Friday, May 17, 2013

Dearest Irish / Lyn Horner


Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Western Romance/Historical Romance/Supernatural

Approximate word count: 90-95,000 words

Availability    
Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Lyn Horner resides in Texas with her husband and several beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Horner worked as a fashion illustrator and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools (famous for their "Draw Me" heads.) After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing as a creative outlet. This hobby grew into a love of historical research and the crafting of passionate romances based upon that research.  She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Yellow Rose Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. Ms. Horner was also nominated for Books and Pals first ever Readers’ Choice Award for her novel Dashing Irish. To learn more about Lyn Horner visit her website, blog, or facebook page.

Description:

Dearest Irish (Texas Devlins, Rose’s Story) is the third book in a western romance trilogy set in the 1870s. This unique series features three siblings who descend from a hidden line of Irish Celtic Druids. Each possesses a rare psychic talent they hide for fear of persecution. Dearest Irish stars Rose Devlin, youngest of the three. Rose has an extraordinary ability to heal with her mind, a secret gift that has caused her great pain in the past. She also harbors another secret, one she can’t share even with her brother and sister, one that threatens her chances of ever finding love.”

Choctaw Jack, a half-breed cowboy introduced in Dashing Irish (Texas Devlins, Tye’s story), straddles two worlds, dividing his loyalties between his mother’s people and the family of a friend who died in the Civil War. Like Rose, he keeps shocking secrets. If they ever come to light, he stands to lose his job, possibly his life. Yet, he must risk everything to save someone he loves, even if it means kidnapping Rose.”

Appraisal:

Rose has lived a sheltered life having spent the last seven years in self imposed exile in a convent in Chicago. She is naïve and trying to find her place in the world while keeping her healing touch a secret. Choctaw Jack witnesses Rose healing a mean spirited stallion’s leg injury under the cover of darkness. To save this unbreakable horse she must learn to ride him or watch him be destroyed. Her sensibilities won’t allow that to happen. Tye employs Jack to teach her how to ride a horse. The plot takes a mean twist when Jack receives word that his mother is dying back on the reservation.  After having witnessed Rose heal the stallion he kidnaps Rose to take her to heal his mother. It is a long hard journey, physically and emotionally as neither is willing to share their past.

This story is engaging as two battered and wounded souls find each other and begin to heal one another. I sympathized with Choctaw Jack trying to live in both the Indian world and the white man’s world, but he has managed it well. Jack is a complicated man with a sordid past that he is not sure he deserves forgiveness for. He recognizes Rose’s wounded spirit and does his best to contain his desire while he tries to figure her out. Each feel they are not worthy enough to ever be loved.

Lyn Horner has done an outstanding job exposing what life was like in this time period between Native Americans, the Calvary, and other settlers in the Oklahoma and Texas areas whether on the trail, the reservation, or a homestead. This story has it all. The fact that she has brought Irish immigrants, with a Druid history into the melting pot just makes it that much more interesting. The plot is realistic and the characters were wonderfully portrayed.  This is an entertaining and educational story that took me on a wonderful journey into the past.

FYI:

This book contains adult situations that may be offensive to some.

Format/Typo Issues:

No Significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

18 comments:

Lyn Horner said...

Wow, what a wonderful review! Thank you, ?wasithinkin. I'm so glad you enjoyed Dearest Irish. It's obvious you "got" not only the characters' inner turmoil, but also the picture I tried to paint of conditions on the reservation.

Much obliged! Lyn

M T McGuire said...

Too right, it's a cracker. I love this site and I love the way the reviews are laid out. I just wish I could persuade them to read my books.

Fine review, will tweet!

cheers

MTM

Anonymous said...

A well deserved review. Kudos, Lyn. It is a great book.

Lyn Horner said...

Thanks, MTM,I appreciate that. I got so excited over the 5-stars that I posted the worng link on several sites. Sheesh! Just finished correcting my dopey mistake.

I wish you all the best! Lyn

Sandy said...

Wonderful review, Lyn! Off to share!

Rain Trueax said...

Good very thoughtful review. Congratulations to you and the site

Lyn Horner said...

Thank you, Charlene! I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

Lyn Horner said...

Sandy, I'm still happily dancing -- in my chair. My thanks to you for sharing.

Lyn Horner said...

Rain, you're right, it is a very thoughtful review. I hope readers will take it to heart and ride along with Rose and Jack on their journey of discovery and healing.

Carra Copelin said...

Lyn, if the readers don't choose to ride along with Rose and Jack, they'll miss a grand adventure and romance. Love this book. Great review and Kudos to you!

Lyn Horner said...

Thanks, Carra, for your kind words. You're the best!

Ella Quinn - Romance Novelist said...

Great review!! I tweeted.

BooksAndPals said...

Thanks for all the comments everyone. ?wazi is off having fun away from home and the internet this weekend, but I'm sure she'll be thrilled with all the attention her review has received when she gets back.

Ciara Gold said...

Excellent review, Lyn and well deserved.

Lyn Horner said...

Hi Ella, thank you so much! Tweets are good. :D

Lyn Horner said...

Thanks, Ciara. From your lips to the ears of all our wonderful western romance readers!

Lyn Horner said...

Al, my thanks to you for agreeing to have Miz ?wazi review my book. I'd love to thank her personally.

?wazithinkin said...

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments, M T McGuire, Charlene, Sandy, Rain, Carra, Ella, Ciara, and especially Ms. Horner. You made me blush :) Miz ?wazi , LOL, I think I like that.

Thank you, BigAl for stepping in for me while I was unavailable.