the whole. Great theme of strong women trying to maintain their independence without losing their femininity.

[Debra Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and Pain

Good reading. This will make you sad one minute and laugh the next. You will also find anger at your heels. This book is one you will re-read!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgiveness

A soiled dove finds her wings. She turns into the tigresses. Always believe in love it will prevail just not sure how.