The Marshal's Mission

I very much enjoyed this story of Cole, the undercover marshal in pursuit of a gang of bank robbers/murderers, and of Lenora, the widow he ends up unexpectedly watching out for. Toby, her ten-year-old son, is vividly portrayed as well. The setting is excellent, with the weather and the farm animals and the ranch itself practically springing to life off the pages. Add to that the question of the outlaws and the suspense of how Cole is going to manage to catch them and keep Lenora and Toby safe, and it's very easy to keep turning pages in this story.

Yes, it's a romance, but it's not smarmy or throbby, and I have a huge appreciation for a story that felt very realistic in that sense.