Mollie's McGuire by Gwynn Morgan ISBN (electronic) 1-58749-495-7 ISBN (print) 1-58749-533-3

Mollies McGuire Single mom Mollie Rodriguez has her hands full with four teenagers and a demanding job as chief dispatcher for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department. The arrival of the new Chief Criminal Deputy, Wade McGuire, disrupts her orderly life. When he rents her garage apartment, her unwelcome attraction for him becomes a real problem. But when rustlers steal some 4-H calves and kidnap her twins, it’s Wade who puts his life on the line for them. Can Mollie trust her heart and accept that Wade really loves her in spite of the fact cancer has left her less than a whole woman?

Reviews:

"I really enjoyed Mollie’s McGuire; I loved the descriptions of theSouthwest and the snippets of the Spanish language that permeatethis book. Gwynn Morgan has done a superb job at creating endearing and interesting characters. I love Wade; he’s so solemn and emotionally wounded, and yet at the same time so caring. Mollie is perfect as well; she’s fiercely maternal, smart, and scared to death of trying to love again. The law enforcement procedures are portrayed very accurately, and serve to heighten the tensions and bring a sense of stark realism to this piece. Mollie's McGuire is a great read from Gwynn Morgan!" - Reviewed by Michelle for Fallen Angels Reviews, 5 ANGELS

"MOLLY’S MCGUIRE is the second book in the Copper Stars of Cochise trilogy, following the first book PENNY’S LUCK. I remember Molly from the first story and was thrilled to see her find someone to love and Wade was the perfect person for her. You do not have to read PENNY’S LUCK to enjoy MOLLY’S MCGUIRE it will definitely stand alone. Gwynn Morgan is such a talented author and her love for writing shows in all her stories. I will be waiting on pins and needles to read the third book in this wonderful series." - Reviewed by Dina Smith of Romance Junkies Reviews, RATING 4 1/2

"Mollie's McGuire is a wonderful story words can't accurately describe. It is so beautifully written that it will touch your heart and soul on many different levels. The characters' realism had me questioning if they were fact or fiction. It really brought out the truth to beauty is in the eye of the beholder." - Shelina Emery for MyShelf Reviews, Highly recommended.

"The second story in the Cooper Stars Of Chochise Series, the author has very successfully brought together a group of characters that give a good community feel to the story. She manages to ably convey that they have know each other for many years... It is unusual to have a man in his late forties and a woman of 39 with 4 children as the hero and heroine in a romance novel. Gwynn Morgan handles this in very well and makes the hero very dishy. Mollie, the heroine, is not only 39 but also a woman who has had her breasts removed because of cancer and opted not to have reconstructive surgery. How heartening for mature women and cancer survivors to have such a strong heroine portrayed as a sexy woman who stirs the handsome Wade... I enjoyed this story and while it would have been good to read the first of the series first, the story stands well on it’s own. Well worth a read." - Reviewed by Mary for A Romance Review

Excerpt:

Mollie wanted her kids home, not out there somewhere with who-knew-whom, maybe scared, hurt or.... Stop it, there's no use borrowing trouble. They'll be all right. I have to believe they'll be all right.

"You ought to go to bed," Wade said, breaking in to her self-chiding thoughts. "I wouldn't be able to sleep no matter what."

"I won't be able to sleep either," Mollie replied. "How could I sleep when I don't know where my kids are, whether they may be hurt or hungry? Santa Madre, what kind of a mother do you think I am?"

Perhaps he heard the anger and pain in her voice, but his reply caught her off guard. "A very good and concerned mother, but one who needs to keep her strength up and take care of herself, too. Sometimes it's selfish not to be a little selfish, if you know what I mean."

His gentle words were too much. The tears she'd fought to hold at bay suddenly welled up. This time she could not blink them away. She fisted her hands, grasping the edge of the tablecloth as the surge of unleashed emotion threatened to sweep her away.

In a breath he was on his feet and around the table. When he caught her by the shoulders and half-lifted her out of the chair, she could not resist. Turning into his arms, she burrowed her face in the crisp fabric of his shirt, surrendering to the wracking sobs.

Although Wade normally hated feminine tears, relief swept him when he saw the first drops begin to leak from Mollie's eyes. She's finally going to let go a little. Thank God.

He just acted, rising to go to her, bodily lifting her from her seat and into his arms. No one should have to cry that way alone. The silent wracking sobs seemed to tear from the depths of Mollie's soul. She did not resist but melted against him, burying her face in the hollow of his shoulder. His shirt was soon wet with her tears, but he didn't mind. He stroked her back in long gentle sweeps, murmuring senseless words as if he were soothing a frightened child or an injured animal.

He didn't know how long they stood there together before her sobs subsided into hiccupping sniffles and finally to shuddering breaths. He felt the stiffening of her body an instant before she lifted her head.

"Aye de mi. Why did you let me go on that way?" She sniffed as she pulled back, as far as he'd let her. Lifting one hand from his arm where she'd crumpled a handful of shirt sleeve, she scrubbed at her eyes. "I've soaked your shirt and gotten it all wrinkled."

"You needed to," he said simply. "I was worried because you were too controlled, too calm, holding it all in. You needed to get some of the feelings out, release some of that growing pressure. Why shouldn't I let you?"

They were still close. He circled her waist with one arm, the other hand resting on her shoulder. Her face was just inches away, and in spite of the signs of weeping, she still looked beautiful. Long inky lashes were clumped into star-points while lingering moisture gave her dark eyes a peculiar luster. Her lips still quivered slightly. Warm, full lips that drew first his gaze and then his lips with a magnetic pull.

There was nothing hesitant or cautious about this kiss. It might have been as much a reaction as Mollie's tears had been, but he sensed neither of them was going to resist. From leaning away as if to break free, she went in a heartbeat to flowing against him. She clasped both arms around him, arched into his body and stretched upward into his kiss, her lips as eager and active as his were. They kissed with a blind urgency, voracious driving need, as if there was no one save the two of them in the entire world.

Rationality returned like a wash of ice water. What in God's name are we doing? Wade raised his head, gently holding Mollie back from reaching to continue the kiss with one hand woven into her hair at the back of her neck. She gave a slight mew, like a hungry kitten, just before her eyes flew open.