Customer Reviews

Gabriel's Lady (Leisure Historical Romance)

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While the premise of this book was good - independent, adventurous and bold heroine falls for lonely and disillusioned widower - the book should have been classified as a Christian Western romance. The story was completely without passion and romance, the protagonists preferring to communicate their interest and desire for one another with meaningful glances. Apparently these deep gazes are all that are necessary.

If you like virginal, Christian romances where nothing much happens this is the book for you. Even the heroine's interesting talent and skill with training horses with Wild West style tricks didn't make up for the lackluster romance between the main characters.

The disillusioned Gabriel falls rather too quickly for Solace after the death of his self-absorbed wife even if Solace has always harbored a young girl's infatuation. And the Christian perspective was completely unexpected but also seemed misplaced. Solace and her sister Lilly bicker over Gabriel and their step-father's solution is to have a bible study. Too many events were chalked up to God's plans.

Also, the black cooks and housekeepers seemed oddly placed, included more for the effect of showing Christian benevolence than real characters that furthered the story. Their dialect also seemed odd, like the writer didn't really want to give them "plantation" accents. I can understand not wanting to stereotype but the accents rang false.

Even for those interested in this genre, the book offered too little tension, drama and romance.

Although a decade older than Solace Monroe, Gabriel Getty feels a connection to the young woman. However, he does not act on his confused feelings and marries someone else. Six years later, his pregnant wife dies taking their unborn with her. Having lost his faith, Gabriel gives up his legal practice to return home bitter at God.

A horse trainer and a rider in the Wild West show, Solace also writes dime novels. She comes home too where she informs Gabriel that she loves him and always has. Still grieving his double loss and feeling guilt because of how he feels about Solace, Gabriel fails to act on her declaration. However, when Solace is accused of murder, Gabriel defends the woman he always loved.

This engaging historical romance deftly turns into a wonderful inspirational romantic legal thriller as Gabriel needs a miracle to save the courageous woman he loves. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Gabriel wonders if he is marrying the wrong woman at his wedding and never slows down as he tries to prove Solace is being framed. However it is Solace who brings a strength and uniqueness to the mix; so much so fans will admire this wonderful woman.

Harriet Klausner

Twice Gabriel convinced himself that Solace was to young for him. He marries and has a difficult marriage. Gabriel looses his wife in childbirth. Solace is accused of murder and he must defend her. Can he prove that she has been framed? Hubbard in her historical romance also gives you a suspenseful story in the courtroom. It is a fast moving book through most of it. It is an entertaining book. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"