The Dove by Kristy McCaffrey

By: Anonymous on Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Title:  The Dove

Author:  Kristy McCaffrey

Series:  Wings of the West #2

Published:   March 1st 2005 by Whiskey Creek Press 

(first published 2005)

Page Count:  235

Genre:  Historical Romance

Shelf:  Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning best-seller The Wren. Disappointment hits ex-deputy Logan Ryan hard when he finds Claire Waters in the midst of a bustling Santa Fe Trail town. The woman he remembers is gone--in her place is a working girl with enticing curves and a load of trouble. As a web of deceit entangles them with men both desperate and dangerous, Logan tries to protect Claire, unaware his own past poses the greatest threat. Plagued all her life by shame, Claire is stunned when Logan catches her on the doorstep of The White Dove Saloon dressed as a prostitute. She lets him believe the worst but with her mama missing and the fancy girls deserting the place, she's hard-pressed to refuse his offer of help. As she embarks on a journey that will unravel the fabric of her life one thing becomes clear--opening her heart may be the most dangerous proposition of all. This is the sequel to The Wren, which was The Romance Studio's CAPA Winner 2003.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

Well, the book is over and I feel like I just walked into (and unfortunately, I’m now back out of) the Old West. McCaffrey’s brilliant storytelling makes everything so lifelike that she literally drops you right into an amazingly vivid life straight out of the history books, but with a lot more flourish. She takes real places and real events to set the backdrop for this phenomenal love story.

McCaffrey’s writing has a natural flow that is easy to lose yourself in. As a reader, you are immediately pulled into the world that she creates. The author is a phenomenal storyteller who has the ability to mesh description with narrative with action. Each and every sentence progresses in an amazing way towards a thrilling conclusion. They symbolism in this novel is also phenomenal. It is subtle yet multi-faceted, adding an extra element of depth to the novel. McCaffrey can capture you in a love story that keeps you completely captivated without relying on explicit scenes. This story definitely holds its own without it. Now, don’t get me wrong, she can also write one hell of a sex scene that has you on the edge of your seat. They definitely add to the aura of the story, but are supplemental to the already solid and enthralling storyline.

I absolutely love the characters that McCaffrey creates for this story. Each and every one is uniquely developed to suit their purpose in the story. They are also developed in a manner that suits their time period. Although they may be slightly left of centre in some of their thoughts, overall they are not out of place for the society and culture in which they live. The family and work ethic that the characters in this story embody is also heart-warming and refreshing.

Overall this was a brilliant novel that I couldn’t put down. McCaffrey is quite quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Buy your copy online here today!