27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If I heard something about the wind one more time....., March 10, 2005
I gave this novel five stars because after the first two hundred pages it became one of the best novels I've read in a while. However, the authors repetitive reference to "wind" every two paragraphs started to wear on my nerves.
I have recently reviewed another novel where I said that it had the longest love scene ever, but now I have to change that. This novel had the longest and most sincere love scene. The tender feelings that were expressed in the scenes were so strong that I nearly wept. This author knows how to make a reader want more and more.
There were some things that I really didn't like, but still doesn't take away from the five star rating I'm giving this novel.
One is how cruel the hero is throughout the first half of this book. I've read Karen Robards "Island Flame" and didn't get as offended as I did with Wolfe. He wears Jessie down until her arms lock up from exhaustive use trying to prove to him that she has what it takes to be a frontier wife. During all this he taunts her and belittles her.
Another thing that grated on my nerves was Jessie's fear of childbirth and the marriage bed. It went on way too long during the novel, should have ended midway, but her fear took over till close to the end. However, when Wolfe and Jessie make up, it was well worth the hair pulling on the reader's part. I've not read a book that touched me like this one for a very long time. And I've never wanted to weep by the sweetness of the hero to the heroine. The words that were spoken from Wolfe to Jessie (and vice-versa) were so heart wrenching that I was blinking back my tears.
All in all, Only Mine has got me reading Western Historical romances now, hoping that I can find other novels so great. To finish a book in five and a half hours shows that Elizabeth Lowell is definately an author among authors.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!, January 5, 2000
I reread "Only Mine" last night and was once again surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. Wolfe and Jessi loved each other from the very beginning of the story. The problem was that Jessi trapped Wolfe into marrying her to get away from England and a forced marriage arranged by her guardians. Most of the book is about how Wolfe tries to force Jessi into getting an annulment, not understanding why she claims to need him so much. Jessica was a woman who was still haunted by a childhood that had left her emotionally scarred. Her struggles to fight back her demons and withstand the scorn of the man she loved were described so well that I almost felt like I was her. Lowell's amazing talent made this book a memorable romance novel with two very strong characters. "Only Mine" also has Caleb Black, Willow, Reno, and Whip, which made it even better. I would recommend that anyone who likes Lowell read the entire "Only" series, because all of the books are wonderful.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
I honesty cannot believe that others gave this book 5 stars, December 21, 1999
By A Customer
I am normally a fan of Elizabeth Lowell's. However, this book is certainly not for those who have out-grown the whole "man who loves a woman yet is emotionally abusive to her" type of novel. Not only does the "hero" Wolfe literally spend 300 pages verbally abusing and punishing the heroine, his sins are simply absolved at the end of the story when he says "I love you" for the first and only time on the very last page of the book. So realistic. This book is told almost entirely from the heroine's perspective, and Wolfe is really a brute. The conclusion of the book is also almost identical to the conclusion of "Only His".
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
