Terms of Engagement by Lorrie Farrelly is a sequel to the author's previous book, Terms of Surrender. The story is set in 1885 in Wyoming Territory. Tess Rutledge has fled from her abusive and wealthy husband, taking her toddler son. In the train she meets fellow passenger Dr. Robert Devlin, who is a widower. He is also traveling with his small daughter. Circumstances in the train lead to a string of developments between Robert and Tess. He takes her home to regain her health and they fall in love. But Tess is trapped in a marriage with a man who will not let her go. Will she be able to break free from the unhappy and abusive marriage?

The story is very exciting. The author has blended in a lot of emotions like danger, romance, thrills, and excitement to make is a fast paced romantic thriller. Both the characters - Robert, who is a single father and Tess who is trapped in an unhappy marriage - have been sketched well by the author. The romance in the book is not the usual cliched type. There is an underlying intensity, intrigue, adventure, and action that run through the story.

The supporting characters of Gavin, Grant etc. add to the depth of the story line and give adequate support to the main characters of Robert and Tess. The book has some passionate scenes that highlight the romance of Robert and Tess. It is a book that you will want to read at one sitting.

The year is 1885 and Teresa (Tess) Rutledge is the wife of a very powerful yet brutal man. She was resigned to the fact that he was abusive, and his latest round almost killed her, but when he harms their child Scottie she knows she must escape. With the help of a maid, she does just that and hops on a train west. While on the train she collapses, but fortunately Dr. Robert Devlin had recently had a spiritual encounter, warning him that someone on this train would need his help so he and his young daughter Grace are on board. When he learns of Tess's injuries, he decides to protect her no matter what and takes her home to his sister Annie Cantrell's ranch. Rob enlists the help of his family to help extricate Tess from her brutal marriage but her husband won't give up easily. When Rob and Tess are faced with a life and death situation it will take divine intervention to save them!

Terms of Engagement reads like an epic novel. A historical romance that provides plenty of suspense and drama, along with a twist of supernatural flair makes for a page-turning read. The author easily pulls readers back to the days when people traveled by train or stagecoach, and when the west was still far from tame. She certainly brings history to life. I could easily imagine the ranch, the rutted roads traveled by stagecoach, and the horses that were an integral part of the ranch. The characters are solid, too. So much more than just another historical love story, there is a richness in detail. The author is a true wordsmith, choosing her words to describe the situation without dwelling on the darkness of spousal abuse. While this book is the second in a series, the author provides enough background information that it can easily be read as a stand-alone work. However, I would highly suggest reading the first book, Terms of Surrender, as well. Terms of Engagement is a very well written historical adventure that provides a satisfying ending. It left me hoping for another book in the series so I can reconnect with this family.