This Time Around - Tawna Fenske (Montlake - Apr 2017)

A refreshing take on second-chance love -- and the hilarious hurdles along the way.

Allie Ross is not living the life she once dreamed. Her law career ended before it ever started, her parents landed in jail for running a Ponzi scheme, and she just inherited her grandmother’s B&B -- which is nice, even if it is full of extra-toed cats. As for her love life…she’d rather not talk about it.

When Jack Carpenter reaches out to reconnect with Allie, the girl who broke his heart in college, his plan is to impress her with the adult he’s become. Sure, he was a deadbeat then, but life has forced him to grow up. And it’s a relief to find out that things didn’t necessarily go the way Allie expected either.

As Allie and Jack get reacquainted, they rediscover the things they loved -- and hated -- about each other. But who they are now isn’t who they were then, and secrets -- old and new -- will test whether they have a future together, or if the past is destined to repeat itself.

Fun second chance romance. Jack and Allie had been a couple in college until their differences drove them apart. Allie was the daughter of wealthy parents, accustomed to the better things in life, and on track to become a lawyer. Jack was the son of a single mother, whose father had deserted them, and was so laid-back he was almost asleep. He lacked any kind of drive or sense of responsibility. Though they were engaged, Allie got to the point where she couldn't take it any longer and left. Sixteen years later, Jack has returned to Portland a very different man. He has never forgotten Allie and wants to show her the new him. At the same time, Allie wants to show her best side to Jack, but her life isn't what she had expected it to be.

I liked both Allie and Jack. Though her life hasn't taken the path she thought it would, it hasn't been all bad. She has a job she loves and is good at. Her relationship with her parents is still good, even though they are in prison for running a Ponzi scheme. Plus, her beloved grandmother has recently passed away but left Allie her former B&B, which is now a sanctuary for polydactyl (extra-toed) cats. Allie's biggest issue is that she tends to look for the positive in every situation, to the point of ignoring potential problems and avoiding confrontations. Jack came back to Portland for his college reunion and to show off a bit to Allie. Though it took him a little while, he had pulled himself together and become a successful man. He's a widower with a ten-year-old daughter and determined to be the best father he can be. He has a great relationship with his daughter and his mom, but some lingering issues related to his father.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Jack and Allie. Once they got past the first awkward moments, they discovered that the connection they shared was still there. Thanks to their history, there is plenty of familiarity, but because they've been apart for so long, there is also a sense of newness and discovery. I loved the way that Jack was there for Allie as she dealt with her grandmother's B&B and the things she found there. I also loved the way that Allie fit so easily into Jack's life. There were many fun scenes of the two of them together, dealing with what life throws at them. But through it all, there is also the sense that Allie is holding back on something that keeps her from being all in on their relationship. I ached for her when she finally lowered her walls enough to let Jack in, only to find that he couldn't handle the way she had dealt with it. Yes, she should have told him, but I understood why she didn't. Although it was hard on both of them, they needed to confront that part of their relationship before they could have the future they both wanted.  I loved Jack's big moment at the end and the perfect way that he and Paige made it happen. The epilogue was great with a terrific twist involving the money and the cats.

The secondary characters were an important part of the story. I loved Allie's best friend, Wade. Their friendship was solid, with an interesting background that added some twists to Allie's relationship with Jack. He seems to be quite the player and I'd love to see him with a book of his own. I had high hopes for a relationship with Skye. I also loved Skye. She was a good-hearted free spirit who became a terrific friend to Allie. I loved the connection she had to Allie's grandmother, and the stories she had that gave Allie a new perspective on her grandmother's life. Allie's parents were very interesting. Their love for each other and for Allie was undeniable, but also showed that it could lead to poor choices. By far, my favorite was Jack's daughter Paige. She was sweet, perceptive, smart, and funny. I loved her curiosity and the paths it led her down. Her relationship with Jack was fantastic and provided a lot of funny moments as well as sweet ones. The scene in the barbershop was hysterical and I give Jack a lot of credit for the way he handled it. The part with Jack's dad was sweet and sad.

The mystery surrounding the contents of the attic was fun. There was one item that was the focus for Allie and Jack, and that became the driving force for their relationship. Allie's reluctance to face the issue head on led to some interesting conversations and revelations with other people. The attic seemed to be full of secrets, all of which exposed unexpected layers to the keepers of those secrets. They also provided some pretty funny moments.

Why Not Tonight - Susan Mallery (HQN - Sept 2018)

Series: Happily Inc. (Book 3)

Natalie Kaleta will do anything for the artists at her gallery, including risk life, limb and the effect of humidity on her naturally curly hair. Braving a downpour to check on reclusive Ronan Mitchell, Natalie gets stranded by a mudslide at his mountain home, where the brooding glass artist reveals his playful side, sending her inconvenient crush from under-the-radar to over-the-top.

After a secret tore apart his family and made him question his sense of self, Ronan fled his hometown for Happily Inc, but the sunny small town can’t fix his damaged heart. He won’t give in to his attraction for beautiful, perpetually cheerful Natalie. She’s untouched by darkness -- or so he thinks.

Natalie knows that when a heart goes through the flame, it comes out stronger. Life may not be a fairy tale, but sometimes dreams do come true. Why not this one? Why not tonight?

I have been waiting for Ronan's story since he first appeared in the Fool's Gold books, and I was not disappointed. Ronan is a brilliant glass artist. He is also brooding, angry, and terribly confused. In a previous book, Ronan discovered that he is not his brother Mathias's twin. He is the product of one of his father's affairs, which has made him question everything about himself. He has pulled away from everyone - his brothers, his father (I don't blame him there), and the woman he thought was his mother (that does bother me). He's so angry that he's been lied to all his life that he has allowed that anger to affect every part of his life. He's finally reached a point where he realizes that he misses the relationship he had with his brothers, but he doesn't know how to fix it. They miss him too, and it's that worry for him that sends Natalie up the mountain to check on him.

Natalie is a fellow artist as well as the gallery owner's assistant. She is one of those people who can find the good in almost anything. I loved the description of her as curvy, feisty, and that she wears glasses, which added to the realism of her character. She is also a wee bit stubborn, which is what sent her up the mountain in bad weather in a car that was inadequate for the conditions. It was no wonder that she ended up on his doorstep muddy, wet, and spitting mad.

I loved the development of Natalie and Ronan's relationship. Natalie has had a crush on Ronan but has kept it under control. An engagement gone bad has left her unwilling to risk her heart again, even though she wants a family of her own. Her conversations with her friends over the "baby app" are funny and heartbreaking at the same time. When she gets stuck on the mountain with Ronan, she discovers a whole new side of the brooding artist. I ached a little for Ronan because he was so surprised that anyone was worried enough about him to check on him. I loved how easy he found it to bring her into his house and his life. It turned out that he'd been crushing on her a bit, too. I loved those couple of days that they had together. Natalie's cheerfulness threw some light into the dark corners of Ronan's life, and I loved seeing a lighter side of Ronan emerge. I especially enjoyed the paper airplane scene. There are also some pretty strong sparks flying between them. Though it was frustrating for Natalie, I quite liked Ronan's refusal to take advantage of those sparks while she was "trapped" in his house. He certainly made up for it later.

When they agreed to have a fling, with the understanding that emotions would not be involved, I had to laugh. It was clear to me that Natalie was already well down the road to loving Ronan. I loved watching them together. With Natalie in his life, Ronan lost a lot of his broodiness, and his creative side began to re-emerge. With both of them being artists, there was no feeling of neglect when one or the other was caught up in their creative process. There were some very sweet scenes showing Ronan's support and encouragement of Natalie. When they were together, Natalie seemed to be consistently tuned into Ronan's moods. Because of her lack of family, Natalie really wants Ronan to reconcile with his. She takes every opportunity to point out to him how lucky he is to have the family that he does. I loved seeing how she brought Ronan and his brothers back together, using an art project as the reason. The more time they spent together, the deeper their feelings grew, though each one tried desperately to deny it. I ached for Natalie when she got up the courage to tell Ronan how she felt, only to have him run. Ronan is terrified that his problems would suck the life out of her, just as his father tended to do to others, so he'd rather push her away than see that happen. But when Ronan faced a crisis, Natalie was the one he turned to. The ending was intensely emotional, as Ronan was finally able to lay his fears to rest. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet, romantic, and beautiful.

The big issue in the book was Ronan's reaction to finding out the truth of his birth. I could completely understand the initial shock and the need to get away and process the information. However, I couldn't understand him pushing his brothers away. Even if they are "only" half-brothers, the love, respect, and memories are still there. I liked that they didn't give up on him. I ached for him and his feelings of betrayal from his mom. That was the hardest thing for him to deal with. Once Ronan was involved with Natalie, things began to change because of her. I loved her determination to help him reconcile with his family. She also knew that it couldn't be forced. I loved her creativity in bringing him together with Nick and Mathias. But try as she might, she didn't seem to be able to get through to him when it came to his mom. I found it immensely satisfying when she finally laid into him with her opinion of his attitude. In the end, it was Nick who took the logical course of action to resolve the issue. I loved Ronan's stunned reaction and how it made him reevaluate his own actions. The resolution was intense and emotional.

I also loved the friendships among the women of the story. It's always wonderful to see how the author brings together such diverse personalities in a way that works. They are always there to support each other, professionally or personally, and can be depended on to be brutally honest if required. There were a couple of those moments between Natalie and Silver when Natalie had a decision to make. There were a few hints dropped that make me think that Silver's story is going to be another fantastic installment in the series.

The Maverick's Baby-in-Waiting - Melissa Senate (HSE #2635 - Aug 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 2)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 116)

A millionaire…and baby booties?

Rust Creek Ramblings

Pretty-and-pregnant Mikayla Brown is Rust Creek Falls’ newest resident. Poor as a church mouse, she is determined to make it on her own, so what is she doing with Tulsa billionaire Jensen Jones? Everyone knows that the cowboy-booted businessman doesn’t “do” commitment -- and Mikayla is in no position (literally!) to do casual. Yet our sources suggest Jensen may be Mikayla’s Prince Charming in disguise. Could our expectant, independent Cinderella have finally found her perfect match?

Terrific story. Mikayla moved to Rust Creek Falls from Cheyenne after her boyfriend made it plain he had no interest in being a father to their baby. She's living at Sunshine Farm with Eva and Luke Stockton while she gets her feet under her. She may be alone in the world and as poor as can be, but she's determined to be the best mother she can be.

Jensen Jones is one of the Jones brothers from Tulsa. Three of his brothers have met and fallen in love with Rust Creek Falls women, relocating from Tulsa to Montana. This has irritated their father, who has made it plain to Jensen that he's to finish his business in town and get back to Tulsa ASAP. Jensen is in town to purchase some property for a crisis distribution center, but the owner of the land he wants refuses to sell. Jensen is determined and won't give up.

I loved the development of the relationship between Jensen and Mikayla. Both of them are wonderful people. Mikayla is kind, sweet, and independent. She absolutely refuses to let her circumstances get her down, and for the most part, keeps a very positive outlook. She had her heart stomped on by her ex, which has made her wary, but she hasn't given up on love entirely. Jensen is an all-around nice guy. He was badly betrayed by his fiancée, who had purposely gone after him because of his money and his name. Then she ran up huge debts by opening credit cards in his name. Now Jensen is convinced that he's not cut out for love and family, so he limits his relationships to those who don't expect commitment.

I loved the meeting between Mikayla and Jensen. He took one look at her and knew that he wanted to get to know her better. His flirtatious advances were over-the-top, but also kind of cute. Mikayla was surprised, a bit intrigued, and also somewhat amused because she knew something he did not. His shock was clear when she stood up and he discovered that she was pregnant, and he rapidly retreated. But he couldn't keep her out of his mind and counted it a blessing when he met her in the local baby supply store. I loved how easily they were able to talk to each other, and how she helped him out. It was sweet to see the way he reacted to what he overheard, and that he couldn't resist playing fairy godfather. Of course, that didn't set well with Mikayla's independence, and I loved seeing her stand up to him, something he doesn't experience very often. It was fun to see how that affected him and made him all the more determined, to the point of proposing a two-week, "no strings" fling.

After some debate with herself, Mikayla agreed. There were many sweet scenes as the two of them spent time together. Though there were plenty of sparks between them, I really liked the way they just spent time together. I loved seeing how much enjoyment Jensen got out of finding ways to spoil Mikayla, from meals out to simple picnics. I especially liked how they were honest with each other about their expectations, and could talk to each other about their pasts. It was clear that their feelings were changing, but both tried to resist. Mikayla knows that Jensen will be leaving, but she can't help wishing that things could be different. I ached for her as she realized that she had fallen hard for him. She knew he wasn't going to stay, but she couldn't help that kernel of hope that she felt. Jensen fought really hard against his feelings. Every time that he found himself thinking about her, or about a future together, he had to remind himself that he was a "no commitment" guy. His behavior in Vegas showed how much he was afraid of his feelings.  The ending was terrific. His eye-opening advice came from an unexpected source, and just in time. His big moment at the end was sweet and emotional, perfect for him.

Part of the book was the story of why Jensen was in Rust Creek Falls. It was interesting to see how, at the beginning, Jensen was sure that it was a case of finding the right amount of money to convince Barnes to sell his land. I loved seeing how spending time with Mikayla changed his outlook. His conversation with Barnes at the end of the book was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

I also loved how the book spotlighted how much Jensen loves his family. He is bothered by the rifts between his brothers and their father and is determined to change it. In this book and previous ones, the senior Jones comes across as a man who puts his business above everything else. I wasn't at all surprised by his behavior when he first arrived in Rust Creek Falls. The scene between him and Jensen at the party was fantastic and gave excellent insight into both him and Jensen. I also enjoyed the relationships between Walker, Hudson, and Jensen. The changes in Walker and Hudson since their arrivals in Rust Creek Falls are profound and quite surprising to Jensen. I especially liked their clear-eyed, experienced view of what was happening between Jensen and Mikayla, and how they tried to make Jensen see the truth.

 

That Chesapeake Summer - Mariah Stewart (Pocket - June 2015)

Series: Chesapeake Diaries (Book 9)

Jamie Valentine is the wildly successful author of self-help books advocating transparency in every relationship. But when her widowed mother passes away unexpectedly, Jamie discovers her own life has been based on a lie. Angry and deeply betrayed, she sets out to find the truth -- which may be in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay. Cutting her most recent book tour short, Jamie books a room at the Inn at Sinclair’s Point, just outside St. Dennis.

The death of Daniel Sinclair’s father forced him to take over the family inn, and his wife’s death left him a single parent of two children, so there’s little room for anything else in his life. His lovely new guest is intriguing, though, and he’s curious about the secret she’s clearly hiding. But in the end, Jamie and Dan could discover the greatest truth of all: that the search for one thing just might lead to the find of a lifetime -- if you keep your heart open.

Good story about a woman's search for who she is, and how she finds love along the way. Jamie is a successful author of a series of books about honesty in relationships. After her mother's unexpected death, Jamie discovers a letter that turns her world upside down. Hurt, angry, and confused, she sets off on a journey to find the answers she needs. Her quest leads her to the small town of St. Dennis on the Chesapeake Bay and a stay at the Inn at Sinclair's Point.

The Inn is run by Daniel Sinclair, who took it on after the death of his father. Besides being completely immersed in the running of the Inn, Daniel is also the single father of two teenagers. His plate is full to overflowing, with little time for anything else. Having his mother, Grace, living with them has made life somewhat easier.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jamie and Dan. It started out pretty rough, with Dan in a harried mood just as Jamie arrived. He's late for a meeting, but Grace insists that he be the one to show Jamie to her room. There are a few rather snarky comments exchanged, with Jamie believing Dan is a rude bellhop and something about Jamie getting under Dan's skin. It doesn't get any better later on when Dan accuses Jamie of butting in between him and his daughter. I have to say that Dan came across as quite a jerk during the early part of the book. Fortunately, he sees the error of his ways. I liked the apology scene, where he does a pretty decent job of making amends. It soon becomes clear that underneath the antagonism were also some sparks of attraction. I loved seeing them grow closer, but there were also some issues that could keep them apart. Jamie is trying to come to grips with her new reality, and the realization that truth isn't always as black and white as she had believed. She hasn't shared her reason for being in St. Dennis with anyone, and that secretiveness could come back to bite her. Dan is still dealing with the grief, guilt, and anger of his wife's death. He has some trust issues because of it, and he senses that Jamie is hiding something. It was fun to see them spend time together and watch as Jamie weaned Dan away from his workaholic habits. I loved his support when Jamie finally revealed why she was there, and his understanding when she needed time to process it all. It was also sweet to see that he wasn't able to stay away very long. I loved how he helped her work through her fears of pursuing what she had learned. I ached a little bit for Dan, who feared that he would lose her once she'd done all she needed to do. The ending was sweet and romantic.

The biggest part of the story was Jamie's search for the truth. Her shock at the initial discovery was realistic, as was her confusion over whether she should do anything about it. I liked that she didn't just rush off to confront the letter writer, but took the time to consider her options. Once she did make up her mind, she didn't waste any time. It was interesting to see Grace's diary entries that gave her the heads-up that something important was in the works. The connection between Grace and Jamie was terrific. I liked Grace's way of helping Jamie find the truth, and also her little pushes to get Jamie and Dan together. I also loved how easily Jamie fit into life in St. Dennis. The buildup to the revelation of the truth was believable, as was Jamie's reaction when she found out. I was on the edge of my seat as she worked through her fears, wondering if she would get the outcome she wanted. That resolution was emotional and heartwarming.

The Forgotten Daughter - Lauri Robinson (HH #1254 - Oct 2015)

Series: Daughters of the Roaring Twenties (Book 4)

Often the quietest people…

Josie Nightingale has always been the odd girl out. While her sisters swoon over guys, she's busy trying to change the world! Which isn't easy with Eric "Scooter" Wilson watching her every move.

…have the biggest secrets!

She may be out of his league, but the day Scooter rescued Josie from jail and discovered her secret, he vowed he'd do anything to protect her. And if keeping Josie safe means not letting this stubborn dame out of his sight -- then so be it!

Good book, and a time period that isn't visited very often in romance novels. Josie wants more out of life than working at her father's resort and being one of the local "princesses."  When given the opportunity, she jumped at the chance to sneak off to nearby Duluth and attempt to help the prostitutes working the docks. Those missions become much more difficult after she has to call on her friend Scooter Wilson to bail her out of jail. Suddenly, Scooter won't let her out of his sight.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Scooter and Josie. They've been friends since they were children, and Josie has always been more comfortable with him than any of the other guys she knows. So when she needed help, he was the one she called. She didn't expect him to get that mad when he found out what she was doing. She wasn't at all happy when he threatened to tell her father what she was doing. Plus, every time she turned around, Scooter was right there, making it impossible for her to sneak away. Josie is very stubborn, and nothing that Scooter can say to her will stop her from doing what she thinks is right. Scooter has been friends with Josie for a long time, but deep down he wants more. Unfortunately, she's the daughter of the richest man around, and he's simply the owner of one little gas station and car repair business. Once he finds out what Josie is up to, he is determined to keep her safe. However, he didn't realize just how hazardous it would be - to his heart.

I loved the interactions between Josie and Scooter. Josie's stubbornness tends to find its voice in sarcasm and snark. But try as she might, she can't shake him loose. I loved how well Scooter knew and understood Josie, and it was fun to see him thwart almost every attempt she made to sneak away. The night of the Fourth of July celebration was fun to see. It was also the first time that Josie looked at Scooter as more than just a friend. That first kiss they shared was pretty steamy, and quite a surprise to her. There were times that Scooter's protectiveness was a little heavy-handed, but I think a large part of that was his frustration with her. I ached a bit for Scooter because of his certainty that he wasn't good enough for her. I liked how Josie started to realize that she'd cared for Scooter for a long time. Once she did, there was no holding her back. I loved the ending as she demolished each of his obstacles to their future together.

The premise of Josie's mission was intense and had its dark moments. She got involved when a friend of hers was kidnapped by a prostitution ring, and she became part of the group that rescued her. After seeing the plight of the women forced into that lifestyle, Josie had to help. I was impressed with her creativity in disguises, and her quick thinking when in trouble. But she also didn't seem to realize just how much danger she was in until Fourth of July night and Scooter's pretty blunt explanations. Even then, her stubbornness led her into danger that she almost didn't get out of. There were some very intense moments as Scooter came to her rescue. There were some interesting twists and turns provided by Scooter and a new friend of his, and I had to laugh at Josie's frustration with it all. The final resolution was quite satisfying, with an excellent scene involving Scooter, Josie, and her father.

 

Lone Star Christmas - Delores Fossen (HQN - Sept 2018)

Series: Coldwater Texas (Book 1)

A family crisis brings him home…

Just in time for Christmas

Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time.

Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?

Terrific start to the new series, with a steamy romance, fun characters, and a quirky small town. There are secrets to deal with, a wedding to attend, and memories to face. Callen hasn't been back in Coldwater since he left at the age of eighteen. There were too many bad memories, and he was determined to leave them as far behind as he could. He has no intention of ever going back to Coldwater, even when he gets the invitation to his foster father's wedding. It doesn't matter that there is a note attached that Buck needs to see him. Then Buck's daughter Shelby shows up at Callen's Dallas office to personally ask Callen to come because she's worried about her father. Callen had had a huge crush on Shelby as a teen, but Buck's threat to castrate any of his foster sons who even looked at her funny kept his feelings well hidden.

Shelby is excited about her father and Rosy's wedding, but she has a bad feeling that there is something seriously wrong with her father. If he wants Callen home for the wedding, she will do whatever it takes to get him there. She also had had a huge crush on Callen when they were younger and looked on this as a chance to have what had been forbidden to her before.

Callen only intended to make a quick visit to see Buck and find out what was on his mind. What he found instead was a man with a big problem and that he was the only one Buck trusted to take care of it. Callen isn't happy about the secrets Buck wants him to keep, but he packs up his office and his assistant and moves to Coldwater temporarily to help Buck out. Seeing Shelby again is a bonus, especially after Buck removes the threat of castration.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Callen and Shelby. The chemistry between them was explosive every time they were near each other. Shelby is well aware of the fact that Callen will not stay in Coldwater for long, but she's willing to take what she can get. Callen is up for a fling but also suffers some pangs of guilt because he's afraid of hurting her. The attraction between them leaped off the pages as they could not keep their hands off each other, but it was also clear that what they had was more than just physical. I loved seeing how tuned they were to each other and the protectiveness it brought out in both of them. There were some terrific scenes of Callen being there for Shelby when she most needs him. There were also a few times when Shelby showed how well she understood Callen and what drives him. There was a fantastic scene near the end where she supports him in a totally unexpected way. I ached for Shelby as her "no strings" promise looked like it would lead to another broken heart for her. I was a little worried about Callen and his plans, but he came through in a big way. I loved his Christmas present to her at the end. It was sweet, romantic, and symbolic of everything he had been fighting against.

The secondary characters and stories were wonderful. I loved Buck and Rosy. Buck's devotion to giving homes to those who most needed it was heartwarming. It was clear just how much he meant to those kids when the responses to the wedding invitations came rolling in. Buck was also stubborn and protective, which is what led to his attempts to keep the truth from Rosy and Shelby. Rosy was a riot. She had a huge heart and a sweet disposition. She was also a wee bit eccentric, as shown by her wedding plans. It was fun to anticipate just what she was going to come up with next, especially when it came to Billy, the stuffed armadillo. I loved Lucy and Mateo. The parallels between them and Callen and his brothers were heartbreaking. They were terrific kids, and I loved the way they looked out for each other, and how much they cared for Buck and Rosy. I was happy for them with the way things worked out at the end.

I also loved Callen's brothers. In spite of the way he had cut them out of his life when he fled Coldwater, they were still there for each other when needed. I ached for them all as the stories of their pasts were revealed. There was a fantastic scene at the end where they confronted a part of their past together, and I couldn't help but laugh as they did it. It was great to see Callen reconnect with them. I am looking forward to reading their stories.

There were plenty of other quirky characters in the small town. There was Gavin, Shelby's ex-fiancé, who had a hard time letting go, and his sister who had issues with Callen. The town flasher was a bit of a scene-stealer. Then there was Ted, the owner of the local junk shop, who ended up having quite an effect of Callen. I loved the scene of Callen in his shop as Callen did his Christmas shopping.

Secret of Deadman's Coulee - B.J. Daniels (HI #996 - June 2007)

Series: Whitehorse Montana (Book 1)

A DEADLY SECRET AND A DEVASTATINGLY HANDSOME SHERIFF... HOW LUCKY CAN A GIRL GET?

It would just figure! Eve Bailey would have the rotten luck to drop in on a body and a thirty-year-old mystery. And darn it all, Carter Jackson would be the sheriff determined to take on the cold case--and Eve. In high school he had been one tall drink of water, and nothing had changed--not his smoldering eyes, his cowboy swagger or the way Eve felt about him. The Whitehorse sewing circle would surely be putting in overtime "quilting" sessions down at the community center, speculating whether Eve and Carter would have a second chance.

But gossip was the least of Eve's problems. One of their own was desperate to keep local secrets buried deep in the Montana mountains. There would be an old-fashioned showdown when the truth was revealed.... And anyone could get caught in the crossfire.

Good suspense with a nice second chance romance to go with it. After years away, Eve has returned home for a couple of reasons. One, she wants to find out what is going on with her parents, who appear to be having problems. Dad is living several towns away, claiming it's to be closer to his work, and Mom looks like she's carrying on with someone else. Two, she wants to finally get to the bottom of her questions about who she is. Eve has never felt like she fit in with the rest of the family.

The book started with a bang, as Eve rushed off after a confrontation with her mother about the man she saw sneaking out of the house. Eve was so upset that she rode off without taking the usual precautions when going riding. She was miles away from the ranch when she noticed bad weather coming fast. When the storm hit, she thought she heard someone moaning, but when she investigated, she found a crashed plane with a dead body in it - a plane that had been there for thirty years. When Eve's horse returned home without her, Lila called the sheriff and search parties were formed. Sheriff Carter Jackson was the one who found Eve as she made her way out of the ravine after the storm had passed.

The meeting between Eve and Carter was tense. They had been an item their senior year in high school until Carter betrayed her with another girl and got her pregnant. He did the "right thing" and married Deena, and Eve left Whitehorse right after graduation. Now Carter is divorced from Deena and still feels guilty about the way he treated Eve. He has also never forgotten his feelings for her. Meanwhile, Deena creates a whole host of headaches for him. Eve isn't particularly happy to see Carter, but she knows she has to tell him about the wreck and the body. Because of where it is, Eve has to show him or he'd never find it. There were still some sparks flying between Carter and Eve, and they weren't all antagonism.

I liked Carter and Eve, though each had their moments of irritating me. Carter has grown to be an honorable man. He stuck out his marriage far longer than he should have, just because he took his vows seriously. I wasn't happy about the way he had treated Eve way back when, but he did grow and mature. He is also a bit stubborn and refused to give up on the investigation into the plane crash, even though he suspected that he wouldn't like some of the things that would come to light. I liked his protectiveness toward Eve, even when she resisted him. Eve has a fair amount of stubbornness of her own, as well as a tendency to be impulsive. She hasn't been able to let go of her suspicions about her place in the family and is determined to find out the truth. She also rushes into actions without thinking about ramifications, such as her flight on the horse or her break-in at the doctor's office. But she also loves her family, even though they frequently frustrate or confuse her.

The suspense of the story was very good. Eve's discovery of the plane and body stirred up a lot of questions. Who was the dead man, and why were he and the plane never reported missing? What happened to the pilot, and had anyone else been on the plane? I was a little mad at Eve when she found something on the plane that she recognized and took it without telling Carter about it until later. The evidence discovered on the plane caused more questions than it answered. Had there been babies on board? Was the plane being used to run drugs? Is there a connection to Carter's father and grandfather? At the same time, Eve's search for the truth about her birth is causing problems for her. Her conversations with her grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's, may have confirmed that Eve is adopted, but can she trust her grandmother's memory?

I was glued to the pages as the answers to the questions were revealed. I could sense Carter's worry when he talked to his father about the plane and who it belonged to. He could sense that his father was hiding something. As the evidence from the plane was investigated, there were some interesting twists, including the identity of the dead man and information about the hair in the brush found on board. Meanwhile, Eve has stirred up a hornet's nest with her search. What she learned from her grandmother gave her the incentive to break into the doctor's office looking for evidence about the day of her birth. What she found made her question everything her mother had told her. She also encountered someone else who had also broken in. Then on the way home, someone shot at her truck, causing her to wreck. Fortunately for her, Carter had spotted her and came to her rescue. Things really started to heat up as the dead man was identified, and Eve kidnapped from her home. There were some interesting twists and connections revealed as Eve confronted her kidnapper. I loved that she didn't cave into the fear and that she assisted in her own rescue. The questions about Eve's birth were answered, but there is a bigger mystery that was left hanging. I will definitely have to track down the other books to see how it turns out.

There were some other things going on at the same time. Carter's ex-wife wants him back, and she's willing to do anything to make that happen. Eve's mother, Lila, has to face up to some mistakes she made in the past. There were times when I didn't like her at all, and others where I did. There was also an interesting turn of events involving Carter's dad.