Luke's Eyes

Eyes of Silver Revisited #2

by Ellen O'Connell

Luke Bennett is on his own at the cattle auction in Denver, Colorado, and the responsibility for buying Hereford bulls to upgrade the cattle herds of the family ranch sits heavy on his shoulders. Even so, the sight of four men bullying a young woman near the stock pens changes his focus from evaluating cattle to helping Miss Theadora Pierce, who stands accused of rustling cattle she claims are hers.

Trusting any man comes hard to Teddy Pierce. Too many have already let her down. The way Luke makes her heart quicken and stomach flip makes him more suspect than most. Or does it?

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

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2017

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is getting all the stars because it has Cord and Annie in it and I will give anything with them in it a billion stars.

This is a novella that focuses on Luke (one of Frank's sons) going to a livestock auction in Denver to purchase breeding stock for the Bennett farm. While there, he meets a girl who may or may not be his own Annie - which he and Pete were determined to marry - and things progress from there. This aspect of the story was decent and I enjoyed it, but as I said, the stars are all for Cord and Annie.

We get what amounts to two full scenes with them at home and then even more of Cord in a supporting role capacity in Denver. And I gobbled up every moment.

As always, I will read anything O'Connell puts out. And now I can add this to my quarterly re-reads of Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold.

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uhm so this is a book about Luke and Theadora. It’s actually really cute and I liked where it was going; Luke rescued Teddy from an evil relative, there were fights, cattle and other western stuff.

The thing is Luke and Teddy were not married so nothing more than second base was possible. So in order to include a steamy scene the author quickly went back to Anne and Cord 😳 Which I wouldn’t complain about per se, but it’s not their story!

I enjoyed it but got a little confused at the end so 3,5 stars rounded up.

[Bgurl (don't h8 me cuz I'm honestful) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke’s Eyes (EOS 1.5), by Ellen O’Connell: 3 “Free” Stars

"Luke held a hand over her head, and yelled, 'Pete. I found one!'
Pete laughed. 'You sure did, and you’re the last to figure it out.'
Teddy said, 'What do you mean you found one?'
'It’s a family joke. I’ll tell you sometime.' "
~Luke & Pete Bennett & Theadora (Teddy) Pierce

Luke’s Eyes, by Ellen O’Connell, is a free novella I downloaded from the author’s website a while back but just got around to reading. It’s Luke Bennett’s story; the nephew of Cord Bennett, the hero of O’Connell’s beloved romance Eyes of Silver, Eye’s of Gold.

While this is a cute addition to one of my all time favorite books, it’s a poor example of the quality of O’Connell’s work. It’s corny and cartoonish in a very un-O’Connell way; with a villain straight out of a silent movie melodrama, and a heroine that’s a tad too annoying to be completely likeable.

On the other hand, Luke is awesome: protective, smart, sweet, loyal, capable, and decisive. In other words, everything you’d expect from an O’Connell hero. And the chance to catch up with Cord and Anne, as well as other members of the Bennett clan, more than make up for the novella’s shortcomings.

And it was free, of course. So, there's THAT!

For information about my rating system, see my profile page.

Links to related reviews:
My review
Rachel's Eyes (Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold #1.5): Click Me!
Val's review
Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold: Click Me!

[Sophia Triad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is time for Luke Bennett to fall in love. Miss Theadora Pierce (his future wife of course) will be in trouble and the Bennet family including Cord will do anything to help her.

Favorite quote: “Uncle Ephraim says Bennet men are like big trees, we fall hard, and once we fall we stay where we land.”
“Hmph. Until someone drags you off maybe.”
“He never said anything about that. If there are no ladies around he does sometimes have more to say about the way we burn.”

Do I need to add anything else???

I really hope that we can have more stories from this world.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold is one of my all time favourite books so I can’t believe I haven’t read this before now.

I loved catching up with my favourite characters particularly Cord and Anne.
But this is Luke’s book and he’s fabulous, everything you’d expect from a Bennett.

My problem was the rest of it. Now I know it’s a short story but it just didn’t feel right. From the cartoon villain to the poor imitation of Anne. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh.

I originally read Eyes of Silver about eight years ago and I loved it so much I immediately bought Sing my Name. Yet despite constantly re-reading Eyes I’ve never even started Sing. I’m not entirely sure why and it makes no sense but I think I’m afraid I won’t like it so I just don’t start it. Crazy I know.
But anyway I was a little disappointed with this book but certainly not with Luke himself.

