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Texas Trilogy #1
Texas Destiny
He’s fallen for a woman . . .
Anxious to meet her soon-to-be husband, Dallas Leigh, for the first time, mail-order bride Amelia Carson is en route to Fort Worth, Texas. When she steps off the train and locks eyes with her betrothed, she immediately feels drawn to him. But the cowboy standing before her isn’t Dallas. Instead, Dallas’s brother Houston has been sent to accompany her on the three-week journey to the ranch where she’ll begin her new life.
Who belongs to another . . .
The war Houston Leigh fought has left him with visible scars, a daily reminder of his cowardice on the battlefield. Denying his intense attraction to Amelia, he is determined to deliver her untouched, as promised. But during their long dangerous trip, he can’t help but admire her inner strength and fearlessness. And when she looks at him—as if she can see beyond his scarred face and read his innermost thoughts—he loses his heart to her. Now as they near the ranch, Houston must choose to remain loyal to his brother—or find the courage to fight for the woman he’s convinced is his destiny . . .
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1997
385 people are currently reading
8439 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Heath
90 books4,376 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 906 reviews
November 22, 2015
Finally on Kindle!!!
I know people, including myself, who paid a small fortune on eBay for used copies of these books, but I just discovered they're FINALLY available on kindle! These 3 books are seriously 3 of my favorite historical romances, and worth every penny! And yes, I'll be buying them again!
Texas Destiny http://amzn.to/1HA0eD0
Texas Glory http://amzn.to/1Lmm1if
Texas Splendor http://amzn.to/1FExUQA
My review...
Texas Destiny is the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Texas Trilogy, and my first read by this author. From the reviews and recommendations by friends, I was expecting a really good book, but ended up totally blown away by how much I loved this story. Great hero, great heroine, believable storyline, humor, passion… this book has everything I need for a 5 star read.
Dallas Leigh knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to realize his dreams. Already a successful rancher and land owner, the only thing he was lacking was a son to leave his legacy to, so when Dallas saw an ad for a woman looking to become a mail order bride, he began correspondence. After having exchanged letters for a year, Dallas decides that he wants Amelia to be the woman to share his dreams and give him the son he longs for. But just when it was time for him to make the three week journey into Fort Worth to meet his new bride, he fell from a horse he was trying to break and ended up being the one who got broken – his leg, that is. Clearly unable to make the trip to meet the woman who had traveled halfway across the country to marry him, Dallas’ has no other choice than to send his brother, Houston, to meet Amelia at the train station and wait patiently for their return.
I love a story with a tortured hero, and Houston Leigh is certainly that. He has terrible scars on his face and body, a result of a near fatal injury during Civil War where at 14 years old, he served as his father’s drummer. He spent so much of his life hiding in the shadows and wishing he had died on the battlefield rather than living the life he’s had to endure. His torment doesn’t just come from his own scars, but from the pain of believing that his father died on that same battlefield because of Houston’s cowardice. He’s certain his brothers, Dallas and Austin, also blame him for their father’s death, and given that no woman can stand to look at him with his disfigured face, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude.
Amelia Carson is a strong, resourceful woman with a take charge attitude, so traveling across country to start a new life with a man she’s never met is more exciting than frightening. Besides, her life has been anything but easy, and she’s got more than her own share of childhood trauma to deal with and making this trip is nothing compared to the things she’d endured. She was looking forward to meeting her fiancé and spending the time it took to travel back to his ranch getting to know him, but much to her surprise, the man who met her at the station wasn’t Dallas.
The three weeks it takes to get to the ranch made for some great reading. There was laughter, tears, danger and passion, and I enjoyed it all so much I didn’t want the journey to end, but of course it had to. Once they made it to Dallas’ ranch, the story could have become over the top dark and depressing, but it never did. I was sure there would be angst, and there was. Truth be told, it was an emotional roller coaster ride, but it never became so unbearable that I felt like I needed to put the book down to take a breather. In fact, the book was so good I couldn’t put it down at all!
I’m thrilled to have found this trilogy and owe a huge debt of gratitude to my Goodreads friends who mentioned this book again and again. Houston Leigh now holds a spot on my Top Hero shelf, and it’s not easy to earn that place of honor.
September 1, 2025
Amelia is traveling to Texas to marry Dallas (a person, not the city) but he has a broken leg so he sent his brother Houston (also not the city) to collect her for the 3-week long journey (where the hell are they going? Mordor?) but they fall in love even though they don’t have any shared interest or describable personalities but Dallas really only wants someone to bear him a son so he can pass on his generational trauma as soon as possible plus Houston’s face was ravaged by war (karma?) so he doesn’t think anyone will ever be able to love him except maybe his younger brother Austin (not the city). At first I thought I’d dislike the characters because everyone is a supporter of the confederacy, but I was wrong: I also dislike them because they’re a bunch of idiots with terrible values. Hot tip, Houston: if you think sex workers are such lowly slops of scum, stop going to them when you want some relief. I’m glad you lost half your face, you hypocritical bucket of sludge, and wish you nothing but ill.
June 8, 2024
When grumpy cowboy Houston meets mail order bride Amelia (a bride meant for his brother), he is REALLY captivated by her eyes.
Amelia Carson...was a heart-in-her-eyes woman. Everything she thought, everything she felt reflected clearly in her eyes. In her green, green eyes. The warm depths reminded him of fields of clover he'd run through as a boy. Barefoot. The clover had resembled velvet caressing his rough soles. For a brief moment, he actually relished the thought of holding her gaze. His brown eyes could serve as the soil in which her green clover took root."
Running barefoot with your crusty feet into the velvet grass stains of her eyes? Barf.
Next, Amelia's laughter reminds Houston of spring rain, soothing and sweet, the kind of rain that a man simply removed his hat to enjoy as it washed over him.
The thought of Houston, nineteenth century, hardened, scarred, Civil War veteran and hermit-like horse wrangler, standing beneath sweet rain while his crusty toes curl around Amelia's velvety, grass-like eyes gave me a few good chuckles. So I went on.
Back to her clover eyes, which reflected her heart as openly as a book. Yeah, yeah, you already told us, Amelia is a heart-in-her-eyes kind of gal. Next!
When they first kiss, he gentled the kiss because she wasn't a whore whose body he wanted to use to gratify his lust. Wow, how romantic. She may not be a whore but I think he forgot he is kissing his brother's bride.
Then, you guessed it, back to the clover eyes again:
A woman with eyes the green of clover, hair the shade of an Autumn moon. And courage as boundless as the West Texas plains.
And what else, an ass as wide as the East Texas plains? A chest as bountiful as two baskets of corn bread doused with thick molasses? Come on, don't just stop there...
When Houston kisses her, Amelia feels a desire that exploded like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Oh, good grief.
She wants him to kiss her again but there's that little matter of her being betrothed to Houston's brother, marriage contract signed and everything. So her brilliant come-on to Houston?
Kiss me as though I had no contract binding me to another. She is almost as romantic as he is.
As she wistfully watches him wrestle with his wild horses, she wished for an insane minute that she was a horse, that he could love her as he did his mustang. Maybe if she was a Mustang with clover green eyes, he would.
Aside from the ridiculous inner monologue of the characters, the story of two cheaters was despicable all the way through. They were both cowardly, hypocritical, and two-faced. The only character who had any redeeming quality in all this was the cuckolded brother.
This has gotten glowing reviews and is at the top of the list for best western historical romances alongside authors I truly admire like Penelope Williamson and Ellen O'Connell so go figure! This might have been a catastrophe for me but it may be a gem for someone else. Read at your own risk!!!
Amelia Carson...was a heart-in-her-eyes woman. Everything she thought, everything she felt reflected clearly in her eyes. In her green, green eyes. The warm depths reminded him of fields of clover he'd run through as a boy. Barefoot. The clover had resembled velvet caressing his rough soles. For a brief moment, he actually relished the thought of holding her gaze. His brown eyes could serve as the soil in which her green clover took root."
Running barefoot with your crusty feet into the velvet grass stains of her eyes? Barf.
Next, Amelia's laughter reminds Houston of spring rain, soothing and sweet, the kind of rain that a man simply removed his hat to enjoy as it washed over him.
The thought of Houston, nineteenth century, hardened, scarred, Civil War veteran and hermit-like horse wrangler, standing beneath sweet rain while his crusty toes curl around Amelia's velvety, grass-like eyes gave me a few good chuckles. So I went on.
Back to her clover eyes, which reflected her heart as openly as a book. Yeah, yeah, you already told us, Amelia is a heart-in-her-eyes kind of gal. Next!
When they first kiss, he gentled the kiss because she wasn't a whore whose body he wanted to use to gratify his lust. Wow, how romantic. She may not be a whore but I think he forgot he is kissing his brother's bride.
Then, you guessed it, back to the clover eyes again:
A woman with eyes the green of clover, hair the shade of an Autumn moon. And courage as boundless as the West Texas plains.
And what else, an ass as wide as the East Texas plains? A chest as bountiful as two baskets of corn bread doused with thick molasses? Come on, don't just stop there...
When Houston kisses her, Amelia feels a desire that exploded like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Oh, good grief.
She wants him to kiss her again but there's that little matter of her being betrothed to Houston's brother, marriage contract signed and everything. So her brilliant come-on to Houston?
Kiss me as though I had no contract binding me to another. She is almost as romantic as he is.
As she wistfully watches him wrestle with his wild horses, she wished for an insane minute that she was a horse, that he could love her as he did his mustang. Maybe if she was a Mustang with clover green eyes, he would.
Aside from the ridiculous inner monologue of the characters, the story of two cheaters was despicable all the way through. They were both cowardly, hypocritical, and two-faced. The only character who had any redeeming quality in all this was the cuckolded brother.
This has gotten glowing reviews and is at the top of the list for best western historical romances alongside authors I truly admire like Penelope Williamson and Ellen O'Connell so go figure! This might have been a catastrophe for me but it may be a gem for someone else. Read at your own risk!!!
February 4, 2024
Atmospheric, genuine affection, beautiful writing, historically accurate.
“He wrapped his hand around hers, pressed a kiss to the heart of her palm, and held her gaze. “I’ve got a one-room cabin, a few horses, and a dream that’s so small it won’t even cover your palm. But it sure seems a lot bigger when you’re beside me.”
The moonlight streaming through the window shimmered off the tears trailing along her cheeks. “I’ve always wanted a dream that I could hold in the palm of my hand,” she said quietly.
Texas in 1876
Post-Civil War romance
Mail order bride
Forced proximity
Scarred hero, missing an eye and deaf in one ear
Slow burn done right
Falling in love with the wrong brother
Both have painful back stories
Houston (27) has resigned himself to a life of solitude because of his scars and shame of what happened during the war when he was only 14.
Amelia (20?) is the only survivor left after her mother and two older sisters were brutally attacked after the war. She has accepted Dallas’s written proposal, and is waiting for him to pick her up at the station.
Dallas (30) thought it was a brilliant plan to get on an untrained stallion the day before he was set to pick up his soon-to-be bride. Breaking his leg, he asks his younger brother Houston to pick Amelia up and bring her home.
It is a three week journey by wagon, back to Dallas’ ranch. Amelia and Houston face many perils together, snakebites, wild Texas storms, and losing all their supplies before they make their way home. This is a sloooooow burn. The wrong couple slowly falls in love over the 43 day journey.
Please note, this is an old-school romance, no spice until the very end where are you get one sweetly intimate scene.
The absolute innocence of Austin (16), Dallas and Houston’s younger brother, completely melted my heart.
The author could’ve made Dallas a bad guy, making it easy for Amelia to pick the other brother. Instead she created this very sensitive, yet stoic man. Which makes the story that much more heartbreaking and genuine.
I was not a huge fan of the way the last quarter of the story wrapped up. Still, the writing was exquisite so all is forgiven.
“He wrapped his hand around hers, pressed a kiss to the heart of her palm, and held her gaze. “I’ve got a one-room cabin, a few horses, and a dream that’s so small it won’t even cover your palm. But it sure seems a lot bigger when you’re beside me.”
The moonlight streaming through the window shimmered off the tears trailing along her cheeks. “I’ve always wanted a dream that I could hold in the palm of my hand,” she said quietly.
Texas in 1876
Post-Civil War romance
Mail order bride
Forced proximity
Scarred hero, missing an eye and deaf in one ear
Slow burn done right
Falling in love with the wrong brother
Both have painful back stories
Houston (27) has resigned himself to a life of solitude because of his scars and shame of what happened during the war when he was only 14.
Amelia (20?) is the only survivor left after her mother and two older sisters were brutally attacked after the war. She has accepted Dallas’s written proposal, and is waiting for him to pick her up at the station.
Dallas (30) thought it was a brilliant plan to get on an untrained stallion the day before he was set to pick up his soon-to-be bride. Breaking his leg, he asks his younger brother Houston to pick Amelia up and bring her home.
It is a three week journey by wagon, back to Dallas’ ranch. Amelia and Houston face many perils together, snakebites, wild Texas storms, and losing all their supplies before they make their way home. This is a sloooooow burn. The wrong couple slowly falls in love over the 43 day journey.
Please note, this is an old-school romance, no spice until the very end where are you get one sweetly intimate scene.
The absolute innocence of Austin (16), Dallas and Houston’s younger brother, completely melted my heart.
The author could’ve made Dallas a bad guy, making it easy for Amelia to pick the other brother. Instead she created this very sensitive, yet stoic man. Which makes the story that much more heartbreaking and genuine.
I was not a huge fan of the way the last quarter of the story wrapped up. Still, the writing was exquisite so all is forgiven.
August 13, 2011
I love tortured heroes, and Houston was as tortured as one can be. Slighted (to put it mildly) by his father since childhood, he was forced to fight in the Civil War at the tender age of twelve, only to lose half his face, his eye, and hearing in one ear three years later. The way he saw it, his life was over by the time he was fifteen years old. Now, thirteen years later, he still wonders why he didn't put an end to it. Houston had all the markings to make me want to cuddle him and never let go but, unfortunately, it didn't work that way. The problem was, I love tortured and strong heroes who, once they realize they're in love with the heroine, at least try to overcome his fears and fight for her. Houston pretty much hid in the corner and let Amelia go.
As for Amelia, she was practically a saint but, like Houston, she wasn't one to fight for what she wanted. She accepted her marriage to Dallas, Houston's brother, with such calm that I grinded my teeth in frustration. And her asking Houston about what would happen on her wedding night with his brother?!? That was so insensitive! The worst thing was, he answered her question and even tried to reassure her! I still wonder how those two ended up together, since both were so intent on letting the other go. I guess it was their destiny.
This was my first book by Lorraine Heath and I liked her writing style. But I'm sorry to say, I was disappointed with the story. A friend of mine gave me the whole Texas trilogy, along with high praises about the books, so I'm already bracing myself to let her know I'm not too thrilled about reading the next books in the series. I'll probably read them because I'm curious about Houston's brothers, but that won't be happening soon.
As for Amelia, she was practically a saint but, like Houston, she wasn't one to fight for what she wanted. She accepted her marriage to Dallas, Houston's brother, with such calm that I grinded my teeth in frustration. And her asking Houston about what would happen on her wedding night with his brother?!? That was so insensitive! The worst thing was, he answered her question and even tried to reassure her! I still wonder how those two ended up together, since both were so intent on letting the other go. I guess it was their destiny.
This was my first book by Lorraine Heath and I liked her writing style. But I'm sorry to say, I was disappointed with the story. A friend of mine gave me the whole Texas trilogy, along with high praises about the books, so I'm already bracing myself to let her know I'm not too thrilled about reading the next books in the series. I'll probably read them because I'm curious about Houston's brothers, but that won't be happening soon.
April 21, 2022
I really enjoyed the first 70%! The main characters were really charming and lovable but the last 30% felt really messy and somewhat frustrating which I've come to realise seems sort of typical of LH's story structure. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Also, if you're looking for a series somewhat like this one, I highly recommend the Callahan-Warren series by Johanna Lindsey (first book: One Heart to Win) which I adored!
Rating: 3.5/5
Also, if you're looking for a series somewhat like this one, I highly recommend the Callahan-Warren series by Johanna Lindsey (first book: One Heart to Win) which I adored!
Rating: 3.5/5
June 4, 2019
Audio: 5 STARS!
Story: 5 STARS!
Honestly, I was skeptical when I started, but I've been on the edge of a slump for over a month now and I was desperate for something to snap me out of it. But a romance novel published in 1997?
In 1997 you couldn't have paid me to read this book, LOL. I was busy with things like The Lord of the Rings. Buffy started in 1997. Harry Potter came out in 1997. I was busy . . . I was a fool.
Anyway, Texas Destiny was the TOTAL BOMB!
I loved Amelia and her sweet but strong nature, and I loved Houston and his tortured broodiness.
The way the author built up their relationship was nothing short of genius . . . there was a perfect balance of angst, humor, heat and poetry to the writing. I couldn't have asked for more.
Except I got more b/c the audio performance was incredible!
On to book 2 - IMMEDIATELY!
A huge thank you to Donati for convincing me to try this author out! <3
Story: 5 STARS!
"I've always believed that dreams were meant to be shared. Where's the joy in reaching for something if you have no one to see you capture it?"I feel like I've just won the lottery! An incredibly talented author with a sense of romance that matches my own?!!! One with a huge backlist for me to go through? Life doesn't get much better.
Honestly, I was skeptical when I started, but I've been on the edge of a slump for over a month now and I was desperate for something to snap me out of it. But a romance novel published in 1997?
In 1997 you couldn't have paid me to read this book, LOL. I was busy with things like The Lord of the Rings. Buffy started in 1997. Harry Potter came out in 1997. I was busy . . . I was a fool.
Anyway, Texas Destiny was the TOTAL BOMB!
I loved Amelia and her sweet but strong nature, and I loved Houston and his tortured broodiness.
The way the author built up their relationship was nothing short of genius . . . there was a perfect balance of angst, humor, heat and poetry to the writing. I couldn't have asked for more.
Except I got more b/c the audio performance was incredible!
On to book 2 - IMMEDIATELY!
A huge thank you to Donati for convincing me to try this author out! <3
June 6, 2022
This had so many of my favorite tropes. Damaged/scarred hero, the heroine is between two brothers, and forced proximity! Amelia is a mail order bride and has just arrived in Forth Worth to be taken to the man she is supposed to marry. He recently broke his leg, though, so his brother has been sent to pick her up. Houston is scarred and still traumatized from his time in the war as a child. He harbors a lot of guilt over what happened to his father and thinks no one could ever love him because of the scar on his face. But he has a two week trip home with Lucy, and Lucy is intrigued by Houston. She constantly asks him questions, and the normally quiet man finds himself opening up to her. The two face a few life-threatening situations and end up falling in love. But Lucy is promised to Houston's brother and is determined to keep her promise. I loved the pining and tension between Lucy and Houston! My heart went out to Houston's character and I loved how he slowly opened up and realized he was falling for Lucy. The rest of the family was so fun and I really loved Austin's character! I ended up enjoying this western a lot more than I thought I would! There were actual scenes with horses and working on the ranch, which I ended up really enjoying. I'm excited to continue on in this series!
October 27, 2012
why did I download this book??? LOVED IT but now I have to read the next in the series - costing me a friggin fortune these kindle downloads ..... FANTASTIC ... off to read Texas Glory now.
April 30, 2018
Wow, was so freaking endearing! I would have given it 5 amazing stars if it hadn’t been for one minor detail that I detested. Other than that this book was superb.
April 23, 2020
Είχα αποφασίσει να ξεκινήσω τη γνωριμία μου με την Lorraine Health με το Συμφωνία με τον διάβολο το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς απατεώνες αριστοκράτες αλλά από τη στιγμή που είδα το πεπρωμένο στο βιβλιοπωλείο με κέρδισε ο τίτλος του,κάτι μου έλεγε διάλεξε με διάλεξε με και χάρηκα τόσο πολύ για την επιλογή μου.
Σε αντίθεση με τις περισσότερες ιστορίες εποχής που έχω διαβάσει το Πεπρωμένο έχει να πει κάτι το διαφορετικό.Από την αριστοκρατική Αγγλία με όλα εκείνα τα όμορφα φορέματα τα οποία πολύ μου αρέσουν(να τα χαζεύω όχι να τα φοράω),τις βεντάλιες,τους κήπους,τα λουλούδια,τους κισσούς και τα καταπράσινα τοπία μεταφερόμαστε στο Τέξας που τα απέραντα χωράφια του έχουν γίνει θάλασσες ψυχών που θέλουν να ξεχάσουν ή να μείνουν μόνοι μετά τον εμφύλιο σε μια πολιτεία τραυματισμένη από τον πόλεμο.
Σε μια απομονωμένη πόλη το Φορτ Γουόρθ,ο μεγαλύτερος γιός της οικογένειας Λι ο Ντάλας δεν έχει μάθει να το βάζει κάτω και επιθυμεί να χτίσει μια αυτοκρατορία.Χρειάζεται όμως έναν γιο και έτσι σύμφωνα με τις επιταγές της εποχής παραγγέλνει με αλληλογραφία μια σύζυγο.Έχει σπάσει το πόδι του και δεν είναι σε θέση να κάνει το ταξίδι για να παραλάβει τη νύφη του έτσι αναθέτει την αποστολή στον αδερφό του.
Ο Χιούστον έχει ουλές στη μία πλευρά του προσώπου του και έχει ζήσει την ενήλικη ζωή του κρυμμένος στις σκιές,καλύπτει το πρόσωπό του με το καπέλο του. Έχει αποφύγει την ανθρώπινη επαφή,αισθάνεται μεγαλύτερη ασφάλεια με τα άλογα του.Λόγω της εμφάνισης του,σαν περήφανος καουμπόι ο Ντάλας αισθάνεται ότι είναι ασφαλές να υποθέσει ότι η μελλοντική του νύφη δεν θα ενδιαφερθεί για τον αδελφό του κατά τη διάρκεια του ταξιδιού.
Η συγγραφέας έχει επηρεαστεί αρκετά από την Πεντάμορφη και το Τέρας, αφού η ιστορία της αυτή θυμίζει σε αρκετά σημεία το κλασσικό αγαπημένο παραμύθι της παιδικής μου ηλικίας.Η Αμίλια είναι απογοητευμένη που πρέπει να περάσει τρεις εβδομάδες με τον αδελφό του μέλλοντα αρραβωνιαστικού της αλλά προσπαθεί να κάνει το καλύτερο για την κατάστασή της προσπαθώντας να τον εμπλέξει σε συνομιλία.Τον χτυπάει με ενοχλητικές ερωτήσεις που δεν θέλει να απαντήσει και τελικά αν και τον τρομάζει,ανοίγεται σιγά σιγά σε αυτήν και σχηματίζουν μια διστακτική φιλία που γίνεται ισχυρότερη καθώς περνούν οι μέρες αποκαλύπτουν τα κομμάτια του εαυτού τους ο ένας στον άλλο.
Δεν υπάρχει καμιά πνευματική σύνδεση κατά τη διάρκεια των πρώτων ημερών που περνούν μαζί,αντ 'αυτού υπάρχουν πολλές αμήχανες προσπάθειες για συνομιλία.Ο Χιούστον κάνει απεγνωσμένες προσπάθειες να γοητεύσει την Aμίλια και να σπάσει τη μακρά σιωπή αλλά πάντα αποτυγχάνει.Αυτές οι μικρές πινελιές είναι που κάνουν το ζευγάρι τόσο απολαυστικό.
Σε πολλά σημεία του βιβλίου,η παρουσία τους,η συμπεριφορά και οι διάλογοί τους δίνουν μια επιπλέον σπιρτάδα και ζωντάνια στην αφήγηση,με το χιούμορ και τις έξυπνες παρατηρήσεις τους να σιγοντάρουν με τον καλύτερο τρόπο τις σκηνές που εκτυλίσσονται ανάμεσα στο πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι.
Οι ζωές τους έχουν καταστραφεί από τον πόλεμο αν και το έχουν αντιμετωπίσει και οι δύο με διαφορετικό τρόπο.Η Αμίλια μπορεί να μην έχει εμφανή σημάδια αλλά ο πόλεμος σημάδεψε για πάντα την οικογένειά της και κατά επέκταση κι εκείνη,ακόμα και αν αυτό σημαίνει να πάρει μέρος στο όνειρο του αδερφού του,μ’έναν άγνωστο άντρα στο άλλο άκρο της πολιτείας.
Εκείνος έχει παραιτηθεί από τα όνειρά του και αποσυρθεί από τον κόσμο,κάποτε ήταν ένα αγόρι που ο πόλεμος του έκλεψε την αθωότητα, τώρα παγιδευμένος στις αναμνήσεις του παρελθόντος σε ένα πόλεμο που τον είχε αναγκάζει να ενηλικιωθεί απότομα και του έκλεψε ένα μέρος της όρασης του το χαμόγελο το γέλιο και το αυτονόητο δικαίωμα να κάνει όνειρα.
Ενώ εκείνη αιώνια αισιόδοξη και ευγνώμων με κάθε περίπτωση. Εξετάζει το μέλλον της με χαρά που αγκαλιάζει κάθε ευκαιρία αν μπορεί να κάνει τα όνειρά της πραγματικότητα.Καταφέρνει ακόμη και να βρει ένα όνειρο για τον Χιούστον.
Ο Χιούστον είναι ο αγαπημένος μου ήρωας.Μια τραυματισμένη ψυχή,με ακεραιότητα,είναι σοβαρός,ηρωικός παρόλο που δεν το παραδέχεται και το καλύτερο από όλα είναι ευαίσθητος. Από την στιγμή που η συγγραφέας μου σύστησε τον Χιούστον όπως και η πρωταγωνιστρία έχασα κάθε ενδιαφέρον για τον μεγαλύτερο αδερφό. Η εξωτερική ‘’ασχήμια’’ του Χιούστον και η υποτιθέμενη αποκρουστική όψη του δεν έχει καμία απολύτως σχέση με το μεγαλείο και την ομορφιά της βασανισμένης ψυχής του.
Θαύμασα την εφευρετικότητα της συγγραφέως,κατέχει την ικανότητα να μετατρέπει αθώες διαδικασίες όπως το ξύρισμα,το μπάνιο και την προετοιμασία για ύπνο σε μια γλυκιά αισθησιακή εμπειρία που αφορούσε την αργή οικοδόμηση σεξουαλικής έντασης ανάμεσα στο ζευγάρι.Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα η ευγένεια και η εφευρετικότητα της Αμίλια να παίρνει ό,τι θέλει,διατηρώντας ακόμα τη γλυκύτητα και την αθωότητά της.
Κατατάσσεται στην κατηγορία εκείνων των βιβλίων που δεν θα ξεχάσω εύκολα,ακόμα κι αν μεσολαβήσει καιρός από την ανάγνωσή του.Βυθίστηκα στις σελίδες του και διψούσα για το επόμενο κεφάλαιο,για την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας.Ο τίτλος του βιβλίου είναι καθοριστικός της ιστορίας που εξελίσσεται,2 ψυχές που έπρεπε να ξεπεράσουν τις τραυματικές εμπειρίες του παρελθόντος,θεώρησα πως ήταν το πιο απίστευτο και συνάμα ευχάριστο γεγονός που μπορούσε να τους συμβεί,να δω αυτούς τους δύο χαρισματικούς χαρακτήρες να βρίσκουν επιτέλους τον δρόμο προς την ευτυχία σ’έναν έρωτα που ανθίζει σαν σπάνιο λουλούδι στον ξερό τοπίο του Τέξας.Τι κι αν οι καταστάσεις τους ανάγκαζαν να προχωρήσουν σε άλλα μονοπάτια,θυμήθηκα το ρητό των παππούδων μας «το πεπρωμένον,φυγείν αδύνατον».
Σε αντίθεση με τις περισσότερες ιστορίες εποχής που έχω διαβάσει το Πεπρωμένο έχει να πει κάτι το διαφορετικό.Από την αριστοκρατική Αγγλία με όλα εκείνα τα όμορφα φορέματα τα οποία πολύ μου αρέσουν(να τα χαζεύω όχι να τα φοράω),τις βεντάλιες,τους κήπους,τα λουλούδια,τους κισσούς και τα καταπράσινα τοπία μεταφερόμαστε στο Τέξας που τα απέραντα χωράφια του έχουν γίνει θάλασσες ψυχών που θέλουν να ξεχάσουν ή να μείνουν μόνοι μετά τον εμφύλιο σε μια πολιτεία τραυματισμένη από τον πόλεμο.
Σε μια απομονωμένη πόλη το Φορτ Γουόρθ,ο μεγαλύτερος γιός της οικογένειας Λι ο Ντάλας δεν έχει μάθει να το βάζει κάτω και επιθυμεί να χτίσει μια αυτοκρατορία.Χρειάζεται όμως έναν γιο και έτσι σύμφωνα με τις επιταγές της εποχής παραγγέλνει με αλληλογραφία μια σύζυγο.Έχει σπάσει το πόδι του και δεν είναι σε θέση να κάνει το ταξίδι για να παραλάβει τη νύφη του έτσι αναθέτει την αποστολή στον αδερφό του.
Ο Χιούστον έχει ουλές στη μία πλευρά του προσώπου του και έχει ζήσει την ενήλικη ζωή του κρυμμένος στις σκιές,καλύπτει το πρόσωπό του με το καπέλο του. Έχει αποφύγει την ανθρώπινη επαφή,αισθάνεται μεγαλύτερη ασφάλεια με τα άλογα του.Λόγω της εμφάνισης του,σαν περήφανος καουμπόι ο Ντάλας αισθάνεται ότι είναι ασφαλές να υποθέσει ότι η μελλοντική του νύφη δεν θα ενδιαφερθεί για τον αδελφό του κατά τη διάρκεια του ταξιδιού.
Η συγγραφέας έχει επηρεαστεί αρκετά από την Πεντάμορφη και το Τέρας, αφού η ιστορία της αυτή θυμίζει σε αρκετά σημεία το κλασσικό αγαπημένο παραμύθι της παιδικής μου ηλικίας.Η Αμίλια είναι απογοητευμένη που πρέπει να περάσει τρεις εβδομάδες με τον αδελφό του μέλλοντα αρραβωνιαστικού της αλλά προσπαθεί να κάνει το καλύτερο για την κατάστασή της προσπαθώντας να τον εμπλέξει σε συνομιλία.Τον χτυπάει με ενοχλητικές ερωτήσεις που δεν θέλει να απαντήσει και τελικά αν και τον τρομάζει,ανοίγεται σιγά σιγά σε αυτήν και σχηματίζουν μια διστακτική φιλία που γίνεται ισχυρότερη καθώς περνούν οι μέρες αποκαλύπτουν τα κομμάτια του εαυτού τους ο ένας στον άλλο.
Δεν υπάρχει καμιά πνευματική σύνδεση κατά τη διάρκεια των πρώτων ημερών που περνούν μαζί,αντ 'αυτού υπάρχουν πολλές αμήχανες προσπάθειες για συνομιλία.Ο Χιούστον κάνει απεγνωσμένες προσπάθειες να γοητεύσει την Aμίλια και να σπάσει τη μακρά σιωπή αλλά πάντα αποτυγχάνει.Αυτές οι μικρές πινελιές είναι που κάνουν το ζευγάρι τόσο απολαυστικό.
Σε πολλά σημεία του βιβλίου,η παρουσία τους,η συμπεριφορά και οι διάλογοί τους δίνουν μια επιπλέον σπιρτάδα και ζωντάνια στην αφήγηση,με το χιούμορ και τις έξυπνες παρατηρήσεις τους να σιγοντάρουν με τον καλύτερο τρόπο τις σκηνές που εκτυλίσσονται ανάμεσα στο πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι.
Οι ζωές τους έχουν καταστραφεί από τον πόλεμο αν και το έχουν αντιμετωπίσει και οι δύο με διαφορετικό τρόπο.Η Αμίλια μπορεί να μην έχει εμφανή σημάδια αλλά ο πόλεμος σημάδεψε για πάντα την οικογένειά της και κατά επέκταση κι εκείνη,ακόμα και αν αυτό σημαίνει να πάρει μέρος στο όνειρο του αδερφού του,μ’έναν άγνωστο άντρα στο άλλο άκρο της πολιτείας.
Εκείνος έχει παραιτηθεί από τα όνειρά του και αποσυρθεί από τον κόσμο,κάποτε ήταν ένα αγόρι που ο πόλεμος του έκλεψε την αθωότητα, τώρα παγιδευμένος στις αναμνήσεις του παρελθόντος σε ένα πόλεμο που τον είχε αναγκάζει να ενηλικιωθεί απότομα και του έκλεψε ένα μέρος της όρασης του το χαμόγελο το γέλιο και το αυτονόητο δικαίωμα να κάνει όνειρα.
Ενώ εκείνη αιώνια αισιόδοξη και ευγνώμων με κάθε περίπτωση. Εξετάζει το μέλλον της με χαρά που αγκαλιάζει κάθε ευκαιρία αν μπορεί να κάνει τα όνειρά της πραγματικότητα.Καταφέρνει ακόμη και να βρει ένα όνειρο για τον Χιούστον.
Ο Χιούστον είναι ο αγαπημένος μου ήρωας.Μια τραυματισμένη ψυχή,με ακεραιότητα,είναι σοβαρός,ηρωικός παρόλο που δεν το παραδέχεται και το καλύτερο από όλα είναι ευαίσθητος. Από την στιγμή που η συγγραφέας μου σύστησε τον Χιούστον όπως και η πρωταγωνιστρία έχασα κάθε ενδιαφέρον για τον μεγαλύτερο αδερφό. Η εξωτερική ‘’ασχήμια’’ του Χιούστον και η υποτιθέμενη αποκρουστική όψη του δεν έχει καμία απολύτως σχέση με το μεγαλείο και την ομορφιά της βασανισμένης ψυχής του.
Θαύμασα την εφευρετικότητα της συγγραφέως,κατέχει την ικανότητα να μετατρέπει αθώες διαδικασίες όπως το ξύρισμα,το μπάνιο και την προετοιμασία για ύπνο σε μια γλυκιά αισθησιακή εμπειρία που αφορούσε την αργή οικοδόμηση σεξουαλικής έντασης ανάμεσα στο ζευγάρι.Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα η ευγένεια και η εφευρετικότητα της Αμίλια να παίρνει ό,τι θέλει,διατηρώντας ακόμα τη γλυκύτητα και την αθωότητά της.
Κατατάσσεται στην κατηγορία εκείνων των βιβλίων που δεν θα ξεχάσω εύκολα,ακόμα κι αν μεσολαβήσει καιρός από την ανάγνωσή του.Βυθίστηκα στις σελίδες του και διψούσα για το επόμενο κεφάλαιο,για την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας.Ο τίτλος του βιβλίου είναι καθοριστικός της ιστορίας που εξελίσσεται,2 ψυχές που έπρεπε να ξεπεράσουν τις τραυματικές εμπειρίες του παρελθόντος,θεώρησα πως ήταν το πιο απίστευτο και συνάμα ευχάριστο γεγονός που μπορούσε να τους συμβεί,να δω αυτούς τους δύο χαρισματικούς χαρακτήρες να βρίσκουν επιτέλους τον δρόμο προς την ευτυχία σ’έναν έρωτα που ανθίζει σαν σπάνιο λουλούδι στον ξερό τοπίο του Τέξας.Τι κι αν οι καταστάσεις τους ανάγκαζαν να προχωρήσουν σε άλλα μονοπάτια,θυμήθηκα το ρητό των παππούδων μας «το πεπρωμένον,φυγείν αδύνατον».
November 4, 2012
Opening Line: “His was not a face that women carried with them into their dreams”
Oh how I loved this one. I actually sought out a used copy of Texas Destiny because it had received such rave reviews and WOW am I ever glad I did. I knew going in I was going to like this because I’ve got such a soft spot when it comes to the tortured heroes but I never expected to be as moved as I was by this beautiful story. Just know any review I attempt here really won’t do this justice.
I fell in love with both the hero and heroine and literally couldn’t stop reading mostly because Lorraine Heath never took the easy route with their story. Just when I thought I had it all figured out she went the opposite way or moved things past where I thought she was going to. She also gives us multifaceted characters who only over the course of the book manage to reveal their whole selves.
Our couples back stories are both heartbreaking, talk about wounded souls finding each other. Unfortunately for them our heroine has already promised herself to another and the hero doesn’t feel anywhere near worthy of fighting for her love, especially up against his successful, good looking, older brother.
But the heart wants what the heart wants, and sometimes it isn’t a fancy house and lots of frills but a quiet life in a one room cabin with small dreams, a few horses and a man that makes your toes curl regardless of what he looks like.
Amelia Carson has just arrived on the Fort Worth train, she’s a mail order bride trying to leave the horrors of war-ravaged Georgia behind and start a new life for herself in Texas. She’s been corresponding with Dallas Leigh for a year now, agreeing to marry him and in exchange for travel expenses signing a promissory note. (Its 1876 so the deed is as good as done.) Now all she can hope is that Dallas is everything she imagined he’d be from his letters.
However it’s not Dallas who meets Amelia’s train (due to a broken leg he’s been unable to travel.) The tall cowboy keeping to the shadows is his younger brother Houston and she’s going to be stuck with the scarred and bad tempered man for the entire three week wagon journey back to Dallas’s ranch. Houston doesn’t talk much and almost always keeps his face turned away, but Amelia’s an optimistic character and it doesn’t take long before she’s able to break down Houston’s defences.
Missing an eye and badly disfigured this weary, ex-Civil War soldier has survived the war but its left him scarred inside and out and he now prefers the company of horses to people. Amelia has brought something back to life in him though and he can’t help wishing things were somehow different. As it stands his memories are going to have to last a lifetime because she belongs to his brother and he’s going to deliver her to him and watch them get married because Amelia deserves so much more then he could ever hope to give her.
Of course the return trip doesn’t go quite as smoothly as planned and Houston and Amelia are forced to rely on each other to survive, growing ever closer and falling in love. And this is where things got interesting because I expected the brother to be a mean horrible man (makes for an easy story right) but no, he’s a nice guy, who would make an excellent husband, remaining true and providing Amelia with a good life. This makes her decision very difficult especially when the one she really wants keeps pushing her away.
Part 1 of the Texas Trilogy.
271jb5+
Oh how I loved this one. I actually sought out a used copy of Texas Destiny because it had received such rave reviews and WOW am I ever glad I did. I knew going in I was going to like this because I’ve got such a soft spot when it comes to the tortured heroes but I never expected to be as moved as I was by this beautiful story. Just know any review I attempt here really won’t do this justice.
I fell in love with both the hero and heroine and literally couldn’t stop reading mostly because Lorraine Heath never took the easy route with their story. Just when I thought I had it all figured out she went the opposite way or moved things past where I thought she was going to. She also gives us multifaceted characters who only over the course of the book manage to reveal their whole selves.
Our couples back stories are both heartbreaking, talk about wounded souls finding each other. Unfortunately for them our heroine has already promised herself to another and the hero doesn’t feel anywhere near worthy of fighting for her love, especially up against his successful, good looking, older brother.
But the heart wants what the heart wants, and sometimes it isn’t a fancy house and lots of frills but a quiet life in a one room cabin with small dreams, a few horses and a man that makes your toes curl regardless of what he looks like.
Amelia Carson has just arrived on the Fort Worth train, she’s a mail order bride trying to leave the horrors of war-ravaged Georgia behind and start a new life for herself in Texas. She’s been corresponding with Dallas Leigh for a year now, agreeing to marry him and in exchange for travel expenses signing a promissory note. (Its 1876 so the deed is as good as done.) Now all she can hope is that Dallas is everything she imagined he’d be from his letters.
However it’s not Dallas who meets Amelia’s train (due to a broken leg he’s been unable to travel.) The tall cowboy keeping to the shadows is his younger brother Houston and she’s going to be stuck with the scarred and bad tempered man for the entire three week wagon journey back to Dallas’s ranch. Houston doesn’t talk much and almost always keeps his face turned away, but Amelia’s an optimistic character and it doesn’t take long before she’s able to break down Houston’s defences.
