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Coulters Historical #1
Keegan's Lady
Alternate-cover edition can be found here
Only Love Can Heal a Wounded Soul ...
Caitlin O'Shannessy's late father left her with many things: a Colorado ranch, enduring memories of pain and sadness, an unshakable mistrust of men ... and an adversary.
Ace Keegan has returned to No Name, too late to enact a rightful vengeance on his most hated enemy. The man who put a hole in Ace's life is dead, leaving a daughter behind to run the family enterprise. Though proud and strong as well as beautiful, Caitlin is caught off guard when Ace's calculated anger inadvertently destroys her good name. But Ace Keegan is a man of honor, determined to make amends by marrying the enchanting lady he wronged—and to nurture patience and love the light she guards in her damage heart until it blazes with the power of a thousand suns.
Only Love Can Heal a Wounded Soul ...
Caitlin O'Shannessy's late father left her with many things: a Colorado ranch, enduring memories of pain and sadness, an unshakable mistrust of men ... and an adversary.
Ace Keegan has returned to No Name, too late to enact a rightful vengeance on his most hated enemy. The man who put a hole in Ace's life is dead, leaving a daughter behind to run the family enterprise. Though proud and strong as well as beautiful, Caitlin is caught off guard when Ace's calculated anger inadvertently destroys her good name. But Ace Keegan is a man of honor, determined to make amends by marrying the enchanting lady he wronged—and to nurture patience and love the light she guards in her damage heart until it blazes with the power of a thousand suns.
410 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1996
182 people are currently reading
3076 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Anderson
102 books2,969 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
July 14, 2013
Rate: 2 stars
THE PLOT
Caitlin O'Shannessy survived years of abuse at the hands of her alcoholic father. Now he is dead---leaving the strong, courageous miss with a Colorado ranch, an unwavering devotion to her brother, a lasting mistrust of men...and an adversary. A man of honor, Ace Keegan returned to No Name intending to avenge his stepfather's murder. But when his calculated anger damages the good name of his dead enemy's daughter, Ace vows to make amends by marrying the flame-haired Caitlin. Ace is determined to nurture with patience and love the light his lady Caitlin guards in her damaged heart...until it blazes with the power of a thousand suns.
MY THOUGHTS
I could hardly say I enjoyed this book. In fact, by all counts, it was mediocre verging on utterly boring. Maybe it was just me and my impatience to see some action on the romance front but this is how most of the book seem to go:
Ace: Let me make love to you
Caitlin: *Starts trembling with fear*
Ace: Dammit! I'm not going to force you.
Caitlin: *Relieved*
Ace: Let me make love to you
Caitlin: *Starts trembling with fear*
Ace: Dammit! I'm not going to force you.
Caitlin: *Relieved*
Ace: Let me make love to you
Caitlin: *Starts trembling with fear*
Ace: Dammit! I'm not going to force you.
Caitlin: *Relieved*
Me: Um, Catherine Anderson? Are we going to move on now?
I know it was supposed to be a tender story about emotional healing and love but I just ended up bored and frustrated and slightly confused. I'm not sure I understood the significance of Ace giving Caitlin his knife. I'm sorry but that had me scratching my head. What did the poor man have to do to make Caitlin understand that he had no intention to hurt her??? I understood that Caitlin's fear was not born out of nothing, in fact it's completely justified and of course, I felt sorry for her and detested her father for the things he did. But my emotional connection with this book seemed to be missing in action most of the time. The plot just wasn't enough to keep me interested. The only reason I'm even giving this book 2 stars is because I somehow managed to finish it (and there is a bit of passion and romance in the end). But mostly, this book was a disappointment.
December 30, 2019
I just love all of Catherine Anderson's books - they all get 5 stars from me - even went to the bother of buying the paperback of this edition as it is not available on Kindle - that is proof of how much I love her work.
October 2, 2020
2 stars
God, I wanna scratch my eyes out.
This was like an exercise in patience. The heroine was just.. too much! There’s paranoid and suspicious and then there’s just stupid. It was all so melodramatic.
Also, I’m staring to see a pattern with every Catherine Anderson book. All her heroines are suffering trauma from some kind of abuse that 90% of the time includes rape or almost rape, but there’s always some kind of physical and psychological trauma due to violence. I mean come on! Every time?! And they are all absurdly paranoid and act in such weird ways. It’s exhausting to read their thought process.
The only book in which this whole thing worked was Comanche Moon because it was about Native Americans and there was a lot of fear and ignorance between the two groups which could explain the reticence, paranoia and stubbornness of not believing someone can be good and genuine. After reading so many of this authors books I’m starting to think that particular book was just unintentionally good because honestly she only knows how to write one type of heroine.
God, I wanna scratch my eyes out.
This was like an exercise in patience. The heroine was just.. too much! There’s paranoid and suspicious and then there’s just stupid. It was all so melodramatic.
Also, I’m staring to see a pattern with every Catherine Anderson book. All her heroines are suffering trauma from some kind of abuse that 90% of the time includes rape or almost rape, but there’s always some kind of physical and psychological trauma due to violence. I mean come on! Every time?! And they are all absurdly paranoid and act in such weird ways. It’s exhausting to read their thought process.
The only book in which this whole thing worked was Comanche Moon because it was about Native Americans and there was a lot of fear and ignorance between the two groups which could explain the reticence, paranoia and stubbornness of not believing someone can be good and genuine. After reading so many of this authors books I’m starting to think that particular book was just unintentionally good because honestly she only knows how to write one type of heroine.
April 22, 2023
4/22/2023: 3.5 stars. Rereading this and knowing what was going to happen (even roughly) just made this story too painful and angsty. I knew what was coming and I was DREADING it far before reading it. This is a very angsty story.
Safe:
Heroine not a virgin only because she was raped in past
Heroine had no other partners and afraid of intimacy
Hero has only been with prostitutes
No OM/OW drama or scenes
No cheating
8/2/2020: 4 stars, maybe even 4.5... but I took off a half star for all the editing errors (idk if I read an early edition, but it’s bad). Not counting the editing, this is a really well written and touching story about love and forgiveness. My heart hurt while reading, I cried like a baby multiple times, but in the end, I’m glad I picked this book up.
This is the story of Ace and Caitlin... Ace and his family suffered greatly as a result of Caitlin’s father’s actions. He returns to the land that his father purchased but was cheated out of, and plans to get revenge against all those who wronged him. In the process, he meets Caitlin, and basically forces her into a marriage she desperately doesn’t want. Caitlin has tons of her own demons and doesn’t trust anyone, especially not men. She feels trapped by Ace, and wishes desperately to escape him.
What I loved most about this story is how strong Ace was in spite of all the challenges he encountered. He is really a wonderful hero, because even though he makes plenty of mistakes, he never gives up. Caitlin’s behavior and struggles would have had a saint turning his back on her, but Ace never waivers. I was hoping for him to lose his shit at one point, I was so frustrated by her. At the end, I don’t know how realistic some parts of the story were, but I think it made for a powerful and touching narrative.
Probably safe for most :
Safe:
Heroine not a virgin only because she was raped in past
Heroine had no other partners and afraid of intimacy
Hero has only been with prostitutes
No OM/OW drama or scenes
No cheating
8/2/2020: 4 stars, maybe even 4.5... but I took off a half star for all the editing errors (idk if I read an early edition, but it’s bad). Not counting the editing, this is a really well written and touching story about love and forgiveness. My heart hurt while reading, I cried like a baby multiple times, but in the end, I’m glad I picked this book up.
This is the story of Ace and Caitlin... Ace and his family suffered greatly as a result of Caitlin’s father’s actions. He returns to the land that his father purchased but was cheated out of, and plans to get revenge against all those who wronged him. In the process, he meets Caitlin, and basically forces her into a marriage she desperately doesn’t want. Caitlin has tons of her own demons and doesn’t trust anyone, especially not men. She feels trapped by Ace, and wishes desperately to escape him.
What I loved most about this story is how strong Ace was in spite of all the challenges he encountered. He is really a wonderful hero, because even though he makes plenty of mistakes, he never gives up. Caitlin’s behavior and struggles would have had a saint turning his back on her, but Ace never waivers. I was hoping for him to lose his shit at one point, I was so frustrated by her. At the end, I don’t know how realistic some parts of the story were, but I think it made for a powerful and touching narrative.
Probably safe for most :
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2010
Love it loved it loved it. This book had everything! Why did I wait so long to read it? There's no beating a good story, and Catherine Anderson was at her best when she wrote this gem. Former gunslinger Ace Keegan has to be one of my all time favorite CA heroes--wow, what a man. Patient, loving, tolerant, honorable, forgiving, and very, very, sexy. In short--everything you look for in a romance hero.
This was a story about a young boy (Ace Keegan) witnessing his loving stepfather wrongfully hanged for a crime he did not commit, and 20 years later returning to the scene of the crime looking for vengeance. Along the way his plan takes a big detour when his conscience (and a shotgun wielded by a drunken hothead) causes him to marry the daughter (Caitlin O'Shannessy) of one of the men who was instrumental in his father's hanging and the rape of his mother. The marriage is only to protect Caitlin's sullied reputation (which he caused) and is filled with mistrust and fear on the skittish Caitlin's part, yet there's something about the proud, beautiful Caitlin that makes Ace refuse to give up on the marriage. With patience, gentleness, tolerance, forgiveness and showing Caitlin that she can trust him, Caitlin opens up and reveals the secrets of her abusive past with her drunken father, and why she has trouble believing in men and why she fears Ace's touch. But just as Caitlin and Ace look like they can have a happy life together, the past comes back to haunt them, and once again an innocent man stands accused of a crime he didn't commit and is facing a hanging. Will the outcome be different this time? Will Caitlin and Ace's new found love come to a tragic end? Or will they both get the happiness that they deserve?
Catherine Anderson weaves a wonderful story with "Keegan's Lady"--this one was very hard to put down. I'll admit there were times when I got a bit frustrated with Caitlin (why couldn't she trust Ace?), but her heartbreaking backstory made her reluctance to trust Ace all too believable. And while I was getting frustrated, Ace was getting more frustrated. But he was determined to win her over and get her to believe in him, and I was wondering just what he had to do for her to finally see that he truly was her knight in shining armor. Caitlin was so fearful of physical intimacy that I was beginning to wonder if she'd ever let Ace make love to her. When they finally got around to it (page 269), although late in the book, it was worth the wait. I was so happy for both of them! But then the past reared it's ugly head, and lead to one big nail-biting conclusion that had me holding my breath while Caitlin had to show some real courage and fight for her man. Lots of tense moments for me, and a huge sigh of relief when it was finally over. Whew, this book wore me out!
Fans of Catherine Anderson, you don't want to miss this one. It's book #1 of her 4 part Coulter's Historical series, and you really should start with this book if you're going to read the series, unless you don't mind spoilers. You'll fall in love with Ace Keegan, that's for sure, and you'll be rooting hard for his relationship with Caitlin to work out. Ace has a couple of half brothers whose stories have yet to be told, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for them. This one was a big winner, one of my favorite reads of the year. 5 stars
This was a story about a young boy (Ace Keegan) witnessing his loving stepfather wrongfully hanged for a crime he did not commit, and 20 years later returning to the scene of the crime looking for vengeance. Along the way his plan takes a big detour when his conscience (and a shotgun wielded by a drunken hothead) causes him to marry the daughter (Caitlin O'Shannessy) of one of the men who was instrumental in his father's hanging and the rape of his mother. The marriage is only to protect Caitlin's sullied reputation (which he caused) and is filled with mistrust and fear on the skittish Caitlin's part, yet there's something about the proud, beautiful Caitlin that makes Ace refuse to give up on the marriage. With patience, gentleness, tolerance, forgiveness and showing Caitlin that she can trust him, Caitlin opens up and reveals the secrets of her abusive past with her drunken father, and why she has trouble believing in men and why she fears Ace's touch. But just as Caitlin and Ace look like they can have a happy life together, the past comes back to haunt them, and once again an innocent man stands accused of a crime he didn't commit and is facing a hanging. Will the outcome be different this time? Will Caitlin and Ace's new found love come to a tragic end? Or will they both get the happiness that they deserve?
Catherine Anderson weaves a wonderful story with "Keegan's Lady"--this one was very hard to put down. I'll admit there were times when I got a bit frustrated with Caitlin (why couldn't she trust Ace?), but her heartbreaking backstory made her reluctance to trust Ace all too believable. And while I was getting frustrated, Ace was getting more frustrated. But he was determined to win her over and get her to believe in him, and I was wondering just what he had to do for her to finally see that he truly was her knight in shining armor. Caitlin was so fearful of physical intimacy that I was beginning to wonder if she'd ever let Ace make love to her. When they finally got around to it (page 269), although late in the book, it was worth the wait. I was so happy for both of them! But then the past reared it's ugly head, and lead to one big nail-biting conclusion that had me holding my breath while Caitlin had to show some real courage and fight for her man. Lots of tense moments for me, and a huge sigh of relief when it was finally over. Whew, this book wore me out!
Fans of Catherine Anderson, you don't want to miss this one. It's book #1 of her 4 part Coulter's Historical series, and you really should start with this book if you're going to read the series, unless you don't mind spoilers. You'll fall in love with Ace Keegan, that's for sure, and you'll be rooting hard for his relationship with Caitlin to work out. Ace has a couple of half brothers whose stories have yet to be told, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for them. This one was a big winner, one of my favorite reads of the year. 5 stars
July 16, 2017
Adoro a esta autora pero este libro simplemente sobrepasó mis límites.
A mí amiga le pareció un libro 5 estrellas y por eso lo he leído pero es que ya desde el principio se veía venir el desastre. Al menos para mí.
En primer lugar, el prota nada más verla y lo primero que piensa es en su hermana... o sea como?
La segunda vez que la ve decide que va a casarse con ella y esa misma noche la arrastran a una capilla o lo que sea... el punto es que la obligan a casarse con el.
Esa misma noche el ya le dice mi amor y cariño y pues también quiere ejercer sus derechos conyugales pero por obra del Espíritu Santo ella lo convence de esperar.
Al día siguiente el ya la ama. Y como le preocupa tanto la obliga a hacer cosas que no quiere. La fuerza a comer cuando ella claramente le dice que no. Que no tiene hambre. Le dice que hacer cuando ella CLARAMENTE se niega pero la obliga a hacerlo.
Cuando ve que la regó va y le pide disculpas y shalala... así pasan un buen tiempo con las mismas actitudes autoritarias y tontas. La chica es insufrible. Teme por su hermano como si el fuera un niño de 10 años. Se la pasa toda nerviosa cuando el prota solo quiere hacer que se sienta cómoda y agusto pues ya se dio cuenta que mejor se debe acercar a ella con cariño.
Parece niña chiquita haciendo berrinches.
El hermano de ella es un lerendo bueno para nada que no hace más que puras tonterías.
Cuando los protas finalmente tienen sexo después de tanto miedo que le daba a ella por lo de su obscuro secreto, se vuelve insaciable.
En serio, era ninfomana la chica o algo. No terminaba una vez cuando ya iba por El Segundo asalto...
La narración fue terrible. No pude encontrar a la Catherine que me encanta y eso es francamente lamentable.
No me gustó y lo terminé por insistencia de mi amiga aunque si soy sincera me salte muchas páginas.
A para mala rachita que llevo de libros 😖😖😖
A mí amiga le pareció un libro 5 estrellas y por eso lo he leído pero es que ya desde el principio se veía venir el desastre. Al menos para mí.
En primer lugar, el prota nada más verla y lo primero que piensa es en su hermana... o sea como?
La segunda vez que la ve decide que va a casarse con ella y esa misma noche la arrastran a una capilla o lo que sea... el punto es que la obligan a casarse con el.
Esa misma noche el ya le dice mi amor y cariño y pues también quiere ejercer sus derechos conyugales pero por obra del Espíritu Santo ella lo convence de esperar.
Al día siguiente el ya la ama. Y como le preocupa tanto la obliga a hacer cosas que no quiere. La fuerza a comer cuando ella claramente le dice que no. Que no tiene hambre. Le dice que hacer cuando ella CLARAMENTE se niega pero la obliga a hacerlo.
Cuando ve que la regó va y le pide disculpas y shalala... así pasan un buen tiempo con las mismas actitudes autoritarias y tontas. La chica es insufrible. Teme por su hermano como si el fuera un niño de 10 años. Se la pasa toda nerviosa cuando el prota solo quiere hacer que se sienta cómoda y agusto pues ya se dio cuenta que mejor se debe acercar a ella con cariño.
Parece niña chiquita haciendo berrinches.
El hermano de ella es un lerendo bueno para nada que no hace más que puras tonterías.
Cuando los protas finalmente tienen sexo después de tanto miedo que le daba a ella por lo de su obscuro secreto, se vuelve insaciable.
En serio, era ninfomana la chica o algo. No terminaba una vez cuando ya iba por El Segundo asalto...
La narración fue terrible. No pude encontrar a la Catherine que me encanta y eso es francamente lamentable.
No me gustó y lo terminé por insistencia de mi amiga aunque si soy sincera me salte muchas páginas.
A para mala rachita que llevo de libros 😖😖😖
dnf-at-all
September 13, 2025DNF at 27% - just not for me. (Note to self: see Edith’s review for more details)
The prologue was horrific in true Catherine Andersen fashion, the hero as a child watching his mother get yanked back into the bushes to be raped and then his innocent father gets hung from a tree. This sets up his passion for revenge on the murderer (who turns out to be the FMCs father)
The story starts out interesting enough but I was completely bored by 25%. The FMC’s abusive and alcoholic father has died before the MMC arrives to town to finally get his revenge, so he has to deal with the FMC and her brother instead. A brother that has recently become an alcoholic, a hoodlum vandalizer and an all-around loser… yet the FMC blindly defends him.
It seems obvious the FMC has emotional issues due to her horrific childhood. The MMC seems extremely kind (which surprised me). The whole story was moving too slow for me, and from reviews I can see it’s going to be drama I’m not in the mood for. So no rating.
The prologue was horrific in true Catherine Andersen fashion, the hero as a child watching his mother get yanked back into the bushes to be raped and then his innocent father gets hung from a tree. This sets up his passion for revenge on the murderer (who turns out to be the FMCs father)
The story starts out interesting enough but I was completely bored by 25%. The FMC’s abusive and alcoholic father has died before the MMC arrives to town to finally get his revenge, so he has to deal with the FMC and her brother instead. A brother that has recently become an alcoholic, a hoodlum vandalizer and an all-around loser… yet the FMC blindly defends him.
It seems obvious the FMC has emotional issues due to her horrific childhood. The MMC seems extremely kind (which surprised me). The whole story was moving too slow for me, and from reviews I can see it’s going to be drama I’m not in the mood for. So no rating.
January 5, 2020
Definitely not as good the second time around... was quite bored for most of it. Very repetitive!
July 28, 2012
Colorado Territory
I loved this book! It’s a beautifully written and deeply moving story of two emotionally scarred people finding lasting happiness through the healing power of love. Classic Catherine Anderson.
Ace really made this book for me. He’s the perfect hero; under that tough exterior is a tender, sweet, caring man. He treats Caitlin with such patience and sensitivity when he attempts to woo her and gain her trust. I loved all the things he was willing to do like putting up with Caitlin’s cat, Lucky and its antics, simply because she loves the cat so much. He even buys some lighter coloured clothes so that the cat hairs won’t show up so much! How could you resist a man like that? So I was starting to get frustrated by Caitlin’s continued refusal to trust Ace until the full extent of her father’s betrayal was revealed. It was easy then to understand why her deep-seated fear and distrust of men would not go away overnight.
There were so many moving and evocative moments in this book but I found this one so powerful.
He fished through the satchel for the rest of the doll, locating its parts, piece by piece. As he laid them all out on the floor, his skin turned icy.
Ace stared down at the pieces. No child could have done damage like this. The doll’s cloth body had been completely dismembered, and with such violent force that chunks of its torso had been ripped away.
A scalding sensation washed over his eyes. He returned the dismembered doll to the satchel. Without Catlin’s confiding in him, he might never know the story behind the doll’s destruction, but he could certainly guess. Her father. Ace curled his hands into tight fists.
Such savagery…
It was frightening and chillingly significant. Ace could only wonder what kind of childhood the girl must have had.
The scenes between Ace and his half-brothers, particularly Joseph, showed the strong family bond that existed. Their dialogue also provided some welcome funny moments. But one of the best scenes involved Caitlin. She is nervous at meeting Ace’s brothers for the first time but completely wins them over with her knowledge about cattle!!
VERDICT: A STORY THAT REALLY TOUCHES THE HEART
RATING: ★★★★½
December 13, 2010
Not as good as Annie's Song, yet very similar. I know Caitlin was abused (quite severely), but her constant jumpiness and refusal to trust Ace (and how douchey a name is that?) started to wear thin after several chapters. I was happy when they finally worked their issues out and their marriage actually took off in the right direction.
Despite the douchey name, Ace was an amazing character. I wanted to cuff his ear a couple of times, but heroes aren't supposed to be perfect and I'm glad he wasn't. His patience and understanding with Caitlin made me sigh in feminine jealousy. And Lucky the cat's history made me cry. ;_;
The timing seemed good too. Almost half of the book took place over about a week and the second half over a month.
The "side characters", mostly consisting of Ace's three half-brothers and Caitlin's brother, Patrick, were well thought out and definitely added to the story. They didn't crowd the main couple but weren't just there to provide dialogue either. I love it when a full cast of characters is presented in such a good way.
Despite all the great things, something just fell short for me and I can't give this 5 stars. It was moving, well thought out, well executed, but...*shrug* I just don't know what was missing.
This was a good book to curl up with on a lazy Sunday.
Despite the douchey name, Ace was an amazing character. I wanted to cuff his ear a couple of times, but heroes aren't supposed to be perfect and I'm glad he wasn't. His patience and understanding with Caitlin made me sigh in feminine jealousy. And Lucky the cat's history made me cry. ;_;
The timing seemed good too. Almost half of the book took place over about a week and the second half over a month.
The "side characters", mostly consisting of Ace's three half-brothers and Caitlin's brother, Patrick, were well thought out and definitely added to the story. They didn't crowd the main couple but weren't just there to provide dialogue either. I love it when a full cast of characters is presented in such a good way.
Despite all the great things, something just fell short for me and I can't give this 5 stars. It was moving, well thought out, well executed, but...*shrug* I just don't know what was missing.
This was a good book to curl up with on a lazy Sunday.
October 5, 2016
A typical American West romance from the mid 1990s with a scarred H, a heroine with a dark past and a passel of brothers. I found the majority of townspeople hard-pressed to want as my neighbors. Gossip and innuendoes ran rampant even when there was no foundation.
I liked Keegan. He wanted revenge for such a long time but Caitlin's valid insecurities changed him. Caitlin...she was a bagful of angst, deep-rooted fears and self-doubt. A lesser man would gave given up on her. Her brother, Patrick, did not help matters.
*For die-hard fans of Catherine Anderson or old American West romances only.*
I liked Keegan. He wanted revenge for such a long time but Caitlin's valid insecurities changed him. Caitlin...she was a bagful of angst, deep-rooted fears and self-doubt. A lesser man would gave given up on her. Her brother, Patrick, did not help matters.
*For die-hard fans of Catherine Anderson or old American West romances only.*
October 17, 2024
This book was long, people, so damn long.
I don’t even have the words to describe the heroine and the hero needed a bit more of a backbone with her.
It wasn’t a bad book per se but the romantic relationship wasn’t good and the rest of the plot was boring. By 95% I was ready to dnf the whole thing because I could’t care less of what happened to them, and then proceeded to skim the rest.
I don’t even have the words to describe the heroine and the hero needed a bit more of a backbone with her.
It wasn’t a bad book per se but the romantic relationship wasn’t good and the rest of the plot was boring. By 95% I was ready to dnf the whole thing because I could’t care less of what happened to them, and then proceeded to skim the rest.
January 24, 2016
Overall rating: 4.5 stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
I was in kind of a book funk and this book was surprisingly good. It was just what I needed. I wasn't sure at first based on some reviews and wondering what the hero does that is so bad, but it was nothing like I expected. Ace is one of the sweetest heroes I've ever read about.
I definitely recommend it to others.
Oh and I found his hilarious - major spoiler
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama:
HEA:
I was in kind of a book funk and this book was surprisingly good. It was just what I needed. I wasn't sure at first based on some reviews and wondering what the hero does that is so bad, but it was nothing like I expected. Ace is one of the sweetest heroes I've ever read about.
I definitely recommend it to others.
Oh and I found his hilarious - major spoiler
December 9, 2015
Unfortunately, this book was so good that I ended up sort of skimming it and reading all the "good parts" beforehand. So then when I sat down to read it all the way through, I'd totally spoiled it for myself. It was just so good though that I couldn't resist.
When Keegan was a boy, his father was hanged for a crime he didn't commit and his mother was raped by the men who did it. He returns to the town where it happened to buy back the land his father was swindled out of and get his revenge. Caitlin is the daughter of the man Keegan's main enemy. Her father's been dead for a few years but her brother starts picking fights with Keegan because of Keegan's claims against their father. Despite his feelings about her father, Keegan falls for Caitlin pretty fast and they end up married after he accidentally ruins her reputation.
Anderson could have taken it such that Keegan mistreated her for half the book before his love winning out. That's sort of what she did in Comanche Moon. I think in this instance though I liked how with the exception of the scene in which they met, at the very beginning of the book, Keegan was totally aware of the fact that Caitlin was innocent and nothing like her father. He realized that she'd been mistreated all her life and set out to help her and win her trust.
When Keegan was a boy, his father was hanged for a crime he didn't commit and his mother was raped by the men who did it. He returns to the town where it happened to buy back the land his father was swindled out of and get his revenge. Caitlin is the daughter of the man Keegan's main enemy. Her father's been dead for a few years but her brother starts picking fights with Keegan because of Keegan's claims against their father. Despite his feelings about her father, Keegan falls for Caitlin pretty fast and they end up married after he accidentally ruins her reputation.
Anderson could have taken it such that Keegan mistreated her for half the book before his love winning out. That's sort of what she did in Comanche Moon. I think in this instance though I liked how with the exception of the scene in which they met, at the very beginning of the book, Keegan was totally aware of the fact that Caitlin was innocent and nothing like her father. He realized that she'd been mistreated all her life and set out to help her and win her trust.
June 16, 2008
A little history:
This is the first book with the Paxton brothers and Jamie/James/Ace Keegan (main character) is the stepson and the eldest in the Paxton family. His stepfather (Joseph Paxton, Sr) is murdered and his mom is sexually assaulted. Ace becomes more of a father figure with his step brothers (Joseph (Jr), Esa, and David--all Paxton's) and his step sister, Eden--a result of the sexual assault by a man named Conor O'Shannessy. (All that happens in the Prologue)
The review:
This was a heartwarming romantic western with very likable characters. Both had horrible "issues" to overcome--emphasis on horrible. Ace comes off as one mean gun slinger/gambler--in the beginning. As his character develops, he becomes a much needed guardian angle to Caitlin O'Shannessy --the daughter of his mothers rapist 20 something years earlier.
Caitlin's character had enormous emotional scarring as a result of her extremely abusive father (Conor O'Shannessy). She and her younger brother, Patrick, are getting by on their ranch--barely--but Patrick started taking after his father, drinking and becoming the new abuser in her life.
This book is about wishes and dreams. Revenge. Nightmare childhoods. With all that, around the middle of the book, when Caitlin, Ace, and the brother's are all living at Paradise (Paxton Ranch), this book became quite funny--laugh out loud moments. Then the book turned serious again.
The ending seemed to drag out with a lot of reiteration and it almost knocked the book down to a 3 1/2 stars. This would have been a favorite if not for the way the ending dragged. The ending seemed thrown together and haphazardly written. The rest of the book was well written and a delight to read.
This is the first book with the Paxton brothers and Jamie/James/Ace Keegan (main character) is the stepson and the eldest in the Paxton family. His stepfather (Joseph Paxton, Sr) is murdered and his mom is sexually assaulted. Ace becomes more of a father figure with his step brothers (Joseph (Jr), Esa, and David--all Paxton's) and his step sister, Eden--a result of the sexual assault by a man named Conor O'Shannessy. (All that happens in the Prologue)
The review:
This was a heartwarming romantic western with very likable characters. Both had horrible "issues" to overcome--emphasis on horrible. Ace comes off as one mean gun slinger/gambler--in the beginning. As his character develops, he becomes a much needed guardian angle to Caitlin O'Shannessy --the daughter of his mothers rapist 20 something years earlier.
Caitlin's character had enormous emotional scarring as a result of her extremely abusive father (Conor O'Shannessy). She and her younger brother, Patrick, are getting by on their ranch--barely--but Patrick started taking after his father, drinking and becoming the new abuser in her life.
This book is about wishes and dreams. Revenge. Nightmare childhoods. With all that, around the middle of the book, when Caitlin, Ace, and the brother's are all living at Paradise (Paxton Ranch), this book became quite funny--laugh out loud moments. Then the book turned serious again.
The ending seemed to drag out with a lot of reiteration and it almost knocked the book down to a 3 1/2 stars. This would have been a favorite if not for the way the ending dragged. The ending seemed thrown together and haphazardly written. The rest of the book was well written and a delight to read.
March 6, 2020
3.5/5 stars
May 23, 2009
Rating: 3.5 / 5
I almost wasn't able to finish this book...not because it was bad or anything, but because I got to the end and found that my used copy was missing the last three pages. As you can imagine, I was not very happy to discover this. Luckily, I was able to use Amazon's "look inside" feature to read the last little bit. And though this was a good book, I can't say it will be one of my Catherine Anderson favorites. It was an average good romance, but it didn't have anything particularly special or unique about it - as many other Anderson books typically do.
Keegan's Lady is a historical romance connected to Anderson's Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan contemporary series - there's a familial connection between the Coulters and Paxtons and Keegans; the half-sister of this book's hero marries a Coulter ancestor. This book can be read on its own though.
When Ace Keegan was just a boy, he watched as his mother was raped and his step-father brutally hanged for a crime he didn't commit. Ace vowed that one day he would get his vengeance on those who wronged his family. When he finally sets his plan in motion, Caitlin O'Shannessy, daughter of one of his step-father's murderers, gets caught in the crossfire. With her reputation in ruins and her brother holding the shotgun, Caitlin is forced to marry Ace.
Caitlin had planned never to marry anyone, or even to dare to ever trust a man. All they've done her entire life is treat her horribly - from her father's abuse to a vicious attack at age sixteen. And now even her beloved brother is becoming someone she doesn't know. But it's done and now she's married. That doesn't mean she'll ever give in and believe her husband is a good person...except evidence keeps saying that he is. Just as Caitlin begins to trust in him and their love, an old enemy comes forward and threatens to destroy them.
Like any Catherine Anderson book, Keegan's Lady is an emotional, full-bodied tale about love, family, and overcoming adversity. It's always enjoyable to read about battered characters triumphing over their dark pasts. And that's certainly the case with both Ace and Caitlin in this book.
At the same time, I didn't find anything particularly unique about this story. In many Catherine Anderson books, there's some story aspect that makes it stand out from other romance books, but I didn't find that in this one. The story is pretty simple and not exactly all that original - an emotionally bruised woman learning to trust again and a man learning to let the past go. So on that end the story didn't really have a hook that sucked me in.
I liked the hero and heroine for the most part...didn't LOVE them though. It was interesting to read Ace - the big, strong hero - bumbling in his attempts to get Caitlin to trust him. He had endless patience for her when many others would have given up.
Though the characters would good, the romance was kinda so-so. Mostly because for like 90% of the book they are at odds with each other. Caitlin spends most of her time trying to hate Ace and pushing him away. There's a lot of bickering and poking and prodding and not enough sweetness. You get only a small handful of chapters where things are calm between them. It just made the romance rather tense and antagonistic.
I did enjoy getting to read about characters that had connections to other books I'd read by Anderson. It's nice to get to know more of the stories and whatnot. So even though the story didn't quite make it to great for me, it was still an good book and one any Catherine Anderson fan should take the time to read.
I almost wasn't able to finish this book...not because it was bad or anything, but because I got to the end and found that my used copy was missing the last three pages. As you can imagine, I was not very happy to discover this. Luckily, I was able to use Amazon's "look inside" feature to read the last little bit. And though this was a good book, I can't say it will be one of my Catherine Anderson favorites. It was an average good romance, but it didn't have anything particularly special or unique about it - as many other Anderson books typically do.
Keegan's Lady is a historical romance connected to Anderson's Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan contemporary series - there's a familial connection between the Coulters and Paxtons and Keegans; the half-sister of this book's hero marries a Coulter ancestor. This book can be read on its own though.
When Ace Keegan was just a boy, he watched as his mother was raped and his step-father brutally hanged for a crime he didn't commit. Ace vowed that one day he would get his vengeance on those who wronged his family. When he finally sets his plan in motion, Caitlin O'Shannessy, daughter of one of his step-father's murderers, gets caught in the crossfire. With her reputation in ruins and her brother holding the shotgun, Caitlin is forced to marry Ace.
Caitlin had planned never to marry anyone, or even to dare to ever trust a man. All they've done her entire life is treat her horribly - from her father's abuse to a vicious attack at age sixteen. And now even her beloved brother is becoming someone she doesn't know. But it's done and now she's married. That doesn't mean she'll ever give in and believe her husband is a good person...except evidence keeps saying that he is. Just as Caitlin begins to trust in him and their love, an old enemy comes forward and threatens to destroy them.
Like any Catherine Anderson book, Keegan's Lady is an emotional, full-bodied tale about love, family, and overcoming adversity. It's always enjoyable to read about battered characters triumphing over their dark pasts. And that's certainly the case with both Ace and Caitlin in this book.
At the same time, I didn't find anything particularly unique about this story. In many Catherine Anderson books, there's some story aspect that makes it stand out from other romance books, but I didn't find that in this one. The story is pretty simple and not exactly all that original - an emotionally bruised woman learning to trust again and a man learning to let the past go. So on that end the story didn't really have a hook that sucked me in.
I liked the hero and heroine for the most part...didn't LOVE them though. It was interesting to read Ace - the big, strong hero - bumbling in his attempts to get Caitlin to trust him. He had endless patience for her when many others would have given up.
Though the characters would good, the romance was kinda so-so. Mostly because for like 90% of the book they are at odds with each other. Caitlin spends most of her time trying to hate Ace and pushing him away. There's a lot of bickering and poking and prodding and not enough sweetness. You get only a small handful of chapters where things are calm between them. It just made the romance rather tense and antagonistic.
I did enjoy getting to read about characters that had connections to other books I'd read by Anderson. It's nice to get to know more of the stories and whatnot. So even though the story didn't quite make it to great for me, it was still an good book and one any Catherine Anderson fan should take the time to read.
January 15, 2016
4 bintang buat ceritanya dan 1 bintang buat Ace Keegan^^
Ace Keegan dan saudara-saudaranya yang lain datang ke No Name dengan tujuan untuk membalas dendam kepada keluarga Conor O'Shannessy yang telah menipu dan membunuh ayah mereka secara kejam serta memperkosa Ibu mereka 20 tahun yang lalu. Walaupun Conor O'Shannessy telah tiada, masih tersisa dua anaknya yaitu Caitlin dan Patrick. Menurut Ace, Caitlin dan Patrick pastilah seperti ayah mereka. Toh, buah tidak jatuh jauh dari pohonnya bukan? Berkat kecerdikannya, Ace berhasil membuat Patrick terjerat hutang. Berusaha menakut-nakuti Patrick dengan berpura-pura menggantungnya, Ace dihadapkan dengan sang kakak, Caitlin O'Shannessy. Di luar dugaan Ace, Caitlin sama sekali tidak seperti dugaannya. Caitlin bersedia menyerahkan dirinya demi menyelamatkan adiknya. Dan karena kejadian ini, Caitlin rusak reputasinya. Merasa bertanggungjawab, Ace terpaksa menikahi Caitlin. Tapi siapa sangka, pernikahan yang awalnya karena terpaksa justru mendatangkan kebahagiaan bagi Ace. Ace jatuh cinta dengan Caitlin yang cantik, pemberani dan selalu setia memegang janjinya.
Sedangkan untuk Caitlin, seumur hidupnya dia selalu hidup dalam ketakutan akan siksaan ayahnya yang pemabuk. Menerima siksaan baik fisik maupun mental membuat Caitlin tidak lagi mudah percaya dengan orang lain. Apalagi ada suatu kejadian di masa remajanya yang membuat Caitlin takut bersentuhan dengan lawan jenis. Masuknya Ace Keegan dalam kehidupannya, membuat Caitlin yang baru saja merasa terbebas berkat kematian ayahnya, kembali merasa terpenjara. Caitlin yakin Ace akan menyakitinya seperti ayahnya. Tapi hari demi hari yang dijalani sebagai istri Ace, siksaan yang ditakuti Caitlin tidak juga datang, sebaliknya justru kebaikan dan kasih sayang Ace yang dirasakannya. Tapi justru itu yang paling ditakuti Caitlin, jatuh cinta dengan Ace Keegan maka akan semakin sakit rasanya apabila ternyata Ace mengkhianatinya.
Sanggupkah Ace meyakinkan Caitlin bahwa dia bukanlah seperti yang Caitlin kira? dan bisakah Caitlin meyakinkan dirinya sendiri bahwa memang Ace lah pria yang selama ini diimpikannya?
Sukaaaaaa sekali dengan cerita ini. Seperti biasa, Catherine Anderson selalu berhasil mengaduk-aduk emosi pembacanya. Dan sepertinya Ace Keegan adalah my fave diantara Keegan-Paxton bersaudara. Cara dia memenangkan hari Caitlin bikin meleleh #eaaaaa
Anyway, ini salah satu buku CA yang wajib dibaca. Ngga berasa 623 halaman tiba-tiba udah abis aja. Very recommended.
Ace Keegan dan saudara-saudaranya yang lain datang ke No Name dengan tujuan untuk membalas dendam kepada keluarga Conor O'Shannessy yang telah menipu dan membunuh ayah mereka secara kejam serta memperkosa Ibu mereka 20 tahun yang lalu. Walaupun Conor O'Shannessy telah tiada, masih tersisa dua anaknya yaitu Caitlin dan Patrick. Menurut Ace, Caitlin dan Patrick pastilah seperti ayah mereka. Toh, buah tidak jatuh jauh dari pohonnya bukan? Berkat kecerdikannya, Ace berhasil membuat Patrick terjerat hutang. Berusaha menakut-nakuti Patrick dengan berpura-pura menggantungnya, Ace dihadapkan dengan sang kakak, Caitlin O'Shannessy. Di luar dugaan Ace, Caitlin sama sekali tidak seperti dugaannya. Caitlin bersedia menyerahkan dirinya demi menyelamatkan adiknya. Dan karena kejadian ini, Caitlin rusak reputasinya. Merasa bertanggungjawab, Ace terpaksa menikahi Caitlin. Tapi siapa sangka, pernikahan yang awalnya karena terpaksa justru mendatangkan kebahagiaan bagi Ace. Ace jatuh cinta dengan Caitlin yang cantik, pemberani dan selalu setia memegang janjinya.
Sedangkan untuk Caitlin, seumur hidupnya dia selalu hidup dalam ketakutan akan siksaan ayahnya yang pemabuk. Menerima siksaan baik fisik maupun mental membuat Caitlin tidak lagi mudah percaya dengan orang lain. Apalagi ada suatu kejadian di masa remajanya yang membuat Caitlin takut bersentuhan dengan lawan jenis. Masuknya Ace Keegan dalam kehidupannya, membuat Caitlin yang baru saja merasa terbebas berkat kematian ayahnya, kembali merasa terpenjara. Caitlin yakin Ace akan menyakitinya seperti ayahnya. Tapi hari demi hari yang dijalani sebagai istri Ace, siksaan yang ditakuti Caitlin tidak juga datang, sebaliknya justru kebaikan dan kasih sayang Ace yang dirasakannya. Tapi justru itu yang paling ditakuti Caitlin, jatuh cinta dengan Ace Keegan maka akan semakin sakit rasanya apabila ternyata Ace mengkhianatinya.
Sanggupkah Ace meyakinkan Caitlin bahwa dia bukanlah seperti yang Caitlin kira? dan bisakah Caitlin meyakinkan dirinya sendiri bahwa memang Ace lah pria yang selama ini diimpikannya?
Sukaaaaaa sekali dengan cerita ini. Seperti biasa, Catherine Anderson selalu berhasil mengaduk-aduk emosi pembacanya. Dan sepertinya Ace Keegan adalah my fave diantara Keegan-Paxton bersaudara. Cara dia memenangkan hari Caitlin bikin meleleh #eaaaaa
Anyway, ini salah satu buku CA yang wajib dibaca. Ngga berasa 623 halaman tiba-tiba udah abis aja. Very recommended.
January 31, 2015
There was a lot I loved...the hero (in a moment of rage) does something hurtful and pretty unforgivable to the heroine, and then has genuine remorse. Love a remorseful hero. Loved the richly drawn and complex portrayal of the characters (down to the cat), how we saw Ace's POV in the genuine way their relationship developed and how he transformed from her oppressor to her real "hero". Hands down my favorite scene was where Ace is saying to himself that he has to be patient and then in the middle of his speech to himself, he bursts out with impatient demands about "who" it was.
My favorite moment is their first time together. It was so unusual in a romance, but real and....awesome.
I didn't love the musings from what is supposed to be an honorable man about how he views heroine as entitled to decent treatment because she is not a "sporting woman". He makes no connection between what heroine suffered and what many "sporting women" suffered, doesn't stop to think whether they were sold into that life or had no choice, and has no realization that his long-standing free use of sporting women without regard to their situation reflects on his own honor. Sometimes I'd rather not have the pretense that a man is decent if he thinks that way. He's not really decent, was just decent TO the heroine, because he thinks she had the honor to keep her bargain (and he later learns that was wrong, both in thinking that was why she'd keep it, and in thinking it would be honorable), and then because she becomes a person to him so he connects with her and feels her pain. He'd still make free use of sporting women if he was single and jokes with his brother about it.
Also thought the ending was a bit overblown on the melodrama. Maybe it just built to such a crescendo that there was nowhere to go but near death experience. But I was skimming and cringing at that point. Still, a beautiful read.
My favorite moment is their first time together. It was so unusual in a romance, but real and....awesome.
I didn't love the musings from what is supposed to be an honorable man about how he views heroine as entitled to decent treatment because she is not a "sporting woman". He makes no connection between what heroine suffered and what many "sporting women" suffered, doesn't stop to think whether they were sold into that life or had no choice, and has no realization that his long-standing free use of sporting women without regard to their situation reflects on his own honor. Sometimes I'd rather not have the pretense that a man is decent if he thinks that way. He's not really decent, was just decent TO the heroine, because he thinks she had the honor to keep her bargain (and he later learns that was wrong, both in thinking that was why she'd keep it, and in thinking it would be honorable), and then because she becomes a person to him so he connects with her and feels her pain. He'd still make free use of sporting women if he was single and jokes with his brother about it.
Also thought the ending was a bit overblown on the melodrama. Maybe it just built to such a crescendo that there was nowhere to go but near death experience. But I was skimming and cringing at that point. Still, a beautiful read.
November 3, 2017
3,5★ Me ha gustado bastante, aunque no esta a la altura de otros libros que he leído de la autora, y además esta visto que tiene una fijación con las violaciones, en casi todos los libros que leí de ella hay algún abuso de este tipo.
April 29, 2017
Caitlyn and Ace. Ace returns to the town where his father was murdered, as a wealthy man bent on vengeance. He totally loses his cool and ruins the reputation of the daughter of one of his targets (now deceased). There's no choice but to marry her right? But Caitlyn is emotionally scarred from her father and his evil friends, so teaching her to care for him will not be easy. And just how will she feel about him when she finds out about his plans to ruin her and her brother's farm??
I liked the premise and the characters but the story was too long so it drags in places. The ending was so OTT that it got a bit tiresome too (as well as confusing and illogical). Why anyone would want to live in a town with people like that, I haven't a clue! The only character I really liked was Ace, who turns out to be a pretty sensitive sweet-yet-bad-ass dude. There's some pretty funny sweet moments as Ace and Caitlyn get to know each other. So 3 Stars because I loved Ace, Might have been 4 if the ending hadn't been such a god awful confusing mess, and if ANY of the other characters had been likable other than the MCs.
I liked the premise and the characters but the story was too long so it drags in places. The ending was so OTT that it got a bit tiresome too (as well as confusing and illogical). Why anyone would want to live in a town with people like that, I haven't a clue! The only character I really liked was Ace, who turns out to be a pretty sensitive sweet-yet-bad-ass dude. There's some pretty funny sweet moments as Ace and Caitlyn get to know each other. So 3 Stars because I loved Ace, Might have been 4 if the ending hadn't been such a god awful confusing mess, and if ANY of the other characters had been likable other than the MCs.
January 9, 2014
Classic Catherine Anderson. She has a knack for emotionally tumultuous storytelling. It's just hard to like some of her characters. What Caitlin went through was horrible, but some of her judgments and reactions seemed well out of proportion in the grand scheme of things. She was....well, almost impossible to like. Keegan was OK, but he was so reserved and uncommunicative that he bugged me, too.
Still, Anderson's stories are well-paced and well-plotted, her arcs are nearly seamless, her characterization is great (even if you don't like the characters much), and her dialogue is good.
Still, Anderson's stories are well-paced and well-plotted, her arcs are nearly seamless, her characterization is great (even if you don't like the characters much), and her dialogue is good.
November 27, 2015
Hermoso!
En un comienzo por el contexto de la trama, es lento y Caitlin hasta resulta exasperante, porque es una mujer marcada por el miedo, pero Ace (su esposo), tiene una paciencia infinita. Incluso para soportar una y otra vez la actitud hostil del cuñado.
Como no querer a Ace Keegan? Siempre preocupado de los detalles, tierno, atento y esperando a que Caitlin confíe en el.
Muy lindo.
En un comienzo por el contexto de la trama, es lento y Caitlin hasta resulta exasperante, porque es una mujer marcada por el miedo, pero Ace (su esposo), tiene una paciencia infinita. Incluso para soportar una y otra vez la actitud hostil del cuñado.
Como no querer a Ace Keegan? Siempre preocupado de los detalles, tierno, atento y esperando a que Caitlin confíe en el.
Muy lindo.
March 17, 2009
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"3.5 stars" I really enjoy emotional stories in which one of the protagonists has a major obstacle to overcome. While Keegan's Lady fit that bill in some ways, I felt that the emotions were not well-balanced and consequently it fell short in other ways. It seemed that the main emotions that permeated a large part of the story were fear, anger and sometimes, hatred, which gave it a rather heavy feel. It seemed to lack the wonderful humor that I've seen in some of Catherine Anderson's other stories. In my opinion, the love feelings between Ace and Caitlin were not as fully developed as they could have been, and the sexual tension was minimal, therefore it was difficult for me to find them fully believable as a couple. It was somewhat easier to sense when Caitlin began falling in love with Ace, though not entirely apparent, but I was hard pressed to say exactly when Ace fell in love with Caitlin. While there were some tender moments in the story, those scenes didn't really dig deep enough into the characters psyches to suit me and also seemed to end far too quickly. Consequently, I felt that the story was a bit lacking in true romance and what I term swoon-worthy moments. I think that there were some opportunities for such moments, but again they were handled with too much brevity and ultimately fell rather flat. The romantic moments that did exist simply did not seem to build on one another in a meaningful way to bring out that heart-stopping love that I have come to expect from romance novels. I think this was a result of the book being too focused on the external conflicts rather than Ace and Caitlin's relationship.
I found the hero and heroine of the story to be pretty likable. Ace was a little more rough around the edges than other Catherine Anderson heroes I have read, but in a rather lovable way. He didn't show quite as much vulnerability as I like to see in my heroes, and I thought that he was a bit too heavy-handed at times, not always allowing Caitlin to make her own choices. It wasn't too bad though, as he always seemed to have her best interests at heart. It's hard not to like a guy who grants a lady her fairy tale dreams, and exercises restraint even when she tries his patience in extreme ways. I also appreciated his intelligent, intuitive nature that helped him to understand things about Caitlin that she may not have even understood herself. Caitlin was an admirable character in that she had the strength to endure the many years of her father's abuse. She had also cared for her brother, Patrick, in many different ways throughout those years, and showed a lot of selflessness toward others. In many ways, I thought that Caitlin's fears and actions were fairly believable for someone who had suffered as she had, but I felt that the story might have been better if she had faced her fears and begun to trust Ace in a more gradual way. Instead she had one explosive moment of seeming insanity, followed by a cathartic confession and gentle lovemaking which seemed to magically set everything to rights. Unfortunately, this approach just didn't work well for me. Overall though, I thought that Ace and Caitlin were good characters, they just weren't explored as fully as I would have liked to see, and I think that the story could have benefited from one or the other lightening up a bit.
There were some interesting secondary characters as well. Ace's brothers were a bunch of sweet, lovable guys. Of course, Joseph, the oldest, was the one who got the most scenes, but even so, I felt that the author only scratched the surface with his character. Most of the time, Joseph had an outward intensity which made him seem almost constantly irritated and grumpy, but his final scenes in the book with Caitlin and Patrick belied something more lying beneath the surface waiting to be explored. It will be interesting to see how Joseph's character develops when he becomes the hero of his own book, Summer Breeze. I actually think that Caitlin's brother, Patrick, may have been the most complex character. The author really kept me on my toes with him, never quiet sure whether to like him or not. It was easy to like the kind and selfless Patrick who took beatings for Caitlin or worked hard to buy her gifts, but it was equally easy to dislike the Patrick who had become a drunken and sometimes abusive hellion like his father. In the end though, I did come away from the story with the sense that Patrick was essentially a good guy who made bad choices when he drank too much, and that he would ultimately be successful in his efforts to overcome his alcoholism. Lastly, I really enjoyed Caitlin's poor, brain-damaged kitty, Lucky. He was a very unique character that brought some much-needed lightness to the story, as well as some insights into his human counterparts, not to mention I can't help being partial to a cat who has the same name as my own kitty.:-)
Keegan's Lady might not be one of my favorite Catherine Anderson books, but I can say that it had an exciting ending. The book tends to have a rather slow pace, and some of the scenes and dialog had been plodding along for me. I had been wondering what was going to happen in the last fifty or so pages that would hold my interest through the end. I needn't have worried, because this is where the author's talent really excelled. With two characters lives on the line and the resolution of a 20-year-old murder mystery imminent, I couldn't put the book back down until I had finished. While Keegan's Lady had both strengths and weaknesses, I thought that it was definitely a worthwhile read. I would probably not recommend it for first-time Catherine Anderson readers, as it is not the best example of her exceptional writing talent, in my opinion. However, established fans should certainly give it a try. Keegan's Lady is the first story in the Keegan/Paxton Family series (aka Coulter Historicals). It is followed by the novella, Beautiful Gifts, from the anthology, The True Love Wedding Dress which features Patrick as the hero and Summer Breeze in which Joseph Paxton becomes the hero. At present, Ms. Anderson is working on the next book in the series which will probably be released sometime late this year or in early 2010, and will feature Eden Paxton as the heroine. I will definitely be interested in reading that, as well as continuing my exploration of Catherine Anderson's other books.
"3.5 stars" I really enjoy emotional stories in which one of the protagonists has a major obstacle to overcome. While Keegan's Lady fit that bill in some ways, I felt that the emotions were not well-balanced and consequently it fell short in other ways. It seemed that the main emotions that permeated a large part of the story were fear, anger and sometimes, hatred, which gave it a rather heavy feel. It seemed to lack the wonderful humor that I've seen in some of Catherine Anderson's other stories. In my opinion, the love feelings between Ace and Caitlin were not as fully developed as they could have been, and the sexual tension was minimal, therefore it was difficult for me to find them fully believable as a couple. It was somewhat easier to sense when Caitlin began falling in love with Ace, though not entirely apparent, but I was hard pressed to say exactly when Ace fell in love with Caitlin. While there were some tender moments in the story, those scenes didn't really dig deep enough into the characters psyches to suit me and also seemed to end far too quickly. Consequently, I felt that the story was a bit lacking in true romance and what I term swoon-worthy moments. I think that there were some opportunities for such moments, but again they were handled with too much brevity and ultimately fell rather flat. The romantic moments that did exist simply did not seem to build on one another in a meaningful way to bring out that heart-stopping love that I have come to expect from romance novels. I think this was a result of the book being too focused on the external conflicts rather than Ace and Caitlin's relationship.
I found the hero and heroine of the story to be pretty likable. Ace was a little more rough around the edges than other Catherine Anderson heroes I have read, but in a rather lovable way. He didn't show quite as much vulnerability as I like to see in my heroes, and I thought that he was a bit too heavy-handed at times, not always allowing Caitlin to make her own choices. It wasn't too bad though, as he always seemed to have her best interests at heart. It's hard not to like a guy who grants a lady her fairy tale dreams, and exercises restraint even when she tries his patience in extreme ways. I also appreciated his intelligent, intuitive nature that helped him to understand things about Caitlin that she may not have even understood herself. Caitlin was an admirable character in that she had the strength to endure the many years of her father's abuse. She had also cared for her brother, Patrick, in many different ways throughout those years, and showed a lot of selflessness toward others. In many ways, I thought that Caitlin's fears and actions were fairly believable for someone who had suffered as she had, but I felt that the story might have been better if she had faced her fears and begun to trust Ace in a more gradual way. Instead she had one explosive moment of seeming insanity, followed by a cathartic confession and gentle lovemaking which seemed to magically set everything to rights. Unfortunately, this approach just didn't work well for me. Overall though, I thought that Ace and Caitlin were good characters, they just weren't explored as fully as I would have liked to see, and I think that the story could have benefited from one or the other lightening up a bit.
There were some interesting secondary characters as well. Ace's brothers were a bunch of sweet, lovable guys. Of course, Joseph, the oldest, was the one who got the most scenes, but even so, I felt that the author only scratched the surface with his character. Most of the time, Joseph had an outward intensity which made him seem almost constantly irritated and grumpy, but his final scenes in the book with Caitlin and Patrick belied something more lying beneath the surface waiting to be explored. It will be interesting to see how Joseph's character develops when he becomes the hero of his own book, Summer Breeze. I actually think that Caitlin's brother, Patrick, may have been the most complex character. The author really kept me on my toes with him, never quiet sure whether to like him or not. It was easy to like the kind and selfless Patrick who took beatings for Caitlin or worked hard to buy her gifts, but it was equally easy to dislike the Patrick who had become a drunken and sometimes abusive hellion like his father. In the end though, I did come away from the story with the sense that Patrick was essentially a good guy who made bad choices when he drank too much, and that he would ultimately be successful in his efforts to overcome his alcoholism. Lastly, I really enjoyed Caitlin's poor, brain-damaged kitty, Lucky. He was a very unique character that brought some much-needed lightness to the story, as well as some insights into his human counterparts, not to mention I can't help being partial to a cat who has the same name as my own kitty.:-)
Keegan's Lady might not be one of my favorite Catherine Anderson books, but I can say that it had an exciting ending. The book tends to have a rather slow pace, and some of the scenes and dialog had been plodding along for me. I had been wondering what was going to happen in the last fifty or so pages that would hold my interest through the end. I needn't have worried, because this is where the author's talent really excelled. With two characters lives on the line and the resolution of a 20-year-old murder mystery imminent, I couldn't put the book back down until I had finished. While Keegan's Lady had both strengths and weaknesses, I thought that it was definitely a worthwhile read. I would probably not recommend it for first-time Catherine Anderson readers, as it is not the best example of her exceptional writing talent, in my opinion. However, established fans should certainly give it a try. Keegan's Lady is the first story in the Keegan/Paxton Family series (aka Coulter Historicals). It is followed by the novella, Beautiful Gifts, from the anthology, The True Love Wedding Dress which features Patrick as the hero and Summer Breeze in which Joseph Paxton becomes the hero. At present, Ms. Anderson is working on the next book in the series which will probably be released sometime late this year or in early 2010, and will feature Eden Paxton as the heroine. I will definitely be interested in reading that, as well as continuing my exploration of Catherine Anderson's other books.
September 16, 2025
My Goodreads friend summed it up like this:
That's Catherine Anderson's books in a nutshell and I ain't complaining.
THE GOOD
I read somewhere that the author herself experienced various sexual trauma in her past and hence why she includes it in all her books. And you know, it shows. She writes her FMCs and her MMCs in a way that many -- not all -- women of sexual abuse want the saving to go: for a woman of abuse to have a strong, protective man truly see and understand what they want through, know how it affects them and how to respond, and how to ensure protection and safety from something like that happening again.
THE MEH
I skimmed the book in bits because it was a bit slow and redundant at times.
A succinct summary for future reread:
Yes to wounded and traumatised, sweet, angel-like heroines.
Yes to tortured but principled, upstanding heroes.
Yes to generation drama.
Yes to revenge and injustice.
Yes to classic Western romance.
That's Catherine Anderson's books in a nutshell and I ain't complaining.
THE GOOD
I read somewhere that the author herself experienced various sexual trauma in her past and hence why she includes it in all her books. And you know, it shows. She writes her FMCs and her MMCs in a way that many -- not all -- women of sexual abuse want the saving to go: for a woman of abuse to have a strong, protective man truly see and understand what they want through, know how it affects them and how to respond, and how to ensure protection and safety from something like that happening again.
THE MEH
I skimmed the book in bits because it was a bit slow and redundant at times.
November 18, 2017
I wish had more time this week to read. I simply barely had time most days for a chapter. But when I did I was so enthralled with this story. Very slow burning yet absolutely wonderfully romantic. Ace was a hero that little girls dream of coming to sweep them away. Not completely perfect actually pretty far from it. Yet he had everything you'd want. Unwavering loyalty and truly the most protective heart.
There's no words to describe the trauma that Caitlin lived through. Ace came around at the time she needed him most. Patrick stopped being that dependable brother she could count on because of his own demons mostly whiskey. Ace did everything to prove that his love for Caitlin was from his heart. I can't say enough about this authors writing. It definitely has filled a hole in my heart. So many instant gratification books with little plot have just left me feeling empty. I need this type of story. True grit, true deeply felt emotion and beautiful passion. That's what I find amongst the pages of a Catherine Anderson book.
100 % Safe with trauma of heroine in past.
There's no words to describe the trauma that Caitlin lived through. Ace came around at the time she needed him most. Patrick stopped being that dependable brother she could count on because of his own demons mostly whiskey. Ace did everything to prove that his love for Caitlin was from his heart. I can't say enough about this authors writing. It definitely has filled a hole in my heart. So many instant gratification books with little plot have just left me feeling empty. I need this type of story. True grit, true deeply felt emotion and beautiful passion. That's what I find amongst the pages of a Catherine Anderson book.
100 % Safe with trauma of heroine in past.
February 7, 2011
When Ace Keegan was an eleven year old boy his father was hanged and his mother raped and the land stolen. Ace returns as a grown man for his revenge. Caitlin is the grown daughter of the object of Ace's revenge. Caitlin's father is dead so the revenge is moot. Ace half halfheartedly starts to take his revenge out on Caitlin, but can't do it.
He starts to love this girl, and realizes she was as much a victim of her father as he was. She is the victim of sexual and physical abuse herself and is actually more damaged than he is. She doesn't trust men and it really very sweet how they need each other.It turns into a love story. This book has a lot more plot and depth than most romances I think.
Annie's Song seems to be a favorite of Catherine Anderson but I actually liked this one better. (I haven't read Comanche Moon yet.)
He starts to love this girl, and realizes she was as much a victim of her father as he was. She is the victim of sexual and physical abuse herself and is actually more damaged than he is. She doesn't trust men and it really very sweet how they need each other.It turns into a love story. This book has a lot more plot and depth than most romances I think.
Annie's Song seems to be a favorite of Catherine Anderson but I actually liked this one better. (I haven't read Comanche Moon yet.)
July 14, 2024
Ace, the hero, is what really saves this story. He’s patient, loyal, incredibly sweet to the heroine, and just an overall good man in every way. The heroine, Caitlyn, requires a ton of grace to accept her as a “likable” character. Don’t get me wrong, I sympathize with her because she’s truly been through some shit, but she was always just so quick to respond without thinking it through. Almost always to her (and others around her) own detriment too. I’m also not entirely sure that I believe their love story… and it’s hard for me to explain why that is exactly. When I normally encounter this, it’s generally because the two MC’s didn’t interact that much to fall in love with each other. These two did. And, honestly, I can believe that Ace fell in love with Caitlyn, but her falling in love with him felt forced. There was barely any build up to her emotional response to him. She pushed him away through the MAJORITY of the entire story. Then once she finally started to accept him and let him in, it’s like it all happened too fast for it to be believable. The way the author strung certain parts of the story out was not enjoyable either. Caitlyn was a victim of sexual assault and I understand how traumatizing that is and the lasting effects it can have on someone. That’s why it’s a very difficult element to try to navigate through when writing a “romance” novel and an author has to be incredibly talented to take on that task and do it well. I’m not so sure that this author should have attempted it. Having our heroine terrified of her husband trying to touch her through almost 75% of the book wasn’t exactly a good time as far as a “romance” goes. And even when Ace is incredibly patient and understanding, not pushing the issue of being intimate with Caitlyn, she still treats him like he’s done her wrong. And that final temper tantrum Caitlyn has, just pissed me off. I would have sent her packing if it were me and she had poured dinner (that she purposely burned, mind you) all over the dining room table, tried to set fire to the kitchen, and then proceeded to flood my newly built home all in one go. That kind of childish behavior was not acceptable, especially after how good Ace had treated her. Anyway, the ending was ok, but I felt like there were some holes left that needed to be filled. It’s an ok read. Maybe worth reading once, but just bear in mind that it’s not going to be 100% a satisfying read and could have been better.
3.5 stars rounded down to 3.
3.5 stars rounded down to 3.
October 13, 2023
Another book not worth re-reading, because heroines who are afraid of sex drags out a story. Not a bad book to read once though.
Orig rating 4 stars, read over 10 years ago.
Orig rating 4 stars, read over 10 years ago.
July 12, 2014
5+ Stars
Oh man, I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. The writing was so wonderful! It sucks you in and makes you feel a part of the story.
The character of Caitlin was so broken and was in need of saving. She wished her whole childhood for a hero to come and save her from her horribly abusive father. My heart broke every time something was revealed from her childhood. Even though she's been through so much, she was not a weak character. She was so enduring. Ms. Anderson wrote her character so well.
Oh man, I loved Ace Keegan. I've read my fair share of revenge stories but this one was one of my favourites! I loved how ever giving Ace was. He never gave up on Caitlin, he waited to win her love because he had loved her so deeply. I loved him with his younger brothers and boy! Do I love the Paxtons!
I look forward to reading Catherine Anderson's other novels since this one was such a pleasant surprise. I loved the growth of their love and how it took them quite some time to break down both their walls and be a couple. This boo was done so well!
Oh man, I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. The writing was so wonderful! It sucks you in and makes you feel a part of the story.
The character of Caitlin was so broken and was in need of saving. She wished her whole childhood for a hero to come and save her from her horribly abusive father. My heart broke every time something was revealed from her childhood. Even though she's been through so much, she was not a weak character. She was so enduring. Ms. Anderson wrote her character so well.
Oh man, I loved Ace Keegan. I've read my fair share of revenge stories but this one was one of my favourites! I loved how ever giving Ace was. He never gave up on Caitlin, he waited to win her love because he had loved her so deeply. I loved him with his younger brothers and boy! Do I love the Paxtons!
I look forward to reading Catherine Anderson's other novels since this one was such a pleasant surprise. I loved the growth of their love and how it took them quite some time to break down both their walls and be a couple. This boo was done so well!
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