Pieces of Sky
by Kaki Warner
Berkley
October, 2011
I’m very thrilled to have discovered this author. I love a good romance, and although I’ll read and love books that are completely unrealistic and the characters are idealized versions of unattainable beings, I’d rather they have a few flaws and lives that are less than perfect. So I’m bound to love a romance novel that starts out with a pregnant heroine and a slightly flawed hero who is definitely not the man who filled her belly. I almost wish the author hadn’t wimped out and had the pregnancy be the result of a rape. Think of how interesting it would be to write an actual love story with a heroine who had made some pretty big mistakes–like we all do–but still was worthy of the center of attention.
Still, this was an excellent Western Romance, complete with the man-land connection (they always are devoted to the land) and a threat to the ranch, and a stagecoach and everything you could want. It’s fresh enough that you don’t feel like you know everything that’s coming yet it delivers the requisite happy ending with all the sexy bells and whistles and with some pretty intricate storytelling.
My favorite part I can’t quite tell you about, but I can say that I loved the way Jessica got to be her own hero in several parts. She did have quite a few crumbling moments, when she did the damsel in distress thing and Brady got to come to her rescue, but she also had a few moments where she got to handle shit herself. I love those moments. I also love the moments that make you tear up, and this book is definitely full of them.
Kaki Warner’s a great writer (go Pacific Northwest authors!) and I’m looking forward to reading Open Country next.
—Nici
