5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short, sweet and easy to read I found this book a quick and satisfying summer read., June 29, 2010
This review is from: Ruthless Heart (Paperback)
Ruthless Heart by Emma Lang
Western Historical- June 29th, 2010
4 stars
Ruthless Heart is a sweet western romance. Although the plot was serious the enjoyable and engaging characters made the story fun even playful to read. I particularly enjoyed the main characters journey as they discovered themselves and love.
Eliza is a member of the Latter Day Saints (AKA Mormons). Her entire life as a woman has been subjected to her father's will and authority. As the plainer and less malleable older sister her life has been rough. Her only respites are the love she has for her younger more beautiful and fragile sister Angeline and the books and experiments she keeps hidden from her widowed father. But her life will soon change as her sister is forced into a marriage with a much older man with multiple wives. Eliza realizes poor, sheltered Angeline will not survive well with her proposed new husband but is unable to prevent the marriage. To her heartbreak Eliza overhears that the timid Angeline was abused and has actually run away. While joyful Eliza also discovers that a cold an ruthless hunter has been hired to track her sister down and bring Angeline back. Eliza realizes that she must stop this from happening at whatever cost. She failed to prevent Angeline's marriage and feels impelled to thwart Angeline from being captured. The impetuous and courageous Eliza tracks down the man who has bee hired to find Angeline and is determined to follow him and keep Angeline free.
Grady is a loner and a drifter. His own past has taught him not to trust. He is willing to do jobs others will not because it gives him the independence he craves. When a strange and absurdly endearing female persuades him to take her on as a companion her can't believe it! He is troubled by his uncommon weakness for her innocence and amusing persistence. And he finds Eliza begins to grow on him...
The best thing about this book was the interesting relationship between the 2 main characters. I found the heroine appealing and charming. I liked that she was a brainiac and liked to do scientific experiments. It was a nice switch having such an unusual character. The hero had unexpected depth and although he was supposed to be a tough gunslinger/ tracker for hire I never felt he was dangerous. The author definitely gave Grady a sense of humanity. It was a pleasure reading the relationship between the characters. As new pit falls occurred to the couple on their search for the Angeline. I often felt their time together was a fun comedy of errors lighthearted and fun to read. The only things I felt strange were that the characters often acted or spoke as if they were in modern times rather than a historical. I often felt I was reading a contemporary book rather than a western because the characters acted more as if they lived in today's 'liberated' times of the present. The heroine was not as cautious as I would expect a lone female would be going out on her own in ther old west. While this did further the plot it gave me an odd sense that the story was jumping back and forth in time which was somewhat distracting. The way Eliza succumbs so easy to Grady and trusts him so quickly seemed very naive even for one who was as sheltered as she was.
This was a light western romance. From the romance stand point this book is a charming read. But from the realism standpoint I felt it lacked the authenticity of many western historicals written today. The suddenness that Eliza believes in Grady and was willing to bed him seemed a little forced although I did find their attraction believable. And the times they are together really heat up the pages! The author really gave her characters a sense of humanity that I found attractive. I really rooted for them to be together despite some of the inconsistencies in the story.
Short, sweet and easy to read I found this book a quick and satisfying summer read.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Western Historical Romance That Is A True Delight To Read, January 23, 2011
This review is from: Ruthless Heart (Paperback)
Ruthless Heart is tender story of the power of love and how it can take someone weak and make them strong or warm even the coldest of hearts. Fans of western historical romances reminiscent of the work by Joan Johnston or Johanna Lindsey will love Lang's charming tale.
Eliza Hunter lives a sheltered life. As a member of her ward in the Latter Day Saints community, she has never really experienced the outside world. Everything she knows, she learned from books. Her father, caring little about the feelings of his daughters, arranges for Eliza's sister Angela to become the third wife to another Mormon member of the ward. Within a month of her marriage after being horribly abused, Angela runs away. When Eliza hears they are sending a hired hunter after her, she feels she has no other choice but to follow the man hired to collect her sister...no matter where it may take her.
Grady Wolfe was a loner and a man who believed he no longer had a soul. He had a darkness in him that he never expected to rid himself of. Accepting his next assignment, which is to kill a poor defenseless woman who ran away from her husband is only confirming the fact that he's past redemption. So when little Miss Eliza somehow tricks him into allowing her to ride with him, he is nothing less than irritated.
Ruthless Heart is a sweet and charming story about how drastically love can change a person. When then story began, Eliza barely knew what love was and Grady was certain he would never find it nor deserve it. Yet these two have some spark and connection between them that made you turn page after page ready to discover the next step in their journey. They were complete opposites, yet perfect for each other.
The difference between these two characters was fascinating and proves what a gift Emma Lang has with dialogue. She has two completely different characters and she manages to stay true to their complex personalities on each page of the story. While one character had dialogue that may sometimes require a dictionary, the other communicated in such a simple way it was funny and charming. Whether they were conversing, negotiating or sparring, it was a delight to read.
_______________
"Then your rules are accepted provided you agree to allow me to cook and make camp in payment for your services." She had to secure her own terms or he may think her too easy.
"My services? You make everything sound so fancy, woman."
"My name is Eliza. Calling me `woman' makes me think of a Neanderthal who may grab my hair and club me." Eliza didn't know what possessed her to say that to him. It apparently surprised him as much as it surprised her. "What I meant to say was, please call me Eliza."
His gaze narrowed. "I think you've got a smart mouth, Eliza. I prefer my women a bit dumber."
_______________
The story has plenty of ups and downs to keep you entertained and the ending is filled with suspense and uncertainty. But what is most enjoyable to read are the changes within the characters. Eliza is a weak defenseless bookworm at first, but her experiences on the trail with Grady make her a strong, passionate, and incredible woman. A woman that Grady finds more difficult to resist with each day they spend together. Her experiences outside of her home have shown her a life filled with purpose. She knows what and whom she wants and nothing and no one will get in her way. Grady is learning to care again and to love, which was something he thought had long since died inside of him. As much as he tries to resist, he finds a woman worth living for and worth being a better man. These characters will draw you in and immerse you into a wonderful story. If you are looking for a sweet light read this summer, Ruthless Heart is the ticket.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
superb Americana romance, July 1, 2010
This review is from: Ruthless Heart (Paperback)
In 1872 reticent intellect Eliza Hunter worries about her sister Angeline as her Papa has accepted a marriage offer from twice married Josiah who is also older than their dad. Being members of the Latter Day Saints, Angeline must obey her Papa though her heart belongs to Jonathan who is on his mission. Heartbroken Eliza knows crossing the powerful Josiah is dangerous, but vows to do something though she is unaware what she can do as within her community and family she is considered an outsider and her foe is a very important leader.
Several months later a married Angeline runs away from her brutal spouse. Eliza knows she will do anything to insure Angeline is safe, but hired bounty hunter Grady Wolfe is a bit taken aback when she follows him in the Utah Territory wilderness while he searches for her sibling. Grady is unhappy that Eliza is on his trail, but for her safety takes her with him. He has no idea the meaning of what she says verbally and her obsession with her books that she drags across the territory, but somehow their nonverbal communication starting with kisses tells him what he needs to know. However, Grady has a secret that he must tell the woman he loves but fears how she will react; ironically she concealed her relationship to his target and now fears how he will react.
This superb Americana romance stars two wonderful lead characters who are pariahs in their respective circles. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the intrepid bookworm totes her favorite books with her while trailing after Grady. Fast-paced but character driven, fans will relish the entertaining taming of the Wolfe historical romance.
Harriet Klausner
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