cover image Leah and the Bounty Hunter

Leah and the Bounty Hunter

Elaine Levine. Kensington/Zebra, $6.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-4201-1866-7

Levine's third Men of Defiance western (after February's Audrey and the Maverick) offers plenty of ambience but no surprises. Infamous bounty hunter and Civil War veteran Jace Gage rides into lawless Defiance, engaged by the federal government to rid the "B-movie western town" of its ruthless sheriff, Bill Kemp, and his gang of criminal deputies. Jace's treacherous Southern wife had him hanged three years before, and having cheated his own death, he's not shy about doling it out to anyone standing in his way. His protective hackles rise when he saves Leah Morgan from assault in the middle of the street. Fiercely independent, she resists Jace's attempts to move her to safer territory by demonstrating her ability to out-fish, out-camp, and out-track him. Clich%C3%A9s roll past like tumbleweeds as the two venture toward mutual trust and love. (Aug.)