This Loving Land

by Dorothy Garlock

Heading out to a friend's ranch for protection after her mother passes away, Summer Kuykendall is saddened when she learns that the friend has passed away, but she finds solace and romance with his son, Slater.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Westerns, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Western Historical Romance

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Dorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.

Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.


Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn

Reviews

[Christel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!! Slowly but surely I am reading all of her books. To me the later era books are not as good as one like this.

[Wendy Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book. I have always enjoyed Dorothy Garlock but haven’t read one of her books for years. A historical story set in Texas dating Back to 1823 in the western era of stagecoaches and gunfights this book has mystery, romance and excitement. Not going to wait as long before picking up another one of Garlock’s novels

[ANGELIA · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been good, if the big conflict that separated Summer and Slater hadn't occurred so late in the story; the book was more than halfway over by then and it wasn't given the time needed for it to affect the story the way it should have, and just seemed unnecessary by that point.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her earlier Old Skool western romances, with
plenty of Louis L’Amour grit.

I would have liked another romance about Jesse Thurston.

Wow; I really wanted to see how Summer & Slater got out

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rape and potential incest doesn't make me feel romantic

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review

This loving land. Amazingly beautiful characters make a great story. I love these heartwarming westerns that make the west come to life.

[Beatriz Valle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bad joke. Summer a pushover that let Slater hush ver with pearls like: "Shhhh...dont say anything. De have said enough for tonight".

[Tamara Klemann]

My edition is really ISBN 0-446-36525-4 - Warner Books Edition - copyright 1981

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has an interesting plot line. It opens with Sam McLean and Nannie Kuykendall, mother to Summer's and John Austin. Nannie's husband is away fighting and Sam and Nannie seem to be in love with each other.

When the story resumes, it is many years later and Nannie has just died, leaving Summer and John Austin orphans. Nannie has given Summer a letter from Sam McLean encouraging them to come back to the Piney Woods. Nannie assures Summer that Sam will take care of them.

When John and Summer arrive, things are not as they expected. Sam is dead and there are new people in the mix; Ellen McLean and her son Travis, owners of the Rockin' S. Ellen is the widow of Sam's brother and Travis is a dangerous, though handsome, womanizer.

Nannie has a piece of land (shaped like a long strip) that was intended to be joined to Sam and Slater's home (called McLean's Keep) when Summer married Slater. This strip of land is midway between Ellen's and Slater's land. Ellen wants her son to marry Summer and thereby get Nannie's land joined to their Rocking S.

This is just one of the several sub-plots that drive this interesting story. There is so much going on that I found it difficult to set aside.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

SUMMARY: After the death of their mother Summer Kuykendall and her brother travel to Texas to live under the protection of Sam McLean, a family friend. They arrive to find that Sam has been killed, but his son Slater will honour his father's promise.

REVIEW: I liked the storyline as well as the characters, but felt the few sexual scenes included didn't really contribute to the storyline. The friendship between Sadie and her daughter, Mary, and Summer and John Henry played a nice side line in this story. The ending was quite predictable.

[Melissa Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed through this one. Not one I would read again.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok western romance, but weird family ties and a few too many typos made this a weak novel and not of the highest quality.

[Becca12348 · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was...weird. And disturbing. And disturbingly weird.