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Once A Gunslinger
When Tristan Kane chose to fight for the Confederacy, he never dreamed he’d
face his twin brother on the battlefield, or that his brother would die by his
hand. Haunted by guilt and grief, he leaves the girl he loves behind and
travels west to make his living with his guns.
But when he meets Savannah McKenzie again, a decade later, she sees past
the hardened gunslinger he’s become, remembering the tender young man
she fell in love with. Will her secrets give him the hope he needs, or destroy
him forever?
face his twin brother on the battlefield, or that his brother would die by his
hand. Haunted by guilt and grief, he leaves the girl he loves behind and
travels west to make his living with his guns.
But when he meets Savannah McKenzie again, a decade later, she sees past
the hardened gunslinger he’s become, remembering the tender young man
she fell in love with. Will her secrets give him the hope he needs, or destroy
him forever?
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
93 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Diana Bold
53 books74 followersI am the award-winning traditional and indie published author of Western Historical Romance and Victorian Historical Romance. My books are deeply emotional and a bit on the dark side.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 9, 2022
I read "Once A Pirate" by Diana Bolda and enjoyed it. I'm not sure how I found this book (maybe it was a sneak peek on OAP). I saw that it was selling for $0.99, so I quickly downloaded it to my Kindle.
I read almost all of this book in the car on vacation. I'm giving it 4 stars because it was a page-turner and I found it hard to put down.
The main story takes place after the (American) Civil War in Colorado Territory in 1871. Tristan Kane finds his old friend that has a letter Tristan's deceased twin brother wrote him right before he died. His old friend is the brother of his childhood sweetheart. The book is a second-chance romance.
Tristan was stubborn & he resisted his feelings for Savannah till the very very end. Another reviewer said they wished there had been an epilogue, and I agree. It would have been nice to have one where Savannah is pregnant again--this time with a girl, as one of them dreamed about.
The reason for the secret baby made sense. I thought Billy, their son, was cute, especially when he said to his mom, "Then I think WE should marry him."
However, what I didn't get was that if the Kanes and McKenzies were living on a plantation, why would they have not fought for the South (the Confederacy)? And why would the neighbors be mad that Tristan chose to fight for the Confederacy?
I read almost all of this book in the car on vacation. I'm giving it 4 stars because it was a page-turner and I found it hard to put down.
The main story takes place after the (American) Civil War in Colorado Territory in 1871. Tristan Kane finds his old friend that has a letter Tristan's deceased twin brother wrote him right before he died. His old friend is the brother of his childhood sweetheart. The book is a second-chance romance.
Tristan was stubborn & he resisted his feelings for Savannah till the very very end. Another reviewer said they wished there had been an epilogue, and I agree. It would have been nice to have one where Savannah is pregnant again--this time with a girl, as one of them dreamed about.
The reason for the secret baby made sense. I thought Billy, their son, was cute, especially when he said to his mom, "Then I think WE should marry him."
However, what I didn't get was that if the Kanes and McKenzies were living on a plantation, why would they have not fought for the South (the Confederacy)? And why would the neighbors be mad that Tristan chose to fight for the Confederacy?
April 9, 2017
Diana has done it again. I love this hero. He caught me with the first page... Read in one day :) HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
October 7, 2017
Tristan Kane fought for the South during the Civil War unlike his family, and he actually managed to kill his own twin brother... after the battle... by accident. He was so haunted, he left the woman he loved behind and roamed the west as a gunslinger, hoping someone will kill him one day. Ten years later, he met Savannah McKenzie again, now with a son. Tristan knew she married his now dead brother after he left, but there is something he needed to know... And perhaps, there may be a reason for him to continue living...
Angst-y, but at least this setup means there's a bit more story than the typical historical romances back then.
Angst-y, but at least this setup means there's a bit more story than the typical historical romances back then.
August 19, 2020
A sweet romance!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I had read reviews about the miscommunications and I was worried I'd be annoyed. And surprisingly I wasn't. There were miscommunications and keeping secrets, but the pace the story made it seem less drawn out. And the reasoning behind keeping the secrets made sense for the most part. It wasn't a silly reason. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was good and had a lovely second chance romance!
I do wish it had an epilogue though. I wanted a little more at the end.
There are also a few mildly descriptive sex scenes.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I had read reviews about the miscommunications and I was worried I'd be annoyed. And surprisingly I wasn't. There were miscommunications and keeping secrets, but the pace the story made it seem less drawn out. And the reasoning behind keeping the secrets made sense for the most part. It wasn't a silly reason. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was good and had a lovely second chance romance!
I do wish it had an epilogue though. I wanted a little more at the end.
There are also a few mildly descriptive sex scenes.
September 18, 2018
Wonder book by new to me author
This is the first book I've read by Diana Bold and it was built indeed. This Book starts at the beginning of the Civil and the comes full circle ten years later. Savannah was always in love with Tristan but war split his family and left Savannah with few options. When he was wounded in a gunfight her brother brought him home to their ranch to try and save his life. Both have painful memories but is their love stronger than their past? Excellent read!
This is the first book I've read by Diana Bold and it was built indeed. This Book starts at the beginning of the Civil and the comes full circle ten years later. Savannah was always in love with Tristan but war split his family and left Savannah with few options. When he was wounded in a gunfight her brother brought him home to their ranch to try and save his life. Both have painful memories but is their love stronger than their past? Excellent read!
October 8, 2018
Wonderful story of forgiveness
When Tristan went away to war, he lost his family and became very bitter. Can Savannah save him from his bitterness and learn to forgive her as well as himself? This story hit on true life experiences that can make or break a relationship. Savannah never stopped loving Tristan, but how can he believe it when he's lost so much? The story has a beautiful ending, but I won't spoil it for you. You'll need to read it for yourself to find out what happens.
When Tristan went away to war, he lost his family and became very bitter. Can Savannah save him from his bitterness and learn to forgive her as well as himself? This story hit on true life experiences that can make or break a relationship. Savannah never stopped loving Tristan, but how can he believe it when he's lost so much? The story has a beautiful ending, but I won't spoil it for you. You'll need to read it for yourself to find out what happens.
October 15, 2020
A very quick read for me. I guess it's kind of a chicklit book, a kind of Mills & Boon.
I'm not into these kind of books - love stories where the woman puts the man on a pedestal, and vice versa really. There was a few cringe worthy love scenes, but maybe that was just me (I'm not a romantic).
There wasn't much of a plot but the characters were well developed and it ticked along nicely. I wasn't bored but I wasn't over excited either, but I really wished she just went ahead and told him what she had to earlier on... but then again there wouldn't be a story if she did ! :)
I'm not into these kind of books - love stories where the woman puts the man on a pedestal, and vice versa really. There was a few cringe worthy love scenes, but maybe that was just me (I'm not a romantic).
There wasn't much of a plot but the characters were well developed and it ticked along nicely. I wasn't bored but I wasn't over excited either, but I really wished she just went ahead and told him what she had to earlier on... but then again there wouldn't be a story if she did ! :)
June 18, 2021
Tristan Kane shoots his brother in the Civil War and reeling from that loss and the horrors of war he goes west and becomes a gunfighter. He winds up in Colorado and after being back shot by a want to be gunfighter kid, he is found by the doctor brother of his chilhood sweetheart. After being taken to the doctors home to recover, he reconnects with Savannah the sweetheart he left to join the confredate army. He reconciles with his sweetheart and is stunned to learn that her 10 year old son is his.Bitter at first he soon realizes he needs to forgive the boys mother if he's to have a life with the boy. The story is well written and is a page turner with a feel good ending.
March 9, 2018
Her other books are so much better. This fancy pants douche nozzle ditched his girl because as a Marylander set to inherit a plantation, he so thoroughly believed in “states rights” riiiiight. An entire book based on the terrible after affects of the Civil War and slavery doesn’t even get a mention. See the dog whistle framing of his beliefs above.
As far as I’m concerned, the wrong brother died.
