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The Ballad of Emma O'Toole
HIGH-STAKES MARRIAGE
After he shoots a man, the stakes for gambler Logan Devereaux have never been higher. On trial for his life, he’s offered a shocking alternative form of restitution…marriage to his victim’s pregnant sweetheart!
Beautiful Emma O’Toole has sworn vengeance against him – and when a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song the whole nation waits to see what she’ll do. Their marriage is the riskiest gamble Logan’s ever taken, but he’ll put everything he’s got on the line for a chance at winning Emma’s heart.
After he shoots a man, the stakes for gambler Logan Devereaux have never been higher. On trial for his life, he’s offered a shocking alternative form of restitution…marriage to his victim’s pregnant sweetheart!
Beautiful Emma O’Toole has sworn vengeance against him – and when a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song the whole nation waits to see what she’ll do. Their marriage is the riskiest gamble Logan’s ever taken, but he’ll put everything he’s got on the line for a chance at winning Emma’s heart.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 8, 2018
Emma O'Toole was a fool! that is all......
September 2, 2013
4 1/2 stars for this gem.
Setting: 1800's American West.
When her fiance is murdered, life cant get any worse for Emma O'Toole than being forced to wed his killer. But that is what the judge rules instead of a prison sentence for gambler Logan Devereaux,and to care for Emma and her unborn child. Emma is furious, but being on her own pregnant in a mining town with no job or money to support herself, she has no choice but to marry Logan and have help raising her child..and her new husband seems the lesser of two evils. Logan Devereaux is not who he seems to be and has secrets that could forever ruin him and any hope of a decent marriage and taking on a young bride is the last thing he needs. He's been running and gambling under a false name for years,but just maybe by marring Emma he has a shot at turning his life around. But between a hidden enemy,miners strikes,the scandal of their marriage,Emma's need for revenge for her dead fiance and Logan's past, the newlyweds face daunting odds. This story is more than a "arranged" marriage. The author takes us to a time when men would risk their lives in the mines for the sake of getting rich. It was interesting to learn about what went on down in the mines,and a strong Heroine who went down disguised as a man (this being her husband's mine) to embarrass him, but learned so much more than she bargained for, and then set out to try and make a change for better conditions for them. Emma despite being uneducated,orphaned and pregnant and is snubbed by the women of the town, and everyone else she meets in this town (besides the Hero) is coldhearted,foolish or sleazy. This is a story of two proud people who go through crisis after crisis and manage to hold their heads high, and work through it together and find a love neither would have thought possible. A really good fast read with unforgettable characters.
Setting: 1800's American West.
When her fiance is murdered, life cant get any worse for Emma O'Toole than being forced to wed his killer. But that is what the judge rules instead of a prison sentence for gambler Logan Devereaux,and to care for Emma and her unborn child. Emma is furious, but being on her own pregnant in a mining town with no job or money to support herself, she has no choice but to marry Logan and have help raising her child..and her new husband seems the lesser of two evils. Logan Devereaux is not who he seems to be and has secrets that could forever ruin him and any hope of a decent marriage and taking on a young bride is the last thing he needs. He's been running and gambling under a false name for years,but just maybe by marring Emma he has a shot at turning his life around. But between a hidden enemy,miners strikes,the scandal of their marriage,Emma's need for revenge for her dead fiance and Logan's past, the newlyweds face daunting odds. This story is more than a "arranged" marriage. The author takes us to a time when men would risk their lives in the mines for the sake of getting rich. It was interesting to learn about what went on down in the mines,and a strong Heroine who went down disguised as a man (this being her husband's mine) to embarrass him, but learned so much more than she bargained for, and then set out to try and make a change for better conditions for them. Emma despite being uneducated,orphaned and pregnant and is snubbed by the women of the town, and everyone else she meets in this town (besides the Hero) is coldhearted,foolish or sleazy. This is a story of two proud people who go through crisis after crisis and manage to hold their heads high, and work through it together and find a love neither would have thought possible. A really good fast read with unforgettable characters.
