Customer Reviews

Walks in Shadow (Leisure Historical Romance)

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Others have stated the general storyline, so I'll just cut straight to my opinion.

Joyce Henderson has a great writing style, her words flow beautifully making for an easy read. Yes, I also found the Aunt to be a bit naggy. I wanted to lock her in the house and tell her to butt out a little, but I liked the heroine and didn't find her to sobbish in the least. She put in as much work as any of the others and I felt sorry for the situation her father put her in.

Holden (the hero) was to die for! That in itself kept me reading on, but I did get a little annoyed that Samantha (the heroine) was doing all the chasing. Holden was forever pulling away from her (for what he beleieved to be good reasons, of course). He was very protective of her, but not very possessive and I found his reasons for keeping his distance from her lacking in substance.
Their was no real sex in this story, which is fine, but I think it would have added a deeper sense of connection between the hero and heroine. It would have made their decisions regarding each other that much harder.
I also think that the use of the original antagonist was not carried out to the fullest. One fully developed character holds greater power than two half hearted ones.
The ending didn't quiet work for me. I wanted more. It was still the heroine that did the chasing, and in the end I like to see the hero realise what he has and fight for it. He didn't.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and wanted see how things worked out, but I feel it could have been sparked with a little more conflict and tension.

In 1855 Texas, Walks in Shadow rages over his sister Bubbling Water's abduction and rape by a white. Following her death due to measles, he raised his infant nephew Little Spring for awhile. However, he keeps his deathbed promise to Bubbling Water, who reminded him he was born white; he gives the infant to the Timberlake family who took in his sister following the rape, but vows to come back one day for the child.

Five years later, Holden Walker arrives at the Timberlake Ranch albeit to tame a wild stallion, but more to see how his nephew Little Spring, now called, Guy, is doing. Samantha Timberlake and Holden are immediately attracted to one another and she realizes how good he is with horses and with her "brother". She needs a husband to fulfill a stipulation in her late father's will or the bank will select her spouse for her and they have a rich candidate in mind. The banker cares not for Samantha's desires only to fulfill Hiram's concern over the safety of a single woman in Texas. Will Holden fill the bill or will he walk away into the shadows?

This exciting western romance will thrill sub-genre fans as Holden struggles between his love for Samantha (and her need of a husband) and Guy in opposition to his obsession to avenge his sister's rape and death. The lead couple rules the story line as the independent Samantha wants to keep her freedom just like the special horse that she hopes Holden can tame without breaking the steed's spirit. Though the villains pale next to the dynamic lead, Joyce Henderson provides a strong tale.

Harriet Klausner

This is one of those, "don't judge a book by its cover" things. Great looking guy on the cover, exciting set up on the back cover - but the story falls flat, the characters are annoying and it is an overall waste of good reading time.

I FOUND THE STORY TO NOT BE WORTH READING. THE "HEROIN" WAS A SPOILED, OBNOXIOUS, SNOTTY BRAT. SHE PLAYED AT "WORKING" WITH THE RANCH HANDS AND LEFT EVERYTHING UP TO HER POOR OVER-WORKED AUNT. SHE COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH WALKS IN SHADOW, HOLDEN WALKER, SHE WAS SO ATTRACTED THAT SHE KEPT THROWING HIM OFF HER "SPREAD". HOLDEN WALKER IS SHY AND UNSURE OF HIS FOOTING AROUND THIS WOMAN. HE IS A WHITE MAN, RAISED BY CAMANCHE, WHO CHOOSES TO RETURN TO THE WHITE WORLD WHEN HE GIVES HIS NEPHEW TO THE TIMBERLAKE FAMILY AS HE PROMISED HIS ADOPTED SISTER. THERE IS AN ATTRACTION BUT ANY OTHER HERO WOULD HAVE LEFT HER IN THE DUST WHILE TELLING HER TO GROW THE HELL UP! IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS BOOK AS I DISLIKED THE HEROIN SO MUCH. I MEAN THE HERO WANTS TO PROTECT HER FROM A RAPIST BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM "HURT". WHEN THE FATHER OF THE RAPIST TURNS OUT TO BE THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE INDIANS AND EVEN KIDNAPS HER "BROTHER" WHO IS ALSO HOLDENS NEPHEW AND BOTH SHE AND THE KID ARE SLAPPED AROUND, SHE IS MAD AT HOLDIN FOR SHOOTING THE IDIOT. LIKE I SAY, THE STORY AND CHARACTERS ARE JUST NOT TO BE BELIEVED. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK I HAVE READ BY THIS AUTHOR AND I DOUBT I WILL TRY ANOTHER. SORRY JOYCE HENDERSON.

I love Native American romances!! This one did not deliver on what I enjoy reading in a romance novel. The heroine was childish and spoiled. Her aunt was too much of a nag. Although the hero was interesting, I didn't feel overwhelmed by him like I have with other Native American heroes. Plus, where was the sex??!! Most connoisseurs of romance novels do not necessarily like to read material that is "pornographic," but SOME sex is expected. If you blink, you'll miss it in this one!! I felt like the author rushed to get her manuscript in and abruptly ended the last scene. It was so anti-climactic. If you like Native American romances, stick with authors who have the experience in writing them like J. Lindsey's "Savage Thunder," K. Drymon's "Gentle Savage," J. Redd's "Steal the Flame," anything by Karen Kay, B. Joyce's "Darkest Heart," or anything by Colleen Faulkner. You can't go wrong with those authors.