A Baby for Christmas - Marie Ferrarella (HWR #1669 - Dec 2017)

Series: Forever Texas (Book 18)

He’s fighting for them

When Amy Donavan married the town playboy and left Forever, Texas, Connor McCullough wished her well -- no matter how much it hurt. He got past it, but never really over it. Now the one that got away is back and needs his help…in more ways than one!

Recently divorced and fleeing her abusive ex-husband, Amy needs a safe place to hide and someone she can trust. And she’s not alone. Her fussy six-month-old son needs sanctuary, too…and Connor is determined to protect them both. It’s not his family, but it’s the family -- and the woman -- he’s always wanted. So when Amy’s jealous ex tracks her down, hell-bent on reclaiming his “property,” Connor’s ready to fight this time…

Very good second chance story. Connor is the last of the unmarried McCulloughs. He has watched his brothers and sister find love and start their own families. He's happy for them, but sometimes the loneliness gets to him. It's one of those evenings until a knock on the door brings a blast from his past. On the other side is Amy, the girl that he loved and lost, desperately in need of his help.

Amy had left town five years earlier, eloping with the town playboy. But the marriage didn't turn out the way she hoped, leaving her vulnerable to Clay's abuse. With nowhere else to go, Amy heads for Forever and the man who had been her best friend, hoping to find sanctuary for herself and her son.

I loved Connor. He could have told Amy that she was on her own, but he is not that kind of guy. His protective instincts kick in as soon as he sees her at the door, looking exhausted and scared. He's also quite the baby whisperer, as he soothes little Jamie at the same time he looks after Amy.

I liked Amy, too. She owned up to her mistake of marrying Clay in the first place. I liked that she got out when she realized how toxic the relationship would be for the baby. She does have some self-esteem issues, thanks to her treatment by Clay.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Connor was honest with himself from the start. He was still in love with Amy and he was going to do his best to make sure that he didn't lose her a second time. I liked how sensitive he was to her nervousness about going into town, and that he eased her into it after she'd been at the ranch for a while. Amy realizes pretty quickly that she'd been an idiot not to see Connor as more than a friend before she'd taken up with Clay. Now her feelings for him are growing stronger, but she doesn't want to risk messing up their friendship by asking for more. At the same time, Connor tries to be patient because he doesn't want to take advantage of Amy while she's vulnerable.  I loved how the two of them, plus little Jamie, quickly felt like a real family. I was on edge as the book went on, waiting for Clay to show up and make trouble. I enjoyed the confrontation at the end, especially seeing Amy stand up to him with the support of a good part of the town. I loved the ending and seeing all the McCulloughs happy at last.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Connor's brothers and sisters were all there for him as he made Amy and Jamie part of his life. I especially enjoyed the teasing he got from his brothers as they watched him fall for both Amy and Jamie. I also loved the housekeeper, Rita. She was such a pushover for the baby while at the same time being a force to be reckoned with in keeping Connor in line. I liked the way she pushed him and Amy together. As always, Miss Joan was one of my favorites. I loved the way that she pulled Amy right back into being part of the town. 

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

Series: Texas Legacies: The Lockharts (Book 5)

THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jude's Law - Lori Foster (Zebra - Feb 2006/Oct 2016)

Series: Law Duology (Book 1)

When it comes to love, he plays to win

There's only so much frustration a guy can handle before he gets a little nutty. For Jude Jamison, his frustration has a name--May Price. She's everything the former Hollywood bad boy actor came to Stillbrook, Ohio, hoping to find: open, honest, lovable, and full of those luscious curves you don't find on stick-figure starlets--curves May doesn't seem to appreciate in herself. Every time Jude tries to get close to the skittish business woman, to take her in his arms, she thinks he's joking. Joking? Joking does not involve lots of cold-shower therapy.

Time for new tactics. If May can't respond to his sly compliments and sexy innuendos, he'll just have to spell it out for her. Jude Jamison is going to lay down the law for May Price. And after that, she'll have no delusions about just how much he wants her...

Good book. Jude is a former MMA fighter turned actor who has moved to the small town to get away from a Hollywood scandal. He is attracted to May, who is everything that his usual dates are not. He has done everything he can to show her he's interested, but she doesn't take his advances seriously, and it's driving him nuts.

May is the owner of an art gallery and Jude is her best customer. She does her best to ignore his sexy comments. She thinks there's no way he really interested in her plain and plump self and she isn't about to screw up a great business relationship by thinking otherwise.

I enjoyed the development of Jude and May's relationship once it got going. I was a little irritated at Jude at the beginning as all he seemed to be focused on was getting her into his bed. On the other hand, I loved the fact that he liked her body just as it was. May is a sweet woman with a low opinion of her own appeal. She is also cursed with a horrible family. Her parents are selfish, her mom is a drunk, her dad is a philanderer, and her brother Tim is a spoiled brat who blames everyone else for his problems. When Tim borrows money from a loan shark, he goes to May for help when he's told the way to pay it back is to kill Jude. Horrified, she goes to Jude to warn him and ask for his help. This puts May right where he wants her and he's quick to take advantage of it.

The heat between May and Jude is intense. I loved seeing Jude go from lusting after May to wanting more than just her in his bed. I loved his protectiveness when he finds out what is going on. His greatest need is to make sure that May is safe, even if that means protecting her useless brother, too. It was especially sweet to see the way that he tries to make May see just how great he thinks she is. On May's side, we finally see that she isn't so indifferent to him after all. As a matter of fact, she has been crushing on him for years. I loved the scenes where she blows him away with her knowledge of MMA. May also sees the man that Jude is, not just the fighter or actor, something that Jude isn't used to. May is also extremely protective of Jude, something that he finds somewhat insulting. I laughed out loud at some of their conversations as May tries to keep Jude from doing something she thinks is dangerous to him. I also loved her support of him regarding his past. The end is kind of cute as May thinks their time together is over and Jude doesn't want her to leave. He blurts out his ideas for the future in a jumbled mess, until he realizes that he's left out something important.

The suspense part of the story is pretty good. May's idiot brother Tim has gotten himself into a mess and thought it's May's job to get him out of it. The villain of the situation is revealed early along with the knowledge that Tim was set up to get to Jude. There's plenty of tension as Jude faces his need to finally put the past to rest while at the same time making sure that May is safe. The confrontation at the bridge is intense, and the one at the restaurant quite satisfying. There's a bit left hanging at the end that will hopefully be resolved in Murphy's Law.

The secondary characters were wonderful. Denny was my favorite. As a former fighter and trainer, he's so much more than Jude's employee. I loved his quick acceptance and liking for May, and loved how easily he could read her. I also enjoyed the way that he took charge of Tim, seeing that there was, perhaps, something redeemable in the man. I also enjoyed his protectiveness toward May's friend Ashley. Their interactions were pretty funny. I loved Ashley's quirkiness and independence. She may have pushed the independence a little too much at times, potentially putting herself in danger, but her intentions were always good. Her encounters with Quentin Murphy were great and I'm really looking forward to their book. Tim was a character that was easy to dislike. He was spoiled, selfish, and childish. I hated the way he talked to and about May. I loved seeing Denny take him in hand and had hope for him until he went and did something even more stupid. I think he finally started to see the light by the end, but only time will tell.

Navy SEAL Captive - Elle James (HI #1631 - Apr 2016)

Series: SEAL of My Own (Book 2)

Saving the SEAL

Being abducted by a beautiful woman in Cancun wasn't part of Sawyer Houston's R & R mission. Jenna Broyles claims she's rescuing the vacationing navy SEAL from unknown assailants. Only it's her life on the line when the jilted bride becomes a target.

The high-end Mexico resort was supposed to be Jenna's honeymoon destination. But after a dangerous discovery forces her to play hero, she's the one in need of the gorgeous stranger's expertise. As Jenna and Sawyer flee across treacherous tropical jungles, the heat between them builds to a fever pitch. Can they make safe haven before Sawyer's secrets get them both killed?

Good book that picks up with the SEAL team almost immediately after Navy SEAL Survival. The guys are on vacation in Cancun when they stumble on a human trafficking ring. Their buddy Duff falls for the woman in that book. Now they hope to finish out their vacation without any more unwanted excitement. This book opens with the gang getting ready to experience a zip-line into the jungle. Sawyer isn't any too enthusiastic, but the others aren't going to let him weasel out of it. Also on the platform are two women, one of whom is also reluctant.  Jenna is in Cancun on the honeymoon that wasn't. Her fiancé had stood her up, claiming that he changed his mind about spending his life with someone so boring. Now she is determined to prove to herself that she can be adventurous. Jenna's friend has no trouble going, and also makes eyes at Quentin, another one of the SEALs.  Jenna and Sawyer eventually take the plunge, though Sawyer's fears are realized when the cable breaks near the bottom.

Later, when Jenna returns to the hotel, she picks up her suitcase at the desk, only to discover that it isn't her suitcase at all. Instead, she finds a rifle, money, pictures and a note describing the man that the suitcase's owner is supposed to kill - Sawyer. Determined to warn him, Jenna tracks Sawyer down and all but kidnaps him to get him out of danger. Sawyer is incredulous at first, he thinks it's a ploy to get his attention. But the truth is undeniable when Jenna shows him the case and he realizes that not only is he a target, Jenna is also.

I loved the chemistry between Sawyer and Jenna. The attraction had been there from their meeting at the zipline, and their enforced proximity gives it the opportunity to grow. I loved the two of them together. Sawyer is protective and determined to make sure that Jenna is safe while he finds out who wants to kill him. Jenna refuses to be put in a safe little box and insists on being a full participant in the search for the truth. I liked how their relationship developed, with heat and attraction leading to the desire to get to know each other. I liked the way that Sawyer's attention built up Jenna's confidence in herself, especially his insistence that she is definitely not boring. I also liked how Jenna's attention made Sawyer realize that it's possible to have a relationship and his career at the same time. His experience growing up with a distant father had made him doubt that ability. I also found it interesting that he had kept his family ties a secret, even from his friends, in a desire to be accepted for himself. I loved the surprise he got from those same friends later in the book. I liked the way that Jenna and Sawyer agree that they want to pursue their relationship and see where it goes, rather than exhibit a case of instant love. I look forward to seeing more of them in the later books in the series.

The suspense of the story was terrific. From Jenna's discovery of the rifle to the last confrontation, the action was nearly nonstop. I loved the way that the team made sure that Sawyer knew that he wasn't in it alone, in spite of his desire to keep them out of it. I especially enjoyed the parts where it is the ladies who take the lead and the men are relegated to support staff.  I also enjoyed seeing Natalie and Lance from the first book take an active role in this one. Each step that the group takes to find out who is trying to kill Sawyer brings an increase in danger, from street thugs to drug cartel kingpins. The ending was a bit of a surprise, with part of the mystery resolved and part of it still in question. I'm looking forward to the next book and hopefully getting more answers.

The MacGregor's Lady - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Feb 2014)

Series: MacGregor (Book 3)

What if the steps they take to avoid marriage...

The last thing Asher MacGregor, newly titled Earl of Balfour, wants is a society wife, though he has agreed to squire Boston heiress Hannah Cooper about the London ballrooms. When he's met that obligation, he'll return to the Highlands, and resume the myriad responsibilities awaiting him there.

...Lead instead to impossible love?

At her step-father's insistence, Hannah Cooper must endure a London season, though she has no intention of surrendering her inheritance to a fortune hunter. When she's done her duty, she'll return to Boston and the siblings who depend upon her for their safety... or will she? The taciturn Scottish earl suits her purposes admirably-until genuine liking and unexpected passion bring Asher and Hannah close. For if the Scottish earl and the American heiress fall in love, an ocean of differences threatens to keep them apart.

Very good book. Asher has returned to Scotland after being declared dead, to take up his responsibilities as the earl. He has no intention of marrying, having a tragedy in his past that has made him unwilling to risk his heart. He has been coerced into escorting Hannah and her aunt around London, after which he will return to Scotland and his duties there.

Hannah has been forced by her stepfather to go to London and find a husband. She has no plans to marry; instead, she will return to Boston to watch over her younger brothers, grandmother, and mother. All she has to do is remain unmarried until she can claim her inheritance.

I loved the relationship that developed between Asher and Hannah. They clashed at the beginning, as neither wanted to be where they were. But it didn't take long for them to discover their similarities, and a pretty sweet friendship developed from there. Hannah is pragmatic about herself. She doesn't see herself as attractive, she has a limp and feels that her only appeal is her fortune. Her family is important to her, and she feels that she is the only one who can protect them from her stepfather. Her focus is on surviving the Season and returning to Boston. For Asher, his family is also his focus. He feels guilty for the way he had previously abandoned them and is determined to make everything right now that he is back.

It was fun to see Asher push Hannah through the preparations for the Season. She tried to resist but ended up giving in. I loved his sensitivity to her limp and the way he found to fix it. It was sweet to see how he wanted to make her forced social time easier for her. As they spent time together, they discovered that they liked each other and appreciated the similarities of their situations. That liking turned to love, intensified by the attraction they felt for each other. Asher quickly realized that he wanted to keep Hannah in his life and proposed marriage. Unfortunately, Hannah was still focused on her need to return to Boston. I was a little frustrated with her, as Asher made multiple offers to help her with her family issues, but she refused his help. I ached for them both as they admitted their love for each other, but couldn't see a way to make it work.

I loved the support that Asher received from his family. They welcomed him back into the fold with few recriminations. When he wanted their help with Hannah's Season, they came in force. There is an especially moving scene near the end, as Asher is holding a baby, where he finally confesses his painful past to his brothers. I loved their understanding and shared grief.

I wasn't sure how Asher and Hannah were going to get their HEA with everything that was working against them. Seeing her get on that ship, headed back to Boston, made me want to shake her until she saw sense. That Asher's plan was nearly too late made me crazy when so much could have been avoided if he had just told her what he had done. I loved the ending as Hannah makes a decision and tries to stop the ship at the same time Asher attempts to do the same. It was a scene that had me laughing out loud and cheering them both on.

Mission: Colton Justice - Jennifer Morey (HRS #1963 - Oct 2017)

Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 7)

When his wife, Tess, died, tech mogul Jeremy Kincaid's perfect world broke apart. Their young son is the light of his life, but Jeremy can't shake suspicions that her death was no accident. Did presumed-dead Livia Colton orchestrate Tess's car accident? Jeremy risks everything by enlisting beautiful PI Adeline Winters to uncover the truth.

Adeline once served as Tess and Jeremy's egg donor and surrogate. Giving up her baby was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do, yet she can't turn down Jeremy's plea for help now. But Adeline and Jeremy must push aside their slow-burning attraction when kidnappers place the ultimate bargaining chip on the table: their son.

This was an okay read, not as good as most of the Colton books. Jeremy and his wife, Tess, had been unable to have children and used a surrogate and egg donor to have their son Jamie. Shortly after his birth, Tess died in a car accident, leaving Jeremy to raise their son alone. However, he is certain that Tess's death was no accident and that the missing-but-presumed-dead Livia Colton is responsible. Try as he might, he can't get law enforcement to investigate, so he goes to a private investigator for answers.

Adeline was a poor college student when she agreed to help Jeremy and Tess by being their surrogate, but giving up the baby was heartbreaking for her. Since then she finished her education and now runs a successful investigation business. She is surprised when Jeremy comes to her for help discovering the truth about Tess's death, but can't turn him down.

I liked Adeline. She is feisty, intelligent, and determined. I liked the way that, although she empathized with Jeremy's wish to believe Tess was murdered, she doesn't allow emotion to affect her investigation. She will only accept hard evidence to convince her. I also felt for her reluctance to spend much time with Jamie. It hurt enough to give him up the first time; getting to know him now and then leaving him again would be even worse.

I had a harder time liking Jeremy. As the book went on, his refusal to believe that the accident was just that, in spite of growing evidence, seemed to be more about his guilty feelings than an actual quest for justice. I also felt that he didn't really consider Adeline's feelings when he insisted that she spend time with Jamie. Again, it was more about his feelings than hers.

There was no doubt that there was an intense attraction between Adeline and Jeremy. I was a little disturbed by the fact that Jeremy had been drawn to Adeline during the pregnancy process while he was married to Tess. That leaned a bit further into infidelity than I was comfortable with. Now that Tess is gone, he's free to pursue the attraction, but there are also guilty feelings from his marriage that cause him to hold back his emotions. Adeline finds it easy to fall for the man who is the father of her baby but fears his interest is only that of providing a new mother for his son. I liked the way that Adeline stood up for her own needs at the end, forcing Jeremy to take an honest look at his own feelings.

The suspense of the story was good. Jeremy's conviction that Tess's accident was murder led him and Adeline to ask questions that gained them some unwanted attention. Adeline and Jeremy uncover some unexpected information about Tess and her past, linking her with Livia Colton, but is it enough for murder? When their investigation starts to get too close for someone's comfort, Jamie is kidnapped to get them to back off. Their race to save him before the kidnapper can carry out his plans is intense and had me on the edge of my seat as I read. The identity of the culprit wasn't too much of a surprise when it came to the final confrontation.

Ms Demeanor - Danica Winters (HI #1753 - Dec 2017)

Series: Mystery Christmas (Book 4)

A cold-case Christmas in Mystery, Montana

Yearning to be known as something other than Mystery's ultimate bad boy, rancher Rainier Fitzgerald isn't pleased when he stumbles upon the remains of a dead body. Especially when Officer Laura Blade catches him with a gun in his hand.

Spending Christmas chasing down a cold case with a man she's not supposed to fraternize with isn't granting any of Laura's holiday wishes, either. But could her favorite time of the year be working its magic on Laura's feelings? Or is Rainier truly transforming from a charismatic rogue to a hero worthy of her heart?

Good conclusion to the series. In this book, we finally get to meet Ranier, the brother who has been "away." As it happens, he has been in prison for assaulting his biological father. The story opens as he is released, expecting that one of his brothers will pick him up. Instead, he is met by Laura, his parole officer, who is picking him up as a favor to his brother Wyatt. There are sparks between the two from the beginning, but a relationship between an ex-con and his parole officer?

Laura seems pretty uptight at the beginning. She hammers at him about all the rules he has to follow without appearing to care much about his feelings about going home. Meanwhile, Rainier is unsure about what his reception will be when he arrives back at Dunrovin. I ached for him because he had missed his family so badly. I was so happy to see his mom's and Colter's joy at his return, and his father's matter-of-fact, put Rainier to work attitude. But Rainier hadn't been home an hour when trouble found him, as he unearthed a gun and a human bone while helping his dad. What I didn't understand was how Laura immediately found that to be cause to send him back to prison. It wasn't like he had pulled a gun and shot someone. I was glad to see her back off since I thought she had overreacted. However, the incident did bring Rainier's lawman brother to the ranch and showcased the tension between the two men. I lost a little respect for Wyatt here because of his negative attitude.

While all this was going on, there was also a surprise visit from neighbor and nemesis William Poe. He shows up just to deliver a "misdelivered" tax bill from the county, showing that the Fitzgeralds owe thousands in back taxes on their ranch, with only a few days to come up with the money. The family is devastated at the thought of losing their home and livelihood. Laura is a bit suspicious and offers to ask her father, a high-priced attorney, to look into the matter. Laura has a stressful relationship with her father, who doesn't approve of her work, but she believes that he will do the right thing.

Meanwhile, the sparks and connection between Rainier and Laura continue to grow. Neither of them could deny what was between them. For people who seemed to be so different on the outside, there was quite a bit that they had in common. Both of them are protective, looking out/standing up for people who need help. Each finds the other incredibly attractive and want to believe the best of each other. I loved seeing them work together to discover the truth behind the taxes and the dead body. The more time they spent together, the closer they got. I especially enjoyed the way that the whole family made Laura feel welcome, even teasing her about her Christmas addiction. I liked how they came together at the end, realizing that their love and being true to themselves was more important than anything else.

The suspense of the story was very good, wrapping up the story arc that had carried through the series. From the beginning, we know that William Poe has it in for the Fitzgeralds, though we don't know why until the end of this book. There is definitely the sense that he has used underhanded methods to cause problems for the family, an idea borne out by the investigation conducted by Laura's father. The identity of the body on the ranch property comes as a huge shock, as does why it is there. The final confrontation with Poe is intense and answers a lot of questions that have come up during the books. The resolution was a relief to everyone.