January 2, 2015
Good book. Emma is pregnant and her fiance is desperate to get the money to care for her. His silver claim makes very little so he goes off to try to gamble for it. He makes a clumsy attempt at cheating and ends up shot and killed by Logan who was trying to protect another card player. Accused of murder Logan is given the chance to make restitution by marrying Emma and caring for her and her baby. Emma feels she has no choice since she hasn't any way to support herself but she vows to get her revenge on Logan. But he isn't like anyone she's ever known before. Soon their mutual attraction has them closer than they thought possible, but there are still secrets between them that could ruin the possibility of a future between them.
I liked both Emma and Logan. Emma had had a rough life so far but things were looking up. She was engaged to a boy she loved and they were expecting. She had a decent job and Billy had his silver claim. Then her world fell apart as Billy tried gambling for extra money and got shot when he was caught cheating. Emma lost her job and was living in the claim shack when Billy's killer went to trial. Expecting and hoping that the man would hang she was stunned when the judge suggested that she marry the man instead so that he can support her and her child. She doesn't see how to avoid it, but swears she will have her revenge. Her attraction to Logan is unexpected and unwelcome but also irresistible. When Logan's latest winnings include a mine she becomes a mine owner's wife. I liked the way that she used the knowledge she had gained working for miners to help Logan get the mine up and running. This gave them something in common and opened the door to stronger feelings. She still felt guilty about not taking her revenge. When she had an idea about using the newspaper to fight for workers' rights she gets taken advantage of by an unscrupulous reporter. This puts her in danger. I liked the way that her feelings about her quest for revenge changed and how she ended up wanting a new life with her husband.
Logan has been running for seven years, gambling as a way to support himself and keep moving. He had been accused of murder back home in New Orleans while avenging the death of his younger sister. He hadn't intended to kill Billy, but his shot nicked an artery and Billy bled to death. When offered the chance to marry Emma and take care of her rather than go to prison, he took it. He fully expected her to do something to take her revenge, but he was willing to take the chance. He had never expected to marry and have a family but with the owning of the mine he was looking forward to the chance to try. He was attracted to Emma right away and very impressed with her strength and bravery. He promises not to force himself on her but intends to get her to want to come to him. He feels guilty about keeping his past from her but fears that telling her would mean the end of any chance of happiness for them. I really liked seeing the way they worked together to make the mine work. I also liked his obvious care for Emma and fears for her safety when he found out about her trip into the mine. Even though he was angry about the chance she took he understood why she did it. I loved his support and encouragement of her plan to write her own story about the mining conditions. I loved the way they came together at the end to defeat the blackmailer and finally move forward in a new life together.
I loved seeing both Emma and Logan move forward through various crises together. Their first dinner in public together was a great example of how the two of them could support each other. I also enjoyed the look at mining life both from the owner's point of view and the miners' conditions. I liked the way that Emma was so determined to do what she could to make things safer for them, even at the cost of her husband's regard. The newspaper reporter was definitely the sleazy paparazzi type and I wanted to shake Emma for trusting him at one point.
I liked both Emma and Logan. Emma had had a rough life so far but things were looking up. She was engaged to a boy she loved and they were expecting. She had a decent job and Billy had his silver claim. Then her world fell apart as Billy tried gambling for extra money and got shot when he was caught cheating. Emma lost her job and was living in the claim shack when Billy's killer went to trial. Expecting and hoping that the man would hang she was stunned when the judge suggested that she marry the man instead so that he can support her and her child. She doesn't see how to avoid it, but swears she will have her revenge. Her attraction to Logan is unexpected and unwelcome but also irresistible. When Logan's latest winnings include a mine she becomes a mine owner's wife. I liked the way that she used the knowledge she had gained working for miners to help Logan get the mine up and running. This gave them something in common and opened the door to stronger feelings. She still felt guilty about not taking her revenge. When she had an idea about using the newspaper to fight for workers' rights she gets taken advantage of by an unscrupulous reporter. This puts her in danger. I liked the way that her feelings about her quest for revenge changed and how she ended up wanting a new life with her husband.
Logan has been running for seven years, gambling as a way to support himself and keep moving. He had been accused of murder back home in New Orleans while avenging the death of his younger sister. He hadn't intended to kill Billy, but his shot nicked an artery and Billy bled to death. When offered the chance to marry Emma and take care of her rather than go to prison, he took it. He fully expected her to do something to take her revenge, but he was willing to take the chance. He had never expected to marry and have a family but with the owning of the mine he was looking forward to the chance to try. He was attracted to Emma right away and very impressed with her strength and bravery. He promises not to force himself on her but intends to get her to want to come to him. He feels guilty about keeping his past from her but fears that telling her would mean the end of any chance of happiness for them. I really liked seeing the way they worked together to make the mine work. I also liked his obvious care for Emma and fears for her safety when he found out about her trip into the mine. Even though he was angry about the chance she took he understood why she did it. I loved his support and encouragement of her plan to write her own story about the mining conditions. I loved the way they came together at the end to defeat the blackmailer and finally move forward in a new life together.
I loved seeing both Emma and Logan move forward through various crises together. Their first dinner in public together was a great example of how the two of them could support each other. I also enjoyed the look at mining life both from the owner's point of view and the miners' conditions. I liked the way that Emma was so determined to do what she could to make things safer for them, even at the cost of her husband's regard. The newspaper reporter was definitely the sleazy paparazzi type and I wanted to shake Emma for trusting him at one point.
August 21, 2013
A Recommended Read! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:
When Emma O’Toole told her fiancé, Billy John Carter, that she was carrying his child, he had promised to marry her the very next day. But she had seen the panic in his eyes. The only money Billy John had was the small amount of silver he had dug out of his mine. That same night, Emma is summoned to the Crystal Queen Saloon, where Billy John lay dying, shot by a gambler, who claimed that her fiancé had cheated at cards. Billy John’s last request to Emma is to make his killer pay and Emma is not able to refuse him. He had been the only boy who had ever loved her and she will not have peace until she fulfills his last request.
But this tragedy has more than one repercussion. Employed at the boardinghouse where she lived, Emma knew that once word got out that she was pregnant, she would lose her job. To her horror, the next morning Emma discovers that the town newspaper has reported not only Billy John’s death, but her pregnancy as well. Arriving at the boardinghouse, she finds her bags packed and sitting outside. With nowhere else to go and no money, Emma moves into the mining shack on Billy John’s claim, which has been left to her.
Logan Deveraux had not meant to kill the nineteen-year-old boy, but when Billy John had pointed a gun at an old man who accused the boy of cheating, Logan had fired to save the man’s life. This is the second murder that Logan has been involved in. Years earlier, he had left his hometown of New Orleans to keep from hanging. That time, with the encouragement of his mother and grandmother, Logan had faked his own death and changed his name. Even with the wire services running the story of Billy John’s murder, no one should associate the death with a man named Christian Girard. Logan has not been back to New Orleans since that tragic event, but instead, has constantly moved around the country, making his living as a gambler while looking over his shoulder.
On trial for his life, Logan is found guilty of manslaughter. But, due to the circumstances of the case, the judge offers Logan an intriguing alternative to prison; marriage to the victim’s pregnant sweetheart…Emma. Choosing marriage, Logan is well aware that Emma hates him, but he harbors hope that they can make a go of their union. Can he convince Emma that he is not the monster she believes him to be?
As they spend time together as man and wife, Emma slowly finds herself falling for her handsome husband, but this only fills her with guilt and nightmares of Billy John’s rebuke. Can she overcome her need for revenge, put the past to rest and make a new life with her husband?
An engrossing tale, THE BALLAD OF EMMA O’TOOLE, the latest book by gifted author Elizabeth Lane, is an intriguing, sensual historical romance that will keep you eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. I found it nearly impossible to put this book down and finished it in a matter of hours. Although the circumstances behind Logan and Emma’s marriage are not ideal by any standard, I believe that he suited Emma better than Billy John would have if he had lived. I enjoyed watching as these two stood together against the whispers and gossip of the townspeople, as well as the unscrupulous maneuverings of a reporter who penned a song about the tragic event. This story also examines the plight of the miners, working in dangerous conditions with little recourse when the unthinkable happens. Emotion-packed, this story abounds with tragedy, death, passion, vengeance, secrets and love, making it an unforgettable tale. Ms. Lane’s ability to draw readers into her story is just one of the reasons that she is a constant on my list of ‘must read’ authors. I enjoyed this book so much that I have made it a Recommended Read. But why take my word; pick up a copy and check it out for yourself!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
When Emma O’Toole told her fiancé, Billy John Carter, that she was carrying his child, he had promised to marry her the very next day. But she had seen the panic in his eyes. The only money Billy John had was the small amount of silver he had dug out of his mine. That same night, Emma is summoned to the Crystal Queen Saloon, where Billy John lay dying, shot by a gambler, who claimed that her fiancé had cheated at cards. Billy John’s last request to Emma is to make his killer pay and Emma is not able to refuse him. He had been the only boy who had ever loved her and she will not have peace until she fulfills his last request.
But this tragedy has more than one repercussion. Employed at the boardinghouse where she lived, Emma knew that once word got out that she was pregnant, she would lose her job. To her horror, the next morning Emma discovers that the town newspaper has reported not only Billy John’s death, but her pregnancy as well. Arriving at the boardinghouse, she finds her bags packed and sitting outside. With nowhere else to go and no money, Emma moves into the mining shack on Billy John’s claim, which has been left to her.
Logan Deveraux had not meant to kill the nineteen-year-old boy, but when Billy John had pointed a gun at an old man who accused the boy of cheating, Logan had fired to save the man’s life. This is the second murder that Logan has been involved in. Years earlier, he had left his hometown of New Orleans to keep from hanging. That time, with the encouragement of his mother and grandmother, Logan had faked his own death and changed his name. Even with the wire services running the story of Billy John’s murder, no one should associate the death with a man named Christian Girard. Logan has not been back to New Orleans since that tragic event, but instead, has constantly moved around the country, making his living as a gambler while looking over his shoulder.
On trial for his life, Logan is found guilty of manslaughter. But, due to the circumstances of the case, the judge offers Logan an intriguing alternative to prison; marriage to the victim’s pregnant sweetheart…Emma. Choosing marriage, Logan is well aware that Emma hates him, but he harbors hope that they can make a go of their union. Can he convince Emma that he is not the monster she believes him to be?
As they spend time together as man and wife, Emma slowly finds herself falling for her handsome husband, but this only fills her with guilt and nightmares of Billy John’s rebuke. Can she overcome her need for revenge, put the past to rest and make a new life with her husband?
An engrossing tale, THE BALLAD OF EMMA O’TOOLE, the latest book by gifted author Elizabeth Lane, is an intriguing, sensual historical romance that will keep you eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. I found it nearly impossible to put this book down and finished it in a matter of hours. Although the circumstances behind Logan and Emma’s marriage are not ideal by any standard, I believe that he suited Emma better than Billy John would have if he had lived. I enjoyed watching as these two stood together against the whispers and gossip of the townspeople, as well as the unscrupulous maneuverings of a reporter who penned a song about the tragic event. This story also examines the plight of the miners, working in dangerous conditions with little recourse when the unthinkable happens. Emotion-packed, this story abounds with tragedy, death, passion, vengeance, secrets and love, making it an unforgettable tale. Ms. Lane’s ability to draw readers into her story is just one of the reasons that she is a constant on my list of ‘must read’ authors. I enjoyed this book so much that I have made it a Recommended Read. But why take my word; pick up a copy and check it out for yourself!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
August 3, 2016
4 and ½ Stars! Unusual Marriage and Utah Mining Make for an Entertaining Tale!
It’s Park City, Utah Territory in 1886 and Emma O’Toole is pregnant by her fiancé Billy John “the only boy who’d ever loved her.” In an attempt to win some money to care for her and their child, foolish Billy cheated at cards and then threatened the life of an old man if the card players didn’t let him leave with his ill gotten gain. Before he could shoot, however, another player shot him.
An unprincipled “muckraking” newspaperman pens a ballad than has everyone singing of the story, much to Emma’s chagrin. Then the jury decides Logan Devereaux is guilty of manslaughter and the judge offered Logan prison or marriage to Emma. Logan chose marriage even knowing his bride would hate him. Emma agreed only because the judge said he would otherwise let the murderer of her lover go free. But she intended to make Logan’s life a living hell. When she discovers the horrible conditions in the silver mines, she finds a way to help the miners and hurt her husband.
All the time Emma is plotting, Logan treats her well and they find passion together, never telling Emma he has another identity, that of Christian Girard, a man wanted in New Orleans for murder.
A well-researched, well-told tale that will bring you into the lives of those in a western mining town in the late 19th century. Logan is a drool worthy hero who rises above a bad situation to do the honorable thing—again and again. There are several bad guys in this one and a secret from Logan’s past that will keep you guessing!
It’s Park City, Utah Territory in 1886 and Emma O’Toole is pregnant by her fiancé Billy John “the only boy who’d ever loved her.” In an attempt to win some money to care for her and their child, foolish Billy cheated at cards and then threatened the life of an old man if the card players didn’t let him leave with his ill gotten gain. Before he could shoot, however, another player shot him.
An unprincipled “muckraking” newspaperman pens a ballad than has everyone singing of the story, much to Emma’s chagrin. Then the jury decides Logan Devereaux is guilty of manslaughter and the judge offered Logan prison or marriage to Emma. Logan chose marriage even knowing his bride would hate him. Emma agreed only because the judge said he would otherwise let the murderer of her lover go free. But she intended to make Logan’s life a living hell. When she discovers the horrible conditions in the silver mines, she finds a way to help the miners and hurt her husband.
All the time Emma is plotting, Logan treats her well and they find passion together, never telling Emma he has another identity, that of Christian Girard, a man wanted in New Orleans for murder.
A well-researched, well-told tale that will bring you into the lives of those in a western mining town in the late 19th century. Logan is a drool worthy hero who rises above a bad situation to do the honorable thing—again and again. There are several bad guys in this one and a secret from Logan’s past that will keep you guessing!
September 22, 2013
This story captured my attention on the first page with Emma being summoned to her dying sweetheart's side. After that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I totally related to Emma who was basically destitute, pregnant, and had nowhere to turn. That the judge made her marry the man who killed her fiance was totally unexpected. Logan Devereaux turned out to be the perfect husband for her though. Logan was such a tortured hero. So strong, tender, and afraid that he'd lose the only thing that had given his life meaning. He loved Emma with all his heart. I won't give away the ending but I want to say that it's gripping. I think this is one of Elizabeth Lane's best books. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was glad I took this journey with her. I won't forget Emma and Logan anytime soon.
October 28, 2023
It was OK, but I couldn't get into the romance because I couldn't bring myself to like Emma... not even a little bit. She was wishy-washy, inconstant, and utterly stupid.
So, the man Emma LOVES, who is also the father of her unborn child, is shot during a card game by a pro gambler. As THE LOVE OF HER LIFE draws his final breath he makes Emma swear a sacred oath, on her mother's grave and to a dying man, that she would seek vengeance against the killer. She swears it, with all her heart and soul, and she means it.
Some silly plot device later, and she ends up married to the killer of her sweetheart... and on the wedding night is overcome with lust for him, she's laying in a bath and rubbing her titties and fantasizing about shagging this guy... and I'll be honest I'm just disgusted with her. Forget the oath, forget that the love of her life is barely cold in his grave, forget her pride and her grief and any decent human feeling because we've got stage five treacherous body syndrome going on here. I hated it, and I hated her for it. So right off the bat the h and H are steaming up the bedsheets, and I can't be invested in their relationship because it's nothing but soulless fucking really.
She's also thick as pig shit, and spends the entire book getting tricked by obvious enemies. Mix in a heap of SUPER DARK SECRETS from various pasts, and some yawn worthy plot about a mine, and I was skipping hard at the 70% mark.
I can't enjoy a romance if I can't like the h. Make her a faithless oathbreaker who ditches the memory of her murdered love for sexual thrills and I'm pretty much guaranteed to loath her.
So, the man Emma LOVES, who is also the father of her unborn child, is shot during a card game by a pro gambler. As THE LOVE OF HER LIFE draws his final breath he makes Emma swear a sacred oath, on her mother's grave and to a dying man, that she would seek vengeance against the killer. She swears it, with all her heart and soul, and she means it.
Some silly plot device later, and she ends up married to the killer of her sweetheart... and on the wedding night is overcome with lust for him, she's laying in a bath and rubbing her titties and fantasizing about shagging this guy... and I'll be honest I'm just disgusted with her. Forget the oath, forget that the love of her life is barely cold in his grave, forget her pride and her grief and any decent human feeling because we've got stage five treacherous body syndrome going on here. I hated it, and I hated her for it. So right off the bat the h and H are steaming up the bedsheets, and I can't be invested in their relationship because it's nothing but soulless fucking really.
She's also thick as pig shit, and spends the entire book getting tricked by obvious enemies. Mix in a heap of SUPER DARK SECRETS from various pasts, and some yawn worthy plot about a mine, and I was skipping hard at the 70% mark.
I can't enjoy a romance if I can't like the h. Make her a faithless oathbreaker who ditches the memory of her murdered love for sexual thrills and I'm pretty much guaranteed to loath her.
August 2, 2021
He is a gambler, part Indian with a checkered past. In a game of cards he shoots a man in self defence but ends up on trial for murder. She is the girlfriend of the murdered victim out for revenge. During the trial to save his life, he’s offered a shocking alternative form of restitution by the Judge, marriage to his victim’s pregnant sweetheart. The two eventually fall in love.
In the meantime a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song the whole nation waits to see what she’ll do. The newspaper man has started an exaggerated story about the two, especially her. At the end it is discovered that the reporter is blackmailing people and it takes all their love to find a way out of the situation.
In the meantime a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song the whole nation waits to see what she’ll do. The newspaper man has started an exaggerated story about the two, especially her. At the end it is discovered that the reporter is blackmailing people and it takes all their love to find a way out of the situation.
January 27, 2024
So, Emma has been described as flighty, silly, and naive. I found her to be none of those things. She's just a grieving widow. Granted, do to the circumstances of her husband's death much of that whining fell on deaf ears with me. However, I quickly reminded myself that she's allowed to feel however she feels about a situation that she's thrust into through no fault of her own. Her feelings for her new husband emerged quickly, but look at the comparison. Young love with an immature boy that was described as a 5-minute man versus a grown man, experienced, with an air of mystery. The attraction was there, and it went the way i thought it might. I liked the story, it was entertaining, and mildly action filled. Nice way to be spend a weekend.
February 2, 2026
DNF at 30%
I really wanted to like the high-stakes premise of this book, but I had to DNF at 30%. The emotional logic just isn't there. Emma’s fiancé is killed, she’s forced into a marriage of restitution with the man who shot him, and yet she’s already experiencing 'intense attraction' while lying in bed with him on the very day of the trial. It feels incredibly disrespectful to the initial tragedy and makes her vow of vengeance feel meaningless. The transition from grief to lust was way too fast for me to find the romance believable.
I really wanted to like the high-stakes premise of this book, but I had to DNF at 30%. The emotional logic just isn't there. Emma’s fiancé is killed, she’s forced into a marriage of restitution with the man who shot him, and yet she’s already experiencing 'intense attraction' while lying in bed with him on the very day of the trial. It feels incredibly disrespectful to the initial tragedy and makes her vow of vengeance feel meaningless. The transition from grief to lust was way too fast for me to find the romance believable.
June 29, 2024
Good Story
This is about a woman who promises revenge for the killing of her fiance. The man is tried and found guilty of manslaughter. However the judge sentences him to marry the woman. There is mystery and romance in this story. There are well defined characters and the story was exciting and kept me up until I finished it.
This is about a woman who promises revenge for the killing of her fiance. The man is tried and found guilty of manslaughter. However the judge sentences him to marry the woman. There is mystery and romance in this story. There are well defined characters and the story was exciting and kept me up until I finished it.
December 10, 2023
Really locked the book I think you will to
I enjoyed the book it was easy to read it kept me very interested in the story it changed from time to time when I thought that it would end differently
I enjoyed the book it was easy to read it kept me very interested in the story it changed from time to time when I thought that it would end differently
February 18, 2021
4/5
I inhaled this book. Couldn't rate it higher because I wanted it to be sexier.
I inhaled this book. Couldn't rate it higher because I wanted it to be sexier.
May 7, 2024
This is just a weird plot. More lust than logic.
August 26, 2013
Author Elizabeth Lane is one of my favorite storytellers, not just because of the heart she puts into her love stories, but also because her adventurer's spirit adds such excitement and flavor to her work. This time, with "The Ballad of Emma O'Toole", there is an added personal touch to the story line. Set in Ms. Lane's home state of Utah, during the great silver mine boom of the late 1800's, the area in which story takes place was actually settled by Ms. Lane's own great-great grandfather. Emma O'Toole is a young woman who has lost her family and has only her sweetheart, Billy John Carter, and a small silver claim to help her dream of a future. When she tells Billy John she is pregnant, he promises to marry her, but a desperate move on his part costs him his life and shatters Emma's hopes for happiness. Billy John works his way into a high-stakes poker game, and when he is caught cheating he pulls a gun and tries to take the money from the table, holding an older man hostage. Gambler Logan Devereaux only means to wound the young fool, but his shot proves fatal. Emma is called to the scene and a dying Billy John makes her promise to get her revenge on the man who killed him. The local newspaper sensationalizes the tragedy, and "The Ballad of Emma O'Toole" becomes the tune heard around the country. Logan is put on trial and convicted of manslaughter, but the judge offers him an unusual sentence: five years in prison, or if Emma agrees, marry her and take care of her and her child. Emma accepts the offer as a means to make good her promise of revenge. However, Logan turns out to be a kind and generous husband, even if he keeps most of his past tightly guarded. Recovering his winnings from the poker game, he uses the cash and mining stock to venture into the silver mining business. Close circumstances and a mutual attraction lead to passion between Emma and Logan, but each of them has their secrets. Can Logan settle down in one place, with one woman, and lead the life of a family man? Can Emma really trust her heart and her future to the man who killed her baby's father? When all the cards are laid on the table, will the hearts be the winning hand? This story is very well-paced, and its elements of suspense make for an exciting and enjoyable historical romance. Recommended for lovers of wonderfully-written western love stories.
Review Copy Gratis Author
Review Copy Gratis Author
June 14, 2019
This is an unusual tale of Emma O’Toole’s intended being killed by a gambler – before they could marry and give the coming baby a name. I think the Mormon judge was portrayed as he would have been in those days; more concerned with the baby’s legitimacy than the two individuals.
It hasn't been that long ago that having a baby out of wedlock left a stain of all who were around the ‘fallen woman.’ I particularly liked that the author didn’t go on and on about the angst Emma might have suffered from having to marry the killer of her baby’s father. But Emma was a practical woman; women were still in short supply and her baby needed more than a single woman could provide.
There are plenty of twists to this story to keep the reader guessing. I thought the plot was refreshingly original.
It hasn't been that long ago that having a baby out of wedlock left a stain of all who were around the ‘fallen woman.’ I particularly liked that the author didn’t go on and on about the angst Emma might have suffered from having to marry the killer of her baby’s father. But Emma was a practical woman; women were still in short supply and her baby needed more than a single woman could provide.
There are plenty of twists to this story to keep the reader guessing. I thought the plot was refreshingly original.
August 6, 2014
Very interesting. The storyline in this was great. Quite different from any that I've read. Western romance is one of my "revolving genres" (I try to vary my reading by genre)and I'm so glad that I found this tucked away forgotten in a drawer. I was intrigued from the start. A young man murdered by a gambler, leaving behind his pregnant sweetheart. Of course, she was devastated and swore vengeance against this gambler. Hmm...sounds fairly normal right? Not really. Here comes the twist - not to give too much away - she ends up marrying the gambler due to what occurs in his trial. Of course, she believes she'll find a way to still get that "pay-back".
The characters were very well portrayed. Emma, through no fault of her own was now a "fallen woman" and even her old friends turned their backs on her. Logan - the gambler - now her husband, was the owner of a mine. This made the couple even more disliked. Then we have the reporter...disliked him from the first "meeting" and that feeling proved correct. You even learn a bit about silver mining and mine conditions in those days. Well done, Ms. Lane. I definitely recommend the book to others.
The characters were very well portrayed. Emma, through no fault of her own was now a "fallen woman" and even her old friends turned their backs on her. Logan - the gambler - now her husband, was the owner of a mine. This made the couple even more disliked. Then we have the reporter...disliked him from the first "meeting" and that feeling proved correct. You even learn a bit about silver mining and mine conditions in those days. Well done, Ms. Lane. I definitely recommend the book to others.
January 22, 2014
2.5
The story itself had an interesting premise. After learning Emma is expecting a child, her sweetheart Billy John tries to line his pockets gambling. Unfortunately he is caught cheating and pulls his gun in desperation. A gambler by the name of Logan Devereaux ends up killing him.
As restitution, Logan agrees to marry Emma and provide for her and the baby instead of going to prison. Emma is furious, but has no other choice. She swears to get revenge on Logan, by making his life a living hell.
This wasn't a bad book...it was an easy, fluffy read. But there were a couple of things that could have made this book better.
Firstly, Emma adamantly refuses to sleep with her husband. After all, Billy John hasn't been dead two weeks. Until the second night at least. And she was the one who instigated it! Ummm...ok. Way to stick to your guns! That'll teach Logan a lesson!
Secondly, the fact that her sweetheart Billy John was killed and she wanted revenge was repeated constantly. It seemed like every other page was a reminder to us. We know! We get it! Stop telling us and show us!!!
The story itself had an interesting premise. After learning Emma is expecting a child, her sweetheart Billy John tries to line his pockets gambling. Unfortunately he is caught cheating and pulls his gun in desperation. A gambler by the name of Logan Devereaux ends up killing him.
As restitution, Logan agrees to marry Emma and provide for her and the baby instead of going to prison. Emma is furious, but has no other choice. She swears to get revenge on Logan, by making his life a living hell.
This wasn't a bad book...it was an easy, fluffy read. But there were a couple of things that could have made this book better.
Firstly, Emma adamantly refuses to sleep with her husband. After all, Billy John hasn't been dead two weeks. Until the second night at least. And she was the one who instigated it! Ummm...ok. Way to stick to your guns! That'll teach Logan a lesson!
Secondly, the fact that her sweetheart Billy John was killed and she wanted revenge was repeated constantly. It seemed like every other page was a reminder to us. We know! We get it! Stop telling us and show us!!!
November 24, 2014
3.2 Stars. Public Library 11/23/14. Emma and Logan aren't your typical h and H. They meet as Emma's sweetheart and baby's father lies dying of a bullet wound Logan inflicted. In a twist of events they end up married. Emma is now tied to a man she promised to hate. Nothing happens like you think it's going to in the book. Will Logan and Emma make it in their new life together?
February 24, 2016
I miss buying the historical harlequin and her Desire line. Live out in the country now, no bookstores. I love Elizabeth Lane books.
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October 4, 2017not great. overly dramatic in emotion, plot, character description etc... pretty good chemistry.
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