Douche continued to be a douche through it all and I basically hate-read the last half.
As far as I’m concerned, the wrong brother died.
Douche continued to be a douche through it all and I basically hate-read the last half.
March 6, 2022
I REALLY wanted to give this book 4 stars but I just couldn't. It's a solid 3 and a half stars for me, but just how shitty Tristan was toward the end despite telling himself multiple times he was wrong to be acting this way just really killed that upped star rating for me.
I did enjoy this book, though, because 1) hidden baby (well no longer baby!) and 2) Twins! tropes but the, again, the last like quarter of the book just undid a lot of the reasons I liked this book to begin with.
I did enjoy this book, though, because 1) hidden baby (well no longer baby!) and 2) Twins! tropes but the, again, the last like quarter of the book just undid a lot of the reasons I liked this book to begin with.
June 17, 2019
Tristan Kane has been a lost man for the last 10 years. He chose to go to war instead of staying with the woman he loved, Savannah. When he finally sees her again, it is only after he had been shot and she assisted her brother the doctor to save his life. There is so much anger and love between them. Can they get pass the anger and love again.
April 28, 2024
Wow, this book was enjoyable. Shares a different view of the Civil War, and some of the; possible happenings. Some of the tortured moments some went through were enlightening. Can Tristan get past his tortured past and seek the future that is in front of him? Well, worth the read!
September 18, 2018
Once a gunslinger
Wow as I was reading this book i soon realized I did not want to put down. Would recommend it highly
Wow as I was reading this book i soon realized I did not want to put down. Would recommend it highly
Want to Read
March 10, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (3/10/2021)! 🎁
March 18, 2021
Enjoyed this western romance novella.
March 21, 2021
Savanna and Tristan
This was a very good book and it kept my interest to the very end. This was right after the Civil war
This was a very good book and it kept my interest to the very end. This was right after the Civil war
February 6, 2024
⛔️(in notes)
March 22, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Read this book in a single sitting - it grabbed my attention from the start, and was wonderful through to the end!
Read this book in a single sitting - it grabbed my attention from the start, and was wonderful through to the end!
August 31, 2021
I enjoyed this book, but it had a lot of plot holes that were teased but never went anywhere. It was good, but it really could have been much better.
I did read it all in one night.
I did read it all in one night.
April 29, 2014
This was such an amazing story full of rich emotion and complex characters. Diana has such a way of digging deep into the human psyche and writing a gripping novel that will keep you falling in love over and over again. She paints with words, using history and her incredible ability to create real people with flaws, hopes, fears and dreams.
Tristan has been running. From his past, the mistakes he's made, the lives he's taken and the very bleakness he feels inside his soul. He has come to Colorado to speak with an old friend in order to try to put to rest one of the darkest days of his life only to come face to face with the one woman he's never been able to forget-or convince himself he was worthy of. Savannah has only loved one man her whole life. When he left her to fight in the civil war, her entire life came crashing down and-out of fear- she made the biggest mistake of her life. They will both have to dig deep for the strength and courage to forgive the past in order to claim the love of their lifetimes.
Not too long ago I hadn't ever picked up a book by this author and I can't tell you just how glad I am that I took a chance on her unconventional story telling. Again and again she has proven her skill within the romance genre. I've been reading romance novels for years and Diana has earned her place on my instant buy shelf.
Tristan has been running. From his past, the mistakes he's made, the lives he's taken and the very bleakness he feels inside his soul. He has come to Colorado to speak with an old friend in order to try to put to rest one of the darkest days of his life only to come face to face with the one woman he's never been able to forget-or convince himself he was worthy of. Savannah has only loved one man her whole life. When he left her to fight in the civil war, her entire life came crashing down and-out of fear- she made the biggest mistake of her life. They will both have to dig deep for the strength and courage to forgive the past in order to claim the love of their lifetimes.
Not too long ago I hadn't ever picked up a book by this author and I can't tell you just how glad I am that I took a chance on her unconventional story telling. Again and again she has proven her skill within the romance genre. I've been reading romance novels for years and Diana has earned her place on my instant buy shelf.
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April 4, 2017
3 stars. There'll be no full review... so here's what I thought in a nutshell:
I liked another one of this author's books so I decided to give Once A Gunslinger a go. I do love western historical romances, and an outlaw hero can be very appealing for sure. However, this one disappointed me. I didn't like the hero, and didn't care much for the heroine either.
The H and the h had a past of some sort when they were young, and there were consequences of their relationship. The H went to war (Civil war I believe) and fought for the enemy side, leaving the h behind and his own family in peril. He has been sort of an outlaw ever since. There were other things too, but I won't mention them.
H and h met again years later, and that is where the actual story begins. Unfortunately, he was an a$$ who decided he liked being a jerk to the heroine for what she did to save her reputation so long ago. He wanted to make her suffer because 'he was suffering as well'. His grudge, she married his now deceased brother and didn't wait for him. -_- However, if you read you will see that the fault wasn't hers at all. She had to do what she had to do, and she wasn't even a good wife to the brother who obviously cared for her because she still loved the H. The H even realizes that at one point but keeps on being a jerk until the last couple of pages of the book. The h, I wanted her to ditch this a$$ and look for a better man. But she was still so enamored of him that she continued being a doormat and took what he dished out almost without any argument at all. I could NOT understand exactly why? WHY?! :/
Their romance was not convincing to say the least. Believe me, I tried but I failed to see any HEA with such a hotheaded, impetuous a$$ for a hero. In the end, the argument that he was being a jerk cause he was afraid to acknowledge his feelings didn't float my boat either. Not my cup of tea, sorry. 3 stars because otherwise, the writing was very good and I thought this could've been better. Also, I really liked some of the secondary characters such as the heroine's brothers. I'd be more interested in their stories!
Note that this is a reissue of the author's earlier work, Savannah's Hero.
I liked another one of this author's books so I decided to give Once A Gunslinger a go. I do love western historical romances, and an outlaw hero can be very appealing for sure. However, this one disappointed me. I didn't like the hero, and didn't care much for the heroine either.
The H and the h had a past of some sort when they were young, and there were consequences of their relationship. The H went to war (Civil war I believe) and fought for the enemy side, leaving the h behind and his own family in peril. He has been sort of an outlaw ever since. There were other things too, but I won't mention them.
H and h met again years later, and that is where the actual story begins. Unfortunately, he was an a$$ who decided he liked being a jerk to the heroine for what she did to save her reputation so long ago. He wanted to make her suffer because 'he was suffering as well'. His grudge, she married his now deceased brother and didn't wait for him. -_- However, if you read you will see that the fault wasn't hers at all. She had to do what she had to do, and she wasn't even a good wife to the brother who obviously cared for her because she still loved the H. The H even realizes that at one point but keeps on being a jerk until the last couple of pages of the book. The h, I wanted her to ditch this a$$ and look for a better man. But she was still so enamored of him that she continued being a doormat and took what he dished out almost without any argument at all. I could NOT understand exactly why? WHY?! :/
Their romance was not convincing to say the least. Believe me, I tried but I failed to see any HEA with such a hotheaded, impetuous a$$ for a hero. In the end, the argument that he was being a jerk cause he was afraid to acknowledge his feelings didn't float my boat either. Not my cup of tea, sorry. 3 stars because otherwise, the writing was very good and I thought this could've been better. Also, I really liked some of the secondary characters such as the heroine's brothers. I'd be more interested in their stories!
Note that this is a reissue of the author's earlier work, Savannah's Hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2017
Quick interesting read
I love the quick pace, the redemption of the hero and a second chance at love. I felt kind of let down though that the story hinted at a conflict with the sherif that never actually matured I waited for that through the entire story. Otherwise great read.
I love the quick pace, the redemption of the hero and a second chance at love. I felt kind of let down though that the story hinted at a conflict with the sherif that never actually matured I waited for that through the entire story. Otherwise great read.
April 12, 2017
Liked the hero a lot. The way he was written pulled me in from the first chapter.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews