A Hero in the Making

KINGERY, LAURA
A HERO IN THE MAKING

Man on a Mission…

Nate Bohannan won't let anything stand in the way of his grand plans in California. Even if it means traveling there with unreliable huckster Robert Salali. But after a destructive bender in Simpson Creek, Texas, the unscrupulous Salali runs out, leaving Nate to carry the blame—and the debt. He can fix broken furniture…but can anything fix the despair in café owner Ella Justiss's eyes?

When her café was destroyed, Ella felt sure she'd lost her dreams along with it. Yet somehow Nate's cheerful care and optimism fill her with hope again. Painful secrets from her childhood make Ella wary of men. When danger threatens, will Nate be the hero Ella can finally trust—and love?

Brides of Simpson Creek: Small-town Texas spinsters find love with mail-order grooms!

My Review:

I love historical westerns and this one has a number of unique twists that make it stand out. I love that Nate really is a hero in the making. He has a noble heart but that doesn't always translate into noble actions. He has a somewhat dubious job when we first meet him. He knows it, but justifies away his misgivings until it's nearly too late. His journey toward becoming a true hero makes for a satisfying read. Mind you -- he's never perfect and makes plenty of mistakes but his brash, cheerful personality win over most of the townspeople.

Except Ella. At first. Ella's distrust runs deep and lasts longer than it should. By slow degrees, the author reveals just why that is. A painful past haunts Ella. Nate can see that and his tenderness and care even when Ella is at her prickliest makes him a true hero in my books.

Plenty of plot twists and enough emotional angst makes A Hero in the Making an excellent read.