The Rancher's Heart (Five Star Expressions) [Hardcover]

C. H. Admirand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2007 | ISBN-10: 1594145741 | ISBN-13: 978-1594145742

James Ryan's peaceful existence turns upside down the night he catches young Mick O'Toole trying to rustle his cattle. Running from a dark past of his own, Ryan agrees to take the boy and his ailing widowed mother in.

Widowed Bridget O'Toole's life finally changes for the better the night the darkly handsome rancher opens his home and his heart to Bridget and Mick. But her past is just a day's ride away from town, on a collision course with Ryan's when her husband returns from the dead, blazing a path of destruction straight toward Bridget, Mick and the new life they've made in Emerson, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Admirand's second frontier romance (after The Marshal's Destiny) features clever and well-crafted plot lines, but the delivery lacks credibility and zip. Irish emigré James Ryan is a Colorado rancher in the 1880s. Successful and respected, he's also using an alias while hiding out from a Texas murder charge. After catching young Mick O'Toole on his ranch with a gang of cattle rustlers, James takes the boy and his sick mother in. Bridget O'Toole is sure she's a widow, having been deserted by her husband 12 years earlier. James and Bridget, both proud and fiercely independent, are soon in love, not knowing that her husband is still very much alive and leading a gang of outlaws to the town. Conflict, lust, guilt, uncertainty and the little games lovers play to disguise their feelings are all here, but the sex is muted and clichéd, two massive gunfights raise little dust, and the final showdown is predictable and offstage. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"...poignant...well written and just plain delightful, THE RANCHER'S HEART has definitely found its way to my keeper shelf." -- Natasha Smith, Reviewer for Romance Junkies

"An entertaining read." -- Pat Glans, Reviewer for A Romance Review

"Superb! A wonderful story from a fresh new voice that I highly recommend!" -- Maureen Boylan, Reviewer for Noveltalk & Reader to Reader

"THE RANCHER'S HEART stresses the importance of trusting those we love, and in this story, love truly does conquer all." -- Carol Carter, Reviewer for Romance Reviews Today

Product Details

• Hardcover: 299 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (February 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594145741
• ISBN-13: 978-1594145742
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,164,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Southern born-Northern bred

I was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but alas, my parents moved back to northern New Jersey where I grew up, which if you've met me would explain a lot. I've always had my nose in a book, have traveled the world over, and even tested the time-space continuum, thanks to the awesome power of the written word.

My love for the written word is a gift from my parents, but the need to write was instilled by my 7th Grade English teacher. One of my writing quirks is that I love to include bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in all of my books.

Fate, destiny and love at first sight will always play a large part in my stories because they played a major role in my life. When I saw my husband for the first time, I knew he was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I've loved him forever, well, more than half my life. Each and every hero I write about has a few of Dave's best qualities, his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for those in need and his killer broad shoulders. I'm such a sucker for a man with broad shoulders.

Happy Reading!
C.H. Admirand

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I adored this book!, February 16, 2007

By 

Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Rancher's Heart (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

Bridget O'Toole lovingly writes the birth of her son Mick in her husband's family Bible. Months earlier her husband left her to go to work and never returned. Bridget doesn't give up hope of his return and painstaking takes care of her son and vows to keep her husband's memory alive for their son. Fire breaks out in her tiny home and Bridget, the baby, and the family Bible barely escape with their lives.

Twelve years later, Bridget has done all she can do to keep her son alive and she is slowly dying. Knowing that her son has to grow and be healthy, Bridget feeds Mick their food while she slowly wastes away. It is during this time that Mick becomes involved with a group of cattle rustlers and is caught by James Ryan, an immigrant rancher.

James Ryan has no moral choice other than to help Mick O'Toole. Reminding himself that others helped him in his time of need, James sets out to get Mick to trust him. James plan works and Mick comes clean about his sick mother and pleads with James to help her. He agrees and they take a wagon to pick up Mick's mother. James is appalled by the condition of the beautiful woman lying in his arms during the ride back to his ranch and decides then and there that she will not die. James tenderly urges Bridget to eat and take things slowly in order to regain her strength. He doesn't count on her strength, her fortitude, and her absolute loveliness that he finds himself dreaming about. After finding Bridget up once more and cooking, James finally gives in and allows her to help him around the house as a cook and general housekeeper. Plus, James decides if she is happy then she will want to stay with him; which is a good thing because James doesn't think that he can ever let her go.

Bridget O'Toole prays and thanks the powers that be that James Ryan helped her that day weeks ago. She finds herself thinking of James and comes to the conclusion that her husband must be dead since she has heard nothing from him for over twelve years. When they can stand not touching each other any longer, Bridget and James gently spend a wonderful, loving night together. Bridget is torn the next morning, however, because although she no longer loves her husband, she is still legally married. What Bridget doesn't know is that James has his own secrets in his heart and is afraid to come clean. It takes a horrible situation to make James face his demons and be truthful with the woman he has come to love. He can only hope that Bridget will wait for him.

THE RANCHER'S HEART by C.H. Admirand is a sweeping saga of two people in love coming face to face with their pasts while wanting to be with each other in the present. Due to circumstances regarding her supposedly dead husband, Bridget is unable to commit to James. It takes a lot of soul searching and thinking for Bridget to finally take a chance on James and their love and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief that she came to her senses. As for James? He fit my idea of a western hero to a tee. Quiet, honest, and extremely handsome, at times I wanted to be Bridget!

THE RANCHER'S HEART was poignant and often times I found myself so immersed in the story that I couldn't put it down. Well written and just plain delightful, I find myself wanting to go back and read C.H. Admirand's book, THE MARSHAL'S DESTINY to once again experience the writing of this author. THE RANCHER'S HEART has definitely found its way to my keeper shelf.