LIBERTY BELLE

Patricia PacJac Carroll is the author of Liberty Belle. A refreshing book combining a belle from Georgia with the Wild West. A different book from the others set in the West.

This is PacJac's first book, and like more authors today, she took the road to self-publishing. The number of Independent Publishers is growing daily. To become your own publisher is becoming more popular.

The opening scene is wonderful. I wanted to read more. Jilted by her groom, Liberty Auraria Longstreet decides to become independent. She runs away from her controlling mother, but her aunt Flora, a spinster, decides to go with her. They flee for the West where Libby hopes to get a job teaching school. She brings her horse, Star, along in hopes of one day having a ranch.

She and Aunt Flora are hilariously innocent. Whatever can happen to them does.

The writing is good. PacJac controls her subject matter and the book is interesting. I was hooked from the first chapter. I even got up at 3:30 a.m. and read for an hour. You may see a few errors, the author will admit. I would still give the book 5 stars. Way to go PacJac. There will be another book out this fall, Golden Dreams, and I'm looking forward to it.

Set in 1859 Denver, Liberty Belle is a story of finding freedom and forgiveness. A jilted bride, a wayward sheriff, a small boy, outlaws, and a gallows provide plenty of action, romance, and hope. Liberty Longstreet was left at the altar, but that wasn’t the worst of her day. She awakens to the fact that she needs to declare independence from her controlling mother. Wanting her freedom and to find a man of her choosing, Libby leaves home for faraway Denver. She just doesn't count on being robbed, falling for a wayward sheriff, or being accused of murder. Sheriff Wade Calder throws down his badge in a quest for revenge. Instead, he takes responsibility for his enemy’s young son. Wanting only to be free, Wade runs into Libby, and she wins what is left of his heart. Unfortunately, he has nothing to offer her until he picks up his badge. His honor is restored, but it may cost Libby her life. Together they learn the cost of freedom and the wealth of forgiveness.