I am a Teresa fan - and that's what kept me reading this one. It starts out in England like one of her regencies, and then moves to the Wild West in America. I'm not generally a fan of cowboy novels or American historical and yet ... I fell in love with Billy Darling.

I loved Esme's gumption and determination. I loved Billy's conflict. I could even get used to smelling leather and tobacco when it goes along with tawny hair and green-grey eyes. Cleverly written and intriguing, I did enjoy this book. I didn't like the "she's too good for me" unresolved romance. I thought he'd overcome that by the end of the story (the story has a happy ending-never fear).

Would I recommend this? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Mederios's writing is always captivating and this one has touches of humor that keep you smiling even through the sad parts. The four stars for me is more due to the setting/subject matter than the story itself. As mentioned earlier, I'm not generally a cowboy fan, although she's done an excellent job of creating a lovable villain, an anti-hero who isn't a villain at all... ( )

I love, love, loved this western historical romance - it was so much fun! It has everything I love - spinster heroine, Esmerelda Fine comes to New Mexico to track down the man she thinks killed her brother. At first sghe can't stand the charming cowboy she nearly murders in the saloon, but he eventually wins her over. Plenty of laughs, sexy heart stopping love scenes and - cowboys! A great story, one of my favorites by this author now! I wish she'd write more Westerns, this is the only she has written as far as I can tell. A real keeper! ( )

Esmerelda Fine's parents died when she was 13, leaving her to care for her younger brother alone. The only family she has left is an aunt and uncle (a duke) in England, to whom she frequently writes. Now a grown woman who sacrificed her own happiness for her brother's sake, she is distraught when he turns up missing. The detective she hires tells her he was killed by a notorious outlaw named Billy Darling. Esmerelda sells her music school and all her belongings to finance a trip from Boston to the Wild West to locate this outlaw and bring him to justice. When she finally meets up with him (in a hilarious saloon scene), she finds out that Billy Darling is not who she thought he was and her brother might still be alive. Now in need of someone to track her lost brother, who better to ask but Mr. Darling himself? When he accepts her offer, Esmerelda encounters bank robbers, Billy's renegade brothers, and finally, love.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most romantic stories I've ever read. From the first page, I was interested in the characters. Their interactions are sometimes so hilarious that I caught myself laughing out loud at them. Esmerelda and Billy do not trust one another at first, but they are so drawn to each other that when they finally kiss, sparks fly. Billy is the perfect hero. He's been a hired gun, but he desires more--specifically, a badge. He's tired of fighting on the wrong side of the law, but his brothers' reputation has soiled his own. There is a clear turning point when Billy is wounded and Esmerelda takes care of him. She sees a gentler side to his nature, and...well, to continue would be to spoil the plot for you.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Nothing comes easily to the couple, but in the end their love and Billy's persistence are rewarded. It's a most satisfying ending to a beautifully-written story. I started this one afternoon and stayed up late into the night to finish it. It's one of those books that leaves me a little sad to have to part with these characters. If you enjoy historical romance, do not hesitate to try "Nobody's Darling." ( )