Let Me Love You [Paperback]

4.5 blue ribbons

Life in the West isn't easy for a woman alone and nobody knows that better than Brianna Spencer. Her father hasn't returned from spring hunting and everyone assumes that he's dead-everyone except Brianna. She isn't about to give up on him. She concentrates on taking care of mill business and preparing for the winter months. Both involve long hard hours but she's up to the challenge.

Sloan McAlister makes his living as a railroad agent. He's deadly serious and imposing but Brianna isn't afraid of him. When he rescues her from the tedious advances of Joseph Corners he discovers that she has more spunk than he ever dreamed she could have, but she's a `lady' and he doesn't need or want the kind of trouble getting involved with her would bring.

In her father's absence Brianna is responsible for keeping the mill running and making sure the bank note is paid. There's just one little problem with that - some of the accounts haven't been paid. Because of that, she's forced to visit the docks to confront the dock master about his overdue account. That's where Joseph corners her and tries to talk her into marrying him. His slovenly lazy manner disgusts Brianna and he's only gotten more persistent over time. With her father missing, he's not just interested in her as a woman, he wants to get his hands on the mill.

Fortunately for Brianna, Sloan witnesses the exchange and forces Joseph to let go of her. Joseph isn't happy about being bested but his cowardice and the rifle Sloan levels at him convince him to leave her alone - for now. Joseph isn't alone in his opinion that Brianna should marry so that she'd have a man around to run things, but she isn't about to marry just so she can warm some man's bed and let him run her father's mill into the ground. She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself and the mill by herself.

Brianna can't help but notice that Sloan doesn't have any of the traits she finds lacking or abhorrent in Joseph's personality and appearance. Of course that doesn't change the fact that he's a railroad agent and they're often moved from place to place so it'd be stupid to pin any hopes on him. That doesn't stop her from experiencing the first pangs of desire - especially after he steals a kiss. Sloan has no doubt that Brianna is a lady through and through but what he doesn't expect is for her sexual desires to match his.

Joseph isn't about to give up on obtaining Brianna for himself and Sloan feels that she belongs to him. What will happen when Joseph tries `jumping his claim?'

Mary Wine's LET ME LOVE YOU is one captivating humdinger of a historical romance. Right away you're presented with the question of whether or not Brianna's father is dead and if so how is she going to handle all her `womanly duties' as well as all the work at the mill. As disgusted as I was by Joseph I have to admit I was eager to find out what sort of scheme he'd come up with to try to force Brianna to his will. He's just a weasily slimeball of a character who you'll love to hate. Brianna and Sloan compliment each other beautifully - they're both strong, determined and willing to work for what they want. I really loved getting to know all the characters in this story and am hopeful that there will be follow up stories for Warren and Jed. They're also railroad agents and Sloan considers them family.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

The Old West is a dangerous time and place to be female and alone, and not only is Brianna Spencer attempting it, she's succeeding. All she needs now is the money owed to her, and she will have made it-through one year, at least. That's why Sloan McAlister finds her on the docks, trying to collect on a debt owed to her. He rescues her from the lecherous advances of the town loser and right away, her spunkiness calls out to him. He might be one of the good guys, but the life he leads is in no way lawful or easy. He feels that he has no right to touch her or claim her, so he turns away, but it's only a matter of time before his heart and "other parts" lead him back to her.

This was a very sweet and sensual story. Mary Wine sprinkled about enough Old West charm to make this a very enjoyable story and an interesting little look into life in an old miner's town. It's charming and quaint, and also dirty, rough and brutal. It's a world where only the strong survive and while Brianna is willing and capable, there's only so much she can do with what God gave her, so the men in the town sit and wait, waiting for that inevitable moment when she will falter. Luckily for her, when one such loser does make his move, Sloan McAlister is there to save the day. This finally puts Brianna in his arms and now that he finally has her, well, his momma didn't raise a fool.

The sex in this book is not very explicit or kinky. Nor is it dirty or lewd. It was very sensual and loving and also very sweet. Sloan McAlister was the type of dream hunk who exists only in our fantasies. The type of big, strong and exciting alpha male who comes riding to our rescue dressed in a low slung Stetson and a black duster, while astride a great big stallion. *sigh* Droooooool.

I hope Mary Wine writes some sequels to this book because I would love to read about Sloan's fellow railroad agents. She teased me with just enough to make me want more. The plot in this book was simple, but had enough thrills to make this more than the usual romantica book. The villains in this book are disgusting and pathetic brutes and I loved it when Sloan put the fear of God into them. I highly recommend this as a sweet and sensual Western romance. :)

Her father has been missing for months, yet Brianna Spencer refuses to give up on the hope that he is alive and will return home soon. In the meantime, she is determined to keep their business afloat and the mortgage on their small home paid - no easy task for a woman alone in the Old West. Between fending off unwanted advances and marriage proposals from men intent on reaping the profits from her family's mill for themselves and trying to collect on outstanding debts, Brianna definitely has her hands full.

When Sloan McAlister finds the lovely Brianna being manhandled on the river dock, every protective instinct he has as both a man and a railroad agent scream out. A lady like her doesn't belong amongst the ruffians that habit the docks, yet he admires her courage and fortitude in her attempt to collect on the debt owed her by the dock master. A hard-working woman with such strength of character is worth marrying, especially when she is as comely as the fair Brianna. But the transient life of a railroad agent does not make relationships possible, nor does the danger. Despite knowing this, Sloan finds himself drawn to her again and again - a lucky thing for Brianna as her life becomes a series of life-threatening events that the handsomely powerful agent seems more than capable of rescuing her from...

I have intended to read Mary Wine's work for some time. I have a number of friends who have raved about her work, and their tastes in reading material are similar enough to mine that I had confidence I would enjoy this author's work. Enjoy is an understatement. I absolutely adored Let Me Love You! Of course, now I have to go shopping for the rest of Mary Wine's work - I should have known this would be an expensive review! LOL Not that I am complaining - I love finding new authors whose work I can count on to entertain me.

Mary Wine's writing is absolutely stellar. She infuses her story effortlessly with all the elements necessary to draw her readers in to the story from the very first chapter - danger, romance, suspense, and a just the right amount of sensual heat. Setting this story in the Old West could prove tricky for some authors, but Wine proves her mettle with period pieces easily, peppering the tale with small details from that time that serve to flesh out her world perfectly.

Sloan McAlister. What can I say about this man? From the first moment he appeared, he reminded me of Clint Eastwood in a very good way! He had the same demeanor, the effortless but controlled power, the strong sense of justice and I could almost see the steely gaze and set of his jaw. This man just totally did it for me. He rescued Brianna time and again without ever hinting that he thought her frail or incapable. And though he lived the rough life of a railroad agent, his sense of romance was infallible when it counted.

Brianna Spencer is that rare heroine who, although she finds herself in frequent need of rescue by Sloan, could never ever qualify as `TSTL" (Too Stupid To Live). No, she is a strong, capable woman who unfortunately finds herself the target of some very dastardly people when they believe her to be vulnerable. I liked Brianna immediately, and if I can't have Sloan for myself, I am very glad he ended up with her! J

At the end, Mary Wine does more than deliver a happy ending for Brianna and Sloan, she ably ties up all of the loose ends from the story for all characters - even those that we've not yet met `onscreen', so to speak. And I find myself hankering more than a little for sequels starring Sloan's fellow railroad agents...

If you enjoy historical westerns with a lot of romance and a bit of suspense, you will not want to miss Let Me Love You! I know I will keep this one close so I can revisit Sloan and Brianna whenever the mood strikes me!