The Husband Tree

CONNEALY, MARY

THE HUSBAND TREE

Standing over her third no-account husband's grave, Belle Tanner makes a vow - no more men. Now all she needs to do is get her cattle to market before winter sets in. But there's no one around except the drifter Silas Harden, and Belle is such a poor judge of men that she can't decide if he is worth hiring on.

Silas just escaped a shotgun wedding -- only to lose his money, his ranch, and his pride. Although he's determined never to get tangled up with womenfolk again, Belle and her four daughters seem to bring out the protector in him. And he can't seem to stop kissing Belle senseless.

When a group of cowpokes show up along the drive Belle has her hands full. Can she keep her oldest daughter away from a no-good cowhand -- and herself out of Silas's arms? Will anyone get through this treacherous cattle drive unscathed and unhitched?

SIGH! A HUNKY HERO BENT ON 'KISSING SENSELESS' CERTAINLY HOLDS MY ATTENTION! WATCH OUT, BELLE, I'VE FALLEN FOR SILAS HARDEN! I LOVE MARY'S HEROES. THEY'RE SO....SWOONWORTHY! AND SHE WRAPS UP THE ROMANCE WITH HUMOUR -- ONE LINE ZINGERS THAT HAD ME HOWLING OUT LOUD (WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARRASSING WHEN READING IN PUBLIC PLACES). TIGHT PLOT, ROMANTIC TENSION, UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TOUCHES OF HUMOUR MAKE THIS A VERY, VERY, VERY, SATISFYING READ.