Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Marshal in Petticoats
Author: Paty Jager
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
E-Book ISBN: 1-60154-004-3
Release Date: September 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Western Romance
Year/Setting: 1886 Oregon
Overall Rating: 4.25
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual/Sexual
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: None/Minimal
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Paty's Website:
www.patyjager.com
Darcy Duncan has been known to be clumsy either in a dress or britches, which is her current mode of attire for a very good reason. One example of her clumsiness is accidentally shooting a bank robber trying to make his getaway.
This "heroism" leads to her becoming marshal of Galena, Oregon, where something’s just not right. So for the time being, she agrees to take on the job (in disguise) in order to feed and shelter her younger brother, Jeremy. This will give her the perfect opportunity to figure out what Mayor Craven is up to.
She quickly comes to care for the town and its citizens. Her desire to help liberate them from the scheming mayor, however, lands her in some dirty situations. One or two (or ten!) of them involve too handsome Gil Halsey. He’s asking too many questions and seems friendly with one of the men involved in the bank robbery. Though she’s attracted to him how can she trust him?
She doesn’t, completely. Until it’s too late. By then a chain of events have fallen into place leaving Gil to rescue her once again (even though she thinks she can take care of things herself).
Gil, who’s in town for his own reasons, discovers the marshal is really a woman, but that doesn’t change things, just complicates them. She was given the job of town marshal too easily, which begs several questions to be asked; is she in cahoots with the seamy dealings of the mayor and if so, what are they? how can he get her out of his mind? if she keeps giving him the slip, how can he protect her?
You’ll have to learn the answers on your own.
There’s no fanfare with Marshal in Petticoats, no gimmicks. It simply and quietly lures you in with its humor and tears, passion and romance, intrigue and action, emotional upheaval and healing. It satisfies with a blending of all the elements of a good book.
While there were a good number of characters in the book, it wasn’t hard to keep track of them as they played their parts well. It was easy to cheer for some or boo and hiss at others. Both Darcy and Gil are to be admired as they show a strong sense of their desire for fair play and justice, of doing what’s right in all cases (no matter the cost).
Small downsides... A time or two Darcy’s clumsiness almost became too much. Also, I did find what I thought to be a loose end, though maybe I missed it or maybe it’ll be answered in another book. (I hope!)
None of that detracts from the enjoyment of the story, though. I found it to be a feel-good read and look forward to more from this author.
Connie
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