Genre:
Western/Historical/Romance
“When an
accident leaves Hamilton Hollister convinced he’ll never be more
than half a man, he abandons construction of a railway spur his
lumber mill needs to survive.
Believing
no woman shackled by social convention can be complete, railroad
heiress Katherine Brashear refuses to let the nearly-finished track
die. The magic of Christmas in a small Texas town may help them
bridge the distance…if they follow their hearts down The Last Three
Miles.”
Author:
Kathleen
Rice Adams: “Descended from a long line of Texas ranchers,
preachers, and teachers on one side and Kentucky horse thieves and
moonshiners on the other, award-winning author Kathleen Rice Adams
had no choice but to become an outlaw. Maybe that's why in her
stories, even the good guys wear black hats.
For the
past thirty years, she's stayed two steps ahead of a lynch mob as an
award-winning journalist. She also has ghost-written or edited
several nonfiction books.
A Texan to
the bone, when Kathleen's not being a nuisance she bows to the whims
of the Hole in the Web Gang -- a herd of tiny but enthusiastic
outlaws with four legs.”
For more
information please visit Ms. Adams’ website.
Appraisal:
After a
railway construction accident that leaves Hamilton Hollister in a
wheelchair, possibly for the rest of his life, Ham is ready to give
up his legacy. With only ten more miles of track to be laid, Dr.
Oliver Madsen refuses to let Hamilton wallow in self-pity. Without
the completion of the railway spur Hollister Lumber, as well as the
small town of Hollister, Texas, will be doomed. It’s easy to
understand why Hamilton deems the railway project too dangerous to
complete; the accident has left him scarred physically and
emotionally.
Enter K.M.
Brashear, railroad heiress from New York, who along with Oliver
refuses to let the nearly finished track die. Katherine is not your
everyday delicate heiress, she is intelligent and capable enough to
handle the job. Hamilton is quick to dismiss her and order her back
to New York. However, she is on a mission to prove to her father she
is as competent as any of her brothers. With Oliver’s help
Katherine takes command of finishing the railway and overseeing the
lumber mill. Katherine
defies the social norms for women of her station and does her best to
win the respect of the employees in her determination to finish the
railroad by the deadline. But her methods could cost her everything
she comes to care about.
I found the
story-line realistic and well-paced. The characters are well drawn
with distinct personalities. Their banter and dialogue is also
believable and engaging. I had to chuckle when Hamilton had to admit
he had been out-stubborned by Katherine’s progressive attitude. The
twist near the end was shocking but conceivable and heart wrenching.
I found myself captivated by this novelette as Hamilton realizes he
has met his match in more ways than one.
FYI:
This is a
steamy read but not inappropriate.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No
significant issues.
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: ?wazithinkin
Approximate
word count: 11-12,000 words.
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