laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Texas Glory
4.5 Stars
Shamelessly traded for land and water rights by her father, Cordelia McQueen is thrust into an unfamiliar world as the bride of Dallas Leigh, a hard man who cares about nothing but having a son. As she learns the ropes of her new life, Cordelia comes to love and trust Dallas, but will he ever feel the same way about her?
The characterization is excellent and the story is heartwarming and heart wrenching in equal measure.
To be honest, Dallas rubbed me the wrong way in Texas Destiny, and I wasn’t so keen on reading his book but I’m glad that I did because he redeems himself completely. Dallas is one of the loneliest heroes I’ve ever encountered and he hides his emotional isolation behind an authoritarian façade that makes everyone fear him. Nevertheless, he has an amazing gentle side that is slowly revealed throughout the book.
Dee is also an endearing character. Even though my preference is for strong willed heroines with a more defined backbone, Dee has an appealing strength of spirit, and it is wonderful seeing her come of out her shell and become more confident and self-assured.
Another highlight is the recurring characters from the first book, Houston, Amelia and Austin, each of whom have their own parallel stories, which contribute to the engaging atmosphere of the book. Even though the suspense subplot is predictable, the villains are suitably evil and obnoxious.
In sum, this is a wonderfully sweet romance and even though Texas Glory is not a tearjerker, it had me crying in places, especially the last ¾ of the story.
4.5 Stars
Shamelessly traded for land and water rights by her father, Cordelia McQueen is thrust into an unfamiliar world as the bride of Dallas Leigh, a hard man who cares about nothing but having a son. As she learns the ropes of her new life, Cordelia comes to love and trust Dallas, but will he ever feel the same way about her?
The characterization is excellent and the story is heartwarming and heart wrenching in equal measure.
To be honest, Dallas rubbed me the wrong way in Texas Destiny, and I wasn’t so keen on reading his book but I’m glad that I did because he redeems himself completely. Dallas is one of the loneliest heroes I’ve ever encountered and he hides his emotional isolation behind an authoritarian façade that makes everyone fear him. Nevertheless, he has an amazing gentle side that is slowly revealed throughout the book.
Dee is also an endearing character. Even though my preference is for strong willed heroines with a more defined backbone, Dee has an appealing strength of spirit, and it is wonderful seeing her come of out her shell and become more confident and self-assured.
Another highlight is the recurring characters from the first book, Houston, Amelia and Austin, each of whom have their own parallel stories, which contribute to the engaging atmosphere of the book. Even though the suspense subplot is predictable, the villains are suitably evil and obnoxious.
In sum, this is a wonderfully sweet romance and even though Texas Glory is not a tearjerker, it had me crying in places, especially the last ¾ of the story.
miss_murphy's review
4.0
Enganchadísima con estos libros. Me encanta la manera en la que la autora sabe integrar a todos los personajes principales y secundarios para que todos aporten algo a la trama y cómo desarrolla las relaciones entre ellos. Deseando leer el siguiente, porque viene calentito
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. God. I thought this was so cute and I was just moving along reading and BAM. I cried for the entire last 30% of this book. I was not expecting it to get me like that. What an incredible read.
fiadhnd's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Warning/Trigger Warning (CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
Audio (Eva Kaminsky) 3.5/5
Summary: After finding out that his hostile neighbours’ family includes a young woman, cattle rancher/general empire grower who MUST HAVE A SON, decides to marry her sight unseen - incidentally freeing her from isolation and abuse.
Stats: HR/Western (1870s Texas), M/F, part of a series but could stand alone, open door (barely)
Notes: These two could not communicate their way out of a wet paper sack. Miscommunication/lack of communication powers the story. The resolution is sweet, but this one is slow, slow, slow, and very repetitive. The MMC's name should just be Dallas “I Want A Son” Leigh. Overall, not a favourite - though the audio is well performed.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Audio (Eva Kaminsky) 3.5/5
Summary: After finding out that his hostile neighbours’ family includes a young woman, cattle rancher/general empire grower who MUST HAVE A SON, decides to marry her sight unseen - incidentally freeing her from isolation and abuse.
