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Escape: Heartbreaker / Duncan's Bride
Two timeless tales of romance and suspense from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard
HEARTBREAKER
Michelle Cabot reluctantly returns home to Central Florida, having inherited her father's cattle ranch—and the mountain of bills that go with it. But Michelle's determined to turn things around, even as she discovers she's heavily indebted to neighboring rancher John Rafferty, a man she's spent ten years trying to forget. John has his own ideas for how the spoiled princess he remembers might pay him back—but when Michelle's secrets come to light, he'll do anything to protect her…including letting go of the past once and for all.
DUNCAN'S BRIDE
It's been seven years since rancher Reese Duncan's first wife left him high and dry, and he's been trying to rebuild his life ever since. What he needs is a dependable mate—someone uncomplicated with whom he can start a family and who will help out around the ranch. At first glance, city girl Madelyn Patterson seems all wrong. But Madelyn isn't after his money or his land. She wants the one thing Reese can't guarantee—his heart.
HEARTBREAKER
Michelle Cabot reluctantly returns home to Central Florida, having inherited her father's cattle ranch—and the mountain of bills that go with it. But Michelle's determined to turn things around, even as she discovers she's heavily indebted to neighboring rancher John Rafferty, a man she's spent ten years trying to forget. John has his own ideas for how the spoiled princess he remembers might pay him back—but when Michelle's secrets come to light, he'll do anything to protect her…including letting go of the past once and for all.
DUNCAN'S BRIDE
It's been seven years since rancher Reese Duncan's first wife left him high and dry, and he's been trying to rebuild his life ever since. What he needs is a dependable mate—someone uncomplicated with whom he can start a family and who will help out around the ranch. At first glance, city girl Madelyn Patterson seems all wrong. But Madelyn isn't after his money or his land. She wants the one thing Reese can't guarantee—his heart.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 28, 2014
3 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
223 books7,179 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 27, 2014
The title is very misleading. I was expecting much more drama than either book provided.
These are books from the 80's. I'm much more familiar with Howard's thrillers, so I wasn't expecting humdrum romances. They were okay, but ...
These are books from the 80's. I'm much more familiar with Howard's thrillers, so I wasn't expecting humdrum romances. They were okay, but ...
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June 30, 2020I absolutely loved both of these stories!! This is a reprint of these books. Linda Howard is one of my favorite author's and she never fails to delight me with her books. (The first book I ever read by her was MacKenzie's Mountain and I was hooked! I loved the entire series about the MacKenzies) You will not be disappointed with either of these stories.
July 14, 2019
Linda Howard is hands down my favorite author. Can never go wrong with any of her books!!
April 7, 2021
Old school 80's romance. Still liked it.
September 5, 2021
Read both before
August 24, 2020
There's nothing like a raunchy rodeo romance to keep you reading!
September 22, 2016
Two beautiful stories of hardheaded men and the strong willed women who take their breath away.
October 15, 2023
Two great stories from a master of romance! Heartbreaker, the story of Michelle and John, is actually a loose sequel to Howard's book Diamond Bay. This is the story of John Rafferty (a neighbor in the earlier book) and Howard does a good job of showing how Michelle and John--enemies at first sight--are now trying to hate each other but realizing that the attraction they've always felt and hid is stronger than ever.
In Duncan's Bride, we meet Madelyn and Reese. Madelyn is an unlikely mail-order bride who experiences love at first sight and so enters into an agreement with Reese and spends the next several months fighting tooth and nail for the loving home and relationship she wants. She is a seeming fish-out-of-water when she moves from New York to Montana, but she shows that she is tough as nails and a country girl at heart! And this book introduces you to Maddie's brother, Robert Cannon, who is the subject of Howard's book Loving Evangeline.
In Duncan's Bride, we meet Madelyn and Reese. Madelyn is an unlikely mail-order bride who experiences love at first sight and so enters into an agreement with Reese and spends the next several months fighting tooth and nail for the loving home and relationship she wants. She is a seeming fish-out-of-water when she moves from New York to Montana, but she shows that she is tough as nails and a country girl at heart! And this book introduces you to Maddie's brother, Robert Cannon, who is the subject of Howard's book Loving Evangeline.
May 13, 2014
When I first picked the book up off the shelf I didn't realize that it was two novels. In fact I didn't even read the back of the book, I was going off the cover that it would have been good, and I wasn't disappointed.
I was looking for an easy romance read and got just what I wanted. Of course I did expect a little bit more drama in the second one. There were times when this book had at one end of the emotional spectrum and then with the change of scene to the other end of the spectrum.
My only regret is that I wish they had both been longer, fuller novels as opposed to being "novellas". But the short and sweetness to them did the trick.
Linda Howard as an author was a first time read for me, I was quite happy with what I found in her writing and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.
I was looking for an easy romance read and got just what I wanted. Of course I did expect a little bit more drama in the second one. There were times when this book had at one end of the emotional spectrum and then with the change of scene to the other end of the spectrum.
My only regret is that I wish they had both been longer, fuller novels as opposed to being "novellas". But the short and sweetness to them did the trick.
Linda Howard as an author was a first time read for me, I was quite happy with what I found in her writing and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.
August 5, 2016
A bit predictable; love story that brings city girl to the country. She's not a typical city girl though, so it's fun to see what she does to win his heart. He's a tough old cowboy who's been wronged!
August 30, 2015
Linda Howard is awesome! She usually writes suspense, but the second story is all about love. A stubborn man who was hurt, is determined not to let his new wife get too close. And the stubborn woman he married, is determined to get inside his shell. Great give & take!
March 3, 2014
All I can say is WOW WOW AND WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW, i just know tha't why i read romance. Wow..specially the first book. Wowwwwwwwwwwww!
March 22, 2014
I liked it. It was entertaining, easy to read, no drama and I just needed something like that since the last book I read almost break my heart!!!
April 1, 2014
Heartbreaker is a three and Duncan's bride is a five star.
July 12, 2014
Couldn't put it down for longer than a (much-needed) short nap until I could finish reading it..!! :D
March 15, 2015
Cowboy love stories. Strong characters, nice flow
June 21, 2014
two books in one.. A. Heartbreaker and B. Duncan's Bride V.G.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews