CATCHING ROSE by Virginia Barlow

Fiction, Historical Western Romance, 263 pages

Expected publication: Feb. 12, 2024 

4****

Blurb: Rose Tanner dreamed of a fairytale wedding her whole life. But when her prince leaves her at the altar, she wants to know why. Traveling to Texas for answers she finds more than she bargained for. Captured by a human trafficking ring, she fights for freedom. Risking her life to help the other women with her, she discovers there’s more to happy ever after than she thought.Texas Ranger Chase Calhan wants one thing, to capture El Diablo’s men so he can marry Rose. When they get to her first, he races against time to catch Rose before it’s too late.

Thoughts: I don’t often get the chance to read western historical, so this was a nice break from my regular reading. Set in Texas/Mexico, the settings are realistic as are the characters for this time period (late 1800s). There is a lot of action, romance, some nastiness in the kidnapping and sale of women, and more. I enjoyed how Rose grew from a pampered city girl to a rough and tough woman who will stand up for herself and fight for her freedom. She is definitely the center of this story. Chase, Rose’s fiancé, doesn’t grow nearly as much, but he fights on—even against death—for the woman he loves. And, since this is a romance, there’s a HEA that satisfies. 

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”