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Adella's Enemy Kindle Edition

4.1 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

"If you like Hell on Wheels (the AMC TV series), you’ll love Adella’s Enemy."
The War Between the States ended five years ago, but she still pursues her enemy…

Rebel spy turned government rabble rouser Adella Willows receives her mission straight from a Washington senator—play havoc with the Katy Railroad and derail its bid to win the race. The senator craves wealth. Adella craves revenge against the man responsible for her brother’s death. But her plans crumble into chaos when she enters a battle of wits with the railroad's foreman.

An ocean separates him from his failures in Ireland, but he’s still haunted by those who died…

Seasoned railroad foreman Cormac McGrady’s sole desire is keeping his workmen safe and employed, which means keeping the Katy ahead of its rivals. But the beautiful spy bedeviling his railroad needs protecting as well. Cormac must choose between winning the race and winning Adella's heart, while Adella must choose whether she lives for revenge or dies for love.
Can the pursuit of an old enemy lead to a new love?

Adella's Enemy is a Western historical romantic suspense novella that features subterfuge, saboteurs, and sweet romance by Golden Heart® and Laramie® award-winner Jacqui Nelson. It can be read standalone or as part of the Passion's Prize anthology in the Steam! Romance and Rails series.

Discover
Adella's Enemy by reading this thrilling post-Civil War American frontier adventure today!
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Jacqui Nelson:

"[Ms.] Nelson easily lures readers along on a romantic, suspenseful ride in the post-Civil War American frontier. It's a story wit high stakes, a realistic setting, and larger-than-life characters." - Vanessa Kelly,
USA Today Bestselling Author (Love Rocks column)
"Spellbinding stories that whisper to your soul." - Linda Broday,
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Praise for Adella's Enemy, a selection of comments by Amazon reviewers:

"Sexy Celtic hero in the wild west - can't get much better than that."
"Adella is feisty, funny, and truly kick-ass."
"The characters come alive on the page."
"This book was terrific. I'm a big fan of
Hell on Wheels. Just the kind of story to enjoy off screen."
"Historical romance and drama you'll never forget."
"Loved the twists and turns and unseen developments."
"A beautiful story of falling in love and hidden secrets."
"A gripping tale of love, loyalty and revenge."
"Spellbinding and unpredictable."
"Pulled me into the American West faster than a shot of whiskey could be downed on a hot day."

From the Author

It's an anthology. It's a story in three parts with interlinked characters and an over-arcing plot. It's inspired by AMC's hit TV show Hell on Wheels. That's how fellow Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalists E.E. Burke and Jennifer Jakes roped me into writing Adella's Enemyand becoming part of the Steam! Romance and Rails Series. Adella and Cormac's adventure in 1870 Kansas is a standalone story that can be read on its own or as part of the Passion's Prizeanthology (also featuring the novellas Eden's Sin by Jennifer Jakes and Kate's Outlawby E.E. Burke).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EE1UW5E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jacqui Nelson Western Historical Romance Adventures (November 16, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

About the author

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Jacqui Nelson
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Fall in love with a new Old West... where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. You'll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada. I've been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® — but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.

Follow me on Amazon to be the first to hear about new releases.

Visit my website ~ www.JacquiNelson.com ~ and subscribe to my newsletter to receive a FREE STORY and be the first to hear about exclusive bonus content.

DO YOU LOVE HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCES?

Then why not join historical western romance authors and readers on the Pioneer Hearts Facebook group and share your favorite stories, photos, and all things Old West? www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
88 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful story of espionage and love, with an absorbing plot and beautiful portrayal of falling in love. Moreover, they appreciate the well-developed characters and the book's strength, with one customer noting how it portrays protectiveness towards those weaker than the protagonist.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

17 customers mention "Story quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of espionage and love, describing it as absorbing and suspenseful, with one customer noting how it skillfully blends fact with fiction.

"...The author gives a very believable story full of so much pain and loss but at the same time she gives you humor that makes you smile as these two go..." Read more

"Loved the book! It was a great story. Just wish there was more of it! :)..." Read more

"...Unfortunately, their aims are in total opposition. The absorbing plot - about a young English lass who so loved her brother that she's taken a..." Read more

"...It is an interesting story and gets complex in some areas. I did love the big Irishman, Cormac, and his interaction with his men as well as Adella." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a wonderful read, with one customer noting it gets better with each book in the series.

"What a wonderful story mixing fact with fiction delivering an outstand read of two railroad in a race to see who will finish first along with one..." Read more

"...She gets better with each book she writes! Looking forward to her next book!" Read more

"...spying, romance and sex all take place between the pages of this wonderful novella which makes it impossible to put down...." Read more

"...Cormac will protect Adella no matter what. This was an interesting read for me. I have never really read anything on the railroads in the west...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, with one customer highlighting the strong female protagonist and another noting the surprises in character development throughout the story.

"...Adella is a wonderful character she is down to earth with her own fears, needs and wants but admits when she is wrong and tries to fix her mistakes..." Read more

"...Great characters in Cormac and Adella - absolutely!..." Read more

"...I loved how every single character mattered to the story. I loved the twists and turns and unseen developments...." Read more

"...a railroad rivalry, a handsome Irishman and a beautiful and smart heroine! An interesting story with a unique plot and well developed characters...." Read more

4 customers mention "Strength"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the strength of the book, with one review highlighting its credibility and another noting how it portrays characters' protective nature towards those weaker than them.

"...Great characters in Cormac and Adella - absolutely! They show their every quality both the good ones and the bad, which makes them extremely..." Read more

"...Cormac's honor, loyalty, fidelity, protectiveness of those weaker than him, and determination to live by his own code of honor won me over very early..." Read more

"...Adella and Cormac are strong, compelling people who, though larger than life, remain entirely believable as they struggle to achieve their..." Read more

"...Her heroine, Adella, is feisty, funny, and truly kick-ass in a time when women were encouraged to stay in their proper places...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2017
    What a wonderful story mixing fact with fiction delivering an outstand read of two railroad in a race to see who will finish first along with one women who wants revenge for the wrong that was done to her family. The most powerful things in life is fear, revenge and guilt which will drive a person to do things they might not normal do. The author gives you a story built from the above with a twist of right and wrong along with love, wants and needs.

    You have to love a woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in making hard choices going after what she wants, in this case it is revenge for her brother’s death. What drivers her is the last words she said to him before he went to war and the guilt of not helping him when he needed her the most. Adella is a wonderful character she is down to earth with her own fears, needs and wants but admits when she is wrong and tries to fix her mistakes even if the outcome is her own death. She is driven by the need to bring the killer justice for the death of her brother. The author gives heart stopping moments that make you hold your breath as danger takes over life and death driven by the need for revenge by so many who feel they have been done wrong. As you turn the pages you find many trying moments with danger, suspense and a little mystery entwined with a passionate love story and what each person is willing to do for those they love. There are spies all around as the table turns when one man steps forward trying not only to get the Katie’s lines laid in record time but to keep the woman who has stolen his heart safe even from herself.

    Adella and Cormac both have past that haunts them both have lost so much, neither can forgive or forget the role they have played in that lose. They are both headstrong doing their best to do their jobs. The outcome isn’t looking good for either of them as they have more choices to make that could lead to one or both along with a whole town at deaths door. Cormac characters is strong, alpha, his orders are followed to the T by men who would give their lives for him. He is kind, caring but demanding, fair and always a gentleman. Adella drives him crazy from the moment he pulls her out of the mud, he has doubts he will ever be sane again. Adella feels the same about him, every where she turns he seems to be in her way making demands of his own. Something has to give soon before their passion takes a lead, leaving them with broken hearts and death all around them.

    The author gives a very believable story full of so much pain and loss but at the same time she gives you humor that makes you smile as these two go head to head with sparks flying and tempers rising. She gives you different points of view from the farmer wife’s, the town’s people, the railroad workers and the investors which gives you a very well rounded story pulling you in from the first page until the last. You can feel the pain of each character not only from what they have lost but are still losing. The chemistry and passion between Adella and Cormac is strong as well as their doubt of what they believe is true. This was a very well written story that really pulls you in keeping you invested. My heart really went out to so many for many different reasons which leaves little doubt the only winners will be the railroad investors. This story has a wonderful plot with great characters you will love. I really enjoyed the authors writing style she has a way of bring the story to life giving you a story that hooks you from the start. I haven’t read anything by her before and am looking forward to reading more of her work. This was really an emotional read with wife’s losing their homes with little or no money to show for it, so much is lost with very little to gain and two people who are trying their best to right a wrong. One can’t always believe what they are told and even less of what they read. If you are looking for a very entertaining story that really pulls you with danger, suspense and love give this author a try.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2016
    Loved the book! It was a great story. Just wish there was more of it! :)

