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The Enchanted Land
For beautiful Morgan Wakefield, that land lay west of the bluegrass splendor of her Kentucky home...and within the powerful embrace of Seth Colter--the handsome rancher with whom she had struck a bargain that would change her life. Beneath the star-studded New Mexico skies Colter awakened in Morgan a womans passion, stoking the sensuous fires of a bold tempestuous romance. Though fate would make them enemies, theirs was a love that would endure, never to be forsaken.
440 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
295 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,056 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
abandoned
March 17, 2014The book flew at 32%. Life's too short. Sorry, but I must be missing something with this author, I've now gone DNF with two of her books. From looking at the reviews, this heroine is going to get kidnapped again and again, and while I understand that's a common trope in these older romances, with this heroine I. Just. Don't. Care. Freaking annoying how she thinks she's so plain and homely, yet all the men are lusting after her tiny body (club me over the head with how many times I heard how tiny she was), luscious boobies and hair.
My cover, same ISBN #
My cover, same ISBN #
January 1, 2017
Wow. If I had a list for "PILE OF CRAP" books this one would be at the top.
This was my first Jude Deveraux book (coincidentally it's also the first novel she published) and it was so bad that I don't think I'll be giving her another chance.
So, the plot:
Due to her father's will, Morgan has to marry and move to the wild wild west for a year so she can receive her inheritance.
Enter Seth Colter: big, gorgeous and with a ranch in... New Mexico? I don't remember.
Morgan, who so far seemed quite smart, decides to make him an offer: a year of marriage in exchange for a large sum of money. After that, they'll part ways amicably.
So far, so good, right?
Yeah, that's what I thought too. However what follows is the most contrived plot in the history of soap operas: evil ex-lovers, overblown revenge, supposed death, kidnapping, misunderstandings... It's so over-the-top that I don't even know what to say.
And of course, due to the misunderstandings Seth treats Morgan like crap. But she still loves him anyway.
Why? I have no idea.
But the worst, really worst part comes at the end when Seth decides that he has to take care of Morgan (and by take care I mean lecturing her and making all decisions for her) because she's weak and "[some women] needed someone to control their life"
This was my first Jude Deveraux book (coincidentally it's also the first novel she published) and it was so bad that I don't think I'll be giving her another chance.
So, the plot:
Due to her father's will, Morgan has to marry and move to the wild wild west for a year so she can receive her inheritance.
Enter Seth Colter: big, gorgeous and with a ranch in... New Mexico? I don't remember.
Morgan, who so far seemed quite smart, decides to make him an offer: a year of marriage in exchange for a large sum of money. After that, they'll part ways amicably.
So far, so good, right?
Yeah, that's what I thought too. However what follows is the most contrived plot in the history of soap operas: evil ex-lovers, overblown revenge, supposed death, kidnapping, misunderstandings... It's so over-the-top that I don't even know what to say.
And of course, due to the misunderstandings Seth treats Morgan like crap. But she still loves him anyway.
Why? I have no idea.
But the worst, really worst part comes at the end when Seth decides that he has to take care of Morgan (and by take care I mean lecturing her and making all decisions for her) because she's weak and "[some women] needed someone to control their life"
dnf
May 30, 2025This is one of her earlier books (if not the earliest), and it shows. The language is super simplistic — like a telegraph: Start. Five words. Stop.
I’m only 14% in, and the characters are already all over the place, especially the MMC, Seth. There are no problematic parents in sight, just ditzy sisters — yet somehow he looks down on women and thinks they only want him for his wealth. So... why??
These days, I expect more from my romance reads. I get that this was written in the '70s, but honestly, it's just not good. And the book is so long. I’m not going to waste my time.
DNF at 14%.
I do like some of her later works — she’s definitely grown as an author — but this one’s a hard pass.
I’m only 14% in, and the characters are already all over the place, especially the MMC, Seth. There are no problematic parents in sight, just ditzy sisters — yet somehow he looks down on women and thinks they only want him for his wealth. So... why??
These days, I expect more from my romance reads. I get that this was written in the '70s, but honestly, it's just not good. And the book is so long. I’m not going to waste my time.
DNF at 14%.
I do like some of her later works — she’s definitely grown as an author — but this one’s a hard pass.
February 11, 2013
Super boring, super simple language, and super repetitive plot. As soon as things get boring/settle down, the chick gets kidnapped! Everyone has to comment on how thin she is, how full her breasts are, how much better her hair looks when it's down, and how she cleans up nicely. Everyone has to misunderstand everything anyone says, feel hurt by it, stew over it, and ruin everything for the duration of that mini-plot. And there was next to no romance in it. It was a very frustrating book, not worth the effort of reading, almost, and kind of not worth the buck-ninety-nine I paid for it. Eh.
May 17, 2020
Leí y releí The Enchanted Land hace veinte años, creo que en el apogeo de Jude Deveraux, y es una novela que no envejeció bien, pero a la cual le tengo cierto respeto porque en aquella época había pocas novelas de romance, y las que habían eran del tipo Johanna Lindsey o Kathleen Woodiwiss.
Ahora me doy cuenta de que la prosa es muy pobre y los lugares donde cae, comunes. Pero una se aferraba a estas lecturas precisamente porque había poco de donde elegir y Deveraux era sinónimo de buenas novelas, al menos para mí, que ya había leído la saga Velvet y Kissa.
Ahora me doy cuenta de que la prosa es muy pobre y los lugares donde cae, comunes. Pero una se aferraba a estas lecturas precisamente porque había poco de donde elegir y Deveraux era sinónimo de buenas novelas, al menos para mí, que ya había leído la saga Velvet y Kissa.
August 5, 2020
Ok but not the best read lately.
January 28, 2014
★☆☆☆☆ Ugh! Not my cuppa tea.
July 10, 2018
I can't get through it. Absolutely nothing about either character's behavior makes any sense. It's astoundingly awful.
August 6, 2016
Gee - verbal, emotional, *and* physical abuse, plus rape, sex trafficking, and racism to boot -- who wouldn't want all that in a romance novel. Plus this whole story is basically built on the notion that "[The woman] needed someone to control her life" - GAH! And apparently, men listen up now, how you do that is by staging a fake kidnapping of a woman who has already been kidnapped twice, gagging her, making her think she's going to be raped, and then stripping her naked so you can lecture her about what a mess she's made of her life and blame her for everything terrible that has happened between you. Then cap it all off with some good old fashioned threats of marital rape, call her your slave, and then demand she cook you some food. Follow that simple formula and any woman will fall straight into your bed. Who knew!?!
Overall - fickle, disgusting, and irritating!
Overall - fickle, disgusting, and irritating!
June 20, 2013
I was disappointed for the first time with Jude Deveraux... this book had stupid mistakes by people who know better... not her usual insight into characters.
Setting: plantations in south Kentucky (including Trahern House); ranches in New Mexico; brothel in San Francisco; mansion/home in San Francisco;
Theme: inner beauty vs outer beauty; bargains made but without anticipating the consequences; jealousy/anger/distrust; love
Characters:
Morgan : born in New Mexico, but mother hated it, and took her to Trahern House, her family home in Kentucky when a year old; they lived happily, isolated, a bit of man banging by mom; she learned to cook from a French chef; innocent; at age 16 her mother died, and she moved in with her aunt and uncle; at 18 her father died, and she found out that Trahern House had belonged to her father (her grandfather did not trust his daughter to care for it), and her father’s will left everything to her if she married and lived in New Mexico for one year by the time she was 25 – or else all would revert to her uncle; her uncle schemes a bit to keep her unmarried (isolated, baggy ugly clothes, a trip planned to Europe); but she meets Seth a ball just prior to when they would be leaving;
Seth Colter: handsome, strong, independent, hot tempered; he walked away from his parent’s plantation to settle in New Mexico and carve his own way; strongly connected to family; 3 flighty, silly, fashion minded, romantic sister – leading him to categorize women as those like his sisters and those that are liars and calculating to get a husband; has women in Kentucky and New Mexico hoping to marry him; meets Morgan at the ball, and accepts her business proposal;
Jake/Paul/Lupita: his ‘family’ at the New Mexico ranch; all look after him and Morgan – Lupita has healting talents, delivered many babies, eased many a fever;
Antonio Joaquin Santiago de Montoya y Garcia: oily; snakey; ickk; his ranch borders Morgan’s; he travels with Morgan and Seth; he already dislikes Seth because Seth will bed his sister, but not consider marrying her and because Seth potentially could cut off his access to water from the river; he does all he can to subtly cause trouble – fawning over Morgan, getting caught in a kiss, etc.;
Cat Man / Boss Martin: Cat Man and 2 hoodlums break into their wagon train, steal what little of value, and kidnap Morgan – with the intention of gifting her (and getting into the good graces of) Boss Martin; though Cat Man prevents her from being raped, he does humiliate her… they stop at a homestead, partake of a meal, and then the men rape the wife there (ewww);
Theron Shaw: gay interior designer, heard of a woman Madame Natalie is selling that is beautiful and has his look, and goes to the auction; though not highest bid, Natalie sells her to him, wanting what is best for Morgan; he takes her on as his assistant, and she will work off the price he paid for her; he houses her in luxury and become fast friends;
Gordon Matthews aka Sky Eyes: the son of her father’s ranching partner; felt connected to Morgan since her birth, and the monthly updates her dad got on her; he tracks her down when her son is 6 months old, and brings them her father’s ranch as his partner; he thinks he is in love with her, and is patiently waiting for her;
Summary:
Plantation to marriage of convenience (1 year in his home, divorce and $25,000) to fascination with one another; with him pushing (he knows what he wants) and her developing maturity to learn what her body and feelings want to traveling west to getting closer, and moving apart to her kidnapping and learning of the harder side of life to his rescuing her (and going back to kill her kidnappers) to a week of indulgent sex, her learning to let go her inhibitions to married joy to return to his ranch to have a happy few weeks, to her going to town for clothes for 3 days separation to his being late for the ball and for others to plant seeds of doubt in Seth’s mind to his racing away on his horse to her following with oily Joaquin only to be led to a cabin where her dress is torn and she is tied to the bed to being forced to write a letter saying she left with Joaquin (thinking Joaquin would not kill Seth, and only buy his ranch) to Joaquin delivering said letter and destroying the last of his faith in her (stupid stupid man) to his being left for dead to her refusing Joaquin to Joaquin selling her to a French sex slave trader and he and his sister going home to Spain to her believing Seth is dead to her being taken with 3 other women across to San Francisco to brothel to be sold to her being sold to a gay decorator looking for a lovely assistant to Seth managing to get himself to San Francisco and believing the worst of her to his going to her in her bed chamber using her like a whore in spite of her joy at seeing him and her professions of love to his rejection of her and hurtful words not allowing her to explain and his leaving her to her ending up pregnant and deciding to return to New Mexico to claim her inheritance and return to Trahern House to have her baby to his staying in San Francisco in a daze working gold mines to her ending at his ranch with his people to have her baby (after a pregnancy where she ate and ate and got bigger and bigger) to his having offers from women and figuring out he only wants her so he is going to get rich enough to buy her back going into real estate to her having a baby boy to her father’s partner’s son finding her and taking her to her father’s ranch where she finds out about her father’s high regard for her in spite of the distance and she is content to his running into one of the other women sold with her who tells him the whole story – and how much she loved and worshiped the husband she thought was dead – to his distress at how he let anger rule his judgment to his determination to find her, make it up to her, and make her love him again to his hiring on at her ranch though her partner and wanna be husband does not know who he is to his working his way back into her affection with patient, small forays to his wonder and love for his son to his son getting ill and Lupita curing him to his kidnapping his wife (I’m not sure why such dire measures were required) to get her away from a healed son who liked milking her for her attention to a bath (the first in weeks) in a cold lake to making love and confessing love and offering of forgiveness and rediscovering/forging a new path for themselves. ahhhh
Memorable scenes:
She is being held in Boss Martin’s house, guarded by the 2 drunks, and Cat Man is out looking for Boss Martin… Seth charms the local whore, finds out where she is, he sneaks in the back door, and takes her out without the guards suspecting a thing.
A week out of time, in an abandoned Indian village near a river, surrounded by trees, isolated from all. He initiates her in the ways of lovemaking… she leaves her inhibitions… they forge the bonds that tie them together in spite of all the rest.
Morgan ate and ate while pregnant, getting so big, she waddled, and could not fit into the house through the smaller back door. But as soon as she gave birth (and her son took to eating on his own), she shed all of the excess weight. Hmmm too good to be true in my world.
Not knowing what to do with him when he returned, not acknowledging her as his wife… and he brings her son to her as she sits near the pond with her picnic, sharing her son with him, and then his placing his head on her lap, and her not being able to resist touching him… but the spell broken when she asked why, and rather than a confrontation, he left… a peace to seek again though.
Setting: plantations in south Kentucky (including Trahern House); ranches in New Mexico; brothel in San Francisco; mansion/home in San Francisco;
Theme: inner beauty vs outer beauty; bargains made but without anticipating the consequences; jealousy/anger/distrust; love
Characters:
Morgan : born in New Mexico, but mother hated it, and took her to Trahern House, her family home in Kentucky when a year old; they lived happily, isolated, a bit of man banging by mom; she learned to cook from a French chef; innocent; at age 16 her mother died, and she moved in with her aunt and uncle; at 18 her father died, and she found out that Trahern House had belonged to her father (her grandfather did not trust his daughter to care for it), and her father’s will left everything to her if she married and lived in New Mexico for one year by the time she was 25 – or else all would revert to her uncle; her uncle schemes a bit to keep her unmarried (isolated, baggy ugly clothes, a trip planned to Europe); but she meets Seth a ball just prior to when they would be leaving;
Seth Colter: handsome, strong, independent, hot tempered; he walked away from his parent’s plantation to settle in New Mexico and carve his own way; strongly connected to family; 3 flighty, silly, fashion minded, romantic sister – leading him to categorize women as those like his sisters and those that are liars and calculating to get a husband; has women in Kentucky and New Mexico hoping to marry him; meets Morgan at the ball, and accepts her business proposal;
Jake/Paul/Lupita: his ‘family’ at the New Mexico ranch; all look after him and Morgan – Lupita has healting talents, delivered many babies, eased many a fever;
Antonio Joaquin Santiago de Montoya y Garcia: oily; snakey; ickk; his ranch borders Morgan’s; he travels with Morgan and Seth; he already dislikes Seth because Seth will bed his sister, but not consider marrying her and because Seth potentially could cut off his access to water from the river; he does all he can to subtly cause trouble – fawning over Morgan, getting caught in a kiss, etc.;
Cat Man / Boss Martin: Cat Man and 2 hoodlums break into their wagon train, steal what little of value, and kidnap Morgan – with the intention of gifting her (and getting into the good graces of) Boss Martin; though Cat Man prevents her from being raped, he does humiliate her… they stop at a homestead, partake of a meal, and then the men rape the wife there (ewww);
Theron Shaw: gay interior designer, heard of a woman Madame Natalie is selling that is beautiful and has his look, and goes to the auction; though not highest bid, Natalie sells her to him, wanting what is best for Morgan; he takes her on as his assistant, and she will work off the price he paid for her; he houses her in luxury and become fast friends;
Gordon Matthews aka Sky Eyes: the son of her father’s ranching partner; felt connected to Morgan since her birth, and the monthly updates her dad got on her; he tracks her down when her son is 6 months old, and brings them her father’s ranch as his partner; he thinks he is in love with her, and is patiently waiting for her;
Summary:
Plantation to marriage of convenience (1 year in his home, divorce and $25,000) to fascination with one another; with him pushing (he knows what he wants) and her developing maturity to learn what her body and feelings want to traveling west to getting closer, and moving apart to her kidnapping and learning of the harder side of life to his rescuing her (and going back to kill her kidnappers) to a week of indulgent sex, her learning to let go her inhibitions to married joy to return to his ranch to have a happy few weeks, to her going to town for clothes for 3 days separation to his being late for the ball and for others to plant seeds of doubt in Seth’s mind to his racing away on his horse to her following with oily Joaquin only to be led to a cabin where her dress is torn and she is tied to the bed to being forced to write a letter saying she left with Joaquin (thinking Joaquin would not kill Seth, and only buy his ranch) to Joaquin delivering said letter and destroying the last of his faith in her (stupid stupid man) to his being left for dead to her refusing Joaquin to Joaquin selling her to a French sex slave trader and he and his sister going home to Spain to her believing Seth is dead to her being taken with 3 other women across to San Francisco to brothel to be sold to her being sold to a gay decorator looking for a lovely assistant to Seth managing to get himself to San Francisco and believing the worst of her to his going to her in her bed chamber using her like a whore in spite of her joy at seeing him and her professions of love to his rejection of her and hurtful words not allowing her to explain and his leaving her to her ending up pregnant and deciding to return to New Mexico to claim her inheritance and return to Trahern House to have her baby to his staying in San Francisco in a daze working gold mines to her ending at his ranch with his people to have her baby (after a pregnancy where she ate and ate and got bigger and bigger) to his having offers from women and figuring out he only wants her so he is going to get rich enough to buy her back going into real estate to her having a baby boy to her father’s partner’s son finding her and taking her to her father’s ranch where she finds out about her father’s high regard for her in spite of the distance and she is content to his running into one of the other women sold with her who tells him the whole story – and how much she loved and worshiped the husband she thought was dead – to his distress at how he let anger rule his judgment to his determination to find her, make it up to her, and make her love him again to his hiring on at her ranch though her partner and wanna be husband does not know who he is to his working his way back into her affection with patient, small forays to his wonder and love for his son to his son getting ill and Lupita curing him to his kidnapping his wife (I’m not sure why such dire measures were required) to get her away from a healed son who liked milking her for her attention to a bath (the first in weeks) in a cold lake to making love and confessing love and offering of forgiveness and rediscovering/forging a new path for themselves. ahhhh
Memorable scenes:
She is being held in Boss Martin’s house, guarded by the 2 drunks, and Cat Man is out looking for Boss Martin… Seth charms the local whore, finds out where she is, he sneaks in the back door, and takes her out without the guards suspecting a thing.
A week out of time, in an abandoned Indian village near a river, surrounded by trees, isolated from all. He initiates her in the ways of lovemaking… she leaves her inhibitions… they forge the bonds that tie them together in spite of all the rest.
Morgan ate and ate while pregnant, getting so big, she waddled, and could not fit into the house through the smaller back door. But as soon as she gave birth (and her son took to eating on his own), she shed all of the excess weight. Hmmm too good to be true in my world.
Not knowing what to do with him when he returned, not acknowledging her as his wife… and he brings her son to her as she sits near the pond with her picnic, sharing her son with him, and then his placing his head on her lap, and her not being able to resist touching him… but the spell broken when she asked why, and rather than a confrontation, he left… a peace to seek again though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2021
Not my favorite Jude book… I knew going into reading “The enchanted land” it was not going to be my favorite book of hers because it is actually her first book. And I have learned from “the Black Lyon” her earlier books are rough around the edges. What I mean is: characters who come and go without much resolution, dramatic plot changes that don’t seem to fit, an imbalance of enemies to lovers where the characters spend most of the book mad at each other and apart, and extreme miscommunication that takes over a majority of the story. Now of course these earlier works matured into the later Jude books which I adore so much, but just like “The Black Lyon” this was slightly hard to read at times. With that being said most of my qualms are aimed at the middle of the book. The beginning and end were rather good, specifically the last 100 pages, but the middle took things in an odd direction.
Morgan Wakefield has been told her whole life men are no good by her mother, who angrily left Morgan’s father taking Morgan with her. Since then she has told Morgan she needs no one and to remain by herself. When both her mother and father pass away, Morgan is left to her own devices until she discovers the conditions of her fathers will. In order to get her inheritance she must marry a man and live with him for one year in New Mexico, if she does not succeed the money goes to her uncle. Her uncle then dresses her plainly and keeps her away from men in hopes of getting the money. But Morgan does not want a husband at all, so one night at a ball she overhears about about Seth Colter, a man with a ranch in New Mexico in need of some money. She approaches him at the ball and makes a deal with him, if he agrees to marry her for a year so she can collect her inheritance, she’ll pay him handsomely. He agrees and the two are wed the next night. As they travel to New Mexico Morgan is set of keeping their relationship professional but she can’t help the fact that she is attracted to Seth. And Seth likewise is head over heels in love with Morgan. Finally reaching his ranch they overcome their bickering and admit their feelings. The two then are blissfully obsessed with each other. I should have know this was a bad sign because they fell in love easily and near the beginning of the story, not a good sign. And I was right because Joaquin, one of Seth’s farmhands kidnaps Morgan and makes her write a note saying she left him for Joaquin. Seth is shot by Joaquin and believes the story that Morgan left with him. Morgan then is sold into a prostitution ring, where she was to be auctioned off??? There was a long portion of the book where Morgan is wallowing in depression about her current state, and where Seth is vehemently angry at Morgan having no clue where she is. Morgan gets sold to a man Theron who wants her as an assistant to his decorating company (it is also implied that he is gay and that is why he doesn’t touch her but never explicitly stated). Anyways by now it’s been about a year and them living separately, Seth is trying is hand at gold panning and they both are in San Francisco without knowing (which is infuriating). Finally Seth heard about Morgan from a man at a bar and he thought it’d be funny to tell Seth that morgan was a prostitute, which she was not true nor did she ever work as one. Seth still thinks she ran away with Joaquin and does not forgive her but wants to see her because he is still in love with her. So he sneaks into her bedroom. She is beyond overjoyed because she thought Seth was dead and has cried for him for months on end. They make love and soon after Seth accuses Morgan of cheating with Joaquin and doesn’t listen to her at all. BEYOND FRUSTRATING. Poor Morgan has been through so much and he can’t even listen smh. Anyways after his visit Morgan finds out she’s pregnant she runs into Frank one of Seths farmhands and he convinces her to go back to the ranch to have the child. She agrees but Seth is still out looking for gold. She has the child and nearly another year passes, when Gordon appears. This was really weird to me because Gordon came out of nowhere and his origin story does not make sense. He was her fathers worker, he watched Morgan grow up, but he also had a crush on her? I have no clue, they said this man was young. He offers her to stay at her fathers old ranch and he’ll watch over the child like a father. Morgan agrees but is still in love with Seth even though she’s angry at him. Seth strikes rich with gold and runs into Jessy, one of Morgan’s friends, who tells him Morgan’s entire story. Finally Seth realizes he’s been an idiot and sets out to find her. But of course he doesn’t just walk into the ranch, he has to pretend to be a farmhand undercover. He goes to the ranch as Dave Blake and has the entire ranch in love with him including Morgan’s son Adam, who is really his son. This is actually my favorite part of the book because it was just classic Jude. The two of them living in the same space, playful teasing, and trying to rekindle their relationship. Suddenly Gordon just forgets he’s in love with Morgan and wants Seth to get her back so he leaves for NY leaving them alone. They of course fall back in love slowly but surely and there is a weird part where Adam gets sick right before the end that did not feel necessary to the plot but was thrown in. The ending wasn’t great, I really wanted a final love scene, because the whole time Seth was talking about how he wanted their first time after so many years to be special. So I thought they would end it making love, but instead it ends with Morgan making dinner? I don’t know they were already in a cozy cabin, love making seems like a better place to end on.
