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O'Brien Brothers #1
New Orleans
While Rafferty O'Brien tries to make his fortune with his raw strength, elegant aristocrat Lazare Galliard revels in the power of his birth and blue-blooded heiress Chantal Thierrie must choose between two men. Original.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
37 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Sara Orwig
491 books112 followersUSA Today bestselling romance author, Sara Orwig, has over sixteen million copies of her books in print. Internationally her books have 200 translations of her novels into 26 languages. She has written 97 books and was one of the first 6 inductees into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame and 2-time winner of Oklahoma Writers Federation awards for Best Oklahoma Novel. Sara is winner of eight ROMANTIC TIMES awards which include the Award for Best Western Historical Romance Writer and the Award for Best Contemporary Fiction Writer. aka Daisy Logan.
Sara currently is writing books that are a published by Harlequin Desire.
Sara currently is writing books that are a published by Harlequin Desire.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 6, 2014
The story begins in 1857. The O'Brien family (four brothers and their mother), have lost their home and lands (papa gambled it away), and have set out to America to try for a new life. Their ship is hit by a storm and they have to swim for it, but the boys are separated and eldest son Rafferty O’Brien is rescued by a slave ship, and eventually finds himself penniless and alone in New Orleans. Never fear, Rafe can gamble like no one else (and win!!), and he's fast on his way to making a fortune and a name for himself in New Orleans society (no class barriers in this tale). He also sets his sights on Chantal Theirrie, the eldest daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, but she's been promised since childhood to the heir of an adjacent plantation.
It's twu wuv and all that, but with her family against them and her fiance determined to kill Rafe, it's an uphill battle and all that angsty drama stuff. Plus there's all this political upheaval going on, let alone the decision whether to secede from the Union.
Normally I love these southern romances, but this one just didn't work for me. At. All. Chantal is one of those heroines who manage to get out alone at any time of day or night, despite her being so closely chaperoned. You can pick out the villains a mile away, and there aren't too many surprises over the wicked step-mother. I think I'll stick with Jennifer Blake next time I'm in the mood for a southern romance. At least Blake understands the customs and mindset of the period and gives you a believable story.
Oh, and there's a lot of sex. Lots and lots and lots, and a bit too explicit for my tastes, but your mileage may vary. There are two more books in this trilogy focusing on the younger brothers (and I own them), but I'm still trying to decide whether to waste my time or pack them off to the charity box.
It's twu wuv and all that, but with her family against them and her fiance determined to kill Rafe, it's an uphill battle and all that angsty drama stuff. Plus there's all this political upheaval going on, let alone the decision whether to secede from the Union.
Normally I love these southern romances, but this one just didn't work for me. At. All. Chantal is one of those heroines who manage to get out alone at any time of day or night, despite her being so closely chaperoned. You can pick out the villains a mile away, and there aren't too many surprises over the wicked step-mother. I think I'll stick with Jennifer Blake next time I'm in the mood for a southern romance. At least Blake understands the customs and mindset of the period and gives you a believable story.
Oh, and there's a lot of sex. Lots and lots and lots, and a bit too explicit for my tastes, but your mileage may vary. There are two more books in this trilogy focusing on the younger brothers (and I own them), but I'm still trying to decide whether to waste my time or pack them off to the charity box.
March 26, 2014
A Civil War saga, New Orleans, by Sara Orwig is a journey into the past. One with sultry nights, honeysuckle, slaves, and intrigue.
Rafferty O'Brien with his brothers and mother are shipwrecked near New Orleans. Rafferty is burdened with the loss of his mother and not knowing where his three brothers are. He does believe they are alive. He is saved by a slave ship and rescued by a slave who he purchases with the emerald ring his mother entrusted to him. He hits New Orleans with no money; but a slave he wants to free. He sees Chantal Therrie and falls in love with her at first sight. He is determined to make his way into the social class she belongs in so he can court her. A major problem is she is already going to marry someone else, although the engagement has not been announced.
Can this Irish immigrant woo this lovely New Orleans lady without getting killed? Will he find his brothers? How can he find the money to become a landowner?
Rafferty O'Brien with his brothers and mother are shipwrecked near New Orleans. Rafferty is burdened with the loss of his mother and not knowing where his three brothers are. He does believe they are alive. He is saved by a slave ship and rescued by a slave who he purchases with the emerald ring his mother entrusted to him. He hits New Orleans with no money; but a slave he wants to free. He sees Chantal Therrie and falls in love with her at first sight. He is determined to make his way into the social class she belongs in so he can court her. A major problem is she is already going to marry someone else, although the engagement has not been announced.
Can this Irish immigrant woo this lovely New Orleans lady without getting killed? Will he find his brothers? How can he find the money to become a landowner?
February 28, 2019
Readable piffle: good trash novel with actually a decent plot line. Read on kindle. Recommend for a beach read
March 3, 2012
I cannot express how much I loved this book! I adored Rafe and Chantal. It is a long book, but it keeps you interested the entire time and while it leaves the question of what has happened to the other brothers open (there are two more books after about them) the story of the main characters in this books has a very satisfying closure.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews