Customer Reviews

Crooked Hearts

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

Patricia Gaffney displays her versatility in this book and knocks me off my feet with how hilarious and down right fun Crooked Hearts is. Prepare to kick back, let loose, and enjoy a wild ride of mishaps, adventures, and brazen swindles with a couple of brilliant characters that will steal your heart - among other things throughout the course of the novel.

Reuben and Grace are both con artists whose paths cross on a Wells Fargo stage coach on the way to San Francisco. I won't give the joke away, but the nature of their meeting is hilarious and kicks off the book in grand style on a very high note. This sets the pattern for the outrageous high jinks these two will concoct once they team up to recoup their losses after their stage coach is held up and their ill-gotten gains are stolen from them.

I love Reuben - he's one of the best heroes ever. That doesn't tell you much, but really you have to read this book to find out how awesome he is, because I can only gush about him. He's so funny, so much fun, so dashing as a con artist, but so human at the same time - an incongruous, perfect mix of comedy, sex appeal, and unexpected depths. He adeptly balances the role of both buffoon and hero. He's a wine connoisseur. He's brave so long as there are no knives around. He gets beat up a lot. He's a wanderer, a cheat, a flirt, and a survivor. Best of all, he's unrepentantly and unapologetically himself. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Reuben is perfectly matched in wits and skill with Grace, who is also a con artist, and who is also awesome. We first meet her as she's masquerading as a nun packing a derringer strapped to her garter. And that really says it all doesn't it? They're a very mismatched pair, considering neither of them can trust the other as far as they can throw them - this savvy wariness goes hand in hand with a great deal of respect. They each recognize the other for the flimflam masters that they are.

My only complaint would be the general plot of the story. The author has created these two brilliant characters, but she doesn't seem to really know what to do with them. A villain emerges in the form of a Chinese gang lord named Mark Wing who becomes obsessed with Grace - which leads to a drugging and attempted rape scenario that seems dated and disturbing to me - all the more so because it cements a pattern that has begun to emerge for poor Grace. She gets stuck in situations that invariably end up with her as the brunt of a joke, at some disadvantage, more often than not because she's naked. It starts out funny, and helps along with the chemistry between her and Reuben, but I began to draw the line with the whole Mark Wing episode, which just seemed very off to me, not to mention contrived. It forces Grace into a situation that makes her look very stupid - which is all the more annoying because up to that point she isn't stupid at all, and it seems egregiously out of character for her to use such poor judgment. She ends up acting like an idiot and making stupid choices that ruin the scam they're working on at the time, which, besides having dire consequences for Reuben, gets her into a big dangerous mess that's entirely of her own making. It's a huge disappointment because it seems more like sabotage of a character that I really respected, and all for the sake of a plot twist whose only end, that I could see, was getting her in bed with the hero. So Grace gets pretty poor treatment, in the book and as a character.

After a while, though, Grace gets to redeem herself, and, except for some temporary misunderstandings that seem more like desperate filler and really test my patience, it's smooth sailing the rest of the way. Crooked Hearts is well worth a read, despite those objections I mentioned. The romance might suffer a bit in favor of all the action and adventure, especially when the intrigues involving the villainous Mark Wing take over near the end, but when they are together, and the difficulties and misunderstandings are cleared up, Reuben and Grace are a great couple. This is much lighter than the other books by Gaffney I've read - but it's not too light, not by any means.

I read Patricia's other books and I always felt her books were lacking in some way. Not with this book. This book was a laugh out loud, funny, and sexy book about two thiefs with insercurities. They are not perfect, but they are good people who deserved the ending they got.

I am so glad to see Patricia Gaffney enjoying well-deserved success -- especially as it means a return to print of one of my all time favorite romances. Crooked Hearts has it all, wonderful, unique, fully fleshed characters, witty dialogue, adventure and a deep, soul-fulfilling love. Not only is there one copy on my keeper shelf, but two-- one to lend, and one to cherish.

I had some doubts when I first found this one netgalley and requested it. See, it's an older romance being reprinted and kindelized, and I thought it may be a bodice ripper due to some of the cover/blurb/flap jackets that were on the older editions. However, I not only read it, but thoroughly enjoyed it and had many a laugh. It is not really a bodice ripper. The sex when it finally occurs over halfway into the book, isn't horrible or cheesy. Though there is some Spanish Fly involved...

The first quarter is absolutely hilarious! The heroine is pretending to be a nun and coercing sympathetic men out of their money as they donate to what they think is Sisters of Hope and staring orphans. The hero is pretending to be blind and does he get an eyeful as the "nun" makes adjustments to her clothing, thinking she is safe in the presence of a blind man.

She needs money to save her farm and he needs money to pay off debts though it takes a while to get both of their "real" stories as they continue to lie to each other throughout the book, neither of them trusting the other despite their new partnership.

What starts as a scam during a simple game of 7 card stud evolves into an attempt at swindling a Chinese drug lord...and it all goes very badly. Seems the Chinese drug lord is way smarter than they are and he wants Grace/Sister Augustine/the heroine for his bride. Yikes!

Grace and Reuben begin to desire each other, save each other numerous times, and enter one shady deal after another in their rush to make money. Their banter and jokes made the book worthwhile even when it began to drag. The last half wasn't as funny and I started to find the whole thing with Mark Wing, the drug lord and his overall character a bit preposterous. But the ending had a surprise twist and the book redeemed itself.

Romance novels kind of run together after a while, but this one has always stuck with me as a real little gem. The characters are all quirky, the story is completely unique, and you really never know what's going to happen next. It's sweet and funny and a little bit naughty.

Patricia Gaffney has a number of styles of writing. This is by far my favorite. I have always wished she would write more like this one!

I have read several of this author's other books and enjoyed them all (particularly "The Saving Graces") so I was enthused when a friend gave this to me when she had finished with it.

I didn't dislike it but I didn't really get connected into the story or with the characters. I don't fault the writing style (quick and easy to read) but have decided it was the story line that didn't grab my attention. I found my mind wondering while reading versus eagerly skimming along to find out what happens next. I didn't find myself invested in the characters or what happened to them and don't fully understand why. While I really love historical fiction, this one didn't really utilize the sense of place or time very well and I think I would have liked that better.

For me, I think I may need to stick with her more recent work that has a more contemporary setting. Not a bad book by any means, just not great.