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Moon Flower
The second novel in the passion-filled Gone to Texas trilogy--set in 19th century Texas--from the author of Cactus Flower. Lovely, fiery Deborah Manchester was determined to fight for women's equality--even though her proper Bostonian friends and her fiance scorned her ideas.
373 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
13 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Shirl Henke
63 books77 followersaka Alexa Hunt.
Working my way through college provided great life experiences for a novelist. One problem. I didn’t know I was destined to write books. Instead, I floundered around during and after receiving my B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Missouri. None of my wide variety of jobs satisfied me: cashier for a loan company, public welfare caseworker, assistant circulation manager for a small daily, editor for several “house organ” newspapers, administrator of a federal information program for the elderly.
Finally I was offered the opportunity to use my history degrees, teaching in a large urban university in the Northeast. I truly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, when the history requirement was dropped for incoming students, so was my instructorship. After that I taught gerontology, sociology, proposal writing for social service agencies and freshman composition at the same university. Further life experiences. My last two years of teaching were in remedial English—just the nudge I needed to take this writing thing seriously.
Since childhood I’ve been an avid reader, everything from Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi adventures to Frank Yerby’s historical romantic sagas. More recently I became hooked on thrillers. Since childhood I had story ideas in my head, but never the epiphany to write them. Okay, maybe I just didn’t have the courage. But there were just so many times I could explain what a verb was to a college senior before I realized that maybe writing a book might be easier. I sold my first novel, a big historical romance titled GOLDEN LADY, to Warner Books in 1985. Within two years, I quit remedial comp. Now I can't imagine doing anything but writing for a living. In 2005 I switched over to the “dark side.” Tor published two political thrillers, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY and HOMELAND SECURITY under the pseudonym Alexa Hunt. I’ve also written romantic suspense for Penguin Onyx and Silhouette Bombshell as Shirl Henke. Since I began my career, I’ve appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list, been a RITA Finalist twice, received a BookraK Bestseller Award, and won three Career Achievement Awards, an Industry Award and three Reviewers Choice Awards from Romantic Times.
My husband Jim Henke is a former cabdriver, bartender, sailor, judo instructor and English professor. He's a scholarly authority on obscene slang and a master at its use, but an astonishingly understanding man who puts up with my all-night writing sprees and sudden dashes to my desk to jot down bits of dialogue as dinner burns on the stove. Since he took early retirement from academe, he has helped me brainstorm plots and research my novels.
After four years in the U.S. Air Force, our son Matt works in telecommunications and lives in an adjacent county with his brute of a cat, Max. Jim and I now share our cedar house in the woods with a pair of utterly adorable tomcats, Inky and Pewter, whose destructive capacity rivals that of a medium sized thermonuclear weapon. But just as life without writing would be unimaginable, so would life without cats.
For therapy when I'm not at the computer or off researching a new book, I cook large dinners for our extended family, putter in my garden and greenhouse, and still read voraciously. When deadlines permit, I love to travel. I'm a member of the Author's Guild, Romance Writers of America, Missouri Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc. and International Thriller Writers
I wrote my first twenty-two novels in longhand with a ball-point pen--it's hard to get good quills these days. Dragged into the 21st century, I now use one of those "devil machines. Another troglodyte bites the dust
Working my way through college provided great life experiences for a novelist. One problem. I didn’t know I was destined to write books. Instead, I floundered around during and after receiving my B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Missouri. None of my wide variety of jobs satisfied me: cashier for a loan company, public welfare caseworker, assistant circulation manager for a small daily, editor for several “house organ” newspapers, administrator of a federal information program for the elderly.
Finally I was offered the opportunity to use my history degrees, teaching in a large urban university in the Northeast. I truly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, when the history requirement was dropped for incoming students, so was my instructorship. After that I taught gerontology, sociology, proposal writing for social service agencies and freshman composition at the same university. Further life experiences. My last two years of teaching were in remedial English—just the nudge I needed to take this writing thing seriously.
Since childhood I’ve been an avid reader, everything from Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi adventures to Frank Yerby’s historical romantic sagas. More recently I became hooked on thrillers. Since childhood I had story ideas in my head, but never the epiphany to write them. Okay, maybe I just didn’t have the courage. But there were just so many times I could explain what a verb was to a college senior before I realized that maybe writing a book might be easier. I sold my first novel, a big historical romance titled GOLDEN LADY, to Warner Books in 1985. Within two years, I quit remedial comp. Now I can't imagine doing anything but writing for a living. In 2005 I switched over to the “dark side.” Tor published two political thrillers, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY and HOMELAND SECURITY under the pseudonym Alexa Hunt. I’ve also written romantic suspense for Penguin Onyx and Silhouette Bombshell as Shirl Henke. Since I began my career, I’ve appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list, been a RITA Finalist twice, received a BookraK Bestseller Award, and won three Career Achievement Awards, an Industry Award and three Reviewers Choice Awards from Romantic Times.
My husband Jim Henke is a former cabdriver, bartender, sailor, judo instructor and English professor. He's a scholarly authority on obscene slang and a master at its use, but an astonishingly understanding man who puts up with my all-night writing sprees and sudden dashes to my desk to jot down bits of dialogue as dinner burns on the stove. Since he took early retirement from academe, he has helped me brainstorm plots and research my novels.
After four years in the U.S. Air Force, our son Matt works in telecommunications and lives in an adjacent county with his brute of a cat, Max. Jim and I now share our cedar house in the woods with a pair of utterly adorable tomcats, Inky and Pewter, whose destructive capacity rivals that of a medium sized thermonuclear weapon. But just as life without writing would be unimaginable, so would life without cats.
For therapy when I'm not at the computer or off researching a new book, I cook large dinners for our extended family, putter in my garden and greenhouse, and still read voraciously. When deadlines permit, I love to travel. I'm a member of the Author's Guild, Romance Writers of America, Missouri Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc. and International Thriller Writers
I wrote my first twenty-two novels in longhand with a ball-point pen--it's hard to get good quills these days. Dragged into the 21st century, I now use one of those "devil machines. Another troglodyte bites the dust
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 8, 2022
Е, това си беше едно адско пътуване из 19-то век из аболиционистките северни щати, робовладелските южни и Тексас.
Севернячкя се жени за южняк, но освен че са млади и влюбени, нищо друго не го свързва. Тя е убедена, че робството е чудовищно и жените имат право да задават и въпроси, а той е от креолско семейство с роби, което освен това урежда синовете си с метреси от най-ранна възраст - какво е и днешен Ню Орлеанс без тези славни спомени? Естествено, опитите бракът да тръгне, крушират отново и отново, докато накрая и двамата много бавно и по принуда не проумяват, че да се обърне нова страница е мъчително, умът и насадените порядки се противят, но е единственият начин.
Много як, старомоден сюжет с изискани балове, красиви квартеронки, южни мангрови гори, тексаска пустош, команчи, креоли, мексикански бандити и какво ли не още. Героите си патят заради собствените си грешки, и са напълно наясно с тях. Има доста драми, но те са обосновани, и хепи ендът не настъпва до най-последната страница. Така е то, животът е трудна работа. А по-старите писателки са вещи в занаята, за разлика от модерните си “колежки”.
***
“Boston was a town with the motto: Business occasionally stops for pleasure. New Orleans seemed to have that concept completely reversed: Pleasure occasionally stops for business.”
Севернячкя се жени за южняк, но освен че са млади и влюбени, нищо друго не го свързва. Тя е убедена, че робството е чудовищно и жените имат право да задават и въпроси, а той е от креолско семейство с роби, което освен това урежда синовете си с метреси от най-ранна възраст - какво е и днешен Ню Орлеанс без тези славни спомени? Естествено, опитите бракът да тръгне, крушират отново и отново, докато накрая и двамата много бавно и по принуда не проумяват, че да се обърне нова страница е мъчително, умът и насадените порядки се противят, но е единственият начин.
Много як, старомоден сюжет с изискани балове, красиви квартеронки, южни мангрови гори, тексаска пустош, команчи, креоли, мексикански бандити и какво ли не още. Героите си патят заради собствените си грешки, и са напълно наясно с тях. Има доста драми, но те са обосновани, и хепи ендът не настъпва до най-последната страница. Така е то, животът е трудна работа. А по-старите писателки са вещи в занаята, за разлика от модерните си “колежки”.
***
“Boston was a town with the motto: Business occasionally stops for pleasure. New Orleans seemed to have that concept completely reversed: Pleasure occasionally stops for business.”
October 6, 2023
Ruined my day.
December 26, 2012
EPIC HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Raphael Flamenco travels to Boston on business, from New Orleans. It is there he first meets Deborah Manchester, the daughter of a rich Bostonian banker. Deeply attracted to Deborah, but unable to court her, as his family and his rigid creole upbringing will prevent him marrying a Yankee. But they get lost out in a rain storm for hours alone, and honour dictates he do the right thing. But it's no hardship to him. As Deborah tall willowy with silver hair, has captivated him. His Moonflower.
Deborah is enamoured with this tall dark and handsome creole aristocrat. Now married to him, and returning home with him to New Orleans. Deborah is nervous and worried how his family will react to his Yankee wife. Deborah was right to be concerned, Raphael's parents were horrified at her appearance in their home, and made it very clear that they would never accept her. Deborah tries hard to adjust to this new life. But was reviled by the family's use of slaves. The idea of enslaving any human being was totally abhorrent to her. At home in Boston, although her father was a rich man, she was still expected to live a productive life. Deborah was active in her work with many charities helping those less fortunate. But here as Raphael's wife, she was expected to merely shop and be at Raphael's beck and call. Then she's makes a horrifying and distasteful discovery about her husband. Knowing she can never accept his way of life any longer, she runs away to start a new life in Texas. Raphael is furious that his wife has had the audacity to leave him. And decides to follow her and bring her back home. Dragging her by her hair if necessary.
This is an extremely well written and researched story. What I enjoyed the most was the characterisation. Especially the H/h. Raphael or Rafe Fleming as he calls himself now. Was a mere spoilt 22 year old when he married Deborah. But his experiences as he searched for her in Texas, meant he had to grow up and get tough fast. Through his many adventures, including being sold as a slave to the Comanches, he is a changed man. In fact it is six long years before he and Deborah are reunited. But she has altered as well, she has carved out a new life for herself in Texas, posing as a widow, and running a boarding house I have to be honest and say that my own preference does not run to romances where the two leads are apart for such a big chunk of the story. But it would be churlish of me not to give this any less than five stars. This is not a hearts and flowers romance, but it is sensuous and earthy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Raphael Flamenco travels to Boston on business, from New Orleans. It is there he first meets Deborah Manchester, the daughter of a rich Bostonian banker. Deeply attracted to Deborah, but unable to court her, as his family and his rigid creole upbringing will prevent him marrying a Yankee. But they get lost out in a rain storm for hours alone, and honour dictates he do the right thing. But it's no hardship to him. As Deborah tall willowy with silver hair, has captivated him. His Moonflower.
Deborah is enamoured with this tall dark and handsome creole aristocrat. Now married to him, and returning home with him to New Orleans. Deborah is nervous and worried how his family will react to his Yankee wife. Deborah was right to be concerned, Raphael's parents were horrified at her appearance in their home, and made it very clear that they would never accept her. Deborah tries hard to adjust to this new life. But was reviled by the family's use of slaves. The idea of enslaving any human being was totally abhorrent to her. At home in Boston, although her father was a rich man, she was still expected to live a productive life. Deborah was active in her work with many charities helping those less fortunate. But here as Raphael's wife, she was expected to merely shop and be at Raphael's beck and call. Then she's makes a horrifying and distasteful discovery about her husband. Knowing she can never accept his way of life any longer, she runs away to start a new life in Texas. Raphael is furious that his wife has had the audacity to leave him. And decides to follow her and bring her back home. Dragging her by her hair if necessary.
This is an extremely well written and researched story. What I enjoyed the most was the characterisation. Especially the H/h. Raphael or Rafe Fleming as he calls himself now. Was a mere spoilt 22 year old when he married Deborah. But his experiences as he searched for her in Texas, meant he had to grow up and get tough fast. Through his many adventures, including being sold as a slave to the Comanches, he is a changed man. In fact it is six long years before he and Deborah are reunited. But she has altered as well, she has carved out a new life for herself in Texas, posing as a widow, and running a boarding house I have to be honest and say that my own preference does not run to romances where the two leads are apart for such a big chunk of the story. But it would be churlish of me not to give this any less than five stars. This is not a hearts and flowers romance, but it is sensuous and earthy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 24, 2017
Ol' dude had a whole other side family and was so casual about it for too long. I don't know why I eat this frustrating stuff up with a spoon, but I do.
July 29, 2023
This lacked a lot of important details...also the time jump really took me out of the story.
3 lackluster stars
3 lackluster stars
October 7, 2023
Aww amazing *sigh*
Read
September 2, 2021Note to self.
Dnf.
Writing was smooth and witty but I don’t think first part of the story gripping enough for me. Somewhat intelligent but dull.
Dnf.
Writing was smooth and witty but I don’t think first part of the story gripping enough for me. Somewhat intelligent but dull.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2017
Cactus Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy Book 1)
Moon Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy Book 2)
Night Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy Book 3)
Moon Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy Book 2)
Night Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy Book 3)
December 24, 2024
The mmc was a lousy no good son of a bitch and I’m glad he got his ass beat. The story dragggged.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews