Customer Reviews

The Horseman (Harlequin Historical)

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

 

 

I never did get this running series in order. [Started with HIGH PLAINS WIFE]where we meet up with Mariah Scott and mentioned Rayna [whose story follows in MONTANA WIFE - Montana 1883].

In this story of the half-breed, Dillon Hennessey, we also meet his half-brother, Dakota but #4 ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAN, the Hennessey is called Duncan [very confusing].

This has been a wonderful set of books [5 if I am not mistaken].
I can understand Katelyn Green's shock and sorrow in haveing a miscarriage but tell me, did they know anything about C-sections in those days?

Dillon [with an Irish father] learned much from his maternal grandfather in the gentling of horses and applied this knowledge to his courtship of Katelyn. He starts out alone and mysterious, She is always expecting the worse of him, but he decides, after talking to Katelyn's step-father, to follow his attraction for her.

Although this makes the story, I am getting fed up with these characters that won't communicate. It makes them seem too immature.
The wild stallion starts out as a black then becomes an Appaloosa, black with a white spotted [I assume] blanket from withers to rump [I haven't seen one maked this way but anything is possible]and then further on a horse is described as a "white pinto"? [not impossible if it is a Medicine Hat].

Ah well it is a very good, gentle romance with good characters, just lacking in much action.

Definitely recommend - especially with the other 4 books as these characters are blended into Montana life. This one is Montana 1882.

Katelyn Green had no reason to trust men. With the exception of her father who passed away when she was young, every man in her life had failed her miserably-- from her step-father to her (ex-)husband. But then she met Dillon Hennessey (whose name was very distracting, as I kept thinking that his first name should be Tennessee and he should tootle the flute).

Dillon is a horseman. A horse GENTLER. Schooled well in the ways of taming wild horses, but ignorant in the ways of women. Or is he?

I found this book fun, if a little unrealistic. I fell in love with Dillon myself, distracting last name and all! What woman wouldn't want to be treated like such a precious treasure?

I am a tiny bit annoyed with Katelyn as she made him feel like she was laughing AT his fumbling attempts at courtship. The reader understands that his lack of polish endears him to her but he only feels embarrassed and ashamed. If I were her, I certainly would have explained myself! I would also have gently explained that I don't want him to try so hard, but just to be himself.

But anyway I couldn't put the book down and was very very happy with the ending!

I love this novel. It is one of Ms. Harts best. It reveals the power of a patient and selfless heart to heal a fractured soul.
CG

Fiction writers repeatedly are advised "conflict that can be settled with a conversation isn't conflict." With that in mind, this book contains no conflict. None. From the beginning, the only thing the two main characters need to do is sit down and discuss what's bothering each of them, then accept the other's concern, reply to it honestly and for heaven's sake MOVE ON. Do something! Go out an imperil yourselves and/or each other! Make a public spectacle! Plot an assassination! SOMETHING.

The author incorporates some remarkably beautiful, sweeping descriptions of landscape and emotion, often comparing external weather and scenery to a character's internal state. Sadly, these descriptions and analogies become repetitive, lessening their impact. Much of the book is redundant, as a matter of fact, covering exactly the same thoughts, fears, misperceptions, etc. until the reader wants to shoot both main characters and put them well out of the reader's misery.

I cannot recommend this book except as study material for prospective authors who want to know how NOT to proceed with their own stories.

Not what I expected from a Jillian Hart book and the back of the book said it was by another author. How can you have a book with one author on the front and another with the copyright?