Book Tour for Maid Marian and the Lawman by Deb Stover (Review & GIVEAWAY)

As a long-time fan of Deb Stover I'm honored to be hosting her, and her latest release Maid Marian and the Lawman, at my site today.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book along with my impressions of it.  Learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a print copy of this book too!

The simple goodness of a dream reminds us how to fall in love. 
1896: Oklahoma Indian Territory.
Mary Goode has spent nearly a decade hiding her sweet, off-kilter brother, Robin, and two fellow misfits after she rescued them from a brutal institution. But unknown to Mary, the trio's fascination with Robin Hood and their hero's crusade to "steal from the rich and give to the poor" may have led to a few actual robberies.
U.S. Marshal Shane Latimer is on the trail of the inept Robin Hood and his shabby band of not-so-tough Merry Men when his rattlesnake-spooked-horse lands him in care of Robin’s fiercely protective sister, Mary, aka Maid Marian.
He’s instantly charmed by Mary’s devotion to her whimsical brood, but worries that she may be hiding the truth. Still, for a loner like Shane, the appeal of their family affection, love and loyalty, combined with Mary’s growing hold on his heart, is hard to resist.
Mary is equally torn. For the first time in her life she has someone to share the challenges of keeping her brood out of trouble. But will her quest for happiness forever shatter the idyllic life she's forged for her special family...?
And how will Shane reconcile his duties as a lawman and his love for Maid Marian and her outlaw brood?

FIND A TANTALIZING EXCERPT AT DEB'S WEBSITE here.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

FIND THE TRAILER here.

BUY LINKS:  Amazon  |  BN

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

I've come to rely on Deb Stover when looking for heartwarming historicals and her latest release doesn't disappoint.  After the death of their parents, youngest child Mary vows to do whatever necessary to keep her mentally challenged brother safe.  From the moment she rescues him, and befriends the two men who've bonded with him from the asylum, life becomes one based on fantasy while secluding themselves in the forest living a life like their storybook heroes.  This ragtag family support and protect each other while trying to hold the future from outside forces at bay in an effort to save their idyllic haven.  Cruel men, faces from their pasts, and a handsome man who gives Mary the chance for her own future soon invade creating heartbreak and life or death circumstances that alter all of their futures forever in one action-packed scene after another.

Mary has devoted her life to her older brother Robin.  With his being mentally challenged she constantly worries he'll be put away again and plans out a future where she'll care for him forever.  She never thinks of herself or what she wants until the day a handsome stranger arrives at their doorstep in need of help.  As she nurses him back to health he shows her that men can be kind and that she deserves love and a life of her own.  Mary's an admirable heroine who's become such a devoted caretaker that she's lost sight of what her brother wants out of life too.  It's a shock too see him finding love and it made me sad for all she's sacrificed.

Luckily the handsome lawman Shane shows up to show her what could be.  He at first is there under false pretenses but before long comes to think of this odd family as his responsibility.  He sets aside duty to protect and claim them as his own.  He's an admirable man who knowing what Mary's been through at the hands of a violent outlaw takes their relationship slowly.  The sexual tension is there from the first moment but he helps her work through her fears in a sweet yet sensual way that ultimately concludes in a super steamy interlude.

There are numerous delightfully depicted secondary characters inhabiting this idyllic place.  From the midget Tuck (who has many secrets of his own) to Little John the Indian who's hard of hearing and slow and whose family land their haven resides on.  Finally there's Robin, a kindhearted soul, who lives a life found in a child's book but is growing more adult much to Mary's dismay.  These characters bring a strong sense of family to the story and supply many heartwarming moments.  Along with the good are the bad and the worst is Angel Rodriguez who hurt Mary once already and continues to threaten her safety.  It will take all of the newfound strength Shane has given her to finally set her free in a heartpounding conclusion.  Other characters arrive out of the blue which stretch the story out unnecessarily and leads to an ending that's suspenseful but goes on too long.  From its wonderful main characters to its sweetly building romance this story draws you in and is another nicely crafted addition to Ms. Stover's repertoire!

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Once upon a time Deb Stover wanted to be Lois Lane until she discovered Clark Kent is a fraud and there is no Superman. Since publication of Shades of Rose in 1995, Stover has received dozens of awards for her cross-genre fiction and published more than two dozen projects in a variety of languages. For more information, please visit www.debstover.com.

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**********GIVEAWAY**********

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