Anny P. (wolfnme) reviewed The Horse Soldier (Garretts of Wyoming, No 1) on + 3389 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
In 1867, Major Andrew Garrett and his troops just return to their home station at Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory after a dangerous patrol. Upon his arrival, Andrew hears the ruckus going on between a wagonmaster and his wife over a single woman traveling with them, accompanied only by her five-year-old daughter. To his shock, Andrew sees his wife Julia Robichard, "the Belle of New Orleans" causing the friction.
Upon noticing Andrew, Julia faints. She thought he died when her uncle shot him for spying for the North. Andrew learns that Julia remarried and is heading to the Montana Territory to find Philip Bonneaux, her spouse and father of her child. However, Julia is stranded by the wagon train and relies on Andrew for help. In spite of his knowing she betrayed him to her uncle and he deceived her about his Northern interests, their love remains strong, but with no hopes for the future.
THE HORSE SOLDIER is a powerful western romance staring two interesting characters. The story line provides the audience a taste of Army life on the frontier from the varying perspectives of the soldiers and their wives. Merline Lovelace, known for her entertaining and insightful contemporary military romances gracefully goes historical with her expertise and flourishes by providing fans with an invigorating Americana novel.
Upon noticing Andrew, Julia faints. She thought he died when her uncle shot him for spying for the North. Andrew learns that Julia remarried and is heading to the Montana Territory to find Philip Bonneaux, her spouse and father of her child. However, Julia is stranded by the wagon train and relies on Andrew for help. In spite of his knowing she betrayed him to her uncle and he deceived her about his Northern interests, their love remains strong, but with no hopes for the future.
THE HORSE SOLDIER is a powerful western romance staring two interesting characters. The story line provides the audience a taste of Army life on the frontier from the varying perspectives of the soldiers and their wives. Merline Lovelace, known for her entertaining and insightful contemporary military romances gracefully goes historical with her expertise and flourishes by providing fans with an invigorating Americana novel.
Determined to locate her missing husband, new orleans belle julia Bonneaux and her young daughter have made a long and dangerous journey to the Wyoming territory. But at Fort laramie julia finds, instead, a piece of her past as she comes face-to-face with major Andrew Garrett; the dashing rogue she had secretly married six years before, the Union spy who had betrayed her...and the man she thought was dead all these years.
Time had eased the pain of Andrew's months in a Confederate prison-but not the memory of Julia; the temptress who had enticed him, the woman who had nearly destroyed him...and the wife who now wears another man's ring. When she walks back into his life, asking for his help, Andrew is torn between duty and desire. now, with his career-and his heart-in jeopardy, he must choose between the misunderstandings of the past and the promise of a new beginning.
Time had eased the pain of Andrew's months in a Confederate prison-but not the memory of Julia; the temptress who had enticed him, the woman who had nearly destroyed him...and the wife who now wears another man's ring. When she walks back into his life, asking for his help, Andrew is torn between duty and desire. now, with his career-and his heart-in jeopardy, he must choose between the misunderstandings of the past and the promise of a new beginning.
Ellen F. (Ladysmiley) - , reviewed The Horse Soldier (Garretts of Wyoming, No 1) on + 26 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The ole west comes alive in this one.
Determined to find her missing husband, Julia travels to Fort Laramie. She finds the dashing rogue she secretly married 6 years before. A Union spy who had betrayed her. He must choose between the misunderstandings of the past and the promise of a new beginning. Historical romance from the civil war.
Karen S. (MsMusic) reviewed The Horse Soldier (Garretts of Wyoming, No 1) on + 106 more book reviews
Great story, Lovelace is a great writer.
LaVonne W. (Grnemae) -
A very enjoyable story. A wonderful love story of a woman searching for her lost husband who instead finds a different husband- one she thought was dead. Trust is an issue between them but the story is well developed. Both the female and male roles are fully developed as strong personalities who are not afraid to fight for what they desire.
After looking at the other reviews of this book, Im wondering if I read the same story!
Things I liked about this book:
1) Lovelace obviously did some research into the lives and conditions of frontier soldiers/fort life and it shows in the interesting facts woven into the story.
2) The plotting was superb. Things moved along at a good pace.
Things I DIDNT like about this tome:
1) During this era, an annulment or a divorce was a major humiliation for anyone involved. The fact that Andrew didnt know about the annulment (at some point) is ludicrous. Men held all the cards in these actions; there was no way he would not have been notified during those 6 years.
3) He was a military officer even if he was in prison, he would have been notified as soon as he returned to active service. An officer in the military doesnt just disappear; there are records that could have been consulted, so that hed have an opportunity to respond to the court action.
4) Laundresses were often followers of the camps and forts. They were often whores. Theres no way a lady like Julia would have stooped so low. Remember, she had a daughter to consider. Since other work was mentioned at the same time (working in the hospital), a lady would have chosen something that did not smack of loose morals.
5) The final solution was so contrived! ALL the pieces fit at the end; how convenient. However, life isnt like that. I thought the author took the easy way and my estimation of her originality dropped through the floor.
6) SPOILER: I cant tell you how many stories Ive read lately have the (thought-to-be-dead) husband appearing after the 2 main characters are ready to head into the sunset holding hands. Please!
7) Lovelaces characters were often one-faceted and the characters growth was stilted or poorly developed. For example: Suzanne hated Andrew through the first ½ of the book. Andrew gives Suzanne a pony; now Andrew is wonderful. How shallow!
This is my second book by this author; I doubt there will be a third!
Things I liked about this book:
1) Lovelace obviously did some research into the lives and conditions of frontier soldiers/fort life and it shows in the interesting facts woven into the story.
2) The plotting was superb. Things moved along at a good pace.
Things I DIDNT like about this tome:
1) During this era, an annulment or a divorce was a major humiliation for anyone involved. The fact that Andrew didnt know about the annulment (at some point) is ludicrous. Men held all the cards in these actions; there was no way he would not have been notified during those 6 years.
3) He was a military officer even if he was in prison, he would have been notified as soon as he returned to active service. An officer in the military doesnt just disappear; there are records that could have been consulted, so that hed have an opportunity to respond to the court action.
4) Laundresses were often followers of the camps and forts. They were often whores. Theres no way a lady like Julia would have stooped so low. Remember, she had a daughter to consider. Since other work was mentioned at the same time (working in the hospital), a lady would have chosen something that did not smack of loose morals.
5) The final solution was so contrived! ALL the pieces fit at the end; how convenient. However, life isnt like that. I thought the author took the easy way and my estimation of her originality dropped through the floor.
6) SPOILER: I cant tell you how many stories Ive read lately have the (thought-to-be-dead) husband appearing after the 2 main characters are ready to head into the sunset holding hands. Please!
7) Lovelaces characters were often one-faceted and the characters growth was stilted or poorly developed. For example: Suzanne hated Andrew through the first ½ of the book. Andrew gives Suzanne a pony; now Andrew is wonderful. How shallow!
This is my second book by this author; I doubt there will be a third!
Sherri H. (mamadoodle) -
Old west love story set in Wyoming
Andrea W. (noc-shift) reviewed The Horse Soldier (Garretts of Wyoming, No 1) on + 298 more book reviews
Love these stories of days gone by..will be looking for more of her books..This was the first I read by this author..Awesome
