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crypticcashew's review against another edition
4.0
loved the characters in this book, the only complaint I have is the ending felt rushed.
mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreak Creek is book one in the series Runaway Brides by author Kaki Warner. Recommended by my friend Jill on Goodreads, I needed no further urging as I am a huge fan of American Western romances. From the very start, the concept of 4 women who find love in the most unexpected places grabbed me and held me enthralled as each of the characters wormed their way into my heart, telling a story that would linger with me for the time to come.
Heartbreak Creek brings the story of 26 year old Edwina Whitney Ladoux from Southeastern Louisiana who makes her way towards Heartbreak Creek of Colorado as a mail-order bride for Robert Declan Brodie, a man she has never laid eyes on. Knowing that there was nothing worth staying around in war ravaged Louisiana for her and her half-sister Pru, Edwina makes the journey that brings her that much closer to the reality of marriage the second time round.
33 year old Declan is a widow who has his hands full looking after 4 children and managing his ranch which is a full-time job in itself. Knowing that his children require a mother's touch, Declan is expecting a sturdy farm woman who can take charge of his family and instead finds himself married to the reigning belle of Sycamore Parish once upon a time.
Though Edwina dreads the thought of marriage to anyone and feels like fleeing from what she has gotten herself into, with Pru to help things along, Edwina finds herself drawn into the lives of her strong and silent husband and his children who tug at her heartstrings right from the very start. For a woman who has had a disappointing experience with intimacy, Edwina finds herself fascinated with how her body yearns for things it cannot voice, a desire that seems to be reciprocated by the man with whom she is bound to share her life till death does them apart.
For Declan, Edwina is the direct opposite of the mother of his children, who betrayed him and their children in the worst way possible, his heart and emotions encased in a block of ice afterwards which had begun to thaw in Edwina's energetic presence. But peace and happiness in their lives seems to be elusive as an old enemy hunts them down with vengeance and death on his mind for all he has lost, a man that Declan knows wouldn't give up until only one of them is left standing. And when Declan's dead wife turns up unexpectedly, both Declan and Edwina must fight harder than ever to truly win the battle of their hearts once and for all which lends this story that emotional wrangling quality that I just love.
Kaki Warner tells a great story somewhat similar in style to that of Ellen O'Connell whose American-Western romances are to die for. Heartbreak Creek introduces us to the very intriguing four ladies whose stories sound equally enticing with Edwina's story laying the foundation of this delectable series. Declan is the strong and silent warrior type of hero beneath whose tough and stoic mask lies an endearing sense of humor which made me fall head over heels in love with him from the very beginning.
Edwina is the type of protective heroine who stands firm in what she believes in, who fights for those whom she loves and that makes for an appealing heroine all around. The sexual tension and awareness that slowly creeps into Declan and Edwina's life is sizzling hot and well-done and though there aren't much detailed love scenes included, it still manages to satisfy the cravings of the reader.
With heart pounding acts of violence thats the reality of life in the western frontier and tender scenes of love, Kaki Warner seems to have struck gold with this enticing series, book 2 of which I will definitely be stalking in the time to come.
Recommended highly for fans of the genre. This is one series you ought not miss.
Memorable Quotes
She drew in an exasperated breath, and suddenly her senses exploded with the essence of Declan, his heat, the smell of soap, horses ... him. Her body instantly reacted - her heartbeat quickening, her skin tingling, her thoughts scattering like some addlepated adolescent sneaking her first kiss under the pawpaw tree.
Rating=4.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Heartbreak Creek brings the story of 26 year old Edwina Whitney Ladoux from Southeastern Louisiana who makes her way towards Heartbreak Creek of Colorado as a mail-order bride for Robert Declan Brodie, a man she has never laid eyes on. Knowing that there was nothing worth staying around in war ravaged Louisiana for her and her half-sister Pru, Edwina makes the journey that brings her that much closer to the reality of marriage the second time round.
33 year old Declan is a widow who has his hands full looking after 4 children and managing his ranch which is a full-time job in itself. Knowing that his children require a mother's touch, Declan is expecting a sturdy farm woman who can take charge of his family and instead finds himself married to the reigning belle of Sycamore Parish once upon a time.
Though Edwina dreads the thought of marriage to anyone and feels like fleeing from what she has gotten herself into, with Pru to help things along, Edwina finds herself drawn into the lives of her strong and silent husband and his children who tug at her heartstrings right from the very start. For a woman who has had a disappointing experience with intimacy, Edwina finds herself fascinated with how her body yearns for things it cannot voice, a desire that seems to be reciprocated by the man with whom she is bound to share her life till death does them apart.
For Declan, Edwina is the direct opposite of the mother of his children, who betrayed him and their children in the worst way possible, his heart and emotions encased in a block of ice afterwards which had begun to thaw in Edwina's energetic presence. But peace and happiness in their lives seems to be elusive as an old enemy hunts them down with vengeance and death on his mind for all he has lost, a man that Declan knows wouldn't give up until only one of them is left standing. And when Declan's dead wife turns up unexpectedly, both Declan and Edwina must fight harder than ever to truly win the battle of their hearts once and for all which lends this story that emotional wrangling quality that I just love.
Kaki Warner tells a great story somewhat similar in style to that of Ellen O'Connell whose American-Western romances are to die for. Heartbreak Creek introduces us to the very intriguing four ladies whose stories sound equally enticing with Edwina's story laying the foundation of this delectable series. Declan is the strong and silent warrior type of hero beneath whose tough and stoic mask lies an endearing sense of humor which made me fall head over heels in love with him from the very beginning.
Edwina is the type of protective heroine who stands firm in what she believes in, who fights for those whom she loves and that makes for an appealing heroine all around. The sexual tension and awareness that slowly creeps into Declan and Edwina's life is sizzling hot and well-done and though there aren't much detailed love scenes included, it still manages to satisfy the cravings of the reader.
With heart pounding acts of violence thats the reality of life in the western frontier and tender scenes of love, Kaki Warner seems to have struck gold with this enticing series, book 2 of which I will definitely be stalking in the time to come.
Recommended highly for fans of the genre. This is one series you ought not miss.
Memorable Quotes
She drew in an exasperated breath, and suddenly her senses exploded with the essence of Declan, his heat, the smell of soap, horses ... him. Her body instantly reacted - her heartbeat quickening, her skin tingling, her thoughts scattering like some addlepated adolescent sneaking her first kiss under the pawpaw tree.
Rating=4.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
misspippireads's review against another edition
4.0
Opening novel of a new series, Runaway Brides, featuring four unlikely brides who make their way West.
Edwina Ladoux took the leap to be a mail-order bride so that she wouldn't become homeless in the war-torn South. She travels to Heartbreak Creek with her half-sister Prudence Lincoln hoping her new husband would be acceptable.
Declan Brodie needed a wife to care for his home and four rambunctious children. He hopes that this new wife will cook, clean and manage the mayhem so he can run his ranch.
Terrific western novel that intertwines the stories of each lady while firmly representing the main character - Edwina. Warner included a sneak peek at her next novel, Colorado Dawn. I am looking forward to hearing more about the ladies of Heartbreak Creek.
Time Period: Western, 1870's
Location: Colorado, USA
Edwina Ladoux took the leap to be a mail-order bride so that she wouldn't become homeless in the war-torn South. She travels to Heartbreak Creek with her half-sister Prudence Lincoln hoping her new husband would be acceptable.
Declan Brodie needed a wife to care for his home and four rambunctious children. He hopes that this new wife will cook, clean and manage the mayhem so he can run his ranch.
Terrific western novel that intertwines the stories of each lady while firmly representing the main character - Edwina. Warner included a sneak peek at her next novel, Colorado Dawn. I am looking forward to hearing more about the ladies of Heartbreak Creek.
Time Period: Western, 1870's
Location: Colorado, USA
tatdine's review against another edition
2.0
DNF.
This book started off on shaky ground when it turned out that Edwina was part of the confederate side and was sad about her land being taken away.
From there, things just kind of go off the rails. A dead wife is rediscovered. There is a lot of weird racism and the use of the “n” word.
I just gave up and cut my losses about 85% of the way to the end.
This book started off on shaky ground when it turned out that Edwina was part of the confederate side and was sad about her land being taken away.
From there, things just kind of go off the rails. A dead wife is rediscovered. There is a lot of weird racism and the use of the “n” word.
I just gave up and cut my losses about 85% of the way to the end.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
With a richly drawn cast of characters, a vibrant setting and an engaging storyline, Kaki Warner brings Heartbreak Creek vividly to life. Fans of historical romances are sure to fall in love with this beautifully written romance. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2011/12/26/heartbreak-creek/
55_sallymander's review against another edition
5.0
A really, really good book, except for the ending. I couldn't put it down. Stayed up all night and 1/2 of the next day reading it. Everything was great, except the ending seemed slightly abrupt.
taisie22's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
After the Civil War, southern belle Edwina Ladoux decided that being a mail-order bride was her only option after the family plantation was lost to back taxes. She and her half-sister Prudence head west, where she marries Declan Brodie, becoming a stepmother to his four children.
The pacing is rather fast, with all sorts of incidents and events piling on top of each other. It's a good story, but I thought it needed to slow down and spend some time with the characters to get to know them better. Jumping from one plot point to the next meant that relationships just happened: the hero and heroine fall into lust/love almost immediately after having initial doubts about the marriage; Edwina is accepted by the children so quickly, and they go from wild to tamed instantly. Slowing matters down and filling in the connections would have made this a better story, in my opinion.
The pacing is rather fast, with all sorts of incidents and events piling on top of each other. It's a good story, but I thought it needed to slow down and spend some time with the characters to get to know them better. Jumping from one plot point to the next meant that relationships just happened: the hero and heroine fall into lust/love almost immediately after having initial doubts about the marriage; Edwina is accepted by the children so quickly, and they go from wild to tamed instantly. Slowing matters down and filling in the connections would have made this a better story, in my opinion.
nicolesnook's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
hcoles's review against another edition
3.0
First book I've ever read by Kaki Warner and I have to say it was absolutely adorable!
Definitely going to read more by this author.
Definitely going to read more by this author.