A New Book by Elizabeth Lane
The story starts in England when Eve Townsend finds, on the death of her titled, wealthy husband, that she has an empty title and no money. Eve's sister, Margaret Hanford, invites her to live with her in America. Margaret married a Brit and moved to Wyoming years before. Eve has never trusted her brother-in-law Roderick Hanford, but sees little choice.
As soon as Eve arrives, she finds that her sister died in childbirth. Eve notices that Roderick has little time or interest in his two upset children. She realizes that she is needed to help the children adjust. Very quickly, Roderick becomes very protective toward Eve -- and she has a very bad feeling about this. Clint Lonigan, (a small time rancher) is knee-deep in a pending range war. Roderick and his wealthy rancher friends are his enemies. Clint realizes the advantage of getting Eve on his side. He sets out to let Eve see the truth of what is happening.
Both of the main characters were interesting; each had to overcome his prejudices against the other's background. Eve was gutsy to travel so far after the shattering blow of her husband's death. The author did a realistic job of creating Eve's character. She saw her duty to Margaret's children, even though she recognized she would be putting herself under Roderick's power.
The setting was appealing because I haven't read that many books with a range war as the background for the novel's main story. This rather common plotline rose in my estimation by the author's artistic device near the end of the book.
