Tracy’s review of Heartbreak Creek (Runaway Brides #1) by Kaki Warner
Edwina Ladoux hoped becoming a mail-order bride would be her way out of the war- torn South and into a better life, but as soon as she arrives in Heartbreak Creek, Colorado, and meets her hulking, taciturn groom, she realizes she’s made a terrible mistake.
Declan Brodie already had one flighty wife who ran off with a gambler before being killed by Indians. He’s hoping this new one will be a practical, sturdy farm woman who can help with chores and corral his four rambunctious children. Instead, he gets a skinny Southern princess who doesn’t even know how to cook.
Luckily, Edwina and Declan agreed on a three-month courtship period, which should give them time to get the proxy marriage annulled. Except that as the weeks pass, thoughts of annulment turn into hopes for a real marriage-until Declan’s first wife returns after being held captive for the last four years. Now an honorable man must choose between duty and desire, and a woman who’s never had to fight for anything must do battle for the family she’s grown to love…
Edwina’s life in Louisiana has come to an end. The war and her father’s death has forced her to sign her childhood home over to the bank and she has answered an ad. She is now officially a mail-order bride. Her half-sister, Prudence, is shocked but goes along with Edwina to Colorado. Along the way the sisters meet two other women, Lucinda and Maddie who end up in Heartbreak Creek as well.
Edwina starts having doubts about the marriage but doesn’t have a choice but to head off with the man to meet his four children. They don’t get along at all at first with him thinking she’s just a prissy southern miss and her thinking he’s a big bump on a log with not a brain in his head…but soon they realize there’s more to each than meets the eye.
It’s a struggle to keep house and children going with Edwina’s rules but she is helped considerably by her sister. There are problems though. The kids don’t like her, she can’t seem to get along with her husband, Declan, there’s a renegade Indian warrior after Declan and all he holds dear and that’s all a worry before Edwina has to find out that she’s not really married to Declan!
There are struggles and problems aplenty but Edwina makes the best of it and soon becomes a good mother and loving wife. What will happen with Ed and Declan’s future when someone unexpected shows up?
This is my first read by Warner and I don’t think it will be my last. I was sucked in by her writing, her characterizations and wonderful descriptions of the countryside (although not enough to be thought overly descriptive). I really liked the family and town aspect that the book portrayed and realistic view of life in the old west. It wasn’t easy and the book shows us that fact in many different ways.
Warner doesn’t write sex scenes I’ve found. She gives us enough to make it somewhat sexual and definitely sensual and that seemed to be enough for the story (although if she chose to write a smoking hot sex scene I’m sure it would rock).
Overall a very good book that I enjoyed reading. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place
This book is available from Berkley Trade. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I read her 1st book, which won the Rita this year (for 1st book, I think? Or for historical?) and got hooked. I really liked this new series, too 🙂
Phyllis – I’ve heard great things about that first series – I’ll definitely have to look into it. 🙂