Season of Wonder - RaeAnne Thayne (HQN - Sept 2018)

Series: Haven Point (Book 9)

It’s a long way from New York to Idaho…but could they have found a home at last?

Dani Capelli has never truly belonged anywhere. And from her earliest days as a foster child in Queens, she would have been lost if it weren’t for her love of animals. Until high school, when she fell hard for the wrong boy, and found herself pregnant -- and married -- by graduation. Two daughters later, Dani realized her mistake and filed for divorce, and with the help of scholarships and loans -- and a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners -- she enrolled in vet school. Things were finally looking up…until her ex-husband became her late husband, in the most notorious way possible.

Now Dani and her daughters need an out-of-town pass more than ever. So when the retiring Haven Point veterinarian offers her a chance to settle in the small Idaho town and take over his practice, she jumps at it. But adjusting to the charming mountain community isn’t easy; thirteen-year-old Silver begins acting out while six-year-old Mia is growing too attached to Haven Point and everything in it, especially their next-door-neighbor, Deputy Sheriff Ruben Morales. And Dani can’t blame her. Ruben is everything she’s secretly wanted -- and everything she can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

As the holidays draw near, their shared concern for Dani’s daughters brings them closer together, giving Ruben the chance to show this big-city woman just how magical Christmas in Haven Point can be...and that the promise of a home at last is very real in the most wondrous season of the year…

Good story about starting over. Dani moved herself and her two daughters across the country to get away from the mistakes of her past. After she finished veterinary school she was offered an internship in Haven Point, with the possibility of taking over the practice when the current vet retired. She loves her work, but life in a small town is very different than life in Queens and Boston, and all of them have some trouble adjusting. Dani isn't accustomed to the friendliness and interest of the people around her, six-year-old Mia has become shy and withdrawn, and thirteen-year-old Silver is grouchy and defiant. When Silver is caught tagging the next door neighbor's boat, life becomes much more complicated. Ruben is a deputy sheriff and her boss's son. He is kind, compassionate, and sexy. He was intrigued by Dani from the start, but hesitant about getting involved with the single mom. He had a similar relationship go bad, which has left him wary, but resisting Dani and her girls proved to be impossible.

I loved the development of the relationship between Dani and Ruben. He could have been a hard-nose about Silver's vandalism, but instead found a way to work with her to get her back on the right track. This frequently put him and Dani in each other's company. I loved seeing all of them grow closer as the days went on. There's no doubt about the attraction between Ruben and Dani, but she is determined to resist it. I loved Ruben's patience as he found various ways to spend time with her and show her what could be. I ached for Dani, who was so certain that Ruben would hate her if he found out about her past. There are some very sweet scenes between them as Dani let down her walls a little. But Dani's fears about her past came rushing back when there was another problem with Silver, causing her to jump to conclusions and push Ruben away. It took some words from an unexpected source to show Dani that her fears were ungrounded. I loved that Ruben never gave up on Dani, and showed her that he could be trusted to stick with her.

I loved the family theme of the book. Dani's past choices were caused by her desire for a family of her own. Those choices have made her who she is, which is a woman who will do anything to protect that family. Ruben's family is loving, boisterous, and always there for each other. I loved the way that he drew Dani and the girls into his family's life and holiday traditions. I also loved the connection that Ruben had with both Mia and Silver. It was sweet to see little Mia come out of her shell around him. I especially liked the relationship that grew between Ruben and Silver. He had the firmness that she needed, but also an excellent way of making her look at her actions from a different perspective. I loved how he stood by her at the end and discovered the truth of what had really happened. The epilogue was a nice glimpse into the future of the new family.

 

Once Upon a Texas Christmas - Katherine Garbera (Tule - Nov 2017)

Series: Whiskey River Christmas (Book 4)

Avery Burton loves her job as assistant to Logan Calloway. A big time Hollywood A-lister, Logan spends all his time on the West Coast leaving her to run his charity in Whiskey River. Staying busy and giving back to the community that is the only real family she’s ever known suits Avery just fine…until Logan announces he’s coming home for Christmas.

