Customer Reviews

On the Texas Border (Harlequin Superromance No. 1049)

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

 

 

For the last month reporter Abby Duncan has been on a leave of absence from her Dallas job, spending time with eighty-year-old Spenser Brewster writing his memoirs. She blames Brewster for defaming her father's character after firing him from his position with Brewster farms following thirty-five years of service. Abby had no intention of writing his memoirs until she recognized it as an opportunity to learn the truth. Then Brewster announces that he has a daughter. If Abby will locate her, then he will reveal the answers she seeks.

Brewster insists that Jonas Parker, the foreman of his farming business, accompany Abby. Secrets of the past have bound Jonas to Brewster since he was fifteen. He dreams of the day he will be free of the tyrannical old man who has run his life for so long. When he meets Abby, Jonas feels an immediate attraction, but does not feel worthy of such an outstanding woman. But the quest for Brewster's daughter will draw them closer together as they untangle a web of deceit that will leave them both with more questions than answers.

Having enjoyed Linda Warren's EMILY'S DAUGHTER and STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART, I looked forward to reviewing ON THE TEXAS BORDER. It begins wonderfully, with a clash of characters and hints at a past that cannot help but pique the reader's interest. Unfortunately, the middle section of the novel sinks into melodrama as characters behave rather childishly. On the up side, the last few chapters of the book do provide a nice conclusion and some delightful healing. Indeed, two wonderful themes sparkle throughout the novel: that we each define our own identities, and that parents are human, capable of deep love and miserable flaws. Consequently, I feel compelled to recommend ON THE TEXAS BORDER with reservations.

Actually except for a couple of spots the story turned out better than expected. Just need to fast-forward through the bed-hopping.

Simon Brewster is writing his memoirs - of his life and Brewster Farms.
Actually the Farm supports quite a community of people in Hope, Texas where Abigail Duncan was raised. She has left Dallas to get away from her ex, Kyle after he hit her.

Brewster wants Abby to find the woman that he had had an affair with about thirty years ago that produced his daughter. He tells Abby that Jonas will go with her to Mexico in search of this woman.

Jonas does not trust Simon. He knows that Simon manipulates people to suit himself. Abby's mother, Gail wants Abby to return to Dallas and let sleeping dogs lie. She does not want Abby to associate with Jonas, who used to live on the streets and get into trouble.

Jonas would hang out at Mick's Tavern, and you know what went on there. Mick and Jonas were old friends. Mick was a die-hard Texan with rough edges and a spit-in-your-eye attitude. He gave Jonas a place to sleep when he ran away from foster homes.

Jonas and Abby struck sparks off each other - but little by little Abby infiltrated Jonas's emotions and got his story out of him.

The mystery of Simon's daughter led the two on a merry chase with a subtle threat to them and then they had to track down the culpret who hired Rios to stop them.

All of this happened because Abby wanted to find out the truth of why her father was fired from Brewster Farms where he had worked for so many years. Jonas didn't think she was ready to face the facts. But Brewster promised to tell her the truth if she found his daughter. Simon knew that he didn't have much longer to live.

This was a story where the ending was a great as the beginning.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M - The bed hopping dulled the tale just a bit.

I'm not a big Harelequinn Romance novel reader but I saw this and thought I'd give it an try. To my surprise it was a much better than I had imagined. This book was interesting and came with an unpredictable twist.