Wednesday, February 22, 2017

REVIEW OF WESTERN HISTORICAL -- SLEIGHT OF HEART



Our guest reviewer didn't quite work out this month, so I'm posting a review. 

SLEIGHT OF HEART is by Jacquie Rogers. If you have read her Hearts of Owyhee series—or any of her other books, you already know what a fun, fast-paced western historical romance Ms Rogers writes. In fact, Jacquie Rogers is one of my favorite authors, and the 1880’s are my favorite historical period in the Old West.

In SLEIGHT OF HEART, sisters Lexie and Helen Campbell are in exile, so to speak, because Helen committed a social faux pas and embarrassed her parents and friends. Since she can’t be sent from Washington DC alone, Lexie has to put aside her dream to become a math professor and accompany Helen to a Colorado mine in which the family owns a share. The young women have to remain there until Helen’s blunder becomes old news. They’ve been in Silverton, Colorado a year and the mine barely makes enough money to pay the miners and expenses.

The story opens with Alexandra “Lexie” shooting at Burke O’Shaughnessy. But, her anger is misdirected. She mistakes Burke for his younger brother Patrick, who has Lexie’s sister Helen in the family way and has taken the sisters’ five thousand dollars to buy mining equipment. Lexie believes Patrick is a con man and the money Helen gave him is lost. Helen insists he will return with the equipment.

Lexie and Burke take the train to look for Patrick. Actually, Lexie forces Burke onto the train. The tables soon turn, however. Lexie has an extraordinary mind for numbers—including cards. Burke is a gambler, the son of riverboat gamblers who trained him well. Ms Rogers’ excellent writing blends in historical details with a fast paced romance. In addition to a really good story, she throws in subtle humor and suspense filled with twists and subplots that all tie up in a happily ever after.



An interesting side note is that Lexie’s gift with numbers is based on Jacquie Rogers’ aunt. Doesn’t that make this book even more fun?

I highly recommend SLEIGHT OF HEART to anyone who enjoys western historical romance with a dash of suspense and humor. I give this book a ♥♥♥♥♥ rating.



Find out more about her and her books at www.jacquierogers.com and http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com She also contributes to the blogs Smart Girls Read Romance at http://smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com.

3 comments:

  1. Wow, this story sounds like so much fun. I've read several of Jacquie's novels and loved them. My favorites were the ones with the mules. Best of luck with this one, Jacquie! Great review, Caroline!

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  2. I have read many of Jacquie Rogers's books and have enjoyed each and every one thoroughly. SLEIGHT OF HEART looks like another winner to me.

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  3. Sounds exciting, I'm up for a new western.

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