Lorraine Heath really knows how to write romance. And she is probably one of the best currently writing within the subgenre of Western Romance, a very hard arena to have repeat success. A Rogue in Texas was good for Heath standards, but great compared to most romance books, or even compared to most novels in general.

Grayson Rhodes is a fun person to get to know. He's got insecurities galore, and is *supposed* to be a rake. Alas, he finds he has a conscience after all, and he wants Abbie, the widow giving him housing while he works on her land, to come to him willingly. So there are to be no forced seductions or rapes that occasionally happen in romance. Instead, Gray sets out to make Abbie actually like him. And occasionally the rake in him peeks out -- just enough to remind you that he is a little dangerous.

This story turns on Grayson, and he comes through. Not as much time is spent focusing on Abbie, but the book doesn't lose much for this. There is also a lot of interaction between Gray and Abbie's three children. It's probably too good to be true, but it really is nice to see a man step in and take responsibility for such a great family. Especially a man who really knows how to play (instead of toiling in the fields all day long)!

All in all, this is really a fun book to read. It isn't quite as poignant as some other Heath books (Never Love a Cowboy and Texas Destiny come to mind), but compared to most of what's out there it's definitely worth the time and money involved in buying and reading it.

I discovered Lorraine Heath by looking at others Listmania's. I read several on line review before purchasing this book. I was not disappointed. Lorrain Heath is a wonderfully entertaining author. The story of these two people is very entertaining. I love the way the Grayson become involved with the children and trys to do the right thing. Anyone who reads this books will not be disappointed.

As a reader of many romance novels, it is so wonderful to find a novel that holds my attention throughout. Gray ia far from perfect and does have plans of his own and Abbie does have issues of her own. But together they sacrifice for the other because they love each other so fiercely. I read it on a plane trip to Washington DC and was disappointed when the plane landed!

In 1879, his brother the Earl dies so that Rhys Rhodes the "spare becomes the heir". With his father also dying, Rhys' half-brother Grayson accompanied by his American wife and five children arrive from Fortune, Texas to pay their respects. One of Grayson's brood, his stepdaughter Lydia Westland, especially looks forward to the trip as she has studied how to deport oneself as a lady and has written a "book" "Blunders in Behavior Corrected" extracted from letters that her cousin mailed her.

Rhys and Lydia are immediately attracted to one another, but she is angry when his mother the duchess goes hysterical over her father staying at the estate as Grayson is living proof that her husband loved someone else. Lydia turns mortified when Rhys corrects her first blunder. As Rhys and Lydia become acquainted they fall in love but he believes that his scandalous past makes him undeserving of her (or anyone's for that matter) so she has her work cut out to persuade him otherwise.

Switching the locale and moving forward almost fifteen years refreshes the Anglo-American historical romances that have delighted readers. Besides a delightful "second" generation story line, the return of the lead characters from A ROGUE IN TEXAS add a feel of seeing how old friends that have not been seen for a while have done. LOVE WITH A SCANDALOUS LORD is an intriguing tale as Rhys is an interesting lead protagonist with many relationship problems. Lydia provides a bit of comic relief with her obsession over aristocratic behavior. Lorraine Heath scores again with a fine Victorian-Texas romance.

Harriet Klausner

Wow! What a fantastic love story! I read this book in one day, I literally could not put it down.
Rhys is one of the most compelling characters I have encountered. He is handsome, passionate, sensual and strong, and at the same time vulnerable, tormented, lonely and in great need of love. What woman can resist a combination like that in a man? His desire to protect Lydia even at the cost of his own happiness made my heart melt, while Lydia's confidence in their love and its capacity to overcome any difficulty and forgive anything made me feel proud of her. She is a very believable heroine, with a very tender soul and a great capacity to love and understand. I could sympathize with her because for the most part she reacted like I would have done in her circumstances.
I have enjoyed this book throughly, but my favorite scenes are when they are in the garden and he realizes that she is barefoot and her feet are cold and he rubs them so tenderly, and the scene when he plays the piano with such sensuality. I could almost "hear" the music in my head! Oh, and of course, at the ball, when instead of turning her back on him like the rest of the world was doing, she goes to him and takes his hand regardless of the consequences.
A completely delightful love story and a well written book, were the author touches deep and delicate themes with great taste and masterful ability.