Stats: HR/Western (1870s Texas), M/F, part of a series but could stand alone, open door (barely)
Notes: These two could not communicate their way out of a wet paper sack. Miscommunication/lack of communication powers the story. The resolution is sweet, but this one is slow, slow, slow, and very repetitive. The MMC's name should just be Dallas “I Want A Son” Leigh. Overall, not a favourite - though the audio is well performed.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Spoiler
Pregnancy/children (side character), firearms, shooting, injury of a sibling, vindictive killing of animals (cattle, by villains), medical scenes, domestic violence/abuse (against FMC/mother, including isolation), lengthy illness of parent, death of parent, violence, rape (between the FMC’s parents), arranged marriage, “disfigured” side character, mention of death of pet (in the past, killed by FMC’s brother, dog), mentions of religion, alcohol, mmc kicks in a door the FMC has locked, mention of “horse breaking,” veteran mmc, “war of northern aggression”, child/teen soldiers, formerly enslaved side character, trapping/hunting, family tension, gaslighting by FMC’s family, accusation of infidelity, on page POV SA (kissing) of a minor side character, fistfight, mention of sex work (mmc has paid for sex in the past), pregnancy, FMC shoves MMC several times, serious injury to MC (crushing), miscarriage/stillbirth, grief, infertility, death of parents, CSA/child prostitution/rape (side character), child abuse, grief, vague labor/childbirth, use of "squaw" regarding side character by villain, threat of forced prostitution, kidnapping, forced prostitution (side character, brief mention, in the past), FMC/mmc are both whipped, discussion of divorce, epilogue babyscotcheroo's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Omg I can't believe what a time skip there was between the previous book and this one. It went from 1876 to 1881!!! Dallas was so set on finding a wife I thought for sure it would be soon but there's "slim pickings" around there.
This introduces a bunch of new characters - his neighbors the McQueens.
The McQueens were sold false land rights, part of it is actually owned by Dallas, so they constantly battle over the land until it gets violent and the oldest son Boyd shoots Austin. Dallas learns about Cordelia and makes deal with them that he will give them the land in exchange for marrying Dee and conditional on her giving him a son.
Dee and Dallas start off very poorly. She's been sold to him essentially and he doesn't know how to act around her. She's afraid of everything, terrified of Dallas (his excuse is that he was forced to give orders very young during the war so he is used to ordering, not asking, and he masks his emotions behind anger and defensivess). He proves himself to her by being gentle, not forcing anything, and being open and encouraging for her to join him in "empire building." The town Dallas has dreamed of is really starting to shape up. The main problem Dallas has is that he can't get women to come out there. Dee dreams up a Grand Hotel that will be managed by a woman with all women employees serving at its restaurant. This project is a huge success for the town and allows Dee and Dallas to develop a relationship.
Eventually she does get pregnant and is 7 months along with a son when a conflict happens around the young boy Rawley Cooper. Dee and the Leigh brothers have come to watch out for him. She hears him scream in an alley and she's pushed from behind, causing her to lose the baby. Dee and Dallas both grieve and grow apart - he thinks she doesn't want him anymore and she thinks he doesn't want her because the doctor tells them she won't ever be able to have children. They sort of adopt Rawley but then learn what's up with him. His dad had been selling him out for sex to other men - including Dee's brother Boyd. It was Boyd who pushed Dee and caused her to lose the baby. Later we learn Rawley's dad had been selling out his squaw "wife" too - he's not sure if Rawley is even his son.
The dad kidnaps Dee for ransom and is hired by Boyd to kill Dallas because Dee will inherit his ranch on Dallas' death - and they likely plan to force her to give the McQueens the land even though she vows she never will. Dallas is severely whipped but Rawley and Dee manage to get away with him. They reconcile and later adopt Rawley and Dee gets pregnant and gives birth to a girl, Faith.
However, Boyd dies sometime during all this and scrawls "Austin" in the dirt. This frames the youngest Leigh brother, Austin, for murder. He's arrested, tried, and sentenced to 5 years in prison all while Dallas was recovering so he couldn't help. Austin didn't do it though - he was spending the night with Becky and refused to admit it to protect her reputation (dumb). Also Amelia gives birth to her second child in this book, a girl - Laurel Joy, who joins her older sister Maggie now.
I really didn't like Cordelia initially - I hate ultra innocent characters - but wow her character development is great. Very frustrating to read though, to watch Dallas and Dee struggle to communicate. But again the end of this book felt incredibly rushed.
This introduces a bunch of new characters - his neighbors the McQueens.
