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Hawke's Pride by Hess, Norah(January 1, 1991) Mass Market Paperback
Proud and arrogant, Hawke Masters had made it clear that although Rue's grandfather's shotgun had forced him to wed her, nothing could raise his passion for a scrawny little backwoods package such as her. But pride goeth before a fall, and Hawke Masters was going to fall hard.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Norah Hess
52 books95 followersAlways a daydreamer, and often scolded for it by the grandmother who raised her, Norah Hess always wanted to be a writer. At eighteen, she was sent to Chicago to live with an aunt after her grandmother's death. It was there that she met her husband. After raising three children, Norah decided to write her first novel, and since then has had fifteen published romances. After her husband passed away, she and her two cats moved to Palm Springs, where the desert and mountains inspire her to write her Western romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 10, 2016
Hawke the 'tit on a bull', and Rue the unlucky.
I skimmed this a LOT, especially the first 3rd where not much happens. It's a lot of background on the characters about how craptastic Rue's life is etc. Then Hawke is forced to marry Rue by her Grandfather, after Rue's evil stepdad, Sly Burford (hows that for the name of a hillbillie villain!, lol), forces Hawke to take her. Rue is looking ugly because she's just getting over chickenpox and she's wearing rags and is filthy. So Hawke is all 'put upon' and treats his new bride like dirt the whole way back to his ranch. He even rubs his relationship with the neighbour's wife, Lillie in her face on the way home.
Well after a few weeks, Rue is looking pretty awesome, and everyone but Hawke is wondering why he's sleeping with the hired hands and not his wife.
So you have the dumbass hubby, the beautiful yet resilient innocent, the evil OW neighbour, and the other relatives. Lillie was pretty OTT evil, and Hawke was one of the stupidest men I've read in a romance book in a long time. The things he lets Lillie get away with before he finally makes it clear that she's not wanted was beyond forgivable. How could a REAL man let anyone treat hsi wife like that???
Well, I thought in the middle part that this was going to pan out to a good read after all. But it doesn't. There's no sense of justice at the end. There's an epilogue but it was too little too late for me.
Hawke has to be one of my least fave hero. He's just such an idiot!
I don't know that I would read this author again. The plot was unevenly paced with very slow repetitive parts and illogical holes in the plot that were obviously just for the author's convenience.
I skimmed this a LOT, especially the first 3rd where not much happens. It's a lot of background on the characters about how craptastic Rue's life is etc. Then Hawke is forced to marry Rue by her Grandfather, after Rue's evil stepdad, Sly Burford (hows that for the name of a hillbillie villain!, lol), forces Hawke to take her. Rue is looking ugly because she's just getting over chickenpox and she's wearing rags and is filthy. So Hawke is all 'put upon' and treats his new bride like dirt the whole way back to his ranch. He even rubs his relationship with the neighbour's wife, Lillie in her face on the way home.
Well after a few weeks, Rue is looking pretty awesome, and everyone but Hawke is wondering why he's sleeping with the hired hands and not his wife.
So you have the dumbass hubby, the beautiful yet resilient innocent, the evil OW neighbour, and the other relatives. Lillie was pretty OTT evil, and Hawke was one of the stupidest men I've read in a romance book in a long time. The things he lets Lillie get away with before he finally makes it clear that she's not wanted was beyond forgivable. How could a REAL man let anyone treat hsi wife like that???
Well, I thought in the middle part that this was going to pan out to a good read after all. But it doesn't. There's no sense of justice at the end. There's an epilogue but it was too little too late for me.
Hawke has to be one of my least fave hero. He's just such an idiot!
I don't know that I would read this author again. The plot was unevenly paced with very slow repetitive parts and illogical holes in the plot that were obviously just for the author's convenience.
November 23, 2017
This is my first Norah Hess and I’m surprised I never got to read her. I like her period setting of 18th century americana, her writing style and the premise, only the character development could have been better as also the pace, especially towards the end.
The idea of a shotgun marriage between a prosperous rancher who was passing through and a pitiably poor and ordinary girl is captivating.
The h lives with her stepsiblings and her greedy and deceitful stepfather. Her father had run off as the mother was sleeping around with everyone in town. She was a prostitute to put it more accurately. As if there life wasn’t bad enough with men visiting their shack and an uncaring mother, the stepfather came into their lives and married the mother for the money she earned. The h’s life became intolerable as the stepfather made his lascivious intentions quite clear, and the mother berated her being too high and mighty to keep men at arm’s length. How she escaped with her virtue intact is for the book to tell.
The stepfather sells her to the H who needs a housekeeper for his house as also to take care of his orphaned niece and nephew. He’s not interested in anything else as he finds her an ugly and scrappy little thing. The fact is she’s covered with chickenpox scars and her hair is grimy and dull from a lack of washing. The h’s grandfather arrives in time with a preacher to force the H to marry the h.
The resentful H takes her with him but vows to never touch her. He doesn’t need to as he’s carrying on with his neighbor’s busty wife and he’s in a hurry to get back to her.
The rest of the story is about they settle down in married but unconsummated life. The h is soon revealed to be a more than passably pretty and now he wants a piece of it but the h’s completely uncooperative. I really liked how she holds him off and even sets him down nicely a few times.
Well, you're not fooling me for a minute, you randy tomcat, she thought.
She also comes off better in the tangle or two with the ow. She’s a scrapper and I liked her.
"I don't wait on sluts," she ground out. "If you want something to drink, send your sniffing hound after it." With a meaningful look at Hawke's stunned face, she stalked from the room, Lillie's enraged voice following her.
(An epic slapdown if ever!)
Ultimately they do become closer and the marriage is consummated. But here again the H’s oversexed antics make one think that that’s all he wants from her. He thinks he loves her but never says the words to her and neither does he clearly share his thoughts about the ow with her.
But the bad guys are not done and the h/H are separated with him thinking her dead and she believing that he never loved her and was in cahoots with the ow. A whole winter passes with the most humdrum of fillers before they get back together.
The H's father, her grandparents, the indian boy and the trapper are agreeable sec characters.
I dint like the H much and his grovel needed more sincere effort, as do his earlier kowtowing to the ow and not putting her down firmly – when she visits them in the h’s presence and also later in the h’s absence when he almost lets her go down on him. So he’s not my kind of H. I don’t mind an aggressive selfish one but his love should be more obvious than his lust.
But a nice story on the whole. Definitely a 3.5 * at least.
The idea of a shotgun marriage between a prosperous rancher who was passing through and a pitiably poor and ordinary girl is captivating.
The h lives with her stepsiblings and her greedy and deceitful stepfather. Her father had run off as the mother was sleeping around with everyone in town. She was a prostitute to put it more accurately. As if there life wasn’t bad enough with men visiting their shack and an uncaring mother, the stepfather came into their lives and married the mother for the money she earned. The h’s life became intolerable as the stepfather made his lascivious intentions quite clear, and the mother berated her being too high and mighty to keep men at arm’s length. How she escaped with her virtue intact is for the book to tell.
The stepfather sells her to the H who needs a housekeeper for his house as also to take care of his orphaned niece and nephew. He’s not interested in anything else as he finds her an ugly and scrappy little thing. The fact is she’s covered with chickenpox scars and her hair is grimy and dull from a lack of washing. The h’s grandfather arrives in time with a preacher to force the H to marry the h.
The resentful H takes her with him but vows to never touch her. He doesn’t need to as he’s carrying on with his neighbor’s busty wife and he’s in a hurry to get back to her.
The rest of the story is about they settle down in married but unconsummated life. The h is soon revealed to be a more than passably pretty and now he wants a piece of it but the h’s completely uncooperative. I really liked how she holds him off and even sets him down nicely a few times.
Well, you're not fooling me for a minute, you randy tomcat, she thought.
She also comes off better in the tangle or two with the ow. She’s a scrapper and I liked her.
"I don't wait on sluts," she ground out. "If you want something to drink, send your sniffing hound after it." With a meaningful look at Hawke's stunned face, she stalked from the room, Lillie's enraged voice following her.
(An epic slapdown if ever!)
Ultimately they do become closer and the marriage is consummated. But here again the H’s oversexed antics make one think that that’s all he wants from her. He thinks he loves her but never says the words to her and neither does he clearly share his thoughts about the ow with her.
But the bad guys are not done and the h/H are separated with him thinking her dead and she believing that he never loved her and was in cahoots with the ow. A whole winter passes with the most humdrum of fillers before they get back together.
The H's father, her grandparents, the indian boy and the trapper are agreeable sec characters.
I dint like the H much and his grovel needed more sincere effort, as do his earlier kowtowing to the ow and not putting her down firmly – when she visits them in the h’s presence and also later in the h’s absence when he almost lets her go down on him. So he’s not my kind of H. I don’t mind an aggressive selfish one but his love should be more obvious than his lust.
But a nice story on the whole. Definitely a 3.5 * at least.
November 5, 2018
This is the second and last book I'll read of Norah Hess. I read Blaze last week, and was not a fan but still decided to give her writing one last try because the descriptions are so promising. Saying I was disappointed would be an understatement
The book starts with Rue making sure you know how miserable her life is. Her ma is a whore, her dad left when she was a toddler, her stepdad has tried to rape her because she's just so beautiful, and worst of all (note the sarcasm) she has to take care of her two little baby half brothers who are just such a bother to her because they cry all the time from hunger. Without her grandparents help, her family would have starved by now no thanks to her lazy stepfather who basically pimps her mom out. She also has scabs all over her face because she's getting over smallpox.
Enter Hawke who is on his way back to his ranch from going to his brothers and sister-in-laws funeral. He is worried about finding a housekeeper because he's going to take in his niece and nephew. He stops by a little shack to ask where to find water when he sees a greasy haired diseased girl making dinner. What do you know? It's Rue!
Her stepfather invites him in for dinner and then tries to sell her to hawke for a whopping $400 and hawke agrees. Then her grandfather barges in with a shotgun and a reverend and "forces" them to get married which Hawke doesn't even try to stop. He just figures he gets a free housekeeper now and he doesn't have to pay her or pay for her, but he'll never treat her like a wife because she's ugly!
She goes back to the ranch with him and he treats her rudely and flaunts his relationship with the neighbors wife in her face. Her scabs fall off revealing beautiful ivory skin and then his niece and nephew come. She loves playing mother to them because they're healthy happy children unlike her whining sickly half brothers. Here's an actual quote from our kind hearted heroine:
"She hadn't liked her poor little half brothers. Their constant, hungry
whining had made her life a misery.
But as for these two bright children, she was sure she would like them."
I mean, I can't make this stuff up. Then I skimmed a little cause it was boring and nothing was happening
What happened from the lovers' perspectives:
Hawke: ew who is this gross diseased woman
Rue: I hate all men except my grandfather because they cheat on their wives to be with my whore mother
Hawke: well that means you're probably a whore too
**rue takes a bath and her face heals
Hawke: wait a second...you're kind of cute. I think I love you now
Her stepfather followed her to the ranch because we need a villain and then decides to team up with the neighbors wife who is jealous of Rue for taking Hawke away from her bed.
Nothing really happens for a while. Skim, skim, skim. The characters have no personality or love growing between them until suddenly hawke decides he loves her, seduces her, finds out she's a virgin then they are a happy family for a few chapters. Skim, skim, skim. Did I mention that Rue names her new horse Beauty just like the what Blaze named her horse in Blaze. The author ran out of ideas for horse names apparently.
She gets kidnapped by her stepfather and he tries to sell her to the savage Indians nearby. He makes her think hawke wanted her gone. She escapes and shacks up with an elderly mountain man while hawke thinks she's dead for pretty much the whole winter. That doesn't stop him from letting the neighbors wife go down on him though. Then they are back together the last two pages of the book and everything is all good again.
It was sooooooo boring. I think her books are well written they're just really boring and the characters lack depth. I feel like Blaze and Hawkes Pride were the same book just different character names (except for the horse). Save yourself a few hours and just skip this one. The sex scenes aren't even good.
The book starts with Rue making sure you know how miserable her life is. Her ma is a whore, her dad left when she was a toddler, her stepdad has tried to rape her because she's just so beautiful, and worst of all (note the sarcasm) she has to take care of her two little baby half brothers who are just such a bother to her because they cry all the time from hunger. Without her grandparents help, her family would have starved by now no thanks to her lazy stepfather who basically pimps her mom out. She also has scabs all over her face because she's getting over smallpox.
Enter Hawke who is on his way back to his ranch from going to his brothers and sister-in-laws funeral. He is worried about finding a housekeeper because he's going to take in his niece and nephew. He stops by a little shack to ask where to find water when he sees a greasy haired diseased girl making dinner. What do you know? It's Rue!
Her stepfather invites him in for dinner and then tries to sell her to hawke for a whopping $400 and hawke agrees. Then her grandfather barges in with a shotgun and a reverend and "forces" them to get married which Hawke doesn't even try to stop. He just figures he gets a free housekeeper now and he doesn't have to pay her or pay for her, but he'll never treat her like a wife because she's ugly!
She goes back to the ranch with him and he treats her rudely and flaunts his relationship with the neighbors wife in her face. Her scabs fall off revealing beautiful ivory skin and then his niece and nephew come. She loves playing mother to them because they're healthy happy children unlike her whining sickly half brothers. Here's an actual quote from our kind hearted heroine:
"She hadn't liked her poor little half brothers. Their constant, hungry
whining had made her life a misery.
But as for these two bright children, she was sure she would like them."
I mean, I can't make this stuff up. Then I skimmed a little cause it was boring and nothing was happening
What happened from the lovers' perspectives:
Hawke: ew who is this gross diseased woman
Rue: I hate all men except my grandfather because they cheat on their wives to be with my whore mother
Hawke: well that means you're probably a whore too
**rue takes a bath and her face heals
Hawke: wait a second...you're kind of cute. I think I love you now
Her stepfather followed her to the ranch because we need a villain and then decides to team up with the neighbors wife who is jealous of Rue for taking Hawke away from her bed.
Nothing really happens for a while. Skim, skim, skim. The characters have no personality or love growing between them until suddenly hawke decides he loves her, seduces her, finds out she's a virgin then they are a happy family for a few chapters. Skim, skim, skim. Did I mention that Rue names her new horse Beauty just like the what Blaze named her horse in Blaze. The author ran out of ideas for horse names apparently.
She gets kidnapped by her stepfather and he tries to sell her to the savage Indians nearby. He makes her think hawke wanted her gone. She escapes and shacks up with an elderly mountain man while hawke thinks she's dead for pretty much the whole winter. That doesn't stop him from letting the neighbors wife go down on him though. Then they are back together the last two pages of the book and everything is all good again.
It was sooooooo boring. I think her books are well written they're just really boring and the characters lack depth. I feel like Blaze and Hawkes Pride were the same book just different character names (except for the horse). Save yourself a few hours and just skip this one. The sex scenes aren't even good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 17, 2013Does not deserve a star. The worst book I read this year
, and I read it out of sheer determination and apparent masochism.
, and I read it out of sheer determination and apparent masochism.
January 18, 2020
Decent read. Would've preferred a proper epilogue as the ending is far from MCs home and away from their loved ones.
February 14, 2015
Blahh
I read the blurb and all the good reviews, plus it was free reading, so I downloaded this book. It started out with some good potential, but then writing & character dialogue became child like. The heroine was twenty but behaved and spoke like a modern & silly fifteen year old. The stupid decisions that got her in trouble kept me shaking my head. The villains were so one dimensional and who by the way could have been left out, they added little to the story. Heroes was a arrogant slimy sex crazed jerk and his jealous rages plus his mean spirited treatment toward heroine "which happened every other chapter" was overdone and very unbelievable.
***spoilers***
When the author wrote about the first attraction moment the hero had toward his wife is timed horribly. He was adamant he didn't want her sexually like she wasn't his type, but the minute he broke off his affair with his married ( "slimy jerk")female neighbor (villain) "surprise, surprise!" He began sniffing around his wife which in my opinion made it appear he needed sex and was desperate not really attracted, just plain horny. This is just one example of bad moments in this book.
I read the blurb and all the good reviews, plus it was free reading, so I downloaded this book. It started out with some good potential, but then writing & character dialogue became child like. The heroine was twenty but behaved and spoke like a modern & silly fifteen year old. The stupid decisions that got her in trouble kept me shaking my head. The villains were so one dimensional and who by the way could have been left out, they added little to the story. Heroes was a arrogant slimy sex crazed jerk and his jealous rages plus his mean spirited treatment toward heroine "which happened every other chapter" was overdone and very unbelievable.
***spoilers***
When the author wrote about the first attraction moment the hero had toward his wife is timed horribly. He was adamant he didn't want her sexually like she wasn't his type, but the minute he broke off his affair with his married ( "slimy jerk")female neighbor (villain) "surprise, surprise!" He began sniffing around his wife which in my opinion made it appear he needed sex and was desperate not really attracted, just plain horny. This is just one example of bad moments in this book.
December 11, 2019
3.5 stars
January 9, 2021
The story has a very good plot. Rue is a beautiful daughter of a whore who lives in destitute, forced to take care of her step siblings. When her mother died, she's left living with her greedy, despicable stepfather. Fate forced her to marry the hero, a good looking rancher looking for a woman to take care his deceased brother's children.
The middle of the story was a bit rushed. I feel that the part where the couple first made love was too detached. After that, the way the story was told felt very 'forced'; did not flow beautifully. It jumped to fast from one scene to another.
The middle of the story was a bit rushed. I feel that the part where the couple first made love was too detached. After that, the way the story was told felt very 'forced'; did not flow beautifully. It jumped to fast from one scene to another.
February 9, 2015
Hawk's Pride.
From the first chapter, the heroine & her little family catch your attention...& hold it...for the first half of the book. Once she reaches the ranch, the story stalls. Nothing can save it. Villains' credibility is stretched to the limits & beyond. I finished the book, but only because I personally wanted to see if the story ever turned 'round. It didn't & I was very disappointed.
From the first chapter, the heroine & her little family catch your attention...& hold it...for the first half of the book. Once she reaches the ranch, the story stalls. Nothing can save it. Villains' credibility is stretched to the limits & beyond. I finished the book, but only because I personally wanted to see if the story ever turned 'round. It didn't & I was very disappointed.
October 20, 2016
Reading this book made me glad that I did not grow up during that time period. I liked the characters, even though Rue got on my nerves at times. There were times she acted more immature than anything as far as Hawke was concerned. I didn't like the way the book ended because it just ends. An epilogue would have been nice to see how things turned out for Rue and Hawke and the rest of the gang
March 20, 2020
THE STUBBORNNESS. THE DRAMA. I first read this book like over 10 years ago and I liked it. After a second read in 2020 as an adult, it was ok. Still enjoyable for a romance I guess. Hawke is a toxic man child but he kinda has it going on?
October 20, 2017
carbon copy of the other book by her I read. Didn't like it anymore.
October 30, 2016
Good until last half
I got to 91% and lost interest. The last part was so stupid and boring. It took away from the whole book. I was not sure where the author was going.
I got to 91% and lost interest. The last part was so stupid and boring. It took away from the whole book. I was not sure where the author was going.
May 26, 2020
I enjoyed this story so much that I had a hard time putting it down. I would recommend to others who enjoy a good romance.
June 19, 2020
Plot: Rue lives with her abusive stepfather and her half brothers. Her stepfather sells her to a man, Hawke Masters, who needs someone to look after his nephews and his house. When Rue’s granfather knows of this plan, forces Hawke to marry her. He agrees so he will have her forever looking after his house and children. Rue is recovering from chicken pox so her face still has scabs, she is dirty and starved and her husband finds her repulsive, so he abuses her. After some time she recovers and turns out to be a beautiful woman. Hawke is attracted by her looks and by her sweetness, soon he falls in love with her and court her until she falls in love with him. But his former mistress and her stepfather seeks revenge: they abduct Rue selling her to Indians making her believe it’s Hawke’s plan. Eventually Hawke finds her and explains it was a deception of his former mistress. Vote: 6/10
Hero: no hero here, just a selfish callous bastard, and also a coward. He treats Rue horribly because she is not pretty, even lets her out in the sun without water while he is inside a house with his mistress. He allows his mistress to abuse her in his house, he doesn’t event tell her that she has to look after two children. He plans to abuse her and make her work hard and treats her like a whore. When she turns out to be a beauty he only wants to bed her. No human being deserves a bad treatment because of his look. He doesn’t have any excuse for his behavior because he has a loving and caring family. Eventually he is not even able to get rid of his former mistress, called by everyone of his relatives the old bitch!!! No, you cannot be serious man!!!! One of the worst male characters! Vote: 2/10
Heroine: I liked Rue very much. She saved the book! Resilient, caring and sweet, she takes what good is in her life, be it a man a little less bad than her stepfather, a roof above her head, warm food,a stream of water near the house. She never lets her husband to humiliate her, always answering with aloofness and pride. She’s never a victim, like women in other romances I read. Children love her and so does her father in law. I loved her too! Vote: 8/10
I enjoyed the book even if I would have preferred another ending. This is not a happy ending for me, this man didn’t deserve to have a woman like Rue.
Hero: no hero here, just a selfish callous bastard, and also a coward. He treats Rue horribly because she is not pretty, even lets her out in the sun without water while he is inside a house with his mistress. He allows his mistress to abuse her in his house, he doesn’t event tell her that she has to look after two children. He plans to abuse her and make her work hard and treats her like a whore. When she turns out to be a beauty he only wants to bed her. No human being deserves a bad treatment because of his look. He doesn’t have any excuse for his behavior because he has a loving and caring family. Eventually he is not even able to get rid of his former mistress, called by everyone of his relatives the old bitch!!! No, you cannot be serious man!!!! One of the worst male characters! Vote: 2/10
Heroine: I liked Rue very much. She saved the book! Resilient, caring and sweet, she takes what good is in her life, be it a man a little less bad than her stepfather, a roof above her head, warm food,a stream of water near the house. She never lets her husband to humiliate her, always answering with aloofness and pride. She’s never a victim, like women in other romances I read. Children love her and so does her father in law. I loved her too! Vote: 8/10
I enjoyed the book even if I would have preferred another ending. This is not a happy ending for me, this man didn’t deserve to have a woman like Rue.
May 30, 2017
I wanted to take a trip down memory lane by reading this novel because Norah Hess used to be one of my favorite authors growing up. In some ways, I can see why I was drawn to her work. In other ways, I'm a little baffled. It's easy to feel connected to the characters since we have the context to understand their behavior, but the speed with which the two end up together is questionable. Can they be seen having a civilized conversation with each other about something that matters before they're sleeping together and falling in love?! I found myself missing that more than I remember when I was younger, and it made it difficult to believe the relationship had progressed as far as Hess was depicting.
November 26, 2015
What the heck was up with the pacing of this book???
And I feel like she could have added some more scenes.
Finally, that ending was horrible.
And I feel like she could have added some more scenes.
Finally, that ending was horrible.
December 27, 2021
I wanted to enjoy this but from the get go it was a difficult read. Characters who do not trust each other, frustrating conflicts and longer than need be.
February 22, 2024
I DO SO ADORE BODICE RIPPERS but if this was the level of what love accounted for in the past, it's clear women weren't well respected in history, and thank goodness for women's rights that has ushered us into the 21st century.
TOO MUCH HAWKE'S PRIDE INDEED AND BICKERING, NOT ENOUGH LOVE. While the BR genre usually appeals to me because of the ridiculous drama and angst, I was furious with the characters who prioritized their stupid pride and vanity over being frank about their emotions, and telling the truth.
The amount of misunderstandings born within this story was unbelievably redundant and ridiculous. If the author had spent more time cultivating the MCs relationship instead of building an empire of hate, betrayal, dishonesty and sheer stubbornness between them, I believe this story would have flowed much beautifully as the blurb suggested. It's like watching a bad soap opera you know the producers dramatized for the sake of viewer ratings.
WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HAVING THE CHARACTERS FIGHT AND NEVER MAKE UP? HOW DOES ANYONE EXPECT LOVE TO BLOOM FROM THAT KIND OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIP? I understand LUST, but I didn't understand how Hawke and his wife came to love each other. We were being told rather than experiencing it for ourselves.
HAWKE was annoying to a point. One moment I thought the sun would shine upon him, and he clammed up. He had the worse way of handling women. Either he fucks them, or he barely knows how to operate around a real woman, LOL! He says the nastiest things to his wife, often jumping to conclusions that she was cheating on him. Isn't it funny how bodice ripper male leads are always assuming the heroines are cheating on them with someone else, yet no one bats an eyelash when the male lead cheats? Was this how it was back in the old eras? I've never been more thankful to be born in the 21st century. Hawke was shy of redemption when he realized his mistake. He was going to apologize and then pride got in the way, or he said something stupid all over again to hurt his wife. OH MY GOODNESS, IT NEVER ENDS!
RUE was just an innocent young lady whose views of marriage and sex were severely, and horribly tainted by her whoring mother and lusty, perverted stepfather. It's a wonder she would even marry at all! Well, she was determined never to have children or marry, but when her stepfather attempted to sell her off to Hawke, Rue's grandfather forced them to marry at gunpoint. Leaving a destitute life to a new, completely unknown one, Rue didn't know what to expect from her grumpy and surly husband except he likes her cooking. Rue was a confused character. She never had the chance to fully experience life, or even men, or blossomed as a woman when she was saddled with such a horrible husband. Poor gel. Fate hadn't been kind on her.
OVERALL this would have been better had there been a modicum of respect, communication and trust between man and wife. Although this was a marriage before love genre, it sucked hairy balls. Period. Everything that went wrong in their relationship was a huge red flag for anyone in a relationship to AVOID, LEARN FROM and NOT REPEAT with their partners.
TOO MUCH HAWKE'S PRIDE INDEED AND BICKERING, NOT ENOUGH LOVE. While the BR genre usually appeals to me because of the ridiculous drama and angst, I was furious with the characters who prioritized their stupid pride and vanity over being frank about their emotions, and telling the truth.
The amount of misunderstandings born within this story was unbelievably redundant and ridiculous. If the author had spent more time cultivating the MCs relationship instead of building an empire of hate, betrayal, dishonesty and sheer stubbornness between them, I believe this story would have flowed much beautifully as the blurb suggested. It's like watching a bad soap opera you know the producers dramatized for the sake of viewer ratings.
WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HAVING THE CHARACTERS FIGHT AND NEVER MAKE UP? HOW DOES ANYONE EXPECT LOVE TO BLOOM FROM THAT KIND OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIP? I understand LUST, but I didn't understand how Hawke and his wife came to love each other. We were being told rather than experiencing it for ourselves.
HAWKE was annoying to a point. One moment I thought the sun would shine upon him, and he clammed up. He had the worse way of handling women. Either he fucks them, or he barely knows how to operate around a real woman, LOL! He says the nastiest things to his wife, often jumping to conclusions that she was cheating on him. Isn't it funny how bodice ripper male leads are always assuming the heroines are cheating on them with someone else, yet no one bats an eyelash when the male lead cheats? Was this how it was back in the old eras? I've never been more thankful to be born in the 21st century. Hawke was shy of redemption when he realized his mistake. He was going to apologize and then pride got in the way, or he said something stupid all over again to hurt his wife. OH MY GOODNESS, IT NEVER ENDS!
RUE was just an innocent young lady whose views of marriage and sex were severely, and horribly tainted by her whoring mother and lusty, perverted stepfather. It's a wonder she would even marry at all! Well, she was determined never to have children or marry, but when her stepfather attempted to sell her off to Hawke, Rue's grandfather forced them to marry at gunpoint. Leaving a destitute life to a new, completely unknown one, Rue didn't know what to expect from her grumpy and surly husband except he likes her cooking. Rue was a confused character. She never had the chance to fully experience life, or even men, or blossomed as a woman when she was saddled with such a horrible husband. Poor gel. Fate hadn't been kind on her.
OVERALL this would have been better had there been a modicum of respect, communication and trust between man and wife. Although this was a marriage before love genre, it sucked hairy balls. Period. Everything that went wrong in their relationship was a huge red flag for anyone in a relationship to AVOID, LEARN FROM and NOT REPEAT with their partners.
April 12, 2023
Ewwww
I cannot do historical western romances anymore
This one was ugh!
I didn't like the characters: Hawke was an idiot, he disrespected Rue from the beginning and only changed his stance after her pox scabs fell off and she became pretty. Now that she was hot, his ''manhood'' was leading him into her direction, so romantic 🙄
He did try to seduce her and make things right of course, make their marriage real instead of in-name only as they initially agreed, but stubborn Rue would not have it! Oh no, even if she was dreaming of having a marriage like her grandparents had, she would keep Hawke at bay, refute all his attempts at intimacy. She would even goad him and imply she was having an affair with the foreman when he would doubt her, I mean Rue can you blame him? You were leaving with your leacherous and pimp step-father? 🙄
I read it until 60%ish, when they finally got intimate and somehow happy, then I skimmed till the end because I knew what was coming: the evil ex-mistress plotting with evil stepfather to destroy Rue and Hawke's marriage, the book was long enough and I didn't want to bother with useless complications. At the end we had a stupid and ridiculous sex scene announcing they were finally back together so good I guess 🤣
I cannot do historical western romances anymore
This one was ugh!
I didn't like the characters: Hawke was an idiot, he disrespected Rue from the beginning and only changed his stance after her pox scabs fell off and she became pretty. Now that she was hot, his ''manhood'' was leading him into her direction, so romantic 🙄
He did try to seduce her and make things right of course, make their marriage real instead of in-name only as they initially agreed, but stubborn Rue would not have it! Oh no, even if she was dreaming of having a marriage like her grandparents had, she would keep Hawke at bay, refute all his attempts at intimacy. She would even goad him and imply she was having an affair with the foreman when he would doubt her, I mean Rue can you blame him? You were leaving with your leacherous and pimp step-father? 🙄
I read it until 60%ish, when they finally got intimate and somehow happy, then I skimmed till the end because I knew what was coming: the evil ex-mistress plotting with evil stepfather to destroy Rue and Hawke's marriage, the book was long enough and I didn't want to bother with useless complications. At the end we had a stupid and ridiculous sex scene announcing they were finally back together so good I guess 🤣
June 27, 2024
Wonderful To Read Again
It’s been years since I’ve read this book and it still touches me just like it did all those years ago. Admittedly I hated reading when I was in school. When I became a mom of two I needed some down time and so I picked up a book on the free library cart. Well Hawke’s Pride by Norah Hess was this book. It also was the first book I read in a long time and enjoyed it. So many emotions ran through me during this story and as I read it again the same thing happened. I will always cherish this book. Norah Hess did an amazing job and I just wished the story had continued. If you love reading and love, love stories then this book is for you. It doesn’t post Trigger Warnings because of the year it was written and published but here are a few I came up with. Attempted rape, prostitution, shot gun wedding, cheating, murder, mention of starvation, and almost death from blizzard.
I give this book a 5 star ⭐️ rating.
It’s been years since I’ve read this book and it still touches me just like it did all those years ago. Admittedly I hated reading when I was in school. When I became a mom of two I needed some down time and so I picked up a book on the free library cart. Well Hawke’s Pride by Norah Hess was this book. It also was the first book I read in a long time and enjoyed it. So many emotions ran through me during this story and as I read it again the same thing happened. I will always cherish this book. Norah Hess did an amazing job and I just wished the story had continued. If you love reading and love, love stories then this book is for you. It doesn’t post Trigger Warnings because of the year it was written and published but here are a few I came up with. Attempted rape, prostitution, shot gun wedding, cheating, murder, mention of starvation, and almost death from blizzard.
I give this book a 5 star ⭐️ rating.
January 10, 2025
That must be the most *abrupt* ending to a romance I've ever read. I can't stop laughing.
This was a solid five star love/hate read for me. The hero was a massive twat - he was so mean, so horribly mean and cruel and thoughtless. Our poor heroine, how she suffered. And you know... even though I felt miserable for her I was hoooooked. I can't help but weirdly enjoy a total bastard in romance books. So, five bastards out of five bastards here.
This was a solid five star love/hate read for me. The hero was a massive twat - he was so mean, so horribly mean and cruel and thoughtless. Our poor heroine, how she suffered. And you know... even though I felt miserable for her I was hoooooked. I can't help but weirdly enjoy a total bastard in romance books. So, five bastards out of five bastards here.
August 16, 2023
It was fine; started off strong, but the prolonged separation and weirdly non existent angst towards the end soured it a bit for me. I enjoy working heroes and heroines and liked the first three quarters of this book quite a bit.
May 18, 2019
Hawks Bride
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie.
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie.
January 25, 2021
It started off good but they switched up too fast. I didn't find it believable. The ending also could have been better.
June 13, 2022
Many children were mentioned in the book that i got tired of it,why the author avoids to give a epilogue,of the pair with their children i don't underatand,anyway it was a good read.
October 10, 2016
Hawke was a total jerk. Don't know how Rue could forgive everything. I also think she was a little callous with her younger sickly brothers and yet she adored all other children. Not very consistent. I would also like to know what happened to Josh. It seems kind of messed up that no one told him she was actually alive.
February 16, 2015
New writer for me
This book started out good but then it feels like they drew a blank and just started throwing things in there to fill the pages. How disappointed. I still am glad that I read it
This book started out good but then it feels like they drew a blank and just started throwing things in there to fill the pages. How disappointed. I still am glad that I read it
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