Dulce Veneno

Only #5

by Elizabeth Lowell

A su regreso a su rancho de Wyoming tras finalizar la Guerra Civil, Elyssa Sutton lo encuentra arrasado por los carroñeros y codiciado por hombres decididos. Pero la orgullosa joven jura no volver a abandonar su hogar en Ruby Mountain, aun cuando eso signifique reclutar la ayuda de un oscuro y peligroso desconocido que vive únicamente para la venganza.

Hunter Maxwell ha sufrido a causa de la barbarie de los bandidos y por la infidelidad de una mujer. Y no confiará en ninguna fémina… ni descansará hasta que los jinetes que destruyeron a su familia paguen por sus crímenes.

Una mujer necesitada; un hombre que sufre. En la cólera y el deseo, deberán ahora defenderse como uno solo, luchar por algo preciado, por algo perdido… y por una pasión que ninguno de los dos se atrevió a soñar.

En el severo y frío otoño, dos corazones desolados renacerán.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Westerns, Fiction, Western Romance, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Individually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.

In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).

Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.

To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.

Reviews

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️.5
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Autumn Lover is the first book in the Maxwell duo series and is number five in the "Only" series. This story has been on my watchlist for the longest time and for almost a year I have been trying to get this one read. I am not sure why I have put off this book for the longest time, but I finally braved the wild frontier and grabbed up this book and it was actually way better than I expected. But also reading this made me realize why I don't read too many older historical's anymore, the angst was unreal in this book and the hero is a jerk alpha hero. So if that isn't for you, then I don't recommend it. But if you don't the jerk hero type, and love some great plot machinations and strong western themes, then I do recommend this one to you. It definitely has a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat and really delivers such a strong thought out story.

First Line
I hear you need a ramrod who can handle a gun

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Hunter Maxwell
An Alpha Male, Gunslinger, On the hunt for revenge for the death of his family. Bitter about his late wife who had countless affairs and used him and mistrusts most women.

The Heroine: Elyssa Sutton
With her parents dead, its up to Elyssa to save her ranch from outlaws and rustlers. She loves pretty things but has never found a place where she has been accepted and loved for who she is. She lives and breathes her family's home.

Summary
When Elyssa Sutton returns from England to her family's home and ranch in Wyoming, following the end of the Civil War, everything her parents built is falling apart. With rustlers and scavengers picking the place clean, she will fight with everything she has to protect what is left. When Hunter Maxwell arrives, to be her foreman and to stop the destruction, she hires him on. Hunter is on the road to revenge against the Culpeppers who destroyed just about everyone he loved. He doesn't trust Elyssa, she is a beauty just like his late wife and wears satin dresses and he doesn't trust her to not flirt with every man within a mile of her. Hunter has been burned badly, and despite the unfair treatment he deals toward Elyssa, there is a strong connection that forms between them. But they are in great danger now and it will be a miracle if they survive the coming storm...

What I Loved
Autumn Lover wasn't a easy and light filled story. This is most definitely not for the faint of heart, but it was a solid story that packed quite a punch. It does have a writing style that was typical of authors back then, so keep that in mind. There is quite a bit of inner relationship angst in this story. But there is also a very well written plot and great storyline that will keep you moving forward on the story. We have some great character development here. The hero is a tough nut to crack, but eventually he redeems himself. We see such great torment in him over his past and losing his children, so he definitely is multi dimensional and it takes a while to get down to the heart but once you do then its pure gold. Then we have our heroine, whom I really loved. I just had a blast with her character. She has such spirit and genuine heart and intentions and I admired her strength. She stands up for herself which I really was endeared by. The plot of the story is what really makes this story shine. The author kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through this and I was so eager to see it play out in the end.

What I Struggled With
I really struggled with the angst and how the hero treats the heroine. This was really hard to see, because the heroine has such a tender heart. And the hero has all of these wrong misconceptions about her character and its really tough to see how hard he is on her and he can come off as very demeaning and almost bullying in some respects. So keep that in mind before reading this one if these characteristics might be triggering for you.

Overall View
Autumn Lover is a story that is full of autumn vibes, spicy angst, and a plot to keep you eager and involved....a solid win of a story!

