To have a name, or to have a man? That is Jackson's dilemma in JACKSON'S PRIDE by Lynn Lorenz. Jackson, a big man of much strength and skill, has made his living as a mercenary, no title to bear. Until his father summons him to Baymore, where Jackson hopes he will finally be acknowledged as Lord Baymore's eldest son.

But the journey there intersects with Will Holcombe's, who has been strung up for his romantic intentions with a young man. He believes himself dead when Jackson comes along and returns his freedom, cutting free the ties that bind him. But now Will must wonder—after his tireless search for a man to share his life with—if Jackson may be the very man he's been looking for.

JACKSON'S PRIDE weaves romance, adventure, and one's search for identity into a tightly packed story. The scenery and use of language throughout the story paints a vivid world full of potential for love and threats dear to one's chest.

I enjoyed the story. The only thing that was done to excess were the love scenes, which I believe there could have been one or two less of. The actual setting itself is so well-lit and illustrated that I wanted to explore it more, or explore even further into the characters' conflicts and struggles, to add greater stakes to their intimacy. The author does a great job of catching and keeping the reader's attention with archaic language that cements the setting nicely, and I would love to see more of this author's work in the future.