Please Me, Cowboy

Please Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane

Jonah Flint is the master of his world.  If he says "jump", everyone around him says "how high?"  He is admittedly cold and doesn't care about anyone...well, anyone except his too emotional twin brother, Jasper.  When Jonah hears that Jasper is planning to propose to a "nobody school teacher from nowhere", he makes it his personal mission to rescue his brother from the clutches of this Montana gold-digger and remind him of the life that he once lived.  In order to do that he needs an accomplice.  A woman as cold and cunning as he is who can convince Jasper that she and Jonah are for real, and can put Little Miss Montana in her place...in Jasper's rear view.

Gracelyn Packard never thought that she would see Montana again.  Because she never wanted to see Montana again.  Being raised as white trash on the Montana prairie, Gracelyn left the moment she turned eighteen and never looked back.  Well, that connection may have just gained her the greatest honor of her career, but does she really want to be used by her big, bad boss.  Being back in Montana is doing something to her, though, and maybe being used by Jonah isn't such a bad thing after all.

Megan Crane doesn't take the easy path when it comes to heroes, that's for sure.  A cold, egotistical, "CEO of the World", type-A, male chauvinist is not exactly your classic hero write-up.  Yet somehow she manages to leave room for something likable; something redeemable.  Sure Jonah is a jerk to everyone around him, even Jasper, but he does actually love Jasper.  Plus, there are some great emotional flips that lead to a great culmination at the end of the story.

The heroine is another tough cookie, but she is relate-able right from the get go.  There is a vulnerability that we see right away and we empathize with easily.  Though not many people have been in Gracelyn's shoes, I think most of us can easily imagine ourselves there.

Beyond the main characters, the only other character interactions are Jasper and Chelsea (with some exceptions at the end which I will not spoil).  The supporting character-light format usually bothers me big time, but I think that with all of the emotions flying around, fewer characters actually do make it better.

Over all, this was an intriguing read.  I liked it.  It was good, to the point, entertaining to be sure.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Kiss Me, Cowboy

Kiss Me, Cowboy by Melissa McClone

For Charlotte "Charlie" Randall, one kiss meant everything.  It was the beginning and the end.  It was the best and the worst.  It was the moment she fell in love with Zack Harris...and the moment she lost him forever.  Because no matter how are she tries to be "one of the guys", she cannot be anywhere near Zack if he can't see her as a woman he wants to be with.

Zack Harris knows the importance of family.  With his parents completely out of the picture and his army buddies scattered across the country, the only family he has left are the wranglers of the Bar V5.  That's why when he kissed Charlie Randall during a moment of weakness alarm bells sounded instead of wedding bells.  He could NOT let romantic feelings tear his family apart.  Yet now Charlie is leaving for Colorado and Zack has just a few days to convince her not to abandon the family they have all built together.  Except that might not be the only reason he wants her to stay.  Can he convince her to give the Bar V5 - and him - another chance?

I think that the Bar V5 could easily be at the top of my "Literary Places I Would Go If They Were Real" list.  I mean, who would jump at a chance to visit a ranch with hot cowboys that doubled as a spa?  This is the second visit Melissa McClone has brought us on, and I know that I hope and pray that there are MANY more.

Story-wise, this story is sweet and heartfelt.  Both main characters are on the same page with family history.  Yet their individual reactions to their similar upbringings could not be any more different.  Charlie knows that life is full of love and acceptance.  Zack is positive that he wouldn't know what to do with love, even if it were shown to him.  This spin is both old and new at the same time.  It is familiar, but with a twist.  I love how Melissa McClone has managed, as in many of her stories, to take a situation that many romance stories have utilized, and give is a fresh coat of paint for a refreshing take.

The main thing I love about this story is that the characters all genuinely care about each other.  They are close, and that closeness really breathes through.  The reader doesn't need to be told that the wranglers all love and respect Ty, because it is evident from the way the never question his authority yet treat him like a brother.  The same goes for the way the other wranglers feel about Charlie.  She is clearly respected as a senior member of the staff.

Overall, this is a perfect "comfort" book.  A book that you read when you want to know that there are places where everything is right with the world and things really do make sense.  The turmoil in the book is emotional, but there is no danger of being punched in the gut by it.  The world needs books like this.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Cherish Me, Cowboy

Cherish Me, Cowboy by Alissa Callen

Payton Hollis needs a man like she needs another sunny day.  That is to say...she doesn't.  Stuck in a drought and wracking her brain as to how she is going to keep her ranch afloat without enough water or food to supply her cattle, she sees a "city-boy" like Cordell Morgan as nothing but a nuisance.  Until he works his magic and helps an abandonned calf find it's way to a new mama's heart...and then works his way into hers.

Cordell Morgan is in Marietta, Montana for one thing only.  To convince a crotchety, former rodeo cowboy to lease him land for a friend's Angus heard to graze on.  But no matter how many times he tells himself that, he just can't stop thinking about Payton and her headstrong ways.  His past tells him to get in, get out, and run as far as he can, but his heart just might be singing a new tune.

This was a well written and special story.  Too many times everyone finds a point that they have to give up their ties to the past and realize they are only holding themselves back.  Whether it be trauma, fear of the unknown, or just being stubborn and set in their ways, many people falter when it comes to new experiences or allowing others into their lives.  This story gave so many great examples of that.

I loved that there was a bit of tragic excitement and mystery thrown in to add to the whole experience.  Those little touches truly make a good book great, and this was already a great book.  It is a sweet romance through and through, with very little need for overly sexy scenes that really wouldn't have fit anyway.

The characters in this book are a fabulous blend of old and new.  We see and hear from many characters from the previous Copper Mountain Rodeo Books, and we meet some characters who have only been mentioned in passing before.  The two main characters in this story are likable to the point that you truly do want to be their friends.

Overall, Alissa Callen crafted a wonderful story here that is great purely for it's own sake.  A definite recommended read both with and without the other books in the Second Copper Mountain Rodeo Series.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Nobody's Cowboy

Nobody's Cowboy by Debra Salonen

Austen Zabrinski's might own a ranch, wear a cowboy hat, and ride a horse, but he is miles away from being a cowboy.  Having bought the ranch as a tax-incentive and political show-piece, the place has turned into his safe haven as his world came crashing down.  Trying to pull himself up and decide what to do next, Austen's life takes an unexpected turn when he meets his hot, new, alpaca-breeding neighbor, Serena James.  Inexplicably drawn to the strong and fiery beauty, Austen can't help but wonder what spell she has weaved around him that has him helping tend sick alpacas and thinking about the f-word...Forever.

Serena James had a very unconventional upbringing.  Adopted and raised by hippie, alpaca breeders who lived mostly off the grid in Northern California, Serena decided to move her herd to Montana not just for financial reasons, but some definite personal ones as well.  Trying to move on from a scary stalker incident, Serena has changed her e-mail address, cell-phone number, business name, and has shut down her blog.  She also vehemently avoids anything to do with publicity or her picture being taken.  So maybe getting involved with a high-powered attorney and former politician isn't the best idea in the world.  Can she handle it when his old life collides with her new reality?

This is the second book by Debra Salonen to feature Austen Zabrinski, and I have to say, because EVERYONE is thinking it...in the first book Austen Zabrinski was an asshole!  Oddly enough, when I heard that Austen was going to be the hero of this book I knew that if anyone could pull off a believable redemption of character for him, it was Debra Salonen.  She did it in Cowgirl, Come Home with OC Jenkins, and she succeeded beautifully in this book.  Not once did she sacrifice his true character in redeeming him, she simply managed to open his eyes in some very emotional ways.

The character of Serena was beautifully written as both a counter to Austen's static point-of-view and an anchor to his careening lifestyle.  I found it very ironic that the stereotypes here are very mishmashed.  Serena's hippie upbringing has given her an open mind, yet she is very grounded with a lifestyle that requires her to remain in one location.  Austen, on the other hand seems to have adopted a very narrow mindset that is highly contrary to his fast-paced, ever changing career path.  A true example of where opposites really do attract.

Overall, this story gave me something to cheer about on many levels.  Debra Salonen knows how to write a story to captivate and hold a readers attention the whole way through, and then leave them begging for the next book.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Tease Me, Cowboy

Tease Me, Cowboy by Rachael Johns

To the world Selah Davis has achieved the success she always wanted.  She is a top journalist for a popular women's magazine and absolutely loves her life in Seattle.  Home in Marietta to cover the 76th Annual Copper Mountain Rodeo, Selah wastes no time catching up with her childhood best friends celebrating the lives and loves they have found for themselves.  After many drinks Selah finally admits that her one regret in life was NOT sleeping with her high school sweetheart Levi Monroe.  This revelation sends the girls into a flurry of plotting to help Selah gain a second chance at a one night stand...because Levi just walked through the door.

Even after all of his success on the Rodeo Circuit - and with the ladies - Levi Monroe has never quite gotten over the hurt and shame of walking away from the best thing a teenage boy could have ever wanted.  Selah was always his one true love and seeing her laughing with her friends at Grey's Saloon brought back too many memories to handle.  When she approaches him the next day to interview him for her article he decides to take advantage of a chance to spend more time with her...and maybe plotting for a second chance of his own.

The characters in this story are familiar and fun.  As the first book in the second Copper Mountain Rodeo Series, there are many returning characters from the first series.  Chelsea, Sage, and Jenny are all on there, as well as some other characters we have come to know and love over the last year.  Em, Sam, and Cole McCullough, and Marly Ackers are featured players; Rachel (Murphy) Vaughn and Reese Kendrick both make appearances, as well.

The heart of this story is solid.  Regrets are awful things, but acting on regrets tend to make things worse.  Selah honestly believes that a one-night stand will solve everything, thanks to the convincing of her friends, who I don't believe for a second actually ascribed to this notion.  Levi seems to understand this perfectly and is fully prepared to barter for more than just one night.  I loved AND hated the dinner/hotel scene for the same reason:  it was passionate and childish.  Levi wanted to prove a point and he did, but at a cost to Selah's pride.  The one scene that made of for this was the final rodeo scene.  No spoilers, but the chaos of that scene just seemed to work.

Overall, this was a good read and a great start to yet another great Montana Born series.

Continuity/Flow – 4
Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4     

A Fair to Remember

A Fair to Remember by Barbara Ankrum

On her eighteenth birthday, up and coming equestrian Olivia Canaday stood beneath the Big Marietta Fair Ferris Wheel and made a pinkie promise to her best friend, Jake Lassen.  If neither of them were married on her thirtieth birthday, they would meet back here and be each others' fall-back.  Twelve years later, divorced and still feeling the effects of a career ending accident, Olivia is back in Marietta, and she can't believe that Jake actually remembered the promise.  Unfortunately, Olivia doesn't want a fall-back.  She has sworn off men and marriage and just simply wants her best friend back.

Jake Lassen has left the Army behind, but he can't seem to shake the nightmares that still haunt him.  Back in Marietta for both business and pleasure, Jake is in dire need of soothing from the woman who was never really a fall-back to him.  But as he becomes reacquainted with Olivia he soon realizes that her accident left her more than just scarred, and some damage just can't be fixed by anyone else.

While this story is emotional, it leans mostly toward the coping and healing end of tragedy, rather than the initial suffering.  All of the tragic elements are presented in a past-tense and very little empathy is required to like these characters.  They are survivors and very much in command of the decisions being made.  Even Deke, whose decision led to his seclusion owns that decision and has made his peace with it.

The few scenes in the book that allow for a possibility of weakness for any of the characters also present an opportunity for a cheer inducing resolution.  The camaraderie between all of the characters, main and supporting alike, is very enjoyable to read.  You can tell that they really have each others' backs.  Even a few characters that only have one or two scenes are shown to be compassionate and supporting.  There are only two extremely unlikable characters in this book, and that is necessary because you can't like everybody, it just isn't possible, even if one character is an integral part of Marietta.

One thing that I have come to love about all of the Montana Born books is the feel that the town is real and that if you can just find it you will recognize the people and places as you walk down the street.  In a previous connecting story about Marietta (A Cowboy for Christmas by Katherine Garbera) the Main Street Diner is under "new management".  This story explains why.  A few other characters that have traversed multiple stories show up in this one, too: Carol Bingley, Flo from the Diner, Beck Hartnett, and Eleanor Styles.

Another element that just HAS to be mentioned is the description of the food in the story.  Somehow I ended up reading two stories in a row where food plays a big role in the plot.  Every time I opened the book I had to stop and write down another recipe that I was reminded that I wanted to try.  And the mention of churros had me salivating like Pavlov's Dog.  Talk about tempting fare.

Overall, this has been one of my favorite books in this series.  It is well written and flows superbly.  It is no small feat to be able to plot a book that doesn't lag or rush through key situations.  Ms Ankrum has done just that, and I applaud her for it.  One of my rare perfect scores!

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Her Summer Cowboy

Her Summer Cowboy by Katherine Garbera

After years of a self-imposed exile, Hudson Scott is heading home, if only as security for country music legend Alan Jennings's Farewell Tour.  As the tour winds its way toward the Big Marietta Fair, however, Hudson will be forced to answer the question of whether he wants to continue his travels after the tour, or if it is time to mend fences and settle down.  The decision could be a lot easier if he had someone to settle down with.

The entire world knows Ella Wells's name and story, even if they haven't actually met her personally.  Thanks to her grandfather and father both writing and singing songs about her as a child, she has lived most of her life in the glare of the spotlight.  After her father's tragic death, however, Ella left the Nashville and the music industry far behind, preferring the anonymous life of a school teacher to the lure of the stage.  Now that her grandfather has decided to retire from the road, he is calling in a promise she made to him years ago: to tour with him one final time.  Putting aside her fears and insecurities about living up to her family's legacy, Ella embarks on a life changing adventure with her grandfather and the sexy cowboy he has hired for the summer.

The Scott Family are full of strong characters, and Hudson definitely lived up to his part.  There is so much to love about this family.  From their touching tradition of Wednesday dinners at the Diner, to their tendency to butt in to other family members' business, there is no doubt that they love each other.  I am really looking forward to reading more about them...hopefully Lane gets his story soon, because no one can resist a wounded soldier hero.

As far as Ella's contribution to this story, I loved the hints of country music history.  Everything from the naming of characters (odes to Waylon Jennings and Keith Whitley), a character growing up in the spotlight due to her family's fame (a la Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter), and a tragic death caused by an inability to cope with fame (though this could be many, I am going with Keith Whitley due to the character's name).

Overall, I would have loved for this story to have been longer.  The story was intriguing and fun.  Personally I want to know what happened to Ella's mom, and would have loved to have heard more about her dad.

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 5 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

For Love of A Cowboy

For Love of A Cowboy by Yvonne Lindsay

After losing her mother to breast cancer, Willow Phillips has decided to travel America in her mother's footsteps.  Using a twenty-five year old diary as a guide, she maps a route through Marietta, Montana, timing it for the Big Marietta Fair in hopes of meeting her father for the first time.  Unfortunately, things aren't always as easy as they are planned.

Booth Lange is a cowboy with a chip on his shoulder and protective streak a mile wide.  The minute he meets free-spirited Willow, and discovers that she has a bit in common with his sister, his hackles go up and all he can think about is getting her as far away from his vulnerable sister as possible.  After learning the name of her father, however, he has a whole new reason for wanting her out of Marietta.  Can he reconcile his growing attraction for this little sprite with the damage she could do to the people he loves?

This book left me conflicted.  Mainly because the hero was a jerk.  Yes, he had a reason.  Yes, that reason was justified.  Yes, he got over it.  But he was still a jerk.  The heroine on the other hand was saccharine sweet.  She accepted everything a little too readily and her personality left me a little dazed with her constant change of direction.  The supporting characters were enjoyable, but not a focus.  I really hope that Ness gets her own story, because I like the potential there.

The story was really good, though.  I liked the concept of protecting your own from outside danger, but having to admit that sometimes your protection can hurt them more in the end.  It is a real problem that most people have to deal with at some point in their lives.  Especially if they have children.

Overall, I liked the story, and thought the steamy scenes were well played.  I just wasn't crazy about the characters.  It is a preference thing and, thankfully, didn't stop me from liking the story.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 5 

Characters – 3

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Make-Believe Wedding

Make-Believe Wedding by Sarah Mayberry

Andie Bennett has been in love with Heath McGregor forever, too bad he doesn't actually see her as a woman.  To Heath she is just one of the guys.  His best friend's kid sister and the best electrician on his crew.  Not exactly dating material.  After yet another attempt to catch Heath's eye falls flat at the Valentine's Ball, she drunkenly fills out an entry for for the Great Wedding Giveaway, never intending to actually turn it in.  Unfortunately, her intentions didn't matter to the person cleaning her table after she left.

Heath McGregor is holding out for the right woman.  He knows she is out there, and would rather remain a bachelor forever, than settle for anything less than meant to be.  In the mean time, dating attractive women and hanging out with the guys seems like a great way to pass the time.  That is until the Chamber of Commerce announces that he and Andie Bennett have been made finalists in the Great Wedding Giveaway.  To save Andie from utter humiliation, Heath agrees to a fake engagement until the contest ends.  Now Heath is seeing a new side to his best friend's kid sister, and he is wondering if the right woman wasn't "out there", but "right here" all along.

What a great end to a fun concept!  While not the first series that I have reviewed from beginning to end, this is the first series that I reviewed all of the books as they were released.  It was a test in patience, but I persevered.

This was just a plain, old-fashioned, sweet book.  It was funny and thrilling, but when it boiled down to it, the idea of falling in love with your brother's best friend (or best friend's brother) is a universal concept that most women can relate to.  I'm pretty sure half of the women who read this book can think of a million times they have fantasized about marrying, dating, kissing - jumping - said guy.  Tons of paper every year is covered with "Mrs {brother's friend}", and tons of make-up is applied in hopes of catching this elusive one's eye.  Andie did nothing that every teenage girl in history class hasn't done a hundred times.  The only difference is she forgot to cover up her "doodling" and now the whole "class" is privy to her fantasy.

The characters in this story are all mostly likable.  Even Beau, who is pushy and overbearing, is endearing in his desire to protect his sister.  I loved the initial conversation between Beau and Andie.  It truly showed that they love each other, but are not above taking the mickey out when it is needed.

Overall, this was a fun read that made me smile and laugh and whole lot.  I am sad to see the series come to an end, but I look forward to seeing more from Sarah Mayberry, including a possible story between Beau and Lily.  One can only hope.

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Cowgirl Come Home

Cowgirl Come Home by Debra Salonen

At the age of eighteen Bailey Jenkins was cursed by her broken-hearted boyfriend at the top of a Ferris Wheel.  Told that if she went through with the gut wrenching decision that she was about to make, then he would call down his grandmother's gypsy curse on her for the rest of her life.  Unfortunately, it seems like the curse might have been real, because Bailey has had nothing but bad luck ever since.

Fifteen years later there is nothing Paul Zabrinski regrets more than cursing his first love...whom he has never really gotten over.  But how can he still love a woman that made a decision that affected them both all by herself?  Now that she is back in town, broken in every sense of the word, to help her mother care for her cantankerous father, can both of them find it in their hearts to forgive each other and move on?  Or is the curse too strong to allow love to win?

This was such a refreshing book.  Not exactly a "feel good" book, it transcends its own concept and comes out as a shining example of great writing and masterful character building.  With its heavy subject matter, it was always going to be an emotional book.  You can't discuss subjects like abortion, addiction, theft, grief, and recovery and still remain shallow and lighthearted.  But this book takes those subjects and removes the melodrama, making them raw and powerful without making them sob-worthy.  In a word, they are honest.

The main characters are both flawed and broken by a life that proved that life itself is not fair.  However, they are both strong and willing to pull themselves up by the boot straps and keep trudging along.  These are admirable qualities and very well received in this book.

The supporting characters are where the true magic in the story lies.  Ms. Salonen took a character who is basically an abusive bully on a power trip, and is candidly described as "the town drunk", and completely makes him likable.  She is actually quite fearless when it comes to making unlikable characters sympathetic.  That kind of gumption is just too admirable not to recognize and applaud.

Overall, I needed this story.  I had been rather disappointed with my own opinion of the last few books I had read, and was actually worried that I was burning out.  This book revived my soul and gave me a reason to keep on reading and reviewing.  Thank you, Debra Salonen!

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

After the Rain

After the Rain by Lillian Darcy

Casey Jay Brown never thought he would return to Marietta, Montana.  Not after the prom night that changed his life forever.  During a drug-fueled night of partying and excess Casey's girlfriend, Neve Shepherd, lost her life in a freak accident.  The only problem is Casey has always questioned just how responsible he was for that accident.  Consumed by guilt he has abused his body to it's breaking point and still has never found release from his demons.  When a once in a lifetime job opens up half an hour from Marietta, Casey decides to take it.  After all, what are the chances that he will ever need to set foot in town?

Kira Shepherd Blair has been angry most of her life.  Even before her sister's death  eighteen years ago she felt the sting of resentment and anger brewing beneath the surface.  There has always been someone to direct the anger at, too.  Her sister, for the unfair treatment she received when Neve was around; Jay Brown, for Neve's death; her ex's first wife, for treating her like trash even though she had no part of that marriage's demise; her ex, for constantly disappointing her and their son.  But when she is faced with a horrifying truth, she is forced to realize that it might just be time to let go.

Like most of Ms. Darcy's offerings, this story is a mixture of sweet, emotional, and mysterious.  Casey truly is tortured by his past, but he has also learned to move past the guilt and live with the questions.  Kira has never learned to do that.  Her personality is such that she thinks if she lets go of the anger then she will fall apart.  I found it interesting that she saw her mother as weak, when the truth was that her mother was stronger that everyone else.  Not because she "got over it", but because she learned to cope with it.

I really liked the transition from the other books in the series and the foreshadowing of Gemma's story.  There really was a sense of closure for Tully in this book and a promise that Kate and Harrison will be involved in Gemma's story as well.  There was also a lot of information in the book that checked out in real life and made me as reader appreciate the amount of research that really goes in to writing a contemporary book.

The supporting characters in this book were a mixture of filler (the artists and party goers) and secondary-mains (Lindeen, Corrine, Neve's parents, Kate, and Gemma).  I felt they were handled quite deliberately, and it worked beautifully.

Overall, the book was well balanced and beautiful.  A worthy continuation to captivating series.  

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Beauty and the Cowboy

Beauty  and the Cowboy by Nancy Robards Thompson

After ring shopping with her long-term boyfriend, Charlotte Morgan knew that a proposal was just around the corner.  Unfortunately, so did everyone else in Marietta, Montana.  Uncomfortable with the gossip, and unsure about the distance she has been feeling from Tom, she calls him up to get some reassurance.  Instead she gets some news she didn't see coming by a long shot.

Jesse Guthrie has always hated Tom Tucker.  Everything always came easy to Tom.  The career Jesse wanted, the notoriety, and the girl.  Neighbor and playmate Charlie Morgan was the one thing from his childhood that he cherished more than anything, but the timing was never right, so Tom was able to swoop in and take her away.  Now Charlie is showing signs of a possible opening, and Jesse knows that he would be a fool to ignore those signs.

This was a super sweet story.  Humorous and poignant at the same time, it gives a slight peek into the world of beauty pageants, and proves that not all pageants are Toddlers in Tiaras and Stage Mom fodder.  There is also the aspect of "always a bridesmaid" that appeals on many levels in this story.

I think my favorite thing about this story was that Charlie was actually learning her lessons from herself as she helped Maddie through the motions of pageant life.  It's one thing to hear advise from other people, but when you realize that you are spouting off wisdom that applies to you as well, the moment is literary gold.

Overall, this is a feel good story that leaves you realizing that there is no shame in finishing second in a contest, but settling for second best in life should never be an option.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4

Home for Christmas

Home for Christmas By Melissa McClone

Since childhood Rachel Murphy has dreamed of owning her own bakery.  Just weeks prior to seeing her dreams become a reality she discovers that she trusted the wrong people, and now she not only has no bakery, but also no money and no job.  She decides to spend Christmas with her brother in Montana in order to clear her head, and plan her next move.  If she can make a little money on the side making gingerbread, all the better.