Favorite Quote(s)
For Elyssa it was like being in one of her restless dreams—darkness and moonlight, the scent of rosemary and the rippling murmur of water, Hunter’s eyes watching her with a hunger that made her heart turn over.

“No one can stand upright on fire,” Elyssa whispered. “All you can do is sink into it…and let it burn.”

Autumn lover. I’ll remember you each year when leaves turn to fire.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Time Era(s): American West, Civil War, Reconstruction
Character Types: Alpha Male, Jerk Hero, Tortured Hero
Themes: Angsty, Pining Heroine, Groveling Hero, Danger, Western, Autumn Fall Vibes
Tropes: Unrequited Lovers, Revenge, Age Gap

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

Song This Book Inspires
This Is My Trying-Taylor Swift

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stars for the story, 3 stars for I don't know what but it made me finish the book.

Let's talk about pushing the wrong button in this review. I usually can find some compassion in me to see pass rudeness in misguided masculinity. My asshole radar in Romanceland is a lot less sensitive than most fellow ladies I know. But dude, Hunter, you are an asshole.

That being said, Elyssa the heroine, didn't do better than Hunter in terms of not pushing the wrong button for me. She was running after Hunter like, and I don't enjoy saying this, a bitch in heat. Guy didn't want you. Or at least his mind was telling him it was a bad idea. Innocent Elyssa though oh let me heal you with my love. You must feel something for me. Let me love you. Let me go talk to you at night and try to convince you that I am not like your unfaithful dead wife. Hunter was a ass. And Elyssa was an idiot.

In the end the story never really convinced me that Hunter loved Elyssa. Elyssa was in love with the idea of being in love. It seemed like that because Hunter didn't really redeem himself in this book. So it made Elyssa's love look idiotic.

I have read maybe 4 books by this writer. One thing I do like about her is that she wastes no time. She gets to the point and tells a compelling story. That's why I was able to finish the book, though I must say, Elizabeth Lowell has done better than Autumn Lover.

[Maqluba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh wow what a disaster... I was cruising along enjoying the ride and then the heroine decided that she will play doormat for 75% of the ride while the hero continues to treat her like trash and continually degrade her because he thinks he knows better.
I can't decide who I hate more- the jackhole hero or the idiot heroine. I really enjoyed the setup and even went along while the hero compared the heroine to his selfish deceased wife but I thought eventually he would see around that and realize who she really is- but no. It took and incredibly long time and a smack in his face evidence before he realized she wasn't a whore. I wanted to smack him in the head every time he called her a flirt (and by flirt he meant ho) and I wanted to hit the heroine over the head every time she just took what he said and didn't try to defend.... If the guy I liked told me he would gladly give me the "fast sex I'm asking for by swaying my hips back and forth" I would realize he obviously thinks I'm a ho and I should forget trying to change his mind about me cuz obviously he's an arrogant d*ck.
Sorry, I don't think I've ever hated a hero as much since the pr*ck in Heartless ; and I would have forgiven the heroine of all her idiocy if **SPOILER** she stood up for her self after the first time they did the deed but of course instead of telling him off then making him come begging she pretty much says I hate you and then has sex with I'm again-- tell me that's not the most doormat-y behavior you have ever read! **END SPOILER**
I did like the writing and the set up and the suspense of the ranch issues so Imma give it 2-stars, close my eyes, and walk away before I regret it and 1-star it.

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg I wanted to shake Hunter!!!
But I loved this so much. Elyssa was amazing. The whole setting in the ranch was magical!!!

[Sombra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Últimamente no sé que pasa, pero libro que leo, libro que no consigo conectar con los protagonistas ni ver su amor por ningún lado.

A pesar de que esta serie me encanta, los dos últimos libros de esta serie han echo que mi interés decaiga bastante sobre todo por los protagonistas.

En esta ocasión tenemos a Hunter, personaje que si mal no recuerdo sale por primera vez en el libro anterior. Tras ayudarlos a ambos con una banda de forajidos que han sembrado el terror por la zona, los Cuppelpers, éste parte en busca de los supervivientes para vengarse de ellos, ya que su mujer y sus hijos fueron asesinados por ellos.
Es en una de sus incursiones que éste decide tomar el trabajo de capataz del rancho S Lader, cuya dueña es una mujer llamada Elyssa. Nada más conocerse saltan chispas entre ellos, pero Hunter tuvo una mala experiencia con su mujer y cree que todas son unas coquetas desalmadas y que solo buscan meterse bajo los pantalones de cualquier hombre.
A pesar de que su primer encuentro no es nada agradable, Hunter es contratado y es aquí cuando empieza una historia de "amor" que hasta casi el final me ha traído de cabeza.

Hunter no hace más que prejuiciar a Elyssa y compararla continuamente con su mujer, que fue una joyita y Elyssa, que está atraída por él quiere que le preste atención, por lo que está continuamente siguiéndole y buscando. Entre él llamándola facilona a cada oportunidad y ella arrastrándose a pesar de su dignidad, el libro se me ha hecho cuesta arriba siempre y cuando ambos están juntos.

Pero a pesar de ello el libro no es malo. Todo lo contrario. Si algo tiene de bueno esta autora es que la ambientación es siempre de las mejores y sus historias te enganchan con tanta facilidad que cuando te quieres dar cuenta ya has leído medio libro.

Ahora estoy deseando leer el siguiente, que espero que sea el del hermano de Hunter, que en este libro me ha tenido muy enganchada su historia y ese misterio.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elyssa is desperately trying to make a go of the Ladder S Ranch, but as a woman running a ranch in the sexist wild west, things are not easy. She needs to get her livestock to market or she'll go broke, and when the Culpepper's, outlaws from Texas decide to move in on her things become dire. Her hands are being killed or run off by the Culpepper's, her cattle and horses are being rustled. And someone on the ranch is feeding the Culpepper's information allowing them to run rough shod over her ranch.

Hunter has been hunting the Culpepper's since they fled Texas, leaving his wife and children dead. His vendetta leads him to the Ladder S where he hires on as ranch foreman. He's immediately attracted to Elyssa but he considers her little more than a hussy who will sleep with whoever will help her the most and refuses to let her get in the way of his brand of wild west justice.



Autumn Lover isn't too bad. It's entertaining even if it's a little on the cheesy side. The author's research for this book probably consisted of late nights watching John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart films from the 1950s. If you want to read Western Historical Romance that has a little more basis in the facts, Ellen O'Connell's Beautiful Bad Man is well worth the effort. If you don't care too much about historical accuracy, this book is pretty good...but read the Ellen O'Connell book as well.

[Lori ◡̈ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely did not like this book!

During the first few chapters, the hero kept referring to the heroine as a flirt (slut)... and I was so confused because nothing that I had read so far was describing her behavior as flirtatious.

Then I realized that he was just being an ass and constantly comparing her to his late ho'ish wife.

The hero was just constantly treating the heroine like dirt and I couldn't stand it... so I stopped reading.

Based on some other reviews, I am glad that I did and saved my time to start another book that will hopefully be way more enjoyable to curl up and read!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story even though I disliked Hunter’s character though he was the main hero.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho amato moltissimo la serie Only, tanto è vero che per i primi quattro volumi il mio giudizio è rimasto costante tra le quattro e le cinque stelline.
Nel complesso, resta una delle migliori serie #romance con ambientazione storica e western.
Però va detto che là c'erano Caleb, Reno e Wolfe come protagonisti maschili, assolutamente ineguagliabili. Poi è venuto Whip, già un filo inferiore, e stavolta è toccato ad Hunter.

Allora, se Hunter rientra nell'immaginario di uomo tutto d'un pezzo, ufficiale di un esercito sconfitto, uomo provato dai lutti familiari e con una voglia di vendetta che è divenuta la sua unica ragione di vita, viene collocato all'interno di una trama che continua ad avvitarsi su stessa ed è spesso incoerente.

Principalmente, la prima fonte di perplessità viene suscitata dall'eroina, Elyssa.
Basterebbe considerare la sua situazione di partenza: sei rimasta orfana, i tuoi migliori uomini sono rimasti uccisi, nessuno vuole più lavorare per te e il tuo ranch sta andando in rovina, sei tornata dall'Inghilterra perchè là i parenti non ti consideravano abbastanza, mentre nel Nevada ti vedono come una ragazzina viziata. E, se non bastasse, la peggiore banda di fuorilegge dei dintorni vuole prendersi terra e bestiame e farti fare una brutta fine.
Diciamo che - minimo - una dovrebbe avere altri pensieri che non meditare sul fatto di portare vestiti eleganti senza corsetto, se Hunter è stato sposato, se Hunter la vede in modo sbagliato, se Hunter corteggia lei o l'amica, ecc. Insomma, sembra precipitata dentro al romanzo sbagliato, continuando a mettersi in pericolo di continuo.

Dall'altra parte, Hunter sembra un robot a cui si sia inceppato il disco di frasi da pronunciare, perchè nel corso del romanzo dirà venticinque volte che "lei comunque è una civetta".
Assurdo. Ho passato metà libro ad alzare gli occhi al cielo e a cercare di trovare un senso nelle scene tra i due.

E, in terzo luogo, quando poi [SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER]
c'è la sospirata scena d'amore e lui non comprende perché la povera vergine urla e piange, tappandole pure la bocca, e quando vede il sangue si autoassolve concludendo che lei forse aveva il ciclo... ecco, credo che, quanto a incomprensioni, si sia davvero toccato il fondo.

Un misunderstanding a volte ci può stare, ritrovarsi con un rozzo capoccione ha poco di romantico.
Continuo a consigliare la serie ONLY, ma non questo. Sorry :(

[Maddux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowell writes an engaging story. As with many of her other books, this one ran along the same lines. The Hero had his doubts, strong doubts, that the heroine was an innocent. Called her "Sassy" all the time. Thought her an unrepentant flirt - much like his first wife - and he compared Elyssa mercilessly with his awful dead wife.

Hunter had been burned in the past - so he took it out on Elyssa.

Lowell does this in her books. I think she likes to see her larger-than-life heroes brought low by the truth.

Sometimes, I just want her heroine to turn around and knee the hero in the balls. That would be no less than he deserves, in all honesty.

But I do love a good Lowell novel. Her books are delicious.

3.5 stars.

[Kaity ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf halfway through. I can’t stand Hunter and his inner monologue was too much. I wasn’t too into the writing style. This is my first book by this author and I bought this whole series at a used bookstore but I’m hoping the rest of the series is more enjoyable for me!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another of the books I've read in my marathon charge through a bunch of Elizabeth Lowell's older romance works, and it's the last of the "Only" quartet and related duology. Unfortunately, it's also my second to least favorite.

Lowell's writing here is certainly about on par with the other works, but the biggest beef I have with this story is a hero who really needs to be punched right in the jaw. Right out of the gate, Hunter Maxwell is convinced that Elyssa Sutton is the "town flirt", which is code for the "town's rampaging slut", and he has no real evidence to believe this whatsoever: just the flimsy word of one minor NPC who's an ass anyway. He gives her constant shit about it, up until the obligatory "but I'm going to go at it with you like rabid coyotes" scene, and all I could think through most of the story was "wait, and there were readers that found this behavior sexy? Da hell?"

Bah. It's a shame, because as with the other stories, this one's not without decent suspense. Sure, the Culpepper Clan is providing stock Bad Guys right out of central casting, but okay, even given that, the whole scenario with their trying to take over the ranch next door and how they're holding an important side character hostage is entertaining enough. But our so-called hero Hunter's behavior to Elyssa all throughout the story, even given how he's all bitter and stuff because the Culpeppers murdered his wife and child and his wife was an actual rampaging slut anyway, really was more annoying than sexy. Lowell's done quite a bit better since this book, fortunately. For this one, two stars.

[Jultri · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 11%. Goodness me, I have forgotten how repetitive this author can be. I was able to look past it in previous books, but the hero's constant references to the heroine being a flirty little girl with "swinging hips" just got too tedious and too misogynistic for me to ignore. She was manhandled and disrespected by another man, and instead of defending her, he accused her of inviting the attention by swinging those busy pendulum hips of hers. And there really is no rhyme or reason behind his vicious preconceptions apart from the fact that she shares the same gender as his dead wife, who wronged him somehow. All the heroine is trying to do is to keep herself and her ranch alive, and she cannot be responsible for him and others getting randy at the sight of female flesh. Quite disturbing attitude, blaming the woman for his inability to control his thoughts and body parts.

[Lizeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give Hunter a kick in his rear a few times but he made up for it pretty okay in the end :)

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty entertaining. I found myself more interested in how an isolated ranch would be run post-civil war than I was with the romance. I loved how they were in a situation where Confederate soldiers, Union soldiers, a black cowboy who was a former slave and Mexicans all put differences aside and worked together nicely in the name of survival.

As for the romance, Hunter was not an easy man to fall for as a reader. I'm not sure how Elyssa mangaged it, quite frankly. He really seemed to hate women and to hate her. He wasn't very nice to her. This book had the most unromantic "girl loses her virginity" scenario I've ever read. He was decent enough by the end of the book that I thought she'd be happy with him, but it took a long time to get there.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible. I thought the narrator did a good job with the women's voices but awful with the men's voices. Especially Hunter's voice which made it even doubly easier to despise him for his horrible comments. I kept hoping for Hunter to develop some kind of insight or become enlightened but he never did. The heroine, although courageous when it came to defending her ranch, was a total door mat to Hunter treating her like crap and assuming the worst about her. My favorite character in the book was Morgan! I need to see if he got his own book. The book had so much potential but Hunter's behavior just ruined it for me.

[~Megan~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, it was just okay. For the majority of the book, I actively hated the hero. I love a good, hard, dangerous guy.....but he was just unnecessarily cruel with no end in sight. It came right in the end, but his behavior, especially after their "first time" just ruined the book for me. I loved the brother, Case, but am not sure I'm willing to risk reading his story.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read. I liked the storyline and the strong main characters. Elizabeth Lowell has a real gift for describing the settings and surroundings of the characters. The beauty of the land that she describes is amazing and vivid, you are right there with them. I enjoyed the struggles Hunter was working through and the way he was still able to care and respond. Good book

[Briana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would've been a pretty good read if Hunter hadn't been so outrageously stupid, stuck in the past, and set on believing Elyssa was a loose woman. It colored so much of the story and got very annoying very quickly.

[Scoyphenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's tough to get into a romance novel in which the hero holds no attraction. If I had to read one more time that Elyssa was just like Hunter's dead wife when she clearly wasn't, I was going to climb into the book and slap some perception into him.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh... This book. First- after this one and the previous one I DNF'd, I will do my utmost to NEVER read an Avon romance again. Good grief.

So here're my problems... The ranch / old west-style story itself... 4-5 stars. Truly interesting and intriguing. The characters... 3? The "romance"... -2? Here's why...

The MMC is a total @$$h0!3. And I do not say that lightly. I mean... yeah. Everyone has drama and baggage in their past, but this guy... He constantly calls the FMC a "little flirt" without any actual evidence of her character. She, the poor thing, though ignorant and completely reckless, honestly doesn't realize or understand her female charms or why he keeps saying that to her. She's just a bohemian ranch girl, roughly 100 years ahead of her time. Then... and here's the actual spoiler... [also, TW/trigger warning]... He SA's her during their first true sexual encounter because he's such a stubborn @$$, he assumed she wasn't a virgin and just went for it, even though she was fighting him... and then afterward he realizes what an ass he is, she forgives him, they "make love," and we get an "HEA" at the end... Honestly... I felt cringe and triggered through most of the second half of the book, but the adventurer in me wanted to know what happened with the ranch. And that's why I even bothered finishing the thing, to see the end of the "western" played out. I'm still shocked that anyone could find this romantic. A pretty good western, but romantic... although I'll give the author props for having the men be misogynist as hell in fitting with the time period. *shudders* Hopefully never again with Avon. Good grief.

