Texas Splendor [Paperback]

Lorraine Heath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

The saga of the Leigh family continues. After spending five long years in a Texas penitentiary, Austin Leigh is free to return home, only to find his sweetheart is now married. Despondent and alone, Austin sets out to clear his name of the crime he didn't commit. En route to the state capitol, he meets a young girl and her dog, the survivors of a mysterious tragedy. Together, the young couple will find redemption, forgiveness, and a true love greater than either could have imagined.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451407547
• ISBN-13: 978-0451407542
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lorraine Heath always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases for a publicist, articles, and computer code, but something was always missing. In 1990, she read a romance novel and became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since, for both adult and young adult readers (as Rachel Hawthorne). Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA(R), a HOLT medallion, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, three Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and several Texas Gold Awards. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today, Waldenbooks, and most recently, the New York Times.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yet another pleasing book by Heath., May 24, 2000

By 

"kleo76" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Texas Splendor (Paperback)

Lorraine Heath writes Texan heroes like no one else. Austin Leigh is the youngest brother of the three Leigh boys (all named after the well-known cities in the Lone Star state). He's grown up a lot since the first in this trilogy, when he was 15. When Texas Splendor starts, he gets out of jail after spending 5 years in the slammer for a crime he didn't commit. And he doesn't know what to do with himself other than find the person that really did commit the crime. Life has changed in his hometown - his nieces and nephews have grown up, his brothers have changed, and he can't hear the music in his head that he used to hear so he doesn't play his violin anymore.

It is in searching for the real killer that Austin runs across Loree. She, too, has not had an easy life. Her family was killed by someone a few years back and she's very scarred from the incident.

Both of these characters are well-written. Heath does a good job of developing their pasts, their motivations, and their actions. Austin's journey to finding the music is very poignant. I enjoyed reading about a character was was really trying to find *himself* - his place in life, and a way to express himself. This is the best part of the book, and sets it apart from its predecessors in the series, because both of Austin's older brothers knew what they were doing in life, and finding love was just something extra. Austin finds love and himself along the way.

The only thing missing from this book was that added layer that I know Heath can add (she did an excellent job of it in Texas Destiny, and later in Never Love a Cowboy). The conclusion of Texas Splendor seemed a bit pat. I would have liked a little more exploration of Austin and Loree's burgeoning trust. But, as I've said before, a good Heath is a great anything else. So all in all, Texas Splendor is a success and I highly recommend it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tortured hero, tortured heroine...touching love story., September 22, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Texas Splendor (Paperback)

Right up front, I'll confess to being a big fan of Ms. Heath's. She writes heart-warming romances that just make me feel good. I felt good with this one, too. Austin is that particular species of Western male hero who is big on honor and justice, and not always ruled by logic. He is more heart than head. The heroine is good of heart, strong of conscience and lovingkindness (hence the degree of her torturedness over an act she is hard-pressed to live with). They end up filling the voids in each other --as couples will in good romances.If someone goes into this novel primarily wanting the who-done-it aspect, they're going to find the middle slow. Why? The book puts romance FIRST, and the middle is mostly the unfolding emotional story (with its attendant internal conflicts) of Austin and Loree. For romance lovers, that fills the bill very nicely. The who-done-it doesn't take precedence again until the couple is well-established. I would have given it five stars if I really believed that someone would prefer years in prison over telling the truth about a lover's tryst that might hurt a gal's reputation. Sorry, but I can't buy it totally. No true self-respecting woman and no brain-alive man is going to put up with torture and deprivation for five years to cover up some youthful sexual escapade. But I still loved the story and read it straight through til the end. I've read all of Heath's TEXAS novels. They're all good romantic reads and I recommend them to lovers of romance, particularly Western romances.I sure hope Ms. Heath has a story coming for Rawley, the abused adopted son of Dallas Leigh--the eldest of the three brothers. MAN..I sure want to see that novel!!! **Mir**

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Conclusion..., February 14, 2006

By 

ThisThatNEverything "thisthatneverything" (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Texas Splendor (Paperback)

After 5 long brutal years of spending time in prison for a murder he didn't commit Austin Leigh is finally a free man. He is anxious to return to his home & the only woman he has ever loved. Upon returning home Austin learns that his first love has married another. Heartbroken, Austin sets out to find the real killer to clear his name. At the start of his journey he makes a stop at a small house owned by a woman named Loree. Austin is hoping to fill his belly but after a few short days he discovers that his heart is also quickly filling with love.

I absolutely loved this 3 book series. I highly recommend all 3. Book #1 Texas Destiny, Book #2 Texas Glory & Book #3 Texas Splendor.