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Escape Not My Love
When free-willed Jennifer Baxter defies her father and journeys to Mexico to teach school, her angry papa hires Jay Culhane to retrieve the errant educator, but the lawless lover becomes putty in her loving hands
468 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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192 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Coffman
63 books117 followersBarbara Elaine Gunter was born in San Diego, California, to William Samuel Gunter, Jr., a naval officer and Edna Marie (née Davidson) Gunter, a homemaker. From the age of three she lived in Midland, Texas and graduated from Midland High School. After she received a degree in elementary education from North Texas State University, she taught elementary school in Midland, Texas, while working on her Master’s Degree and certification for Language and Learning Disabilities at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Elaine currently resides in Austin, Texas, where her son, Chuck, also lives. She has two daughters, Lesley who resides in Raleigh, N.C. and Ashley, who lives in San Diego, California.
Elaine Coffman is a New York Times bestselling author with a large international following. She has penned novels in both the historical romance genre and suspense. A lover of history, she has penned several novels set in Scotland, Regency England, Italy and the American West. To date, she is the author of nineteen novels and five novellas.
While writing her first novel, My Enemy, My Love, she found herself inspired by a letter her great-great grandmother, Susannah Jane Dowell Shacklett wrote in 1920, telling about her journey from Brandeburg, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas, and then going with an army escort to El Paso, Texas, where her brother, Ben Dowell, a veteran of the Mexican War, was El Paso's first mayor.
Elaine continued to write best-selling, award-winning books until the publication of her eleventh novel, If You Loved Me, which was the last book of her beloved Mackinnon series and her first book to hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Her first suspense novel, Alone in the Dark, was published by Pocket books in 2006.
Elaine currently resides in Austin, Texas, where her son, Chuck, also lives. She has two daughters, Lesley who resides in Raleigh, N.C. and Ashley, who lives in San Diego, California.
Elaine Coffman is a New York Times bestselling author with a large international following. She has penned novels in both the historical romance genre and suspense. A lover of history, she has penned several novels set in Scotland, Regency England, Italy and the American West. To date, she is the author of nineteen novels and five novellas.
While writing her first novel, My Enemy, My Love, she found herself inspired by a letter her great-great grandmother, Susannah Jane Dowell Shacklett wrote in 1920, telling about her journey from Brandeburg, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas, and then going with an army escort to El Paso, Texas, where her brother, Ben Dowell, a veteran of the Mexican War, was El Paso's first mayor.
Elaine continued to write best-selling, award-winning books until the publication of her eleventh novel, If You Loved Me, which was the last book of her beloved Mackinnon series and her first book to hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Her first suspense novel, Alone in the Dark, was published by Pocket books in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 9, 2022
Elaine Coffman's "Escape Not My Love" was not my first venture into the world of romance, but it was my first historical romance novel. And for that, I am grateful.
Superficially, ENML drew me in from the outset. It had a stunning step-back cover, designed with a pattern of a woman's purple and white-flowered gown and opened to reveal the colorful protagonists clinched in a passionate embrace. (Thank God for that step-back! I first read this as I sat in church waiting for my turn to enter the confessional and talk to the priest. He didn't know what kind of trashy book I was reading and I wasn't about to volunteer that tidbit. Ha!)
The book quickly drew me in and I instantly fell in love with the genre. I found in historicals a frequent theme of this thrilling battle of the sexes that was lacking from most of the tame Harlequin Romances and modern Temptations I was used to. (I had yet to discover the Presents line).
While hardcore "bodice rippers" no longer dominated the market as they had in years past, in the early 1990's most heroes in historical romances had not yet been gelded into modern-minded *ahem* wankers that are so prevalent today. I'm being snarky, and don't mean to offend, but that's just my no-holds-barred opinion. If contemporary readers prefer forward-thinking, sensitive gunslingers, Vikings, warriors, noblemen, etc., in their historicals, well as they say: Chacun à ses goûts, n'est-ce pas? I prefer my historical heroes to have a rougher edge.
Jay Culhane is a bounty hunter whose job is to travel deep into Mexico where armed criminals roam and bring home the well-meaning, but naive heroine, Jennifer Baxter, who moved from TX to open a school for underprivileged children. Jennifer is the youngest of 11 girls, spoiled and used to getting her way. So you know this book will be one loooong power play between the pair.
Jay kicks down the door of her little house when he first lays eyes upon her black-haired, violet eyed (of course!), lingerie-clad body. Lust takes over reason and he immediately orders Jenny to strip naked at gunpoint and then enjoys the show ('cuz that's the kind of guy he is).
Jay takes Jennifer on a long, arduous trip back to Texas. Yes, he's occasionally violent, at times even abusive to Jenny (like tying her to the back of his horse and making her walk in the scorching midday sun, while he rides comfortably wearing a protective hat). He forces her to cook meals and punishes her with kisses (to which she responds with passion, of course!). Yet he also treats her sores and wounds with gentleness, not to mention some ill-hidden guilt. He kills snakes for her when she cries out in terror and unflinchingly murders renegade bandidos who try to kidnap and rape Jennifer.
When I first read this novel I was twelve years old, my parents had just divorced, so I had begun to immerse myself in books for escape. It sounds a bit trite to say a romance changed my life--and I won't be so extreme as to go that far--but this book definitely influenced me in a profound way. It gave me something to look forward to and enjoy: hope. The love story between Jay and Jennifer is phenomenal.
Elaine Coffman's writing is so rich and lyrical; I'm still moved by it every time I read it; and yes, I cry every time I read that beautiful, sweet ending.
I will mention that if you really want to see this old-skool love story portrayed at its best, read the original, not the re-issue that came out several years later. "Jay-lite" isn't as sexy as the tortured, lone-wolf of the 1990 version. I dislike the fact that many romance writers think readers are bored or offended by the "traditionally macho" heroes of old. Tortured, abusive man-hoes are accepted in dark eroticas, most contemporary New Adults and lots of paranormals--where anything can happen--while men who lived 100, 500, or 1,000 years ago all have to be represented as ultra-sensitive proto-feminists. The fact that historicals have SNAG-(Sensitive New Age Guys) type heroes is something that makes me very wary every time I read a book published in the new millennium.
Yup, I'm an old fart, what can I say?
5 stars for the major enjoyment of this, my first historical romance.
(PS) Nostalgia may have a bit to do with my ratings of older books; nevertheless, as I've read this many times over the years, for me it holds up well. However, if you don't like cruel heroes who treat the heroine nastily from the get-go, keep in mind that Jay was tormented by a devastating past. It's love for Jennifer that teaches him to let go of the old hurts. The epilogue might have you reaching for your hankies and make you smile at the same time witnessing how tough Jay Culhane has settled down into married life with children.
I wasn't the only reader who loved this book. Escape Not My Love (in its original un-PC form) won the 1990 RT Reviewers Choice Award for Western Historical Romance.
Superficially, ENML drew me in from the outset. It had a stunning step-back cover, designed with a pattern of a woman's purple and white-flowered gown and opened to reveal the colorful protagonists clinched in a passionate embrace. (Thank God for that step-back! I first read this as I sat in church waiting for my turn to enter the confessional and talk to the priest. He didn't know what kind of trashy book I was reading and I wasn't about to volunteer that tidbit. Ha!)
The book quickly drew me in and I instantly fell in love with the genre. I found in historicals a frequent theme of this thrilling battle of the sexes that was lacking from most of the tame Harlequin Romances and modern Temptations I was used to. (I had yet to discover the Presents line).
While hardcore "bodice rippers" no longer dominated the market as they had in years past, in the early 1990's most heroes in historical romances had not yet been gelded into modern-minded *ahem* wankers that are so prevalent today. I'm being snarky, and don't mean to offend, but that's just my no-holds-barred opinion. If contemporary readers prefer forward-thinking, sensitive gunslingers, Vikings, warriors, noblemen, etc., in their historicals, well as they say: Chacun à ses goûts, n'est-ce pas? I prefer my historical heroes to have a rougher edge.
Jay Culhane is a bounty hunter whose job is to travel deep into Mexico where armed criminals roam and bring home the well-meaning, but naive heroine, Jennifer Baxter, who moved from TX to open a school for underprivileged children. Jennifer is the youngest of 11 girls, spoiled and used to getting her way. So you know this book will be one loooong power play between the pair.
Jay kicks down the door of her little house when he first lays eyes upon her black-haired, violet eyed (of course!), lingerie-clad body. Lust takes over reason and he immediately orders Jenny to strip naked at gunpoint and then enjoys the show ('cuz that's the kind of guy he is).
Jay takes Jennifer on a long, arduous trip back to Texas. Yes, he's occasionally violent, at times even abusive to Jenny (like tying her to the back of his horse and making her walk in the scorching midday sun, while he rides comfortably wearing a protective hat). He forces her to cook meals and punishes her with kisses (to which she responds with passion, of course!). Yet he also treats her sores and wounds with gentleness, not to mention some ill-hidden guilt. He kills snakes for her when she cries out in terror and unflinchingly murders renegade bandidos who try to kidnap and rape Jennifer.
When I first read this novel I was twelve years old, my parents had just divorced, so I had begun to immerse myself in books for escape. It sounds a bit trite to say a romance changed my life--and I won't be so extreme as to go that far--but this book definitely influenced me in a profound way. It gave me something to look forward to and enjoy: hope. The love story between Jay and Jennifer is phenomenal.
Elaine Coffman's writing is so rich and lyrical; I'm still moved by it every time I read it; and yes, I cry every time I read that beautiful, sweet ending.
I will mention that if you really want to see this old-skool love story portrayed at its best, read the original, not the re-issue that came out several years later. "Jay-lite" isn't as sexy as the tortured, lone-wolf of the 1990 version. I dislike the fact that many romance writers think readers are bored or offended by the "traditionally macho" heroes of old. Tortured, abusive man-hoes are accepted in dark eroticas, most contemporary New Adults and lots of paranormals--where anything can happen--while men who lived 100, 500, or 1,000 years ago all have to be represented as ultra-sensitive proto-feminists. The fact that historicals have SNAG-(Sensitive New Age Guys) type heroes is something that makes me very wary every time I read a book published in the new millennium.
Yup, I'm an old fart, what can I say?
5 stars for the major enjoyment of this, my first historical romance.
(PS) Nostalgia may have a bit to do with my ratings of older books; nevertheless, as I've read this many times over the years, for me it holds up well. However, if you don't like cruel heroes who treat the heroine nastily from the get-go, keep in mind that Jay was tormented by a devastating past. It's love for Jennifer that teaches him to let go of the old hurts. The epilogue might have you reaching for your hankies and make you smile at the same time witnessing how tough Jay Culhane has settled down into married life with children.
I wasn't the only reader who loved this book. Escape Not My Love (in its original un-PC form) won the 1990 RT Reviewers Choice Award for Western Historical Romance.
June 16, 2019
Worried for his daughter's safety, Jennifer Baxter's father hires U.S. Deputy Marshal Jay Culhane to go to Mexico and bring her back. As Culhane 'always gets his man ... er woman' he's confident that she will be no problem to find and return to her family.
When Culhane finds Jennifer working as a schoolteacher south-of-the-border, he thinks his problems are over. However, they are just beginning. No one controls Jennifer, except Jennifer. The rest of the book is a war-of-the-minds (and war-of-words) between Jennifer and Jay.
Culhane is a 'love-em-and-leave-em' kind of guy. When Jennifer realizes that he is not going to make a commitment to any relationship with her, she sees no other out than to walk away. This is sensitively done and a book I enjoyed.
When Culhane finds Jennifer working as a schoolteacher south-of-the-border, he thinks his problems are over. However, they are just beginning. No one controls Jennifer, except Jennifer. The rest of the book is a war-of-the-minds (and war-of-words) between Jennifer and Jay.
Culhane is a 'love-em-and-leave-em' kind of guy. When Jennifer realizes that he is not going to make a commitment to any relationship with her, she sees no other out than to walk away. This is sensitively done and a book I enjoyed.
February 14, 2019
Finished sometime in 2018 maybe even 2017. Remember reading bits and pieces. Not sure how much I liked it. Neutral feelings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
life-is-too-short
January 14, 2025First read this as a teen in the 90s but all I remembered about it was the cover. Found it on Kindle Unlimited so gave it a go. Broadly speaking I have no problem with dub con, non con, body betrayal, etc. etc. in my fiction (the 90s were a wild time to grow up) but this was relentless; just page after page of old mate lusting after the FMC, pawing at the FMC, having the same "You want me"/"I hate you" conversation with the FMC. It literally went from one scene with all of the above straight into another scene with all of the above for about 40% of the book; I started skimming and still couldn't come to the end of it. Reason being, for a large chunk of time the MCs are crossing the desert alone together and with so little else for distraction what else can they be expected to be but horny and ornery? Anyway it was tedious and I gave up, is what I'm saying.
August 11, 2021
More like 2.5 stars. Very problematic and hero was very frustrating...
July 5, 2023
The pieces were there, but it didn't work. It was trying to be something, but it just didn't happen. No feels.
September 1, 2016
Almost rape scene in the beginning and the so called hero's inability to control his lust at first sight deterred me from continuing on. He started out more interesting and 3 dimensional as an embittered hired gun/deputy marshall badly burnt by a woman in his past and hence was reluctant to get involved in chasing another even for good cash. He suddenly became this lecherous monster who threw caution and common decency to the wind when he took one look at our run-away heroine. I don't mind the occasional politically incorrect bodice ripper, but i cannot overlook inconsistency in characters and plot.
October 3, 2016
Way too long
This is the first book I've read by this author, Elaine Coffman. Probably the last. I was bored very early on as the story is based on a very tired plot I've read numerous times with very few variations except as to character names and location. Macho, tough guy goes after free sprinted, gorgeous woman to take her back home against her will. The only thing I found more mundane than the plot was the verbose dialogue....inane dialogue between characters that seems never-ending and adds nothing to the plot.
I cannot imagine reason I would recommend the book to another reader.
This is the first book I've read by this author, Elaine Coffman. Probably the last. I was bored very early on as the story is based on a very tired plot I've read numerous times with very few variations except as to character names and location. Macho, tough guy goes after free sprinted, gorgeous woman to take her back home against her will. The only thing I found more mundane than the plot was the verbose dialogue....inane dialogue between characters that seems never-ending and adds nothing to the plot.
I cannot imagine reason I would recommend the book to another reader.
October 20, 2012
I read Elaine Coffman's books years ago and thought they were very fun. A little over the top sometimes, but fun reads all the same. May try reading them now and see what I think after 15+ years...
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June 4, 2016Used - Good (Some creases on spine; Front and back cover show signs of wear)
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April 9, 2018Jennifer Baxter was a woman who did as she pleased. But when she ran south of the border, her father sent Jay Culhane, a rugged gunslinger, to bring her home. Not about to take orders from any man, Jennifer fought the arrogant stranger, recklessly challenging his resolve to tame her. But how could Culhane control his own growing desire for a woman who dared him to believe in the power of love?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews