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Frontiers of the Heart #1
Bound For Eden
A rollicking, funny historical romance of mistaken identity, wagon trains and an irresistible attraction
Alexandra Barratt has found the perfect man – it’s a shame he thinks she’s a boy.
Fleeing from the murderous Grady brothers with a stolen fortune hidden in her luggage and her younger brother and sister in tow, Alex disguises herself as a boy to join a wagon train headed West … a wagon train captained by the irresistible Luke Slater.
At first, Alex can’t believe the way every woman in town falls at Luke’s feet, including her suddenly flirtatious sister. But when she sees him naked in the bathtub, she finds herself swooning over him too. If only she could wash the muck of her face and show him who she really is…
As for Luke, he has no idea that the ragtag boy in his care is none other than the woman of his dreams. But when circumstances connive to throw Luke and Alex into each other’s arms, their relationship becomes very complicated indeed. In fact, with the brutal Silas Grady in pursuit, keeping their secret becomes a matter of life and death…
Alexandra Barratt has found the perfect man – it’s a shame he thinks she’s a boy.
Fleeing from the murderous Grady brothers with a stolen fortune hidden in her luggage and her younger brother and sister in tow, Alex disguises herself as a boy to join a wagon train headed West … a wagon train captained by the irresistible Luke Slater.
At first, Alex can’t believe the way every woman in town falls at Luke’s feet, including her suddenly flirtatious sister. But when she sees him naked in the bathtub, she finds herself swooning over him too. If only she could wash the muck of her face and show him who she really is…
As for Luke, he has no idea that the ragtag boy in his care is none other than the woman of his dreams. But when circumstances connive to throw Luke and Alex into each other’s arms, their relationship becomes very complicated indeed. In fact, with the brutal Silas Grady in pursuit, keeping their secret becomes a matter of life and death…
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2016
75 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Tess LeSue
4 books43 followersWhen not galloping through the Wild West, Tess is not-so-mild-mannered academic Dr Amy Matthews.
Amy is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Flinders University and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Amy T. Matthews and Amy Barry. She clearly has too much time on her hands.
Tess LeSue writes raunchy and adventurous historical romances, with strong and sassy heroines and heroes to make your knees go weak. Set against vast and dramatic backdrops, these are love stories to sweep you back in time, and off your feet.
Her historical Western, Bound for Eden, was runner up for Romance Writers of Australia’s 2016 Emerald PRO award and will be published by Harlequin/MIRA in 2016.
You can find Tess on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tess-LeSue-1...
Amy is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Flinders University and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Amy T. Matthews and Amy Barry. She clearly has too much time on her hands.
Tess LeSue writes raunchy and adventurous historical romances, with strong and sassy heroines and heroes to make your knees go weak. Set against vast and dramatic backdrops, these are love stories to sweep you back in time, and off your feet.
Her historical Western, Bound for Eden, was runner up for Romance Writers of Australia’s 2016 Emerald PRO award and will be published by Harlequin/MIRA in 2016.
You can find Tess on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tess-LeSue-1...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 13, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I ended up liking this book quite a lot. I decided to read this book simply because I thought that the premise sounded rather interesting and I usually enjoyed historical western romances. This was one of those books that was really hard to put down once I started reading. I am so glad that I decided to take a chance with this book.
Alex and her siblings find themselves in a lot of danger at the start of the story. Everything that happened at the beginning of the book really got my attention and I found myself wanting to read just a bit more. They flee their home to head to their older brother's home but have a long way to go. Some bad men are after them so Alex decides that the best way to escape attention is to pose as a boy. Since the Grady brothers are looking for two women and a man, they will be much harder to find as a boy, woman, and man.
I liked this book despite the fact that it had a few things happen that I don't usually enjoy. I don't usually like to see a book's Hero with other women and that does happen in this book. I don't mind so much when it happens before the story starts and is talked about but I don't need to see it on the page. I am also not a huge fan of any Hero that is almost having to beat women off with a stick. I love Luke but I don't think any man is that universally appealing. I also found that I doubted Luke's intelligence. I don't really think that it is believable that he could have spent so much time with Alex without being able to see past her fake identity. All of these things actually worked for this book. I think that some of the charm and the humor worked into the story only worked because Luke was a clueless but irresistible man. Bravo to the author for making me like all of the things I wouldn't usually care for!
I liked Alex and Luke. They both had a few flaws that I felt added to their appeal. Alex was tough and determined. I did find some of her early reactions to Luke to be a bit unbelievable but it worked with this story. Luke really was a good guy. I liked the way that he took Alex's family under his wing and felt responsible for them. There were some wonderful secondary characters in the book as well, such as Alex's brother and sister, the local madam that sees everything, and a few members of the wagon train. I thought that the Grady brothers were great villains that I wanted to see defeated.
I would recommend this book to others. I had a lot of fun with it and found it to be a quick read. There were a few laughs and a couple of surprises along the way that kept everything very interesting. I was happy to see this couple make it to there happily ever after. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this one. It was pretty unrealistic but I still enjoyed it. It took Luke way too long to figure out who Alex really was but there were some good moments along the way.
I ended up liking this book quite a lot. I decided to read this book simply because I thought that the premise sounded rather interesting and I usually enjoyed historical western romances. This was one of those books that was really hard to put down once I started reading. I am so glad that I decided to take a chance with this book.
Alex and her siblings find themselves in a lot of danger at the start of the story. Everything that happened at the beginning of the book really got my attention and I found myself wanting to read just a bit more. They flee their home to head to their older brother's home but have a long way to go. Some bad men are after them so Alex decides that the best way to escape attention is to pose as a boy. Since the Grady brothers are looking for two women and a man, they will be much harder to find as a boy, woman, and man.
I liked this book despite the fact that it had a few things happen that I don't usually enjoy. I don't usually like to see a book's Hero with other women and that does happen in this book. I don't mind so much when it happens before the story starts and is talked about but I don't need to see it on the page. I am also not a huge fan of any Hero that is almost having to beat women off with a stick. I love Luke but I don't think any man is that universally appealing. I also found that I doubted Luke's intelligence. I don't really think that it is believable that he could have spent so much time with Alex without being able to see past her fake identity. All of these things actually worked for this book. I think that some of the charm and the humor worked into the story only worked because Luke was a clueless but irresistible man. Bravo to the author for making me like all of the things I wouldn't usually care for!
I liked Alex and Luke. They both had a few flaws that I felt added to their appeal. Alex was tough and determined. I did find some of her early reactions to Luke to be a bit unbelievable but it worked with this story. Luke really was a good guy. I liked the way that he took Alex's family under his wing and felt responsible for them. There were some wonderful secondary characters in the book as well, such as Alex's brother and sister, the local madam that sees everything, and a few members of the wagon train. I thought that the Grady brothers were great villains that I wanted to see defeated.
I would recommend this book to others. I had a lot of fun with it and found it to be a quick read. There were a few laughs and a couple of surprises along the way that kept everything very interesting. I was happy to see this couple make it to there happily ever after. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this one. It was pretty unrealistic but I still enjoyed it. It took Luke way too long to figure out who Alex really was but there were some good moments along the way.
November 16, 2025
On the run from a family with power, Alex, her sister, and her brother with special needs take a perilous trip across country to find refuge with her step brother in Oregon. Since Alex is being hunted she hides herself in the disguise of a teen boy. The disguise works perfectly until she falls hard for their trail guide Luke.
Cute, fun and everything I wanted in western based historical romance.
I have to admit, the amount of time it took for Luke to figure out what was going on, well it went a little too long. But overall, it kept a pretty strong pace as they trekked across the country to escape the Grady's.
Alex's wit made the book for me, even tormenting an Indian...
Lots of humor, engaging and completely lovable characters, Bound for Eden was just what I was looking for in a book escape.
I received this ARC copy of Bound for Eden from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Bound For Eden is set for publication May 1, 2018.
Cute, fun and everything I wanted in western based historical romance.
I have to admit, the amount of time it took for Luke to figure out what was going on, well it went a little too long. But overall, it kept a pretty strong pace as they trekked across the country to escape the Grady's.
Alex's wit made the book for me, even tormenting an Indian...
Lots of humor, engaging and completely lovable characters, Bound for Eden was just what I was looking for in a book escape.
I received this ARC copy of Bound for Eden from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Bound For Eden is set for publication May 1, 2018.
April 2, 2017
Review to come once I stop smiling idiotically... Oh glory!
April 25, 2021
This has got to be a no for me.
What did these two characters have that made them interesting? Well...they are both like- really, really, ridiculously good looking- aaand thats about it. Alex was stubborn, sulky and quick to anger while Luke was an unapologetic cocky flirt.
I get that Alex is young and naive- but why would she want a guy that not only has a woman back home he wants to marry, is a whoremonger, is all over "Beatrice", and is showing interest in your (younger- 16 year old??) sister. No thanks. How old is this guy anyway? I get its a historical romance but I'm making a stank face at this guy.
I mean when it comes to Luke whoring around and flirting with every woman:
charmer.
oh and don't forget:
Oh, and that ending was reeaal romantic..not. I don't know why this bothered me but it did.
What did these two characters have that made them interesting? Well...they are both like- really, really, ridiculously good looking- aaand thats about it. Alex was stubborn, sulky and quick to anger while Luke was an unapologetic cocky flirt.
I get that Alex is young and naive- but why would she want a guy that not only has a woman back home he wants to marry, is a whoremonger, is all over "Beatrice", and is showing interest in your (younger- 16 year old??) sister. No thanks. How old is this guy anyway? I get its a historical romance but I'm making a stank face at this guy.
I mean when it comes to Luke whoring around and flirting with every woman:
Alex scowled at his back as she followed him into the kitchen.
“What would your sweetheart think?”
“What she don’t know won’t hurt her.”
charmer.
oh and don't forget:
"Amelia Harding was going to be his wife. She just hadn’t realized yet that women didn’t say “no” to Luke Slater."
Oh, and that ending was reeaal romantic..not. I don't know why this bothered me but it did.
July 21, 2018
Rated 4.5 - BOUND FOR EDEN by Tess LeSue is an exciting western starring a beautiful woman in trouble who disguises herself as a boy then hides in a cathouse from the men who want their gold back. Accompanied by her brother and sister, they meet a handsome man who knows both sides of this lady/boy’s personalities but doesn’t discover that they’re the same person for most of the novel. You can well imagine the insanity when they hit the Oregon Trail.
Like other historical western pioneer stories that I consider comfort reads, BOUND FOR EDEN has all the elements I love, plus a few surprises I didn’t expect. With danger, mean and hateful outlaws, a brave hero, and a ridiculously stubborn heroine — the combination works. I was a little bugged by the POV (point of view) switching in one of the intimate scenes, but it was well-done, so I got over my quirk.
I did roll my eyes a bit at the constant references to this couple’s beauty. Luke is a playboy through and through. Even though Alex knows she’s beautiful, she doesn’t realize her worth until Luke proves he’s serious about her. I did want a few more flaws for Luke. He was a little too much of a player and could get women to do anything for him with just a look. That sometimes made me wonder how Alex would forgive his nonsense.
Alex is hilarious. She is one spunky western gal. Her feistiness with Luke when she’s pretending to be a boy is very amusing. Hiding her beauty and allowing her sister to shine showed Alex’s determination and love for her siblings. Since the siblings are orphans and not really blood, but adopted together by a loving couple who died, this book reminded me of FOR THE ROSES by Julie Garwood, one of my favorites. It’s probably why I fell in love with the characters from the beginning.
BOUND FOR EDEN is so ridiculous and addictive that I carried the book with me everywhere until I finished. I laughed so hard at Deathrider. He’s the absolute best caricature of a Native American who befriends white settlers. He’s the best friend who knows you so well that he’s the thorn in your side for life. I had a feeling I knew who he really was, but even though I was wrong, it was so fun getting teased right along with Alex and Luke. LOVE this book as pure entertainment. I cannot wait for book two in this FRONTIERS OF THE HEART series, BOUND FOR SIN, due out in September 2018.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Like other historical western pioneer stories that I consider comfort reads, BOUND FOR EDEN has all the elements I love, plus a few surprises I didn’t expect. With danger, mean and hateful outlaws, a brave hero, and a ridiculously stubborn heroine — the combination works. I was a little bugged by the POV (point of view) switching in one of the intimate scenes, but it was well-done, so I got over my quirk.
I did roll my eyes a bit at the constant references to this couple’s beauty. Luke is a playboy through and through. Even though Alex knows she’s beautiful, she doesn’t realize her worth until Luke proves he’s serious about her. I did want a few more flaws for Luke. He was a little too much of a player and could get women to do anything for him with just a look. That sometimes made me wonder how Alex would forgive his nonsense.
Alex is hilarious. She is one spunky western gal. Her feistiness with Luke when she’s pretending to be a boy is very amusing. Hiding her beauty and allowing her sister to shine showed Alex’s determination and love for her siblings. Since the siblings are orphans and not really blood, but adopted together by a loving couple who died, this book reminded me of FOR THE ROSES by Julie Garwood, one of my favorites. It’s probably why I fell in love with the characters from the beginning.
BOUND FOR EDEN is so ridiculous and addictive that I carried the book with me everywhere until I finished. I laughed so hard at Deathrider. He’s the absolute best caricature of a Native American who befriends white settlers. He’s the best friend who knows you so well that he’s the thorn in your side for life. I had a feeling I knew who he really was, but even though I was wrong, it was so fun getting teased right along with Alex and Luke. LOVE this book as pure entertainment. I cannot wait for book two in this FRONTIERS OF THE HEART series, BOUND FOR SIN, due out in September 2018.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
September 21, 2018
This is one of those books that gave me a "what did I just read?" moment as soon as I finished it. That being said, I read the whole book in one sitting, so I can't really say I hated it. The plot was interesting, if a little unbelievable, and I liked some of the supporting characters, especially Dolly. However, I wasn't feeling the romance between Alex and Luke. I guess when the alleged hero of the romance literally ties up his love interest because she won't do what he wants (twice!) it's a little over the top for me. Luke's treatment of women in general was pretty gross, and I have a hard time suspending disbelief that Alex's unimaginable beauty has magically made him change his ways. The book had its good moments, and it did keep me reading straight through 'til the end, but overall it just wasn't for me. Thanks to First to Read for the advance copy.
May 26, 2019
I stayed up half the night finishing this book. I haven't stayed up half the night to finish a book in a long time. My old body can't handle that very often. (tears) Normally when a book is so engaging that it makes me stay up late it automatically gets five stars from me. But this one didn't. Why? Well, it wasn't because of readability. It was immensely readable. I loved the characters and the story and the beginnings of a Happily Ever After. So what happened?
Here's the thing ... Luke, the hero of this story is an idiot. Oh, I liked him. A lot. He was sweet and caring and brave. But he was an idiot. How could he not recognize that Alex was a girl ... not just a girl, but a woman? How could he not realize that the "Beatrice" of his dreams was the very girl that worked with him every single day. Every. Single. Day. They weren't passing acquaintances. They were working hard on their wagon train, constantly interacting with one another. I get why he might have been confused at first. They say she's a younger brother, so why wouldn't he believe them? Why would any young woman want to disguise herself as a boy and head to Oregon? Luke has a couple of very intimate encounters with a woman named "Beatrice." He decides she is the most amazing woman in the world. He dreams of her. Constantly. Beatrice is actually Alex, but apparently all it takes is for Alex to put on a pair of overalls and rub dirt all over her face, and suddenly Luke can't recognize her at all. REALLY? I spent a good portion of this book thinking about people I knew and wondering if I wouldn't recognize them on the street if they had dirt on their face. I have to say I can't think of anything they could do short of a drastic cosmetic change that could disguise them to me. So Luke's stupidity made this book a little too unrealistic to me. But I did like him as a character. A lot. He was just an idiot.
This was also a weird romance to read because for almost the entire book Luke, the hero, thinks that Alex, the heroine, is a pre-pubescent boy. So there are no longing looks or fluttering tummies or wild dreams. That would be full out creepy and disgusting. Luke thinks of Alex as a little brother, so all is well. Except for Alex. Poor Alex had to endure Luke's indifference because she could not let him know her true identity. I'm not sure why. Frankly, her life would have been WAY easier if she had just come out and told him the truth from the beginning. She could still play her role and keep her family safe, but he would be better able to protect her. The initial encounters between Luke and "Beatrice" were convenient for the plot, but they didn't make much logical sense for the characters. Alex seemed way too comfortable playing the temptress to Luke. And Luke, bless his heart, seemed like a fickle lover. I can't imagine why anyone would look to him as an ideal companion. Sure, he is kind and focused in his attentions, but he sure jumps around a lot, even though he supposedly has a girl he loves back in Oregon. Not the best recommendation for future actions, I would think.
I read this series backward, so I already read book three. It was interesting to see the way Seline is characterized in this book compared to what I know about her from the third book. Like that book, I feel like more time needed to be spent with the main characters after all of the deceptions had been uncovered. At least in book three it made sense that Tom could forgive Emma so quickly because they had built a solid friendship and companionship first, showing their true personalities to each other. In this one I felt like Luke and Alex needed WAY more time to get to know each other as who they really were. Alex knew Luke, but Luke had only interacted with Alex as a child for the majority of the book. He didn't know her at all. Simply thinking she was hot stuff was not enough to form a good relationship, in my opinion.
So,yeah ... I have a few issues with the plot of this book, but like I say, it was fun to read, and I couldn't put it down. That should count for something, I think. After never reading a western romance I have found myself interestingly attached to this series. I'm off to read book two now. Four stars for this one. I really liked it.
Here's the thing ... Luke, the hero of this story is an idiot. Oh, I liked him. A lot. He was sweet and caring and brave. But he was an idiot. How could he not recognize that Alex was a girl ... not just a girl, but a woman? How could he not realize that the "Beatrice" of his dreams was the very girl that worked with him every single day. Every. Single. Day. They weren't passing acquaintances. They were working hard on their wagon train, constantly interacting with one another. I get why he might have been confused at first. They say she's a younger brother, so why wouldn't he believe them? Why would any young woman want to disguise herself as a boy and head to Oregon? Luke has a couple of very intimate encounters with a woman named "Beatrice." He decides she is the most amazing woman in the world. He dreams of her. Constantly. Beatrice is actually Alex, but apparently all it takes is for Alex to put on a pair of overalls and rub dirt all over her face, and suddenly Luke can't recognize her at all. REALLY? I spent a good portion of this book thinking about people I knew and wondering if I wouldn't recognize them on the street if they had dirt on their face. I have to say I can't think of anything they could do short of a drastic cosmetic change that could disguise them to me. So Luke's stupidity made this book a little too unrealistic to me. But I did like him as a character. A lot. He was just an idiot.
This was also a weird romance to read because for almost the entire book Luke, the hero, thinks that Alex, the heroine, is a pre-pubescent boy. So there are no longing looks or fluttering tummies or wild dreams. That would be full out creepy and disgusting. Luke thinks of Alex as a little brother, so all is well. Except for Alex. Poor Alex had to endure Luke's indifference because she could not let him know her true identity. I'm not sure why. Frankly, her life would have been WAY easier if she had just come out and told him the truth from the beginning. She could still play her role and keep her family safe, but he would be better able to protect her. The initial encounters between Luke and "Beatrice" were convenient for the plot, but they didn't make much logical sense for the characters. Alex seemed way too comfortable playing the temptress to Luke. And Luke, bless his heart, seemed like a fickle lover. I can't imagine why anyone would look to him as an ideal companion. Sure, he is kind and focused in his attentions, but he sure jumps around a lot, even though he supposedly has a girl he loves back in Oregon. Not the best recommendation for future actions, I would think.
I read this series backward, so I already read book three. It was interesting to see the way Seline is characterized in this book compared to what I know about her from the third book. Like that book, I feel like more time needed to be spent with the main characters after all of the deceptions had been uncovered. At least in book three it made sense that Tom could forgive Emma so quickly because they had built a solid friendship and companionship first, showing their true personalities to each other. In this one I felt like Luke and Alex needed WAY more time to get to know each other as who they really were. Alex knew Luke, but Luke had only interacted with Alex as a child for the majority of the book. He didn't know her at all. Simply thinking she was hot stuff was not enough to form a good relationship, in my opinion.
So,yeah ... I have a few issues with the plot of this book, but like I say, it was fun to read, and I couldn't put it down. That should count for something, I think. After never reading a western romance I have found myself interestingly attached to this series. I'm off to read book two now. Four stars for this one. I really liked it.
June 22, 2024
Sheesh I can’t remember the last time I was so annoyed by a romance hero. Every time a new male character showed up I wanted so badly for the heroine to pair up with the new guy and ditch the hero. Ugh.
Spoiler-ish ahead
Every woman in the book was falling all over the hero (Luke) and for what?! It's clear that the author wanted him to be a charming, charismatic ladies man but he was just annoying and I couldn't take him seriously as a romantic male lead. The heroine (Alex) spends most of the book disguised as a boy and she developed feelings for Luke even though he was dismissive and patronizing to her when he thought she was a teenage boy. Even when Luke realizes that Alex is in fact a girl, he still thinks she's a teenager even though he saw her out of disguise before, thinking she was a whole different woman. But he's so fucking dumb that he doesn't realize who she is even though he waxes poetic to himself about the smoky grey eyes of the beautiful mystery woman yet he's spent weeks with this girl and he hasn't looked in her goddamn eyes? or noticed that they have the same hair color & texture? Having dirt on your face doesn't magically alter a person's facial structure. Even Luke's friend/acquaintance eventually ditches the group because Luke's inability to put two and two together it boring him to death as well.
and this doesn't even begin to cover what i think about Luke and the last 15% of the book which i don't have the energy or wherewithal to go into right now
Spoiler-ish ahead
Every woman in the book was falling all over the hero (Luke) and for what?! It's clear that the author wanted him to be a charming, charismatic ladies man but he was just annoying and I couldn't take him seriously as a romantic male lead. The heroine (Alex) spends most of the book disguised as a boy and she developed feelings for Luke even though he was dismissive and patronizing to her when he thought she was a teenage boy. Even when Luke realizes that Alex is in fact a girl, he still thinks she's a teenager even though he saw her out of disguise before, thinking she was a whole different woman. But he's so fucking dumb that he doesn't realize who she is even though he waxes poetic to himself about the smoky grey eyes of the beautiful mystery woman yet he's spent weeks with this girl and he hasn't looked in her goddamn eyes? or noticed that they have the same hair color & texture? Having dirt on your face doesn't magically alter a person's facial structure. Even Luke's friend/acquaintance eventually ditches the group because Luke's inability to put two and two together it boring him to death as well.
and this doesn't even begin to cover what i think about Luke and the last 15% of the book which i don't have the energy or wherewithal to go into right now
April 11, 2018
I don't know about you, but I love a good romance that starts off with the hero mistaking the heroine as a boy. I usually find such tropes in historical romances revolving around highlanders, but I was interested to see how it would play out with cowboys. Since Alex is on the run from a group of brother's for stealing an obscene amount of money from them, she and her siblings decide to head out west to Oregon to meet up with their brother. They pretend that Alex is the young brother, when she's really the oldest of them all, and join Luke's convoy of wagons heading out west. Little does he know that the "runt" he's been ordering around, and taken under his wing, is actually a woman
Let's get one thing out of the way. I'm not well versed in the whole "Oregon trail" era, other than what that wretched game taught me. Never name the members of your party after friends or family, because they will all die a tragic death. Thus, scarring you for life. So, I have no clue if visiting a whore house every night when you are besotted with another woman is normal. I would have loved Luke's character if he wasn't boning everything with two legs. Which made it really hard to get behind his character and the romance between him and Alex. Every night that he was in town, before leading his convoy out west, he was spending it in the whore house. However, he'd talk about the girl back home that he intended to marry. Not to mention when he becomes obsessed with "Beatrice", who was really just Alex who decided to dress like a girl for a night. She's all he can think about, and yet, there he is, saddling up to yet another woman willing to have a toss in the hay with him. I honestly don't know how Alex could have been so smitten with him when she knows all this about him. Which made me wonder, is this normal? I mean, for the time period, is it normal to still want a man after you've witness him taking liberties in a whore house just about every chance you bump into him? Or the fact that he's flirting with your sister? This dude seriously couldn't keep it in his pants and it was a major turn-off for me.
Poor Alex had the short end of the deal. While her younger sister played her damsel card gaining every male's attention, and her younger brother was content with caring for the livestock and treated with respect by Luke, Alex was basically the low man on the totem pole. She did all the dirty work of waking up early and making breakfast, fetching water for baths, cleaning up after a meal. It was painstakingly clear that Luke had no idea that "Runt" was really a girl. However, there were tender moments when you could clearly tell that Luke had taken Alex under his wing. He took it upon himself to teach her how to ride a horse, he relaxed around her, and in the end viewed her as a friend and ally. She basically went from being a lady to doing all the hard work that was expected of a young boy, and she never really complained about it. She grumbled a bunch, but set off and took care of the task at hand.
The story moves along at an even pace. We are with the characters as they hire Luke, procure a wagon and livestock, and head out west. We are witness to some nail-biting moments while they are on the road. As well as moments of them settled on the west coast. However, I wish we had more time with these two once the air is cleared. I mean, the ending just felt so random and rushed that I honestly felt a little gypped. I don't want to go into specifics, but let's just say that one moment they aren't even speaking to each other and the next moment they are married. I just wish the author took more time to establish them as a couple before jumping right to the, "and they lived happily ever after."
Bound for Eden was a fun story. There were some intense scenes when I thought the Grady brothers were going to catch Alex and her siblings, and times when I thought they were going to die while trying to make it to Oregon. I loved getting to meet all the characters in the story. From Alex's siblings, to Dolly who ran the whore house, to Rides with Death (aka Nate) who was an Arapaho Indian we meet while on the road, and even good ole' Ned who had a crush on Victoria... but was probably old enough to be her father. This novel had so much going on that I was practically glued to the pages. I'm really hoping that Nate gets his own book because his character is so mysterious. Luke knows him as Deathrider, another character said that he has many names and none at all, and the man sort of just ghosts around in the middle of nowhere. I feel like his story would be a good one.
Let's get one thing out of the way. I'm not well versed in the whole "Oregon trail" era, other than what that wretched game taught me. Never name the members of your party after friends or family, because they will all die a tragic death. Thus, scarring you for life. So, I have no clue if visiting a whore house every night when you are besotted with another woman is normal. I would have loved Luke's character if he wasn't boning everything with two legs. Which made it really hard to get behind his character and the romance between him and Alex. Every night that he was in town, before leading his convoy out west, he was spending it in the whore house. However, he'd talk about the girl back home that he intended to marry. Not to mention when he becomes obsessed with "Beatrice", who was really just Alex who decided to dress like a girl for a night. She's all he can think about, and yet, there he is, saddling up to yet another woman willing to have a toss in the hay with him. I honestly don't know how Alex could have been so smitten with him when she knows all this about him. Which made me wonder, is this normal? I mean, for the time period, is it normal to still want a man after you've witness him taking liberties in a whore house just about every chance you bump into him? Or the fact that he's flirting with your sister? This dude seriously couldn't keep it in his pants and it was a major turn-off for me.
Poor Alex had the short end of the deal. While her younger sister played her damsel card gaining every male's attention, and her younger brother was content with caring for the livestock and treated with respect by Luke, Alex was basically the low man on the totem pole. She did all the dirty work of waking up early and making breakfast, fetching water for baths, cleaning up after a meal. It was painstakingly clear that Luke had no idea that "Runt" was really a girl. However, there were tender moments when you could clearly tell that Luke had taken Alex under his wing. He took it upon himself to teach her how to ride a horse, he relaxed around her, and in the end viewed her as a friend and ally. She basically went from being a lady to doing all the hard work that was expected of a young boy, and she never really complained about it. She grumbled a bunch, but set off and took care of the task at hand.
The story moves along at an even pace. We are with the characters as they hire Luke, procure a wagon and livestock, and head out west. We are witness to some nail-biting moments while they are on the road. As well as moments of them settled on the west coast. However, I wish we had more time with these two once the air is cleared. I mean, the ending just felt so random and rushed that I honestly felt a little gypped. I don't want to go into specifics, but let's just say that one moment they aren't even speaking to each other and the next moment they are married. I just wish the author took more time to establish them as a couple before jumping right to the, "and they lived happily ever after."
Bound for Eden was a fun story. There were some intense scenes when I thought the Grady brothers were going to catch Alex and her siblings, and times when I thought they were going to die while trying to make it to Oregon. I loved getting to meet all the characters in the story. From Alex's siblings, to Dolly who ran the whore house, to Rides with Death (aka Nate) who was an Arapaho Indian we meet while on the road, and even good ole' Ned who had a crush on Victoria... but was probably old enough to be her father. This novel had so much going on that I was practically glued to the pages. I'm really hoping that Nate gets his own book because his character is so mysterious. Luke knows him as Deathrider, another character said that he has many names and none at all, and the man sort of just ghosts around in the middle of nowhere. I feel like his story would be a good one.
June 5, 2019
Well that was really strange. I was moderately enjoying it up until about 2/3 way through, and then it kind of stopped making sense. Pretty much as soon as everyone finds out that Alex is a girl, it really tanked for me and turned really random. Like super random. Honestly, if I hadn’t already picked up the next two books, I probably wouldn’t bother, but I’ll try one more book before giving this author a pass.
August 15, 2018
B- at AAR, so 3.5 stars Début author? Western romance? Why yes, sign me up please. Bound for Eden is quite unlike most of the Westerns I’ve read, but once I got into it, I quite enjoyed myself. This novel has plenty of adventure, but pairs it with a light and humorous tone which makes for quite the wagon train romp.
The book opens in 1840s Mississippi as the recently orphaned Alexandra Barratt finds herself once again fending off the unwanted advances of a no-good Grady brother. We quickly figure out that the Gradys are brutal bullies, and since the local sheriff won’t stand up to them, Alex and her siblings find themselves on the run. Naturally, as so many good historical heroines on the run do, Alex disguises herself as a boy.
Determined to escape, Alex and her family make it to St. Louis only to discover the murderous Gradys hot on their trail. Next step? Independence, Missouri – the starting point of the Oregon Trail. At the other end of the trail they hope to find their older brother, the only family any of them has left in the world. Fortuitously, the group encounters wagon master Luke Slater and work their way into his party.
And from here the complications (and the fun) really get going. Luke is gorgeous, of course, so all the women swoon over him from the saloon girls to Alex’s teenage sister. Alex herself is not immune to his charms, but since she’s supposed to be a boy, this naturally creates some problems for her. The author cleverly throws in a campy scene where Luke gets to see Alex as a woman. Naturally, Alex is disguised, but even so, Luke can’t stop thinking about the mysterious and lovely lady.
If you only like your Westerns serious and angsty, Bound for Eden may not be your cup of tea. It’s more Blazing Saddles than Unforgiven , so definitely not a traditional Western.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
The book opens in 1840s Mississippi as the recently orphaned Alexandra Barratt finds herself once again fending off the unwanted advances of a no-good Grady brother. We quickly figure out that the Gradys are brutal bullies, and since the local sheriff won’t stand up to them, Alex and her siblings find themselves on the run. Naturally, as so many good historical heroines on the run do, Alex disguises herself as a boy.
Determined to escape, Alex and her family make it to St. Louis only to discover the murderous Gradys hot on their trail. Next step? Independence, Missouri – the starting point of the Oregon Trail. At the other end of the trail they hope to find their older brother, the only family any of them has left in the world. Fortuitously, the group encounters wagon master Luke Slater and work their way into his party.
And from here the complications (and the fun) really get going. Luke is gorgeous, of course, so all the women swoon over him from the saloon girls to Alex’s teenage sister. Alex herself is not immune to his charms, but since she’s supposed to be a boy, this naturally creates some problems for her. The author cleverly throws in a campy scene where Luke gets to see Alex as a woman. Naturally, Alex is disguised, but even so, Luke can’t stop thinking about the mysterious and lovely lady.
If you only like your Westerns serious and angsty, Bound for Eden may not be your cup of tea. It’s more Blazing Saddles than Unforgiven , so definitely not a traditional Western.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
May 22, 2020
Light hearted western romance. Not real heavy on the historical details. They were on a wagon train west and no one died of cholera or childbirth or indian attack. There were other bad guys instead. There was a lot of character interaction which was fun. Some of the situations were fairly unlikely but all in all I enjoyed it quite a bit.
February 4, 2019
This started out okay. The American frontier is a subject I like. LeSue's writing was solid. The pacing went about the way of "slow burn" which was mildly irritating, but I was willing to go along with it.
But I think at about 75% of the way through, the plot took a violent left towards stupid and left me reeling until the end. LeSue did this very annoying thing where she would skip ahead over a climactic point (i.e. ) and then refer back to it before jumping forward in time again. That is awful blow to tension.
I was also hoping that Luke would shape up to be a decent guy, but he really wasn't romantic...he was jealous and slutty and downright stupid.
Alex really lost her reasons for being whiny once the ) Talk about fabricated drama.
Also, I didn't like the sudden shift in plot.
Also, in what world can a bodacious 19-year-old ever be mistaken for a 12-year-old beanpole boy??
The introduction of Nathaniel was like some weird, random Deus ex machina...
Biggest beef?
So...thanks, but no thanks.
But I think at about 75% of the way through, the plot took a violent left towards stupid and left me reeling until the end. LeSue did this very annoying thing where she would skip ahead over a climactic point (i.e. ) and then refer back to it before jumping forward in time again. That is awful blow to tension.
I was also hoping that Luke would shape up to be a decent guy, but he really wasn't romantic...he was jealous and slutty and downright stupid.
Alex really lost her reasons for being whiny once the ) Talk about fabricated drama.
Also, I didn't like the sudden shift in plot.
Also, in what world can a bodacious 19-year-old ever be mistaken for a 12-year-old beanpole boy??
The introduction of Nathaniel was like some weird, random Deus ex machina...
Biggest beef?
So...thanks, but no thanks.
June 4, 2020
I was hoping to get a kick out of reading a western because my dad loved them so much!
My dad loved reading and his choice of books were mainly westerns, I can vaguely remember reading a couple of his paperbacks and I’m sure I found them to be enjoyable. I don’t give much thought to reading westerns these days, that was something I did in the early 80s but when I spotted this book at the Lifeline Big Book Fair my mind was cast back to my dad sitting in his favourite chair and reading westerns for hours which annoyed my mum no end (lol, great memories). Naturally, I wasn’t leaving without buying this book.
A historical western romance set in the mid 1800s. It was entertaining enough though I’m still having a hard time deciding how I feel about this story. The setting of the Old West was excellent, lots of great drama and excitement on the Oregon Trail which was described so vividly at times I thought I was on an adventure alongside the characters BUT, I had trouble connecting with the hero, he was dominating and I lost count how many whores he slept with, not really a man you could trust so I’m clueless as to why the heroine, disguised as a boy, lusts after him as the reader we don’t learn why, perhaps it’s because every woman wanted him or so we’re told countless times throughout the book. I get that it’s a historical romance but there’s just too much abuse and lusting and not enough cowboys and Indians, so to speak, for my liking.
Oh, it’s a series, I suppose I’ll have to read book two! I won’t mind if the Native American, Deathrider, Nate, White Wolf or whatever other name he calls himself by gets his own book. I feel his story could be a good one.
Book No.11 in the #20Backlistin2020 Challenge
Pub. 2016
On the TBR bookshelf: 2 years
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2020: #22 - A Western
My dad loved reading and his choice of books were mainly westerns, I can vaguely remember reading a couple of his paperbacks and I’m sure I found them to be enjoyable. I don’t give much thought to reading westerns these days, that was something I did in the early 80s but when I spotted this book at the Lifeline Big Book Fair my mind was cast back to my dad sitting in his favourite chair and reading westerns for hours which annoyed my mum no end (lol, great memories). Naturally, I wasn’t leaving without buying this book.
A historical western romance set in the mid 1800s. It was entertaining enough though I’m still having a hard time deciding how I feel about this story. The setting of the Old West was excellent, lots of great drama and excitement on the Oregon Trail which was described so vividly at times I thought I was on an adventure alongside the characters BUT, I had trouble connecting with the hero, he was dominating and I lost count how many whores he slept with, not really a man you could trust so I’m clueless as to why the heroine, disguised as a boy, lusts after him as the reader we don’t learn why, perhaps it’s because every woman wanted him or so we’re told countless times throughout the book. I get that it’s a historical romance but there’s just too much abuse and lusting and not enough cowboys and Indians, so to speak, for my liking.
Oh, it’s a series, I suppose I’ll have to read book two! I won’t mind if the Native American, Deathrider, Nate, White Wolf or whatever other name he calls himself by gets his own book. I feel his story could be a good one.
Book No.11 in the #20Backlistin2020 Challenge
Pub. 2016
On the TBR bookshelf: 2 years
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2020: #22 - A Western
November 1, 2017
I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover but the male model on the front of this cover had me go weak at the knees. My husband felt that he was better looking than the cover hero – and maybe he was – 50 years ago!!!
Set in the mid-1800s, Alexandra Barratt and her two siblings Victoria and Adam are in dire straits as the neighbouring Grady brothers move in to take over their property after the death of their parents. No money, no food and physical threats have the three siblings at the end of their endurance. A fluke event gets them gold and bonds and has them fleeing west to Oregon to join their older brother. Scared of being followed Alex disguises herself as a young lad and they tell everyone that Alex has gone east and so their adventure begins. The Grady brothers come looking – and horrible things happen to animals and people as the wicked brothers look for their property. Alex and her sister both fall for Luke – but he has a woman he is promised to back west, and besides Alex is just a wet behind the ears bothersome kid. There are a few sub plots going on and many misunderstandings as the danger to the wagon train increases. The story is well stocked with quirky characters, loose ladies and mysterious Indians to name a few. I really, really enjoyed the story, and the final climax was edge of the seat stuff. There is tension and passion, humour and horror all set on the Oregon Trail.
This was Tess LeSue’s debut western and I really hope that it is not long before she releases a second one.
With thanks to Harlequin (Australia) Publishers and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Set in the mid-1800s, Alexandra Barratt and her two siblings Victoria and Adam are in dire straits as the neighbouring Grady brothers move in to take over their property after the death of their parents. No money, no food and physical threats have the three siblings at the end of their endurance. A fluke event gets them gold and bonds and has them fleeing west to Oregon to join their older brother. Scared of being followed Alex disguises herself as a young lad and they tell everyone that Alex has gone east and so their adventure begins. The Grady brothers come looking – and horrible things happen to animals and people as the wicked brothers look for their property. Alex and her sister both fall for Luke – but he has a woman he is promised to back west, and besides Alex is just a wet behind the ears bothersome kid. There are a few sub plots going on and many misunderstandings as the danger to the wagon train increases. The story is well stocked with quirky characters, loose ladies and mysterious Indians to name a few. I really, really enjoyed the story, and the final climax was edge of the seat stuff. There is tension and passion, humour and horror all set on the Oregon Trail.
This was Tess LeSue’s debut western and I really hope that it is not long before she releases a second one.
With thanks to Harlequin (Australia) Publishers and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
August 9, 2019
In many ways, this book should have been my catnip (mistaken identity! I love it). Unfortunately, it was not - from the very beginning, there was something off about it for me, but I kept reading in the hopes that it would get better.
It didn't.
Here's what I didn't like:
(1) Characters were flat / character motivation was puzzling and seemed unrealistic at times. Does anyone change or grow by the end of the book? No, not really. Do people do things for totally odd and implausible reasons? Yes, they absolutely do. (Like when a character who has been in disguise as a man! to save her life and the life of her family! goes and drops that disguise so she can ... dance with the man of her dreams? HUH??)
(2) Sex between the hero / heroine was, like, pretty dubiously consensual. (She's sleeping in a room in a brothel, and the dude thinks she's a LoOsE wOmAn and can start making out with her, only to realize she is gasp! a virgin! and then later, they have sex but he's super drunk and thinks he's dreaming. Ahhhhh, I hate it. I just really like conversations about consent in my romance.)
(3) Overall, the tone of this was humorous, but it reminded me of an 80s romance - character descriptions were super over the top, people did things for totally inexplicable reasons, and there's a lot of heightened emotions running around in this book.
It didn't.
Here's what I didn't like:
(1) Characters were flat / character motivation was puzzling and seemed unrealistic at times. Does anyone change or grow by the end of the book? No, not really. Do people do things for totally odd and implausible reasons? Yes, they absolutely do. (Like when a character who has been in disguise as a man! to save her life and the life of her family! goes and drops that disguise so she can ... dance with the man of her dreams? HUH??)
(2) Sex between the hero / heroine was, like, pretty dubiously consensual. (She's sleeping in a room in a brothel, and the dude thinks she's a LoOsE wOmAn and can start making out with her, only to realize she is gasp! a virgin! and then later, they have sex but he's super drunk and thinks he's dreaming. Ahhhhh, I hate it. I just really like conversations about consent in my romance.)
(3) Overall, the tone of this was humorous, but it reminded me of an 80s romance - character descriptions were super over the top, people did things for totally inexplicable reasons, and there's a lot of heightened emotions running around in this book.
April 20, 2018
Blergh. Overlooking the malapropism in chapter 1, let's skip to the main problem with this book, shall we? Who ever thinks it's a good idea to make your main plot point, "Ooooh-ooooh-gah! Cute guy with his shirt off! I'm in loooooooove!" Complete worthless garbage.
Read
March 15, 2018So. damn. FUN!
Alex was such a sassy badass and Luke is number one in my cowboy loving heart. (Sorry Clint!)
Alex was such a sassy badass and Luke is number one in my cowboy loving heart. (Sorry Clint!)
March 23, 2018
I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. I tried but I couldn't. :(
January 11, 2019
I love a good story about a woman disguised as a man. Usually they have an element of the man getting some strange feelings for the woman who he thinks is a guy and starting to question his sexuality and/or sanity - but not this one. Ohhhh boy, not this one (though maybe Luke does start questioning his sanity at some point, haha). I LOVE the dual relationship Luke has with Alex in both the ways he know her, both as the beautiful Beatrice and as the "runt" Alex - but boy, he sure is thick.
Alex is put again and again into situations where she proves just how tough she is. And boy, is she country strong. I love that she's so strong for her found family, and yet she's still so real and human and has moments where she's vain about the mud caking her face, or jealous of her sister's pretty dress and ability to dance with the men.
And then there's Luke... Oh, Luke... he really should have figured things out a little sooner, but I guess sometimes we see what we expect to see. And I suppose a man so used to having women hang all over him must assume that someone NOT hanging all over him must either be male or a child, right? Sure, we'll go with that, haha. Regardless, his continued obtuseness is entertaining and sure gives Alex plenty of time to get spitting mad at him.
The writing style was a little confusing. This is told in the omniscient past tense, so the reader gets glimpses into the thoughts and motivations of both the main characters as well as several of the side characters, and at times it could get to be a little confusing. That being said, it was also pretty great to see, for example, Ned O'Brien's growing attraction to Victoria and Victoria's own thoughts, schemes and motivations, as well as Luke's brothers reactions to events. In a way it really helped to give a deeper insight into the overall plot as well as into the main characters themselves that their own introspection wouldn't have necessarily given if the story had been told in a more traditionally seen third person limited POV alternating between the two leads.
This is the first book in the Frontiers of the Heart series, but can be read as a stand alone. Tune into the rest of the series to read Matt and Tom's stories (I adored Tom's book, the third in the series, Bound for Temptation), and I have it on very good authority that the author is working on a book about a certain tall, dark, handsome pale-eyed Indian... I hope he finally meets up with that beautiful Archer author woman. ;)
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
Alex is put again and again into situations where she proves just how tough she is. And boy, is she country strong. I love that she's so strong for her found family, and yet she's still so real and human and has moments where she's vain about the mud caking her face, or jealous of her sister's pretty dress and ability to dance with the men.
And then there's Luke... Oh, Luke... he really should have figured things out a little sooner, but I guess sometimes we see what we expect to see. And I suppose a man so used to having women hang all over him must assume that someone NOT hanging all over him must either be male or a child, right? Sure, we'll go with that, haha. Regardless, his continued obtuseness is entertaining and sure gives Alex plenty of time to get spitting mad at him.
The writing style was a little confusing. This is told in the omniscient past tense, so the reader gets glimpses into the thoughts and motivations of both the main characters as well as several of the side characters, and at times it could get to be a little confusing. That being said, it was also pretty great to see, for example, Ned O'Brien's growing attraction to Victoria and Victoria's own thoughts, schemes and motivations, as well as Luke's brothers reactions to events. In a way it really helped to give a deeper insight into the overall plot as well as into the main characters themselves that their own introspection wouldn't have necessarily given if the story had been told in a more traditionally seen third person limited POV alternating between the two leads.
This is the first book in the Frontiers of the Heart series, but can be read as a stand alone. Tune into the rest of the series to read Matt and Tom's stories (I adored Tom's book, the third in the series, Bound for Temptation), and I have it on very good authority that the author is working on a book about a certain tall, dark, handsome pale-eyed Indian... I hope he finally meets up with that beautiful Archer author woman. ;)
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
May 3, 2018
Bound for Eden by Tess LeSue is the first book in her new Frontiers of the Heart series. Bound for Eden is a western historical romance that was an enjoyable, fun story with some witty humor. Alexandra Barratt, our heroine, is on the run with her two younger siblings; Victoria and Adam. Having survived the death of their parents, Alex has been pressured by the bad neighboring brothers, who are trying to force her to marry one of them; but they are evil, and bad to the bone. Alex manages to steal some money from those Grady brothers, and escapes with her siblings to join a wagon train. She knows the Grady brothers are looking for two girls and boy, so Alex disguises herself as a boy to throw them off.
Luke Slater, who is ready to go home, after a long trek to buy an Arab horse, he meets the boy (Alex) and willingly takes him under his wing, advising him to purchase a wagon and horse to move west. Before they go, Alex gets to see more then she bargained for in Luke Slater, as it seems that every woman throws themselves at him, as he is a known womanizer. Luke enjoys the attention, especially in the whore house he visits, where he meets the woman of his dreams (Alex after she cleans up, and calls herself another name), but she manages to run away before he can find out who she is. Alex finds herself falling for the hot gorgeous Luke, but unfortunately, so does her sister, Victoria. Alex must keep her disguise and secret, as Victoria throws herself at Luke.
When the Grady Brothers come close to finding them, Luke will step in and help them, thinking that it is Victoria who they want. They all manage to escape and the wagon train moves west.
What follows is a sweet adventure with some danger, excitement and the humorous banter between Alex and Luke. The battle with the Gradys escalates, as they attack the wagon train. When they are caught and arrested, Alex, Victoria, Adam and Luke feel safe, but the danger will rise again.
I really liked them together, but this went on a bit too long & I found myself anxious for Luke to wake up and see what others could see; the woman who calls to his heart. When his brothers find the pretty Alex very attractive, Luke’s anger keeps him at a distance from Alex, who truly does love him; but Luke was blinded by his anger. The exciting climax, where both lives are in danger and hanging a thread, had me holding my breath to see if they would survive.
It was a very intense finish, but satisfying finish. Bound for Eden was a sweet fun historical western that was exciting, suspenseful and humorous, with a great couple and perfect blend of romance. I suggest you read Bound for Eden, which was very well written by Tess LeSue. I look forward to the next book by Tess LeSue.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Luke Slater, who is ready to go home, after a long trek to buy an Arab horse, he meets the boy (Alex) and willingly takes him under his wing, advising him to purchase a wagon and horse to move west. Before they go, Alex gets to see more then she bargained for in Luke Slater, as it seems that every woman throws themselves at him, as he is a known womanizer. Luke enjoys the attention, especially in the whore house he visits, where he meets the woman of his dreams (Alex after she cleans up, and calls herself another name), but she manages to run away before he can find out who she is. Alex finds herself falling for the hot gorgeous Luke, but unfortunately, so does her sister, Victoria. Alex must keep her disguise and secret, as Victoria throws herself at Luke.
When the Grady Brothers come close to finding them, Luke will step in and help them, thinking that it is Victoria who they want. They all manage to escape and the wagon train moves west.
What follows is a sweet adventure with some danger, excitement and the humorous banter between Alex and Luke. The battle with the Gradys escalates, as they attack the wagon train. When they are caught and arrested, Alex, Victoria, Adam and Luke feel safe, but the danger will rise again.
I really liked them together, but this went on a bit too long & I found myself anxious for Luke to wake up and see what others could see; the woman who calls to his heart. When his brothers find the pretty Alex very attractive, Luke’s anger keeps him at a distance from Alex, who truly does love him; but Luke was blinded by his anger. The exciting climax, where both lives are in danger and hanging a thread, had me holding my breath to see if they would survive.
It was a very intense finish, but satisfying finish. Bound for Eden was a sweet fun historical western that was exciting, suspenseful and humorous, with a great couple and perfect blend of romance. I suggest you read Bound for Eden, which was very well written by Tess LeSue. I look forward to the next book by Tess LeSue.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
February 10, 2019
It's cute, and I was highly amused by how irate and cranky the main character got but I don't think historical western is a setting I enjoy all that much.
May 11, 2018
4.75 stars
While it starts serious enough and has danger and adventure, it was the humour in this book that had me smiling and reading on. A heroine who has to hide as a boy while the hero is clueless that this is the woman of his dreams. The cast of characters were all fun and had their own delusions about what was going on. The setting of frontier America was more appealing than I thought it would be. I'm not used to such fast changes of POV but once I got used to it, it was easy to follow. It reminded me of the way you see the POV on the screen.
Totally fun and will definitely reading book 2 when it's released. Thanks for the ride, Ms LeSue!
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn't affect my star rating.
While it starts serious enough and has danger and adventure, it was the humour in this book that had me smiling and reading on. A heroine who has to hide as a boy while the hero is clueless that this is the woman of his dreams. The cast of characters were all fun and had their own delusions about what was going on. The setting of frontier America was more appealing than I thought it would be. I'm not used to such fast changes of POV but once I got used to it, it was easy to follow. It reminded me of the way you see the POV on the screen.
Totally fun and will definitely reading book 2 when it's released. Thanks for the ride, Ms LeSue!
Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn't affect my star rating.
March 26, 2018
Bound for Eden was a cute, fun read. I loved Alexandra and Luke, though he was way too oblivious. Every time I thought he was finally going to find out who she really is, something distracted him and I have to admit I was becoming quite impatient.
I love westerns so I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I love westerns so I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
May 2, 2018
Bound for Eden was the story of Alexandra Barratt and her siblings' trip West to escape the dangerous Grady family. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Luke and Alex, and their banter along the way. The author does a really good job of creating memorable characters, and even does interesting things with the villainous Grady family that I wasn't expecting. While it wasn't a hard hitting tale of the trip across the country during the time period, it did feature some interesting unique details that made this story different from others in the genre. The only major problem I had was with the first chapter where the author doesn't do a good job of setting the scene and the reader is just thrown into the action and I had to re-read it to figure out who was who and what was going on. However, after that I read quickly through to the end in one sitting.
ARC provided by Penguin First to Read
ARC provided by Penguin First to Read
May 1, 2018
Bound For Eden is my first book by Tess LeSue, hopefully, the first of many. Ms. LeSue has delivered a well-written book, a nice smooth read. The characters in this book are outstanding. Alexandra along with her brother and sister are on the run, fleeing from the Grady brothers. Luke has women clinging to him wherever he goes. He leads the wagon train that Alexandra, disguised as a young boy, along with her sister and brother join. Alexandra and Luke's story is packed with action, drama, humor, suspense and sexy bits. I enjoyed this story from the first page to the last and look forward to reading more from Tess LeSue in the future. Bound For Eden is book 1 of the Frontiers of the Heart Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received with a book I won from Goodreads. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received with a book I won from Goodreads. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 21, 2018
We meet Alex and her siblings who have been adopted by a family that had passed away. The parents own biological son was in Oregon so Alex decided to take the family there. To do so she had to pretend to be a boy because her brother was not able to take the lead. The Grady family are evil people trying to do bad things to Alex and her family. Most of the book we see them running from the Grady family. In that run we meet Luke that happens to be a wagon train leader. Luke is good looking and everyone falls head over heels for him as soon as they see him. We see him in a cat house a lot. He is an interesting character and I could not believe that he could not fully see what was in front of him until it was spelled out for him. Even Victoria (Alex's sister) is interested in Luke and is happy that her sister looks like a boy so that she can get the attention.
I did like the book and it was a quick read. Some of the settings and characters were not realistic but it is just a book and was fun to read.
I received this book to read for free from First to read in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
I did like the book and it was a quick read. Some of the settings and characters were not realistic but it is just a book and was fun to read.
I received this book to read for free from First to read in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
April 14, 2018
Hmm...not sure about this one. A little too much male ignorance and extreme violence for what should have been an intriguing romance. This was an easy read and the plot was interesting, but I’m just not excited by a leading man who’s a little ignorant and a lot over-dominant. I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
June 21, 2016
An entertaining read full of comical characters, stolen moments, gripping scenes and twists and turns in a story that didn't slow down. Laughing out loud one moment and captivated the next. An absorbing read from start to finish.
Review copy received from Harlequin Australia for an honest rating
Review copy received from Harlequin Australia for an honest rating
September 1, 2025
I love gender bender stories, so this one hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed reading this book in one sitting.
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