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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, September 3, 2003
This review is from: High Plains Wife (Harlequin Historical Series #670) (Mass Market Paperback)
I really wanted to like this book but didn't. I liked the plot of the town spinster marrying and bringing love to the embittered widower and his children. I can even understand the need of a man, whose wife died only weeks before by committing suicide, to acquire a new wife quickly to take care of his house and his children. Farm/ranch life has never been easy. Especially, 120 years ago. My problem with the book is that it's so boring. One of the worst sins a book can have, I think. Nothing much happens. She's a 28-year old spinster, he's newly widowed. She had a mean father, he had a slut for a wife. Apparently, years before, when they were both teens, he came calling and was turned away by her father. So, he got drunk, got some other girl pregnant and married her. Her father, in the meantime, belittled her at every opportunity and she came to believe what he said. It happens. We all carry those internal tapes from our parents and they get replayed at the darndest times. However, and this is the biggie for me, these two people are caught up in their own individual pity parties. Especially, Nick. He kept telling himself that Mariah was nothing like his late wife. But, when he found himself attracted to her, he ran scared and acted like a total idiot. What Mariah found to love about Nick totally escapes me. And we are beat over the head repeatedly by Ms. Hart with every other page re-iterating their individual feel-sorry-for-myself shallowness. Hard to believe these are 2 adults. The kids are more mature. This story could have been told in half the number of pages if we stupid readers didn't have to be constantly reminded of why the h/h act the way they do.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great book from Ms. Hart!, February 15, 2004
This review is from: High Plains Wife (Harlequin Historical Series #670) (Mass Market Paperback)
I love to find a book that keeps me turning the pages, has a comfortable plot, and has me just a bit teary-eyed but smiling while I read. Jillian Hart's HIGH PLAINS WIFE did just that. It has themes of unrequited love, marriage of convenience, and a loving single parent...all of my favorites! <G> The heroine Mariah has loved Nick Gray since she was a teenager, but her father squashed that relationship before it could get started, throwing Mariah in later life into becoming a cold-hearted spinster. But that is a facade; she needs to be loved and to give love, and this marriage of convenience gives her both. Nick is a recent widower that needs a mother for his children-but not a wife-so now that Mariah's father is gone, their romance can begin. HIGH PLAINS WIFE is another great Harlequin Historical and Ms. Hart has become one of my favorite western authors. Other Jillian Hart books I've added to my keepershelf for yearly rereads:
THE LAST CHANCE BRIDE
MONTANA WIFE MONTANA LEGEND Debbie
AKA
DeeKay
http://romancereaderatheart.com
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
HMMMMMMM......, April 11, 2011
The story was a good one, it was well written with great characters and a strong plot. It just depends on what type of books you like. I literally cried throughout this book due to the sadness. Mariah was such a down and defeated character she was her own worst enemy due to her deceased father's manipulations of her self worth. Nick couldn't let go of his hurt from his past marriage and just added to her misery. The children in the story deserved more of an explaination of death/departure/heaven and of course the fact that they were getting a new stepmom would have made Mariah's life a bit easier instead of just throwing her in the mix unannounced to them. I also felt some disipline for running away would have come in handy for Georgie and Joey could have gotten a lesson in respecting your elder's. Mariah seemed like she was treated like a washwoman literally by some of Nick's family it was soooo sad. Also, I couldn't believe Nick never addressed Lida's behavior to Mariah to help her understand why he treated her as he did. There were a few elements that could have been elaborated on but all in all it was a good read. I stayed up till 4AM to finish this book so I could sleep peacefully knowing it ended well. It's not a keeper to me but I will investigate more of the author's books. Enjoy
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