Arlington Park and Chicago, Illinois; Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota and other locations - the Present

Daisy Matthews loves horses and is an assistant trainer for Sam Gallagher, and RainbowBlaze is an especial favorite of hers. When the mare's new owner, Nicholas Underwood, comes to see his horse, Daisy is unsure what to do. She has been with Rainbow since her birth and does not wish to lose contact with her. The gorgeous Nick is twice her age but she feels things for him that no other man has ever made her feel, and when Nick makes her part owner of RainbowBlaze, she really does not know how to react.

Nick, who had taken possession of RainbowBlaze in lieu of a debt, knows nothing about horses or horseracing but is more than willing to have Daisy educate him. He knows that she is trouble but is fascinated with the willowy young woman. Nick and his partner, Tom Harrison, own and build custom canoes at Paddle Dreams. Before they are approved for production, Nick takes each prototype to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota for a trial run.

Daisy has reservations about starting a relationship with Nick. He has money and a good family, and Daisy doesn't know who her father is. Her mother didn't know either. Maxine, Daisy's older half-sister, has an abusive, avaricious husband named Reggie. Neither has any qualms about hitting on Daisy for money. Her grandmother always told her that blood and family were important, but Daisy has reached her tolerance level with her sister and brother-in-law. She wants to protect Nick and hopes that he will never know about her past or about Maxine and Reggie. But, as the two of them learn about each other's passion and pride in their work and find that age is only chronology, Daisy begins to think that there is hope for a future with Nick...if only she can shake Reggie.

Cassie and Clint Travers are Daisy's foster parents and own a horse farm. They only want what is best for Daisy. Nick's parents; his sister, Angie; his housekeeper, Mrs. B.; Tom's wife, Thelma, and other secondaries make their concerns and opinions known. Most -- not all -- are good, and Daisy needs all the help in the confidence department that she can get.

The descriptions in WILLOW SMOKE make the people and locations leap off the pages. I wish I could have gone on the camping trip with Nick and Daisy and seen first-hand the absolutely gorgeous scenery. The characters are experts in their chosen professions, and I admire the way that Amanda Burns lets them tell the story. Some may not like the age-difference between the hero and heroine, but it is truly a non-issue. There is danger, excitement, friendship, idea exchanges, and some moments are so utterly poignant that I wanted to hug somebody, and a couple so terrifying that I felt like running away. WILLOW SMOKE is pure romance. I recommend it.

Vi Janaway