Customer Reviews

Caitlyn's Prize (Harlequin SuperRomance, No. 1574 / Cowboy Country)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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Far too outdated to be at all realistic, I found Caitlyn's Prize to be a good story that was not written in a believable way.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?

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

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.

Book Blurb: Caitlyn Belle will die before she'll let Judd Calhoun take her Texas ranch! Her arrogant and wealthy neighbor has been waiting to get back at her for jilting him years ago. But she wasn't about to be roped and steered into wedlock-even if her feelings for Judd went far beyond a business arrangement between their two families.

Judd will never forgive Cait for walking out on him. Now that her late father's gambling debts have her backed into a corner, Judd's ready to take his sweet revenge. But first he has to forget the yearning in Cait's forget-me-not blue eyes. Just when Judd thinks he's over her, trust the fearless, stubborn woman to tempt him once again....

- This is the second Warren book I've read and, quiet simply, I loved it. Even with the limited word count for a series title, this author knows how to pack a punch and make every sentence pull double duty. This book has it all, passion, romance, heartache, and a satisfying ending. I don't know...if her other titles are this good I might have to make some room on my Keeper Shelf for this author. ~ Ana, IReadRomance dot com

This book was great! I always enough Linda Warren's book since they emphasize the power of family and sticking together. This one doesn't waver from that. But this one is much more. I love the story of Judd and Caitlyn, but who I really like is the stand-up attitude of Caitlyn. She isn't some delicate flower, she doesn't need a man to do the job for her. She can do it.

But she starts a journey that she can't do alone, she needs her sisters.

But her journey brings to her Judd, her first love, and perhaps her only love. They were both wronged when they were younger by their fathers. And it is Caitlyn's sassitude that brings them back together - for the better this time - and not just for family - but for love.

Caitlyn's Prize is a sweet and touching read for everyone.

This book deserves more than 5 stars. Caitlyn and Dane's story made me laugh out loud, as well as, cry. The characters in this book is wonderful, especially the Grandma. Caitlyn tried to protect her Grandma, and to shield her from things that would cause her pain. True to form, the Grandma knew all along what was happening in her family. Caitlyn and Dane's story is very touching. I enjoyed it, and this book is definitely a keeper.

Awesome trilogy! Enjoyed all of them couldn't put them down. Read all three in 2 evenings.