Anne Tillerton from "Caught in the Middle" by Regina Jennings

I’d been waiting for this one!  If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know that Regina’s books were the first ones I featured on here.  I’m so excited to share with you about this third one in her series!  I’ve loved all her books, but I think this one is my new favorite.

Replace Tillerton with Oakley, and you’ll have your mental image of Anne.  She’s a sharp-shooter, a no-nonsense gal who acts tough and looks rough.  But, behind her heavy duster, men’s trousers, and a less-than lady-like shirt, beats a tender heart.  She’s like a wounded animal, alert, suspicious, yet ultimately yearning to be healed.

My impression of Anne from Love in the Balance

When Anne falls into the unlucky position of taking care of an abandoned baby, she feels like she’s dealt a cruel blow, but the child may be just what she needs.  With nowhere to turn to, she enlists the help of Nicolas Lovelace, an enterprising dandy who owes her his life after her sharp-shooting chased away the train robbing bandits, who were about to silence him for good.  Grateful Nick, honorable Nick, does what he can for Anne & the baby Sammy, but Anne’s a handful and the more time he spends with her the sooner he wants to get rid of her and her… distracting personality.

A classic case of opposites attract, Anne and Nick’s story made for an unforgettable romance.  I like that Regina’s characters are never perfect, and always have some deep inner struggles or hurts to overcome.  Yet, for the most part the story was light-hearted, with the focus on healing.  Another common thread I’ve noticed in Regina’s books.  I think that’s why I love them so much.  There’s sincerity, truth, healing, fun, and each of her main characters are completely different people with different personalities and histories.  If you haven’t read any of the series yet, I highly recommend all the books, they’re fun to read in order, but you can pick up any of them to enjoy as a stand-alone read.

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

-Monica

I received a review copy of this book so I could post on it!