What do you think?
Rate this book
Conquer the Memories
HE BRANDED HER LIPS WITH FLAME--AND LEFT HER YEARNING FOR A DEEPER LOVE...
Delicate, violet-eyed Catherine Maxfield was a spirited English noblewoman forced into a marriage of convenience with a devilishly handsome, maddeningly arrogant Texas rancher--and plunged into the dangers of the Mexican-American War!
But in spite of her fierce pride, from the moment Garrett Browning first touched her, Catherine truly became his. The wild abandon...the sweet fiery longings he aroused in her could never be denied...
Yet for all his demanding passion, Garrett Browning remained stubbornly, mysteriously aloof. And it was left to Catherine to uncover the secret hidden in his heart - the secret that could drive him away from her...forever.
Delicate, violet-eyed Catherine Maxfield was a spirited English noblewoman forced into a marriage of convenience with a devilishly handsome, maddeningly arrogant Texas rancher--and plunged into the dangers of the Mexican-American War!
But in spite of her fierce pride, from the moment Garrett Browning first touched her, Catherine truly became his. The wild abandon...the sweet fiery longings he aroused in her could never be denied...
Yet for all his demanding passion, Garrett Browning remained stubbornly, mysteriously aloof. And it was left to Catherine to uncover the secret hidden in his heart - the secret that could drive him away from her...forever.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
24 people want to read
About the author
Janet Joyce
26 books4 followersA pseudonym used by
Janet Bieber, Joyce Thies
From the Richard Gallen edition of Conquer the Memories:
Janet Joyce is two Ohio housewives who have combined their first names and talents to form a writing partnership. They were introduced by a mutual friend who knew that Joyce wrote fast-moving stories about naked people in vague places, while Janet wrote of exquisitely dressed people locked in detailed times and places. The friend thought they would do better together.
Janet, a born Buckeye, lives with her optometrist husband and three children. She holds a degree in education from Ohio State University, loves history and is active in Girl Scouting. Joyce, a Minnesota native, recently moved to Ohio from New York. She majored in English at the University of Minnesota and lives with her architect husband and two children. Both women married dedicated professionals and, since the start of their writing partnership, have discovered that workaholism is a family trait they all share.
Their combined children, two boys and three girls ranging in ages from seven to twelve, have taken over as cooks, housekeepers, baby-sitters and advisors during the times when Janet and Joyce work on their manuscripts. Their two husbands share such similar attitudes and habits that Janet and Joyce have often speculated that they are married to one man who has devised an ingenious disguise.
Although many partnerships might falter because of personality conflicts, Janet and Joyce realized early that they were both too cowardly for confrontation. They appreciate each other's abilities and have formed a mutual support society, recognizing that each complements the other. Conquer the Memories is their first novel, and they are currently completing another.
Janet Bieber, Joyce Thies
From the Richard Gallen edition of Conquer the Memories:
Janet Joyce is two Ohio housewives who have combined their first names and talents to form a writing partnership. They were introduced by a mutual friend who knew that Joyce wrote fast-moving stories about naked people in vague places, while Janet wrote of exquisitely dressed people locked in detailed times and places. The friend thought they would do better together.
Janet, a born Buckeye, lives with her optometrist husband and three children. She holds a degree in education from Ohio State University, loves history and is active in Girl Scouting. Joyce, a Minnesota native, recently moved to Ohio from New York. She majored in English at the University of Minnesota and lives with her architect husband and two children. Both women married dedicated professionals and, since the start of their writing partnership, have discovered that workaholism is a family trait they all share.
Their combined children, two boys and three girls ranging in ages from seven to twelve, have taken over as cooks, housekeepers, baby-sitters and advisors during the times when Janet and Joyce work on their manuscripts. Their two husbands share such similar attitudes and habits that Janet and Joyce have often speculated that they are married to one man who has devised an ingenious disguise.
Although many partnerships might falter because of personality conflicts, Janet and Joyce realized early that they were both too cowardly for confrontation. They appreciate each other's abilities and have formed a mutual support society, recognizing that each complements the other. Conquer the Memories is their first novel, and they are currently completing another.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 20, 2026
Such an irritating book.
The hero was absolutely horrible. It’s not that he cheats—he’s technically loyal—but aside from that, he’s completely selfish and unlikable. He marries the heroine against her will just so he can claim his inheritance, since his father’s will requires him to marry an English woman. To make it worse, he practically wins her from her father in a card game. Then he drags her off to America and expects her to simply comply with everything.
When war begins to loom, he suddenly decides to leave for a mission, abandoning the heroine alone in a completely unfamiliar city until he returns. She’s already in love with him at this point, so she follows him anyway. He reluctantly allows her to come along. During the mission, they’re attacked by villains and the hero is badly beaten. The heroine nurses him devotedly and takes excellent care of him.
When they finally reach his home, there’s an evil stepbrother and a half-sister figure—who claims to see him as a brother but clearly wants him for herself. She deliberately tries to create misunderstandings between the hero and heroine. As a result, the heroine attempts to run away, but the hero stops her.
Once the truth comes out, what does the hero do? He leaves again—this time to finish his mission and kill the man who attacked him. He even gives the heroine money so she can return to England. I hated him at this point. Completely hated him.
The heroine stays only because she loves him—and because she’s pregnant. The hero is gone for about six months. When he finally returns, she’s still there, and they now have a son.
Honestly, the worst hero ever. So selfish. The entire story is just endless push and pull. Yes, they have physical chemistry, but emotionally they are totally incompatible.
The heroine, on the other hand, was wonderful. She was intelligent, brave, and adaptable. She adjusted to the wagon trail life, endured hardship without complaint, and took exceptional care of him when he was injured. Yet I never once felt that the hero truly appreciated her sacrifices or showed genuine gratitude.
She deserved so much better.
I absolutely hate the trope where the hero judges the heroine based on someone else’s misdeeds. In this book, it’s his mother who treated him horribly, and instead of dealing with his trauma, he projects it onto the heroine. He just assumes she’ll be the same kind of person.
That’s what makes his behavior even more infuriating. The heroine does absolutely nothing to deserve his coldness, control, or mistrust. Yet he keeps punishing her for sins that aren’t hers—using his past as an excuse to remain emotionally closed off and selfish. Trauma may explain his behavior, but it doesn’t justify it.
The hero was absolutely horrible. It’s not that he cheats—he’s technically loyal—but aside from that, he’s completely selfish and unlikable. He marries the heroine against her will just so he can claim his inheritance, since his father’s will requires him to marry an English woman. To make it worse, he practically wins her from her father in a card game. Then he drags her off to America and expects her to simply comply with everything.
When war begins to loom, he suddenly decides to leave for a mission, abandoning the heroine alone in a completely unfamiliar city until he returns. She’s already in love with him at this point, so she follows him anyway. He reluctantly allows her to come along. During the mission, they’re attacked by villains and the hero is badly beaten. The heroine nurses him devotedly and takes excellent care of him.
When they finally reach his home, there’s an evil stepbrother and a half-sister figure—who claims to see him as a brother but clearly wants him for herself. She deliberately tries to create misunderstandings between the hero and heroine. As a result, the heroine attempts to run away, but the hero stops her.
Once the truth comes out, what does the hero do? He leaves again—this time to finish his mission and kill the man who attacked him. He even gives the heroine money so she can return to England. I hated him at this point. Completely hated him.
The heroine stays only because she loves him—and because she’s pregnant. The hero is gone for about six months. When he finally returns, she’s still there, and they now have a son.
Honestly, the worst hero ever. So selfish. The entire story is just endless push and pull. Yes, they have physical chemistry, but emotionally they are totally incompatible.
The heroine, on the other hand, was wonderful. She was intelligent, brave, and adaptable. She adjusted to the wagon trail life, endured hardship without complaint, and took exceptional care of him when he was injured. Yet I never once felt that the hero truly appreciated her sacrifices or showed genuine gratitude.
She deserved so much better.
I absolutely hate the trope where the hero judges the heroine based on someone else’s misdeeds. In this book, it’s his mother who treated him horribly, and instead of dealing with his trauma, he projects it onto the heroine. He just assumes she’ll be the same kind of person.
That’s what makes his behavior even more infuriating. The heroine does absolutely nothing to deserve his coldness, control, or mistrust. Yet he keeps punishing her for sins that aren’t hers—using his past as an excuse to remain emotionally closed off and selfish. Trauma may explain his behavior, but it doesn’t justify it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2021
First one by Brad’s mom.
Very enjoyable, well written, and intelligent foe the genre. Which I enjoy.
There will be more to break up the serious stuff.
Very enjoyable, well written, and intelligent foe the genre. Which I enjoy.
There will be more to break up the serious stuff.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews