RIO – Georgina Gentry
The Texans, Book 2
Zebra
ISBN: 978-1-4201-0851-4
February 2011
Historical Romance

In and around Austin, Texas – 1876

Turquoise Sanchez wants to be accepted into Austin society, so she talks her uncle into taking her to the debutante ball in Austin. Mrs. Whittle at the dress shop helps her pick out a ball gown and assures Turquoise that the dress will be all the rage, but when Turquoise arrives at the ball everyone is aghast. The low cut, bright blue dress is not the appropriate demure white gown worn by all the other debutantes. In spite of this, Senator Edwin Forester steps up and offers to be her escort. Twice her age and old enough to be her father, Edwin Forester is the most sought-after bachelor in Austin. But when he offers Turquoise his arm and monopolizes her dance card for the entire night, people begin to talk. How dare this Mexican Senorita attempt to step into Austin society?

Earlier, before the ball, Turquoise asked for the help of a local blacksmith, Rio Kelly, when her mare went lame. Rio, also half-Mexican, is amused at Turquoise's high-and-mighty attitude. She is a spoiled little rich girl playing at being “white,” and when she offers to pay him for his services, he curtly refuses and sends her on her way. Maybe he will crash that ball at the governor's mansion that she so blithely invited him to...

Turquoise's guardian, gunfighter and rancher Trace Durango, isn't pleased that Edwin Forester is dancing with his ward. The Durangos and the Foresters have been feuding for years. Edwin's attentions flatter Turquoise, but they enrage Trace. Turquoise's plan is to marry well, which means finding a man who can support her. Never wanting for anything as Trace Durango's ward, Turquoise is a spoiled girl trying to fit into a woman's slippers. She is thrilled with Edwin's attentions, but she can't get the blacksmith out of her mind. She remembers watching Rio forge the new shoe for her mare; his bare chest and rippling muscles are not easy to forget. But Rio is not for her. Turquoise must marry someone of class. It's the only way people will forget she is of mixed blood.

RIOis the story of Rio Kelly, son of an Irish immigrant and a Mexican woman, and Turquoise Sanchez, the daughter of a Mexican servant and an unknown white man. Turquoise has always wondered who her father was; it is rumored that Trace's father had an affair with her mother, but Trace claims that is not true. Turquoise's white skin often fools people, but when they hear her last name they only glare down at her and walk away. Rio is a proud man, and he falls instantly in love with this blue-eyed girl/woman the first time he meets her. He knows he can never have Turquoise; he will never possess the money or the status to keep her happy. Meanwhile, Edwin Forester schemes to get her into his bed, one way or another.

RIO is the second book in The Texans series and follows DIABLO (February 2010). Next up is Colt's story in 2012. RIO is a novel that stands alone. It's a good story, rich with Texas history and racial prejudice of the times. Turquoise is terribly spoiled and willful, and you want to shake some common sense into her, but still, Rio Kelly loves her. And so does Edwin Forester, although his plans might be the death of her and Rio.

Diana Risso