The Last Man in Town

The very proper Priscilla Wentworth is handsome rake Lucas Garrett's best friend. There's never been the slightest hint of romance between the two, so Lucas feels perfectly safe in asking her to pose as his pretend fiancée in a scheme to deflect the attention of Maple Falls's lusty women. Priscilla agrees to help Lucas divert the pursuing women in return for his promise to find her a husband; she's given up on romance and is willing to settle for a solid man who wants children.

But once the bargain is made, Lucas starts seeing Priscilla in a new light. And Priscilla is having her own troubles dealing with her pseudo-suitor, especially after he stages a torrid kiss in front of the town's women to hammer home the fact that he and Priscilla are passionately engaged. While the two long-time friends struggle with their new status as pretend lovers, they're also thrown together by their deep commitment to keeping Maple Falls alive. Every man but Lucas has deserted the town to chase the dream of riches in the gold fields and the wives and children left behind are barely able to keep food on their tables. Will Lucas and Priscilla find a way to save their town only to lose each other in a game of make-believe love? Or will their years of friendship evolve into an even deeper commitment and a future together?

The Last Man in Town is a fresh take on the classic "lady and the rake" tale with a hero who sees beneath the heroine's prim exterior to the passionate woman beneath, and a heroine who recognizes in her man a goodness and depth of character that others cannot. All in all, this is a novel that's well balanced, warm, and a darn good read. --Lois Faye Dyer