Patricia Hagan

One of the reasons I read Ms. Hagan's books is because she gives enough historical background, where you feel you're learning something, not just reading a fiction story. I learned about some Civil War campaigns and battles I hadn't been aware of before, and I like adding to my knowledge of American history, while being entertained at the same time.

I had suspected something when I started reading her books, and had it confirmed when I found out Ms. Hagan was from Atlanta. So many of her show more leading ladies are loyal southern women, ever faithful to the Confederate cause, and only someone born in the south could put such strong emphasis on this. It reminds me of Margaret Mitchell, who I'm sure had a few Confederate flags in her home.

Being a native "Yankee", I can't share that opinion, and find it rather tiresome to hear the beloved confederacy so idealized, but that was a reflection of the times. She does, however, make it clear that her main characters, while loyal to south, don't really approve of slavery, and always treat their black "servants" well. There must have been a real paradox back then: southerners who didn't like slavery, but at the same time liked the life they had, which they couldn't have without owning slaves. What a mess!

The storyline was good, but it could have been better. The "happy couple" could have been a lot happier if they had admitted their true feelings a long time before they finally did, and it didn't help that for most of the novel they're separated; when they find each other again, next thing you know, they're apart again. It got to be a bit too much, and so did April's love for her plantation home, that she'd do anything to get back to. Had her life there been a good one, that would have made sense, but it was a real nightmare. Her father and sister were both insane, he almost raped her and she almost killed her (as well as kidnapped her more than once, also too over the top) and yet she keeps forgiving them and wanting to get back home and straighten it all out. (Even a total lobotomy couldn't have helped those two!) Yet she keeps wanting to run back home.

Ironically, when she does run away, it's from the man she loves, though she won't admit it, because he hasn't said he loves her. He, in turn, is waiting for her to say it to him, but he won't admit he cares, because the last time he cared about a woman she died. This silliness got dragged on too long, but the in between situations when they were apart were interesting enough to keep you reading, if a bit frustrating.

So it's worth the time, but it could have been better. show less

I read some of Patricia Hagan's later novels online and found I liked them a lot, especially the way she gives enough historical background so you feel you're learning some history rather than just passing the time. So I decided to give this earlier series a try, and I have to say I was disappointed as well as disgusted with the first novel, because, though these things happen in real life (unfortunately) I don't happen to like rape and violence scenes in romance novels. Also, I didn't find show more either Travis or Kitty appealing characters, both seemed so full of themselves, you'd think they were part of the 60's and 70's "Me Generation". I skipped through the rest of Book One and went to the next, and it occurred to me that this couple (if you could call them that) spend more time apart than together and the time they were together they spent in arguments and misunderstandings, not to mention a tug-of-war over their baby. I don't know why I didn't skip Book three, but when I started it, I actually found it more entertaining, but once again couldn't figure out why Kitty and Travis were together, since, besides their son and sex, they had nothing in common and didn't communicate at all. They kept their true feelings from each other about what they really wanted, and if they were a real life couple they'd be in divorce court in no time at all. All that hot sex would have cooled down sooner or later and then what would they have, besides an unhappy little boy?

To me, the best parts were all the adventures Travis had, I thought they were entertaining, especially since I learned quite a bit about voodoo and found it all fascinating. Both Kitty and Travis should have remained single; he liked casual sex too much to make a real commitment and she wanted a career in medicine so much, she needed to be free to concentrate on that.

The worst part of the story was sacrificing Marilee so Kitty and Travis could get back together (why?????). In my opinion, Marilee was a much better person than either of them, but she gives them her deathbed blessing, not to mention her baby and readers are supposed to be happy???? I sure wasn't! While he was with Marilee, Travis was a better person than he ever was with Kitty, though she should have been with a man who could really love her, instead of having to compete with a (not so very good) memory.

I would have preferred Marilee to survive, Kitty and Travis to realize their time was past, no going back, she leaves for medical school, he stays with Marilee and the children and realizes what a fool he was and promises to make it up to her. In my mind, that's how it happened.

And, while I intend to read more of Patricia Hagan's books, I definitely will NOT be reading any more in this series! show less

The star for me in this book was our main heroine, Samara. She's vivid with intelligence, honor, bravery, and drive. She's not your typical romance heroine only concerned with babies, keeping house, and pleasing her man. Oh definitely not! Samara has ambitions, striving for independence and keeping a pretty strong code of ethics in keeping her bargains and taking care of her friends. She doesn't wait for the guy to rescue her. Oh heck no! She's the one doing the rescuing in the end. show more Definitely a woman I can get behind and root for!

I also liked the other touches that makes this romance novel so unique. Our main hero isn't an Indian nor a half breed. He's a Indian agent's son that was raised with the tribe while his father was the agent and pretty much took on the Indians as a surrogate family. The Indian tribe that is featured is the Kansa, not the typical Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche, or Apache. Seeing the unique touches to this very small tribe intrigued me. I also liked seeing fort life, the rules of poker, and seeing the bustle of early Abilene.

A few things I could have done without were some pretty typical romance novel clichés that I see in so many of these books. Enough misunderstandings and miscommunication to drown in. I mean, come on people?! Does anyone even think about shutting up and letting the other person finish speaking? Or maybe speaking what's on your mind or about what's happening in your life rather than assuming the other person won't understand or already knows and just doesn't care? Sigh.... And then there's the very two-dimensional secondary characters. So much was put into fleshing Samara and Cade out that many others were left as static caricatures that are almost more humorous than sympathetic or dangerous. The biggest offenders are Celeste and Jarman. I rolled my eyes way more than once at these two and their shenanigans.

Overall, this is a pretty strong Western romance with two leads I felt I could get behind and enjoy. There was enough historical details to make this history buff smile. And despite some typical romance novel cringe-inducers, I felt this is definitely one to enjoy again and again. show less

This book was a winner, not just for the story, but for the history that goes with it, like the start of the underground railroad and some of the people involved. I like to learn something while I'm being entertained with a good story, and this novel didn't disappoint me.

Another thing I liked about it was that it was set before the Civil War, so the heroine, Erin, wasn't perpetually cursing the "damn Yankees", and proudly defending the southern cause (ad nauseum). She also detested slavery, show more and helped many of them escape. She had a close friendship with one of them, a young woman who went through so much, you'll be on her side all the way when she manages to run away and elude her pursuers more than once.

There's a dark family secret that Erin's not aware of, one that her mother tries to hide from her. She has a stepfather who's cruel and abusive to her mother, and lusts after Erin. Her mother's weak and in poor health, but smart enough to know that her daughter's best chance of a good life is to get away, and marry a rich man. She sets her sites on Ryan Youngblood, determined to get him for a son-on-law. Ryan and Erin have an intense attraction to each other, but Erin wants no part of her mother's scheme, and Ryan doesn't want to get married, preferring to have Erin be his mistress.

But next thing you know, they're married! And that's when the fun begins, with all the misunderstandings, interference, (like Ryan's mother, a real bitch who despises Erin), supposed betrayals, separations, and a lot of other things to keep this very entertaining reading.

i don't think the ending should have been so abrupt, (I've noticed this with other books Ms. Hagan writes, too) but that's not enough to take away from enjoying this book. show less