Book Review: Texas Bride by Leigh Greenwood

Reading a historical romance in the middle of Christmas rush was hard in terms of finding time and place to sit down and truly enjoy it. Yet, Texas Bride (Night Riders) kept me interested to the point that I was reading it on my phone while in line to pay for my Christmas purchases.

Set right after the Civil War during the Reconstruction, Texas as part of the Confederacy was devastated as the other Southern states. And because of its size, there are many areas like Pinto Junction where help from the federal government was slow in coming.

This was the situation when the handsome and devilishly charming Owen Wheeler met Hetta Gwynne, a rancher’s daughter who had fallen to hard times. Seeing herself as plain, Hetta could not understand why Owen kept on flirting with her. As it was, Hetta also found herself enjoying the flirtation though she was for all intent and purposes betrothed to another man.

Though “Texas Bride (Night Riders)” was not a full blown romantic thriller, there was a certain whodunit element when the reason why Owen was at Pinto Junction was revealed. And, quite frankly, it is author Leigh Greenwood’s insertion of this mystery element that held the story together. It gave Owen and Hetta very interesting conversations, thus they became fleshed out as characters. Those in the supporting roles also became three-dimensional as they become more embroiled in the mystery.

Still, Greenwood never allowed the readers to forget that this is a romance novel first and foremost. Owen and Hetta remained the focal point. And it is how they arrived at their happily ever after that “Texas Bride (Night Riders)” excelled.

“Texas Bride (Night Riders)” is Rated T for Teens. There are no sex scenes in this book though there is some violence.

Photos in collage are from Pixabay