[Zero · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st read: February 2023
2nd read: February 2025

I liked this much better the second time around, probably because I didn't read it right after finishing EOS,EOG. So, Teddy and Luke had a chance to stand on their own in my imagination, instead of being in the shadow of Anne and Cord.
---------------------
This book is about Luke and Teddy. But it also had some scenes with Cord and Anne. I adore Cord and Anne, and the parts with them together are really sweet. <3

Luke is a nice character. Teddy (Theodora) is alright, but sometimes annoying. I really didn't like how Teddy treated Cord when she met him. She had no reason to be rude, especially since he was only there to help.

This book takes place over the course of a week, but does a decent job of slowly developing the relationship.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good short novella and great to revisit the Eyes of Silver world, but it needed one more chapter to really close this story properly. I’d have taken a short epilogue to see the MCs settled and with a plan for their future. As it is, it’s a bit unsatisfying. 😢
But the chapter with Cord and Anne at the end was 🥺 🥵 🥰
It made me want to read the full length story of Cord and Annie again. That’s an epic book.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this novella! It's a good story, and it's great to catch up with the characters from Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold! I've loved everything I've read by O'Connell!

[Jac K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Luke’s story. (Frank’s son) He goes to Denver for a cattle auction and meets Teddy. I didn’t love Teddy, she reminded me of Low Down from Silver Lining. I love strong h’s, but the brash/uncouth combo isn’t my fav.

What I did love was the handful of scenes we got with Cord and Anne… although I’m so over people being scared to death of him and his damn family never sticking up for him. He traveled to Denver to help your asses… be polite.

Bottom Line- I only read this for Cord and Anne updates. (she’s preggers) We get a few scenes with them but not much. The couple gets a HFN.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for Anne and Cord ♥️

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke's Eyes was a very short story about Luke Bennett finding love. I loved Luke he was everything I expected, Ben was adorable but Teddy was super annoying and not very likeable. The Uncle thing was silly and he seemed OTT. The best parts of the story were Anne and Cord. I just reread their story so my heart was still full from their book. Which brings me to another issue I had, I loved Anne and Cord so much that having them in this story did Luke and Teddy an injustice because I didn't care what happened with them I just wanted more Anne and Cord.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Ellen O'Connell's work. I've given most of her books 4 or 5 stars. She has an engaging writing style, and she can really spin a tale. However, I'm not a big fan of her shorter stories, but then again I usually don't like any short stories. They always feel "half baked" and I find myself feeling unsatisfied when I'm finished reading.

This one was no exception, though I thought it significantly better than "Rachel's Eyes" .

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Honey Colored Stars

[KatLynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sexy cowboy, a feisty, independent woman, a cattle auction, lies and deceit all come together to make Ellen O’Connell’s latest novella a winner!

Here we get Luke Bennett’s story. He’s the cousin to Cord from Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold and his father is Frank Bennett, owner of the large and successful Bennett Ranch. Luke’s in town to purchase cattle. Miss Theodora Pierce, better known as “Teddy,” is there to sell the few heads she owns.

Very early on Luke is rescuing Teddy and Ben, the young boy she’s raising, from her uncle’s paid thugs. As they work to foil the plans of her evil uncle’s treachery, a spark flares and soon blossoms into much more.

This short novella packs a lot of story. It’s a sweet, warm romance and while there’s not much steam, there is plenty of action, bad guys, and humor. The setting gives an authentic western feel and a highlight is the inclusion of one of my favorite couples, Cord and Anne.

Thank you Ms. O'Connell for this free read. It was a pleasure!

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke shows up at the corrals for the auction just in time to save Teddy from her asshat uncle.
And he keeps saving her. At first because he feels he must as an honorable gentleman, but then because Theodora is 'his one'.
I really enjoyed this a lot. It's light-hearted compared to Eyes of Silver...
But,
The Uncle was a little too much the cartoon villain and the romantic ending was usurped by Anne and Cord. Now LOVE getting some more time with Anne and Cord, but not at the expense of the current couple I am reading about.

Safety is just fine. Luke isn't a manho but he isn't a virgin either. No real detail given. Teddy had a fiance that was more of a good neighbor than a love interest. She dumped him because she caught him cheating. But it didn't break her heart, just added to her jaded view of men.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very cute and i loved seeing anne and cord again. those parts were my favourite for sure. as for luke and teddy, they were cute and i liked it, but i wanted more, or at least a bit of an epilogue.

it just made me want to read the first one again. swoon.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story happened six years after Cord and Anne book ended.

Their son is 5 years old and they're waiting their second baby now

It's Luke's story, from the total 6 chapters, you only got 2 chapters from Anne's POV, and is fine with me.

You won't find this one on Amazon, you need to subscribe Ms. O'Connell mailing list to get one.
And it's a cute story:)

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke and Teddy were ok but I liked it mostly for the snippets we got of Anne and Cord.

[Cam *tactile seeker* · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3,5 stars*


There are times, in a reader’s life, when sweet, simple, yet lovely short stories become a real necessity.
That was my case, given that I don’t have time to start new books, nor the ability to concentrate on those I’m currently reading at the moment.
When I received Ellen O’Connell’s newsletter telling me that she had written a novella based on one of the minor characters of Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold, I couldn’t be happier. Something told me that Cord and Anne ( the book’s main characters ) would be there as well, even if for a few pages.
Imagine my joy and delight, when I found out that not only they were going to make significant appearances in the story, but that there were also news about their expanding family.




That’s right!


Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold is one of my favorite Western Romance books. It has a captivating plot, enough drama to leave you with palpitations for days, a brooding but terribly loyal hero and a strong, modern and therefore emancipated heroine that combined together are one of the best couples ever created and matched.
I’ve read every Ellen O’Connell’s Western Romance book since, and allow me to say that she’s talented.
I’m not referring to her writing, which is fantastic, by the way.
I’m talking about her ability and skill to depict this compelling universe with the power to make you forget where you are, what time is it, what are you going to do after you stop reading, what’s your name and wonder why you couldn't start another one of her works immediately, afterwards, ignoring food, basic needs and family altogether.

You’re catapulted into another time and place, one I’ve always felt very attracted to: with the simplest life you can ever imagine, but also filled with emotions, raw fears and, most of all, complete freedom and infinite possibilities.
The potentialities of that kind of existence is what truly fascinates me. Starting from nothing if not your own strength and will. The idea of the inner power that each of us carries with him/her it’s the most positive, exciting and exhilarating one a person can ever be aware of.

Not to mention that despite being a modern, very jealous of her independence woman, I’m also a sucker for gowns. Lack of money is the only reason why I still haven’t started collecting them.
But I digress.

Ellen O’Connell is incredible and I love her.
Luke’s Eyes revolves around Luke Bennett, Cord’s nephew, and his love interest, Theadora “Teddy” Pierce.
In this short story, Luke is sent to Denver’s National Western Stock Show, famous for its stock auctions, to buy bulls for the ranch.



He’s replaced his father, Frank, (hated him for almost every page of EoSEoG) who’s broken his leg and hence couldn’t afford to travel to Denver.
While he’s in the city, he intervenes in a fight between a young woman with a child and a group of men ending up taking to heart their situation and deciding to help them, with the aid of the men of his crazy family.

I liked Luke’s Eyes. It provided a nice, few relaxing hours.
It follows a very linear storyline, maybe even a bit too predictable and uncomplicated. It lacks, in particular, the incredible depth every character in O'Connell's books has, and their amazing imperfections that make them as real as a fictional character could ever be. They're either good or bad, they do everything perfectly or royally fuck up, while the best quality in this author's stories is that the characters are usually multifaceted and wonderfully so. But hey, it's a novella, after all.
Luke and Pete have probably been the nicest Bennetts in Eyes of Silver, promptly changing their attitude towards their uncle, Cord, and his wife, Anne. I adored the way they treated her with respect and admiration, supporting her when no-one - except for her husband - did.

So I'm happy one of them got his happily ever after, and his Anne look-alike woman.

I recommend this book to all the fans of EoSEoG, and as for those who still haven't read it, what are you waiting for?!

[book bruin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novella set a few years after Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold and focuses on Luke Bennett. It takes place over the course of about a week and it was nice to be back in this world, but I don't love that for both novellas in the Eyes of Silver Revisited series, we only see Cord because his kind of "help" is needed. That focus on his ability to fight and intimidate does his character a disservice. We do get cameos from a few other Bennett family members and a peak into Anne and Cord's life/future, but I wish that we would have just gotten novellas about Anne and Cord.

[Ilaria &#x1f338; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen O’Connel could have written a taxonomy list and made it amazing
Nice way to see again the Bennet’s clan .

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I enjoyed this novella and visiting again with Cord and Anne Bennett, the MCs of the main book in this series, Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold. I liked Luke, the H of this short, well enough. He was a good guy, but Ellen O'Connell would have done even better had she left out all references to the other women he's kissed, how he's not so innocent, etc. That's just a personal preference, but I do feel like that wasn't necessary.

I admired the h of this story, too. She was so fierce and tried to stay strong, do the right thing, and make a good life for herself. I loved her compassion, honesty, and how she didn't lose her head the moment a handsome man paid her any kind of attention.

The historical details- the cattle auction, the dusty city of Denver, were what I've come to expect from Ms. O'Connell. Even with so few pages, she managed to create a complete world that was both interesting and exciting. The ending of this story left a smile on my face. It isn't quite fair that Cord and Anne always steal the show, but they just do. My only other complaint is that this was too short. An epilogue to this short would have been so appreciated.

[Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

[shms · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*. The writing is superb as usual, yet the novella didn't really dig deep, and the plot line was fairly simplistic. I guess cuase it was a novella. Anyway any chance I can catch up on Annie and Cord is all good.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great novella with characters from Eyes of Silver eyes of Gold book.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, here I am again, unsure what to say about an Ellen O'Connell story. I can definitely say I liked Luke's Eyes. Can I say I loved it? No. I'm sorry, but I can't. I like Luke, and Teddy's OK, and of course, there's some old familiars like Cord and Anne from Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold... But let's face it, this is a novella, and as a standalone, it falls short of being moving. One of O'Connell's biggest strengths is character development, and there just isn't room for that in a novella.

I also found it extremely strange that a story centered around Luke and his love life had very little in terms of romance between him and Teddy, and ended with romance between Anne and Cord. Don't get me wrong, I adore Anne and Cord, but this isn't their story. So it kind of feels like O'Connell is just pandering to a certain set of fans, and while there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, I can't help but feel having fans pay for a story about Luke is slightly deceitful if you're going to devote half of it to someone else. If you're going to center your story around another character, stick with it.

Oh, and the cover that's being used? No. Just no. I also wish O'Connell would consult someone about better titles.

That being said, it's a sweet story and a quick read. I enjoyed it more than I did O'Connell's last novel. Fans shouldn't be terribly disappointed, but if you're just starting out with O'Connell's work, don't begin here.

[Kristiej · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this author's books. She writes Westerns and that's probably my top genres. Luke's Eyes is another very enjoyable story. It's a novella so not quite as lengthy as a single title but no less enjoyable. The hero, Luke, is one of the nephews of Cord from Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold and one of the delights of this book was catching up with cord and Anne.

But we get a great story with Luke and Theodora or 'Teddy'. They meet when he tries to help her and her younger 'brother' at a cattle auction. Her evil uncle is trying to steal some of her cattle and this brings Luke's protective instincts to a full boil. Teddy is full of pride and not at all pleased she really has no choice but to accept.

Although short, there is enough character development to really 'get' both Luke and Teddy as hero/heroine and you can really feel their connection as they work together to defeat her uncle.

My only issue was what seemed like an abrupt end. I read this on my IPad and kept tring to move to the next page. It wasn't until I checked how much was left and I saw I was at 100 % I realized I was done.

But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this newest Ellen O'Connell book.

[Anna P (whatIreallyRead) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, the part about Cord & Anne gets 5 stars, the part about Luke and Teddy gets 1 star.

So, I had several issues with Luke's story:

1) Insta-love that doesn't make sense. He sees a dirty woman in a fight. Desides to help (ok, he's noble). Then, for no reason at all, he keeps following her, helping her, while she bitches which makes him fall in love with her even more. Whaaaat?!

2) TSTL heroine. She's just being rude, ungrateful and venomous for no reason. A stranger wants to help her and she behaves like an ass. In general, I see nothing remotely interesting or good about her. Also, when several large men fight and you (being a small female) just walk into that fight unarmed and withought combat knowledge, without a reason to believe you might make a crutial contribution to the outcome - that's not courage, that's just stupidity. And when you get beaten as a result...well, you got what was coming to you.

[Xerxia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ‘revisited’ part is your clue that this is more fan fiction than standalone story. I’m not necessarily complaining, I did enjoy revisiting Cord and Anne. But the two protagonists of this story, Luke and Theodora, weren’t fleshed out in any way, and their story ended abruptly with no answer to whether they ever got together. That’s unsatisfying in a romance novel.

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. That bull on the cover. 😂 I mean, kudos that it fits the story, but that is hilarious to just have a bull in the background! Luke has gone to auction to get some bulls for his ranch and is there representing his family for the first time alone. In his first day he finds a woman and a teenage boy being bullied and threatened and he steps in. Using his step-uncle Paul Howlett’s lawyer services, he helps the woman, Theodora (aka Teddy) retain rights to sell her cattle from her evil uncle. But the uncle has it out for the couple now and Luke enlists the help of Cord (with Ephraim & Pete tagging along) to deal with the problem.

This was a cute novella. I wish this had been a bit longer, but it was alright. It was definitely an hfn as opposed to an hea, but most novellas are.