Bandit's Hope 

Backwoods Brides #2

Ebook, paperback, hardcover

by Marcia Gruver 

• 320 pages
• October 2011
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. 
• ISBN-13: 978-1602609495

A strong man isn't what Mariah Bell had in mind for a husband. 

Reddick Tiller McRae, growing tired of the outlaw life, is thinking about settling down. When he falls for an innkeeper s daughter, he becomes determined to change his ways. But is it too late to redeem his heart and soul? 

Mariah Bell runs an inn along the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi. To protect her aging father and their business from violent outlaw gangs, she needs to snatch herself a strong, trustworthy husband and quick. What will she do when she finds out the man she desires is wanted in more ways than one?

My thoughts:  BANDIT'S HOPE is the second book in Ms. Gruver's Backwoods Brides series but it easily stands alone. Its an older book, one I didn't get read four years ago, but for fans of historical fiction, it's a treasure found. Mariah is a strong, feisty woman, on the verge of making a stupid mistake. The book starts with the mandatory death (for formula historical romances) but it is done in such an unique way that it instantly grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, that attention wasn't held, as the story dragged (except for occasional flashes of brilliance) for the rest of the book. Fans of Ms. Gruver might disagree. The story was written in a stellar manner, and one could easily dissect it to teach the finer points of writing historical romance to a beginner (which is good for those who learn best by example). 

I cared deeply for Tiller. My heart went out to him and I loved Mrs. Vee and Otis. Dear, dear characters. 

If you like historical romance and haven't given Ms. Grover a try yet, pick up BANDIT'S HOPE. Previous characters from the first book in the series do make an appearance, For those who like to read them in order the first book is Raider's Heart.