COURTING MISS EMMA
The Hangman’s Daughters, Book 2
by
Linda Broday
Western / Clean & Wholesome / Sweet Romance / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Severn House
Date of Publication: November 7, 2023
Number of Pages: 203 pages
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Texas, 1868. Emma Taggart has finally found a place to belong – setting up Heaven’s Door orphanage with her sister Maura was a new beginning for her – and one she will do anything to protect.
When guarded ex-army man Stone Landry buys the neighboring land and moves in – camels and all – Emma’s world changes forever. He is an infuriating man who instantly gets under her skin – in ways she never dreamed possible, and despite herself, Emma starts to wonder if, just maybe, he is man enough to take on a Hangman’s daughter . . . But their newfound connection is quickly tested by violent night raids, kidnappings, and underhand tricks by powerful rancher Zeke Parker, who is intent on running them out of town and taking the land he deems to be his. Can Emma find enough courage to trust in Stone to give her the life, the family, she’s always dreamed of?
This is my TENTH(!) review of a Linda Broday book on the blog. Clearly, I’m a super fan. If you have any interest in historical romance of the western\Texas history variety, you can’t go wrong with any of Broday’s books. And COURTING MISS EMMA is another winner. (See all my other reviews here if you are looking for other suggestions.)
CHARACTERS
What stands out for me from our main character, Emma, is her heart and self-deprecating humor. Being the daughter of the local Hangman, Emma has not had an easy life. In spite of this, she has such immense love for the orphans she and Maura are helping to raise. Emma’s humor shines throughout the novel with her quirky tombstone epithets that she thinks of. It makes me think I should start planning what my tombstone could read. I might need some revisions like Emma.
As an ex-military man, Stone likes his routine. And Emma and her charges disrupt that routine right from the beginning. Stone’s character growth throughout the novel is one of the highlights for me. While he is falling in love with Emma, he’s also learning to love the kids in her life and what a civilian life could be like.
As much as I enjoy the main characters in this book, I also genuinely adore the secondary characters. All of the characters are fully developed, with individual personalities and characteristics. Uncle Max, Jubel and his cannon, the camels, the kids, everyone is great! Instead of a woman doctor this time (shout out to Doctor Mary!), we have a woman lawyer, Dan Jordan. Great to see Ms. Broday representing women in non-traditional careers. I’m all for that. We even meet some Texas Rangers by the end of the novel.
ROMANCE
COURTING MISS EMMA is a romance; we clearly need to discuss that in a review. What really impressed me about Emma and Stone is that both were resigned to not falling in love and remain single due to childhood traumas. But:
‘One day.’ He dragged air into his lungs. ‘One day I intend to court you, lady. That’s a promise. Hangman’s daughter or not.’
The relationship between Stone and Emma develops quickly once the action picks up in the novel. From their meet cute, through attacks and a kidnapping, to the sweet conclusion, I was cheering for these two characters.
I also really adored Calhoun’s and Maura’s relationship. And I clearly need to read their story.
On the spicy meter – this book is a clean romance. No worries if you blush or skip ahead while reading the sexy time scenes in romance novels.
PLOT and WRITING
The main storyline in COURTING MISS EMMA involves saving the orphanage and surrounding farms from being stolen out from under them by a robber baron. I relished all the action scenes! Lots of shoot-outs. Canon shots. More of the camels! It was a hoot! I was rooting for the team from the beginning. The fact that Emma is a self-rescuing heroine sure didn’t hurt, either. 😉 I’d almost go so far as to call this book western/action with a side of romance. And another side of humor, which I always appreciate.
This novel is the second in the series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The fast pace of the action results in a quick read.
While the novel does have a distinct conclusion, the introduction of Calista, the third Hangman’s daughter, gives us a hint of what’s to come in the next novel. And dang, she is feisty. That story should be fun.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reading and highly recommending another book by Linda Broday is my pleasure.
Thanks to author Linda Broday and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity to review COURTING MISS EMMA. I received the novel free in exchange for my honest review.
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. On a still day, I can often hear the voices of American Indians, Comancheros, and early cowboys whispering in the breeze here on the high West Texas plains. We refer to this land as “cowboy” country and men here still ride the range just as cowboys of old. My stories focus on family life and almost all have children.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
FOUR WINNERS:
1st $25 Amazon gift card;
2nd autographed hardcover copy of WINNING MAURA’S HEART;
3rd eBook copy of COURTING MISS EMMA;
4th audiobook of ONE SHOT AT LOVE.
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/17/23)
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I loved your detailed review, Lynn! You really hit the highlights of the book. Thank you for sharing and congratulations to Linda!
Thanks, Jan!
I love that her books continue to keep you a happy reader! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about what sounds like a fabulous series.
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Thanks, Kristine!
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Lynn! Love, love your take on this story. You know there were so many times when I had to stop reading and just laugh for a bit. And others when I had to blow my nose. These characters were really deep and had great “heart.” Bless you for seeing that. The camels added a lot too. I find animals and children some of my favorite things to write about in my stories. As far as romance…neither Emma or Stone were hearts and flowers kind of people so I didn’t try to make them something they weren’t. See you next time!
Thanks, Linda! I appreciate that you didn’t make Emma and Stone hearts and flowers characters!