Marshal in Petticoats

Darcy Duncan is an accident looking to happen. So it is no surprise to her when she shoots a bank robber while buying mining supplies. She wonders at the town asking her to be marshal. However, being a resourceful, resilient young woman, she takes the job with every intention of giving it an honest try. But falling for the handsome enemy, is one accident too many.

Gil Halsey is asked to bring his boss' errant son back to the ranch. He follows the man and his band of bumbling robbers to a small mining town. A corrupt local official runs the town and has pinned a marshal's badge on an accident-prone young woman. Gil believes the two are working together, until the marshal blunders into a bank robbery and is kidnapped. While saving the marshal, he reunites with his estranged family and stumbles into love.

Romantic tales of the old West

My first book Marshal in Petticoats is getting good reviews. This book was a lot of fun to write. And it shows through in the humor and characters. I started this project with the idea of writing something with an accident prone heroine. At the time my interest encompassed the gold mining area west of Baker City, Oregon. While researching the area, I discovered a town that had its post office (building and all) stolen in the middle of the night by gold miners who were tired of wasting time walking down the mountain to get their mail.  My first thought; “What a great place to put an accident prone heroine.” And that is how Marshal in Petticoats came to be!

Once Upon A Romance's Review Of...
Marshal in Petticoats by Paty Jager

onceuponaromance.net

 

           Darcy Duncan has been known to be clumsy either in a dress or britches, which is her current mode of attire for a very good reason. One example of her clumsiness is accidentally shooting a bank robber trying to make his getaway.

             This "heroism" leads to her becoming marshal of Galena, Oregon, where something’s just not right. So for the time being, she agrees to take on the job (in disguise) in order to feed and shelter her younger brother, Jeremy. This will give her the perfect opportunity to figure out what Mayor Craven is up to.

             She quickly comes to care for the town and its citizens. Her desire to help liberate them from the scheming mayor, however, lands her in some dirty situations. One or two (or ten!) of them involve too handsome Gil Halsey. He’s asking too many questions and seems friendly with one of the men involved in the bank robbery. Though she’s attracted to him how can she trust him?

             She doesn’t, completely. Until it’s too late. By then a chain of events have fallen into place leaving Gil to rescue her once again (even though she thinks she can take care of things herself).

             Gil, who’s in town for his own reasons, discovers the marshal is really a woman, but that doesn’t change things, just complicates them. She was given the job of town marshal too easily, which begs several questions to be asked; is she in cahoots with the seamy dealings of the mayor and if so, what are they? how can he get her out of his mind? if she keeps giving him the slip, how can he protect her?

You’ll have to learn the answers on your own.

             There’s no fanfare with Marshal in Petticoats, no gimmicks. It simply and quietly lures you in with its humor and tears, passion and romance, intrigue and action, emotional upheaval and healing. It satisfies with a blending of all the elements of a good book.

             While there were a good number of characters in the book, it wasn’t hard to keep track of them as they played their parts well. It was easy to cheer for some or boo and hiss at others. Both Darcy and Gil are to be admired as they show a strong sense of their desire for fair play and justice, of doing what’s right in all cases (no matter the cost).

             Small downsides... A time or two Darcy’s clumsiness almost became too much. Also, I did find what I thought to be a loose end, though maybe I missed it or maybe it’ll be answered in another book. (I hope!)

None of that detracts from the enjoyment of the story, though. I found it to be a feel-good read and look forward to more from this author.

 

Connie Payne

             This is a delightful novel set in the mining rush that hit Oregon in the late 1800s. The author captured it brilliantly, and the backdrop adds to the wonderfully plotted story filled with well-paced twists and turns, as well as very likeable, endearing characters. For a trip back to the raw, wild days of the silver and gold rushes, with a bit of romance thrown in for added effect, this book is perfect.

Charissa
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

Five Angel Review from Fallen Angels

             Marshal in Petticoats was one fun-packed thrill ride. The ending was quite a surprise and no questions were left unanswered. The secondary characters really helped make this story. Darcy was a very brave woman in a man’s world and wasn’t afraid to take on any man. She did have some imperfections, which seemed to make her more real to readers. Her clumsiness added a bit of humor to the story and to Gil. Gil is a hero to be proud of. He knew he couldn’t leave her and Jeremy to deal with the mayor and the bank robbers on their own, so he stayed around and watched over them. Paty Jager has done an excellent job with this historical western, and she makes us all hope she has more delightful tales in store for us.

www.lovewesternromances.com

5 Spur Review

 

Marshal in Petticoats is a fabulous love story filled with great characters and plenty of romance, adventure, and humor.

 

When Darcy Duncan accidentally shoots a bank robber in a small mining town, she is stunned when the town offers her a job as Marshal.  Seeing the position as a way to care for her younger brother and herself, she reluctantly accepts.  Still she is determined to do the best job she can despite her accident-prone nature, and lack of experience.  However, she soon suspects things are not all they seem in the small town and sets out to figure out what is going on.

 

Hoping to gain a job as foreman of a ranch, Gil Halsey has come to town to bring back his boss’s son.  However, the man’s son has fallen in with some outlaws who recently robbed the town.  Gil certainly doesn’t need any distractions from his task, but there is something about the newly appointed Marshal that intrigues him.  The closer Gil gets to Darcy, the more he begins to care about her and her brother.

 

Darcy never expected anyone to everfind her attractive, so she is reluctant to believe in the handsome stranger’s interest, but finds she is just as attracted to him.  However, neither can afford to be distracted from their jobs.

 

When the outlaws return to town, Darcy’s accident-prone nature gets her in trouble once again.  And while Darcy may have been hired to protect the town, Gil is determined to protect her.

 

Marshal in Petticoats has everything a great story should have: wonderful characters, a touching romance, and exciting adventure.  Darcy is an admirable heroine whose grit, determination, and clumsiness will keep you rooting for her.  Gil is a wonderful hero that any woman would be glad to call her own.  Not only is he gentle, sensitive, and protective, he is also tough and strong...a man you can depend on.  You can’t help but fall in love with these two characters.  The wonderful secondary characters merit a book of their own.  Marshal in Petticoats is truly a gem.

 

~ Jennifer

Reviewer for LWR Book Reviews

New Review

“Sure you could.” He chucked her under the chin and started to move away.

Darcy grabbed Gil’s shirt, pulling him around to look at her. “I can take care of myself. I have been for several years.” She didn’t know why, but his comment and condescending attitude struck a chord of defiance in her.

“Now, don’t go getting all in a fluster. I’m sure you have been staying out of trouble by the skin of your teeth. But you were a kid then. You’ve become a woman.” He put a hand on her cheek. “A beautiful woman.” His gaze dropped to her exposed chest.

A scorching wave of heat started at her middle and flared out to her fingers and toes.

“You have no idea what these men around here would do to you if they had the chance.” His thumb moved slowly back and forth, caressing her cheek. 

 “W-W-What would they do to me?” She barely heard herself mumble the sentence. His gaze turned dark. Only this time a glimmer of something other than violence flickered in his intense stare.

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his long body. His head dipped, and his lips brushed hers.

Her body pressed against him, yearning to feel his strength. He bent closer, lifting her onto her toes. She wound her arms around his neck to keep from melting into the floor. His lips moved urgently over hers, sending waves of sensations through her eager body. He grasped her tighter. His hands moved up and down her back, then down over her hips, tracing the contours.

“That is not proper behavior for one of my girls.”

Darcy felt a stinging blow to her bare shoulder and turned from Gil, gasping for air.