UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish's Reviews > Texas Destiny
Texas Destiny (Texas Trilogy, #1)
by
Finally on Kindle!!!
I know people, including myself, who paid a small fortune on eBay for used copies of these books, but I just discovered they're FINALLY available on kindle! These 3 books are seriously 3 of my favorite historical romances, and worth every penny! And yes, I'll be buying them again!
Texas Destiny http://amzn.to/1HA0eD0
Texas Glory http://amzn.to/1Lmm1if
Texas Splendor http://amzn.to/1FExUQA
My review...
Texas Destiny is the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Texas Trilogy, and my first read by this author. From the reviews and recommendations by friends, I was expecting a really good book, but ended up totally blown away by how much I loved this story. Great hero, great heroine, believable storyline, humor, passion… this book has everything I need for a 5 star read.
Dallas Leigh knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to realize his dreams. Already a successful rancher and land owner, the only thing he was lacking was a son to leave his legacy to, so when Dallas saw an ad for a woman looking to become a mail order bride, he began correspondence. After having exchanged letters for a year, Dallas decides that he wants Amelia to be the woman to share his dreams and give him the son he longs for. But just when it was time for him to make the three week journey into Fort Worth to meet his new bride, he fell from a horse he was trying to break and ended up being the one who got broken – his leg, that is. Clearly unable to make the trip to meet the woman who had traveled halfway across the country to marry him, Dallas’ has no other choice than to send his brother, Houston, to meet Amelia at the train station and wait patiently for their return.
I love a story with a tortured hero, and Houston Leigh is certainly that. He has terrible scars on his face and body, a result of a near fatal injury during Civil War where at 14 years old, he served as his father’s drummer. He spent so much of his life hiding in the shadows and wishing he had died on the battlefield rather than living the life he’s had to endure. His torment doesn’t just come from his own scars, but from the pain of believing that his father died on that same battlefield because of Houston’s cowardice. He’s certain his brothers, Dallas and Austin, also blame him for their father’s death, and given that no woman can stand to look at him with his disfigured face, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude.
Amelia Carson is a strong, resourceful woman with a take charge attitude, so traveling across country to start a new life with a man she’s never met is more exciting than frightening. Besides, her life has been anything but easy, and she’s got more than her own share of childhood trauma to deal with and making this trip is nothing compared to the things she’d endured. She was looking forward to meeting her fiancé and spending the time it took to travel back to his ranch getting to know him, but much to her surprise, the man who met her at the station wasn’t Dallas.
The three weeks it takes to get to the ranch made for some great reading. There was laughter, tears, danger and passion, and I enjoyed it all so much I didn’t want the journey to end, but of course it had to. Once they made it to Dallas’ ranch, the story could have become over the top dark and depressing, but it never did. I was sure there would be angst, and there was. Truth be told, it was an emotional roller coaster ride, but it never became so unbearable that I felt like I needed to put the book down to take a breather. In fact, the book was so good I couldn’t put it down at all!
I’m thrilled to have found this trilogy and owe a huge debt of gratitude to my Goodreads friends who mentioned this book again and again. Houston Leigh now holds a spot on my Top Hero shelf, and it’s not easy to earn that place of honor.
by
![1113032](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p2/1113032.jpg)
UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish's review
bookshelves: author-lorraine-heath, historical-romance-american-west, historical-romance-series, scarred-disabled-blind, own-have-read, 5-stars-or-higher, 2011-reads, format-paperback, love-letters, military-former, military-injured, must-reread, series-texas-trilogy, mind-candy, reviewed-by-me, favorites, keepers, top-heroes, top-10-heroes, first-in-series-trilogy-duet
Feb 10, 2010
bookshelves: author-lorraine-heath, historical-romance-american-west, historical-romance-series, scarred-disabled-blind, own-have-read, 5-stars-or-higher, 2011-reads, format-paperback, love-letters, military-former, military-injured, must-reread, series-texas-trilogy, mind-candy, reviewed-by-me, favorites, keepers, top-heroes, top-10-heroes, first-in-series-trilogy-duet
Finally on Kindle!!!
I know people, including myself, who paid a small fortune on eBay for used copies of these books, but I just discovered they're FINALLY available on kindle! These 3 books are seriously 3 of my favorite historical romances, and worth every penny! And yes, I'll be buying them again!
Texas Destiny http://amzn.to/1HA0eD0
Texas Glory http://amzn.to/1Lmm1if
Texas Splendor http://amzn.to/1FExUQA
My review...
Texas Destiny is the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Texas Trilogy, and my first read by this author. From the reviews and recommendations by friends, I was expecting a really good book, but ended up totally blown away by how much I loved this story. Great hero, great heroine, believable storyline, humor, passion… this book has everything I need for a 5 star read.
Dallas Leigh knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to realize his dreams. Already a successful rancher and land owner, the only thing he was lacking was a son to leave his legacy to, so when Dallas saw an ad for a woman looking to become a mail order bride, he began correspondence. After having exchanged letters for a year, Dallas decides that he wants Amelia to be the woman to share his dreams and give him the son he longs for. But just when it was time for him to make the three week journey into Fort Worth to meet his new bride, he fell from a horse he was trying to break and ended up being the one who got broken – his leg, that is. Clearly unable to make the trip to meet the woman who had traveled halfway across the country to marry him, Dallas’ has no other choice than to send his brother, Houston, to meet Amelia at the train station and wait patiently for their return.
I love a story with a tortured hero, and Houston Leigh is certainly that. He has terrible scars on his face and body, a result of a near fatal injury during Civil War where at 14 years old, he served as his father’s drummer. He spent so much of his life hiding in the shadows and wishing he had died on the battlefield rather than living the life he’s had to endure. His torment doesn’t just come from his own scars, but from the pain of believing that his father died on that same battlefield because of Houston’s cowardice. He’s certain his brothers, Dallas and Austin, also blame him for their father’s death, and given that no woman can stand to look at him with his disfigured face, he’s resigned himself to a life of solitude.
Amelia Carson is a strong, resourceful woman with a take charge attitude, so traveling across country to start a new life with a man she’s never met is more exciting than frightening. Besides, her life has been anything but easy, and she’s got more than her own share of childhood trauma to deal with and making this trip is nothing compared to the things she’d endured. She was looking forward to meeting her fiancé and spending the time it took to travel back to his ranch getting to know him, but much to her surprise, the man who met her at the station wasn’t Dallas.
The three weeks it takes to get to the ranch made for some great reading. There was laughter, tears, danger and passion, and I enjoyed it all so much I didn’t want the journey to end, but of course it had to. Once they made it to Dallas’ ranch, the story could have become over the top dark and depressing, but it never did. I was sure there would be angst, and there was. Truth be told, it was an emotional roller coaster ride, but it never became so unbearable that I felt like I needed to put the book down to take a breather. In fact, the book was so good I couldn’t put it down at all!
I’m thrilled to have found this trilogy and owe a huge debt of gratitude to my Goodreads friends who mentioned this book again and again. Houston Leigh now holds a spot on my Top Hero shelf, and it’s not easy to earn that place of honor.
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Reading Progress
February 10, 2010
– Shelved
February 10, 2010
– Shelved as:
author-lorraine-heath
February 10, 2010
– Shelved as:
historical-romance-american-west
February 10, 2010
– Shelved as:
historical-romance-series
June 9, 2010
–
Started Reading
June 9, 2010
– Shelved as:
scarred-disabled-blind
June 9, 2010
–
0.26%
"After so many wonderful comments about this series, I'm finally going to start it!"
page
1
March 14, 2011
–
13.02%
"Imagine, raccoons running off with people's hats! What's the world coming to! LOL"
page
50
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
5-stars-or-higher
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
2011-reads
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
format-paperback
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
love-letters
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
military-former
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
military-injured
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
must-reread
March 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
series-texas-trilogy
March 15, 2011
–
Finished Reading
April 22, 2011
– Shelved as:
mind-candy
May 2, 2011
– Shelved as:
reviewed-by-me
May 2, 2011
– Shelved as:
favorites
May 2, 2011
– Shelved as:
keepers
May 2, 2011
– Shelved as:
top-heroes
May 2, 2011
– Shelved as:
top-10-heroes
November 22, 2015
– Shelved as:
first-in-series-trilogy-duet
March 20, 2016
– Shelved as:
own-have-read
Comments Showing 1-50 of 68 (68 new)
message 1:
by
Linds
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Feb 10, 2010 03:13PM
![Linds](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1642557814p1/2039534.jpg)
reply
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![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
![Karen](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1244775600p1/2050019.jpg)
The Texas Trilogy is a standalone series, but if reading in order is important to you and you want to read some of her other novels, I would suggest starting with her Rogues in Texas series followed by the Daughters of Fortune and then Lost Lords. The Scoundrels of St. James series is also standalone.
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
![Sans](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1630042035p1/1451884.jpg)
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
All 3 were amazing!
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
Clearly we have incredible taste in heroes!!!!
![Lisa Kay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1534570690p1/2459470.jpg)
![Sans](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1630042035p1/1451884.jpg)
That's because we're awesome. ^o^
Lisa, you temptress! I'm going to have to wait 7 more hours to check out that link!
![Juliana Philippa](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1681493243p1/1378820.jpg)
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
![MountainKat](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1384910204p1/3916434.jpg)
I was thinking that was a little too perfect myself! ; )
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
I'm so in love with Houston! Scars and all!
![Sans](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1630042035p1/1451884.jpg)
Not helping my patience (or lack thereof), Dhestiny. ^o^
![Lisa Kay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1534570690p1/2459470.jpg)
Maybe rubbing in some of my soothing salve will help. :-) **hee hee**
For Sans (Okay for work): (view spoiler) ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
![Ruth](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1271441412p1/3458028.jpg)
I love all the Lorraine Heath books I've read. They are just so consistently good, I know I'm not going to regret buying them.
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
![Mimi Smith](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1297016674p1/4884889.jpg)
Am I the only one who likes her Historical Western books much more than The Regency London ones?
![Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1381602286p1/1849875.jpg)
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
Ruth, what would be a good book to read in her Regency lineup?
![Ruth](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1271441412p1/3458028.jpg)
I have read all the Soundrels of St.James series, and really enjoyed them all. I read them in series, which probably made it easier to follow what was happening, since they're probably semi-standalone books really.
The series is In Bed With the Devil, Between the Devil and Desire, Surrender to the Devil and Midnight Pleasures With a Scoundrel.
![MountainKat](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1384910204p1/3916434.jpg)
I'm not sure whether to thank her or curse her...
Thank you for helping me find more good books! Curses from my wallet! And from anybody who actually expects me to get anything other than reading done! 8/
![Ruth](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1271441412p1/3458028.jpg)
LOL!! I know. It sucks how life has a habit of getting in the way of my reading..
![Sans](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1630042035p1/1451884.jpg)
Dhestiny, I have high hopes that one day, all books will be free. What river in Egypt?
![UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1398981306p1/1113032.jpg)
I'm a late comer to Historical Westerns, my self. I LOVED this trilogy, and Jodi Thomas's
![The Texan's Wager (Wife Lottery, #1) by Jodi Thomas](https://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1220295962s/242344.jpg)
![For the Roses (Rose, #1) by Julie Garwood](https://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1246240992s/133240.jpg)
![Lisa Kay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1534570690p1/2459470.jpg)
Glad you finally got to see it, Sans! Hope the moisture didn't ruin you keyboard.
![Ruth](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1271441412p1/3458028.jpg)
Ah! Now that's a fine end (get it...) to a Monday! If only they all finished in such a delectable, delicious, lickable way...
A-hem! Lovely photo, Lisa, lovely photo. Nice hat too.
![Lisa Kay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1534570690p1/2459470.jpg)
![Texas trilogy](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1379754156i/153349.jpg)
![Lisa Kay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1534570690p1/2459470.jpg)
A-hem! Lovely photo..."
Glad you liked it, Ruth!