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Cord & Stacy #5
A Land Called Deseret
A tale of romance, passion, and rebirth in the rugged deserts of Utah from a New York Times –bestselling author.
LaRaine came to Hollywood in search of a rich husband and an easy life. But just as she got the chance to star in a movie, her wealthy fiancé cut her loose, ending her gold-digging career before it started. A few flops later, LaRaine’s career is on its last legs, and she’s looking for a safe haven.
Instead, she’ll find Deseret. In the wild expanse of the Utah desert, she meets a hard-bitten rancher during a location scout. He moves her in ways she didn’t know were possible, and fills her with a love that will inspire her to remake herself as someone new.
America’s first lady of romance fiction, Janet Dailey’s masterwork was her Americana series—fifty novels of passion, with each set in a different state. A Land Called Deseret is an unforgettable trip to Utah.
LaRaine came to Hollywood in search of a rich husband and an easy life. But just as she got the chance to star in a movie, her wealthy fiancé cut her loose, ending her gold-digging career before it started. A few flops later, LaRaine’s career is on its last legs, and she’s looking for a safe haven.
Instead, she’ll find Deseret. In the wild expanse of the Utah desert, she meets a hard-bitten rancher during a location scout. He moves her in ways she didn’t know were possible, and fills her with a love that will inspire her to remake herself as someone new.
America’s first lady of romance fiction, Janet Dailey’s masterwork was her Americana series—fifty novels of passion, with each set in a different state. A Land Called Deseret is an unforgettable trip to Utah.
124 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 1979
114 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
400 books1,852 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 21, 2019
"You're a spoiled, selfish little brat," he said flatly. "You want everything your way and you don't care who you hurt getting it. Life doesn't work that way, and it's time you learned that. I hope tonight was the first of many lessons."
Sounds accurate.
"A Land Called Deseret" is the story of LaRaine and Travis.
Our hero is the OM from Natalie and Colter's book, and still in love with her. Our heroine is a selfish, gold-digger actress who is seemingly hiding a heart under her flimsy and callous facade. Anyways, these two dysfunctional creatures meet when our bitchy heroine decides to trap the hero into marriage, only to realize that he is not rich after all.
Some scheming OM drama later, she is unemployed, broke and has to beg the hero for lending her money. He offers her a job instead, to which her reaction is tantrums.
Soon the book turns into an episode of "Taming of the Shrew", where the hardworking hero shows an unskilled heroine basic day-to-day tasks. She soon turns into a Mary Sue, with hard life lessons, while the hero continues pining for his ex.
Two flawed MCs, loads of drama and a HEA.
Average read. I honestly didn't like the hero or the heroine.
Safe
2/5
Sounds accurate.
"A Land Called Deseret" is the story of LaRaine and Travis.
Our hero is the OM from Natalie and Colter's book, and still in love with her. Our heroine is a selfish, gold-digger actress who is seemingly hiding a heart under her flimsy and callous facade. Anyways, these two dysfunctional creatures meet when our bitchy heroine decides to trap the hero into marriage, only to realize that he is not rich after all.
Some scheming OM drama later, she is unemployed, broke and has to beg the hero for lending her money. He offers her a job instead, to which her reaction is tantrums.
Soon the book turns into an episode of "Taming of the Shrew", where the hardworking hero shows an unskilled heroine basic day-to-day tasks. She soon turns into a Mary Sue, with hard life lessons, while the hero continues pining for his ex.
Two flawed MCs, loads of drama and a HEA.
Average read. I honestly didn't like the hero or the heroine.
Safe
2/5
November 26, 2022
I somehow had in mind that this one had a pretty solid average rating of 4+ which is why I pushed myself through its entirety. Well, I feel stupid now.
I have no idea how LaRaine and Travis even found themselves in love. None of them had one redeeming quality between them. LaRaine came across as one greedy, inconsiderate, selfish and obnoxious person while Trevor was no better. He was patronising, rude and know it all. Their romance didn't even seem genuine to me for a minute.
This was such a bad book that I am upset I made myself even go through something like this.
I have no idea how LaRaine and Travis even found themselves in love. None of them had one redeeming quality between them. LaRaine came across as one greedy, inconsiderate, selfish and obnoxious person while Trevor was no better. He was patronising, rude and know it all. Their romance didn't even seem genuine to me for a minute.
