Silver Springs

Carolyn Lampman’s full-length early American romance combines a comedy of mixed identities with a compelling romantic story. Angel, a soft-hearted Madam, is loosing her heart to a man that she was determined not to marry, and now cannot because he thinks that he is in love with her twin sister.

To escape her father’s bullying tactics, Angelica Brady had left her family. She created a new identity, Angel, who is a successful businesswoman. Angel ran a brothel/casino as the Madam. Although she is young, Angel disguised her age with harsh makeup and hair dye. Angel still met and corresponded with her identical twin sister, Alexis, but her father and his second wife were never told of the visits.

Unfortunately, Angel is forced to close her business due to a drop in the population as the miners move away. Just as she is considering her options, Angel receives a letter from Alexis. Their father has arranged a marriage for Alexis and she is desperate for Angel to help her get out of it. Angel is happy to swap places with her sister until she meets her suitor. Angel is shocked as she looks into the mesmerizing deep green eyes of Ox Bruford. Ox is well-known to Angel, the hard-nosed casino owner, as a mule-skinner. Posing as Alexis, Angel must pretend that she has never set eyes on the man who sets her pulse racing.

Ox has no wish to be forced into a marriage by his grandfather to secure a business partnership. He thinks that it will be easy to dissuade the bride until he meets Alexis. Initially he is sure that she is his Angel, forthright and cheeky, yet at other moments she is girlishly silly and strait-laced. As he tries to work her out, Ox is never quite sure if she is teasing him or really being irritating. Together they agree that they will find a way to stop the wedding and thwart the business plans of her father and his grandfather. Of course, this will mean spending time together….

Readers who enjoy early western romances are sure to love this madcap romantic adventure. Carolyn Lampman has included some colourful characters based on real-life legendary figures from the wrong side of the law who provide some light-hearted comedy. Angel is a fiery, independent woman who has dug herself into trouble by changing identities with her twin. She is capable of landing on her feet in most situations, but when faced with Ox, the drop dead gorgeous man that she had secretly loved from afar, Angel knows that she is in too deep. She no longer knows which charade is the real Angel and is risking everything if she is found out. Ox has a hidden side that only endears him more to Angel. She could never have guessed his background or the intelligent, caring man that was beneath the mule skinner she had known. There are many unexpected and amusing moments in this story and I was sorry to see it end. The romantic moments are tender and long-awaited. They also serve to complicate matters for Angel. This romance is for this reader a definite keeper and I have enjoyed Silver Springs so much that I have bought the prequel – Meadowlark.

Reviewed by: Naomi