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Westward Hearts #3
Dangerous Heart
Growing up motherless with an outlaw father made Ginger Freeman hard and unforgiving—and for the past seven years she's been driven by a single to make Grant Kelley pay for letting her brother die. Now that she's tracked the hated doctor to a westward-bound wagon train, her mission of vengeance is nearly completed. But the sense of family and community that suddenly surrounds her is unlike anything Ginger has ever experienced. And under the nurturing eye of Miss Sadie, the outlaw's daughter begins to lose her rough edges. Here, in the company of loving, newfound friends, Ginger feels herself becoming part of something much bigger than revenge. But catastrophe is in the wind when her pa and his gang arrive to infiltrate the wagon train. Will Ginger's new relationship with God tear her away from her family forever . . . and cost her everything she's now begun to hold dear?
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
12 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Bateman
60 books156 followersTracey Bateman is also published as Tracey Cross, is the Christy award-winning author of more than thirty titles and has nearly a million books in print. She lives in Missouri's Ozarks with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 8, 2012
This wasn't my favorite of the series but the heroine Ginger was the most deserving of a happy ending of the three women. I also loved the message in this story about God's love and how salvation can't be earned but is freely given to anyone who desires it. C++
March 7, 2018
Great Conclusion. LOVED this series!
December 15, 2023
i only read it to finish my reading goal idk what i just read
November 17, 2008
Perfect for : Personal reading, Book Club reading (Discussion questions are included in the back of the book)
In a nutshell: I enjoyed this book a lot, it has a great mix of adventure, romance, danger and life in a wagon-train! Having very little female influence in her life growing up, Ginger Freeman is now a little rough around the edges, but it makes her very lovable and refreshing. Raised within a band of outlaws, her original intent when joining the wagon-train was to kill Grant, the man she believes had a hand in the death of her older brother. She finds that Grant is a skilled doctor with a willingness to help others, and a faith that runs deep. Now she is faced with a choice - go through with her plan, or return to the outlaws without having avenged her brother's death. As a reader, I got to see the slow transformation of Ginger as her faith grew. Once I got into the story, I couldn't put the book down. It was a very enjoyable read, and I'd like to feel that I learned a few things about prairie life and the west.
My Review:
I really did enjoy this book, but think I would have liked it even better if I had read the two previous books. The book is great as a stand-alone book, but I did see parts that referred to the earlier story in Ginger's life, that were most likely filled in with the previous books. That said, the book really was fine to read all by itself.
Characters: Tracey's book was filled with fascinating characters such as Lane (a despicable outlaw), Sam Two Feathers (religious leader/Native American within the wagon train), Ginger (main character, raised in a band of outlaws, bent on revenge), Web (Ginger's good-for-nothing "pa" and outlaw leader), Grant (the wagon-train doctor whose wife was killed during a raid by the outlaws led by Web), I could go on and on - there were a few more important characters, but in all they were very well-developed and it was great to see some of the characters have a change of heart and gain in faith. If you get a chance to pick up the book, please come back and let me know how you like Miss Sadie. She is possibly one of my favorite characters in quite a while!
Story-Line: It was a faith-filled (but not preachy) book, teaching forgiveness and instilling hope in both the characters and the reader. Taking place in the 1850's, a wagon-train headed for Oregon runs into a band of outlaws and has to face the odds when Cholera runs through the community. If that isn't enough to encourage a person to find faith, add in three scheming outlaws (at least), a wealthy man heading west to start a new life with his two kids, a doctor who lost his wife during a raid by those same outlaws, and a girl who was raised by outlaws, who is now surrounded by open, honest, faith-filled friends. It was very entertaining and enjoyable.
Readability: I found the book easy to read. The authors style and pace were both good.
Overall: A fun book that ends the Westward Hearts trilogy very well. If you are a fan of Christian fiction, prairie life, wagon-trains, etc, you will enjoy this book.
In a nutshell: I enjoyed this book a lot, it has a great mix of adventure, romance, danger and life in a wagon-train! Having very little female influence in her life growing up, Ginger Freeman is now a little rough around the edges, but it makes her very lovable and refreshing. Raised within a band of outlaws, her original intent when joining the wagon-train was to kill Grant, the man she believes had a hand in the death of her older brother. She finds that Grant is a skilled doctor with a willingness to help others, and a faith that runs deep. Now she is faced with a choice - go through with her plan, or return to the outlaws without having avenged her brother's death. As a reader, I got to see the slow transformation of Ginger as her faith grew. Once I got into the story, I couldn't put the book down. It was a very enjoyable read, and I'd like to feel that I learned a few things about prairie life and the west.