[Mariairam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó el cambio de aires de este libro respecto a la serie. No porque los libros anteriores no me gustasen (al contrario, cuando pienso en ellos me da un poco de nostalgia y les tengo cariño), sino porque con estos libros parece que al cambiar de "familia" se reinicia todo un poco y entra sangre nueva (Gabe me llegó a cansar un poco en el libro anterior)

Me encantaron los paisajes que describe y, aunque parece que los hombres que esta mujer describe son un poco estúpidos (son inteligentes, valientes, protectores... pero estúpidos en su percepción de cómo son las mujeres) también se dejan querer.

Reconozco que lo que más me gustó del libro fue la aparición del hermano Case y toda la escena final entre los habitantes del rancho y los Culppepers. Me resultó muy peliculera y la disfruté mucho.

En cuanto a la historia de amor, es entretenida y agradable, pero cuanto más lo pienso... más me gusta el primer libro de la serie. Es el único libro en el que he tenido la sensación de que Caleb es un "hombre" y no está rehuyendo de la protagonista femenina por traumas o miedo a ser atrapado. De igual modo, Willow es de los personajes femeninos que más he disfrutado de la serie.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story, I liked Elyssa, but Hunter was hard to like. He is stubborn and hardheaded. It seems only his opinion matters. He listens to the local gossip instead of seeing the situation for himself. He measures all young, beautiful women by how his dead wife, Belinda, acted. Elyssa is headstrong and knows what she should do and does it whether anyone else likes it or not. There is lots of gossip about her, just like it had been with her mother. Hunter thinks she is the biggest flirt and her family in England thought she was too forward. She doesn't flirt and just speaks her mind. So many men take her the wrong way. Hunter finally gives in and sees her for the courageous woman she is. Will he stay after all the trouble is taken care of or will he leave her to continue his vendetta?

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a historical/western romance. The story takes place in Nevada in1868 by the Ruby Mountains on the Ladder S ranch. Elyssa Sutten the young ranch owner needed help rounding up her cattle and horses to get them to the Army to fulfill her contract and received the money from the sale or she would lose the ranch. Also, she needed men who could and would use their guns there were a bunch of lawless men trying to take her ranch away from her. Along came a dark handsome and dangerous stranger, Hunter Maxwell riding up to her on the ranch looking for work. So we have a woman in need and a man in pain, they must now stand as one to fight for a passion neither of them dreamed could live. A good read.

[JenV · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad story, but the male main character, Hunter, was SUCH an utter jackass throughout most of the book that it took away from the story. I couldn’t tolerate the repeated use of the word “flirt” which I guess was an insult at the time. I also was annoyed by the book summary saying the story took place in Wyoming while the very first page says it took place in Nevada. Otherwise, it was a decent plot and kept me engaged. I’m looking forward to the next Maxwell book—Case seems much more likable than Hunter.

[Mandy Snel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I am extra emotional now I am pregnant, but this book is one that made me blink back a few tears.

Sure this might not be entirely realistic, but with suspension of disbelief, I did feel for our leading couple. Hunter was pretty rude, and I doubt I would be able to stand it as long as Sassy did, but then again, she was the one in love with the way he looked ;-)

The ending was a bit sudden though, and I would have liked it to be longer, but you cannot have it all...

[Giulia Vasquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

uneventful
nothing to actually make it stand out

has the same overused tropes of other books
very generic plot

you can already tell where it\s going when it starts out with the heroine getting all lusty about a man she doesnt know that appears in the middle of the night and could be well about to kill her
and wondering what in his life has made his eyes so cold
and after a couple of days she is already in love
lol
.....
annoying

[Darkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this book, I couldn't handle the way Hunter spoke to and about Elyssa, I felt the author went overboard, especially seeing as Elyssa did nothing that I read about to earns Hunter's disdain and then when's he found out he was wrong, did a complete 360.

[Holly Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book! Oh my heart. I love you Hunter and Elyssa. A wonderful story, I can only imagine what I things would’ve been like if I were to live in that time. I feel like I would somewhat be like Elyssa. She’s such a strong, brave, and beautiful woman.

[Marina P · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was ok (I think), but I did not like the heroine: she was too impulsive and irrational. And the hero was no better: although I understood his pain about his past, he was still behaving irrationally - sometimes hot, then again cold. Got really on my nerves.