"Delightful and Witty Battle of the Sexes"

In the absolutely delightful CALDER'S ROSE author Kate Angell brings life to the expression oft used by authors: "my characters just came to life and wrote themselves". By interpreting this comment literally, Angell has a wonderful and totally different concept for this love story.

Shane McNamara is a man's man and his outlaw hero Dare Calder is just bursting with testosterone. Into Shane's life comes a new writing partner, Devin James and her virginal saloon owner Rose Coltraine. Rose and Dare couldn't be more different and their creators are equally diverse.

From day one Shane and Devin battle over everything from different writing styles, his disorder and her anal neatness, to favorite snack foods and style of dress. The witty dialogue for this sparring pair just sparkles and crackles. Angell's quick wit reminds me of Jennifer Crusie or Karen Robards at their best.

As Rose and Dare write the book, Shane and Devin accuse each other of writing when the other is asleep; to keep an eye on each other they decide to share a bed. The resulting sexual explosion is both romantic and hot. It turns out uptight, buttoned down Devin is not as prudish as she would like Shane to think.

Angell's premise is original and I just fell in love with Shane and Devin. Both writers are well drawn characters and I would love to see more of their collaborations in future books. This is one couple that truly deserves to be seen again.

As a reader, I judge a book successful if it leaves me smiling at the end. Calder's Rose had me smiling, chuckling and giggling all the way from the great opening line: "You talking to yourself or to an imaginary friend?"

Also very clever are the pun names for different designer coffees, Shane's great T-shirts and odd jelly Belly flavors including prune!

Calder's Rose is just a light, fast, funny read with four characters you want to root for and a believable 'happilyeverafter' ending--what more could a reader ask for in a Romance novel?

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted April 14, 2003

Summary

Dare Calder is the kind of rough-riding, fast-shooting hero who will never let himself be saddled with just one woman. Unfortunately, Shane McNamara has agreed to co-write the next book in his Texas West series, and his collaborator is a curvaceous temptress who makes it mighty hard for a man to stick to his guns. Devin isn't sure which is more dangerous, the Old West or the come-and-get-it look in Shane's eyes. As they corral their characters into courtin', Devin swears she'll leave Shane free to roam the range. But with their face-off more likely to come at midnight than high noon, she realizes no one can prevent a happy ending for their story.