Scan barcode
overflowingshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: gun violence; death of parents (off-page); murder; racism
I picked up this book on a whim from a used bookstore, and I am so glad I did, as this might be one of my favorite reads of 2023! I loved, loved, loved this book as it’s such a fun, romantic, adventurous historical Western tale. This book captivated me from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down! This is my first book by Teresa Medeiros, but it won’t be my last, as her writing, characters, and storytelling ability are simply superb.
Billy Darling never enjoyed being a wanted man until Miss Esmerelda Fine marched into a saloon and pointed her derringer at his heart. Lucky for him, she’s a mighty poor shot. Instead of killing him, she hires him to find her runaway brother. Little did Billy know that she would lead him on a merry chase that would take him from a bungled bank robbery to the very first Wild West show to tour London.
I have a serious girl crush on Esmerelda. She has grit, determination, and SPUNK! She isn’t some weak-willed lady who needs coddling and protection, as she can protect herself. Just don’t leave her around guns and any Darlings, as she’s liable to try to shoot one of them. She’s also incredibly devoted to her brother as he’s the only family she has left after her parent’s death – a death she blames herself for. Having been on her own for so long, she struggles to trust and let others in as she’s always had to figure out how to provide her brother the best life alone. She’s got gumption, and I loved that about her.
I also adored Billy Darling, as he’s such a contradiction of a man. He’s a wanted man, yet also the best tracker/bounty hunter in the area. He admires lawmen and so badly wants to be one, yet he’s found himself in a complicated situation that hampers him from doing that. People always seem to think the worst of him as he’s a Darling, but he’s a genuine good guy. I loved his relationship with his brothers – the Darling Gang – as he cares for them deeply, even if they’re a bit notorious and unscrupulous. He’s 100% the baby of the family. Billy was incredibly engaging as a character and had a lot of swagger, which truly worked for me.
From our main characters all the way down to our secondary side characters, Medeiros injects so much personality and life into her characters that they simply jump off the page. The Darling brothers and Aunt Anne were some of my favorite secondary characters. I loved even the tiny details that Medeiros would include to help flesh out all the characters, as they each had their own unique quirks that made them feel real.
If you like great chemistry and banter, you’ll love the romance in this book. Billy and Esmerelda don’t start on the right foot, but they’re so evenly matched. I loved that they were always calling each other’s bluff and constantly surprising each other with how they would react in certain situations – it added an incredibly fun dynamic to their relationship as they could truly go toe-to-toe. They weren’t afraid to challenge each other and push the other’s buttons to get a reaction. The romance is a bit of a slow build, but with A+ sexual tension and chemistry, it’s well worth the wait. With a sexy sponge bath, some frisky times in the hayloft, nursing back to health, nicknames, and a masquerade ball, the romance truly had a little something of everything. Also, I have three words for you – ROCKING CHAIR SEX.
The romance has a third-act breakup, but I loved how it was executed and thought it worked well. Billy and Esmerelda needed time apart to realize the actual depth of their feelings. There was some hard-core mutual pining when they were not together, leading to some high emotions and great drama, which I love. Plus, he works to get back in her good favor, and she doesn’t take him back immediately, so I ended up enjoying how the third-act breakup played into the plot, the romantic relationship, and the character development.
Now, the story is a bit of a wild ride that takes you from the Wild West of New Mexico over to the pristine ballrooms of England. The opening of this book immediately hooked me – I don’t think I’ve read anything so engaging from the first scene. With lots of twists and turns, the story was so delicious and FUN. Plus, we get some high drama interspersed throughout, which I adore. It all felt like very quintessential Western vibes. And that epilogue! Y’all, I’m a sucker for modern-day epilogues as they make me cry every time as they pack a punch to the emotions. The epilogue was perfect as we got to see all the love that Billy and Esmerelda had for each other over the years and see them achieve their dreams together.
The reason this book worked so well is also due to Medeiros’s writing. Her writing is incredibly engaging, and the tone is funny and fun. Her characters are so beautifully fleshed out, and her dialogue feels natural. Even some of the more outrageous plot points felt believable because she can sell you on it with her writing, plotting, and prose. I felt like she was having a blast while writing this book.
I devoured this book and had such a good time reading it! I am honestly obsessed with it and am SHOCKED I’ve never heard anyone mention this book before. I am so glad I randomly picked it up from a used bookstore, as it is one of my favorite reads of this year. And I’m excited to explore other books by Teresa Medeiros in the future, as I truly love her writing style. If you’re craving a tremendous historical Western romance, PICK THIS ONE UP! It will not disappoint!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Murder and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
More...