Hostage

HOSTAGE
Barri Byran
ISBN: 1-58608-537-9
2006
New Concepts Publishing
Ebook
Historical Romance

Abigail Warren is on her way to El Paso to work caring for the sick as part of the Missionary Alliance. The Alliance purportedly assists young women who have made a wrong turn get bath on the right path. In Abigail’s case, she was working as a prostitute and chose to work for the Alliance’s mission in El Paso rather than go to jail. When she and her escort, Reverend Rufus Abernathy arrive at the Horse Head Crossing stagecoach way station, Abigail sees her first exhibition of frontier justice.

Sheriff Wesley Martin is escorting a prisoner, one Raul Mendoza to jail. When Abigail first sees Raul her feelings are not born of fear, but of compassion for the handsome man: the sheriff has stripped him naked, bound him to a tree and tied his testicles in wire. When Abigail reaches out to help the handsome man the Sheriff and Reverend forbid her to approach him. Despite her statements that she will obey the Reverend’s demands, Abigail waits until nightfall and proceeds to try to help Raul. However, he has loosened his bonds himself and when the others at the way station realize he is free, he takes Abigail as his hostage.

The writing team of Herb and Billie, aka Barri Bryan, weave a seamless story. It is so well told that the reader cannot tell where one leaves off and the other begins. It is easy to believe that the connection their characters share is one born of their own time spent writing and living together.

Both Abigail and Raul are wonderful strong characters, each with their own perspective on life that inevitably leads them to their discovery of each other. Raul is not only a man of his time, he is a Latin aristocrat and as such, there are things he feels he cannot forgive. When confronted with having to choose between following his cultural inclinations or his heart through the talented writing of these terrific authors the reader becomes part of his analysis and feels the full impact of his decision.

Abigail as well is confronted with decisions that will impact the course of her life. She gives the reader permission to be strong and at the same time compassionate.

The scenes are rich with descriptions of each locale, transporting the reader to that time and place. For instance, when Abigail is standing in the oasis type pool and turns to find herself face to face with Raul’s gun the reader will feel the cool, refreshing water after a long dusty ride coupled with the fear that their life is about to end.

HOSTAGE is part of the Captured Anthology and a stand alone story. Barri Bryan’s tale in the anthology has left this reviewer eager to read the rest of the stories as well as this talented author’s work. HOSTAGE is the kind of story to be read with someone to cuddle with as the summer day turns to a cool evening.

Reviewed by Gina
July 2006