Aemelia E. (zelda75) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
I found myself extremely irritated with both Matthew and Eden throughout this book. While I love a good western, especially where the hero/heroine are forced to be on the run, I just felt like this kept dragging, it took them FOREVER before they even attempted to find a town, and let her family know that she was all right.
Matthew took his dear sweet time getting on the trail to catch the gang he'd been âhotâ on the trail of for 3 years. He knew he was close to catching them, yet he stopped not just to bury a guy they'd murdered, but to also CARVE him a grave marker, a rather long-winded one at that! I understand burying the guy, but what's wrong with just leaving a cross or some such marker (it wasn't like he knew the name of the deceased). Then even when he KNEW the Sebastian's had kidnapped a woman, he still moseyed into a near by town. I really wasn't felling that he wanted to catch these guys too bad, not with all the avoidance techniques he exhibited.
Eden's actions boarded along the TSTL (to stupid to live) especially when she provoked her captors. I was also annoyed with the constant mention of all her wonderful attributes, especially since none of them did her any good for the most part. She was given a sharp slap of reality from her cruel kidnappers, but she quickly fell back into her old ways when she escaped.
Some may find this an enjoyable read, but unfortunately for me it just didn't work
Matthew took his dear sweet time getting on the trail to catch the gang he'd been âhotâ on the trail of for 3 years. He knew he was close to catching them, yet he stopped not just to bury a guy they'd murdered, but to also CARVE him a grave marker, a rather long-winded one at that! I understand burying the guy, but what's wrong with just leaving a cross or some such marker (it wasn't like he knew the name of the deceased). Then even when he KNEW the Sebastian's had kidnapped a woman, he still moseyed into a near by town. I really wasn't felling that he wanted to catch these guys too bad, not with all the avoidance techniques he exhibited.
Eden's actions boarded along the TSTL (to stupid to live) especially when she provoked her captors. I was also annoyed with the constant mention of all her wonderful attributes, especially since none of them did her any good for the most part. She was given a sharp slap of reality from her cruel kidnappers, but she quickly fell back into her old ways when she escaped.
Some may find this an enjoyable read, but unfortunately for me it just didn't work
Debbie B. (orchid7) -
Helpful Score: 4
...'Well, butter my a** and call me a biscuit!'... 'You get kind of dirty when trying to run polecats to ground.'...
These kinds of phrases are a representation of the type of dialogue that runs throughout this book. My family had quite a laugh one evening from a few of these...
The book started out with a bit of promise, but after the first 50 pages or so, I began to get frustrated with both of the main characters. I wondered why the hero sneaks into the drunk and sleeping villains' camp to rescue the heroine, and then when he sneaks back in to scatter their horses he shoots 3 shots INTO THE AIR to spook the horses instead of doing away with 3 of the 5 sleeping villains! They then proceed to "wander in circles" across the countryside for endless weeks to avoid getting caught... and they don't even "hook up" until the last 50 pages or so of the book. There is very little romance in this book, and I disagree with another reviewer... it is definitely not a tear-jerker, IMO. I think the book is too long, and it's very repetitive in the middle. It could easily have been 100 pages shorter.
I also found it very creepy that the heroine repeatedly insists on naming their baby after the hero's dead wife... so that they can "remember her"... eewww!
These kinds of phrases are a representation of the type of dialogue that runs throughout this book. My family had quite a laugh one evening from a few of these...
The book started out with a bit of promise, but after the first 50 pages or so, I began to get frustrated with both of the main characters. I wondered why the hero sneaks into the drunk and sleeping villains' camp to rescue the heroine, and then when he sneaks back in to scatter their horses he shoots 3 shots INTO THE AIR to spook the horses instead of doing away with 3 of the 5 sleeping villains! They then proceed to "wander in circles" across the countryside for endless weeks to avoid getting caught... and they don't even "hook up" until the last 50 pages or so of the book. There is very little romance in this book, and I disagree with another reviewer... it is definitely not a tear-jerker, IMO. I think the book is too long, and it's very repetitive in the middle. It could easily have been 100 pages shorter.
I also found it very creepy that the heroine repeatedly insists on naming their baby after the hero's dead wife... so that they can "remember her"... eewww!
K. R. P. S. (THEkrps) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on
Helpful Score: 2
I have to agree some with an earlier review I just read (after having already read the book myself), that overall the book was just too long and seemed to drag. Also, the characters/actions were not believable to me. I am an avid Catherine Anderson fan, having read her books now from the beginning, but, I'm sorry to say I did not feel this particular one was up to her usual standards.
Becky B. reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 19 more book reviews
I really liked this book. I have loved most of Catherine Anderson's books. :)
Jill D. (jilld) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 156 more book reviews
Grade: B
Early Dawn is book 10 in Catherine Anderson's Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan series. This is my first in the series. I have only read Annie's Song by Anderson and I loved it. My friend had this book in her TBR pile and loaned it to me. It caught my eye because of the back cover. On it said that Eden Paxton was kidnapped and Matthew Coulter whose own wife was murdered at the hands of this terrible gang and he couldn't resist saving Eden. I was immediately hooked. I can't resist a kidnapping/rescue story.
I have to say that I thought that Early Dawn was a very solid story. Eden and Matthew are fully developed characters whose connection and love story develops very believably throughout the book. The things that Eden goes through are not for the faint of heart. Matthew's past is just as challenging. Both characters have a lot to overcome if they are going to get over their past and begin to love again.
There are times when I thought that the story dragged a bit. In the beginning it takes a while before Matthew and Eden meet. Eventually, though the fact that so much time is spent on Eden and Matthew developing their relationship and the fact that it moves slowly is a benefit to the story. It helps the believability factor considering all that they have been through.
There is a bit of sequel references. I don't feel that it detracted from Eden and Matthew's story. If anything it made me want to go back read about the other characters. I enjoyed this Western and feel that fans of Westerns will want to give this one a try.
Early Dawn is book 10 in Catherine Anderson's Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan series. This is my first in the series. I have only read Annie's Song by Anderson and I loved it. My friend had this book in her TBR pile and loaned it to me. It caught my eye because of the back cover. On it said that Eden Paxton was kidnapped and Matthew Coulter whose own wife was murdered at the hands of this terrible gang and he couldn't resist saving Eden. I was immediately hooked. I can't resist a kidnapping/rescue story.
I have to say that I thought that Early Dawn was a very solid story. Eden and Matthew are fully developed characters whose connection and love story develops very believably throughout the book. The things that Eden goes through are not for the faint of heart. Matthew's past is just as challenging. Both characters have a lot to overcome if they are going to get over their past and begin to love again.
There are times when I thought that the story dragged a bit. In the beginning it takes a while before Matthew and Eden meet. Eventually, though the fact that so much time is spent on Eden and Matthew developing their relationship and the fact that it moves slowly is a benefit to the story. It helps the believability factor considering all that they have been through.
There is a bit of sequel references. I don't feel that it detracted from Eden and Matthew's story. If anything it made me want to go back read about the other characters. I enjoyed this Western and feel that fans of Westerns will want to give this one a try.
I agree with another reviewer this book dragged on and on. The story for the most part was out in the desert going in circles. Characters where under developed. I expected more from C.A. I was looking forward to this story and was very disapppointed.
Alisa D. (justaysmom) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 3 more book reviews
Another wonderful tear jerker in the Coulter saga. Catherine Anderson does a beautiful job of the protective male, head-strong (but not stupidly so) female, adventure, and finding love where it seems not to be possible. Anderson is a wonderful author, but her historical romances are my particular favorites. This one does not disappoint!
Brenda R. (bothrootes) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 207 more book reviews
I almost put this book down when I started reading it because I don't generally read cowboy books and I didn't realize from the cover that Early Dawn was a cowboy book but it is so much more that I am glad I stuck with it. After his wife is raped and murdered and he was suverly beatten and left for dead, Matthew Coulton swears revenge and starts a 3 year treck to track and kill the Sebastian gang. He never imagins that he will meet and fall in love with a woman that is the exact opposite of his dead wife. This is a good love story with plenty of adventure.
Angela H. reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 204 more book reviews
It was OK but not one that I will read twice.
Rachel S. (my-3-girls) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 28 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this story. It kept my interest and kept me quessing.
Joan (mollybolt2) -
This is the first Catherine Anderson book that I've read and I enjoyed the historical setting and the characters. I'll agree w/ the reviewers who wondered why Mathew didn't shoot the bad guys but only spooked their horses and why he stopped to bury someone. But, if he had done what you expected the author would have had to create other bad guys to run from. Even given these flaws I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and wish she had more around that time frame. BTW, can anyone argue w/ the fact that Eden can shoot?!?! Yeah, girl!
Judith R. (judithr) reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 27 more book reviews
Great story by Catherine Anderson! Eden & Matthew suffer the worst of trials & tribulations to be together. They heal each other as they fall in love.
jjares reviewed Early Dawn (Keegan-Paxton Family, Bk 3) (Kendrick/Coulter Family, Bk 11) on + 3413 more book reviews
Eden Paxton and her mother are on their way to No Name, Colorado to live with the Keegan and Paxton half-brothers. Eden's engagement to John Parish is broken. On the train, there is a robbery and the Sebastian brothers abduct Eden, with the plan to sell her in Mexico.
Matthew Coulter has been on the Sebastian brother's trail for three years. The brothers brutally killed his wife and left him for dead in Oregan. When he sees a helpless woman in the clutches of the brothers, Matthew plots to steal her away. Then they are both in danger of being murdered by the relentless gang.
Eden's half-brothers put in an appearance in this book; they are such engaging characters that this is always a treat. However, it makes it necessary to read the books in order.
Keegan-Paxton Family
1. Keegan's Lady (1996)
2. Summer Breeze (2006)
** 3. Early Dawn (2009)
4. Lucky Penny (2012)
Matthew Coulter has been on the Sebastian brother's trail for three years. The brothers brutally killed his wife and left him for dead in Oregan. When he sees a helpless woman in the clutches of the brothers, Matthew plots to steal her away. Then they are both in danger of being murdered by the relentless gang.
Eden's half-brothers put in an appearance in this book; they are such engaging characters that this is always a treat. However, it makes it necessary to read the books in order.
Keegan-Paxton Family
1. Keegan's Lady (1996)
2. Summer Breeze (2006)
** 3. Early Dawn (2009)
4. Lucky Penny (2012)
