Every time I read a historical, I dream about open spaces, living off the land and of times when things in the world were so much simpler; then a story like this reminds me that not all men cherished a clever woman back then. As the owner of a bank in a time when women were only expected to keep house, Madeline Brewster has everything a person could ask for except the company of friends and the knowledge of how it feels to be in the arms of a warm-blooded man. After saving Teague O’Neal from an unjustified hanging, she buys him time so that his case can be investigated. In the interim, though, she will provide him with a place to stay and some honest work. She also puts forth a scandalous proposition: teach her all the things she’s read about but never had the chance to experience ... show her how it feels to be a real woman no matter her size or social standing. As the lessons in pleasure begin, so does the onset of one betrayal after another. Madeline finds that not only does she have enemies in the town, but also that the closest betrayal comes from the one person she has trusted her heart and soul to.

Full of longing, betrayal and intrigue, The Education of Madeline is a well written tale of one woman’s journey from loneliness to having the love she’s always desired. Madeline Brewster is smart and well educated in book knowledge, but she is still limited by the boundaries set for her at the hands of her dead father. She takes a chance on finding the delights of warm kisses in the strong arms of a man, and Teague seems like a gift from heaven. Big, burly and just the right man for her both in the boudoir and out, Teague is also a broken soul needing to grasp the reins of life again so that he can let go of his own personal demons. This is the second book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by Beth Williamson, and I have to admit to being hooked. With a creative approach that makes you wonder if maybe she lived a past life in the west of old, Ms. Williamson creates stories that turn back the hands of time. These are tales that allow you to smell the clean air while you taste the dust of undeveloped roads and feel the beauty of aqua blue skies that bring about unrivaled pleasure. I will definitely keep my eyes open for this author's upcoming projects if this is the quality of storytelling I can expect in the future.



Reviewed by: Rachelle