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Chasing Rainbows
She tried to escape. . . only to land in his arms.
The crowd cheered as the bandit was hanged--until his hat flew off, revealing the the condemned man was a woman. But the noose was loose, the rope was frayed, and within seconds Outlaw Annie fell to the ground, rescued by the tall, dark stranger who rode by her side as they hightailed it out of town. She'd never met her match until then, in this disturbing outsider who stirred unfamiliar passions as he tried to tame the wildest woman in the West.
Jake Moran couldn't tell Annie the he was a wanted man, using her as bait to lure the infamous Mundy Gang, the only ones who could clear his name. Jake was a gambler, but nothing could have prepared him for this hellion he'd agreed to escort to a distant town. She said she wanted to go straight. But she went straight for his heart, a place no woman had ever touched before, as he battled guilt and desire for the innocent temptress who led him into the most dangerous wilderness of all--love.
The crowd cheered as the bandit was hanged--until his hat flew off, revealing the the condemned man was a woman. But the noose was loose, the rope was frayed, and within seconds Outlaw Annie fell to the ground, rescued by the tall, dark stranger who rode by her side as they hightailed it out of town. She'd never met her match until then, in this disturbing outsider who stirred unfamiliar passions as he tried to tame the wildest woman in the West.
Jake Moran couldn't tell Annie the he was a wanted man, using her as bait to lure the infamous Mundy Gang, the only ones who could clear his name. Jake was a gambler, but nothing could have prepared him for this hellion he'd agreed to escort to a distant town. She said she wanted to go straight. But she went straight for his heart, a place no woman had ever touched before, as he battled guilt and desire for the innocent temptress who led him into the most dangerous wilderness of all--love.
377 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 8, 1997
45 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Lynne
8 books41 followersVictoria Lynne also writes as V.L. Burgess
Meet VICTORIA. She lives in a small Vermont town in a house that was built before Lincoln was president. Victoria, her husband, and children have decided it probably isn't haunted (though the dog might argue differently).
Victoria's work has been published by Simon and Schuster, Dell, Avon, Berkley, Move Books, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She's received two RITA Award nominations and has consistently earned the Romantic Times' coveted "Top Pick" award.
She writes smart, scrumptious historical romance novels under the pen name VICTORIA LYNNE. When she's writing fast-paced contemporary novels, she uses the name VICTORIA BURGESS.
Because online reviews are SO important to today’s authors, if you like what you've read, let the world know! Shout it out in a review and you'll make her day. You'll also earn lots of good karma. ♥
For more information please visit her website, www.AuthorVictoriaBurgess.com.
Meet VICTORIA. She lives in a small Vermont town in a house that was built before Lincoln was president. Victoria, her husband, and children have decided it probably isn't haunted (though the dog might argue differently).
Victoria's work has been published by Simon and Schuster, Dell, Avon, Berkley, Move Books, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She's received two RITA Award nominations and has consistently earned the Romantic Times' coveted "Top Pick" award.
She writes smart, scrumptious historical romance novels under the pen name VICTORIA LYNNE. When she's writing fast-paced contemporary novels, she uses the name VICTORIA BURGESS.
Because online reviews are SO important to today’s authors, if you like what you've read, let the world know! Shout it out in a review and you'll make her day. You'll also earn lots of good karma. ♥
For more information please visit her website, www.AuthorVictoriaBurgess.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 15, 2013
Western romances are always good entertainment. Horses. Gunfights. Tumbleweed. Horses. Guys who probably didn't bathe much, but you pretend they're hot anyway. Outlaws. Horses. You know, it's more exciting than my list suggests. Chasing Rainbows is that quintessential western romance, following a rugged professional gambler and a spirited female ex-outlaw on adventures until the female ex-outlaw experiences some sort of mental castration that makes her pliable and subservient. This western, however, is notable for its hero, Jake, who flounces and flails halfway through the story like a legendary Johanna Lindsey heroine. He loses his shit so easily that I'm pretty sure Outlaw Annie may have to add an extra outhouse to their residence to accommodate all his feelz.
An Overly-Simplified Summary of Chasing Rainbows
After breaking from the Mundy Gang when their outlaw activities turned violent, Little Orphan Annie (she really is an orphan) is nearly hanged for her troubles. When the execution fails, the sheriff makes up his own rules (as they will) and sends Annie under the escort of professional gambler Jake Moran to Cooperton, where Annie owns a hotel that she won in a shooting bet. Jake isn't escorting her out of the kindness of his heart, though. He wants to pump Annie for information during their journey because he believes that a member of the Mundy Gang framed him for murder. Annie says that the Mundy Gang is dead, but nobody believes her because the gang is still robbing banks. Annie tells Jake that she's living an honest life now, but he doesn't believe her because the plot needs conflict. Can Outlaw Annie escape the shadows of her past and live the respectable life she desires with all her heart? Can Jake figure out that a simple conversation with Annie will relieve his conflicted feelz?
Annie
"I'm a stereotype!!!"
Annie's a cool character. She made the best of a crappy situation and took care of her adopted family as a means for survival. Although I often wonder why she bothers, she dedicates a lot of time to bettering her circumstances. She wants to be treated like a real lady and will undergo any humiliation to get to that point. There's a scene where Annie attends a country dance alone so she can learn to act like a proper lady. The people there are horrid cows to her, cutting her and making snide comments, but Annie fights tears and lingers there just to keep her dignity. This scene about an outsider trying desperately to belong was my favorite in the book because it drives home how difficult it is for a woman like Annie to keep her chin up and carry on instead of flouncing like a little bitch.
On the subject of flouncing little bitches ...
Jake
"I'm also a stereotype!"
I give Jake a hard time, but he's really not that bad. As a hero, I give him two thumbs up. Despite his descent into Drama Queen Land, he manages to save the day several times. What more can I really ask of the guy? Jake's been grazing around the West since the war, in which he fought on the losing side. Take THAT, Rebels - bwahahahaha! He makes a decent living for himself with gambling and only recently came into major trouble with the whole framed-for-murder thing. Of course, for a Wanted Man, Jake moves around with ease. I tended to forget that conflict even existed until it came up in his inner monologue. Jake moves the love story plot forward with his complete distrust of poor Annie. The bastard coaxes her to tell him ALL of her secrets, but he doesn't tell her anything. He lies and judges her and lies some more and throws a tantrum when he discovers incriminating information about her yet fails to TALK WITH HER about it.
Indeed, Chasing Rainbows contains a Big Misunderstanding. Sure, it was entertaining for Jake to flail around with his britches in a bunch, but his bastardly (it's a word NOW) ways made the ending difficult for me. The resolution is too simple, too easily wrapped-up, and depends too much on Annie's mental castration.
I still enjoyed this story, though not as much as Lynne's Captured. If not for the rushed resolution, I'd give this 3 stars. At least there was a gunfight. And sex with genuine emotion. That may be what I miss in romance these days - action and sex that actually means something. Oh god, modern fiction is turning me into the uptight and matronly relative telling you to "save your special gift for a special man". Whatevs. So be it. I like sex in romance to be either ROMANTIC or LOL-worthy, and Lynne delivers every time.
An Overly-Simplified Summary of Chasing Rainbows
After breaking from the Mundy Gang when their outlaw activities turned violent, Little Orphan Annie (she really is an orphan) is nearly hanged for her troubles. When the execution fails, the sheriff makes up his own rules (as they will) and sends Annie under the escort of professional gambler Jake Moran to Cooperton, where Annie owns a hotel that she won in a shooting bet. Jake isn't escorting her out of the kindness of his heart, though. He wants to pump Annie for information during their journey because he believes that a member of the Mundy Gang framed him for murder. Annie says that the Mundy Gang is dead, but nobody believes her because the gang is still robbing banks. Annie tells Jake that she's living an honest life now, but he doesn't believe her because the plot needs conflict. Can Outlaw Annie escape the shadows of her past and live the respectable life she desires with all her heart? Can Jake figure out that a simple conversation with Annie will relieve his conflicted feelz?
Annie
"I'm a stereotype!!!"
Annie's a cool character. She made the best of a crappy situation and took care of her adopted family as a means for survival. Although I often wonder why she bothers, she dedicates a lot of time to bettering her circumstances. She wants to be treated like a real lady and will undergo any humiliation to get to that point. There's a scene where Annie attends a country dance alone so she can learn to act like a proper lady. The people there are horrid cows to her, cutting her and making snide comments, but Annie fights tears and lingers there just to keep her dignity. This scene about an outsider trying desperately to belong was my favorite in the book because it drives home how difficult it is for a woman like Annie to keep her chin up and carry on instead of flouncing like a little bitch.
On the subject of flouncing little bitches ...
Jake
"I'm also a stereotype!"
I give Jake a hard time, but he's really not that bad. As a hero, I give him two thumbs up. Despite his descent into Drama Queen Land, he manages to save the day several times. What more can I really ask of the guy? Jake's been grazing around the West since the war, in which he fought on the losing side. Take THAT, Rebels - bwahahahaha! He makes a decent living for himself with gambling and only recently came into major trouble with the whole framed-for-murder thing. Of course, for a Wanted Man, Jake moves around with ease. I tended to forget that conflict even existed until it came up in his inner monologue. Jake moves the love story plot forward with his complete distrust of poor Annie. The bastard coaxes her to tell him ALL of her secrets, but he doesn't tell her anything. He lies and judges her and lies some more and throws a tantrum when he discovers incriminating information about her yet fails to TALK WITH HER about it.
Indeed, Chasing Rainbows contains a Big Misunderstanding. Sure, it was entertaining for Jake to flail around with his britches in a bunch, but his bastardly (it's a word NOW) ways made the ending difficult for me. The resolution is too simple, too easily wrapped-up, and depends too much on Annie's mental castration.
I still enjoyed this story, though not as much as Lynne's Captured. If not for the rushed resolution, I'd give this 3 stars. At least there was a gunfight. And sex with genuine emotion. That may be what I miss in romance these days - action and sex that actually means something. Oh god, modern fiction is turning me into the uptight and matronly relative telling you to "save your special gift for a special man". Whatevs. So be it. I like sex in romance to be either ROMANTIC or LOL-worthy, and Lynne delivers every time.
August 2, 2012
3.5 stars
The crowd cheered as the bandit was hanged--until his hat flew off, revealing the truth: the condemned man was a woman. But the noose was loose, the rope was frayed, and within seconds Outlaw Annie fell to the ground, rescued by the tall, dark stranger who rode by her side as they hightailed it out of town. She'd never met her match until then, in this disturbing outsider who stirred unfamiliar passions as he tried to tame the wildest woman in the West.
Outlaw Annie is condemned to hang in Stony Gulch, Colorado, but the rope didn't hold and she's given a second chance at life and handed over to the *care* of gambler Jake Moran who promises to escort her out of town where she plans to go straight. Jake isn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he's got some secrets of his own and he needs to track down Annie's old gang to get proof he's not a murderer. Annie swears that the rest of the gang died in a shootout with lawmen - but this supposedly dead gang is still out there robbing and murdering and stuff. Worse yet, every time they pull a heist, Annie is nowhere to be found. Is she really on the straight and narrow, or is Outlaw Annie back in the saddle?
This was a quick, easy and fun read. Jake and Annie had some good chemistry going (he can call me darlin' any time). While there is a misunderstanding between the two, I wouldn't classify it as a Big Misunderstanding, and hats off to the author for not letting that happen. Typically when the hero suspects the worst, the heroine would be off pouting and whatnot, but not our Annie - she's not giving up her man without a fight! My only real quibble was the typos, and I don't know if they were from the original 1997 Dell edition, or came about through the conversion to e-book. Either way, I wish someone would have proofread it prior to setting it loose on the world. I got it as a freebie, but I've had been a bit ticked if I'd paid hard money.
The crowd cheered as the bandit was hanged--until his hat flew off, revealing the truth: the condemned man was a woman. But the noose was loose, the rope was frayed, and within seconds Outlaw Annie fell to the ground, rescued by the tall, dark stranger who rode by her side as they hightailed it out of town. She'd never met her match until then, in this disturbing outsider who stirred unfamiliar passions as he tried to tame the wildest woman in the West.
Outlaw Annie is condemned to hang in Stony Gulch, Colorado, but the rope didn't hold and she's given a second chance at life and handed over to the *care* of gambler Jake Moran who promises to escort her out of town where she plans to go straight. Jake isn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he's got some secrets of his own and he needs to track down Annie's old gang to get proof he's not a murderer. Annie swears that the rest of the gang died in a shootout with lawmen - but this supposedly dead gang is still out there robbing and murdering and stuff. Worse yet, every time they pull a heist, Annie is nowhere to be found. Is she really on the straight and narrow, or is Outlaw Annie back in the saddle?
This was a quick, easy and fun read. Jake and Annie had some good chemistry going (he can call me darlin' any time). While there is a misunderstanding between the two, I wouldn't classify it as a Big Misunderstanding, and hats off to the author for not letting that happen. Typically when the hero suspects the worst, the heroine would be off pouting and whatnot, but not our Annie - she's not giving up her man without a fight! My only real quibble was the typos, and I don't know if they were from the original 1997 Dell edition, or came about through the conversion to e-book. Either way, I wish someone would have proofread it prior to setting it loose on the world. I got it as a freebie, but I've had been a bit ticked if I'd paid hard money.
May 10, 2012
This book is everything a good Western historical romance should be! I wavered between 4 and 5 stars on this one. Ultimately, I chose 5 because it was riveting, and I loved the way the book was ended.
Annabel Lee Foster is notorious as "Outlaw Annie." She is the only female to run with the "Mundy Gang," a group feared throughout the West for its increasingly bold string of robberies. Rough around the edges, Annie is distrustful of everyone, especially men. She is about to be hung, when Jake Moran passes through town.
Jake Moran is a Civil War Vet who now earns his living playing poker - and he's damn good at it, too. He is a wanderer who is seemingly just trying to figure out where he fits in the world. He also believes that finding the Mundy Gang will be the ticket to clearing his name, and he hopes that sticking close to Annie will bring the gang straight to him.
So, after saving Annie from the noose, Jake offers to escort her to Cooperton, Colorado.
And their journey begins.
I did have one issue with the story (And this is a true spoiler, so don't read it if you haven't read this book! Seriously, it's nothing bad enough that would have prevented me from reading the book, just a little annoyance):
This is a great read if you're in the mood for a good Western! Accurate historical facts are blended very well into the story. A great romance with a great HEA.
Annabel Lee Foster is notorious as "Outlaw Annie." She is the only female to run with the "Mundy Gang," a group feared throughout the West for its increasingly bold string of robberies. Rough around the edges, Annie is distrustful of everyone, especially men. She is about to be hung, when Jake Moran passes through town.
Jake Moran is a Civil War Vet who now earns his living playing poker - and he's damn good at it, too. He is a wanderer who is seemingly just trying to figure out where he fits in the world. He also believes that finding the Mundy Gang will be the ticket to clearing his name, and he hopes that sticking close to Annie will bring the gang straight to him.
So, after saving Annie from the noose, Jake offers to escort her to Cooperton, Colorado.
And their journey begins.
I did have one issue with the story (And this is a true spoiler, so don't read it if you haven't read this book! Seriously, it's nothing bad enough that would have prevented me from reading the book, just a little annoyance):
This is a great read if you're in the mood for a good Western! Accurate historical facts are blended very well into the story. A great romance with a great HEA.
February 18, 2017
For about half of the novel, it was working for me. I liked that there wasn't insta-love between them and they were working towards trust. But then I started to dislike it.
So. You have Annie. Outlaw Annie. She's an outlaw who ran with a gang for a good part of her life. It seemed interesting enough in the start, but then it's revealed that most of the gang's activities are made up and most things about Outlaw Annie are an exaggeration. So, we're given an interesting background to a character--a female character--and it turns out to be all smoke and mirrors. Oh, and here's the best part -- despite the fact that she's been running with an outlaw gang for a good part of her life...she's a virgin!! Because of course we couldn't have a female protagonist be anything but, right??
And then we have Jake. Jake Moran is a smooth talker and is rather charming...until you piss him off or get on his bad side. Then he turns into a cold asshole who likens you to a whore.
Jake and Annie's relationship starts off on a duplicitous step. I understood why Jake needed to keep his motivations a secret. He didn't know Annie, so I totally understood. However, he literally lies to her the entire novel. The only thing he's ever honest about is that he desires her -- he lusts after her. Even after they hook up (just over half way through), he continues to lie to her. He lies to her about his motivations for escorting her (that he's using her as bait), he uses her as bait to lure the Mundy Gang (even though she's told him time and again that they're dead) and he keeps secrets from her throughout their time on the road and when they reach the hotel (that he's a wanted man, that he doesn't believe her or trust her, that he--well, the list goes on).
When there's a note planted in Annie's saddlebags, he's immediately very angry because he feels he's been duped. "Stunned disbelief swept through him, then quickly turned to cold, razor-edged fury" because "she had been lying to him the whole time, and he had been idiot enough to believe her." He's angry because he thinks she's been lying to him the entire time, even though that's exactly what he's been doing. He's lied to her, kept secrets, used her as bait from the outset of their journey, through the development of their relationship and tentative trust, and all the way to and past the point they're intimate. But he has the audacity to feel "cold, razor-edged fury" because he suspects her of lying?
Oh, and then he cryptically says to her:
Sorry but...who said you have any authority to say that? Jake Moran -- who's been lying to her their entire journey. He actually says that her good point was that she wasn't a liar...but he's the biggest one of all.
Oh, and let’s not forget the subtle slight that it might just have been her only good point.
Then later, when he continues to be an asshole, she tells him to get lost.
Just take a minute and read that over again.
He all but calls her a prostitute and then follows it by saying she's not even worth that much. I usually keep notes while reading, and this part was literally noted "he better fucking grovel" because you never, ever, ever say that shit to another person (unless they've...I dunno, killed your parents or your dog or done something especially heinous). Oh, and remember...this entire cold-asshole trip he's on? It's based off of the note he found in her saddlebags, saddlebags that were in a place anyone could've planted a note. He never brings the note up and asks her straight up.
Oh...did you actually think the author was going to make him grovel??? Admittedly, I was fool enough to believe that she might. It doesn't happen, though. Jake lies to her the entire book...did you actually think that would change at the end? Oh...no, no. It's literally the eleventh hour, and he still doesn't trust her, he's still doubting her, he's still lying to her, and he even sets a trust trap. He never comes to trust her on his own. It's only when he sees proof of her not being involved are things resolved. At that point he sees that she had never been dishonest with him and had trusted him their entire trip...unlike him.
The end of the last chapter (not the epilogue) consists entirely of sentences and passages like that. Sorry but just because he's now "determined to confess the multitude of his sins," it does not--IT DOES NOT--make up for his duplicity and asshole behaviour during the entire novel. He follows this by telling her that he "fell in love" with her.
The fact that he lied to her the entire book, used her, didn't trust her, likened her to a prostitute, set a trust-testing trap for her and made her feel like shit is all solved within a page or two because he says he "fell in love" with her. What started off promising, with a proud outlaw woman who doesn't take shit from anybody, quickly devolved into a lovesick doormat who doesn't love herself and would let even the lowest pieces of shit walk all over her, even the ones who think of her as a "scheming, lying bitch." Jake never has to face consequences for his lies, nor for being a complete and utter fucking asshole. He never grovels or works for forgiveness because it's immediately bestowed upon him since he "fell in love" with her.
So. You have Annie. Outlaw Annie. She's an outlaw who ran with a gang for a good part of her life. It seemed interesting enough in the start, but then it's revealed that most of the gang's activities are made up and most things about Outlaw Annie are an exaggeration. So, we're given an interesting background to a character--a female character--and it turns out to be all smoke and mirrors. Oh, and here's the best part -- despite the fact that she's been running with an outlaw gang for a good part of her life...she's a virgin!! Because of course we couldn't have a female protagonist be anything but, right??
And then we have Jake. Jake Moran is a smooth talker and is rather charming...until you piss him off or get on his bad side. Then he turns into a cold asshole who likens you to a whore.
Jake and Annie's relationship starts off on a duplicitous step. I understood why Jake needed to keep his motivations a secret. He didn't know Annie, so I totally understood. However, he literally lies to her the entire novel. The only thing he's ever honest about is that he desires her -- he lusts after her. Even after they hook up (just over half way through), he continues to lie to her. He lies to her about his motivations for escorting her (that he's using her as bait), he uses her as bait to lure the Mundy Gang (even though she's told him time and again that they're dead) and he keeps secrets from her throughout their time on the road and when they reach the hotel (that he's a wanted man, that he doesn't believe her or trust her, that he--well, the list goes on).
When there's a note planted in Annie's saddlebags, he's immediately very angry because he feels he's been duped. "Stunned disbelief swept through him, then quickly turned to cold, razor-edged fury" because "she had been lying to him the whole time, and he had been idiot enough to believe her." He's angry because he thinks she's been lying to him the entire time, even though that's exactly what he's been doing. He's lied to her, kept secrets, used her as bait from the outset of their journey, through the development of their relationship and tentative trust, and all the way to and past the point they're intimate. But he has the audacity to feel "cold, razor-edged fury" because he suspects her of lying?
Oh, and then he cryptically says to her:
“If you had one good point, Annie, it was that you never lied to me.”
Sorry but...who said you have any authority to say that? Jake Moran -- who's been lying to her their entire journey. He actually says that her good point was that she wasn't a liar...but he's the biggest one of all.
Oh, and let’s not forget the subtle slight that it might just have been her only good point.
Then later, when he continues to be an asshole, she tells him to get lost.
“Why don’t you go straight to hell, Jake Moran?” she said, finally channeling her shock and pain into fury. “You don’t want to stay, get out now. I mean it. Get the hell out of here.”
Jake regarded her through flat, cool eyes. “How convenient. But you’re forgetting one little thing. You owe me five hundred dollars for burning down the town hall in Two River Flats. Or did you think last night was payment in full? It was nice, Annie, but it wasn’t five hundred dollars nice. I’ve had that before; I know the difference.”
Just take a minute and read that over again.
He all but calls her a prostitute and then follows it by saying she's not even worth that much. I usually keep notes while reading, and this part was literally noted "he better fucking grovel" because you never, ever, ever say that shit to another person (unless they've...I dunno, killed your parents or your dog or done something especially heinous). Oh, and remember...this entire cold-asshole trip he's on? It's based off of the note he found in her saddlebags, saddlebags that were in a place anyone could've planted a note. He never brings the note up and asks her straight up.
Oh...did you actually think the author was going to make him grovel??? Admittedly, I was fool enough to believe that she might. It doesn't happen, though. Jake lies to her the entire book...did you actually think that would change at the end? Oh...no, no. It's literally the eleventh hour, and he still doesn't trust her, he's still doubting her, he's still lying to her, and he even sets a trust trap. He never comes to trust her on his own. It's only when he sees proof of her not being involved are things resolved. At that point he sees that she had never been dishonest with him and had trusted him their entire trip...unlike him.
Jake restlessly stood once again, determined to confess the multitude of his sins. Annie would undoubtedly order him out of her life once he did, but he had no choice. She deserved at least that much from him.
The end of the last chapter (not the epilogue) consists entirely of sentences and passages like that. Sorry but just because he's now "determined to confess the multitude of his sins," it does not--IT DOES NOT--make up for his duplicity and asshole behaviour during the entire novel. He follows this by telling her that he "fell in love" with her.
The fact that he lied to her the entire book, used her, didn't trust her, likened her to a prostitute, set a trust-testing trap for her and made her feel like shit is all solved within a page or two because he says he "fell in love" with her. What started off promising, with a proud outlaw woman who doesn't take shit from anybody, quickly devolved into a lovesick doormat who doesn't love herself and would let even the lowest pieces of shit walk all over her, even the ones who think of her as a "scheming, lying bitch." Jake never has to face consequences for his lies, nor for being a complete and utter fucking asshole. He never grovels or works for forgiveness because it's immediately bestowed upon him since he "fell in love" with her.
December 30, 2010
This book was very enjoyable. It was my first try of Victoria Lynne's writing, and I was impressed. I like western romances, but there are just sooo many of them out there that they start to all sound the same. Not so with CHASING RAINBOWS. Victoria Lynne has breathed new life into what could have been a tired plotline with her wonderful characters.
The character were what made this story so good. I thought that they would be cliched. After all, we have the woman who dresses like man, as well as being able to ride and shoot as well as one. We have the gunslinging gambling hero who can outdraw anyone in the west. But they were all so much more than that. Lynne's characters quickly became real people as the book progressed. They were flawed, but not so overly flawed as to be unlikeable. That's a difficult feat for an author to achieve, and I applaud Lynne for a job well done.
She also gave a very good feel of frontier history without having it ever feel like a textbook. Her historical background was just that--the background. The main focus of this book was always the romance, which is just as it should be.
I also liked that lust wasn't the only thing that was drawing the hero and heroine together. Oh, they were sexually attracted to each other, all right, but there was so much more than that. They didn't just rush into bed together. They changed from adversaries to lovers so subtly that it was pure magic for the reader to watch it happen. And while there started out as adversaries, there was none of that "I hate you, come here so I can boink your brains out" nonsense that I find so distasteful in so many historical romances.
The only drawbacks to this story was that the "I love you"s were a very, very, loooooong time in coming. Instead, the author used a Big Misunderstanding to keep them apart. I generally don't like this plot device, but Lynne handled it so well that it was only a minor complaint.
The character were what made this story so good. I thought that they would be cliched. After all, we have the woman who dresses like man, as well as being able to ride and shoot as well as one. We have the gunslinging gambling hero who can outdraw anyone in the west. But they were all so much more than that. Lynne's characters quickly became real people as the book progressed. They were flawed, but not so overly flawed as to be unlikeable. That's a difficult feat for an author to achieve, and I applaud Lynne for a job well done.
She also gave a very good feel of frontier history without having it ever feel like a textbook. Her historical background was just that--the background. The main focus of this book was always the romance, which is just as it should be.
I also liked that lust wasn't the only thing that was drawing the hero and heroine together. Oh, they were sexually attracted to each other, all right, but there was so much more than that. They didn't just rush into bed together. They changed from adversaries to lovers so subtly that it was pure magic for the reader to watch it happen. And while there started out as adversaries, there was none of that "I hate you, come here so I can boink your brains out" nonsense that I find so distasteful in so many historical romances.
The only drawbacks to this story was that the "I love you"s were a very, very, loooooong time in coming. Instead, the author used a Big Misunderstanding to keep them apart. I generally don't like this plot device, but Lynne handled it so well that it was only a minor complaint.
July 21, 2012
Entertaining and a little different from what I usually expect in a western romance. Typical historical romance as far as detailed love scenes go, though, so I did a little skipping.
Writing: easy to follow
Typos: some (haven't found a book yet that doesn't have some)
Hero: hot
Heroine: quirky and fun with a few moments of "What were you* thinking!?"
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
*This refers to the heroine, not the author, just FYI.
Disclaimer: I got this free from the Kindle Store. I am in no way affiliated with the author or publisher. I was not paid for this review.
Writing: easy to follow
Typos: some (haven't found a book yet that doesn't have some)
Hero: hot
Heroine: quirky and fun with a few moments of "What were you* thinking!?"
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
*This refers to the heroine, not the author, just FYI.
Disclaimer: I got this free from the Kindle Store. I am in no way affiliated with the author or publisher. I was not paid for this review.
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February 9, 2013
My review contains spoilers and they're are mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
Chasing Rainbows was my third book by Victoria Lynne and honestly, I found it a little on the disappointing side. But even then, it was good because of VL’s writing. Even though I liked our H, Jake and h, Annie as individuals (Annie was my favorite though lol), overall I thought they lacked the correct kind of chemistry or intensity a couple should have. Lemme elaborate in my review.
Annie is an orphan. Her family died a long time ago. Her background is a little vague but it was an accident that took her parents and older sister’s life. Annie was very young, and Doc Mundy saved her life. He took her in, he and his wife took care of her when she was recovering. She grew up with them and playing with Pete, Doc Mundy’s son. Annie also learned some doctoring from the man and can do some basic patching up. It came handy when Pete, the boisterous troublemaker began to form a gang of his own. He was ambitious, in love and needed money and so, after the Doc and his wife passed away, Pete formed a gang and started doing small ‘businesses’. You can easily guess the kind of business his gang ran. Annie saw it, but she never liked it. Pete was stubborn and never heeded her words. Annie liked Pete a lot, cared for him but I never quite understood their relationship, whatever little was narrated in the story. It certainly didn’t feel like brother-sister affection, yet it never did go beyond. But Pete always protected her from harm (you can only guess what kind), which was showed in Annie’s musings. So, Annie did what she could to patch the boys of the gang up after one of their ‘business’. She also grew up to be tomboy-ish, preferring shirts and pants rather than lady-like dresses and behavior. Let’s just say, Annie had no education or mother figure to teach her comport. When Mundy gang, as people called Pete’s little group later, started doing big businesses, like robbing banks and coaches, but never gotten caught, they become a sort of legend. Annie would sometimes ride with them, but she didn’t help them in their work. But somehow, she became a part of the legend as the Outlaw Annie. This would play such a big role in her life later that sometimes your heart would break for her. Soon tragedy struck. Pete and his whole gang die by the hands of policeman in trap set by them. Annie watches it all, and becomes slightly traumatized. She already had this thing about not letting men touch her, but this was her nightmare. Annie hated to be reminded of that gory day when she watched hidden how Pete and the other members, some of whom were very good to her, were killed so mercilessly.
But before this, the Mundy gang ran a big bank robbery, for which they were hunted down. Annie was caught by the police soon enough. A mock justice was served and she was condemned to hang. Of course Pete never did tell her where he hidden the money, so Annie couldn’t tell the policemen. I must say there, that even being with a gang for all her life, Annie had this refreshing quality of innocence that caught me every time. She knew how to handle her gun or ride a horse superbly, and yet she was so guileless about other areas of reality that I felt a lot of affection for her. She was practical, yet not hardened by the gruesome facts of life. She saw blood and killing, and yet she could dream about chasing a rainbow of dreams till the end. That part of the story was an emotional journey for her, as much as it was for me.
The story begins with a narrative of how a man feels when he’s being hanged. It was morbid, to say the least. Jake, our hero, watched just like many other town folks, only they were cheering the hanging while he was contemplating his own hanging, if he can’t prove something. A man was killed just after a gambling match with him, where he won, and now, the condemnation is on Jake’s head. Jake is a lifelong traveler, a devilishly good-looking man with the charms to go with it. He’s a gambler in every sense of the word. He loves gambling with his life. So far, this life suited Jake just fine; traveling, finding new places for gambling, new and unknown women and a lot of money because luck always seemed to smile upon him on the gambling tables. But after this murder, he’s on the run. Jake needs to prove his innocence and fast, and he has heard that a member of the Mundy gang is being hanged. Jake needed information, which the sheriff of this town couldn’t provide. The boy has been mostly unresponsive. But no one told Jake that this was no boy when after the hanging, his hair came lose. Jake couldn’t believe the sheriff, whom he actually respected, was hanging a woman! But the sheriff could do nothing since the town demanded a hanging for the gang’s criminal activities. Any hanging will for them. I kept thinking how cruel people were back in those days who would come to watch a hanging as if it’s a carnival of some sort!
But amazingly, the woman doesn’t die. And the sheriff takes a brilliant stance, which only spoke of his shrewdness and experience in handling rowdy crowd. Later Annie is taken to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff wants her to be transported to another county and Jake seems like a fine man to do this. But Jake has no intentions of having a woman hindering his quest for revenge by traveling with him. But he needs information on the gang, which is only why Jake later accedes. Annie shows her usual fiery side, and instantly started disliking and distrusting Jake. His good-looks and charming smiles were not something she felt comfortable with. Those are too tempting and Annie knows that can’t be good. Anyhow, a deal was struck and they were on their way soon. After that, the story was largely spent on their journey. Their interactions were sometimes fun, mostly because Annie was always kind of cutting towards Jake, who it seems, has no short supply of charmingly roguish smile to rebuff that rudeness. And once, an incident of stolen horse and their meager belongings end into Jake seeing more of Annie he cares to see right now, registering the fact that he, indeed, is attracted to her. Even though Annie looks too thin and a bit young for her age, she’s a woman no doubt. This could only add trouble. Oh, Jake’s d*ck was in misery! Lmao
Annie begins trusting Jake little by little. She tells him that she won a big hotel somewhere through gambling. She now wants to stake her claim, become a fine lady and run it. One can only see that it cannot be that easy, even Annie knows it but she’s determined. Jake decides he’d only accompany her to that small town and leave her in her own devices. But he can’t deny the attraction, but Jake is determined not to act upon it. Her innocent and guilelessness draws him totally. He couldn’t believe that being with such a violent gang, Annie could still be a virgin. It’s revealed when she talks about why she doesn’t like to be touched. Even I was concerned and at first, thought about something awful happening to her. It actually was close to my guess but thank God that she was rescued by Pete. A newly recruited man of the gang called Snakeskin Garvey (because he was obsessed with stuff made of snakeskin) was that SOB. Annie never liked him and his leering gaze on her. Her instinct proved her correct. Annie also tells Jake that she saw the whole gang dying in front of her eyes and that she has no idea about the money. But no one seems to believe her words. Not even Jake, though he doesn’t show it. The trust issue is so very palpable that at times, I scared of what might happen when these two inevitably come together.
In the middle, the story became a little slow but soon, we had added incentives; one was this reporter who was trailing them. He seemed harmless, and wanted to make Annie a legend through his cheesy crime stories. Annie didn’t like him and didn’t care for an interview. There was also someone following their trail and once or twice Annie thought she saw someone looking like Pete or his gang. But how can this be? They all died! Annie was the one who started trusting Jake first. Jake, even though sympathetic and affectionate towards Annie, didn’t entirely trust her. Yet he couldn’t contemplate leaving her either. Jake found Annie’s dream of being a high society lady unrealistic, seeing how much training she would really need and yet, he’s help her with her vocabulary (because Jake himself had a good education) and cheer her up when she would feel down and sometimes frustrated. This is why I liked Jake so much
Soon on their journey, they become lovers. Annie is in seventh heaven because something so good never happened to her. I could tell she was more than half-way in love with Jake by this time. She starts daydreaming but knew that her dreams of becoming Jake’s wife will only remain a fantasy. Jake never promised anything and even though he’s nice and caring, no one will marry an outlaw woman like her. It hurts Annie, and it hurt me too because that was the truth. When people pass judgment blindly, they can’t see beyond that blindness. That’s the way the world goes around. Annie, very sadly, gets to test is soon enough. As they come closer to their destination, they stop at another small town. A festivity was held for the Mayor recently becoming a father. Annie definitely wanted to attend and show off her new vocabulary and comportment skills. She has been reading that threadbare guidebook of a gentlewoman’s comportment like there’s nothing else in the world. I already said Annie was determined, but she was naïve. She even buys an unattractive, hand down dress, which costs her too much. Jake sees is but doesn’t say anything when he sees how happy she is with her purchase. See, Annie never had the chance to wear something a little better than the gang’s threadbare throw outs. And so, this dress was like a satin ball gown to her. Can’t tell you how much I felt for her.
When Jake refuses to accompany her in the ball, Annie is inwardly very hurt. But she doesn’t show it; after all, Jake might have other businesses. Why would he bother with her? Annie had her insecurities where her feelings towards Jake were concerned. And I thought it was viable. On the other hand, Jake wanted to accompany her. He loved how the gown transformed her and how she kept her hair down (which he loved BTW). He kept thinking about the men she’ll dance with and becoming increasingly jealous. But Jake had other businesses; one was to talk to his friend who is also a sheriff of this town, another, to make some money of the table. When the sheriff makes inappropriate comments about Annie, as in she’s probably nothing but another of Jake’s unknown Sunday sweethearts, Jake gets very angry. He never saw Annie that way to begin with and he threatens his friend not to speak of her that way again. Somehow they struck a bargain. Jake would have to get some useful information soon enough or else, the sheriff has to arrest him.
In that ball, Annie wasn’t having a good time. In fact it was horrible, awful, mean, rude, scathing… just plain horrible. I actually cried for her when people started ignoring her or being pain mean to her. The words of she being the Outlaw Annie were already in the air and it doesn’t take much for the townspeople to get rough with her or speak behind her. Even the mayor asks Annie to leave when she, very wobbly and on the verge of tears, tries to congratulate his wife. It was plain horrible!!! Then some ruffian thought she was a fair game and rough handles her… One thing leads to another and the place is caught on fire. When Jake hears of it, he instantly panics for Annie. Upon the hearing everyone tries to make Annie look guilty, even the sheriff seemed convince once they were in his office but Jake didn’t believe, for once, that she’d do it on purpose. He defends Annie and leaves. At night, they have hot hot sex, and yet, the next day, something happens that shakes Jake’s trust on Annie. It was bad and I thought Jake was a moron of the first order. He finds a note of someone in her bag that indicated that Annie probably is in contact with the gang, when she denied it the last night after the sheriff’s accusation. Jake is mad at her, not bothering to ask her anything. When Annie comes out, she was so very happy to see Jake but then seeing his cold, detached expression, her happiness washes away. They leave the town soon for Annie’s destination, which was their next stop.
The story picks up a lot when they reach their destination. Annie was scared of losing Jake. He has been very cold to her since that morning. It was eating her up, but she didn’t know what she did wrong. And then as they find the hotel she bought, Annie thought her world just crashed. It was obvious that she had been cheated by that nasty guy. This was not the kind of hotel that the old flyer showed. Well, it might’ve been something fancy once upon a time but not anymore. This place is now a shabby, rundown whorehouse. Annie feels what a stupid she was to believe she can do something. Chase the rainbow of her dreams and finally find some stance in the society. I felt SO sad for her, because Jake was also being mean to her. He was still detached and cold, as if the shattering of her dreams meant nothing to him, when it was far from the truth. He cared but didn’t trust her enough to act on it. Annie doesn’t know what she’s gonna do because she has no other choice but to make something out of this. Before she gives into the urge of keeling down in misery and bawl like a baby, Annie soldiers herself on to talk to the few equally shabby prostitutes who reside this building.
I totally found Annie’s strong personality commendable. The way she convinces the prostitutes to give up their profession for an honest living was amazing. And I can say that these prostitutes were also some of the good hearted women we see in the story, certainly so for Annie. Whereas the so-called good society pushed her away, to say it mildly, these women put their trust on her and gave her a chance. I respected them a lot. Jake, meanwhile, decides to stay. Even though he shows he’s just helping out for the time being, Jake wanted to stay with Annie. He was also looking for more information, now his focus to find if Annie is involved or not. Soon enough he’s proven wrong. Annie throws herself wholeheartedly to the hotel’s washing and painting, making things better for the travelers and townspeople. She knew it’d be a challenge but Annie never backs down for one. The only heartbreak in this whole thing for her was Jake detachment from her. But she decides that maybe he’s grown bored and not interested in her anymore. When many of us would take this personally (and I did find it hard to believe being in such close proximity, they didn’t show one hint of that intensity but that of good friends), Annie let it rest and makes the hotel her life.
As the hotel begins to prosper, and people starts coming in, little troubles begin to rear their heads as well. Some weren’t as little because one slip would’ve injured someone or took a life. Annie thinks those are from some mean folks who wants to run them out of the town and probably angry because their means to entertainment (aka the whorehouse) is now closed. The women are stronger now and would shoot at any drunkard who would come calling. Sometimes the narratives were funny as to how they tackled such a problem. But the issue of the gang still remains a mystery (Jake by now knows there is a gang since the news of robbery come to them). Jake knows from his vigilance that she’s not involved with them, yet he’s not entirely sure what to think. Then there is their feelings for each-other; hidden away, eating at them. It was a very emotional read, this part of the story. I didn’t like Jake being so suspicious of Annie even after everything. It pissed me off. Irrational as it may sound but I wanted him to trust her unconditionally and love her the way she deserves to be loved. So their detachment (no sex, even though Jake didn’t stray) was also very frustrating for me. Till the end, Jake kept on distrusting her and I just wanted to smack him on the head.
The ending was equally as heart-wrenching as it was heart-warming. Jake finally had the ‘proof’ that he wanted, which acquitted him of the condemnation and the real mastermind behind it all was captured. The epilogue, SIGH... VL’s epilogues always make me so happy, warm and then, a watering pot too. It was sweeeeeeeet!! Annie a mother, who knew? But of course Jake saw to that. *heehee*
You can guess what they renamed the hotel later on... that’s right, ‘The Rainbows End’. I still remember it without even peeking at my copy of the book. 4 stars.
Chasing Rainbows was my third book by Victoria Lynne and honestly, I found it a little on the disappointing side. But even then, it was good because of VL’s writing. Even though I liked our H, Jake and h, Annie as individuals (Annie was my favorite though lol), overall I thought they lacked the correct kind of chemistry or intensity a couple should have. Lemme elaborate in my review.
Annie is an orphan. Her family died a long time ago. Her background is a little vague but it was an accident that took her parents and older sister’s life. Annie was very young, and Doc Mundy saved her life. He took her in, he and his wife took care of her when she was recovering. She grew up with them and playing with Pete, Doc Mundy’s son. Annie also learned some doctoring from the man and can do some basic patching up. It came handy when Pete, the boisterous troublemaker began to form a gang of his own. He was ambitious, in love and needed money and so, after the Doc and his wife passed away, Pete formed a gang and started doing small ‘businesses’. You can easily guess the kind of business his gang ran. Annie saw it, but she never liked it. Pete was stubborn and never heeded her words. Annie liked Pete a lot, cared for him but I never quite understood their relationship, whatever little was narrated in the story. It certainly didn’t feel like brother-sister affection, yet it never did go beyond. But Pete always protected her from harm (you can only guess what kind), which was showed in Annie’s musings. So, Annie did what she could to patch the boys of the gang up after one of their ‘business’. She also grew up to be tomboy-ish, preferring shirts and pants rather than lady-like dresses and behavior. Let’s just say, Annie had no education or mother figure to teach her comport. When Mundy gang, as people called Pete’s little group later, started doing big businesses, like robbing banks and coaches, but never gotten caught, they become a sort of legend. Annie would sometimes ride with them, but she didn’t help them in their work. But somehow, she became a part of the legend as the Outlaw Annie. This would play such a big role in her life later that sometimes your heart would break for her. Soon tragedy struck. Pete and his whole gang die by the hands of policeman in trap set by them. Annie watches it all, and becomes slightly traumatized. She already had this thing about not letting men touch her, but this was her nightmare. Annie hated to be reminded of that gory day when she watched hidden how Pete and the other members, some of whom were very good to her, were killed so mercilessly.
But before this, the Mundy gang ran a big bank robbery, for which they were hunted down. Annie was caught by the police soon enough. A mock justice was served and she was condemned to hang. Of course Pete never did tell her where he hidden the money, so Annie couldn’t tell the policemen. I must say there, that even being with a gang for all her life, Annie had this refreshing quality of innocence that caught me every time. She knew how to handle her gun or ride a horse superbly, and yet she was so guileless about other areas of reality that I felt a lot of affection for her. She was practical, yet not hardened by the gruesome facts of life. She saw blood and killing, and yet she could dream about chasing a rainbow of dreams till the end. That part of the story was an emotional journey for her, as much as it was for me.
The story begins with a narrative of how a man feels when he’s being hanged. It was morbid, to say the least. Jake, our hero, watched just like many other town folks, only they were cheering the hanging while he was contemplating his own hanging, if he can’t prove something. A man was killed just after a gambling match with him, where he won, and now, the condemnation is on Jake’s head. Jake is a lifelong traveler, a devilishly good-looking man with the charms to go with it. He’s a gambler in every sense of the word. He loves gambling with his life. So far, this life suited Jake just fine; traveling, finding new places for gambling, new and unknown women and a lot of money because luck always seemed to smile upon him on the gambling tables. But after this murder, he’s on the run. Jake needs to prove his innocence and fast, and he has heard that a member of the Mundy gang is being hanged. Jake needed information, which the sheriff of this town couldn’t provide. The boy has been mostly unresponsive. But no one told Jake that this was no boy when after the hanging, his hair came lose. Jake couldn’t believe the sheriff, whom he actually respected, was hanging a woman! But the sheriff could do nothing since the town demanded a hanging for the gang’s criminal activities. Any hanging will for them. I kept thinking how cruel people were back in those days who would come to watch a hanging as if it’s a carnival of some sort!
But amazingly, the woman doesn’t die. And the sheriff takes a brilliant stance, which only spoke of his shrewdness and experience in handling rowdy crowd. Later Annie is taken to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff wants her to be transported to another county and Jake seems like a fine man to do this. But Jake has no intentions of having a woman hindering his quest for revenge by traveling with him. But he needs information on the gang, which is only why Jake later accedes. Annie shows her usual fiery side, and instantly started disliking and distrusting Jake. His good-looks and charming smiles were not something she felt comfortable with. Those are too tempting and Annie knows that can’t be good. Anyhow, a deal was struck and they were on their way soon. After that, the story was largely spent on their journey. Their interactions were sometimes fun, mostly because Annie was always kind of cutting towards Jake, who it seems, has no short supply of charmingly roguish smile to rebuff that rudeness. And once, an incident of stolen horse and their meager belongings end into Jake seeing more of Annie he cares to see right now, registering the fact that he, indeed, is attracted to her. Even though Annie looks too thin and a bit young for her age, she’s a woman no doubt. This could only add trouble. Oh, Jake’s d*ck was in misery! Lmao
Annie begins trusting Jake little by little. She tells him that she won a big hotel somewhere through gambling. She now wants to stake her claim, become a fine lady and run it. One can only see that it cannot be that easy, even Annie knows it but she’s determined. Jake decides he’d only accompany her to that small town and leave her in her own devices. But he can’t deny the attraction, but Jake is determined not to act upon it. Her innocent and guilelessness draws him totally. He couldn’t believe that being with such a violent gang, Annie could still be a virgin. It’s revealed when she talks about why she doesn’t like to be touched. Even I was concerned and at first, thought about something awful happening to her. It actually was close to my guess but thank God that she was rescued by Pete. A newly recruited man of the gang called Snakeskin Garvey (because he was obsessed with stuff made of snakeskin) was that SOB. Annie never liked him and his leering gaze on her. Her instinct proved her correct. Annie also tells Jake that she saw the whole gang dying in front of her eyes and that she has no idea about the money. But no one seems to believe her words. Not even Jake, though he doesn’t show it. The trust issue is so very palpable that at times, I scared of what might happen when these two inevitably come together.
In the middle, the story became a little slow but soon, we had added incentives; one was this reporter who was trailing them. He seemed harmless, and wanted to make Annie a legend through his cheesy crime stories. Annie didn’t like him and didn’t care for an interview. There was also someone following their trail and once or twice Annie thought she saw someone looking like Pete or his gang. But how can this be? They all died! Annie was the one who started trusting Jake first. Jake, even though sympathetic and affectionate towards Annie, didn’t entirely trust her. Yet he couldn’t contemplate leaving her either. Jake found Annie’s dream of being a high society lady unrealistic, seeing how much training she would really need and yet, he’s help her with her vocabulary (because Jake himself had a good education) and cheer her up when she would feel down and sometimes frustrated. This is why I liked Jake so much
Soon on their journey, they become lovers. Annie is in seventh heaven because something so good never happened to her. I could tell she was more than half-way in love with Jake by this time. She starts daydreaming but knew that her dreams of becoming Jake’s wife will only remain a fantasy. Jake never promised anything and even though he’s nice and caring, no one will marry an outlaw woman like her. It hurts Annie, and it hurt me too because that was the truth. When people pass judgment blindly, they can’t see beyond that blindness. That’s the way the world goes around. Annie, very sadly, gets to test is soon enough. As they come closer to their destination, they stop at another small town. A festivity was held for the Mayor recently becoming a father. Annie definitely wanted to attend and show off her new vocabulary and comportment skills. She has been reading that threadbare guidebook of a gentlewoman’s comportment like there’s nothing else in the world. I already said Annie was determined, but she was naïve. She even buys an unattractive, hand down dress, which costs her too much. Jake sees is but doesn’t say anything when he sees how happy she is with her purchase. See, Annie never had the chance to wear something a little better than the gang’s threadbare throw outs. And so, this dress was like a satin ball gown to her. Can’t tell you how much I felt for her.
When Jake refuses to accompany her in the ball, Annie is inwardly very hurt. But she doesn’t show it; after all, Jake might have other businesses. Why would he bother with her? Annie had her insecurities where her feelings towards Jake were concerned. And I thought it was viable. On the other hand, Jake wanted to accompany her. He loved how the gown transformed her and how she kept her hair down (which he loved BTW). He kept thinking about the men she’ll dance with and becoming increasingly jealous. But Jake had other businesses; one was to talk to his friend who is also a sheriff of this town, another, to make some money of the table. When the sheriff makes inappropriate comments about Annie, as in she’s probably nothing but another of Jake’s unknown Sunday sweethearts, Jake gets very angry. He never saw Annie that way to begin with and he threatens his friend not to speak of her that way again. Somehow they struck a bargain. Jake would have to get some useful information soon enough or else, the sheriff has to arrest him.
In that ball, Annie wasn’t having a good time. In fact it was horrible, awful, mean, rude, scathing… just plain horrible. I actually cried for her when people started ignoring her or being pain mean to her. The words of she being the Outlaw Annie were already in the air and it doesn’t take much for the townspeople to get rough with her or speak behind her. Even the mayor asks Annie to leave when she, very wobbly and on the verge of tears, tries to congratulate his wife. It was plain horrible!!! Then some ruffian thought she was a fair game and rough handles her… One thing leads to another and the place is caught on fire. When Jake hears of it, he instantly panics for Annie. Upon the hearing everyone tries to make Annie look guilty, even the sheriff seemed convince once they were in his office but Jake didn’t believe, for once, that she’d do it on purpose. He defends Annie and leaves. At night, they have hot hot sex, and yet, the next day, something happens that shakes Jake’s trust on Annie. It was bad and I thought Jake was a moron of the first order. He finds a note of someone in her bag that indicated that Annie probably is in contact with the gang, when she denied it the last night after the sheriff’s accusation. Jake is mad at her, not bothering to ask her anything. When Annie comes out, she was so very happy to see Jake but then seeing his cold, detached expression, her happiness washes away. They leave the town soon for Annie’s destination, which was their next stop.
The story picks up a lot when they reach their destination. Annie was scared of losing Jake. He has been very cold to her since that morning. It was eating her up, but she didn’t know what she did wrong. And then as they find the hotel she bought, Annie thought her world just crashed. It was obvious that she had been cheated by that nasty guy. This was not the kind of hotel that the old flyer showed. Well, it might’ve been something fancy once upon a time but not anymore. This place is now a shabby, rundown whorehouse. Annie feels what a stupid she was to believe she can do something. Chase the rainbow of her dreams and finally find some stance in the society. I felt SO sad for her, because Jake was also being mean to her. He was still detached and cold, as if the shattering of her dreams meant nothing to him, when it was far from the truth. He cared but didn’t trust her enough to act on it. Annie doesn’t know what she’s gonna do because she has no other choice but to make something out of this. Before she gives into the urge of keeling down in misery and bawl like a baby, Annie soldiers herself on to talk to the few equally shabby prostitutes who reside this building.
I totally found Annie’s strong personality commendable. The way she convinces the prostitutes to give up their profession for an honest living was amazing. And I can say that these prostitutes were also some of the good hearted women we see in the story, certainly so for Annie. Whereas the so-called good society pushed her away, to say it mildly, these women put their trust on her and gave her a chance. I respected them a lot. Jake, meanwhile, decides to stay. Even though he shows he’s just helping out for the time being, Jake wanted to stay with Annie. He was also looking for more information, now his focus to find if Annie is involved or not. Soon enough he’s proven wrong. Annie throws herself wholeheartedly to the hotel’s washing and painting, making things better for the travelers and townspeople. She knew it’d be a challenge but Annie never backs down for one. The only heartbreak in this whole thing for her was Jake detachment from her. But she decides that maybe he’s grown bored and not interested in her anymore. When many of us would take this personally (and I did find it hard to believe being in such close proximity, they didn’t show one hint of that intensity but that of good friends), Annie let it rest and makes the hotel her life.
As the hotel begins to prosper, and people starts coming in, little troubles begin to rear their heads as well. Some weren’t as little because one slip would’ve injured someone or took a life. Annie thinks those are from some mean folks who wants to run them out of the town and probably angry because their means to entertainment (aka the whorehouse) is now closed. The women are stronger now and would shoot at any drunkard who would come calling. Sometimes the narratives were funny as to how they tackled such a problem. But the issue of the gang still remains a mystery (Jake by now knows there is a gang since the news of robbery come to them). Jake knows from his vigilance that she’s not involved with them, yet he’s not entirely sure what to think. Then there is their feelings for each-other; hidden away, eating at them. It was a very emotional read, this part of the story. I didn’t like Jake being so suspicious of Annie even after everything. It pissed me off. Irrational as it may sound but I wanted him to trust her unconditionally and love her the way she deserves to be loved. So their detachment (no sex, even though Jake didn’t stray) was also very frustrating for me. Till the end, Jake kept on distrusting her and I just wanted to smack him on the head.
The ending was equally as heart-wrenching as it was heart-warming. Jake finally had the ‘proof’ that he wanted, which acquitted him of the condemnation and the real mastermind behind it all was captured. The epilogue, SIGH... VL’s epilogues always make me so happy, warm and then, a watering pot too. It was sweeeeeeeet!! Annie a mother, who knew? But of course Jake saw to that. *heehee*
You can guess what they renamed the hotel later on... that’s right, ‘The Rainbows End’. I still remember it without even peeking at my copy of the book. 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2016
I won't repeat what's already been said.
I've always had a soft spot for western romance. I liked Annie, she didn't sulk, she didn't throw weird temper tantrums or play mind games, in essence Annie was a rare 'what you see is what you get' kinda heroine and gad knows I can't get enough of this kind of heroine these days who tells it like it is without having to resort to fluttering eyelashes, subterfuge and drama.
Jake on the other hand alternated between being the hero and the heroine since Annie refused to act like three quarters of romancialand heroines. When he went hot then cold on Annie it gave her pause but she didn't let his behaviour turn her into a spineless ninny.
I enjoyed it.
March 3, 2012
I enjoyed this book. Annie was an interesting character who really developed during the book; although her calling Jake 'mister' kept me at times thinking that she was more of a child rather than a grown woman. Jake was lovely - a true cowboy gentleman. And a lovely story of how the two of them come together.
August 9, 2012
Truly, a heart warming western romance with an edge of mystery woven in that held me to the very end. I had a quibble about the confict between the two main characters towards the end but, otherwise, a very enjoyable read that, of course, has its own HEA. A few typos, probably scanner caused. Riveting.
March 20, 2013
Sometimes (oft times) westerns just don't strike any chords with me and neither did this one.
December 8, 2018
Outlaw Annie and gambler Jake Moran seemed to have come upon each other by accident. He was a witness to her failed hanging, and she was...the hang-ee! Jake courageously agrees to escort Miss Annie out of the territory and out of the Sheriff's hair. Although he seems to be doing the honorhbje thing, Jake is really just trying to use Annie to get to her gang.
I'll be honest, I didn't have a lot of hope for this book. It was a Kindle freebie, which can be hit or miss. Plus, it's a Western romance, which I feel I've outgrown. However, Lynne does a good job with the characters. Jake and Annie aren't perfect. At times, they aren't even decent people. But their hearts are good, despite everything. Lynne has the reader guessing at who is a good guy, who is dishonest, and what motive each person has. Other than some editing foibles, this was a good read.
I'll be honest, I didn't have a lot of hope for this book. It was a Kindle freebie, which can be hit or miss. Plus, it's a Western romance, which I feel I've outgrown. However, Lynne does a good job with the characters. Jake and Annie aren't perfect. At times, they aren't even decent people. But their hearts are good, despite everything. Lynne has the reader guessing at who is a good guy, who is dishonest, and what motive each person has. Other than some editing foibles, this was a good read.
June 11, 2021
Oh, never mind.
I would have given this a 3 star rating right up to 98% of the book when the hero reveals to the heroine that he believed she was lying to him the entire time they were together and that he was using her to find the outlaws and the heroine says, never mind, hop into my bed. Literally, he has to roll the body over & see the face until he realizes he’s been wrong THE ENTIRE BOOK. If this had happened at 83% and the hero spent the rest of the book groveling, it would have been a more satisfying read.
I would have given this a 3 star rating right up to 98% of the book when the hero reveals to the heroine that he believed she was lying to him the entire time they were together and that he was using her to find the outlaws and the heroine says, never mind, hop into my bed. Literally, he has to roll the body over & see the face until he realizes he’s been wrong THE ENTIRE BOOK. If this had happened at 83% and the hero spent the rest of the book groveling, it would have been a more satisfying read.
did-not-complete
August 28, 2020DNF - Western romance with potential that was lost in the midst of numerous expletives and sexual innuendos. Stopped after 3 chapters.
September 8, 2020
Awesome
This was a great story, full of suspense and intrigue, it would be so nice to find an honest gentleman like Jake to fall in love with!!
This was a great story, full of suspense and intrigue, it would be so nice to find an honest gentleman like Jake to fall in love with!!
August 4, 2021
3.5 stars
April 4, 2014
Primero decir que he leído dos libros de esta autora con anterioridad, With this kiss y Captured y me gustaron mucho, pero no así éste.
No me gustan mucho las historias donde los personajes mienten y lo ocultan hasta el final, arrastrar esa mentira durante todo el libro me enfría un poco y hace que me “separe” de la historia y de los personajes.
El final me ha parecido flojo, la relación entre los protagonistas también flojilla, le ha faltado algo, o le ha sobrado la mentira, no estoy segura. El suspense muy flojo y casi cogido con alfileres. Es raro que les salga todo tan bien a los malos, que lo tengan todo tan estudiado y que nadie los coja o nadie vea nada, o los que ven algo…no hacen nada con esa información.
La historia del hotel no sé ni que decir…tonta como poco y sin sentido, y el final...abrupto, rápido y sin consecuencias, como si todo lo anterior no hubiese pasado.
Lo mejor de este libro es la protagonista. Creo que es la primera vez que me encuentro con un personaje sincero con mayúsculas: no se calla nada, fulmina los posibles malentendidos a base de diálogo y no se queda nada dentro…vaya…me ha impresionado. Es una pena que el resto de la historia haya sido tan floja, porque desde luego la protagonista (exceptuando la parte del hotel) me ha encantado.
Una pena…
No me gustan mucho las historias donde los personajes mienten y lo ocultan hasta el final, arrastrar esa mentira durante todo el libro me enfría un poco y hace que me “separe” de la historia y de los personajes.
El final me ha parecido flojo, la relación entre los protagonistas también flojilla, le ha faltado algo, o le ha sobrado la mentira, no estoy segura. El suspense muy flojo y casi cogido con alfileres. Es raro que les salga todo tan bien a los malos, que lo tengan todo tan estudiado y que nadie los coja o nadie vea nada, o los que ven algo…no hacen nada con esa información.
La historia del hotel no sé ni que decir…tonta como poco y sin sentido, y el final...abrupto, rápido y sin consecuencias, como si todo lo anterior no hubiese pasado.
Lo mejor de este libro es la protagonista. Creo que es la primera vez que me encuentro con un personaje sincero con mayúsculas: no se calla nada, fulmina los posibles malentendidos a base de diálogo y no se queda nada dentro…vaya…me ha impresionado. Es una pena que el resto de la historia haya sido tan floja, porque desde luego la protagonista (exceptuando la parte del hotel) me ha encantado.
Una pena…
November 8, 2012
This is a western romance about outlaws, gamblers, lawmen and professional ladies.
The heroine is Annie, who starts out being hung for crimes including robbery and murder. She lives. The hero Jake, is a gambler who is wanted for murder. He did not do it.
The book is interesting. I admit, I skipped some pages when the descriptive parts got too detailed. But, I liked the characterizations. I think both the hero and heroine are people trying to get through life the best way they know how. And building trust with another human being is one of the lessons they both must learn.
There is humor here, but not laugh out loud funny. And there is mystery. The reader does not know for sure who all the players really are and if their intentions are good or evil.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys historical romances with a dash of mystery.
I think that if it were tightened up a little, this would be a really terrific book. As it is, it is a good fast read. It is enjoyable and keeps your attention. I wanted to find out how things come out for Jake and Annie. And I think you will too.
The heroine is Annie, who starts out being hung for crimes including robbery and murder. She lives. The hero Jake, is a gambler who is wanted for murder. He did not do it.
The book is interesting. I admit, I skipped some pages when the descriptive parts got too detailed. But, I liked the characterizations. I think both the hero and heroine are people trying to get through life the best way they know how. And building trust with another human being is one of the lessons they both must learn.
There is humor here, but not laugh out loud funny. And there is mystery. The reader does not know for sure who all the players really are and if their intentions are good or evil.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys historical romances with a dash of mystery.
I think that if it were tightened up a little, this would be a really terrific book. As it is, it is a good fast read. It is enjoyable and keeps your attention. I wanted to find out how things come out for Jake and Annie. And I think you will too.
March 6, 2020
this book was okay.
i really enjoyed annie. she's so straightforward, and i can't help but like her for it. here is a heroine who doesn't create problems, but mostly trouble follows her.
jake was... hmm. well, there were moments when i really liked him, and moments when i felt rather neutral. but of course, can't be 'on' all the time, right?
the misunderstanding before the couple reached cooperton was a bit silly to me. understandable given the circumstances, yes, but at that point in their relationship, jake could've handled it better. it was really just at this point where he lost some points because annie was so confused and hurt, and all he had to do was ask her about it. tsk tsk.
the subplot with the mundy gang seemed a bit convoluted, and i frankly didn't care about it most of the time. and while i did suspect that vanest fella had something to do with it, it seemed a bit strange how he tied into the plot. but since i was more concerned about annie and jake's relationship anyway, it was okay.
there were parts that were really exciting, and other parts that sort of dragged, but overall it was an okay read.
i really enjoyed annie. she's so straightforward, and i can't help but like her for it. here is a heroine who doesn't create problems, but mostly trouble follows her.
jake was... hmm. well, there were moments when i really liked him, and moments when i felt rather neutral. but of course, can't be 'on' all the time, right?
the misunderstanding before the couple reached cooperton was a bit silly to me. understandable given the circumstances, yes, but at that point in their relationship, jake could've handled it better. it was really just at this point where he lost some points because annie was so confused and hurt, and all he had to do was ask her about it. tsk tsk.
the subplot with the mundy gang seemed a bit convoluted, and i frankly didn't care about it most of the time. and while i did suspect that vanest fella had something to do with it, it seemed a bit strange how he tied into the plot. but since i was more concerned about annie and jake's relationship anyway, it was okay.
there were parts that were really exciting, and other parts that sort of dragged, but overall it was an okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2012
This was somewhere between a three and a four, but I'm rounding up. I am a sucker for road romances, foul-mouthed gunslinger heroines, gambler heroes and anything set in the old west, so this scratched all my itches. It also had some fabulous, slow-burning sexual tension that more recent books just don't seem to have the patience for anymore.
I just found the heroine almost Mary Sue-ish. She spends the bulk of the book being acted upon rather than driving her share of the action, then seems to be rewarded in the end for being such a good person before.
I had a lot fun reading it, but it wasn't the best book it could've been.
I just found the heroine almost Mary Sue-ish. She spends the bulk of the book being acted upon rather than driving her share of the action, then seems to be rewarded in the end for being such a good person before.
I had a lot fun reading it, but it wasn't the best book it could've been.
July 10, 2014
I like all of Victoria Lynne's books. I think she writes action well, as well as romance. Chasing Rainbows is probably my least favorite of her books, though. Annie seemed a little too rough and stubborn at the beginning of the book.
I've read quite a few romances where the H/h are forced to travel together and that plot device can sometimes get old. Overall, if this was the only book of Lynne's that I'd ever read, I would still read more of her backlist. But I would recommend some of her other books before this one.
I've read quite a few romances where the H/h are forced to travel together and that plot device can sometimes get old. Overall, if this was the only book of Lynne's that I'd ever read, I would still read more of her backlist. But I would recommend some of her other books before this one.
November 10, 2012
Chasing Rainbows was just what I needed. A lovely love story with two people who feel they are irredeemable. The gambler and the outlaw.....
The book was a fast read. The characters were original while still portraying the normal characters found in these books. I likes Annie's pluck and Jake's drawl. I loved Annie's optimism and Jake's caution. The wild west was a place for the bold! Oh - and it was free.
The book was a fast read. The characters were original while still portraying the normal characters found in these books. I likes Annie's pluck and Jake's drawl. I loved Annie's optimism and Jake's caution. The wild west was a place for the bold! Oh - and it was free.
August 23, 2012
3.5-4 stars. I got this free from amazon awhile ago and have been cleaning out my freebies this week. This was a little long-winded at times but overall an enjoyable story. Absolutely LOVED Annie's strength, bravado and "pluck" :) She was definitely rough around the edges, but I always love a strong heroine. I guessed the twist at the end was going to happen, but loved how it all played out.
November 11, 2012
I could not get into the book. I made it to 27% of the book and had to put it down. It is just my opinion but it did not draw me into the book. The characters did nothing for me and Annie and Jake had nothing spectacular for me to keep reading. I know others liked it and happy they did but for as for me I didn't.
September 7, 2013
I found this to be my least favorite Lynne novel. It was an entertaining read and I liked the hero but found the heroine rather unappealing, and she rather negatively affected the quality of the story. If the Deputy could have tied a better noose, it would have raised the rating of this novel several stars.
May 3, 2013
Amazon freebie. I see many reviewers enjoyed this. Sometimes characters annoy me early on and never recover. That happened with this book. Something turned me off and then I decided they were not characters I wanted to spend my evening with. I continued, as I almost always do, but sometimes I can be stubborn about characters!
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Want to read
February 12, 2012not available nook 02/12/2012
July 25, 2012
Really poorly written and I feel like the author was out of her comfort zone, could be wrong but it felt like she wasn't comfortable with the characters or the topics.
kindle-i-own-to-read
October 26, 2012Amazon Freebie 10/26/2012
might-read-freebie
October 29, 2012Free on Amazon 10.28.12
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