Leisure, Jul 2002, 5.99, 306 pp.
ISBN: 0843950625
In 1879 Denver at the Dancing Belles Saloon, Andre Du Bois realizes how Faith O'Malley cheated at cards. He takes her into his office threatening to turn her over to the law. Faith escapes with the two thousand dollars. That night Andre looked for Faith, but failed to find her. The next morning he sees her coming out of the bank. Andre forces Faith to work as a dealer at his saloon to pay off the money he insists she stole. She agrees to his terms.
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Unbeknownst to Andre, who believes Faith wants to open up a brothel, she needed the money to pay the bank on a loan she had on Heart House, an orphanage she runs for the chidlren of whores. As Faith and Andre become acquainted they fall in love. However, he believes she is just like his missing wife Pearl who stole a fortune from him while she feels he could never accept the daughter of a prostitute let alone her running of Heart House.
Though there is an overuse of coincidental meetings, the story line absorbs the reader as the era comes alive through the actions of the lead couple. The support cast augments the plot as the audience learns about the plight of the children and the ailing prostitutes. Fans of western Americana romances will fully appreciate Renee Halverson's debut as EXTREME MEASURES renders plenty of enjoyment.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
