Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy - Trish Milburn (HWR #1657 - Sept 2017)

Series: Blue Falls Texas (Book 12)

RISKING HER HEART

Sloane Hartley is deeply rooted to her family's ranch in Blue Falls, Texas. So she isn't about to risk falling for a tempting tumbleweed like Jason Till. To Sloane, Jason is a handsome heartbreak waiting to happen. Like all rodeo cowboys. If she ever let herself love again, she certainly wouldn't pick someone like him!

Jason only has eyes for one prize -- the steer-wrestling championship. And he can't afford any distractions. Certainly not a blonde beauty with trust issues like Sloane. She represents everything a cowboy on the circuit can't have anyway -- home, family, a real relationship. Everything he thought he didn't need. But when he's with Sloane, Jason can't remember why winning at the rodeo seemed so important…

Good book. Jason is a steer-wrestler, determined to make it back to the National Finals. He plans to keep his eye on the prize and not let himself get distracted by a pretty face. But from the moment he saw her at the Blue Falls fairgrounds, Jason couldn't keep Sloane off his mind. Sloane has spent most of her life in Blue Falls and her roots are buried deep. Tempting though he is, Jason isn't the type to stick around.

I loved the development of Jason and Sloane's relationship. From the moment they met, they were drawn to each other. I loved Jason's determination to get to know Sloane better, even though he knows he may be asking for trouble. I liked him from the moment he started interacting with the kids at the rodeo. Maybe it's because he seems to have a little bit of kid still in himself, but he had no trouble talking to them. He further won my heart when he showed up at the ranch the next day to spend more time with them. He also opened up a soft spot in Sloane's heart because of the kindness he showed the kids.

Sloane showed a fair amount of resistance to Jason's overtures. She had been burned a couple of times by men who didn't stick around, so she is determined to protect her heart. She also doesn't want to deal with her mother's blatant matchmaking. Sloane experiences some pretty intense conflicts as her heart wants to say yes to spending time with Jason, but her mind continues to tell her it's a bad idea.

I liked their first "date" as it was a pretty laid back, simple dinner and walk. Jason does push a little when he kisses her but backs off when he realizes that she's about to run. I liked Jason's persistence as he worked to stay in touch with Sloane while he traveled from rodeo to rodeo. I liked the way that he slowly wore her down until he could get back to Texas. Their zoo date was really sweet and romantic. I liked the way that Sloane was comfortable enough with Jason that she told him about her childhood, though it also freaked her out that she did.

I did get a little frustrated with Sloane when she would blow hot and cold with Jason. Things would go along well, then something would scare her and she would pull back. I really wanted to shake her until she would see that he wasn't like the other men she'd been with. I did love Sloane's dedication to her camps for at-risk kids. It's easy to see how deeply she feels about the work she does. When Sloane gets news/a request that turns her life upside down, she doesn't hesitate to dive in. I loved the support that she got from both Jason and her family.

Jason wasn't perfect either. It takes him a while to realize that he has stayed on the rodeo circuit more because of expectations than any real drive. However, he is also not a quitter, and I liked seeing him continue to push himself to meet his goal. He's hurt and upset when Sloane pushes him away the last time, but he doesn't give up on her.

Both Sloane and Jason have to come to terms with their motivations before they can contemplate a life together. I liked the way that Jason's parents and sister helped him see where his heart really was. Sloane was a harder nut to crack, and it took some blunt talk from her sister and her mother for her to see that she was letting her past rule her future. I loved her big moment at the end as she took a chance and put her heart on the line.

I loved the kids that Sloane had at her ranch and the rodeo. Their stories broke my heart, and I loved how determined Sloane and her family were to give them a good time. I loved how each of them tugged at Jason's heart and how he responded to them. I loved the depth of Jason's support of Sloane's dream and the surprise he had for her at the end.

A Colorado Family - Patricia Thayer (HWR #1637 - Apr 2017)

Series: Rocky Mountain Twins (Book 4)

A NEW ARRIVAL ON THE RANCH

Champion bull rider Austin Brannigan has returned home to the family ranch to recover from his injury. Only his world is turned on its head when he finds out he has a three-month-old daughter who has no one in the world but him.

As a father, Austin is totally out of his depth. But his physical therapist, the beautiful and determined Erin Carlton, is stepping into the role of temporary mom very quickly. It may not be in her job description, and it may mean putting hopes of her own family on hold. What about Austin's dreams, which mean being out on the circuit? Will baby Lilly help Austin and Erin create a new dream of family?

Good book. Austin is a champion bull rider who was badly injured during his last ride. After three months he has been released to finish his recovery and rehab on the family ranch. He's determined to get back on the rodeo circuit as soon as possible, and his slow progress has made him grumpy and hard to live with. His brother and sister-in-law hire Erin to provide the physical therapy that he needs.

Erin is a widow who lost her husband eighteen months earlier. He had been a Marine who was injured on his last deployment. She gave up her job to stay home and provide the therapy he needed until his death. Since then, she has been determined to have the family that she hadn't had with Jared. She takes the job with Austin to earn money for her IVF treatments.

I loved the first meeting between Austin and Erin. He makes some slightly suggestive remarks and she shoots him down in a hurry. There's a bit of a power struggle between the two of them and Erin comes out on top. He's used to being in charge and getting his way, but he needs her and her expertise, so he has to give in. Over the next couple weeks they butt heads on a regular basis, but Austin improvement is obvious. Underneath the banter and occasional snark is an undercurrent of attraction. But Austin doesn't do relationships, as they are a distraction, and Erin has no desire to have another man in her life.

I liked the development of Austin and Erin's relationship. They developed a pretty good friendship, to the point where Erin was able to tell him about her baby plans. She was also able to open up to him about her marriage, which helped him understand her. Austin's plans for his return to bull riding took a detour when he found out that he was the father of a three-month-old baby girl. Because he still isn't completely mobile, Austin talks Erin into helping him take care of little Lilly.

It was really sweet to see the three of them together. I loved seeing how quickly Austin took to being a daddy. He's nervous but determined to be everything that Lilly needs. Erin fell just as hard for that sweet little girl and watching Austin with her melted Erin's heart. But Erin had been badly betrayed by her husband and his actions, and getting involved with a man who would be leaving to go back to rodeo was something that she was unwilling to do. It was interesting to see the changes that Austin went through as he began to rethink his future. He knew that he wanted Erin to be part of it, but it took a while for him to realize just why. He has insecurities of his own and wants to have his plans set before he says anything to Erin. Meanwhile, her fears have her pushing him away as she tries to protect her heart. I wanted to shake her when she refused to listen to him. I ached for Austin, who was hurt and angry at her rejection. I loved the surprise that finally got them talking to each other. The epilogue was great, with another surprise, though not unexpected. It was great to see the whole family together.

The secondary characters were good. I loved seeing the relationships between Austin and his brothers, Cullen and Trent. The love and support were obvious, especially when it came to giving advice. I also liked seeing Austin and his father start to overcome their differences. The only one I didn't like was Austin's manager, Jay. He seemed more interested in what was in it for him rather than what was best for Austin. His attitude toward Erin was terrible and could be blamed for at least some of the trouble between her and Austin.

The Bull Rider's Valentine - Cathy McDavid (HWR #1673 - Jan 2018)

Series: Mustang Valley (Book 11)

FOREVER HIS VALENTINE

It may be the most romantic time of the year, but Valentine’s Day just brings up bad memories for Nate Truett. Because on that day six years ago, Ronnie Hartman turned down his marriage proposal and broke his heart. Ever since, he’s avoided the holiday -- and her -- completely. Now he’s returned to Mustang Valley, Arizona, for one last chance to set things right.

Ronnie hasn’t forgotten that awful day, or why she turned down Nate’s proposal, but six years is a long time. Seeing how easily the former bull rider fits back into her life is…interesting. As he is welcomed with open arms by her family, Ronnie realizes one thing. Whatever his reasons for coming back, she can’t avoid him, or the past, anymore…

Good second chance romance between two people who let their pride and insecurities come between them. Now Nate is back in Mustang Valley to do a favor for a friend, and maybe have another chance with Ronnie. But first, he has to get her to talk to him.

Six years earlier, Nate and Ronnie had been a couple in love, with good rodeo careers and a baby on the way. Then a freak accident at Nationals had caused Ronnie to lose the baby. Then Nate had put together a romantic Valentine's evening, ending with a marriage proposal. He was devastated and heartbroken when she turned him down and walked away. Neither had handled it well, causing great turmoil in both their lives.

I enjoyed the rekindling of Nate and Ronnie's relationship. Both of them had needed to do some maturing, as well as learning how to forgive themselves and each other. Nate had gone into a depression, losing his rodeo career and endorsements, leaving him pretty much broke and broken. After spending six years drifting from job to job, he's finally ready to put his life back together. That includes seeing if there's anything left between him and Ronnie. Ronnie couldn't handle the guilt she felt over the loss of the baby. Rather than face Nate and the anger and resentment she was sure he was hiding, she ran home to Mustang Valley and refused to see him again. She's not happy to see him, as his arrival stirs up emotions she'd thought were well buried.

I liked Nate. He's sweet, romantic, and a really sensitive guy. I loved his stories about the brother he had taken care of and how that influenced his future behavior. I liked his determination to talk to Ronnie and clear the air about their past, and how he knew when to push and when to back off. I ached a bit for him as Ronnie did her best to keep him at a distance. I liked Ronnie, too, although she did frustrate me a little bit. Her actions after the proposal seemed unnecessarily cruel. As her reasoning was revealed, I wanted to shake her, because so much pain could have been avoided if she had just talked to him about her fears and feelings. As they worked together to help Sam and run the recreational rodeo, they slowly began to get to know each other again. Things were looking good for them until something happened that brought back Nate's fears and insecurities, which Ronnie had trouble dealing with. I liked the way her eyes got opened by a conversation with her younger sister. I also loved Theo's surprise solution to Nate's problem. The epilogue was sweet and romantic, though not much of a surprise, in spite of the earlier agreement between Nate and Ronnie.

I liked catching up a little with Ronnie's sisters, Mel and Frankie, but I especially liked seeing more of Sam. It's great to see her settling in with the family, despite their rocky beginning. She still has her moments, especially in the lead-up to Nationals, but overall it's a vast improvement over her introduction. I also adored Theo. He's a crusty, ornery old cowboy who isn't handling his health issues very well. I could feel and understand his frustrations at his limitations. I loved how he and Nate connected and how Nate was able to help him without making him feel like a useless old man. I really enjoyed his straight-talk and advice to Nate and how they ended up helping each other.

The Proper Way to Stop a Wedding - Victoria Alexander (HQN - Apr 2017)

Series: Lady Travelers Society (Book .5)

The family of the bride is expected to revel in the joy of the upcoming wedding. Instead, Miss Celia Bromley faces the most heartbreaking dilemma of her life: she's fallen in love with the man engaged to marry her scheming half-sister. Worse, he might love Celia in return. But handsome, bookish Henry Saunders is a man of honour. He would never break his promise to his bride-to-be, no matter how horrid she may be.

Celia’s despair hasn’t escaped the notice of keen-eyed Aunt Guinevere who, along with her crafty friends are determined to see true love triumph. Unravelling a wedding takes a delicate, subtle touch, and in the mad dash to break one engagement and encourage another, the ladies may well hear the whispers of scandal instead of the peal of wedding bells…

Fun little prequel novella to the Lady Traveler Society series. In this story, we get the story that was alluded to in the first book, about Derek's parents and the family "scandal." We also get to see the three founders of the Society in the early years of their antics.

It all starts in a London bookshop, where Henry and Celia meet and connect. They spend a lovely afternoon together, but part without exchanging names. After weeks of being unable to find each other again, both Henry and Celia decide to move on, even though they can't forget each other. Henry meets a beautiful and vivacious young woman and quickly finds himself engaged to be married - though he isn't quite sure how it happened. Imagine his dismay when he discovers that the woman he really wants is his fiancée's younger sister.

I liked Henry and Celia. They are both nice people, to whom family is important. I ached for them both during this week before the wedding, as they are so obviously in love with each other. They are also products of their time. For Henry, once he has given his word, that is it. He won't go back on it, even though he has come to realize that he is making a huge mistake. The more time he spends with Katherine, the more he realizes that he doesn't even like her. Who could blame him? It is painfully obvious that she is marrying him only for his money and his connections. Celia is a sweet young woman who has always felt like an outsider with her two half-sisters. Even so, there is no way that she will do anything to ruin her sister's wedding, even though it means losing the man she loves. But each time that she and Henry are together, they can't help what they feel.

Enter Aunt Gwen and her friends. They have come for the wedding and to help with the last minute arrangements. Being an experienced and observant woman, Gwen is quick to realize that the wedding is happening between the wrong people. She adores her niece, Celia, and is determined to solve the problem facing the two young people. They are delightfully creative and devious and zero in on Katherine's weaknesses. They also have an unexpected and talented partner in Henry's brother Edward, who is the earl. He sees how miserable Henry is, and knows his brother well enough to understand that Henry won't end the engagement. He joins forces with the ladies to come up with a plan that will make Katherine the one to call it off. Katherine is a hard nut to crack though, and it takes a brilliant move by Edward to provide the last push. Their efforts were great fun to see.

The only disappointment is that, in reading this after The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen, I already knew the fates of Henry and Celia. This put a little bit of a damper on their happy ever after.

The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen - Victoria Alexander (HQN - May 2017)

Series: Lady Travelers Society (Book 1)

Really, it's too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders's favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived -- and possibly fraudulent -- Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what's a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he's escorting the world's most maddening woman to the world's most romantic city to find her missing relative.

While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she's certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart.

Fun book. It opens with India, spinster and assistant to Sir Martin, on a mission to discover what has happened to her cousin Heloise. Said cousin departed on a Continental tour supposedly planned and facilitated by the Lady Travelers Society. But when India stops receiving letters from Heloise, and her increasingly frantic inquiries to the Society go unanswered, she begins an investigation. She quickly concludes that the Society is, in fact, a fraud, designed to bilk older ladies with a taste for adventure out of their money. Since the three older ladies who run it seem too flighty to be behind it, India's eagle eye falls on Derek.

Derek is a young man who has enjoyed all the benefits of being the wealthy heir to an earldom. But when Derek's uncle makes it clear that it's time for him to grow up and take some responsibility, Derek turns over a new leaf. When he's asked to check on his favorite, though somewhat eccentric aunt, he's horrified to discover that she and her friends have formed a travelers society that has misplaced one of its members. In an attempt to keep the old dears out of jail and free of scandal, he's determined to track down the missing woman. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to take India with him.

I have to admit that I didn't care for India at first. She is judgmental, convinced of her infallibility, and rather obnoxious. She arrives at a Society meeting already convinced that there is something illegal going on and nothing is going to change her mind. A partially overheard conversation makes her believe that Derek is the mastermind behind the whole thing. Even though he has promised to find out what has happened to her cousin, she makes it clear that she doesn't trust him.

On the other hand, I liked Derek. He has buckled down quite nicely to becoming a more responsible man. He obviously cares quite deeply for his aunt and will do whatever he must to protect her, including taking the blame that India dishes out. I liked the way he immediately stepped up to find the missing Heloise and definitely felt his dismay at having to deal with the prickly India.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of their relationship. Though Derek has matured into a better man thanks to his uncle's efforts, he still knows how to have fun. He has made it a personal mission to get India to lighten up a bit. While taking the time to check at various hotels for any sign of Heloise, Derek also manages to insist on doing some sightseeing as well. I loved seeing the "why on earth would anyone want to leave England to visit a foreign country" India get her eyes opened to the wonders of Paris. India also makes some rather disturbing discoveries about herself, and I enjoyed seeing her evolution. The encounters between Derek and India are full of witty back and forth banter. She makes no bones about her distrust of him and her determination to reform him. Underneath it all is a growing attraction that takes them both by surprise. Just as things are looking really good for them, they receive some information about Heloise. The old India makes a return, parting the two with some harsh words. I liked that Derek gave India a little space, enabling her to get over her anger. I loved his big moment at the end - it was quite cleverly done.

The mystery of Heloise's disappearance was a fairly mild one. I liked India's worry for her cousin and her determination to find her. I thoroughly enjoyed the Paris setting and how the sights and sounds were brought to life, from the cafes to experiencing the Eiffel Tower. Derek's deceptions are a little bothersome and I had a feeling they would come back to bite him. The story behind Heloise's disappearance was a bit of a surprise. I liked seeing Heloise confess the truth, but ached a little for India.

The secondary characters all added extra life to the story. First were the three old ladies, whose desire for financial independence started the whole mess. They were delightfully naïve about the ethics of what they were doing. Their explanations to Derek were pretty funny. My favorite was Derek's stepbrother Percy, Marquess of Brookings. He was quite the unrepentant rake, charming and full of fun. His scene with India that first morning was hilarious. I loved how close he was to Derek; some of the advice that he gave was spot-on. The chaperones, Professor and Estelle Greer, were sweet. I loved Estelle's willingness to loan India clothes when India's trunk was lost. She was also especially kind considering India's early attitude toward her. India's boss, Sir Martin, was also quite interesting. He seemed like the typical absent-minded professor as India kept his life organized for him. His surprise arrival in Paris created quite a stir, especially with his attitude toward Derek. I did like India's way of dealing with him. I loved Derek's mother and the way she embraced India. Her method of convincing India to go shopping with her was really sweet. 

Twins for the Texas Rancher - Marin Thomas (HWR #1659 - Sept 2017)

Series: Cowboys of Stampede Texas (Book 2)

DOUBLE TROUBLE!

Sadie McHenry and her twin sons are heading home to Stampede, Texas. Sadie wants a chance to start over after being laid off -- and she might have found it with rancher Logan Hardell. Logan instantly bonds with her boys, especially with Tommy, whose ADD makes him a handful. But Logan seems to understand the four-year-old's needs and seeing them together melts Sadie's heart.

Logan's ranch is at risk, so Sadie agrees to help with their books -- putting Logan on twin patrol! With his fun-loving approach to the kids and his rugged appeal, Sadie can't understand why he's ruled out a family of his own. But she's not giving up on him just yet. Because Sadie's convinced Logan is exactly what she and her boys need!

Wonderfully emotional story. Sadie heads home to Stampede with her two sons, needing the support of her family as she starts over. She is the single mother of two four-year-old boys, divorced from their useless father, and has recently lost her job. Stampede will give her a chance recover from the stress before looking for a new job. She doesn't expect to be offered a job helping Logan straighten out the mess that threatens his ranch. Logan gave up his rodeo career to come home when his grandfather needed help with the ranch. It's a lot of work for one man, especially one whose inner demons won't let him ask for help.

I loved Sadie. She has had to cope with so much by herself. Twins are enough of a handful, but when one of them has ADD, the challenge is so much greater. She feels guilty because she has to spend so much time with Tommy that Tyler falls by the wayside. It doesn't help that her husband was no help at all and since their divorce has been even more neglectful. Her love for both her boys is obvious, as is her determination to do what is best for them.

I also loved Logan. He is a hardworking man who has had a lot to deal with in his life. He blames himself for his mother deserting the family, because of his wild behavior as a child. He also blames himself for the end of his marriage, because his issues were ones that his wife couldn't handle. Now the ranch is failing which he also holds himself responsible for. But there is no doubt that his family is the most important thing to him. I loved his patience with his ornery grandfather and his support for his brother Gunner and his work at the hotel. When given a chance to save the ranch, he is all in.

I loved the development of the relationship between Logan and Sadie. Though they have known each other for years, this time there is an unexpected spark between them. But both try to ignore it. Logan has written off any chance of a family of his own, and Sadie has discovered that most men are reluctant to take on a ready-made family like hers. As Sadie settles in to work on the ranch books, Logan and his grandfather take charge of the two little boys. I loved the way that Logan connected with both Tommy and Tyler. Tommy reminds Logan of himself at that age, giving him insight on the best way to deal with him. Logan also makes sure that Tyler gets equal attention that is tailored to his very different personality. Seeing Logan with her boys has a very strong effect on Sadie. But she is very wary of getting involved with Logan. His empathy with Tommy exposes the very real obstacle of Logan's own fight with ADD. Sadie is afraid that she would end up resenting having to deal with Logan's messes as well as Tommy's. I ached for Logan, whose feelings for Sadie and her boys went very deep. I loved his determination to finally get a handle on his ADD and was impressed with his commitment to making it work. I loved Sadie's reaction to his efforts, as she went from adamantly opposed to getting involved to believing that it might be possible. When Sadie is offered a job back in Wisconsin, she has to decide if she's willing to take a chance. And Logan has to decide if he's willing to risk his heart again. I loved their big moment at the end as Logan laid his heart on the line and Sadie showed him just how much she cared.

I loved the secondary characters. First of all, the boys were adorable. I could easily see what a challenge they were for Sadie. Tommy was adorable in his busyness and his worship of Logan and Emmett. It was easy to see the benefits that being on the ranch had on Tommy. I also loved Tyler. He was the quiet one who used books to escape from the chaos caused by his brother. He was a bit of a worrier and accustomed to being overlooked. I loved seeing him bloom with the attention he received from the new men in his life. It was great to see him act like a four-year-old boy instead of a shadow.

I also loved seeing more of the developing relationship between Emmett and Sadie's Aunt Amelia. It was easy to see that the bickering between them masked deeper feelings. I liked learning more about their pasts and what brought them to this point in their lives. There was an interesting little twist involving the friendship between Amelia and Emmett's late wife, Sarah. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing where their relationship goes.

Forbidden Night with the Warrior - Michelle Willingham (HH #1338 - July 2017)

Series: Warriors of the Night (Book 1)

One wicked night for an heir!

Rosamund de Courcy has always loved Warrick de Laurent, but was forced to marry another. Now her husband's dying command is that she must provide him with an heir. To do so, she will have to spend one sinful night…with Warrick!

The powerful warrior was wounded by Rosamund's abandonment years ago, and Warrick refuses to let her touch his heart again. But this illicit night is impossible to resist, and soon he is determined -- he will not only possess her, but reclaim her for his own!

Good second chance story with some interesting twists and turns. Rosamund fell in love with Warrick as a young girl. They ran away together but were caught by Rosamund's father who was furious at them. He had already promised Rosamund to Alan and had no intention of allowing a marriage with a second son who had no prospects. When Rosamund tried to resist, her father threatened Warrick's life if she didn't cooperate.

Three years later, Rosamund is married to Alan. They have no children and he is dying. He is desperate to have an heir to prevent his wastrel younger brother from inheriting. He has come up with the idea of having another man get her pregnant - and the man he has chosen is Warrick. Rosamund is horrified by the very thought.

Overall, I liked Rosamund. I thought that she was a bit naïve when she first fell for Warrick. She actually believed that her father would allow her to stay with Warrick, even though he had already made it plain that Warrick was unsuitable. I liked that she did what she had to do to save Warrick's life, even though it broke her heart. I also liked that she tried to be a good wife to Alan, even though she didn't love him. I loved her sense of honor that had her refusing to break her marriage vows by sleeping with Warrick. She is furious at having yet another man dictate the direction of her life. She undergoes some major changes as she attempts to seize control of her future.

I liked Warrick a lot. He is strong, honorable, and determined. I ached for him at the beginning as he dealt with the way that his father treated him. The defining moment of his young life was heartbreaking and affected his life for years to come. I thought it was interesting that both Alan and his brother Owen had summoned Warrick and offered him something he wanted - a chance for the land and respect he craves.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Warrick and Rosamund. In spite of everything that had occurred in the past, their love for each other had never died. One of the reasons Rosamund is so horrified by Alan's plan is that she fears the feelings she has buried for so long will come out and destroy her. Though Warrick craves the chance to be with her again, he will not force the issue. I loved his protectiveness toward Rosamund and his determination to keep her safe from Owen. As they spent time together, Warrick lost some of the anger he had felt toward her and began to respect the strength she had developed to go on with her life. He was also determined that this time he would not take a chance on losing her again. Rosamund fought her feelings for Warrick. Besides the whole issue of Alan's desire for an heir, Rosamund has some fears of her own that make her reluctant to participate in his scheme. But as the threats from Owen grow stronger, her heart admits that it is only Warrick who makes her feel safe. I loved seeing them stand together to face the threat and how their confidence in their love gains them the life they want.

The threat posed by Owen was ongoing throughout the book. His evilness is made plain from the very beginning, making Alan's plan understandable. Though Rosamund initially believed she would be safe from him, she quickly learned otherwise. There were quite a few twists and turns as Owen attempts to gain the prize he wants and the others counteract them. Alan's determination to carry out his plan, in spite of Rosamund's objections, was very creepy at times. An unexpected twist regarding Alan's illness added more strain to an already difficult situation. The final confrontation between Warrick and Owen had an unexpected player with an unusual solution to the problem. I was on the edge of my seat as I wondered how it was going to end. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up for the book as well as a lead-in for the next one. I am looking forward to getting the story behind the tension between Rhys and Lianna.