Unmasking the Maverick - Teresa Southwick (HSE #2647 - Oct 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 4)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 118)

Releasing his inner cowboy

Rust Creek Ramblings

Rugged ex-marine Brendan Tanner and his muscles recently took up residence at the Stockton ranch, presumably for a short-term stay. Could Fiona O’Reilly make him rethink his wandering ways? The sparks between those two could light up all of Rust Creek Falls, if only they weren’t so darned wary of falling in love. Bundle up, dear readers, and warm your hearts as Fiona and Brendan try to find their way home -- to each other!

Sweet story with just enough sparks to heat it up. Brendan is a former Marine who has come to Rust Creek Falls to make some decisions about his life. He had a career he loved with the Marines, but he went home to Texas to take care of his dying father. After his father's death, Brendan was at a crossroads - should he re-enlist in the Corps, and go back where he felt a part of something, or stay out and find something else to do? Offered a place at Sunshine Farm, Brendan has found a purpose providing repair services for the town, but is it enough to keep him there?

Fiona is the oldest of her sisters and the only one still not married. She thought she was well on the way to her own happy-ever-after until her boyfriend left town and got another woman pregnant. While her pride was more damaged than her heart, she was resigned to being the spinster aunt. Having grown up in Rust Creek Falls, most of the single men are more like brothers than potential mates.

I liked the development of the relationship between Fiona and Brendan. From the moment they met, there were sparks between them, but they were wary. Brendan was sure he was going back to the Marines as soon as he was back in shape, so getting involved with Fiona would not be fair to her. He's also cynical about the whole idea of love, having seen what happened to his father when Brendan's mother left them. Fiona doesn't want to risk her heart on another man who will leave. In spite of their reasons to avoid each other, neither Brendan nor Fiona can stay away. I liked seeing the two of them get to know each other, first developing a good friendship. It was sweet to see Brendan's reaction when she told him about her ex, and I loved Fiona's efforts to show Brendan that he wasn't responsible for his mother's leaving. I liked seeing them try to keep their growing relationship "under the radar" which was impossible in the small town. As they continued to grow closer, Fiona realized that she had fallen in love with Brendan, and hoped that he would decide to stay, but was afraid to tell him so. I ached for Brendan, who realized that his feelings for Fiona had grown, but panicked because he equated love with pain and loss. I loved how both received advice that helped them face their fears and go after what they wanted. The epilogue was terrific.

One of the things I liked best about the book was Luke Stockton's ideas for Sunshine Farm. It was terrific to see how he found Brendan's strengths and used them to draw him into life in Rust Creek Falls. I especially enjoyed all of Luke's little nudges meant to make Brendan see that he had a place there. I loved seeing the support that all the veterans showed each other, and was especially moved by Brendan's encounter with Vietnam vet JT Halstead. I look forward to seeing more from Luke and Brendan in the future.

 

Bring Me a Maverick for Christmas! - Brenda Harlen (HSE #2659 - Dec 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 6)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 120)

LASSOING SANTA!

Rust Creek Ramblings

With Christmas right around the corner, grumpy cowboy Bailey Stockton is getting grumpier by the minute, even though he’s wearing a Santa suit. We here at the Gazette think adorable veterinary technician Serena Langley could be the one to rescue Bailey from his holiday funk. Trouble is, they’ve each got more baggage than Kris Kringle lugs on his sleigh. So deck the halls, dear readers, and see if Santa can deliver a happy ending!

Terrific book. Bailey is one of the older Stockton brothers who left town right after their parents died in a drunk driving accident, with no intention of ever coming back. But after a dozen years, he decided it was time to try to reconnect. He showed up in Rust Creek Falls just in time for brother Dan's wedding (The Maverick's Return). He made it clear that he didn't intend to stay, but a year later he was still there. However, he is still cynical and grumpy, and truly lacking in Christmas spirit, to the point where his sister-in-law calls him "Grooge," a combination of Grinch and Scrooge. Bailey wasn't too happy when Annie shanghaied him into filling in as Santa when her husband came down with the flu. The only thing that saved him was the presence of "Mrs. Claus," vet tech Serena.

Serena was more than happy to help out her friend Annie. She likes all the hoopla surrounding Christmas, from the tree decorating to the Candlelight Walk to helping with the Presents for Patriots drive. She likes to stay busy because it keeps her mind off the less pleasant parts of her past.

I liked the first encounter between Serena and Bailey. They've met briefly before, but this was their first time spending any time together. I loved how Serena's knowledge of most of the kids made it easier for Bailey to pull off his Santa gig. There were also some serious sparks between the two of them, though both tried to resist. Bailey was married before, with the marriage not ending well, which left him believing that he was not cut out for relationships. He also still carried a lot of guilt over his parents' deaths, adding to his feelings of not deserving happiness. Serena's had a few unsuccessful relationships and was wary of risking her heart again. I liked seeing the two of them commit to friendship first. I loved how easy they found it to talk to each other, sharing things they hadn't discussed with anyone else. Neither one could stop thinking about the other, and they found many reasons to spend time together.

 I liked how Bailey and Serena's relationship progressed from friendship to more. The attraction that simmered between them came to a boil pretty quickly. Their connection was deeper than either was comfortable with at the beginning, but neither could find the willpower to pull back. I liked how well Bailey did at sensing when Serena had a hard day. He really won my heart the day he provided comfort and support when one of her animal patients died. There was a very caring man under that Groogey exterior. I also liked how Serena was tuned into Bailey. She gave him some excellent advice about dealing with his feelings about his marriage. I ached for her as she realized that she was falling for him and tried to keep her heart safe. In the meantime, Bailey fought hard against his growing feelings for Serena. There was a painful scene on Christmas Eve, as a secret came out and ran up against Bailey's issues of not having control of his life. I ached for him and his feelings of being manipulated, but I also wanted to shake him for the things that he said. I cried for Serena as she ran from her heartbreak. I loved Bailey's big moment as he admitted his insecurities and confessed his feelings.

I loved all the fun and confusion of Christmas Day at Sunshine Farm. The overflowing love was fantastic, and I loved catching up with earlier couples. There was a surprise for the Stockton family that I hope will be expanded on in the next Montana Mavericks series. I ached a bit for Serena and the loss she and her mom still feel during the holidays. I would love to see that get a happy resolution too.

 

The Maverick's Christmas to Remember - Christy Jeffries (HSE #2653 - Nov 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 5)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 119)

All She Wants for Christmas is a Cowboy!

Rust Creek Ramblings

A few weeks ago, local wedding planner Caroline Ruth took a tumble off a ladder, and when she came to, she believed Thunder Canyon cowboy Craig Clifton was her boyfriend. Trouble was, they’d never met before. What was an upstanding rancher to do? Now, until Caroline’s memory returns, Craig is acting as reluctant faux fiancé. But with Christmas around the corner, dear readers, we’re hoping for a real-life happy ending for this unexpected couple!

Good book. Caroline is a perky, positive-attitude wedding planner. She has a knack for working with difficult clients. She has been living in Rust Creek Falls for a couple of years and loves the small town life. The only thing that has been a downer has been the lack of romance. After encountering the local psychic, who told her she'd be engaged by her twenty-fourth birthday, she has been hopeful of finding her true love. She was thinking about this prophecy when her next clients arrived, bringing some friends with them. Precariously perched on a chair as she tried to reach something, the last face she saw as she fell was that of Craig Clifton.

Craig was visiting from Thunder Canyon and hanging out with his friends. He was there when Caroline fell and caught her before she hit the floor. Unfortunately, she banged her head on the shelf on the way down. When she came to, she thought Craig was her fiancé. When the doctor at the hospital suggested going along with it until Caroline's memory returned, Craig reluctantly agreed.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Caroline and Craig. There was no doubt about the connection between them from the very start. That connection freaked Craig out a bit, especially when Caroline seemed to know things about him that there was no way she should know. I liked his protectiveness toward this woman he didn't know, and his willingness to go along. He is a good man, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way he took care of her. He didn't expect to develop feelings for her, especially since he has resisted falling in love since the tragic death of his first love.

I loved how Caroline was absolutely convinced of her engagement to Craig. She was a little disturbed that she could remember so much of her life but drew a blank regarding the details of their relationship. She simply chalked it up to her injury and rolled on with her life as she believed it to be. She was shocked when her memory came back and she realized she didn't know the man she was kissing. She also knew she was already falling for Craig and was afraid that if she told him she would lose her chance to make him fall in love with her.

Though I wasn't thrilled with her deception, I was glad to see that she felt some guilt over it. Craig also felt some guilt over not telling Caroline the truth, but he told himself he was following the doctor's orders. There were some really sweet scenes of the two of them together. I especially enjoyed the trip to Thunder Canyon for Thanksgiving and seeing Caroline with Craig's family. The parts with his grandparents were fantastic, and I loved seeing how well Caroline fit in with his family. It was great to see how much Craig grew to like being with her, and that he started to think about a future with her. There's a pretty big obstacle to that dream though, as the truth about their engagement stands between them. When and how that truth comes out is a very emotional scene. I understood Craig's feelings of hurt and betrayal, and Caroline had a few choice things to say, too. I loved how they were finally able to be honest with each other, and that their love was able to overcome the rocky start. The epilogue was terrific, and I loved Craig's big moment at the school play.

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.

 

The Maverick's Bridal Bargain - Christie Jeffries (HSE #2625 - June 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 1)
            Montana Mavericks

Whose wedding is it, anyway?

Rust Creek Ramblings

Why is Cole Dalton planning a wedding? No one even knew the ex-Marine and rugged rancher was dating, and suddenly he has hired wedding planner Vivienne Shuster to coordinate his nuptials. Why has no one met his mystery bride? We here at the Gazette believe this engagement is fake. The sparks between Cole and his “wedding planner,” however, are strictly legit. Hang on to your invites, dear readers -- someone may still be walking down the aisle!

Terrific book. Viv is a wedding planner working for the boss from hell. The book opens as she has a meeting with Lydia and Zach (The Maverick's Bride-to-Order) to work on their wedding plans. She's just beginning to hear about a problem with choosing a best man when one of the candidates interrupts the meeting. Cole is the middle of the five brothers and is somewhat overprotective of his brothers. In this case, he had driven all the way from their ranch to where the meeting was, just because he had noticed that Zach's tire pressure was low and hadn't been able to reach him by phone.

I liked both Cole and Viv. Cole is a good guy who has always had a large protective streak, even as a kid. There were any number of stories about how he can't keep from stepping in when he thinks someone needs help. He is also carrying a pretty big load of guilty feelings because he blames himself for his mother's death. Viv is a woman who sometimes wonders about her work as a wedding planner. Her parents have always had a rocky relationship (married and divorced three times - to each other) which sometimes affects the way she looks at her couples. I really liked her attitude when she worked with the couples, as she did her best to provide what they wanted without forcing other things on them. This puts her at odds with her boss on a regular basis.

Cole and Viv struck sparks off each other from the moment they met. It was fun to see how distracted they'd get when they were near each other. As the plans went forward for Zach and Lydia's wedding, I loved watching Cole go from suspicious of Viv and her suggestions to respecting what she was able to do. I had to laugh at his amazement every time she was able to get people to cooperate with her vision or keep them from going overboard on something. When Cole witnessed the abuse that Viv had to take from Estelle, he just had to find a way to help. Hiring Viv to plan a wedding for him was his way of getting Estelle off her back. I couldn't help but laugh, because he had no idea what he was getting into. Between his brother's wedding and his fake one, Cole and Viv found themselves spending a lot of time together. With that time, the attraction between them continued to grow. Beyond the attraction, there was also a deeper connection. I liked the way that Viv came to understand what made Cole the way he was. Cole also understood the effect that her parents' relationship had on her ability to believe in happily-ever-after.

With as close as they were growing, it was only a matter of time before their deception blew up in their faces. I ached for Viv when it happened and really wanted her to sic Cole on Estelle. But she wasn't sure of his feelings for her, and her fears wouldn't let her be another of his rescues. Meanwhile, Cole thought that she was giving him the brush-off as he tried to figure out what his feelings for her were. I loved the discussion he had with his dad, giving him lots to think about when it came to his feelings for Viv. The ending was sweet and romantic, and I loved the way things worked out for them. There was a satisfying little twist in the epilogue that I really liked.

 

A Maverick To (Re)Marry - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2629 - July 2018)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Lonelyhearts Ranch (Book 1)
            Montana Mavericks

Married -- and divorced! -- in secret…

Rust Creek Ramblings

Rust Creek Falls’ flirty cowboy and the shy, straight-A student -- a couple? We have it on good authority that not only were Derek Dalton and Amy Wainwright once an item, they were actually married! With Amy back in town for her friend’s wedding, how long before their secret past is revealed? Gather your rose petals, dear readers… We suspect these high school sweethearts may soon get a second chance at happily-wedded-after!

Very good story of second chances. Back in high school Amy and Derek had been a couple, then secretly married that summer. The marriage ended as quickly as it began, leaving both of them heartbroken before they moved on with their lives. Neither has forgotten the other, though each has coped in different ways. Derek has become something of a flirt, avoiding any hint of commitment. Amy threw herself into school, then her job in Colorado, and has avoided returning to Rust Creek Falls. Now her best friend's wedding has forced her back.

I enjoyed the development of Amy and Derek's relationship. I liked their first meeting. Though both had been dreading it, they behaved like adults since they had to work together for their friends' wedding. Things were still a bit rough at the beginning since both had to come to terms with seeing each other again. They continued to avoid each other until they realized they had to face their pasts. I loved how they opened up and talked honestly about what had happened and their feelings at the time. It also became clear to them that the attraction is still there also. I had to laugh a little at their plan to be friends again, with maybe a little more to it, and explore what was happening - and keep it a secret. They're in Rust Creek Falls, where people are observant and know everyone's business anyway.

I loved seeing Amy and Derek find the magic that had been there before. It was a terrific mix of old and new - I especially enjoyed the video game scene, as well as their more adult activities. But as their time grew shorter, some of their old doubts and fears started to creep in. I ached for both of them as those fears kept them from talking to each other about their plans. I wanted to shake Derek for acting on those fears, and I cried for Amy's heartbreak. I loved the support - and the lecture - that she received from her friends, opening her eyes to some things she hadn't thought of. I adored Derek's big moment. He was sweet and vulnerable and finally able to say the words that Amy needed to hear.

I also enjoyed the backdrop of Luke and Eva's wedding. It's always fun to revisit couples from earlier books. Even brief mentions of others brings back fond memories of their stories and gives the opportunity for a peek at their continuing happiness.