The Loner

by Evelyn Rogers

When a bitter man leaves behind a life of gambling to return home and claim the ranch that is his inheritance, CA his hardened heart be soothed by the woman he once left behind? This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843948809
• ISBN13: 9780843948806
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 395 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Stone! The Loner!

Stone leaves home after his father marries Clare only a few weeks after the death of his wife and Stones Mother. In the final book to the series, Stone meets up with the owner of the boarding house, Annabelle. He loved her once and still loved her. In this book the secrets come out, the family is reunited, meeting and accepting their half brother. The stepmother gets what was coming to her. One of the best series books I have ever read, written by 4 of my favorite authors. I think it's time I read it all over again.

Myshelf.Com Book Reviewer

In Evelyn Roger's THE LONER, readers will find a highly descriptive tale, which will quickly transport them back to the exciting life and times that only existed in the Old West. This poignant tale is overflowing with sizzling excitement, passion, and turmoil and will remain in your memory long after you turn the last page. As his name suggests, Stone McBride's heart has been hardened against the cruel injustices fate has unmercifully dealt to him. Living his life as a gambler, he is unprepared when word arrives informing him his father is on his deathbed, and has summoned for him to return to the Circle M to claim his inheritance. To ignore his father's request, would force him to forfeit his share of the ranch to his resentful brother, sister, and manipulative stepmother. Upon his return to the town of Sidewinder, he is unprepared to see his former fiancée, Annie Chapin. Will he be able to live with himself knowing he alone caused the pain which is present in her eyes? Four years ago, Annabelle `Annie' Chapin, gave her heart and soul to Stone McBride. What she received in return was enough heartache to last a lifetime. Still suffering from her last encounter with Stone, she is shocked to learn she still has feelings for the man who cruelly broke her heart. Will she have the power this time to chisel away the hard exterior surrounding his cold heart? Evelyn Rogers masterfully crafts stories where the characters are so real they seem to leap off the pages. Stone and Annie are two memorable characters, who finally realize when they are able to trust in the power of love as only it alone would be able to heal and erase the pain of their past.

At last Stone's story!!!!!

I have waited for this conclusion to the McBride saga, and believe me, Evelyn Rogers did not let me down. You tied everything into a neat bow and gave a truly magnificent ending to a wonderful saga. Your talent is awsome!!!! I can't wait to see if the four of you write other books on the McBrides. I you will.

A wonderful western romance

The lawyer?s letter announced that his odious father Thomas McBride was dying and demanded his family come home to the Circle M Ranch in nearby Sidewater. If Tom?s oldest son Stone wants to inherit anything, he must return to this place he hates. Since he just lost his last coin in a poker game, Stone decides it is time to go home. Instead of staying at the family spread, Stone rents a room at Annabelle Chapin?s boarding house even though she is the woman he once loved. Stone constantly squabbles with his two brothers and sister, but also shares with them the distrust of Tom?s second wife Clare. While struggling with his family and his stepmother, Stone skirmishes with his own treacherous heart that beats faster and louder every time he sees Annabelle. There is also his father o worry about him, a man who has hidden the truth about Circle M from his children. The final novel to the Secret Fires miniseries ties up all the questions left from the three previous novels while telling a wonderful western romance. The story line is loaded with action and a twist or two. The lead couple is a cute duo making up for a decade of separation while the support cast includes family members and their spouses returning for the final engagement. Though THE LONER lives up to its name and can stand alone, new readers will find better appreciation of Evelyn Rogers? talent by reading the previous three stories first, written by other authors. By keeping the persona of previous lead couples consistent inside her plot, Ms. Rogers successfully closes with one of the year?s best Texas romances.Harriet Klausner

Great ending to the series!

Stone McBride left his family, the Circle M ranch, and his fiancé, Annabelle Chapin, during a fit of anger! His mother had been hardly set in her grave when his father, Tom McBride, married Clare (his mistress). Clare was very young and cruel. She delighted in keeping each family member apart. (Each sibling has their own book.) Four years pass ... The letter from Tom's lawyer caught up to Sone in Fort Worth. Each child must return to the ranch within a short amount of time to claim a portion of the inheritance. Being broke, Stone was forced to return. He was the last to show. His other siblings, including a half-brother he had not known existed, was already gathered. Each were happily married and had made new lives for themselves. Tom was on his death bed, but just as mean as ever. Facing his family was heard, especially the hateful and scheming Clare, but not nearly as hard as seeing Annabelle again! Annie was alone in the world now. She owned a boardinghouse for her meager living. She had three workers, a cook and her daughter (Josefina and Carmen) and Henry (a crippled ex-ranch hand). Having Stone rent room and board from her was difficult since she still cared for him. But she needed the money. The fire that had been between them was still there and getting hotter! ***** An excellent conclusion to this series! This is not a story that readers will find able to set aside. Overflowing with lies, scandals, and romance that grabbed me from page one! Don't miss out on this one! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch