Crooked Hearts [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Patricia Gaffney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Saving Graces and the blockbuster reissue of Sweet Everlasting comes another sure thing-this special reissue of Patricia Gaffney's wildly sexy and deliciously witty historical romance of love and larceny.

"MARVELOUS...It's been a long time since I read a book this wonderful." (New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crooked hearts indeed. Both the hero and heroine of this fast-paced romp through California in the 1880s are so adept at lying and scheming that the narrative is more than half over before they--or the reader--know each other's true stories or real names. But Grace Russell and Reuben Jones are a pair of very likable rogues--good-hearted and good-humored 20-somethings whose disadvantaged pasts have virtually compelled them to resort to a succession of cons to survive life on the American frontier. When they meet on a San Francisco-bound stagecoach--she disguised as a nun soliciting money for African orphans and he posing as a wealthy blind scholar--sparks fly but are quickly dampened as each recognizes in the other a kindred spirit perpetually on the make. Nonetheless, they join forces to defraud a mysterious Chinatown crimelord, who, being neither trustworthy nor nice, makes their lives complicated, dangerous and increasingly intertwined. The ensuing story line is so convoluted that it is nearly impossible to follow, but most readers will be willing to muddle through, because the characters themselves truly are engaging and refreshingly unstereotypical. Grace is independent and sexually liberated but never brassy, while Reuben struggles valiantly to project the bravura of a Wild West hero but readily admits to a deep fear of knives and a decidedly unmacho passion for wine collecting. Their sexual encounters are sweetly erotic, and their hopes, fears and desires ring true.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“[A] fast-paced romp through California in the 1880s . . . the characters themselves truly are engaging and refreshingly unstereotypical. . . . Their sexual encounters are sweetly erotic, and their hopes, fears and desires ring true.” —Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587241986
• ISBN-13: 978-1587241987
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #687,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Gaffney began her writing career with the publication of Sweet Treason, a historical romance set in revolutionary Scotland. Eleven romance novels later, she tried something different--The Saving Graces, a story of women's friendships, that ended up spending 17 weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List.

Circle of Three, Flight Lessons, and The Goodbye Summer followed, all bestsellers that established Gaffney as a premier mainstream fiction writer.

Her new book is Mad Dash, the story of a happy marriage in trouble. It's due out in Spring 2008.

Gaffney, who lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, is currently at work on a novel about a man who changes his life when he finds out he's dying--then finds out he isn't. Working title: On Second Thought.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wild About "Crooked Hearts", April 7, 2004

By 

Ms Winston (East Coast U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Crooked Hearts (Paperback)

If I had to pick my favorite romance novel, this would be the one. I read this book when it was first published by the late Topaz division of Penguin, when the book had a cover that actually matched its contents. I was lucky to grab another copy before it went to a hearts and flowers format. Don't be fooled by the cover -- this is an adventure story with a dash of romance and much humor. Grace and Reuben are the most appealing of charcters -- funny, romantic, and hard-boiled all at once. The opening scene is memorable: con-woman Grace, disguised as a nun, pulls up her skirts to re-adjust the gun she has hidden under her habit. What she doesn't know is that the "blind" man seated across from her in the stagecoach is another grifter, taking in the view from behind his dark glasses. Set in California in the 1880s, this book makes you wish you had seen old San Francisco, before the earthquake. It is in the zany tradition of the cult TV program "Brisco County, Jr." with chase scenes, narrow escapes, bad guys with issues, and sex that can be both humorous and tender. If you are feeling low, this is a book to lift your spirits and tickle your funny bone at the same time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crooked as they come...and all the better for it., January 23, 2000

By 

--corinne-- (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crooked Hearts (Topaz Historical Romances) (Paperback)

Very sad to see that this title is out of print. The he & she of this book are both con artists who constantly try to put one over on each other until they band together and in the process fall in love. This is a refreshing dialogue between two equals both of whom do not want to give up their illegal activities or their independence. And we love them for it....The repartee between the two main characters constantly sizzles and provides many laughs! Pick this one up if you can find it. Another thoughtful & sparkling romance from the always wonderful Patricia Gaffney!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wildly Entertaining, Excitingly Romantic!, January 21, 2002

By 

Chris Cummings (OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crooked Hearts (Paperback)

Grace and Reuben are a couple of con artists who meet by chance while traveling (in disguise, of course: she, a nun; he, a blind spaniard.) Hilarity and hijinks ensue as a result of one's belief that the other can't see, etc. Meeting one another was an intriguing diversion, nothing more, considering the two would probably never cross paths again...that is, until their stagecoach is robbed, their "winnings" are stolen, and their false identities exposed in the process. As help is sought from the authorities after the bandits are subdued, Grace and Reuben, fearing questioning by the police, make their escape on horseback with nothing but the clothes on their back and a small, mysterious chinese figurine that seemed to be of special interst to the robbers.

Back at Reuben's San Fransiscan apartment, the two decide to partner up, just for a scam or two, until they can recoup their lost winnings. They develop a certain friendly-but-somewhat-suspicious camraderie, and, finding that they work rather well together, decide to see what they can get out of the figurine.

Grace and Reuben are wonderful characters - quite a refreshing change from the typical romance genre. Both are somewhat jaded and devious, yet the reader sees glimpses of basic goodness and kindness - even innocence - that only desperate circumstances and hard luck has served to temper in both of them.

The book drew me in immediately - action-packed from the get-go. The dialogue was quite clever, with lots of quite funny moments, as well as a couple of intricately impressive con schemes (where DOES Ms. Gaffney come up with this stuff?) Reuben and Grace are endearing, and I think any reader would soon find themself cheering for this couple.

Grace and Reuben develop a certain honor-among-thieves trust and friendship, and even grow to depend on one another (though they'd never admit it), and though there is a mutual attraction, they each inwardly determine to keep things neutral...until they find themselves caught up in the dangerous world of a deadly chinese mafia in Chinatown, the leader of which wants the little figurine quite desparately...and wants Grace even more.

Though the story is lively and witty, a deep, abiding love is developing between Grace and Reuben that is really quite touching and very deeply sexy. Reuben, though a shaking coward where knives are involved, a devious con-man when the moment calls for one, and a comic with an appreciation for the absurd, is probably the sexiest hero I've ever "met" in the pages of a book!