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| 1460330617
| 9781460330616
| B00HG1T2LO
| 3.40
| 795
| Apr 01, 2014
| Apr 01, 2014
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really liked it
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Good story, but I would have liked it to be a little longer with more development of the characters. Matt and Kayla had met nine months ago when their
Good story, but I would have liked it to be a little longer with more development of the characters. Matt and Kayla had met nine months ago when their best friends got engaged. They struck sparks off each other immediately, spending most of their encounters arguing. Then one night those sparks turned to flames and they had an incredible night together. But the next day, Matt left without a word and hasn't contacted Kayla since. Now that he's back for the wedding, Matt needs to talk to her, but Kayla doesn't want to take the risk again. I liked Matt and Kayla, though I certainly understood her frustration with him. Kayla was furious and hurt that Matt had left without a word and not contacted her since he left. She hasn't been able to forget him or that night. Having him back in town is putting a strain on her ability protect herself. I really liked the way that she didn't just give in when he started laying on the charm again. Seeing her call him on his actions was very satisfying. Being forced to spend time together again brought all her feelings back to the surface and when they gave in again she was mad at herself. She also got really confused when he went back to spending time with her but not trying to get back in her bed. It gave them time to get to know each other better and she began to see more of the man he was. When tragedy happens and it looks like he'll be leaving again, Kayla has to decide if she's ready to fight for what she wants. Matt bugged me a bit at first. First he slept with her and then left without talking to her or contacting her again. Then when he came back he seemed to want to just pick up where they left off. But as the story went on I saw that he had been overwhelmed by his reaction to Kayla. He's always been the type of guy to be totally in control of his emotions and not allowing a woman to interfere with his professional goals. When he was offered the job in LA it gave him the perfect excuse to get away from Kayla and try to get himself back on track. He didn't expect miss her the way that he did and to be constantly thinking about her. He panicked over the fact that she made him feel things he'd never felt before. I liked seeing him a bit nervous when he saw her again, even though he tried to hide it. He knew he wanted her back in his life and he tried to make a plan to show her how he felt and what he thought she should do. When tragedy made those plans fall apart he finally realized that plans mean nothing if the feelings aren't there. I loved seeing him finally show her the truth of how he felt. His nervousness and rambling were kind of cute as he tried to explain to her why he had done the things he had done. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and seeing the changes that will be coming to the Lassiter family. Merged review: Good story, but I would have liked it to be a little longer with more development of the characters. Matt and Kayla had met nine months ago when their best friends got engaged. They struck sparks off each other immediately, spending most of their encounters arguing. Then one night those sparks turned to flames and they had an incredible night together. But the next day, Matt left without a word and hasn't contacted Kayla since. Now that he's back for the wedding, Matt needs to talk to her, but Kayla doesn't want to take the risk again. I liked Matt and Kayla, though I certainly understood her frustration with him. Kayla was furious and hurt that Matt had left without a word and not contacted her since he left. She hasn't been able to forget him or that night. Having him back in town is putting a strain on her ability protect herself. I really liked the way that she didn't just give in when he started laying on the charm again. Seeing her call him on his actions was very satisfying. Being forced to spend time together again brought all her feelings back to the surface and when they gave in again she was mad at herself. She also got really confused when he went back to spending time with her but not trying to get back in her bed. It gave them time to get to know each other better and she began to see more of the man he was. When tragedy happens and it looks like he'll be leaving again, Kayla has to decide if she's ready to fight for what she wants. Matt bugged me a bit at first. First he slept with her and then left without talking to her or contacting her again. Then when he came back he seemed to want to just pick up where they left off. But as the story went on I saw that he had been overwhelmed by his reaction to Kayla. He's always been the type of guy to be totally in control of his emotions and not allowing a woman to interfere with his professional goals. When he was offered the job in LA it gave him the perfect excuse to get away from Kayla and try to get himself back on track. He didn't expect miss her the way that he did and to be constantly thinking about her. He panicked over the fact that she made him feel things he'd never felt before. I liked seeing him a bit nervous when he saw her again, even though he tried to hide it. He knew he wanted her back in his life and he tried to make a plan to show her how he felt and what he thought she should do. When tragedy made those plans fall apart he finally realized that plans mean nothing if the feelings aren't there. I loved seeing him finally show her the truth of how he felt. His nervousness and rambling were kind of cute as he tried to explain to her why he had done the things he had done. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and seeing the changes that will be coming to the Lassiter family. ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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not set
not set
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Apr 2014
not set
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Sep 22, 2024
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ebook
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| 1459224094
| 9781459224094
| B006CT0J0E
| 3.47
| 876
| Dec 01, 2011
| Dec 01, 2011
|
really liked it
|
And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree by Leslie Kelly A struggling B&B owner scrambles to hide the dead body wrapped in her Christmas tree from a visiting came And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree by Leslie Kelly A struggling B&B owner scrambles to hide the dead body wrapped in her Christmas tree from a visiting camera crew—and from her still-irresistible reporter ex. Holly is trying her best to save the family inn from going out of business. She's arranged to have a tv crew come in to do a story on them in an effort to get some publicity. When she finds a dead body in her Christmas tree, they have to find a way to hide it before the cameras arrive. When her ex, Zach, knocks on the door she thinks he's with the tv crew, but he's really an investigative reporter searching for diamond thieves. What follows is a hilarious case of "where's the body" as Holly and her employees try to keep Zach from finding it and he's determined to protect her. Terrific sparks between the two as they end up working together. Seduced by the Season by Merline Lovelace A waitress and a sexy FBI agent mix business with pleasure while investigating a crime over the holidays. Sophie is a doctoral candidate in ancient art at Trinity College in Dublin and Clint is an FBI agent searching for an antiquities thief. They join forces when Clint realizes he doesn't have a clue what he's looking for but Sophie does. They're also incredibly attracted to each other. I loved the way that Sophie jumps right in to help Clint. She also loved showing him around Dublin and exposing him to her world. I loved the intensity of the takedown, and their reunion was great. Evidence of Desire by Debra Webb A crime lab worker finds herself in danger six days before Christmas...and only her off-limits but oh-so-attractive coworker can help. Olivia is a new lab worker who has moved there from Boston. She is really attracted to Jacob, who doesn't seem to notice her at all. When she begins to experience a string of bad luck - computer files missing, emails going astray, car not starting, being followed - she appeals to Jacob for help. She sort of throws herself at him with her thanks as she works to get to know him. Jacob is attracted to her, but was hurt romantically in the past and doesn't want to get involved. I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the romance. Season of Wonder by Marta Perry And two childhood friends rediscover their sense of wonder—and love—when reunited for the holidays. My least favorite of the four stories. Allison has brought her daughter to the island to rest up before a major surgery. She is also preparing the cottage in order to sell it. She meets her childhood friend David and he offers to help her with the repairs. He thinks she'll be moving back to the island and is looking forward to getting to know her again. I was bothered by her attitude toward him - she seemed to look down on him for what she sees as a lack of ambition. I liked David a lot. He was marvelous with Allison's daughter. I was glad to see him tell Allison what a pill she was being. Merged review: And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree by Leslie Kelly A struggling B&B owner scrambles to hide the dead body wrapped in her Christmas tree from a visiting camera crew—and from her still-irresistible reporter ex. Holly is trying her best to save the family inn from going out of business. She's arranged to have a tv crew come in to do a story on them in an effort to get some publicity. When she finds a dead body in her Christmas tree, they have to find a way to hide it before the cameras arrive. When her ex, Zach, knocks on the door she thinks he's with the tv crew, but he's really an investigative reporter searching for diamond thieves. What follows is a hilarious case of "where's the body" as Holly and her employees try to keep Zach from finding it and he's determined to protect her. Terrific sparks between the two as they end up working together. Seduced by the Season by Merline Lovelace A waitress