Customer Reviews

Cinnamon and Roses

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CINNAMON AND ROSES by Heidi Betts Review by Barb Deane, Barb's All Romance Book Store

New author Heidi Betts has her debut book, Cinnamon and Roses, out this month from Leisure Books. Cinnamon and Roses is a American historical, set in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1880. Heidi has created a warm and wonderful picture of the old west that is definitely worth your time to visit.

Rebecca grew up in a storeroom in the brothel that employed her mother, literally exposed to the seediest sides of life in Kansas City. When the madam suggested that Rebecca was old enough, at 13, to start earning her keep, Rebecca snuck out of town in the back of a stage coach. When the end of the road was Leavenworth, Rebecca was lucky enough to be "adopted" by a loving widow who not only gave Rebecca the first home she'd ever known, but a means to support herself as well by teaching her to become a seamstress.

When Caleb Adams brought his mistress to the local seamstress for a new gown, it never occurred to him that the dowdy little seamstress would be of any interest to him. However, when he fails to pay his bill in full, Rebecca turns the full power of her passion and survival instincts on him. He not only forks over the disputed sum, but gives his heart to the beautiful and independent young woman as well. The sparks that fly between these two strong-willed characters are very interesting and intriguing.

Although several incidents threaten their happiness, including a marriage of convenience, Caleb and Rebecca's struggle to find a life together is well-written and enjoyable. Heidi shows real talent for creating likable characters, including Caleb's younger sister Megan. I hope we are going to see Megan come into her own in a future story. Great work, Heidi, especially for a first book. I can't wait for the next one! Barb Deane Copyrightc 1999, Barb's All Romance Book Store. All rights reserved

Rebecca is a simple woman with a past full of bad memories. She works hard at her seamstress business - just making enough to get by. She has no need for men and would just asume stay unattached. Caleb Adams is the son of a wealthy Wagon Express owner. He could have any woman he wants. But why does he find himself sending his mistress back to New York and dreaming about the mousy seamstress? With trouble around every corner, Caleb battles Rebecca's strong will to show her he can love her - past and all.

Ms Bett's fills her story with a cast of witty characters that will remind you of the people around you. You never know what is around the next page or what Rebecca, Caleb and all the supportig characters will do next. CINNAMON AND ROSES was a non stop page turner that I couldn't put down. You will love this book. ~Shannon McCravy, Sisters of the Night

Rebecca is a seamstress in a small Kansas town. Raised in a brothel, she's put her past behind her and made a life for herself -- a life that didn't have room for a man, she'd seen enough of men and what they had to offer a woman. Caleb Adams has wealth and all the women he wants . . . so why is he drawn to the quiet seamstress? More than drawn, he can't get her out of his mind. Lured to his bed, rushed into a marriage neither of them wants and accidents happening right and left, too many accidents to be a coincidence, Rebecca and Caleb find through all the turmoil that they were meant for each other.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet -- and sweet is just what Heidi Betts historical, Cinnamon and Roses, was!

This is a Leisure book, the debut of Ms Betts, and it is a winner! This book is a western historical and I have always been shy of westerns but I am very glad I did not shy away from this one!

Rebecca is the child of a prostitute, raised in a brothel by a very uncaring mother. She runs away at the age of thirteen as she had heard that she was soon to be put to 'work' and Rebecca refuses to turn out like her mother. She is taken in by a kind widow and raised as a fine respectable lady in another town and becomes the town's finest seamstress. She is hired to make a flamboyant dress for the mistress of Caleb Adams, the town's famous Express stagecoach businessman. However he refuses to pay her bill in full as he feels the dress is not worth the cost. Rebecca storms into Caleb's office for her hard earned money and the gauntlet is thrown down, war begins! Caleb soon realizes he much more prefers her cinnamon and roses smell to the cloying New York scent of his mistress. Circumstances force them to marry and their love builds, but someone is out to harm Rebecca. Caleb is determined that his wife not be taken from him and he stands up for her only as a true gentleman could.

Oh, I loved this wonderful story! It is a tender story of true love and one that will leave you awestruck with it's power! I eagerly look forward to Ms Betts next book! Way to go Heidi! It's a keeper!

What an amazing talent! Cinnamon and Roses is enchanting and sweet with plenty of spice and a wonderful story that you won't be able to put down. The characters are wonderful, warm and endearing and you won't want the story to end. You'll feel like you're leaving behind good friends. I can't recommend this book enough, it's FABULOUS!

Normally, I do not read the western romance novels. Medievals are more my style. But the raving reviews made me buy this book. And I do not regret it. Rebecca is a lovely heroine and SPUNKY!!
At 13 she ran away from her mother (a prostitute)and found her own spot in a small town. Ten years later she is the local dressmaker and quite happy. Then she meets Caleb and sparks fly. After she gets pregnant (oops) Caleb marries her. It is not a novel with a 'big' plot with lots of turns and twists, just a nice story, written very well and in a pleasing style. I came to like Rebecca and Caleb a lot and sure will buy the sequel (the story of Caleb's sister Megan).

I don't lean towards western romances but this one was excellent, especially for a first book! The characters are very believable, the romance is tangible and the plot moves along wonderfully. There's even a villainess to loathe! I was so pleased to hear that another novel by this author is coming out in July this year----I'll be haunting the new releases! Sweet, old-fashioned and still passionate--one of the best reads I've had in a while.

What a great story!Well written, intriguing plot, vivid description, characters that will touch your heart, make you laugh, make you sigh and make you cry, Cinnamon and Roses is a must read for anyone who loves romance!It will truly make you believe in the power of love. Read this book - you won't be disappointed.

This book was recommend to me and it was just what I was looking for. Now, I'm a VERY picky reader when it comes to my romance novels. I get annoyed and bored with the same ol, same ol. So believe me when I say that Cinnamon and Roses is NOT the same old thing.

Rebecca lives her peaceful, quiet life as Leavenworth, Kansas' seamstress. After being raises in a brothel by her prostitute mother, she runs away when the madam says that she's of age to become a "working girl." She's adopted by a kind widow who teaches her how to sew and she's content with her new life far away from brothels. One day, Caleb Adams, the richest man in the town and pretty much the state comes in with his mistress Sabrina and commissions Rebecca to make her a dress. Sabrina being a typical mistress and gold digger asks for an elaborate and gaudy dress and a very expensive one that has Rebecca spending hours and hours sewing and attaching feathers on this dress.

When she sends Caleb the bill he balks at the price because they're not in NYV and thinks she's trying to overcharge. So he sends her half of the money and thinks that's it. Rebecca angered by not getting her full pay for all the work she did, marches into Caleb's office and raises hell. Caleb is taken aback by Rebecca's temper and is mystified by her beauty. When he saw her at her house he thought he just a mousy seamstress in glasses but Rebecca only looks homely when working, any other time she cleans up well and is in fact a beauty. Her temper turns him on of course.

He tells his mistress Sabrina off about the expensive dress and makes plans to ship her back to NYC without him, wanting to end their relationship. Sabrina is outraged having her meal ticket about to be taken away so she gets Rebecca to make another dress just to spite Caleb and to make Rebecca stuff the work because she sees Caleb interested in Rebecca after her confrontation with him over the bill.

When Caleb's 16 year old Megan comes to town, he gets Rebecca to make her Kansas worthy clothes and he starts to get to know Rebecca. Megan senses that her playboy brother has a crush on the pretty seamstress and does all she can to put the two around each other. Slowly Rebecca and Caleb grow fond of each other. So fond that with both of them having bad tempers the passion is of course off the charts. Caleb and Rebecca slept together and Rebecca gets pregnant. He thinks she's trying to trap him while she's upset with herself for being no better than the whores in a brothel who get married out of wedlock and sleep with men while unwed. She and Caleb soon get over their hangups for the baby and marry and keep the baby a secret to tell how she got pregnant soon after the wedding.

Their marriage is a shock to everyone including Sabrina when she comes back to Leavenworth set on getting Caleb back.

Between scheming ex-mistresses, a prostitute mother come back into her life, and a young women angry at her for marrying her crush, Rebecca's marriage as Mrs. Caleb Adams is not all sunshine and roses.

This story is SO good! It's so different. The pregnancy occurs early in the book and the hero and heroine marry. So different from epilogue babies and big misunderstandings. These two have to deal with their problems personal and outside forces as a married couple, for better or worse.

Take it from one picky reader and PICK UP this book. If you don't want the usual same old misunderstanding and the couple breaking up GET this book!

I have a couple minor complaints but over all I enjoyed the book. It was a little predictable. First I agree w/a previous reviewer that they jumped into bed way too quickly. And I wish romance novelists would pay attention to the covers for their books. The girl on the cover is clearly light blond and in the book is described repeatedly as having dark chestnut hair. But then I noticed that the sister Meghan is described as having very dark hair in this book. And on the cover for her story, A Promise of Roses, she has very vibrant blond hair. I know silly complaints but still. If you're going to take the time to hire 2 beautiful people for the cover of a book they ought to at least resemble the characters in said book.