Customer Reviews

The Half Breed (Secret Fires)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Absolutely amazing how 4 different authors could construct a well-written, 4 part series that maintains continuity and quality! It's a credit to the authors Elaine Barbieri, Bobbi Smith, Constance O'Banyon, and Evelyn Rogers.

Chase McBride is the illegitimate son of Tom McBride. Chase has fought prejudice and hate all of his life to become a renowned Texas Ranger. He bears the stigma of being a "half-breed" with poise and strength. You grow to love him as the story unfolds.

Chase meets Faith - after rescuing her from renegade Indians. Faith learns of prejudice and hate after returning to civilization after being kidnapped. No one wants to associate with her since she was "ruined" by the Indians.

Chase offers to marry Faith to help clear the stigma that society has placed upon her. Faith helps Chase face his past, and teaches him how to love. Their story is memorable.

As the plot unravels, you become entrenched in the McBride family saga.

This is a great start to an enjoyable 4 part series. Definitely read them in order:
The Wild One
The Half Breed
The Agreement
The Loner

Enjoy!

I'm sure you are familiar with the books that have 4 separate stories by 4 separate author. Leisure books has given a new twist to series romance. They have created a series of 4 books by 4 authors. They are as follows: 1.The Wild One by Elaine Barbieri 2. The Half-Breed by Bobbi Smith, 3. The Agreement by Constance O'Banyon and the finial book is The Loaner by Evelyn Rogers. I came across this by accident. Bobbi Smith is an author that I have read in the past and picked up The Half-Breed. I noticed Secret Fires across the top and was curious as to what that was all about. In the back of the book it provided the answer to my questions. Now I have provided them to you.

To review The Half-Breed it is a wonderful read. I really liked Faith. She stood up for what she believes in. As the title says Chase McBride is a Half-Breed his father is Tom McBride who you learn all about in The Wild One. Tom McBride never accepted Chase and when he was young physically removed him from his ranch when Chase came to him when his mother was dying. We learn that Tom McBride is dying and has had his lawyer send letters to all of his children. Chase being one of his children receives a letter. Chase does not want to return to the ranch but Ranger business calls him to Sidewinder (where the ranch is located). On his way he meets Faith whom he rescues from a group of renegades. Along the way they have had to deal with insults and prejudices. The way that Faith handles herself and defends Chase makes you want to say "You Go Girl". The way she handles Tom McBrides wife is so awesome. I really enjoyed this book and the development of the story. I can't wait until the third book in the series comes out.

Enjoy!

In 1874 Sidewinder, Texas, sixteen-year-old Chase McBride comes to his father's ranch for the first time at the request of his dying mother, Morning Sun. Chase's mother wants to see her beloved son one last time, but the rancher tells Chase to leave as he has a real family consisting of a wife and three children. He tells Chase to never return. The teen leaves filled with hatred.

In 1886, Texas Ranger Chase receives a note from an attorney stating that if any heirs want to inherit a share of the Circle M Ranch, they must arrive on site within nine months of the date of the letter. At first he was going to ignore the note, but soon learns that outlaw Blackie Sherwood, a Ranger killer, is hiding in the area so Chase goes. When Faith Bryant escapes from Indians, her fiance ends their engagement, as she is no longer pure. Chase offers to marry her. Besides seeking a murderer, Chase has to deal with a family who hates him enough to apparently want him dead.

The second novel in Bobbi Smith's The Secret Fires series, THE HALF- BREED, is an exciting Texas romance that brings alive the mid 1880s. The story line is action-packed and filled with angst from start to finish as the strong characters generate feelings from the audience not often seen in a western romance. The award winning Ms. Smith shows why she is so highly regarded with a novel that will send readers seeking her other books, especially the series first story, THE WILD ONE.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoy Bobbi Smith books so I ordered this one. I loved this book, which has been reviewed nicely below. I was glad for the one reviewers mention of the other 3 books in the saga and the order in which to read them. What a great story. I do have to say that "The Half-Breed" was my very favorite. Chase is a hero to die for and Faith is a women to look up to. So..thank you Bobbi for another great adventure.

Don't let the three stars keep you from reading this book; I think I am a little cheaper with my ratings. Book two was an improvement over the first book in my opinion and is a nice story of the romance between the illegitimate son of Tom McBride and an Indian girl. Chase is a Texas Ranger who has been summoned back to the ranch in Sidewinder like the other legitimate offspring.

The romance and action with Faith and Chase was sweet and I loved the way Tuner and Callie accepted them into the family.

As always the evil step mom figures into the story, but we can only hope that she gets her just deserts or has to bake cookies for all of the grandkids by the end of the series! She is a character that you love to hate.

Bobbi Smith had not been one of my top authors, but surprised me with a nice piece of work.

Wonderful book. Chase is the [...] child of Tom McBride. He recieves a letter to return to the ranch, his father is dying and want all his children there.
Chase is a Texas Ranger and is working on an assignment at the same time of going and seeing his father. Chase meets up with Faith after she is captured by indians and she escapes, Chase protects her. He then has to meet his brother Tanner and his wife Callie. The book is very good, I enjoyed it alot more than the first one.

The storyline has been wonderfully reviewed above. I wanted to add that I didn't plan on reading all 4 books. This was the only one that caught my interest and I really enjoy bobbi smith's writing. However now I'm hooked and have to find out what happens to the whole family. It's am excellent family saga and of course I'm hoping the "wicked stepmother" gets her due!!! This story is special. Chase is the most hunky, vulnerable hero I've met in awhile and you are so proud of him for rising above his problems to become well respected and loved. Cassie is perfect for him. To see her stand up for Chase is adorably delightful......enjoy

WHAT A PLEASURE! THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES THAT I HAVE EVER READ. EACH BOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, NOT FORMAULAIC AS SAME AUTHOR SERIES TEND TO BE. I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THE LAST ONE TO FIND OUT HOW THE STORY ENDS, BUT I WILL MISS THESE CHARACTERS.

I have found this concept fabulous. How these 4 authors can keep one so facinated in a series that is written by 4 different authors was something I found very interesting. This is the first series that I read by them, however, I followed up quickly with the Half-Moon Series that I enjoyed just as much. My only hope is that they keep them coming within this concept as well as their independently written books. Great job ... I can't imagine anyone being disappointed. These books interest those in their 20's, 30's, 50's and 60's ... I know as my great niece, my daughter, my sister and myself have enjoyed each one of them from beginning to end!

This was my favorite of the series so far. I'm still waiting for the 4th installment to arrive. My only complaint was the author's fondness for corny lines like "love's age old rhythm" "love's age-old embrace" "love's ultimate pleasure". But it didn't bother me enough give it a lower rating-or to keep me from reading it more than once. I fell in love w/Chase and Faith. He is the perfect romance novel hero. And she is strong and smart. I also loved the fact that the heroine wasn't almost raped or killed in every chapter. She faces danger but she rescues herself. She doesn't just wait around for Chase to come to her rescue. An all around good read.