Ever since his mother abandoned him as a young boy, Whiskey River hasn't felt like home to Logan Calloway. Still, he heads home for the holidays, intending to reflect on his career and personal life. When he sees his assistant Avery in his home, Logan begins to realize that Whiskey River has more to offer than just bad memories.

As Logan and Avery spend more time together working for the charity, it becomes impossible to deny their chemistry and attraction.

This is the fourth and last book in the series. I haven't read the others (yet!), but this can easily stand alone. From what I gather, the first book set up the background, and books two and three take place concurrently with book four. This was a sweet, quick read with a bit of heat.

Logan is a big Hollywood star now, but once upon a time, he was a kid from the poor part of town. His parents drank, his mom abandoned them, and besides abusing Logan and his brothers, his father was responsible for the drunk driving accident that killed an innocent family. Though he hasn't been back in years, Logan has set up a charity to help the people in his hometown. He's returned with two childhood friends as they made plans for more ways to help their community, and for him to participate in the holiday charity events.

Avery has worked for Logan, running his charity, for three years. She loves her work and helping the people that feel more like family than her own. Her parents are two brilliant scientists who never really had time for her as a child, and things haven't changed once she was an adult.

I loved the first meeting between Avery and Logan. She's talked to him on the phone plenty of times and seen pictures of him, but she wasn't at all prepared for the effect he had on her in person. Though she presents a calm façade, inside he has her rattled. She is attracted to him but determined to resist. Logan is equally attracted to Avery, but also intrigued by her. As the two of them worked together on various charity events, they had a chance to get to know each other. There were some sweet scenes between them, as well as some that showed the building attraction. I loved the part at Harwood House when the resident ghost gave them a little nudge, trapping them in a closet long enough for them to indulge in a whopper of a kiss. As the days went by, I loved seeing how they couldn't stay away from each other. But the closer they grew, the more their personal demons worked against their beliefs that there could be a future together. I ached for Avery, whose neglect by her parents have made it difficult for her to trust that she won't end up disappointed or left behind again. In spite of his success, Logan still sees himself as the son of the town drunk, looked down on by other people. That insecurity makes it hard for him to believe that someone would care for the real him, not the star. I wanted to shake Avery when a not unexpected issue with her parents cropped up, and she used it to push Logan away. I hurt for him, but I also loved how he still watched out for her. His big moment at the end was fantastic, sweet and romantic and showed the depth of his love. The epilogue was terrific, and I loved how it showed how far they had come.

Since I haven't read the previous books, the secondary characters were all new to me, but I never felt lost. I liked that Logan, Eli, and Harlan had maintained their friendship after they left Whiskey River and have now joined together to give something back to their town. I also liked the little bit I saw of his brothers Finn and Sully. A big part of Logan's childhood had been spent trying to protect his brothers from their father. I liked how that protectiveness continued after their father's death. Both brothers were intriguing, and I hope they get stories of their own. I also loved the friendship between Avery, Rachel, and Samantha. It's clear that they have each other's backs at all times, but they also have no trouble dishing out advice when it's needed.

 

Give It Up - Lori Foster (Zebra - Nov 2015)

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

What Booker Dean wants for Christmas isn’t under the tree, it’s right next door. Frances Kennedy is everything Booker desires…and the gift he has planned for her involves a lot of delicious unwrapping…

