Well, no matter how hard I try to avoid it, I seem to run across somebody’s opinion on a book I’m reviewing. I try my best to ignore other reviews until I’ve had a chance to read the book myself, but I still hear a lot of comments such as, “this is an A book,” or “I was disappointed in that.” So, when in doubt, my advice is: Read the book yourself.

I’ve loved Lorraine Heath since I read Sweet Lullaby. My favorite book of hers is Parting Gifts, or at least it was until I ran into those Leigh boys. I found Texas Destiny near took my breath away, so I wondered how I would feel about Dallas’s story. I’m not certain I’ve survived it yet.

Yes, Dallas finally finds a wife, he still wants a son so badly he can barely stand it, and he gets a woman who’s dang near afraid of her shadow and wonders how he’s ever going to manage to get into her bed. Desperate for a wife, he offers for 26 year-old Cordelia McQueen, daughter of the man who’s trying to steal his land away. Here is another story of mental abuse, but a woman who’s strong enough to try and find her way out of her fear. I loved Dallas, and I loved Cordelia, and the ups and downs they put me through had me sitting on the edge of my seat.

Yep, I spent the whole day reading this book and I can’t say I’m sorry. I think this book is definitely an equal to Houston and Amelia’s book, and a fine sequel to their story. Dallas is his own hero, grumpy, gruff, and a hero to die for. Cordelia is a heroine that’s every bit as feisty as Dallas, but who’s never been allowed to be herself. To say she’s been sheltered is not even describing what she’s been forced into. This woman has barely been out of her own room in years.

What I love about Lorraine Heath’s books is that she doesn’t spend her time writing about two people arguing all the time. She understands her characters well, and she sets the story up in such a way that you fall in love with the characters and storyline right away. By the way, I hesitate to use the word “feisty” in Cordelia’s case, but let me put it this way, with Dallas, she learned not to be afraid of her own shadow.

Yes, I cried in this story – several times, but I’m not going to tell you why. Lorraine always makes me cry, every single time and that’s just the way I like it. She knows how to hit me straight in the heart. Lorraine has also done a fantastic job of setting up Austin’s story in this book and now, I can barely wait until she gets the final book in this trilogy published. Yes, we’ll all be waiting with baited breath for the last installment and knowing her, it will be just as fantastic as the first two stories. I really am truly going to be sorry when this trilogy ends.

If you want a book to keep you riveted from the beginning, this book is not to be missed. I loved it; it’s another Lorraine Heath keeper for me.