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Family of the Heart #1
Together Always
Lily Roberts meant everything to him
The moment he'd set eyes on the pale, pretty child, Trace Dushane knew why he lived. To keep Lily from harm, Trace fled the Oklahoma prairie of his birth. To feed her, he sometimes went hungry. It was a hard life for a teenage boy, but Trace never forgot that Lily depended on him, trusted him to do what was right.
Trace was still trying to do the right thing years later. Ignoring the beautiful woman Lily had become. Trying to convince her that she no longer needed him. But for Trace, the hardest part of all was facing a life that felt wrong-a life without Lily.
The moment he'd set eyes on the pale, pretty child, Trace Dushane knew why he lived. To keep Lily from harm, Trace fled the Oklahoma prairie of his birth. To feed her, he sometimes went hungry. It was a hard life for a teenage boy, but Trace never forgot that Lily depended on him, trusted him to do what was right.
Trace was still trying to do the right thing years later. Ignoring the beautiful woman Lily had become. Trying to convince her that she no longer needed him. But for Trace, the hardest part of all was facing a life that felt wrong-a life without Lily.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
About the author
Dallas Schulze
89 books74 followersBorn and raised in Colorado, Dallas Schulze now lives in California. She sold her first book in October 1983. It was published under her pseudonym Dallas Hamlin in the Candlelight Ecstasy Romance line. She loves happy ending and wrote category romances, contemporaries and historicals for Harlequin, Silhouette, Dell and Mira. Her latest title was published in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 20, 2012"Even then, at eight years old, Lily had combined the vulnerability of a child with the beauty of a woman."
Is that not the most revolting blurb ever?! It's like a sign saying, "pedophiles welcome!" The book itself is not that icky; the first third is unusual but good, the story of 16 year old Trace running away with his "step" cousin Lily to save her from his lecherous stepfather, and the hard times they encounter before a kind stranger takes them in.
Unfortunately, I had trouble adjusting to them as a romantic couple after so much time of him being in the role of her protective older brother, and then an unexpected and tiresome suspense plot popped up, so I just didn't feel like finishing it. If you're a big fan of childhood sweethart type books, I suppose it's worth a try.
October 20, 2014
The first part of this book is outstanding and I am totally a sucker for the big hunky, sweet, overprotective hero. The second half isn't bad either and Trace is such a sweetheart. One of my favorite comfort reads.
June 22, 2021
"Together Always" is the story of Trace and
A beautiful romance.
The book begins on a heavy note. The heroine is brought in as a child to the hero's home, being his stepfather's niece. They live in an abusive, poverty filled environment, but she becomes his everything. That is before the stepfather plans to prey on the child.. The hero rescues her, and barely a teenager himself, leaves home with her in tow. They struggle to make ends meet- two lonely kids- starving on the streets- until an unexpected stanger helps them and changes their life..
Years later, the hero has pushed the heroine away to spread her wings, when a heartbreaking tragedy reunites them. Their chemistry is too strong to deny, but the hero hesitates in accepting her as his woman even though he madly loves her. Will the heroine be able to melt his resistance?
If you love sweet, protective, kind, determined heroes- this book is for you. The heroine, Mike and John add a lot to the story, there is enough angst to break your heart and love to mend it too.
Enjoyed it. My only grudge is the ending was rushed and I deserved an epilogue.
Safe
3.5/5
A beautiful romance.
The book begins on a heavy note. The heroine is brought in as a child to the hero's home, being his stepfather's niece. They live in an abusive, poverty filled environment, but she becomes his everything. That is before the stepfather plans to prey on the child.. The hero rescues her, and barely a teenager himself, leaves home with her in tow. They struggle to make ends meet- two lonely kids- starving on the streets- until an unexpected stanger helps them and changes their life..
Years later, the hero has pushed the heroine away to spread her wings, when a heartbreaking tragedy reunites them. Their chemistry is too strong to deny, but the hero hesitates in accepting her as his woman even though he madly loves her. Will the heroine be able to melt his resistance?
If you love sweet, protective, kind, determined heroes- this book is for you. The heroine, Mike and John add a lot to the story, there is enough angst to break your heart and love to mend it too.
Enjoyed it. My only grudge is the ending was rushed and I deserved an epilogue.
Safe
3.5/5
July 30, 2011
5 stars for the first half of the story. One or two stars for the second half. The story is told almost entirely from the hero's POV with only a few scenes later in the book from the POV of anther male character. There is no POV from the heroine.
The first part of the story starts when they meet. He is 15 and she is 8. He is her protector and she considers him the end all and be all. They run away from home in order to protect her. The story is very interesting and riveting and full of pathos and feeling. It covers a period of about 8 months while they are on the run. He is a great character. He tries so hard to protect her and care for her and provide for her. Finally he finds a home for them with an ex cop in LA. I love books that actually start when the hero and heroine are children and this part of the book was superb.
Then the story shifts to 16 years later. A very lame murder mystery starts up when their benefactor is married. This is all just some goofy reason to keep the noble hero and heroine apart longer. She finally convinces him that they belong together and he finds out someone is out to kill him. So of course he has to leave her for her own good. When the mystery is finally solved you just go "huh?"
Dallas Schulze is very good at the relationship story but romantic suspense is evidently not her forte. She needed to just stick the relationship and find some other way to develop tension than a poorly plotted suspense element. I did like all the characters and wonder if John has his own book somewhere.
The first part of the story starts when they meet. He is 15 and she is 8. He is her protector and she considers him the end all and be all. They run away from home in order to protect her. The story is very interesting and riveting and full of pathos and feeling. It covers a period of about 8 months while they are on the run. He is a great character. He tries so hard to protect her and care for her and provide for her. Finally he finds a home for them with an ex cop in LA. I love books that actually start when the hero and heroine are children and this part of the book was superb.
Then the story shifts to 16 years later. A very lame murder mystery starts up when their benefactor is married. This is all just some goofy reason to keep the noble hero and heroine apart longer. She finally convinces him that they belong together and he finds out someone is out to kill him. So of course he has to leave her for her own good. When the mystery is finally solved you just go "huh?"
Dallas Schulze is very good at the relationship story but romantic suspense is evidently not her forte. She needed to just stick the relationship and find some other way to develop tension than a poorly plotted suspense element. I did like all the characters and wonder if John has his own book somewhere.
September 1, 2015
I loved it however it did not make much sense that he did not try to get with her before the death of the "dad". I really felt for Zachary when Lily was small and she was totally defenceless. What a hero! Just was not that passionate like other by DS. Why I gave it 3.5 and not 5
April 9, 2022
4½ Stars ~ Ms. Schultz has woven a compelling story of love -- love in it's many forms, innocent, protective, compassionate, parental, passionate, unconditional. After reading the emotionally intense first part of the book, I admit I wasn't ready to accept the romance of the second part and so I had to put the book down for awhile. For me that was a good thing, for reading again from the beginning, though I was moved to tears, I was also prepared for those emotions, which put me into a different mind set for the continuing and evolving story.
December 29, 2021
It was sweet but at the end I was bored (maybe I was in some kind of funk mood🤷♀️). I ended up skimming the last 30%. The main characters were really sweet but I didn’t really feel like they had any romantic chemistry/ vibes between them.
July 14, 2025
2.5 Stars.
It was decent but nothing outstanding.
I really liked the initial part where the H took care of h and even she was sweet about it.
Reticence on the H's part was silly, i mean you are sleeping with the h but you cannot commit to be with her!!!
It was decent but nothing outstanding.
I really liked the initial part where the H took care of h and even she was sweet about it.
Reticence on the H's part was silly, i mean you are sleeping with the h but you cannot commit to be with her!!!
January 25, 2018
Le falta mi parte favorita de cualquier libro: El epílogo. Lástima, no es una lectura especial, pero después de tanto drama, habría sido bonito verlos tener un momento en paz.
February 21, 2023
It need un ending it was very rushed. But if you need alot of tears you goo for this book .
May 18, 2024
Love it
I highly recommend this book! I love the story line and the characters. The author does a great job telling a wonderful story.
I highly recommend this book! I love the story line and the characters. The author does a great job telling a wonderful story.
March 20, 2011
Another book written from the hero's PoV. However, there were times when I wished that there were some POV from the heroine, because I felt a little too removed from her, as if she wasn't a breathing person. The hero was written in quite well, and his devotion to the little girl was quite moving and compelling.
Ultimately, it was a sweet story but I thought it could have been better if there were some angst, maybe if there were a another woman or a man, to add complexity to the plot. It was a bit too simplistic, and unrealistic for my taste. This book I would forget within 10mins.
Ultimately, it was a sweet story but I thought it could have been better if there were some angst, maybe if there were a another woman or a man, to add complexity to the plot. It was a bit too simplistic, and unrealistic for my taste. This book I would forget within 10mins.
May 24, 2013
I found this book at a book exchange with a note that said "dumb, only need to read the first and last 25 pages." Needless to say, I approached it wearily. However Book 1 was a pleasant surprise, a wonderful realistic story of children's perseverance against all odds. Book 2 is when they grow up and what precedes to them falling into bed together, is presented in a needlessly incestuous fashion with lots of bad dialogue, its hard to believe its part of the same book and like the note said, not worth bothering with.
February 15, 2009
From beginning to the end the hero's goal is to keep the heroine safe and protect her. It's a tearjerker. Both characters were very likeable.
May 13, 2010
Very touching story but just a little too heavy on the drama. The story has a HEA but not one positive or happy moment leading up to it.
July 20, 2012
I started this book and could not stop reading! That is until Lily and Trace started hooking up.. I feel like they had more of a brother/sister relationship and the fact that they are "in love"...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2017
A romance starting with two children running away from an abusive home and growing up together in a home thanks to the kindness of an ex policeman only to find out someone is trying to kill them all.
September 24, 2013
Wasn't too bad and I quite enjoyed it in the long run, the ending was way too short, felt cut off.
Read
April 9, 2018He'd saved her from disaster...but could he save her from himself?
With one look at the expression in Lily's deep green eyes, Trace Dushane promised he would always protect her. They fled in the dead of night, leaving behind the Oklahoma prairie--and the lecherous arms of her guardian.
Even then, at eight years old, Lily had combined the vulnerability of a child with the beauty of a woman. Fifteen years later, she took Trace's breath away. Once he'd nurtured her, watched over her...and then finally set her free. But now she'd come home--beautiful, poised, and wanting only one thing. And Trace was faced with an impossible choice...
With one look at the expression in Lily's deep green eyes, Trace Dushane promised he would always protect her. They fled in the dead of night, leaving behind the Oklahoma prairie--and the lecherous arms of her guardian.
Even then, at eight years old, Lily had combined the vulnerability of a child with the beauty of a woman. Fifteen years later, she took Trace's breath away. Once he'd nurtured her, watched over her...and then finally set her free. But now she'd come home--beautiful, poised, and wanting only one thing. And Trace was faced with an impossible choice...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews