Murphy's Rainbow

Sometimes the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow appears when you least expect it!

When spunky Kate Murphy loses her beloved husband Brian to cholera on the Oregon Trail, she fears all her hopes and dreams for the future are lost forever. Desperate for work after most of her belongings were burned by a kind cowboy hoping to spare her condemnation brought on by her husband’s disease, she takes refuge in being a cook and hostess at the local saloon, the Golden Spur. Discovered there by handsome widower Jonathan Cantrell, he immediately hires her to be the housekeeper for sons Cole and Levi. Kate shows Jonathan flashes of her infamous Irish temper, but when he reassures her that the job is legitimate, she travels with him to his ranch and settles in with the lonely family. It is immediately obvious that they have not had a woman’s touch in a very long time, and Kate is kept busy cooking, cleaning and keeping up with two very rambunctious boys. As time passes, Kate befriends a young Native American woman, Moonflower, who was rescued from an abusive relationship by Jonathan’s partner Charlie, and begins to come alive again in the majestic beauty of the Wyoming Territory.

Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, MURPHY'S RAINBOW is a story of how lives can be changed in the “twinkling of an eye.” Both Kate and Jonathan are running from the lives they led before the war and both harbor life changing secrets that may destroy any chance for future happiness. Stretching from the wilderness of the Wyoming Territory to the hustle of bustle of Chicago, Kate and Jonathan’s tale is gripping from beginning to end. They face challenge after challenge and manage to come through them all. The question becomes whether or not the scars that form after each new struggle will prove too much of an impairment to future bliss.

Ms. Lampman has written a majestic tale full of memorable characters who will resonate with the reader long after the last page is turned. The love story of Kate and Jonathan is subtle and the reader will wonder if in fact Ms. Lampman intends for them to be together at story’s end. Also, Ms. Lampman has included wonderful historical details, such as women having the right to vote and the philosophical dilemmas held by soldiers who served on the opposing sides in the Civil War, which are both integral to the plot and add realism to the story. The marvelously detailed bit players in the story add to its charm and realism as well. This reviewer would love to see more stories featuring those characters! This story is a romantic one, as befits a story featuring a heroine who became a widow in the first chapter, therefore the sex scenes are limited. Those that are included are well done and sensitive, while still being sensuous. Her prose is lush and the reader will be able to easily picture every scene. This reviewer has read several previous stories by Ms. Lampman and they all have been excellent. MURPHY'S RAINBOW is just another star in her crown! Highly recommended to all readers of historical romance!

November 2006