Negli Occhi del Lupo

by Janis Reams Hudson

Brianna O'Malley ha diciannove anni e un grave problema: non perdere il ranch che i genitori hanno lasciato in eredità a lei e ai suoi cinque fratelli minori. Purtroppo la faccenda butta davvero male. Infatti, in una terra priva di legge quale il Far West, una ragazza orfana e indifesa, per quanto determinata, può ben poco contro un ricco e potente proprietario terriero pronto a tutto pur di mettere le mani sulla proprietà dei sei giovani fratelli. A Brianna, disperata, non resta che pregare Dio perché le mandi un aiuto... e una supplica tanto accorata non rimane inascoltata. La risposta alle sue preghiere giunge nel villaggio all'improvviso e dal nulla, sotto le attraenti spoglie di un enigmatico mezzosangue fiero e coraggioso, dal passato torbido e misterioso quanto il suo vero nome: di lui, si sa solo che si fa chiamare Lupo. Con Lupo al suo fianco, Brianna sa di essere ormai pronta ad affrontare ogni difficoltà, ogni battaglia, ogni tempesta... anche quella che inevitabilmente giungerà a travolgerle il cuore e i sensi nel vortice di un amore appassionato e inestinguibile.

Genres: Historical Romance, Westerns, Western Romance, Romance, Native American, Historical

268 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Romance novelist Janis Reams Hudson was born in California, grew up in Colorado, lived in Texas, but has called central Oklahoma home for most of her adult life. What little time she does not spend writing and researching her next book Janis spends helping other writers and volunteering her time to various writers' organizations. Janis lives in Choctaw, Oklahoma, with her husband Ron, and various cats, ducks, and sheep.

Reviews

[MelissaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brianna “Brie” Flannigan is the eldest of six siblings trying to keep their ranch going after the death of their parents a few months ago. The man who owns the neighboring ranch, Major Palmer,  wants to buy the Flannigan land and is willing to do just about anything to make them sell.  Brie can’t get any men from town to help with her cattle due to threats from Major Palmer against anyone who tries to help them.

One day as Brie and her little sister are traveling to their ranch after a trip to town, they are attacked by three drunken cowboys from Major Palmer’s ranch. Wolf hears the commotion and rides to their rescue. He is just arriving in the area on the lookout for someone from his past but can’t help himself from trying to save the two girls. Brie invites Wolf to supper to thank him for coming to her aid and Wolf reluctantly accepts.

Wolf is a half-breed drifter who lives to hunt down the man who sold him to an abusive traveling preacher when he was only four. He came to town because he thinks Major Palmer might be the man who sold him into a hellish life as a child. If he finds out that Major Palmer was that man, he intends to kill him. Wolf doesn’t know what to make of the Flannigans because they are so nice to him. He is used to be treated badly because he is a half-breed. Brie offers him a job as foreman of her ranch because she desperately needs the help. Wolf turns her down because he isn’t there to find work, he is trying to hunt down the man who wronged him.

Wolf is forced to accept the job as foreman after he is put in jail when some of Palmer’s men lie and say that he attacked Brie and her sister. Brie springs him from jail by saying he works for her, so he feels like he owes her. Plus he has seen enough of Palmer and his men to know that she and her younger siblings are in danger. Wolf starts working at the ranch, where the Flannigans begin to make their way into his heart. He is used to being alone but suddenly he is being followed around by the two young Flannigan boys and the youngest girl. Wolf and Brie have an instant attraction but Wolf doesn’t think he is good enough for her, so he tries to push her away. He thinks she could do much better than a half-breed drifter who has no future except revenge and perhaps a hangman’s noose. Brie sees Wolf for what he is, a very good man who had a harsh childhood so he tries to keep everyone away from him. She is determined to love him as best she can but she knows he will very likely ride away from her someday because he has trouble accepting her love. But Brie Flannigan is one stubborn Irish woman who is willing to work for what she wants – and what she wants is Wolf in her life forever.

I really enjoyed this western historical romance, the romance was very sweet and enjoyable. Brie was a very good heroine, she was strong but not pushy and she treated Wolf with such care. She wanted the best for him, so she just tried to love him and give him the space he needed. Wolf was a tortured man who was haunted by a very abusive childhood. He didn’t think he deserved someone as wonderful as Brie but he couldn’t help himself from enjoying her warmth. Brie has quite a job trying to get through Wolf’s defenses but she is willing to try because she loves him. The younger Flannigans are fun to read about too, Brie was a good sister to them while Wolf really showed that he would be a good father figure to the younger ones. It was funny seeing Wolf trying to get used to having a bunch of kids around after a lot of years spent alone.  The romance between Wolf and Brie was really sweet. Their pairing was great to see because he was a man who desperately needed love and family and Brie was able to give him both. Brie needed help with her ranch and protection against her ruthless neighbor, so Wolf was a gift from God in her mind because he there to save them.  Overall, it was a very nice read with two likeable leads. I enjoyed the romance very much and the story was good. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sweet romance and a western setting.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Liked the action and adventure. A mystery thrown in too. Very emotional story, looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh holy heck! Why can't every romance heroine be like Brianna?! Caring and motherly towards her siblings yeah, but dis girl ain't no damsel in distress!!! Within the first fourth of the book, she's already punched a guy in the nose twice and walked into the local jail and talked her guy out of prison. Talked!! And that tisn't all. Throughout the novel, she'll take a shotgun to gunmen, jump in front of speeding bullets to save loved ones, and ride to the rescue of her man. This is a heroine I can get behind 100% percent. She's not waiting around for rescue, she's doing the rescuing herself!

I've got to commend the author on the intensity of the emotion between Brianna and Wolf. It was almost electric, the intensity was so high. From their first meeting, these two individuals fill in needs the author person has so well. Brianna provides Wolf with a home and people he can come to love; Wolf provides a strong rock from which to launch her assaults from to defend her home. For a romance novel, strength of emotion between the hero and heroine is so important. Warrior's Song delivers!

I only wish maybe the plot had been a wee bit unique or had some elements to make is stand out beside the outstanding romance and heroine. But the framework for this story was pretty darn typical. Lone-ish girl defending her ranch from big, bad ranch dude. Lone drifter cowboy comes in and saves the day in some way. Romance ensues. Big showdown. Big shock relationship is revealed. Everyone lives happily ever after.

Despite a plot line that is eye-rolling, this romance was thoroughly enjoyable. It has a heroine I adored and the intense romance was drool-worthy. And at the end of the day, why are we reading romances? for the love and smut, not the plot line! So enjoy and indulge. You'll enjoy the read.

[Readitnweep · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were elements of this I liked. I thought Wolf was an interesting character. I found Brianna annoying at times as she came off too forced, though I liked how she was caring for her younger siblings. But a few things bothered me: why didn't Letty sit much harder on her father about his treatment of them sooner? I could see if he just refused to help, but her efforts seem to be very weak at first, yet she and Brianna's mother had been close friends.

And it was obvious from the beginning how the ending would work with the bad guy being either Wolf's father or grandfather - I knew it would be one or the other. So, the ending was a bit predictable, and Brianna shoving herself in front of Wolf immediately reminded me of Mara doing the same thing in Laurie McBain's Tears of Gold, though I'm sure it's coincidence, but I immediately thought of it.

Also, the villian of the piece was so one dimensional.

[Terryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful story. It kept me entertained with it's highs and lows. Some very real topics, one in particular - paedophiles, the other discrimination - the hero was a half breed. How one man's search for revenge led him to a family he never thought he had and the love of the woman who stood by him. HEA ending. Would definitely read again and again. It's just one of those stories that gets to your heart.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romance novel I worked on for work.