Beauty from Ashes by Lynnette Bonner

Beauty from Ashes by Lynnette Bonner

Liora Fontaine wants nothing more than to help mistreated women escape from brothel owner, John Hunt. She understands the desperation and manipulation that force many women into his employ. But when she rescues a young girl, she is shocked by Hunt's ruthless reprisal. Now as she cowers in her cabin, hiding from Hunt's men, who are determined to kill her, she can't help but think how much this day is a picture of her whole life. Ashes. Nothing but ashes.

Deputy Joseph Rodante can't believe Liora took on a mission so dangerous without asking for his help He arrives at her cabin to make sure she's safe just as Hunt's men start shooting up the place. Now they are stuck together inside with a long night looming. The Wyldhaven gossips are going to have a heyday over that The only way to fix this is to make Liora his wife. But the stubborn woman turns him down flat.

Despite her protests, Joe vows to protect her-no matter the cost.

And it just might cost both of them everything

Take the next stagecoach to Wyldhaven,
where the coffee's perked hot,
the sheriff likes his apple pie fresh from the oven,
and adventure invariably waits just around the next river bend.