Prairie Moon [Mass Market Paperback]

Maggie Osborne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2002

Living on a rundown farm at the edge of a small Texas town, Della Ward is haunted by the bittersweet life she once lived with an adoring husband who died too soon. Once a laughing, carefree soul, Della is now a widow with only guilty memories for company. Until the day she sees a rugged stranger riding across the prairie toward her house. His presence awakens Della’s heart, but she can never imagine the ways this man will forever change her life.

Lawman James Cameron believes in settling debts and living by honor. It may have taken him ten years to arrive at Della’s door, but he’s finally here and is determined to tell her the truth about the day her husband died. But one look at the woman whose picture he has carried with him for years and he knows that the truth may destroy them both. For Cameron will have to face the past and force Della to do the same before either of them can have a future . . . or each other.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For ten years, Della Ward has struggled with guilt over the tone of the last letter she sent to her husband, Clarence, before he was killed during the Civil War. Now she is forced to resolve her feelings when gun-slinging lawman James Cameron, who was with her husband when he died, brings her Clarence's last letter and with it an account of his final minutes. But Cameron's calm, cool exterior is deceptive, hiding a guilty secret that he knows he must eventually share, even though it could destroy them both. Set against the stark background of post-Civil War Texas, this well-developed, character-driven Western romance clearly depicts the realities of the times and beautifully describes the developing relationship between Della and James and their reluctance to embrace it. With her classic flair and with great sensitivity, Osborne has penned an intense story of two emotionally fragile people who find healing and hope in their love for each other. Readers will be waiting. Winner of both a RITA Award and the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, Osborne (The Bride of Willow Creek) lives in Colorado.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“One of the best writers in the business.”
–SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
New York Times bestselling author

“Wit, style, and class. Maggie Osborne is a storyteller who consistently delivers all three.”
–NORA ROBERTS

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books; Reissue edition (October 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804119902
• ISBN-13: 978-0804119900
• Product Dimensions: 4 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended!, November 17, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prairie Moon (Mass Market Paperback)

Though she has lived a rough and scandalous life, Della Ward has been drilled in the ways of proper society. Despite this, she is drawn to gunslinger Cameron, who appears on her doorstep one day with a last message from her late husband.

The beautiful, young widow has been haunted by her husband's death for years, and by the mistake of giving up her child to her in laws to raise. When Cameron convinces her to go and just see her daughter, even if only from a distance, they set out on a perilous cross country journey that will bring them closer to giving in to the temptation of one another, even though a terrible secret and haunting grief stand between them.

***** A memorable and unique story is told in this novel. Two scarred and troubled individuals find exactly what they need in one another's arms, only to be almost wrenched apart by the truth. The pain they share will touch your heart, and their passion will ignite your blood. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging story, though a bit slow paced, December 11, 2002

By 

Sarah "sssspro" (North East, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prairie Moon (Mass Market Paperback)

This story of two hurt and broken souls, James Cameron and Della, is an interesting and poignant read. It is hard to actually write a review for this story without giving away too much of the story. James Cameron is a lawman/bounty hunter in the West following the American Civil War in the 1870's. He's running from his past and more importantly, himself. War changes people and after a close up killing during a battle, James is determined not to kill any more and fix things as best as he can by being a lawman and upholding the code of what is right. Unfortunately, this means that he has a lonely existence and really does not care whether he lives or dies (and ironically ends up killing more people because he has such a quick draw and is a legend).

Della lives in Texas and has also had a hard time of things. A Northerner trapped in the South during the War, she marries a young Southern gentleman. His family/mother never accepted her and was abusive towards her. She is young, lost and scared when she writes her husband that she needs him and that she hates him. He dies with that as his last communication from Della and she is racked with guilt about this last correspondence.

James carries around Della's picture for ten years before coming to talk to her. Thus basically STARTS the story. The books centers around their growing feeling for each other and a "quest" for Della to face her in-laws and regain custody of her daughter. James is quiet and does not talk much, but what he does have to say is incredible. My only criticism with the story is that it is a bit slow paced until the end. I like the idea that these two get to spend time together and have their relationship grow slowly, but to me, at points, the story dragged. But, with its wonderful character building and excellent writing, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Osbourne's newest release.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was different... but I liked it., August 3, 2004

By 

janlouise (Ruston, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prairie Moon (Mass Market Paperback)

It had a different story line to it - and I liked it. Della had struggled for years with the death of her husband, Clarence (a rebel soldier during the CW). She never was able to tell him her true feelings before his death to apologize for the tone in her last letter to him. Not knowing if he even got it. Then James Cameron, a gun-drawin' lawman, show up bringing up memories all over again. James, who was with her husband when he died, brings Clarence's last letter to Della along with all of the letters that Della had written Clarence and their wedding picture found on his body, forcing her to resolve her feelings. Only there is some misconception here because Della is thinking James was a friend of Clarence's when actually he was the yankee soldier that killed Clarence and has lived with the guilt of it all these years. And with all of this going on - James is staying with Della on her farm, sleeping in the barn, seeing how poorly she is living. He starts helping out and they get close spending time together. It is the sweetest story. For me it was an intense story with a twist at the end. I enjoyed it and hope you give it a try.