GUARDED HEARTS by T.K. Conklin – Romance, Western, Suspense

Guarded Hearts by T K Conklin is a sensual romance in the Wild West, with all the passion and excitement natural to the setting.

Sparks fly between a man with an outlaw past and a woman with a terrifying gift to heal or harm. Strykes is a man haunted both by a violent childhood and his time in an outlaw gang. But he has found a place in Rimrock, where he met LaRisa, an auburn-haired woman whom the townspeople have labeled a “witch” due to her healing herbs and rumors of her “powers”.

LaRisa has kept her distance from people, afraid of her gift of healing touch that can turn dangerous, even deadly. But, when she comes to town to deliver her medicinal herbs, she makes her way to the livery with tasks for Strykes such as shoeing her horse or fixing a spring in her wagon. He is only too happy to oblige the auburn-haired beauty. The attraction between them is instantaneous, yet they both are hesitant to act on it, fearing they would hurt the other– he from his violent past, and she from her “witch” power.

But when Strykes arrives at her isolated cabin, riddled with bullets, LaRisa knows she must use her healing touch to save him.

During his time recovering, they discover passion and love in each other’s arms until  Strykes’ past catches up to him and  they both must run for their lives together. If they survive this threat, can they overcome their fears about hurting each other?

This romance is fast-paced and riveting, with the reader easily captured by the growing relationship between the two leads, both wounded by their past and yet desperately in love, hoping for a future with the one they can’t live without.

Guarded Hearts is the second book in the Wild Love series but can stand strong as its own title. There are a few references to events in the first book, but nothing that takes away from this one.

Guarded Hearts by T.K. Conklin won Grand Prize in the 2022 CIBA Laramie Awards for Americana Fiction.