Title: Sunset Embrace
Author: Sandra Brown
ISBN: 0446356859
Publisher: Warner Brothers
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 360/Paperback
I picked this up from one of my friend's place. She seldom reads anything other than romances. She insisted I read this one. Sunset Embrace is romance all right, with all the usual trials and tribulations the hero and heroine undergo, before everlasting love. It is said to be set in 1870s when wagon trains moved from one place to another.
Lydia is a destitute and has been wandering for weeks. She is with child. One day her labour pain starts and she falls down with sheer exhaustion. She prays for death for herself and her yet unborn baby. Her baby is born dead and she is found in the unconscious state by Bubba and his brother Luke Langston, who go out and fetch their mother Ma Langston. One look at her and she is taken away to be looked after by the Langston family. Ma Langston does not ask about her past and accepts her as she is.
Meanwhile, in another Wagon, Ross Coleman's wife dies in childbirth. Ma Langston laments about it and after a couple of days finds a perfect solution. There is a young woman without a child and a baby without a mother. Lydia is to serve as a wet-nurse for the boy. Ross is not too keen. He takes Lydia to be a piece of trash and does not want her anywhere near his child. However, Lydia and the infant bond instantly. Even Ross cannot deny that. Despite his misgivings, he allows her to stay in his wagon for the sake of his son.
She had vowed no man should touch her and he is grief-stricken by his pure blooded wife's death. He finds himself attracted towards her and because of his conflicted feelings is very nasty towards her. She is too strong-willed to take that from him and gives him back in equal measure. From there in starts, that inevitable spark of attraction. Before anything can be truly resolved, both their past catches up with them. Not only do they have to contend with the hardships and dangers that any wagon train would face, but also they are also being stalked by a murderous mad man who is intent on rape and murder.
There are other interesting characters from the wagon train: Bubba Langston, the boy who found Lydia and idolizes Ross wanting to become like him; Priscilla, who seduces Bubba; Winston Hill, the southern gentleman who is attracted to Lydia; and Ma, the matriarch of the wagon train. Each has a role to play in the book that when woven together make for an excellent read. Maybe I should read romances more often!
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 16
Thanks
it seem worthwhile to get this book and read it! *smiles*
I will have to read this - I am exploring the difference between the HQ/ Mills and Boon and others such as Avon, Warner.
HQ are shorter and have a specific format, but I am going to look into description, characterization, and how much depth each publisher gets into.
I will have to get this, either from my library or from Amazon.
I read books such as DuMaurier, when I was a teen but could not get into the category romances because they were poorly done. A few years ago - nearly 4 years ago, now - I began reading Harlequin and a few other publishers.
Much improved standards. I discovered there is a good reason why romances are popular with women - usually not the young woman, as the young woman is too busy living - but with women I think after 40 or so - very, very popular.
Must get back to my Nora Roberts.Summer Pleasures - it came out in 1989 - two long stories in one cover but I bought it in 2003.
The first story Second Nature (257 pages) deals with magazine editor Lee Radcliffe who seeks to interview reclusive Horror Writer Hunter Brown. She goes to a conference and begins talking with a dark stranger at the airport and is drawn to this man who peers into her soul. At the conference, a mystery man is speaking and her eyes follow the tall man in the cape who goes to the podium. She does not find out for some time, that the man in the airport is Hunter Brown - who has never shown his face on a cover.
He lives in the desert in Arizona, and to interview him for the magazine, she must camp out with him for two weeks.
Roberts' powers of description are emotionally intense and spellbinding. Terrific read.
The second story in this cover (One Summer) is also excellent. 250 pages.
Summer Pleasure - Silhouette from www.eHarlequin.com. I bought it in the grocery store. I saw lots of Harlequin at Walden books last night - a Border's company. Usuallly, I don't find HQ in the book stores but only in groceries. HQ is always trying to improve its lines.
A new line from HQ is coming in the next year or so -with editors in the UK. Must be terrific. The UK based Mills & Boon are where most of the Regency books I've read are from.
I ordered Historicals such as Westerns and Regencies from Harlequin. For a few dollars a month, you can get 4 books a month in your choice of categories.
Amanda Jarrett is an excellent American Regency writer. She used to be an Art Director. Quite a number of excellent Canadian authors also do a good job in Westerns.
eHarlequin.com. Books are usually about $5 US.
Kathryn, I have a copy pf Summer pleasures. I read it sometime back. I had liked it.
I used to read Mill and Boons in my teenage years and Harleqin in my college years.
I just wanted to say I am finally going through my currently over 6,000 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)