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Hawk Crest #1
Hawk's Pledge
The first of a new four-book series
THEIRS WAS A TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
Four children abandoned in an orphanage. Two missing parents. One man whose hatred had divided a family, whose duplicity ended in murder, inextricably weaving all their lives together in a web of lies that only time could untangle.
WHIP
He was a gambler by necessity, a loner by choice. Ever since the orphanage had gone up in flames, Whip Hawk had been searching desperately for what remained of his family. Instead he found Jacqueline Douglas, a rancher in need of a good hand, a woman in need of the right man. Wildly beautiful, she was as untamed as the Texas he loved, and Whip knew that no matter what else life held in store for him, the fiery redhead must be his.
THEIRS WAS A TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
Four children abandoned in an orphanage. Two missing parents. One man whose hatred had divided a family, whose duplicity ended in murder, inextricably weaving all their lives together in a web of lies that only time could untangle.
WHIP
He was a gambler by necessity, a loner by choice. Ever since the orphanage had gone up in flames, Whip Hawk had been searching desperately for what remained of his family. Instead he found Jacqueline Douglas, a rancher in need of a good hand, a woman in need of the right man. Wildly beautiful, she was as untamed as the Texas he loved, and Whip knew that no matter what else life held in store for him, the fiery redhead must be his.
355 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2006
76 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Constance O'Banyon
54 books199 followersEvelyn Gee was born on 1939 in Texas, USA. She makes her home in San Antonio with her husband, Jim and their son, Jason.
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 24, 2019
This was a difficult book to rate. I liked the story, but the erratic punctuation (see below) drove me up the wall. I would like to find out what actually happened to Whit's siblings, but I don't believe I would have the patience to slog through another quagmire of misused colons, semicolons, commas, and periods.
Errors found in Kindle text: Page 3, Pride ran deep in the Hawk children pride was about all / Hawk children; pride was (add semicolon to separate phrases) ; 7, For now go with Mary / For now, go with Mary ; 16, and for that matter; they didn't know / that matter, they didn't (replace semicolon with comma) ; 16, Simon had committed murder; and no one / murder, and no one (replace semicolon with comma) ; 17, the more he thought about, the more / thought about IT, the more ; 24, in his twenties younger than / his twenties -- younger ; 26, the town barber; Joe Frisco / barber, Joe Frisco (replace semicolon with comma) ; 44, second to react: she dove / to react. She dove ("react" ends one sentence, "She" begins the next) ;
Page 49, the wrong thing she would / thing, she would ; 52, wide blue eyes he could / eyes, he could ; 56, he was too arrogant too sure / arrogant, too sure ; 58, young bull that was she was so fond / that she was (omit first "was") ; 62, the stranger to the bam / to the BARN ; 62, look of the place he concluded / place, he concluded ; 67, watching Mr. Hawk Nada realized / Mr. Hawk, Nada realized ; 68, granddaughter earlier; my family / earlier, my family (replace semicolon with comma) ; 68, I need it get to Galveston / need it TO get to ; 72, in Jackie's life she was feeling / life, she was ; 78, gaze going back to the bam / back to the BARN ; 79, how his life about to be changed / life WAS about to be ;
Page 80, the bam door was warped / the BARN door ; 91, at the visitor; running his / visitor, running his (replace semicolon with comma) ; 92, the stranger; not liking / stranger, not liking (replace semicolon with comma) ; 93, "You're a drifter;" he insinuated / drifter," he insinuated (replace semicolon with comma) ; 99, Ortega spirited Luisa away married her and they crossed / away, married her, and ; 100, and had lives of their own Jackie missed / their own. Jackie missed (add period to end sentence) ; 101, it will probably rain You should not be out in such weather" / probably rain. You should not be out in such weather." (add periods after "rain" and "weather") ;
Page 107, catching the scent of danger reared and recklessly backed away / of danger, reared and ; 113, That wish was not possible "Let me be your strength Jackie," / not possible. "Let me be your strength, Jackie," (add period after "possible" and comma after "strength") ; 117, to say to her; and she didn't want / to her, and she (replace semicolon with comma) ; 117, as for your grandmother; she was watching / grandmother, she was (replace semicolon with comma) ; 119, could feel an. obligation / feel an obligation (remove period after "an") ; 119, La Posada is a good, spread / a good spread (remove comma after "good") ;
Page 121, to take her; and damn the consequences / her, and (replace semicolon with comma) ; 121, to be with her; to take what life / with her, to take (replace semicolon with comma) ; 128, salt-tinged air; events that had / air, events (replace semicolon with comma) ; 129, In the past Whit had not / In the past, Whit had not ; 139, the madam herself: apparently she had / herself; apparently (NOW a semicolon is needed) ; 147, on the bar; staring out the window / the bar, staring (replace semicolon with comma) ; 149, see Laura Ann clapping / Laura ANNE ; 153, had dinner played cards again / had dinner, played cards ; 195, What's the matter; honey / the matter, honey (replace semicolon with comma) ;
Page 200, I want an answer;" he said / answer," he said (replace semicolon with comma) ; 201, he didn't move Jackie twisted / move, Jackie twisted ; 207, for all the: good you do / the good you (remove colon) ; 213, with dark hair; and in the / dark hair, and (replace semicolon with comma) ; 213, my brother; Drew, for / brother, Drew, for (replace semicolon with comma) ; 223, bachelor; and how you / bachelor, and how (replace semicolon with comma) ; 225, stared at her; his gaze hard / at her, his gaze (replace semicolon with comma) ; 228, I need to talk to her." / "I need to talk to her." (add beginning quote) ; 230, removing the bridal / removing the BRIDLE ;
Page 233, the river she dismounted / the river, she dismounted ; 234, older than her; her brother / than her, her brother (replace semicolon with comma) ; 237, her hair; making it / her hair, making it (replace semicolon with comma) ; 238, so near; Jackie could / so near, Jackie could (replace semicolon with comma) ; 238, through her hair; bringing her / her hair, bringing (replace semicolon with comma) ; 241, finger; and she / finger, and she (replace semicolon with comma) ; 241, he tried, to control / he tried to control (remove comma) ; 246, future together If he lost / together. If he (add period) ; 247, Right now she: felt rejected / she felt (remove colon) ;
Page 247, into the parlor; where Jackie / parlor, where Jackie (replace semicolon with comma) ; 247, tonight's hard; and tomorrow / tonight's hard, and tomorrow (replace semicolon with comma) ; 247, That's nonsense: You have / nonsense. You have (replace colon with period) ; 250, "Have faith;" / "Have faith." (replace semicolon with period) ; 250, patted Jackie's hand; / Jackie's hand. (replace semicolon with period) ; 252, drawn together Jackie deliberately / together, Jackie ; 254, a chair; and put it / chair, and put (replace semicolon with comma) ; 256, Bruce coming now; / coming now. (replace semicolon with period) ; 257, live with the: consequences / with the consequences (remove colon) ;
Page 259, no matter what the: consequences: / what the consequences. (remove colon after "the"; change colon to period after "consequences") ; 259, the reason he: left / reason he left (remove colon after "he") ; 263, a partner; Chantalle / a partner, Chantalle ; 263, she was almost beautiful "I have to / beautiful. "I have (add period after "beautiful") ; 264, Because of you I can / of you, I can ; 267, in his chair; "I told you both / chair, "I told ; 269, When he first came along she'd been / came along, she'd been ; 274, For the last few years Ortega had been / few years, Ortega had ; 280, In ranching that's exactly / In ranching, that's ; 285, your brother but where are / brother, but where ;
Page 287, returned to El Paso ... "He paused (in the text, this is a beginning quote before "He"; it should be an ending quote after the ellipsis. My keyboard does not distinguish between the two) ; 302, Remember Jackie / Remember, Jackie ; 314, at times; like the time / at times, like the time .