1879 England and Lydia Westland, blonde haired, violet-eyed step-daughter to Grayson Rhodes was on her way to living her most fervent dream - well at least part of it anyway. She was riding in the most splendid crimson coach with a ducal crest on the door as if this were an everyday occurrence. In spite of the gravity of the summons to travel swiftly to the bedside of her step-fathers dying sire, she hoped to absorb as much of the glitter, pomp and circumstance of Britain as she could - hopefully she could even convince her parents to let her stay and accompany her cousin for the London 'season' before returning to America. Armed with Miss Westland's Blunders in Behavior Corrected she carefully studied the different forms of address of the nobility she dreamed she would soon be meeting.

Though the welcome when they arrived was less than warm, Lydia could not but be impressed upon meeting the Marquess of Blackhurst, Rhys Rhoades. Though he projected the cool and imperturbable commanding stance of the upper class nobility, the beautiful young American more than stunned Rhys. Her innocence was palatable and though he desperately yearned to possess her he knew his sins would forever prevent him from having the thing he yearned for most - the love of this innocent young woman. He would do his best, while dying inside to see that she had her hearts desire of a season in London, even if it meant making a 'pact with the devil' to ensure her success thus keeping her from him forever.

I must agree with the statement, 'this author will steal your heart' and this particular story will cement that thought in your mind as you read Rhys and Lydia's powerful love story. Lydia's innocence, her strength and fortitude, and her blind faith in Rhys and in knowing her own heart would be instrumental to heal the pain and anguish that tormented Rhys. Expect the most beautiful imagery and prose, and oh yes, be prepared to shed some tears in this divine love story - sit back and enjoy! Positively sensual and oh so sweet!

Jesse Lawton has been in jail for five years, arrested at the age of fourteen for robbing a bank. A new judge believes that Jessie's ten year sentence may be a bit to harsh and decided to let Jessie work off the rest of his sentence at his ranch. Jessie really doesn't want to mess up this second chance but when the judge's daughter, Amelia, takes an interest in him Jessie finds her hard to resist. The Judge is very protective of his daughter and if he catches them together he'll send Jessie back to jail.

This is one of the better Avon True Romances. The author focuses more on character development and romance than on the plot. The pacing is also very good. Jessie is a pretty likeable character. Amelia got on my nerves at first but I grew to like her. The romance was well done and enjoyable even though I never got overly attached to either of the characters. I look forward to reading Samantha and the Cowboy, another Avon True Romance by this author.

i thought this was a great book and a great addition to the avon true romance series for teens. it was written by lorraine heath, the author of samantha and the cowboy.
it starts out when jesse lawton, the outlaw, is going to work off the rest of his sentence of robbing banks at judge harper's house. but then he meets judge harper's daughter, amelia and he thinks she's the prettiest girl he's ever seen. amelia is itching for excitement because her mother died when she was twelve and she can sense excitement in jesse. one of her father's rules is that she and jesse are never alone together, she purposely went against that rule and sought jesse out a lot. then he breaks her horse, duchess and she promised the winner a kiss and so she was going to kiss jesse, but only gave him a peck on the cheek. also added to the story is colleen, her servant, although she doesn't act like a servant, more as a friend, and amelia's older brother robert, likes her, but they are afraid to admit it. then it's amelia's birthday party, her 17th birthday and she dances with jesse alone in the yard and she kisses him!
then pete, jesse's old leader comes back and jesse is going to rob judge harper, or he'd hurt amelia. but jesse told amelia some things and to see waht happens read this book!
i thought this book went a little slow, but it was still really good.

Jesse's life has been anything, but easy. He was abandoned as a baby and passed from caretaker to caretaker. At the age of 14, Jesse finally found a place where he felt welcome... in a notorious gang of bankrobbers. But when things went wrong, it was Jesse who had to pay for the crimes of the gang with a ten year jail sentence.

Now, five years have passed and Jesse is no longer a boy, but a man...and one who might get a second chance at that. The judge that sentenced him has died and the judge's replacement, after reviewing his predecessor's notes, has decided that the sentence was far too harsh for a 14 year old kid. So Judge Harper invites Jesse to serve out his remaining time on the Harper's ranch as a hand.

Jesse accepts the offer and begins to look forward to something like a normal life...until he meets the judge's breathtakingly beautiful daughter, Amelia. Amelia and Jesse are drawn to each other despite the judge's warning...mess with Amelia and straight back to jail Jesse goes.

Amelia wants freedom and excitement and she just knows that that is what she'll find with Jesse. But as Amelia gets to know him and senses his loneliness and pain, she begins to see past what he represents to the man...and she begins to love him. But love between the outlaw and the judge's daughter is not only forbidden, it's also dangerous...

This is by far one of the best books in the series. The other book by this author, Samantha and the Cowboy, is really great too.

Virtually every page is overflowing with melodramatic angst.

The premise of this book promised more than it delivered. I was so bored and uninterested in the plot and its characters that it was difficult to complete the book.
If I was a younger reader with less life experience maybe I would not have been so disappointed. The depth of the characers was nonexistent and the plot was flat.

I loved this book. It was one of my favorites by Lorraine Heath, and I've read them all. I thought she did a terrific job creating and presenting her heroine with a disability, a very difficult job for a writer. The hero...wow! I loved him. Lee was very sexy. I guess one of the things I liked the most about the plot is that we are with Lee and Angela almost the entire time. The story is their story, with not a bunch of subplotting to take us away from the romance or the main characters.

Dont waste money & buy this book definetly not a keeper unlike her other books such as Texas glory & texas Destiny.

Please ignore the first review, for I find the book to be a great read. If you have read other books by Lorraine Heath, then you know that this is a worthwhile book. I haven't been disappointed yet in reading her books, old or new. Each reader has their own tastes in what they like and dislike in a book. I bought this book despite the negative review received for this book; and I am glad I purchased it, for now I have this book to add to my Lorraine Heath collection =o)

This is a heartfelt story about a man who has to challenge himself to overcome his weakness and a woman who gets her dream of being a schoolteacher unfulfilled. Even though, Meredith has a hard time trying to dislike Lee, his smiles and his caring personality wins her heart. Lee overcame his weakness of school by teaching the kids a different approach of learning. Although Meredith is strict with how a teacher should teach and lectures Lee to follow the guidebook, she becomes less strict and sees the value of learning differently rather than one way. From the first time they met, Lee has been drawn to Meredith. They help each other deal with their weaknesses, and grow closer together. Not only do they fall in love with each other, but fell in love with an orphan boy who also had problems with learning as Lee has. Meredeth has grown all her life as an orphan and knows how Jimmy feels: to belong to someone who loves them. Lee showed Jimmy and Meredith about the value of love, family, and belonging.

A uniquelly written story to touch your heart. You can see the characters are passionate, funny, and compassionate. This is not a heady passionate romance book, but it has its own unique depth. Not only do you feel for the story, but you feel for the characters. It shows different perspectives viewed from 3 characters rather than having a book focus on one perspective.

If you are contemplating on buying this book, I would say get it, you dont' see these types of books often. If you haven't read books written by Lorraine Heath, read them all,they are all great. However, like I said before, each person has their own taste in reading material. But chances are if you like one book by Lorraine Heath, You'll like her other books gauranteed.

The reason I bought this book is that it's great to see the beginning of an author's work in her books, and from the start, Lorraine Heath writes from the heart and touches the heart of her readers by the stories written as I see in this book. This is one of her books when she first wrote in her book career. What can I say, it's well done. Now I have to get the other series from Sons and Daughters to see how the other characters do in their labor when they turn 20!

To Tame A Texan contains four short love stories set in, you guessed it, Texas. This anthology contains stories by Evelyn Crowe, Lorraine Heath, Vivian Vaughn and Eileen Wilks -- some fine writers indeed. Unfortunately, the stories are all average (or below) and center around the heroine's attempt to "tame" their cowboy. That's all fine and dandy and truly I have nothing against a sexy cowboy being tamed by the love of a strong woman. BUT because of the length of each story none of these heroines succeeded in making me believe that all had ended happily ever after. I could even picture two of these couples spending a lot of hours in divorce court a few years down the road.

This is certainly not a bad book, the authors create some witty repartee and fun situations and even tug on the heartstrings a little, but it isn't a book I'd call satisfying. The plots and characters were not fleshed out enough and this greedy reader wanted more (especially of the Lorraine Heath story which introduced two wonderful characters)!

Lorraine Heath's story gets my vote as the best of the bunch, although it is rather short to be memorable. The others are forgettable. If not for Heath, this book will get two stars.