Clay

The Frasers #1

by Ana Leigh

From bestselling author Ana Leigh comes the first in a dazzling new series, as the rugged Fraser men find love and passion in the Wild West.When Yankee beauty Rebecca Elliot discovers that single women aren't allowed on the wagon train bound for California, she takes desperate measures. Spying handsome Clay Fraser, she puts her flirty plan into action and wakes, the next morning, with a wedding band on her finger.

Clay Fraser, a former Confederate soldier, is horrified to discover that he somehow got married last night -- and worse, to a Yankee. Worst of all, his new wife refuses to share his bed Sparks fly and attraction burns as the wagon train heads west, but it will take a love as expansive as the Western sky to show Rebecca and Clay how to claim the passionate new life that is their destiny....

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

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Wisconsin natives, Ana Leigh and her husband, Don, have three children and five grandchildren. From the time of the publication of her novel, LOVE'S LONG JOURNEY, by Leisure Books in 1981, Ana successfully juggled her time between her chosen career and her hobby of writing, until she officially retired in September of '94 to devote more time to her "hobby." In the past she has been a theater cashier (who married the boss,) the head of an accounting department, a corporate officer, and the only female on the Board of Directors of an engineering firm.

This best selling author (New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists) received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award nomination for Storyteller of the Year in 1991, the BOOKRAK 1995-1996 Best Selling Author Award for her May release, THE MACKENZIES: LUKE, the Romantic Times 1995-1996 Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance, and the Romantic Times 1996-1997 Career Achievement Award for Historical Storyteller of the Year. Ana still considers her proudest achievement as that of homemaker.

Reviews

[Christel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Becky has to get west and theonly way she can do that is on a wagon train with a husband. But one problem no husband. Oh what is a girl to do. Enter Clay Fraser, Becky picks him out of all the men in Independece to marry because he is clean. Ok, new way to pick a hubby. But after tricking him into marriage they eventually fall in love. Just a really cute story. I am really enjoying Ana Leigh's work.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot of this novel pivots on the fact that wagon trains did not allow unaccompanied, unmarried women to travel across the country alone. The labor required to handle the animals (oxen, mules or horses) was too taxing for a lone woman. Then there were the additional problems of mechanical breakdowns, inclement weather and problems with Indians. Finally, married women did not like having unmarried women traveling with them for the long months of the wagon train trips.

Our heroine Rebecca Elliott, a Yankee widow, was told by the wagon master that she had to get a husband by the time the wagon train rolled out or she would be left behind. Because Rebecca's husband had been killed by a Confederate soldier, she was horrified to discover that the two men that she could choose from were both ex-Confederates. However, desperate times call for desperate measures; Rebecca got one of the men drunk and married him. The next morning Clay Frasier was enraged to find himself married to a Yankee. The rest of the story is about how Rebecca and Clay found common ground to make a life together.

The story was so engaging that the pages sped by quickly.

Frasers
** 1. Frasers - Clay (2004)
2. The Lawman Said I Do (2005)
3. His Boots Under Her Bed (2006)
4. One Night with a Sweet-Talking Man (2008)
5. Holding Out for a Hero (2009)

[casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very average book overall but the pages defending secession, the overly cowardly/villainous Union soldier, and the yankee heroine being wrong about everything feels super gross. We get it Ana Leigh, you can’t wait for the South to rise again. Oh and she makes sure we know our previous confederate hero hasn’t bought or sold slaves in 50 years and his family just graciously let them leave whenever they want! Sure, that’s exactly how it worked. And don’t forget the savage Indian who absolutely has to have the white heroine. Not sure why I even bothered finishing this

[Ashley Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this Oregon Trail historical romance. This here is how to write a feisty independent woman that is still feminine and genuine and likeable. I think some contemporary romance authors could take note! If you liked the Yellowstone prequel 1883, I think you will LOVE Clay!

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story about American frontier in 1865 and a wagon train going from Missouri to California. I liked the pace of both the action and the romance. Yankee Rebecca can't join wagon train as a single woman so tricks Rebel Clay into marriage.

[Danette · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Started off well, but then it got monotonous. Pretty tame with the steaminess.

[Carisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average reading, didn't like the wrting style, forgettable characters.
HERO is not clearly defined.
SCENES/CONTENT: few/mild
GENRE/TONE: western/light
LENGHT: 330 pages

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the macaroni and cheese of novels: mild, predictable, and satisfying.

[Madhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read.

[Natalija · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 36%
Sadly, it's not keeping my interest.