Teaser Tuesdays: Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner

Holding his shirttail over his nose and mouth, Brady bent over Sancho's twisted, smoking body to see if he was still alive.
He was. Barely. His face looked melted. Hip lips were gone, his teeth showing in a ghoulish grimace.

~Page 342

Title: Pieces of Sky
Author: Kaki Warner
ISBN: 978-0425232149
Publisher: Berkley Trade/2010
Pages: 432

Prim and Proper Jessica Abigail Rebecca Thornton, a milliner, is running away from her brother-in-law John, when she meets rough and tough rancher, Brady Wilkins on a stagecoach ride. He is her exact opposite. But he too has some issues of the past, which have to be dwelt with. By quirk of fate, Jessica ends up in his ranch and it is discovered that she is pregnant and can't be moved from there. She is stuck there till she gives birth. Initially she does not like it there but slowly she and Brady fall in love with each other. That's when vengeful ex-con Sancho Ramirez turns up with his half brother to tear their lives apart. The ranch had initially belonged to Ramirez's father.

First of the Blood Rose trilogy, we get to know the Wilkin brothers and the story behind their feud with Ramirez. Brady has the responsibility to protect his family, no matter what and Ramirez is totally evil. Despite being emotional, this book is not cloying and speaks of human endurance in the face of evil.

One of the memorable characters of this book is Ramirez's sister Nina, who is the opposite of her brother. She has lived with the Wilkins family for so long. And she shares a beautiful relationship with Brady.

Thanks to the author for sending me this book along with the ARC of Open Country, the second one in the series.