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Slater Brothers #1

Dark Stranger

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Kristin MaCahy's dream of freedom and a life of dignity and self-sufficiency had vanished. All she had left to fight for was her ranch--but she had to give up her independence to do it. She needed Cole Slater's help, but in return she offered the only thing she had--herself. No questions. No answers. Just a bargain. From the author of Slow Burn.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 23, 1988

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About the author

Heather Graham Pozzessere

66 books256 followers
Heather Graham Pozzessere
aka Heather Graham, Shannon Drake

Heather Graham was born on March 15, 1953 and grew up in Dade County, Florida, and attended the University of South Florida at Tampa, majoring in theater arts and touring Europe and parts of Asia and Africa as part of her studies. After college, she acted in dinner theaters, modeled, waitressed, and tended bar. She married Hershey Dennis Possezzere, and after the birth of her third child, she was determined to devote her efforts to her writing: her dream. She sold her first book in 1982.

Today, this author's success is reflected not just by reader response and the over 20 million copies of her books in print, but in many other ways. In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Heather has received numerous awards for her novels, including over 20 trade awards from magazines such as Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur, bestseller awards from B. Dalton, Waldenbooks, and BookRak, and several Reviewers' Choice and People's Choice awards.

Heather has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Romantically Speaking, a TV talk show that aired nationwide on the Romance Classics cable channel, and CBS Sunday News. She has been quoted in People and USA Today, been profiled in The Nation, and featured in Good Housekeeping. Her books have been selections for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. She has been published across the world in more than 15 languages and has published over 70 titles, including anthologies and short stories.

Now, she had five children. Somehow, this prolific author manages to juggle it all - family, career, and marriage - while reaching a level of success to which few can aspire.

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5 stars
112 (30%)
4 stars
135 (36%)
3 stars
99 (26%)
2 stars
20 (5%)
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7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Vero Rinconin.
521 reviews134 followers
August 3, 2018
#RitaGraham #RetoRita2
*3'5*
Me ha gustado, es un libro entretenido y que a lo tonto engancha. Está ambientado en la Guerra de Secesión y tiene secretos, un protagonista terco (aunque ella no se queda corta) y unos secundarios que van a dar juego en próximos libros.
El segundo creo que me gustará mucho porque sus protagonistas aquí captaron mi atención mucho.
Profile Image for Glamdring.
508 reviews111 followers
April 16, 2013

Yes. And every time I see a list of the dead — either side — it hurts like hell. You've seen the worst of it, Kristin. There are men on both sides of this thing who are fine and gallant, the very best we've ever bred, no matter what state they've hailed from.

Heather Graham is one of my favourite authors. She’s such a formidable story teller and I love so much her books that I keep re-reading the one I’ve already read. This is the main reason it took me so long to get to this series.

I know that she wrote this trilogy first, but after having read and loved SO much her McKenzie saga and Cameron trilogy I couldn’t help but wonder if the civil war theme would grow old.

It didn’t.

The story starts in 1862, ends in 1865 and is focused on the Missouri/Kansas guerilla who started in the early 1850, years before the official beginning of the civil war in 1861.

Kristin’s family has a ranch on the Missouri’s side of the Missouri/Kansas border. War times aren’t easy for nobody, but on top of the usual war toll this particular area was the playground of some of the most savage guerilla led by irregular military forces, the Bushwackers (who supposedly defended Southern's values) and the Jayhawkers (who supposedly defended Northern's values).

Basicaly the McCahy don’t want to be involved in the conflict and even though they freed their couple of slaves years ago, they hearts go to the South. That position changed the day they were attacked by Quantrill’s Bushwackers who brutally murdered their father. After that attack, Kristen's brother enrolled in the Union army living her to deal with the ranch.

The opposite happened to Cole. He was an officer in the federal army until the day the Jayhawkers burned down his property and killed his wife.

A group of the Bushwackers who previously murdered Kristin's father are back, they plan to gang rape her and burn down the ranch. Hopefully for her, Cole shows up and she asks him to stay and bargain herself in exchange of his protection.

In addition to Kristin/Cole story, we have an insight into Shannon (Kristen’s little sis) and Malachi (Cole’s little bro) explosive relationship.

Heather Graham is an awesome story teller. She has a true talent to bring to life her characters and the setting she chooses. I love her heroes and absolutely love the way she weaves her romances in the real history.
Profile Image for Emiliya Bozhilova.
1,912 reviews381 followers
October 16, 2022
Любопитно е как от такива несериозни заглавия се научават интересни исторически факти.

През гражданската война в САЩ в доста щати са вилняли нелегално милиции, действаща или на страната на севера, или на страната на юга. И в двата случая често са действали като бандити.

Офицер на страната на севера губи жена си при такова нападение, при това от северняшка милиция. Около година по-късно спасява момиче от същата съдба, само че този път бандитите са за юга. И, както си му е редът в този жанр, остават заедно с дълги прекъсвания заради войната. Фонът беше много добре поднесен, героите ми харесаха.
Profile Image for Feminista.
872 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2013
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Could have been better. I disliked the hero and heroine hitting one another.

I also disliked the fact that Shannon, made her sister feel guilty. And guilt-ed her into marrying the hero, guilt-ed her into feeling for the hero, what she felt for her own beau...
Profile Image for Sonia.
877 reviews38 followers
August 17, 2018
Después de leer la review de VeroRinconin aquí en Goodreads para el #retoRita2 #RitaGraham
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Me queda muy poco que añadir...
Me ha parecido entretenido, con un punto de partida interesante y una pareja protagonista con química; no obstante, me ha faltado profundidad en el desarrollo de los personajes y cuando por fin se sinceran, se soluciona todo muy rápido...
Reconozco que me ha gustado lo suficiente como para leer en un futuro la segunda historia de los hermanos Slater...
Profile Image for S.
1,105 reviews25 followers
August 19, 2022
Beautiful. Magnificent. Absolutely satisfying.
Loved it. Loved it. Loved. It.
Hero was so hot he could melt the icebergs. He's tall, handsome and could shoot like no man's business. He's aloof, super alpha and ever distant.
Heroine - as per H.G's usual - was beautiful, gorgeous and regal. She's fearless, she's young (eighteen years old) but wise beyond her years.
H.G's books ... what can I say ... sigh ... they're so full of angst between the couple.
One can never be sure of how each character stands. This kept me on edge the whole time.
Then there's the undeniable physical attraction - the chemistry that came later on and then the deep rooted feelings between the couple.
Ooooohhhhh, how could I not love it. It's beyond perfect.
The plot. The story. The historical bits. (Well, I didn't really liked the blurb to tell you the truth, but knowing this was a H.G book - of course, I had to read it).
The execution. The writing. The everything!!!
You just have to read this.
This should have over 4 rating!!!
And I can't wait to get my hands on Shannon and Malachi's story!!!

Profile Image for Ana María.
662 reviews41 followers
August 22, 2017
No me gustó mucho. Me resultó pesada y un poco aburrida.
En realidad, la leí después de la novela que sigue "Más fuerte que el odio", que sigue con la historia pero centrada en la pareja de Sharon con Malachi, los hermanos de Kristin y Cole.
Esta sí que me gustó porque es una pareja explosiva.
Entonces leí "El forastero" pero solo me sirvió para enterarme de cómo venía la historia de la segunda novela.
Profile Image for Mary23nm.
762 reviews21 followers
May 19, 2025
Profile Image for BJ Rose.
733 reviews89 followers
February 10, 2010
Although this story is a romance *so yes, it has an HEA*, this is really a story of the struggle of the settlers who lived near the borders of Kansas and Missouri during the American Civil War. Specifically, it portrays incidents that created the "Bleeding Kansas" of the 1860s. This was the era of Quantrill's Raiders, who attacked the McCahy Ranch and brutally murdered Kristin's father. Now a small group of the Raiders has returned, wanting Kristin as their plaything. Cole Slater happens upon them and saves her, and to get him to stay to protect the ranch, she offers herself - and he accepts. What she doesn't know is that Cole used to ride with Quantrill's Raiders - he wanted to avenge the murder of his wife by Union Jayhawkers, and that was supposed to be the purpose of Quantrill's group. But he had left the Raiders some time ago when he discovered that their only purpose seemed to be the same indiscriminate killing and burning that had been done to him by the Pro-Union Jayhawkers. He is, however, still in the Confederate Army. Kristin's brother Matthew had joined the Union Army after their father was killed by the Confederate raiders, so now Kristin had protection from both sides of the conflict - or was in peril from both sides!

This was a very intense read, and I enjoyed the personalized history lesson. The author very cleverly brought Cole's brothers into the conflict at the ranch, and set up the personal animosity between Malachi Slater and Kristin's sister Shannon, who just happen to be the H/h in Rides A Hero.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Bowman.
Author 42 books122 followers
August 31, 2017
3,5.
Me gustan mucho las historias ambientadas en el marco de la Guerra de Secesión, sobre todo cuando hacen referencia a hechos históricos, como batallas, aparecen personajes reales de la época y hacen una descripción, más o menos exhaustiva, del tiempo en el que se sitúan.
El romance entre los protagonistas no es el eje de la historia, bajo mi punto de vista, pero ni me ha disgustado ni me ha importado. Personalmente disfruto tanto con los retratos del entorno paisajístico de la época, de las costumbres, del modo de vida (y de la forma de sobrevivir) como de un buen romance en sí.


Me quedo co ganas de saber si surge algo entre Malachi y Shannon ;)
Profile Image for Jenna.
363 reviews
July 29, 2012
She's an extra-ordinary story teller with a good narrative plot that will keep you turning the pages. Just the first page of this book I feel like holding my breath and anxious to see what would happen next......this story happened during the Civil War a fight between the Confiderate (South)and the Union (North). A family was torn each other and fight for both sides a father, husband, brothers, and cousins etc.

Kristin McCahy has to survive along with her sister Shannon after the Bushwhackers attacked her family ranch, and killed her father. Since, her father's demise ......brother Matthew went to joined the Union, and left them by themselves. When the Bushwackers has decided to raid their ranch again for supplies, burn the ranch, and gang-rape her.......suddenly a 'dark stranger' (Cole Slater)just come out of nowhere with his six-shooters colt .45 and this is how the story begins. So much thrill on this book.....a good read.
Profile Image for Adriana Fogaça.
560 reviews6 followers
July 9, 2013
Irmãos Slater 01.
O Forasteiro.
Dark Stranger.
Hather Graham Pozzessere
1988

Nossa!!!!!!!!

Adorei, estória emocionante... uma aventura sem fim...

Pena que li o segundo e terceiro livros dos Irmãos Slater antes deste. Este primeiro livro dá uma idéia mais ampla das relações entre as pessoas e explica os porquês. E dá uma base muito forte para as seqüências.

E a forma traumática que Kristin e Cole se conhecem da o ritmo a estória do início ao fim. Além de se observar o florescimento do amor entre eles. E tem como papel de fundo o início do fim da Guerra de Secessão.

Outro casal que se encontram pela primeira vez e aparecem como cão e gato é Shannon e Malachi. Este casal ainda vai dar muito que falar no segundo livro da série...

Sem dúvida é um livro que fala de amor e dos laços forte entre os irmãos e as famílias.

ADORO!!!

RECOMENDADÍSSIMO!!!
3,931 reviews21 followers
May 21, 2019
The author chose a riveting portion of the Civil War -- the Kansas/Missouri bloodbath. I've read little about this particular aspect of the Civil War.

Unfortunately, Cole is a very dark individual; it is hard to like him. The fact that he makes an innocent individual his mistress to ensure his help, doesn't mark Cole as chivalrous. Perhaps Cole is the embodiment of the hate and struggles going on in the Kansas-Missouri region, however, I found him too dark and forbidding to like seeing him as a hero.

It is important to read the books in order.

Slater Brothers of Virginia Trilogy:
1) DARK STRANGER (Cole),
2) RIDES A HERO (Malachi) and
3) APACHE SUMMER (Jamie).
Profile Image for Kamilla.
551 reviews3 followers
November 19, 2024
Um bom romance ambientado na Guerra Civil Americana, por mais que eu deteste a posição defendida pelo exército Confederado, adoro as histórias que envolvem as beldades sulistas em apuros, e por mais que Kristin não seja um estereotipo ambulante, ela de fato esta em perigo quando decide de envolver com Cole negociando a única coisa que tem em troca de proteção.

Cole também é o tipo de herói que eu gosto, meio taciturno, atormentado por um passado que ainda não foi enterrado e com uma missão a cumprir.

Também gostei que nessa história tivemos uma boa passagem de tempo, onde os sentimentos dos dois tem espaço para florescer e se fortalecer, e que a autora não tentou criar um final super mágico e feliz em um contexto histórico tão pesado, as coisa tiveram um tom mais realista. Um livro antigo, mas que cumpre o que promete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
544 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2019
Slater Brothers Trilogy (Book #1) - I enjoyed this story
Profile Image for Regan Walker.
Author 31 books822 followers
June 24, 2012
4 and 1/2 Stars! Absorbing Story of Love on the Kansas-Missouri Border During the Civil War

This is the first in Graham’s Civil War trilogy about the three Slater brothers from Virginia: DARK STRANGER (Cole), RIDES A HERO (Malachi) and APACHE SUMMER (Jamie).

Set in 1862-1865 on the Kansas/Missouri border, DARK STRANGER tells of Kristin McCahy, who is struggling to preserve her family’s ranch as the Civil War rages on. Caught on the border of the North and the South, she and her younger sister have little left as each side takes from their stock. One summer day, one of Quantrill’s raiders tries to rape Kristin in the dust, but she is saved by a stranger who appears out of nowhere with guns blazing. Cole Slater planned to move on after he rescued Kristin until the young virgin made him an offer he couldn’t refuse—she’d give him her virtue if he’d stay to protect them. Cole was a man of honor but he had a painful past and he rode for the South because jayhawkers, later affiliated with the Union, killed his pregnant wife. Hardened by all he experienced, he took Kristin up on her offer.

Graham has written a lot of romances that involve the Civil War; she knows it well, giving you a feeling for families torn apart when one member fought for the North and another one for the South. Often the women were caught in the middle. Such is the case here. But even in the midst of war, love can grow. Though Cole had no intention of caring for Kristin, time changed that. As always, Graham serves up an absorbing tale, one that will capture and hold your interest. I recommend it and all in the trilogy—read them in order as they are related.

Profile Image for Jody.
29 reviews6 followers
August 6, 2011
This is Book #1 in a trilogy. You can get all 3 books together in a book called Summer Fires." This one starts out a little slow, but makes up for it about half way through. It's 1861 in Missouri. Quantrill's Raiders make life a living hell for the people of Missouri and Kansas. When they come to the McCahy farm, they threaten to kill everyone and sisters Kristen and Shannon fear for their virtue as well. Until Cole Slater rides in and saves the day. He's an excellent shot and tough as nails. When the danger is over, Cole plans on leaving to rejoin his unit in the Confederacy. Kristen knows that she must convince him to stay, not only for her safey, but for her teenage sister Shannon's safey. Kristen makes a deal with Cole, but she only has one thing to bargain with that he's interested in.
Profile Image for Mombo.
203 reviews9 followers
October 26, 2010
I loved this book because it takes you back to a time when heroines were beautiful and feisty and heroes were handsome and handy with a gun.

Another plus to romance novels written early on is that the historical details are spelled out for you but thankfully not on the scale of Gone With The Wind.

The Dark Stranger builds nicely into books two and three of The Slater Brothers series.
Profile Image for Lady Raven RAVE!.
1,824 reviews1,501 followers
February 6, 2011
This book for me was a turn on I LOVE the story line the dark stranger and the plot of it. I thought Cole was sexy strong breathtaking and just a good man, Kristin is a lovable heroine doing what she has to do for her family.. Great love scenes and i think if you like historical romance novels (civil war) then this is for you and the thing is i'm not much of a civil war romance person....
Profile Image for M.A. Levi.
Author 5 books46 followers
August 10, 2011
This passion filled story was so charming and warm, with sorrow, hate and evil riding along with the charm and warmth. This was a well written story that swelled with emotion from a point in time our country's history. It was a great story to read. It kept you reading and most of all true love was found.. I love happy endings
Profile Image for Maryam.
19 reviews
June 17, 2012
Love this book so so much!! Love the hero....really like the heroine...side characters were awesome! Villain was villainous and just loved this book sooo much! I feel like the hero was a major ass in the beginning but at the same time you could see just a little under that and thats what i loved to know he wasnt a total jack ass! <3
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,221 reviews15 followers
Read
September 18, 2012
I think I read this series years ago. I've been trying to figure out which one it was. The details here are on Goodreads for the 3 books aren't enough to jog my memory, but of the series of this author's I've looked through, this looks the most likely.
Profile Image for Christel.
343 reviews19 followers
March 28, 2008
I really liked this book. To try and keep a promise that was made in friendship and trust is sometimes very hard to do. But Slater keeps his promise to his best friend. A really good read.
Profile Image for Mar.
74 reviews15 followers
Read
April 29, 2011
I found the characters to be one dimensional. But, it was a fairly decent read.
645 reviews
March 12, 2012
1st HG, gd Civil War acct of Missouri/Kansas 'war'. Ppl intrstg, Yank/Reb frnds/fam divided
Profile Image for Julie.
829 reviews3 followers
October 17, 2014
love this author but this one did not enjoy
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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