Spoiler
The dad is an abusive drunk who beat his wife and paralyzed her - she can't even talk!! The wife becomes trapped in her own body and her daughter Cordelia, aka Dee, spends her life taking care of and reading to her. Her dad keeps her super sheltered so that she never even goes outside.The McQueens were sold false land rights, part of it is actually owned by Dallas, so they constantly battle over the land until it gets violent and the oldest son Boyd shoots Austin. Dallas learns about Cordelia and makes deal with them that he will give them the land in exchange for marrying Dee and conditional on her giving him a son.
Dee and Dallas start off very poorly. She's been sold to him essentially and he doesn't know how to act around her. She's afraid of everything, terrified of Dallas (his excuse is that he was forced to give orders very young during the war so he is used to ordering, not asking, and he masks his emotions behind anger and defensivess). He proves himself to her by being gentle, not forcing anything, and being open and encouraging for her to join him in "empire building." The town Dallas has dreamed of is really starting to shape up. The main problem Dallas has is that he can't get women to come out there. Dee dreams up a Grand Hotel that will be managed by a woman with all women employees serving at its restaurant. This project is a huge success for the town and allows Dee and Dallas to develop a relationship.
Eventually she does get pregnant and is 7 months along with a son when a conflict happens around the young boy Rawley Cooper. Dee and the Leigh brothers have come to watch out for him. She hears him scream in an alley and she's pushed from behind, causing her to lose the baby. Dee and Dallas both grieve and grow apart - he thinks she doesn't want him anymore and she thinks he doesn't want her because the doctor tells them she won't ever be able to have children. They sort of adopt Rawley but then learn what's up with him. His dad had been selling him out for sex to other men - including Dee's brother Boyd. It was Boyd who pushed Dee and caused her to lose the baby. Later we learn Rawley's dad had been selling out his squaw "wife" too - he's not sure if Rawley is even his son.
The dad kidnaps Dee for ransom and is hired by Boyd to kill Dallas because Dee will inherit his ranch on Dallas' death - and they likely plan to force her to give the McQueens the land even though she vows she never will. Dallas is severely whipped but Rawley and Dee manage to get away with him. They reconcile and later adopt Rawley and Dee gets pregnant and gives birth to a girl, Faith.
However, Boyd dies sometime during all this and scrawls "Austin" in the dirt. This frames the youngest Leigh brother, Austin, for murder. He's arrested, tried, and sentenced to 5 years in prison all while Dallas was recovering so he couldn't help. Austin didn't do it though - he was spending the night with Becky and refused to admit it to protect her reputation (dumb). Also Amelia gives birth to her second child in this book, a girl - Laurel Joy, who joins her older sister Maggie now.
I really didn't like Cordelia initially - I hate ultra innocent characters - but wow her character development is great. Very frustrating to read though, to watch Dallas and Dee struggle to communicate. But again the end of this book felt incredibly rushed.
spiringvenus's review
4.0
I couldn't put it down! I liked Dallas's story and could relate to working towards a goal all your life.
karenfausto8's review
4.0
¡Como me enamoré de Dallas!
Después de que Dee fue obligada a ser desposada con el vecino enemigo de su familia, empieza a ver la libertad de otra manera. No podría describir con claridad la bola de emociones que este libro ha producido en mí y lo desgarrador que fue haber leído cada desgracia. Su dolor era tan real que casi podían sentir el toque que la autora quería demostrar. Podía encontrar miles maneras de adorar y amar al hermano mayor de los Leigh y su transformación a lo largo de su matrimonio.
Solo sé que no podría atreverme a leer el libro de Houston después de esta novela y mucho menos el de Austin, con ese final tan agridulce. No, no, no.
Después de que Dee fue obligada a ser desposada con el vecino enemigo de su familia, empieza a ver la libertad de otra manera. No podría describir con claridad la bola de emociones que este libro ha producido en mí y lo desgarrador que fue haber leído cada desgracia. Su dolor era tan real que casi podían sentir el toque que la autora quería demostrar. Podía encontrar miles maneras de adorar y amar al hermano mayor de los Leigh y su transformación a lo largo de su matrimonio.
Solo sé que no podría atreverme a leer el libro de Houston después de esta novela y mucho menos el de Austin, con ese final tan agridulce. No, no, no.
ashleyreadsanything's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Miscarriage
aoldroyd's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0