    I read this after I read her newer books and my star reflects how Jacqui's story-telling in this book is compared to her others. She gets better with each book she writes! Looking forward to her next book!
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2013
    What can I say about this debut book? Fantastic storytelling - oh yes! Mind you I expected it from Ms. Nelson who has won the Golden Heart.
    Great characters in Cormac and Adella - absolutely! They show their every quality both the good ones and the bad, which makes them extremely stimulating. Through every page, I never stopped wanting them both to succeed. Unfortunately, their aims are in total opposition.
    The absorbing plot - about a young English lass who so loved her brother that she's taken a vow of revenge against the man she believes caused his death, a wealthy railroad tycoon. Or the other part of the story about a strong, handsome Irishman who believes his loved ones died to save him and God-forbid that he ever causes anyone to lose their life because of him again. Then we have two railroads in a deadly competition to reach their finish before the other. Adella's objective is to stop The Katy Line from winning the race in any way she can. Cormac's purpose is to get that rail laid and help his crew do a job they can be proud of. We meet men and women who are willing to cause death and destruction on behalf of both the Katy and their competitors. Intrigue, spying, romance and sex all take place between the pages of this wonderful novella which makes it impossible to put down.
    Now I'll tell you what I liked the best about the story. It was so credible. I could see the gullies of mud on the streets and in the ditches, smell the working man's sweat and most of all I felt their anguish and the terrible battle both Cormac and Adella faced in making their final choices between loyalty, revenge or love.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023
    Unfortunately, I couldn't buy into the story of Adella's plight. So, for me, the story lacked the angst it was apparently meant to convey.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2015
    A good story about the pitfalls and hardships of building the first railroad through Emporia, Kansas. Competition for completion; purchasing of farms; remembrances of the Civil War and the hate that remained in many hearts. Adella Willows is a spy and trying to delay the building of one railroad while many in town work to complete the other railway. It is an interesting story and gets complex in some areas. I did love the big Irishman, Cormac, and his interaction with his men as well as Adella.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013
    I didn't much care for this book. I just did not connect with the main characters or care much what happened to them. For some reason, I found myself wanting to skim through and get this one over with.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Elizabeth Clare
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2013
    I'd love to read more from Jacqui Nelson! "Adella's Enemy" is excellent. It's a great story, very evocative of the time, the characters are well-drawn and believable and I didn't want it to end. I'll certainly be reading her novels when they're available!
  • P Amsden
    5.0 out of 5 stars if You Love Hell On Wheels You'll Love This Story!
    Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2013
    Two people with different goals - one to stop the progress on Katy Line and wreak revenge on her enemy, one to build the Katy Line as quickly as possible and keep everyone working. If you like Hell on Wheels you'll love this story. Really it has enough to tempt and interest all readers with great characters, skillfully drawn and attention to historical detail to make you feel as if you're there during the building of the railroad. You'll be held captive by a skilful and imaginative story-teller as she weaves a story of revenge, forgiveness, mistakes made and lessons learned as two strong-willed people learn to accept their past while learning to love in the present.
  • Marlin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh writing style a pleasure to read!
    Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2013
    Jacqui takes a spirited heroine bent on revenge adds a distracting Irish hero and invites us to join them on an exciting adventure through the American West. Along the way we are introduced to a cast of engaging characters set in a robust historical backdrop. Jacqui's fresh writing style skillfully maintains the tension and intrigue until the journey's end. And, don't forget the romance! It's an ending that satisfies on every level. Thank you, Jacqui, for good read!
  • MK
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2016
    A new take on the classic western romance with believable characters and some good twists in the telling. This is a shortish but enjoyable read with lots of suspense and good romance. I look forward to more from Jacqui Nelson.
  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2014
    not my usual type of read but I did quite enjoy it,light reading for holidays,typical storyline but enjoyable all the same.

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