A Love Forbidden, A Novel (Heart of the Rockies) [Kindle Edition]

Kathleen Morgan (Author)

Book Description

Moved by the desire for adventure and a yearning to help the Ute Indians, twenty-year-old Shiloh Wainright impulsively accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency in northwestern Colorado. The new job, however, isn't what she imagined it would be, and Shiloh soon finds herself caught in the cross fire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian Agent, and the unrealistic demands of the US government. Her unexpected encounter with Jesse Blackwater, an embittered half-breed Ute and childhood friend, only complicates matters as they battle their growing feelings for each other amidst the spiraling tensions threatening to explode into a catastrophic Indian uprising.

Set amongst the wilds of the Colorado Rockies in 1879, this is a tale of a forbidden love and a faith tested in the cauldron of intolerance and the harsh realities of life on the untamed frontier. Bestselling author Kathleen Morgan deftly explores themes of mercy, fidelity to one's beliefs despite what others think or do, and compassion for those different from oneself as she plumbs the depths of the human heart and the healing power of God's love.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

They're from two different worlds. Can love cross the divide?

Moved by a compassionate heart and the desire for adventure, twenty-year-old Shiloh Wainwright impulsively accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency in northwestern Colorado. Eager to use her skills to help improve the lives of Ute Indian children, she looks forward to a fulfilling, independent life on the Colorado frontier.

But her new job isn't what she imagined it would be, and Shiloh soon finds herself caught in the cross fire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian agent, and a demanding US government. Her unexpected encounter with a half-Ute childhood friend, Jesse Blackwater, only complicates matters as they battle their growing feelings for each other amidst spiraling tensions that threaten to explode into a catastrophic uprising.

Set amongst the wilds of the Colorado Rockies in 1879, this tale from bestselling and award-winning author Kathleen Morgan explores the transformational power of forgiveness, compassion, and God's healing love with artistry and authenticity.


Kathleen Morgan is the award-winning author of many novels, including A Heart Divided and the bestselling Brides of Culdee Creek series.

About the Author

Kathleen Morgan is the award-winning author of many novels, including those in the bestselling Brides of Culdee Creek series.

Product Details

• File Size: 741 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Revell (May 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0073UPP32
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,083 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Love Forbidden May 27, 2012

By Megan

Format:Paperback

A Love Forbidden is the second book in the Heart of the Rockies series, the first being Heart Divided, A: A Novel (Heart of the Rockies). After reading and greatly enjoying the first book, I had very high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, even though the story was still good, I was a little let down with it.

I loved the characters of Nick and Cord in A Heart Divided, but they played such a small role in this book. When they were mentioned, which was hardly ever, they didn't even seem like the same people.

There was a bit of a discrepancy between the books in regards to the age difference between Shiloh and her sister Jordan. In A Heart Divided it says that they are almost 4 years apart in age (pg 204?), yet in the beginning of A Love Forbidden, when they are both children, it says that Shiloh is 12 years old and Jordan is 14 years old. To me that makes them 2 years apart and at max you could say they are almost 3 years apart - I don't see any way they could be 4 years apart. Also, when Jordan was 14, it says that she caught the breath of every man who saw her. Now I don't know about you, but I think that 14 is a bit young for grown men to be interested in her - in fact, I think it's gross.

I thought that the strained relationship between Shiloh and Jordan was very well written and very believable. In the beginning of the book, Jordan is a person that is very hard to like and the way Shiloh feels towards her is completely understandable. However, by the end of the book, after learning more about Jordan, I started to like her.

I loved the fact that the author used a historical site as the setting of this book. I had never heard of it before, but it was very interesting to learn about it and also more about Native American life in the late 1800's.

The ending of the book was very abrupt and left many things unclear. I would say what was left unclear, but I don't want to ruin parts of the story for you - in case you decide to read it. Even if there will be a third book in this series, I don't think it justifies leaving the ending the way it did.

I still greatly enjoyed A Love Forbidden and would recommend this series.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

"Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Exploration of a Potential Mixed Race Relationship April 23, 2012

By Ashley Mott VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have really enjoyed the fact that both of Kathleen Morgan's "Heart of the Rockies" books have given a lot of deep weight to the relationships within the book. I read a lot of Christian Fiction, and many of those volumes have a love story but it is explored more casually or with the classic star-crossed lovers theme instead of the real nitty gritty of love being examined.

"A Love Forbidden" really gets into the nitty gritty of the friend and maybe-more relationship between Shiloh Wainwright and her childhood friend Jesse Blackwater (who she runs across after nine years when she accepts a teaching position through an agency attempting to help the Ute Indians take up white-man ways).

We basically know from the start that Shiloh and her friend Jesse have feelings develop when they cross paths again (so no real spoiler there). What we don't know is if those feelings will develop deeper, and, if they do, if the differences in the half-Indian half-white Jesse's life and Shiloh's life will put up a permanent barrier between the two that even love can't cross.

Along the way of exploring these paths, a lot of solid and realistic action occurs without an abundance of additional characters monopolizing parts of the book when they will add little to it. Minus a few dozen pages at Shiloh's home, the book focuses on Shiloh and Jesse moving forward...and I liked that.

It sets this book apart from many other Christian volumes in that the relationship is THE book instead of part of it...and it's probably my favorite exploration of a mixed relationship in Christian fiction since "Courting Morrow Little" by Laura Frantz (I highly recommend that book). I look forward to the next book in the "Heart of the Rockies" series, as the first two were definitely worthwhile!

Disclosure: My review is based on a review copy I received from the publisher. My opinions are my own.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed May 20, 2012

By i blog 4 books

Format:Paperback

While I've seen quite a few Kathleen Morgan novels featured on other blogs, A Love Forbidden was first I've read by the author. I had high expectations for this book--frontier life, romance, Indians, what more could you want from a western? Sadly, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I hoped.

The book started off with a bang. Flashing back several years, we are introduced to Shiloh and Jesse. The scene is intense--Jesse is being whipped by some of the ranch hands on Shiloh's family ranch. The emotions of the scene are palpable and I was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, the plot slowed down after that and I had to really push myself to finish. The story did pick up again (around page 150), but it seemed to pick up in spurts and then slow back down again. I never really connected with the characters either. I liked Jesse and Shiloh but I wasn't very invested in them or their relationship. The end of the book seemed a bit rushed as well. I think a better pace for the story would have helped me enjoy it more.

While the other reviews that have been posted have been quite positive, this book just wasn't for me. I may try another series by this author but will most likely pass on the rest of this series. [2 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Revell Books in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

More About the Author

About Kathleen Morgan

Kathleen was born in sunny Long Beach, California, one of four daughters of a career Army officer.

As a former Army nurse with a master's degree in counseling, she has lived in Germany, Korea, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, Washington, D.C., Alabama, California, and Colorado.

She is married to a retired Army helicopter pilot and is the mother of two sons-one deceased- and stepmother to another son and a daughter, both of whom have been very busy making her a grandmother.

In her free time, Kathleen likes to quilt, play the Celtic harp, and be companion and caretaker to an aging English cocker spaniel. She is also a companion and the wifely caretaker to her husband, who is not quite so aged :)

Kathleen the Author

Kathleen began her career writing contemporary romances and soon moved to historical and futuristic romances. She sold her first book, a futuristic romance, in April 1990 while stationed in Korea as an Army nurse. Additional romances soon followed, until she had sold a total of fifteen books in the general market, establishing a loyal readership along the way.

Since that time, she has received numerous awards for her work, including a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice award and Career Achievement award, and The Literary Times award for Literary Excellence in the Field of Romantic Fiction. She was also a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist.

Kathleen now focuses her writing talents in the area of inspirational fiction, offering readers characters who struggle to redefine their growing faith in everyday life.

Interviews with Kathleen

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© Kathleen Morgan 2007-2012 - All Rights Reserved.

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Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#30 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#66 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#86 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical

#94 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#30 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#66 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#86 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical

#94 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance