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28th out of 233 books
—
396 voters
A Lady of the West (Western Ladies #1)
by
Linda Howard
Only true love could redeem....
Victoria Waverly, noble daughter of the war-ruined South, is sold in marriage to a ruthless rancher. Honor and pride help her endure life as a wife in name only but nothing can quench her forbidden desire for hired gunman Jake Roper. His gaze is hard, but tenderness he can't hide promises to unveil to Victoria the mysteries of love.
Only t
...morePaperback, 384 pages
Published
September 1st 1997
by Pocket Books
(first published 1990)
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When I started reading the prologue, I began to sense that this book was going to be a lot darker and more gritty than any of Howard's other books. If you haven't read this book and are wanting a great romance, I would try a different LH book. Especially if you don't like even minor descriptions of a woman being sexually assaulted.
I've read a lot of LH's books and this one I have to admit is not one I really enjoyed, will read again or even recommend. That's hard for me to say since I've thoroug...more
I've read a lot of LH's books and this one I have to admit is not one I really enjoyed, will read again or even recommend. That's hard for me to say since I've thoroug...more
Ok story, not bad. I wasn't thrilled with the thoughts and actions of the heroine Victoria and her sister Celia.
But the story around the guys was pretty good. It's not the author's best work, but it's interesting. In most romance novels, there is an event which separates the couple after they get together. Too many authors disappoint me with their lack of creativity and credibility and use the following event. The couple assume incorrect things about each other based on lack of "normal communica...more
But the story around the guys was pretty good. It's not the author's best work, but it's interesting. In most romance novels, there is an event which separates the couple after they get together. Too many authors disappoint me with their lack of creativity and credibility and use the following event. The couple assume incorrect things about each other based on lack of "normal communica...more
Nov 19, 2012
Kathleen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed,
historical-rom
Just 3 stars. It was okay, and some parts were better than okay.
PLOT SUMMARY: Frank McLain murdered Jake Sarratt's parents and stole their ranch. He also tried to kill Jake, age 13, and Ben, age 11, but the boys got away and plotted vengeance. Now, 20 years later, Jake is incognito, working as a gunslinger for McLain. McLain marries Victoria, an impoverished blue blood from the war torn South. She only agrees to marry McLain because her family is starving. She comes from Georgia to live with him...more
PLOT SUMMARY: Frank McLain murdered Jake Sarratt's parents and stole their ranch. He also tried to kill Jake, age 13, and Ben, age 11, but the boys got away and plotted vengeance. Now, 20 years later, Jake is incognito, working as a gunslinger for McLain. McLain marries Victoria, an impoverished blue blood from the war torn South. She only agrees to marry McLain because her family is starving. She comes from Georgia to live with him...more
This one was just ok. I did have some issues with it that really detracted from what I think of it. Early on the hero is described as not being into women like all the other men on the ranch, yet latter the heroine walks in on the hero having sex with a random woman. Granted she had just married someone else, so there was no cheating going on, but it still seemed wrong to me. I also didn't like how near the end the hero wouldn't listen to what the heroine was saying and ended up slapping her, ma...more
I think one of the things I really like about Linda Howard is she doesn't hold back. When she writes the dark hero, he really is dark. Jake is no exception. He's spent the last twenty yeras of his life planning revenge for the murder of his parents and theft of his birth right. He's killed men and doesn't even feel bad about it. He's not afraid to take what he wants.
This was an exciting and surprisingly emotional story. Many HEA novels lack a depth of feeling because of the certain ending, but...more
This was an exciting and surprisingly emotional story. Many HEA novels lack a depth of feeling because of the certain ending, but...more
Mar 05, 2009
Dina
marked it as books-to-avoid
A craptastic "hero" who beats the TSTL doormat "heroine" and doesn´t grovel enough at the end. Ugh!
2 likes · like · see review
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Hard not to give it one star, but I enjoyed most of it.
It's only near the last several chapters, when Jake doesn't really change at all, show his vulnerability/love, and Victoria takes it all without a complaint. Although she froze him out for a while, it didn't really give her back the lost pride or respect. I don't need/want a groveling hero, but this book definitely showed its age.
It was a really awful ending. Maybe with another chapter finally showing a healthy, loving relationship beginnin...more
It's only near the last several chapters, when Jake doesn't really change at all, show his vulnerability/love, and Victoria takes it all without a complaint. Although she froze him out for a while, it didn't really give her back the lost pride or respect. I don't need/want a groveling hero, but this book definitely showed its age.
It was a really awful ending. Maybe with another chapter finally showing a healthy, loving relationship beginnin...more
I like and dislike this novel. I like the story but I don't like how the revenge line kept on and on and on. I don't like how the Jake reaction to Victoria telling him she pregnant with his child is slap to her face. I would never ever ever forgive him if I were her. I do sometimes put myself in the heroin place and from there I see if I like the novel of not. To Say Victoria is a dull pushover character is not true. She is very strong but I wish she gave Jake hell for what he put her through.
I...more
I...more
May 03, 2012
Ash
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Linda Howard fans, Western romance followers
In my opinion this story reflects the how some women were treated, literally sold so that families could survive, having to make sacrifices and it is not an easy read. The heroine is married to villain McLain and the story basically ties around his terrible actions.
The story evolves with Jake's family and then moves to Victoria's marriage to McLain. This keep's you turning the pages along with the characterisation of the other players, Ben, Emma and Celia. At some point I forgot that I was readi...more
The story evolves with Jake's family and then moves to Victoria's marriage to McLain. This keep's you turning the pages along with the characterisation of the other players, Ben, Emma and Celia. At some point I forgot that I was readi...more
I am a big fan of Linda Howard, especially her earlier romance novels. This time out, I can't say that I enjoyed reading her book as much. A Lady of the West is definitely darker than most of the others that she wrote in her early days. There isn't a lot of joy throughout most of the book. While the love scenes do live up to her usual standard, I'm not sure I believed the love between any of the couples, except maybe Victoria's young sister and the ranch hand. Jake is not a likeable hero and I c...more
ชอบค่ะ ครอบครัวนางเอกดูสู้ชีวิตดี
บรรยายถึงความป่าเถื่อนโหดร้ายของยุคก่อตั้งอเมริกา
จะติดก็แต่น้องสาวคนเล็กของนางเอกที่ดูใสซื่อ เหมือนเจ้าหญิงในเทพนิยาย
แต่ถึงอย่างนั้นก็อยากให้เธอมีชีวิตสดใสกับแฟนหนุ่ม
บรรยายถึงความป่าเถื่อนโหดร้ายของยุคก่อตั้งอเมริกา
จะติดก็แต่น้องสาวคนเล็กของนางเอกที่ดูใสซื่อ เหมือนเจ้าหญิงในเทพนิยาย
แต่ถึงอย่างนั้นก็อยากให้เธอมีชีวิตสดใสกับแฟนหนุ่ม
Started out interesting, but went on too long and the storyline went places where I didn't want to go. Unlike Kiss Me While I Sleep, for example (where I had to skip the first 2 - 3 CDs before I could get into the story), on this story I bailed out early, and kept fast forwarding through or skipping past tracks on the final disks.
Really enjoyed Natalie Ross' narration throughout. She's the only reason that I gave this audiobook any stars (rating) at all.
Really enjoyed Natalie Ross' narration throughout. She's the only reason that I gave this audiobook any stars (rating) at all.
Mi obsesión con la RA comenzó con este libro. Recuerdo que lo vi en el Carrefour y me enamore por completo de la portada y tuve que rogarle y casi hasta caer de rodillas a mi mama para que me lo comprara. Comencé a devorarlo el mismo día que lo compre y al día siguiente ya lo había terminado.
Contado en tercera persona desde el punto de vista de Victoria, la protagonista, Una dama del oeste nos sitúa en los años posteriores a la guerra civil americana. Victoria, hija de una rica familia del Sur,...more
Contado en tercera persona desde el punto de vista de Victoria, la protagonista, Una dama del oeste nos sitúa en los años posteriores a la guerra civil americana. Victoria, hija de una rica familia del Sur,...more
A Lady of the West takes place in New Mexico Territory in 1866. Victoria Waverly, a young gently bred lady sacrifices herself to wed General McLain because her family desperately needs money. Twenty years prior General McLain viciously took over the Sarratt Ranch and leaving two young boys for dead. Jake Roper is all grown up now and looking to take back the ranch that should have been his and to avenge his parents' deaths. Surprisingly, he finds himself taken with Victoria's quiet, graceful nat...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This started off pretty heavy. Death and destruction. This is the first historical romance I have read by Linda Howard and I didn't find it quite as enjoyable as her current books. Jake comes back to reclaim his home and in the process decided to also claim the wife of the current "owner". Prim and proper, Victoria is doing everything she can to help her family. Accompanied by her sister and cousin she tries to fit into the role of wife. She then doesn't understand the attraction she has to the...more
Wow, is about all I can say about this book. It is not for the faint of hearts, shy, or weak constitution. It was graphic to listen to, and I can only imagine the read. It was a interesting storyline however so part were a bit rough. I was thinking this would be a lite read for a 3-day weekend. Boy was I mistaken. I think the book is labeled romance but it should be erotic.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I forced myself to continue reading hoping "something" might happen. I finally stopped reading when the story turned into a romance novel with "heaving bosoms and throbbing manhood"! Quite a bit of violence and rape.
while it had some decent moments -- and definitely some surprising ones, keeping it from being too routine....there were some parts of the story that were unnecessary, dragged on, and I think the story could've been told about 100 pages less and still been OK
อ่านได้เพลิน ๆ ดีค่ะ
แต่ฉากรุนแรงนี่ รับไม่ค่อยได้
เล่นตบซะกระเด็นไปติดข้างฝา ..
ข้างหนึ่งแก้มโย้
อีกข้างหัวโน ..
รับม่ายยยด๊ายยย
แต่ฉากรุนแรงนี่ รับไม่ค่อยได้
เล่นตบซะกระเด็นไปติดข้างฝา ..
ข้างหนึ่งแก้มโย้
อีกข้างหัวโน ..
รับม่ายยยด๊ายยย
I think I have a thing for western stories. I don't know, maybe all those old movies by Sergio Leone that my father made me watch when I was a child... ;)
And I don't know why I love this story so much. Every some months I have to go and read it again. I love all of this story (but the slap!). He's a wonderful wounded alfa hero. She's for me, the epitome of all heroines! A woman after my heart! Strong, sweet with a backbone from here to Texas, LOL! A steel magnolia in the west. (I'm not a really...more
And I don't know why I love this story so much. Every some months I have to go and read it again. I love all of this story (but the slap!). He's a wonderful wounded alfa hero. She's for me, the epitome of all heroines! A woman after my heart! Strong, sweet with a backbone from here to Texas, LOL! A steel magnolia in the west. (I'm not a really...more
In my opinion, it's never okay for the hero to hit the heroine. I love Linda Howard, but I did not like this book.
Great old history. Not as interested as in modern day. But great characters
This was a great story but a little racier than I usually like.
suck! this book was mostly crap. I can't believe the linda howard could write this
A pretty darn good story, old school romance type novel...I appreciate these older wordy novels and I liked it a lot....I give it a solid B. The narrator did a good job, but would have liked to see a little more vocal difference between the characters (I think I'm just spoiled after listening to Davina Porter and all her wonderful accents). I will be getting book 2 in this series.
I don't care for the first two westerns by Linda Howard. I was terrified that they were going to be her new trend. So happy to have found out that wasn't the case.
As Linda Howard books go it was middle of the road. But still interesting with good character development.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1) Romance author
Linda S. Howington was born on August 3, 1950 in Alabama, United States. She began to write at nine years old, and wrote for twenty years for her own enjoyment. She worked at a trucking company where she met her husband, and then decided to try and get her work published in 1980. [1:] Her first...more
More about Linda Howard...
(1) Romance author
Linda S. Howington was born on August 3, 1950 in Alabama, United States. She began to write at nine years old, and wrote for twenty years for her own enjoyment. She worked at a trucking company where she met her husband, and then decided to try and get her work published in 1980. [1:] Her first...more
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