Sunday, September 29, 2019

A TOUCH OF FLAME by Jo Goodman


Publisher:      Berkley
Published:      June 5, 2018
ISBN:      978-0399584299
Genre:     Historical Western Romance
Format:     Print
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

FOUR HEARTS

 




When the good doctor of Frost Falls decides it’s time to retire he doesn’t leave the town in a lurch without a doctor.  He contacted his old friend to send a replace and before long E. Ridley Woodhouse arrives.  He also goes a step further and asks the newly minted sheriff, Ben Madison to meet, greet and make the new doctor welcome.  What that town and especially Ben doesn’t expect is that E. Ridley is a woman.  And what E. Ridley doesn’t expect is that the plain spoken man who picks up her up the Sheriff.  Misunderstanding aside, it isn’t long before E. Ridley proves just how competent she is.  Sadly it comes about through a woman whose life is in jeopardy by the very person who should be protecting her.  As E. Ridley becomes more present in the fabric of the town so does her relationship with Ben which suits Ben just fine. 

I’ve said it before but it bears saying again, Jo Goodman never disappoints.  In TOUCH OF FLAME she gives readers a remarkable female lead. Ridley is strong, smart, capable and no nonsense.  She isn’t all that unique for a modern heroine, but for the time period of the Cowboys of Colorado she stands out as an exceptional one.  The romance between Ben and Ridley grows slowly within the story.  There’s no rush to declarations of “I love you” or to the altar. 

The other characters of the town of Frost Falls are multi-dimensional with stories of their own.  They are much like anyone you’d find in a small town with their quirks, spats and connections.  And while this is Ben and Ridley’s story, readers have a chance to catch up with Remington and Phoebe from A Touch of Frost. 

A TOUCH OF FLAME has several layers to it.  You can read this book as just the solid romance it is.  If you want a deeper read, Goodman raises issues of preconception about roles and society, domestic abuse and alcoholism. The issues are not token mentions to add drama to the story, but an interwoven part of what makes Goodman’s characters such great reads.

You do not have to read the books in order because while there are some common characters, they each have their own story within each book.  This is one series you don’t want to miss.


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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