This was such a bad book that I am upset I made myself even go through something like this.
October 5, 2014
Published in 1979, but no less moving today. Reading "Deseret" I fell in love with Janet Dailey's writing all over again. Have several of her books. Hadn't read this one until now. Found it in the "Little Free Library," along with two others by Dailey. Finished it in one night. Like all of Dailey's work, I couldn't put it down. She knows just how to keep readers titillated. And, of course, she tugs those heartstrings just so.
LaRaine's character development is interesting to experience. Dailey gives us a glimpse of who she is inside, her potential, almost from the start, but like so many, she hides behind a mask. She does what she's been taught, follows it through, even when it doesn't quite fit and as she realizes the brick wall is approaching. She's slowed down, but darned if she doesn't hit it like a speed bump in excess of 40 mph. And, she goes to the one source who doesn't treat her like the cold gold-digger others see.
Travis is obviously scarred from a past brush with love gone wrong, but he takes her in anyway. But, makes her earn her keep, become a better person, tap the inner potential.
Felt he deserved to know how she got that way, an explanation of her upbringing, being pushed so hard her parents. But even without it, he gives her a chance. She takes it and as she sheds her mask like the make-up he tosses she too find a strong foundation and renovates her image just as she paints the house and remodels the kitchen and living room. And, she does the latter without his help... or at least starts out that way. It shows her commitment not only to improving herself, but working on a solid relationship built on love the same way she reupholsters the furniture without contribution. It leaves an indelible mark. Loved those visual expressions of her inner growth and renovation too. She even gets a new name to go with the new real her, a nickname — something no one has bothered to know her well enough to give her — and promise of a new last name.
My one grip was that her ex didn't pay for crossing the line. While I understand where he was coming from when he got her canned, I sure wish he'd have to pay for almost getting her arrested. That's a bit too far! Who said it was only a woman scorned?
"Deseret" tantalizes and keeps the reader interested without being overtly erotic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good red, hot scorcher as much as anyone. This story didn't need it. It was just right as is.
The story is well written, well developed characters and plot. And it didn't have to be elaborate with tons of people and settings and riches, etc.... no billionaire here. Just plain old hard working folks... who happen to own a cattle farm.
And the editorial thumb print. So many "books" now, printed and electronic, lack that. Too many errors, content and flow issues, poor grammar, spelling, lack of originality and, in many cases, plausibility and just poor writing and plot in general in many of today's editions.... even from some experienced and favorite authors, including those from indie and traditional publishers. Thank you, thank you, thank you Janet Dailey and the editors. Saw only one small typo in the 186 page book, and then only a d at the end of a word where it's not needed. Pretty sure that got changed for any subsequent printings. Awesome job! "Deseret" stands the test of time. (Should come with a label warning tissues might be needed.)
LaRaine's character development is interesting to experience. Dailey gives us a glimpse of who she is inside, her potential, almost from the start, but like so many, she hides behind a mask. She does what she's been taught, follows it through, even when it doesn't quite fit and as she realizes the brick wall is approaching. She's slowed down, but darned if she doesn't hit it like a speed bump in excess of 40 mph. And, she goes to the one source who doesn't treat her like the cold gold-digger others see.
Travis is obviously scarred from a past brush with love gone wrong, but he takes her in anyway. But, makes her earn her keep, become a better person, tap the inner potential.
Felt he deserved to know how she got that way, an explanation of her upbringing, being pushed so hard her parents. But even without it, he gives her a chance. She takes it and as she sheds her mask like the make-up he tosses she too find a strong foundation and renovates her image just as she paints the house and remodels the kitchen and living room. And, she does the latter without his help... or at least starts out that way. It shows her commitment not only to improving herself, but working on a solid relationship built on love the same way she reupholsters the furniture without contribution. It leaves an indelible mark. Loved those visual expressions of her inner growth and renovation too. She even gets a new name to go with the new real her, a nickname — something no one has bothered to know her well enough to give her — and promise of a new last name.
My one grip was that her ex didn't pay for crossing the line. While I understand where he was coming from when he got her canned, I sure wish he'd have to pay for almost getting her arrested. That's a bit too far! Who said it was only a woman scorned?
"Deseret" tantalizes and keeps the reader interested without being overtly erotic. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good red, hot scorcher as much as anyone. This story didn't need it. It was just right as is.
The story is well written, well developed characters and plot. And it didn't have to be elaborate with tons of people and settings and riches, etc.... no billionaire here. Just plain old hard working folks... who happen to own a cattle farm.
And the editorial thumb print. So many "books" now, printed and electronic, lack that. Too many errors, content and flow issues, poor grammar, spelling, lack of originality and, in many cases, plausibility and just poor writing and plot in general in many of today's editions.... even from some experienced and favorite authors, including those from indie and traditional publishers. Thank you, thank you, thank you Janet Dailey and the editors. Saw only one small typo in the 186 page book, and then only a d at the end of a word where it's not needed. Pretty sure that got changed for any subsequent printings. Awesome job! "Deseret" stands the test of time. (Should come with a label warning tissues might be needed.)
March 27, 2017
This book is listed as #4 in Janet Dailey's Cord & Stacy series since the H Travis features prominently in book#3 "For Bitter or Worse". However, the heroine LaRaine also features as a secondary character in Janet Dailey's other books. She makes her first appearance as the spoiled bitchy cousin to the heroine in "Dangerous Masquerade", where her selfish machinations lose her the H of that book and he ends up with her cousin. She also comes out in "Sonora Sundown" as the scheming actress who tries to foster a misunderstanding between the H of that book and the girl he was interested in.
It's not necessary to read those books first since this is a stand alone, however if you can find a copy (Open Library has them) it gives this book a good opportunity for LaRaine to redeem herself. In the previous books, I thought that LaRaine was totally unredeemable but Ms. Dailey managed to make it work out for her.
It's not necessary to read those books first since this is a stand alone, however if you can find a copy (Open Library has them) it gives this book a good opportunity for LaRaine to redeem herself. In the previous books, I thought that LaRaine was totally unredeemable but Ms. Dailey managed to make it work out for her.
June 1, 2010
LaRaine is a selfish, spoilt brat, a not even has-been actress with a now failed acting career after botching it the third time for her. Broke and homeless, and moreover desperate, she seeks refuge at Travis McCrea's ranch, which had been part of the film set at which LaRaine was fired from. Gradually LaRaine's self-important, superficial mask melts away as she accustoms herself to rural life, and she quite naturally falls for Travis.
I am really addicted to reformed heroine stories now. Or at least the really stubborn kinds that need to be kissed into submission. ;)
I am really addicted to reformed heroine stories now. Or at least the really stubborn kinds that need to be kissed into submission. ;)
July 4, 2020
The h was the very unlikeable OW in two others in this Americana series, and the H was a good guy who’d been hurt, also appearing in two different Dailey novels.
Bringing them together and making her likable was a real feat!
He put up with zero crap from her and helped her become a decent, hardworking woman... again, a miracle of the writing.
I always liked him, and liked who he helped her become. Glad to see their HEA.
Wish this series was written with Epilogues because they abruptly cut off when you’d like to read about more of what happened next.
Bringing them together and making her likable was a real feat!
He put up with zero crap from her and helped her become a decent, hardworking woman... again, a miracle of the writing.
I always liked him, and liked who he helped her become. Glad to see their HEA.
Wish this series was written with Epilogues because they abruptly cut off when you’d like to read about more of what happened next.
April 14, 2012
Success at last! A copy of this finally showed up at the UBS. Now for a reread.
Where oh where did my copy of this book go? Somewhere in the great move of '06 I lost an entire Rubbermaid tub of books. Sad sad face.
Where oh where did my copy of this book go? Somewhere in the great move of '06 I lost an entire Rubbermaid tub of books. Sad sad face.
August 9, 2025
The OM from Fiesta San Antonio is the hero (40) and he is still pining for Natalie. The heroine (25) is the OW from Dangerous Masquerade.
I enjoy this story as it is essentially the heroine on a redemption arc by cleaning, cooking and roughing it at the hero’s ranch in Utah. He’s nice enough, but she’s gripping and I like how even she is shocked at her transformation.
