Faster Than The Rest (MacLarens of Fire Mountain Book 2)

I enjoyed reading Faster than the Rest, a book about people who live in the town of Fire Mountain. As is the case in many books, the people who love each other tend to be the ones who are their own worst enemies. Jamie, is one of four MacLaren brothers. Other brothers are Will, Drew, and Niall who is oldest. In this instance, Jamie MacLaren and Victoria (Wright) Wicklin harbor secrets over several years. As teenagers in Fire Mountain, they became a couple. In fact, before taking on an out-of-town assignment Jamie had asked Victoria to make him. To the surprise of everyone, Victoria decides to marry Hamilton Wicklin and she moves to San Francisco.The story begins with a San Francisco waterfront evening scene. It is not a friendly meeting of friends. On the contrary, what occurs are two dangerous confrontations. In the first, the brother of Jonathon Bellows corners Hamilton Wicklin. Wicklin took advantage of the brother’s drunkenness and stupidity to take everything Jonathon Bellows owned. Now his brother planned to kill him. Unfortunately, both men were surprised by the sound of another, more deadly person’s voice – Miguel Hagen – who had a score to settle with Wicklin. Miguel is many things: a mean, cold-blooded killer, and gang leader. Miguel shot Hamilton multiple times and left him for dead as he pushed off the docks and into the water.The characters in this story are well developed. The reader learns there are secrets that are not shared with the people who need to know. Sam, the sheriff, has a secret love who does not know it at first. Gloria, the saloon owner, had a close friendship with Niall.Anna and Hen Wright, aunt and uncle of the four boys has done a great job of raising the four boys whose own parents had been killed by outlaws when Niall, 12 years old at the time, had hidden the kids then later gotten them to their aunt and uncle. Without playing spoiler I will just say that Jamie and Victoria need to determine what their relationship stands. Victoria that her ‘fan club’ includes the despicable outlaw Miguel Hagen. He would like to have her for himself. Victoria’s husband did not die in the water of San Francisco. He returns to health and seeks to reunite with Victoria. Also, there are legal papers he seeks to assure he will have all the money and other resources he needs for the rest of his life. A will and lawyers get involved. This is an action-packed story with lots of twists and turns.

This is the second book in this series of the McLarens of Fire Mountain. Jamie is the second son, the next to the oldest, he and Tori’s were in love from their teen years. They are planning to wed and suddenly she leaves town to marry a rich man from San Francisco. He is an evil person and anything goes for him as long as he can gain wealth from it. Abuse and then being kidnapped have separated Jamie and Torie, but he rescues her and brings her back home. You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after.

It's a good ole wild west story! With guns, bad guys as well as a sweet yet sad love story!This is a book not to be missed!Off to read the 3rd one in this series! Thank-you

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and stayed up way past my bedtime reading it. And now I have done that again. I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning here and it took a long time before I was able to close my eyes. I just finished this wonderful sequel, and my mind was racing!After finishing the Tougher Than The Rest, I was so in love with the main characters that I wasn't sure I would be able to adjust to new ones. But, I did very easily. Jamie MacLaren is just as interesting as his brother Niall was, and Victoria is even more so than Kate was. Oh, and Niall and Kate are in this one too, just not as much.There is a big secret in this one that you will never guess. I had so many ideas as to what it was that I came up with as the story progressed, but they were all wrong. I was shocked! And then, there was another revelation in the middle, that had me going back to the beginning to re-read the first chapter to make sure I had my facts straight. At first, I thought that the first chapter seemed out of place, but it later made perfect sense. So, don't be put off by the randomness of it at first. I promise you will come back to it.Anyway, I could ramble on all night about how great this book was. So get it yourself and I promise you will agree!

Shirleen Davies has done it again! I have come to find that most sequels don't live up to the excitement of the first book but this one comes through and shines all on its own. Faster Than the Rest is one of those books that comes along and redefines the western/romance genre with its depth of characters and a plot that rivals many other top-rated best sellers. You don't need to read the first book in this series to understand what is going on in this one, but it does allow you to feel like you are in a "special club" and you know more than the next reader. That feeling of exclusivity is one of the author's inherent traits and it flows from her pen into every paragraph of this book. I found this book to be very well written and, to be honest, I couldn't really put it down and was almost devastated when my Kindle's battery died. Of all the days to not have my charger with me! As good as this book is, I don't know how the author will top it. If you are looking for a thrilling and romantic story with a few twists thrown in for good measure, buy this book today and start reading. You won't be sorry.

U.S. Marshall Jamie MacLaren is requested to track down Victoria Wicklin, the woman he loved seven years ago and was to marry. The same woman who left him and married some rich guy. The same woman who has been kidnapped by Miguel Hagan, a ruthless murderer. Jamie won't admit that he still loves Victoria and he is bitter over the way she treated him. But Victoria had her reasons for what she did and she still loves Jamie. Their hidden love takes a beating when they meet again; Jamie is withdrawn and Victoria is afraid to be around him and then angry over Jamie's treatment of her when he does come around. Even though Victoria plans to never return to her husband and plans a divorce, misunderstandings between she and Jamie, plus a suspected murder charge lodged against Victoria only furthers to make Jamie wonder if he really ever knew Victoria. I recommend this book as well as "Tougher Than The Rest", another book by SD that tells the story of Niall, Jamie's older brother.

I loved this sequel to 'Tougher Than The Rest,' and it's great to pick up a book and feel like you already know the characters as old friends. In 'Faster Than The Rest,' we meet Jamie and Victoria, the latter of which is being held hostage by gun point. Victoria manages to escape and runs right into the arms of her lost love, Jamie, but at first they can barely tolerate each other, due to their rather shaky past in which Victoria had jilted him, several years before. The antagonism between the two makes for a lot of delicious tension and I honestly couldn't the book down from start to finish!Faster Than The Rest delivers a nail-biting ride, as the protagonist is incarcerated due to the lies of her husband, and is still being hunted down by the Mexican bandit who kidnapped her. Can Jamie and Victoria get beyond the lies, deceit and machinations of others in order to resurrect their lost love? Only time will tell...Another 5 Star read from Shirleen Davies!

I left off one star as I thought Jamie's thought processes and consequent action was contradictory. Also as in all these stories, the plots always concentrate on lack of communication resulting in opposing opinions, which is becoming slightly tedious. Time for a refreshing change I think.Otherwise I enjoyed the characters. The hero is brave and flawed simultaneously which endures him to the reader. What is there not to like?

I really enjoy the back story of these books but the romance part is very formulaic. She has feelings for him, he denies his for her, he gets confused and they both push away from each other. Everyone around them sees it but them, they kiss, he runs his knuckles down her cheek, he fists his hands on his hips, she splays her hand on his back - it's very repetitive is what I'm saying. With a bit of variety in the English they would be much better books. They are a quick fun read so I ignore it for the most part.

Another good story from this author. Reading in order adds to the pleasure. Jamie had every right to be hurt by Victoria's betrayal and every right to be vengeful but it didn't sit well with him. He's an outstanding man who seeks the truth no matter how hard it hurts. Brilliantly told story. Highly recommended

To be highly recommended.Strong believable characters who survive all th trials and tribulations that life throws at them. Love conquers all.Another success for this author, I've already bought the next book in the series.