[CW: domestic abuse, self harm]

This is another book is Goodman's Jo Goodman Cowboys of Colorado series set in Frost Falls with railroad expansion as the backdrop, not gunfights or cattle stampedes. New Yorker Roen Shepard is a jack-of-all-trades and his reserved personality makes him unpopular with his high-society family. He is happier leaving his old life behind and is now working as a surveyor for the Northeast Rail Company, which is planning on putting a track directly through the town of Frost Falls. Lily Salt is a single mother of four precocious children. She had been physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive by her now mercifully dead husband. When his vengeful ex makes it into town, in order to escape her, Roen proposes a marriage of convenience to Lily.

A fiery woman, an introverted man, secrets and trauma in the past, and you have the makings of a marvelous Goodman tale. Goodman sensitively and realistically portrays Lily's PTSD trauma from the abuse she suffered as well as her tendency to self-harm. I loved how the people of the town band together to protect her. In Roen, she has the perfect mate. He is strong and capable while also caring for her deeply and working hard to heal her. For an introvert, he really has to work up to stepping into the role of a big family as a father and husband. We see Goodman's characteristic nuanced characterization in this story. The ex turns out to be a one-dimensional evil villain, which is a small quibble. I was pleasantly surprised to see Goodman tackling racism in the small town against its largely Chinese railroad workforce. Unfortunately, it doesn't go far enough in its exploration. These two issues aside, this was an enjoyable story.

*3.5 stars*

Few cowboys but a lot of heart…

Despite the series title, Lily and Roen’s story offered a gentle tale of survival and romance with cowboys as their backdrop. Both had baggage to spare as life knocked them down and sideways, with Lily especially keeping herself aloof. Despite their secrets, they found in each other someone they could trust and rely on – in short supply until now. Circumstances had them on a road to fake marriage but also to real love…

I liked this story. After I got over my disappointment of not enough cowboys, of course. I don’t know what the early west was like, not really, but I’d like to think this author’s take on it is close. Despite the harsh realities of their time, men and women still found each other in all the crazy ways that can happen. If I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped, I was invested and happy as anyone they found their happily ever after…

Lily Salt is a widow with four children. She has no plans to ever marry or even really live beyond her simple life doing piecework for the town’s seamstress until railroad engineer Rosen comes along. ARC from NetGalley.

After a disastrous, abusive marriage, Lily Salt is content to raise her four children alone. When railroad engineer Roen Shepard arrives in her town of Frost Falls, she is as cold to him as she has been to previous men who saw opportunity in a widow. However, when Roen suggests a mock engagement to help him avoid a crazy ex, Lily raises the stakes by suggesting a marriage, and their close proximity slowly leads to a Frost Falls thaw.

Roen (a name that rings modern to me) is a nice guy who, as a railroad engineer, is the black sheep in his family of eccentric and temperamental artists. I enjoyed the parts of the book which talked about his work and thought the author effectively blended the history with narration, avoiding sounding like a Wikipedia article. Roen strikes a supportive balance between patience and pushing as he deals with Lily’s survivor’s trauma. For her part, Lily is effectively characterized as withdrawn and icy in the first part of the book. Her speech, her body language, and even her parenting vividly create a person keeping others at bay. However, this sets up the book’s first huge problem: I never really understood why Lily, who is not even comfortable with Roen sitting in her drawing room, suggested that they marry. There’s a nod to opportunist suitors, but we never see any, and financially, Lily and her family seem just fine. It feels, therefore, contrived.

Lily’s parenting was a highlight for me. She feels authentic as a 1900-era mother, praising sparingly and having high expectations for chores and manners, ands her kids come across as true to their ages. Their reactions to their mother’s trauma are well developed, but it would have been more credible if they had personal scarring from their violent home life, not just excessive protectiveness of Lily.

I was uncomfortable with the depiction of the Chinese-American supporting character Fedora Chen. Fedora comes across as a human McGuffin, an object advancing the plot. Her first purpose is to allow white characters to virtue signal: the hotel owner takes it “personally” when people commit racist “slights” against Fedora (Fedora’s own feelings are never mentioned; the only time she becomes emotional is in defense of the white children she is babysitting). Her second purpose is to be the object of affection for two men, one a stalker and one a love interest, but you’d be hard pressed to tell which is which by their behavior. Both idolize her grace and symmetrical beauty (stereotype much?), show up at her workplace uninvited, and insert themselves into her daily routine despite a lack of encouragement. Fedora’s testimony could disprove a statement by a suspect in the climax; nobody asks her. There is an English word she doesn’t know even though she’s Californian. It’s just… not good.

The prose is always technically precise and historical details come through – it’s easy to picture the boardwalks of the town, or Lily sewing in her rocking chair, or the chili and cornbread supper prepared at Lily’s house. I also appreciated that the book existed within the same universe as previous stories without reading like a monotonous epilogue of bliss for prior protagonists. The sheriff and his doctor bride (or the doctor and her sheriff!) are a highlight as believable characters who turn up for reasons other than to appear nauseatingly in love.

The first half of A Touch of Forever has a cozy, slice-of-life feel, and nearly everything I liked in this review relates to the excellent execution of that homey section. When the second brings in insane criminals and doubles down on the problematic depictions of race, the book feels disjointed, and my grade began to dive. On the whole, there’s stuff to like here, but instead of Western suspense, I wish it had just been a Western.

A TOUCH OF FOREVER is the best meet-cute I’ve read. It’s easy to root for this couple because they’re adorable, and their flirting made me smile.

Roen Shepard’s family encouraged artistic talent, but his yearning is numbers. That talent earned him an engineer surveyor position with Northeast Rail. His calculations and negotiations pave the way for the railroad’s expansion. That’s what brings him to Frost Falls.

Widow Lily Salt and her four children do what they can to make ends meet. Lily sews, and her oldest son Clay is an “odd jobber.” Together, they mind the three younger children. These children really add to the story with their quirky antics and conversations.

From the very beginning, I was enchanted by Lily and Roen. I don’t remember ever reading a romance about a widow with four children as the heroine. This was a pleasant surprise, especially that a man would even consider her. Roen is smitten with Lily from first sight, and I loved that he didn’t fear an instant family, but welcomed it. I really enjoyed Lily’s son Clay’s interactions with Roen. They’re both ornery characters with fun-loving hearts.

Lily is peculiar, quiet, and not one to give an inch in relationships. Her past makes her fearful of people in general, but she can’t resist Roen. His wit and persistence tear down Lily’s walls. By the end, we realize what makes Lily so standoffish and stubborn, but while she’s pushing Roen away, it’s hard to fathom why.

Roen is not without insecurities, even though he hides them well. Lily is a great companion whose attributes are exactly what Roen wants in a wife. Getting them to the altar is convenient, but will they fall madly in love?

Roen is good friends with Ben, the sheriff and hero from book two, A TOUCH OF FLAME. Ben and his doctor wife, Ridley, play an active role in this story. This book easily stands on its own, but I like this couple so much that I can’t wait to read their story. The repartee between Ben and Roen is comical, proving they don’t take life too seriously.

Lily and Roen are adorable together. Their dialogue and instincts toward one another are very enjoyable to witness. They made me laugh because they’re so darn cute.

Part of the storyline involves fighting racism toward a young Chinese woman who works at Ben’s mom’s hotel restaurant. She’s pivotal to the plot but also has a charming romance brewing.

Author Jo Goodman is very good at illustrating with her words. I love her details, the way she describes the slightest movement and expression that tells a story as much as the dialogue. This detail can seem like it slows the story down, but I never rush through it or skip it. I love the nuance it gives the story, making it come alive visually. Goodman is a master at using simple dialogue, short and sweet, sometimes with barbs, to engage the reader in her characters’ personalities. I love that.

Although a lot is happening in this book, you still get to stroll through the town with the characters and get a feel for what it was like to live in the West in 1901. I related to the characters, and they kept me entertained. There is some suspense mixed in with a very macabre villain. I don’t remember his fate getting tied up completely, so I wonder if he’ll influence a sequel? That guy is creepy and I’d love to know he got his due.

A TOUCH OF FOREVER is unique in many ways, including the last chapter. I love Goodman’s style, and I can’t wait to dig into my ever-growing pile of her backlist. Don’t miss reading A TOUCH OF FROST, the first book in THE COWBOYS OF COLORADO series, my recommended read at Romance Junkies.

4.5 Stars

Roen Shepard has come to Frost Falls, Colorado, as a consultant for a railroad company, with the task of assessing the area and evaluating possible future routes. Eventually Roen encounters a young man, Clay Salt, and decides to hire him as a part time assistant, if his mother grants permission. Lily Salt has been a widow for two years, and is very happy to keep it that way. She has no objection to her son working for Roen, but she rebuffs his friendly overtures with cool politeness, making sure to always keep a distance between them.

Roen observes that Lily appears to be respected and liked in town, but she seems determined to remain aloof to everyone, not just Roen. While Roen’s forthrightness and transparency about his job, as well as his pleasing personality have caused him to be accepted and well liked in the town, he makes no headway with Lily. It doesn’t take long for Roen to figure out that Lily’s deceased husband is not mourned at all, and must surely have been abusive. This would certainly account for her skittishness and standoffishness.

It’s becoming very important to Roen that he earn Lily’s trust, as he’s beginning to envision a future with the lovely widow. He slowly chips away at some of the walls around Lily, and then offers a marriage of convenience, the only possible relationship she’d accept. Surprisingly, Lily does agree, and they’re quietly married, with Lily’s children hoping that Roen is the man who can heal their mother, and Roen hoping that his marriage becomes genuine.

No sooner are Roen and Lily married, but an unwanted ghost from Roen’s past comes back into his life. Victorine, his former lover, has tracked him down, bringing some shocking news, and claiming that his loyalty belongs to her. How will this bombshell affect the new marriage and the fledgling kernel of trust that Lily has started to feel? It’s not long before deceit, prejudice, secrets, and even murder come to the forefront in Frost Falls, shaking up the normally peaceful town.

A TOUCH OF FOREVER has a sweet and slow building romance between an honorable man, one who won’t allow himself to be used as a pawn, and a badly wounded woman, one who regains her spirit, and learns to let go of the past and forgive. I truly love both of these characters, and especially Roen for his determination, patience, and kindness. His relationship with Lily’s children is wonderful, and there are many memorable secondary characters adding plenty of interest to the story. This is Book 3 of the series COWBOYS OF COLORADO, but it can easily be read as a standalone. A TOUCH OF FOREVER is a warm and satisfying read, and will appeal to readers who enjoy not just a second chance at love, but for Lily, a second chance at life.

Lily Salt has been through a lot, but finally has settled into a comfortable, contented life as a widower and mother of four children. Her careful attempts to keep people at arm’s length goes by the wayside when Roan Shepherd, a railroad engineer, new to Frost Falls takes notice of her. She tries to rebuff his interest, but Roan he’s persistent and as a further complication he hires her son Clay as an assistant.

My heart went out to Lily in the previous book, and so I was so pleased that she’s doing so well for her and her children here. I liked that she was an independent woman and didn’t need a man to make her happy, but the addition of Roan was like icing on a cake. The gradual way their friendship forms was a delight to experience! The careful way Roan treated their burgeoning romance made me fall hard for Roan! The kids were very much a part of the story, each so sweet, and it was touching how protective they were of their mother. These kids needed careful handling as they were affected by the abuse of their mother, as well. I loved how Roan interacted with them, never overbearing, but a father figure there to support and love them.

There’s a bit of suspense here too, as with the previous installments, with Roan’s past mistress in the mix. A selfish sociopath if there ever was one, with her shady detective in tow.

An interesting mix of side characters/stories grabbed my attention. Fedora Chen, an American Chinese woman and the obstacles she faces in this time period, with a nice little romance brewing there, too! I’m wondering if the next installment, if there is one, might feature Fedora? I also enjoyed the Old West setting: the historical aspects of the railway expansion, and life in the 1800’s. Always interesting to imagine how it would be to live back then without all the modern conveniences we have now, and with the differences in attitude towards women and minorities.

I’ve loved the two previous installments, but A Touch of Forever is my favorite to date! The quiet, but intense emotions between these two sucked me in to this lovely story! It is a slow burn romance, but wow it heated up! As a side note, it’s not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this one. In fact, each book can easily be read as a standalone.

This is my first book by Jo Goodman and while I don’t read cowboy romances often, the blurb and cover of this one intrigued me. While this third book in the Cowboys of Colorado series doesn’t focus on a cowboy, per se, it is set in early 1900’s Colorado (and I didn’t have any problems with following along).

Roen is an engineer/mathematician working to expand the railway, which takes him to Frost Falls. There he meets a precocious boy whose mother is a widow with 4 kids (by the way, I can’t even imagine being a single mother in those days). Lily and her children have had a traumatic life, so everyone in town is concerned about the ‘stranger’ who is spending time with them.

There is a lot going on in this lengthy story and the first part of the book is beefy with tons of details: character details, scenery details, mechanical details… a lot of details. Some slowed the story down, but by the middle things start picking up speed.

Having said all of that, I enjoyed Roen and Lily’s story. It’s slow-burning, has cute kids, and feels like a modern small-town romance with all of the gossips and busy-bodies, and has a surprise stalker. There is quite a journey that takes place for all of the characters, but it was one that I appreciated for the compassion and care that was taken with it. Now that I’ve read the third book, I am curious about the others in the series and will be checking them out soon!

This book does take a little while to build up a head of steam but I appreciate the time spent shading in the characters and how their feelings are shown to me through little touches. Past characters remain true to earlier books. My main issue is that the subplot with Victorine Headley dragged and there are unsettling aspects of it. Lily needs and is given time to work through her lingering emotions and fears. It’s only when she is ready that things move forward. There is humor and suspense as well as a slow boil romance and I enjoyed the wrap up (?) of the series. B

A Touch of Forever by Jo Goodman takes us back to Frost Falls and revisits some of the characters from the previous books in the series (although it can be read without reading the rest, as well).

I wasn't sure how this book would go, as when we met Lily Salt (at the end of A Touch of Flame), she'd been subject to years of abuse and was so beaten down in spirit that you'd think she was broken. In this book, she's a recent widow and understandably wary of men after the way her husband had treated her and the children during their marriage. Our hero, Roen Shepard, is new in town and he crosses path with Lily after her son, Clay, takes a liking to him.

I like that this is a slow burn of a romance. It doesn't just gloss over the years of pain that Lily and her four children suffered. Goodman shows how the abuse affected all of them in a way that's understandable and compassionate. The fear doesn't miraculously disappear because the two characters fall in love.

Add in a plotting former fiancee, matchmaking children, and two lonely souls who find friendship--and then more--in each other, and you have a sweet romance. Overall, I think this is my favorite of the Cowboys of Colorado books, and I can't wait to see what's next from Jo Goodman.

This review is part of a non-exclusive excerpt post.

The story was nothing like I expected from the blurb but became so much more as it developed. Written back when the railroad was blazing trails across the country a single mother, leery of men meets a railroad surveyor-construction engineer. Slow building with lots of chemistry. A Touch of Forever provides a great, heartfelt romance, family, friendship, betrayal and even a murder mystery.

I received this ARC copy of A Touch of Forever from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. A Touch of Forever is set for publication June 4, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Jo Goodman
Series: The Cowboys of Colorado (Book 3)
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Berkley (June 4, 2019)
ISBN-10: 0440000645
ISBN-13: 978-0440000648

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Touch-Forever-...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-to...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-tou...
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Jo Goodman returns us to Frost Falls, Colorado with another instalment in her Cowboys of Colorado series, A Touch of Forever.

New York native Roen Shepard is an artistic journeyman jack-of-all-trades and the introverted black sheep in his high-society family.  He is currently employed as an engineering surveyor for the Northeast Rail Company and the NRC is planning on putting a track directly through Frost Falls, which is why Roen is going to be stuck in Colorado for the next six weeks.

The last thing Lily Salt wants to do is give the NRC an inch – or Roen her time. A widowed mother of four bright, active children ranging in age from five to twelve, Lily’s been taking care of her brood independently ever since her physically, emotionally and sexually abusive alcoholic husband passed on in a fire. Her goal is survival, and boosting her flock to brighter futures. She knows exactly what a man like Roen is about, and no matter how much of a shine Lizzie, Hannah, Clay and Hamilton take to him she isn’t about to change her mind about his interloping ways.

But Lily and Roen are constantly placed into each other’s orbits.  First Clay wants to become an odd jobber for the NRC and Roen takes him on as an assistant, which requires Lily and Roen to become friendly. Then someone tries to shoot him while he’s on the job with Clay, possibly a result of anti-railroad ranchers who don’t want the railroad to encroach on their land.  And lastly, Roen receives a telegram which leads him to believe that his someone from his complicated past is returning to finish the job she started years ago.

Victorine Headley is an ex-paramour of Roen’s; and jealous, snobby and unable to accept their break-up, she shot him in the thigh – which wasn’t what she’d been aiming for.  Roen’s solution to the problem is simple – since he believes Victorine is coming to Colorado to propose marriage to him, he and Lily should enter into a marriage of convenience to forestall her.  In return, Roan agrees to tutor Lily in mathematics – something she believes will help her to get on in life - and Lily goes through with it, still hiding some big secrets about the trauma she’s experienced.

As Victorine approaches Frost Falls, Lily and Roen’s marriage slowly becomes less than platonic.  But Victorine has a percolating surprise for the newly-weds, and it doesn’t involve a Derringer. Teaming with a rumored corporate spy looking to take down the NRC, Victorine has intentions that are far from pure for the both of them.

Sadly A Touch of Forever falls below the high watermark of Goodman’s usual creative threshold.  While it’s not a bad romance, it relies on tropes and clichés that are well-worn and don’t allow the author to show off her usual sense of originality.

Roen and Lily are another of Goodman’s taciturn man/strong woman combos. I liked Lily a lot; her determination to plunge on and be a good mother and live freely and with joy was understandable and made me care.  The PTSD from the abuse she had suffered was well-researched, and her tendency to self-harm was also portrayed with sensitivity. I loved that the town in general adored her and tried to protect her.

Roen is a good man, sturdy and true buy annoyingly avoidant, a little more bland and less compelling than the usual Goodman hero.  I love how well he embraced step-fatherhood and life as a husband, and his determination to help Lily.

Their romance was pleasant, but had a low-boil sort of chemistry. I love how devoted they eventually became to each other, the banter between them turning into affinity and love. From about the second quarter of the book onward, they worked for me and worked together quite well as a team.

The true heroes of the narrative are a real surprise; Lily’s kids.  From earnest Clay to playful Lizzie to serious Hannah and outgoing Ham, they were all delightful in their own ways.

But A Touch of Forever has two big problems.  The first is its plot. Roen knows how dangerous Victorine is – she tried to shoot him in the dick, after all – so involving Lily and her family, people he’s becoming more and more fond of by the day, in his problems felt like an odd choice to me.  He’s exposing this vulnerable widow to a selfish and somewhat psychotic woman who tried to injure him.  This isn’t a smart or healthy move and feels like a plot point engineered simply to get Lily and Roen into their marriage of convenience.

For large chunks of the narrative, we’re stuck with Victorine, Goodman’s least-subtle and perhaps worst villain ever.  Victorine is a racist on top of being a liar, with no interesting angles or depth at all – one can see the plot twist about her little ‘surprise’ coming from feet away.  Her accomplice was much more interesting and creepy, and I wish he’d been the volume’s solo villain.

Aside from the abuse and self-harm that Lily suffered, Goodman addresses racial harassment against Chinese immigrants in the form of Fedora Chen, who deals with town-wide prejudice and moves from working at the local hotel to becoming entangled with the Shepards. This is handled decently enough, and at least the action is centered on Fedora and how she feels about, fears and battles against the attitudes that surround her.  Unsurprisingly, this ties into the railroad development side of the plot, but while it condemns the behavior of railroad tycoons and the racism exhibited towards their largely Chinese workforce, it doesn’t  go far enough in deconstructing the job that Roen takes pride in.

A Touch of Forever isn’t Goodman at her best, but still provides the reader with an interesting western romance, and a rare peak into Colorado life in the 1900s. It’s worth a read, though it isn’t a keeper.

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Review to be posted June 3 at The Good, the Bad and the Unread


Sandy M’s review of A Touch of Forever (Cowboys of Colorado, Book 3) by Jo Goodman
Historical Romance published by Berkley 4 Jun 19

Every time I think Jo Goodman has written my favorite characters ever, the next book always shows me how wrong I am. We met Lily in an earlier book, know all about her nearly unbearable life, and now we pick up to see how she’s doing after the horrible event that has left her and her children free at last. Thank goodness Roen doesn’t back down each time he intersects with Lily and the kids.


Lily keeps to herself in town since her husband’s death. Church and work are her routines now and again. Roen is in Frost Falls on behalf of the railroad, and is fascinated with Lily and the kids when he observes them in church. He knows there’s a story that goes with this family, but it’s a good thing he’s a patient man. I like his not-so-subtle attempts to put himself in Lily’s sphere of influence, even going so far as to manipulate a fizzy drink for Lily’s youngest to stretch their chance meeting out a bit. Roen also employs Lily’s son Clay to assist in the rounds he’ll make around the countryside to determine the best direction for new railroad tracks.

It’s after a few of these meetings and getting to know Lily a tad better that Roen works out a proposal for her, all to keep his past from rearing its ugly head again. So they end up in a marriage of convenience, after some negotiating on Lily’s part of course, and all involved have a new normal to get used to. I so love how Roen takes to Lily’s kids just as much as he takes to her. He comes from a family of renowned artists, of which he is lovingly called the black sheep with no artistic ability, so it’s easy to see what kind of parent he will be to the children. And he has no problem at all being a husband when Lily finally decides that step needs to be taken.

Roen’s patience comes in handy again when Lily’s secrets need to come out. Keeping her safe is his priority, and she helps keep Roen’s former lover at bay when she begins to wreak havoc all over town. It was good to catch up with previous characters, especially Ben and Ridley. As usual I love the banter between characters, the feeling of being smack dab in the middle of the old West, and the emotion that always results when reading Jo Goodman. Roen and Lily are now my favorites, but I can’t wait to see who will usurp their place when Ms. Goodman’s next book hits the shelves.

Grade: A

A Touch of Forever
Jo Goodman

A Touch of Forever by Jo Goodman is book three in her Cowboys of Colorado series. The author has done a good job of making this a standalone.

Lily Salt is a widow and mother of four. Roen Shepard is an engineering surveyor for Northeast Rail. Roen meets 12 year old Clay Salt and wants to hire him as his assistant, but first he must obtain permission from Clay’s mother, Lily. Roen and Lily form an unlikely friendship and eventually enter into a marriage of convenience. Will Roen be able to convince Lily to turn their agreement into a real marriage?

A Touch of Forever is utterly entertaining. The characters and plot are fully-developed. Humor abounds throughout. This is a definite 5 out of 5 stars, and I eagerly await the next installment in the series.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Jo Goodman is excellent at character development and her writing is clear and readable. I especially enjoyed the children in the Salt family and their commitment to each other and to their mother. However, I did not enjoy the Martin Cabot storyline - too dark for me in a story that was otherwise well-written.

Roen Shepard is a railway surveyor in town who wants to hire Clay Salt, a young boy of 12 who is interested in his work, to serve as his assistant outside of school hours. To do this, he asks the boy's widowed mother, Lily, if it would be permissible. Lily is weary as since her husband's death, other men have tried to get to her through her four children.

A marriage of convenience develops because Roen proposes to Lily to remove himself from the reach of a former lover who is coming to town. Lily recognizes that if she is married, she will no longer be bothered by suitors. They can divorce when it's time for Roen to move on. Lily was badly physically and emotionally abused in her first marriage and it has left scars on her and her children.

Side romance of Fedora Chen and Hitchcock Springer, the sheriff's deputy. Fedora is the only person of colour - or at least the only one of Chinese ancestry- in the town and is alone after her family members died of influenza. She is dealing daily with racism and threats so Hitch makes his move by offering to escort her to and from her work at the hotel restaurant every day. But Hitch isn't the only one watching her...

There is a lot to unpack with Lily's past and it takes their time as they begin to care for each other. There's no dramatic declarations of love here, it's the story of a bond that slowly grows from daily support and affection.

The sideplot of Roen's former lover, Victorine, arriving is more of a nuisance and doesn't really develop the story. It's bizarre how little reaction Roan and Lily have by her announcement so it seems forced.

All in all, a nice marriage of convenience story with a few unnecessary attempts at suspense.

I’ll admit right away that my romance consists of Regency England and sometimes Scottish historical fiction. I also read small town contemporary romance. Also, erotica. Lots and lots. I get derailed by the things I really love and don’t always try new things. So, this book seemed like it would be a cowboy western romance, which it sort of was...but wasn’t. I’ve probably only read a couple books in this genre and this author was new to me. Even though she has written tons of book. I’m glad I took a chance on it. Yes, it takes place in Colorado in the early 1900’s (ish?). The railroad is being built and cowboys do exist. But Roen came from a pretty wealthy family in New York City, so he’s not really a cowboy. He’s a talented artist (not sure if he would be considered a cartographer) in the book he is a railroad engineer and kind of running away from a stalker. He likes the outdoors and working as a freelancer for the railroads suits him just fine.

Lily Salt is a widow who has sworn off men for good reason. She is a survivor and her story comes out throughout the book. When the two meet, there is instant attraction although Lily nor Roan would admit to that. Lily comes with kids and Roen is from out of town. It seems like the odds are stacked against them. Roen (I really like his name...it’s hot) gets a message he decides that a marriage of convenience would be a good answer. It would help him out and it would help Lily out. Things weren’t necessarily easy for single women in her time. This was a very slow-burn romance and normally I don’t wait that long to get to the good stuff….but this story was so good, that I had to keep reading. The kids and the people in the town were so well written that they were captivating in their own right. The nuances of racism towards Chinese Americans was historically accurate and powerfully woven into the story.

I may have fallen in love a little bit with Roen. But it was ok that Lily got him ;) This book is part of a series, but since I read it as a standalone and it was my first Jo Goodman book, it doesn’t have to be read in order. Even though I am a stickler for reading things in order. I guess I made all sort of exceptions by delving into this book. All in all, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone willing to settle into a longer romance book. Oh, and the cover is really sexy. I think the cover models chosen did the characters justice.

Entertaining but no cowboys, per se.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was sad because this was not a cowboy story. At least not in the sense that we are thinking of riding the plains, or rustling cattle.

The story did take me by surprise as I did not realize it was a very long book. On one hand I was frustrated because the beginning included a lot of detail and a very slow build up.

But as we reach the middle of the book, the story starts winding up and we find ourselves in the middle of a marriage of convenience, a mystery pregnancy, and even a murder, the story got a lot more interesting.

Goodman is well known for her American tales of the west and her historical romance novels. This particular story is book three in a series and while I’ve never read any of the others, it was very easy to follow.

Complex characters along with complex and interesting plot scenarios make this a story that is highly entertaining and very memorable. You will definitely need to set aside time to absorb this book but be prepared to enjoy this unique historical western romance with a family saga twist.

And here is a great cowboy book just when you need one! I loved the twist on the traditional story and the interest and character development which only enhanced the story. Who doesn't love a strong female, but stronger male, who figure out the most important things in life together? My patrons will love this title and I can't wait to add it to my collection.

I really enjoyed Lily and Roen's story, and I loved their quaint little western town, and its relatable cast of characters. I even loved Lily's adorable moppets, and I'm usually not a huge fan of kids in my romance novels. Lily's backstory was somewhat unique for the genre and it was told with the right amount of sensitivity. And Roen made for a swoony hero just by virtue of understanding how important it was to take things slowly with her and to let her make her own choices. I appreciated that I was able to follow and enjoy this story despite not having read any other books in the Frost Falls series.