Also in this series: One Heart to Win, Marry Me by Sundown
Series: Callahan-Warren #2
Published by Gallery Books on June 16th 2015
Genres: Historical Romance, American West
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
ISBN: 1501105418
#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey’s passionate new tale about a gunfighter running from his past who finds his future when he escorts a beautiful outlaw to her hanging. Featuring one of Lindsey’s most intriguing heroes: the dangerous and mysterious Degan Grant from One Heart to Win.
With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.
But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.
Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.
I have had this book sitting on my kindle collecting dust (if that is even possible) since I have had it since it was first published in 2015 and I am finally picking it up. I don’t know why I waited so long for this one, because once I picked it up I just didn’t want to put it down. Of course, Johanna Lindsey has the beautiful way of writing a romance you can easily get into and fall in love with. Wildfire In His Arms was a book that I wasn’t expecting to be as good as it was. After reading the first book, One Heart To Win I felt like this book had quite a bit to live up to and it was pretty great. Maybe not as great as book one, but I still have so much love for this one. I swear that westerns are Lindsey’s talent. Of course she can do just about any setting, but there is something unique about her when she writes in this setting.
Now this tale begins when our hero, Degan is leaving Colorado. Even though he is going to miss the friends he has made here, he also feels the need to move on. So he ends up in montana, after agreeing to do a favor for a friend. His job is to bring three outlaws to justice. Degan is one of the most well known gun slingers in the country. But there is one outlaw, who needs to be returned to Texas, for murder. But the boy he needs to bring in, he learns is no male at all…but a woman. But she claims that she is innocent, but Degan is reserved to believe anything she says, especially when she runs away every chance she can get. Maxine, grew up in a small town, but when the mayor attempted to rape her, he ended up shot and she left and has never returned. But she knows he was alive and well when she left, but apparently she is wanted for his murder. Now she must find a way to escape or convince Degan that she is innocent.
Degan and Maxine go through some adventures together, and some turmoils as well. At the beginning of the story, there is a LOT of mistrust for sure. I mean they are on opposite sides here, practical enemies. But as they travel together, Degan starts to trust in Maxine and doesn’t believe her capable of murder. And Maxine finds herself drawn to this dark and mysterious stranger. I think what impressed me most was seeing the slow building romance here. The ways they build trust in each other, the ways they go out to protect each other and they make a great team together in the end. And seeing the past become resolved for both Maxine and Degan was simply wonderful. It was great the way this story played out from beginning to end. There was such a flawless way in the development of the plot and the building of the romance. The “smexiness” of the story is lighter though. Which is strange coming from this author. She has always been known for her steamy scenes, but this book they seemed tamer than normal. Which was fine with me to be honest, the building up of the relationship was the focus point here. And seeing Degan and Maxine build a home together with their friends and family was everything I could have asked for in a ending. A story to delight, stimulate, encourage and make you fall in love all over again!!
What do you love most about reading Johanna Lindsey?
What is most fun about enemies to lovers trope?
I’ve never read one of her books, but a dear friend of mine lives ger. I need to try Joanna sometime.
oh you definitely should try this author out!!! She is one of my favorites. I would recommend this series or the Malory Family series first.
Thanks I will give her a try.
So glad you had a good time with this! I love Johanna’s work but haven’t tried this series yet. Slow burn romance, Western setting and enemies-to-lovers sounds like a great combination! 🙂
Oh if you like her work, you really need to try this series so far. Its fantastic. The first book deals with a two feuding families hehe super entertaining.
I didn’t realise JL wrote westerns! I knew about the vikings and the pirates but not the westerns! Gotta try these! Thanks 🙂
I think she has written almost everything including some sci fi fantasy ones too!!:) She has done indians, cowboys, vikings, pirates, islanders, sheiks, russian lords and regular regency and highlanders.
I actually read this, and it was tame. I did not know she was usually a little more on the steamy side!
It has been awhile since I read Johanna Lindsey. She used to be one of my favorite Historical romance authors. I have not read any hostoricals in the longest while.
I used to read her aaaaaages ago