Catherine Campbell was nearly forty years old and still unmarried. Although she hadn't lacked for suitors in the past, the romances just seemed to fizzle and die a natural death. It wasn't because her father was the sheriff-he wouldn't run potential husbands out of town, surely? The spinster schoolmistress with graying hair and a growing collection of character lines was still treated like the little girl her father so wanted her to be. Although lively and intelligent, did she have the strength to defy him in pursuit of her own happiness?

Dark with devilish good looks, Luke Matthews was not afraid of hard work. He had a dream-a goal-to own his own ranch, instead of working for others. To do that would require something he didn't have. Money, and lots of it. Working on the last cattle run through Montana should bring him almost within reach of his goal, but this last job had thrown a few surprises that he was not expecting at all. One of them was a strikingly lovely young brunette who was quite distant and reserved. Would she think him good enough for her?

Catherine and Luke meet in the most undesirable circumstances imaginable. Instant attraction is born, but restraint is enforced-Luke is just passing through. However, Fate has another plan in mind, throwing these two characters together time and time again. Will the hurdles that are thrown in for good measure tear them apart or bring them closer together?

NOTHING LESS THAN LOVE, although at times a bit slow, is a book well worth persevering with. It will tug at the heart strings. Janet Mills has once again demonstrated her ability as an artist with words. You can visualize the snow drifts, feel the raw emotions and wonder at the seeming insanity. NOTHING LESS THAN LOVE draws on parallel lives, giving a glimpse of what might have been if things had taken a different path. Most important, it's about coming home, home to where the heart is. Ms Mills is to be congratulated on another well written book.

Reviewed by Emilie Spargo
(c) September 2004