Serena Walsh is the beautiful and unwilling plaything of a fanatical Mormon, Elder Greer. Dragging her across the desolate prairie as he seeks a place for settlement, he does not count on her spirit and resilience. Serena manages to escape the Mormon wagon train and the clutches of Elder Greer, but she must find a way to survive in the harsh lands of the American frontier.
Now the handsome and cynical Ward Dunbar, who freely admits he will take her as his mistress and prisoner, is caring for her. Serena is frightened of the man, and of his beautiful partner Pearlie, who despises her as a man-stealer. But she has no resources and no choice but to remain with him. Then, aristocratic millionaire Nathan Benedict approaches her, offering to pay any price for her love. What neither man suspects is that the insane Elder Greer is still pursuing her and will do anything to recapture her.
©1980 Patricia Maxwell (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
I love to read! With kids, that hobby is impossible...enter Audible...problem solved. Chores that I dread are now quiet time for this Mommy!!!
"Complicated...but pure Blake"
The descriptions of Jennifer Blake's novels never do justice to the complicated plot and characters she creates. She is not a feel good, sappy romance author and from time to time I enjoy that.
The heroine went through literal HELL in this novel, which is classic to titles written in the 80's. There is forced seduction between the Hero and Heroine and most of the time I feel Blake paints her hero's as villans for a reason. It is almost like she wants to to like the other guy more than the hero...but why? In all her novels, the heroine grows more and becomes a stronger person because of the jerk of a hero.
In this novel, I was rooting for Nathan, the other guy. This is not the first time I wanted one of Blake's heroines to choose the other guy. I think she means to tell us...we can't help who we love...even if he is pond scum, but used to be a nice guy. Nathan literally worshiped the ground Serena walked on and would have done anything for her. He was a heck of a lot better choice than the hero.
The plot was well done and it kept me locked in the whole time, but I always end up with a feeling of melancholy after one of her novels. She is a gifted writer and her love scenes are some of the most beautifully written in the industry.
If you like a novel that is not a cookie cutter romance, and has no fantasy of prince charning then spend the credit. If you like a more lighthearted read..skip.