Sweet Revenge (Harper Monogram)

Rating:
Summary: Well Written Post Civil War Romance
Review: This is a very well written book that tells the interesting, compelling story of Leticia Ramsey Sinclair and Adam McCormick, two people who meet by seeming accident after the Civil War. Leticia is a 23 year old southern belle widow who is living in Kentucky and taking care of her aging, bitter grandmother, Honoria Sinclair. On her death bed, her grandmother spitefully tells her only grandchild that she is not a true Sinclair because she is illegitimate. The name Sinclair seems to be the only thing that matters to Honoria, and she is so filled with hate that she pushes Leticia away and bequeaths her home, Bellewood plantation, to the church with the provision that her granddaughter no longer be allowed to live there.

Homeless after the death of Honoria, Leticia decides to travel to San Diego, California to live with her stepfather, Hunt Ramsey, who was so kind to her as a child. During her journey west, her stagecoach is robbed by a rag tag group of bandits who kill the drivers and take her captive with the plan to sell her into prostitution in Mexico. Leticia is rescued by Adam McCormick, a mysterious man who buys her from her captors and promises to take her to her "papa" - Hunt Ramsey - in California. Unknown to Leticia, Adam has his own reasons to find Hunt Ramsey and has plans to "bring him to justice" in order to avenge his mother and fulfill her dying wish.

Leticia is the perfect compliment for Adam - a mixture of innocence, determination and kindness that he finds irresistible. Adam is the perfect "hero" - a handsome, intelligent adventurer who is not only secure in himself but has a strong sense of honor. He cannot believe his good fortune in finding Ramsey's daughter and decides to use Leticia as a hostage in order to lure her father into a scheme to bring him down. What Adam never planned or expected, however, was to fall in love with her, and he is torn between his commitment to avenge his mother and his desire to care for and protect Leticia.

The journey that both of them take to settle Adam's conflict is filled with adventure and is both touching and at times humorous. After all she had to tolerate with her grandmother, Leticia has determined that no one will ever use her again. Her vitality and spunk not only win Adam over but actually save his life and help him find a resolution to his desire to punish Hunt Ramsey.

At the end of the book, the author gives a hint that a follow up book may be written to tell the story of Adam's brother, Swen. Although I've searched under the author's name, this is the only book that I have been able to find by Jean Stribling. That's disappointing because I would love to read another of her books and to see a continuation of the story. Highly recommended.

P.S. I have learned since I wrote this review that the author (Jean Stribling) primarily writes under the name of Ruth Jean Dale. Happily, many of her books are available!