The Rancher's Daughters: Behaving Herself

Rating:
Summary: Gamble on Yvonne Jocks For a First-Rate Read!
Review: A scoundrel like Jack Harwood was nothing but trouble to a respectable girl's good name and reputation. Gambling and alcohol were but a small sampling of his sinful vices. And Audra Garrison, her fine name already in question back home in Wyoming, must protect her public appearance at all costs. And that meant staying away from Jack Harwood. Especially since lady teachers had ever so many more rules to live by - and the eyes of the community watching her every move. Any involvement with the likes of Mr. Harwood would surely spell disaster to her name and possibly her teaching career. But Jack Harwood was oh so tempting!

Jack couldn't help himself. The lovely little schoolmarm had his attention and suddenly leaving Candon, Texas wasn't quite so pressing an urge. But with all those rules in place and Audra so aware of what was and was not acceptable behavior for a lady of her position, how could Jack manage to convince a respectable girl like Audra to gamble on a man such as himself? Suddenly, Jack is surprised to find he is willing to change his ways and risk all for the schoolmarm who had won his heart.

Yvonne Jocks has written an engaging novel with warm, wonderful characters her readers will give their hearts to. "The Rancher's Daughters: Behaving Herself" is a fine start to her "Rancher's Daughters" series. I'll surely be watching eagerly for the rest of the series. Nicely done, Ms. Jocks.

Rating:
Summary: Gamble on Yvonne Jocks For a First-Rate Read!
Review: A scoundrel like Jack Harwood was nothing but trouble to a respectable girl's good name and reputation. Gambling and alcohol were but a small sampling of his sinful vices. And Audra Garrison, her fine name already in question back home in Wyoming, must protect her public appearance at all costs. And that meant staying away from Jack Harwood. Especially since lady teachers had ever so many more rules to live by - and the eyes of the community watching her every move. Any involvement with the likes of Mr. Harwood would surely spell disaster to her name and possibly her teaching career. But Jack Harwood was oh so tempting!

Jack couldn't help himself. The lovely little schoolmarm had his attention and suddenly leaving Candon, Texas wasn't quite so pressing an urge. But with all those rules in place and Audra so aware of what was and was not acceptable behavior for a lady of her position, how could Jack manage to convince a respectable girl like Audra to gamble on a man such as himself? Suddenly, Jack is surprised to find he is willing to change his ways and risk all for the schoolmarm who had won his heart.

Yvonne Jocks has written an engaging novel with warm, wonderful characters her readers will give their hearts to. "The Rancher's Daughters: Behaving Herself" is a fine start to her "Rancher's Daughters" series. I'll surely be watching eagerly for the rest of the series. Nicely done, Ms. Jocks.

Rating:
Summary: Loveable Hero
Review: Behaving Herself gave an excellent view of life in year 1900 showing the importantance of keeping ones reputation above spectulation, the effects of reform which move gambling and drinking from the saloons to backrooms and barns, and the sad state of racial relations. I especially enjoyed the rules for teachers. Dispite what ever good deeds the gambler did, he was looked down on because of his chosen way of life. Audra had already learned the importance of preserving her reputation. No matter how she tries to stay on the right path, unexpected things pop up that could distroy her reputation.Jack comes to her rescue again and again even though he thinks he just wants her to break free of her restrictions. Add to that a stern aunt who seems to just be waiting for her to slip up. The gambler Jack was witty and loveable enough to tempt a saint but Audra firmly clings to societies rules no matter how she begins to feel about Jack. I look forward to the future books about her sisters.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Captivating!
Review: I have to admit when I first picked up the book The Rancher's Daughter: Behaving Herself I was excited about the read but it was a little slow to get into. Audra was testing my nerves as well as Jack's! But as I kept turning the pages I learned why she was the way she was and I felt her pain and shame over the terrible scandal.

Indeed Jack was one of the best gamblers that I have ever read and for Audra's sake I kept praying that he would stop his horrible ways. As page 50 turned into a 100 then to 150 we saw Jack change from gambler who dabbled with the whiskey bottle to a gentleman all for the sake of the schoolmarm.

It was great watching Audra blossom in front of my eyes, growing from the shy girl who didn't want to cause *another* scandal to a woman who couldn't and wouldn't resist Jack's charming ways.

The ending was too perfect! Behaving Herself was a great way to start the series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Yvonne Jock's novels!

Rating:
Summary: reread this
Review: one of few romances I have wanted to reread

Rating:
Summary: A great western & period romance as well! Bravo!
Review: The other reviewers summed up the book eloquently, as did Ms. Jocks herself. She is an excellent writer, and this book is definitely a departure from her normally tougher heroines. Audra has a different kind of gentle strength fitting for the 1900s time period, and Jack is terrific, a rogue gambler with a devilish sense of humor. I was immediately struck by how much this story reminded me of Little House on the Prairie & Laura Ingalls. I don't usually like the western or the 1900s time period type of romance, but, I was impressed by this book nonetheless. Check out Ms. Jocks other work on Amazon.com in the anthology "Dangerous Magic", which is a different genre romance, and well worth looking into. She also wrote under the name "Evelyn Vaughn" in the Silhouette Shadows series, but, good luck finding those, because they are out-of-print. You've done it again, Von, great job!

Rating:
Summary: A great western & period romance as well! Bravo!
Review: The other reviewers summed up the book eloquently, as did Ms. Jocks herself. She is an excellent writer, and this book is definitely a departure from her normally tougher heroines. Audra has a different kind of gentle strength fitting for the 1900s time period, and Jack is terrific, a rogue gambler with a devilish sense of humor. I was immediately struck by how much this story reminded me of Little House on the Prairie & Laura Ingalls. I don't usually like the western or the 1900s time period type of romance, but, I was impressed by this book nonetheless. Check out Ms. Jocks other work on Amazon.com in the anthology "Dangerous Magic", which is a different genre romance, and well worth looking into. She also wrote under the name "Evelyn Vaughn" in the Silhouette Shadows series, but, good luck finding those, because they are out-of-print. You've done it again, Von, great job!

Rating:
Summary: Schoolmarms Have to Follow the Rules....
Review: They especilally have rules to follow in turn-of-the-century Texas. What gave me the idea for BEHAVING HERSELF was coming across two lists of "Rules for Teachers," one from 1915 and the other from 1875. Some of the rules ("teachers must wear two petticoats") had me rolling! But then I started thinking about the kind of well-meaning schoolmarm who would take such rules seriously... and remembered a family of daughters I'd already "met" in my favorite alternate universe. Once I recognized young Audra as the solemn schoolmarm for BEHAVING HERSELF, charming Jack Harwood showed up to tempt her away from those very rules and the rest was pure joy! BEHAVING HERSELF has two particularly personal connections for me. For one thing, I'm a teacher (though luckily at a 21st-century junior college, not a 19th-century schoolhouse). For another, I live only five miles from the real town where the book is set (which is now part of Euless, TX, between Dallas and Fort Worth). As I researched the story, I realized I once lived within SIGHT of what used to be Tarrant, Texas! It's as if this story found me. Dorchester will be releasing the prequel to BEHAVING HERSELF in August 2000. Audra is not, after all, the first of the Rancher's Daughters to choose a man of whom her father does not approve. Wait until you see what happens when her older sister, Mariah, falls in love with a sheep farmer in FORGETTING HERSELF!

Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Western Romance
Review: When Audra Garrison takes a teaching position in Texas to save her poorly abused reputation, she has no idea what the west has in store for her. Then professional gambler, Jack Harwood rides into town in a wet saddle with luck on his side.

From the moment these two come face to face in her schoolroom, there is nothing short of...well nothing can keep them apart. We've got a biddy of an aunt, an over-protective brother and a father who isn't going to let anything bad happen to his daughter. From scandal to passion, and back to scandal this book is full to the brim with good old fashioned fun, frivolity and more fun.

Being a resident of the cities in question Ms. Jocks has done a remarkable job with her characters, her description and her story. Behaving Herself is a hoot of a book that every romance reader should try!

Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Western Romance
Review: When Audra Garrison takes a teaching position in Texas to save her poorly abused reputation, she has no idea what the west has in store for her. Then professional gambler, Jack Harwood rides into town in a wet saddle with luck on his side.

From the moment these two come face to face in her schoolroom, there is nothing short of...well nothing can keep them apart. We've got a biddy of an aunt, an over-protective brother and a father who isn't going to let anything bad happen to his daughter. From scandal to passion, and back to scandal this book is full to the brim with good old fashioned fun, frivolity and more fun.

Being a resident of the cities in question Ms. Jocks has done a remarkable job with her characters, her description and her story. Behaving Herself is a hoot of a book that every romance reader should try!