My Review

Ben Williams has always been an outsider, and never had somewhere he truly belonged. Cadence McShane has always longed for something more than life at the fort, a life filled with adventure and purpose. When their desires are tugging them in different directions, will they be able to overcome and compromise in the name of love? 

I just adored our hero, Ben. He’s compassionate, from sparing the life of a threatening rattlesnake to providing food and shelter for a desperate family in need, he is the perfect example of humility and kindness. He knows his way around the wilderness, and there is no better person to feel safer with.

The book is well-written and filled with such incredible details that made me feel like I was right there in the story. I loved learning that allowing a horse to breathe your breath helps them get acquainted with your scent. I also love the recipes included at the end of the book. It’s so fun to read about food in a story, and then to see the actual recipe for it. I think I’m up to the challenge of making old-fashioned molasses taffy!

This was such a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a great historical romance with a swoon-worthy hero.

My rating: 5 stars

Favorite Quote

“Let me guess. You want to learn to dance in time for the Harvest Ball.” Tom smirked. “Any particular reason?”

“Even if I had one, it’d be none of your business.” His cheeks burning, Ben turned away, grumbling. “Never mind. Sorry I asked.”

“Don’t go off half-cocked. You took me by surprise is all. Give me a minute to think.” Tom ran his hand across his face. “Come by my quarters tonight, say after seven.”

Ben did a double-take. Is he laughing up his sleeve?

Book Blurb

Cadence McShane, free-spirited nonconformist, yearns to escape the rigid code, clothes, and sidesaddles of 1880s military society in Fort Davis, Texas. She finds the daring new lieutenant exhilarating, but as the daughter of the commanding officer, she is expected to keep with family tradition and marry West Point graduate James West.

Orphaned, Comanche-raised, and always the outsider looking in, Ben Williams yearns to belong. Cadence embodies everything he craves, but as a battlefield-commissioned officer with the Buffalo Soldiers instead of a West Point graduate, he is neither accepted into military society nor considered marriageable.

Can two people of different worlds, drawn together by conflicting needs, flout society and forge a life together on the frontier?

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Goodreads

Thought I’d give the Taffy Recipe a Try

It was a success! I used to make candy with my mom when I was little, but I’ve never attempted taffy before. I followed the recipe for old-fashioned molasses taffy at the back of the book. My favorite part was the stretching. It turned a beautiful, shiny golden color, and it tasted better than expected!

I made it with dairy-free butter, as my 2-year-old son is allergic to dairy. He says it’s “yum!” Though while I was stirring and stirring the liquid taffy, he got into the entire container of Oreos (did you know Oreos don’t have any dairy?!), and I have no idea how many he ate. Over half the package was gone. Here are some pictures from our fun taffy-making adventure!