3 1/2 stars
I enjoy this story as it is essentially the heroine on a redemption arc by cleaning, cooking and roughing it at the hero’s ranch in Utah. He’s nice enough, but she’s gripping and I like how even she is shocked at her transformation.
3 1/2 stars
August 28, 2011
It's like a cinderella story in reverse, LaRaine is a spoiled non-talented actress, whose only merit is her beauty. Thanks to her own selfishness she ends up as a housemaid on Travis' farm. She's terrible for the job, but after some growing up and learning to appreciate the small things in life, LaRaine becomes less insufferable, and I kinda started to like her.
The hero is very patronizing in the beginning, and I never really got why he fell for her, but it's still quite a charming book.
The hero is very patronizing in the beginning, and I never really got why he fell for her, but it's still quite a charming book.
October 23, 2020
Nice development for a heroine from ''Dangerous Masquerade'' that reminds us not to judge others. Good people don't make superficial assumptions about strangers; and in case of beautiful women like LaRaine, such assumptions are a result of envy and insecurity
...the hero was an oaf who used her, made her doubt herself and ultimately didn't deserve her
all in all the story was unusual, sensible and down to earth, until the last pages mucked it all up completely (and pitifully)
...the hero was an oaf who used her, made her doubt herself and ultimately didn't deserve her
all in all the story was unusual, sensible and down to earth, until the last pages mucked it all up completely (and pitifully)
August 2, 2020
Loved this novel. Remains a favourite to this day and is a keeper on my shelves. Great for Travis to have his own romance and to see the spoilt Lainey have her comeuppance and develop more character to then be able to find and deserve love.
July 9, 2016
LaRaine is one of the least sympathetic main characters I've read. Though she does grow and change by the end, she made it hard to like the novel. On the plus side, Dailey managed to keep Travis likeable, no small feat given the genre.
The editing in the Kindle edition is inexcusably bad.
The editing in the Kindle edition is inexcusably bad.
June 11, 2022
The first time I read this was when I was 13, and the hold that this book has had on me ever since...
The story follows LaRaine Evans--or Rainey, as Travis lovingly calls her--a struggling actress. ("Actress" is a bit generous since by LaRaine's own admission, she can't act her way out of paper bag.) She's a spoiled brat, there's no way around that, and the first half of the book is a little rough because everyone expects the worst of her, so she just decides to give them what they want. If she were a side character in another book--and based on some conversations about her past, I'm assuming she's been in two other Dailey Harlequins--I would probably hate her, but I just can't here. LaRaine is actually rather honest with herself: she knows that she doesn't have a future in the film industry, she's aware of the dire financial straits she's in, and to top it all off, she doesn't have a friend in the world. I just end up feeling bad for her.
Through a series of unfortunate events, LaRaine finds herself on Travis's doorstep, working as his housekeeper so she can earn enough money to get back to California. This is where the book gets good, and it more than makes up for the first half of the book. Travis has been a background character in two previous Dailey Harlequins, and it's nice that he's getting a starring role here. (And a happy ending.) He's a little more sarcastic here, but he's not biting or cruel. He spends most of the book amused by LaRaine, and he's really the only character that doesn't expect the worst of her. He calls her out on being spoiled, but he also sees past the bitchy front she puts up.
I like how the story unfolds over the course of (a little over) two months. Granted, two months is still way too fast to fall in love and get married, but this isn't the real world, and it's a vast improvement over stories where the two leads spend just a week together before they're falling head over heels in love (although, let's be honest, if done right, I love those too). You get to see their relationship develop over time, and there a lot of sweet, fluffy moments between the two of them. Also, they renovate the house together, and all of those scenes are wonderful.
Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it cliched? Yes. But LaRaine and Travis have wonderful chemistry, and I'm always a sucker for bratty heroines falling for a more serious men. This was the first Janet Dailey I ever read, and I still think it's her best.
The story follows LaRaine Evans--or Rainey, as Travis lovingly calls her--a struggling actress. ("Actress" is a bit generous since by LaRaine's own admission, she can't act her way out of paper bag.) She's a spoiled brat, there's no way around that, and the first half of the book is a little rough because everyone expects the worst of her, so she just decides to give them what they want. If she were a side character in another book--and based on some conversations about her past, I'm assuming she's been in two other Dailey Harlequins--I would probably hate her, but I just can't here. LaRaine is actually rather honest with herself: she knows that she doesn't have a future in the film industry, she's aware of the dire financial straits she's in, and to top it all off, she doesn't have a friend in the world. I just end up feeling bad for her.
Through a series of unfortunate events, LaRaine finds herself on Travis's doorstep, working as his housekeeper so she can earn enough money to get back to California. This is where the book gets good, and it more than makes up for the first half of the book. Travis has been a background character in two previous Dailey Harlequins, and it's nice that he's getting a starring role here. (And a happy ending.) He's a little more sarcastic here, but he's not biting or cruel. He spends most of the book amused by LaRaine, and he's really the only character that doesn't expect the worst of her. He calls her out on being spoiled, but he also sees past the bitchy front she puts up.
I like how the story unfolds over the course of (a little over) two months. Granted, two months is still way too fast to fall in love and get married, but this isn't the real world, and it's a vast improvement over stories where the two leads spend just a week together before they're falling head over heels in love (although, let's be honest, if done right, I love those too). You get to see their relationship develop over time, and there a lot of sweet, fluffy moments between the two of them. Also, they renovate the house together, and all of those scenes are wonderful.
Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it cliched? Yes. But LaRaine and Travis have wonderful chemistry, and I'm always a sucker for bratty heroines falling for a more serious men. This was the first Janet Dailey I ever read, and I still think it's her best.
will-not-read
April 29, 2022 A Land Called Deseret: Utah, Book 5 of the Cord & Stacy series, was about Travis McCrea, a rancher in Utah, and LaRaine Evans, a wannabe golddigger of an actress. DID NOT READ! WILL NOT READ!
I'm going to stop this review right here because, after checking the blurb on several sites, I didn't like the summaries. Travis, having appeared in a couple of other books in this series (Fiesta San Antonio, and For Bitter or Worse), wasn't a bad character...just had a bad habit of falling for married women. However, LaRaine? She appeared in a couple of other books in the Americana series (Dangerous Masquerade, Book 1, and Sonora Sundown, Book 3). Like this book, she went to Hollywood in search of a rich husband and an easy life. She was a gold-digger. In this book, she was desperate to find a rich man away from Hollywood who would not be aware of the shame she had brought on herself...and she believed Travis was her Golden Ticket...until she saw his ranch and realized he had no money.
I won't read this. While I liked Travis' character in the other stories...I didn't want to read about LaRaine. She didn't deserve a shot at the Heroine role in her own love story. She was just a money-hungry b*tch looking out for "number one" and didn't care who she hurt to get what she wanted.
Janet Dailey should have stopped before writing this character. No stars for this book.
I'm going to stop this review right here because, after checking the blurb on several sites, I didn't like the summaries. Travis, having appeared in a couple of other books in this series (Fiesta San Antonio, and For Bitter or Worse), wasn't a bad character...just had a bad habit of falling for married women. However, LaRaine? She appeared in a couple of other books in the Americana series (Dangerous Masquerade, Book 1, and Sonora Sundown, Book 3). Like this book, she went to Hollywood in search of a rich husband and an easy life. She was a gold-digger. In this book, she was desperate to find a rich man away from Hollywood who would not be aware of the shame she had brought on herself...and she believed Travis was her Golden Ticket...until she saw his ranch and realized he had no money.
I won't read this. While I liked Travis' character in the other stories...I didn't want to read about LaRaine. She didn't deserve a shot at the Heroine role in her own love story. She was just a money-hungry b*tch looking out for "number one" and didn't care who she hurt to get what she wanted.
Janet Dailey should have stopped before writing this character. No stars for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2019
Jak princ Travis napravil sobeckou zlatokopku tvrdou prací a pevnou rukou.
s. 60 blonýnkou
s. 109 V žhavostí jeho úst
uvozovky - s. 57
s. 60 blonýnkou
s. 109 V žhavostí jeho úst
uvozovky - s. 57
February 15, 2023
Jak princ Travis napravil sobeckou zlatokopku tvrdou prací a pevnou rukou.
July 31, 2023
This book brought me to tears so automatic 5 stars. Read in one sitting. I really felt the heroines panic or feeling of being trapped.
