Tiger Lily

I read Tiger Lily after finding it in my sister's romance novel collection.This remains one of my favorite books over Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown even.Sabrina has met Brett years ago when she was only a young girl, she befriended the young man Brett, the relationship ends in disaster though. They meet again when Sabrina is seventeen and though the meeting is stormy and they fight almost from the beginning things are mellowing and they are falling in love. Then Carlos, the jealous cousin lies to Brett and tells him that Sabrina is his lover, arranging a scene by the river where he attempts to rape Sabrina, Brett comes upon them and having been betrayed before believes the worst of Sabrina. Carlos then tells a horryifing lie about Brett to Sabrina which drives the wedge between them deeper. All in all the book is exciting and I love the history the author blends with romance. Old Spanish Texas is one of my favorite places for a book to be placed. This is one of the only authors who do this. I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves sensual, sad at times wonderfully blended romance.

Texas is still under Spanish rule, and Sabrina del Torres is not yet a woman, when the man who will change her life forever first arrives at the doorstep of her wealthy father's hacienda. As brash and arrogant as he is ruggedly handsome, Brett Dangermond soon insinuates himself into the del Torres household, and Sabrina resents every minute of it. Their relationship develops into a fiery battle of wits and wills-but they are fooling only themselves. Sabrina's father has already recognized Brett as the one man "strong enough and devil enough" to handle his headstong daughter. And Sabrina's cousin, Carlos, who covets both Sabrina and her fortune, sees Brett as a rival. Eventually, the tension between Sabrina and Brett explodes into a passion that neither of them can deny. And just as Sabrina realizes that this is the man she must have, whatever the consequences, Carlos takes matters into his own hands. With the help of Brett's former lover, Constanza, Carlos fabricates a lie so vile and so damaging that Sabrina, upon hearing it, has no choice but to order Brett out of her life forever. Six years later, their lives will cross once again. Sabrina's father is murdered by bandits, and Sabrina is horrified when she learns the terms of his will. For Alejandro del Torres has appointed Brett as her legal guardian! Now she will be under the power of a man who cannot be trusted-a man who will most surely take advantage of his position. Worse, she does not trust herself. For she has never really stopped loving the man who captured her heart so many years ago. This was a wonderful love story. If you've been following Busbee's novels based in the late 1700-1800's you'll know they all connect in some way. This one should be read after Decieve Not My Heart for Brett Dangermond is Morgan's best friend and is mentioned first in that novel.

This was the first historical romance novel that I ever read and every so often I still go back and re-read it! I loved this story because it spans many years, has beautiful descriptions of a time long gone and I adored the characters, Sabrina and Brett. A great book!

I eagerly waited for this book to first be published. The story finally wraps up the threads of political intrigue in Deceive Not My Heart and Gypsy Lady and is a fitting companion to these popular novels. Brett Dangermond was such an intriguing character and I was glad to see him get his own love story. I also am pleased this book is set in old Spanish Texas since that is where I am from and I often feel this beautiful area is neglected in romance literature. I believe anyone who enjoys Shirlee Busbee's other novels must add this book to their collection and I hope it comes back into print soon.

I thought this book was one of Ms. Busbee's best. Her characters are well thought out and you truly feel for them. The special touches here and there added to the flavor of the time period and the people.