Missing an eye and badly disfigured this weary, ex-Civil War soldier has survived the war but its left him scarred inside and out and he now prefers the company of horses to people. Amelia has brought something back to life in him though and he can’t help wishing things were somehow different. As it stands his memories are going to have to last a lifetime because she belongs to his brother and he’s going to deliver her to him and watch them get married because Amelia deserves so much more then he could ever hope to give her.
Of course the return trip doesn’t go quite as smoothly as planned and Houston and Amelia are forced to rely on each other to survive, growing ever closer and falling in love. And this is where things got interesting because I expected the brother to be a mean horrible man (makes for an easy story right) but no, he’s a nice guy, who would make an excellent husband, remaining true and providing Amelia with a good life. This makes her decision very difficult especially when the one she really wants keeps pushing her away.
Part 1 of the Texas Trilogy.
271jb5+
November 1, 2019
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2019/...
3.5-4
Estoy entre tres estrellas cuatro,.... pena que no haya las medias
Me decanto por las 4 porque seguramente si lo hubiera leído en castellano lo hubiera disfrutado mucho más, que en inglés me cuesta mucho
la historia es muy bonita, y tiene escenas tiernas con unos diálogos que te restan el aliento
La evolución de Houston con sus pensamientos y esos sentimientos a flor de piel todo el rato, para mí, es lo mejor de la historia.
La primera parte aunque pasada es donde mejor se ve esa evolución. Dos personas dolidas con un pasado duro que se ven forzados a compartir espacio.
Es de las historias de antes, romances que se cuecen a fuego lento y yo las disfruto, de forma pausada y en algún momento con una gran pataleta porque Lorraine heath alarga el tema a más no poder.
Pero.... creo que hay temas que se quedan muy en el aire, por ejemplo, la relación entre los hermanos. no sé si porque en futuras entregas estará más desarrollado pero me he quedado un poco a cuadros con lo poco que se explica.
Eso sí, en algunos momentos, una colleja a los 4!!!!
Lorraine Heath disfruta con estos protagonistas atormentandos que al final consiguen salir de su oscuridad
3.5-4
Estoy entre tres estrellas cuatro,.... pena que no haya las medias
Me decanto por las 4 porque seguramente si lo hubiera leído en castellano lo hubiera disfrutado mucho más, que en inglés me cuesta mucho
la historia es muy bonita, y tiene escenas tiernas con unos diálogos que te restan el aliento
La evolución de Houston con sus pensamientos y esos sentimientos a flor de piel todo el rato, para mí, es lo mejor de la historia.
La primera parte aunque pasada es donde mejor se ve esa evolución. Dos personas dolidas con un pasado duro que se ven forzados a compartir espacio.
Es de las historias de antes, romances que se cuecen a fuego lento y yo las disfruto, de forma pausada y en algún momento con una gran pataleta porque Lorraine heath alarga el tema a más no poder.
Pero.... creo que hay temas que se quedan muy en el aire, por ejemplo, la relación entre los hermanos. no sé si porque en futuras entregas estará más desarrollado pero me he quedado un poco a cuadros con lo poco que se explica.
Eso sí, en algunos momentos, una colleja a los 4!!!!
Lorraine Heath disfruta con estos protagonistas atormentandos que al final consiguen salir de su oscuridad
March 2, 2011
How do I begin to describe such a beautiful story as TEXAS DESTINY? I could talk about the post civil war Texas setting and describe the mail order bride plot but that doesn't even begin to touch on the emotional impact of Ms. Heath's newest work. This book touched me from beginning to end and is a book I'll always treasure. It's also the first of a trilogy. Woo-hoo!
Houston Leigh's brother Dallas has broken his leg and is unable to make the trip to pick up his mail order bride-to-be Amelia Carson. Houston has hideous facial scarring on one side of his handsome face and has lived his adult life hiding in shadows and covering his face with his hat. He has shunned human contact and feels most content in the company of his horses. Because of his scars and less than charming personality Dallas feels it's safe to assume his new bride won't fall for his brother during the three week trek.
Amelia is disappointed that she has to spend three weeks with her fiancé's grouchy brother but tries to make the best out of her situation by trying to engage him in conversation. She bugs him with irritating questions he doesn't want to answer and eventually she gets under his skin. Although it scares him he slowly opens up to her and they form a hesitant friendship which gets stronger as the days pass and they reveal bits of themselves to each other. Both of their lives have been shattered by the war and they've both dealt with it differently. He has given up on his dreams and withdrawn from the world while she is the eternal optimist finding something to be grateful for in every situation. She looks at her future with joy anxiously biding her time when she can turn her dreams into reality. She even manages to find a dream for Houston to believe in but they despair because she is promised to his brother . . .
The hurting and lovable characters are what make this story so memorable. In the majority of romances I've read one character usually really comes alive while the other gets the short shrift. That's so not so in this case! I loved the heroine as much as the hero in TEXAS DESTINY. She's a woman who has seen the worst life has to offer but hasn't been beaten down by it. Her optimism and willingness to embrace life is refreshing and believable. And Houston . . . he's my favorite kind of hero. He's a wounded soul, with lots of integrity, he's serious, heroic, and best of all he's sensitive. He's been dealt a raw deal by life and really needs a hug. This story is extremely realistic for instance there is no witty banter during their first few days together but instead there are lots of awkward attempts at conversation and long silences. Houston's makes several desperate attempts to come up with words to charm Amelia but always ends fails. These little touches are what make the couple so endearing.
I know many readers avoid the Civil War period but this book is less about the war and more about the healing of two people who as children had to bear witness to human nature's darkest side. But don't think it's all darkness and pain! The book is filled with so many tender moments my eyes were stinging and there is a quiet wit that made me smile. The longing, the soft caresses, the hot kisses, the despair and the impossible love these two share made my heart ache but somehow they always managed to maintain their senses of humor. The sense of place is done so well I felt like I was living the story. I stayed up late reading with a flashlight until 12am last night because I just didn't want to put this book down. This is very rare for me since I get up at 5am! I'm a zombie today but boy was it ever worth it
Houston Leigh's brother Dallas has broken his leg and is unable to make the trip to pick up his mail order bride-to-be Amelia Carson. Houston has hideous facial scarring on one side of his handsome face and has lived his adult life hiding in shadows and covering his face with his hat. He has shunned human contact and feels most content in the company of his horses. Because of his scars and less than charming personality Dallas feels it's safe to assume his new bride won't fall for his brother during the three week trek.
Amelia is disappointed that she has to spend three weeks with her fiancé's grouchy brother but tries to make the best out of her situation by trying to engage him in conversation. She bugs him with irritating questions he doesn't want to answer and eventually she gets under his skin. Although it scares him he slowly opens up to her and they form a hesitant friendship which gets stronger as the days pass and they reveal bits of themselves to each other. Both of their lives have been shattered by the war and they've both dealt with it differently. He has given up on his dreams and withdrawn from the world while she is the eternal optimist finding something to be grateful for in every situation. She looks at her future with joy anxiously biding her time when she can turn her dreams into reality. She even manages to find a dream for Houston to believe in but they despair because she is promised to his brother . . .
The hurting and lovable characters are what make this story so memorable. In the majority of romances I've read one character usually really comes alive while the other gets the short shrift. That's so not so in this case! I loved the heroine as much as the hero in TEXAS DESTINY. She's a woman who has seen the worst life has to offer but hasn't been beaten down by it. Her optimism and willingness to embrace life is refreshing and believable. And Houston . . . he's my favorite kind of hero. He's a wounded soul, with lots of integrity, he's serious, heroic, and best of all he's sensitive. He's been dealt a raw deal by life and really needs a hug. This story is extremely realistic for instance there is no witty banter during their first few days together but instead there are lots of awkward attempts at conversation and long silences. Houston's makes several desperate attempts to come up with words to charm Amelia but always ends fails. These little touches are what make the couple so endearing.
I know many readers avoid the Civil War period but this book is less about the war and more about the healing of two people who as children had to bear witness to human nature's darkest side. But don't think it's all darkness and pain! The book is filled with so many tender moments my eyes were stinging and there is a quiet wit that made me smile. The longing, the soft caresses, the hot kisses, the despair and the impossible love these two share made my heart ache but somehow they always managed to maintain their senses of humor. The sense of place is done so well I felt like I was living the story. I stayed up late reading with a flashlight until 12am last night because I just didn't want to put this book down. This is very rare for me since I get up at 5am! I'm a zombie today but boy was it ever worth it
May 27, 2022
Re read for Historical Hellions 2022
3.5 stars. Review will be in our live discussion for The Rake Appreciation Society!
3.5 stars. Review will be in our live discussion for The Rake Appreciation Society!
December 13, 2025
After re-reading the last two chapters, I decided to change my rating. I really liked this book and while parts of the ending might be unbelievable to other readers, I accepted the conclusion. I have my reasons and won't disclose them for spoilage purposes. The following already gives some things away:
***SPOILERS***
This book captivated me from start to finish. Thank you Irina, Rain, Yesmina, and Tenley for your awesome reviews of this story. I’m partial to westerns and this one hit the spot. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely nothing was accomplished during that day. (And I’ve been paying for it ever since.☺️)
MMC Houston Leigh was sent to Fort Worth in September of 1876 by his older brother Dallas to meet 19-year-old MFC Amelia Carson’s train. Amelia is a heart and hand bride. Following a year of correspondence, Dallas “contracts” with Amelia to marry him. Since no photos have been exchanged, Amelia is to wear a hat with a bobbing bird on it that she received from Dallas (and totally abhors) so she could be recognized upon arrival. Amelia in turn sent Dallas a dainty strip of fabric with flowers embroidered on it for him to wear in his Stetson’s band. Houston is already angry with Dallas for making him travel three weeks to pick up Amelia, so he’s not going to humiliate himself further by putting a very feminine item in his hat band. After everyone has left the train, Amelia despairs because she thinks no one has shown up for her. When Houston greets her, he shows her the strip of cloth and lets her know she will be safe traveling with him. And that’s when she notices his disfigurement.
Houston Leigh was 15 years old when he was injured in the Battle of Chickamauga thirteen years earlier. He lost his left eye, ear, and has some facial burn scars. He keeps his hat lowered over the left side of his face to cover the defect. Houston’s appearance is the main reason Dallas sent him to pick up Amelia. And this is why I didn’t like Dallas’ character. He was a wealthy, self-centered rancher who didn’t heed Houston’s advice and tried to break a wild mustang the day before he was set to leave for Fort Worth. Instead, he breaks his leg.
Throughout the course of the book, the reader learns the back stories of both main characters. Houston comes off as grumpy and quiet because he didn’t get a normal youth. Being disfigured at such a young age was the reason he became a loner and someone who didn’t want to socialize with others. It was also why he didn’t always know what to say to Amelia. She was the first woman who didn’t cringe when she looked at him. She saw him for what he was inside. She also knew that if the left side of his face looked exactly like his right profile, he would’ve been a very handsome man. Houston also never smiled or laughed. Once he got to know Amelia better after traveling with her, that changed. A lot of things changed when they finally made it back to Dallas’ ranch.
Oh, and that awful hat? Houston suggests to Amelia early in their travels that if she leaves it next to a stream, a raccoon will probably carry it off. It's what they both tell Dallas when they finally reach his ranch.🦝😂
Since Houston and Amelia's trip back took longer than expected, it takes a while before the circuit preacher can return to perform the nuptials. In the meantime, their youngest brother Austin shows Amelia around Dallas' ranch and takes her to Houston's cabin when she asks. After Dallas hears Amelia talk so much about Houston, he decides to pay his brother a visit. And he's not happy when he arrives.
“I told you to stay off that goddamn horse, but you wouldn’t listen! And I paid the price for your stubbornness. For forty-three days I traveled through hell, wanting that woman like I’ve never wanted anything in my life. For forty-three days, I drew your goddamn brand in the dirt to remind myself that she belonged to you, that she deserved the best of men. Think what you want of me, but never for one goddamn minute think less of her because you forced her into my company.” …”She went through hell to get to you: snake, storm, flood, hunger, and cold, and she never once complained. She’s a woman of courage, Dallas, and by God, if you don’t worship the ground she walks on, I’ll find her a husband who will. Now, get the hell off my land.”
It's a great story and one I will read again – after I finish the remaining books in the series.
***SPOILERS***
This book captivated me from start to finish. Thank you Irina, Rain, Yesmina, and Tenley for your awesome reviews of this story. I’m partial to westerns and this one hit the spot. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely nothing was accomplished during that day. (And I’ve been paying for it ever since.☺️)
MMC Houston Leigh was sent to Fort Worth in September of 1876 by his older brother Dallas to meet 19-year-old MFC Amelia Carson’s train. Amelia is a heart and hand bride. Following a year of correspondence, Dallas “contracts” with Amelia to marry him. Since no photos have been exchanged, Amelia is to wear a hat with a bobbing bird on it that she received from Dallas (and totally abhors) so she could be recognized upon arrival. Amelia in turn sent Dallas a dainty strip of fabric with flowers embroidered on it for him to wear in his Stetson’s band. Houston is already angry with Dallas for making him travel three weeks to pick up Amelia, so he’s not going to humiliate himself further by putting a very feminine item in his hat band. After everyone has left the train, Amelia despairs because she thinks no one has shown up for her. When Houston greets her, he shows her the strip of cloth and lets her know she will be safe traveling with him. And that’s when she notices his disfigurement.
Houston Leigh was 15 years old when he was injured in the Battle of Chickamauga thirteen years earlier. He lost his left eye, ear, and has some facial burn scars. He keeps his hat lowered over the left side of his face to cover the defect. Houston’s appearance is the main reason Dallas sent him to pick up Amelia. And this is why I didn’t like Dallas’ character. He was a wealthy, self-centered rancher who didn’t heed Houston’s advice and tried to break a wild mustang the day before he was set to leave for Fort Worth. Instead, he breaks his leg.
Throughout the course of the book, the reader learns the back stories of both main characters. Houston comes off as grumpy and quiet because he didn’t get a normal youth. Being disfigured at such a young age was the reason he became a loner and someone who didn’t want to socialize with others. It was also why he didn’t always know what to say to Amelia. She was the first woman who didn’t cringe when she looked at him. She saw him for what he was inside. She also knew that if the left side of his face looked exactly like his right profile, he would’ve been a very handsome man. Houston also never smiled or laughed. Once he got to know Amelia better after traveling with her, that changed. A lot of things changed when they finally made it back to Dallas’ ranch.
Oh, and that awful hat? Houston suggests to Amelia early in their travels that if she leaves it next to a stream, a raccoon will probably carry it off. It's what they both tell Dallas when they finally reach his ranch.🦝😂
Since Houston and Amelia's trip back took longer than expected, it takes a while before the circuit preacher can return to perform the nuptials. In the meantime, their youngest brother Austin shows Amelia around Dallas' ranch and takes her to Houston's cabin when she asks. After Dallas hears Amelia talk so much about Houston, he decides to pay his brother a visit. And he's not happy when he arrives.
“I told you to stay off that goddamn horse, but you wouldn’t listen! And I paid the price for your stubbornness. For forty-three days I traveled through hell, wanting that woman like I’ve never wanted anything in my life. For forty-three days, I drew your goddamn brand in the dirt to remind myself that she belonged to you, that she deserved the best of men. Think what you want of me, but never for one goddamn minute think less of her because you forced her into my company.” …”She went through hell to get to you: snake, storm, flood, hunger, and cold, and she never once complained. She’s a woman of courage, Dallas, and by God, if you don’t worship the ground she walks on, I’ll find her a husband who will. Now, get the hell off my land.”
It's a great story and one I will read again – after I finish the remaining books in the series.
September 10, 2011
Wow - what can I say that hasn't already been written about this amazing story? I loved everything about it!
After reading the synopsis I kept putting this one on the back burner. At that time I hadn't read many Western Historicals and figured this would probably be just an ok read for me. Recently I have been enjoying many wonderful books in this genre (thanks to my GR friends) and so when my friend Denise *smiling* "insisted" that I read this one and then backed by Katrina’s comments, I thought I'd give it a go!
Immediately upon starting I asked myself why did I hesitate! There is something unique about Houston Leigh and I loved him right from the start. He drew me into his heart and I don't think I've ever wanted a HEA as badly as I wanted this for him.
And nineteen year old Amelia Carson, with her determination and courage was perfect for Houston. Having lost all in the war, she longs to share in someone’s dream. She needed to start a new life and agrees to become the mail-order-bride of Houston’s brother, Dallas. The day before she was to arrive, Dallas broke his leg and sends Houston to collect and take care of her on their three week journey to his home.
And boy what a journey! Houston Leigh carries the scars from not only his time in the Civil War but from abusive acts received from his father. The left side of his face is severely damaged and it now has become second nature for him to shield and keep this side in shadows. But his greatest scarring is inside, deep down to his soul where his spirit is broken and a deep loneliness is his constant companion. He is a man without hope, despairing of a better future.
But all this changes with a petite Georgian who is smart, witty, determined, courageous and curious! I loved Amelia and she is perfect for Houston. She sees more than his disfigurement and quickly has a desire for him to see that he didn’t have to hug walls or view life through shadows of his own making. He is ruggedly handsome, tall and powerfully built. I loved his sexy voice! I totally loved his protectiveness and his tenderness to Amelia. *sighing*..Can you tell how much I lurrrv him and he will always be one of my all time favorite heroes!
I thoroughly enjoyed going on their journey watching as two people discover the magic of first love, holding my breath in anticipation of the outcome of the many obstacles they encountered along the way and the wonderful transformation throughout the book replacing despair with new hope and a sharing of dreams for the future! There were no steamy love scenes but plenty of burgeoning desire and I found this more than adequate for a beautifully done work capturing the essence of love and the transformation it brings. Each day they were together brought them closer but always lingering is the knowledge of the mail-order-contract.
For me, this was an emotional read. I laughed, cried, and was completely enthralled! And I loved every minute of it! Houston and Amelia will always be one of my favorite couples. Thank you Denise for recommending this beautiful jewel to me!
I can never do this book justice with my review and would like to share just a small smidgeon of Houston's feelings for Amelia......
After reading the synopsis I kept putting this one on the back burner. At that time I hadn't read many Western Historicals and figured this would probably be just an ok read for me. Recently I have been enjoying many wonderful books in this genre (thanks to my GR friends) and so when my friend Denise *smiling* "insisted" that I read this one and then backed by Katrina’s comments, I thought I'd give it a go!
Immediately upon starting I asked myself why did I hesitate! There is something unique about Houston Leigh and I loved him right from the start. He drew me into his heart and I don't think I've ever wanted a HEA as badly as I wanted this for him.
And nineteen year old Amelia Carson, with her determination and courage was perfect for Houston. Having lost all in the war, she longs to share in someone’s dream. She needed to start a new life and agrees to become the mail-order-bride of Houston’s brother, Dallas. The day before she was to arrive, Dallas broke his leg and sends Houston to collect and take care of her on their three week journey to his home.
And boy what a journey! Houston Leigh carries the scars from not only his time in the Civil War but from abusive acts received from his father. The left side of his face is severely damaged and it now has become second nature for him to shield and keep this side in shadows. But his greatest scarring is inside, deep down to his soul where his spirit is broken and a deep loneliness is his constant companion. He is a man without hope, despairing of a better future.
But all this changes with a petite Georgian who is smart, witty, determined, courageous and curious! I loved Amelia and she is perfect for Houston. She sees more than his disfigurement and quickly has a desire for him to see that he didn’t have to hug walls or view life through shadows of his own making. He is ruggedly handsome, tall and powerfully built. I loved his sexy voice! I totally loved his protectiveness and his tenderness to Amelia. *sighing*..Can you tell how much I lurrrv him and he will always be one of my all time favorite heroes!
I thoroughly enjoyed going on their journey watching as two people discover the magic of first love, holding my breath in anticipation of the outcome of the many obstacles they encountered along the way and the wonderful transformation throughout the book replacing despair with new hope and a sharing of dreams for the future! There were no steamy love scenes but plenty of burgeoning desire and I found this more than adequate for a beautifully done work capturing the essence of love and the transformation it brings. Each day they were together brought them closer but always lingering is the knowledge of the mail-order-contract.
For me, this was an emotional read. I laughed, cried, and was completely enthralled! And I loved every minute of it! Houston and Amelia will always be one of my favorite couples. Thank you Denise for recommending this beautiful jewel to me!
I can never do this book justice with my review and would like to share just a small smidgeon of Houston's feelings for Amelia......
March 19, 2019
*** 4 Bésame como si Me Amaras STARS***
AWWW QUE BONITO!!!
Este libro es de eso a la antigüita con un amor que se va dando lento y pausado donde los personajes se permiten conocerse y amar sus virtudes y fallas.
Con un amor tierno y dulce.
A mí Houston Leigh me pudo, ay ese hombre me llegó es tan askdlfslfj aparentemente es un hombre oscuro y huraño marcado por la guerra tanto física como emocionalmente, aunque esas heridas que lleva por dentro son más difícil de sanar y todavía lleva esa carga.
Él piensa que no es merecedor de nada pero se merece todo el amor del mundo y eso es lo que Amelia le va a dar.
Amelia es tan tierna y linda con Houston supo abrirse camino en su corazón, ella es una chica valiente y muy madura a pesar de su edad ya que también le tocó vivir cosas duras. Ella sólo quiere tener una familia y no estar sola pero Houston le hará desear otras cosas amor
AWWW QUE BONITO!!!
Este libro es de eso a la antigüita con un amor que se va dando lento y pausado donde los personajes se permiten conocerse y amar sus virtudes y fallas.
Con un amor tierno y dulce.
A mí Houston Leigh me pudo, ay ese hombre me llegó es tan askdlfslfj aparentemente es un hombre oscuro y huraño marcado por la guerra tanto física como emocionalmente, aunque esas heridas que lleva por dentro son más difícil de sanar y todavía lleva esa carga.
Él piensa que no es merecedor de nada pero se merece todo el amor del mundo y eso es lo que Amelia le va a dar.
Amelia es tan tierna y linda con Houston supo abrirse camino en su corazón, ella es una chica valiente y muy madura a pesar de su edad ya que también le tocó vivir cosas duras. Ella sólo quiere tener una familia y no estar sola pero Houston le hará desear otras cosas amor
July 18, 2019
4 STARS
A sweet western romance set in West Texas, post-Civil War era. A mail-order bride travels west to fulfill her dreams of finally having a home, a family, and the safety only a man like Dallas Leigh can offer. But something happens along the way that will alter her plans for happiness and steer her destiny in a whole new direction.
This was my first book by this author. And I am looking forward to reading many more. Starting with the next in the series.
“I’ve got a one-room cabin, a few horses, and a dream that’s so small it won’t even cover your palm. But it sure seems a lot bigger when you’re beside me.”
The moonlight streaming through the window shimmered off the tears trailing along her cheeks. “I’ve always wanted a dream that I could hold in the palm of my hand.”
A sweet western romance set in West Texas, post-Civil War era. A mail-order bride travels west to fulfill her dreams of finally having a home, a family, and the safety only a man like Dallas Leigh can offer. But something happens along the way that will alter her plans for happiness and steer her destiny in a whole new direction.
This was my first book by this author. And I am looking forward to reading many more. Starting with the next in the series.
December 13, 2018
Audio - 5 stars
Story - 3 stars
One of the rare occasions were the heroine outshined the hero. His insecurities bordered on pathetic. Or maybe I'm just being cold hearted. I got tired of him pushing the heroine away because he didn't feel worthy. ugh!
Story - 3 stars
One of the rare occasions were the heroine outshined the hero. His insecurities bordered on pathetic. Or maybe I'm just being cold hearted. I got tired of him pushing the heroine away because he didn't feel worthy. ugh!
November 17, 2021
4,5 estrellas. ¡Qué historia más bonita! La trama transcurre unos años después de finalizar la Guerra de Secesión, que los protagonistas de esta novela, Amelia y Houston, han sufrido y de qué manera. El conflicto dejó en ambos profundas cicatrices, unas más visibles que otras, pero solo uno de ellos deja que eso condicione su vida, su futuro y hasta su felicidad. La baja autoestima y la culpa que arrastra Houston convierten a este hermético y huraño protagonista en alguien inseguro y muy frágil, en contraposición con la valentía de una Amelia fuerte y decidida. Y si bien es cierto que sus inseguridades en algún momento me han puesto de los nervios, no puedo dejar de entender por qué es así un Houston, que, al final, acabas adorando.
Texas Destiny es una preciosa historia de amor que se cuece a fuego lento, en un viaje a lo largo y ancho de un territorio salvaje e inhóspito que permite a la pareja protagonista, a la que es imposible no tomar cariño, conocerse de verdad. Sentimientos a flor de piel, diálogos maravillosos y un romance muy tierno y dulce. ¿Qué más se puede pedir? Que lo traduzcan al español, diría yo.
#popsugar20 Reto 37: Un libro del género Western
Texas Destiny es una preciosa historia de amor que se cuece a fuego lento, en un viaje a lo largo y ancho de un territorio salvaje e inhóspito que permite a la pareja protagonista, a la que es imposible no tomar cariño, conocerse de verdad. Sentimientos a flor de piel, diálogos maravillosos y un romance muy tierno y dulce. ¿Qué más se puede pedir? Que lo traduzcan al español, diría yo.
#popsugar20 Reto 37: Un libro del género Western
June 14, 2023
The first half was 5 stars and the second half was 2 stars 😭 overall it’s 2.5 because lord I was tested beyond my capabilities of reason.
In the worst terms possible I went from wanting to swallow him to wanting to swallow a land mine 😔
Also we were robbed of an eyepatch cover!! Rude as hell
Bonus points for sexy snake bite
Our Old School School Texas Destiny episode will be up on 6/16 🎙️ Listen here: https://msha.ke/romanceyourtbr
In the worst terms possible I went from wanting to swallow him to wanting to swallow a land mine 😔
Also we were robbed of an eyepatch cover!! Rude as hell
Bonus points for sexy snake bite
Our Old School School Texas Destiny episode will be up on 6/16 🎙️ Listen here: https://msha.ke/romanceyourtbr
October 2, 2023
First time trying western and this is why... I don't read them. This one had so many mentions of horses and wagons and I was so bored.
November 6, 2025
"You have no idea what you're heading toward, Amelia."
"No, I don't. But I know what I've come from. And I have no desire to return to it." Turning her head slightly, she glanced down at him and gave him a rueful smile. "You were right this morning when you said I didn't want to view the world as you do. You see only the emptiness. I see a place that's waiting to be filled with dreams."
This was my first American mail-order bride book ever and it was a good one. Some readers might find the premise problematic because the FMC is the bride of the MMC's brother, but it didn't bother me. At least, it didn't bother me as long as they were on their long and adventurous journey from the train station to the farm, when they become familiar, exchange a few kisses and fall deeply in love with each other.
Things became more difficult for me (and my morals) once they arrive at Amelia's future husband's farm. Since her traveling companion, Houston, does not want to marry her despite his love for her ("You deserve more"), she decides to fulfill her obligation and marry Dallas as planned. However, she continues to run to Houston, trying to win him over. She's pretty obvious, and Dallas suspects that something's going on, but he ignores it until he can't anymore.
Amelia started out as a great heroine, but the longer the book went on, the more she got on my nerves. Yes, she's kind, resilient, brave, understanding, and she doesn't complain much, but she's just too perfect. (Her marital morals and persistence aside.) Houston, scarred inside and out by war, is a far more interesting character. It's nice to see him open up to her and start laughing again. Dallas is also a very good character, his reaction to the mess is really impressive.
Overall, it was a very entertaining first half full of adventures and heartwarming moments, and a decent second half. I can very well imagine reading Dallas's book sometime.
3.5
((Read in October 2025))
"No, I don't. But I know what I've come from. And I have no desire to return to it." Turning her head slightly, she glanced down at him and gave him a rueful smile. "You were right this morning when you said I didn't want to view the world as you do. You see only the emptiness. I see a place that's waiting to be filled with dreams."
This was my first American mail-order bride book ever and it was a good one. Some readers might find the premise problematic because the FMC is the bride of the MMC's brother, but it didn't bother me. At least, it didn't bother me as long as they were on their long and adventurous journey from the train station to the farm, when they become familiar, exchange a few kisses and fall deeply in love with each other.
Things became more difficult for me (and my morals) once they arrive at Amelia's future husband's farm. Since her traveling companion, Houston, does not want to marry her despite his love for her ("You deserve more"), she decides to fulfill her obligation and marry Dallas as planned. However, she continues to run to Houston, trying to win him over. She's pretty obvious, and Dallas suspects that something's going on, but he ignores it until he can't anymore.
Amelia started out as a great heroine, but the longer the book went on, the more she got on my nerves. Yes, she's kind, resilient, brave, understanding, and she doesn't complain much, but she's just too perfect. (Her marital morals and persistence aside.) Houston, scarred inside and out by war, is a far more interesting character. It's nice to see him open up to her and start laughing again. Dallas is also a very good character, his reaction to the mess is really impressive.
Overall, it was a very entertaining first half full of adventures and heartwarming moments, and a decent second half. I can very well imagine reading Dallas's book sometime.
3.5
((Read in October 2025))
May 13, 2013
I wish to thank my friend Jill for recommanding me this book! *kisses*
Lovely, lovely, lovely!!!
A real romantic, heartbraking love story!
The hero, Houston, is scarred all the way down to his soul... poor guy... At the beginning he's so closed that was painful to read about it. He resented his brother Dallas for sending him to retrieve his bride. He din't want to have to do it, but did it all the same.
His scarred face should have frightened Amelia, but instead she's intrigued. Amelia is Houston's opposite! She's scarred inside too, but she learned to fight her fear with funny little expedient: she lookes for any reason to be grateful in any situation, even the hopeless ones.
Where Houston is silent, she's outspoken; where he's trying to hide, she presses him to open up; where he wants to do the thing to protect her from himself, she's trying to get him to do it with everything in her.
I loved Amelia's persistence. Once she realizes she's in love with Houston, she doesn't hesitate to tell him. It's him that's so concerned about having nothing to offer her, that he stubbornly pushed her away. At this point I wanted to slap him!!
It takes an almost death situation to make him realize that he has to acknowledge that he needs and loves her!
His wedding vow was simply beautiful!
“I’m not a brave man; I’ll never be a hero, but I love you more than life itself, and I will until the day I die. With you by my side, I’m a better man than I’ve ever been alone. I’m scared to death that I’ll let you down, but I won’t run this time. I’ll stand firm and face the challenge and work hard to see that you never have any regrets. You told me once that you wanted to share a corner of my dream. Without you, Amelia, I have no dream. With you, I have everything I could ever dream of wanting.”
Tears burned her eyes as he glanced back at the preacher. “I’m done.”
There's heat in the story, even if there's no sex until the very end, but still you feel the need, the ache. It is very well done!
I would say that even if Houston has his desires, it was Alemia who voiced hers! I loved that she wasn't shy in her wanting Houston! :D
As I said: a beautiful love story! :D
Lovely, lovely, lovely!!!
A real romantic, heartbraking love story!
The hero, Houston, is scarred all the way down to his soul... poor guy... At the beginning he's so closed that was painful to read about it. He resented his brother Dallas for sending him to retrieve his bride. He din't want to have to do it, but did it all the same.
His scarred face should have frightened Amelia, but instead she's intrigued. Amelia is Houston's opposite! She's scarred inside too, but she learned to fight her fear with funny little expedient: she lookes for any reason to be grateful in any situation, even the hopeless ones.
Where Houston is silent, she's outspoken; where he's trying to hide, she presses him to open up; where he wants to do the thing to protect her from himself, she's trying to get him to do it with everything in her.
I loved Amelia's persistence. Once she realizes she's in love with Houston, she doesn't hesitate to tell him. It's him that's so concerned about having nothing to offer her, that he stubbornly pushed her away. At this point I wanted to slap him!!
It takes an almost death situation to make him realize that he has to acknowledge that he needs and loves her!
His wedding vow was simply beautiful!
“I’m not a brave man; I’ll never be a hero, but I love you more than life itself, and I will until the day I die. With you by my side, I’m a better man than I’ve ever been alone. I’m scared to death that I’ll let you down, but I won’t run this time. I’ll stand firm and face the challenge and work hard to see that you never have any regrets. You told me once that you wanted to share a corner of my dream. Without you, Amelia, I have no dream. With you, I have everything I could ever dream of wanting.”
Tears burned her eyes as he glanced back at the preacher. “I’m done.”
There's heat in the story, even if there's no sex until the very end, but still you feel the need, the ache. It is very well done!
I would say that even if Houston has his desires, it was Alemia who voiced hers! I loved that she wasn't shy in her wanting Houston! :D
As I said: a beautiful love story! :D
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November 5, 2023DNF 40%
This is tedious.
Beyond the problematic set up, the depressing characters, and total lack of levity, the story is going nowhere and I’m bored out of my mind.
I hate the heroine so much and can’t sympathize with a Mary Sue plantation owner who had to sleep in her own slave quarters and pick her own cotton 😭 . The place where her family forced the people they owned to live while profiting off the backs of their unpaid labour. This book has not aged well. I can’t rate it because of that. I might have to try one of this author’s more recent books to get a better gage on her.
I don’t believe in revisionist history but I also can’t sympathize with a plantation owner. The moral position of this book is off. So onward to better things.
This is tedious.
Beyond the problematic set up, the depressing characters, and total lack of levity, the story is going nowhere and I’m bored out of my mind.
I hate the heroine so much and can’t sympathize with a Mary Sue plantation owner who had to sleep in her own slave quarters and pick her own cotton 😭 . The place where her family forced the people they owned to live while profiting off the backs of their unpaid labour. This book has not aged well. I can’t rate it because of that. I might have to try one of this author’s more recent books to get a better gage on her.
I don’t believe in revisionist history but I also can’t sympathize with a plantation owner. The moral position of this book is off. So onward to better things.
April 20, 2020
Πόσο όμορφο και τρυφερό βιβλίο! Πόσο διαφορετικό μιας και μας ταξιδεύει στην Άγρια Δύση της Αμερικής και έτσι ξεφεύγουμε από τα Ευρωπαϊκά εδάφη. Πόσο υπέροχος ο έρωτας μεταξύ της Αμίλιας και του Χιούστον!
Γενικά το απόλαυσα ως την τελευταία σελίδα 🥰
👉 Αναλυτική κριτική θα βρείτε στο LIFE IS ART 👈
Γενικά το απόλαυσα ως την τελευταία σελίδα 🥰
👉 Αναλυτική κριτική θα βρείτε στο LIFE IS ART 👈
May 6, 2017
*** 3.5 Todo Houston STARS***
Una historia como las de antes, lenta, con un amor que se cuece a fuego lento. Uno de esos que no tienen límites.
Houston es un hombre anclado en su pasado. Con cicatrices en el rostro pero con heridas aún abiertas en su corazón.
¡Anda que me he puesto en modo cursi sin planearlo!
Pero es que este hombre me llegó a mi cora... sentí su dolor, su desesperación, su vergüenza. Me encantó.
Amelia a pesar de su edad(que yo me la imaginaba más grande que los 19 que tenía, porque vamos, una chica de esa edad no actúa como ella pero equis, ella me gustó mucho y lo paso por alto ajajaja) es toda una mujer, con un pasado de esos que deben olvidarse y superarse pero con tanto positivismo, energía y valor como nadie.
A pesar de que fueron pocos los personajes secundarios me pareció que sus personalidades estuvieron profundamente planeadas. Haciéndolos parecer más humanos en cada aparición.
No voy a decir que es un libro increíble. Porque de esta temática hay mejores. Pero es uno lleno de un amor tierno. Con el estilo de la autora totalmente impreso en cada página. Lo clasificaría más romance rosa de lo que nos acostumbra la autora.
En fin, me gustó mucho. Pero tiene sus detallitos y sin duda no es uno de los inolvidables...
Es de esos que te dejan una sonrisa tonta en la boca y viendo el mundo con flores y corazones.
Por cierto, como que tuvo un poquitín de drama demás jajaja.
Una historia como las de antes, lenta, con un amor que se cuece a fuego lento. Uno de esos que no tienen límites.
Houston es un hombre anclado en su pasado. Con cicatrices en el rostro pero con heridas aún abiertas en su corazón.
¡Anda que me he puesto en modo cursi sin planearlo!
Pero es que este hombre me llegó a mi cora... sentí su dolor, su desesperación, su vergüenza. Me encantó.
Amelia a pesar de su edad
A pesar de que fueron pocos los personajes secundarios me pareció que sus personalidades estuvieron profundamente planeadas. Haciéndolos parecer más humanos en cada aparición.
No voy a decir que es un libro increíble. Porque de esta temática hay mejores. Pero es uno lleno de un amor tierno. Con el estilo de la autora totalmente impreso en cada página. Lo clasificaría más romance rosa de lo que nos acostumbra la autora.
En fin, me gustó mucho. Pero tiene sus detallitos y sin duda no es uno de los inolvidables...
Es de esos que te dejan una sonrisa tonta en la boca y viendo el mundo con flores y corazones.
Por cierto, como que tuvo un poquitín de drama demás jajaja.
September 3, 2024
I’m torn with this book.
On one hand the writing style was exceptional, and although the pace was dragging a bit for my liking, she developed the plot and characters so well and built the romance in an exquisite flawless way.
But on the other, the characters… I loved them and hated them so much throughout the whole story, they were so hesitant and it took 98% of the book for the hero to get the courage to do something.
On one hand the writing style was exceptional, and although the pace was dragging a bit for my liking, she developed the plot and characters so well and built the romance in an exquisite flawless way.
But on the other, the characters… I loved them and hated them so much throughout the whole story, they were so hesitant and it took 98% of the book for the hero to get the courage to do something.
February 14, 2016
I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK.
This book is one hell of a slow burn. Lorraine Heath writes beautifully. I never felt otherwise about her writing, even when I was less impressed with the story.
But in this case, I actually liked the book. Texas Destiny is the story of the second brother of the Leigh brothers, Houston. He was sent to bring Amelia, his brother Dallas's mail order bride, to Dallas's home. Houston and Amelia fell in love with each other on the way. But Amelia married Dallas anyway because well, as poignantly pointed out in the book by Lorraine Heath herself, "Dallas asked and Houston didn't".
I had to push myself to inch forward in the first 50%. Because in this part there was little romance, even though the attraction was there. Heath did not spend too much time on the romance, She chose to define the characters. Things picked up when they were close to Dallas's home and ah the regrets and yearning, I think I shed one or two tears reading about Houston and Amelia's trepidation and how they tried to do the right thing.
In short: great writing as one could expect from Lorraine Heath, a very touching story about romance and brotherhood. The story asks for patience and one may be impatient with how Houston would not do anything to further his relationship with Amelia. But I'd say it is worth the wait after you get to 50%. Not an easy book to love and gush about, but a really good book nonetheless.
This book is one hell of a slow burn. Lorraine Heath writes beautifully. I never felt otherwise about her writing, even when I was less impressed with the story.
But in this case, I actually liked the book. Texas Destiny is the story of the second brother of the Leigh brothers, Houston. He was sent to bring Amelia, his brother Dallas's mail order bride, to Dallas's home. Houston and Amelia fell in love with each other on the way. But Amelia married Dallas anyway because well, as poignantly pointed out in the book by Lorraine Heath herself, "Dallas asked and Houston didn't".
I had to push myself to inch forward in the first 50%. Because in this part there was little romance, even though the attraction was there. Heath did not spend too much time on the romance, She chose to define the characters. Things picked up when they were close to Dallas's home and ah the regrets and yearning, I think I shed one or two tears reading about Houston and Amelia's trepidation and how they tried to do the right thing.
In short: great writing as one could expect from Lorraine Heath, a very touching story about romance and brotherhood. The story asks for patience and one may be impatient with how Houston would not do anything to further his relationship with Amelia. But I'd say it is worth the wait after you get to 50%. Not an easy book to love and gush about, but a really good book nonetheless.
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