Nate Vaughn always knew that eventually he would inherit the Bar V5 ranch one day, but he never anticipated rescuing the ranch from the bad decisions his father made while his health was declining.  Thanks to the quick thinking of his foreman, Ty, and his marketing ingenuity he was able to keep the ranch in one piece.  Now Ty's sister is staying with him for Christmas and if there is one thing Nate knows, it's that if he wants to keep Ty around he needs find a way to ensure Rachel's happiness.  But can Rachel's happiness and his coincide?

I really love Christmas stories!  As a teenager my mother would buy the Silhouette Annual Christmas Anthologies at Kmart and I would make a game of trying to steal them before she got a chance to read them.  Now, with the invention of digital books, novellas can be bought and enjoyed individually.

This was a sweet little story that really spoke of family, friendship, and a town coming together in the spirit of the holidays.  I loved how Nate really was worried about Ty and was conflicted between his feelings for Rachel, his friendship with Ty, and the fact that Ty truly was irreplaceable business-wise.

This is also a continuation of the Marietta, Montana story lines created in the Copper Mountain Rodeo Series.  Many of the characters step in for a visit, and some new characters pop-up who will play parts in later stories.

Overall, this is a great holiday read and will make you really want to throw your inhibitions to the wind and make a killer gingerbread house.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Last Year's Bride

Last Year's Bride by Anne McAllister

It's a good thing Cole McCullough has wide shoulders, because he carries the weight of his family's future on them.  After his father's second heart attack he discovered that a second mortgage had been taken out on the ranch and without a great money making venture everything will be lost.  In a last ditch bid for a great idea, his sister, Sophie, suggests their ranch as a location for a reality TV show directed by...his estranged wife.

Very few people know that Nell Corbett is married.  Not her boss, not her co-workers, and especially not her in-laws.  She accepted that Cole wanted to wait to tell his family.  She even accepted that he wanted her to take the job in LA.  But she will not accept the divorce papers she received in the mail less than a year after her wedding.  Determined to talk to her errant husband she convinces her boss to considering Marietta as a possible location for his reality show.  Now she just has to talk Cole in to staying her husband.

I connected with the hero for the very fact that any person who has nursed a parent or grandparent through a long illness can understand what he is going through.  I have watched my mother struggle to help nurse her brother, then her mother, then her father, and now her mother-in-law through cancer and other various ailments for more than two decades.  There is a feeling of helplessness that comes with knowing that even if there was someone you could ask for help, it is not "their job" to help.  This feeling is expressed many times by Cole over many different things.  He is trapped by his own sense of obligation and stubborn pride.  Many authors have written stubborn heroes before, but adding the twist of an ailing parent really gives it a new, more reachable dimension.

Another "new" dimension to an oft used trope is the fact that Nell is adopted, but does not feel "obligated" to be the best she can be.  Instead, she is tired of having everyone make decisions for her.  This is actually a feeling many people can understand when coming from large families that need to coordinate many schedules.  Decisions are made for them instead of by them.  When they finally do make it out into the world by themselves they tend to either attach themselves to a controlling person out of habit, or resent controlling people and steer clear of them completely.

Of course, I can't review a book without mentioning the supporting cast of characters.  This group was simply awesome.  Sam was a typical grumpy bear with a thorn in his paw, Sophie is a typically eager teenager wanting to help with bigger and better ideas.  The "talent" was collectively fabulous and worked great as subplots.  The true star of the supporting characters was Em.  No spoilers, but I'll just say that she was A LOT more than was expected.

Overall, this was by far my favorite book of the Great Wedding Giveaway Series.  It was longer than the others, but it really didn't feel that way.

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Steal Me, Cowboy

Steal Me, Cowboy By Kim Boykin

After four years of putting up with her boyfriend's hectic baseball schedule and constant marriage-avoidance, hairstylist Rainey Brown is has decided to be drastic.  She is going to drive from South Carolina to Montana with an ultimatum :  marry me or we are done.  It seemed like a good idea until her car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and the hunky cowboy saving her brought to mind many other ideas.

It doesn't take long for restaurateur Beck Hartnett to figure out what he wants, and right now, he wants Rainey.  Knowing that as soon as her car is fixed she is gone, gives him the drive to step up his game and change her mind.  Can he steal her from her baseball player in five days?  Or will he strike out?

As I have mentioned before with Ms. Boykin, she is fond of the "first person" voice for her heroines.  This was my introduction to her writing, so it took me a bit longer to acclimate than with the others I have read.

While I really like the hero of this story (who isn't going to like a sexy cowboy who can cook and keeps his hair long enough to run your fingers through), I wasn't a fan of Rainey.  She whined, took too long to make up her mind, got way too worked up over nothing (and not worked up enough over other things).  In the end, when she finally did make up her mind, she sat on it for days!

As always, the supporting characters saved the book for me.  Nell, Dillion, and Antwan are exactly what supporting characters should be.  Colorful and noticeable without completely stealing the show.

Overall, this book was a nice quick read.  It didn't strike me as a "must-read", but it is definitely a good read.

  Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 3 

Language – 3

Storyline – 4

Overall – 3

The Substitute Bride

The Substitute Bride by Kathleen O'Brien

Journalist Marly Akers' upbringing was what some would call strict.  At the age of 17, her mother had found herself pregnant, abandoned, and trapped.  So, in order to make sure that that never happened to her daughter, she laid out stringent expectations, and bestowed harsh consequences for not meeting those expectations.  Now, nine years after leaving home to start the life her mother always wanted, Marly is back in Marietta...pregnant and abandoned.

Drake Everett has always been good at playing a part.  The cocky sports star.  The class clown.  The careless playboy.  Before, however, his act was always to cover up the dark truth about his dysfunctional family.  Now that the act is no longer needed, can he convince the only woman who has ever mattered that he is not playing a part?  Or will his attentions only leave her feeling trapped?

When looking at the relationship between Marly and Angelina, it is hard not to draw comparisons to "Sweet Home Alabama" (movie, not song).  Angelina loves Marly, she really does, but she doesn't want her to repeat her mistakes.  It was really hard to like Angelina, but you can't like every character, and she serves a huge purpose to Marly's growth.

Drake was a bit difficult to get on board with.  I felt that his character was treated more as a secondary character than a hero.  His character was not fleshed out as much as I would have liked, but the parts that I did see were admirable.

The supporting characters were a split, in my opinion.  Fly was awesome.  He will remind readers of every dream of a perfect grandfather they have ever had.  Robin, on the other hand, was annoying.  I tried to find her sense of humor endearing, but it just came off ill-timed and self-serving.  That may have been the point of the author, though.  There really are people out there in real life that just can't help but be this way.  There is nothing really malicious about them, so they still have genuine friends, but those friends probably groan every time they open their mouths

Overall, the mother-daughter relationship is the jewel of this book.  It is real and proves that mothers and daughters don't have to have perfect relationships to love each other.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Game of Brides

Game of Brides by Megan Crane

Emmy Mathis is over her childhood crush.  Isn't she?  Ten years after he left her naked a crying in his grandmother's barn, has completely moved on.  She graduated from college and got a job as a copywriter in an ad agency in Atlanta, so her life is moving right along.  Except it's not.  Not really.  Now, she has been forced by her hateful boss to take a leave of absence to help with her sister's wedding in Montana, and who should pick her up from the airport?

Griffin Hyatt is the epitome of being successful at something you love.  His passion for art and extreme sports segued into a highly celebrated athletic wear company.  If only his personal life was as successful as his business.  After being betrayed by the two people who mattered to him the most, he has been licking his wounds in Montana and finding himself stuck in a rut.  But after seeing Emmy for the first time in ten years, he suddenly realized that the annoying little girl trailing after him all of those years ago has become woman...and what a woman.  Is it possible that she was the one for him all along?

It was definitely a change of pace to find a character like Griffin in this series.  Up until this point I have been used to cowboys, or at the very least country boys.  While Griffin is not purely a "street-wise" city boy, he is more that than a country boy.  At first I was prepared to not like him, but he grew on me.  He was unapologetic about his actions, but he admitted that he might have been less than cavalier in his technique.

Reading Emmy's story is great because many people (men and women) feel the same way as she does.  Feeling like you need the create a controlled environment to prevent yourself from acting foolishly or getting hurt, but then you end up hating your life and can't find a way out.

The supporting characters are actually not terribly likable on their own.  It is only through the eyes of the main characters that you see them are people who are real and very much loved.  Margery is especially this way.  She may come off as a prime diva, but Emmy still loves her and would do anything for her, even risk her job.

Overall, this story definitely pulls you out of the box and makes you look at the world around you.  Not everything is as cut and dry, or final, as we think it is.  Bravo!

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

The Reluctant Bride

The Reluctant Bride by Katherine Garbera

Defusing IEDs as a US Marine in Afghanistan, Monty Davison has seen more of the ugly side of life than any one man should.  That's why he falls hard for the pretty little florist in Vegas while attending a buddy's wedding.  She is sweet, innocent and full of life; completely untouched by the horrors of death and loss.  In a whirlwind decision he proposes to her and heads back to Afghanistan with thoughts of his life after the Marines keeping him strong.  But then, when he needs her the most, his fiancee disappears.

Florist Risa Grant's life was definitely coming up roses.  In a matter of months her fiance would be back from Afghanistan and they could start planning their future.  Then tragedy strikes and Risa begins to let fear get the better of her.  In a moment of panic she packs up everything and moves to Montana to buy her own florist shop and hide away from the world.  Except the world - or her fiancee - catches up with her and wants an explanation; something she is not quite ready to give.  Can she and Monty have their happily ever after, even if their life isn't exactly a fairy tale?

Confession time:  I didn't really like either of the main characters.  Both of them were wishy-washy and not very heroic.  I can understand the anger on his part and the fear on her part, but both of them seemed say they were (or weren't) going to do something one minute only to do the exact opposite the next.  The author did a good job portraying that there really are actual people like that in real life - I just don't find them admirable.

As far as the storyline goes, I found the idea of losing your footing over a first time tragedy very intriguing.  To be untouched by loss for so long, and then to lose your family in a single swoop is gut-wrenching.  I cannot say how I would have reacted as I grew-up understanding death and sickness, but I am pretty sure Risa's reaction is a pretty normal one.

Overall, this was not one of my favorite books by this author.  I really loved her Cowboy for Christmas, so I was disappointed that I didn't care for this one.  Still, I don't like coffee and my husband loves the stuff, so this is more of a preference thing.  Definitely give the book a try; it wasn't bad.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 4 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 3

Overall – 3

The Unexpected Bride

The Unexpected Bride By Joanne Walsh

Widower Laurent Fletcher is still in love with his late wife.  Unfortunately, while he has been holding on to a ghost for two years, life has continued on without him.  Now his children and dog are completely out of control and his father is convinced that hiring a British Nanny is the family's last hope.  Yet this nanny is nothing like he expected and suddenly he finds himself guilty of a huge offense in his mind...betraying the memory of his wife.

Emma Peabody is looking for a fresh start.  Leaving behind a heartbreaking situation in London, she arrives at Copper Creek full of wonder and hope.  She immediately falls in love with her charges and her new home, but trying to break down her new boss' defenses in proving to be a challenge, especially since she finds her self falling for him.  Can she stay and do what she was hired to do without losing her heart in the process?

The premise behind this story is a common, and highly workable, subject:  widower falls for new nanny and feels guilty about it.  Hello!  Sound of Music anyone?  I don't mind a retelling of stories.  Really, this was actually a great story.  He had a hard time letting go.  She puts his life in order, but is wary of repeating her past.  The story unfolds with little to no problems for it to be delightful.

My issue with this story is actually the writing style.  There are some books that are simply harder to read than others.  I want to be captivated by the story, not distracted by the sentence structure.  I simply had a hard time working around that.

The only other thing I had a hard time with was Laurent's sporadic spirals into chauvinism.  It left a sour taste in my mouth.  Luckily those scenes are few and far between.

Overall, it was a good story.  If you aren't distracted by sentence structure then you should definitely give this book a try.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 2

Sex – 3 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 3

The Sweetest Sound

The Sweetest Sound By Lilian Darcy

Dr. Charlie Barnett doesn't have time for new commitments.  Between his patient rounds, research project, exams, and his birth mother's sudden reappearance in his life, his life is pretty complicated as it is.  Except he just can't seem to walk away from the beautiful street busker playing her mesmerizing music in front of the hospital every day.  Her music and smile seem to be the only things that can calms his frantic world.  But is it worth adding one more complication to his life?

Ramona Garrido-Lopez wants to go home.  Yet, her parents have stubbornly insisted that she not give up her dreams for them.  They want her to stay in New York and make her star burn bright.  The only problem is that her dreams have changed.  She is just a couple of months away from fulfilling her promise to her parents, now is not the time to fall for the Hot Doc who drops coins in her case and gives her secret smiles.  Is there anyway that she can have her new dream and her dream man at the same time?

After reading, and loving, The Sweetest Thing, I was excited to hear that Ms. Darcy was going to be releasing a novella to explain Charlie's story.  I loved reading the scenes that corresponded with things happening in The Sweetest Thing.  It was like finally hearing the other end of a phone conversation (which in one scene that is exactly what it was).

Charlie is very high octane.  He is driven and fast paced, but is counting the days until he can slow down.  He is concerned about the people around him, but his distraction sometimes makes him come off as a little self-centered and demanding.  He is a complex and enjoyable character.  Focused and highly optimistic, which can be a great combination when grounded in reality.

Ramona is a "recovering dreamer".  I say this with snark because there is nothing wrong with being a dreamer as long as those dreams aren't irresponsible.  Unfortunately, some of hers were.  She is a pessimist who wants to be and optimist, but is afraid of becoming an opportunist.  She is prideful and personifies what happens when you spend too much time grounding yourself in reality.

With most novellas there is not a lot of time to get to know the characters.  Since readers were already introduced to Charlie in The Sweetest Thing, less time seems to have been devoted to his character than Ramona.  I actually didn't find this a problem, as I really enjoyed both.  However, I really wanted to slap Ramona toward the end because of her inability to make up her mind.  She changed it so many times, there was even one scene that she changed her mind mid sentence.  It was impressive, but still annoying.

Overall, this book was a fun, quick read.  I recommend reading the first two River Bend novels first.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 4 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4