Lost Hearts

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Synopsis

Because her father had no use for a girl child, Johnny Bodine's mother pretended she was a boy, so she's spent all of her eighteen years in disguise. Ever since her mother died, she's lived with her ruthless father and his band of outlaws, who physically and verbally abuse her every chance they get. Having nowhere else to go and fearful that they might one day leave her alone and lost on the desolate prairie, she puts up with their cruelty and goes along with what her father tells her to do, although she doesn't take part in their criminal activities. One day, U. S. Marshals arrive to arrest the Bodine gang, and since one of the warrants is for Bodine's son, Johnny gets swept up as well. Although she proclaims her innocence, they don't really believe her, but Marshal Richard Bennick develops a soft spot for her during the long ride back to civilization. Along the way, the party is ambushed. Most of the posse members are killed, and Richard is wounded. Johnny uses her medical skills learned from an Indian woman who lived with her father for a time to treat him, and helps him get the remaining outlaws back to town. There they share a hotel room, which leads to Richard finally discovering that Johnny is actually a girl, and they begin to give in to their shared attraction. Richard made Johnny promise not to let anyone amputate his leg, so she moves heaven and earth to keep that vow. But when she finds out that Richard is already engaged to someone else, it could ruin their budding romance.

Richard Bennick suffers from nightmares and flashbacks from his time as a Union soldier during the Civil War. His arm was amputated during that time as well, so he settled into work as a U. S. Marshal, thinking a one-armed man probably wouldn't be much use as anything else. He and his fellow posse members have been sent to arrest the Bodine gang, including Bodine's son, but almost from the moment he meets Johnny, he feels a soft spot for the kid. On the trail back to town, they start to get to know one another a little, so after the ambush, he trusts Johnny to treats his injuries and help him with the remaining outlaws. Once they reach town, Johnny takes Richard to a hotel to further nurse an infection that's developed in his leg, which is when he makes Johnny promise not to allow any doctor to take his leg, too. He also discovers her true gender and a romance begins to develop. When Johnny's uncle kidnaps her, Richard risks his life to follow them and becomes even sicker. Even if he can survive her uncle's outlaws and the infection, Johnny may not be able to forgive him when she finds out that he's already engaged to someone else.

Review

Lost Hearts is a stand-alone, historical, western romance. Johnny Bodine has lived her entire eighteen years disguised as a boy. Ever since her mother died, she's lived with her father and his band of outlaws in constant fear of her secret being discovered and also of the physical and verbal abuse that they heap upon her. Although she doesn't take part in their illegal activities, they keep her around for her knowledge of doctoring that comes in handy if one of them gets shot or becomes sick. However, Johnny is with them when the U. S. Marshals come to arrest Bodine's gang, and since one of their warrants is for Bodine's son, she's swept up as well. She keeps telling them she's not guilty, but all they say is she'll have to tell it to the judge. During the long ride back to civilization, Johnny starts to grow close to Marshal Richard Bennick, who she calls Rab, because she thinks his initials on his gear are his name. Along the way, they're ambushed by some of her uncle's men and a firefight ensues, killing both posse members and outlaws. Once the dust settles, there are only a few men left standing, one of whom is Richard, but he's been wounded. Johnny uses her medical skills to tend all of them, and basically helps Richard get the remaining outlaws back to the nearest town. Richard lost an arm during the Civil War and the last thing he wants to do is lose his leg, too. Johnny promises not to let that happen, and cares for him at their hotel, where he finally realizes her true gender. By then, Richard has grown a major soft spot for Johnny and romance starts to develop between them as she nurses him. But when Johnny's uncle and his men kidnap her and set the others free, Richard has no choice but to go after them even though his leg isn't fully healed yet. By the time, they've finally gotten back to his home base, Richard's leg is badly infected, and Johnny fights with all she's worth to keep her promise. But when she discovers that Richard is engaged to someone else, she runs away. Once Richard is finally well again, he must face the investigation into the deaths of his fellow marshals of which he's now a prime suspect, and because he can't remember what happened that day, the only person who may be able clear his name is Johnny.

Johnny's father had no use for girls except to use and abuse them, so when Johnny was born, her mother raised her as a boy. After witnessing other girls and women her father and his men captured being abused, Johnny is terrified of what might happen if they discover her secret. She's also terrified of being left behind and getting lost on the vast prairie, so she puts up with their abuse out of fear. She learned about herbs and treating illnesses and injuries from an Indian woman who lived with them for a time and she's very good at it, which is the only reason they keep her around. When Rab and the other marshals come to arrest them, Johnny declares her innocence, but no one really believes her. However, Rab treats her with a measure of kindness that the others don't, earning her trust, so after the ambush, she latches on to him to keep her safe. She even helps him get the remaining outlaws to the nearest town, where she starts nursing Rab's wounded leg in earnest. It's during that time that he finally figures out she's a young woman, and the attraction between them grows into something more. But then her uncle kidnaps her and she must go back to hiding her true identity. Johnny is surprised and relieved when Rab comes to her rescue, but by then, he's very sick from his badly infected leg. It's all they can do to get the prisoners back to civilization, after which Johnny fights tooth and nail to save Rab's leg and his life. But once he's out of the woods, and she discovers that he's already engaged to someone else, she runs away, leaving their future in question. Johnny is very rough around the edges from living as a boy all her life, but she has a feminine core that longs to be let out. Her Rab is the one person who she trusts enough to show that side of herself. She longs for love and the family that she never really had. She's fiercely loyal to those she cares about. Johnny is a heroine who's been through hell, but still has a fighting spirit inside her.

Richard was a sharpshooter in the Union Army during the Civil War, where he lost an arm following a battle. He suffers from PTSD flashbacks and nightmares of that particular battle, which he can't entirely remember. He fears he did something terribly wrong that got a lot of people killed, and it haunts him. After the war, he became a U. S. Marshal, but he's gotten somewhat tired of that work. His fiance's father, who's a prosecutor, wants him to work in his office, but Richard loathes the idea of being tied to a desk. Right now, he's just focused on bringing in the Bodine gang, after which he'll figure out what he truly wants, but that proves to be a little more difficult than he thought. He develops a soft spot for young Johnny, and even feels somewhat attracted to the kid, which is a little disconcerting since he thinks Johnny's a boy at first. Once they make it to the hotel in the next town, where they're sharing a room while Johnny treats his injured leg, he finally figures out she's a girl. Because of the sexual violence she's witnessed, she a little leery of intimacy, but he's sweet and gentle with her, awakening her passions. When her uncle takes her away, Richard doesn't hesitate to go after her even though it could kill him and nearly does. He rescues her, but about the time backup finally arrives, he becomes insensible from the fever and unable to stand up for either himself or Johnny. Johnny manages to fight to keep her promise to save Richard's leg, but when he finally awakens, she's already gone. Not long after, he stands accused of murdering his fellow marshals because his PTSD memories are scrambled with those of the ambush, and only Johnny may be able to save him again. Richard doesn't really feel worthy of love because of the things he did during the war. The woman he's engaged to was someone he thought would be good for him, but he didn't really love her and she didn't fully accept him. In Johnny, he discovers someone who accepts all of him, inside and out, even the dark, scarred parts that he doesn't like himself.

Lost Hearts has been on my TBR pile for quite a while. It was my first book by Kathy Otten, so I didn't really know what to expect. I'm happy to say that it was a wonderful story. Both Johnny and Richard are wounded souls who need someone to genuinely understand and accept them for who they are. In each other, they find that and so much more. He loves her in spite of her boyishness and rough mountain accent. She loves him despite his scars and the visions and nightmares of the past that plague him. Richard is an honorable man who cares about following the law to the letter. Johnny is an honorable woman who believes in keeping her promises and being loyal to those who treat her well. These two may meet under difficult circumstances, but they soon discover a connection that only grows with time. A lot happens in the story and they share a dangerous adventure that takes them across miles of unsettled land. I love that Johnny is well-versed in medicine, better than many trained doctors of the time, which she proves as she works to save Richard's leg and life. In the end, Richard is willing to face the possibility of the hangman's noose to let Johnny have a good life with people who care about her, and Johnny is willing to do the same to save her Rab. The story kept my attention engaged throughout, as this couple face one danger after another, and kept me wondering how they would overcome all the obstacles thrown at them. It's somewhat plot-driven, but at the same time, the author doesn't skimp on the characterizations. Richard and Johnny are both fully realized characters who I very much liked and related to. My only small complaint is that a little more romance certainly wouldn't have gone amiss, but at the same time, I did feel the emotional connection between them. So overall, Lost Hearts was a great read that has left me very interested in checking out the author's other work.

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Themes

Amazing Animals
Medical Drama
Men in Uniform - Law Enforcement
Men in Uniform - Military
Physically Imperfect Heroes
Tortured Heroes
Tortured Heroines