Callie's Convict [Mass Market Paperback]

Wade Mason is nearly unrecognizable as he lies wasting away in the filthy stall called a cell in the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, accused of murder. Lily White, a well-known prostitute from Purgatory knows Wade isn't guilty, and she's going to make him an offer he can't refuse. Now, Wade hasn't seen a woman in longer than he cares to remember, so when Lily begins kissing and touching, the beast inside him is ready to rule. Believing she has him where she wants him, Lily tells Wade she witnessed the murder and can free him - if he will marry her. When Wade refuses, all the `sweetness' leaves with her. As far as Lily is concerned, he can rot right where he sits. Wade has other ideas, and determined to prove his innocence he breaks out of prison and heads for Purgatory.

Nathan Quinn is a dreamer who went to California and the gold mines to strike it rich, leaving his baby sister to take care of the farm. In addition to all of this, and unknown to Nathan, Callie couldn't refuse her dying friend Lily's plea to take her new baby, and she now has him to care for, too. With Matthew finally asleep and her chores all done, a weary, bedraggled Callie relaxes in a steamy bubble filled copper tub. Hearing a noise and believing she needs to quiet Matthew, she jumps up to reach for her robe beside her, but it isn't there ... neither is her shift that was beside it, nor the towel she left within her reach. As she wonders what in the world is going on, a deep voice speaks behind her, and with a squeak she drops back into the tub.

The filthy unkempt man standing three feet away in shackles sends shivers up her back. Callie fears for Matthew and begins to make plans to get her gun. Trying not to show her fear, she asks the stranger his name and a memory surfaces when he says Wade Mason. He was one of Nathan's friends, and her brother believes he's innocent. However, when Wade asks for his boy, Callie isn't sure she agrees with Nathan's verdict. No one is going to take Matthew away, father or not. And ... the battle of wills begins.

Heidi Betts continues her series of stories taking place in Purgatory, Texas. CALLIE'S CONVICT has similarities, yet differs from the first title in the series (WALKER'S WIDOW). While this story has humor, its main focus is on the relationship between Callie and Wade. In fact, most of the story is told right in the little farmhouse. Ms. Betts again presents a handsome, strong hero and an independent, feisty heroine. Callie is more than enough to keep up with the handsome Wade. She's beautiful and smart, and has a lot of ideas she's going to follow through on --- whether Wade likes it or not. You'll begin to wonder exactly who the hostage is. Former Texas Ranger, now the town sheriff, Clay Walker revisits to play a minor role to take care of the villains who surface.

CALLIE'S CONVICT contains a lot of sexual tension and often steams up as much as Callie's tub - which by the way has its own tantalizing story to tell. (Grinning here) Purgatory, Texas - a boiling, humid, Southern town - and the setting for another steamy story from Heidi Betts. I've enjoyed her first two in the series and look forward to reading the next one. CALLIE'S CONVICT is a romantic Western tale of one convict's story of redemption that also shares a message of just how incredible it is to find someone who trusts and believes in you. It's a read to leave you feeling great as you see good overcome evil, and it's one I recommend for some hours of fun.

Carol Carter, (As written for Romance Reviews Today)

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Wade Mason is in prison for a crime he did not commit. There is one witness to the real crime, Lily White, one of the local prostitutes, and she holds his freedom in the palm of her hand. But she is only willing to secure his freedom for a price, and when Wade refuses her offer, she leaves him there without a backward glance, but not before winding up pregnant. Wade swears he will prove his innocence, and later breaks out of prison.

Callie Quinn is a lone woman living on the outskirts of Purgatory, Texas. Her brother, Nathan, has gone off to California in the hopes of making his fortune in the gold mines. Her friend, Lily gave birth to a son, Matthew, and just before she died, entrusted him into Callie's care. Callie loves Matthew as her own and would do anything to protect the baby from harm. One night, as she is enjoying a brief respite in her bath from the baby's demands, she is startled to see the unkempt and frightening, in shackles no less, man standing in her cabin. Her first thought is to protect Matthew at any cost, even when the man reveals himself to be the father of that child.

Wade's plan had been to come to his friend Nathan Quinn for help in clearing his name, and to claim his baby. His plans take a side trip when he comes across Callie in her bath. Though his ultimate goals have not changed, his method of achieving them has. Callie is unsure of whether or not Wade is innocent of his alleged crime but one thing she is sure of is that no one is going to take Matthew away from her, even his very own father!

Wade and Callie form an unlikely alliance in the hopes of proving Wade's innocence, with one common goal, to do what is best for little Matthew. Unfortunately their views on that differ. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize Wade's salvation, and Callie's desires to protect herself and the baby, lie in each other. The only way to reach their seemingly unattainable goals is in freeing Wade of the stigma as murderer following him.

Ms. Betts has proven her growing talent for writing passionate tales of life and love in the Old West. Her characters are skillfully rendered, taking on a life and vigor all their own. Richly detailed, this story is one that is sure to delight old fans, and bring in new ones as well. Each successive book in this series, also adds a little more background on the town of Purgatory, making this world all the more believable.

Callie and Wade are a match made in heaven, or in this case, Purgatory. Callie has strength of her own, built from laboring to take care of a homestead and a baby, all by herself. Wade is a man of pride, stung by the life he has been forced into the past few years, bound to proving his innocence and his honor. Sparks and tempers fly from the moment these two meet, as they argue over what is best for Matthew. One thing is never in doubt throughout the story, and that is that both of them have what is best for the child they both love.

If a reader wants fascinating tales of life in the Old West, Ms. Betts books are the ones to read!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2003. All rights reserved.

Wade Mason had been imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. Brady Young had shot his own father in the back, blamed it on Wade, and took over Wade's land in a search for gold. While in prison Lily, from a bordello, had visited. Lily later died, but not before Wade found out that they had created a son...

***** This book drew me into story on the first page. I read the entire book within one day. It is THAT good! The author made the feelings of both main characters clear when it came to the baby. I could actually FEEL the pain of each when they thought about losing custody of the baby to the other. Heidi Betts's writing talent burns as brightly as the sun! Highly recommended! *****