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Eclipse Heat #7
Breed True
Desperate to give her twin daughters a decent life, Julie Fulton agrees to marry Grady Hawks and produce the son he needs to inherit Hawks Nest ranch. At the end of a year, child or not, Julie will receive enough money to escape to San Francisco and leave behind her rough existence. Grady intends to breed back to the fair skin and Scottish features of his father and Julie meets every requirement. Her red hair and pale skin are an excellent way to dilute Grady’s half Kiowa blood. If Julie breeds true, their child will prove that the Hawks family is “white” enough to own Texas land. The formula is right, but the outcome unexpected. Siring a son is the last thing on Grady’s mind when he discovers pleasure in Julie’s bed. And San Francisco no longer seems like paradise to Julie when she finds heaven in Grady’s arms.
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 7, 2011
Breed True was an interesting western historical with a realistic, gritty feel. The heroine, Julie, was married to an abusive man who swindled people out of money and used her in his schemes. She finally left him after she gives birth to twin baby girls. At the beginning of the book, Julie comes upon her husband stabbed and about to die. He had stolen her baby girls and she needs him to tell her where they were taken. The sheriff and a few townspeople set up a situation where Julie is forced to either marry rancher Grady Hawks or be charged with murder and lose her babies. Grady agrees to marry Julie for one reason, he is half-Kiowa and the local white ranchers were trying to run him off the land. He thinks marrying a red-haired white woman and having a white-looking son will save his ranch. He offers Julie and her daughters a safe haven at his ranch for one year if she tries to provide him with a son. Julie has no choice, so she married Grady and moves to his ranch.
Julie spent years being abused by her husband and seeing the worst of men, so she doesn't trust anyone. Grady is a very dominant man so he scares Julie at first but eventually she trusts him not to hurt her or her girls. Grady was also patient with her in the bedroom, he took weeks to try to seduce her instead of immediately trying to get her pregnant. Over months, Julie does learn to trust and care for Grady but it's a slow process. Eventually they both realize they want a real marriage because they have fallen in love.
This book was different than I am used to, the heroine was harder than normal. She had a harsh life and learned to protect herself by not trusting anyone. Her one soft spot is her baby girls, who she loves very much. It takes Grady a long time to break through her protective shell, but it seemed realistic. Grady also came off as harsh sometimes, he was too dominant with her sometimes and she felt like he only wanted a baby from her and nothing else. Once he is able to seduce her, there are some hot detailed love scenes. But I liked how Grady was patient with her and also how he cared for her and the baby girls. The love scenes are at romantica level due to the coarser language and imagery but there is just straight M/F scenes and no back door stuff. They eventually learn to trust each other enough to fall in love.
I enjoyed reading this book, it kept my attention and was a little edgier than normal.
Julie spent years being abused by her husband and seeing the worst of men, so she doesn't trust anyone. Grady is a very dominant man so he scares Julie at first but eventually she trusts him not to hurt her or her girls. Grady was also patient with her in the bedroom, he took weeks to try to seduce her instead of immediately trying to get her pregnant. Over months, Julie does learn to trust and care for Grady but it's a slow process. Eventually they both realize they want a real marriage because they have fallen in love.
This book was different than I am used to, the heroine was harder than normal. She had a harsh life and learned to protect herself by not trusting anyone. Her one soft spot is her baby girls, who she loves very much. It takes Grady a long time to break through her protective shell, but it seemed realistic. Grady also came off as harsh sometimes, he was too dominant with her sometimes and she felt like he only wanted a baby from her and nothing else. Once he is able to seduce her, there are some hot detailed love scenes. But I liked how Grady was patient with her and also how he cared for her and the baby girls. The love scenes are at romantica level due to the coarser language and imagery but there is just straight M/F scenes and no back door stuff. They eventually learn to trust each other enough to fall in love.
I enjoyed reading this book, it kept my attention and was a little edgier than normal.
November 4, 2014
Neat idea and neat characters, but not enough relationship for me. She was cold for the whole book.
Most of the conflict was in Julie’s head. She doesn’t like him, doesn’t want him, wills herself not to get pregnant. From the beginning he is a surprisingly good husband, provider and loving father to her baby twin girls. He is patient with Julie. His kisses and touches are appealing. Julie feels fulfillment and happiness with this new life. But she continues a stubborn rigid refusal to be nice to him. I did not enjoy reading about her. At the end she just sort of changes her mind, smiles at him, and they’re happy. Maybe it’s true-to-life -- taking many months for her to fall in love with him. But it wasn’t fun to watch her be an ice cube. I’m exaggerating, but that’s my overall impression.
On the other hand, I could understand that she wouldn’t want to have another baby right away. And I was disappointed that he forced her to stop nursing after six months. But I would rather see her make a counter offer to stay longer if he gave her more time to nurse and rest between babies. It was important enough that she should have at least talked to him about it. Instead she gave him the rigid silent treatment. Now I know this is the author’s choice to write what she wants. I’m just offering this as a way for me to like the heroine a little more, instead of just watching her coldness.
One good thing was that I did not wish it would be over. I kept hoping it would get better.
His sexual touching of her was probably the best part – gentle, loving, and giving her pleasure.
The blurb said a consortium of businessmen was trying to steal Grady’s land. I was surprised that nothing happened with that. There was no action with the consortium. It was just the background motivation for why Grady needed a white woman wife.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 2,695 (167 pages). Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 9. Setting: 1877 to 1886 Texas. Copyright: 2010. Genre: western historical romance.
Most of the conflict was in Julie’s head. She doesn’t like him, doesn’t want him, wills herself not to get pregnant. From the beginning he is a surprisingly good husband, provider and loving father to her baby twin girls. He is patient with Julie. His kisses and touches are appealing. Julie feels fulfillment and happiness with this new life. But she continues a stubborn rigid refusal to be nice to him. I did not enjoy reading about her. At the end she just sort of changes her mind, smiles at him, and they’re happy. Maybe it’s true-to-life -- taking many months for her to fall in love with him. But it wasn’t fun to watch her be an ice cube. I’m exaggerating, but that’s my overall impression.
On the other hand, I could understand that she wouldn’t want to have another baby right away. And I was disappointed that he forced her to stop nursing after six months. But I would rather see her make a counter offer to stay longer if he gave her more time to nurse and rest between babies. It was important enough that she should have at least talked to him about it. Instead she gave him the rigid silent treatment. Now I know this is the author’s choice to write what she wants. I’m just offering this as a way for me to like the heroine a little more, instead of just watching her coldness.
One good thing was that I did not wish it would be over. I kept hoping it would get better.
His sexual touching of her was probably the best part – gentle, loving, and giving her pleasure.
The blurb said a consortium of businessmen was trying to steal Grady’s land. I was surprised that nothing happened with that. There was no action with the consortium. It was just the background motivation for why Grady needed a white woman wife.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 2,695 (167 pages). Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 9. Setting: 1877 to 1886 Texas. Copyright: 2010. Genre: western historical romance.
January 8, 2011
I really enjoyed this historical romance. The author did a very good job setting the time and place of the story. When I think back, I'm amazed that the story mostly took place in an adobe cabin on Grady Hawk's Texas ranch. But you never felt like the story needed to move around. This was almost entirely the story of a very damaged woman learning to trust a good man. Julie was very well written. She had been abused by her husband both physically and mentally but she was not a down trodden miserable, timid woman. She learned to be very distrustful of men and their motives. She stood up for herself while trying not to be dumb about it. I loved the scene where Grady ordered her to wear her hair down all the time and the first time it got caught on something, she borrowed his knife and whacked it off. She told him if he loved the hair so much he could have it and gave the cut off hank to him.
It took her a long time to warm up to Grady and learn to love and trust him. This was much more realistic than books where the first time the shiny handsome hero touches them, the horribly abused heroines are all better. It was also refreshing that all the men on the ranch did not fall all over their feet being charmed and enamored by her. They weren't mean to her, she just wasn't real important to them.
Julie had twins from her first husband but they did not take over the story in any way. Julie loved them and did all she could to protect them which was why she married Grady but the story was firmly about her and Grady. Also, even though he married her in order to have a mostly white son to pass his ranch on to, (he was half Kiowa) she didn't want another child yet because she wasn't ready for another child. That is a very realistic attitude for a woman who didn't trust men and had her first two babies alone in a shack with no help. I liked also that Grady was the strong silent type. He didn't talk much and that's a fun character type for me. He had a few issues but he was basically very well adjusted.
I am definitely going to read more of this author. Thanks MelissaB for loaning me this book.
It took her a long time to warm up to Grady and learn to love and trust him. This was much more realistic than books where the first time the shiny handsome hero touches them, the horribly abused heroines are all better. It was also refreshing that all the men on the ranch did not fall all over their feet being charmed and enamored by her. They weren't mean to her, she just wasn't real important to them.
Julie had twins from her first husband but they did not take over the story in any way. Julie loved them and did all she could to protect them which was why she married Grady but the story was firmly about her and Grady. Also, even though he married her in order to have a mostly white son to pass his ranch on to, (he was half Kiowa) she didn't want another child yet because she wasn't ready for another child. That is a very realistic attitude for a woman who didn't trust men and had her first two babies alone in a shack with no help. I liked also that Grady was the strong silent type. He didn't talk much and that's a fun character type for me. He had a few issues but he was basically very well adjusted.
I am definitely going to read more of this author. Thanks MelissaB for loaning me this book.
November 20, 2013
WOW, I just LOVE Gem's writing.
I also like a good western romance and erotic makes it better. LOL.
Julie is married to a gambler and an abuser. She would so like to get away from him. When he's fould lying in the street, a knife in his chest, she's worried he won't tell her where he took her twin daughters.
Grady Hawks is half indian and half white. He needs to find a wife that will give in a white baby, so he can claim land that others want to take away from him. If he can produce a white baby, things will get better. Then he see's Julie, with her red hair and the wheels start turning. But his knife is found in her husband's chest. Did he kill the man? Can he convince Julie to marry him and produce another baby?
Gem is an AWESOME author and this is another wonderful book in her Eclipse Heat series. It has many unexpected turns in this story and antoher book looks to be on the way, by reading the Epilogue. Looking forward to reading more from Gem!
I also like a good western romance and erotic makes it better. LOL.
Julie is married to a gambler and an abuser. She would so like to get away from him. When he's fould lying in the street, a knife in his chest, she's worried he won't tell her where he took her twin daughters.
Grady Hawks is half indian and half white. He needs to find a wife that will give in a white baby, so he can claim land that others want to take away from him. If he can produce a white baby, things will get better. Then he see's Julie, with her red hair and the wheels start turning. But his knife is found in her husband's chest. Did he kill the man? Can he convince Julie to marry him and produce another baby?
Gem is an AWESOME author and this is another wonderful book in her Eclipse Heat series. It has many unexpected turns in this story and antoher book looks to be on the way, by reading the Epilogue. Looking forward to reading more from Gem!
December 7, 2013
An amazing hero, endearing and compelling, and a very touching story.
This was a truly amazing story about two people who wanted one thing but got so much more in the end. The character of Grady is perhaps one of the most genuinely amazing heroes I have ever read about. All men should have a little of Grady in them, someone who is so strong yet so gentle. I just fell in love with the idea of these two finding one another and them opening their hearts to each other so beautifully. The little twin girls added to the story in their own way yet it was never about anyone else except Julie and Grady. Once again this book started off very slowly, it took about a quarter of the book just to establish what was going on, but I happily give this book 5stars because it goes on my re-read shelf now.
This was a truly amazing story about two people who wanted one thing but got so much more in the end. The character of Grady is perhaps one of the most genuinely amazing heroes I have ever read about. All men should have a little of Grady in them, someone who is so strong yet so gentle. I just fell in love with the idea of these two finding one another and them opening their hearts to each other so beautifully. The little twin girls added to the story in their own way yet it was never about anyone else except Julie and Grady. Once again this book started off very slowly, it took about a quarter of the book just to establish what was going on, but I happily give this book 5stars because it goes on my re-read shelf now.
February 17, 2019
very sweet story of julie-jewel, an abused gambler and con widow and of Hawk her new halfbreed husband. I love her past and the way she courageously tried so hard to make a better life for her twin daughters, and I loved him with his simple ways and his pride and the way he tried to help other indians to find shelter and work. of course I xould have love more details abaout his ma and about the killer of his Da, but I suppose It will be covered in other books.
April 25, 2017
Just ugg. I couldn't warm up to Grady and Julie did what she had to to survive.
February 15, 2011
I picked this one up from Liquid Silver books today, and was glad I did.
Half-Kiowa rancher Grady Hawks owns 9,000 acres of water-enriched Texas grassland. But when the Eastern Land Company moves to steal Hawks Nest Ranch, claiming Grady is too Indian to rightfully control it, Grady decides to apply what he's learned in mixing different strains of cattle. He needs to find a red-haired wife and breed back to the fair skin and Scottish features of his father.
With a white child and wife, he plans to appease his neighbors and outmaneuver the greedy Eastern consortium of businessmen who are trying to steal Texas land. But when Grady marries auburn-haired widow, Julie Fulton Rossiter, breeding cattle is the last thing on his mind. Julie doesn't want a husband, but with an accusation of murder threatening her, Grady Hawks' offer of marriage is something Julie needs. When unexpected passion burns hot between them, want and need take on a whole new meaning
What worked for me:
*I LOVE books with abused heroines forced to overcome their past in a new relationship. Being forced to marry a man (for a year) she's just met in order to avoid a murder charge and to prevent those in power from taking her young twin babies from her, Julie had to get over her fear of men and intimacy, and luckily Grady was a patient man
*On that note, I adore when the husband in an arranged marriage is incredibly patient with his skittish wife.
*I'm also a big fan of historicals where a main character is a NA or has NA heritage, because I'm a sucker for social outcasts in my romances.
What didn't work for me:
*References to the twins "toddling" at an age that, in my experience, most children are only crawling. As a mom that bugged me.
*The arrival of Dawn and the reason behind it -- I'm a big proponent of certain parenting actions, and it bothered me as to the reason. Yes that's intentionally vague so's not to be a spoiler lol
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. A good solid 4 Stars
Half-Kiowa rancher Grady Hawks owns 9,000 acres of water-enriched Texas grassland. But when the Eastern Land Company moves to steal Hawks Nest Ranch, claiming Grady is too Indian to rightfully control it, Grady decides to apply what he's learned in mixing different strains of cattle. He needs to find a red-haired wife and breed back to the fair skin and Scottish features of his father.
With a white child and wife, he plans to appease his neighbors and outmaneuver the greedy Eastern consortium of businessmen who are trying to steal Texas land. But when Grady marries auburn-haired widow, Julie Fulton Rossiter, breeding cattle is the last thing on his mind. Julie doesn't want a husband, but with an accusation of murder threatening her, Grady Hawks' offer of marriage is something Julie needs. When unexpected passion burns hot between them, want and need take on a whole new meaning
What worked for me:
*I LOVE books with abused heroines forced to overcome their past in a new relationship. Being forced to marry a man (for a year) she's just met in order to avoid a murder charge and to prevent those in power from taking her young twin babies from her, Julie had to get over her fear of men and intimacy, and luckily Grady was a patient man
*On that note, I adore when the husband in an arranged marriage is incredibly patient with his skittish wife.
*I'm also a big fan of historicals where a main character is a NA or has NA heritage, because I'm a sucker for social outcasts in my romances.
What didn't work for me:
*References to the twins "toddling" at an age that, in my experience, most children are only crawling. As a mom that bugged me.
*The arrival of Dawn and the reason behind it -- I'm a big proponent of certain parenting actions, and it bothered me as to the reason. Yes that's intentionally vague so's not to be a spoiler lol
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. A good solid 4 Stars
July 18, 2014
Genre: Western
1st/2nd/3rd Person: 2nd
Character(s)POV Spoken: h-main/H- Few chapters
M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F
HEA/HFN/etc Ending: HEA
Contains Cheating: NO!
Multi-Luv'n: No
Contains Children: Yes- h's 5 mths old twin girls from her first marriage.
Jealy/Possy/OTT Rating: 3
Angst Level Rating: 3
Feel-Good Level Rating: 5
Steam Factor Rating: 4.5
Kink Level Rating: 3.5
Amount of Sex In The Book: Average
Overall Smex Rating: 4
Hero Description: Alpha-4, Land owner, Half Indian
Hero Likability Rating: 5
Heroine Description: Abusive Past from her first husband
Heroine Likability Rating: 4
2nd CHARACTER(S):
2nd Char. Description: H's ranch hands and family
2nd Character(s) Likability Rating: 5
Buildup Instant/Just Right/Too Long: Just Right
Any H/h Separations: No
Amount of Time H/h Spends Together: Just Right
Overall H/h Relationship Rating: 4.5
Current OW/OM/Ex: No
-Grovel Rating: N/A
Any Triggers/Warnings: Not shown just described by actions & behavior of the h and her thoughts.
Detail: The h was physically abused by her first husband.
Technical/Editing Quality: 4
Writing/Content Quality: 4
=======================================
PERSONAL OVERVIEW:
=======================================
Overall Rating: 4
Do You Recommend This Book: Yes
Will You Re-read This Book: Maybe
Would You Read More Books By This Author: Yes
=======================================
COMMENTS/NOTES: I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good, silent, patient, strong H & a nice likable h. Their growth and interactions as a couple was a heartening and beautiful to read.
=======================================
1st/2nd/3rd Person: 2nd
Character(s)POV Spoken: h-main/H- Few chapters
M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F
HEA/HFN/etc Ending: HEA
Contains Cheating: NO!
Multi-Luv'n: No
Contains Children: Yes- h's 5 mths old twin girls from her first marriage.
Jealy/Possy/OTT Rating: 3
Angst Level Rating: 3
Feel-Good Level Rating: 5
Steam Factor Rating: 4.5
Kink Level Rating: 3.5
Amount of Sex In The Book: Average
Overall Smex Rating: 4
Hero Description: Alpha-4, Land owner, Half Indian
Hero Likability Rating: 5
Heroine Description: Abusive Past from her first husband
Heroine Likability Rating: 4
2nd CHARACTER(S):
2nd Char. Description: H's ranch hands and family
2nd Character(s) Likability Rating: 5
Buildup Instant/Just Right/Too Long: Just Right
Any H/h Separations: No
Amount of Time H/h Spends Together: Just Right
Overall H/h Relationship Rating: 4.5
Current OW/OM/Ex: No
-Grovel Rating: N/A
Any Triggers/Warnings: Not shown just described by actions & behavior of the h and her thoughts.
Detail: The h was physically abused by her first husband.
Technical/Editing Quality: 4
Writing/Content Quality: 4
=======================================
PERSONAL OVERVIEW:
=======================================
Overall Rating: 4
Do You Recommend This Book: Yes
Will You Re-read This Book: Maybe
Would You Read More Books By This Author: Yes
=======================================
COMMENTS/NOTES: I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good, silent, patient, strong H & a nice likable h. Their growth and interactions as a couple was a heartening and beautiful to read.
=======================================
February 15, 2021
Good read. He is a half breed and also a rich rancher. In order to keep his ranch from falling into land grabber's hands he needs to secure his blood line. In other words marry a white woman so the Indian side is less noticeable. He does this be striking a bargain with a gambler's wife who has just become a widow. Desperate to give her twin daughters a decent life, she agrees to marry him. This marriage of convenience eventually turns to true love. HEA ending
May 11, 2022
it was a good story with good potential, which just makes me disappointed that it was so underdeveloped
it felt as if the book was missing a lot of chapters
where was the editor in all of this?
encourage authors to give more depth to their stories and not just cut things short
it felt as if the book was missing a lot of chapters
where was the editor in all of this?
encourage authors to give more depth to their stories and not just cut things short
Read
November 17, 2019Good book but Julie is very back and forth in this book. Not a very consistent character. Also, not as much drama in this book compared to the others in this series.
March 3, 2011
I've been trying to find some "different" historicals recently to keep me entertained. When this one came my way, I was very excited to have such a different hero and heroine presented to me. I loved the Native American elements shown against the struggles of the settlers. Grady was a yummy hero who did what had to be done.
Ms. Sivad did an excellent job setting up the historical setting, while giving me a solid mystery. A nice quick read with interesting characters and engaging plot. I'd definitely read another book by Ms. Sivad again.
Ms. Sivad did an excellent job setting up the historical setting, while giving me a solid mystery. A nice quick read with interesting characters and engaging plot. I'd definitely read another book by Ms. Sivad again.
August 17, 2016
Destiny
Julie and Grady an unlikely couple. The story of the making of a true love story. Can the mother of twin girls truly make the promise of a son come true. The trials of a couple destined to be together. Or are they? Enjoy
Julie and Grady an unlikely couple. The story of the making of a true love story. Can the mother of twin girls truly make the promise of a son come true. The trials of a couple destined to be together. Or are they? Enjoy
Read
August 18, 2016Good
My favorite author does it again. Gem is a great story teller. You will be entertained by any of her stories or series. I have read all of them Amazon has made available and I have lived them all. You will not be disappointed if you read them too.
My favorite author does it again. Gem is a great story teller. You will be entertained by any of her stories or series. I have read all of them Amazon has made available and I have lived them all. You will not be disappointed if you read them too.
May 29, 2011
4.5 Stars. Excellent historical romance.
August 29, 2016
Love the Eclipse series. This book hooked me right away. Love the marriage-of-convenience trope.
November 19, 2018
Oh I loved this book. Her background made a HEA a hard thing to see coming but Hawk was just what she needed. I loved their back and forth they had going threw out this whole book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews