Jeff Guinn

After his wife commits suicide, Cash McLendon is on the run, convinced that his wealthy father-in-law will blame him and send his muscle to blot him out. McLendon heads for Glorious, a wannabe boom town in the Arizona Territory where his true love is running the dry goods store with her father. Guinn, who has written mostly non-fiction, is pitch perfect in creating this fictional town and its inhabitants: a mayor, sheriff, saloon-owning couple, prostitutes and those prospecting for silver. And you'll root for McLendon as he tries to win Gabrielle's heart. Guinn misfires in a couple of areas. His foreshadowing is anything but subtle, so readers will have a good sense of what's ahead. And the ending isn't completely satisfying. But this is the first of a trilogy, and Guinn has me anxiously waiting to see what Cash McLendon's next adventure will bring.

- TIM COTTER