Tenderness [Mass Market Paperback]

Dorothy Garlock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1993

Deep in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Jesse Forbes delivers babies and tends to the sick with a feisty bravery. But her courage may doom rebel Wade Simmer, who's been branded a troublemaker by the powerful Harper family, and when the whole town blames Wade for a horrible crime, Jesse must prove his innocence -- and her love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nurse Jesse Forbes first meets Wade Simmer when she rides out in 1902 to combat scarlet fever among rural families outside Harpersville, Tenn. Wade is considered somewhat dangerous: he is a loner and folks suspect he might be "The Looker," a man who has been breaking into homes and blindfolding and fondling women. Jesse finds that Wade is a charming, if mercurial man who seems dedicated to obtaining an education for Jody, a young black boy he has taken under his wing. Jesse returns to town to discover that her father, Dr. Hollis Forbes, has hired Louella Lindstrom to be a housekeeper and help care for Jesse's half-siblings, Susan and Todd. Louella, a "greedy, manipulating" woman, conceals her poisonous personality from Hollis, on whom she has designs. Jesse is outraged that a mere housekeeper has such aspirations--an intriguing contrast to the book's benevolence toward Jody's hopes. When Garlock's ( A Gentle Giving ) story stays with simple, small-town characters and events, like Jesse's nursing and Wade's hesitant courtship, it is fairly successful (the contrived "Looker" subplot aside). But her attempts to make Louella a major criminal fall flat.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446363707
• ISBN-13: 978-0446363709
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Garlock, Dorothy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book, January 3, 2000

By 

J. Williams (Worcester, Ma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tenderness (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is different then most other Garlock books, it takes place at the turn of the 20th century. Jesse and Wade must over come many obsticles to find happiness including narrow-minded townspeople, criminal accusations, and Wade's pride. Wade's love and protection of Jesse is very touching. This is a fantastic book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical romance with 1902 Tennessee setting, May 17, 2002

By 

Jody L. Schoth (Katy, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tenderness (Mass Market Paperback)

Set in 1902, this wonderful historical romance story about Wade and Jesse is both endearing and highly entertaining. Wade, falls in love with Jesse at first sight, and finally gets the chance to be near the Nurse and Doctors daughter, when he is needed to escort her through the hills to visit children sick from the scarlet fever. This is Jesse's first experience with the notorious bad guy, and she is surprised to find he is a kind and honest man, with a lot of pride. When a madman goes through town sneaking in the homes of young women of the town, all fingers point at Wade as the criminal. Along the way, as in real life, other events take place to harm their chances of staying together, and the happiness of themselves and those they care about. This book has a little of everything, and I just loved it! Now I'm out of Dorothy Garlock books, so I will anxiously await the release of her new book, "High on the Hill" this summer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bland, January 4, 2006

By 

Country Bumpkin (West Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tenderness (Mass Market Paperback)

Maybe it was me, but I don't think this is one of DG's better books. Jesse and Wade had the potential to be great characters, but I didn't get to know them. The plot was predictable and thrown together at the end just to tie up loose ends. I can't stand it when characters are made to do something that is illogical just to get romantic tension. If Wade loved her as much as he did, he would never leave her while she was injured. That's just dumb.