Cherish

November 2, 1998
Using narrative heavy with Larry McMurtry-style jargon, Anderson (Simply Love; Forever After) blends the crusty ambience of a cattle drive through New Mexico with the sensitively written shock of a young girl's trauma after she witnesses the brutal deaths of her Quaker parents. After an attack by thieves, Rebecca Morgan is in trouble: the wagons are ruined, her companions are dead. So when rancher and gunslinger Race Spencer happens by and offers to take her (and the only intact covered wagon, complete with a hidden stash of money), she can't really refuse. Spencer tries to heal and bed Rebecca, managing the latter with Anderson's usual charm and humor. But when the healing becomes more than he can handle, he has no choice but to find Rebecca's people and return her to them. Unfortunately, that's where the bad guys are. Despite the rich texture, this tale is disappointing in its unevenness and lack of originality.

November 15, 1998
When Race Spencer turned to ranching, he swore his gunslinging days were over, but an extremely brutal attack on a religious group's wagon train, leaving only one survivor--lovely, naive Rebecca Morgan--makes him realize that his deadly skills may once again be needed. The age-old conflict of the "good, innocent woman" vs. the "bad, dangerous man" takes on new dimension in Anderson's talented hands as she weaves an intense story of two emotionally damaged characters and their struggle to find themselves and each other through the healing power of love. Typical of Anderson's other works, Cherish realistically depicts the lawless violence and hardships of the period, making the romance all the sweeter. Anderson (Forever After, LJ 2/15/98) is a respected, award-winning writer, primarily of historical romances. She lives in Sutherlin, OR.