Walker's Widow by Heidi Betts, Leisure

This was a recent purchase for me on the recommendation of one of the mailing lists I'm on for fellow readers of romance. I have a huge selection of books to choose from and sometimes feel guilty for choosing to read one I've just recently bought when there are so many I've bought long before it and just haven't read yet. Walker's Widow is a book I'm more than glad that I didn't wait months (or years!) to get around to reading. Texas Ranger Clayton Walker has come to Purgatory (located in between Heaven and Hell, of course), Texas at the request of his elderly aunt (his mother's sister) to catch a thief. Little does he or Widow Regan Doyle realize that Clayton's elderly aunt not only isn't as incapacitated as she appears, but that she has matchmaking on her mind when she asks for Clayton's help in catching the thief.

Regan Doyle has been widowed for two years now, long enough to do away with her widow's garb but she chooses to continue to wear it. Her late husband, James, took her away from an impending life of prostitution when he rescued her from her work at a brothel. Regan cares for her elderly, wheelchair bound mother in-law and was well provided for by her husband to enable her to live the rest of her life without being in need. Regan also has a heart of gold and enough compassion for those in need to fill any large body of water, particularly when it comes to the children in the local orphanage. The local orphanage is not fairing well financially, which leads Widow Doyle to don herself in black breeches and black bandanas to hide her flaming red hair and very pale white skin and rob the rich of their flaunted expensive baubles. Her first official meeting with Clayton Walker is pretty funny as she believes he's at her house for her. It is fun to learn about Regan, to read about her colored underthings despite her widow's black, and to watch despite her caution about getting too close to Clayton, realizing she's the very thief he's looking for, as she cannot fight her feelings. She's a passionate thing and it's great to see her give into that passion. Regan is a strong, feisty heroine without being overbearingly so. She is so driven to care for everyone else, taking orphans into her home for over night visits and always tending to neighbors in need, that it's hard not to like her. You get the sense that she is genuinely a caring person, that it's not a front to cover up feelings of hatred or indifference.

Clayton Walker comes to Purgatory, Texas intent on catching himself a thief and getting the hell out of there just as quickly as he can. His exchanges with and the tales he regales about his horse, Caeser, are funny and give you insight into his character when you might not otherwise get it since he has no one there to confide in. He is instantly suspicious of Regan Doyle, his cousin's widow, but despite his suspicions is eventually unable to fight his desire to have her. When he finds out she is the very thief he was called to bring to justice, he is faced with a decision: duty or love. It's not an easy decision for this Texas Ranger to make, a man used to justice prevailing and criminals paying for their crimes.

When he finally catches her in the act, Regan is actually relieved. She is finally able to tell him about a murder she witnessed during one of her late night burglary escapades. The two work together to catch their murderer, delaying her arrest. After the murder has been solved, an arrest still has not been made but Regan and Clayton have avoided one another more than they have anything else.

Walker's Widow is an enjoyable, humorous yet touching read with strong and likeable characters. The mother in-law is a hoot in her matchmaking and her ability to deceive everyone, but even she has depth that Heidi Betts brings about nicely making the reader just how valued Regan Doyle is to her mother in-law. I wouldn't call this a sweet romance, but it's not overly steamy either. But the sparks certainly do fly between these two. I look forward to reading the rest of Heidi's books soon andn would recommend Walker's Widow to anyone.

©Susan Matthews and phantomroses.com