The Texas Cowboy's Triplets - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1693 - June 2018)

Series: Texas Legends: The McCabes (Book 2)

THEY’RE BOTH IN TRIPLE TROUBLE!

Some cowboys are meant to be family men, and Deputy Dan McCabe is one of them. Only, this eligible bachelor just can’t seem to find the right woman. Or rather -- he has found her. But single mom Kelly Shackleford just keeps turning him down as if she’s immune to his charms. What could be the only way to Kelly’s heart? Her rambunctious, adorable toddler triplets!

Kelly knows that sexy cowboys and romance don’t mix in any lasting way. Dan is just a friend, thank you very much. But a spark of attraction is turning “just friends” into something warmer and much, much deeper. Kelly doesn’t want a husband or a broken heart…so why can’t she stop falling for this heartbreaker of a cowboy?

Sweet story. Dan is a cowboy deputy who is ready to settle down. He's been the focus of a lot of women who want the same thing, but none of them seem right. That is until he meets Kelly and her adorable kids. However, no matter how hard he tries, he can't get her to go out with him. Kelly likes Dan just fine but refuses to go past being friends. She gave in to a sexy, charming man once and it got her nothing but trouble - and three babies.

I liked both Dan and Kelly. Both of them are warm, loving people. Dan takes his work as a deputy very seriously, believing in the importance of rules and order. He's recently returned home to Texas, after several years working in Chicago. He left when the woman he was engaged to tried to use him to protect her criminal father. Because of that, he has some trust issues with anyone who wants him to bend the rules. He is also fun-loving, patient, and kind-hearted. Kelly is a woman whose children are the center of her world. She has put her life back together after divorcing their father and is happy with the way it is. She loves working with children and giving them a happy start to their school careers. I loved her determination to help the kids of single parents when it came to holiday celebrations. Her biggest blind spot is when it comes to social services workers. She spent a lot of time in and out of foster homes, thanks to her mother's illness and what she saw as uncaring social workers.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kelly and Dan. Because they are friends, Kelly goes to him for help regarding one of her students. I liked Dan's willingness to help, and also enjoyed how he used it to tease her into finally going out with him. The attraction between them was obvious from the start, but Kelly desperately tried to resist it. She'd been burned by passion once before and doesn't want to risk it again, but Dan won't give up. I loved seeing Dan bond with the kids at the same time he and Kelly grew closer. That closeness with the kids helped soften Kelly's resistance, and it wasn't long before the chemistry between them heated up. The road didn't run smoothly though, as Kelly's emotional responses to problems would butt up against Dan's cooler, more logical ones. When a crisis with the mother of one of her students brought Kelly's issue with social workers up against Dan's duty as a deputy, both of them reacted badly. Thanks to some well-timed advice from Dan's mother and Kelly's friend, both of them realized that they were close to losing something very special. I loved the ending and seeing a mature discussion of what they'd done wrong and where they wanted to go from that point forward. The epilogue was adorable, with a very interesting twist.

The secondary characters were terrific. The triplets were adorable, sweet, but not too much so. They also had their troublesome moments, and I had to laugh about the goats, the boots, and the poop. And like most kids that age, they have no filters on their mouths. Some of the things they said were hilarious (though not necessarily to their mother). I also liked Sharon and her daughter Shoshanna. I ached for what Sharon was going through with her boss and her friends from her old home. I really liked how she and Kelly became friends. Mirabelle was the character I had the hardest time with. Her refusal to bend on the picnic was infuriating, and I really understood Kelly's problems with her. Of course, that put Kelly's back up also, and I wondered what was going to happen. I ended up feeling a little sorry for her.

I hope there will be more McCabe stories, even though the Harlequin Western line is done.

 

The Texas Cowboy's Baby Rescue - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1685 - Apr 2018)

Series: Texas Legends: The McCabes (Book 1)

FAMILY BY FATE

Finding an abandoned baby and a puppy brings nurse Bridgett Monroe one step closer to her dream of adoption. But Cullen Reid McCabe, aka the gruffest, sexiest rancher in Laramie, Texas, stands in her way. He’s been named responsible for the child -- and he needs her help. Together they care for Robby, and grow closer every day.

Cullen knows what it’s like to grow up fatherless. So he’s determined to find Robby’s birth parents, even if it means Bridgett losing her chance to raise a child. Robby belongs with his real family. But could “family” mean the three of them -- Cullen, Bridgett, Robby and puppy Riot -- not just for now, but forever?

Good book about two people brought together by a baby and a puppy. Bridgett is a nurse who has big dreams of adopting a baby. When she discovers an abandoned baby, she believes it is destiny. But a note found with the baby gives him over to the care of Cullen McCabe. Social services approves Bridgett as a foster parent, but when she experiences a housing crisis Cullen offers to have her, the baby, and the puppy move into his ranch with him.

I liked both Cullen and Bridgett, though each had their frustrating moments. Cullen is honorable, gruff, and more sensitive than is obvious at first. He grew up not knowing who his father was until after his mother died. His childhood was rootless as his mother went from one job and one man to another, without any feeling of security. Even after being claimed by his father, Cullen tends to hold back on his emotions. I ached for him as he still felt like an outsider in his family, but also felt that he caused some of that himself. With his history of buying and selling ranches and moving on, it felt like he kept one foot out the door at all times. I liked that he takes his responsibility to the baby seriously and does everything he can to support Bridgett in her care of little Robby. But he wants to find Robby's birth parents before any decisions are made, which puts him a bit at odds with Bridgett.

Bridgett is caring, nurturing, and a bit stubborn. She has wanted a baby for a long time and has her plans made. She's found the perfect house, is on the foster-adopt list, and is now waiting for fate to deliver the perfect baby. Finding Robby is a dream come true, but with the question of his parentage up in the air, she could still lose out.

I enjoyed the development of Cullen and Bridgett's relationship. The first encounter at the hospital was a little rough, with Bridgett not exactly trusting that he's telling the truth about Robby not being his. I liked that he stepped up right away to be involved anyway and was there to help Bridgett when her landlord kicked her out of her apartment. I liked how there was an almost immediate feeling of family once Bridgett, Robby, and Riot arrived at the ranch. Both Cullen and Bridgett connected with little Robby right away. I especially enjoyed seeing the sweet moments between Cullen and the baby, as his walls began to crumble. Those moments added to Bridgett's growing feelings of family. When the sparks of attraction that flared between Cullen and Bridgett burst into flame, both were ready to see where it led. I was a bit frustrated with them both as their feelings grew more intense, but neither would talk about it. When their insecurities pushed them apart, it took straight talk from family members and some serious soul searching, before both Cullen and Bridgett could see where they'd gone wrong. I loved seeing them finally open their hearts fully to each other. The epilogue was terrific.

A big part of the story was the relationship between Cullen and his father and the McCabe family. There was obvious strain between Cullen and his dad, plus the way Cullen still felt like an outsider. I grew very frustrated with Cullen because the more I saw, the more I felt that he was doing it to himself. I especially liked Cullen's stepmother and the unconditional love she showed him. I wasn't sure how Bridgett's plan was going to turn out and held my breath as it played out. 

Wanted: Texas Daddy - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1645 - June 2017)

Series: Texas Legacies: The Lockharts (Book 4)

A SECRET BABY BARGAIN?

Small Texas towns always have their secrets. Fortunately, no one in Laramie knows about Sage Lockhart's friends-with-benefits arrangement with hunky cowboy Nick Monroe. And now Sage wants something more from Nick -- something that could change the very nature of their relationship. She wants to have his baby.

Nick's always wanted to take things with Sage to the next level. Maybe this wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but having a child with Sage is an adventure Nick can't refuse. Of course, neither of them knew just how complicated things could get. With a baby on the way and all their careful plans unraveling, Sage and Nick must face the one secret they've been hiding from themselves…and from each other.

Good friends to lovers story. Sage and Nick have been good friends for months, adding "with benefits" not long after they met. Sage has wanted a baby for a long time, but her previous relationship didn't work out. She's decided to have one on her own, but isn't thrilled about using a donor - she'd rather know who the father is. She comes up with the idea of asking Nick.

Nick was surprised by Sage's request. He's always wanted more from Sage but went along with her wishes while waiting for his chance. A baby hadn't been in his plans just yet, but he's willing to go for it. At least it will guarantee that they'll have some kind of long-term relationship.

I enjoyed the development of Nick and Sage's relationship, even if I did spend a fair amount of time wanting to shake them both. Their friendship was strong, having taken the time to get to know each other. The addition of "benefits" suited them both at the time, when neither one was ready to move to anything permanent, and brought them closer still. There were times that I felt that they were getting too much satisfaction out of fooling their friends and families rather than being happy to share their contentment, especially once Sage found out she was pregnant. I did understand their desire to avoid the pressures from their families but felt they were strong enough to stand up to them. And everything would have likely gone the way they wanted it to if it hadn't been for unexpected interference.

At the same time all of this is happening, Nick is in the process of expanding his business, something he's wanted to do for a long time. Unfortunately, the lead contact for the venture capitalists that he is working with insists that Nick and Sage need to be married to portray the right image for the stores. He's willing to stand up to them, but Sage doesn't want to be the cause of his losing out on something so important, so she agrees. She has come to realize that she wants something more from their relationship, but she is afraid of making Nick feel trapped and ruining their friendship, so she insists that nothing about their relationship will be done differently.

From the moment the wedding takes place, Nick is as all-in as he is permitted to be. He has Sage right where he wants her and looks forward to showing her what they could have together. I loved the way that he takes such good care of her when she is ill. There are also some amazingly romantic moments that he comes up with. Sage is warier, still haunted by her fears. It doesn't help that there is constant interference from MR, the business contact. It was obvious to me from the beginning that MR had an agenda of her own, and it wasn't all business related. She was very good at manipulating both Nick and Sage, and it really affected Sage. I was a bit worried that Nick was blind to it, but he was more aware than I realized. I loved seeing him stand up to MR more and more often as the book went on.

As the book went on, both Sage and Nick realized that their feelings for each other had grown and that they wanted more out of their marriage. The problem was, neither of them was willing to take a chance and talk to the other about how they felt and what they wanted. I ached for them both as Nick felt that Sage was pushing him away, and Sage was desperately trying not to interfere with his business dreams. Unfortunately, their level of communication had dropped since they got married, and they no longer talked about the things that were important to them. This caused a dangerous situation near the end of the book that opened their eyes. I liked the ending a lot, especially the steps that Nick took. The epilogue was great. I loved seeing them a couple of years later and what they had accomplished.

I also enjoyed seeing the parts that their families played. There was no question about the love that was there, even if there was occasionally some tension. I liked the way that Sage's mom wanted the best for her, even if she didn't always agree with the way Sage went about getting it. I also liked that Nick's siblings were behind him in his ambitions, though it took Sage to get them to express it. I adored Sage's reaction to MR's plans for the grand opening and loved seeing her stand up for what was right.

The Texas Valentine Twins - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1629 - Feb 2017)

Series: Texas Legacies: The Lockharts (Book 3)

A Sweetheart Deal

Wyatt Lockhart is bound to regret moving in with Adelaide Smythe. She's broken the Texas rancher's heart before, and their last spontaneous reunion resulted in a couple of surprises -- twin babies! Wyatt won't shirk his fatherly duties, but being this close to Adelaide makes it hard to remember why he should stay far away.

Adelaide knows she hurt Wyatt, and she's determined never to do it again. Once they figure out how to share parenting duties, she'll give him enough space to keep both their hearts safe. But life together at the Circle H is already growing on her. For the sake of their family's future, can Wyatt forgive Adelaide for the past?

Very good book about trust and forgiveness. Adelaide and Wyatt have a tumultuous history. They had been high school sweethearts who eloped on Valentine's Day. But Adelaide panicked after the deed was done, breaking Wyatt's heart. They spent the next nine years trying to avoid each other until one chance encounter fanned the flames between them. Again, Adelaide pulled away, with still more reasons that they couldn't be together. Add in the bad blood caused by her father, and it's no wonder that Wyatt has trouble trusting her. When Wyatt puts a private investigator to work on her, to protect his mother, what he uncovers is quite a shock.

The annulment they applied for all those years ago never went through, so they are still married. In the course of trying to straighten out that mess, they discover that Adelaide's twins aren't the product of her artificial insemination, but that chance encounter with Wyatt. Now they have to figure out how to deal with that and each other.

I liked Wyatt a lot. He's been burned by Adelaide before, so he is understandably cautious around her. When he finds out that he is the twins' father he is shocked but surprisingly happy. I loved the way that he immediately stepped up to be part of their lives. He is protective of those he cares about and will do whatever necessary to keep them safe.

I liked Adelaide too. She has had a hard time lately. Besides the exhaustion of being the single parent of twins, she is still dealing with the fallout of her father's crimes. She is very independent and doesn't like to ask for help from anyone. She is also a cautious person, who likes to think out the ramifications of any action before she takes it. The times she hadn't have led to disaster, so now she keeps a tight hold on her emotions. The only exception is the love that she feels for her babies, for whom she will do anything.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Wyatt and Adelaide. They move in together to learn how to share parenting the babies. It was so sweet to see the way that they worked through the everyday challenges of taking care of the babies, which drew them closer together. I loved the scene at the doctor's office when the twins' had their immunizations. The enforced togetherness also fans the flames of attraction that still flare between them. Though each attempts to believe that they can indulge without risking their emotions, it's soon obvious that their feelings for each other have deepened. Wyatt really wants a life together, but has a feeling that Adelaide is holding something back, which triggers bad memories of their past. Adelaide wants the same, but the secret she's been hiding is tearing her apart. When it all blows up, both Wyatt and Adelaide have to face up to the mistakes of past and present and decide if they can overcome the obstacles and move on together. I loved seeing them finally be open and honest with each other, risking everything to have it all. The epilogue was pretty sweet, too.

The storyline with Adelaide's father was good and underscored the issues that Wyatt and Adelaide had. With her father on the run, Adelaide had to deal with the constant feeling of sharing his guilt. The odd messages that she continued to receive didn't help. I ached for her and the conflict that she felt between her anger at what he had done and the love for him that she still had. It made what she did at the end doubly hard. 

A Texas Soldier's Christmas - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1665 - Nov 2017)

Series: Texas Legacies: The Lockharts (Book 5)

THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Just the sight of United States Army Lieutenant Zane Lockhart makes nurse Nora Caldwell (and every other woman he meets) weak at the knees. But Nora has to keep a level head this time. As tempting as it is to fall into his finely sculpted arms -- again -- she's got her beautiful baby boy, Liam, to think of now. She can't settle for some temporary loving. She and her son need, and deserve, more.

Zane has always responded to the call of duty. But that dedication has meant saying goodbye to Nora far too often. He can't blame her for doubting that he's finally ready to put her -- and Liam -- first. Can the Christmas gift of a lifetime convince her?

Good book. Nora is a former Army nurse who has left the military to raise her adopted son in a more stable environment. She has also ended her on-again-off-again relationship with Zane Lockhart. She wants someone in her life who will be there for her and Liam. She's not especially happy to have Zane appear at her workplace, home for Christmas leave.

Zane has wanted his military career for most of his life. He loves what he does, but doesn't like the strain it has put on his relationship with Nora. He's finally ready to consider alternatives, but can he convince Nora that he's ready to settle down?

I really enjoyed the maturing of the relationship between Zane and Nora. They've known each other for years, going from friends in high school to a little more in college, then lovers as adults. I liked the realism of the challenges they faced while they were both in the military. There were the long separations, Nora's fears about Zane's safety, and possible issues regarding fraternization. The last time they had been together, Nora had ended her relationship with Zane. Now he's back and intent on becoming part of her life again. He says that he's leaving the army, but Nora has heard it before and is reluctant to get her hopes up. One of the things that brought Zane back to Laramie was the belief that Liam was his. I loved that Zane seemed truly disappointed that he wasn't Liam's father. It was really sweet to see the way that Zane and Liam took to each other.

The chemistry between Zane and Nora is just as strong as ever. Though Nora initially tries to resist, eventually she gives in, even knowing how much it will hurt when Zane leaves again. She's determined to take things day by day, but it isn't long before she wants more. But she's afraid to tell him, with her past experience of his fear of being boxed in. Zane's feelings for Nora are just as strong. He's making plans for the future, but not sharing them with Nora. He's broken promises in the past and doesn't want to risk another promise falling through. There were multiple times I wanted to shake them both and tell them to talk to each other. But their silences led to misunderstandings that nearly broke them up again. I was happy to see each of them finally face their fears, enabling them to open their hearts at last. I especially loved the lecture that Zane got from his sister. The epilogue was great.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters of the residents of Laramie Gardens. I loved the way that they all cared so much about Nora. Some of the advice they gave her was pretty funny, and some of it was exactly what she needed to hear. I also loved how Zane quickly became a part of the group. I especially loved his connection with Mr. Pierce. I liked the realism of the issues that Mr. Pierce was dealing with and the caring that Zane and Nora showed. I liked the inclusion of the residents in the epilogue too.