and a sexy FBI agent mix business with pleasure while investigating a crime over the holidays. Sophie is a doctoral candidate in ancient art at Trinity College in Dublin and Clint is an FBI agent searching for an antiquities thief. They join forces when Clint realizes he doesn't have a clue what he's looking for but Sophie does. They're also incredibly attracted to each other. I loved the way that Sophie jumps right in to help Clint. She also loved showing him around Dublin and exposing him to her world. I loved the intensity of the takedown, and their reunion was great. Evidence of Desire by Debra Webb A crime lab worker finds herself in danger six days before Christmas...and only her off-limits but oh-so-attractive coworker can help. Olivia is a new lab worker who has moved there from Boston. She is really attracted to Jacob, who doesn't seem to notice her at all. When she begins to experience a string of bad luck - computer files missing, emails going astray, car not starting, being followed - she appeals to Jacob for help. She sort of throws herself at him with her thanks as she works to get to know him. Jacob is attracted to her, but was hurt romantically in the past and doesn't want to get involved. I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the romance. Season of Wonder by Marta Perry And two childhood friends rediscover their sense of wonder—and love—when reunited for the holidays. My least favorite of the four stories. Allison has brought her daughter to the island to rest up before a major surgery. She is also preparing the cottage in order to sell it. She meets her childhood friend David and he offers to help her with the repairs. He thinks she'll be moving back to the island and is looking forward to getting to know her again. I was bothered by her attitude toward him - she seemed to look down on him for what she sees as a lack of ambition. I liked David a lot. He was marvelous with Allison's daughter. I was glad to see him tell Allison what a pill she was being. ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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not set
not set
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Jan 2014
not set
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Sep 11, 2024
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1402280491
| 9781402280498
| 1402280491
| 4.21
| 1,438
| Jan 01, 2013
| Sep 24, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
Fun book full of sassy romance and quirky characters. Lucas has arrived home from his deployment a couple days early, ready to surprise his family. He
Fun book full of sassy romance and quirky characters. Lucas has arrived home from his deployment a couple days early, ready to surprise his family. He's also looking forward to meeting the girl he got to know over the internet in person, when she arrives in a few days. But there are a lot more surprises than he expected when he arrives to find the family gone, and Natalie already there. She's standing there with a pistol in her hand, a dead coyote at her feet, and a baby in her arms, just as stunned to see him. Lucas was introduced to Natalie, via Skype, by his tentmate, who was also Natalie's best friend. When Drew was killed by an IED, Lucas was the one who told her and became her friend also. He's spent the last few months building up dreams and hopes that come crashing down when he sees her with the baby. He's angry that she didn't tell him before, hurt that there must be someone she cares for more, and jealous of the baby. Natalie is stunned to see Lucas show up early. She and the family had big plans for his homecoming and now it's all ruined. She knows she should have told him about the baby, but she hadn't been able to figure out how. She wants to explain, but he won't listen. Now he's just making her mad with his reaction. She's ready to walk away from the ranch and Lucas, but the family housekeeper/cook has been hurt and has made Natalie promise to stay and look after them until she's better. I loved Natalie. She's a strong, sassy woman who has no trouble standing up for herself. She doesn't take Lucas's attitude for long, and soon pushes back. I like the way she owns up to her mistakes, then moves on and expects him to also. She'd spent most of the last months getting to know Lucas online and falling for what she saw. Lucas in person is even better, and her attraction to him is sizzling. Lucas was fantastic. I felt for him, with the shock he received when he got home. He's still dealing with the loss of his friend and had been looking forward to holding Natalie. It isn't surprising that he loses his cool for awhile. Once he cools off and he and Natalie have a chance to talk, his true nature begins to reassert itself. He is really quite a gentleman and a romantic too. The development of their relationship was quite well done. They already knew each other pretty well, but there are some things that have to be experienced in person. Though they start out ticked off at each other, it doesn't take too long for them to move forward. I loved seeing them together, from their cooperation with the ranch work to caring for the baby to acting on their attraction. Both of them were cautious about confessing their feelings, worried that the other didn't feel the same way. I really enjoyed Lucas's efforts for Christmas and how he tried to plan each little detail. The ending is really sweet with them finally having the courage to reach for their dreams. There is also a great theme of family running throughout the book. Both Natalie and Lucas are close to their families. Though she spends a fair amount of time avoiding her own family, Natalie thinks of them quite often. I enjoyed the conversations she had with her mother, and how Natalie tried to keep control of her own life. Lucas's family was a lot of fun. The three older men were really sweet with the way they took to baby Josh. I loved seeing them fuss over who got to hold him or take care of him. It was also fun to see them try their hands at matchmaking. Lucas has dreams of having his own family, but fears it will never happen, thanks to an ex-girlfriend. There's a great twist at the end that is the direct result of her actions, but it helps bring Lucas and Natalie together. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments in the book. Natalie's refusal to be intimidated by Lucas's ex was very fun to read. There were several funny scenes involving animals and their determination to get in the house and the havoc they created. I also enjoyed Hazel the housekeeper's long distance interference, and her arrival back home once she's healed. The interactions among characters were fun and moving and just plain terrific reading. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 31, 2014
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Dec 31, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0373733623
| 9780373733620
| 0373733623
| 3.70
| 317
| Jan 06, 2015
| Jan 06, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
Excellent reunion story. Briana is a wedding photographer and not exactly happy to find that her latest assignment is engagement photos for her ex and
Excellent reunion story. Briana is a wedding photographer and not exactly happy to find that her latest assignment is engagement photos for her ex and his new fiancee. Seeing him again for the first time in nine years shows her that the attraction is still there. Getting snowed in with him is the last thing she needs. Ian is surprised to see Bree, and also disturbed by her presence. He thought he'd gotten over her long ago, but he's discovering just the opposite. The history that Ian and Bree shared exposed issues that neither had yet gotten past. Bree had left Ian because he became like her father, work obsessed to the point where he would forget dates, events, and anything outside of his work. Ian had been happy as a musician until his adviser told him he wasn't good enough to make a career of it. This brought back his feelings of insecurity, caused by the rejection he felt over his father's desertion of their family. He was desperate to do well at the record label job he got, and devoted everything to it, expecting Bree to understand. When she left, it was more rejection in his eyes. Their forced time together at the cabin enables them to clear the air somewhat, and the end of his engagement, opens up possibilities for the future. First they have to be able to overcome those problems that tore them apart to start with. I loved their time together at the cabin. Bree did pretty well coping with being snowed in, but Ian was a bit of a basket case at first. I loved their comments to each other about their individual technological lives. The Monopoly game was fun - I loved their "money". I really liked seeing Bree get Ian to play his guitar again. I felt bad for Ian when his engagement ended, not because it ended, but why. I was impressed with his willingness to do the right thing, and sorry for him when it backfired. It did free him up so that they could pursue their attraction and see where it might lead. Once they return to Nashville, Bree is still wary of Ian's ability to change, but is willing to give him a chance. Things are looking up when they attend one of Ian's friend's parties, in spite of an encounter with his ex-fiancee. But things go downhill fast when a late visit by the ex at work delays Ian from making an appearance at Bree's show. She's hurt and furious and both of them say things that they later regret. I felt bad for Ian because he really had tried and Bree wouldn't even let him explain. I felt like she should have at least done that much, but considering she expected him to fail I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I loved seeing Ian's housekeeper fuss over and at him, and the motivation it gave him to go after Bree. His go big moment was sweet and romantic, and so nerve wracking for him! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 30, 2014
|
Dec 30, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0373278934
| 9780373278930
| 0373278934
| 4.09
| 91
| Nov 01, 2014
| Nov 04, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
Loved this book. The action and suspense were nonstop right from the beginning and the relationship between Flint and Nina was great. As the book star
Loved this book. The action and suspense were nonstop right from the beginning and the relationship between Flint and Nina was great. As the book starts, Dead River is still under quarantine, the murderer is still on the loose, and the man who stole a priceless heirloom ring is also still missing. Flint has his hands full trying to keep peace in the town while searching for the fugitives. The only mental breaks he gets are when he stops at the diner for a meal and can indulge himself by being near Nina, who he's been attracted to since he came back to Dead River. Nina and her diner are among the most popular in town. She's always cheerful, has a kind word for everyone, and looks out for her employees. She's also a very private person about her past. She's attracted to Flint, but because of issues in her past, won't allow herself to fall for a man in law enforcement. But when she witnesses a brutal murder, and her house is burned down as a warning, she has to accept Flint's protection. Forced into each other's company, Flint and Nina really get to know each other over the next several weeks. I loved watching Nina's distrust start to dissolve as she learned more about Flint. Because of her experience seeing the dysfunctional relationship between her parents, she has resolved that she will never marry and have a family of her own, but her attraction to Flint is hard to resist. Staying with him gives her a taste of what could be, but she's still afraid to trust completely. I really liked seeing her doubts put to rest by a comment from a little boy. I also liked seeing her relationships with her friends. She is such a warm and loving person that I was really rooting for her and Flint to make a go of it. I loved her excitement over her Thanksgiving plans. The aftermath showed just how much other people loved her. Having Nina live with him was a dream come true for Flint. His attraction to her has been a big part of him for a year, and this is his chance to get to know her. He also knows that he has to be extra vigilant, and not allow himself to be distracted. Before he came home to Dead River he had lost a witness he had been assigned to protect, and that failure haunts him. As he overcomes her initial coolness, Flint begins to dream of what it would be like to have Nina in his life permanently. I loved seeing how determined he was to take care of her, not just protect her. He was very attuned to her moods, and it was sweet to see him try to cheer her up on those rare occasions she was down. He was so ready to settle down with her, but overcoming her fears was going to be a real challenge. The suspense of the story had me riveted throughout. Nina's witnessing of the murder and loss of her house to arson, started things out with a rush. Seeing Flint and his men working so hard to find him, and running into so many obstacles, had me wondering if they would ever catch a break. The hijacking of the school bus and confrontation with the murderer was intense, but had an unexpected twist to it. The issue of the virus is ongoing, and the stress is getting to everyone. The realism of people's actions and reactions was awesome, and made me feel as though this could really happen. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing how it all turns out. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 29, 2014
|
Dec 29, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 037327890X
| 9780373278909
| 037327890X
| 3.97
| 109
| Jan 01, 2014
| Oct 07, 2014
|
really liked it
|
Overall, a good book, though I had a couple of minor issues with it. Theo Colton came home to Wyoming after a career ending injury during a rodeo. He'
Overall, a good book, though I had a couple of minor issues with it. Theo Colton came home to Wyoming after a career ending injury during a rodeo. He's trying to decide what to do with the rest of his life, when a woman from his past shows up. She has an infant daughter that she claims is his, then collapses and dies of an unknown virus. Ellie fled her home in Boulder, Colorado, trying to escape from a stalker. She was in Dead River when her car died, but was lucky enough to get hired as Theo's ranch cook. She was there when baby Amelia arrived and stepped in to act as the baby's nanny. Later that night she was terrified to discover that her stalker has followed her. Theo had always been a footloose guy. His rodeo career allowed him to avoid the idea of settling down, and there were always plenty of women to enjoy. He always made sure they knew he doesn't commit to anyone. When his rodeo injuries made it impossible to not only continue as a bronc rider but to ride at all, Theo is left wondering what to do. He's never considered anything else. Being confronted with fatherhood has him reeling for a second time. It takes him a little while to accept the truth, but he is slowly won over to being a daddy. I really loved seeing his transformation. Having Ellie's help is what makes it all possible. He had been attracted to her as soon as he met her, but knew he had to keep his distance. But his protectiveness comes out as the danger to her increases, and being near her makes him question his old lifestyle. He's beginning to picture a future with Ellie and Amelia, if he can just keep her safe long enough. Ellie has also been attracted to Theo, but knows that there's no future with him. When her stalker appears in Dead River, she worries about the safety of the baby and Theo, and is ready to leave again. Theo promises to protect them, and she agrees to stay. She quickly falls for baby Amelia, and is determined to make sure that Theo gives her the life she deserves. As she spends more time with him and the baby, she sees a different side to him come out. She also sees his frustration with his injuries and how they've changed his life, and tries to make him see that he still has a lot to give. The romance between Ellie and Theo has a lot of chemistry moving it along. Fortunately, they are also given the time to get to know each other, so they have more than just the physical binding them together. I loved the thoughtfulness that came out in Theo as he began to accept his feelings for Ellie. I really loved his Halloween surprise for her. The suspense aspect of the book also kept things going for me. The stalker story line was pretty good, as his actions against Ellie escalated. The identity of the stalker was not a huge surprise, even though we had never met him. I was pretty sure of where he must have come from. That story line is resolved by the end of the book. There are two others that are ongoing. There is an escaped murderer that has not yet been recaptured, so will most likely make a reappearance in the next book. The biggest issue is the virus that has caused the town to be quarantined. It arrived with the mother of Theo's baby, and has made many people sick, with some fatalities. Theo's brother Flint is the sheriff who has to deal with the panic in the town along with the headaches of enforcing the quarantine. Their sister Gemma is a nurse at the clinic where the sick are being treated and the search for a cure is getting desperate. I am looking forward to their stories. My issues with the book were pretty minor, but irritating. They would have been easily fixed by an editor's attention to detail. Two that stick in my mind were when Theo was talking about a horse's confirmation rather that conformation, and Ellie was thinking about the need to sack money away for the future rather than sock it away. There were a couple timing questions that briefly confused me, too. None of them were bad enough to ruin the story, but they did pull me out of it temporarily. The title was somewhat misleading, as there was really nothing secret about the baby. I would also like to know the relationship of these Coltons to the other Wyoming Coltons, especially as they live in the same area, but it was never mentioned. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 29, 2014
|
Dec 29, 2014
|
Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1402270186
| 9781402270185
| 1402270186
| 4.36
| 1,544
| Jan 01, 2012
| Dec 04, 2012
|
really liked it
|
Fun book to read. Gemma has put her hairdresser career on hold to follow a dream. She wants to be the second woman to win the title for bronc riding a
Fun book to read. Gemma has put her hairdresser career on hold to follow a dream. She wants to be the second woman to win the title for bronc riding and take home the prize money. She'll then buy herself some land, start her own ranch, and find that cowboy and baby that's been predicted for her. She's doing very well, with only one other competitor really in her way. Trace also has a dream. He wants to win enough money to buy his uncle's ranch. But in this series of rodeos he's in a fight for first place with Gemma. He figures that a little flirtation might distract her enough to give him the edge. He doesn't count on the effect she has on him. I loved Trace and Gemma. She is feisty and determined and isn't going to let anything get in her way. Her first encounter with Trace shakes her up a bit. There are sparks when he touches her and she has to work hard not to let them distract her. Trace had been attempting to do just that, but it backfired when he found that he couldn't get her off his mind. That came in handy when he found himself rescuing her during a post rodeo dance. Trace seems pretty self-centered up to that point, with his confidence and his adoring groupies, but when Gemma passes out in his arms, he is the perfect gentleman. I loved the care he took of her. This was the start of the relationship between Gemma and Trace. Though they remain fierce rivals in the rodeo ring, outside of it they become terrific friends. They have a lot in common and I loved seeing them learn about each other. The more time they spent with each other, the greater the attraction was, until they couldn't help but act on it. Each of them started to dream of the future, but neither wanted to rock the boat until the competition was over. I loved the part where, between two of the rodeos, they went to help Trace's uncle on his ranch. They were each assigned ten at risk kids from the city. Gemma had the girls and Trace had the boys. I loved seeing how great they were with those kids. There was lots of fun banter, competitions between the kids, and some life lessons learned by all of them. Gemma and Trace also learned a bit about themselves as they were helping the kids. The baby of the title shows up late in the book, though its story is not a surprise. There are hints throughout the book about what is going to happen. I loved Trace's reaction and the way he immediately stepped up. It was also fun to see him cope with not having a clue how to take care of a baby. He was so sweet and so determined. Gemma's presence and willingness to help him, made him care for her even more. Gemma's feelings for Trace had been getting stronger the longer they were together. I loved seeing her dreams of the future adjust to the changes in her emotions. I also liked the way that her determination to win didn't change, but she also saw other possibilities. I loved the ending with the final competition and the events that unfolded after it. Trace had a much bigger romantic streak than I expected. Another thing I enjoyed about the book was how important family was to both Gemma and Trace. It was fun to see how each of them coped with the attitudes of various family members, especially their mothers. I also had fun with how Gemma's girlfriends reacted to her relationship with Trace and the teasing she endured. It was great to see all the support that Gemma and Trace had for both their careers and their relationship. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 28, 2014