June 20, 2024
I became interested in the character Travis while reading "For Bitter or Worse", then finding out that he's the H in the final book of the series and here I am.
The heroine was brought up in a selfish, spoiled way. She has never done a chore in her life and doesn't seem to care about other people's feelings - she doesn't seem to have any of her own to begin with, just a cold calculating woman. Her sole purpose in life is to become rich, have fun, fame and (male) attention.
At the same time, which I think somehow it doesn't really add up, she is someone who apparently never received much love and whose life is rather empty (so I can she be spoiled?…).
When she’s fired from her job and finds herself penniless, without the support of family or friends and seemingly abandoned by everyone, LaRaine turns to the H for help, i.e. money). However, Travis would rather offer her a job as a live-in housekeeper which, despite her lack of will or experience, she has no choice but to accept.
Eventually, during the course of learning how to do the chores and other organizational skills, she really falls in love with Travis, the land and the house, which she sets on renovating and now thinks of as 'home'.
The H, fortunately, has pretty much remained unchanged during the course of the whole book - except that now he also fell in love with a changed h and learned how to trust her.
Or does he trust her?
This is where I think the story cracks a bit.
Near the end of the book, he finds LaRaine holding a Christmas card she found in the middle of his belongings and is understandably saddened and suspicious of her motives, in anger immediately assuming that she hasn't changed after all. He decides then and there to send her packing.
The final scene takes place when he comes in her room the evening before her departure to return some of her belongings and finds her crying her eyes out...
The final scene is long, and oh, utterly unsatisfying. I don't know about other people, but I think they needed to make love first and discuss the other issues later or vice-versa!
You cannot go from confessing your love in your breath and trying to convince the other person of it, to rolling over and discuss the wedding arrangements and honeymoon, to rolling over again and discuss when to have children! That didn't make any sense to me.
To make things worse, they didn't clear out the huge misunderstanding and trust issue at hand!
Have her tears convinced him then that she had really changed after all, that she hadn't been snooping around? That she didn't want to marry him for lack of a better choice?...
Sadly, there was definitely something missing.
At this point, I personally couldn't yet feel sympathetic toward LaRaine, for it didn't really feel like her hardships throughout the book had been near enough to redeem her bad behavior. Not even close. It all happened too fast, and for all she was wrong for, she never once learned to say "I'm sorry" for anything. She didn't really prove her love for Travis more than shedding some tears.
It just seems too easy to place a bad character in a completely different and practically secluded environment, making them adapt to the place and then call them a changed person.
LaRaine needed to have lived there for much longer and needed more opportunities to prove that she had really changed and loved Travis - would she still choose him and the ranch even if she got other options in a city, perhaps an opportunity to become an actress again? If there was another wealthy man around interested in her?
I love this sort of theme, but guess I was left a bit unsatisfied and hence only 3*.
The heroine was brought up in a selfish, spoiled way. She has never done a chore in her life and doesn't seem to care about other people's feelings - she doesn't seem to have any of her own to begin with, just a cold calculating woman. Her sole purpose in life is to become rich, have fun, fame and (male) attention.
At the same time, which I think somehow it doesn't really add up, she is someone who apparently never received much love and whose life is rather empty (so I can she be spoiled?…).
When she’s fired from her job and finds herself penniless, without the support of family or friends and seemingly abandoned by everyone, LaRaine turns to the H for help, i.e. money). However, Travis would rather offer her a job as a live-in housekeeper which, despite her lack of will or experience, she has no choice but to accept.
Eventually, during the course of learning how to do the chores and other organizational skills, she really falls in love with Travis, the land and the house, which she sets on renovating and now thinks of as 'home'.
The H, fortunately, has pretty much remained unchanged during the course of the whole book - except that now he also fell in love with a changed h and learned how to trust her.
Or does he trust her?
This is where I think the story cracks a bit.
Near the end of the book, he finds LaRaine holding a Christmas card she found in the middle of his belongings and is understandably saddened and suspicious of her motives, in anger immediately assuming that she hasn't changed after all. He decides then and there to send her packing.
The final scene takes place when he comes in her room the evening before her departure to return some of her belongings and finds her crying her eyes out...
The final scene is long, and oh, utterly unsatisfying. I don't know about other people, but I think they needed to make love first and discuss the other issues later or vice-versa!
You cannot go from confessing your love in your breath and trying to convince the other person of it, to rolling over and discuss the wedding arrangements and honeymoon, to rolling over again and discuss when to have children! That didn't make any sense to me.
To make things worse, they didn't clear out the huge misunderstanding and trust issue at hand!
Have her tears convinced him then that she had really changed after all, that she hadn't been snooping around? That she didn't want to marry him for lack of a better choice?...
Sadly, there was definitely something missing.
At this point, I personally couldn't yet feel sympathetic toward LaRaine, for it didn't really feel like her hardships throughout the book had been near enough to redeem her bad behavior. Not even close. It all happened too fast, and for all she was wrong for, she never once learned to say "I'm sorry" for anything. She didn't really prove her love for Travis more than shedding some tears.
It just seems too easy to place a bad character in a completely different and practically secluded environment, making them adapt to the place and then call them a changed person.
LaRaine needed to have lived there for much longer and needed more opportunities to prove that she had really changed and loved Travis - would she still choose him and the ranch even if she got other options in a city, perhaps an opportunity to become an actress again? If there was another wealthy man around interested in her?
I love this sort of theme, but guess I was left a bit unsatisfied and hence only 3*.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2021
"Are you admiring the view?" he asked
"Yes," LaRaine agreed without turning. She didn't want Travis McCrea to see the brightness of the unshed tears in her eyes.
"It's a vast, beautiful .... " The lie stuck in her throat. She couldn't find anything beautiful about this desolate country. ". . . Nothing," she finished with cold, blatant truthfulness.
"You could be right." Travis considered her reply. LaRaine felt his gaze on her. Heat rushed through her body as she realized he was applying the description to her instead of the land--a beautiful nothing! (less)
"Yes," LaRaine agreed without turning. She didn't want Travis McCrea to see the brightness of the unshed tears in her eyes.
"It's a vast, beautiful .... " The lie stuck in her throat. She couldn't find anything beautiful about this desolate country. ". . . Nothing," she finished with cold, blatant truthfulness.
"You could be right." Travis considered her reply. LaRaine felt his gaze on her. Heat rushed through her body as she realized he was applying the description to her instead of the land--a beautiful nothing! (less)
August 9, 2013
I used to read Janet Dailey all the time when I was in my late teens and early twenties. Since then, I haven't really strayed too much into the romance genre, but when I saw this book was based in Utah I decided to give it a try. Dailey wrote a book based in each state of the union early in her career and this book was the Utah effort.
It was a really quick read that followed a pretty basic romance formula. I didn't care for the heroine much, but the story was entertaining.
It was a really quick read that followed a pretty basic romance formula. I didn't care for the heroine much, but the story was entertaining.
Read
January 31, 2014A Utah rancher and his failed-actress common-law wife. The only way this could have been more hilarious is if the rancher were a Mormon and the book culminated in a baptism. MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
June 27, 2016
Un bouquin pour entretenir mon anglais de façon ludique, tout en me distrayant... Ce livre a parfaitement réussi son rôle, même si j'ai eu du mal au début à éprouver de l'empathie pour l'héroïne.
November 12, 2017
Modern
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July 7, 2018"Are you admiring the view?" he asked
"Yes," LaRaine agreed without turning. She didn't want Travis McCrea to see the brightness of the unshed tears in her eyes.
"It's a vast, beautiful .... " The lie stuck in her throat. She couldn't find anything beautiful about this desolate country. ". . . Nothing," she finished with cold, blatant truthfulness.
"You could be right." Travis considered her reply. LaRaine felt his gaze on her. Heat rushed through her body as she realized he was applying the description to her instead of the land--a beautiful nothing!
"Yes," LaRaine agreed without turning. She didn't want Travis McCrea to see the brightness of the unshed tears in her eyes.
"It's a vast, beautiful .... " The lie stuck in her throat. She couldn't find anything beautiful about this desolate country. ". . . Nothing," she finished with cold, blatant truthfulness.
"You could be right." Travis considered her reply. LaRaine felt his gaze on her. Heat rushed through her body as she realized he was applying the description to her instead of the land--a beautiful nothing!
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