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Hawk's Way #1
Honey and the Hired Hand
New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston has written over thirteen unforgettable Hawk's Way romances. Now enjoy the classic tale that started them Ranch hand to mend fences--and broken hearts...When her first husband, a Texas Ranger, was killed on the job, Honey Farrell swore she'd never risk her heart again. She no longer has time for men, anyway--not with a ranch to run, a dwindling bank account and two teenaged boys to raise. So when cowboy Jesse Whitelaw turns up on her doorstep looking for work, he seems like the answer to her prayers.But Honey doesn't know that Jesse's actually a Ranger himself, going undercover to break up a cattle-rustling ring--and as she and Jesse get closer, the secrets he's keeping could destroy them both.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1992
33 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Joan Johnston
126 books750 followersJoan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 27, 2018
Grabbed this at a yard sale. It was short and sweet. A widow and her sons trying to keep up a ranch. She hires a handyman who's identity is hidden from her until she needs rescuing.
November 17, 2011
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" For a short novel, Honey and the Hired Hand was a surprisingly enjoyable read that kept me very emotionally engaged. Joan Johnston seems to have a talent for expressing a great deal using an economy of words. The pace moves along very quickly yet the story never felt rushed. Even though it takes place over the course of only a few weeks, there is an intimacy to Jesse and Honey's relationship that makes it seem like they've known each other forever. The sexual tension is deliciously taut right from the start, but I could sense more passing between then than mere lust. The love scenes are very sensual in spite of not being overly long and only moderately descriptive. Overall, Ms. Johnston did a great job with taking me through the emotional ups and downs of this couple's relationship and convincing me that they were absolutely perfect for one another.
Jesse is one sexy, alpha cowboy. He is also a Texas Ranger working undercover to break up a ring of cattle rustlers. Jesse exhibits a self-confidence and a sort of lazy arrogance that can be very charming in a cowboy hero. When his alpha-ness comes out, he can be just a little caveman-ish which would normally bother me, but here the author deftly expresses that side of him with a certain tenderness and lightheartedness that made him very appealing. I really liked that Jesse was a gentleman and expected Honey's oldest son to treat her with gentlemanly respect too. He is also very good with her boys and with getting them to warm up to him. All in all, Jesse was a wonderful hero who absolutely oozed sex appeal, and it certainly didn't hurt that he was part Native American too.;-)
Honey was a woman whose heart had been broken when her husband died in the line of duty. She swore she would never fall in love with or marry another man who was a Ranger or who courts danger like he did. Even when her husband was alive she didn't exactly have it easy. Because he was frequently away on assignments, she had to shoulder the burden of running the ranch all by herself. Now she just wants a dependable guy, but quickly discovers that dependable is also rather boring. I could sense right from the beginning how Jesse completely disarms Honey. She doesn't want to be attracted to him, but can't help being drawn to him like a magnet. Even before she finds out about Jesse being a Texas Ranger, she senses danger lurking around him. She is frightened by how strong her feelings are for him, and tries to break things off with him more than once so that she won't get hurt again, but soon realizes that her life would be empty without him around.
With the limited length of the story, there isn't a lot of room for secondary characters, but there were still a couple of stand-outs. Honey's oldest son, Jack, is very protective of his mother and not too keen on her having relationships with guys who he views as vying to replace the dad he lost. He manages to get himself into some trouble, but his heart was in the right place. The book opens with Honey dating Adam, a doctor and ranch owner who has just proposed, but deep down she knows she doesn't love him and he deserves better. Unfortunately, she breaks his heart, but Jesse's little sister gets to help him pick up the pieces in the next book of the series, The Rancher and the Runaway Bride. Jesse and Honey also share a couple of mutual friends, Dallas, another Texas Ranger, and his wife, Angel. From the moment they popped up in the story, I had the feeling I was supposed to know them from somewhere, and after doing a bit of research, discovered that they had appeared as the hero and heroine of a previous book, A Little Time in Texas. I was a bit surprised that their book wasn't mentioned anywhere as being part of the Hawk's Way series or even a prequel or sorts, but I guess it wouldn't be necessary to read it first. I'll definitely be interested in checking it out sometime though.
Honey and the Hired Hand was my first read by Joan Johnston and also the first volume in the Hawk's Way series, named after the Whitelaw family's ranch. It was originally published as a Silhouette Desire title. It was later reprinted along with two other books from the series as part of the anthology, Hawk's Way Rogues, and again as a single-volume HQN special release. Overall, Honey and the Hired Hand was an excellent introduction to both Ms. Johnston's work and the Hawk's Way series. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.
"4.5 stars" For a short novel, Honey and the Hired Hand was a surprisingly enjoyable read that kept me very emotionally engaged. Joan Johnston seems to have a talent for expressing a great deal using an economy of words. The pace moves along very quickly yet the story never felt rushed. Even though it takes place over the course of only a few weeks, there is an intimacy to Jesse and Honey's relationship that makes it seem like they've known each other forever. The sexual tension is deliciously taut right from the start, but I could sense more passing between then than mere lust. The love scenes are very sensual in spite of not being overly long and only moderately descriptive. Overall, Ms. Johnston did a great job with taking me through the emotional ups and downs of this couple's relationship and convincing me that they were absolutely perfect for one another.
Jesse is one sexy, alpha cowboy. He is also a Texas Ranger working undercover to break up a ring of cattle rustlers. Jesse exhibits a self-confidence and a sort of lazy arrogance that can be very charming in a cowboy hero. When his alpha-ness comes out, he can be just a little caveman-ish which would normally bother me, but here the author deftly expresses that side of him with a certain tenderness and lightheartedness that made him very appealing. I really liked that Jesse was a gentleman and expected Honey's oldest son to treat her with gentlemanly respect too. He is also very good with her boys and with getting them to warm up to him. All in all, Jesse was a wonderful hero who absolutely oozed sex appeal, and it certainly didn't hurt that he was part Native American too.;-)
Honey was a woman whose heart had been broken when her husband died in the line of duty. She swore she would never fall in love with or marry another man who was a Ranger or who courts danger like he did. Even when her husband was alive she didn't exactly have it easy. Because he was frequently away on assignments, she had to shoulder the burden of running the ranch all by herself. Now she just wants a dependable guy, but quickly discovers that dependable is also rather boring. I could sense right from the beginning how Jesse completely disarms Honey. She doesn't want to be attracted to him, but can't help being drawn to him like a magnet. Even before she finds out about Jesse being a Texas Ranger, she senses danger lurking around him. She is frightened by how strong her feelings are for him, and tries to break things off with him more than once so that she won't get hurt again, but soon realizes that her life would be empty without him around.
With the limited length of the story, there isn't a lot of room for secondary characters, but there were still a couple of stand-outs. Honey's oldest son, Jack, is very protective of his mother and not too keen on her having relationships with guys who he views as vying to replace the dad he lost. He manages to get himself into some trouble, but his heart was in the right place. The book opens with Honey dating Adam, a doctor and ranch owner who has just proposed, but deep down she knows she doesn't love him and he deserves better. Unfortunately, she breaks his heart, but Jesse's little sister gets to help him pick up the pieces in the next book of the series, The Rancher and the Runaway Bride. Jesse and Honey also share a couple of mutual friends, Dallas, another Texas Ranger, and his wife, Angel. From the moment they popped up in the story, I had the feeling I was supposed to know them from somewhere, and after doing a bit of research, discovered that they had appeared as the hero and heroine of a previous book, A Little Time in Texas. I was a bit surprised that their book wasn't mentioned anywhere as being part of the Hawk's Way series or even a prequel or sorts, but I guess it wouldn't be necessary to read it first. I'll definitely be interested in checking it out sometime though.
Honey and the Hired Hand was my first read by Joan Johnston and also the first volume in the Hawk's Way series, named after the Whitelaw family's ranch. It was originally published as a Silhouette Desire title. It was later reprinted along with two other books from the series as part of the anthology, Hawk's Way Rogues, and again as a single-volume HQN special release. Overall, Honey and the Hired Hand was an excellent introduction to both Ms. Johnston's work and the Hawk's Way series. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.
March 3, 2012
After reading A Little Time in Texas, I just had to read Honey and the Hired Hand to see if Honey ends up with Adam. What a surprise when a drifter comes to help her with her ranch, and it's not Adam that Honey's heart beats faster for. Jessie isn't the man he appears to be, which is a good thing for Honey because she and her ranch are targets and she needs his help with more than mending fences. I'm looking forward to reading more about the Whitelaw's.
March 20, 2019
We met the heroine in the first book, a recently widowed mother of two. I felt she was characterised like bit of a sex-pot and for all we are told she was nuts about her hubby, 4 months later she is dating Adam and in this book she realises she doesn't feel as deeply for him. In comes the hero who gets all her engines going. Of course he is a ranger and that won't do. A super quick read.
March 5, 2020
Tossed DNF
April 14, 2018
My copy of this book was from 1992. Honey Farrell has a ranch but she cant run it because her husband, a Texas Ranger, had died one year before. She has two young sons that try to help but arent old enough to do much. She dosent have enough money to pay someone to help.
When Dallas Masterson another Texas ranger tries to get her to hire a drifter for room and board only she is torn. The drifter is tall, dark, and kind of scary. But Dallas whose life her husband saved recommends Jesse Whitelaw. When he shows up the next morning he goes right to work. But he keeps disappearing at night. Honey wonders if Jesse is the one who stole her prize bull. When the truth comes out about Jesse how will Honey react?
When Dallas Masterson another Texas ranger tries to get her to hire a drifter for room and board only she is torn. The drifter is tall, dark, and kind of scary. But Dallas whose life her husband saved recommends Jesse Whitelaw. When he shows up the next morning he goes right to work. But he keeps disappearing at night. Honey wonders if Jesse is the one who stole her prize bull. When the truth comes out about Jesse how will Honey react?
April 1, 2021
This is the first novel in the Hawk's Way Series. I actually read several other novels in the series before this one. You can read any of the novels as a standalone however, the characters carry over to the other stories in the series. I liked this story, but I didn't love it. It was good for a quick read. I found the story a little boring and repetitive at times. The story really picked up about half way through as there is a little bit of a mystery. The ending was predictable between the main characters: Honey and Jesse; but there was a little twist to keep my entertainment. Overall, it was a nice and quick read, but I prefer some of the other storylines from the Hawk's Way series.
June 14, 2021
Honey Farrell swore she would never get involved with another man involved in law enforcement after her husband was killed in the line of duty as a Texas Ranger. She is struggling to raise her two boys and take care of the family ranch. There is more work than she can handle. So when a drifter shows up asking for work and is recommended by a friend she accepts the offer.
Jesse Whitelaw has hidden reasons for wanting to work for Honey. He does not hide the fact that he is attracted to Honey and wants her. Honey finds her attraction to him hard to resist. But once his true identity is revealed where will that leave them?
Jesse Whitelaw has hidden reasons for wanting to work for Honey. He does not hide the fact that he is attracted to Honey and wants her. Honey finds her attraction to him hard to resist. But once his true identity is revealed where will that leave them?
June 11, 2022
HAWK’S WAY: JESSE by Joan Johnston Book 1 of Hawk's Way, together with WILD MUSTANG WOMAN by Lindsay McKenna [Cowboys of the Southwest]
Intriguing story about an undercover Texas Ranger who loves his job, a widow who lost her husband because of his job. HAWK’S WAY: JESSE has drama, sizzling heat, and a protective teenager. Problem? Where is the younger son, Jonathan? He is no longer mentioned halfway through the story.
Intriguing story about an undercover Texas Ranger who loves his job, a widow who lost her husband because of his job. HAWK’S WAY: JESSE has drama, sizzling heat, and a protective teenager. Problem? Where is the younger son, Jonathan? He is no longer mentioned halfway through the story.
August 17, 2018
Hawk's Way:Jesse a story not to miss
Wonderful book. Can't wait to get on with the series. Love this author, she is my very favorite. I have read many of her books and plan to CARRY ON!!
Wonderful book. Can't wait to get on with the series. Love this author, she is my very favorite. I have read many of her books and plan to CARRY ON!!
September 6, 2018
Great book if you haven’t read any I would highly recommend 👍👍
January 9, 2020
While this was short and lacked a lot of plot, I rather enjoyed it.
October 19, 2020
Small book; a fast and easy read. Hawk's Way series doesn't appear, so far, to be a series like the Captive Hearts series or the other series by Ms. Johnston.
April 20, 2016
Author: Joan Johnston
First published: 1992
Length: 1956 kindle locations.
Setting: Contemporary.
Sex: Explicit. Frequent.
Hero: Drifter. Ranch Hand.
Heroine: Widow with two children. Runs a ranch.
Cheating: Heroine is seeing another man at start of book.
Good Lord, what did I just read?!?
First of all I’ll admit I bought it by mistake.I had intended to grab only a sample but instead 1-clicked. Since it was now on my kindle I gave it a go. Only it, again, wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought I’d get a Western Historical but instead read a contemporary.
In the end it was okay.
Plenty of explicit sex for no particular reason except hey were hot to trot.
A really ordinary suspense that was supposed to play out gradually but was completely given away by the blurb.
Some very ordinary writing with plenty of exclamation points.
A strange set of cameo background characters including one who apparently time travelled (!).
And a heroine who, despite living on a ranch, caring for it and her two sons on her own for years, cannot drive.
A very generous 2-stars.
Hawk’s Way:
Book 0.5 A Little Time in Texas - Angela Taylor and Dallas Masterson
Book 1 Honey and the Hired Hand - Honey Farrell and Jesse Whitelaw
Book 2 The Rancher and the Runaway Bride - Tate Whitelaw and Adam Philips
Book 3 The Cowboy And The Princess - Faron Whitelaw and Belinda Prescott
Book 4 The Wrangler and the Rich Girl - Garth Whitelaw and Candy Baylor
Book 5 The Cowboy Takes a Wife - Desiree Parrish and Carter Prescott
Book 6 The Unforgiving Bride - Falcon Whitelaw and Mara Ainsworth
Book 7 The Headstrong Bride - Sam Longstreet and Callen Whitelaw
Book 8 The Disobedient Bride - Zach Whitelaw and Rebecca Littlewolf Whitelaw
Book 9 The Temporary Groom - Billy Stonecreek and Cherry Whitelaw
Book 10 The Virgin Groom - Mac Mcready and Jewel Whitelaw
Book 11 The Substitute Groom - Jennifer Wright and Colt Whitelaw
Book 12 Sisters Found - Charity and Kane Longstreet, Hope and Jake Whitelaw, Faith and ?
Book 13 A Hawk’s Way Christmas in Lone Star Christmas
References:
Author's website: http://joanjohnston.com/hawks-books-c...
(ISBN 9781488789380)
-CR-
First published: 1992
Length: 1956 kindle locations.
Setting: Contemporary.
Sex: Explicit. Frequent.
Hero: Drifter. Ranch Hand.
Heroine: Widow with two children. Runs a ranch.
Cheating: Heroine is seeing another man at start of book.
Good Lord, what did I just read?!?
First of all I’ll admit I bought it by mistake.I had intended to grab only a sample but instead 1-clicked. Since it was now on my kindle I gave it a go. Only it, again, wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought I’d get a Western Historical but instead read a contemporary.
In the end it was okay.
Plenty of explicit sex for no particular reason except hey were hot to trot.
A really ordinary suspense that was supposed to play out gradually but was completely given away by the blurb.
Some very ordinary writing with plenty of exclamation points.
A strange set of cameo background characters including one who apparently time travelled (!).
And a heroine who, despite living on a ranch, caring for it and her two sons on her own for years, cannot drive.
A very generous 2-stars.
Hawk’s Way:
Book 0.5 A Little Time in Texas - Angela Taylor and Dallas Masterson
Book 1 Honey and the Hired Hand - Honey Farrell and Jesse Whitelaw
Book 2 The Rancher and the Runaway Bride - Tate Whitelaw and Adam Philips
Book 3 The Cowboy And The Princess - Faron Whitelaw and Belinda Prescott
Book 4 The Wrangler and the Rich Girl - Garth Whitelaw and Candy Baylor
Book 5 The Cowboy Takes a Wife - Desiree Parrish and Carter Prescott
Book 6 The Unforgiving Bride - Falcon Whitelaw and Mara Ainsworth
Book 7 The Headstrong Bride - Sam Longstreet and Callen Whitelaw
Book 8 The Disobedient Bride - Zach Whitelaw and Rebecca Littlewolf Whitelaw
Book 9 The Temporary Groom - Billy Stonecreek and Cherry Whitelaw
Book 10 The Virgin Groom - Mac Mcready and Jewel Whitelaw
Book 11 The Substitute Groom - Jennifer Wright and Colt Whitelaw
Book 12 Sisters Found - Charity and Kane Longstreet, Hope and Jake Whitelaw, Faith and ?
Book 13 A Hawk’s Way Christmas in Lone Star Christmas
References:
Author's website: http://joanjohnston.com/hawks-books-c...
(ISBN 9781488789380)
-CR-
January 14, 2017
Novel ini saya baca di saat pergantian tahun 2016 ke 2017. Sebenernya gak begitu terkesan. Ceritanya ttg seorang texas ranger, Jesse, yang menyamar menjadi seorang drifter (intinya sih pekerja di peternakan) dan jatuh cinta sama pemilik peternakan tsb, Honey. Honey ini janda dua anak yang suaminya gugur saat bertugas sbg texas ranger, sehingga dia gak mau berhubungan lagi dgn texas ranger. Dari sini udah jelas konfliknya apa kan? Hehehe...
Yang bikin agak janggal, ada Dr Adam di buku ini. Di buku sebelumnya ttg Dallas-Angel, diceritain Adam dan Honey saling tertarik. Tapi di buku ini Honey kesannya galau bgt pas berkali-kali dilamar Adam (dan nolak!). Padahal Adam baik bgt. Huhuhu.... untunglah di buku ke berapa dari series ini ada cerita ttg Adam yg ketemu jodoh.
Yang bikin agak janggal, ada Dr Adam di buku ini. Di buku sebelumnya ttg Dallas-Angel, diceritain Adam dan Honey saling tertarik. Tapi di buku ini Honey kesannya galau bgt pas berkali-kali dilamar Adam (dan nolak!). Padahal Adam baik bgt. Huhuhu.... untunglah di buku ke berapa dari series ini ada cerita ttg Adam yg ketemu jodoh.
October 29, 2022
This was an good book, just not as good as Joan Johnston's books usually are. Maybe she tried to shorten the book, because usually hers are much longer. Honey is a widowed mother, that lives on and runs a ranch, with her 2 sons, one who's a young teenager, and the other is around 5 or 6.
Read
June 13, 2011I liked this series so much that I had to start searching Amazon for the books to read in order due to the library not having them all. If you are looking these books check for them on Amazon. I actually got some books for a .01.
Want to read
December 15, 2016My copy of this book can be found in this anthology: Hawk's Way Rogues
August 29, 2010
Honey Farrell, widow, and Jesse Whitelaw. Pub 1992.
October 30, 2011
Author doesn't get to pick the titles for category ... and it shows.
Read
May 17, 20154stars. POV of both. No epilogue.
February 17, 2014
It was an enjoyable and easy read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes westerns.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews