"This "secret baby" book is definitely worth a try!"

Handsome and charming, champion rodeo cowboy Cutter Reno is a love 'em and leave 'em kind of man. And that's just what he had done when he and pretty Peggy Lathrop had gotten together for a summer fling six years ago. His life was the rodeo, and he didn't have the time or inclination to form permanent attachments. But now he is back in Sundown, Montana- acting as grand Marshall for the Fourth of July parade, and he is remembering how sweet it was to make love with Peg. If he plays his cards right, maybe they can get together for the short time he will be in town. But when he comes face to face with Peg, not only does she not welcome him with open arms, but for some reason she seems to be avoiding him. He decides to see if he can get back in her good graces before he goes.

Single mother Peg Lathrop has done her best to make a good life for herself and her daughter Shelby. She knew Cutter Reno was headed back to town, but the knowledge still didn't prepare her for the sight of him, and the feelings that seeing his handsome face again after all these years stir up. Still, she knows she made the right decision six years ago, and judging from what she knows of Cutter now, it is still the best decision today. All she has to do is stay away from him until he leaves town, and her life can go back to normal. She doesn't count on Cutter's persistence.

When first asked to review TAMING THE OUTLAW, I had my doubts. It was, I knew, a "secret baby" book, one of my least favorite plot lines. Combine that with another plot element that I usually have difficulty with, the reunion of lovers who couldn't make it work the first time around, and I could just about bet I wasn't going to like this one. But after reading the first chapter I was quite optimistic. I could see that Cindy Gerard had the talent and the understanding of what it would take to make this book not only bearable, but entertaining and engrossing. She did such a wonderful job of explaining why Cutter and Peggy behaved the way they did- made the choices they made, that I was soon able to totally accept the plausibility of the situation, and to even sympathize with and understand each of them, In order for this relationship to work, Cutter had to change. Of course he did change, but that transformation was so gradual and so difficult for him that it was believable. Cindy Gerard has been so successful in making a believer out of me that I am off in search of her back list, including THE SECRET BABY BOND, which up until now I would have avoided simply because of the title.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted October 14, 2002

Summary

When rugged lone wolf Cutter Reno breezed back into Sundown, Montana, his macho male pride demanded he reclaim the one li'l lady who'd ever truly mattered. All it took was one intoxicating encounter with Peg Lathrop to intensify his desire to relive their moon-drenched summer nights from six years ago. However, the older and wiser single mom struggled to resist the tantalizingly tender caresses of this footloose cowboy who'd stolen her virginity — and shattered her heart. Would it take a life- altering revelation to finally tame the outlaw and persuade him that happily-ever-after lies home on the range?