Reviewer: Tracy Holding Out for a Hero by Ana Leigh
Series: The Frasers #5
Publication Date: May 26, 2009
Genres: Westerns
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Rico Fraser would love to return to the Fraser clan’s California home, find a good woman, and start a family of his own. But first he must deal out some frontier justice to Ben Slatter, who brutally murdered Rico’s mother three years earlier. So when Slatter and his gang abduct a young ranch heiress, Rico seizes his chance to bring his adversary in–dead or alive.
Breathtakingly lovely Jenny Burke was born into privilege, and sentenced to a life devoid of excitement . . . until she is kidnapped. When Rico Fraser courageously saves her from Slatter, Jenny is indebted to the tough, rugged hero–but also very curious about the arrogant bounty hunter with revenge in his eyes. And as her innocent awareness grows into passion, she realizes Rico Fraser has changed her life forever. But can a man determined to fulfill a brutal vow at all costs find room in his heart for love?
Rico Fraser has been away from home for a darned long time. He made a vow over his mother’s grave that he would find and kill the man that murdered her. He would like to go back to his family home, get married and start a family but has absolutely no interest in doing that until he has fulfilled his vow.
When he is sent after Jenny and Andrea Burke he doesn’t expect to find them alive. When he does find them they are a little worse for wear but basically unharmed. Unfortunate events cause the trio, plus a military man, to spend a couple of days in the wilderness. Jenny and Rico, for all of their arguing, find that not only are they attracted to each other physically but they start really liking one another.
Jenny Burke was raised by her father and her Aunt Andrea. Receiving no love and nothing but harsh words from her father Andrea is her only friend. While Rico finds Jenny pampered she knows that it’s because Andrea has cushioned her from life’s hardships. Rico and Jenny find themselves drawn to each other, despite their differences, and unable to stop themselves from taking their relationship to the next level.
This book for me was a slow start. Not that the action in the book didn’t start right away but for the most part I just couldn’t get into the characters or the dialogue. It felt a little abrupt…not mechanical…it seemed that the characters would go from completely indignant to grinning in the blink of an eye and I wasn’t seeing the transitions as easy ones. I really couldn’t get the emotional feel for the book until about half way through. Jenny and Rico are good together and I thought they fit as a couple quite nicely. Jenny was quite intelligent as was Rico and they played off of each others personalities well.
Jenny’s father was a piece of work to say the least. He blamed Jenny for her birth and was just horrible to her. He does come around in the end but by that time I don’t know that I found it believable. Too much water under the bridge I think in this case.
The villain plot of the story was strong in the beginning but tapered off until right at the end. I kept expecting there to be more to it but the author concentrated on the h/h relationship.
Overall it as an ok read for me. I haven’t read the previous books in this series but after reading this one, and hearing about what went on in past books, I don’t feel the need to read them. It was a good stand alone novel that is part of a series.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars