Customer Reviews

The Stranger (Harlequin Historical)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my first western romance book. I was reluctant to buy it because of the "cheese factor" that comes with Harlequin romances but I absolutely loved the story. I had a hard time putting it down once I started. I don't want to give any key parts away so I don't ruin the surprise for future readers. But, Caleb just melted my heart. He was so in love with Laura from the first time he ever saw her and just couldn't imagine how she could ever love him. He was a good person with a good and kind heart but had such a low opinion of himself because of his nasty brothers. Anyone would be blessed to love/be loved the way Caleb loved Laura. This book had some suspense, humor, surprise and deep love. The love scenes were detailed but not trashy. It ended exactly the way I hoped it would and left me feeling happy, warm and fuzzy inside. I am currently researching more Elizabeth Lane books because I enjoyed this one so much. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!

Caleb is riding with his half brothers, who are mean and foul men. Being young, impressionable and a half breed he follows them as they go from town to town. They arrive at a ranch, where a woman is hanging laundry and they are welcomed by her husband. All three are invited for diner. Zeke, the meaner of the two, tries to rape the wife, and as her husband comes out to save her, he is shot in cold blood.

The starting premise of this book is violent, depicting the atrocities committed in the old west at a time when settlers lived in remote areas and had to defend themselves from the dangers of marauding bandits.

Caleb has just been released from prison, after serving 3 years from being caught instead of his brothers, when they performed a bank robbery. He has never forgotten the horrible night when his brothers almost raped that young woman. A changed man while in prison, he travels back to the ranch to pay his respects on the graves of the people that his brothers boasted of killing. Little does he know that the woman his brothers assaulted is very much alive and still living there with her little boy.

Five years have passed since that fateful night when Laura's husband was killed by desperadoes. Her mistrust of strangers runs deep and she carries emotional scars, as well as the scars that are on the surface. She barely survived, is very leery of strangers and lives almost as a recluse. Laura doesn't remember Caleb and she allows him to repair her run-down ranch in exchange for a meal.

Caleb is stunned that this beautiful, strong willed and brave woman has survived the horrors of what her bothers did to her. At first he wants to help her with her rundown ranch, but soon, Laura and her son become dependent on Caleb and his protection. He has been in love with Laura since he set eyes on her 5 years ago, feels very unworthy of their trust, as he castigates himself for the deeds of his half brothers and feels there can never be redemption for him for their actions. As he falls deeper in love with Laura and cares for her young boy, he is torn, wanting to leave them and being unable to do so.

This is a poignant novel that develops into a beautiful love story of redemption and putting things to right. I read this in one sitting and for those of you that love a good western romance, this is a definite keeper! ENJOY!

I haven't read a great book like this in a long time. The title caught my eye and I thought why not give it a try and I am so glad I did. Caleb is so heart melting... I could not put it down. I am going to read more Elizabeth Lane books for sure.

I finished The Stranger almost 3 months ago but couldn't put my thoughts on it into words for a review.

After reading the first few chapter I was unsure on whether I'd read or not. I didn't like the idea of the hero deceiving the heroine but he grew on me and so did this story.

5 years ago, Caleb and his half brothers pass the Shafton farm house and ask for a meal. Laura Shafton's naive husband welcomes the strangers with open arms and soon the unthinkable happens when one the brothers attempts to rape the pregnant Laura her. Caleb tries to stop his brother but Laura's trauma over the attempted attack and the murder of her husband has her implementing all of the brothers in the crimes including Caleb. The 3 brothers leave and Laura is left scarred, traumatized and a widow with a baby on the way.

Fast forward 5 years later. After being released from prison (being the caught scapegoat while his brothers get away), Caleb still remembers the pretty Laura Shafton and what happened at that ranch. He passes by wondering if she's okay and what happened to her. When he gets there he finds Laura and her 4 year old son and seeing her scarred face and haunted eyes brings back the memories. To absolve himself for even being there, he offers to help her around her ranch. She cautiously takes the stranger's offer and soon finds herself befriending the mysterious and rugged Caleb while her son falls in love with having a male figure around.

I was really surprised to find myself actually liking this story. Laura is such a strong heroine. You'll cry for all she's lost in family, raising her son alone and losing her confidence in showing her face in town embarrassed by her scarred face. How she survived her ordeal and kept on moving makes her a heroine to love. Caleb is a hero you sympathize with. As a half breed (American/Native American), you feel for him wanting to be around his brothers and accepted but realizing how evil they are and trying to fully break free from their holds even when they're not around.

I enjoyed Caleb and Laura separated and definitely together and her son is adorable and his relationship with Caleb and Caleb's "fatherly" patience with him made me like Caleb even more.

Overall: I'd definitely pick this one up if I were you. Take it from one picky reader when I say that.

This is a beautiful love story between two unlikely people: a lady from the east recently arrived in Texas with her husband to start a new ranch... soon crosses paths with a young half breed nomad who is traveling with his two criminal brothers.

After an unfortunate series of events the young lady is left scarred and widowed and the young half breed finds himself in jail... but as the years go by he can never forget the innocent women who captured his heart that day.

This was a well-constructed and emotional romance. Highly recommended if you love tales of second chances and those who can find new life in the darkest of times.

Missing one star for a dropped plot line.

Intimacy Scenes - 1 full - at least 10 references
Plot Devices: tortured male, tortured female, single mother, second chances, redemption

The characters in this book were very well rounded , Very well written story line with beliveable characters , Laura is a woman with no great claim to beauty and Caleb is a half breed and convict with no where to go, but when these two meet it isn't the usual fireworks that come from most romance novels but a gentle subtle respect and love that withstands all that life throws their way, As the book progress and Laura and Caleb figure out their feeling for each other thats when the sparks begin to fly... great story and a great romance. You won't regret buying this one !

IF you love good romance of any genre you must read this book. It has everything. A keeper for me.

The first chapter of this book left me wondering how the main character of this story could ever make things right. But Ms. Lane did just that in high fashion. This story was unique in that nothing fit into the 'norm' for a western romance but somehow it all fell together with chapters that will stay with you long after the last page.

This was my first Elizabeth Lane book but one that left me scrambling to find more of her works. I would definitely recommend The Stranger for anyone who loves romance at its finest.

This was the first novel I have read of Elizabeth Lane, and I can honestly say I LOVED it!! It has everything you could want: love, heartbreak, danger, forgiveness and redemption. Yet, the story flowed well. There was never a dull moment. I was so captivated by the characters and the detail, you can feel their emotions. Everything from the beginning to the end was perfect! What an amazing author.

The book was so perfectly summarized by the pervious reviewers that I have nothing further to add.

In general a nice Western Romance read with attractive and plausible main characters. A tender love story with main focus on forgiveness and moving on. However, Caleb's the repetitive thoughts whether he is good enough for Laura or not became after a certain moment a bit tiresome. I would also have preferred if Caleb and Laura would have gotten "really involved with each other" a bit earlier in the book.

In any case a nice read.