Rogue in Texas (Rogues in Texas Book 1)

A Rogue in Texas is the first book in Lorraine Heath’s Rogues in Texas series. This book was published in 1999 and I love the premise of this series. Three Englishmen’s fathers paid to have their “wayward sons” sent to Texas to make their own way. In classic LH fashion…we have angst, passion, trauma, and twists. And since this is set in Texas, we also have sunburns, Texan “dueling”, and a hurricane to mix it up!This read definitely starts slower, it was that quiet western historical romance vibe being set in Texas in 1865. It felt similar to LH’s Texas series (the first book being Texas Destiny), which I also adored. Grayson Rhodes is the illegitimate eldest son of the Duke of Harrington, his mother was the Duke’s mistress and an actress who died during childbirth. Taken in by the Duke and acknowledged as his by-blow, Grayson was raised and went to school with that “bastard” moniker always hanging over his head. While his father saw to his raising, Grayson never got out of that relationship what he actually craved…being shown love. Grayson arrives in Texas with 2 of his friends, Christian and Harrison (the heroes of the next books), whose fathers paid to have them shipped away as well. He meets Abigail “Abbie” Westland, a 25-year-old widow busy with her 3 children and her farm. Abbie is appalled at the 3 Englishmen who arrive and their “soft as satin” hands, but she desperately needs workers after losing so many men in the war and can’t turn them away. Each woman agrees to room & board one of the men and Abbie gets Grayson. Abbie and Grayson work alongside one another in the fields and are continually pulled towards one another at home.I loved meeting Christian and Harrison and am already looking forward to their books next. There was something so charming about seeing these 3 Englishmen outside of the ton and away from ballrooms being flirty gentlemen having to deal with the sweltering Texas heat and hard, physical labor. Grayson immediately steps in to help and spend time with her children which was so sweet: from fishing, swimming, teaching her boys to “shave”, reading them Ivanhoe, and putting on a knights tournament. Grayson has always struggled with being his father’s by-blow and I loved how hopeful he was about Texas being a change of scenery and new opportunity for him that weren’t rained by the prejudices of his birth. Abbie had her own insecurities, while married at 16, she never experienced love or appreciation with her husband and has only known hard work and seriousness. She doesn’t even know what to do with this charming, flirty gentleman who wants her to relax and have fun and pay her compliments and affection. With Grayson, Abbie learns passion and pleasure and I just loved their chemistry. I can’t wait to continue the series and am already intrigued with the cattle drive to come.

Lorraine Heath - Rogues In Texas Series' Books are:Rogue in Texas (Grayson's Story)Never Love a Cowboy (Harry's Story)Never Marry a Cowboy (Kit's Story)Background for Rogue in Texas:Grayson and his friends, Harry and Kit, are among several Englishmen (rogues, if you will) who agreed to travel to America in the hopes of making their fortunes. Actually, the book indicates they were sent there by their fathers due to the fact they weren't making anything of their lives in England. I suppose they could have refused but they didn't so now they are in the Texas cotton fields expected to help a group of mostly women bring in the cotton harvest. The reason it is mostly women is because so many men have died in the Civil War.The cotton fields actually belong to John and Abbie Westland. Unfortunately, John was lost to the war and now Abbie, the young mother of three children, finds herself in charge of making sure the cotton fields thrive and that they make the most of the cotton harvest. Abbie was married to John at age 16 because her parents had 11 children and they needed to get some kids out of the house. John was quite a few years older than Abbie and he mostly cared about the land and either didn't care enough or didn't know how to show Abbie any love.Grayson is the bastard son of a Duke and has never known what it feels like to be loved or wanted. His father did allow him to live in the ducal home and made sure Grayson had a good education but all of his life, he has been treated like he is "less than" other people. Although he was the eldest son of the duke, his younger half-brother will inherit the dukedom because he is the legitimate son. When the women "draw names" for their Englishmen, Abbie draws Grayson's name and makes him a place to stay in her stable. Abbie doesn't know what to make of a man who dresses in fancy clothes like Grayson and whose hands are as soft as silk. She certainly doesn't believe he will stay around and work through the cotton harvest.So, now you see the background for this lovely romance. I enjoyed the build-up of the relationship between Grayson and Abbie and especially the fact that although Grayson had never known or been shown love, he was a very loving man and treated Abbie's children like they were gold. He has never known anyone who works like Abbie and finds himself fascinated by her in every way. It takes him a little while to realize that in America, most people could care less that he is a bastard. Grayson and Abbie's romance has a major hurdle but I like the fact the book isn't taken up with major misunderstandings. Rather, the pages are filled with building a relationship between the two instead of misunderstanding after misunderstanding - I hate that type of storyline.There are so many fun things in this book including Grayson's sunburn (hotter in Texas than in England, apparently) and his blistered hands (from hoeing and picking cotton) and the fact he could hardly move after working in the fields. Also, he wanted Abbie and her children to have fun so was always trying to plan fun things to do with the family.*Slight Spoiler* The funniest part is when Grayson challenges someone to a duel and belatedly finds out that in America, the "fast draw" duel from a gun holster hanging at your side is the kind of duel he will have to try and survive.I have already downloaded Book #2 in this series and am pleased that Lorraine Heath writes "cowboy" books as well as she writes regency romances.

Great book