(book cover)

Buy the Book

Title:
Wild Honey

Author:
Janet M. Quinn

Published By:
Awe-Struck Ebooks

ISBN:
1-58749-443-4

Release Date:
Coming Soon

Format:
Electronic

Melanie Whittaker's father has dragged her and her little brother and sister, Andy and Christina, to yet another gold field. Living in a tent, tending to the children while her father pans for gold in the river in Gold Strike, Colorado, Melanie also has to contend with her father's drinking. When Melanie's mother died, Whittaker's spirit died with her. He married again to give Melanie a mother and fathered Andy and Christina but his heart wasn't in the marriage. Melanie's stepmother ran off when she just couldn't handle her husband's drinking anymore. Whittaker heard there was gold in Colorado. He loaded up his small family and took off from Ohio and traveled to Colorado to strike it rich. Thus far, his luck in the gold fields had been more bad than good, but Melanie was bound to make the best life she possible could for her little brother Andy, who was 6 years old, and her sister who was just three. In the small town of Gold Strike, Melanie formed a few close friendships with some of the wives in the mining camp and with the matron of the town's only store. After tragedy strikes will she be able to keep her small family together?

Cal Reynolds is the marshal in Gold Strike. The first time he sets eyes on Melanie he is under the false impression that she is Whittaker's wife, not his daughter. He is attracted to the young "wife" but fights off his feelings. He is very pleased when he discovers that Melly is Whittaker's daughter not his wife. With the responsibility of caring and providing for her younger siblings, Melly fears she will never have a husband and children of her own. Of course any man she agrees to spend her future with will have to accept the three of them as a package deal. Could Cal possibly be that man?

Set in Colorado during the gold rush, Wild Honey is full of action from the first paragraph. This reviewer couldn't even begin to do this book justice in this short synopsis. The twists and turns keep the reader guessing at what could possibly happen next, that hasn't already happened. The only fault that this reviewer found with this book was it seemed that Melanie would never find peace and harmony, as one thing after another kept her from finding her heart's desire; peace, that will enable her to keep her family together, and harmony with a man that is deserving of her. However, the heartwarming characters, humor and chemistry make it a book that is hard to put down. Ms. Quinn has penned deep and emotionally charged characters. Melanie and Cal have tremendous physical attraction for each other. Cal finds it hard to express himself and at times he is falling over himself in trying. Melanie knows what she wants in a man, but is afraid to put it into words, afraid Cal will just be telling her what she wants to hear, should she tell him. The reader will applaud Melly's dedication to her family and responsibilities, even at great cost to herself. Janet M.Quinn has a winner with Wild Honey. This book is a joy to read, if a little drawn out. A sweet romance novel, without any exceptionally graphic sexual content, makes this book a highly recommended read for historical romance lovers.

Reviewed by: Penny