Short and steamy friends to lovers story. This was a fun and intense 24-hour story. Booker has finally realized that the reason the women he's dated lately don't do it for him is that he's fallen for his friend and next-door neighbor, Frances. But he's stuck in a relationship he hasn't figured out how to end until the arrival of his brother. I laughed out loud at Axel's description of the "attack" on him by Booker's girlfriend, and Booker's undisguised amusement - and gratitude. Moving to Frances's point of view, we have her dreaming of "What-She-Wants-Most" and being stuck in the friend zone. To say she was shocked by Booker's arrival and interest in her would be putting it mildly. I loved watching Booker put all that he's got into showing her he's serious, and Frances insisting she needs time (at least until the next day) to think about it. I was pretty impressed with Booker and how he didn't try to roll over her wishes to get what he wanted but promised to give her the time she asked for. But then a middle of the night encounter puts a strain on that promise. I loved their cookie-making efforts, and listening to all of Booker's plans as he tried to show her how he felt. One of the things I liked best was that he loves her just as she is. I loved seeing the effect on Frances as she slowly started to believe. The story concluded with a hilarious scene in Booker's apartment as Frances showed up to give him her answer.

Some Like It Hot

Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. Now he’s out to prove that when it comes to loving her forever, he’s just what the doctor ordered…

Another short and steamy read. Cary is Axel's best friend, and as such has been a part of Axel's love 'em and leave 'em club. But he's tired of the superficiality and one night stands. For the last eleven months, he has been intrigued and attracted by Axel's nurse Nora. Whenever he visited Axel's office, he took the time to talk to her. He asked her out multiple times, but she always shot him down. Just as he reached the end of his patience, he overheard a conversation that gave him insight into her reasons.

Nora was widowed six months into her marriage and is not very experienced. She wanted a man who is looking for forever and believed that Cary is not that man. She was afraid that if she gave in to his entreaties that she would fall for him and get her heart broken.

I loved the way that Cary was certain of what he wanted and that he had the patience to pursue it, though it was a close run thing at the end. Once he knew what the obstacles were, he put his mind to overcoming them. From the scene in Axel's office to his appearance at her home, Cary was determined to prove to her how serious he was. Yes, he got a little carried away at one point, which freaked Nora out and caused her to hurt him inadvertently. I loved the advice she received from her friend Liza and what she did with it. Her big moment at the end was great, especially when she accused Cary and Axel of behaving like little boys.

Playing Doctor

Dr. Axel Dean likes his women with sensual moxie, not virginal innocence. But when Libby Preston won’t take no for an answer, Axel is more than willing to administer the cure…

The final story in the anthology, this one is a bit longer and steamy with a side of sweet. Axel has been the biggest player of the three men, only hooking up with women who know the score. He looks on the now-married Booker and Cary with puzzlement, but also the occasional hint of envy and wondering if it's time to change his ways. As this story opened, Axel was an unwilling attendee at a party given by the hospital chief of staff. Bored, he amused himself watching the caterer as she went about her work and fantasizing about getting up close and personal with her.

Working her uncle's party was just one more step in Libby's determination to pay him back for taking her in after her mother's death. He's a cold man who constantly accused her of being like her flighty mother. Instead, Libby was determined to stick to her goals and finish her nursing degree, before leaving her uncle and his attitude behind her. This party was a little different, with the way that one of the doctors kept staring at her. She wouldn't mind staring back, but she had no room in her life for a man.

I could almost feel the heat coming off the pages as Axel's interest in Libby burned hotter by the minute. That heat flared to an inferno when he followed her outside and made his interest known. The banter between them was great, and things got interesting until Libby let slip some unexpected information. Imagine Libby's hurt, humiliation, and anger when Axel turned tail and all but ran away from her. A month later and neither one was able to forget their encounter, though having had a taste of the possibilities, Libby was ready to spread her wings and fly a little. Their next encounter was almost comical, as Libby chose a random doctor to visit to get birth control only to find Axel on the other end of the stethoscope. I adored his conversation with Nurse Nora (yes, Cary's Nora) as he attempted to explain, but also accepted the value of her advice.

