What do you think?
Rate this book
McLain #2
To Kiss a Texan
Wes McLain returned from the Civil War with little money—and less hope. He had even given up on love. Until he saw her...Allie, the blue-eyed girl who had been called a savage, a wild soul—and was a prisoner of what seemed to be a horrible fate. But when Wes looked into her eyes, he wanted only to free her, and take her with him on a journey through the frontiers of Texas.
But Allie had been brutally mistreated for years, and was now too afraid to speak. Wes will have to heal her, and it will take more than good intentions or a few moonlight kisses to win her trust. And when Allie's finally ready to speak again, she will tell Wes more than he ever imagined.
But Allie had been brutally mistreated for years, and was now too afraid to speak. Wes will have to heal her, and it will take more than good intentions or a few moonlight kisses to win her trust. And when Allie's finally ready to speak again, she will tell Wes more than he ever imagined.
291 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
248 people are currently reading
1084 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Thomas
128 books2,504 followersI'm a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, wife, mother, in-law, grandmother, sister, friend, and owner of one fat cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 16, 2021
Still good being a re-read, love vintage authors, great vocabulary, rich lenguage.
Great read.
A lot of adventures, romance started from 70%.
Great read.
A lot of adventures, romance started from 70%.
September 23, 2011
★★★★¼ My first ¼ star “tacked on” rating. I couldn’t help it; this one just didn’t fall to the four stars level, but it wasn’t quite as smooth as Ms. Thomas’ better known works. Still, it is extremely worthy.
Westin McLain, the second of the Indianan brothers who have decided to move to Texas for the Reconstruction, first encounters Allie when he’s at his lowest and she reaches out to comfort him. Pretty heady stuff when you consider she’s caged as a wild girl, about to be brought on stage for a religious revival meeting.
The front of my copy has a quote by author Debbie Macomber that includes the word “poignant”. I’ve tried to find another word, but none covers this book as well as that one. Allie’s story is heartbreaking, and Wes’s approach to her healing is contrary to his nature, requiring him to do the majority of the talking, since she is practically mute. But he is also a torn man, tortured by war memories and a successful cattle enterprise that just slipped through his fingers via a stampede; does he choose to follow a treasure map with a time-clock ticking or try and find an abused young woman’s unknown family? The surprised in this story was my amount of compassion toward Wes as well as Allie.
Ms. Thomas is a master of character development, managing to make distinctly different personalities for each book, even her secondary characters. I love reading about the growth in her heroes and heroines – and the bloom of their distinctive love stories, all placed in the setting of a western action adventure.
Will these two terribly lonely people realize a priceless treasure can be found in each other’s arms? A given in a romance novel, you say? But how will they get there and will the reader believe the outcome? This one delivers that believable HEA, at least to this reader.
Definitely a good read. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series, known by both monikers: Texan Brothers or The McLain Brothers.
May 12, 2013
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Allie was ripped away from her family at a very young age by some natives. Being forced to live with a tribe that used her, she learnt what it meant to be a "throwaway woman". A woman of little value or worth. For example, Allie was fed the scraps only if there were any left over; and if she made something for herself, she had to make countless others for others in the tribe, before she would be allowed to keep that thing for herself.
When her tribe is attacked, Allie sneaks away to a secret place in the caves she has made for herself and lives in peace for the first time after her kidnapping. But after years of living there by herself, she ventures out too far one day and is taken by the white men to "save her". Only the preacher she is left with likes to save her by beating her.
Being scarred inside and out, Allie trusts no one. So when she sees a man being beaten from inside her cage, she literally reaches out to him. Because she knows what it means to be beaten. If not worse.
Wes McLain doesn't know what to make of the wild girl inside of the cage, who touches him with understanding in her gaze. Unwilling to leave her to the brutal hands of her handler and the preacher, he thinks to save her by breaking her out.
Except with all plans that are made on the spot, it is flawed. For the whole town knows who Wes McLain is and is after him for committing the "criminal act" of kidnapping a girl, who they think can't think for herself. Even though he thinks to set her free in the wild, he knows that he will be punished.
But Allie isn't going anywhere. Bewildered by the wounded stranger who saves her, she feels indebted enough to him to take him to his doctor brother. After that, she thinks she will leave. But soon she is coaxed by the family into taking a shower, eating, sleeping and dressing respectably. When the morning comes and brings with it the preacher and his men, the only solution to the crime of kidnapping is marriage.
What I loved about this book was the characters. The characters were beautiful and had depth. Wes was a gruff man who has been hard done by life. Although his bark is worse than his bite, and that's something Allie realises with time. Allie, is a girl who is scared of people, even of the man she saved and who saved her. She longs to go back to the simplicity of the wilderness. But fear does not make Allie weak or cowardly, instead it makes her fight back, and fight back she does!
Allie was ripped away from her family at a very young age by some natives. Being forced to live with a tribe that used her, she learnt what it meant to be a "throwaway woman". A woman of little value or worth. For example, Allie was fed the scraps only if there were any left over; and if she made something for herself, she had to make countless others for others in the tribe, before she would be allowed to keep that thing for herself.
When her tribe is attacked, Allie sneaks away to a secret place in the caves she has made for herself and lives in peace for the first time after her kidnapping. But after years of living there by herself, she ventures out too far one day and is taken by the white men to "save her". Only the preacher she is left with likes to save her by beating her.
Being scarred inside and out, Allie trusts no one. So when she sees a man being beaten from inside her cage, she literally reaches out to him. Because she knows what it means to be beaten. If not worse.
Wes McLain doesn't know what to make of the wild girl inside of the cage, who touches him with understanding in her gaze. Unwilling to leave her to the brutal hands of her handler and the preacher, he thinks to save her by breaking her out.
Except with all plans that are made on the spot, it is flawed. For the whole town knows who Wes McLain is and is after him for committing the "criminal act" of kidnapping a girl, who they think can't think for herself. Even though he thinks to set her free in the wild, he knows that he will be punished.
But Allie isn't going anywhere. Bewildered by the wounded stranger who saves her, she feels indebted enough to him to take him to his doctor brother. After that, she thinks she will leave. But soon she is coaxed by the family into taking a shower, eating, sleeping and dressing respectably. When the morning comes and brings with it the preacher and his men, the only solution to the crime of kidnapping is marriage.
What I loved about this book was the characters. The characters were beautiful and had depth. Wes was a gruff man who has been hard done by life. Although his bark is worse than his bite, and that's something Allie realises with time. Allie, is a girl who is scared of people, even of the man she saved and who saved her. She longs to go back to the simplicity of the wilderness. But fear does not make Allie weak or cowardly, instead it makes her fight back, and fight back she does!
Read
May 6, 2015DNF @ 60% I just lost interest.
April 15, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint: Jove
Author’s Website: http://www.jodithomas.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Texas Brothers/McLain Series
Series Best Read in Order: Works well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy
There’s one classic romance standby that I admit is a guilty pleasure of mine: the abused heroine. While I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa tea, I’ve always been drawn towards these types of stories because I love to see someone who’s been horribly abused overcome the past and find love and happiness without living in fear.
Allie wasn’t just abused, she was brutalized. Kidnapped at a young age by “savages”, she was literally raised to believe that she was worthless. She manages to escape the tribe and live on her own for several years, but when she’s “rescued” by Rangers who turn her over to a corrupt preacher, her life literally becomes a living hell. Beaten, raped, and kept in a cage to be trotted out before the masses and humiliated by the preacher who was supposed to be her salvation, Allie has absolutely no memory of human kindness.
Wes returned home from the Civil War to discover that his fortune is gone, and his fiancée wants absolutely nothing to do with him now that he’s not the rich war hero she’d been expecting — a point driven home when she has her bodyguards beat him senseless and dump him in the street.
A spur of the moment decision causes Wes and Allie’s worlds to collide when he rescues her from the cage she’s been kept in and brings her to her brother’s home several towns over. In order to protect her from the preacher who is demanding her return, he quickly marries her, though vowing that he’ll let her go as soon as they find her family.
Of course, things are never that simple, but what follows is an incredibly sweet tale of finding hope where you’d only seen darkness, and finding home in the most unexpected places.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of the first novel in the series, I did enjoy seeing Adam and Nicole again and getting a bit of an update as far as they were concerned. Allie’s horrific past made her such a strong character whom I admired very much. She was terrified of her own shadow in the beginning, but that didn’t mean she was weak or cowardly; rather, she’d learned long ago to trust no one and never let anyone at your back. Wes was beautifully flawed in his own ways — he was cranky, had a talent for saying the wrong thing, and was far too obsessed with a treasure map he’d come into possession of following a cattle stampede.
Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The simple fact that Ms. Thomas didn’t gloss over Allie’s previous abuse or make light of the repercussions of having been so badly misused for so long made this one of the more satisfying HEA’s that I’ve read in a long time. 4.5/5 Stars
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint: Jove
Author’s Website: http://www.jodithomas.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Texas Brothers/McLain Series
Series Best Read in Order: Works well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy
There’s one classic romance standby that I admit is a guilty pleasure of mine: the abused heroine. While I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa tea, I’ve always been drawn towards these types of stories because I love to see someone who’s been horribly abused overcome the past and find love and happiness without living in fear.
Allie wasn’t just abused, she was brutalized. Kidnapped at a young age by “savages”, she was literally raised to believe that she was worthless. She manages to escape the tribe and live on her own for several years, but when she’s “rescued” by Rangers who turn her over to a corrupt preacher, her life literally becomes a living hell. Beaten, raped, and kept in a cage to be trotted out before the masses and humiliated by the preacher who was supposed to be her salvation, Allie has absolutely no memory of human kindness.
Wes returned home from the Civil War to discover that his fortune is gone, and his fiancée wants absolutely nothing to do with him now that he’s not the rich war hero she’d been expecting — a point driven home when she has her bodyguards beat him senseless and dump him in the street.
A spur of the moment decision causes Wes and Allie’s worlds to collide when he rescues her from the cage she’s been kept in and brings her to her brother’s home several towns over. In order to protect her from the preacher who is demanding her return, he quickly marries her, though vowing that he’ll let her go as soon as they find her family.
Of course, things are never that simple, but what follows is an incredibly sweet tale of finding hope where you’d only seen darkness, and finding home in the most unexpected places.
While I wasn’t a huge fan of the first novel in the series, I did enjoy seeing Adam and Nicole again and getting a bit of an update as far as they were concerned. Allie’s horrific past made her such a strong character whom I admired very much. She was terrified of her own shadow in the beginning, but that didn’t mean she was weak or cowardly; rather, she’d learned long ago to trust no one and never let anyone at your back. Wes was beautifully flawed in his own ways — he was cranky, had a talent for saying the wrong thing, and was far too obsessed with a treasure map he’d come into possession of following a cattle stampede.
Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The simple fact that Ms. Thomas didn’t gloss over Allie’s previous abuse or make light of the repercussions of having been so badly misused for so long made this one of the more satisfying HEA’s that I’ve read in a long time. 4.5/5 Stars
February 19, 2025
a sweet, slow-moving story that involves two people searching for a place to belong, who at the very end, find it in each other
i liked allie, she refused to be the typical wounded bird, and drew strength from the hero, rather than rely on him completely. wes was honour-bound, bewitched from the beginning, a calm, stead-fast awkward hero.
the side characters were lovely, fully realized and intriguing. i found the dialogue between victoria, maxwell and wes particularly enjoyable towards the end.
i’m excited for the next book in this series, but im still waiting for jodi thomas to knock my socks off with a five star read.
i liked allie, she refused to be the typical wounded bird, and drew strength from the hero, rather than rely on him completely. wes was honour-bound, bewitched from the beginning, a calm, stead-fast awkward hero.
the side characters were lovely, fully realized and intriguing. i found the dialogue between victoria, maxwell and wes particularly enjoyable towards the end.
i’m excited for the next book in this series, but im still waiting for jodi thomas to knock my socks off with a five star read.
November 7, 2025
This was a well written romance. Not for the faint hearted. What the heroine goes through is appalling, and it should come with trigger warnings.
November 26, 2017
I really really really enjoyed this one.... I admit I like my heroine virgin; but in this book's case I am willing to give pardon. The heroine is not one of those stupid ninny heroine who have got themselves seduce by other men, no she's not. She was rape not only once but repeatedly and not only by one man but by many.... She was treated like an animal until the hero came..... It was so wonderful story and I can't help but adore both the hero and heroine...
TBH I don't want to read it before because I kinda hate the hero Wes in book 1 for kissing Nicole in front of Adam tho I understand his reason for doing that, it still left ugly impression to me.... At the beginning of the book I was thinking that he deserve someone ugly or perhaps a virago of a woman (sorry Wes) that's how much I hate him to wish for the worse so when I met Allie I was not sure how can Wes heal her both inside and outside... especially inside....
He has to work hard for the romance to work for both of them.... And he did.... and I was amaze in his patience, understanding and love for Allie... I was happy for Allie she did not only found a home and safe place to live but a man who respects her and most loves her sooooo much...
TBH I don't want to read it before because I kinda hate the hero Wes in book 1 for kissing Nicole in front of Adam tho I understand his reason for doing that, it still left ugly impression to me.... At the beginning of the book I was thinking that he deserve someone ugly or perhaps a virago of a woman (sorry Wes) that's how much I hate him to wish for the worse so when I met Allie I was not sure how can Wes heal her both inside and outside... especially inside....
He has to work hard for the romance to work for both of them.... And he did.... and I was amaze in his patience, understanding and love for Allie... I was happy for Allie she did not only found a home and safe place to live but a man who respects her and most loves her sooooo much...
June 18, 2013
Picked up this one by accident because it was on sale and I thought it was the second in her Lottery series. The opening definitely grabbed me so I wanted to read it, but the hero confused me at first. He seemed really young instead of the jaded old warrior he is supposed to be. The writing also seemed young and raw, though I see this was published in 1999 so that makes it an earlier than work than I've read from Jodi Thomas. Despite this, I read the book through in a span of a couple of days. So the verdict is that I liked the book, reluctantly :)
December 18, 2018
Great story about Wes McClain, the soldier. He finds himself witnessing the mistreatment of a woman who has been caged and used by an unscrupulous traveling minister. He releases her only to discover that she is badly damaged emotionally. He sets out to protect her and finds himself married to a woman who can barely tolerate his touch. He also finds himself the target of not only the minister but her uncle as well. Turns out she is the heir to a large ranch. A very nice HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2024
After rereading my all time favourite HR novel Annie’s Song, I suddenly had urge to satiate my hunger for more books of similar premise and trope ; a deaf / mute heroine with a traumatising past and a loner-gentleman of a hero being paired together under a false pretense of a marriage and together they navigate through unchartered waters.
So happy to say To Kiss A Texan had ticked pretty much all the boxes (except that Allie wasn’t deaf or mute, but rather kept her silence after enduring a horrendous ordeal in the past) that I knew in my heart, I’d always go back to this book for many future rereads. I love that the characters are flawed ; Allie being abused and shackled like a slave while Wes had been hardened, scarred and left penniless after a war. I’ve been so used to elegantly-dressed high society and aristrocrat characters in a HR novel that Allie and Wes are like a breath of fresh air.
Similar to Annie’s Song, Allie and Wes were put together in a marriage of convenience in order to protect Allie from the disgusting Preacher Louis (who had captured, tormented and shackled her like a slave for so long) so Louis would never take her in as his ward again. Together through their journey in finding Allie’s family and a home, Wes had learned to care and love Allie despite her adversities and past trauma. He was such a sweetheart! He really took his time and patience really slow in making Allie open up to him and bis desires, although he kept battling with his demons about making love to Allie. Poor Wes, Allie was so oblivious of the effect of her voluptuous body had on him! Mind that this is not a steamy novel but rather a very romantic one. No vulgar wordings were used to describe their intimate scenes but very beautiful and flowery proses. You can really feel Wes’s love for Allie emanating through these pages as he swore to protect her from danger. Really love their interactions with Allie’s grandmother Victoria as well as Wes’s brothers, so funny!
Highly, highly recommend to those readers out there who love Annie’s Song as much as I do❤️
So happy to say To Kiss A Texan had ticked pretty much all the boxes (except that Allie wasn’t deaf or mute, but rather kept her silence after enduring a horrendous ordeal in the past) that I knew in my heart, I’d always go back to this book for many future rereads. I love that the characters are flawed ; Allie being abused and shackled like a slave while Wes had been hardened, scarred and left penniless after a war. I’ve been so used to elegantly-dressed high society and aristrocrat characters in a HR novel that Allie and Wes are like a breath of fresh air.
Similar to Annie’s Song, Allie and Wes were put together in a marriage of convenience in order to protect Allie from the disgusting Preacher Louis (who had captured, tormented and shackled her like a slave for so long) so Louis would never take her in as his ward again. Together through their journey in finding Allie’s family and a home, Wes had learned to care and love Allie despite her adversities and past trauma. He was such a sweetheart! He really took his time and patience really slow in making Allie open up to him and bis desires, although he kept battling with his demons about making love to Allie. Poor Wes, Allie was so oblivious of the effect of her voluptuous body had on him! Mind that this is not a steamy novel but rather a very romantic one. No vulgar wordings were used to describe their intimate scenes but very beautiful and flowery proses. You can really feel Wes’s love for Allie emanating through these pages as he swore to protect her from danger. Really love their interactions with Allie’s grandmother Victoria as well as Wes’s brothers, so funny!
Highly, highly recommend to those readers out there who love Annie’s Song as much as I do❤️
October 16, 2017
Because I found the first volume disappointing, I almost did not start this one. I remembered Daniel's story as being worthwhile and started it. I was glad I did. A solid story with believable details about a woman recovering from rape and imprisonment.
April 2, 2025
✿ He legit freed her from a cage
✿ he was enthralled by her blue eyes
✿ she is all bruised and chained in the cage but when he is beaten in front of her, she reaches out to him and caresses his face
✿ he is shot while they flee and she takes him to his dr brother
✿ she curls up next to his sleeping body as she feels safe next to him
✿ he repeatedly assures her he won’t harm her (his patience and gentleness with her were so sweet)
✿ their kisses made me feel things
✿ the slow pace at which intimacy deepens between them was absolute perfection
✿ when they get married and our confronted by attackers, she knows she can’t help and he can’t win but is ready to live a proud widow because she finds him so brave
✿ unexpected marriage of convenience
✿ she doesn’t want to stay at hotel due to past horrors so he stays with her at the barn
✿ explicit consent has never felt more hot
********* favourite parts *********
W ES BECAME AWARE OF HER SOMEWHERE DEEP IN sleep, more on a primal level than on a conscious one. A feeling born basic into the soul of a man, even though layers of civilization concealed it. A need to protect, to shelter, to hold, reacted in his dreams as strongly as reality
Daniel shook his head. ”She’s willing and you’re breathing. I pronounce you man and wife.”
Her gaze fixed on Wes, really looking at him for the first time. He was a good man, she decided. Honored by his brothers, who came to fight at his side. She’d gladly help him if she could, but two knives would do little in a war with guns. So she made up her mind that when the time came, she’d hold him as he died, and when the battle was over, she’d stand proud to be his widow. There was great dignity in being such a man’s wife and honor in being his widow. She’d wear the ring forever in honor of his bravery.
She stayed just behind Wes, waiting for the time when she’d be needed. If any man in the crowd fired at her husband, the shooter would have a knife in his heart as fast as she could raise her arm.
The opening in her gown widened slightly, revealing more of her flesh. When she finished the last button at her waist, she placed her hands at her sides, once more gripping the sheet.
”Allie?” Wes felt like his insides were being ripped out. ”You’ll do anything I tell you, won’t you?” The test was over. He knew the truth.
She nodded.
”But why?” He brushed the tears from her cheek. ”Are you so afraid I’m going to hurt you? I told you I’d never raise a hand against you, Allie.”
Finally, when the tears had stopped, he whispered, ”Talk to me, Allie. Tell me how I can help. Tell me that you believe I mean you no harm. Let me know what frightens you so.”
Her fingers touched his lips, silencing his words.
He turned so that he could see her face as she raised above him.
”Don’t—” She swallowed as if the words were stuck in her throat. ”Don’t leave me.”
He understood then. She’d do anything, let him do anything, but she didn’t want to be all alone again.
”I won’t,” he promised.
But he couldn’t lie in bed with Allie and not touch her. And if he touched her, he’d want more. And if he took more, she’d hate him. And if she hated him, she wouldn’t have to kill him, he’d kill himself.
✿ he was enthralled by her blue eyes
✿ she is all bruised and chained in the cage but when he is beaten in front of her, she reaches out to him and caresses his face
✿ he is shot while they flee and she takes him to his dr brother
✿ she curls up next to his sleeping body as she feels safe next to him
✿ he repeatedly assures her he won’t harm her (his patience and gentleness with her were so sweet)
✿ their kisses made me feel things
✿ the slow pace at which intimacy deepens between them was absolute perfection
✿ when they get married and our confronted by attackers, she knows she can’t help and he can’t win but is ready to live a proud widow because she finds him so brave
✿ unexpected marriage of convenience
✿ she doesn’t want to stay at hotel due to past horrors so he stays with her at the barn
✿ explicit consent has never felt more hot
********* favourite parts *********
W ES BECAME AWARE OF HER SOMEWHERE DEEP IN sleep, more on a primal level than on a conscious one. A feeling born basic into the soul of a man, even though layers of civilization concealed it. A need to protect, to shelter, to hold, reacted in his dreams as strongly as reality
Daniel shook his head. ”She’s willing and you’re breathing. I pronounce you man and wife.”
Her gaze fixed on Wes, really looking at him for the first time. He was a good man, she decided. Honored by his brothers, who came to fight at his side. She’d gladly help him if she could, but two knives would do little in a war with guns. So she made up her mind that when the time came, she’d hold him as he died, and when the battle was over, she’d stand proud to be his widow. There was great dignity in being such a man’s wife and honor in being his widow. She’d wear the ring forever in honor of his bravery.
She stayed just behind Wes, waiting for the time when she’d be needed. If any man in the crowd fired at her husband, the shooter would have a knife in his heart as fast as she could raise her arm.
The opening in her gown widened slightly, revealing more of her flesh. When she finished the last button at her waist, she placed her hands at her sides, once more gripping the sheet.
”Allie?” Wes felt like his insides were being ripped out. ”You’ll do anything I tell you, won’t you?” The test was over. He knew the truth.
She nodded.
”But why?” He brushed the tears from her cheek. ”Are you so afraid I’m going to hurt you? I told you I’d never raise a hand against you, Allie.”
Finally, when the tears had stopped, he whispered, ”Talk to me, Allie. Tell me how I can help. Tell me that you believe I mean you no harm. Let me know what frightens you so.”
Her fingers touched his lips, silencing his words.
He turned so that he could see her face as she raised above him.
”Don’t—” She swallowed as if the words were stuck in her throat. ”Don’t leave me.”
He understood then. She’d do anything, let him do anything, but she didn’t want to be all alone again.
”I won’t,” he promised.
But he couldn’t lie in bed with Allie and not touch her. And if he touched her, he’d want more. And if he took more, she’d hate him. And if she hated him, she wouldn’t have to kill him, he’d kill himself.
Read
July 8, 2015Weston McLain arrived in Denton, TX to talk to Angela Montego. She had promised to marry him but would no longer talk to him because he had lost his fortune and most of what he owned in a cattle stampede. Her bodyguards ended up beating Wes. Wes was near a church to which Angela was headed. There was a woman in a cage out behind the church and the preacher beat her and used her as a demonstration to show people how he could beat the devil out of a person. He said she had the devil in her because he desired her and raped her repeatedly. Wes helped Allie escape from the cage and was shot in the back riding away with her. He told the woman to take him to his brother, the doctor in Ft. Worth. She did. Allie's family had been killed by Indians when she was younger and she had been taken had been traded around from tribe to tribe. She ran away when she was old enough to take care of herself. Some Texas Rangers found her and gave her to the preacher to take care of. The preacher just abused her. Allie was muddy and didn't talk. She looked like a wild woman.
Adam cleaned and bandaged the wound and the preacher and some other guys came to get Allie. Nichole, Adam's wife, helped Allie by giving her clean clothes and preparing a bath for her. Wes's brothers decided that the only way to keep Allie safe was for Wes to marry her. He did. Allie didn't know whether or not Wes would survive his injuries but she decided to stick around and find out. Allie told Wes her name and it was the first she had spoken her name since she was kidnapped and the first word she had spoken in five year.
Allie was very afraid of people. She attacked if anyone touched her and she was afraid of being locked up again. Wes tried to get Allie to talk to him about her kidnapping when she was young. Wes sent out notices to all the lawmen in the area asking for information about Indian attacks and missing children.
Wes had a map of a treasure that was buried in a place called Goliad and Wes wanted go search for it and he kept putting off doing to find it because of things coming up that were more important. One was finding a home for Allie. He promised to stay married to her until she had a place to call home. Allie found out about the map and insisted Wes go ahead and follow the map and she went with him. Wes's brothers thought the map to be a fake and told him that his going after the treasure was ridiculous. Allie left Wes while they out going to find the gold. Allie had found out that Wes was going to take a detour and visit someone who he thought might be Allie's grandmother. Allie was afraid she would be taken to someone else who was going to abuse her. Her memories were of her family all being killed and burned.
They went to visit Allie's grandmother, Victoria, and her grandmother's sister, Katherine. The local sheriff had seen the notice about Allie and contacted Wes's family. Victoria was now blind and Katherine told her that Allie was not her granddaughter. She was hateful in her attitude to Allie and she didn't want to stay so they headed out. They were followed and found out that one of her uncle's was trying to find Allie and get rid of her.
There was a boy who had no family that was working at the place where they stopped to eat. While they were headed out of town, they found Jason hiding in the barn crying after being beaten. Allie told Jason that he could go with her and Wes. Wes sent a telegram to Wolf asking for his help in protecting Allie from her uncle. Wes also got Allie to promise that she would stay with Wes until she was safe. All the time Wes was spending with Allie she grew to trust Wes and he got used to having her around. He was falling in love with Allie but didn't want to admit it, even to himself.
The old sheriff talked Wes into going to Victoria's house. Victoria's son said that he would never return there so the sheriff thought that Allie would be safe in the house there. Victoria had a tendency to take care of older soldiers who fought in the Civil War and they were loyal to her for the treatment and help they got from her. She contacted them to come to her aid in protecting the house from the people trying to get to Allie. They were a group called the Old Guard.
Michael's group attacked Victoria's house and lost the battle. Katherine was the person who let them onto the property and close enough to get to Allie. She said that it was because she wanted Victoria's life. Wes shot Michael as he was aiming to shoot Victoria. Katherine picked up Michael's gun to shoot Victoria but Victoria shot Katherine first.
Wes's brothers arrived but the gunfight was over. Nichole had a daughter. Jason was fascinated by Adam who was doctoring those wounded in the shoot out. A rider came to the ranch and told Wes that there was another person in the area asking about Allie. Wes thought everything was over and discovered Allie was missing. The preacher that had caged Allie had taken her and Katherine out to the widow's walk of the house. He pushed Victoria and she was falling off the walkway. Allie used a knife that she kept hidden in her boot and stabbed Louis. He fell and Allie let go of the knife and grabbed Victoria to keep her from falling. Louis fell off the walk and died. Victoria was taken to be treated where the old sheriff was and Daniel married Victoria to the sheriff.
Victoria believed by now that Allie was her missing granddaughter. Mostly because of the attitude of the Old Guard when they saw Allie. Allie looked just like Victoria when she was younger.
Allie made Wes promise to take her back to the cave where she was hiding before the Rangers found her and gave her to the preacher. They first made love in the cave. Wes left to go get the treasure from Goliad. Wes left a note telling Allie he would be back but she didn't see it and followed him. Allie found him outside the mission at Goliad. Wes was told by the preacher that someone had beat him to the treasure. They noticed a light in the church and went to investigate. They found out that the preacher was not really a preacher and he was also after the treasure. They told him to leave or they would kill him and Allie. They left and the others in the church were setting dynamite to get to the treasure. The dynamite went off early and blew up the mission. The real priest showed up at the mission and started asking questions about what they were doing there. Wes told him they wanted to get married, so they married each other again. It was for real this time...
Wes took Allie to his ranch and was prepared to have her disappointed by his empty place and dugout. Victoria had sent the Old Guard to with cattle to the ranch as her dowry. Allie also liked the fact that the house was half cave because that was what she was used to living in.
Adam cleaned and bandaged the wound and the preacher and some other guys came to get Allie. Nichole, Adam's wife, helped Allie by giving her clean clothes and preparing a bath for her. Wes's brothers decided that the only way to keep Allie safe was for Wes to marry her. He did. Allie didn't know whether or not Wes would survive his injuries but she decided to stick around and find out. Allie told Wes her name and it was the first she had spoken her name since she was kidnapped and the first word she had spoken in five year.
Allie was very afraid of people. She attacked if anyone touched her and she was afraid of being locked up again. Wes tried to get Allie to talk to him about her kidnapping when she was young. Wes sent out notices to all the lawmen in the area asking for information about Indian attacks and missing children.
Wes had a map of a treasure that was buried in a place called Goliad and Wes wanted go search for it and he kept putting off doing to find it because of things coming up that were more important. One was finding a home for Allie. He promised to stay married to her until she had a place to call home. Allie found out about the map and insisted Wes go ahead and follow the map and she went with him. Wes's brothers thought the map to be a fake and told him that his going after the treasure was ridiculous. Allie left Wes while they out going to find the gold. Allie had found out that Wes was going to take a detour and visit someone who he thought might be Allie's grandmother. Allie was afraid she would be taken to someone else who was going to abuse her. Her memories were of her family all being killed and burned.
They went to visit Allie's grandmother, Victoria, and her grandmother's sister, Katherine. The local sheriff had seen the notice about Allie and contacted Wes's family. Victoria was now blind and Katherine told her that Allie was not her granddaughter. She was hateful in her attitude to Allie and she didn't want to stay so they headed out. They were followed and found out that one of her uncle's was trying to find Allie and get rid of her.
There was a boy who had no family that was working at the place where they stopped to eat. While they were headed out of town, they found Jason hiding in the barn crying after being beaten. Allie told Jason that he could go with her and Wes. Wes sent a telegram to Wolf asking for his help in protecting Allie from her uncle. Wes also got Allie to promise that she would stay with Wes until she was safe. All the time Wes was spending with Allie she grew to trust Wes and he got used to having her around. He was falling in love with Allie but didn't want to admit it, even to himself.
The old sheriff talked Wes into going to Victoria's house. Victoria's son said that he would never return there so the sheriff thought that Allie would be safe in the house there. Victoria had a tendency to take care of older soldiers who fought in the Civil War and they were loyal to her for the treatment and help they got from her. She contacted them to come to her aid in protecting the house from the people trying to get to Allie. They were a group called the Old Guard.
Michael's group attacked Victoria's house and lost the battle. Katherine was the person who let them onto the property and close enough to get to Allie. She said that it was because she wanted Victoria's life. Wes shot Michael as he was aiming to shoot Victoria. Katherine picked up Michael's gun to shoot Victoria but Victoria shot Katherine first.
Wes's brothers arrived but the gunfight was over. Nichole had a daughter. Jason was fascinated by Adam who was doctoring those wounded in the shoot out. A rider came to the ranch and told Wes that there was another person in the area asking about Allie. Wes thought everything was over and discovered Allie was missing. The preacher that had caged Allie had taken her and Katherine out to the widow's walk of the house. He pushed Victoria and she was falling off the walkway. Allie used a knife that she kept hidden in her boot and stabbed Louis. He fell and Allie let go of the knife and grabbed Victoria to keep her from falling. Louis fell off the walk and died. Victoria was taken to be treated where the old sheriff was and Daniel married Victoria to the sheriff.
Victoria believed by now that Allie was her missing granddaughter. Mostly because of the attitude of the Old Guard when they saw Allie. Allie looked just like Victoria when she was younger.
Allie made Wes promise to take her back to the cave where she was hiding before the Rangers found her and gave her to the preacher. They first made love in the cave. Wes left to go get the treasure from Goliad. Wes left a note telling Allie he would be back but she didn't see it and followed him. Allie found him outside the mission at Goliad. Wes was told by the preacher that someone had beat him to the treasure. They noticed a light in the church and went to investigate. They found out that the preacher was not really a preacher and he was also after the treasure. They told him to leave or they would kill him and Allie. They left and the others in the church were setting dynamite to get to the treasure. The dynamite went off early and blew up the mission. The real priest showed up at the mission and started asking questions about what they were doing there. Wes told him they wanted to get married, so they married each other again. It was for real this time...
Wes took Allie to his ranch and was prepared to have her disappointed by his empty place and dugout. Victoria had sent the Old Guard to with cattle to the ranch as her dowry. Allie also liked the fact that the house was half cave because that was what she was used to living in.
July 18, 2025
Este libro es una joya escondida del romance histórico western. Una historia donde la ternura nace del trauma, y donde el amor no es un rayo fulminante, sino una hoguera paciente que da calor a dos almas rotas.
Wes McLain es un protagonista que se queda contigo: noble, paciente, con una fortaleza silenciosa que no necesita gritar para hacerse sentir. Su forma de tratar a Allie es simplemente hermosa. No intenta "salvarla" ni cambiarla, simplemente le ofrece espacio, respeto y un tipo de amor que no asfixia, sino que libera.
Y Allie… Allie es una mujer que merece ser comprendida. Criada en un entorno brutal, marcada por la violencia y la soledad, su forma de reaccionar no es “difícil” ni “rara”: es la respuesta lógica de alguien que nunca ha conocido la ternura. Y lo peor es que cuando por fin la sacan de ese infierno, no lo hacen por amor, sino por curiosidad, casi como si fuera un experimento. Como si quisieran ver "qué pasa" con la salvaje. La forma en que la sociedad la ve duele. Y eso hace que la forma en que Wes la ve sea aún más poderosa.
Es un libro sobre el poder de la paciencia, la bondad y el respeto. Un western con alma, donde el romance nace despacio, sin prisas, sin estereotipos ni roles tóxicos.
Un libro maravilloso que no solo entretiene: sana.
Lo recomiendo con el corazón.
Wes McLain es un protagonista que se queda contigo: noble, paciente, con una fortaleza silenciosa que no necesita gritar para hacerse sentir. Su forma de tratar a Allie es simplemente hermosa. No intenta "salvarla" ni cambiarla, simplemente le ofrece espacio, respeto y un tipo de amor que no asfixia, sino que libera.
Y Allie… Allie es una mujer que merece ser comprendida. Criada en un entorno brutal, marcada por la violencia y la soledad, su forma de reaccionar no es “difícil” ni “rara”: es la respuesta lógica de alguien que nunca ha conocido la ternura. Y lo peor es que cuando por fin la sacan de ese infierno, no lo hacen por amor, sino por curiosidad, casi como si fuera un experimento. Como si quisieran ver "qué pasa" con la salvaje. La forma en que la sociedad la ve duele. Y eso hace que la forma en que Wes la ve sea aún más poderosa.
Es un libro sobre el poder de la paciencia, la bondad y el respeto. Un western con alma, donde el romance nace despacio, sin prisas, sin estereotipos ni roles tóxicos.
Un libro maravilloso que no solo entretiene: sana.
Lo recomiendo con el corazón.
December 28, 2022
-4 stars.
"he looked at the woman as though he valued nothing higher. no one would ever look at her that way. she knew what she was. she'd heard it said in more than one language. she was a 'throwaway woman'. of no value. of no worth."
"she was no longer a throwaway woman. she was a wife. the wife of a brave man. somehow, that made her brave also."
"she was a long ride from normal and she was driving him to the same destination."
"he'd stood up for her once again. he had no idea what it meant to her. this strange man with the thin scar on his face didn't seem to know how worthless she was. he seemed to believe she was a person of some value. his insanity was flattering."
"you make me believe in a better world than either of us has ever seen."
"the hardest part of being brave is staying alive. any fool can get himself killed. but a brave man, a true warrior, is the one who can stay alive, no matter what."
"what happened to you isn't as important as the fact that you survived it. i figure that makes you about the bravest person i know. no matter what life's thrown at you, you live on like a strong tree that stands against all weather."
"at least we agree on one thing: i'm a fool."
"don't let it bother you. half the population has the same problem."
"he looked at the woman as though he valued nothing higher. no one would ever look at her that way. she knew what she was. she'd heard it said in more than one language. she was a 'throwaway woman'. of no value. of no worth."
"she was no longer a throwaway woman. she was a wife. the wife of a brave man. somehow, that made her brave also."
"she was a long ride from normal and she was driving him to the same destination."
"he'd stood up for her once again. he had no idea what it meant to her. this strange man with the thin scar on his face didn't seem to know how worthless she was. he seemed to believe she was a person of some value. his insanity was flattering."
"you make me believe in a better world than either of us has ever seen."
"the hardest part of being brave is staying alive. any fool can get himself killed. but a brave man, a true warrior, is the one who can stay alive, no matter what."
"what happened to you isn't as important as the fact that you survived it. i figure that makes you about the bravest person i know. no matter what life's thrown at you, you live on like a strong tree that stands against all weather."
"at least we agree on one thing: i'm a fool."
"don't let it bother you. half the population has the same problem."
February 10, 2021
Okay, give me a loner, gruff hero matched with a quiet but strong heroine in any time period and I am there! But western settings are my jam and you will have to pry these novels from my hands to get me to stop reading them!
I much preferred Wes and Allie’s story to Adam and Nichole’s story. Where I couldn’t get invested in them as a couple, I was rooting for Wes and Allie from the beginning. Perhaps because the chemistry and connection between them was much stronger. There were times I thought this book dragged a bit in the beginning, but it was a solid last half. Would read it again.
So far, Wes is still my favorite McLain brother. Now...onto the next book!
I much preferred Wes and Allie’s story to Adam and Nichole’s story. Where I couldn’t get invested in them as a couple, I was rooting for Wes and Allie from the beginning. Perhaps because the chemistry and connection between them was much stronger. There were times I thought this book dragged a bit in the beginning, but it was a solid last half. Would read it again.
So far, Wes is still my favorite McLain brother. Now...onto the next book!
February 28, 2021
I loved the depth of the character development. I could see parts of my psyche in many of them and that deepened my enjoyment of the reading experience as the characters learned and grew and experienced life. The plot was crafted in a way that kept me interested and the resolution of the meaningful conflict was a very satisfying resolution. I enjoyed the poetic way the conflict married with the naturalness of the setting. The romance was steamy in a way that allowed for my further imagination and enjoyment. The minor characters even added to that. I find myself curious about the other characters, his brothers, and wonder if there are books about their journeys in life.
November 29, 2020
Relatively a good story. The heroine, after seeing her family killed by Indians and herself enslaved by them escapes and becomes literally a wild woman until she is captured by Rangers and given to an evil preacher. She is kept in a cage and is used and abused until the hero sets her free. He keeps her safe and she begins to trust him. To avoid being charged with kidnap he marries her. Together they try and find any living kin she may have. Adventures ensue and at the end their marriage is finally consummated. HEA ending.
August 27, 2022
5 stars!! i could not put this book down! i stayed up until 1:30am finishing this even tho i had work the next day - and i dont regret it at all. i honestly dont even know what it was, but something about the writing and the pacing of this book had me Hooked from the start. you jump right into the action and i loved it!!
i can definitely see this as one of the books i will continue to go back to and read over and over again. a perfect mix of romance, action, and 1800s texas lol
i can definitely see this as one of the books i will continue to go back to and read over and over again. a perfect mix of romance, action, and 1800s texas lol
February 19, 2023
What an absolutely wonderful story. Our heroine is rescued from abuse by a travelling preacher by our hero. She is traumatised by her years of captivity, abuse both physical and emotional. The hero is also at a tough time in his life - affected by the war, broke, and a broken engagement.
He decides to help her find her family. The journey- both literally and emotionally brings them together. Brilliant!
He decides to help her find her family. The journey- both literally and emotionally brings them together. Brilliant!
April 24, 2024
3.5/5.
this book started out really interesting but the more i read, it just felt more and more awkward. i felt like this had really weird pacing and the plot felt a little bit clunky, especially as more and more side characters.
it also rubbed me the wrong way that allie’s trauma was magically cured by wes after like a week of being around each other.
all in all, it was good but i don’t see myself reading this again nor am i really eager to go read the rest of jodi thomas’ books now.
this book started out really interesting but the more i read, it just felt more and more awkward. i felt like this had really weird pacing and the plot felt a little bit clunky, especially as more and more side characters.
it also rubbed me the wrong way that allie’s trauma was magically cured by wes after like a week of being around each other.
all in all, it was good but i don’t see myself reading this again nor am i really eager to go read the rest of jodi thomas’ books now.
May 12, 2025
70% read. To be honest, Jodi Thomas might not be the author for me. I read her popular book, Texas’ Wager which a lot of people love and recommend but I find underwhelming and really messy in the second half when the adventure and conflicts really kicked in.
This book just gave me almost the same feel. Ms. Thomas might just not be my style. I don’t want to dnf this so maybe I’ll pick it up one of these days.
This book just gave me almost the same feel. Ms. Thomas might just not be my style. I don’t want to dnf this so maybe I’ll pick it up one of these days.
July 29, 2025
Despite all the dark stuff and improbable plots, this is a feel-good romance.
I have to suspend my disbelief while overcoming all the red flags because these are not modern men, nor real men, nor well developed characters. What we have here are romance-driven situations that make you feel good about the time you are living in, and comfort you with happy endings you may never see in reality.
A great way to expel your anxieties, I say.
I have to suspend my disbelief while overcoming all the red flags because these are not modern men, nor real men, nor well developed characters. What we have here are romance-driven situations that make you feel good about the time you are living in, and comfort you with happy endings you may never see in reality.
A great way to expel your anxieties, I say.
November 7, 2018
Meh. Allie has been abused and raped the majority of her life but in the span of a week or so she trusts the love interest? Sure he’s been the only one to treat her with kindness but it would take much longer for her to mentally or physically move past even a portion of her trauma. Her ‘recovery’ felt rushed and just not real and I kept getting pulled from the story.
December 2, 2020
a beautiful story of Allie's journey to heal, from abuse and mistreatment, a journey to self discovery, to trust, to family, to finding what is the most valued.
the characters Allie and Wes but also his brothers, Victora and Brady and the preteen Jason, "member of her tribe" were unforgettable.
a beautiful, heartwarming story.
the characters Allie and Wes but also his brothers, Victora and Brady and the preteen Jason, "member of her tribe" were unforgettable.
a beautiful, heartwarming story.
February 20, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. 2nd in series about McClean brothers returning home after American civil war. After closing family ranch they head toward Texas.
Wes meets a couple of people who Join in his quest to find treasure, a journey taking them in a different direction than Wes thought.
Lovely book, will read again
Wes meets a couple of people who Join in his quest to find treasure, a journey taking them in a different direction than Wes thought.
Lovely book, will read again
October 7, 2020
Always good!
I've always loved a Jodi Thomas book! This was no exception. Wonderful characters, especially with the old and young brought together. So treat yourself like I did. You won't be disappointed. Happy reading! Lori😺
I've always loved a Jodi Thomas book! This was no exception. Wonderful characters, especially with the old and young brought together. So treat yourself like I did. You won't be disappointed. Happy reading! Lori😺
October 11, 2020
Fabulous
Great story, particularly well crafted. The heroine has been mistreated and damaged and her voice and awakening is authentic and well paced. The hero is a true western hero , but displays wonderful feelings and is also well written. Can’t wait to read more.
Great story, particularly well crafted. The heroine has been mistreated and damaged and her voice and awakening is authentic and well paced. The hero is a true western hero , but displays wonderful feelings and is also well written. Can’t wait to read more.
February 7, 2021
Captivating
I read this book in one day. I wanted to know how Allie would survive. My eyes were tired but I was satisfied with the ending Jodi Thomas wove a very intriguing tale of love lost and found and family jealous.
I read this book in one day. I wanted to know how Allie would survive. My eyes were tired but I was satisfied with the ending Jodi Thomas wove a very intriguing tale of love lost and found and family jealous.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews