WINNING OVER THE WRANGLER, set in 1882, takes this unpromising start to a friendship and builds on it by degrees. Sybil is travelling with a female friend Mercy, visiting western Canada. She writes newspaper columns under a pen name and as she's only twenty nobody imagines that the cynical man of the letters is herself. Sybil decides to gain information from Brand to write a portrait of a larger than life cowboy and his hard means of making a living. Brand is happy enough to talk, when the girls bring his dinner to his lonesome campfire, which he shares with a fierce dog. Life is pretty basic for such travelling men. Then the resident cowboys set Brand up with an unrideable bronc. Sybil is more than impressed, but Brand will be moving on next day. How can she see more of him?

There is plenty of suspense in this story. Brand's unsavoury family members may have been scared off by the Mounties, but he doesn't want to risk meeting them as they would press him for information about the ranch-owners. Trouble comes from other sources in this open country - like cougars. Brand doesn't know that Sybil intends to write about him and she doesn't know why he prefers to remain a nonentity, so there's a clear conflict of interests. If Sybil does find out the truth will she still think well of the wrangler? And how can they build any kind of future together if they are not being honest?

Linda Ford has put together a compelling story and Sybil's Christian convictions make for a sweet inspirational romance, seasoned with sweat and blood. Readers of previous books by this author will know what to expect while new readers can jump right in and be surprised by the gritty realism and strong characterisation. Even Dawg comes across as a genuine four-footed friend. WINNING OVER THE WRANGLER is a fine historical western romance, full of excitement and tenderness.

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