western romance.
Out of works written by dozens of historical romance writers, the Apache novels by Janis Reams Hudson are consistently the most interesting, passionate and suspenseful. The unusual relationship between Matt and Serena Colton is handled with a delicacy and sensativity that is unparalleled. Also, Matt's first wife (Angela from Apache Promise) is murdered in the opening pages of this novel, so Hudson must also deal with the grief of loss, the difficulties in healing, and the prejudices that surround Matt and Serena's new love. All of this is creatively and brilliantly written, with attention paid to the interpersonal relationships that create and define a family. The Coltons are not merely a back-drop of supporting extras, but characters that behave in distinctly different manners and reflect the diversity and strength of an enduring frontier ranching family. Romance novels can seem trite and cliched, but this one pushes those boundaries and achieves heart-felt, unforgettable poignancy.
