Spirit of a Bear

In this tale of love on the frontier, Harmon ( Colorado Ransom ) once again brings freshness and high spirits to the western genre. When Ben Barnes, mayor of Elk Fork, Colo.--and proprietor of the local saloon--acts on his customers' suggestion to improve business by importing a few ``sportin' women,'' he little realizes the ruckus he'llraise. The incensed townswomen stage protests but are not mollified even when Barnes relents: they want him to procure mail-order brides for the local bachelors. With the help of a less than upright Boston lawyer, Ben complies with their ``request.'' One of the brides is Elizabeth Butler, who has unfortunately been betrothed to the scruffy, ornery Thornton ``Trap'' McRae--already blessed with wife and child. The settling in of this ill-matched pair forms the heart of this unconventional western. The author brings a rare humor and gentleness to her realistic, often poignant tale that will likely catch readers up in its easy, unforced pace. (July)