When I read the back of the book blurb for Mark of the Sire by Larion Wills, I thought I'd be dealing with a period romance that might not be my cup of tea. I was especially thrown by the title, which seemed to place the book more in English realms than in Colorado.

But after reading a contemporary adventure / romance by the same author, I knew that there would be a good story in between the relationship issues. And, you know, I really liked Mark of the Sire! Maybe I'm just not accustomed to the wide scope of the romance genre, but I found this novel to be more of a psychological western than just a romance (a girl gets guy story). It had the feel of old Bonanza or High Chaparral TV episodes that dealt with more behind the bad guy than an evil look, a black hat, and a fast gun.

Mark of the Sire tells the story of the ill-fated Van Anders and Fletcher families and their attempts to settle the Colorado Rockies. Enter spunky Catherine Lincoln, the daughter of a New York physician, who has fled to her uncle's ranch and his strict and limited vision of what a woman's place was. Cathy soon finds herself in the midst of gun battles and revenge as she tries to come to the aid of two very handsome young men. Her attempts at patching them up medically leads to gossip and danger.

Mark of the Sire is a fast-paced Wild West adventure with touches of humor and pathos. Larion Wills weaves a complex story of family loyalty and forgotten love. Highly recommended.