A review by scotcheroo
Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath
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.