I had to laugh as Axel showed up at Libby's door, determined to apologize, and had to listen to her bust his chops over his actions. I loved watching her run verbal circles around him until he ended up giving her exactly what she wanted, though he has advice to go along with it. Specifically, he warns her against investing in him emotionally. When they were done, I loved how each of them realized that there had been a deeper connection than either of them had expected or wanted. But before either of them can address the issue, Axel realized that Libby was burning with fever. My heart melted at his concern for her, in spite of his shock over another bit of previously unknown information. I laughed out loud as he called on Cary to make a house call. Cary had way too much fun jerking Axel's chain while doing his exam of Libby. It was sweet to see how well Axel took care of her, and how his feelings for her grew. Libby is skeptical, but Axel is determined and supportive of her goals. The ending was fantastic, with an interesting twist involving Libby's uncle.

 

It Started One Christmas - Susan Mallery (HQN - Dec 2018)

One crisp December night, Keira Carlesso takes in yet another stray—this time, a man. Dalton is a brilliant scientist with no home for the holidays. As Christmas works its magic, two strangers become friends, then best friends, then something much, much more…

Short and sweet holiday friends to lovers story. Keira is a freshman in college, well known in her family for taking in strays. When this story opens, she is rushing to finish her last class before the holiday break. The TA supervising the lab is visibly ill, which touches Keira's kind heart. When she discovers that he has nowhere to go over the holidays, she insists on taking him home with her.

I loved Keira in these opening scenes. She is a force to be reckoned with and Dalton, in his weakened state, is no match for her. Dalton is super smart, book-wise, but not so much when it comes to relationships, and has been dumped by yet another of his beautiful girlfriends. It was pretty funny to see his fever-induced, unfiltered commentary as Keira got him settled in her home. At eighteen, Keira is unexpectedly focused on her studies, confessing to Dalton that she has no intention of getting involved with any man that will distract her from her goals. What she doesn't admit to is her lack of trust, courtesy of her childhood with a druggie mother, then several years in the foster system.

I loved how easily Keira and Dalton connected, and how comfortable they were with each other. By the time the holiday was over, they were good friends. I liked their commitment to stay in touch and Keira's standing invitation for Dalton to spend the holidays with her family. The story follows them over the next few years, with glimpses into their relationships with other people. It's easy for the reader to see that their feelings for each other change, but Keira and Dalton appear blind to it. I enjoyed the way that Keira teased Dalton about his beautiful girlfriends, though there was also that twinge of insecurity that she would never measure up to them. Keira is also protective of Dalton, and tended to react badly to the girlfriends she thought didn't deserve him. Dalton is also protective of Keira, and is there for her when her first relationship falls apart. I loved how he knew just how to cheer her up. It took an unexpected turn when Keira confessed everything to Dalton. This was an eye-opening experience in several ways for Keira, but she worried most about if it would change their friendship. I ached for her as she buried her feelings under a façade of casual cheer. Things came to a head the next Christmas. It was both fun and heartbreaking to see the progression of events. I ached for Keira and her hurt at the changes in her relationship with Dalton. Dalton appeared to be somewhat oblivious to the effects of his decisions, though I later thought he was probably protecting himself. The dinner and aftermath were emotional and my heart broke for Keira and her fears about the end of their friendship. The ending was awesome and the epilogue was sweet. I just wish the story had been longer.

 

Season's Regency Greetings - Carla Kelly (Camel Press - Nov 2014)

"Let Nothing You Dismay"

In 1810 England, Cecilia Ambrose is an oddity at the Bath academy for young ladies where she teaches. Although gently raised, she is half-Egyptian, and at age twenty-eight believes she will never marry. With Christmas only days away, Cecilia has agreed to escort twelve-year-old Lucinda back to Chase Hall in York. The girl's parents have been delayed, and in their place is Lucinda's uncle, Lord Trevor Chase, who has been charged to chaperone Lucinda and her siblings. The bachelor black sheep of the family, Trevor scandalized his own class by becoming a barrister in London and championing the poor. Cecilia's plan to return to Bath is thwarted when fire breaks out in the mansion, and she reluctantly agrees to stay a while longer. Will her delay prove to be Trevor Chase's salvation? First published in 2003.

Fantastic story, short but full of terrific characters and deep emotion. Cecilia is a teacher at a girls' school in Bath. She is the half-English, half-Egyptian foster daughter of a pair of English missionaries who are currently in India. Accepted but not embraced, Cecilia doesn't expect to marry, but to remain a teacher. She is asked to escort one of her pupil's home to York for the holidays, only to discover that Lucinda's parents have been called away. Instead, Lucinda's Uncle Trevor has been tasked to watch over Lucinda, her younger brother, and older sister. When a fire makes the house uninhabitable, they move to the smaller dower house, where Trevor begs Cecilia to remain and help until the parents return.

I loved both Cecilia and Trevor. Cecilia is a caring, sweet, and practical woman. She is aware of her disadvantages according to society but has not let them make her bitter. From the very start, she has a way of connecting with each of the young people, helping them through their individual concerns over the holiday. Trevor is a very unusual man for his period. Instead of wasting away his time, he studied for the law. A traumatizing event set him on the path of advocating for poor children, something that has turned many of his own class against him.

I loved the development of the relationship between Cecilia and Trevor. I loved how comfortable they were with each other from the moment they met. Both of them are sort of outcasts, which adds to the empathy between them. Cecilia was surprised by Trevor's acceptance of her story and the lack of judgment. I loved how Trevor was able to tell Cecilia about Jimmy Daw, something he has never told anyone else. It was sweet to see how they worked together to take care of the kids, and how that brought them closer together. Their conversations with each other were honest and thoughtful, with a fair amount of humor involved. But Trevor was still haunted by what he saw as his failure, and as Christmas Eve drew closer, his mood darkened. I loved how young Davy took his concern about Trevor to Cecilia. My heart broke for Trevor as Cecilia helped him fight his demons. The ending was fantastic, leaving me with a vivid picture of what their future could be like.

I also enjoyed the three siblings. Each of them was unique and had their own place in the story. Davy is caring and sensitive. I enjoyed how he looked up to his uncle and wanted to be with him. His worry over Trevor brought the others together to help him. Lucinda is the middle child, younger than her sister by several years. She has started to feel invisible thanks to Janet's upcoming wedding. Lucinda adores Cecilia. Janet comes across as very spoiled at the beginning. She isn't very nice to Cecilia or her siblings. But she is also young, and in an emotional scene with Cecilia shows that she's not as bad as she appears. I thought she redeemed herself quite nicely by the end.

 

"No Room at the Inn"

With Christmas, 1815, around the corner, Lady Mary is told that she is not the daughter of an earl, but simply Mary McIntyre, the base-born orphan Lord and Lady Davy reared as their own. After her true parentage is revealed, Mary must leave Coventry for Yorkshire and the farm of her new-found grandmother. Her travel companions are the snobbish son of Lord Davy's estate steward, Thomas Shepard, and his family. Heavy snowfall soon blocks the roads, and there is no room at the inn, so the little group is forced to seek shelter in the home of Joseph Shepard, Thomas' estranged brother, a handsome man Mary remembers fondly from childhood. In this "vulgar" mansion belonging to a common businessman, Mary will discover that happiness has little to do with titles or income, and that Christmas works its own magic. First published in 2002.

Another emotional story. Mary's life has been turned upside down. She has just been told that she is not her parents' daughter at all, but an orphan they reared as their own. Upon finding out that her true grandmother is looking for her, she is disowned and sent to Yorkshire. She is stuck in the carriage with the stuck-up son of the estate steward and his family. Caught in a snowstorm, they take refuge with Thomas's brother Joseph.

I ached for Mary, who has been sent off to a woman she doesn't know, away from the only family and life she has ever known. It doesn't help her feelings that Thomas won't let her forget that she's no longer "Quality." Thomas was a first class pain in the butt. His wife wasn't as bad, and his two children were pretty sweet. When weather forced them to take refuge with Thomas's brother Joseph, I was inclined to like Joe from the beginning, just because of Thomas's attitude. Fortunately, Joe lived up to my expectations and more. Joe is a successful businessman who married a woman with a young son. After his wife's death, Joe and Joshua have been doing their best with each other.

Joe welcomed his unexpected guests with open arms. Things are a bit casual at his house because he gave all his servants the holidays off. The house itself is under renovation, as Joe bought it cheap from the previous owner. Thomas is predictably surly, but the others settle in quite easily. Joe and Mary remember each other as children and happily renew their acquaintance. More stranded travelers arrived, adding to their merry crew, and (except for Thomas) the holidays looked a bit brighter.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mary and Joe. He has a very positive outlook on life, which helped Mary come to grips with her changed circumstances. I loved their evening swilling the last of Joe's smuggled French brandy and how that made it so much easier for them to share their stories. I especially liked the fact that Joe's opinion of Mary didn't change when he found out what had happened.  I loved Joe's surprise when Mary confessed that she and her foster sister had had huge crushes on him when they were younger. It quickly becomes clear that there is something developing between them, but Mary is waiting to hear from her suitor after she wrote to him about her changed life.

The miracles of the Christmas season were out in full force as the story reached its end. I loved the bit with Mr. and Mrs. King and the scullery maid, and the healing of Mrs. King's heart. There were a couple of good scenes with Thomas's wife, and I want to believe she will find a way to improve his attitude, though he may be beyond hope. The meeting between Mary and her grandmother was fantastic, and I had to laugh at Joe and his antics. The big moment between Joe and Mary was sweet.

 

Hardcore Twenty-Four - Janet Evanovich (Penguin - Oct 2018)

Series: Stephanie Plum (Book 24)

Trouble comes in bunches for Stephanie Plum. First, professional grave robber and semi-professional loon, Simon Diggery, won’t let her take him in until she agrees to care for his boa constrictor, Ethel. Stephanie’s main qualification for babysitting an extremely large snake is that she owns a stun gun -- whether that’s for use on the wandering serpent or the petrified neighbors remains to be seen.

Events take a dark turn when headless bodies start appearing across town. At first, it’s just corpses from a funeral home and the morgue that have had the heads removed. But when a homeless man is murdered and dumped behind a church Stephanie knows that she’s the only one with a prayer of catching this killer.

If all that’s not enough, Diesel’s back in town. The 6-foot-tall, blonde-haired hunk is a man who accepts no limits -- that includes locked doors, closed windows and underwear. Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli isn’t pleased at this unexpected arrival nor is Ranger, the high-powered security consultant who has his own plans for Stephanie.

As usual Jersey’s favorite bounty hunter is stuck in the middle with more questions than answers. What’s the deal with Grandma Mazur’s latest online paramour? Who is behind the startling epidemic of mutilated corpses? And is the enigmatic Diesel’s sudden appearance a coincidence or the cause of recent deadly events?

Fast and fun read. It has all the usual high points. Grandma Mazur gets into some difficulty that Stephanie needs to rescue her from, while Stephanie's mom wonders what will happen next. There's some really strange criminal activity going on that Stephanie ends up in the middle of. Lula is typically headstrong and most concerned with how things will affect her. Morelli is overworked, but always up for a good time with Stephanie. Ranger is Stephanie's go-to when she's in trouble and is a steady supplier of the cars that Stephanie goes through at the rate of at least two a book. The mysterious Diesel also makes an appearance in this book, with an agenda of his own that may also be tied into the zombie issue. But somehow, there's always a feeling of, if not freshness, at least "what will she come up with next."

This one opens with Stephanie after her latest FTA, Simon Diggery, a professional grave robber. She has no trouble finding him but has to promise to snake-sit his boa constrictor, Ethel, before he agrees to turn himself in. This includes making sure that Ethel gets fed every day, leading to some pretty interesting situations. I've never pictured a boa eating pizza or rotisserie chicken before, but somehow Stephanie made it seem perfectly logical. But the one that had me laughing out loud involved a roadkill groundhog and one of Ranger's cars:

“Bad news,” I said. “It’s about your Lexus.”

“One of my patrol cars drove by it an hour ago and said it was being circled by vultures.”

“There was an unfortunate incident with a dead groundhog.”

“I didn’t see that one coming,” Ranger said. “How bad is it?”

“There are vultures circling. How bad do you think it is?”

Silence.

“You’re laughing again, aren’t you?” I asked him.

“Do I need to send someone in a hazmat suit?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need another car? I’m running a tab.”

While on one of their snake-feeding runs, Stephanie and Lula have an encounter with what appears to be a couple of zombies. This ties in with the current crime wave stalking Trenton's Burg, where dead bodies are turning up without their heads. When the heads are eventually located, the brains have been removed. Morelli and his fellow cops are at a loss because of a lack of leads, and the bodies are piling up. Another one of Stephanie's FTAs appears to be involved somehow, which draws Stephanie into the middle of the problem. As the intensity of the zombie attacks increase, a link between Stephanie's FTA, Diesel's mission, and the zombie situation is discovered. I loved the scene as Diesel and Ranger plan the takedown:

It was going to be my decision to risk my brain for the cause. The way I saw it I was going to look like an idiot if I was in, and a jerk if I wasn't.

"Babe?" Ranger said.

I blew out a sigh. "I'm in. What's my role?"

Diesel grinned. "You have a choice. You can be the stupid inferior female or the stupid powerful female."

"How about if I'm just myself?"

Diesel glanced at Ranger. "I'm not going to touch that one."

Ranger shook his head. "I'll pass."

"Funny," I said. "Very funny."

The cemetery scene was exciting and funny but left one thread hanging. That thread was pulled a short time later in another good scene. I thought Stephanie handled that one quite well. It also gave a satisfying wrap-up to Diesel's mission, while leaving open the likelihood that he will be back.

Grandma Mazur is always one of my favorite characters in these books. She has quite a unique outlook on life and is determined to live it on her terms. I love that she's always ready to give Stephanie a hand on one of her cases, though her "help" is often questionable in its effectiveness. She is also on the lookout for her next boyfriend, which often gets her into trouble. This one happened to be found on an online dating site and provides an interesting lesson on the hazards of such sites. As is usually the case, it fell to Stephanie to save Grandma from the consequences of her actions, which Grandma accepts easily.

Lula is always funny with her ex-'ho attitude and her unique fashion sense. One of my favorite things about her is that she is always ready to help Stephanie in whatever she does. Lula does seem to have two speeds: either hang back and see how it goes or charge in at full speed and to hell with the consequences. I thoroughly enjoyed her point of view on zombies and her certainty that they were after her created some fun situations. The scene where she was touched by one was a riot.

As always, Stephanie's romantic entanglements are complicated. Morelli is her steady on again, off again relationship. As a cop, he's usually on the opposite side of the situations that Stephanie finds herself in, but he's there for her when he's needed. They profess to love each other, but neither is interested in taking it to a more permanent level. There is definitely some competition between Morelli and Ranger. Ranger is the mysterious and studly bad boy who also has a thing for Stephanie. He is protective of her but also doesn't do commitments. The chemistry between him and Stephanie is always strong. Stephanie always feels a bit guilty about her reactions to him, but not enough that it stops her. Diesel is the most recent addition to Stephanie's string of men. He is mysterious, good-looking, and there are more than a few sparks between them. Stephanie is never sure if she's going to be able to resist his advances, and isn't certain that she wants to. While I often feel she should pick one and cut the other's loose, each one of them has a special place in her life.

Bottom line is that I will continue to read the books, just because I can't wait to see what she will come up with next.

 

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.