In the spring of 1876, Houston Legend was moments away from marrying his childhood sweetheart, Becky Golden, when his life fell apart because of one bullet: Becky was shot and killed as the wedding ceremony started. But what finally undid Houston were the secrets she had kept from him. A year later, Houston's father Stoker confides in his son that the Lone Star Ranch, the Legends' homestead and livelihood, is in financial trouble. To make a long story short, Houston will have to marry Till Boone's daughter Lara and agree to raise her seven-month old daughter Gracie as his own. Houston reluctantly accepts, but when he learns of Lara's circumstances, he vows he will make things right for her. The only thing Houston asks for is that his wife be kind.

THE HEART OF A TEXAS COWBOY is so fantastic and such an emotional read, that before the end of Chapter four, I had tears in my eyes. Linda Broday sure knows how to spin a tale! Her exceptionally vivid descriptions of nineteenth century Texas brought a whole world to life, and I felt as if I had experienced that cattle drive to Dodge City, but thankfully I did not, because unlike our heroes, I don't know if I would have had that kind of fortitude. My goodness, I never fully realized what a hard life our forefathers lived and how brave the women had to be! Houston and Lara had both been betrayed in the harshest way, and how I empathized with poor Lara; she is so resilient, so determined to be a good wife to a man she doesn't even know. Houston is my kind of hero: protective, but kind and understanding, and that sort of man is a rare occurrence, even in fiction.

The characters are vibrantly portrayed, they have incredible depth, and felt real to me; I couldn't wait to see Lara and Houston happy, that justice be done, and see that infernal cattle drive succeed, and that everybody came out of it alive. My heart broke at seeing Houston and Lara walk on eggshells around each other at the beginning, feeling sorry for a marriage neither had asked for, hoping against all hope that they might be able to grow to love each other, and when that sublime moment happens, I think I felt as much joy as Lara and Houston did. The ending elicited cries of "Yes, yes, yes!" on my part; I was ecstatic! THE HEART OF A TEXAS COWBOY is absolutely amazing! What grand storytelling!