Early Book Review: Catch Me by Lorelie Brown

Catch Me by Lorelie Brown is a historical western romance due to be released on July 18 2011. The novel tells the story of one sheriff's daughter who robs a bank to pay for her father's medical treatment and the bounty hunter that is running out of options contracted to bring her to justice. Maggie Bullock has run out of options, her father is gravely ill and the only medical treatment that has helped him this far is extremely expensive. She has already sold off everything she can and requested a loan from her father's old friend, a banker and ruthless businessman in Fresh Springs who refuses her loan request. Maggie is out of options, but must help her father. She robs the bank owned by the man who refused her loan in order to pay for her father's treatment. Dean Collier is a bounty hunter running from a painful past and low on options of his own. He has been spiraling out of control, drinking and taking on bounties that would allow him deal in death and violence, and has landed him in jail. There are not many opportunities left for a lawman turned bounty hunter. The offer to chase down one last bounty with the reward for the capture being a position of sheriff in Fresh Springs is too good to be true, but Dean jumps at it anyway. During the chase, capture, and return Maggie just might capture Dean's heart, but it still might not be enough to change her fate.

Catch Me is a fun western romp, with strong characters and some fantastic scenes. Maggie is a great character, a strong woman that is fiercely loyal, with a strong will and quick mind. Dean is the wounded hero, dealing with emotional wounds by running away until he is forced to deal with Maggie and living in general. There are a few romance clichés and expected twists, but I still enjoyed the novel because of the characters. There were also some twists and turns that I did not expect, and they were an unexpected bonus in a fun story. Catch Me is a great vacation or weekend read.