Customer Reviews

Moon Flower

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If you are long-time romance reader, like me, this is the sort of book that will remind you of the great epics that Rosemary Rogers and Jude Deveraux used to write when they were at their peaks. The story begins in Boston (but only briefly) before moving to Creole New Orleans and later to the sweeping plains of the new Republic of Texas. Raphael (Rafe) and Deborah share a tempestuous love. They are two strong and stubborn people shaped by two completely opposing cultures. And their fiery relationship reflects that fact. When Deborah flees to Texas to escape her arrogant husband and the Creole culture she has learned to despise, Raphael follows. He tells himself that he only wants to humble a willful wife. The truth is he can't get her out his mind or heart. When the two meet again, Texas has matured and tempered them both, but not dimmed the passion they share. In this story all the Henke trademarks (at her best) are here--passionate love scenes, a vividly graphic portrayal of such historical backgrounds as sophisticated New Orleans and crude and violent Texas frontier, and a cast of colorful characters such as Obedience Jones (who was my favorite). You'll want to read this book several times.

The rest of the Gone-to-Texas trilogy: Cactus Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy) and Night Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy)

This is a big, big book. However, let me warn you right off, if your tastes run to "sweet" romances, this is no book for you. It's a great story filled with passion and adventure, but definitely not sappy. But then again, neither was the historical period in which it's set. Deborah and Rafe are both bluebloods. She was raised in Boston, he in New Orleans. The geographical distance between the two cities matches the differences in lifestyles.
The couple has several problems: neither can accept the values the other was raised with, both have wicked tempers, and both share a "tear-your-clothes off passion" for each other. Love scenes are steamy. But the only neutral "psychological" and moral middle ground they have is the Texas frontier. No "sweet" there. Though she can't get Rafe out of her head, Deborah learns to be an independent widow lady. And though Rafe is filled with as much longing as she, he has a hard time growing up and keeping alive - until he finds her again as a better man and better husband. I love New Orleans, so I really enjoyed the historical picture of how the Creole aristocracy lived. And one segment when Rafe was a Comanche slave was fascinating. No wonder everybody thought the Comanche were the baddest horse Indians around. They were. Still, Shirl Henke controls her story and brings it all to a happy conclusion. If you like hefty books, you'll love this one.