SLOW HAND takes place in the wide open spaces of Montana; and as Nicole Powell arrives from sunny Georgia, she quickly realizes that she is out of her element. Nikki has received notice that her long estranged father has died, and as his only relative she must plan his funeral. She runs into a series of problems before she can even reach her destination of Twin Bridges, Montana, however; and a cowboy at the airport helps her out of her predicament. Unbeknownst to Nikki, the cowboy is none other than the lawyer who will be handling her father's will.

Wade Knowlton is on his way home from a meeting when flights are disrupted due to the weather; and gallantly gives up his seat to Nikki. After arriving and discovering that Wade is the lawyer she is to contact, another issue rears its head. She has lost her wallet, with all of her ID and credit cards. Wade, being the gentleman that he is, personally guides her through the process of restoring her identity and provides her a place to stay. It doesn't hurt any that he has taken a fancy to Nikki and wants to get to know her better.

As Wade and Nikki spend time together, the attraction between them grows. Nikki, having been involved in a long string of failed relationships, plans to take care of her business and leave; but thinks a little flirtation with the good-looking lawyer certainly can't hurt anything. Wade takes Nikki home to his family ranch to stay, and then on a trip up the mountain to look for stray cattle. When they are forced to spend the night in a cabin on the mountain, their casual friendship comes to a head. Can Nikki bring herself to trust this cowboy with her heart when so many other men have let her down?

SLOW HAND is historical romance author Victoria Vane's first foray into contemporary romance. The research into the inner workings of the cattle industry, as well as the vivid imagery of the Montana backdrop sets the storyline apart from the average romance tale. SLOW HAND is a meaty, sprawling family saga; as well as a tentative romance between a man burned by previous relationships and a restless, rootless woman. The flirty banter between Wade and Nikki is deliciously wicked, the sexual tension thick, and the love scenes steamy. The well fleshed out secondary characters and subplots of SLOW HAND leave the reader eagerly anticipating the next story in the series; that of Wade's contentious brother Dirk.

Victoria Vane has already achieved indie triumph with her excellent historical romances. SLOW HAND may well be the vehicle for her to attain mainstream success with an established publisher. The rich storyline and vibrant characterizations serve to make SLOW HAND an intense and satisfying read. There are several twists along the way to keep the reader guessing as to where the storyline and romance will go next. SLOW HAND is a quite gratifying read; enjoyable and highly recommended.

Book Summary

In rural Montana...

Wade Knowlton is a hardworking lawyer who's torn between his small-town Montana law practice and a struggling family ranch. He's on the brink of exhaustion from trying to save everybody and everything, when gorgeous Nicole Powell walks into his office. She's a damsel in distress and the breath of fresh air he needs.

Even the lawyers wear boots...

Nicole Powell is a sassy Southern girl who has officially sworn off cowboys after a spate of bad seeds-until her father's death sends her to Montana and into the arms of a man who seems too good to be true. Her instincts tell her to high tail it out of Montana, but she can't resist a cowboy with a slow hand...

Read an Excerpt