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Sunrise #2
Amber Skies
Under The Blazing Amber Skies Of Texas Theirs Was A Reckless Passion
For Jessica, born into poverty and her father's cruelty, the offer of marriage from rich rancher Daniel Fielding seemed like a miracle. And when her father shot her fiance in cold blood on her wedding day and kidnapped her, it was more than a crime... it was the shattering of her dreams.
Little did Jessica know that Daniel's rough and wild cowboy brother Jake was coming to rescue her, the same brother who believed her a scheming fortune hunter. Burning with vengeance, Jake Fielding rode hellbent for leather across the Western plains; only to burn with desire when he found her-his brother's betrothed, and his own destiny.
Jessica had run from danger and death to bliss and betrayel. Now, in Jake's arms, the fire of each forbidden kiss could sweep her towards a lifetime of lies, a showdown of blood and tears-or an eternity of love.
For Jessica, born into poverty and her father's cruelty, the offer of marriage from rich rancher Daniel Fielding seemed like a miracle. And when her father shot her fiance in cold blood on her wedding day and kidnapped her, it was more than a crime... it was the shattering of her dreams.
Little did Jessica know that Daniel's rough and wild cowboy brother Jake was coming to rescue her, the same brother who believed her a scheming fortune hunter. Burning with vengeance, Jake Fielding rode hellbent for leather across the Western plains; only to burn with desire when he found her-his brother's betrothed, and his own destiny.
Jessica had run from danger and death to bliss and betrayel. Now, in Jake's arms, the fire of each forbidden kiss could sweep her towards a lifetime of lies, a showdown of blood and tears-or an eternity of love.
- GenresHistorical Romance
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
21 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Bristol
9 books3 followersDonna Ball and Shannon Harper write under the pseudonyms: Taylor Brady and Leigh Bristol.
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October 2, 2017Jed Fielding married Elizabeth Coleman and Daniel was their firstborn. Elizabeth died 10 years later while giving birth to Jake. Daniel was tall, blonde and had a graceful, milder manner. He was perfect for the politician that he was about to become. Jake was dark, restless, quick tempered and almost ruthless. He had run the Three Hills Ranch as soon as he was able. The brothers were different but loved and respected each other.
Jake arrived home on Daniel's 35th birthday. He found Daniel planning to marry Jessica Duncan. Her father, William was a traveling preacher and peddler. Jake decided that Jessica was after their money and that the wedding would never take place.
Jessica was getting ready to meet Daniel when her father came back to their trailer. He called her a whore and ripped the front of her dress. He then whipped her and she ran away. She went to meet Daniel who was supposed to take her to his annual birthday barbecue to announce their engagement. He hadn't explained to Jessica that a war injury would prevent them from ever engaging in sex. He wanted a wife before he ran for the senate and had decided that it would be Jessica. After seeing the condition she was in, he took her home and they were married that evening. The barbecue became a wedding reception.
The barbecue was interrupted by the arrival of William. He came to get Jessica and shot Daniel. He took Jessica to her crazy Aunt Eulalia's in Louisiana. Daniel was recovering and told Jake where he thought Jessica might be and asked him to find her and bring her back.
Jake went to New Orleans and located the old plantation him after a week of searching. She had been locked away in a room with bars for windows. She had little food and water. She was given a gown to wear. She didn't know how long she had been there and when it was day or night. She felt like she was going crazy. Jake showed up one day to get her and took her away. They were running away from a shooter and ended up in a boat in the swamp. Jessica told him that he would get lost but he refused to listen. He wasn't very happy when he found out that William was already dead and he was stuck with Jessica. It took a couple of days but he finally acknowledged that he was lost.
He caught food and she cooked it. They slept on the ground or in the boat. They slept together out of necessity for warmth. They formed a grudgingly accepted friendship and Jessica stopped complaining about their being lost. Jessica told Jake about being raised by an abusive father and said that she wasn't unhappy that her father was dead. She told him about her time in Louisiana. Jake told Jessica that Daniel could never have sex and was angry when he figured out that Daniel hadn't told her. He then explained to Jessica that she married Daniel out of gratitude and not love. He was falling for Jessica but was determined that nothing would come of it. Jake told Jessica that he understood why she had married Daniel due to her circumstances but he talked to her about the difference of marrying for love versus gratitude. She gradually understood that she was grateful to Daniel.
A week went by and a snake jumped in the boat. It was harmless but Jessica panicked and She fell into the swamp. Jake tried to pull her out and ended up falling in instead. His foot got caught in a trap. Jessica got him back in the boat and found a shack to stay in for the night. Jessica had to clean his foot with whiskey and he ran a fever for a few days. The owner of the traps showed up and took them out of the swamp. The purchased horses, clothing and supplies and headed toward home.
They crossed the border into Texas and decided to stop for the night. Jake was purchasing supplies when the sheriff approached Jessica and she was nervous. It was obvious that he was once an outlaw. They had dinner and Jessica went to her room with orders to not open the door. She did open the door when someone knocked and it was the sheriff. He told her Jake was busy and proceeded to try and rape her. She got hold of a gun and shot him. Jake came up the stairs and told her to run away and get their horses. Jake soon had company and used his gun to get away.
Jake went to where Jessica was waiting and they made love that night. They once again headed towards home. They stopped to get more supplies after hiding out for a few days and Jake found out there was a wanted poster for him. He told Jessica he was taking her to the ranch and leaving her with Daniel. He left the ranch and Jessica without turning back after dropping her off.
Jessica explained to Daniel what had happened and Daniel drank heavily for a period of time. He swore that he would kill Jake if he ever saw him again. He eventually gave up drinking and found out that Jessica was pregnant. Jake had been gone from the ranch for 4 months and he had spent 13 weeks with Jessica. Joshua Coleman Fielding was born 8 1/2 months after her return. Daniel became a senator and almost everyone thought the child was his. They were the perfect family in every way except for the physical aspect of their marriage.
Three years had passed since Jessica and Daniel were married. It was time once again for the annual barbecue. Jessica was running the ranch now and preparing to go to Ft. Worth for an auction to purchase some Brahman cattle. Casey, their ranch foreman, had been in the war with Daniel and knew that Daniel was not the father of Joshua. He resented Jessica for hurting Daniel by sleeping with his brother. Jessica had hoped that their strained relationship would improve with time but it had only gotten worse. Casey was opposed to her purchasing a new breed of cattle and bringing them into Texas.
Those who knew the family still wondered about the way things had turned out. They didn't think that Jake would have shot anyone in the back in cold blood. Others discussed Jake's wildness as a child and weren't surprised that something like this happened. They accepted it as something that would have happened in time. Some thought that if it weren't true, Daniel would have gotten the charges dismissed.
Jake was in Ft. Worth and Casey saw him go into Jessica's room. He waited until she left in the morning to talk to him. Jessica had sex with him and wanted him to wait for her but she hadn't told him about Joshua. Casey did. Jake was angry when Jessica returned. He had asked her to go to Colorado with him but she hesitated became of Joshua and he hadn't known why, now he did. He told Jessica that she had taken everything from him and he wasn't going to let her take his son.
Casey and Jessica both returned to the ranch and Casey told Daniel that he had told Jake about Joshua. Casey posted guards around the property. Jake still got through and Jessica found him holding Joshua one night. He was leaving by climbing down a tree and Daniel stopped him. He tied Jake up and put him in the barn. Daniel woke up Jake by kicking him and demanding to know where Jessica was. Jake could only assume that Jessica had gone back to the town where his trouble had begun to try and free Jake. Jake went there with Daniel to find Jessica.
Jessica found the barmaid there who attested to the fact that Jake went up the stairs after the shot was fired so she knew that he had killed the sheriff. She told Jessica that she had already told the sheriff but he didn't care. She went to the sheriff and found out that someone had paid him to keep the truth quiet. He gave her a telegram proving that Daniel and he had an arrangement to keep the truth from coming out. Jessica was shocked.
Daniel and Jake arrived with Casey in tow. The brothers entered the sheriff's office while Casey remained outside to watch in case Jake tried to get away. Jessica pulled a gun on the new sheriff and told Daniel she would shoot him if he allowed the truth to continue to be hidden. She wanted Jake freed. Daniel knew then that he had lost Jessica. She was willing to risk everything for him. He gave in and they headed out of the sheriff's office. Casey didn't see a gun being held on Jake and thought he was getting away. Daniel saw him raise his rifle and stepped in front of the bullet. The sheriff turned and shot Casey. They were both dead now. Daniel told Jake that he should have died years ago. He was okay with things as they were and asked her to take care of Jessica.
Jake sold the ranch and they all moved to Colorado. Jessica was now pregnant with their second child.
Jake arrived home on Daniel's 35th birthday. He found Daniel planning to marry Jessica Duncan. Her father, William was a traveling preacher and peddler. Jake decided that Jessica was after their money and that the wedding would never take place.
Jessica was getting ready to meet Daniel when her father came back to their trailer. He called her a whore and ripped the front of her dress. He then whipped her and she ran away. She went to meet Daniel who was supposed to take her to his annual birthday barbecue to announce their engagement. He hadn't explained to Jessica that a war injury would prevent them from ever engaging in sex. He wanted a wife before he ran for the senate and had decided that it would be Jessica. After seeing the condition she was in, he took her home and they were married that evening. The barbecue became a wedding reception.
The barbecue was interrupted by the arrival of William. He came to get Jessica and shot Daniel. He took Jessica to her crazy Aunt Eulalia's in Louisiana. Daniel was recovering and told Jake where he thought Jessica might be and asked him to find her and bring her back.
Jake went to New Orleans and located the old plantation him after a week of searching. She had been locked away in a room with bars for windows. She had little food and water. She was given a gown to wear. She didn't know how long she had been there and when it was day or night. She felt like she was going crazy. Jake showed up one day to get her and took her away. They were running away from a shooter and ended up in a boat in the swamp. Jessica told him that he would get lost but he refused to listen. He wasn't very happy when he found out that William was already dead and he was stuck with Jessica. It took a couple of days but he finally acknowledged that he was lost.
He caught food and she cooked it. They slept on the ground or in the boat. They slept together out of necessity for warmth. They formed a grudgingly accepted friendship and Jessica stopped complaining about their being lost. Jessica told Jake about being raised by an abusive father and said that she wasn't unhappy that her father was dead. She told him about her time in Louisiana. Jake told Jessica that Daniel could never have sex and was angry when he figured out that Daniel hadn't told her. He then explained to Jessica that she married Daniel out of gratitude and not love. He was falling for Jessica but was determined that nothing would come of it. Jake told Jessica that he understood why she had married Daniel due to her circumstances but he talked to her about the difference of marrying for love versus gratitude. She gradually understood that she was grateful to Daniel.
A week went by and a snake jumped in the boat. It was harmless but Jessica panicked and She fell into the swamp. Jake tried to pull her out and ended up falling in instead. His foot got caught in a trap. Jessica got him back in the boat and found a shack to stay in for the night. Jessica had to clean his foot with whiskey and he ran a fever for a few days. The owner of the traps showed up and took them out of the swamp. The purchased horses, clothing and supplies and headed toward home.
They crossed the border into Texas and decided to stop for the night. Jake was purchasing supplies when the sheriff approached Jessica and she was nervous. It was obvious that he was once an outlaw. They had dinner and Jessica went to her room with orders to not open the door. She did open the door when someone knocked and it was the sheriff. He told her Jake was busy and proceeded to try and rape her. She got hold of a gun and shot him. Jake came up the stairs and told her to run away and get their horses. Jake soon had company and used his gun to get away.
Jake went to where Jessica was waiting and they made love that night. They once again headed towards home. They stopped to get more supplies after hiding out for a few days and Jake found out there was a wanted poster for him. He told Jessica he was taking her to the ranch and leaving her with Daniel. He left the ranch and Jessica without turning back after dropping her off.
Jessica explained to Daniel what had happened and Daniel drank heavily for a period of time. He swore that he would kill Jake if he ever saw him again. He eventually gave up drinking and found out that Jessica was pregnant. Jake had been gone from the ranch for 4 months and he had spent 13 weeks with Jessica. Joshua Coleman Fielding was born 8 1/2 months after her return. Daniel became a senator and almost everyone thought the child was his. They were the perfect family in every way except for the physical aspect of their marriage.
Three years had passed since Jessica and Daniel were married. It was time once again for the annual barbecue. Jessica was running the ranch now and preparing to go to Ft. Worth for an auction to purchase some Brahman cattle. Casey, their ranch foreman, had been in the war with Daniel and knew that Daniel was not the father of Joshua. He resented Jessica for hurting Daniel by sleeping with his brother. Jessica had hoped that their strained relationship would improve with time but it had only gotten worse. Casey was opposed to her purchasing a new breed of cattle and bringing them into Texas.
Those who knew the family still wondered about the way things had turned out. They didn't think that Jake would have shot anyone in the back in cold blood. Others discussed Jake's wildness as a child and weren't surprised that something like this happened. They accepted it as something that would have happened in time. Some thought that if it weren't true, Daniel would have gotten the charges dismissed.
Jake was in Ft. Worth and Casey saw him go into Jessica's room. He waited until she left in the morning to talk to him. Jessica had sex with him and wanted him to wait for her but she hadn't told him about Joshua. Casey did. Jake was angry when Jessica returned. He had asked her to go to Colorado with him but she hesitated became of Joshua and he hadn't known why, now he did. He told Jessica that she had taken everything from him and he wasn't going to let her take his son.
Casey and Jessica both returned to the ranch and Casey told Daniel that he had told Jake about Joshua. Casey posted guards around the property. Jake still got through and Jessica found him holding Joshua one night. He was leaving by climbing down a tree and Daniel stopped him. He tied Jake up and put him in the barn. Daniel woke up Jake by kicking him and demanding to know where Jessica was. Jake could only assume that Jessica had gone back to the town where his trouble had begun to try and free Jake. Jake went there with Daniel to find Jessica.
Jessica found the barmaid there who attested to the fact that Jake went up the stairs after the shot was fired so she knew that he had killed the sheriff. She told Jessica that she had already told the sheriff but he didn't care. She went to the sheriff and found out that someone had paid him to keep the truth quiet. He gave her a telegram proving that Daniel and he had an arrangement to keep the truth from coming out. Jessica was shocked.
Daniel and Jake arrived with Casey in tow. The brothers entered the sheriff's office while Casey remained outside to watch in case Jake tried to get away. Jessica pulled a gun on the new sheriff and told Daniel she would shoot him if he allowed the truth to continue to be hidden. She wanted Jake freed. Daniel knew then that he had lost Jessica. She was willing to risk everything for him. He gave in and they headed out of the sheriff's office. Casey didn't see a gun being held on Jake and thought he was getting away. Daniel saw him raise his rifle and stepped in front of the bullet. The sheriff turned and shot Casey. They were both dead now. Daniel told Jake that he should have died years ago. He was okay with things as they were and asked her to take care of Jessica.
Jake sold the ranch and they all moved to Colorado. Jessica was now pregnant with their second child.
February 9, 2025
The entertainment value of this book is 5 stars tho. Would recommend.
December 24, 2023
Ahh I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve cried while reading this. To think that this book is a sequel from Scarlet Sunrise (the story of Daniel and Jake’s parents ; Jed and Elizabeth) and it then takes a darker turn. Too many deaths. Too angsty and too sad. Each one of characters here has suffered from their fair share of misery ; Daniel, Jake and Jessica. Such a bittersweet and difficult read but it’s all worth it at the end.
TW : No OW but there are attempts of rape.
TW : No OW but there are attempts of rape.
May 29, 2017
The above summary is a slightly misleading. I'll just let you know that the brother, Daniel, survives the shooting. That was something I didn't expect when I picked up the book. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law carry on an affair. So, yes, we are dealing with an adulterous pair of main characters. You have been warned.
One of my favorite books. Very emotional read, packed with high drama and angst.
Surprisingly, it's a survival story (in more ways than one) about two resilient individuals who will overcome any obstacle to pave their own path and find happiness. A true romance.
Just a few of my favorite quotes. There are so many wonderful moments in this book.
It opened every part of her and made her belong to him, it was quiet and it was insidious and it was strong and flaming and it had dwelt within her so long that she could not refuse it any longer...It was Jake. Only Jake.
And she was married to his brother
One of my favorite books. Very emotional read, packed with high drama and angst.
With all his soul he wanted to sweep her to him and tell her everything was going to be all right. To erase that awful bleakness from her face and with his two strong arms reshape the world for her, to make everything all right. But he had learned long ago the futility of racing from the truth.
Surprisingly, it's a survival story (in more ways than one) about two resilient individuals who will overcome any obstacle to pave their own path and find happiness. A true romance.
He had not escaped the guilt, nor forgotten it, but how pale it seemed in light of all he had suffered for love of his brother and his brother's wife in these past few years.
Just a few of my favorite quotes. There are so many wonderful moments in this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews