Publisher's synopsis: An advertisement offers the perfect solution for a romance novelist who has no intention of getting married - until something changes her mind.

It's 1895 and 29-year-old dime novelist Kate Tenney finds herself without a publisher or other means of support when her novel is banned.

When she agrees to try her hand at ranching, trouble begins the moment she steps foot in Arizona Territory. The West is nothing like she wrote about in her books.

Deserted as a child by her father, grandfather and seemingly even God, Kate does not trust men and has no intention of falling for Luke Adam's charm.

As her faith is tested by the harsh realities of the desert, Kate may survive this trial, if she can stay away from a certain handsome blacksmith and his two matchmaking aunts.

My take: This was an intriguing story that kept my interest right to the end. The characters were strong and had unique quirks that made them memorable, such as the middle-aged, upright banker who got down on his knees once a year to propose to his girlfriend on her birthday.

Since most stories about young women coming west in the 1800s were about mail-order brides, Kate was a refreshing change. And she is a strong woman whose career setback did not defeat her but made her try to re-establish herself out west.

The author wove the characters' back stories deftly into the book, so you see each person grow as they deal with their past.

My Rating: 5 out of 5.

Look for more books to come in the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series.