"Excellent anthology"

'Spirit of the Wolf' by Susan Mallery. In April 1886 in Whitehorn, Montana, Ruth Whitefeather escorts young runaway Zeke Kincaid home though she knows his widowed father Caleb lives there. Years ago, the half-Cheyenne Ruth rejected Caleb's proposal of marriage. When he sees her with his son, Caleb wonders if he has a second chance at love or will Ruth reject him again.

'As Good as Gold' by Bronwyn Williams. In June, Caleb's sibling Will returns to Whitehorn to open a bank. Will worries that his older brother has not forgiven him for taking ranch money years ago. Meanwhile Lizzy works the saloon because her brother paid off his gambling debt by 'indenturing' her. Will begins to protect Lizzy in exchange for bedroom privileges even as he admires her business acumen.

'The Gamble' by Carolyn Davidson. By August, Will worries about his decadent cousin James so he insures his relative becomes Whitehorn's sheriff to give him esteem. That has little impact on James' fragile ego. When James rescues schoolmarm Kate Elliot from bandits, he quickly realizes she has rescued him from a life as a black sheep by teaching him how to care and love for someone else.

All three novellas are well written western romances that emphasize consistent characterizations (what you get in one-story remains true in another tale). The story lines provide complex relationship dramas that showcase the collaboration and talents of Susan Mallery, Bronwyn Williams and Carolyn Davidson. Readers will find late nineteenth century Montana appealing as seen through the eyes of the Kincaid kin in this warm anthology.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 24, 2001