Edward Kent had been receiving threatening notes for several
weeks telling him to go back from where he came: England. He
had a detective look into the matter, to no avail.
When the threats escalated to horse theft, Edward, spurred on
by his housekeeper Mrs. Harvey, asks the Pinkertons for help.
Maggy Worthing has been a Pinkerton agent for the
past six years. Her boss tells her that if she solves the
Kent mystery, he will
recommend her for a promotion. Edward is
shocked that the Pinkerton is a young woman, but he challenges
her to find a new clue by the end of the day. Within
minutes, Maggy has found two possible suspects. Edward is not
too thrilled that Maggy will pose as his fake fiancée, but when
she smiles at him Edward finds himself rather agreeable to the
charade.
I loved the idea of a female detective in a story set in 1898
Sheridan, Wyoming. What is even better is that the story is
based on historical facts, as Pinkerton did employ female
detectives at that time. Stacy Henrie's respect for historical
accuracy is but one of the reasons I enjoy her novels so
much. The proof is in those important details, such as Buffalo
Bill Cody having been part owner of the Sheridan Inn mentioned
in THE RANCHER'S TEMPORARY ENGAGEMENT. The fake fiancé angle
was ideal to solve the mystery. The romance bloomed amid
respect, friendship, teamwork, and trust. Maggy is such a
radiant presence, and Edward is a hero worthy of her. He lets
her do her job without interfering. I also very much
appreciated how both their pasts mattered to the plot.
Things get nastier as the story progresses. Stacy Henrie's
sharp observations on reprehensible male behavior are put to
good use when someone goes out of control and lives are put at
risk. While THE RANCHER'S TEMPORARY ENGAGEMENT is somewhat
light on the inspirational side, I surprised myself by tearing
up when Maggy finds God again. The scene is very simple in
and of itself, but so effectively written that the message
is conveyed
most impressively and convincingly. Stacy Henrie possesses the
enviable talent of being able to tailor her writing style to
the type of story at hand. In THE RANCHER'S TEMPORARY
ENGAGEMENT, I got an impression of open spaces and of clear
blue skies. There is an airiness that permeates the whole
story, in spite of darker underlying themes. THE RANCHER'S
TEMPORARY ENGAGEMENT'S ending is absolutely brilliant. It was
not precisely what I was expecting, yet it was exactly what I
was hoping for. Stacy Henrie hasn't failed me yet, and I don't
think that day will ever come!
The Pinkerton agent that Edward Kent hired is intelligent,
capable—and unexpectedly female! Though shocked to learn that
Maggy Worthing will be investigating the threats to his Wyoming
horse ranch, Edward needs to find the culprit. And if that
means a temporary engagement to give Maggy a cover story, he’ll
play along with the feisty detective.
Maggy always gets her man—at least when it comes to solving
crimes. The young widow refuses to marry again and land under
another husband’s thumb. Unmasking Edward’s enemies will earn
her a longed-for promotion…but the heart has its own mysteries.
Could working together with the handsome English aristocrat
spark a real and loving partnership?
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