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Tame #1

Tame a Wild Heart

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Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B005JFMPYU.

Catherine Evans fell in love when she was three years old, head-over-heels, forever kind of love. The very first moment she saw twelve-year-old Duncan McKenzie, she told God and her pony that she was going to marry that boy. He was handsome. He was kind. He was strong and smart and all the good things a boy should be. For thirteen years she loved him with every beat of her heart. And on her sixteenth birthday he walked away from her father's ranch, and from her. He didn't look back over his shoulder. Not even once. And from that day forward, Catherine Evans swore off all men. Her heart turned to stone, her will to iron, and her vow to God changed. She'd run her father's ranch. She'd succeed. She'd survive. And she would never, ever love another man as long as she lived.

Duncan McKenzie left the ranch ten years ago, desperate to escape temptation in the form of a budding young lady too innocent to claim for his own. But Catherine's frightened father summons him home. The ranch is under attack and the old man's stubborn daughter refuses to seek help. Duncan left a sweet young girl behind a decade ago. He returns to a defiant siren, a woman whose heart is as wild as the land she would sacrifice her life to protect. When Catherine's father coerces her into marrying Duncan, the fire in her eyes spells trouble, but it's the kind of trouble Duncan has no desire to resist. Marriage is the only way he can protect her. Especially when Duncan's own past comes calling in the form of one extremely dangerous and vengeful outlaw, Catherine's cowardly enemies want the ranch badly enough to kill for it, and his reluctant bride is very much in their way.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2014

1014 people are currently reading
1536 people want to read

About the author

Cynthia Woolf

165 books532 followers
Cynthia Woolf is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of eighty-five works of romance fiction. Comprising sixty-six historical western romances, ten contemporary romance novels, two contemporary romance novellas, one historical western romance novella, and six sci-fi space opera romances, which she calls westerns in space. Along with these books, she has also published twelve boxed sets of her books and two short stories.

Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance, Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia's father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede, that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy, not a bounty hunter, and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now), not the ranch owner.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband, Jim, and her great critique partners for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.



WEBSITE – http://cynthiawoolf.com

NEWSLETTER – https://www.subscribepage.com/k1p2m1

If you enjoyed my book you can find out about the newest ones through the Bookbub New Release Alert. All you have to do is follow me on Bookbub. You can do that here: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cynth...

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TITLES AVAILABLE (English unless otherwise stated)

COLORADO BILLIONAIRES (sweet contemporary novels)
THE CEO
THE RANCHER
THE MAVERICK
THE TYCOON
THE ARTIST (coming soon)
THE QUARTERBACK (coming soon)


MONTANA BILLIONAIRES SERIES (contemporary sweet western novels)
Her Secret Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Mysterious Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Christmas Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire
Her Disguised Cowboy Billionaire


CHRISTMAS AT THE MISTLETOE INN (contemporary novella)
Cooking Up Christmas


THE BRIDES OF THE KLONDIKE
The Gold Rush Bride (Available in German)
The Gold Mountain Bride


THE PRESCOTT BRIDES (Available in German)
A Bride for Ross
A Bride for Frank
A Bride for Tucker
A Bride for Clay
A Bride for Brodie



THE HEART WISH MAIL-ORDER BRIDES SERIES
Heart of Stone
Heart of Shadow


MARSHALS MAIL ORDER BRIDES
The Carson City Bride (Available in German)
The Virginia City Bride (Available in German)
The Silver City Bride
The Eureka City Bride


ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES
Adele


BRIDES OF GOLDEN CITY
A Husband for Victoria
A Husband for Cordelia
A Husband for Adeline


BRIDES OF THE OREGON TRAIL (Available in German)
Hannah
Lydia
Bella
Eliza
Rebecca
Charlotte
Amanda
Emma Rose
Nora
Opal


BACHELORS & BABIES
Carter (Book 3)


BRIDES OF SEATTLE (Available in German)
Mail Order Mystery
Mail Order Mayhem
Mail Order Mix-Up
Mail Order Moonlight
Mail Order Melody


CENTRAL CITY BRIDES (Available in German)
The Dancing Bride
The Sapphire Bride
The Irish Bride
The Pretender Bride


HOMESTEAD CANYON SERIES
Thorpe’s Mail-Order Bride
Kissed by a Stranger
A Family for Christmas


HOPE’S CROSSING
The Hunter Bride
The Replacement Bride
The Stolen Bride
The Unexpected Bride


AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
Genevieve, Bride of Nevada


THE SURPRISE BRIDES
Gideon


THE BRIDES OF SAN FRANCISCO
Nellie (Available in German)
Annie (Available in German)
Cora (Available in German)
Sophia (Available in German)
Amelia (Available in German)
Violet


THE BRIDES OF TOMBSTONE (Available in German)
Mail Order Outlaw
Mail Order Doctor
Mail Order Baron


DESTINY IN DEADWOOD (Available in German)
Jake
Liam
Zach


MATCHMAK

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Community Reviews

5 stars
722 (41%)
4 stars
554 (31%)
3 stars
318 (18%)
2 stars
105 (5%)
1 star
56 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
Profile Image for Tracy Emro.
2,131 reviews64 followers
January 22, 2014
I got this book as a BookBub recommendation - I had never read this author before and I don't usually read western romance. However it was historical, the blurb sounded interesting and it had very good reviews, so I gave it a shot.

I won't say it was awful - but I am shocked by all the 4 & 5 star reviews! This book has so many errors, inconsistencies, and typos that I have to wonder if the rave reviews were given by the authors friends.

I will admit to being a bit anal about the books I read and I know I couldn't write a book , so I try to be as considerate as I can when submitting a review. But OMG! How did this book make it past the editor ? Here are a few examples of what I found wrong with this book: Starting with the prologue Duncan is fighting in the civil war and saves Catherine's father James - James takes in the poor orphaned Duncan - who was 13 when he came to them - what? Fighting I the civil war at 13? Ok we will let that slide. Catherine's mother was Elizabeth - she died we don't know when or how but we do know that she knew Duncan because she selected the items for his bedroom at the ranch, later there is a reference to James Duncan and Catherine staying at the boarding house when they first came to Creede - no mention of Elizabeth. Then after Catherine has an accident and Duncan is going to wash her hair James reminisces about washing his wife Sarah's hair - what? Sarah is one of the ranch hands wives. Who by the way was very very pregnant at the beginning of the book and never gave birth as far as I know. Then James demands that Duncan and Catherine wed on Sunday (4 days away). Catherine runs away and Duncan follows - they are gone for 3 days and when they return the wedding is still days away?

These are just a very few examples of the holes and errors in this book. It was like reading the rough draft - I think with a better editor and a proofreader this could have been a great book - the author does tell a good story - but on paper (or e-paper in my case) the story loses something - and that is a shame!

I am going to read her next book in the series and hope the problems in this book were a one time thing.
Profile Image for Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen.
1,692 reviews634 followers
December 8, 2018
A bunch of discrepancies in this book that took away from total enjoyment from the story. I found myself scratching my head of how a doctor could tell a woman was pregnant after a few weeks in the Old West without even the mother knowing.

Take away time and fact discrepancies and the story was a nice escape from reality.
Profile Image for Thom Swennes.
1,822 reviews57 followers
February 4, 2016
Well! Smear my butt with butter and call me a biscuit! All of the elements are there. Like the classics of yesteryear by, Karl May, Zane Grey, and Louis L’Amour this story is full of western meat with just enough spice to make a delicious literary enchilada, sure to sate anyone. Action, love, lust, greed, gold and the wide-open spaces of an almost virgin Colorado wilderness, supply all the elements of a great story. When Duncan McKenzie returns after a ten-year absence, he knows what he wants but is at a loss as to how he would get it. Catherine (Cat, Autumn Sun) Evans is the girl he left behind but, as his time away proves, the only woman for him. Catherine is far from your average woman of the time. She has worked alongside the other hands on her father’s (one day to be hers) ranch. 1880 is the axis of the era forever known as the Wild West and forms the perfect stage for this missive. A redheaded vixen as heroine adds to the tale and serves as a beacon, weaving her way through the consternation.
John Morgan finds gold on the Evan’s J bar C Ranch. He is determined to get the land, at whatever cost, and mine the gold. He hires Roy Walker to create havoc and force the sale of the desired land.
Weekly serials in local papers, so as described in the story, were common. Most of Mark Twain’s novels started out this way. The Wild West was always a popular subject; even in the Wild West. I do, however, doubt that the descriptive adjectives employed by Jimmy Pennybaker, aka Pennyworth, aka Penny Dreadful in his epistle about the bounty hunter Duncan McKenzie would have appeared in print.
This story should be classified as a Twenty-first Century classic and I’m sure many will agree with me.
Profile Image for Lady Raven RAVE!.
1,824 reviews1,506 followers
October 22, 2011
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com / for book lovers and readers.

4.5 stars

BRIEF SUMMARY
Catherine loves running her father's ranch in Creede, Colorado. However, they’ve been having problems recently that has resulted in stampedes, cattle dying, kidnapping, and revenge. This has ex- bounty hunter Duncan, returning to Creede, to the family that has raised him. Catherine has loved Duncan since she was a little girl, and even though she has loved him and he has returned, she figures she can manage the ranch just fine without him.

THOUGHTS
All the ingredients that includes a spitfire daughter, a loving father, a sexy ex- bounty hunter, great characters, and rowdy neighbors, produces a good old fashion historical western that was enjoyable to read. The moment James, Catherine's father blackmailed his daughter and Duncan to marry each other to protect his land, sets the pace of the story. Both characters were lovable and kept my interest throughout the story. Catherine was a spitfire and could hold her own and Duncan was just your typical sexy country and western guy.

With the explosion of characters, good and bad that the author gave us, was the added bonus needed for this book. Apart from the main characters of the story, I really enjoyed reading Tom and Beth’s characters. I found them to be one of the sweetest couples and I'm glad they found the help they needed from James, Catherine and Duncan. I also enjoyed Cassie's character; she was Catherine's good friend and neighbor. I also thought the epilogue was sweet and did all the characters that I love justice. If you enjoy westerns with the addition of a historical feel, then this would be the book to read.

Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: GOOD
Enjoyment: GOOD

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com

Profile Image for Seon Ji (Dawn).
1,051 reviews275 followers
September 1, 2016

I don't know why I read as far as I did. (50%)

The writing is scatterbrained, immature,illogical and cliched.. the characters all unlikeable.

The author was attempting to write angst and tension but only succeeded in making my head spin with the nonsense and lack of logic. She doesn't want a husband, yet caves so easily. She is mad at the H for leaving her heartbroken 10 years ago, yet she loves him, and trusts him not to leave again and will do anything to gain his love. WTF? He loves her strength and independence yet verbally beats her down to make her submissive "as a woman should be."

We have what is supposed to be a strong heroine who is just a weak minded child paired with a hero who is a douchbag who left her ten years ago and waltz's back into her life to marry her.. forced to marry her. She stupidly still loves him and trusts him. The reasons for being forced to marry her are lame as well as his reasons for leaving her to begin with. He doesn't love her and bosses her around treating her like a piece of dirt. And she allows it.

Why does the Indian chief care if the H loves her? Seems like it was important to him. But then he does nothing about it when the H says he doesn't? He allows him to marry her? I could rattle off a list of contradictions in this books, but truly I have no desire to, that's what an editor is for, and clearly this oneshould be given a good thrashing.

I cannot continue this. I have been skimming for the last 20% hoping the h would grow a pair of balls and act as strong as the author is attempting her to be.

If the above isn't enough, the OW BS just pushed me over the edge.

Glad it was free. Deleted it off my kindle.
Profile Image for Nancy Steinle gummel.
507 reviews98 followers
November 9, 2013
Tame a Wild Heart by Cynthia Woolf is a typical good western. It was an easy read and I really liked it. Duncan Mackenzie walks back into Catherine's (AKAas Cat) almost 10 years after he walked out taking a piece of her heart. He returns to the ranch at a request from James, Cat's father, and because he wanted a change. James blackmails Duncan and Cat into getting married. Cat is secretly thrilled but worries what if Duncan runs off again. They are being threatened by Morgan and his hired gun who already has a death wish for Duncan. Can Cat's love convince Duncan to love again and can they save the ranch?
Profile Image for J.M..
Author 2 books11 followers
December 14, 2012
This is such a fun, sweet western romance! The romance between Catherine and Duncan is sweet and steamy. Cynthia always has a fun element of danger in her western historicals, and this one is no exception.
Definitely worth a spot on your TBR shelf!
Profile Image for Sumit.
154 reviews
June 11, 2017
Duncan and Catherine! Their story is awesome....
Profile Image for Siobhan.
5,037 reviews596 followers
June 11, 2016
I enjoyed this one much more than I anticipated.

I admit that it is far from perfect. Very far, in fact. However, the story was extremely addictive. I found myself able to overlook the faults because I wanted to see where things were going. I wanted to know how it would end. Due to these two factors, there were moments in which I felt as though I could give four stars yet at the same time there were moments in which I felt as though it needed to be dropped down to two stars. Mostly, it was a three star read with the occasional flicker up and down.

I’ll start by saying I haven’t read any western romances before. I haven’t read all that many romances, if I’m completely honest, but I’m trying to change that. In fact, I’ve probably read more pure romance novels in the last twelve months than I have in all the prior years of my life. I wouldn’t say I’ve become a romance addict or a true fan, but I appreciate the genre a lot more than I once did. I enjoy the genre more than I once did. As with every genre, you get the good and the bad along with those that sit in the middle. For me, this one sat somewhere in the middle. It’s enough to leave me wanting to read more in the western romance genre, but I won’t be going out of my way to do so instantly. I’m also happy to read some of the authors other works. After all, considering how this was a free book and it wasn’t the worst read ever, I’m happy to see what her other free books have to offer.

I’m allowing the tangent to pull me along, though. My apologies!

I’ll start with the inconsistencies in the read, as it’s best to get that out of the way. They weren’t so bad as to be screaming in your face with every turn of the page, but there were quite a few. Enough to be noticed, in short. If, like me, you find yourself pulled into the story they can be overlooked – but it doesn’t remove the fact that they are there. A good proofread and edit would have removed them.

The biggest thing, in terms of inconsistency, though, was the characters. I know the changes in their behaviour was supposed to cause drama – yet they seemed to be on an almost chapter-by-chapter bipolar mood change. One chapter our leading lady was acting as though she was the strong independent woman and the next she was acting like a damsel in distress, only to flip back to strong independent woman again when it suited her. I know these changes were linked in with the story in some ways – yet it did bug me quite a bit.

Still, the story was fun. I would have liked a bit more by way of action – it always seemed to be just out of reach, then whenever it came about it was gone too soon – but the story was a fun one. It kept me engaged, and I was curious to see how it would end.

Overall, a decent enough read.
Profile Image for Denise.
4,119 reviews12 followers
December 25, 2013
Can anyone really do that do you suppose? I would think only if love was involved and it is not so much as tame but be of like mind and understand and take them and love them as they are. So in order to have that answered the title alone is intriguing and so into the story I went. I enjoy this author's books so either way I knew I was in a win win situation. Right away caught up in a stampede and who is in charge but a woman who is not afraid in the 1880's running a ranch but faced with some trouble. Catherine in the midst of all hears someone barking his own orders Duncan and she knows him well. Being late isn't getting on her good side either. Trouble has come to their lives and her father has asked for Duncan's help and little does anyone realize at first it is where he wants to be home. Having loved each other long ago but have grown over time and changed and Catherine has become such a strong willed spirit no one can match up in her eyes. But someone wants to take away their ranch and since no men for her and least of all Duncan. John wants to marry her since he can't buy it and Roy is helping for his own reasons and that is to get back at Duncan. Now though she has a very loving and cunning father-James and he has his own plan and that is to get them together to save the ranch. Marriage not in either of their minds oh ugh they might say but that is exactly what is in store. Gotta love it when will children ever learn got to wake up pretty early in morning to try and get one over a parent who knows and loves them well. The story carries you along through all the mishaps and attempts thrown at them. Humor at times that is comedy the interaction sometimes between the two as they match off. Love grows and builds even though Duncan thinks it doesn't exist and she did not want a man to begin with but the fire within them is enough to warm anyone with. The other characters in this story compliment it so well that you find yourself going from one escapade to another wondering have they won yet? Of course no decent story would be with out a climatic ending either and no disappointment here. Lovely epilogue also that has it's own bit of humor and lifts the spirits when done.
Profile Image for Orbs n Rings.
248 reviews42 followers
January 21, 2013
Perfect historical western. Hot, steamy and a quick read.

This is the first western romance in a historical fiction format I have ever read, and a perfect one to start with. As Tame a Wild Heart is a sweet and fast paced story, even I could finish in one weekend. After finishing this book I was left thinking that I really must be missing something when it comes to westerns, at least when it comes to those written by Cynthia Woolf.

Call her spirited, hot-headed or just plain thick sculled Catherine is a beautiful woman, and the type every man within the Creede, Colorado countryside wants for a wife. But she is not only wanted for her beauty, for she also is the daughter of James Evans and half owner of a large ranch, which includes a large parcel of land. But Catherine is already claimed, and not by any old ranch boy either, but by her best friend and long-lost beau.

Here comes the man Duncan McKenzie who has now returned to the ranch after his bounty hunting and gunslinging have left him lonely and unfulfilled. He's back at the ranch but not on his own accord, as James has asked him to come home. You see the ranch is being plagued by a rash of problems which are being carried out by a bunch of unsavory characters and James feels Catherine can't handle this alone. But when Catherine learns what is really on her father's mind, she doesn't take to it lightly, at least not at first. I mean really, who could resist a dark-haired blue-eyed hunk of a man for very long when he is chasing you around. I know I couldn't. Whew!

Not sure if this is the author's writing style but she certainly did not waste any time with introductions and the reader is thrown right into the center of the action from the start of this story. I didn't mind this at all as I do not like stories that start off slow and drag you along before anything happens. I found this to be the perfect western with just the right amount of hot romance, steamy enough to keep my glasses in a foggy state through quite a few chapters. I recommend this book to any gal out there looking for a hot steamy romance with a bit of historical fiction that makes for a quick read. You won't be disappointed.

Profile Image for Lady Raven RAVE!.
1,824 reviews1,506 followers
October 22, 2011
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com / for book lovers and readers.

4.5 stars

BRIEF SUMMARY
Catherine loves running her father's ranch in Creede, Colorado. However, they’ve been having problems recently that has resulted in stampedes, cattle dying, kidnapping, and revenge. This has ex- bounty hunter Duncan, returning to Creede, to the family that has raised him. Catherine has loved Duncan since she was a little girl, and even though she has loved him and he has returned, she figures she can manage the ranch just fine without him.

THOUGHTS
All the ingredients that includes a spitfire daughter, a loving father, a sexy ex- bounty hunter, great characters, and rowdy neighbors, produces a good old fashion historical western that was enjoyable to read. The moment James, Catherine's father blackmailed his daughter and Duncan to marry each other to protect his land, sets the pace of the story. Both characters were lovable and kept my interest throughout the story. Catherine was a spitfire and could hold her own and Duncan was just your typical sexy country and western guy.

With the explosion of characters, good and bad that the author gave us, was the added bonus needed for this book. Apart from the main characters of the story, I really enjoyed reading Tom and Beth’s characters. I found them to be one of the sweetest couples and I'm glad they found the help they needed from James, Catherine and Duncan. I also enjoyed Cassie's character; she was Catherine's good friend and neighbor. I also thought the epilogue was sweet and did all the characters that I love justice. If you enjoy westerns with the addition of an historical feel, then this would be the book to read.

Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: GOOD
Enjoyment: GOOD

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com

Profile Image for Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥.
260 reviews161 followers
March 6, 2013
You can find this review and more at Forever Book Lover.

This story was filled with all those things that I love to find in a good western romance book: captivating plot, suspense, passion, strong family ties and tough as nails heroine and those tough, loyal and sexy cowboy!!

Duncan was perfect to take on the strong willed Cat. Duncan has had enough with being a bounty hunter and he is ready to go back to the only home he has known. Cat and Duncan have a past, but little was uncovered to let the reader know the intensity of the relationship. It was funny to read that Duncan, kept saying that Cat's father, James was his best friend. It tend to make me think there was a huge age gap between Cat and Duncan, which wasn't the case.

The ranch has been dealing with mishaps, as the story unfolds we find there are two villians one after the ranch and one after Duncan. I was able to keep pace but there were a few times I had to go back and re-read some sections as there were some parts with sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions. Overall, I very impressed with the writing skills of Cynthia Woolf and the storyline overall.

I love the secondary characters, would like to see Cassie's story and that is the next book in the Wild Series, Tame A Wild Wind (Wild, #2). If you love a good romance western with just enough spice and drama, pick this one up, you won't regret it.
Profile Image for Vanessa Booke.
Author 49 books712 followers
October 31, 2011
Tame a Wild Heart by Cynthia Woolf is a historical romance set in Colorado in the 1880s. I enjoyed reading Woolf's romantic western but overall I felt that there were several missing pieces to the story. The beginning of the novel felt abrupt and choppy at times. I found it interesting that Catherine and Duncan had some prior history with one another but I felt like Woolf could've played it up a little more. I think it would've helped with the intimate moments between the two characters. As a reader I kind of felt thrown into the middle of the relationship from the beginning and at that point, I had no reason to care or desire for the two characters to be with one another. I do think Woolf did a great job with the book's overall tone and setting. The story line is good, I just think it needs some minor work. Overall, I enjoyed reading Woolf's Tame a Wild Heart, romantic westerns are my favorite.
Profile Image for Connie McElfresh.
270 reviews15 followers
May 12, 2013
This is a great read if you enjoy a western romance don't hesitate to read this book. It is part of s series but can be read as a stand alone without thinking your getting only half of the story. Highly recommend this author.
Profile Image for Florence.
1 review14 followers
January 5, 2013
A One sit read!! First Western Romance read..loved it, like author's style, will read more of her!
1 review
June 19, 2019
I liked how obvious it was that there was extensive research into the minute details of what western life was like, particularly for women, but the dialogue and narration seemed out of place for the setting. The prologue was unnecessary, it removed any tension that could have built up as the story progressed. Instead, the reader knew the name and motivation of the villain within the first few pages. The unengaging protagonists did nothing to salvage this, unfortunately. In the beginning Catherine suffers from “a conceited independence”, or at least until she’s been married for a couple of months and her personality does a complete 180. Duncan is the quintessential martyr with trust issues, who doesn’t realize how much he loves Catherine until the end of the book. The story itself suffered from poor plotting with a deus ex machina ending. Ultimately it was a good idea that wasn’t executed to its full potential. The author clearly tried to mesh what life was like in the 1800’s with the expectations of modern readers and fell short.
Profile Image for Julia David.
2,505 reviews27 followers
August 8, 2021
Cat is very feisty and her father, James, has a hard time keeping her in check. He knows Duncan can handle her, but she is so mad at Duncan that she doesn't ever want to see him again. He left without a word years ago. Duncan left because Cat was too young and he was too tempted. He has come home now to help James and Cat because a neighbor wants their land and doesn't care how he gets it. James thinks if Cat just marries Duncan things will get better. The neighbor doesn't care if Duncan is in the way, he will just eliminate him and still get Cat. Duncan has to earn Cat's trust again and protect her. There are men who will stop at nothing to get what they want. But, Duncan will stop at nothing to protect Cat. Will he succeed?
490 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2021
To protect his ranch and daughter Catherine, James has decided to marry her off to his best friend Duncan. However, the accidents and attacks do not lessen, and Duncan is a further source of danger…
The writing pulled me in; some scenes were so fascinating that I would not have stopped reading for anything (e.g. the story in the newspaper). Shortly after Catherine and Duncan’s wedding, it’s like the story stops from going forward, and there are only descriptions of the couple getting to know each other. Though the love scenes were very descriptive and stayed respectful (I usually skip reading these if the story is interesting enough to not be broken off completely), I would have wished for the story to actually go on. Nonetheless, the story was captivating, enjoy!
Profile Image for Robin.
Author 3 books29 followers
May 11, 2019
This typical wild west romance was full of character and included some very nice twists. I loved the novel snipped by "Penny Ante." I don't think I laughed that hard all day. I had to read it aloud to my husband and he thought it was a hoot, too. There's a great deal of sex described in this one, just so you know. (I think Amazon might have had it listed as sweet, clean romance for some reason...yikes!) To be honest, it fits the characters, though in my opinion, not really the attitudes of the time. Still...it is fiction. The plot is well done, too.
If you enjoy western romances, historical romances, and adventure, you might enjoy this one.
327 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2022
Typical romance

An old fashioned western romance taking place in the late 1800s. A man turns bounty hunter and after being away for years, returns home at the request of his foster father and finds his childhood playmate all grown up. There is a lot of violence since the hero is a bounty hunter and doesn't always bring them in alive. I liked the appearance of the local tribe of native Americans who lived in the area. They were an added bonus to the story and was glad to see that they weren't depicted as savages. There are numerous editing errors that need to be corrected in this version.
Profile Image for Dana Redding.
486 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2019
Tame A Wild Heart

Catherine Grew up following Duncan every where. She has loved him from the moment he came to live with her family.
He leaves and wants more out of life and becomes a bounty hunter. He stayed away for many years until Cats Father James calls him back there is trouble on the ranch.

I liked the book, but there was to much adult content for me.
A little would be ok, but every time these two got together they were having adult time.
Leave this to the readers imagination.
93 reviews2 followers
August 8, 2021
Wild woman.

Catherine feel in love with Duncan McKenzie when she was just a little girl but he left her to get away from her because of his feelings for her. He became a bounty hunter and was gone for a long time until Katherine’s father, James sent for him and he came running. James needed him to come and protect Katherine and the ranch but it wasn’t his gun he wanted. What was it he wanted? Katherine was about as stubborn as he was and didn’t want to give up doing as she wanted. Nobody was going to tell her what to do or did she secretly want to love him again? Jo
797 reviews
February 14, 2020
Catherine and Dustin

Bounty hunter and rancher....what a great story of two people who love, but don't completely know how to say it. I love the incorporation of the Indian involvement and how the relationship developed. I also liked how the friendships are developing, I hope to hear more of Cassie, and Beth. I think the relationship between Alice and Catherine's father would also be a good story to read.
1,460 reviews23 followers
August 14, 2021
Tame a Wild Heart

I loved this book about Catherine and Duncan and their love story. They knew each other as children but were were separated when Duncan left to become a bounty hunter. He returns when Catherine's father sends for him to protect his ranch and family by asking him to marry Catherine. The excitement is high and really holds your interest. The characters are great and I loved the ending. I highly recommend this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Zoey.
318 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2021
Too much.

The characters are never still except when they’re in a coma, always pacing or leaping onto horses to ride off in a fit of temper or alternately sitting and standing like human Jacks-in-the-box. None of their motivations make sense; they’re inconsistent in every way. It reads like a teenager’s fantasy of a Western romance, with all the drama EVER and none of the accuracy. Besides all this, the writing is all “tell” and no “show.”
Profile Image for Susan Gottfried.
Author 28 books160 followers
Read
June 30, 2024
Totally gave up on this one.

The comments other reviewers have left about the editing were on the mark. I'm an editor and yeah. I'm very sad that Ms. Woolf hasn't given this book a once-over.

And it's a shame because it started well. There were elements that suggested it would be a better read than it was, and so even I was willing to overlook the obvious flaws. At first. And then I couldn't anymore.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,097 reviews22 followers
November 7, 2015
This was an audio that pulled me in it is full of danger, mystery and overcoming the lose of the one who walked away. There is nothing like your first and only love walking away breaking your heart that is so strong you vow to never love again. This is the first book I have listen/read of Ms. Woolf's I enjoyed it so much I found a few more at a bargain and bought them as well. I loved the love/hate going on with this couple, along with the plot, the characters are strong, they fight hard and love even harder. The author gives you some pretty heated scenes but stays in the guidelines of the values from that time period. This was a time when a person word meant something, promise were kept and a man stood beside his word. I totally enjoyed this audio.

Catherine fell in love with Duncan when she was but a child at age 16 he got on his horse and rode out of her life. She watched him leave with tears in her eyes swearing never to love again. That day changed her she started living only for the ranch her heart grew cold it turned to stone. She began hard as she took on the ranch she had a will of iron no one or nothing would get in her way. She kept this vow until the day Duncan walked by in her life 10 years later when trouble and danger comes to the ranch with one man demanding she marry him who has plans of his own. She is strong, with a will of steal, stubborn, bullhead and ready to take on the world and the man trying to push her off her land. She will not give in nor will she sale and she sure isn't going to get married. Her father has other ideas as he calls Duncan home to help with the trouble. Marry? Duncan? Is her father crazy? This is not going to happen, no way no how.......

Duncan left years ago leaving behind the only girl he would ever love. She was to young and he knew if he stayed she would be his. He could not do that to her father the only man who had taken him in and help raise him. He would not repay this kind man by deflowering his daughter so he ran and started a new life. He has changed grow cold, hard with the life he is leading. He has never forgotten the young lady who turned his world upside down. When he gets the summons to return home to help. The ranch is in danger along with Catherine there is no way he can turn his back. He comes home to find all he ever wanted on one little ranch and the women of his dreams could be his. If he can only talk the bullheaded women in agreeing to marry him. Love well he isn't so sure about that. He might just find that as Catherine gives him a run for his money that she is the only women he has or will ever love.

Her father I believe has always wanted these two to marry. As danger comes to his ranch he puts his plans into action. He isn't taking any chances as he throws in a few twist of his own that leaves two peoples world spinning. One is all for it and the other say no way in hell. This man shows what a true father should be. Caring. loving and wanting the best for those he loves. He is as strong willed as his daughter guess she got that natural.

Lia Frederick did an outstanding job of narration she has a wonderful voices that adds much to this audio. She put a lot of emotion in to each characters voice you had no problem knowing what they were feeling. There was no background noise, no breaks taken that you could tell. You had no trouble knowing who was talking and what sex they were. She gives life to the landscape around so you can picture it in your mind. You heart breaks at each twist the author gives you with the impact the narrator puts on this audio. The audio flow was smooth and even which made it a wonderful listen.

What made this story for me was the strong will and bullheadedness of these who people neither giving in. Feelings that last a lifetime through many changes as two people get to know each other again. Both have grown cold, hard but still have a soft place for the other. The pull is still strong even after all these years. There is mystery and things are not always as you see them. Just as you think you have a handle on the plot the author twists them. I loved the suspense, the danger and the back and forward baiting of Catherine and Duncan. The Indian chief stole my heart with his wisdom and caring ways. Both Catherine and Duncan are strong willed neither willing to give in. The detail the author and narrator give of things around them is outstanding. The heartbreak you feel all the way to your heart as it breaks for them over their lost and trials.

The only thing missing for me would have been a little more detail of the earlier years. I would have loved to have gotten to know them as young teens. Maybe learned a little more about how Duncan and her father came to be with the saving of his life. It does not take away from the story just something I would have liked to know more of. For me this was a well told story that kept me listening. I found things I needed to do around the home so I could listen longer. The author gives you wonderful characters with a well thought out plot. I thought this was well written along with a wonderful narrator which made this a winning story for me. If you love westerns love stories from long ago with all the trails of making a living with the danger it brings this is the author and the book for you. I cannot wait to start another audio by this author and narrator.
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