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Sweet Lullaby
Seduced, abandoned, and left pregnant and unwed, Rebecca finds a new life with Jake, a ranchhand who marries her at the request of her father.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1994
77 people are currently reading
2127 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Heath
90 books4,377 followersAlso writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."
She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.
When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.
Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA TODAY and the New York Times.
The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.
Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 2, 2009
Jake was a very sweet guy, too sweet for Rebecca. She wasn't a mean person, but very short-sighted, and she took him for granted. I realize that Jake made the decision to marry Rebecca, knowing that she didn't love him, but I still felt that Jake's love for her made him very vulnerable to getting his heart broken because of her immaturity and her unwillingness to let go of her past relationship with the father of her baby. What made it worse was Rebecca's lack of consideration for the fact that he was so deeply in love with her.
This left a bad taste in my mouth because I dislike books where one character is so deeply in love and the other character seems almost oblivious. Jake is probably way too beta for Rebecca. I would have liked to see him with a more gentle, less self-absorbed and spoiled heroine. The whole book I felt he was just putting his heart out there to get trampled on and that certainly happened in this book.
But since this is a romance, it does have a happy ending, although I finished the book with a lingering sadness knowing that Jake really didn't get loved the way he deserved to be loved. This is a well-written book and it was enjoyable, and a keeper (because it's a vintage, hard to find Lorraine Heath, and a western) but I'm not sure how often I'd read it.
This left a bad taste in my mouth because I dislike books where one character is so deeply in love and the other character seems almost oblivious. Jake is probably way too beta for Rebecca. I would have liked to see him with a more gentle, less self-absorbed and spoiled heroine. The whole book I felt he was just putting his heart out there to get trampled on and that certainly happened in this book.
But since this is a romance, it does have a happy ending, although I finished the book with a lingering sadness knowing that Jake really didn't get loved the way he deserved to be loved. This is a well-written book and it was enjoyable, and a keeper (because it's a vintage, hard to find Lorraine Heath, and a western) but I'm not sure how often I'd read it.
July 9, 2015
She was his wife. And she promised herself she'd never hurt him. But promises are easily made when one knows not what the future holds. And promises given only to one's own heart are easily forgotten.
Poignant and devastatingly bittersweet, Sweet Lullaby is not for the faint of heart. You need courage to wade through this tale of heartbreak and sacrifice. I had to stop reading a few times because I found myself too choked up with tears, too overwhelmed with feelings to go on with the story.
I loved Jake. Sweet, understanding and hard working, he was everything a girl could want in a man. What I appreciated most about him was his unconditional love for Rebecca. His devotion for her seemed to overflow with every word, every sentence in the novel.
And I guess that was why I just couldn't bring myself to like this story. Rebecca didn't deserve him. Here you have a guy who would do anything--anything--for you... only for you to pine for another man, a guy who left you when you needed him most. Having to read about Rebecca comparing Jake to the man who impregnated her (!!!), immediately after they made love for the first time left a very bad taste in my mouth. And the sad thing is, that's not the worst thing she did to him.
Oh, Jake, you deserved someone better.
As much as I wanted to like the book, I just couldn't bring myself to tolerate this injustice to such a great character. Sigh.
October 9, 2011
One of the best romances I have ever read! It was so sweet and tender, so heart wrenching and heart warming, the hero was absolutely incredible. The story was so good, it was hard to tear myself away when I was forced to actually take care of business- like feed my children. It gave me similar feelings as when I finished Morning Glory and The Texan's Wager (2 of my favorites as well)- completely satisfied!! But there was a little more spice in the love department...which I loved!! There was definitely more sex scenes is this Heath than I have read in any of her other books and they were simply written. It will go in my All Time Favorites List and it will be with my keepers forever! Can't recommend this one enough!
November 14, 2012
The Deal: As the daughter of a rich rancher, Rebecca grew up doing pretty much whatever she wanted as her father's trained her to one day take over the ranch. But when one bad decision leaves her pregnant and the father is nowhere to be found, she has to make a tough decision regarding her future.
Jake has spent the last few years working for Rebecca's father at the Lazy-A, and has loved Rebecca from afar, cherishing her friendship, but when Rebecca's father asks him to marry her and give her child a name, Jake goes a step further: placing the decision on Rebecca's hands and offering to start over in Texas, where he owns some land.
Having grown up as the unwanted bastard in his father's household, Jake has few memories of softness or kindness, but he's determined to do right by Rebecca and her child, not wanting either of them to suffer what him and his mother went through.
My Thoughts: Sweet Lullaby had been on my TBR pile for ages before I decided t pick it up a couple of days ago, and I'm sad to say that it disappointed me.
The story starts all-right enough, I really liked Jake and the way he loves Rebecca is very touching, I liked reading about their new life in Texas and how they are trying to make it on their own without Rebecca's father's help. I liked that Jake appreciated her skills as a Rancher and that he respected her all around.
But toward the last third of the book, I began to really dislike Rebecca. She's aware of all the sacrifices that Jake does for her, yet she doesn't seem to appreciate said sacrifices or the man himself. She has this really terrific guy in her life but she keeps pinning after a man that left her high and dry.
(Click to see spoiler/rant)
One of my friends on good reads tagged Rebecca as "Most Stupid Heroines Ever" and she was so right. And it's really sad because Jake was a wonderful hero, if a little too self-sacrificing.
Sweet Lullaby had all the makings of a really good story but it was ruined by it's "heroine".
February 5, 2011
This was a hard book for me to get into and I didn’t help anything by reading ahead. The hero of this book, Jake, is just so good, unselfish and self-effacing, that I had trouble respecting him, and when I saw what a tremendous sacrifice he makes (no spoilers), I felt impatient rather than touched. Luckily I did decide to read the story through properly and found that by the end, it came together beautifully.
Jake, a cowhand, is a smart and capable man despite a horrendous childhood that beat all self-esteem out of him. He’s also helplessly in love with the beautiful daughter of his boss, yet never dreams she could possibly be interested in him. When Rebecca turns out to be pregnant with the child of a man who’s left town, her father asks Jake to marry her and the two begin a new life in Texas. Rebecca is touched by Jake's devotion, and his willingness to be a father to her child... but their chance for happiness is threatened by ghosts from both of their pasts.
I think this story would have worked better if Jake and Rebecca’s relationship had been better established at the beginning; although we’re told they’re good friends, I didn’t get enough of a sense of it to understand why Jake cares for her so much. He showers her with love and devotion and it sometimes seemed more doofy than romantic. Luckily for the story, Jake does develop a believable and necessary bit of an edge, and that’s what saved it for me. He would have to be a complete saint to have gone through what he did without feeling any negative emotions, and saints don't make good romance heroes.
Sweet Lullaby delivers a good heart-wrenching in an uncommon style. Although I had some problems with it, I suspect I'll remember it.
Jake, a cowhand, is a smart and capable man despite a horrendous childhood that beat all self-esteem out of him. He’s also helplessly in love with the beautiful daughter of his boss, yet never dreams she could possibly be interested in him. When Rebecca turns out to be pregnant with the child of a man who’s left town, her father asks Jake to marry her and the two begin a new life in Texas. Rebecca is touched by Jake's devotion, and his willingness to be a father to her child... but their chance for happiness is threatened by ghosts from both of their pasts.
I think this story would have worked better if Jake and Rebecca’s relationship had been better established at the beginning; although we’re told they’re good friends, I didn’t get enough of a sense of it to understand why Jake cares for her so much. He showers her with love and devotion and it sometimes seemed more doofy than romantic. Luckily for the story, Jake does develop a believable and necessary bit of an edge, and that’s what saved it for me. He would have to be a complete saint to have gone through what he did without feeling any negative emotions, and saints don't make good romance heroes.
Sweet Lullaby delivers a good heart-wrenching in an uncommon style. Although I had some problems with it, I suspect I'll remember it.
January 19, 2019
*Spoilers*
Plenty of lovely reviews here, so let me just focus on the lesson/tagline here.
Women like bad boys and nice men finish last? (Of course, always! *eyeroll*)
Or
“Funny how the first time around, a person can fall in love with someone they hardly know." (Hmmm, true that.)
Or
“But promises are easily made when one knows not what the future holds. And promises given only to one's own heart are easily forgotten.” (Maybe...)
Or
If you love something, set it free. If it was meant to be, it will come back to you. (Old one, that!)
Or
perhaps…
Marry the one who loves you, not the one whom you love! (Bless this practical soul!)
For more than 3/4th of the book, I couldn’t settle in and enjoy the slowly but surely and happily strengthening bond of the super-saintly H (don’t get me wrong, I adored him!) and the butter-doesn’t melt-in-my-mouth h, as I was hyper-antsy because of the dangling sword, namely the om! The h/H share such sweet, heart-warming moments that her desertion was no less than a stab in the heart.
The H is like no other I’ve read and I liked the h as well till here and I can even understand her confusion over the first-love-blah-blah. So, okay she felt she loved the om and had some muddled (at best) feelings for him but she seemed like a sensible, honorable person. That's why her complete amnesia of her marriage vows as also her personal vow to never hurt the H, was blindsiding.
And how could she go away with the om even after finding him with a woman in his bed – on the day he was expecting her. Super-TSTLness!
The most heartbreaking thing to me is little Jacob expecting and not finding his father, the H..
He cocked his head at the sound of approaching boots hitting the floor outside the room, then scurried hand over hand, foot over foot around the bed. He was positioned so Rebecca had a clear view of his face when the door opened. She felt an ache in her heart as his smile faded and he drew his dark brows together…
The subplot of the H's past and his half brothers, and secondary characters like the Readings, the O'Hennessys and Frank's antics only lift the story.
Plenty of lovely reviews here, so let me just focus on the lesson/tagline here.
Women like bad boys and nice men finish last? (Of course, always! *eyeroll*)
Or
“Funny how the first time around, a person can fall in love with someone they hardly know." (Hmmm, true that.)
Or
“But promises are easily made when one knows not what the future holds. And promises given only to one's own heart are easily forgotten.” (Maybe...)
Or
If you love something, set it free. If it was meant to be, it will come back to you. (Old one, that!)
Or
perhaps…
Marry the one who loves you, not the one whom you love! (Bless this practical soul!)
For more than 3/4th of the book, I couldn’t settle in and enjoy the slowly but surely and happily strengthening bond of the super-saintly H (don’t get me wrong, I adored him!) and the butter-doesn’t melt-in-my-mouth h, as I was hyper-antsy because of the dangling sword, namely the om! The h/H share such sweet, heart-warming moments that her desertion was no less than a stab in the heart.
The H is like no other I’ve read and I liked the h as well till here and I can even understand her confusion over the first-love-blah-blah. So, okay she felt she loved the om and had some muddled (at best) feelings for him but she seemed like a sensible, honorable person. That's why her complete amnesia of her marriage vows as also her personal vow to never hurt the H, was blindsiding.
And how could she go away with the om even after finding him with a woman in his bed – on the day he was expecting her. Super-TSTLness!
The most heartbreaking thing to me is little Jacob expecting and not finding his father, the H..
He cocked his head at the sound of approaching boots hitting the floor outside the room, then scurried hand over hand, foot over foot around the bed. He was positioned so Rebecca had a clear view of his face when the door opened. She felt an ache in her heart as his smile faded and he drew his dark brows together…
The subplot of the H's past and his half brothers, and secondary characters like the Readings, the O'Hennessys and Frank's antics only lift the story.
May 21, 2022
Jake is an absolute gem! Talk about the most pure, perfect, angel soul. I am obsessed with this hero and omg did he just make me swoon and break my heart with every moment! Jake made this entire book (like who can live up to and be worthy of this man?!), but I loved the story and romance unfolding as well.
Jake is a ranch hand working for Mr. Anderson’s ranch when he pulls Jake into the office and requests he marry his daughter Rebecca, who has found herself pregnant and abandoned. Jake has always had a friendship with Rebecca and thought her to be the prettiest woman he ever saw. He’s also the type hero who doesn’t find himself worthy of anyone/anything, and who will give everything he can to others. Rebecca and Jake end up in their marriage of convenience, he knows she’s in love with the man who left her but he’s hoping one day Rebecca will learn to love Jake as he loves her. Born to a prostitute and teased for being a bastard, Jake never wants another child to go through what he did growing up. He is self-conscious about his facial scars from surviving smallpox and his entire backstory and childhood is seriously heartbreaking and all the flashbacks broke me. But the way this man protects and cares for Rebecca from day 1, swoon! And how he claims, protects and defends the unborn baby. Jake is just serious hero goals! After marrying, Jake and Rebecca take off from Kentucky to head to Texas where Jake has land and they start their own ranch there. I loved seeing the characters, adventures, and danger they find themselves in there.
This book was so tender and sweet. Definitely a slow burn romance that does turn a bit messy, but like all the decisions and choices the characters were faced with both made sense, and hurt to see play out. But of course made the HEA journey even better. And the angst of it all was so good and I liked the exploration in this book about which love is stronger? Loving someone too much to ever make them stay, or loving someone too much to ever let them go? This was just such a gem of a western historical romance and one I am so glad I finally got to!
Jake is a ranch hand working for Mr. Anderson’s ranch when he pulls Jake into the office and requests he marry his daughter Rebecca, who has found herself pregnant and abandoned. Jake has always had a friendship with Rebecca and thought her to be the prettiest woman he ever saw. He’s also the type hero who doesn’t find himself worthy of anyone/anything, and who will give everything he can to others. Rebecca and Jake end up in their marriage of convenience, he knows she’s in love with the man who left her but he’s hoping one day Rebecca will learn to love Jake as he loves her. Born to a prostitute and teased for being a bastard, Jake never wants another child to go through what he did growing up. He is self-conscious about his facial scars from surviving smallpox and his entire backstory and childhood is seriously heartbreaking and all the flashbacks broke me. But the way this man protects and cares for Rebecca from day 1, swoon! And how he claims, protects and defends the unborn baby. Jake is just serious hero goals! After marrying, Jake and Rebecca take off from Kentucky to head to Texas where Jake has land and they start their own ranch there. I loved seeing the characters, adventures, and danger they find themselves in there.
This book was so tender and sweet. Definitely a slow burn romance that does turn a bit messy, but like all the decisions and choices the characters were faced with both made sense, and hurt to see play out. But of course made the HEA journey even better. And the angst of it all was so good and I liked the exploration in this book about which love is stronger? Loving someone too much to ever make them stay, or loving someone too much to ever let them go? This was just such a gem of a western historical romance and one I am so glad I finally got to!
August 27, 2024
7/13/2024: Oh Jake, you pathetic wet cat of a man, how I love you
still one of my all time favorites after 7(?) reads!
5/28/2018: after rereading I'm upping my rating to 5 stars
I can understand readers being turned off by some of the heroine's behavior like I was when I read the book for the first time, which is why my initial rating was 4 starts. However, with Rebecca's character, much of her conflict and growth comes from figuring out the difference between real love (which she has for Jake) and infatuation (which she had for Brett), so I can't really fault her for that when we've all made decisions that we thought were what we wanted but quickly realized were huge mistakes.
***original 2017 review***
Jake Burnett is the absolute sweetest gentlest most loving wonderful hero! He has such depth of emotion. My heart broke for him so many times that I even ugly cried. Honestly he is the perfect man.
This would have been 5 stars, but the heroine tried my patience and made a stupid decision around the 70% mark. Other than that it was great! Lorraine Heath writes amazing westerns with swoon worthy beta heroes
"You deserve to be married to a gentleman."
"I was married to a gentle man."
still one of my all time favorites after 7(?) reads!
5/28/2018: after rereading I'm upping my rating to 5 stars
I can understand readers being turned off by some of the heroine's behavior like I was when I read the book for the first time, which is why my initial rating was 4 starts. However, with Rebecca's character, much of her conflict and growth comes from figuring out the difference between real love (which she has for Jake) and infatuation (which she had for Brett), so I can't really fault her for that when we've all made decisions that we thought were what we wanted but quickly realized were huge mistakes.
***original 2017 review***
Jake Burnett is the absolute sweetest gentlest most loving wonderful hero! He has such depth of emotion. My heart broke for him so many times that I even ugly cried. Honestly he is the perfect man.
This would have been 5 stars, but the heroine tried my patience and made a stupid decision around the 70% mark. Other than that it was great! Lorraine Heath writes amazing westerns with swoon worthy beta heroes
"You deserve to be married to a gentleman."
"I was married to a gentle man."
October 26, 2009
I can't believe this is Lorraine Heath's first book. Seriously she never fails. If ever you want to read this book make sure that you have a box of tissue prepared because this will make your heart clench and would not fail to make you cry.
I'll try not to spoil much
Jake Burnett was persuaded by the owner of the ranch (where he works), to marry his daughter, Reb, who was pregnant. The real father (Brett)left Reb alone carrying his child and Reb's father persuaded Jake to marry her so that her pregnancy would not stain their family's name.
Jake had love her ever since but since he thought he was unworthy of her and she was far beyond his reach he made his distance. Also, Jake has a inferiority complex when it comes to his looks because of the smallpox he had suffer back when he was a kid, in which is was one of the reason why he feels unworthy to be liked by Reb.
Though they had married, Reb has no affection towards Jake other than friendship. Jake, in turn, had accepted what she is willing to give and was patient enough hoping that someday she will love him as much as he loves her.
Jake had unselfishly love Reb and did everything to make her happy, even if he gets little. However, despite of everything he does Reb was totally blinded with her childish infatuation-slash-desire towards the father of her child, Brett. Though she admittedly cares for Jake, Brett still had occupied a space in her heart and only in the end she realizes that the man she truly love was just standing in front of her.
I think you'll love Jake, though he is no usual romantic-hero he would definitely win you heart. His pains back when he was a kid would crush you and his story with Reb will make you smile. And somehow in the end, you might be wishing someone could love you as much as Jake could love Reb. The book has so much twist and turns, it will compel you to read it as much as you can. Reading it until my eyes gone dry was worth it. I read it for only a day. lol.
I'll try not to spoil much
Jake Burnett was persuaded by the owner of the ranch (where he works), to marry his daughter, Reb, who was pregnant. The real father (Brett)left Reb alone carrying his child and Reb's father persuaded Jake to marry her so that her pregnancy would not stain their family's name.
Jake had love her ever since but since he thought he was unworthy of her and she was far beyond his reach he made his distance. Also, Jake has a inferiority complex when it comes to his looks because of the smallpox he had suffer back when he was a kid, in which is was one of the reason why he feels unworthy to be liked by Reb.
Though they had married, Reb has no affection towards Jake other than friendship. Jake, in turn, had accepted what she is willing to give and was patient enough hoping that someday she will love him as much as he loves her.
Jake had unselfishly love Reb and did everything to make her happy, even if he gets little. However, despite of everything he does Reb was totally blinded with her childish infatuation-slash-desire towards the father of her child, Brett. Though she admittedly cares for Jake, Brett still had occupied a space in her heart and only in the end she realizes that the man she truly love was just standing in front of her.
I think you'll love Jake, though he is no usual romantic-hero he would definitely win you heart. His pains back when he was a kid would crush you and his story with Reb will make you smile. And somehow in the end, you might be wishing someone could love you as much as Jake could love Reb. The book has so much twist and turns, it will compel you to read it as much as you can. Reading it until my eyes gone dry was worth it. I read it for only a day. lol.
December 6, 2013
Wow. When I said I was going to try and find a western romance written by someone with an aptitude for writing, I never dreamed I'd stumble upon one this good.
The characterization is good. Not great, but good. I felt Heath spent more time developing Jake than she did anyone else, but I didn't mind since he's an amazing character. Sweet, kind, strong, and insecure, but not too insecure. Manly without being an alpha. He loves Rebecca for who she is, which is something she ends up taking for granted, but I like that this might be a wake up call for some. He respects her, which is more than I can say for most of the male characters I read about in westerns. It's a rare talent in an author to be able to create a male character who is insecure, but also strong enough to allow others to be who they are.
Rebecca. Her characterization was good. Unfortunately, I couldn't really like her. I understand being a hopeless romantic. What I don't understand is not seeing the tremendous romance that's landed right in your lap. I don't understand taking it for granted. I don't understand being that selfish. She did eventually come to her senses, but for me, it just took too damn long, and she put up with way too much crap from Brett. It actually went against her character type, so it made for an inconsistency that confused me. I suppose, however, that Heath was perhaps trying to underscore Rebecca's willingness to overlook in Brett things she wouldn't overlook in others merely because she'd built him up in her head to be more than he actually was. She has to have her illusions shattered in order to grow up. I just really hated how she hurt Jake.
I liked that we got a glimpse into the minds of a few other characters, but their actual involvement in the story didn't amount to much. To me, the peripheral story lines ended up just feeling like manuscript padding.
It is, however, a very sweet romance. If you're a sucker for marriage of convenience stories, and for protagonists who aren't perfect, you'll probably like this. Much more emotionally evolved than most.
Plot - A
Pacing - B-
Characters - B
Steam - B
The characterization is good. Not great, but good. I felt Heath spent more time developing Jake than she did anyone else, but I didn't mind since he's an amazing character. Sweet, kind, strong, and insecure, but not too insecure. Manly without being an alpha. He loves Rebecca for who she is, which is something she ends up taking for granted, but I like that this might be a wake up call for some. He respects her, which is more than I can say for most of the male characters I read about in westerns. It's a rare talent in an author to be able to create a male character who is insecure, but also strong enough to allow others to be who they are.
Rebecca. Her characterization was good. Unfortunately, I couldn't really like her. I understand being a hopeless romantic. What I don't understand is not seeing the tremendous romance that's landed right in your lap. I don't understand taking it for granted. I don't understand being that selfish. She did eventually come to her senses, but for me, it just took too damn long, and she put up with way too much crap from Brett. It actually went against her character type, so it made for an inconsistency that confused me. I suppose, however, that Heath was perhaps trying to underscore Rebecca's willingness to overlook in Brett things she wouldn't overlook in others merely because she'd built him up in her head to be more than he actually was. She has to have her illusions shattered in order to grow up. I just really hated how she hurt Jake.
I liked that we got a glimpse into the minds of a few other characters, but their actual involvement in the story didn't amount to much. To me, the peripheral story lines ended up just feeling like manuscript padding.
It is, however, a very sweet romance. If you're a sucker for marriage of convenience stories, and for protagonists who aren't perfect, you'll probably like this. Much more emotionally evolved than most.
Plot - A
Pacing - B-
Characters - B
Steam - B
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December 6, 2011
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
“He was lying in bed with the woman he loved... a woman he couldn't make love to. He closed his eyes. More than anything in this world, he wanted this woman to be happy. He'd give her anything, do anything to make her happy. Even if it made his own life hell.”
These are just the lines to show Jake’s incomparable devotion for Rebecca. I can only say Lorraine Heath has a very special way of portraying her heroes. Before her westerns, I read so few of those, I could count them. But, after Texas Trilogy, I haven’t looked back. Her narrative is so beautiful and uncomplicated yet so pure in it’s style that I never felt the need to drag on. From one review, I found out Sweet Lullaby was her 1st book. Was it? Seriously? I couldn’t tell. I’ve been tossed and turned, cried like a baby for Jake, been crazy mad at Rebecca and yet, when I finished, I felt this urge for the story to continue. It was that good. I can see why some would find it too depressing or be annoyed by Rebecca’s actions but either way, Sweet Lullaby won me over.
My tears started falling since the 1st scene and I mean it! This scene was a flashback of Jake’s childhood. Lord, every single narration/musing, anything... I couldn’t hold my tears back. His life as a child, been abused by his own cowardly father (and his eldest half-brother) because he couldn’t confront his own sin, was so touching. So in that scene, when I read how he was as an 8 yrs old, being kept in a hayloft and was forced to spend his Christmas night with a horse... I simply wanted to hold him. Poor thing had suffered for so long in his life; by his father, by the neighbors because his mother was a prostitute and he, a bastard, because his face was scarred from small pox and branded by the hypocrites as ‘a child of sin’... I could go on and on. Yet, Jake grew up to be a great human being. Someone worth having. Someone so worthy of love and respect. After his father died, Jake moved on and now worked as a stable hand in Lazy A. He still doesn’t know the real truth of his birth, so he’s always confused as to why would a man, who never treated him like a son, would ‘adopt’ him, abuse him throughout the years and then leave him his own ranch, disowning his two legitimate sons? But at this moment, Jake doesn’t care. He loves working here, quiet but efficiently earning his keep. And he loves Rebecca, as simple as that. Rebecca with blue eyes and dark hair. Rebecca with the smooth skin and bright smile, who loves to ride and manage the ranch as good, even better than any other man. Rebecca, who’s so beautiful that Jake knows he will never have any future with her, she being the daughter of the owner. It sounds so obnoxious even to him, the ugly bastard that he is! So Jake goes on living, worshipping her from afar, happy only to be a friend and a confidante at times. But fate had a different plan for both of them it seems and soon Jake finds a way to marry the woman he’s loved for so long. But, would she want him the way he wants her? Jake doesn’t know but he’s determined to make Rebecca happy, for as long as she’ll have him.
Rebecca never thought of Jake as anything other than a good friend. Yet, when I read on some of her musings, I felt that she was interested in him from the start (always admired his beautiful brown eyes and that endearing lopsided smile). I totally appreciated that Jake’s smallpox scars NEVER troubled her. She thought being confident about herself (and her beauty) that Jake would approach just like any other man on the ranch or around Lazy A. Soon she learned he’s not that type. He was an expert stable hand. No one could break a horse like he did. We get to learn how they met for the 1st time, while Jake was working with a horse. And it has been like that. She might’ve been interested or attracted but somehow knew it’d never be. So when 3 yrs after Jake joined Lazy A, Brett Meier came to work for them, Rebecca couldn’t look back. Brett was handsome, the bold type who took whatever he liked. He returned her fervor equally because he was the polished, experienced lover. Rebecca soon finds that out too. One night of passion led to the obvious but when she found out she’s pregnant, Brett wasn’t there to hear of it. He left just after their encounter, telling her he had some business to take care of. He never promised anything, only that he loved her. He never even said he’d return. But Rebecca was secured in her dreamy state. She even tells her father that she’s pregnant but never thought her father would flew into a rage so huge; the likes she’d never even imagined, let alone ever seeing. The man ignored her for a while, then one day announced she’s to marry because he’d not let her to make him a laughingstock of the town. She won’t at first and yet knowing her father’s chosen bridegroom, Rebecca reconsiders. There’s no news from Brett and Jake was so very sweet with his proposal; not pressuring her, asking her to take time etc. Rebecca knows marrying Jake would only help her and her baby; he/she will not be born a bastard. They were married a few days later.
Jake is very happy, though he knows Rebecca will never love him back. He’s mostly in control of his feeling, though it hurts like hell from time to time. One example was their wedding night. She was feeling awkward so Jake, very tactfully, asks her to get some sleep for the journey ahead. Her visible relief tore at his heart and yet he never pressured. He never did throughout the book because he’d promised her a lifetime of happiness. He’d also promised that they’ll make love only when she wants it, not because it’s his right. Can you tell what a polite and amazing guy Jake was? Needless to say, he kept all his promises to her and more. Now, about the journey, after her father’s treatment of her, Rebecca decided she doesn’t want to live in Lazy A anymore. Jake’s ranch in Texas would do just fine. Jake hasn’t been there for a long time but they’ll work it out together. She was looking forward to her new beginning. I couldn’t fault her you know. I kinda understood her standing. She was trying, I can tell and she really liked Jake, no doubt. Yet, she couldn’t leave Brett’s phantom behind, not when she’s pregnant with his child. So they, with a few other men who craved new beginnings too, head out to Texas amidst all the threats and screaming from Rebecca’s dad. One of the men was Frank, young man Jake knew for a while, from before he joined Lazy A. There were no details of their journey but Rebecca fell in love with Texas on the 1st sight. They head on with their lives, planning things- from their little one roomed house to the other things that concerns ranching. Yet they’d never been intimate once. Jake hadn’t even kissed her since they left Kentucky. He wants to of course, they would sleep in one bed, holding each-other (something Jake treasured, Rebecca didn’t mind too) and yet, nothing else. The above quote I mentioned was from one of those nights.
Anyway, life was good. The ranching was going well. They expected trouble from cattle owners, even then, life wasn’t bad. They had this wonderful neighboring family, the Readings who would help them out, especially Carrie, Mrs. Reading. But soon, Jake meets his half-brothers- Ethan and Zach. Ethan has always been hostile to him and from whatever I read, hostile is a mild word to describe that. I couldn’t, for once, forget how Jake was treated when his father took him in. The little boy had a dream, knowing he’s going with his father. Jake always loved his mother, who loved him the same. She didn’t sound like any usual prostitute. She took care of him when he had smallpox. She was the only one who ever fussed over him and even that ended with her death. So he thought he’d have a family. But his hopes crashed when the man, who he thought was his father, took him in the barn on their arrival and beat him mercilessly. He was ordered to call them all ‘sir’. It was so horrible that every time I read one of those incidents (by Jake’s father or Ethan) I felt mad, SO MAD! And I cried. He did nothing, he’d get a beating. Ethan lied about him, he’d get a beating. Zach, who was the nicest of the bunch, would do some wrong and Jake got the beating. Could you tell that I wanted to bring the man back to life many a times, only to kill him again? He was a pathetic SOB who couldn’t take in the fact that he fathered a child with his innocent sister-in-law, something led her to take up a life no woman should ever live. The a-hole! The SIL came to live with her sister and this is what she got in return. The sister aka Jake’s stepmother never cared/bothered about him since it reminded her of her husband’s infidelity. Lord, how could she? No matter what, Jake was her sister’s son; he wasn’t at fault for anything and yet she never once, stopped her husband or her eldest son when they abused him. It made me speechless at times. The younger Zach tried to talk to his mother once to take care of Jake’s wound but the woman admonished him about it, asking him never to talk about Jake to her again.
In the present, they met at a country dance, thrown by Carrie and co. Ethan, as usual, tried to pick a fight and harass Jake but Zach stood his ground, held Ethan off. Afterwards, Zach wanted to rekindle whatever fragile little bond they shared and to help out in Jake’s ranch. The ever polite Jake was happy to give him a chance. In between, we saw that Rebecca growing and having little pregnancy problems. Jake handles it all because the town didn’t have a doctor. Rebecca was confident that Jake could deliver her baby, like he does the fillies. She can always depend on him. She was growing fonder of him as the day passed, even asked to share bed once but Jake denied, knowing the time wasn’t right. They had a great time though, with Zach and with young Frank’s forays in and out of love. Jake carved beautiful wooden things for Rebecca; a rocking chair, a basket for the baby and doing anything she likes to do. He understands her like no one ever did. Didn’t he promise her happiness? Rebecca was happy, just... well, of that one ‘just’ she couldn’t break free.
Then two incidents strike simultaneously. As I’ve already mentioned they were expecting to have troubles from other ranchers who won’t want competition but soon, it was proven that the only problem they might have will be coming from Ethan. That guy was so jealous that he was completely bent on destroying Jake. At first, they attack on young Frank and injure him. Jake’s other stable hands thought Zach was responsible and betrayed them. But Jake, he trusted Zach 100% and Zach never did anything to break that trust. Then, a few months later, Jake’s barn, which was put together by the neighbors, was torched and burned to the ground. Zach died saving Jake, an incident made me so sad, can’t explain. Zach deserved better because he was trying to be the elder brother he’s never been or hadn’t had the opportunity to be. He did a lot for Jake, to make a sort of amend for all those lost, troubled years. In the end, he not only earned Jake’s trust but also a place as his brother, as Jake buried Zach on his land, his grave marker announcing the truth out loud. It was Jake who broke the news to a smug Ethan, who had no idea what he’d done. But that didn’t deter the nutso to create more troubles for them later in the book. On that same night, Rebecca has her baby, a son whom Jake helped delivering. It wasn’t an easy chore, not only because Jake wasn’t an expert on delivering a human baby but also having to see Rebecca so intimately wasn’t helping his situation. But all went well. I loved that Rebecca decided to name the baby after Jake. Now, have to mention: I might sound horrible but when she had those pregnancy related complications, I wanted her to lose the baby. I thought if she could just break free of this insane obsession about the scumbag who left her pregnant, things would go so much smoother. But when Jacob was born, I regretted it with all my heart because like Rebecca, I couldn’t imagine the 2nd part of the story without him at all. He was so adorable and such a happy child, too! Everyone liked him. Jake did everything to make him happy. I expected no less of him.
After a few months, Rebecca was very much willing to take their relationship to the next level and I was glad that it wasn’t because she was feeling grateful. She realized she’s been unfair to Jake, she knew Jake deserved better. She even asked Jake many times why did he put up with her and for those reasons, I couldn’t completely dislike her. I didn’t think she was oblivious, just not matured enough to realize the level of Jake’s devotion. Later though, Rebecca had her lessons on that score. I loved the way these two came together. It made Jake tremendously happy, Rebecca too. They were enjoying their new found intimacy and it made it all the more enjoyable for me because I thought Rebecca was coming to terms with the whole situation. It was apparent that she felt something deeper for Jake now. I didn’t like it that she would still pine away sometimes for Brett, thinking what could’ve been, even to compare the two as lovers in her mind but I understood her standing. They’d make love (with a lot of enthusiasms if I might add :p ) and do things together, picnics with Jacob or going to town. Jake said ILU to her many times and it made Rebecca guilty of not being able to return it with the same passion. Jake took an Irish blacksmith and his brood of a family in, not because he needed a blacksmith but because he knew the man could do with his help. The young Frank was immediately interested in the only girl of that family, Arlene and later married her. I really loved the secondary characters in this book, all of them! LH did a lot of perspective changes, showing things from their POV as well, something I truly enjoyed.
Suddenly, as I was dreading, Brett returns. I knew there has to be some closure about this matter, even though the idea was not to my liking. I knew what was ahead but I expected Rebecca to stand by Jake’s side and bid the scumbag sayonara! She failed me so horribly here. At first, she was resigned that she’d have to live with Jake now that they’re married. Brett was so bold, he even kisses her, Jake finding them together like that. The scumbag was very confident that a man like Jake (not good looking, neither a sly charmer like himself) can never keep a beauty like Rebecca. He even bragged about it to Rebecca in one scene when I wanted to kick the hell out of him! The SOB asked her to meet him soon and he’ll take her and Jacob away to Montana, to his new ranch. Jake knew he has to let her go now. Maybe he should’ve fought a little but I knew if he did, Rebecca wouldn’t see it the way I did. She needed the lesson. So Jake filed for divorce and let her go with Brett. Now I must talk about the scumbag’s scintillating character. When Rebecca goes to his hotel room, he was already with a whore and didn’t mind at all that Rebecca saw her, naked, in his bed. Actually, he threw the whore out and then was jumping on Rebecca. I was seriously disgusted, thinking what’s wrong with her? Is she going to let him have sex on the same bed? Hell yuk! Thankfully she didn’t. Then, when they are in Montana, Brett wants to have sex; you know he has ‘urges’ (as in, can’t keep his trousers on when there is a whore in sight) which needs to be met! Rebecca was waiting for the divorce to be finalized so she declined. That SOB actually went out, in front of her to find a whore, informing her of that and telling her not to wait up for him. And Rebecca wasn’t angry or jealous? WOW! I WAS SO MAD!! But, you know what, I got later that she was missing Jake terribly and I was rather glad that she felt nothing so strong for the scumbag. I was also glad that now she realized the level of her mistake. Brett would grab and try to kiss her, tell her many times he loves her but it wasn’t love, not as much as staking claim on something he ‘possessed’. But Jake? Oh his was slow burn… all the way in. Brett never took any active liking to his son yet he wanted Rebecca to change his name, just to put everything that happened in Texas behind. Yes, he couldn’t stand Rebecca talking about Jake. Now Rebecca could compare how Jake treated her knowing she was pregnant with another man’s child and how Brett wants to mold her into something she is not. There was no way she could forget Jake. Then the finalized divorce papers arrive. While looking through them, Rebecca found a heart breaking note from Jake. I was crying and crying, just reading the despair and resignation there. How he tried to hide his feelings with every endearments he penned through. Rebecca couldn’t take it anymore, there’s no denying she loves him too. So she decides that day to return to Jake.
Jake, meanwhile, was living a listless life. There was no meaning of anything around him anymore. He was just going through a motion. Lord, it broke my heart just to think of the pain he was going through. He even tried to have sex with a prostitute but the experience left him emptier than before. Even the jaded prostitute softened towards him, thinking who might’ve caused the hurt in those ever polite, beautiful eyes. One day, Ethan finds him when he was alone, beat him and left him to die. Jake’s final thought before he lost consciousness was of Rebecca and how he’d like to hold her in his arms. The day they found him, Rebecca returns. She panicked like never before when she had a glimpse of Jake’s wounds. As the fever took him over, she was praying with all her heart; was she late? Did she come back only to lose him again? It wasn’t much of a trouble to leave Brett because the scumbag didn’t even put up a fight. Under Rebecca’s careful vigilance, Jake was finally healing. But this time, he keeps his distance, not knowing if she’ll hurt him again. Can you blame him? And this time, it hurts Rebecca. She now understood the measure of pain she’d inflicted on him. Thus, even though the whole situation broke my heart, I knew Rebecca needed this lesson to open her eyes. I was glad that she was groveling to him; wanting him to take her back and that she’d do everything to make him happy. Did I mention how much Jacob missed him and was squealing happily when he finally saw the ‘tall man’ his eyes sought for all these months and knew they’re home? :D
The last climax of the story, inevitably, comes from Ethan as he kidnaps Jacob to make Jake return the lands he deemed legitimately as his. Jake already knew the truth of the whole sordid tale of his birth from Zach, Ethan’s remarks as he lay dying from bullet wounds only confirmed it. There were some heart stopping moments there in the rescue but I wasn’t disappointed with how it ended. Jake did bury his eldest brother alongside Zach. In the end, Rebecca’s father comes for a visit, hoping for forgiveness. He finds his daughter healthy and happy, a mother of two now with 2 yrs old Jacob and 3 months old Zach (I wasn’t surprised by the name at all). Lord, I was smiling like a fool when Jake took Zach into his arms and was thinking how Rebecca was happy because Zach got his smile. Then again, I was simply happy to see him so happy.
Ah… how can I not give this book a perfect 5 star?
“He was lying in bed with the woman he loved... a woman he couldn't make love to. He closed his eyes. More than anything in this world, he wanted this woman to be happy. He'd give her anything, do anything to make her happy. Even if it made his own life hell.”
These are just the lines to show Jake’s incomparable devotion for Rebecca. I can only say Lorraine Heath has a very special way of portraying her heroes. Before her westerns, I read so few of those, I could count them. But, after Texas Trilogy, I haven’t looked back. Her narrative is so beautiful and uncomplicated yet so pure in it’s style that I never felt the need to drag on. From one review, I found out Sweet Lullaby was her 1st book. Was it? Seriously? I couldn’t tell. I’ve been tossed and turned, cried like a baby for Jake, been crazy mad at Rebecca and yet, when I finished, I felt this urge for the story to continue. It was that good. I can see why some would find it too depressing or be annoyed by Rebecca’s actions but either way, Sweet Lullaby won me over.
My tears started falling since the 1st scene and I mean it! This scene was a flashback of Jake’s childhood. Lord, every single narration/musing, anything... I couldn’t hold my tears back. His life as a child, been abused by his own cowardly father (and his eldest half-brother) because he couldn’t confront his own sin, was so touching. So in that scene, when I read how he was as an 8 yrs old, being kept in a hayloft and was forced to spend his Christmas night with a horse... I simply wanted to hold him. Poor thing had suffered for so long in his life; by his father, by the neighbors because his mother was a prostitute and he, a bastard, because his face was scarred from small pox and branded by the hypocrites as ‘a child of sin’... I could go on and on. Yet, Jake grew up to be a great human being. Someone worth having. Someone so worthy of love and respect. After his father died, Jake moved on and now worked as a stable hand in Lazy A. He still doesn’t know the real truth of his birth, so he’s always confused as to why would a man, who never treated him like a son, would ‘adopt’ him, abuse him throughout the years and then leave him his own ranch, disowning his two legitimate sons? But at this moment, Jake doesn’t care. He loves working here, quiet but efficiently earning his keep. And he loves Rebecca, as simple as that. Rebecca with blue eyes and dark hair. Rebecca with the smooth skin and bright smile, who loves to ride and manage the ranch as good, even better than any other man. Rebecca, who’s so beautiful that Jake knows he will never have any future with her, she being the daughter of the owner. It sounds so obnoxious even to him, the ugly bastard that he is! So Jake goes on living, worshipping her from afar, happy only to be a friend and a confidante at times. But fate had a different plan for both of them it seems and soon Jake finds a way to marry the woman he’s loved for so long. But, would she want him the way he wants her? Jake doesn’t know but he’s determined to make Rebecca happy, for as long as she’ll have him.
Rebecca never thought of Jake as anything other than a good friend. Yet, when I read on some of her musings, I felt that she was interested in him from the start (always admired his beautiful brown eyes and that endearing lopsided smile). I totally appreciated that Jake’s smallpox scars NEVER troubled her. She thought being confident about herself (and her beauty) that Jake would approach just like any other man on the ranch or around Lazy A. Soon she learned he’s not that type. He was an expert stable hand. No one could break a horse like he did. We get to learn how they met for the 1st time, while Jake was working with a horse. And it has been like that. She might’ve been interested or attracted but somehow knew it’d never be. So when 3 yrs after Jake joined Lazy A, Brett Meier came to work for them, Rebecca couldn’t look back. Brett was handsome, the bold type who took whatever he liked. He returned her fervor equally because he was the polished, experienced lover. Rebecca soon finds that out too. One night of passion led to the obvious but when she found out she’s pregnant, Brett wasn’t there to hear of it. He left just after their encounter, telling her he had some business to take care of. He never promised anything, only that he loved her. He never even said he’d return. But Rebecca was secured in her dreamy state. She even tells her father that she’s pregnant but never thought her father would flew into a rage so huge; the likes she’d never even imagined, let alone ever seeing. The man ignored her for a while, then one day announced she’s to marry because he’d not let her to make him a laughingstock of the town. She won’t at first and yet knowing her father’s chosen bridegroom, Rebecca reconsiders. There’s no news from Brett and Jake was so very sweet with his proposal; not pressuring her, asking her to take time etc. Rebecca knows marrying Jake would only help her and her baby; he/she will not be born a bastard. They were married a few days later.
Jake is very happy, though he knows Rebecca will never love him back. He’s mostly in control of his feeling, though it hurts like hell from time to time. One example was their wedding night. She was feeling awkward so Jake, very tactfully, asks her to get some sleep for the journey ahead. Her visible relief tore at his heart and yet he never pressured. He never did throughout the book because he’d promised her a lifetime of happiness. He’d also promised that they’ll make love only when she wants it, not because it’s his right. Can you tell what a polite and amazing guy Jake was? Needless to say, he kept all his promises to her and more. Now, about the journey, after her father’s treatment of her, Rebecca decided she doesn’t want to live in Lazy A anymore. Jake’s ranch in Texas would do just fine. Jake hasn’t been there for a long time but they’ll work it out together. She was looking forward to her new beginning. I couldn’t fault her you know. I kinda understood her standing. She was trying, I can tell and she really liked Jake, no doubt. Yet, she couldn’t leave Brett’s phantom behind, not when she’s pregnant with his child. So they, with a few other men who craved new beginnings too, head out to Texas amidst all the threats and screaming from Rebecca’s dad. One of the men was Frank, young man Jake knew for a while, from before he joined Lazy A. There were no details of their journey but Rebecca fell in love with Texas on the 1st sight. They head on with their lives, planning things- from their little one roomed house to the other things that concerns ranching. Yet they’d never been intimate once. Jake hadn’t even kissed her since they left Kentucky. He wants to of course, they would sleep in one bed, holding each-other (something Jake treasured, Rebecca didn’t mind too) and yet, nothing else. The above quote I mentioned was from one of those nights.
Anyway, life was good. The ranching was going well. They expected trouble from cattle owners, even then, life wasn’t bad. They had this wonderful neighboring family, the Readings who would help them out, especially Carrie, Mrs. Reading. But soon, Jake meets his half-brothers- Ethan and Zach. Ethan has always been hostile to him and from whatever I read, hostile is a mild word to describe that. I couldn’t, for once, forget how Jake was treated when his father took him in. The little boy had a dream, knowing he’s going with his father. Jake always loved his mother, who loved him the same. She didn’t sound like any usual prostitute. She took care of him when he had smallpox. She was the only one who ever fussed over him and even that ended with her death. So he thought he’d have a family. But his hopes crashed when the man, who he thought was his father, took him in the barn on their arrival and beat him mercilessly. He was ordered to call them all ‘sir’. It was so horrible that every time I read one of those incidents (by Jake’s father or Ethan) I felt mad, SO MAD! And I cried. He did nothing, he’d get a beating. Ethan lied about him, he’d get a beating. Zach, who was the nicest of the bunch, would do some wrong and Jake got the beating. Could you tell that I wanted to bring the man back to life many a times, only to kill him again? He was a pathetic SOB who couldn’t take in the fact that he fathered a child with his innocent sister-in-law, something led her to take up a life no woman should ever live. The a-hole! The SIL came to live with her sister and this is what she got in return. The sister aka Jake’s stepmother never cared/bothered about him since it reminded her of her husband’s infidelity. Lord, how could she? No matter what, Jake was her sister’s son; he wasn’t at fault for anything and yet she never once, stopped her husband or her eldest son when they abused him. It made me speechless at times. The younger Zach tried to talk to his mother once to take care of Jake’s wound but the woman admonished him about it, asking him never to talk about Jake to her again.
In the present, they met at a country dance, thrown by Carrie and co. Ethan, as usual, tried to pick a fight and harass Jake but Zach stood his ground, held Ethan off. Afterwards, Zach wanted to rekindle whatever fragile little bond they shared and to help out in Jake’s ranch. The ever polite Jake was happy to give him a chance. In between, we saw that Rebecca growing and having little pregnancy problems. Jake handles it all because the town didn’t have a doctor. Rebecca was confident that Jake could deliver her baby, like he does the fillies. She can always depend on him. She was growing fonder of him as the day passed, even asked to share bed once but Jake denied, knowing the time wasn’t right. They had a great time though, with Zach and with young Frank’s forays in and out of love. Jake carved beautiful wooden things for Rebecca; a rocking chair, a basket for the baby and doing anything she likes to do. He understands her like no one ever did. Didn’t he promise her happiness? Rebecca was happy, just... well, of that one ‘just’ she couldn’t break free.
Then two incidents strike simultaneously. As I’ve already mentioned they were expecting to have troubles from other ranchers who won’t want competition but soon, it was proven that the only problem they might have will be coming from Ethan. That guy was so jealous that he was completely bent on destroying Jake. At first, they attack on young Frank and injure him. Jake’s other stable hands thought Zach was responsible and betrayed them. But Jake, he trusted Zach 100% and Zach never did anything to break that trust. Then, a few months later, Jake’s barn, which was put together by the neighbors, was torched and burned to the ground. Zach died saving Jake, an incident made me so sad, can’t explain. Zach deserved better because he was trying to be the elder brother he’s never been or hadn’t had the opportunity to be. He did a lot for Jake, to make a sort of amend for all those lost, troubled years. In the end, he not only earned Jake’s trust but also a place as his brother, as Jake buried Zach on his land, his grave marker announcing the truth out loud. It was Jake who broke the news to a smug Ethan, who had no idea what he’d done. But that didn’t deter the nutso to create more troubles for them later in the book. On that same night, Rebecca has her baby, a son whom Jake helped delivering. It wasn’t an easy chore, not only because Jake wasn’t an expert on delivering a human baby but also having to see Rebecca so intimately wasn’t helping his situation. But all went well. I loved that Rebecca decided to name the baby after Jake. Now, have to mention: I might sound horrible but when she had those pregnancy related complications, I wanted her to lose the baby. I thought if she could just break free of this insane obsession about the scumbag who left her pregnant, things would go so much smoother. But when Jacob was born, I regretted it with all my heart because like Rebecca, I couldn’t imagine the 2nd part of the story without him at all. He was so adorable and such a happy child, too! Everyone liked him. Jake did everything to make him happy. I expected no less of him.
After a few months, Rebecca was very much willing to take their relationship to the next level and I was glad that it wasn’t because she was feeling grateful. She realized she’s been unfair to Jake, she knew Jake deserved better. She even asked Jake many times why did he put up with her and for those reasons, I couldn’t completely dislike her. I didn’t think she was oblivious, just not matured enough to realize the level of Jake’s devotion. Later though, Rebecca had her lessons on that score. I loved the way these two came together. It made Jake tremendously happy, Rebecca too. They were enjoying their new found intimacy and it made it all the more enjoyable for me because I thought Rebecca was coming to terms with the whole situation. It was apparent that she felt something deeper for Jake now. I didn’t like it that she would still pine away sometimes for Brett, thinking what could’ve been, even to compare the two as lovers in her mind but I understood her standing. They’d make love (with a lot of enthusiasms if I might add :p ) and do things together, picnics with Jacob or going to town. Jake said ILU to her many times and it made Rebecca guilty of not being able to return it with the same passion. Jake took an Irish blacksmith and his brood of a family in, not because he needed a blacksmith but because he knew the man could do with his help. The young Frank was immediately interested in the only girl of that family, Arlene and later married her. I really loved the secondary characters in this book, all of them! LH did a lot of perspective changes, showing things from their POV as well, something I truly enjoyed.
Suddenly, as I was dreading, Brett returns. I knew there has to be some closure about this matter, even though the idea was not to my liking. I knew what was ahead but I expected Rebecca to stand by Jake’s side and bid the scumbag sayonara! She failed me so horribly here. At first, she was resigned that she’d have to live with Jake now that they’re married. Brett was so bold, he even kisses her, Jake finding them together like that. The scumbag was very confident that a man like Jake (not good looking, neither a sly charmer like himself) can never keep a beauty like Rebecca. He even bragged about it to Rebecca in one scene when I wanted to kick the hell out of him! The SOB asked her to meet him soon and he’ll take her and Jacob away to Montana, to his new ranch. Jake knew he has to let her go now. Maybe he should’ve fought a little but I knew if he did, Rebecca wouldn’t see it the way I did. She needed the lesson. So Jake filed for divorce and let her go with Brett. Now I must talk about the scumbag’s scintillating character. When Rebecca goes to his hotel room, he was already with a whore and didn’t mind at all that Rebecca saw her, naked, in his bed. Actually, he threw the whore out and then was jumping on Rebecca. I was seriously disgusted, thinking what’s wrong with her? Is she going to let him have sex on the same bed? Hell yuk! Thankfully she didn’t. Then, when they are in Montana, Brett wants to have sex; you know he has ‘urges’ (as in, can’t keep his trousers on when there is a whore in sight) which needs to be met! Rebecca was waiting for the divorce to be finalized so she declined. That SOB actually went out, in front of her to find a whore, informing her of that and telling her not to wait up for him. And Rebecca wasn’t angry or jealous? WOW! I WAS SO MAD!! But, you know what, I got later that she was missing Jake terribly and I was rather glad that she felt nothing so strong for the scumbag. I was also glad that now she realized the level of her mistake. Brett would grab and try to kiss her, tell her many times he loves her but it wasn’t love, not as much as staking claim on something he ‘possessed’. But Jake? Oh his was slow burn… all the way in. Brett never took any active liking to his son yet he wanted Rebecca to change his name, just to put everything that happened in Texas behind. Yes, he couldn’t stand Rebecca talking about Jake. Now Rebecca could compare how Jake treated her knowing she was pregnant with another man’s child and how Brett wants to mold her into something she is not. There was no way she could forget Jake. Then the finalized divorce papers arrive. While looking through them, Rebecca found a heart breaking note from Jake. I was crying and crying, just reading the despair and resignation there. How he tried to hide his feelings with every endearments he penned through. Rebecca couldn’t take it anymore, there’s no denying she loves him too. So she decides that day to return to Jake.
Jake, meanwhile, was living a listless life. There was no meaning of anything around him anymore. He was just going through a motion. Lord, it broke my heart just to think of the pain he was going through. He even tried to have sex with a prostitute but the experience left him emptier than before. Even the jaded prostitute softened towards him, thinking who might’ve caused the hurt in those ever polite, beautiful eyes. One day, Ethan finds him when he was alone, beat him and left him to die. Jake’s final thought before he lost consciousness was of Rebecca and how he’d like to hold her in his arms. The day they found him, Rebecca returns. She panicked like never before when she had a glimpse of Jake’s wounds. As the fever took him over, she was praying with all her heart; was she late? Did she come back only to lose him again? It wasn’t much of a trouble to leave Brett because the scumbag didn’t even put up a fight. Under Rebecca’s careful vigilance, Jake was finally healing. But this time, he keeps his distance, not knowing if she’ll hurt him again. Can you blame him? And this time, it hurts Rebecca. She now understood the measure of pain she’d inflicted on him. Thus, even though the whole situation broke my heart, I knew Rebecca needed this lesson to open her eyes. I was glad that she was groveling to him; wanting him to take her back and that she’d do everything to make him happy. Did I mention how much Jacob missed him and was squealing happily when he finally saw the ‘tall man’ his eyes sought for all these months and knew they’re home? :D
The last climax of the story, inevitably, comes from Ethan as he kidnaps Jacob to make Jake return the lands he deemed legitimately as his. Jake already knew the truth of the whole sordid tale of his birth from Zach, Ethan’s remarks as he lay dying from bullet wounds only confirmed it. There were some heart stopping moments there in the rescue but I wasn’t disappointed with how it ended. Jake did bury his eldest brother alongside Zach. In the end, Rebecca’s father comes for a visit, hoping for forgiveness. He finds his daughter healthy and happy, a mother of two now with 2 yrs old Jacob and 3 months old Zach (I wasn’t surprised by the name at all). Lord, I was smiling like a fool when Jake took Zach into his arms and was thinking how Rebecca was happy because Zach got his smile. Then again, I was simply happy to see him so happy.
Ah… how can I not give this book a perfect 5 star?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2014
The heroine in this story got pregnant and then left alone and in disgrace. The hero enters the story and marry the h who is still hoping that the man who got her pregnant will come back for her. The poor H give her all: his name (which saved her from disgrace in their society), his home, and eventually his unconditional love. And what did the h did in return? She gives a lip service to the H while still dreaming and pining (secretly) for the love of her life which - I repeat - is the one who left her pregnant and in disgrace. The heroine got her wish, the scoundrel came back and she went with him and left the man who gave all for her. I mean she was literally a pampered brat under the heroes care. And then after having good time with the scoundrel around the neighborhood, she got mad because the scoundrel is not pampering her like the H did with her. So she pouts because she has to share the said scoundrel and come running back to the H.
Of course the hen-peck hero accepted her with open arms.
The heroine in this story did not deserve the loyalty and devotion given her. I can hardly call this a love story. I think it should have been called: The Brat Finally Grew Up.
Despite my words, I say it again, this author can write plots and characters that just pulls you in.
May 28, 2020
Well, this is annoying. I know I rated and reviewed this book ages ago and it's just disappeared from my books. I shelved it on my "tragedy porn" shelf.
Sheesh, GR. How can I keep track of my books if my reviews and ratings get erased?
Anyhoo, this is a very readable book. Infuriating in some parts and sweet and incredibly poignant in others. Ultimately the heroine doesn't deserve the hero, but we do get the sense that she's planning on spending the rest of her life earning him, which is what gets this one 4 stars from me.
Lots of great reviews on this one, so I'm staying brief. Also, I reviewed it years ago so I don't remember all the particulars that I chose to highlight back then. *angry face*
This one probably won't make you ugly cry like Parting Gifts, but there are tragic events that earned this a spot on the tragedy porn shelf.
Sheesh, GR. How can I keep track of my books if my reviews and ratings get erased?
Anyhoo, this is a very readable book. Infuriating in some parts and sweet and incredibly poignant in others. Ultimately the heroine doesn't deserve the hero, but we do get the sense that she's planning on spending the rest of her life earning him, which is what gets this one 4 stars from me.
Lots of great reviews on this one, so I'm staying brief. Also, I reviewed it years ago so I don't remember all the particulars that I chose to highlight back then. *angry face*
This one probably won't make you ugly cry like Parting Gifts, but there are tragic events that earned this a spot on the tragedy porn shelf.
September 15, 2018
5 stars
This book brought so much emotions, I still couldn't think of anything else two days after reading this.
I'm not sure I would love this book so much, considering at some point of the book the heroine did a 'relatively' unforgivable mistake but I did.
I loved all the characters in this book even the aforementioned heroine -though it's more like a hate to love- and of course the biggest portion of why I loved the book so much is none other than Jake Burnett. There's no hero like him with the biggest and kindest heart.
This book brought so much emotions, I still couldn't think of anything else two days after reading this.
I'm not sure I would love this book so much, considering at some point of the book the heroine did a 'relatively' unforgivable mistake but I did.
I loved all the characters in this book even the aforementioned heroine -though it's more like a hate to love- and of course the biggest portion of why I loved the book so much is none other than Jake Burnett. There's no hero like him with the biggest and kindest heart.
December 4, 2017
3.75 stars
My rating was categorized into two parts, the first being 2.75 stars and the second part being 4.75 stars = 3.75 🌟
Okay.... I know the cover wasn't appealing but I was looking for a change of scenery. So I decided to read a historical...though I've no idea that it was about a rancher. I just wanted to read something that doesn't include instant love - so sick and tired of it.
I wasn't that invested on the first part as the author keeps on showcasing new characters, their love interest, their duties blah blah blah. Seriously, I'm not interested.
It wasn't until the second part where the real angst begin did I started to enjoy it. Kept me flipping pages after pages.
I don't know if the author became puzzled while writing this because some parts just doesn't make any sense.
Jake was a man that is so patient, gentleman, loving, caring and list goes on. Rebecca was a great heroine too..except for when she made that stupid decision. - I mean, who in their right mind
Despite everything, it was not a boring read.
My rating was categorized into two parts, the first being 2.75 stars and the second part being 4.75 stars = 3.75 🌟
Okay.... I know the cover wasn't appealing but I was looking for a change of scenery. So I decided to read a historical...though I've no idea that it was about a rancher. I just wanted to read something that doesn't include instant love - so sick and tired of it.
I wasn't that invested on the first part as the author keeps on showcasing new characters, their love interest, their duties blah blah blah. Seriously, I'm not interested.
It wasn't until the second part where the real angst begin did I started to enjoy it. Kept me flipping pages after pages.
I don't know if the author became puzzled while writing this because some parts just doesn't make any sense.
Jake was a man that is so patient, gentleman, loving, caring and list goes on. Rebecca was a great heroine too..except for when she made that stupid decision. - I mean, who in their right mind
Despite everything, it was not a boring read.
May 28, 2020
This was an intense, emotional roller coaster for sure. I wanted to scream at Reb, girl you are making the biggest mistake of your life! But she gone and did it anyway! Really great read and I am sorry it took me so long to get to it. Jake was as sweet as cherry pie and I just loved him.
March 4, 2017
2.5-3 stars.
I had high hopes for this book because of how much I loved another book by Lorraine Heath, Texas Destiny. Although the quality of this book -- both with regard to character depth and writing style -- never lived up to the high standard set by Texas Destiny, it wasn't until about halfway through the book that I really started to get frustrated. This story just doesn't have the depth and complexity of characterization that I loved about Texas Destiny.
In some ways the heroes of the two books are quite similar: both are beta types, both work with horses in Texas during the latter half of the nineteenth century, and both have complex relationships with their brothers.
And while I fell in love with Jake, he eventually did become a bit too saintly. Or at least far to nice to be saddled with Rebecca who, while not the evil mustache-twirlers that the two "villains" are(Jesus, what kind of moron would leave Jake for Brett the Asshole), is self-centered, superficial and frankly too uncaring for Jake. It's hard to root for a relationship where one person stands for all the caring, devotion and self-sacrifice.
In my opinion this story didn't have a happy ending. For me that would have included Reb staying away a couple of more years, only to come back (true to character she would of course be certain that Jake still loved her and was just waiting for her to come back all along) and find Jake has moved on and started a new family with a woman who actually loves him as much as he loves her, and who appreciates him for all of his good qualities.
I had high hopes for this book because of how much I loved another book by Lorraine Heath, Texas Destiny. Although the quality of this book -- both with regard to character depth and writing style -- never lived up to the high standard set by Texas Destiny, it wasn't until about halfway through the book that I really started to get frustrated. This story just doesn't have the depth and complexity of characterization that I loved about Texas Destiny.
In some ways the heroes of the two books are quite similar: both are beta types, both work with horses in Texas during the latter half of the nineteenth century, and both have complex relationships with their brothers.
And while I fell in love with Jake, he eventually did become a bit too saintly. Or at least far to nice to be saddled with Rebecca who, while not the evil mustache-twirlers that the two "villains" are(Jesus, what kind of moron would leave Jake for Brett the Asshole), is self-centered, superficial and frankly too uncaring for Jake. It's hard to root for a relationship where one person stands for all the caring, devotion and self-sacrifice.
In my opinion this story didn't have a happy ending. For me that would have included Reb staying away a couple of more years, only to come back (true to character she would of course be certain that Jake still loved her and was just waiting for her to come back all along) and find Jake has moved on and started a new family with a woman who actually loves him as much as he loves her, and who appreciates him for all of his good qualities.
June 27, 2009
TEARJERKER!
I was crying my eyes out for Jake while reading the story.. I adored him! I can't believe that this is Lorraine Heath's first writing.. It's almost perfect. There is only one major flaw that I noticed: some parts seemed kinda out of place. or maybe the writing was just a little outstripped, though it's very unlikely that it could be a first writing.
Jake Burnett is a real charismatic hero! But he's very same with Clayton from "Always to Remember" (same author) which somewhat disturbs me, because Clay's politeness, tenderness, and lack of experience (on lovemaking) just ticks me off. I don't like virginal heroes! the sound very unrealistic.. (but it's fiction! haha) hm... it's supposed to be a gentle story, so I'll pass on that one.
Rebecca Anderson, is well, somehow likeable for a heroine who doesn't share the same feelings for the hero. Yes, she's not annoying, unlike those other heroines, because she was able to justify her feelings toward Jake and Brett at the same time. She's no weak nor a porcelain doll, of course. The moment she realized Brett's real character, she was out of his life.
I am just so damn glad I found this book! Been looking for weeks now.. I read this in one sitting. God, I'm a zombie, and sucker for Jake Burnett-type hero.
Please oh please suggest me more of stories like these! :D
I was crying my eyes out for Jake while reading the story.. I adored him! I can't believe that this is Lorraine Heath's first writing.. It's almost perfect. There is only one major flaw that I noticed: some parts seemed kinda out of place. or maybe the writing was just a little outstripped, though it's very unlikely that it could be a first writing.
Jake Burnett is a real charismatic hero! But he's very same with Clayton from "Always to Remember" (same author) which somewhat disturbs me, because Clay's politeness, tenderness, and lack of experience (on lovemaking) just ticks me off. I don't like virginal heroes! the sound very unrealistic.. (but it's fiction! haha) hm... it's supposed to be a gentle story, so I'll pass on that one.
Rebecca Anderson, is well, somehow likeable for a heroine who doesn't share the same feelings for the hero. Yes, she's not annoying, unlike those other heroines, because she was able to justify her feelings toward Jake and Brett at the same time. She's no weak nor a porcelain doll, of course. The moment she realized Brett's real character, she was out of his life.
I am just so damn glad I found this book! Been looking for weeks now.. I read this in one sitting. God, I'm a zombie, and sucker for Jake Burnett-type hero.
Please oh please suggest me more of stories like these! :D
July 17, 2023
Wow that was heartbreaking
I just read this and it was so touching. He loved her so much. She was pregnant from another man and he left. Her Father made her marry Jake. Jake was such a wonderful man. He loved her so much. They went to Texas and began a life, the baby was born and they were happy. But the ex lover showed up and wanted her back so she chose him. It was heart breaking. He let her go so she'd be happy. I hated her for a while there. They filed for divorce and Jake did sleep with a woman in a brothel once because he wanted someone to want him. Just once and he called out Rebecca's name. He never went back. His brother hated him and there had been lots of drama on that front for the whole book but this time he wraps him in barbed wire and pushes him down a hill. When he comes too he wakes up to Rebecca. She has come back to him. She loved only him. She never did anything with the other guy because she knew inside it was wrong. The epilogue was just beautiful. I can't believe I am giving this four stars. Normally it would be less because he slept with someone else but he was such a great hero. Do I wish he hadn't? Of course. But no matter what that ending just clinched it for me. Four was for her leaving him. She is the one I didn't like. But she came back. And she was always honest with him. I loved that. Great story.
I just read this and it was so touching. He loved her so much. She was pregnant from another man and he left. Her Father made her marry Jake. Jake was such a wonderful man. He loved her so much. They went to Texas and began a life, the baby was born and they were happy. But the ex lover showed up and wanted her back so she chose him. It was heart breaking. He let her go so she'd be happy. I hated her for a while there. They filed for divorce and Jake did sleep with a woman in a brothel once because he wanted someone to want him. Just once and he called out Rebecca's name. He never went back. His brother hated him and there had been lots of drama on that front for the whole book but this time he wraps him in barbed wire and pushes him down a hill. When he comes too he wakes up to Rebecca. She has come back to him. She loved only him. She never did anything with the other guy because she knew inside it was wrong. The epilogue was just beautiful. I can't believe I am giving this four stars. Normally it would be less because he slept with someone else but he was such a great hero. Do I wish he hadn't? Of course. But no matter what that ending just clinched it for me. Four was for her leaving him. She is the one I didn't like. But she came back. And she was always honest with him. I loved that. Great story.
June 25, 2015
Loved every word of this book. Loved Jake so much it hurt my chest. And even though I wanted to smack Reb a couple of times for the stunt she pulled near the end, I loved her too.
Sweet and straight to the heart. This would make for the perfect beach read.
Sweet and straight to the heart. This would make for the perfect beach read.
February 18, 2017
Jake was all kinds of perfect. Take note authors, this is how you write a man. They don't all need to be manipulative, highhanded assholes. I really liked that he was so patient and kind and understanding.
Like another review mentioned, I also feel that a lot more time and development went into Jake than it did into anyone else. Rebecca felt really shallow to me character-wise and I didn't really feel as invested in her as character. Rebecca doesn't like when the fetus is referred to as an it but, soon after mentally berating Brett for doing so (The invariable it again.), she uses it as well ("It's not. I'm not pregnant.").
The only problem I had with the characters (and the story) is that when someone was evil, they were super evil and when someone was good, they were saintly good. Jake was so firmly entrenched on the side of good that I felt he was practically a martyr. On the other end, we had Ethan. I don't feel that he could've been redeemed, , but I feel that it became a game of how truly evil can we make him.
I felt the last little bit of the novel was a little too much.
Like another review mentioned, I also feel that a lot more time and development went into Jake than it did into anyone else. Rebecca felt really shallow to me character-wise and I didn't really feel as invested in her as character. Rebecca doesn't like when the fetus is referred to as an it but, soon after mentally berating Brett for doing so (The invariable it again.), she uses it as well ("It's not. I'm not pregnant.").
The only problem I had with the characters (and the story) is that when someone was evil, they were super evil and when someone was good, they were saintly good. Jake was so firmly entrenched on the side of good that I felt he was practically a martyr. On the other end, we had Ethan. I don't feel that he could've been redeemed, , but I feel that it became a game of how truly evil can we make him.
I felt the last little bit of the novel was a little too much.
July 17, 2023
I just read this and it was so touching. He loved her so much. She was pregnant from another man and he left. Her Father made her marry Jake. Jake was such a wonderful man. He loved her so much. They went to Texas and began a life, the baby was born and they were happy. But the ex lover showed up and wanted her back so she chose him. It was heart breaking. He let her go so she'd be happy. I hated her for a while there. They filed for divorce and Jake did sleep with a woman in a brothel once because he wanted someone to want him. Just once and he called out Rebecca's name. He never went back. His brother hated him and there had been lots of drama on that front for the whole book but this time he wraps him in barbed wire and pushes him down a hill. When he comes too he wakes up to Rebecca. She has come back to him. She loved only him. She never did anything with the other guy because she knew inside it was wrong. The epilogue was just beautiful. I can't believe I am giving this four stars. Normally it would be less because he slept with someone else but he was such a great hero. Do I wish he hadn't? Of course. But no matter what that ending just clinched it for me. Four was for her leaving him. She is the one I didn't like. But she came back. And she was always honest with him. I loved that. Great story.
August 25, 2013
I don't tend to go for books like this, cowboys, historical romance. No superpowers, supernatural beings or apocalypse in sight, but after reading a blog review I found a copy online published in 1994 with a very different cover to the steamy couple on the kindle version. I wasn't disappointed, in fact it was a page-turner and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster to read.
Jake's a cowboy, working at the Lazy A ranch, he's very good at his job but after his loving mother died when he was five his father took in his bastard son and well, let's say it was a hard upbringing after that. This led to him being a quiet, reserved, polite man with no confidence, believing himself to be ugly and unworthy, but very much in love with the owner's daughter Rebecca, though no-one knows. Not even her.
One night Jake is called upon to see the owner and fearing he's done something wrong is nervous of the forthcoming conversation. He never imagined what was coming next. Rebecca is pregnant to Brett, a cowboy who was all good looks, swagger and charm, but he's left the ranch to go looking for prospects and they don't know if he's coming back. Needless to say her father is furious and doesn't want the family shamed so he asks Jake, who's a good man and an excellent rancher, to marry his daughter, telling him the ranch will be left to them if he takes the child as his own.
Jake agrees to ask her, not willing to force her into anything, although her father sees it as a done deal and orders her to do it but after talking to Jake she agrees.
They get married and the next day leave for Texas infuriating Reb's father. Jake's father left him land there and he's been saving all his earnings to start his own ranch which they do. They meet neighbours, make friends, but also run into Jake's two half-brothers. One of whom is as hateful as his father was.
They start building a life together, Jake is a gentle man but also a gentleman, not expecting anything from Reb that she doesn't want to give, but they grow closer, she has the baby and Jake loves him dearly yet he still believes in his heart that she loves Brett. They continue to build their life together, overcoming most obstacles, some very harsh, until Brett turns up. I mean, you knew that was going to happen right? So who will she choose?
This was a very sweet tale, Jake is a character that you just want to give the biggest of hugs to sometimes especially when he is in torment, but he's a man, no doubt about it, rough, tough but fragile and tender too.
Reb is spirited, and with Jake she can be whatever she wants, she has no doubt he worships her and he doesn't treat her like a china doll despite her beauty like many men would. I wanted to slap her at times for not seeing what she has right in front of her but believing Brett to be her first love she's confused, we've all been there.
Then there's Frank, a teenage boy Jake took under his wing at the Lazy A that goes to Texas with him, Reb, and several other men. He's hot-headed but matures through the course of the tale. He's a fun character with a good heart.
The book is written from all points of view, you know what each character is thinking and feeling. The POV can change within a few sentences yet it was never confusing, it was refreshing to get inside all their heads instead of just a first person narrative, to me it made the book come alive, it never got boring "unlike this review!" I can hear you say, but hey, I've not had much practice and if you're still reading then it can't be too bad. Time to wrap up though.
Obviously I was rooting for Jake, I wanted Reb to fall in love with him, I wanted their ranch to be successful, I wanted the evil brother to just fall down a big hole. I wanted them to have a "happily ever after" ending. But did they get it? With so many things against them, including their own feelings, I want to say yes, that being cowboy and cowgirl, they rode off into the sunset together. But you'll have to read it to find out. I will warn you though, tears may be involved. Which is probably why I normally stick to YA/sci-fi/apocalyptic stories.
I'm so glad I took a time-out from my normal reads.
Jake's a cowboy, working at the Lazy A ranch, he's very good at his job but after his loving mother died when he was five his father took in his bastard son and well, let's say it was a hard upbringing after that. This led to him being a quiet, reserved, polite man with no confidence, believing himself to be ugly and unworthy, but very much in love with the owner's daughter Rebecca, though no-one knows. Not even her.
One night Jake is called upon to see the owner and fearing he's done something wrong is nervous of the forthcoming conversation. He never imagined what was coming next. Rebecca is pregnant to Brett, a cowboy who was all good looks, swagger and charm, but he's left the ranch to go looking for prospects and they don't know if he's coming back. Needless to say her father is furious and doesn't want the family shamed so he asks Jake, who's a good man and an excellent rancher, to marry his daughter, telling him the ranch will be left to them if he takes the child as his own.
Jake agrees to ask her, not willing to force her into anything, although her father sees it as a done deal and orders her to do it but after talking to Jake she agrees.
They get married and the next day leave for Texas infuriating Reb's father. Jake's father left him land there and he's been saving all his earnings to start his own ranch which they do. They meet neighbours, make friends, but also run into Jake's two half-brothers. One of whom is as hateful as his father was.
They start building a life together, Jake is a gentle man but also a gentleman, not expecting anything from Reb that she doesn't want to give, but they grow closer, she has the baby and Jake loves him dearly yet he still believes in his heart that she loves Brett. They continue to build their life together, overcoming most obstacles, some very harsh, until Brett turns up. I mean, you knew that was going to happen right? So who will she choose?
This was a very sweet tale, Jake is a character that you just want to give the biggest of hugs to sometimes especially when he is in torment, but he's a man, no doubt about it, rough, tough but fragile and tender too.
Reb is spirited, and with Jake she can be whatever she wants, she has no doubt he worships her and he doesn't treat her like a china doll despite her beauty like many men would. I wanted to slap her at times for not seeing what she has right in front of her but believing Brett to be her first love she's confused, we've all been there.
Then there's Frank, a teenage boy Jake took under his wing at the Lazy A that goes to Texas with him, Reb, and several other men. He's hot-headed but matures through the course of the tale. He's a fun character with a good heart.
The book is written from all points of view, you know what each character is thinking and feeling. The POV can change within a few sentences yet it was never confusing, it was refreshing to get inside all their heads instead of just a first person narrative, to me it made the book come alive, it never got boring "unlike this review!" I can hear you say, but hey, I've not had much practice and if you're still reading then it can't be too bad. Time to wrap up though.
Obviously I was rooting for Jake, I wanted Reb to fall in love with him, I wanted their ranch to be successful, I wanted the evil brother to just fall down a big hole. I wanted them to have a "happily ever after" ending. But did they get it? With so many things against them, including their own feelings, I want to say yes, that being cowboy and cowgirl, they rode off into the sunset together. But you'll have to read it to find out. I will warn you though, tears may be involved. Which is probably why I normally stick to YA/sci-fi/apocalyptic stories.
I'm so glad I took a time-out from my normal reads.
April 8, 2024
Don't let the sweet cover (or title) fool you (the print version has a cradle on it and looks like a children's book)...if you get the e-book it's a clinch cover and fits the storyline better.
This is Lorraine Heath's first book apparently and it is an uncut diamond. The story has alllll the feels, and although it isn't perfect, it stays with you and digs deep. If you love a sexy quiet cowboy Hero with integrity, passion, and honour then this is the story for you. This is a tearjerker book written straight from the heart.
This is Lorraine Heath's first book apparently and it is an uncut diamond. The story has alllll the feels, and although it isn't perfect, it stays with you and digs deep. If you love a sexy quiet cowboy Hero with integrity, passion, and honour then this is the story for you. This is a tearjerker book written straight from the heart.
March 16, 2012
Jake Burnett has worked for John Anderson as a ranch hand for three years when he asked him to marry his pregnant daughter, Rebecca. Her lover left before he knew she was with child with no return in sight. They marry and immediately leave for Texas where Jake owns land and has saved enough money to begin his own ranch.
Jake and Rebecca's relationship was allowed to slowly evolve as her pregnancy progresses, after the birth of her child and beyond. We experienced it from both of their perspectives, which made the story even richer. Layered into the story was Jake's poignant history, threats to his livelihood, colorful secondary characters and emotional turmoil that creates a wedge for the couple. It is a well written story that I couldn't put down. There are interesting and unexpected twists to add to the mix, along with moments that are tear jerkers.
I loved this book and especially Jake who is on my list of favorite heroes. This will definitely be a re-read.
Jake and Rebecca's relationship was allowed to slowly evolve as her pregnancy progresses, after the birth of her child and beyond. We experienced it from both of their perspectives, which made the story even richer. Layered into the story was Jake's poignant history, threats to his livelihood, colorful secondary characters and emotional turmoil that creates a wedge for the couple. It is a well written story that I couldn't put down. There are interesting and unexpected twists to add to the mix, along with moments that are tear jerkers.
I loved this book and especially Jake who is on my list of favorite heroes. This will definitely be a re-read.
February 26, 2016
Even though I had some serious issues with Rebecca throughout the book and especially toward the end overall her character was OK. But for Jake alone it deserves 5 stars from me. Loved him so much!
August 30, 2010
Wonderful read that brings tears to your eyes. Definite tearjerker!
My review: http://bit.ly/cfPRJo
My review: http://bit.ly/cfPRJo
May 9, 2024
Read in 2021
Jake my Man deserve all the stars and moon too 🥺🥺
Rebecca tsk 😒😒
Jake my Man deserve all the stars and moon too 🥺🥺
Rebecca tsk 😒😒
dnf
June 25, 2025Couldn’t do it. Once she thought about leaving this wholesome man, I was out
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