|| The Outsider|| Let Me Call You Sweetheart || The Outcast ||

Last review(s) added 2/25/98

I take no credit for the production of this photo. It was taken from inside the cover of "The Outcast."

One of the best novels I've read in a long time! A dazzling read! Romance author Rosalyn West captivates her readers with a fabulous pager turner from beginning to end. No lull will be found, no dragging narrative, nor any boring characters. A fulfilling romance!

For those of you that read the first book in "The Men of Pride County" series, "The Outcast" -- "The Outsider" is the second book in this series. I loved "The Outcast," but "The Outsider" was a romance with the right dabble of mystery and intrigue to make one think of near perfection.

Hamilton Dodge is not a well-like man. He is the banker in Pride County, Kentucky. That isn't necessarily why they don't like him -- it has more to do with the fact that he's a Yankee. And they don't want any Yankee having anything to do with their money.

Briefly, Dodge came to Pride County to help Reeve with the bank that Reeve's brother started before going off to war. He was killed in the war so Reeve as Dodge to come help out. Thus, Dodge is also hated for the friendship he has with Reeve because Reeve is also disliked by many of the towns-folk. They believe he is a traitor. From that hate, Dodge was injured in the first book. His injury has carried over to this book with Dodge in a wheel chair as the first pages are turned.

Starla Fairfax has just returned home to Pride County after being gone for four years. Her brother Tyler helped to escape from the harmful clutches of their father, Cole Fairfax. Starla has returned just in time for Patrice and Reeve's wedding, where Dodge is the best man. There is more to this woman's background than any of her friends know or could ever guess. The pain this woman has endured is deep and a sense of empathy came over me for her.

Dodge is instantly attracted to Starla. Starla takes an instant dislike to Dodge. What could her best friend see in such in insufferable man? Who would ever guess that with the dislike she has for Dodge, that she would end up marrying him. She is in a needy situation and Dodge offers her help - a business arrangement for a marriage. He'll save her honor if she'll just give him some company. With no friends, except for Reeve and Patrice, he is an awfully lonely man. Not to mention that with the injuries he has suffered, he isn't sure that a marriage bed is something he will ever be able to climb into or partake of.

Starla is in danger. Just for getting involved with her, bad things start happening to Dodge as well. She has many secrets and is unable to trust anyone with them. It takes her a long time to adjust and accept the kindness Dodge sends her way.

Dodge is such a caring and loving man. The patience he has with Starla is deeply moving. He falls for her fast and lets her get away with just about everything. He is just the type of hero many women dream about. Me included.

Starla's brother Tyler has turned into the type of person no one would want anything to do with. He's gotten involved with the wrong crowd of men and followed his father in his bad foot-steps. This bad group of men has a lot of power over some of the people in town and Tyler just can't seem to get enough of it. I went from hating him, to having compassion for him, to hating him again, and then I found myself hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'll be getting a story of his own soon. I think I could really end up liking him after-all.

I could continue on with this review, but I hesitate to do so in that I don't want to give anything away. There are many secrets to be discovered and I wouldn't want to ruin any of them for you. Watch for "The Outsider" to be released in July.

A wonderful story and spectacular continuation in "The Men of Pride County" series. I definitely await with extreme anticipation for the next novel.

Rated 5.0
Copyright 4/98
Reviewed 11/2/97 by Pam

For all you romantic suspense readers, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," Nancy Gideon's new release, (an April 1998 Silhouette Intimate Moments,) is the perfect story for you. This high impact novel is not only a passion filled romance, but comes complete with mystery and suspense that will take you above and beyond your "too-sweet" romance novels to a hard earned happy-ever-after. The characters are sensual, delightful and easy to relate to. I felt compassion toward them and the difficulties they had endured throughout their lives. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" contains just the right amount of intrigue and mystery to keep you turning the page until the last piece was in place. This is a wonderful romance. A one of a kind written by Nancy Gideon.

Zach Crandall, small town bad boy, comes home. What a surprise he brings to a town full of prejudice. You are sure to be as shocked as I was at the disclosing of his "big secret." He is disliked by all for a wrong they believe he's done. Everyone except Elizabeth Carrey, that is.

Elizabeth, Bess as all the townies call her, is the owner of a used book store. She is taking care of her niece for the summer while her sister and her new husband do some traveling. Her mother, a domineering and extremely controlling woman, passed away several years earlier leaving the bookstore to Bess. Bess just can't seem to let go and forget all the controlling things her mother did to her over the years. Most of all, keeping her from Zach Crandall, the one person she loved with all her heart.

There is a murderer running loose and Zach intends to find out who it is. That is the only way he will ever earn some respect from the people of the town and be able to call this place "home."

As Zach and Bess work their way through the tangled web as well as their love for each other, they discover there is quite a mystery being buried in the small town of Sweetheart. A secret that needs to be told.

Attempts on Bess's life lead her and Zach back together. For all us romantics, that's where they should have been all this time. But, for Zach and Bess, they each have to learn to trust each other again. For the town, they have to open their eyes and their hearts to right a wrong that was done many years ago.

Don't hesitate to pick up "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" when it becomes available in your town in 1998. It is definitely worth your time.

Rated 4.5
Copyright 1998
Reviewed 7/30/97 by Pam

"The Outcast" by Rosalyn West, also known as Nancy Gideon and Dana Ransom, is written in the aftermath of the Civil War. What a marvelous story this is, written with in-depth characters who overcome strong feelings of loyalty toward family to be with each other.

Any story whose characters can bring a tear to my eye before page ten is positively a class A book . . . .

Reeve Garrett was the illegitimate son of Byron Glendower. Never being accepted into society, Reeve didn't hesitate to fight on the side of the North. He is considered a traitor and murderer by all in Pride County.

Upon his return home, Reeve has many obstacles to face. Does he have a chance at a future with his one and only love Patrice Sinclair, will he ever be forgiven by the people of the town for the death of his brother, Jonah, who was killed by a firing squad by the North's army, will his father accept him and allow him a future with the family plantation? These are only a few of the challenges Reeve must endure.

Patrice Sinclair, upper-class society girl, or used to be before the war, is too good for Reeve. Or so everyone says. In her heart she can admit her love for him. A love which she has known for long as she can remember. But, to lose the trust of her family and cause them disgrace by loving Reeve, a social outcast, is just not done in this day and age. What would people think of her?

A surprise is awaiting Patrice and her mother upon the return of her brother Deacon. Deacon fights to return their home to what it was before the war. During this process he gets himself and his family in trouble.

Fighting to prove himself to everyone, Reeve does "things" to assist the town and it's members in their rebuilding after the war. It does not appear they will accept his help, but only time and persistence will tell.

Wildly romantic, inspiring, and positively sensational is the story of Reeve and Patrice. Their passion for love and each other is mighty, and Rosalyn West writes their story with a propensity that will not be surpassed any time soon.