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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
A sweet book. Good narrator.
Amelia is a woman from Georgia who has fallen on hard times following the civil war. She had lived on a plantation so at one time I think she was from a wealthy family. Hardships of the war are discussed but only as they affect her....not anything larger such as slavery. I have no idea how she was supporting herself before going to Texas. Kind of glossed over. Her family is dead and she wants a new life, so she signs up to be a mail order bride and chooses Dallas Leigh, a rancher.
When she gets to Texas, Dallas's brother, Houston, comes to get her. Dallas has broken his leg and couldn't come himself. Houston lives near Dallas and raises horses (but its unclear to me how he makes any money at all because he's just started this). Houston and Dallas fought for the Confederacy, alongside their father. The dad is killed in the war and Houston feels guilty. Also, Houston is badly injured and lost an eye. He wears a patch.
It's a 3 week journey to the ranch. Various calamities strike and it takes 43 days. They fall in love though Houston won't admit it. He feels unworthy.
Eventually she marries Dallas but before they can consummate it shit happens. Amelia is abducted by bandits. I don't know why....they had her an entire night and didn't rape her or anything so I'm not sure why they even took her. Houston and Dallas save her but Houston is badly injured. This is the catalyst for everything to come out into the open and Dallas agrees to an annulment.
Both dallas and Houston have issues and they work these out. Amelia is just sweet and while she comes through when needed and she's tough, she is mostly just "sweet" and a little boring, though I do like her.
One sex scene in the book at the end. I still don't understand how virgins are 100 percent clueless about orgasms until their man gives them one. This book is one if those. (((Eye roll)))
Still, a solid effort. I will read the next one about Dallas, and probably the 3rd one about Austin, who seems like the most interesting of the 3 brothers, anyway. In this book he is only 16 though.
Yes, I am majorly groaning about the men's names.
Amelia is a woman from Georgia who has fallen on hard times following the civil war. She had lived on a plantation so at one time I think she was from a wealthy family. Hardships of the war are discussed but only as they affect her....not anything larger such as slavery. I have no idea how she was supporting herself before going to Texas. Kind of glossed over. Her family is dead and she wants a new life, so she signs up to be a mail order bride and chooses Dallas Leigh, a rancher.
When she gets to Texas, Dallas's brother, Houston, comes to get her. Dallas has broken his leg and couldn't come himself. Houston lives near Dallas and raises horses (but its unclear to me how he makes any money at all because he's just started this). Houston and Dallas fought for the Confederacy, alongside their father. The dad is killed in the war and Houston feels guilty. Also, Houston is badly injured and lost an eye. He wears a patch.
It's a 3 week journey to the ranch. Various calamities strike and it takes 43 days. They fall in love though Houston won't admit it. He feels unworthy.
Eventually she marries Dallas but before they can consummate it shit happens. Amelia is abducted by bandits. I don't know why....they had her an entire night and didn't rape her or anything so I'm not sure why they even took her. Houston and Dallas save her but Houston is badly injured. This is the catalyst for everything to come out into the open and Dallas agrees to an annulment.
Both dallas and Houston have issues and they work these out. Amelia is just sweet and while she comes through when needed and she's tough, she is mostly just "sweet" and a little boring, though I do like her.
One sex scene in the book at the end. I still don't understand how virgins are 100 percent clueless about orgasms until their man gives them one. This book is one if those. (((Eye roll)))
Still, a solid effort. I will read the next one about Dallas, and probably the 3rd one about Austin, who seems like the most interesting of the 3 brothers, anyway. In this book he is only 16 though.
Yes, I am majorly groaning about the men's names.
I know the book cover looks like a book your grandma would love, but it's great. I found Lorraine Heath via The Outlaw and the Lady and decided to try this series. It's a western historical romance with lots of self realizations and self healing from war truama as well.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was written in 1997 and it shows. From the heroine being a plantation owner but absolutely zero mention of enslaved people to the MMCs all fighting for the Confederacy and no mention of slavery to the hero vowing that you can tell a horses personality by it's color and hair texture to the massive shaming of "women of the night", there are some ooof moments.
But. The romance between Houston and Amelia is so sweet. I love a cinnamon roll who looks like he could kill you.
But. The romance between Houston and Amelia is so sweet. I love a cinnamon roll who looks like he could kill you.
This book casually has one of the most beautiful scenes in any romance book I’ve read and it being the first time Houston Leigh, my new favorite book boyfriend of all time, laughs. It was such a sweet and vulnerable moment that I put the book down and proceeded to burst into tears. Amelia and Houston have the sweetest agonizing slow burn, and their emotional intimacy is… beautiful
Houston Leigh might genuinely be one of my favorite book characters ever. I love grumpy men. And even more than that, I love SAD grumpy men who have a habit of saying the wrong thing at the worst moment sometimes but they have a kind soul and I just know I could fix them
I LOVE COWBOY ROMANCES !!!!!
Houston Leigh might genuinely be one of my favorite book characters ever. I love grumpy men. And even more than that, I love SAD grumpy men who have a habit of saying the wrong thing at the worst moment sometimes but they have a kind soul and I just know I could fix them
I LOVE COWBOY ROMANCES !!!!!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first Lorraine Heath and I liked it. I love pioneer/Old West stories with a mail order bride trope, so this was right up my alley.
I was also so glad that Dallas didn’t turn out to be a villain. I was slightly annoyed by how long it took to resolve everything. It was almost the very last page before our couple admitted their feelings. That’s why it’s not getting five stars. Still, it was an enjoyable reading experience.
I was also so glad that Dallas didn’t turn out to be a villain. I was slightly annoyed by how long it took to resolve everything. It was almost the very last page before our couple admitted their feelings. That’s why it’s not getting five stars. Still, it was an enjoyable reading experience.
2.5 stars
This one was a bit slow for me and when I was at the end of the book it's like "that's it?" if you like a low angst slow burn romance that's a western historical I think this is a good start. I liked the audiobook and am going to start the next one.
This one was a bit slow for me and when I was at the end of the book it's like "that's it?" if you like a low angst slow burn romance that's a western historical I think this is a good start. I liked the audiobook and am going to start the next one.
emotional
fast-paced