All in all, I did not love it. Specifically the middle part, if you eliminated that then I probably would’ve really liked it. Another common thing with early Jude books is the men do not believe their women at ALL. The women usually have a misunderstanding and the men just immediately shut down and won’t listen. It’s frustrating. On top of that the characters usually don’t speak for a lot of the book, which hurts my heart a little lol. It actually makes me really sad when they’re apart. I mean if they’re mad just keep them together at least. But I digress I still was really entertained, obviously from my essay I just wrote. And I did really love the first and last bits of the book. ALSO Morgan had some weird vision where she saw Seth in the present like a physic, and it was NEVER brought up again lol that confused me. I wonder if this is where the physic running theme begins in her other books though? Maybe!
Morgan Wakefield has been told her whole life men are no good by her mother, who angrily left Morgan’s father taking Morgan with her. Since then she has told Morgan she needs no one and to remain by herself. When both her mother and father pass away, Morgan is left to her own devices until she discovers the conditions of her fathers will. In order to get her inheritance she must marry a man and live with him for one year in New Mexico, if she does not succeed the money goes to her uncle. Her uncle then dresses her plainly and keeps her away from men in hopes of getting the money. But Morgan does not want a husband at all, so one night at a ball she overhears about about Seth Colter, a man with a ranch in New Mexico in need of some money. She approaches him at the ball and makes a deal with him, if he agrees to marry her for a year so she can collect her inheritance, she’ll pay him handsomely. He agrees and the two are wed the next night. As they travel to New Mexico Morgan is set of keeping their relationship professional but she can’t help the fact that she is attracted to Seth. And Seth likewise is head over heels in love with Morgan. Finally reaching his ranch they overcome their bickering and admit their feelings. The two then are blissfully obsessed with each other. I should have know this was a bad sign because they fell in love easily and near the beginning of the story, not a good sign. And I was right because Joaquin, one of Seth’s farmhands kidnaps Morgan and makes her write a note saying she left him for Joaquin. Seth is shot by Joaquin and believes the story that Morgan left with him. Morgan then is sold into a prostitution ring, where she was to be auctioned off??? There was a long portion of the book where Morgan is wallowing in depression about her current state, and where Seth is vehemently angry at Morgan having no clue where she is. Morgan gets sold to a man Theron who wants her as an assistant to his decorating company (it is also implied that he is gay and that is why he doesn’t touch her but never explicitly stated). Anyways by now it’s been about a year and them living separately, Seth is trying is hand at gold panning and they both are in San Francisco without knowing (which is infuriating). Finally Seth heard about Morgan from a man at a bar and he thought it’d be funny to tell Seth that morgan was a prostitute, which she was not true nor did she ever work as one. Seth still thinks she ran away with Joaquin and does not forgive her but wants to see her because he is still in love with her. So he sneaks into her bedroom. She is beyond overjoyed because she thought Seth was dead and has cried for him for months on end. They make love and soon after Seth accuses Morgan of cheating with Joaquin and doesn’t listen to her at all. BEYOND FRUSTRATING. Poor Morgan has been through so much and he can’t even listen smh. Anyways after his visit Morgan finds out she’s pregnant she runs into Frank one of Seths farmhands and he convinces her to go back to the ranch to have the child. She agrees but Seth is still out looking for gold. She has the child and nearly another year passes, when Gordon appears. This was really weird to me because Gordon came out of nowhere and his origin story does not make sense. He was her fathers worker, he watched Morgan grow up, but he also had a crush on her? I have no clue, they said this man was young. He offers her to stay at her fathers old ranch and he’ll watch over the child like a father. Morgan agrees but is still in love with Seth even though she’s angry at him. Seth strikes rich with gold and runs into Jessy, one of Morgan’s friends, who tells him Morgan’s entire story. Finally Seth realizes he’s been an idiot and sets out to find her. But of course he doesn’t just walk into the ranch, he has to pretend to be a farmhand undercover. He goes to the ranch as Dave Blake and has the entire ranch in love with him including Morgan’s son Adam, who is really his son. This is actually my favorite part of the book because it was just classic Jude. The two of them living in the same space, playful teasing, and trying to rekindle their relationship. Suddenly Gordon just forgets he’s in love with Morgan and wants Seth to get her back so he leaves for NY leaving them alone. They of course fall back in love slowly but surely and there is a weird part where Adam gets sick right before the end that did not feel necessary to the plot but was thrown in. The ending wasn’t great, I really wanted a final love scene, because the whole time Seth was talking about how he wanted their first time after so many years to be special. So I thought they would end it making love, but instead it ends with Morgan making dinner? I don’t know they were already in a cozy cabin, love making seems like a better place to end on.
All in all, I did not love it. Specifically the middle part, if you eliminated that then I probably would’ve really liked it. Another common thing with early Jude books is the men do not believe their women at ALL. The women usually have a misunderstanding and the men just immediately shut down and won’t listen. It’s frustrating. On top of that the characters usually don’t speak for a lot of the book, which hurts my heart a little lol. It actually makes me really sad when they’re apart. I mean if they’re mad just keep them together at least. But I digress I still was really entertained, obviously from my essay I just wrote. And I did really love the first and last bits of the book. ALSO Morgan had some weird vision where she saw Seth in the present like a physic, and it was NEVER brought up again lol that confused me. I wonder if this is where the physic running theme begins in her other books though? Maybe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2013
About now, I thought I am already aware of the cliches in a paperback romance novel. A lady would meet a man -sometimes twice her age - if not troublesome or arrogant or prideful, the man is either so sweet and so kind. Of course all the heroes should be good looking. Then goes the heroine. Of course in each and every story, she must be beautiful and gorgeous. All things are perfect. Perfection is always inevitable. This fact I am completely aware of. But then, I was astounded.
This is completely different.
Each and every character has their own flaws. The novel itself has it own imperfections which made it even more beautiful. At first, yes, you'll become totally addicted to the story for all the sweetness and all the love the hero, Seth, has for his little wife, Morgan. Everything was going the way a dreamy reader wants everything to be. But then all of a sudden, you'll see everything crumbling down your feet. Tragedies came every now and then. Characters stumble down and wallow with their own griefs and fears. It was not at all perfect and a shallow, unfeeling, numb, and cold reader -if he or she may still be called as such -is the only one capable of giving this story up in addition to seeing all the wonderful things only. This is all because a true reader considers everything and understands that not everything should be glitz and glamour or flowery and sunny and bright. A true reader understands that for a novel to be as wonderful as this, the one and only important thing is to see love encourage the characters to stand once again and to heal and bind every flaws and wounds.
GODSPEED! I hope all my fellow readers would continue to live and learn from the wonderful works of art and masterpieces that we are blessed to read with.
This is completely different.
Each and every character has their own flaws. The novel itself has it own imperfections which made it even more beautiful. At first, yes, you'll become totally addicted to the story for all the sweetness and all the love the hero, Seth, has for his little wife, Morgan. Everything was going the way a dreamy reader wants everything to be. But then all of a sudden, you'll see everything crumbling down your feet. Tragedies came every now and then. Characters stumble down and wallow with their own griefs and fears. It was not at all perfect and a shallow, unfeeling, numb, and cold reader -if he or she may still be called as such -is the only one capable of giving this story up in addition to seeing all the wonderful things only. This is all because a true reader considers everything and understands that not everything should be glitz and glamour or flowery and sunny and bright. A true reader understands that for a novel to be as wonderful as this, the one and only important thing is to see love encourage the characters to stand once again and to heal and bind every flaws and wounds.
GODSPEED! I hope all my fellow readers would continue to live and learn from the wonderful works of art and masterpieces that we are blessed to read with.
February 23, 2013
I picked this up from my e-reader from my local library, wanting a fun, mindless read with a happy ending. Instead, I got a hero that was jealous, selfish, and downright abusive in spots. Halfway through the book, the heroine meets a genuinely nice man who loves her deeply, and he is 'written off into the sunset', which I thought was a real tragedy.
The 'villain' in the piece is stereotyped in a borderline racist way, and there is no satisfying denouement to the arc of the villain's story. There were a lot of loose ends in this book, a lot of underutilized secondary characters, and a hero that was distinctly unlikable.
It is almost like the author had several good ideas for a story, but was under deadline so she just kind of mashed them together into a story. I wanted to enjoy this story enough to keep reading it despite my doubts, but I just couldn't get on board, even though I did read it to the end (dang complete-ist me)
I gave it three stars because author: Jude Deveraux knows how to describe my beloved New Mexico so beautifully, and because the heroine is well written. But I can't recommend this book even a little. It was a terrible disappointment.
Return to Am I the Only One Dancing? for reviews, and daily discussions on every topic under the sun.
The 'villain' in the piece is stereotyped in a borderline racist way, and there is no satisfying denouement to the arc of the villain's story. There were a lot of loose ends in this book, a lot of underutilized secondary characters, and a hero that was distinctly unlikable.
It is almost like the author had several good ideas for a story, but was under deadline so she just kind of mashed them together into a story. I wanted to enjoy this story enough to keep reading it despite my doubts, but I just couldn't get on board, even though I did read it to the end (dang complete-ist me)
I gave it three stars because author: Jude Deveraux knows how to describe my beloved New Mexico so beautifully, and because the heroine is well written. But I can't recommend this book even a little. It was a terrible disappointment.
Return to Am I the Only One Dancing? for reviews, and daily discussions on every topic under the sun.
March 20, 2016
I picked this up because some numbskull on tumblr commented on the strong character of the female lead in this romance book that trumps classic romance book norms. All lies! Morgan is a grown ass woman but simplified and sexualized as a "little girl." I was excited at first by her declarations of independence, stating no man will ever take away what she wants out of life. But as soon as she meets Seth, an older dude who acts like a 13 year old, she goes into a swoon because he's big and manly. The characters are in love not even halfway in, and to spice it all up, she gets kidnapped and witnesses the rape of another woman. WTF. You can't just throw in rape for no reason as a plot device, ESPECIALLY if it later has no affect on the main heroine. She LITERALLY goes about her business and life once the whole kidnapped thing is resolved. As soon as Seth saves her, it's all good, and they have wild sex god knows where in an abandoned hut. And that's where I gave up reading this silly book.
May 17, 2013
Done! Whew, that was a chore. Note to self: steer clear of the older romance novels. That's about all I can say. I didn't completely hate it. I just didn't like it very much. I didn't really care for the ending very much. But I didn't give it just 1 star because parts of it were very interesting and had potential. But things went downhill and just continued to go downhill. I only finished because I had gotten so far into it and refused to let it defeat me. It had potential, but just fell apart and never could right itself. If anyone is tempted to read it, you'd be better off just getting a summary of it and calling it a day.
May 6, 2025
Var ska jag börja? Boken utspelar sig över 6 år så det händer jättemycket i boken och den verkar aldrig ta slut. Så boken blir rörig, ibland är den jättespännande till att bli tråkig. Huvudkaraktärerna spenderar majoriteten ifrån varandra för de bråkar eller så är det ett missförstånd och någon är hjärtekrossad eller kidnappad. Den utspelar sig på 1850 talet i USA så många olika galningar finns som stråtrövare, slavhandlare, våldtäcksmän, kvinnomisshandlare och gängledare.
Fy fan vad hemskt det var att vara kvinna för och jag kunde inte sluta tänka på Meg och vad som hände henne.
Därför blir de bara 3 stjärnor, Jude Deveraux skriver alltid män som är sååååå långsynta och tjurskalliga att jag överväger att inte läsa fler av hennes böcker.
Fy fan vad hemskt det var att vara kvinna för och jag kunde inte sluta tänka på Meg och vad som hände henne.
Därför blir de bara 3 stjärnor, Jude Deveraux skriver alltid män som är sååååå långsynta och tjurskalliga att jag överväger att inte läsa fler av hennes böcker.
December 15, 2021
It was a total pain to finish the pages and I had to drag myself to do it. Though romance plots are basic, they could be presented with great captivating text, humour and twisty sub-plots. This was very plain and totally jejune.
May 31, 2025
This book was rough at times. Morgan was a brat in a lot of ways. She struggled to learn how to be a woman. Seth was so grumpy that his anger got the best of him sometimes.
April 9, 2019
A very interesting stand along Jude Leveraux about Morgan and Seth then Adam came along. Kentucky to New Mexico with San Francisco thrown in a little.
November 11, 2022
Okay so I have many thoughts and I hope I can remember all of them as I write this because this was a long book and so much happened!
First this is a product of its time yes, but at the same time me things can’t be excused even from the late 70s. This is my first JD and I hope she has improved since this book.
I’ll just address this now as it takes place in America during the gold rush and of course Native Americans are int he story. She uses the term “Indians” which may be what people used in the 70s but the slur for them felt like crossing the line plus what felt like major stereotypes for them including being dirty and awful. I just felt it was unnecessary,
I notice a lot of older historicals do this thing were there is multiple points of climactic moments. This story takes place over maybe 2.5 years. Lots of traveling. it gets a bit old. I liked the idea of the marriage for convince until I learned that she is 18 and he is maybe 32? I know it probably happened back then but doesn’t mean we want to read about it. especially since our hero acts like a complete man baby most of the time. not he middle of the first travel our lady is taken by some random men and there is a literal rape scene on another woman that i could not believe. Still not crazy graphic but its enough that i wanted to scream. Our hero kills them no problem. We have a grown man who believes his jealous ex lover that his young EIGHT-TEEN year old wife is a complete whore (his words) and in love with this other man and for a year or so he never thinks maybe she was forced to write the note and all that. Again he is a full grown man with an inexperienced wife. I was rage reading at this point and skimming quite a bit because again soooo much happens that doesn’t feel all that important. They have a kid after a single night and more things happen and they aren’t together. We have Gordon who is a complete idiot until he isn’t and then Morgan becomes an idiot. now lastly I make it to the end somehow and to help his wife out of her funk I guess where she only wants to care for her son, he whisk her away to make her bathe and sex her up. The problem here is that he threatens to rape his wife as witty banter twice, and then he has sex while they are int he bath or stream where she is still dirty which was gross. I know I said a product of it’s time but even during the late 70s I dont see how a woman could write this rape “joke” especially between a man and woman. I can’t picture my grandmother (who was alive and married at the time) would find this romantic.
I know I wrote a bit all over the place and maybe forgot a few things but just know this does not hold up since it was written and I hope JD has better books than this one.
First this is a product of its time yes, but at the same time me things can’t be excused even from the late 70s. This is my first JD and I hope she has improved since this book.
I’ll just address this now as it takes place in America during the gold rush and of course Native Americans are int he story. She uses the term “Indians” which may be what people used in the 70s but the slur for them felt like crossing the line plus what felt like major stereotypes for them including being dirty and awful. I just felt it was unnecessary,
I notice a lot of older historicals do this thing were there is multiple points of climactic moments. This story takes place over maybe 2.5 years. Lots of traveling. it gets a bit old. I liked the idea of the marriage for convince until I learned that she is 18 and he is maybe 32? I know it probably happened back then but doesn’t mean we want to read about it. especially since our hero acts like a complete man baby most of the time. not he middle of the first travel our lady is taken by some random men and there is a literal rape scene on another woman that i could not believe. Still not crazy graphic but its enough that i wanted to scream. Our hero kills them no problem. We have a grown man who believes his jealous ex lover that his young EIGHT-TEEN year old wife is a complete whore (his words) and in love with this other man and for a year or so he never thinks maybe she was forced to write the note and all that. Again he is a full grown man with an inexperienced wife. I was rage reading at this point and skimming quite a bit because again soooo much happens that doesn’t feel all that important. They have a kid after a single night and more things happen and they aren’t together. We have Gordon who is a complete idiot until he isn’t and then Morgan becomes an idiot. now lastly I make it to the end somehow and to help his wife out of her funk I guess where she only wants to care for her son, he whisk her away to make her bathe and sex her up. The problem here is that he threatens to rape his wife as witty banter twice, and then he has sex while they are int he bath or stream where she is still dirty which was gross. I know I said a product of it’s time but even during the late 70s I dont see how a woman could write this rape “joke” especially between a man and woman. I can’t picture my grandmother (who was alive and married at the time) would find this romantic.
I know I wrote a bit all over the place and maybe forgot a few things but just know this does not hold up since it was written and I hope JD has better books than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2023
One of my summer reading challenges was to read the first and latest book of an author. I debated a bunch of different authors, but knew that Jude Deveraux published a new book recently and haven’t read this one in a very long time so figured why not?
Two things are very clear about this book. 1. It’s Jude Deveraux’s first book, and 2. It was published in the late seventies (as a matter of fact it was published the month I was born). I loved Jude Deveraux in my late teens and early twenties and then started becoming less enthralled when she published her Forever series. The Enchanted Land is chock full of outdated and sometimes horrifying romantic novel tropes (see multiple reviewer’s complaints that Morgan is kidnapped at least three times). Example of horrifying:
Seth: “Now if you don’t want to get raped, you better go outside where I can cool off.”
She hesitated.
Seth: “Oh, no, you don’t. If you don’t bathe, I promise I won’t rape you.”
She scurried out into the cold mountain air, throwing him a look that made him catch his breath.
Ugh, Jude!!! Rape is never sexy or romantic.
I’d like to say she got better as she continued to publish, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t remember the gag-worthiness of this book. I vaguely remember that it wasn’t my favorite but I liked the story because it was set in New Mexico. For the last several chapters, I wondered if Jude sometimes wished she could go back a rewrite this one. When I skimmed the reviews though, I started wondering if there really was anything redeemable about even the basic story.
Final thing I’d like to say in the negative category: at one point, she described a woman as being “extremely fat, around 200 pounds.” I know many women, myself included, who are heavier than they want to be, closer to 200 than 150, but nowhere near “extremely fat.” Between this comment and the never-ending description of Morgan’s smallness, the fat-shaming is very unpleasant.
Two things are very clear about this book. 1. It’s Jude Deveraux’s first book, and 2. It was published in the late seventies (as a matter of fact it was published the month I was born). I loved Jude Deveraux in my late teens and early twenties and then started becoming less enthralled when she published her Forever series. The Enchanted Land is chock full of outdated and sometimes horrifying romantic novel tropes (see multiple reviewer’s complaints that Morgan is kidnapped at least three times). Example of horrifying:
Seth: “Now if you don’t want to get raped, you better go outside where I can cool off.”
She hesitated.
Seth: “Oh, no, you don’t. If you don’t bathe, I promise I won’t rape you.”
She scurried out into the cold mountain air, throwing him a look that made him catch his breath.
Ugh, Jude!!! Rape is never sexy or romantic.
I’d like to say she got better as she continued to publish, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t remember the gag-worthiness of this book. I vaguely remember that it wasn’t my favorite but I liked the story because it was set in New Mexico. For the last several chapters, I wondered if Jude sometimes wished she could go back a rewrite this one. When I skimmed the reviews though, I started wondering if there really was anything redeemable about even the basic story.
Final thing I’d like to say in the negative category: at one point, she described a woman as being “extremely fat, around 200 pounds.” I know many women, myself included, who are heavier than they want to be, closer to 200 than 150, but nowhere near “extremely fat.” Between this comment and the never-ending description of Morgan’s smallness, the fat-shaming is very unpleasant.
February 19, 2011
This was an all-nighter for me. First book of Ms. Deveraux and her writing agrees with me.
I like that the H/h meet right away, the first 125 pages or so were quite beautiful. You get to see the couple becoming friends, resisting temptations, falling in love. But since all this happened in the first quarter of the book, there must be many, many obstacles for the them to endure. So throw in some misunderstandings, numerous of kidnapping, a jealous/high-temper hero and stubborn heroine and you got yourself an epic love story.
Yes, these kind of stories can be frustrating, with back to back kidnapping (come on, can a girl catch a break) and at one point the H/h were part for 2 years! Of-course I wanted to punch Seth and slap Morgan from time to time for their stupidity, but with right writing style, good dialogues, interesting side characters, it works for me. And I'm really glad that when the H/h reunited it didn't wrap up in a couple of pages, they (we) deserved so much more for all the trails they had overcome.
So here's the break down, first 100 pgs, H/h (first chapter H/h got married) fall in love, next 200 page, trial after trial after trial, last 100 pages, reuniting/sorting things out.
I need to look for more oddies when I'm at used books sales, I just realized I enjoy them a lot.
I like that the H/h meet right away, the first 125 pages or so were quite beautiful. You get to see the couple becoming friends, resisting temptations, falling in love. But since all this happened in the first quarter of the book, there must be many, many obstacles for the them to endure. So throw in some misunderstandings, numerous of kidnapping, a jealous/high-temper hero and stubborn heroine and you got yourself an epic love story.
Yes, these kind of stories can be frustrating, with back to back kidnapping (come on, can a girl catch a break) and at one point the H/h were part for 2 years! Of-course I wanted to punch Seth and slap Morgan from time to time for their stupidity, but with right writing style, good dialogues, interesting side characters, it works for me. And I'm really glad that when the H/h reunited it didn't wrap up in a couple of pages, they (we) deserved so much more for all the trails they had overcome.
So here's the break down, first 100 pgs, H/h (first chapter H/h got married) fall in love, next 200 page, trial after trial after trial, last 100 pages, reuniting/sorting things out.
I need to look for more oddies when I'm at used books sales, I just realized I enjoy them a lot.
March 30, 2010
I like it at first but after further reading, I came to a point where i don't want to read it anymore because of a lot of despicable things that kept on happening to Morgan. She was always being put to a situation where she has to undress herself for everybody's eyes (especially men). I don't like the ending for i think something is lacking to the story. What happened to Gordon?What happened to Joaquin after going to Spain? etc. It's not that satisfactory at all. It's the first time I read a book of Jude Deveraux that I failed to appreciate.
July 20, 2016
I just love Romance and Adventure and this book had a lot of it.what i loved about this book was that the H/H Meet right away. They became friends they tried resting temptation, and falling in love. Then they were torn apart by, obstacles like misunderstandings, kidnappings jelous high-temper hero as well as a stubborn heroine. And it all add up to a great love story
September 20, 2013
I have read almost all of Jude Deveraux's books and have thoroughly enjoyed all but this one and the Forever & Always group. This one I almost put down because it truly seemed as if a different author was writing at times. I had no idea this was her first book. It was just bizarre how Morgan kept experiencing the same tragedies and Seth was just a bumbling hot head. Not one I will re-read.
August 31, 2015
2.5. This was one of those "big misunderstanding" books. It irritated me because it kept the characters apart for two years. Also,there were so many things that I felt could have been left out. The book was about 50 pages too long.
August 10, 2024
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers and general tags. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
2.75
Ebook
* Summary: Young and sheltered Morgan asks wealthy rancher Seth to marry her so she can inherit her estranged father’s property. They set out west to Seth’s ranch - where jealousy, a bunch of other random challenges and a variety of other misunderstandings/rash decisions separate them time and again over the next few years.
* Stats: HR - Western, M/F, open door, stand alone.
* Notes: This is a strange book. The MCs actually are separated because of one thing or another for much/most of it and it’s all a bit silly - I was over the jumping to judgment after the first one or two times. It’s not an unenjoyable read, but very much of it’s time - complete with “plantation” owning Antebellum MCs who rail against the horrors of human trafficking (of white women) and so on. It has got a slightly strange, vague sense of Daddy kink about it (but it’s certainly not written blatantly) which was kind of interesting/funny to think about. The FMC is incredibly silly and NLOG-y, and totally horrible to a woman the MMC used to sleep with for no good reason at all, the MMC is kind of an arse, it’s big/experienced MMC vs so wittle/naive little lady FMC which was all a bit hammered on, but it was compelling enough for whatever reason to continue reading. Don’t think I’d be likely to recommend however.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
2.75
Ebook
* Summary: Young and sheltered Morgan asks wealthy rancher Seth to marry her so she can inherit her estranged father’s property. They set out west to Seth’s ranch - where jealousy, a bunch of other random challenges and a variety of other misunderstandings/rash decisions separate them time and again over the next few years.
* Stats: HR - Western, M/F, open door, stand alone.
* Notes: This is a strange book. The MCs actually are separated because of one thing or another for much/most of it and it’s all a bit silly - I was over the jumping to judgment after the first one or two times. It’s not an unenjoyable read, but very much of it’s time - complete with “plantation” owning Antebellum MCs who rail against the horrors of human trafficking (of white women) and so on. It has got a slightly strange, vague sense of Daddy kink about it (but it’s certainly not written blatantly) which was kind of interesting/funny to think about. The FMC is incredibly silly and NLOG-y, and totally horrible to a woman the MMC used to sleep with for no good reason at all, the MMC is kind of an arse, it’s big/experienced MMC vs so wittle/naive little lady FMC which was all a bit hammered on, but it was compelling enough for whatever reason to continue reading. Don’t think I’d be likely to recommend however.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
February 24, 2023
Morgana Wakefield debe hacer frente al último deseo de su padre si quiere conservar su casa en Kentucky, el único lugar donde desea vivir, tranquila y en soledad, el resto de su vida. Para ello, debe encontrar un marido antes de cumplir los veinticinco años y residir con él, mínimo durante un año, en Nuevo México, país donde vivió su progenitor hasta su fallecimiento.
Seth Colter, catorce años mayor que Morgana, acepta el trato y se convierte en su marido de la noche a la mañana. Ambos inician un viaje no exento de peligros hasta su rancho en Nuevo México, pero el mayor problema entre ellos surgirá cuando Joaquin Montoya, vecino de Seth, se obsesiona con cumplir una venganza personal.
La palabra que define esta lectura es decepción absoluta. La trama, que en principio resultaba interesante por el reto que se le plantea a Morgana para no perder su casa, se queda solo en un intento y va perdiendo fuelle con cada página.
Mi resumen de esta historia es simple: un hombre que acepta un matrimonio con una mujer que acaba de conocer en cinco minutos, una familia política que acoge a su nuera/cuñada sin conocerla de nada a las primeras de cambio, una serie de peleas absurdas entre la pareja protagonista como consecuencia de malentendidos y una obsesión de la autora con los secuestros.
Pero lo que más me ha molestado es que las vejaciones hacia la mujer en esta historia son continuas. El tema de las violaciones en las novelas es muy delicado y en esta se produce una, que aunque no está protagonizada por Morgana, me ha molestado mucho por la forma en la que se narra y que me plantea la duda de si la intención de la autora con ese pasaje era la de dotar de un punto dramático a la historia o la de describir un pasaje erótico, porque si su fin era este último, considero que ha sido de muy mal gusto y sinceramente, podría haber prescindido de él.
Para acabar de rematar la jugada, destaco otras dos obsesiones de la autora: la cascada de pelo rubio rizado de Morgana... os juro que he deseado que alguno de sus cuatrocientos treinta secuestradores llegara y se lo cortara, pero no he tenido suerte. Y para colmo de males, ese tono despectivo con el que se habla de las mujeres con algunos kilos de más, me ha sacado de quicio, aunque no tanto como la propia protagonista. Porque Morgana no es una ingenua muchacha... es tonta. Peca de exceso de candidez y actúa de forma irracional; todos la ven y caen rendidos a sus pies ante su belleza... Lo siento, pero es el prototipo de protagonista que no soporto.
Creo que es justo comentar lo bueno de esta lectura y aquí la cosa se me complica porque lo único destacable es su ambientación. Siento no poder mencionar nada más, pero es que incluso el final es absurdo y nada romántico, aunque tampoco me ha sorprendido, ya que ha ido en consonancia con el resto de la novela.
Seth Colter, catorce años mayor que Morgana, acepta el trato y se convierte en su marido de la noche a la mañana. Ambos inician un viaje no exento de peligros hasta su rancho en Nuevo México, pero el mayor problema entre ellos surgirá cuando Joaquin Montoya, vecino de Seth, se obsesiona con cumplir una venganza personal.
La palabra que define esta lectura es decepción absoluta. La trama, que en principio resultaba interesante por el reto que se le plantea a Morgana para no perder su casa, se queda solo en un intento y va perdiendo fuelle con cada página.
Mi resumen de esta historia es simple: un hombre que acepta un matrimonio con una mujer que acaba de conocer en cinco minutos, una familia política que acoge a su nuera/cuñada sin conocerla de nada a las primeras de cambio, una serie de peleas absurdas entre la pareja protagonista como consecuencia de malentendidos y una obsesión de la autora con los secuestros.
Pero lo que más me ha molestado es que las vejaciones hacia la mujer en esta historia son continuas. El tema de las violaciones en las novelas es muy delicado y en esta se produce una, que aunque no está protagonizada por Morgana, me ha molestado mucho por la forma en la que se narra y que me plantea la duda de si la intención de la autora con ese pasaje era la de dotar de un punto dramático a la historia o la de describir un pasaje erótico, porque si su fin era este último, considero que ha sido de muy mal gusto y sinceramente, podría haber prescindido de él.
Para acabar de rematar la jugada, destaco otras dos obsesiones de la autora: la cascada de pelo rubio rizado de Morgana... os juro que he deseado que alguno de sus cuatrocientos treinta secuestradores llegara y se lo cortara, pero no he tenido suerte. Y para colmo de males, ese tono despectivo con el que se habla de las mujeres con algunos kilos de más, me ha sacado de quicio, aunque no tanto como la propia protagonista. Porque Morgana no es una ingenua muchacha... es tonta. Peca de exceso de candidez y actúa de forma irracional; todos la ven y caen rendidos a sus pies ante su belleza... Lo siento, pero es el prototipo de protagonista que no soporto.
Creo que es justo comentar lo bueno de esta lectura y aquí la cosa se me complica porque lo único destacable es su ambientación. Siento no poder mencionar nada más, pero es que incluso el final es absurdo y nada romántico, aunque tampoco me ha sorprendido, ya que ha ido en consonancia con el resto de la novela.
March 3, 2022
This was an early Jude Deveraux novel that I had never heard of and decided to check it out. so far, I've only read two of her books, and wasn't all that impressed, but it might be a biased opinion, since I'm not all that fond of stories with twins and tend to skip them. Glad to say, there were no twins in this book.
This book is about one of those marriages of convenience that turns into a lot more, but it sure was a rocky road to HEA! According to her uncle's will, the h, Morgan, needs to get married in order to inherit the family ranch, and the H, Seth Colter, agrees to a marriage in name only, though it's only a matter of time before nature takes its course, as they can't deny their attraction, despite each not having a favorable opinion of the opposite sex. (Seth thinks women are vain and shallow, Morgan thinks men are after one thing, and each believes they can't be trusted.)
They have a few happy weeks of a real marriage when things go south. Joaquin, who has a ranch near Seth's, wants both Seth's land and the claim to the water rights, so he plots both to kill Seth and abduct Morgan, forcing her to write a note saying she's leaving Seth for Joaquin. Since Seth had seen them kissing (not knowing Joaquin forced the kiss on her) and because of his trust issues, he believes the note. He ends up beaten and left for dead by Joaquim's men. Joaquin tells Morgan he's killed Seth, and she's forced to accompany him, ending up in a San Francisco brothel, where she's paraded nude in front of a bunch of horny men and auctioned off. Lucky for her, the madam arranged for her to be bought by Theron, an interior decorator (need I say more?) and soon she's working as his assistant, and they develop a brother/sister relationship.
After Seth recovers, he hears rumors about Morgan (particularly from a woman who wants him for herself) and finds himself in San Francisco, checking out the stories and coming to the erroneous conclusion that after dumping Joaquin (or being dumped), Morgan decided to sell herself at a high-class brothel and went with the highest bidder, and is now his mistress. You would think, after knowing how innocent Morgan was, how long it took for her to sleep with him, despite their being married, and how she avoided being around men, he would have gotten a wakeup call and realized this can't be right. Instead, he's so blinded by jealous rage, that he locates her, sneaks into her room at night, and begins making love to her. When she awakens, she's both shocked and overjoyed to discover her beloved husband is alive and soon they make passionate love. Then, Seth shatters her heart by asking her if he was as good as her other lovers, pays her for her services, and leaves, without listening when she tried to explain everything. Both are hurt, angry and feel betrayed; he stays away, and she doesn't look for him.
Two months later, Morgan realizes she's pregnant.
Now, I won't spoil the story and say anything more, except that I would have given it another star, if they hadn't stretched some things out way too long, like their second separation. If you think it'll be a quick one, guess again. There's the OM on the horizon, as well as the OW, but to those (like me) who hate adultery, don't worry. The events that happen in this part of the book were all good ideas, but they were all dragged out a bit, and for those who like those hot love scenes, you'll end up as frustrated as Seth and Morgan.
The novel also concerns Morgan's character growth, from being an insecure girl with no confidence, to a self-assured young woman, to one who temporarily battles mental illness.
No more details! Despite some flaws here and there, I don't think you'll regret reading this, so give it a try.
This book is about one of those marriages of convenience that turns into a lot more, but it sure was a rocky road to HEA! According to her uncle's will, the h, Morgan, needs to get married in order to inherit the family ranch, and the H, Seth Colter, agrees to a marriage in name only, though it's only a matter of time before nature takes its course, as they can't deny their attraction, despite each not having a favorable opinion of the opposite sex. (Seth thinks women are vain and shallow, Morgan thinks men are after one thing, and each believes they can't be trusted.)
They have a few happy weeks of a real marriage when things go south. Joaquin, who has a ranch near Seth's, wants both Seth's land and the claim to the water rights, so he plots both to kill Seth and abduct Morgan, forcing her to write a note saying she's leaving Seth for Joaquin. Since Seth had seen them kissing (not knowing Joaquin forced the kiss on her) and because of his trust issues, he believes the note. He ends up beaten and left for dead by Joaquim's men. Joaquin tells Morgan he's killed Seth, and she's forced to accompany him, ending up in a San Francisco brothel, where she's paraded nude in front of a bunch of horny men and auctioned off. Lucky for her, the madam arranged for her to be bought by Theron, an interior decorator (need I say more?) and soon she's working as his assistant, and they develop a brother/sister relationship.
After Seth recovers, he hears rumors about Morgan (particularly from a woman who wants him for herself) and finds himself in San Francisco, checking out the stories and coming to the erroneous conclusion that after dumping Joaquin (or being dumped), Morgan decided to sell herself at a high-class brothel and went with the highest bidder, and is now his mistress. You would think, after knowing how innocent Morgan was, how long it took for her to sleep with him, despite their being married, and how she avoided being around men, he would have gotten a wakeup call and realized this can't be right. Instead, he's so blinded by jealous rage, that he locates her, sneaks into her room at night, and begins making love to her. When she awakens, she's both shocked and overjoyed to discover her beloved husband is alive and soon they make passionate love. Then, Seth shatters her heart by asking her if he was as good as her other lovers, pays her for her services, and leaves, without listening when she tried to explain everything. Both are hurt, angry and feel betrayed; he stays away, and she doesn't look for him.
Two months later, Morgan realizes she's pregnant.
Now, I won't spoil the story and say anything more, except that I would have given it another star, if they hadn't stretched some things out way too long, like their second separation. If you think it'll be a quick one, guess again. There's the OM on the horizon, as well as the OW, but to those (like me) who hate adultery, don't worry. The events that happen in this part of the book were all good ideas, but they were all dragged out a bit, and for those who like those hot love scenes, you'll end up as frustrated as Seth and Morgan.
The novel also concerns Morgan's character growth, from being an insecure girl with no confidence, to a self-assured young woman, to one who temporarily battles mental illness.
No more details! Despite some flaws here and there, I don't think you'll regret reading this, so give it a try.
September 20, 2023
I've read so many of Jude Deveraux's books and have absolutely loved the stories. However, this one was just both too much and not enough.
I hated Seth. In fact, I hated every guy in this novel except Adam. They were all trash in one way or another.
Morgan witnesses r*pe, and is almost r*ped herself, trafficked, and betrayed so many times that it is difficult to read. Seth misunderstands and calls her a wh*re, and doesn't believe what she goes through.
Rather than believe his wife, he believes everyone who is telling him that she is sleeping with multiple men and playing him. Not only that but after she is almost r*ped multiple times and trafficked, he believes the strangers he meets who say that she worked in a brothel. He gets angry, sleeps with her while pretending to believe her, then says unforgivable things to her.
She ends up pregnant and is so traumatized that she does her best to stay away from him. And he does some reflecting while mining for gold, and eventually finds out the truth. He then follows her, pretends to be a worker on her ranch and continues to try and make it work for the baby.
Regardless of Morgan's own annoyances with her character, Seth just makes me unbelievably angry. Jude Deveraux didn't put even one man in this story that is redeemable. I wasn't rooting for the couple, I was rooting for Morgan to become a strong single mother.
I hated Seth. In fact, I hated every guy in this novel except Adam. They were all trash in one way or another.
Morgan witnesses r*pe, and is almost r*ped herself, trafficked, and betrayed so many times that it is difficult to read. Seth misunderstands and calls her a wh*re, and doesn't believe what she goes through.
Rather than believe his wife, he believes everyone who is telling him that she is sleeping with multiple men and playing him. Not only that but after she is almost r*ped multiple times and trafficked, he believes the strangers he meets who say that she worked in a brothel. He gets angry, sleeps with her while pretending to believe her, then says unforgivable things to her.
She ends up pregnant and is so traumatized that she does her best to stay away from him. And he does some reflecting while mining for gold, and eventually finds out the truth. He then follows her, pretends to be a worker on her ranch and continues to try and make it work for the baby.
Regardless of Morgan's own annoyances with her character, Seth just makes me unbelievably angry. Jude Deveraux didn't put even one man in this story that is redeemable. I wasn't rooting for the couple, I was rooting for Morgan to become a strong single mother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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