Doubtfully the last bride in Texas...
Written: Oct 17 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It took a few hours out of my lonely day.
Cons: It wasted a few hours of my entire life.
The Bottom Line: I was surprised to get this low quality book from the Harlequin brand-name...
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| julie42's Full Review: The Last Bride in Texas (Harlequin Historical Seri... |
In case you're wondering what's with the Harlequin reviews, I've recently left a long-term relationship, and have been at home reading a lot.
The Last Bride in Texas is a novel by Judith Stacy. It's a western type novel, set in a small town. It opens with a man eating a piece of pie in a cafe, who keeps trying to get the waitresses attention to refill his coffee cup. This was never accomplished, because the town-folk are busy peering out the window at a bank robbery, and shoot out. Connor, the man with the empty coffee cup, finally gets up in frustration, walks outside, takes out his gun, and perfectly shoots all three bank robbers. One of the bank robbers was holding a woman against him, by the neck, as cover. There is the first hole, in my opinion. Connor just walks outside, and shoots them. Then the woman comes up to him, and punches him in the gut, because blood spattered on her shawl.
By page ten, I was already puzzled. In a previous Harlequin review, I noted that it read like an 18-year-old fantasy. Now I think I'm more likely to believe Harlequin is a company that employs new writers. It seems like an incomplete dream. The man wants his coffee cup filled, shoots bankrobbers to get his way, and the woman he rescues punches him in the stomach.
But, nevertheless, the story must go on. Elizabeth, the woman with the ruined shawl, tries to avoid Connor at all costs. The story cryptically has Connor's thoughts, for instance, stating he came to the town specifically to find her, and he came because he had to get something from her.
More into the plot, Elizabeth wants to run a bed and breakfast. He father, the town doctor, passed away a few months before, and her brother is in jail for either a bank robbery, or embezzlement. (I don't think the author could decide.) Connor offers to help convert the home into more plausible living situations for more people. Again, with the cryptic plot line, Connor feels his plan is progressing smoothly.
To make a 296-page-long-novel short, the brother comes home from prison, on an early parole, and sees Connor. Apparently they were cell-mates in jail. The brother accuses Connor of coming to find the money he had hidden (from the bank robbery and/or embezzlement) and trying to seduce his sister. (which Connor had already.) It turns out that Connor apparently came to Elizabeth because he didn't know how to read and write, and wanted her to teach him. The author actually expects us to believe this. And that's pretty much the end.
More things the author couldn't decide, but it really doesn't matter anyway:
Does Elizabeth own a farm, or a town-house? Connor works on the horse stables, but it also mentions that they can see the store, and the church. Another mention is that the church is right nearby, but later on the author writes that it was a long walk home.
Now I have a question for you!
After reading this article, what year would you assume all of this took place? It never mentions in the book. At some points, it seems as though it is a recent event, and then at some points, it seems as though it's in the early 1800s! For instance, there don't appear to be lights, only oil-lamps. The cooking conditions at the church appear to be a stove. And, of course, Elizabeth can quickly whip up biscuits, but the author says she cooks them over the fire.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. The only reason I read it was because I've been sitting here, trying to get over this relationship with my ex-fiance, and it was better than watching a soap-opera. If you don't mind books with huge, gaping holes, then go buy it! If you buy it, you obviously don't mind wasting money, so send me some. (smile.)
Thanks for reading my opinion, I appreciate all comments!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
julie42
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Member: Julie White
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Reviews written: 92
Trusted by: 94 members
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