My Review:
I really did enjoy this book, but think I would have liked it even better if I had read the two previous books. The book is great as a stand-alone book, but I did see parts that referred to the earlier story in Ginger's life, that were most likely filled in with the previous books. That said, the book really was fine to read all by itself.
Characters: Tracey's book was filled with fascinating characters such as Lane (a despicable outlaw), Sam Two Feathers (religious leader/Native American within the wagon train), Ginger (main character, raised in a band of outlaws, bent on revenge), Web (Ginger's good-for-nothing "pa" and outlaw leader), Grant (the wagon-train doctor whose wife was killed during a raid by the outlaws led by Web), I could go on and on - there were a few more important characters, but in all they were very well-developed and it was great to see some of the characters have a change of heart and gain in faith. If you get a chance to pick up the book, please come back and let me know how you like Miss Sadie. She is possibly one of my favorite characters in quite a while!
Story-Line: It was a faith-filled (but not preachy) book, teaching forgiveness and instilling hope in both the characters and the reader. Taking place in the 1850's, a wagon-train headed for Oregon runs into a band of outlaws and has to face the odds when Cholera runs through the community. If that isn't enough to encourage a person to find faith, add in three scheming outlaws (at least), a wealthy man heading west to start a new life with his two kids, a doctor who lost his wife during a raid by those same outlaws, and a girl who was raised by outlaws, who is now surrounded by open, honest, faith-filled friends. It was very entertaining and enjoyable.
Readability: I found the book easy to read. The authors style and pace were both good.
Overall: A fun book that ends the Westward Hearts trilogy very well. If you are a fan of Christian fiction, prairie life, wagon-trains, etc, you will enjoy this book.
June 12, 2009
I was totally enthralled with this book. Literally after finishing it, I felt like I came out of a spell or deep sleep or something because I was refreshed by it!
I fell in love with the main character Ginger - a rough-edged woman trying to figure out how to live a good life and escape her past. Her heart and her desires are struggles we can all relate to whether in the past or present. Ultimately her struggle with who God is and if she could really believe in Him.
This reminds me of reading a Jude Deveraux romance, without all the “extra” information that I’d rather have left to my imagination! I would definitely pick up another one of Tracey’s books when I”m looking for a great romance/adventure book to read!
Ironically, this morning in my own Bible study group we were discussing favoritism in James, which relates to this book in a lot of ways. God shows no favoritism and we should remember that. He loves us all — rich, poor, faithful, or outlaw. He loves us. I really loved how this stuck out in this book.
The best part about this book (other than the good story you’re drawn into) was a part that Tracey addresses in her letter about the book ” If God is God, how can He forget?”… “He forgets for His sake.” .. He blots out our past, any confessed sin because He chooses to…” a simple yet profound understanding that we have a hard time remembering. It was an eye opener for me and I appreciated the discussions in this book and choices that where made real in my heart and mind!
I fell in love with the main character Ginger - a rough-edged woman trying to figure out how to live a good life and escape her past. Her heart and her desires are struggles we can all relate to whether in the past or present. Ultimately her struggle with who God is and if she could really believe in Him.
This reminds me of reading a Jude Deveraux romance, without all the “extra” information that I’d rather have left to my imagination! I would definitely pick up another one of Tracey’s books when I”m looking for a great romance/adventure book to read!
Ironically, this morning in my own Bible study group we were discussing favoritism in James, which relates to this book in a lot of ways. God shows no favoritism and we should remember that. He loves us all — rich, poor, faithful, or outlaw. He loves us. I really loved how this stuck out in this book.
The best part about this book (other than the good story you’re drawn into) was a part that Tracey addresses in her letter about the book ” If God is God, how can He forget?”… “He forgets for His sake.” .. He blots out our past, any confessed sin because He chooses to…” a simple yet profound understanding that we have a hard time remembering. It was an eye opener for me and I appreciated the discussions in this book and choices that where made real in my heart and mind!
May 20, 2009
this is the third and last book in the westward hearts series. I was sad to see it end. Ginger is a hard shelled softy. She came is rough at one of the forts with a hidden agenda to seek revenge for her killed brother Clem on "Doc" or grant Kelley, but after getting to know him she has a hard time carrying out her revenge. Things turn for the worst when gingers family a group of outlaws find and attack the wagon train. Her younger brother is wounded and brought back to camp by blake unaware that he has just exposed the camp to colera. As they fight the disease the question is brought to focus of who to use the limited quinine on the outlaws or the camp. Another remedy is used and Ginger and miss sadie help tend to the outlaw camp against Grants wishes. He loves Ginger and wants to protect her even after learning of her lies and revenge. Lane, and outlaw claims to have been promised Gingers hand in marriage, but Ginger refuses and gets the aftermath. The calera has gone, but so have the outlaws with Mr. Harrison's money. They have also taken Ginger to help with another job, though this time it's against her will. Grant, Elijah, Sam and Buddy rescue her and head back to the wagon train. Even Wes, Gingers father has a change of heart when faced with dieing. All the families make it to Oregon and have settled in happy life with children and the prospect of growth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2009
I was reading this book during our move, and my computer and internet-less time. Apparently I never made a review. Which is so bizarre to me, but oh well.
I do not remember the specifics of this book, having read it three months ago, but I can tell you that I loved it while reading it. It is the third and last installment in the Westward Hearts series from Avon Inspire by Tracey Bateman and I loved the entire series.
The characters were so likable and believable. They were real to me and went through some hard times on the wagon trail. As soon as I can get myself a copy of the first book, I'm keeping this series on my permanent shelf. It is definitely a collection of books that I would not mind reading time and again for a little bit of a lesson, a little bit of romance, and a good bit of entertainment.
I highly recommend the entire series in order!
I do not remember the specifics of this book, having read it three months ago, but I can tell you that I loved it while reading it. It is the third and last installment in the Westward Hearts series from Avon Inspire by Tracey Bateman and I loved the entire series.
The characters were so likable and believable. They were real to me and went through some hard times on the wagon trail. As soon as I can get myself a copy of the first book, I'm keeping this series on my permanent shelf. It is definitely a collection of books that I would not mind reading time and again for a little bit of a lesson, a little bit of romance, and a good bit of entertainment.
I highly recommend the entire series in order!
November 3, 2013
As with the other 2 books in this series, the story grabbed me right from the first page and didn't let go until the end. I kind of fell in love with Ginger during the previous book. She was a minor character, but her spunky sassiness caught my attention and that made me excited to read her story.
It did not disappoint. My heart broke for her at what she'd gone through as a young child, and rejoiced when she realised she could make better choices in her life, and that she didn't have to be defined by her past.
This was a great ending to a great series. I will definitely be reading more of Tracey Bateman's work in the future! :)
It did not disappoint. My heart broke for her at what she'd gone through as a young child, and rejoiced when she realised she could make better choices in her life, and that she didn't have to be defined by her past.
This was a great ending to a great series. I will definitely be reading more of Tracey Bateman's work in the future! :)
March 28, 2016
The last of the Westward Hearts series, this story centers around Ginger and her need for revenge. She seeks to avenge the death of her brother, wrongly caused by the doctor traveling with the wagon train. But she finds herself seeing the good in the man, and has trouble seeing him as a doctor who would let any man, even an outlaw, bleed to death. As the tale unfolds, the truth emerges, showing that a little knowledge is indeed a dangerous thing. A good conclusion to a well written trilogy.
February 24, 2009
I liked this book the best of the three. I really enjoyed the way she brought to the forfront that everyone even people who know better sometimes see the wrong side or what they think they see in a person, instead of looking to find what God sees in that person. It is something that I want to remember.
August 14, 2011
I found the book to be pretty predictable, but that did make it to be an easy book to read. My only real complaint is that the ending seemed a little rushed. One moment Ginger and Grant are fighting and the next they are engaged to be married. I would have liked to have read some romance and courting scenes. While this is not my favorite book by this author, it was worth the read.
June 20, 2012
Enjoyed all three books in Westward Heart series. Fannie & Blake, Toni & Sam, and Ginger & Grant were each unique yet similar strong characters with not-so-perfect pasts. Don't know which was my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2012
Loved this book. Loved this series. I will miss Blake and Fannie (book one) the most. They were my favorites, closely followed by Miss Saddie. Ginger and Grant had been through so much it was good that they had a happy ending.
June 28, 2010
I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series.
July 22, 2010
Trust in the ones that love you they might suprise you. They will accept you at face value.
August 21, 2010
Loved it!!
November 2, 2010
Clean. Regular cutesie tootsie Christian romance. I read it in the wrong order and it was still ok.
February 21, 2011
I liked the twists and turns (very minor) in this book, but it was my least fav of the 3 in the series.
November 19, 2012
Book 3 of 3
August 8, 2013
This is a great example of the picture of sin and how God's love can redeem even the ugliest of hearts!
February 12, 2016
I am so sad the series is over,but I am looking forward to whatever else this author has in mind. This was an excellent ending to the series, and I just loved it.
July 28, 2016
Ok written, storyline ok. didn't realize it was 3rd book in trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews