The Redemption of Jake Scully

This deserves more a 3.5 star rating but since I couldn't put it down I rounded up. This book had a nice story, more original than most I've read in this genre, and great characters. After her grandfather (her guardian) is murdered and her home destroyed by a mysterious fire, 8 yr old Lacey escapes to Jake Scully, a friend of her grandfathers whom she had never met. She automatically feels trust toward him and he becomes her guardian, though soon after he sends her away to school back east. He continues to see to her financial needs but never visits or sends for her. Lacey returns ten years later a beautiful lady, grateful to her guardian and looking forward to taking care of him in his old age to show her appreciation for his care. But when she arrives she is suprised to find her guardian is a handsome young man. Jake Scully isn't a bad guy. He is a man with a good heart and but a disreputable job. He's a saloon owner who has probably dallied with some saloon girls-- though he is opposed to prostitution. There is a villain with a sinister plot but that is really just a sidenote-- it hints at suspense that never comes to fruition. Another reviewer was very critical of the writing. Though I must agree that this book is no literary masterpiece, the review was a little harsh. The book was fun to read. And, no, a middle schooler could not have done a better job. At times it was repetitive and Lacey sounded quite redundant. A bit too much "He has his own life to lead" and then Jake with his "She deserves better" bit... it got a little annoying. But most of these books have the same exact struggle between their characters, otherwise there would be no book. All in all, an easy read. It is fun to watch it all happen and nice with Jake realizes that he really is a decent guy.

Let's face it, Jake needed redeeming, and Ms. Barbieri gives us the gal to do just that. This is an enjoyable read, and hard to put down. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book--you won't be able to put it down until you finish.