THIS HEART FOR HIRE [Kindle Edition]

Elysa Hendricks (Author)

Book Description

A convent reared innocent and a gunslinger with no memory struggle to survive and find love while crossing the dangerous west Texas frontier.

Abandoned by his father and betrayed by his half-brother and fiancee on the eve of his wedding, JAKE GALLAGHER no longer believes in love. Though he longs to go home, his undercover work for the Texas Rangers keeps him in a lawless Texas border town. Even though it jeopardizes his mission he refuses to stand by and watch outlaws rape and murder a young woman. Getting shot and losing his memory wasn’t part of his plan.

While fleeing from her stepfather’s plans to steal their ranch, CHRISTINA GOODWIN witnesses her brother’s murder and is left in the hands of a merciless band of outlaws. Raised in a strict convent, Christina has little knowledge of men or the world, its dangers and temptations. Frightened and alone, she is forced to accept the help of the dark gunslinger who rescues her. Though drawn to Jake’s potent masculinity, she hesitates to trust him, fearing her stepfather has sent him to bring her back. Unsure of Jake’s motives for helping her, she struggles against him, determined to find a way to avenge her brother’s death and regain control of her ranch from her stepfather.

Product Details

• File Size: 425 KB
• Print Length: 315 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Elysa Hendricks (October 12, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005VF01TY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,768 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A romantic journey worth reading; characters that stay with you April 29, 2012

By Cindy Keen Reynders

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

America's western frontier in the late 1800s was definitely no place for a lady, especially one raised in a strict convent. Christina Goodwin soon discovers this. She has suffered greatly at the hands of her step father, who wants to force her to marry him, therby stealing her family's ranch. When her brother is killed by a ruthless outlaw, she is left to defend herself.

Though a stroke of fate, she is spared from being savaged by the outlaw. The handsome gunslinger who saves her, Jake Gallagher, frightens her, as well as intrigues her. As they escape the outlaw and his gang, Jake, who is on an undercover mission for the Texas Rangers, is shot.

Christina doctors him as best she can and he survives, but he has lost his memory. Working together, Jake and Christina manage to find their way to Jake's ranch. Along the way, the two are drawn to one another for comfort, as well as an abiding attraction. Jake denies his feelings for her because he doesn't remember exactly who he is and what he can offer a woman of her standing. Christina, still fearing her step father's wrath, has stretched the truth in order to obtain Jake's protection. She knows she is falling for Jake, but worries what he will think when he discovers the truth.

Despite the predicaments they encounter, Jake and Christina discover they love each other, but are afraid to admit their feelings. Jake realizes he wants to keep Christina in his life no matter the cost. Christina realizes no other man will ever take the place Jake has in her heart.

Elysa Hendricks keeps the pace of this story moving quickly and provides great detail. She weaves a rich plot that draws the reader in and keeps them turning pages to find out what happens next. Characters are well drawn, believable and lovable. I highly recommend this romance, especially for readers who want to fall in love all over again, right along with Christina and Jake.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review for This Heart for hire by Elysa Hendricks March 14, 2012

By Desere Steenberg

Format:Kindle Edition

This was the second book by this fabulous author that I read and I was just as the first time blow away! The book had it all stunning characters in a beautiful rich land described by the author so perfectly that it felt as if I was actually living it !

The story of Jake and Christina is one of passion and good old fashioned western action ! I especially loved how the author did not leave anything for me to wonder about, she included every little bit of detail one needs to form the scenes in your head. I adored the fact that the author made sure to not "sugar coat" the facts she lays it all out there and that for me is what made the book such a brilliant read. I would recommend this one to anyone out there even if your not a fan of romance or westerns for that matter ,yes even you men out there would not be able to put this one down !

5/5 review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars My Kind of Hero January 12, 2012

By OnTheMark

Format:Kindle Edition

If you like historical western romances, you'll love This Heart for Hire, by Elysa Hendricks. At $3.99 this more than 100,000 word story is great value for money. Elysa takes us, and her hero and heroine, on a harrowing odyssey across Texas and New Mexico. Her descriptions of the landscape are rich, and you can imagine yourself travelling with them. The journey is fraught with dangers, both physical and emotional as Jake tries to come to terms with his past--the memory of which has been stolen from him by the after effects of a head wound. After her strict religious upbringing in a convent, Christina too struggles to cope with the hardships and new fears and emotions she experiences. Her journey is one to self discovery and acceptance.
The author doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that people faced in the time she is writing about. Murder, violation, family betrayal, hunger, thirst, brutality, torture, and greed all conspire to separate our hero and heroine. It's a plot with many twists and turns. I'm not usually a fan of westerns, but I recommend this one. Jake is my kind of hero!

More About the Author

After trying her hand at a variety of careers, insurance underwriter, video storeowner, home day care and cleaning houses, Elysa Hendricks, a longtime reader sat down to write a short contemporary novel. When her heroine turned out to be a winged, telepathic alien, Elysa decided she enjoyed writing stories set in different places and times.

While living in north east Illinois she helped found the Windy City Chapter and the Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal Chapters of Romance Writers of America and taught workshops on writing at writer's conferences and at local community colleges. Recently relocated to central Ohio she's happy to be part of the COFW family.

Someday she dreams of writing on a laptop while sitting on a tropical beach. In the meantime she keeps warm during Ohio's chilly winters by creating sizzling love scenes.