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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too old-fashioned, August 10, 2011
This review is from: Caitlyn's Prize (Harlequin SuperRomance, No. 1574 / Cowboy Country) (Mass Market Paperback)
Good premise, pretty good story. So what was wrong with it?
It read like historical romance.
Caitlyn walked away from her fiancé Judd - heir to the rival ranch - when she discovered their fathers had arranged the marriage; it had nothing to do with love. Now fourteen years later Caitlyn's ranch is in serious financial trouble, and Judd is going to get his revenge for their broken engagement by taking it over.
If you'd told me Caitlyn's Prize was set in the nineteenth century I would have believed you. I've never been to small town Texas, but if their social progression is this arrested, then that's simply frightening. The mothers hold full-on balls while the ladies parade around speaking like stereotypical Southern belles - not a bad word to be said. The men under forty - the hero included - spout a bunch of nonsense about women needing to stay off the land and in the home to produce male heirs. Marriages are business arrangements as they were in past centuries. Weird.
Far too outdated to be at all realistic, I found Caitlyn's Prize to be a good story that was not written in a believable way. Perhaps the author is out of touch with today's twenty and thirty somethings?
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous ranch romance, July 1, 2009
This review is from: Caitlyn's Prize (Harlequin SuperRomance, No. 1574 / Cowboy Country) (Mass Market Paperback)
Following the death of her father Dane, Caitlyn Belle learns the family High Five ranch is in financial trouble due to her late dad's gambling debts that he somewhat paid off by the money making selling gas and oil royalties. Their neighbor Southern Cross ranch Judd Calhoun explains she has six months to turn a profit or sell the ranch to him at fair market value. Several years ago she ended their engagement when he refused to say he loved her; instead he felt he was honest when he responded he has no idea what love means.
When someone begins vandalizing the ranch, Caitlyn, who distrusts Judd with her heart, knows he is her only hope to save the spread though he might be the saboteur as part of his vengeance for her dumping him. Judd holds a mean grudge not forgiving her for dumping him, but every time he looks into her eyes; his icy heart melts though he works extra time to refreeze it.
The first Belles of Texas is a fabulous ranch romance starring two beloved enemies as the heroine will not marry for anything less than a shared love while the lead male insists honesty is more important than an undefined whimsical emotion like love. Her late father's beliefs that sound Regency in nature in which women should not deal with finances is ironic because he left his daughters and their grandmother in fiscal trouble. The story line is fast-paced yet also enhanced by the strong support cast making CAITLYN'S PRIZE a great opening "Cowboy Country" second chance at love romance.
Harriet Klausner
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caitlyn proves she is no typical female, November 30, 2009
This review is from: Caitlyn's Prize (Harlequin SuperRomance, No. 1574 / Cowboy Country) (Mass Market Paperback)
Caitlyn Belle has been summoned to a meeting at Southern Cross Ranch owned by Judd Calhoun who she told to hit the road 14 years ago. It feels like being called to the principal's office even though she has done nothing wrong. Because of huge gambling debts,her father sold the oil and gas royalties to Judd,and part of the deal was if The High Five Ranch doesn't make a profit in 6 months,it too would be sold to Judd at a fair price. There is no way Caitlyn will let that happen and sets about this huge undertaking. First she insists her 2 sisters come home which is met by opposition because both have secrets they want to remain hidden. Despite this,they both come home and are surprised to see how bad mentally Grandma is.
It is enough of a battle just to try to keep things going,but Judd's hired hands make more work and big problems showing what low lives they really are. Is Judd putting them up to all of this? It makes Cait's trust falter even more,but she pushes on.
The details of ranch life make this a very good read,and the varied emotions really keep you drawn in and part of the book.
Linda Warren writes from her heart and from experiences as a child on a ranch-farm where her mother was a very strong and determined lady. She is an auto-buy for me,and this book will be added as a keeper in the special Linda Warren shelf in my book collection.
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