- Mass Market Paperback: 342 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 15 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312972911
- ISBN-13: 978-0312972912
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.6 x 2.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 204 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Set against the backdrop of the Great Land Run of 1889, this captivating historical love story grapples with themes of feminine empowerment, family duty and personal morality. While working as a maid for the wealthy New York Talmidge family, Kate Chandler finds that her uncanny resemblance to the patriarch's barren wife casts her as the pawn in the Talmadges' scheme to have an heir. Edgar Talmidge rapes the young servant and holds her captive, but Kate, pregnant and penniless, escapes to Oklahoma to seek anonymity and a new life for herself and her child. But the heroine's dreams are thwarted by the rules of the Run: to stake a claim, one must be either 21 years old or married. Determined to survive, she agrees to care for three orphaned children who had been left to a widely feared hired gun, Cole Youngblood. In exchange, the gunslinger will secure a choice plot of land for Kate. What Cole doesn't know is that his new bride is the runaway maid he's under contract to destroy. His new, makeshift clan brings him unexpected contentment, and a showdown with the evil Talmidges proves he's a changed man, newly devoted to love and family. Porter (Captive Angel) sets up a potent irony by delivering her heroine into the keeping of her assigned killer. At times, the story stalls with too much character introspection, and a few plot points are bit too coincidental, yet the narrative zings along with high drama toward a heartwarming denouement. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Twenty-year-old Kate Chandler, upstairs maid for New York socially prominent and politically powerful Edgar Talmidge, is terrified and shocked at her predicament. Because she looks so much like the barren Mrs. Talmidge, she has been raped by Talmidge to carry his heir and is told that if she runs away, both she and her baby will be hunted down and killed. With some mysterious help, Kate manages to escape and flees to Oklahoma in April of 1889 to join in the Great Land Run. What she doesn't realize is that the Homestead Act limits participants to those 21 years old and over and heads of households. Along comes Cole Youngblood, a well-known bounty hunter, who says he will stake her claim if she will care for his sister's orphaned children. Cole is unaware that Kate is the woman that he has been hired to bring in. To protect her interest, Kate holds out for marriage. Cole knows Kate is running from something but agrees to marry her for the sake of the children. The characters are strongly drawn and move the story into a lasting romantic relationship, and the ending may surprise readers. The hardships and the determination of those seeking land of their own are vividly portrayed. Also, a glimpse into the lives of women on the frontier will give some meaning to the phrase "you've come a long way baby." Believable characters, lots of action, a vivid historical setting, and romance are the key elements of this good read.-Carol Clark, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Salvation. That's what it was, pure and simple. Salvation. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Salvation. That's what it was, pure and simple. Salvation. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Why do I bother with these books?,
By
This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)
I don't quite know why I do this to myself. Maybe it is just the long commute. I knew within a few pages that this book was going to be one of those that you roll your eyes at the characters and even more at the author. There was very little intelligence in this book. The author practices one of my pet peves, which is to repeat information so many times (and each time it is repeated it sounds like she forgot she already told us this information) that you want to gag on the words. The author's manner of making the characters rationalize to themselves for a few pages at a time several times gets old the first time around. I have always hated when an author makes her characters contradict themselves and do stupid things for the sake of having a daring rescue, etc. I did actually read the whole book, and if this is any indication of Cheryl Anne Porters talent, I definitely will not be reading any more of her work. A real thumbs down.
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT AND A KEEPER!,
By
This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)
I sincerely love picking up a bit of realistic history along with a delightful story.Kate's situation may be more probable that is to be expected given the times and the attitude of men. Although there were many honorable and god-fearing men, there were probably 2/3's of men who had the same morality of Edgar Talmidge. [and their acts did make them slightly insane.] Now Cole Youngblood was about the gentlest and most honorable gunslinger that I have heard of. It is always probable that these men have many unresolved issues that drive them to lead the life that they do. Some are driven to such a life and others seem to naturally fall into a hardend way of life. Not all make it out of it into a more gentler way. I followed Kate into falling in love with little Joey, Willy and that little rascal Lydia, but a yellow hound named Kitty?? [grin] I would like to see some pictures of the invasion [that is all I can call it] of Oklahoma but I have a sneaking suspicion that the men of that era were not very good looking [according to our images nowadays]. No matter if you find drawbacks in the mental dynamics of our characters, you will love the story and its conclusion.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great story, despite the lengthy jargon,
By A Customer
This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)
I enjoyed the central story development of Kate and Cole's life. The kids were adorable as well. The author could have cut out a 1/4 of the book, though, but pulling out all the extra jargon of each character looking 'inside themself'. It seemed 50% of the dialogue was a character thinking and talking to themself. The story about Cole and his father seemed out of place and realizations hit him at weird times, like when he was in the tent and Kate was kidnapped. Is that a time to really take out your anger on your dad leaving you 20-some yrs ago? If you skim these dialogues, which I started doing, you will find the story interesting and leave you wanting to know more about this new family unit.
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