A frontier lawman, the woman he let slip away, a sinister threat to her life, and a second chance neither saw coming.
Ezekiel Boudreaux is caught between two worlds. As a deputy in Splendor, Montana, he’s an exceptional lawman, able to face down the worst criminals. Underneath, in a place no one ever sees, he hides a soul deep sense of failure and regret which keeps him from snatching happiness with the woman he’s come to love.
Francesca O’Reilly loves the frontier town she now calls home. Her law practice is growing along with her many friendships. Frannie’s one regret is the loss of the man she loves. After months of courting, he walked away, leaving her confused at his abrupt departure and lack of explanation. For Frannie, their time apart hasn’t lessened the emptiness in her heart.
Zeke yearns for the same fulfillment his brother has found in his marriage. Struggling to accept the failures of his past, he fights to reclaim Frannie’s trust while battling multiple threats to the town and those he cares about.
Working together, Zeke and Frannie sift through clues to identify those responsible for the attacks. Will their efforts unmask those behind the threats, or will time run out, increasing the danger to their town, while pushing them farther apart?
Thunder Valley, book sixteen in the Redemption Mountain historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.
Shirleen Davies grew up in Southern California. She attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I have just started reading Ms. Davies’ romantic westerns. This is only my second book of hers in this genre. Even though romantic suspense is my favorite genre, I also enjoy reading western books. Happily, I have discovered that this author’s westerns combine both romantic suspense and western suspense.
I love the characters in this book. Francesca O’Reilly is an attorney who left New York in 1870 after a bad break-up with her fiancé. This story focuses on her life as the only attorney in Splendor, Montana Territory in 1871. I like that she is an independent woman who lives alone in a house that she rents.
Ezekiel, Zeke, Boudreaux is a deputy in Splendor who a few months ago had courted Francesca. However, suddenly, without any explanation, he stops dating her and ignores her. He ends up hurting her very badly for, what turns out to be a dumb reason. Fortunately, he now regrets his decision, and is working very hard to get back together.
Beauty is an extremely interesting secondary character. She is new in town and lives and works as a waitress in Ruby’s Grand Palace. She is a mysterious woman who, we find out, has left her home under suspicious circumstances. She reaches out to Francesca for help. As Francesca investigates Beauty’s trouble, the two of them become friends.
It turns out that Beauty’s trouble follows her to Splendor which puts her life, as well as Francesca and Zeke’s lives, in danger. Francesca, Zeke and the other deputies work to keep Beauty safe as they try to unravel her problem in an exciting and suspenseful plot.
Each character in this book is unique and fascinating. I am looking forward to catching up with the interesting stories of the older characters that show up in this story.
Once again we return to the western town of Splendor, Montana Territory, where Francesca O'Reilly has came to practice law after her fiancee broke their engagement for another woman in New York. It was not to long after she came to town that Deputy Ezekiel (Zeke) Boudreaux started courting her. Then Zeke decided he was not good enough for Frannie, that she deserved a better man than him, since she came from money and was well educated. As a result Zeke stop seeing Frannie with no explanation, which made her very angry. It was not long after that there was some trouble in town. There was a murder, and while Zeke was working the murder he was hit in the back of the head and some evidence stolen. There was an explosion at the copper mine. All kinds of things kept happening with very few clues. Zeke could not keep from thinking about Frannie and his brother pointed out to him that maybe he made a mistake, so now he was trying to get Frannie back. She would not give him the time of day because she did not trust him. He had ripped her heart out once, she was not wanting to give him a second chance. Mean while the intrigue and mystery continued even with a crow ambush. This gripping story will keep on the edge of your chair from beginning until the end, and you not want to put it down once you start until you finish. I cannot wait for the next book.
Like many of the men of Redemption Mountain lawman Ezekiel Boudreaux “Zeke” is a strong upright man but who struggles with feelings of inadequacy, regret, and self -doubt in Thunder Valley by Shirleen Davies. Francesca O’Reilly is unique, not because she a working woman, all western women were working women to do but because she is a lawyer. Not all places would have accepted a woman in that profession. Hurray to Splendor, Montana. They have a past so when Zeke decides to win her back Frannie resists.
While Zeke has his relationships all in a turmoil a rash of criminal activities break out in Splendor. As Zeke and Frannie along with others try to work to solve and catch the culprits, a second chance at love comes along. Wonderful story where the good guys always win in the end. There is along a rich sense of place which gives comfort and support to its members.
Thunder Valley may be the sixteenth in the Redemption Mountain Series but it is just as captivating and exciting as the first book. It is a stand-alone with the couple receiving a well-deserved HEA by the final chapter.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Zeke is a former confederate soldier. He lives in Splendor with his brother and they are deputies. They came from money but while they were away at war, their father allowed their plantation to flounder. When they got back, it was too far gone to save it. Zeke likes Francesca, the town lawyer, but she comes from money and he is just a simple lawman who will never have much. He starts to court her but basically just stops because of this. He never explains how he feels to her.
Francesca likes Zeke, a lot. She was very hurt when he stopped calling on her with no explanation. Fatr puts the two back together but will they be able to work through their differences?
This book is the next in the Redemption Mountain series. I have really enjoyed reading this series and this book did not disappoint.
I received my copy of Thunder Valley yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the town of Splendor and meeting some of the residents of Redemptions Edge again. Not having read any other books in the series will not affect you enjoyment of this book at all. This book brings new characters to the town of Splendor some with secrets others looking for a new start, and some with criminal intent. Like all the other books in the series there are challenges for the Sheriff and his deputies as they work at keeping the growing town and it’s residents safe in what are dangerous times for some, and the strong sense of a community that looks out for each other is obvious. If you enjoy well written stories with strong characters, romance, excitement, danger and plot twists then you will enjoy this book as Shirleen Davies provides her readers with all that and more.
This is a suspenseful and dramatic story that captures your imagination by weaving clue after clue leading to believe that you've figured out all of the secrets and twists, only to find yourself wrong. Zeke is laid back, his self-esteem suffers after he received blow after blow after the war. He's great as a deputy and friend, but he's not very polished. Frannie is a bold, determined and accomplished woman. Things were good between them for a while, until Zeke stopped courting her. A friend pushes Frannie to let Zeke prove himself when he decides it's worth a shot to have her. There are also several murders to deal with. I really loved this story, it had my complete attention from page 1. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
this is another great well written story in the series. zeke is a deputy in the town and Franny is a lawyer. he loves her but does not think he is worthy of her. this is a page turning story. i read it in one day. if you like cowboys and indians and suspense you will want to read the story. i do not want to add spoilers so some of the people in the story are a lawyer, deputies and marshals , salon workers, and good and bad indians . billy is put in charge of protecting an indian girl who's brave was killed in a raid. looking forward to the next story. if you have read any of her books you will want to read this one. i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review.
Frannie left her family back east after her fiancee broke off their engagement soon got engaged to someone else so she traveled to Splendor Mountain to start over where she has her law office. She was courted for a while by Deputy Zeke but he broke it off without explanation breaking her heart. When someone starts killing in the town and Frannie gets involved Zeke is the first to stop up to protect her. Zeke never wanted to hurt Frannie but he does not have much to offer her on his small salary and she is too good for him. As twists in the story appear they have to find out who the killer is before he kills again. Will Zeke win back Frannies heart and have their HEA?
I have loved getting to know the folks around Splendor, Montana and "Thunder Valley" is a perfect addition to the must-read Redemption Mountain Historical Western Series that is so well-written I felt like I had traveled back in time and was totally involved in all that was happening from start to finish. I loved the sweet and tender romance between deputy Zeke Boudreaux and lawyer Frannie O'Reilly. The secondary characters and subplots of life in the "wild west" added to my reading pleasure. Ms. Davies knows how to captivate her reader and I can hardly wait for the next book from this gifted author. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
What a terrific book! Historical Western style action with gunmen, Indian raids, love blooming and all is busy in Splendor. New attorney Francesca is busy with clients; the Sheriff and his Deputies are over-extended with investigations; and, the women of all these wonderful men are happy. The story-lines in this series are always interesting and fun to read. With excellent writing, it was great to catch up with all the characters and what’s happening in the Montana Territory. Thanks for a nice day of reading.
