This week's Wednesday Wonders features
Special Delivery Baby
by Sherri Schackelford
About Special Delivery Baby:
An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.
With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.
Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.
Excerpt:
There was something awful endearing about a man strolling through the stockyards with a babe in his arms. She'd seen little softness from the men in her life. She's always had to work harder, ride longer and take more licks than the men. A woman in a man's job always had something to prove.
He jabbed her poster with the tip of his cane. "This Texas Tom person cannot stage a rodeo in this town," he declared. "Those posters will have to be removed immediately."
I don't know who put a burr under your saddle, Daddy Canfield, but you sure are a cranky fellow. Maybe fatherhood doesn't suit you.
"Fatherhood suits me find." He shook his head. "I told you before I'm not a father. This isn't my baby."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Canfield. But you sure are getting comfortable with that babe in your arms."
"I'll speak with Texas Tom myself. When you see your boss, tell him I'm looking for him."
"I might be able to save you some time," Tomasina declared with a wink. "I'm Texas Tom."
You may purchase Special Delivery Baby from the following:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Book Review:
This was a delightful story with a great collection of characters--each unique and enjoyable to read about. Set in a fictional Kansas cow town laced with all the details of a real city of its day, it could have been Abilene in 1871.
My only complaint--and I don't know if this was the author or her big-city, non-country, editor--but in one scene, the words bull and steer were used as synonyms. When it comes to cattle, a bull is a male that continues to have all the equipment needed to reproduce. A steer is a male which has had its reproduction equipment removed. The two words, bull and steer, are not interchangeable. Once you get past that, the story feels like the old West in action.
The plot was clever and multi-dimensional. There were some twists that kept me guessing for several pages, then on the edge of my seat as I waited to find out if I guessed correctly.
Tomasina was an interesting character. She struggled to find herself since the person who had defined her most of her life, her father, had died on the trail. She knew the men around her would not accept her for herself or tolerate her chosen lifestyle if she continued doing what she knew best. I enjoyed watching her work through her self-discovery.
As for that baby, she was a heart-warmer. This was a sweet romance I would recommend to anyone.
About Sherri Shackelford:
A wife and mother of three, Sherri's hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, "Why did I just come in here?" A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. She loves to hear from readers.
Connect with Sherri Shackelford:
Website | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
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