Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous Romance :)
Review: "Texas Destiny" by Lorraine Heath is definitely going on my top ten list of favourite romance novels. The main characters are extremely likable - both Amelia Carson and Houston Leigh are three-dimensional and well-developed - and, by the end of the novel, you won't be able to wait for them to finally get together! Heath has written a beautiful novel about true love - not superficial love at first sight, but a heart-wrenching and maturing relationship between two worthy people - and gives a descriptive insight to the vastness of 19th century Texas and the difficulties that people might have faced on long wagon rides."Texas Destiny" takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War. Although several years have passed, the horror has left both figurative and literal scars on the characters. Young, desitute and desperate, beautiful Amelia Carson has advertised her desire to go west as a mail-order bride. Her answer: one Dallas Leigh, successful, thriving and supremely ambitious rancher who wants nothing more than a son to one day inherit his growing empire. Terrified, apprehensive and trying to move on from her nightmarish experiences as a child during the war, Amelia steps off the train and is extremely relieved to spot the tall, lean and lounging figure of her fiance. She has arrived safely and will finally meet the man she has legally agreed to marry. Not quite yet. Dallas has broken his leg and is unable to come. Her escort home from the train station will be his tortured and scarred younger brother, the silent and abrupt Houston Leigh. During their wagon ride and the many perils that they encounter - all of which serve to prolong the journey and enhance their feelings for each other - Amelia and Houston grow closer and begin tentatively to like and trust. By the time that they reach the ranch, they are in love - and caught up in quite a dilemma. Stay true to themselves or to a loved one? Amelia is incredibly optimistic and cheerful, despite her past. Women are scarce in remote areas of Texas, and no one could fail to love this one, who immediately lightens the lives of all at the ranch. Once she realises her feelings for Houston, the man who really doesn't believe that he deserves to be loved - that his face and body are ugly and his soul more so - she is determined to love him, no matter what his objections. Houston is lonely and hurting and desperately needs Amelia, but will he leave it too late to tell her that? Obviously not, since this is a romance novel - and a terrific one at that - but from start to finish, the journey will not be easy for these two. Among other things, the characters are threatened by a snake bite, a storm, horse thieves, a kidnapping and a shooting. Any romance lover will adore this book and fall in love with Houston - I especially liked how he was prepared to love her no matter what, unlike so many romance heroes who are of the "Well, sure I love her, but if for any reason she has slept with or sleeps with anyone else, we really can't be together. Sorry!" belief. Amelia is true to Houston, but he would want her under any terms anyway. Read this book! It didn't make me cry, but I sure did smile a lot! It's worth the effort and the cost. You won't regret getting a copy, this is a definite keeper - for me, anyway!! :)
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!
Review: "Texas Destiny" is the first installment of the Leigh series. This is the heartwarming story of war scarred Houston Leigh and mail-order bride Amelia Carson. This is a beautiful story proving the old saying that love conquers all. You'll love this book and the other two installments, "Texas Glory" and "Texas Splendor". Trust me!
Rating:
Summary: Emotional and Touching Romance
Review: How do I begin to describe such a beautiful story as TEXAS DESTINY? I could talk about the post civil war Texas setting and describe the mail order bride plot but that doesn't even begin to touch on the emotional impact of Ms. Heath's newest work. This book touched me from beginning to end and is a book I'll always treasure. It's also the first of a trilogy. Woo-hoo! Houston Leigh's brother Dallas has broken his leg and is unable to make the trip to pick up his mail order bride-to-be Amelia Carson. Houston has hideous facial scarring on one side of his handsome face and has lived his adult life hiding in shadows and covering his face with his hat. He has shunned human contact and feels most content in the company of his horses. Because of his scars and less than charming personality Dallas feels it's safe to assume his new bride won't fall for his brother during the three week trek. Amelia is disappointed that she has to spend three weeks with her fiancé's grouchy brother but tries to make the best out of her situation by trying to engage him in conversation. She bugs him with irritating questions he doesn't want to answer and eventually she gets under his skin. Although it scares him he slowly opens up to her and they form a hesitant friendship which gets stronger as the days pass and they reveal bits of themselves to each other. Both of their lives have been shattered by the war and they've both dealt with it differently. He has given up on his dreams and withdrawn from the world while she is the eternal optimist finding something to be grateful for in every situation. She looks at her future with joy anxiously biding her time when she can turn her dreams into reality. She even manages to find a dream for Houston to believe in but they despair because she is promised to his brother . . . The hurting and lovable characters are what make this story so memorable. In the majority of romances I've read one character usually really comes alive while the other gets the short shrift. That's so not so in this case! I loved the heroine as much as the hero in TEXAS DESTINY. She's a woman who has seen the worst life has to offer but hasn't been beaten down by it. Her optimism and willingness to embrace life is refreshing and believable. And Houston . . . he's my favorite kind of hero. He's a wounded soul, with lots of integrity, he's serious, heroic, and best of all he's sensitive. He's been dealt a raw deal by life and really needs a hug. This story is extremely realistic for instance there is no witty banter during their first few days together but instead there are lots of awkward attempts at conversation and long silences. Houston's makes several desperate attempts to come up with words to charm Amelia but always ends fails. These little touches are what make the couple so endearing. I know many readers avoid the Civil War period but this book is less about the war and more about the healing of two people who as children had to bear witness to human nature's darkest side. But don't think it's all darkness and pain! The book is filled with so many tender moments my eyes were stinging and there is a quiet wit that made me smile. The longing, the soft caresses, the hot kisses, the despair and the impossible love these two share made my heart ache but somehow they always managed to maintain their senses of humor. The sense of place is done so well I felt like I was living the story. I stayed up late reading with a flashlight until 12am last night because I just didn't want to put this book down. This is very rare for me since I get up at 5am! I'm a zombie today but boy was it ever worth it
Rating:
Summary: Wish I could give it a 10....
Review: Absolutely wonderful. The depth of characters is incredible.
The story line is unique and deeply moving. The writing flows and makes it impossible to put this book down. It was a 5 a.m.-when I finished but I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
Its surprising that a story with so much anguish can also have so much humor.Incredible job Ms Heath. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST books I've Read
Review: And I read A LOT. From the minute I started reading, I COULD NOT put it down! It's easy to read and to follow. I liked that it wasn't too steamy! It is a true love story and I think that challenges the author to write creatively! And Lorraine Heath is one of the best out there. It was a very enjoyable read. I loved it..In fact I read all three books in 2 days! You won't regret reading Texas Destiny, Texas Glory and Texas Splendor.
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST books I've Read
Review: And I read A LOT. From the minute I started reading, I COULD NOT put it down! It's easy to read and to follow. I liked that it wasn't too steamy! It is a true love story and I think that challenges the author to write creatively! And Lorraine Heath is one of the best out there. It was a very enjoyable read. I loved it..In fact I read all three books in 2 days! You won't regret reading Texas Destiny, Texas Glory and Texas Splendor.
Rating:
Summary: I'm glad I was able to get a copy of this book...
Review: from the library b/c I would have missed out on a great book. Houston puts up walls to keep people away b/c he is disfigured, but Amelia is able to get pass the walls and see the great man behind them. I like the fact that this book focuses on these two characters and the act of them getting to know each other and falling in love. The author makes sure they have time together to get to know each other and that doesn't change when they get to Houston's brother's house and have to act as if they never fell in love. I also like the fact that the love scene didn't come until the end. The whole novel builds up to this point and no one will be disappointed. If you're the kind of person who likes a whole lot of action in their novels, this book isn't for you. If you like romances where the romance takes center stage along with the characters, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional and Touching Romance
Review: How do I begin to describe such a beautiful story as TEXAS DESTINY? I couldsay it's set in post civil war Texas and is a mail order bride story, andpart road romance and it could even be classified as a beauty and the beasttale but that doesn't even begin to touch on the emotional impact of Ms.Heath's newest work. This book touched me from beginning to end and is abook I'll always treasure. It's also the first of a trilogy - Yayyy!
Houston Leigh's brother Dallas has broken his leg so he's unable make thetrip to pick up his mail order bride-to-be Amelia Carson. Houston hashideous facial scarring on one side of his handsome face and has lived hisadult life hiding in shadows and covering his face with his hat. He hasshunned human contact and feels most content in the company of his horses.Because of his scars and less than charming personality Dallas feels it'ssafe to assume his new bride won't fall for his brother during the threeweek trek.
Amelia is disappointed that she has to spend three weeks with her fiance'sgrouchy brother but tries to make the best out of her situation by trying toengage him in conversation by bugging him with irritating questions hedoesn't want to answer. Eventually she gets under his skin and although itscares him he slowly opens up to her and they form a hesitant friendshipwhich gets stronger as the days pass and they reveal bits of themselves toeach other. Both of their lives have been shattered by the war and they'veboth dealt with it differently. He has given up on his dreams and withdrawnfrom the world while she is the eternal optimist finding something to begrateful for in every situation, she looks at her future with joy waiting tomake her dreams a reality. She even manages to find a dream for Houston tobelieve in but they despair because she is promised to his brother . . .
The hurting and lovable characters make this story so memorable. I've foundin the majority of romances I've read that one character usually reallycomes alive while another is not as well drawn. Well, I loved the heroineas much as the hero in TEXAS DESTINY. She's a woman who has seen the worstlife can do to a person but hasn't been beaten down by it. Her optimism andwillingness to embrace life is refreshing _and_ believable. And Houston . .. he's my favorite kind of hero. He's a wounded soul, he's got lots ofintegrity, he's serious, heroic, and best of all is sensitive. He's beendealt a raw deal by life and really needs a hug. This book is so realistic:there is no witty banter during their first few days together but there arelots of awkward attempts at conversation and long silences, and Houston'strying to desperately come up with words to charm Amelia but always comingup empty was so endearing.
I know many readers avoid the Civil War period but this book is less aboutthe war and more about the healing of two people who as children had to bearwitness to human nature's darkest side. But don't think it's all darknessand pain though! The book is filled with so many tender moments my eyeswere stinging and it has a quiet wit that made me smile. The longing, thesoft caresses, the hot kisses, the despair and the impossible love these twoshare made my heart ache but somehow they always managed to maintain theirsenses of humor. And the sense of place is done so well I felt like I wasliving the story. I stayed up late reading with a flashlight until 12amlast night because I just didn't want to put this book down. This is _very_rare for me - since I get up at 5am! I'm a zombie today but boy was it everworth it
Rating:
Summary: I agree with the other reviews. (Wow!)
Review: How do you explain this book? It's sooooooo touching, moving, sad, happy, funny, you name it, this book has it. I loved every character in this book. I can't wait to read Dallas and Austin's books. Even though this is the first book from Lorraine Heath I have read, I am an instant fan! FYI: My 13-year-old daughter loves to read historical romance books but I have to read them first to determine whether or not she can read them (because of their sexual content), well I handed this book to her without ANY WORRY WHATSOEVER. (And I still rate it a 5:)
Rating:
Summary: I agree with the other reviews. (Wow!)
Review: How do you explain this book? It's sooooooo touching, moving, sad, happy, funny, you name it, this book has it. I loved every character in this book. I can't wait to read Dallas and Austin's books. Even though this is the first book from Lorraine Heath I have read, I am an instant fan! FYI: My 13-year-old daughter loves to read historical romance books but I have to read them first to determine whether or not she can read them (because of their sexual content), well I handed this book to her without ANY WORRY WHATSOEVER. (And I still rate it a 5:)
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