Fearless: A Novel of Sarah Bowman

When you're an imposing flame-haired beauty, standing six feet or better with a heart as big as Texas and a Tennessee wit to match, your life will be filled with adventure. At least if you're Sarah Bowman, the larger-than-life heroine of this dashing western romance from popular novelist Robson (Mary's Land). Basing her protagonist on the historical figure who was dubbed the Great Western by her beloved army boys in the 1840s, Robson creates a lively narrative as Sarah loves and loses men, makes and loses fortunes, saves and succors friends, foils terrorists, all the while mothering (and laundering and cooking for) Zachary Taylor's troops during the Mexican war. Robson's period details are vivid: one can almost feel the hot brass of the cannon and the hunger of the poor Mexicans and smell the Army mules and their drivers. Sarah herself has no mean gift for daily conversation and lyrical expression. With its tough-and-tender Amazon lifted from the history books, this tall tale towers in appeal and skill over most western historicals. (July)