Texas Splendor
Grade : B

Texas Splendor starts out like an "A" book. The characters are terrific, the conflict is interesting, and the sexual tension abounds. Toward the end, it loses its way - a little. It is still a good read, and a fitting end to a great trilogy.

Austin Leigh has just spent five years in prison for murdering Boyd McQueen - a crime he didn't commit. Only one thing kept him going: the knowledge that when he got out, his sweetheart, Becky Oliver, would be waiting for him. He is crushed when he discovers that Becky has married his best friend Cameron instead. Since he is grieving for his lost relationship, Austin decides to leave town and search for Boyd's real killer. On his way, however, he gets sidetracked at the home of Loree Grant. Austin stops for a meal, then stays for a while when an injury starts bothering him.

Loree has problems of her own. She has lived alone since the rest of her family was murdered, and she still has horrible dreams about the night they were killed. She is lonely, and although she doesn't feel worthy of Austin's affection, he seems like an answer to a prayer. An emotional moment has them sleeping together, and Loree discovers she is pregnant. Austin marries her and takes her back to Leighton, where his brothers live.

Austin and Loree come to care for one another, but there are still problems. Loree is sure Austin still loves Becky, and Austin doesn't know how to win her trust. There are also the matters of Boyd's unsolved murder and Loree's mysterious past.

Lorraine Heath's strong point has always been characterization, and Texas Splendor is no exception. Both the hero and heroine were wonderfully portrayed, and they seemed very real, particularly in the beginning of the book. Austin was an especially complex hero; he had a lot of bad luck, but it didn't stop him from being honorable. And while he falls for Loree, he was also trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He worked for Dallas, but his true passion had always been music. Loree was great as well - she had a lot of secrets, and it took a long time to figure them out.

The secondary characters were strong also. Both Houston and Amelia (from Texas Destiny) and Dallas and Dee (from Texas Glory) were very much in evidence. While I enjoyed seeing them again, their presence was a little overwhelming during the second half of the book. There were a lot of people milling about, and at times Austin and Loree got a little lost in the shuffle. In fact, I would definitely recommend reading the other two books before attempting this one. While Texas Splendor can basically stand alone, there is a definite progression to the series; these books really need to be read in order.

My only real problem with the book came towards the end, when the actions of the characters lacked believability during a few scenes. The matter of Boyd's murder was resolved a little too easily, which just didn't ring true. Overall, I found this a very enjoyable read, worthwhile for the wonderful characters. My favorite of this trilogy is the first book, Texas Destiny. This one isn't quite up to that standard, but it's pretty good nonetheless.

Reviewed by Blythe Smith
Grade : B

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : December 8, 1998

Publication Date: 1998

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Blythe Smith

I've been at AAR since dinosaurs roamed the Internet. I've been a Reviewer, Reviews Editor, Managing Editor, Publisher, and Blogger. Oh, and Advertising Corodinator. Right now I'm taking a step back to concentrate on kids, new husband, and new job in law...but I'll still keep my toe in the romance waters.
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