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Western Ladies #1
A Lady of the West
Alternate-cover edition for ISBN 9780671019730 can be found here
Only true love could redeem....
Only true love could redeem....
Victoria Waverly, noble daughter of the war-ruined South, is sold in marriage to a ruthless rancher. Honor and pride help her endure life as a wife in name only but nothing can quench her forbidden desire for hired gunman Jake Roper. His gaze is hard, but tenderness he can't hide promises to unveil to Victoria the mysteries of love.
Only true love can destroy....
Jake curses his burning need for Victoria, for he wants nothing to stand in the way of his drive to reclaim Sarratt's Kingdom -- the ranch that is his legacy and obsession. But ancient wrongs and blazing passions will bind together the aristocratic beauty and the powerful cowboy. In a bloody land war, they will fight for Jake's birthright...and seize at all costs the love that is their destiny.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1990
334 people are currently reading
2399 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
223 books7,170 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
November 26, 2025
11/25/25: Re-Read
2/23/22: Re-read one million...Never. Gets. Old.
Re-read: 10/27/21: Continuing my re-read paperback/kindle "replacement" extravaganza...
4/16/17: Felt like a re-read...
Re-read 7/31/15
One of my ALL time, most re-read favorites...
I originally read this book when, well, when I was way to fucking young to read this type of book, probably (sorry Dad!)...1997...so I was probably 14 years old?
Even now - at almost 35 years old - I love this thing and I think I've probably read it cover to cover at least 25 times (and that's being conservative, peeps).
Victoria Waverly is one of my all time favorite heroines.
She is demure and elegant...with a spine of true lady steel.
I just love her.
Jake Roper is also one of my OG book boyfriends.
He brought western sexy back.
They are one of my favorite couples ever and I really love the historical western backdrop.
This one is truly classic Howard.
LOVE it.
2/23/22: Re-read one million...Never. Gets. Old.
Re-read: 10/27/21: Continuing my re-read paperback/kindle "replacement" extravaganza...
4/16/17: Felt like a re-read...
Re-read 7/31/15
One of my ALL time, most re-read favorites...
I originally read this book when, well, when I was way to fucking young to read this type of book, probably (sorry Dad!)...1997...so I was probably 14 years old?
Even now - at almost 35 years old - I love this thing and I think I've probably read it cover to cover at least 25 times (and that's being conservative, peeps).
Victoria Waverly is one of my all time favorite heroines.
She is demure and elegant...with a spine of true lady steel.
I just love her.
Jake Roper is also one of my OG book boyfriends.
He brought western sexy back.
They are one of my favorite couples ever and I really love the historical western backdrop.
This one is truly classic Howard.
LOVE it.
February 2, 2016
Hmmmmm..... Hard to rate. I'm thinking 2.5, but I just can't quite bring myself to round up. If it hadn't been for the one action I'll discuss below, I probably would have rated higher or given that full 3 stars.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It's no secret that I'm a fan of the old school bodice rippers, so the consent issues didn't bother me. I have a big disconnect in my head between acceptable in RL and acceptable in Romancelandia. It's almost like a split personality :-/
This was a typical old school rape/forced seduction plot. The heroine was in love with the hero and wanted him, but thought he didn't love her and therefore tried to hold herself back. The hero was determined to have her and seduce her through her defenses. Basically if he'd said the 3 magic words then the consent issues would go out the window. It's a standard bodice ripper trope.
What did bother me was that he slapped her once, so hard that it threw her into the wall, bruised her face, and busted her lip. Again, I have that disconnect, but the hero hitting the heroine and hitting her that hard are hard for me to swallow period. It's weird that the forced seduction/rape tropes don't get me but hitting does.
The heroine does not let him off easy. Thank god for that. It takes him 3 months to get back in her bed and that's because he forces the issue. After that she still keeps herself aloof from him right up until the final pages of the book.
In a historical I can put up with things that I can't in a contemporary. Social mores were so different that I know it had to effect the way men/women interacted. At that time it was perfectly legal for a man to do almost whatever he pleased with his wife. Doesn't make it right, but I'm not a fan of historicals that simply put a 21st century character in a fluffy dress or cowboy hat. Howard did not do that, these two were definitely not modern characters, but something was missing in the delivery that I really wanted.
I can forgive a fictional character for bad deeds, but I have to see the remorse. The hero did have remorse, but it wasn't expressed well. Yes, he did apologize and he didn't get instant forgiveness, but I needed *something* - some sort of heartfelt scene that we never got. Despite the sex scenes there was a real lack of intimacy between the H/h that we never see breached. There are hints of it at the end, but I'd liked to have seen it. We were privy to all of his and her internal thoughts, but I never got that scene between the H/h that would have satisfied me. I needed that scene where they laid themselves open to one another. Instead we get a very hard, aloof man who doesn't express himself well and a very staid, proper and proud woman who also doesn't express herself well.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It's no secret that I'm a fan of the old school bodice rippers, so the consent issues didn't bother me. I have a big disconnect in my head between acceptable in RL and acceptable in Romancelandia. It's almost like a split personality :-/
This was a typical old school rape/forced seduction plot. The heroine was in love with the hero and wanted him, but thought he didn't love her and therefore tried to hold herself back. The hero was determined to have her and seduce her through her defenses. Basically if he'd said the 3 magic words then the consent issues would go out the window. It's a standard bodice ripper trope.
What did bother me was that he slapped her once, so hard that it threw her into the wall, bruised her face, and busted her lip. Again, I have that disconnect, but the hero hitting the heroine and hitting her that hard are hard for me to swallow period. It's weird that the forced seduction/rape tropes don't get me but hitting does.
The heroine does not let him off easy. Thank god for that. It takes him 3 months to get back in her bed and that's because he forces the issue. After that she still keeps herself aloof from him right up until the final pages of the book.
In a historical I can put up with things that I can't in a contemporary. Social mores were so different that I know it had to effect the way men/women interacted. At that time it was perfectly legal for a man to do almost whatever he pleased with his wife. Doesn't make it right, but I'm not a fan of historicals that simply put a 21st century character in a fluffy dress or cowboy hat. Howard did not do that, these two were definitely not modern characters, but something was missing in the delivery that I really wanted.
I can forgive a fictional character for bad deeds, but I have to see the remorse. The hero did have remorse, but it wasn't expressed well. Yes, he did apologize and he didn't get instant forgiveness, but I needed *something* - some sort of heartfelt scene that we never got. Despite the sex scenes there was a real lack of intimacy between the H/h that we never see breached. There are hints of it at the end, but I'd liked to have seen it. We were privy to all of his and her internal thoughts, but I never got that scene between the H/h that would have satisfied me. I needed that scene where they laid themselves open to one another. Instead we get a very hard, aloof man who doesn't express himself well and a very staid, proper and proud woman who also doesn't express herself well.
February 16, 2021
.
Well Hell. It's Linda Howard, so of course it was well written and the characters could practically climb outta the pages. But still, there were things that made me not love it.
The story starts and ends with violence. In fact there was quite a bit of violence.
Two boys have their parents murdered and their futures stolen by their father's deceitful foreman.
Twenty years later 'The General' as the murderer likes to call himself decides to buy a wife from the South after it was gutted in the war. Victoria agrees to marry him if he will pay for her parent's old age and take care of her little sister and cousin as well.
Once she arrives on the ranch she questions her decision... and their safety. Especially her little sister Celia, who is too pretty for her own good and a beacon of innocence. All the ranch hands (and guns) watch them like predators. Especially Jake Roper.
Twenty years is a long time to plan vengeance.
I loved the characters but there are some spoilers below for the safety gang. And I gotta say, these are the reason it wasn't a 5 star read for me. I was also unimpressed with the romance between Jake's brother and Vic's cousin Emma. I thought Ben was a douche nozzle.
romance safety
Violence safety
Well Hell. It's Linda Howard, so of course it was well written and the characters could practically climb outta the pages. But still, there were things that made me not love it.
The story starts and ends with violence. In fact there was quite a bit of violence.
Two boys have their parents murdered and their futures stolen by their father's deceitful foreman.
Twenty years later 'The General' as the murderer likes to call himself decides to buy a wife from the South after it was gutted in the war. Victoria agrees to marry him if he will pay for her parent's old age and take care of her little sister and cousin as well.
Once she arrives on the ranch she questions her decision... and their safety. Especially her little sister Celia, who is too pretty for her own good and a beacon of innocence. All the ranch hands (and guns) watch them like predators. Especially Jake Roper.
Twenty years is a long time to plan vengeance.
I loved the characters but there are some spoilers below for the safety gang. And I gotta say, these are the reason it wasn't a 5 star read for me. I was also unimpressed with the romance between Jake's brother and Vic's cousin Emma. I thought Ben was a douche nozzle.
romance safety
Violence safety
December 14, 2014
This was a 5 star read for me right up to the abuse. I kept 2 star just for the writing. Unfortunately the hero being an abusive rapist broke the book for me. I'm very worried that women out there might believe the lie because: There really don't exist very many men who hit a woman just once. It is so ridiculous to think it won't happen again. Just can't believe in HEA. He'll get angry and eventually beat her regularly.
Historical accuracy is great in a history book, but there were plenty of Western husbands who didn't hit their wives in rage or force sex on them in the face of a clear no. Men can get very angry without hitting their wives. A man whose mother was raped and murdered and then becomes a rapist and abuser? He's no hero. He blames everyone else for his weakness but himself. He tells her he won't hit her again and expects her to believe his word, but his word is worthless...he married her and told her he'd keep her safe...but he lied. Even if it was her first husband's child, HE KNEW she was married right before he forced her to marry him and knew she must have suffered abuse from her first husband. In fact, knowing what a monster her husband was, believing she was suffering horrifically from such an evil madman, he demanded that she STAY in her marriage and continue to accept victimization and danger so she could be there for him to marry and use for his own purposes. To his mind, it should always have been a possibility that she would have been pregnant, so he is a first class idiot.
The fact that it turned out to be his baby and he was proven wrong and therefore accepted the blameless child only on the word of a prostitute rather than his wife actually ruined the book for me. Then he expresses his remorse by raping her a second time and just tells her to get over his hitting her.
The only saving grace is how Victoria turns on him after his abuse. When he threatens to go to other women, she notes that he is just like her first husband. Ironically, her first husband never hit her!
Historical accuracy is great in a history book, but there were plenty of Western husbands who didn't hit their wives in rage or force sex on them in the face of a clear no. Men can get very angry without hitting their wives. A man whose mother was raped and murdered and then becomes a rapist and abuser? He's no hero. He blames everyone else for his weakness but himself. He tells her he won't hit her again and expects her to believe his word, but his word is worthless...he married her and told her he'd keep her safe...but he lied. Even if it was her first husband's child, HE KNEW she was married right before he forced her to marry him and knew she must have suffered abuse from her first husband. In fact, knowing what a monster her husband was, believing she was suffering horrifically from such an evil madman, he demanded that she STAY in her marriage and continue to accept victimization and danger so she could be there for him to marry and use for his own purposes. To his mind, it should always have been a possibility that she would have been pregnant, so he is a first class idiot.
The fact that it turned out to be his baby and he was proven wrong and therefore accepted the blameless child only on the word of a prostitute rather than his wife actually ruined the book for me. Then he expresses his remorse by raping her a second time and just tells her to get over his hitting her.
The only saving grace is how Victoria turns on him after his abuse. When he threatens to go to other women, she notes that he is just like her first husband. Ironically, her first husband never hit her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 29, 2020So much rape. Even the filly has her legs hobbled for the stallion. Not a great metaphor.
And the body count wasn't always the bad guy.
And the body count wasn't always the bad guy.
August 24, 2024
So, this book is not going to be for everyone. It's not only full of violence (multiple rapes, multiple murders and domestic violence), it's also super heavy on the drama. It was published in 1990 and that seems fitting since so much of the 1980s and 90s television slots were occupied with day and evening soaps (many of which I adore), so I'm guessing that romance novel authors of that time simply followed suit.
Anyway, not every reader is about OTT drama. Fortunately for me, I am. I freakin' live for it. That being said, some of the things that happen in this book make my stomach turn and I don't enjoy reading about terrible things happening to good people. On the upside, the heroine, Victoria, is amazing. She's classy but not snobby, tough but not heartless and is ride or die for those that she loves. I'm a big fan of her. I haven't read much of Linda Howard, but she seems to write a lot of asshole heroes and stuck to that formula in this book as well.
While I wouldn't read this book again, I did spend my Saturday glued to its pages.
Anyway, not every reader is about OTT drama. Fortunately for me, I am. I freakin' live for it. That being said, some of the things that happen in this book make my stomach turn and I don't enjoy reading about terrible things happening to good people. On the upside, the heroine, Victoria, is amazing. She's classy but not snobby, tough but not heartless and is ride or die for those that she loves. I'm a big fan of her. I haven't read much of Linda Howard, but she seems to write a lot of asshole heroes and stuck to that formula in this book as well.
While I wouldn't read this book again, I did spend my Saturday glued to its pages.
September 22, 2015
So....the "hero", Jake, is an asshole and the "heroine", Victoria, is an idiot but still she didn't deserve someone as bad as Jake.
SPOILERS
He has trust issues, expects people to read his mind and understand his intent on point, likes to give hard looks alot, doesn't respect people's personal spaces - (you know because he loves you and wants the best for you so shut up and let him justify his actions with his past traumas, duh.
And yes I know you're frighten of him and all he's doing to your body on your first night with him but your body is responding and he wants you so bad, so just let him "make love" to you anyway because he always gets what he wants, who cares of wooing you. What, rape? No, he was gentle and you orgasmed at the end, plus you love him and he loves you, silly) - and has his head so far up his ass I'm amazed it hasn't poked out again.
Oh and he's one of those bully guys that gets angry real quick so he likes to grab at her roughly whenever she says something he doesn't like, even going as far as actually slapping her with all his strenght. What a dreamy guy.
And for the most part Victoria was ok, but, like, she totally loved him, sigh, and has no control over her body.
Darling, loving someone does not mean you have to excuse their behaviour and accetp their conditions when it leaves you in pain, feeling trapped and without a choice.
And yes, I'm aware that it was difficult for a woman then to leave, no possessions, nothing, but goddamn it she could have done more instead of just forgiving him in the end.
For all the talk, threat and actual rape it went in this book - an ugly truth not only of their time but unfortunately in this time as well. Needs to stop now - Jake's behaviour sexually towards Victoria made it the worse, because this is the supposed guy that loves her.
I despised the Major and the villains, but the heroes were nothing good to write home about, honestly.
Did men like this exist back then? Yes, and still today.
Is it acceptable because I'm reading a period time story? No, not by far.
The only person who had a choice and was free in her actions was Victoria's sister, Celia. And that's saying alot, poor girl.
P.S: Why bred such a vicious killer horse that no one can ride and if his temper is passed down to his foals they would have to put the creatures down?
Why not the sire instead? Strong, fast and powerful horses is what wasn't missing in the Old West. And this is coming from someone that fights tooth and nail for a red zoned dog.
That horse to me was an euphemism of Jake. Supposedly this great power beast that can't be controlled and despise all the loving it receives, kills all that are around him. Like his owner, that horse was an asshole, a dumb animal.
SPOILERS
He has trust issues, expects people to read his mind and understand his intent on point, likes to give hard looks alot, doesn't respect people's personal spaces - (you know because he loves you and wants the best for you so shut up and let him justify his actions with his past traumas, duh.
And yes I know you're frighten of him and all he's doing to your body on your first night with him but your body is responding and he wants you so bad, so just let him "make love" to you anyway because he always gets what he wants, who cares of wooing you. What, rape? No, he was gentle and you orgasmed at the end, plus you love him and he loves you, silly) - and has his head so far up his ass I'm amazed it hasn't poked out again.
Oh and he's one of those bully guys that gets angry real quick so he likes to grab at her roughly whenever she says something he doesn't like, even going as far as actually slapping her with all his strenght. What a dreamy guy.
And for the most part Victoria was ok, but, like, she totally loved him, sigh, and has no control over her body.
Darling, loving someone does not mean you have to excuse their behaviour and accetp their conditions when it leaves you in pain, feeling trapped and without a choice.
And yes, I'm aware that it was difficult for a woman then to leave, no possessions, nothing, but goddamn it she could have done more instead of just forgiving him in the end.
For all the talk, threat and actual rape it went in this book - an ugly truth not only of their time but unfortunately in this time as well. Needs to stop now - Jake's behaviour sexually towards Victoria made it the worse, because this is the supposed guy that loves her.
I despised the Major and the villains, but the heroes were nothing good to write home about, honestly.
Did men like this exist back then? Yes, and still today.
Is it acceptable because I'm reading a period time story? No, not by far.
The only person who had a choice and was free in her actions was Victoria's sister, Celia. And that's saying alot, poor girl.
P.S: Why bred such a vicious killer horse that no one can ride and if his temper is passed down to his foals they would have to put the creatures down?
Why not the sire instead? Strong, fast and powerful horses is what wasn't missing in the Old West. And this is coming from someone that fights tooth and nail for a red zoned dog.
That horse to me was an euphemism of Jake. Supposedly this great power beast that can't be controlled and despise all the loving it receives, kills all that are around him. Like his owner, that horse was an asshole, a dumb animal.
June 27, 2021
A solid angsty read.
Trigger warnings:
The H was frustrating how he turned a no around with sexual manipulation but accurate to the time period. There were actual rape scenes between other characters-minimal description.
A prominent character dies at the end. Unsure of purpose other than to showcase the mental fortitude of a main character.
The book wrapped up neatly with a bow.
Trigger warnings:
The H was frustrating how he turned a no around with sexual manipulation but accurate to the time period. There were actual rape scenes between other characters-minimal description.
A prominent character dies at the end. Unsure of purpose other than to showcase the mental fortitude of a main character.
The book wrapped up neatly with a bow.
July 27, 2013
WESTERN ROMANCE!!!!!! Who doesn't love a story with smokin' hot cowboys, wild horses, and vast ranches?
This is the first book of Howard's new series "Western Ladies." She's an autobuy for me when it comes to her romantic suspense stories but boy can she write a hot western romance story!!! Here's the cover blurb:
Only true love could redeem....
Victoria Waverly, noble daughter of the war-ruined South, is sold in marriage to a ruthless rancher. Honor and pride help her endure life as a wife in name only but nothing can quench her forbidden desire for hired gunman Jake Roper. His gaze is hard, but tenderness he can't hide promises to unveil to Victoria the mysteries of love.
Only true love can destroy....
Jake curses his burning need for Victoria, for he wants nothing to stand in the way of his drive to reclaim Sarratt's Kingdom -- the ranch that is his legacy and obsession. But ancient wrongs and blazing passions will bind together the aristocratic beauty and the powerful cowboy. In a bloody land war, they will fight for Jake's birthright...and seize at all costs the love that is their destiny.
Basically our heroine Victoria is forced to marry to provide for her younger sister Celia and her cousin Emma. She marries the hero's boss, who happens to have killed Jake's parents and stolen his ranch. Jake and his younger brother Ben have been waiting for the day to exact revenge and regain his rightful inheritance. I really loved the idea behind the book, the setting, and the pacing of the story. We can tell that Jake has been through enough shit and has to survive to protect his younger brother. Victoria is the real deal, a true lady who maintains an icy demeanor to protect herself. BUT she can't help but get flustered when Jake comes to her rescue again and again. There was this one part in the book where I honestly wanted to SNAP Jake's neck. Just because he has dark secrets and trust issues doesn't give him the right to treat Victoria the way he did. After reading that part, I was like "NO WAY is Jake EVER going to redeem himself." Sometimes I still feel that way and even though he suffered greatly for his mistake, I feel like Victoria should have made him suffer even more. However, love and understanding are part of the healing process and part of Howard's theme towards forgiveness and redemption so I'll give him a break.
On a side note, the secondary characters ROCK!!! Emma is a wonderful person and a true best friend to Victoria. She gets her own hot romance within the book and totally deserves it. Victoria's sister Celia leaves me confused. She's SO innocent and so trusting it makes me sick. Like if you were stuck on a ranch with dangerous foremen and cowboys leering at you and is only one of the few women with good looks would you be all bubbly??!! It's like she's in her own fantasy world sometimes; luckily she's got a kickass sister and loving cousin to look out for her.
The romance part is quite STEAMY and there are times where I thought that Victoria might just have sex with Jake even though she's still married to the Major. DO NOT WORRY if this stirs negative feelings about cheating and unfaithfulness because if you read about the Major in the first few chapters you'd probably want to take gun to his head too! To me, Victoria redeems the entire book. She's strong, even when she's weak. She acknowledges the moments when she's weak and manages to retain her dignity even when it's clear she has none. I LOVED HER!!!
This is probably not one Howard's best books but it's still a wonderful story, despite some of Jake's questionable qualities.
3.5-4 STARS!!
Reading order:
1. Lady of the West
2. Angel Creek
3. Touch of Fire (Not part of the series but also a Western Romance that I think is better than LotW)
This is the first book of Howard's new series "Western Ladies." She's an autobuy for me when it comes to her romantic suspense stories but boy can she write a hot western romance story!!! Here's the cover blurb:
Only true love could redeem....
Victoria Waverly, noble daughter of the war-ruined South, is sold in marriage to a ruthless rancher. Honor and pride help her endure life as a wife in name only but nothing can quench her forbidden desire for hired gunman Jake Roper. His gaze is hard, but tenderness he can't hide promises to unveil to Victoria the mysteries of love.
Only true love can destroy....
Jake curses his burning need for Victoria, for he wants nothing to stand in the way of his drive to reclaim Sarratt's Kingdom -- the ranch that is his legacy and obsession. But ancient wrongs and blazing passions will bind together the aristocratic beauty and the powerful cowboy. In a bloody land war, they will fight for Jake's birthright...and seize at all costs the love that is their destiny.
Basically our heroine Victoria is forced to marry to provide for her younger sister Celia and her cousin Emma. She marries the hero's boss, who happens to have killed Jake's parents and stolen his ranch. Jake and his younger brother Ben have been waiting for the day to exact revenge and regain his rightful inheritance. I really loved the idea behind the book, the setting, and the pacing of the story. We can tell that Jake has been through enough shit and has to survive to protect his younger brother. Victoria is the real deal, a true lady who maintains an icy demeanor to protect herself. BUT she can't help but get flustered when Jake comes to her rescue again and again. There was this one part in the book where I honestly wanted to SNAP Jake's neck. Just because he has dark secrets and trust issues doesn't give him the right to treat Victoria the way he did. After reading that part, I was like "NO WAY is Jake EVER going to redeem himself." Sometimes I still feel that way and even though he suffered greatly for his mistake, I feel like Victoria should have made him suffer even more. However, love and understanding are part of the healing process and part of Howard's theme towards forgiveness and redemption so I'll give him a break.
On a side note, the secondary characters ROCK!!! Emma is a wonderful person and a true best friend to Victoria. She gets her own hot romance within the book and totally deserves it. Victoria's sister Celia leaves me confused. She's SO innocent and so trusting it makes me sick. Like if you were stuck on a ranch with dangerous foremen and cowboys leering at you and is only one of the few women with good looks would you be all bubbly??!! It's like she's in her own fantasy world sometimes; luckily she's got a kickass sister and loving cousin to look out for her.
The romance part is quite STEAMY and there are times where I thought that Victoria might just have sex with Jake even though she's still married to the Major. DO NOT WORRY if this stirs negative feelings about cheating and unfaithfulness because if you read about the Major in the first few chapters you'd probably want to take gun to his head too! To me, Victoria redeems the entire book. She's strong, even when she's weak. She acknowledges the moments when she's weak and manages to retain her dignity even when it's clear she has none. I LOVED HER!!!
This is probably not one Howard's best books but it's still a wonderful story, despite some of Jake's questionable qualities.
3.5-4 STARS!!
Reading order:
1. Lady of the West
2. Angel Creek
3. Touch of Fire (Not part of the series but also a Western Romance that I think is better than LotW)
to-avoid
March 6, 2009A craptastic "hero" who beats the TSTL doormat "heroine" and doesn´t grovel enough at the end. Ugh!
June 9, 2016
Another flawless book by Linda Howard. Hero wants to reclaim his ranch and kill the evil man who murdered his father and raped and murdered his mother when he was still a kid. This man is married to our heroine Victoria a noble aristocrat whose parents lost everything and sold her in marriage to this asshole. Jake is attracted to her and she falls hard and fast for him. When her husband dies she and Jake get married but sadly Jake has trust issues and is jealous of Victoria's dead husband when in fact he and Victoria never consummated their marriage. When Victoria tells him she is pregnant he thinks she is carrying the child of her dead asshole husband and omg he hits her!
Intense, passionate book and I really adored the heavy angst! I was like dear author give me more angst! And she did! Talk about a great author. I know some people hated the fact that Jake slapped Victoria and I hated it too but I was so happy when she slapped him back and told him she would take her baby and leave his sorry ass! I was like u go girl! I am so proud of you! I loved how she left their bedroom and he did some groveling. I loved Jake and hated him at the same time. But I adored Victoria. She was strong, brave and a perfect heroine!
Intense, passionate book and I really adored the heavy angst! I was like dear author give me more angst! And she did! Talk about a great author. I know some people hated the fact that Jake slapped Victoria and I hated it too but I was so happy when she slapped him back and told him she would take her baby and leave his sorry ass! I was like u go girl! I am so proud of you! I loved how she left their bedroom and he did some groveling. I loved Jake and hated him at the same time. But I adored Victoria. She was strong, brave and a perfect heroine!
February 9, 2024
Me ha gustado pero se nota que es un libro antiguo de la vieja usanza. Es un libro muy crudo. Hay mucha violencia sexual ( no de los protagonistas)aunque el protagonista también se pasa de dominante. Un malentendido que me ha sacado de quicio el protagonista piensa cuando la prota le dice que está embarazada que no es suyo. Porque piensa que si consumó su matrimonio con su mayor enemigo y no cree en lo que ella le dice hasta que meses después las cuentas le cuadran y además se lo confirman. Pienso que ha sido un malentendido tonto la protagonista tenía que haber hablado antes y haberle dicho que el matrimonio no sé consumo. Aunque claro el malentendido está hecho a propósito para que haya drama. Es un libro duro del oeste porque esa vida era dura. Me he encariñado con muchos personajes. Hay dos historias de amor secundarias. De la hermana y la prima de la protagonista. La prima Emma y el hermano del protagonista Ben también hacen una bonita pareja. Pero demasiadas muertes para mi gusto innecesarias. Angelina la prostituta al principio parece mala pero luego me ha dado pena como muere sola sin nadie que quiera atenderla dando a luz. Y la muerte de Celia me ha hecho soltar alguna lagrimita. Pobre Luis. Cuando pasó el malentendido le hubiera dado 3 estrellas pero luego para mi gusto remonta y por eso le doy 4. Pero el final para mi gusto ha sido muy precipitado. Aquí sí que hubiera echo falta un epílogo porque queda todo muy en el aire y ni siquiera sabemos el nombre que le ponen al bebé. También me ha gustado el cambio de la protagonista de ser una dama muy recatada, una Mary sue a defender a su hijo como una fiera y defender el rancho un gran cambio que se nota su evolución desde que empieza el libro.
En definitiva un buen libro pero durillo avisadas estáis y me ha parecido bueno, pero a veces se me ha hecho aburrido y aunque es mejor que varios que leí de la autora que puntúe con un 3 sigue sin superar al mejor que leí de ella hasta la fecha sombras en el crepúsculo ese si me encantó y se llevó mis 5 estrellas.
En definitiva un buen libro pero durillo avisadas estáis y me ha parecido bueno, pero a veces se me ha hecho aburrido y aunque es mejor que varios que leí de la autora que puntúe con un 3 sigue sin superar al mejor que leí de ella hasta la fecha sombras en el crepúsculo ese si me encantó y se llevó mis 5 estrellas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2021
This was *sigh* a wonderful and emotional book! I read almost a third and it was not that great, I was starting to feel that maybe I’d give it up but then I was drawn in. Such a great strong heroine and wonderful and unusual secondary characters - Celia! Emma! Luis! - and romances.
Five stars because of the feelings it left me with, although the H deserved to be hit with a spade in the head for:
- Lying to heroine
- Leaving heroine with villains for four days
- Coerced/Forced seduction, several times
- Not respecting her wishes about her horse
- Hitting heroine!!! Very hard! Unforgivable.
- Not believing heroine
- Changing his mind about believing her not because he realizes she’s a great heroine but only after talking to a whore, the servants, and just about everybody else who tells him exactly what the heroine has already said
- Not respecting her wishes about horse again (this was a big thing for her) instead thinking about money and breeding
- Always putting her second to his greater need for revenge (and his need for sex)
I liked how the horse (not the heroine’s, but another) plays an unusually significant part in this, like the author wanted to give a deeper meaning to the story.
I really really liked all the characters (not the hero obviously).
I did not like the stereotype horny whore portrayal and it was so typical that what happened to her was like the author’s way of hinting at “see what happens to whores.” Actually, all the characters were black or white, very good or very bad. Except for the hero who was no hero. But still a five-star read!
Five stars because of the feelings it left me with, although the H deserved to be hit with a spade in the head for:
- Lying to heroine
- Leaving heroine with villains for four days
- Coerced/Forced seduction, several times
- Not respecting her wishes about her horse
- Hitting heroine!!! Very hard! Unforgivable.
- Not believing heroine
- Changing his mind about believing her not because he realizes she’s a great heroine but only after talking to a whore, the servants, and just about everybody else who tells him exactly what the heroine has already said
- Not respecting her wishes about horse again (this was a big thing for her) instead thinking about money and breeding
- Always putting her second to his greater need for revenge (and his need for sex)
I liked how the horse (not the heroine’s, but another) plays an unusually significant part in this, like the author wanted to give a deeper meaning to the story.
I really really liked all the characters (not the hero obviously).
I did not like the stereotype horny whore portrayal and it was so typical that what happened to her was like the author’s way of hinting at “see what happens to whores.” Actually, all the characters were black or white, very good or very bad. Except for the hero who was no hero. But still a five-star read!
March 31, 2015
Una novela preciosa de principio a fin. Con una trama elaborada al detalle en la que cada personaje tiene su espacio propio además del que le corresponde en relación a los protagonistas. Todos están desarrollados en la medida justa, no me ha sobrado nada ni faltado nada. Y la historia de la pareja protagonista está contada de una forma que avanza sin tregua pero sin precipitarse. He disfrutado de cada página y me ha dejado el mismo sabor de boca que me dejó "Lecciones privadas". De lectura imprescindible para las que os gusta la romántica del Oeste.
April 15, 2024
✅ great story and page turning, descriptive writing
✅ Steamy
✅ Super Alpha cowboy Hero
✅ Excellent pacing
✅A heroine who finds her courage
✅ Deeply satisfying HEA
✅ Thoroughly enjoyed my time reading
✅If you like dub con (I do) then this will scratch that itch!
...They don't write 'em like this anymore! 🐎🩷🐎
Will definitely read more by this author😁
✅ Steamy
✅ Super Alpha cowboy Hero
✅ Excellent pacing
✅A heroine who finds her courage
✅ Deeply satisfying HEA
✅ Thoroughly enjoyed my time reading
✅If you like dub con (I do) then this will scratch that itch!
...They don't write 'em like this anymore! 🐎🩷🐎
Will definitely read more by this author😁
June 14, 2017
I enjoyed most of this story. But a few things made me mad - see spoilers.
Jake said half of a sentence which caused a misunderstanding. Victoria didn’t tell the whole story to Jake about her pregnancy which caused another misunderstanding.
I would give 4 or 5 stars to the story, but the mis-communications brought it down to 3 for me. I don’t want to be mad when I read.
I read the paperback several years ago and just now did the audiobook. In my first review of this book I was not angry about two spoilers. In fact I wrote the following about the second spoiler: “ I was impressed with the author coming up with a conflict based on mis-communication, but no one was lying or being vague. Victoria was honest but Jake didn't believe her, and his reasons for not believing her were logical.” I have totally changed my mind. I didn’t like that conflict this time. I blame Victoria for not explaining better. I disagree with myself.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Natalie Ross did a great job. She is consistently good at narrating.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 329 pages. Swearing language: Jesus Christ used once. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 9-13. Setting: 1866 New Mexico cattle ranch. Copyright: 1990. Genre: western historical romance.
Jake said half of a sentence which caused a misunderstanding. Victoria didn’t tell the whole story to Jake about her pregnancy which caused another misunderstanding.
I would give 4 or 5 stars to the story, but the mis-communications brought it down to 3 for me. I don’t want to be mad when I read.
I read the paperback several years ago and just now did the audiobook. In my first review of this book I was not angry about two spoilers. In fact I wrote the following about the second spoiler: “ I was impressed with the author coming up with a conflict based on mis-communication, but no one was lying or being vague. Victoria was honest but Jake didn't believe her, and his reasons for not believing her were logical.” I have totally changed my mind. I didn’t like that conflict this time. I blame Victoria for not explaining better. I disagree with myself.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Natalie Ross did a great job. She is consistently good at narrating.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 329 pages. Swearing language: Jesus Christ used once. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 9-13. Setting: 1866 New Mexico cattle ranch. Copyright: 1990. Genre: western historical romance.
July 6, 2023
The "historical background"(although this book may not quite merit this expression) or rather the time setting for the romance was quite interesting (not that we get much of it, and it is full of violence and abuse) and I liked the secondary couple, Emma and Ben, hence the 2 stars.
The relationship between the main couple was highly problematic and anything, BUT romantic. I also couldn't buy into their attraction, and while Victoria was an OK heroine, Jake was awful and I wanted to kick him to death.
Trigger warnings: angsty trust-issues, several rapes, male mc hitting the pregnant female mc
The book was published 30 years ago, but it is still hard to cut it some slack for that alone.
The relationship between the main couple was highly problematic and anything, BUT romantic. I also couldn't buy into their attraction, and while Victoria was an OK heroine, Jake was awful and I wanted to kick him to death.
Trigger warnings: angsty trust-issues, several rapes, male mc hitting the pregnant female mc
The book was published 30 years ago, but it is still hard to cut it some slack for that alone.
April 11, 2014
What a shitty hero. I know he loves the land and that he hates that damn bastard but does he have to hit her? And he loves the damn land more than the heroine!! She deserves better.
And you call that grovel? Seriously?? You accept that kind of apology?
And you call that grovel? Seriously?? You accept that kind of apology?
May 18, 2020
I really enjoy this author. This is the story of Victoria and Jake.
Victoria: beautiful, proper lady, martyr, marries an evil ruthless man, the Major. In order to lift her family out of poverty.
Jake: handsome, ruthless, hell-bent on revenge. Twenty years ago he witnessed the Major killing his family and raping and murdering his mother. The Major did this to steal their home. Now he and his brother Ben are going to kill the Major and his evil cow hands that do his bidding so they can reclaim their family’s legacy.
The attraction between Jake and Victoria is instant. Victoria falls for Jake but he tries to remain aloof. He marries Victoria after the Major dies. He is very dismissive and callous to Victoria. There is a lot of angst when he wrongs her to the point of seemingly no return. I enjoyed the angst and steam. He should’ve groveled more for what he did! He didn’t believe the baby was his, it was. To add insult to injury, he struck Victoria when she told him she was pregnant. It takes 3 months for her to allow him to touch her again. She doesn’t trust him, understandably. He realizes he’s falling for her and he is about to lose her. He finally tells her he loves her as their son is born.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Victoria: beautiful, proper lady, martyr, marries an evil ruthless man, the Major. In order to lift her family out of poverty.
Jake: handsome, ruthless, hell-bent on revenge. Twenty years ago he witnessed the Major killing his family and raping and murdering his mother. The Major did this to steal their home. Now he and his brother Ben are going to kill the Major and his evil cow hands that do his bidding so they can reclaim their family’s legacy.
The attraction between Jake and Victoria is instant. Victoria falls for Jake but he tries to remain aloof. He marries Victoria after the Major dies. He is very dismissive and callous to Victoria. There is a lot of angst when he wrongs her to the point of seemingly no return. I enjoyed the angst and steam. He should’ve groveled more for what he did! He didn’t believe the baby was his, it was. To add insult to injury, he struck Victoria when she told him she was pregnant. It takes 3 months for her to allow him to touch her again. She doesn’t trust him, understandably. He realizes he’s falling for her and he is about to lose her. He finally tells her he loves her as their son is born.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2013
This was my first and probably my last romance in the Wild West. Way too many deaths, a few too many rapes and so frequent mentions of the probability of others, too much revenge, too much brawn - yes too much brawn when it's used to slap his wife so hard she hit the wall and barely offer excuses afterwards.
I was so irritated to read every few pages that women were "contrary" - I know it supposedly referred to the male heroes way of thinking. But I felt my feminist sense awakening and being ruffled in the wrong side all along this book.
I was so irritated to read every few pages that women were "contrary" - I know it supposedly referred to the male heroes way of thinking. But I felt my feminist sense awakening and being ruffled in the wrong side all along this book.
April 3, 2018
Pretty good, though the hero made me mad way too many times, Jake is too much. Violence towards women is unforgivable.
November 19, 2012
Just 3 stars. It was okay, and some parts were better than okay.
PLOT SUMMARY: Frank McLain murdered Jake Sarratt's parents and stole their ranch. He also tried to kill Jake, age 13, and Ben, age 11, but the boys got away and plotted vengeance. Now, 20 years later, Jake is incognito, working as a gunslinger for McLain. McLain marries Victoria, an impoverished blue blood from the war torn South. She only agrees to marry McLain because her family is starving. She comes from Georgia to live with him in New Mexico, bringing along her younger sister Celia and cousin Emma. Jake and Victoria fall in love, but it's not a pleasant experience for either of them, filled with misunderstanding, pride, and misjudgments. Even though they marry after McLain dies, they don't resolve their feelings until the very end of the book. Meanwhile, Jake and Ben regain their stolen heritage, wiping the McLain stain from the land.
My response to the book: This story was rather dark and grim throughout. I never laughed, not once, not even a chuckle. McLain was a sick psycho. Jake was a throwback to male dominance. I grew irritated with his lack of communication. He expected Victoria to trust him, but he never explained anything to her (like, not telling her he would return when he left the ranch). The jerk got mad at her for not trusting him several times, but they barely knew each other, and he was incognito for a large chunk of the story. This happened numerous times. Irritating.
Worse, he didn't trust HER when it mattered most. He treated her badly more than once. For example, . Except for his kindness to Celia, I felt ambivalent about Jake until the last bit.
However, I did like Victoria -- a strong and sympathetic character who didn't take Jake's crap lying down -- well, not until it was time to "lie down" with him, to my disappointment. Wish she'd made Jake grovel. A lot.
I also liked young Celia. The only light moments in the book involved Celia's penchant for practical tricks and asking "sensitive" questions about horses, kittens, etc. I liked Luis and Celia's romance, and almost cried at a certain point in the book.
The third romance involved Ben, Jake's brother, and Emma, Victoria's cousin. It was fine. I liked Emma. I was glad things worked out for her.
PLOT SUMMARY: Frank McLain murdered Jake Sarratt's parents and stole their ranch. He also tried to kill Jake, age 13, and Ben, age 11, but the boys got away and plotted vengeance. Now, 20 years later, Jake is incognito, working as a gunslinger for McLain. McLain marries Victoria, an impoverished blue blood from the war torn South. She only agrees to marry McLain because her family is starving. She comes from Georgia to live with him in New Mexico, bringing along her younger sister Celia and cousin Emma. Jake and Victoria fall in love, but it's not a pleasant experience for either of them, filled with misunderstanding, pride, and misjudgments. Even though they marry after McLain dies, they don't resolve their feelings until the very end of the book. Meanwhile, Jake and Ben regain their stolen heritage, wiping the McLain stain from the land.
My response to the book: This story was rather dark and grim throughout. I never laughed, not once, not even a chuckle. McLain was a sick psycho. Jake was a throwback to male dominance. I grew irritated with his lack of communication. He expected Victoria to trust him, but he never explained anything to her (like, not telling her he would return when he left the ranch). The jerk got mad at her for not trusting him several times, but they barely knew each other, and he was incognito for a large chunk of the story. This happened numerous times. Irritating.
Worse, he didn't trust HER when it mattered most. He treated her badly more than once. For example, . Except for his kindness to Celia, I felt ambivalent about Jake until the last bit.
However, I did like Victoria -- a strong and sympathetic character who didn't take Jake's crap lying down -- well, not until it was time to "lie down" with him, to my disappointment. Wish she'd made Jake grovel. A lot.
I also liked young Celia. The only light moments in the book involved Celia's penchant for practical tricks and asking "sensitive" questions about horses, kittens, etc. I liked Luis and Celia's romance, and almost cried at a certain point in the book.
The third romance involved Ben, Jake's brother, and Emma, Victoria's cousin. It was fine. I liked Emma. I was glad things worked out for her.
May 14, 2019
The story of Jake, a man focused on taking revenge for his family and regaining control of their lost ranch, and Victoria, a woman who gets married to a man she doesn't know in order to save her family.
Victoria's husband is the man responsible for the death of Jake's parents and Jake is working under cover at the ranch to gather information that will aid his and his brother's mission of taking it over. That's where he meets Victoria, whom he wants to hate, believing that she only married for money, but instead starts developing feelings for the more he gets to know her.
The two fall in love, but Jake's plans are in the way of their relationship, and .
I wasn't particularly invested in their story, not really feeling the love between them, while being slightly annoyed by both secondary romances, . All in all I didn't get the happy ending feels I love in romances from this one. Let's hope I'll like the next one, Angel Creek, better.
Victoria's husband is the man responsible for the death of Jake's parents and Jake is working under cover at the ranch to gather information that will aid his and his brother's mission of taking it over. That's where he meets Victoria, whom he wants to hate, believing that she only married for money, but instead starts developing feelings for the more he gets to know her.
The two fall in love, but Jake's plans are in the way of their relationship, and .
I wasn't particularly invested in their story, not really feeling the love between them, while being slightly annoyed by both secondary romances, . All in all I didn't get the happy ending feels I love in romances from this one. Let's hope I'll like the next one, Angel Creek, better.
August 31, 2021
I think if you like cowboys, you'll likely enjoy this. 3.5 stars
It's got the classic Linda Howard mean-ish cool hero. The h spent a lot of time resisting a physical relationship with the H... her resistance and scandalized virgin routine got on my nerves. It's fun at first and then it just becomes tedious.
The first half REALLY drags, but at around 50% it takes off.
The H does something that was almost unforgivable. I was ready to punch him out. Does he "redeem" himself?? Maybe? I guess?
FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD
- no cheating/sharing
- OW drama - the h sees the H smexxing up someone else, but it is before they are intimate with each other
- domestic violence - the H hits the h hard enough to knock her to the floor and leave a bruise on her face - because he thinks she's pregnant with someone else's baby
- surprise virgin h
- dubcon/noncon
It's got the classic Linda Howard mean-ish cool hero. The h spent a lot of time resisting a physical relationship with the H... her resistance and scandalized virgin routine got on my nerves. It's fun at first and then it just becomes tedious.
The first half REALLY drags, but at around 50% it takes off.
The H does something that was almost unforgivable. I was ready to punch him out. Does he "redeem" himself?? Maybe? I guess?
FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD
- no cheating/sharing
- OW drama - the h sees the H smexxing up someone else, but it is before they are intimate with each other
- domestic violence - the H hits the h hard enough to knock her to the floor and leave a bruise on her face - because he thinks she's pregnant with someone else's baby
- surprise virgin h
- dubcon/noncon
November 15, 2011
Just as nice on the second reading. Well written, tightly plotted. I was trying to think what made this one so much better than some other western romances I've read lately. I guess it has to do with the talent of the author and the fact that all the actions of the characters make sense and there aren't just random things happening that force the characters to react one way or another.
January 30, 2017
3 1\2
Linda Howard knows how to write romance without white washing all the truth. The heroine had some tough choices made for her, and the hero was "saved" only in loving her. He doesn't become a white knight all of a sudden. He never was. He'll never be.
Lost some sparkle for the predictable destiny of Angelina.
Linda Howard knows how to write romance without white washing all the truth. The heroine had some tough choices made for her, and the hero was "saved" only in loving her. He doesn't become a white knight all of a sudden. He never was. He'll never be.
Lost some sparkle for the predictable destiny of Angelina.
November 2, 2021
4.5 Stars
Public Library Freebie
I decided to read this after a Goodreads friend's update. One of her "ALL time, most re-read favorites..." I had to check it out.
My thoughts?
Okay, so the first half of the book had me wanting to DNF a few times. I didn't like the vibe I was getting. Too much of a downer. It had quite a few gross, villainous characters. Welcome to the Wild West--where rape-y dudes ran wild. If you struggle to separate fiction from reality, this book will definitely trigger your feminist sensibilities. I do not recommend it. It even had me mentally cringing and I'm pretty good at turning off my inner feminist for fiction.
My main beef with the book was that it wasn't giving me any romance feels. Also, I didn't like the insta-lust between the hero and heroine--Victoria & Jake. It didn't make sense to me, especially when Victoria's lust turned into love so quickly. I kept wondering WHY, HOW when they hardly knew each other at all. I wasn't buying into it. Yet, I very reluctantly continued on.
What compelled me to keep reading? I think a part of me was a bit too curious about the hero and some of his actions that were mentioned in a couple of reviews. These actions were not good. But I needed to see for myself, to see how that played out. It's so like me to be intrigued by what gets others' panties in a twist lol It was certainly a train-wreck situation I couldn't look away from.
Right before the 50% mark the story started majorly improving to the point that I got seriously hooked. I finally believed in Victoria & Jake's relationship. Sold! There was so much anticipation in the second half, I pulled an all-nighter reading this. I ended up enjoying the rest of the story. Jake turned out to be HOT in an old-school sort of way. A maddening alpha. Yum. Oh my, and the grovel! I'm not sure he was redeemable after what he did, to be honest, but somehow he managed to win me over. It's safe to say, I'll be re-reading this in the future.
Note: There were 2 secondary romances in the story. One with Victoria's cousin, Emma, and Jake's brother, Ben. The other was Victoria's younger sister, Celia, and her latin lover..forgot his name.
Public Library Freebie
I decided to read this after a Goodreads friend's update. One of her "ALL time, most re-read favorites..." I had to check it out.
My thoughts?
Okay, so the first half of the book had me wanting to DNF a few times. I didn't like the vibe I was getting. Too much of a downer. It had quite a few gross, villainous characters. Welcome to the Wild West--where rape-y dudes ran wild. If you struggle to separate fiction from reality, this book will definitely trigger your feminist sensibilities. I do not recommend it. It even had me mentally cringing and I'm pretty good at turning off my inner feminist for fiction.
My main beef with the book was that it wasn't giving me any romance feels. Also, I didn't like the insta-lust between the hero and heroine--Victoria & Jake. It didn't make sense to me, especially when Victoria's lust turned into love so quickly. I kept wondering WHY, HOW when they hardly knew each other at all. I wasn't buying into it. Yet, I very reluctantly continued on.
What compelled me to keep reading? I think a part of me was a bit too curious about the hero and some of his actions that were mentioned in a couple of reviews. These actions were not good. But I needed to see for myself, to see how that played out. It's so like me to be intrigued by what gets others' panties in a twist lol It was certainly a train-wreck situation I couldn't look away from.
Right before the 50% mark the story started majorly improving to the point that I got seriously hooked. I finally believed in Victoria & Jake's relationship. Sold! There was so much anticipation in the second half, I pulled an all-nighter reading this. I ended up enjoying the rest of the story. Jake turned out to be HOT in an old-school sort of way. A maddening alpha. Yum. Oh my, and the grovel! I'm not sure he was redeemable after what he did, to be honest, but somehow he managed to win me over. It's safe to say, I'll be re-reading this in the future.
Note: There were 2 secondary romances in the story. One with Victoria's cousin, Emma, and Jake's brother, Ben. The other was Victoria's younger sister, Celia, and her latin lover..forgot his name.
April 17, 2024
This is a review of the Western Ladies series by Linda Howard, and all are ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s for me; first time I can ever recall being so enamored with an entire series.
They’re memorable with gritty reality, riveting action, and scorching sensuality. Definitely bodice rippers tho it’s usually the heroine’s drawers that get shredded. The women are all strong, determined and carefully guard their hearts. The heroes are all blazing alpha men, ruthless and will fight to keep the women they passionately love.
🐎🔆 A Lady of the West (1990). New Mexico Territory. Victoria, a proper lady of the South agrees to marry a ruthless rancher, unaware that she’s in the middle of a bloody land war. Jake, the new hired hand is determined to reclaim his birthright.
🏔️🔆 Angel Creek (1991). Colorado Territory. Dee lives a solitary life, after her father’s death. Angel Creek valley and her home belong to her … with her shotgun she fends off unwanted suitors, and men who want her land. Then a nearby rancher, Lucas returns after a 10 year absence, and he too wants her land… and her. He’s high handed, arrogant and on purpose deceives Dee.
🌵🔆 The Touch of Fire (1992) Arizona Territory. Annie is a doctor in a small town … she discovers a wounded man with a bullet in his side hiding in her office. Rafe is a desperate outlaw who’s been on the run for four years tho he isn’t whom he seems to be.
Cover art by Greg Gulbronson.
They’re memorable with gritty reality, riveting action, and scorching sensuality. Definitely bodice rippers tho it’s usually the heroine’s drawers that get shredded. The women are all strong, determined and carefully guard their hearts. The heroes are all blazing alpha men, ruthless and will fight to keep the women they passionately love.
🐎🔆 A Lady of the West (1990). New Mexico Territory. Victoria, a proper lady of the South agrees to marry a ruthless rancher, unaware that she’s in the middle of a bloody land war. Jake, the new hired hand is determined to reclaim his birthright.
🏔️🔆 Angel Creek (1991). Colorado Territory. Dee lives a solitary life, after her father’s death. Angel Creek valley and her home belong to her … with her shotgun she fends off unwanted suitors, and men who want her land. Then a nearby rancher, Lucas returns after a 10 year absence, and he too wants her land… and her. He’s high handed, arrogant and on purpose deceives Dee.
🌵🔆 The Touch of Fire (1992) Arizona Territory. Annie is a doctor in a small town … she discovers a wounded man with a bullet in his side hiding in her office. Rafe is a desperate outlaw who’s been on the run for four years tho he isn’t whom he seems to be.
Cover art by Greg Gulbronson.
November 27, 2023
2.5 stars
A Lady of the West is first and foremost a tale of revenge. Jake and his younger brother Ben want to avenge the murder of their parents and retake their ranch by force. Their parents' murderer is living in their home and he has just taken a new young wife, Victoria, who brought her cousin and younger sister with her. Their arrival puts a wrench in Jake and Ben's revenge plans.
There are two romances happening here: Victoria and Jake and Ben and Emma (Victoria's cousin). I was not convinced with how quickly Victoria fell in love with Jake. I was also not happy with Jake's eventual treatment of Victoria...I was actually shocked that he struck her. WTF was Linda Howard thinking?? It ruined everything!
I continued reading because I was very invested in Ben and Emma. Theirs was a slow burn romance with so much chemistry. I really wish there was more focus on them. They were the best couple and they made this book tolerable enough to read until the end.
There was also a third romance...until it ended in tragedy. Again...WTF was Linda Howard thinking??
A Lady of the West is first and foremost a tale of revenge. Jake and his younger brother Ben want to avenge the murder of their parents and retake their ranch by force. Their parents' murderer is living in their home and he has just taken a new young wife, Victoria, who brought her cousin and younger sister with her. Their arrival puts a wrench in Jake and Ben's revenge plans.
There are two romances happening here: Victoria and Jake and Ben and Emma (Victoria's cousin). I was not convinced with how quickly Victoria fell in love with Jake. I was also not happy with Jake's eventual treatment of Victoria...I was actually shocked that he struck her. WTF was Linda Howard thinking?? It ruined everything!
I continued reading because I was very invested in Ben and Emma. Theirs was a slow burn romance with so much chemistry. I really wish there was more focus on them. They were the best couple and they made this book tolerable enough to read until the end.
There was also a third romance...until it ended in tragedy. Again...WTF was Linda Howard thinking??
September 24, 2025
2.5 stars
The love between mc when it sprang up i don’t know. I mean not enough interactions.
The slap was unwarranted and seriously made me angry at the H.
Needed an epilogue.
The death of sister was so unnecessary.
The killing of major was meh! Needed him to suffer, same with the Garrett guy.
The love between mc when it sprang up i don’t know. I mean not enough interactions.
The slap was unwarranted and seriously made me angry at the H.
Needed an epilogue.
The death of sister was so unnecessary.
The killing of major was meh! Needed him to suffer, same with the Garrett guy.
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