Casee‘s review of The Reward (Malloy Family, Book 3) by Beth Williamson.
Hermano is not just the bandito you met in The Bounty. He’s Malcolm Ross y Zarza half-Spanish, half-Scottish bastard son of a Texas hacienda owner who has hidden in the guise of a Mexican bandito for half his life. Malcolm left home at 18 fueled by rage at his half-brother Damasco and the treatment he received at the hands of Damasco’s mother, Isabella.
He returns at age 35 to find his mother, the Scottish cook that fell under the spell of Don Alejandro Zarza. When Malcolm returns to Texas, he finds his childhood friend, Leigh Wynne, a widow and owner of the neighboring ranch. Unable to believe his gut-wrenching attraction to the girl he thought of as a little sister, he tries to fight his own instincts to make her his woman.
Inevitably, he fails in his struggle, because together they set their world on fire. They forge a bond to find out the truth behind his dying father, his vicious half-brother, the murderous Isabella, and the passionate grab for the land held weakly by a man past his prime. Bullets will fly, and Malcolm and Leigh must stand and fight, for their lives and their future.
Hermano was first introduced in The Bounty. He actually strung Tyler up and semi-tortured him to keep him from finding Nicky. So the relationship between Tyler and Hermano has always been somewhat strained.
After Hermano helped rescue Jack and Rebecca, he decided that it was time to head home to Texas. Hermano left Texas after he was almost beaten to death by his half-brother. Deciding it’s high time to return, he sheds his Hermano persona and goes back home as himself. Malcolm Ross y Zarza has a score to settle and it’s high time that he finishes it.
When he returns and find his childhood friend, Leigh, in trouble, Malcolm is determined to help her and keep her safe at the same time. He is furious when he realizes how close Leigh has come to not only losing her ranch, but losing her life. After talking to his half brother, Damasco, Malcolm thinks that there’s more going on than just sabotage for the sabotage.
Leigh has worked her butt off to keep the ranch prosperous. After her husband unexpectedly dies and leaves it to her, Leigh is stunned. When Malcolm shows up after fifteen years, Leigh is both elated and angry. Elated b/c Malcolm is home. He’s no longer the boy she knew. He’s now a man that she is even more helpless to resist. And angry b/c she had thought he was dead.
This book really had it all. It had some mystery, tons of romance, and intrigue. I was really happy when Malcolm made peace with his father. The story of his childhood was very sad. Also, his stepmother (though she would never claim him as her stepson) is one crazy bitch. Like uber crazy.
4 out of 5.
This book is available from Samhain. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Other books in the series:
I’ve always enjoyed Beth’s writing and this sounds great!