Pieces of Sky

In her auspicious debut, Warner kicks off the Blood Rose trilogy by introducing the Wilkins brothers—Brady, Andrew “Jack” Jackson, and Patrick “Hank” Henry—of RosaRoja in 1869's New Mexico Territory. On a stagecoach ride destined for disaster, eldest brother Brady encounters prim, proper, and very pregnant Jessica Abigail Rebecca Thornton, a flame-haired authoress, milliner, and British heiress. On the run from her violent, controlling brother-in-law, John Crawford, and searching for her brother, George Adrian, Jessica is in danger of losing her Northumberland estate and determined to find a way to hold onto it. Brady offers refuge, and Warner develops their romance with well-paced finesse and great character work. Along with greedy, domineering John, vengeful ex-con Sancho Ramirez (whose father was RosaRoja's former owner) and his murderous half-brother also threaten the couple's happiness. While following her protagonists overcoming enemies within and without, Warner makes great use of the vivid Old West setting. (Jan.)