Another great story from Shirleen Davies. In Splendor Montana, Zeke, a deputy, and Francesca, aka Frannie, the lawyer, were courting when Zeke suddenly stopped seeing her. He felt he wasn’t good enough for her but never explained why. Now he wants a second chance but is it too late. These are the two main characters in this story but there are so many other characters intertwined within keeping you wondering what is going to happen next. There is danger lurking just around the corner. A very talented author that you just don’t want the story to end.
Life in Splendor, Montana is certainly never dull. Davies gives us a taste of what life is like in a growing frontier town. Frannie recently came to Splendor and established her law practice there. She and Deputy Zeke explore resurrecting their broken romance amidst the drama of deception and murder. This book is full of twists and turns and keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat. The characters become your friends and you invest in their futures. This was a very enjoyable book!
This series continues to be absolutely fantastic! I loved Zeke & Frannie’s story! I was absolutely pulled into this story & could not put it down. I love a book with a great main story & several substories, and this one did it well. I felt my heart break for Zeke & Frannie and then jump for joy when he finally decided to be happy. The air of suspense was present through the book and it was good. I cannot wait for the next one!
Another fabulous story in this series. A number of villains throughout, all of whom get their just punishments. More than one love story too although the main one is the second chance courtship that Francesca allows Zeke. Some real drama and twists and turns as with all of these stories. Thoroughly satisfying read as always from this author. Read an ARC for an honest review.
Zeke is a deputy in Splendour, and Francesca is a lawyer, they used to go out but suddenly, with no explanation, Zeke stopped calling. Francesca had that happen to her before, so loses her trust in men. Beauty is escaping from her past, but it might be closing in. Then a rancher is killed and Zeke is attacked, are these things related?
Really great story. Zeke and Frankie were the main characters in this story. Splendor is not a large town but so much adventure and excitement happening, with a two mines and recently developed new copper mine, Aaron is a part owner in the new copper mine and is a great friend of Frankie’s. So much happening in Splendor , just sit back and enjoy the adventure.
The continuing saga of Splendor and the people who are determined to create a civilized place for their families never ceases to provide a satisfying read, while leaving the reader grateful that another episode isn't to far away.
Francesca and Zeke romance takes twist and turns from angry to all consuming love. Great strong characters. Aaron and Nancy also fall in love both good friends of Francesca after being in Splendor at the same time.
This book in the Redemption Mountain series by Shirleen Davies is very good and I enjoyed it very much. The intrigue and suspense was outstanding and kept on the edge of my seat. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Another great book in this series on the lives of the people living in Splendor Montana. This one in particular is a young attorney and her friends and the fact that someone is trying to kill one of her customers. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
Another great book. I have read all this series and hope it continues. Like the way she brings all the people from previous books in to the current book.
This is another great story from Shirleen about Splendor, MT where love has blossomed for years. Zeke and Francesca or "Frannie" are the next to find each other. As a deputy and an attorney there, they have been around each other for months.
Frannie started courting Zeke and then he stopped seeing her and he gave no reason why. Her pride was hurt and the humiliation was worst but that he didn't talk to her about why was the ultimate disgrace for her.
Zeke knows that he has nothing to offer a woman especially someone as important as the city's only attorney so in his mind he was giving her a chance to find a better man. He should have talked to her though about why he stopped seeing her. He has come to the conclusion that he made the biggest mistake of his life. He loves Frannie but now she won't give him the time of day.
There is a new saloon woman in town, her name is Beauty and she needs Frannie"s help to make sure she's okay but how can one woman protect another in a growing frontier town.
Another great book in a great series by one of my favorite authors. I'm really enjoying this series and loved Zeke and Frannie's story and all the characters. It was great in catching up with characters from previous books. A captivating read.