Errors found in Kindle text: Page 3, Pride ran deep in the Hawk children pride was about all / Hawk children; pride was (add semicolon to separate phrases) ; 7, For now go with Mary / For now, go with Mary ; 16, and for that matter; they didn't know / that matter, they didn't (replace semicolon with comma) ; 16, Simon had committed murder; and no one / murder, and no one (replace semicolon with comma) ; 17, the more he thought about, the more / thought about IT, the more ; 24, in his twenties younger than / his twenties -- younger ; 26, the town barber; Joe Frisco / barber, Joe Frisco (replace semicolon with comma) ; 44, second to react: she dove / to react. She dove ("react" ends one sentence, "She" begins the next) ;
Page 49, the wrong thing she would / thing, she would ; 52, wide blue eyes he could / eyes, he could ; 56, he was too arrogant too sure / arrogant, too sure ; 58, young bull that was she was so fond / that she was (omit first "was") ; 62, the stranger to the bam / to the BARN ; 62, look of the place he concluded / place, he concluded ; 67, watching Mr. Hawk Nada realized / Mr. Hawk, Nada realized ; 68, granddaughter earlier; my family / earlier, my family (replace semicolon with comma) ; 68, I need it get to Galveston / need it TO get to ; 72, in Jackie's life she was feeling / life, she was ; 78, gaze going back to the bam / back to the BARN ; 79, how his life about to be changed / life WAS about to be ;
Page 80, the bam door was warped / the BARN door ; 91, at the visitor; running his / visitor, running his (replace semicolon with comma) ; 92, the stranger; not liking / stranger, not liking (replace semicolon with comma) ; 93, "You're a drifter;" he insinuated / drifter," he insinuated (replace semicolon with comma) ; 99, Ortega spirited Luisa away married her and they crossed / away, married her, and ; 100, and had lives of their own Jackie missed / their own. Jackie missed (add period to end sentence) ; 101, it will probably rain You should not be out in such weather" / probably rain. You should not be out in such weather." (add periods after "rain" and "weather") ;
Page 107, catching the scent of danger reared and recklessly backed away / of danger, reared and ; 113, That wish was not possible "Let me be your strength Jackie," / not possible. "Let me be your strength, Jackie," (add period after "possible" and comma after "strength") ; 117, to say to her; and she didn't want / to her, and she (replace semicolon with comma) ; 117, as for your grandmother; she was watching / grandmother, she was (replace semicolon with comma) ; 119, could feel an. obligation / feel an obligation (remove period after "an") ; 119, La Posada is a good, spread / a good spread (remove comma after "good") ;
Page 121, to take her; and damn the consequences / her, and (replace semicolon with comma) ; 121, to be with her; to take what life / with her, to take (replace semicolon with comma) ; 128, salt-tinged air; events that had / air, events (replace semicolon with comma) ; 129, In the past Whit had not / In the past, Whit had not ; 139, the madam herself: apparently she had / herself; apparently (NOW a semicolon is needed) ; 147, on the bar; staring out the window / the bar, staring (replace semicolon with comma) ; 149, see Laura Ann clapping / Laura ANNE ; 153, had dinner played cards again / had dinner, played cards ; 195, What's the matter; honey / the matter, honey (replace semicolon with comma) ;
Page 200, I want an answer;" he said / answer," he said (replace semicolon with comma) ; 201, he didn't move Jackie twisted / move, Jackie twisted ; 207, for all the: good you do / the good you (remove colon) ; 213, with dark hair; and in the / dark hair, and (replace semicolon with comma) ; 213, my brother; Drew, for / brother, Drew, for (replace semicolon with comma) ; 223, bachelor; and how you / bachelor, and how (replace semicolon with comma) ; 225, stared at her; his gaze hard / at her, his gaze (replace semicolon with comma) ; 228, I need to talk to her." / "I need to talk to her." (add beginning quote) ; 230, removing the bridal / removing the BRIDLE ;
Page 233, the river she dismounted / the river, she dismounted ; 234, older than her; her brother / than her, her brother (replace semicolon with comma) ; 237, her hair; making it / her hair, making it (replace semicolon with comma) ; 238, so near; Jackie could / so near, Jackie could (replace semicolon with comma) ; 238, through her hair; bringing her / her hair, bringing (replace semicolon with comma) ; 241, finger; and she / finger, and she (replace semicolon with comma) ; 241, he tried, to control / he tried to control (remove comma) ; 246, future together If he lost / together. If he (add period) ; 247, Right now she: felt rejected / she felt (remove colon) ;
Page 247, into the parlor; where Jackie / parlor, where Jackie (replace semicolon with comma) ; 247, tonight's hard; and tomorrow / tonight's hard, and tomorrow (replace semicolon with comma) ; 247, That's nonsense: You have / nonsense. You have (replace colon with period) ; 250, "Have faith;" / "Have faith." (replace semicolon with period) ; 250, patted Jackie's hand; / Jackie's hand. (replace semicolon with period) ; 252, drawn together Jackie deliberately / together, Jackie ; 254, a chair; and put it / chair, and put (replace semicolon with comma) ; 256, Bruce coming now; / coming now. (replace semicolon with period) ; 257, live with the: consequences / with the consequences (remove colon) ;
Page 259, no matter what the: consequences: / what the consequences. (remove colon after "the"; change colon to period after "consequences") ; 259, the reason he: left / reason he left (remove colon after "he") ; 263, a partner; Chantalle / a partner, Chantalle ; 263, she was almost beautiful "I have to / beautiful. "I have (add period after "beautiful") ; 264, Because of you I can / of you, I can ; 267, in his chair; "I told you both / chair, "I told ; 269, When he first came along she'd been / came along, she'd been ; 274, For the last few years Ortega had been / few years, Ortega had ; 280, In ranching that's exactly / In ranching, that's ; 285, your brother but where are / brother, but where ;
Page 287, returned to El Paso ... "He paused (in the text, this is a beginning quote before "He"; it should be an ending quote after the ellipsis. My keyboard does not distinguish between the two) ; 302, Remember Jackie / Remember, Jackie ; 314, at times; like the time / at times, like the time .
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June 22, 2007This book is about a man traveling the country trying to find his family torn apart as young children. He comes across a woman running a ranch by herself and ends up helping her/falling love. He leaves to finish his promise to his family and promises her he will come back to her. The story does concentrate on their love story. It was disappointing that he does not find his family at the end of the book. It looks like the author was setting this book up to be a series with the stories of the brothers/sisters being told in another book.
May 25, 2017
This was really a 1 or 2 star for me
It seemed really choppy. As if the author just put down every idea that came to mind and voila...story told. It didn't have a nice flow to it. I alao found the main characters were a little annoying. I mean, fancy showing jealousy and practicality demanding a declaration after just meeting for a day or two.
I understand this is a series but to leave things the way she did at the end, was annoying.
It seemed really choppy. As if the author just put down every idea that came to mind and voila...story told. It didn't have a nice flow to it. I alao found the main characters were a little annoying. I mean, fancy showing jealousy and practicality demanding a declaration after just meeting for a day or two.
I understand this is a series but to leave things the way she did at the end, was annoying.
June 24, 2023
This was a good and fast read, I finished it weeks ago but forgot to update it here. I enjoyed it up to a point where it started to feel redundant, but if you enjoy a sweet, historical(kind of), romantic, Texas cowboy story with a fiery redhead, look no further! I was annoyed a few times by certain stereotypical characteristics, but I am not angry about it. Just don't take it too seriously. This one is for fun.
May 7, 2021
Relatively good read. There is an epilogue which is left open for the next book. The story is about four children (2 boys and 2 girls) who had been abandoned in an orphanage and are now adults. This is the first book and is about the eldest son.
April 19, 2022
All Anyone Could Want
Jackie gives Whit a home, love and a peaceful soul. However nothing comes about easily. In the process Whit makes an exceptional friend and a deadly enemy. The reader will enjoy this story and be anxious to read more about the Hawk family.
Jackie gives Whit a home, love and a peaceful soul. However nothing comes about easily. In the process Whit makes an exceptional friend and a deadly enemy. The reader will enjoy this story and be anxious to read more about the Hawk family.
May 1, 2025
Finding my family
Whit Hawk has been looking for his brother. He thinks his sister's are death,He meets a women he can love and he has powerful enemy and don't know it.The man in question killed Whit's dad for hid gold mine.Well written a good author.
Whit Hawk has been looking for his brother. He thinks his sister's are death,He meets a women he can love and he has powerful enemy and don't know it.The man in question killed Whit's dad for hid gold mine.Well written a good author.
September 3, 2018
Excellent Book
This is an interesting historical romance with suspense, mystery, and insta love. What it isn't is complete. You have to read the rest of the s
This is an interesting historical romance with suspense, mystery, and insta love. What it isn't is complete. You have to read the rest of the s
March 26, 2022
A good oh fashion book. I like the characters, I reading part 2niw. I liked the book.
December 24, 2025
3.5 stars
Whit has been searching for his brother for a long time and Galveston is his last place to look, but his horse is injured on the way and he meets Jackie. Jackie is going through financial trouble and is about to lose her families land when she decides to take a moment for herself and dance barefoot in a field which is how Whit finds her.
This is a cute story but Jackie's total self reliance and unwillingness to ask for help got pretty frustrating at times.
Whit has been searching for his brother for a long time and Galveston is his last place to look, but his horse is injured on the way and he meets Jackie. Jackie is going through financial trouble and is about to lose her families land when she decides to take a moment for herself and dance barefoot in a field which is how Whit finds her.
This is a cute story but Jackie's total self reliance and unwillingness to ask for help got pretty frustrating at times.
May 23, 2019
Great Story
This is a must read. The story is beautiful. It is a beautiful love story. I intend to read the whole series.
This is a must read. The story is beautiful. It is a beautiful love story. I intend to read the whole series.
September 7, 2011
I'm usually not a western romance reader but I really enjoyed this book. Like so often happens in romance novels (but not the REALLY good ones) one moment they meet and there is a connection, the next moment they are willing to die for each other. I always wish for a bit more development but an O'Banyon book is always a book I'd read above others - quality author all around. In fact I wanted to read this book so badly that I did a little "extra" borrowing from the library and took it with me out of the state - once I was done, I mailed it back to the library :)
April 15, 2016
This book sounds good in the synopsis but the reality is different. While the romance between Hawk and Jackie seems to happen instantaneously with no build up we are then left hanging when he leaves.
Also the author doesn't describe how Hawk lost his family in a fire. For instance how did the fire happen. How did he lose track of his brother Drew? How does he know his sisters died in the fire? On the subject of Jackie I just don't like her bravado.
Also the author doesn't describe how Hawk lost his family in a fire. For instance how did the fire happen. How did he lose track of his brother Drew? How does he know his sisters died in the fire? On the subject of Jackie I just don't like her bravado.
July 13, 2008
Whit Hawk is a drifter whose heart is guarded stronger than Fort Knox. Jacqueline Douglas is a proud woman willing to do anything necessary to save her ranch.
There are also sub-plots working in this book that weave in and out of the characters' lives, adding to the intrigue.
I still need to read the next book in the series.
There are also sub-plots working in this book that weave in and out of the characters' lives, adding to the intrigue.
I still need to read the next book in the series.
December 27, 2015
Well done!
Very well written. Suspenseful and captivating. I had read third book in series and HAD to find previous books in series
Very well written. Suspenseful and captivating. I had read third book in series and HAD to find previous books in series
July 18, 2016
Very good
Very good captivating as usual, thank you for transporting me in time. Looking forward to the rest of the series
Very good captivating as usual, thank you for transporting me in time. Looking forward to the rest of the series
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews