Dry Moon

By Karyna Darosa

Hellion...Half-breed...Whore?

Cassie Taylor has heard them all. Proud spinster, suffragist, and owner of the water rights to all the neighboring ranches, she is both the most powerful and most despised resident in the rough and tumble cattle town of Encanto, Arizona. After a severe drought forces her to ration the water supply, even the few friends Cassie has turn on her. Tempers flare and tensions build while everyone awaits a hard rain.

Not all are content to wait and unite to rid the town of the crazy female who thinks herself any man's equal. But Cassie's prepared to face any challenge. Until the day a sexy and very dangerous drifter rides into town, bent on changing the balance of power.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1601540353
• ISBN13: 9781601540355
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Wild Rose Press
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

DRY MOON captures the spirited nature that is so prevalent in cattle raising areas.

With a severe drought causing grave concerns amongst the property owners and cattle barons of Encanto, Arizona, Cassie Taylor becomes a target because she owns all the water rights and the irrigation company. She's not popular amongst the `decent' folks because of her upbringing and the fact that she's a woman who refuses to conform to society's expectations, but that's never bothered her. What does bother her is the immediate attraction she feels for cattle rancher Barrington's hired gun, Cole. The lack of rain has put Cassie in the most difficult position of having to start rationing water - a fact that does not sit well with any of the ranchers but one man in particular takes it as a personal affront - Amos Barrington. He owns the most cattle and land in the area therefore believes he should be provided with more water than what's being allotted to the other ranchers. Barrington's not above strong-arm tactics to try to force Cassie to bow down to his wishes but she refuses to be cowed by or show fear in the face of his bullying. Fortunately when push comes to shove Cassie finds an unlikely ally in Cole who comes to her defense on more than one occasion. Cole's not your average gun for hire. He has morals and genuinely cares for the people around him. His instincts tell him that Barrington is up to no good but he doesn't realize just how truly despicable the man is until it's almost too late. As things heat up between Cole and Cassie, Barrington plots his vengeance against the two people who dare to defy him. Who will win in this battle of wills and what will happen to anyone else who tries to intervene? Karyna DaRosa's DRY MOON captures the spirited nature that is so prevalent in cattle raising areas. From the very first page readers will find themselves transfixed by Cassie's gutsy behavior and her bravado in standing up to Barrington and his minions. I wasn't sure what to think of Cole in the beginning since he is a hired gun but he quickly won me over because of his reaction to Barrington's caustic attitude toward his employees and his wife. There are many characters throughout this story whom I found intriguing and couldn't wait to learn more about - especially Barrington's wife, Kathleen. Now there's a woman with some gumption. This is a thrilling story which will have your pulse pounding as you read about Cassie and Cole's unusual relationship and Barrington's determination to destroy them. Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

An invigorating novel filled with action, suspense and passion

I have to admit I am rather impressed with this book. Ms. DaRosa is not just an author, she's a storyteller. The story evolves into an exhilarating tale of suspense, action, and passion. Not only is the author able to effectively allow the reader to close their eyes and envision the surroundings of the character to the smallest detail, the reader is able to feel the emotions right down to the pure hatred of some. The author is excellent at introducing characters and then developing them throughout, bringing the story to life. The main characters are surrounded by an equally developed cast. You admire Cassie's resolve and are frustrated by her stubbornness with Cole. And Cole, well, this character grabs you from the start and just doesn't let go. His mystery and style are captivating. Saying anything more about this story would be unfair to the author since she does it so much better. In my opinion, this is truly a successful debut for Ms. DaRosa. I am typically not an admirer of westerns, but must say...I reckon I'm now a fan.

Debut novel- a true SUCCESS

I have to say, I'm not big on romance novels per say, but this is one great book! The storyline catches you from the beginning and keeps you going until its end. Ms. DaRosa does an excellent job of keeping the reader interested. She's excellent at depicting her characters and providing a vivid account of the story, so that in your head you create the characters, location, etc. -- Just what a good writer is supposed to do! Cudos to Ms. DaRosa for her this successful debut I look forward to more from Ms. DaRosa.

This one will keep you turning the pages.

I am not normally a romance reader. However, this book left me wanting more. This is a must read for anyone looking for some passion. I give it 5 stars.

One of the best historical romances I've read!

Though I usually prefer Regency to Westerns, I was NOT disappointed in this rendition. I think anyone, regardless of their preference, will love this story. It's a thrilling, exciting, nail-biting ride (and the passion is RED HOT!!) that had me turning the pages all through the night. I can't wait to read more from this author.