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mrs_faith_owens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Solid book, but darker than I was wanting. There is quite a bit of dark/aggressive sexual content, up to and including rape that I was not prepared for. It is definitely not a romance until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual content, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child death
Also, death in childbirthsofyy1102's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, though the hero made me mad way too many times, Jake is too much. Violence towards women is unforgivable.
dmwmtgal's review against another edition
5.0
http://imaromancereader.blogspot.com/2007/10/lady-of-west.html
riskyduck's review against another edition
2.0
Hard not to give it one star, but I enjoyed most of it.
It's only near the last several chapters, when Jake doesn't really change at all, show his vulnerability/love, and Victoria takes it all without a complaint. Although she froze him out for a while, it didn't really give her back the lost pride or respect. I don't need/want a groveling hero, but this book definitely showed its age.
It was a really awful ending. Maybe with another chapter finally showing a healthy, loving relationship beginning to form, I wouldn't feel like there never was a HEA.
Howard's books have become a lot better, with heroes who know where the line is, how not to cross it, and how to make up for it when they do.
Ugh. Compared to her other books, maybe it deserves one star after all.
It's only near the last several chapters, when Jake doesn't really change at all, show his vulnerability/love, and Victoria takes it all without a complaint. Although she froze him out for a while, it didn't really give her back the lost pride or respect. I don't need/want a groveling hero, but this book definitely showed its age.
It was a really awful ending. Maybe with another chapter finally showing a healthy, loving relationship beginning to form, I wouldn't feel like there never was a HEA.
Howard's books have become a lot better, with heroes who know where the line is, how not to cross it, and how to make up for it when they do.
Ugh. Compared to her other books, maybe it deserves one star after all.
zirkusaffe's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
This is an older book and what is called a bodice-ripper, so there are explicit scenes and lots of violence and rape. But it's also a good story about the settling of New Mexico when the US took it from Mexico.
Victoria Waverly is sold into marriage after the Civil War to a brutal man who stole a ranch from the previous owners. The men around her are cruel and crude, including the hired gunman Jake Roper. Gradually, Victoria and Jake change their minds about each other, but Jake has long-term plans of his own that he must fulfill first.
Linda Howard writes good historical Westerns, and I think this one was excellent. Some of the violence did make me cringe, but I liked the historical aspects.
Victoria Waverly is sold into marriage after the Civil War to a brutal man who stole a ranch from the previous owners. The men around her are cruel and crude, including the hired gunman Jake Roper. Gradually, Victoria and Jake change their minds about each other, but Jake has long-term plans of his own that he must fulfill first.
Linda Howard writes good historical Westerns, and I think this one was excellent. Some of the violence did make me cringe, but I liked the historical aspects.
broabooks's review against another edition
4.0
Eerder 3,5
Reread 30/1/22
Een oldie die ik jaren ervoor al eens gelezen heb. Toen vond ik die heel goed, nu wat minder. Herlezen niet meer waard.
Reread 30/1/22
Een oldie die ik jaren ervoor al eens gelezen heb. Toen vond ik die heel goed, nu wat minder. Herlezen niet meer waard.
serialromancelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy this author. This is the story of Victoria and Jake.
Victoria: beautiful, proper lady, martyr, marries an evil ruthless man, the Major. In order to lift her family out of poverty.
Jake: handsome, ruthless, hell-bent on revenge. Twenty years ago he witnessed the Major killing his family and raping and murdering his mother. The Major did this to steal their home. Now he and his brother Ben are going to kill the Major and his evil cow hands that do his bidding so they can reclaim their family’s legacy.
The attraction between Jake and Victoria is instant. Victoria falls for Jake but he tries to remain aloof. He marries Victoria after the Major dies. He is very dismissive and callous to Victoria. There is a lot of angst when he wrongs her to the point of seemingly no return. I enjoyed the angst and steam. He should’ve groveled more for what he did! He didn’t believe the baby was his, it was. To add insult to injury, he struck Victoria when she told him she was pregnant. It takes 3 months for her to allow him to touch her again. She doesn’t trust him, understandably. He realizes he’s falling for her and he is about to lose her. He finally tells her he loves her as their son is born.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Victoria: beautiful, proper lady, martyr, marries an evil ruthless man, the Major. In order to lift her family out of poverty.
Jake: handsome, ruthless, hell-bent on revenge. Twenty years ago he witnessed the Major killing his family and raping and murdering his mother. The Major did this to steal their home. Now he and his brother Ben are going to kill the Major and his evil cow hands that do his bidding so they can reclaim their family’s legacy.
The attraction between Jake and Victoria is instant. Victoria falls for Jake but he tries to remain aloof. He marries Victoria after the Major dies. He is very dismissive and callous to Victoria. There is a lot of angst when he wrongs her to the point of seemingly no return. I enjoyed the angst and steam. He should’ve groveled more for what he did! He didn’t believe the baby was his, it was. To add insult to injury, he struck Victoria when she told him she was pregnant. It takes 3 months for her to allow him to touch her again. She doesn’t trust him, understandably. He realizes he’s falling for her and he is about to lose her. He finally tells her he loves her as their son is born.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
readinginthegarden's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars!
This book would of been a 5/5 stars if it wasn’t for the last 100 pages. Why does every vintage historical romance have to include so much violence against women? I knew going into in that a western novel would have violence. I do love the Wild West it is such an interesting part of history I love western films, video games, books etc. I knew it would have grit. But this is a romance. If it was a Tolstoy tragedy it would be a different story. But as soon as Jake hits Victoria I instantly knew this wasn’t going to be smooth sailing.
Before the last 100 pages I thought the book was so good. Romance, grit, action and I love the relationship between Emma, Celia and Victoria. A gripping story about revenge with steamy romantic scenes.
But for some reason the author decides that she needs to create a divide between the main love interests. She for some reason writes in that Jake thinks the baby isn’t his. Which then turns him violent. Psychically and verbally. He hits her and insults her. It doesn’t actually make any sense. Then they stop talking to each other, other than to insult one another. Also a massive needless tragedy happens which completely changes the dynamic of the story. It long becomes a romance but to a tragedy. If you want a gritty romance than read this but if you want something warm and fluffy I would stay away!
This book would of been a 5/5 stars if it wasn’t for the last 100 pages. Why does every vintage historical romance have to include so much violence against women? I knew going into in that a western novel would have violence. I do love the Wild West it is such an interesting part of history I love western films, video games, books etc. I knew it would have grit. But this is a romance. If it was a Tolstoy tragedy it would be a different story. But as soon as Jake hits Victoria I instantly knew this wasn’t going to be smooth sailing.
Before the last 100 pages I thought the book was so good. Romance, grit, action and I love the relationship between Emma, Celia and Victoria. A gripping story about revenge with steamy romantic scenes.
But for some reason the author decides that she needs to create a divide between the main love interests. She for some reason writes in that Jake thinks the baby isn’t his. Which then turns him violent. Psychically and verbally. He hits her and insults her. It doesn’t actually make any sense. Then they stop talking to each other, other than to insult one another. Also a massive needless tragedy happens which completely changes the dynamic of the story. It long becomes a romance but to a tragedy. If you want a gritty romance than read this but if you want something warm and fluffy I would stay away!