Lawfully Yours

Bounty hunter Ryder Storm likes women little and trusts them even less. Against his better judgment, he accepts the job of tracking down the woman who murdered a Rhode Island businessman. Finding her seems simple enough, but keeping his heart becomes the biggest challenge of his life.

Cheri Henderson is a woman down on her luck, working in the uncultured West, trying her best to properly raise her son without the benefits of a father. Little does she know, however, the crude bounty hunter sent to Tucson to catch a murderer is actually looking for her.

The Cover Models: Eddie Foltz and Teresa Lyons.

Awards: AQP 2003 Reader's Choice Award, RIO Award of Excellence 2003 Finalist (Short Historical)

5 STARS!

Set mostly in the year of 1870, Bounty Hunter Ryder Storm was hired by Adelaine Montgomery to hunt down Cheryl Donovan. Adelaine accused Cheryl of murdering her husband, Charles Montogomery, three months ago.

It took Ryder four months to locate her. Cheryl had changed her name. She went by the name of Cheri Henderson and had a two year old son, Joey. Ironically, she lived with his own good friends, the McGregor Family. After only six months in Tucson, Arizona, all the McGregor's considered Cheri and Joey to be part of the family. They all knew the truth about Cheri being raped years ago and Joey being the result. They were the only ones who knew and did not care. Cheri loved her son, Joey, and so did all the members of the McGregor household.

Cheri worked as a waitress in Charlie's Saloon, but that was ALL she did. The other women took "clients" upstairs for extra pay, but never Cheri. After being harmed by one man, Cheri knew that she would never be able to stand the touch of a man again. "Bas" McGregor escorted her safely home each night, just in case any men tried anything funny to the woman he cared so much about.

All the McGregors knew Ryder was in town on business. They did not know who Ryder was after, but they were glad to see him whenever he was in the area. Ryder and Cheri clashed on first sight. But since they both loved the large family, they were as civil to each other as possible. It was an attraction to each other that caused the clashing. It was that attraction that kept Ryder from just taking Cheri back to face the widow. The more he learned, the more Ryder doubted that Cheri killed Charles Montogomery.

I seldom read a historical romance this good. (The only thing wrong with this story is the cover of the novel. The heroine on the cover does not match the description of Cheri in the book.) Once I began this story, I simply could NOT put it down. So I read the entire story in one sitting. It is THAT wonderful! Now I can only hope that Adelaine's daughter has her story told next. Highly recommended reading! *****

Detra Fitch, HUNTRESS REVIEWS

Against his better judgment, bounty hunter Ryder Storm, is after a woman. Not just any woman either, but a murderer. Ryder is hired by Adelaine Montgomery to find one, Cheryl Donovan, who she believes murdered her husband. Ryder is cynical about women and doesn’t trust them, and his basically simple investigation soon becomes complicated and possibly more than even he can handle. The investigation takes Ryder to Tucson, Arizona where he meets Cheri Henderson; a young, unwed mother who Ryder believes isn’t as innocent as she claims to be. Ryder believes Cheri to be the murderer he is after, but his heart keeps getting in the way of the job.

Cheri Henderson would do anything for her son, Joey, even work in a saloon to put food on their table. Running from a tragic past, Cheri tries to put it all behind her, but it becomes difficult when Rider Storm comes to town seeking a woman suspected of murder. Cheri does her best to ignore the rude, arrogant and bossy bounty hunter, but finds it difficult ignore her body’s response to him when he is near. Cheri knows Ryder is a ‘ladies man’ and fights her body and soon her heart, when it comes to Ryder.

Tensions and sparks fly in Tucson and Ryder and Cheri soon find their lives changed forever. Is Cheri the woman Ryder seeks? Will this honourable lawman get his woman to have and to hold?

Patricia Rasey pens a wonderful historical romance in LAWFULLY YOURS. This tale is fast-paced, consistent, intriguing and sensual. Ryder Storm is a delicious hero who is tough, sexy and a bounty hunter that I would surrender to in a heartbeat! I could rave all day about Ryder Storm and Cheri Henderson, but I do have to say that they are sassy, tough, fun and it’s an adventure riding with them in the Old West. Ms. Rasey brings 1869 to life and shows how tough the West was, how society looked upon unwed mothers and the prejudices that went along with it. In LAWFULLY YOURS, Ms. Rasey shows some tough and independent ladies who work along side their men and who could make it on their own without them. I adored Cheri for her heart, her love for her son and the fierce independence she lives by. Ryder was everything a reader could want in a hero, and then some. LAWFULLY YOURS is an amazing must read with awesome characters, an exciting and never boring story, that needs to be read to believe it and to savour it.

Patricia Rasey writes historical romance with class and style as always. Wonderfully done!

Be sure to watch out for the sequel to Lawfully Yours with ETERNALLY YOURS, to be released in December 2003.

Tracey West, The Road to Romance

Ryder Storm is a bounty hunter hired by Adelaine Montgomery to find her husband’s murderer, a woman named Cheryl Donovan. Her husband, Charles, had been viciously stabbed to death a few months earlier. Ryder doesn’t want to accept the job, but when the price is doubled, he accepts.

Working in a saloon in Tucson, Arizona in 1870 is not Cheryl Henderson’s idea of the best way to make a life for her and her son, but there is little option for work there for women. She refuses to work "upstairs." Taken in by the McGregors’, and treated like one of the family is a godsend for her. It gives her a safe place to leave her son, Joey, during the time she is working. It also gives her protection from the advances of the men frequenting the saloon.

When Alabaster McGregor brings an old friend of his in the saloon for a drink, Cheryl takes an instant dislike to him. He is arrogant, obnoxious, and downright insulting. He is also the most handsome man she’s ever seen. His name also happens to be Ryder Storm.

Ryder is in Tucson to collect Cheryl and take her back to Rhode Island to stand trial for murder. He didn’t expect to be attracted to her. Will Cheryl ever get over her dislike of Ryder, or will her strange attraction to him overcome her objections to him? Will Ryder take her back to stand trial? What if she is found guilty? Will Ryder be able to live with himself if she is?

I found LAWFULLY YOURS to be an exciting, emotional, and stimulating tale. Cheryl and Ryder were thrilling and complex characters, and the secondary characters were added bonuses to the story. Ms. Rasey wove a complex web of love, betrayal, and sexual tension. This is the first book of hers I have read, but I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this one! A keeper for my shelf.

Teresa Henson, Romance Junkies

Forced to work in a tavern to help support her family, an innocent Cheryl Donovan is raped by a drunken co-worker and subsequently thrown into the streets by her father. The tavern owner, Charles Montgomery, takes pity on the pregnant young woman and allows her room and board at the tavern, eventually succumbing to his own depraved sexual urges previously reserved for his other female employees, forcing Cheryl to defend herself. She wounds the man with a stab to the thigh and escapes with her infant son, Joey, heading to the freedom of the wide, open spaces of the western frontier, finding tavern work as a waitress and a home with the MacGregor family in Tucson, Arizona. Some time passes before the local law washes their hands of the incident, but Adelaine Montgomery is determined to hunt down her husband's murderer and calls on the services of Ryder Storm, a well-known bounty hunter. Despite his refusal and apparent disinterest in her blatantly-offered feminine charms, Adelaine convinces the bounty hunter (with an enormous offer of cash) to track down and return the woman murderer to hang for her crime.

Although his rough and frightening appearance make men think twice before stepping in his path, his 'bad boy' looks and attitude make all the saloon "ladies" seek Ryder Storm out as their bed partner whenever the bounty hunter rides into town. Despite his reputation as an outlaw with an itch to "love 'em and leave 'em", the MacGregors allow the gunslinger into their family circle and count him as one of their own. Alabaster MacGregor and Ryder Storm meet at "Charlie's", the local saloon, where the MacGregor's new tenant, Cheri, is working. A warning: take cover as the sparks start to fly! Ryder has learned as a young boy that women are good for one thing, and one thing only, his heart turned to stone by his own mother. Cheri has learned that men are not to be trusted and doubts that she'll ever be able to allow a man to touch her again. Mistaking Cheri for one of the tavern whores, Ryder learns the hard way not to make snap judgements! This little woman is used to the crude remarks of men, drunken and otherwise, and is not the least bit afraid of setting a giant of a man on his ear! Not afraid, that is, until her heart starts to soften toward him...

LAWFULLY YOURS hooks the reader from the first few sentences and engages the emotions as you find yourself caught up in the battle raging between Ryder and Cheri. A man and a woman who feel the undeniable pull of sexual attraction, yet each fighting their own demons from upbringings and past-tragedies that were far from ideal, it's apparent they want and need each other, yet they keep pushing each other away. Just when you think 'happily ever after' is in the cards for this pair, Rasey knocks you for a loop and you find yourself dusting off your dashed hopes and hurrying to get back in the saddle so you don't miss what's around the next corner! This is a fast-paced and exciting read with snappy dialog and fabulous characters so intense and real, you'll wonder if you don't know them from your own life. Delicious sexual tension as we watch the age-old 'battle of the sexes'. Total frustration to see if love can, in fact, conquer the law...and does it need to? With a murder mystery to add to the excitement, this historical romance is difficult to put down and hard to forget once you've reached the end. Rasey grabs your heart as well as your mind with this finely crafted novel, destined for the bestsellers' lists.

Review by Ingrid Taylor - Small Press Reviews

Rasey has her characterization outline down to a science. Her characters literally leap off the page. In this case, Ryder is portrayed as a tough man not to be messed with. But right off the top, a scene immediately shows a piece of the man hidden from society. He has a soft spot that he tries to hide. And succeeds. Until he meets Cheri. The adults are down home characters with personalities and feelings to match. Joey, on the other hand, is simply a small adult trapped in a two-year-old body. His dialogue rings true but this kid seems to be a perfect angel all of the time. Anyone with children knows this simply is not true. Unless looking for it, most readers will not notice for Joey makes cameo appearances and then rests until he is needed again.

This certainly is the Old West at its meanest. Rasey does it with style.

–Brenda Ramsbacher, book reviewer, RIO Member

Patricia A. Rasey has shown a great talent for telling a tale. This is a romantic western that all lovers of the genre will de delighted to read.

Review by Warren Thurston - Boggle Books

LAWFULLY YOURS is Patricia's newest historical romance and it more than meets any expectations you would have for such an award winning author...LAWFULLY YOURS is filled with passion and misconceptions as Cheri tries to overcome her fears of abandonment and Ryder learns to trust the woman he loves. Patricia A. Rasey has definitely written one for your keeper shelf with LAWFULLY YOURS.

Breane Ross, Roundtable Reviews

5 Hearts!

I loved it! I think the story is well written and Mrs. Rasey brought all the characters to life. This is a simple love story that doesn't need an over abundance of sex to keep the reader interested. A true western romance that explores societies views and doesn't show a woman as being weak and totally dependent on a man. If I could give this book more than five hearts I would.

Angel, The Romance Studio

LAWFULLY YOURS is a wonderful book, and is one that anyone who loves historical romances should read. It took me on a journey of true love, a love that both Ryder and Cheri resist at first, then fight to keep. I cannot wait to read more from Ms. Rasey.

Ronda Schoville, Romance Reviews Today