|
Dec 28, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 006224244X
| 9780062242440
| 006224244X
| 3.74
| 923
| Jul 15, 2013
| Jul 30, 2013
|
really liked it
|
I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked it. The first half was rather slow and a bit hard to stay interested in. The beginning would al
I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked it. The first half was rather slow and a bit hard to stay interested in. The beginning would also have a chapter or two of the present time, then a chapter of flashback for the backstory, another chapter or two in the present, then flashback, etc. This went on for quite a while. I prefer my backstory mostly all at once - the constant back and forth was sometimes hard to follow. Things definitely picked up in the second half and I enjoyed it much more at that point. Virginia was an American heiress, brought to London by her father to marry a man with a title. He didn't care what she wanted, she would basically go to the highest bidder. In the meantime, Virginia had met a Scottish man, a self-made millionaire, who understood her. They would meet at balls or other places where she could escape, and talk about politics, science, literature or anything that caught their fancy. They fell in love, but her father wouldn't even consider Macrath as a suitor. She was forced to marry the earl and forbidden to see or speak to Macrath. Less than a year later, her husband was dead, and she discovered that all the money she had brought to the marriage had been used to purchase land that was then left to the cousin who inherited the title. Virginia and her mother- and sisters-in-law, were left with nothing unless Virginia had produced a son. Her mother-in-law, whom I DID NOT like at all, convinced her that she needed to quickly find a man who could get her pregnant with a child she could pass off as her husband's. Virginia did not like that idea at all, but could see no other option to keep them from becoming destitute. So she ran off to Scotland to try to seduce Macrath. Macrath was stunned to see Virginia show up at Drumvagen. He had been unable to forget her after her marriage and had buried himself in his work. He was happy to have her there and hoped to make her want to stay. He was very willing to show her "how it's supposed to be between a man and a woman". After just a few days he's devastated to find out she has no intention of staying in Scotland, but returning to London. They part ways, and he heads off to Australia on business and she returns to London to take care of her family. Unsurprisingly, she does end up pregnant and has a son, who the world assumes is her husband's. The baby is just a few months old when smallpox sweeps through London and Virginia becomes quite ill. Macrath returns to London about that time, and discovering the truth about the child, takes the baby back to Scotland while Virginia is ill, without telling her. She chases after him before she is fully recovered. When she arrives, he is still furious at her deception and refuses to allow her in the house or to see the baby. Over the next couple weeks she is stuck in a cottage on the estate and still unable to see the baby. By this point, Virginia has finally started to find a backbone and refuses to be kept away. I really enjoyed her determination and seeing what she does. Over the next few weeks, Macrath begins to soften toward Virginia a little as he sees what a good mother she really is. Virginia also sees Macrath's happiness in being a father. But she still refuses to consider staying in Scotland, determined to keep up the deception and protect her family. It is getting harder for each of them, as their feelings for each other have only gotten stronger. The conflict could have been greatly reduced if she had just told him what the problem was. Things were also complicated by her late husband's personal assistant, who was obsessed with Virginia. He was determined to have her for himself, and willing to do anything to get her. Over the course of the book he went from creepy to obsessed to dangerous. His appearance in Scotland added a layer of intensity that finally brought Macrath and Virginia together. Virginia irritated me through most of the book because of her unwillingness to tell Macrath what was going on. She did have redeeming qualities. I liked her determination to take care of her son herself, no turn him over to nannies and we nurses. She was also kind to her in-laws, even though the mother-in-law was a piece of work. I didn't like that woman at all. Virginia was also pretty down-to-earth. She really didn't care about the benefits of the title. But until she became a mother, I found her to be rather a doormat. Macrath I liked a lot. He made something of himself through his own hard work. He was true to himself, not trying to change to fit in with the aristocracy. I liked the way he treated Virginia like an intelligent human being when they had their discussions in the first part of the book. I completely understood his anger when he found out about the baby. I even understood his actions when Virginia came to Scotland, even though I felt he could have handled things a little better. I liked seeing him soften toward her, and realize that he still wanted her in his life. I thought his pursuit of her was pretty sweet. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 27, 2014
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Dec 27, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 037375552X
| 9780373755523
| 037375552X
| 4.00
| 32
| Jan 01, 2015
| Jan 06, 2015
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really liked it
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Good book with some definite heart tugging going on. Delaney is the single mother of a little boy who is very ill. He needs a bone marrow transplant a
Good book with some definite heart tugging going on. Delaney is the single mother of a little boy who is very ill. He needs a bone marrow transplant and they have been unable to find a match. Desperate, she heads for Argentina, to talk to her son's father and get his help. Unfortunately, she never told him she was pregnant and she isn't sure what his reaction will be. Dario is shocked by her arrival, and initially quite hostile. He and his family hold her father responsible for their business troubles and he doesn't even want to listen to her. I felt for Delaney. She probably should't have kept her pregnancy secret, but her reasoning was understandable. She and Dario were separated by actions her father took that she was unaware of, and were made worse by her father's death shortly afterward. Dario also had family troubles that contributed to the problem. I liked the fact that she gathered her courage and went to face him with the news. After his reaction, she didn't expect his help and was surprised when he and his sister arrived in San Antonio. Delaney worried that he would make custody demands and was not very welcoming. She began to see how determined Dario was to be a father, and was moved by how good he was with Nickolas. She also realized that her feelings for Dario had never died, but she was afraid to believe that he would feel the same and stay in Texas. Dario was stunned to see Delaney. All he can think of are the threats that her father made against him and his family and what came to pass. He had loved her and thought that she was a participant in what had happened. At first he doesn't believe what she tells him, but feels compelled to investigate. When he first meets Nickolas he can't deny that he's the father and is determined to be a part of his life. I really loved seeing him bond with Nickolas. Dario also had to stand strong against his family's attitude against Delaney. It doesn't take too long before he admits that he still has feelings for her. Both of them had to deal with their feelings for each other and worries about the future at the same time they were dealing with Nickolas's health crisis. Though they had a rough start, I liked the way that they tried to put his needs first. Working together for Nick gave them a chance to get to know each other again. Because of the circumstances, there wasn't much of a chance for romancing between them, but the connection was there from the beginning and they were able to build on it. The ending was quite intense with an interesting twist to the bone marrow donation. I really liked Dario's solution to their future, and the epilogue was a satisfying followup. I loved the character of Dario's sister Maria Sofia. She may have been only nineteen, but she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. I loved the way she helped Delaney at the beginning, and then came to Texas with Dario. It was so much fun to see her stand up against his and his father's old fashioned attitudes. I really liked her determination and what she did with it. I'd love to see a book with her when she gets a little older. I can see her running some guy ragged. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 26, 2014
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Dec 26, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0062068679
| 9780062068675
| 0062068679
| 4.03
| 1,920
| Jul 29, 2014
| Jul 29, 2014
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it was amazing
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In this book Malcolm Sinclair, the villain from The Taste of Innocence, is saved from death and takes the opportunity to become a new and better man.
In this book Malcolm Sinclair, the villain from The Taste of Innocence, is saved from death and takes the opportunity to become a new and better man. In that book our last sight of him is as he is falling to his death from a bridge over a waterfall. At the beginning of this one, his mangled, nearly dead self is discovered on a Somerset beach by a group of monks. They take him in and he begins the long, slow process of healing. At the end of the other book, Malcolm had realized what he had done and taken steps to right the wrongs he had committed. Now that he is not dead, he has to make a decision on what to do with is life. He decides to leave Malcolm where he was, and become Thomas Glendower, an alias he had set up many years before. As Thomas, he begins to learn how to be a better man, thinking of others rather than himself. He takes his talent for making money and uses it to help the monastery become self-sufficient. His injuries were so severe that it takes him five years to recover. At that point, it is suggested to him that he was saved because God/Fate has something in mind for him to do, and that staying in the monastery isn't going to help him discover what that is. So he sets out for the home he bought as Thomas, to finish his recovery and wait for Fate to find him. Arriving in Cornwall he discovers that the elderly couple he left in charge of his home has retired, and been replaced by a young widow with two children. He senses right away that she has secrets, but having plenty of his own he doesn't pester her for answers. He settles in to his home and continues his financial work, but feels the lack of something more meaningful. Being accustomed to doing many physical things with the monks, he starts doing work around the manor too. He also begins to get to know Rose and the two children. He develops a strong attraction to Rose, but because of his past feels that he is completely unworthy of her and tries to resist doing anything about the attraction. Rose has been in hiding with the children for the past four years. Thomas's home has been the perfect place because of its isolation and they have felt safe there. Thomas's arrival worries her at the beginning, but his acceptance of her and her story reassures her. Thomas himself intrigues her. She sees a deep sadness in him, but he doesn't talk about his past, other than to tell her he hasn't been a good man. But everything she sees in him contradicts that. She is surprised by his down to earth behavior and moved by his kindness to the children. She is also attracted to him, but because of her secrets doesn't see a future for them. However, the attraction wins out, and they begin a relationship with the intention of taking just one day at a time. When Rose's past catches up to her, she knows she needs to tell Thomas the truth before taking the children and fleeing again. What she doesn't expect is for him to take command of the problem and work to fix it. Thomas convinces her that it's time to face up to it and that with his help it will be fine. Rose gets a good look at Thomas the champion and the attraction she feels begins to turn to love. I loved the protectiveness that Thomas has toward Rose and the kids. He will do anything to keep them safe and ensure their future safety, even give himself up to pay for his crimes. I really loved Thomas and his efforts to pay for the sins of his past. He is well aware of his faults and his efforts to overcome them don't always go smoothly. He has to really work at thinking about how his actions will affect other people. When he arrives at the manor house, I really enjoyed seeing the way he fit in so easily with Rose and the children. I loved his times with the children and how wonderful he was with them. The part with Homer and the books, and with Pippin and the apple tree, showed that he had a good heart when he allowed himself to listen to it. I also loved Rose's ability to look past Thomas's scars to the man he was now. Even after he told her about his past, she still saw the good man he became. There are glimpses throughout the book of the person who is looking for Rose and the children. Thomas brings them to London, and enlists the help of Barnaby Adair and others to discover the truth. As more information is uncovered, there are some inconsistencies in the background of the suspect that throw the investigation into some confusion. As they learn more about him I suspected that there was more to the story than they thought. The final confrontation was intense, with an interesting twist on the culprit. The outcome for Thomas was not what he expected, and I loved seeing what he did with it. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 24, 2014
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Dec 24, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0373755473
| 9780373755479
| 0373755473
| 4.20
| 96
| Dec 01, 2014
| Dec 02, 2014
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it was amazing
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Very emotional book. Lacey gave up her carefree single life in Austin to care for her six year old half sister Emma. Their father died six months ago
Very emotional book. Lacey gave up her carefree single life in Austin to care for her six year old half sister Emma. Their father died six months ago and both of them are still feeling the effects of their grief. Every day Lacey wonders if she's doing the right things for Emma. When Emma comes home from school in tears, Lacey finds out that an older boy has told her that there is no Santa Claus. Emma is devastated and now wants nothing to do with Christmas. Lacey is desperate to find a way to fix the holiday for her sister. Next door, Gabe is hiding from the world. Two years earlier his son died in an accident with his ATV. Gabe holds himself responsible, since he gave it to his son. All he can do is think about his son and how much he misses him, and care for the boy's dog Pepper. But Pepper is sick with cancer and in a lot of pain. Gabe is having trouble accepting what he needs to do because that would sever the last link with Zack. To make things even harder, the little girl next door keeps coming to his yard, no matter how hard he tries to keep her away. In the latest confrontation, Lacey has had enough of Gabe's surly attitude toward her sister. She says some things to him, including that his son would be ashamed of his father's behavior. She feels badly about it later, and goes over to apologize, only to discover that what she said actually made an impression on him. From there begins a story of two people who are suffering from their losses, but find that together they can make a start on healing. I loved seeing the way that Lacey was aware of Gabe's pain, but also that he needed help. She was determined to help him learn to live again. Because she too was suffering it made her more aware of his feelings. It was kind of fun watching her bully him into doing things like eating and taking a shower. But she was also able to be the support he needed when taking care of Pepper. Gabe was confused by Lacey. First he had trouble just remembering her name, but he also didn't understand why she was bothering with him. When she called him on his behavior and used his son, it made him angry, but then it made him think. He found that he had a great deal of trouble telling her no when she would find another way to drag him back to the living. There was also an attraction that built between them, but neither thought that doing anything about it was a good idea. Lacey sees herself as having to concentrate on her sister too much to have a relationship with any man. Gabe has been so lost in his grief that he doesn't know who he really is anymore, and can't see asking Lacey to be with a man who is so broken. But their feelings can't be stopped, and each of them must decide what to do with them. I went through several tissues as they worked through their issues. Emma was pretty darn adorable. What I liked best about her was that she seemed real. Like all kids that age she can go from happy to sad to mad in the blink of an eye. She's trying to cope with the loss of her father and having her sister suddenly becoming her parent rather than her buddy. That's hard enough, but when her friend's big brother tells her there's no Santa, she's heartbroken. The only thing that seems to help is petting the dog next door. Even though she's been told to stay away, she "forgets" often. I really felt for Lacey as she tried to bring happiness back to Emma, while attempting to maintain the discipline that was needed. I loved the way that Emma would succumb to Lacey's teasing and giggle and tell Lacey "You're weird." For such a little girl, she also had a sweet way of being with Gabe and helping him deal with his pain. I love the Christmas scene with the Santa sighting and the effect it had on her. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 23, 2014
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Dec 22, 2014
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Paperback
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| 037369802X
| 9780373698028
| 037369802X
| 4.24
| 149
| Nov 18, 2014
| Nov 18, 2014
|
really liked it
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Good story of a man on death row for murder and the efforts made by his sister to find the truth. A week before he's scheduled to die, Avery visited h
Good story of a man on death row for murder and the efforts made by his sister to find the truth. A week before he's scheduled to die, Avery visited her brother in prison and discovered that he had confessed to killing their foster father because he thought she had done it. Jaxon has been assigned to the case to make sure nothing comes up that will stop it. When he hears her story and talks to her brother he suspects that she may be right. Avery had suffered terrible abuse by her foster father. Her brother had tried to protect her, but was regularly beaten and tied up. The night of the murder she had come out of a blackout to see her brother holding a knife and stabbing the man. Her statement had helped send Hank to prison, but now she wants to help set him free. As she and Jaxon begin asking questions, Avery begins receiving threats, warning her to give up her quest. Jaxon had also spent time in foster care and knew that bad things happen all too often. He is amazed by Avery's strength and determination. Though he had been told by his boss to make sure the execution went on as scheduled, his own honor as a Ranger wouldn't allow him to ignore the possibility that the wrong person had been convicted. The more people he questions, the more obvious it becomes that the authorities had taken the easy way out. Jaxon becomes more determined to uncover the truth. There were many layers to the mystery here, and multiple people with motive to kill Wade. I loved following each step and trying to figure out where it was leading. Some of the stories that were uncovered were heartbreaking. As the day of execution got closer, the intensity of the search increased. There was a surprise appearance by someone who claimed knowledge of the murder. When the final confrontation came, I was surprised by who had actually done it, and even more surprised by who had covered it up. The romance between Jaxon and Avery was pretty quick. There was an immediate attraction between them, but they did try to resist at first. Jaxon felt it was inappropriate to get involved with Avery while he was investigating, but he found it very hard to resist. I loved his protectiveness toward her from the very beginning. He was horrified by the things that had happened to her and so sweet with her when she was having nightmares and flashbacks. Avery had her own issues obviously, because of the abuse she had suffered. Besides her problems having any kind of relationships, she had serious trust issues with men. From the very start she trusted Jaxon, which enabled her to allow herself to feel more. There was a brief break in that trust, but reason overcame it, and they were able to look forward together. I especially loved seeing what Jaxon did for Avery's brother and father. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 22, 2014
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Dec 22, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0373658575
| 9780373658572
| 0373658575
| 3.92
| 61
| Nov 18, 2014
| Nov 18, 2014
|
really liked it
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Good book. Noelle is the owner of a small ranch, which she runs completely on her own. While checking her fences one day she came across Evan Calhoun,
Good book. Noelle is the owner of a small ranch, which she runs completely on her own. While checking her fences one day she came across Evan Calhoun, injured and unconscious. After reviving him, she's not too happy to discover that he's a detective with the local sheriff's department, but she can't just leave him. So she gets him the help he needs, delivers him to his home, and doesn't expect to see him again. I liked Noelle. She is fiercely independent and determined to live her life on her own terms. Her parents have money, but were very self-absorbed people, and hadn't spent much time with Noelle and her brother Andy. As she got older she went along with her parents' wishes, including marrying a man they favored. After she discovered he had only married her for her money and as a stepping stone in her father's company, she divorced him. Around the same time her younger brother was killed, shot by mistake by a policeman. Heartbroken, she moved to the land left to her by her aunt and uncle. Her meeting with Evan disturbed her on a couple levels. First, she was attracted to him, feelings that she hadn't had since her divorce five years earlier. Second, he was a lawman, the type of person she had resented and avoided since her brother's death. He also comes from money, another type she has avoided because of her family experiences. Though she doesn't expect to see him again, she can't help but be happy when he comes to see her. Though her head tells her to stay away from him, her heart isn't listening. Over the next few weeks, Evan comes to see her more and more often, helping out on her ranch, and including her in things with his family. She starts to see a different side of him, and by extension all lawmen, and her feelings for him start to deepen. But she still sees a gulf between them, one that she doesn't see narrowing. Evan is one of the Calhoun brothers, one that is somewhat out of step with his family. He has never been overly interested in the ranch, his dream has always been law enforcement. One of the cases he is working on involves cattle rustlers, and that's what he was working on when he was rescued by Noelle. He had been thrown by his horse, and if not for her he could have been in very bad shape. He had been drawn to her from the very beginning, even though she's nothing like the women he usually dates. He has been keeping his relationships very light ever since the end of his engagement. He had been burned by her, when it turned out she was more interested in his family wealth that in himself. Now he's extra cautious. I liked the way that Noelle's independence impressed him, even though it also worried him that she was so isolated. I liked seeing him pull her into his life and show her a bit of fun. Evan was nervous about the strength of the feelings he was beginning to have for her. He is thinking more about a permanent relationship with her, but can't see how that can happen with her refusing to leave her land, and him unwilling to be far from his own family. Both Noelle and Evan are pretty stubborn about their own needs. I have to admit that I was more sympathetic to Noelle than I was to Evan, because of her background. Both of them had some serious thinking to do about what they really wanted for the rest of their lives. I loved seeing how they finally realized that nothing was more important than being together. The epilogue was a nice wrap up for the book. I'm looking forward to reading stories for Finn and Brodie. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 21, 2014
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Dec 21, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0373278993
| 9780373278992
| 0373278993
| 4.20
| 45
| Dec 01, 2014
| Dec 02, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
This was an excellent book, packed with both physical and mental action. It started with Ian, who had been reported dead, walking his way toward his f
This was an excellent book, packed with both physical and mental action. It started with Ian, who had been reported dead, walking his way toward his family's ranch. He is half-dead and barely has any memories of his family or anything else. He is also suffering from extreme PTSD, including flashbacks that send him right back to being tortured. Within a few weeks he's disgusted with the "shrinks" who have tried to help him and refuses to see another one. At this point his family contacts a local center that deals with returning vets and their issues. They send out a psychologist to work with him, but it isn't just any psychologist. Andrea was once engaged to Ian, before she broke things off with him. She found out he had been lying to her about his unexplained absences, something that pushed one of her own issues. Her father had lied to her and her mother, leaving them behind when it was discovered that he had two other wives and families. She has moved on, and is now engaged to another man. She is not happy about her assignment, but her boss (and fiance) orders her to do it, claiming that her history with Ian may make it easier for him to open up with her. Andrea tries to keep a professional distance with Ian, but he refuses to give up on their relationship. She wants to help him, but she's determined not to let her emotions get involved. Being around her does start to break some of his memories loose, but when they become the target of several attacks, he starts to worry that whatever he's forgotten has brought trouble to her. I liked Ian and ached for him with the pain he was experiencing. The descriptions of his episodes were so vivid that I felt as though I was right there. He was also afraid that he might have given up sensitive information while being tortured, and that kind of guilt has added to the stress he is under. As more of his memory returns, he feels that he is getting closer to the truth of why someone wants him dead, if he can just stay alive long enough to remember it all. During all of it, he continues to try to show Andrea that they belong together. During the story we see more of Andrea's fiance. He stands in the way of Ian getting Andrea back. He also seems to be unusually interested in hearing about Ian's progress. Is it professional interest, or does he have a more personal reason? Why is he determined that Andrea be the one to work with Ian, even though he knows of their prior relationship? And why does the sheriff seem to have it in for Ian and his brother Zach? His attitude doesn't seem right for a man who is supposed to uphold the law. Ian's family is happy to have him home, and desperately worried about him and his suffering. I loved their support of him, but does Zach's wife Jessie, and her investigative journalism have anything to do with the attacks? The final confrontation is intense, and has several interesting twists and turns before it is all over. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 19, 2014
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Dec 19, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0373733658
| 9780373733651
| 0373733658
| 3.86
| 148
| Dec 19, 2014
| Jan 06, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
I thought this was the most emotional one of the three books in the series. When Nash first appeared in Single Man Meets Single Mom, I suspected he wa
I thought this was the most emotional one of the three books in the series. When Nash first appeared in Single Man Meets Single Mom, I suspected he was going to play a big part in the series. I wasn't even surprised at his relationship with the family, as secret babies aren't unusual. But there was so much more than that to who Nash was and what he was looking for. Nash and Lily have been indulging themselves in a steamy affair. The movie she's filming is due to end soon, and that is when they planned to end their affair. Nash expected that Lily would be long gone before he was ready to reveal his identity to Damon Barrington. Lily's news brings a whole new level of complications to his plans. Nash and Damon had been business rivals for a couple years before Nash found out about his relationship with him. His plan had originally been to learn what Damon's plans for the future are, figure out how to acquire some of Damon's horses for his own breeding program, then leave. Once he learned of their connection, he also wanted to see what Damon was like on a personal level. Though he loved his mother, he had always felt the lack of family in his life, and he found himself envying the relationship between Damon and his daughters. Nash had not expected Lily to become such an important part of his life. With the news of her pregnancy, he knew he wanted to stay involved with her. He wasn't going to walk away from their child or from Lily. I loved when he told her "I think you're everything I didn't know I was looking for, and more than I deserve." I loved seeing how determined he was to take care of her. His deception was eating him up, but he was having a hard time getting up the courage to confess, fearing what her reaction would be. His fears were well founded, and the pain he went through as he tried to win her back was intense. This part had me going through several tissues. I liked that he owned up to his mistakes and didn't try to weasel out of the consequences. Lily had started the affair with Nash knowing that it would end. She hadn't planned to fall in love with him, and a baby definitely wasn't in her plan either. Her biggest fears right now are that the media would somehow find out. At the beginning of her career she had fallen for a man who had lied to her and embroiled her in a media firestorm. She dreads the idea of it happening again and is afraid of what would happen to her relationship with Nash. She's happy that he's not upset about the baby, but she can't figure out how they can make a continued relationship work. She's surprised by his take charge attitude regarding her well being and fights it a bit. She's an independent woman who is used to being in control of her life, but soon finds leaning on Nash a little isn't so bad. With the pregnancy comes a desire to know more about Nash. She realizes that neither of them has done much talking when they're together. It doesn't take her long to realize that he's hiding something from her and that starts to work on her fears. When he confesses his parentage, she's upset that he hadn't told her before, but they move on pretty quickly. It's not long before she gets the feeling that there is something more, and that confession devastates her. She had had bad experiences with her stepfather, another rich man, and to find out that Nash shared some of those same characteristics broke her heart. She wasn't sure she could ever trust him again, even though she couldn't stop loving him. I liked the way that she cared enough to give him a chance to show her how he had changed. The epilogue was great, with an unexpected twist at the wedding. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 19, 2014
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Dec 19, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0373658532
| 9780373658534
| 0373658532
| 4.16
| 1,082
| Nov 18, 2014
| Nov 18, 2014
|
it was amazing
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Wonderful Christmas story, full of love, hope, family and fun. After years of teaching English in foreign countries, Hope has decided it's time to com
Wonderful Christmas story, full of love, hope, family and fun. After years of teaching English in foreign countries, Hope has decided it's time to come home. She and her sisters grew up on the ranch, raised by their aunt and uncle after their medical missionary parents were killed. With the deaths of her uncle and brother-in-law, Hope feels she needs to be there to support her family. On her way to the ranch she has an encounter involving a small boy, a snowball and a broken car window, and the boy's good-looking uncle. As she arrives at the ranch she discovers that the yearly holiday attraction, The Christmas Ranch, is not going to open this year. She refuses to accept it, and plans to do whatever necessary to make it happen. I liked Hope a lot. She is determined to see the Ranch open, in spite of her sisters' negative attitudes about it. I loved her optimism and her refusal to quit. Her encounter with the little rock thrower also showed a lot about who she was. I liked seeing her get him involved in the Ranch as a way to pay for what he did. She isn't quite sure about the boy's uncle at first. Rafe is a bit more intense than the men she is usually around. When he offers to help with the renovations, she isn't sure if she should accept, but she's getting desperate about everything that needs to be done. As they work together she finds that she really likes him, and that liking starts to grow into more. There's also a strong attraction between them that Hope tries to fight. Rafe doesn't plan to stay in Pine Gulch and she doesn't want to risk her heart. When she discovers the secret he's been keeping from her, she doesn't know how to deal with her feelings. Rafe had come to Pine Gulch to take care of his nephew, leaving his career as a SEAL behind. His sister is his only family, and as she faces jail time Rafe is the only one who can take care of Joey. He's feeling out of his depth as a surrogate parent when Joey breaks the window on Hope's truck. His first reaction is attraction, but when he hears her name it's another feeling altogether. He knew when he came to Pine Gulch that he might encounter the Nichols family, but he was quite ready yet. He has a connection with them because of his time in the SEALs that has left him with feelings of guilt that he has carried for years. When he finds out that Hope is trying to reopen the Christmas Ranch, he feels compelled to offer his help. It isn't long before those guilty feelings are joined by an entirely different kind of feelings. Rafe is falling for her, but those other feelings have him certain that there is no way for them to have a future. I loved seeing young Joey be the one to show Rafe that anything is possible. The secondary characters all added extra depth to the story. Faith, the new widow, coping with her grief and having the stresses of running their ranch. Her feelings of being overwhelmed are obvious and understandable. Her kids, their happiness at having Hope back and the fun that slowly returns to their lives is moving. I enjoyed seeing them act like normal kids and loved the way that they made Joey part of their world too. Hope's other sister, CeCe, was really sweet. I loved her job as a children's librarian and the story she wrote about the reindeer. Her reaction to what Hope does with the story shows that she has some issues of her own to overcome. Rafe's nephew Joey was a real sweetie, though he sure didn't make the best first impression. He has a lot that he's dealing with and I loved seeing the way that working with Hope helped him and Rafe grow closer together. There was also a passing reference to another series, Hope's Crossing, that was fun to see. I felt like the Ranch itself was a character in the book. The memories that Hope had of the way it helped ease her grief showed how important it was to her. Each description of something that she or Rafe was working on made it feel like an important part of the family. I loved seeing how it all came together. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 18, 2014
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Dec 18, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 037329803X
| 9780373298037
| 037329803X
| 3.60
| 55
| Jan 01, 2014
| Sep 16, 2014
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really liked it
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A FAMILY FOR THE RANCHER by Jenna Kernan Two years ago, Dillen Roach fell for wealthy debutante Alice Truett. Now she's at his door with his orphaned A FAMILY FOR THE RANCHER by Jenna Kernan Two years ago, Dillen Roach fell for wealthy debutante Alice Truett. Now she's at his door with his orphaned nephews in tow! Could Alice be the perfect Christmas gift for this solitary rancher? Dillen had known Alice back in Omaha and fell in love with her before he knew she came from a wealthy family. Feeling that he wasn't good enough for her, he left her behind to try to make his fortune out west. Two years later he still hasn't achieved his dream, but finds out that Alice will be coming to Colorado to bring him his orphaned nephews. Because of a mix-up with telegrams he is unable to delay her. Alice has never forgotten Dillen. When his sister, who was also her friend, dies Alice makes it her mission to take the orphaned boys to Dillen. She hopes that seeing him again will rekindle their romance. She doesn't expect him to be so unhappy to see her and determined to find other options for the boys. She convinces him to let her stay and help for awhile and tries to show him that she is able to handle the life. Dillen has a couple issues working against him. The first is that his pride won't let him pursue his feelings for Alice. Her money has him convinced that he will never be good enough for her. Second is his fear that he isn't capable of properly raising the boys. He is only an employee, with no home of his own. He appreciates Alice's willingness to help, but doesn't think she'd want to stay for long. I loved Alice's determination to show Dillen what she can do. She has her own fears about what she can do but works to overcome them. I love the way that she showed him that he is able to care for the boys. She also tried to show him that money doesn't matter to her, and she loved that he had cared for her before he knew about the money. Dillen very nearly let his pride tear them apart again, but saw the truth in time. I loved the way that he went after Alice. It was quite dramatic and fun to read. I also liked seeing him admit his vulnerability to Alice as well as his love. DANCE WITH A COWBOY by Kathryn Albright Kathleen Sheridan is determined to leave the tragedy of her past behind her -- including brooding cowboy Garrett. But with Christmas magic in the air, can she resist the warmth of his touch? Very good story. Kathleen had left Clear Springs five years earlier, after the death of her husband. She hadn't felt truly part of his family and thought things would be easier back in San Diego with her own family. It didn't turn out that way, as her family didn't like the Sheridans. They never forgave her for marrying one, and made their disapproval of her and her daughter clear. So she moved back to Clear Springs, determined to live her life on her own terms. She hadn't been back long when she ran into Garrett, her late husband's brother. She had had a huge crush on Garrett when she was a girl, but he never gave any indication that he felt the same way. She later fell for Josh when he pursued her so avidly. Unfortunately the marriage hadn't been a happy one. Now that she's back, Garrett has made it clear that the Sheridans want to be part of her and Lily's lives and she's not sure she wants that. Garrett is a very quiet man, one who has never been good with words. He first noticed Kathleen when she was about fourteen, but knew she was too young for his attentions. By the time he felt she was old enough his brother had already staked his claim. All he could do was watch and fume as he saw the way that Josh treated her. The night before Josh's death, they had had words and Garrett has felt guilty ever since. With Kathleen's return he is determined to watch out for her. He doesn't expect to find that his love for her is as strong as ever. I loved the way that Garrett showed his love for Kathleen. He helped out with repairs at her aunt's home, he tried to make things easier for Kathleen. He tried to show her that the Sheridans considered her part of their family. I especially loved the way he stood up to her brother-in-law. He really wanted to speak of his feelings, but his guilt wouldn't let him. I was really rooting for him to overcome those feelings. Kathleen started out trying to keep Garrett at a distance, but his attentions soon started to warm her up to him. She remembered the way she used to feel about him and found those feelings growing stronger. She was afraid that he was only being nice because of his guilty feelings once he confessed what had happened. She had a lot to think about before she could trust both his feelings and her own. CHRISTMAS IN SMOKE RIVER by Lynna Banning Gale McBurney is an utter mystery to rich "city girl" Lilah Cornwell. But to make Smoke River her home by Christmas, she'll have to let this rugged cattleman take the reins…. Lilah is a city girl from Philadelphia with aspirations to become a writer. Her aunt left her a house in Oregon and a great deal of money, so she moves there to start her career. When she arrives, she discovers that the house has been empty for years and is not in the best of conditions. She won't let that stop her and immediately begins her renovations, including planting flowers along the front of the yard. Gale is the foreman of a local cattle ranch. While driving cattle to the train depot in town, several of them tore through Lilah's yard, destroying her fence and garden. Gale feels badly and stops by the house to tell the owner he will make the repairs. He is bowled over by Lilah's beauty and her fiery nature. He returns the next day to make the repairs and a friendship of sorts begins between them. Gale is fascinated by Lilah and can't stay away from her. He finds himself going to visit her after his work is done, just to spend time with her. He doesn't understand what is happening to him, and at times the strength of his emotions overwhelms him. I loved seeing some of the things he did for her. I especially loved his treatment of the fence and garden and the impression it made on Lilah. Gale also shows himself to be a very sensitive man which made him even more appealing. He has an interesting hobby that ends up having a huge impact on their chances of a future together. I loved Lilah's independence and sense of adventure. She is very shy and feels awkward around people, but she hasn't let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. She's furious with Gale at first over the damages done to her yard, but she's also intrigued by him. His frequent visits have her thinking about him constantly. I loved seeing how his influence had her trying new things and making new friends. I liked the mental conversations she had with her aunt when she was undecided on what she would do. There was an interesting twist to her aunt's past that had a big effect on Lilah's life. It ached to see how much the two of them came to love each other but couldn't see a way to make a life together. Gale couldn't see a way that a ranch foreman could aspire to marry a wealthy woman. I loved seeing the ranch owner's wife, Alice, do everything she could to throw them together. I loved the way she finally made it happen. The only thing that was a bit frustrating about the book was the frequent changes of point of view, with each change being a new chapter. It made the story feel a bit choppy. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 18, 2014
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Dec 18, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0373298072
| 9780373298075
| 0373298072
| 3.48
| 62
| Oct 21, 2014
| Oct 21, 2014
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really liked it
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The Christmas Duchess - Christine Merrill Her daughter recently jilted, widowed Generva feels anything but festive--until the unexpected arrival of Tho The Christmas Duchess - Christine Merrill Her daughter recently jilted, widowed Generva feels anything but festive--until the unexpected arrival of Thomas Kanner, Duke of Montford, transforms the Marsh household. Might there be a Christmas wedding after all? Good story. Generva is coping with the scandal created by the young man who was supposed to marry her daughter on Christmas Day. It turned out that he was already married, leaving her daughter to face the gossip. Two days before Christmas, his uncle, the Duke of Montford, appeared with the special license, having no idea of what had happened. Thomas is horrified at what his heir has done and offers to marry the girl himself. Generva had been widowed for several years and was accustomed to dealing with things on her own. I loved the way she went after Thomas with the broom when he first got there. When she calmed down and heard Thomas out, she couldn't believe that he was willing to go so far. It was also disconcerting to her to realize that he could become her son-in-law, especially when she discovered that she was attracted to him herself. She couldn't see someone like him being interested in her, so tried to keep her emotions under control. It was a losing battle for her. I really liked Thomas. He was a good man, had a marvelous sense of humor, and wanted to make things right. I loved the way he fit right in with the family. He was patient and fun with Ben, very kind to the jilted Gwendolyn, and very intrigued by Generva. He quickly becomes very glad that Gwendolyn turned down his proposal because Generva appeals to him much more. I loved the way that he spoke to Ben about being the man of the house and how he told Ben about his intentions toward Generva. His actions at the church were funny and sweet. I really liked that Thomas and Generva are older than the usual hero and heroine. It's great to see more mature couples get happy endings too. Russian Winter Nights - Linda Skye Russian princess Ekaterina Romanova sees through the gilded facade of the Winter Court. An intimate encounter with Andrey Kvasov offers a moment of escape, and soon this Yuletide brings the promise of something thrilling…and forbidden. Ekaterina is the niece of the Empress and stuck in the service of the Empress. She is a kind young woman, disgusted by the actions of her cruel aunt. One day she happens on a young man who is an apprentice architect, working on a special room in the palace. They are instantly attracted to each other, but any contact between them is dangerous. Andrey is a good man stuck in a bad situation. He wants to be with Ekaterina, but the Empress wants him for herself. If he refuses, both he and Ekaterina could be sent to Siberia or even killed. I liked the connection between them and the intensity of their feelings. The danger they were in was real, and I was curious to see how they were going to get out of it. Ekaterina had been at court long enough to learn how to be pretty devious, and I really liked the solution she came up with. I would have liked another chapter or an epilogue to show the completed resolution. A Shocking Proposition - Elizabeth Rolls Madeleine Kirkby must be married before Twelfth Night--or forfeit her family estate. After a chance encounter with the man she lost her heart to years ago, she has the perfect prospective husband in mind. Maddy is desperate to save her home from being taken by her nasty cousin. She has until Twelfth Night to marry, but can't marry without his permission until she's twenty-one - on Christmas Day. That doesn't leave her much time to find a willing groom, especially since Edward has succeeded in trashing her reputation among the local men. An encounter with Lord Ashton, newly returned from the war and the man she adored as a child, gives her an idea. Ash has returned from war plagued by nightmares. All he wants to do is find a small estate along Hadrian's Wall where he can indulge his love of searching for antiquities. He is surprised by the grown-up Maddy and his attraction to her, but feels that he's too damaged to pursue her. He's stunned by her proposal that they marry, saving her home and giving him the perfect place for his searching. I loved Ash and Maddy. The heat between them was intense, and their shared history gave them the base from which their attraction could grow into love. I really liked the way that Maddy took charge of her own destiny. I loved seeing Ash adjust to the grown up Maddy. Besides her beauty he also loved her independence. His love for her showed through so strongly, especially in the ways that he protected and supported her. I loved seeing him stand up to Edward and the scene in the church was great. His determination to go through with the marriage, even as he worried about what Edward might have done to her, was fantastic. The final showdown with Edward was pretty intense, but it did force Ash and Maddy to admit their feelings to each other. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially the people who worked for Maddy. It was obvious how much they all loved her, which said a lot about her character. I also liked Ash's brother and his attempts to make Ash see that marrying Maddy was right for him. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 17, 2014
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Dec 17, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0373755503
| 9780373755509
| 0373755503
| 4.31
| 85
| Jan 01, 2015
| Jan 06, 2015
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it was amazing
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Fantastic conclusion to the Cash Brothers series. I'm sad to see it end, but so happy to see all six brothers find their true loves. Porter is the las
Fantastic conclusion to the Cash Brothers series. I'm sad to see it end, but so happy to see all six brothers find their true loves. Porter is the last Cash brother left unmarried. He's always been the one least likely to settle down. He likes the ladies and has been known to move from job to job as he gets tired of them. But he's been dissatisfied with life lately. He sees how happy his brothers are and is a bit envious. He's got a dream of his own to have his own ranch to raise bucking horses for rodeos. To do that, he needs a steady job to earn the money for the land he has his eye on. He's gotten a job transporting rodeo animals, but wonders if that job is in jeopardy when insurance adjuster Wendy Chin joins him on his latest trip. Wendy is a hardworking woman whose life is centered on her work and her family. She's been raised by strict, traditional Chinese parents but she longs for a life with a little more fun in it. She's aware of Porter's reputation, since she's been friends with his sister for a long time. When he dares her to let loose and have a little fun she can't resist the challenge. She doesn't expect the attraction that comes along with the fun. She's not happy about it because there's no way it can go anywhere. She knows that there's no way her parents would ever accept him. The more time they spend together, the deeper her feelings grow for him. I loved seeing Porter and Wendy together. They are a terrific balance for each other, though both have some issues they have to overcome. Porter feels somewhat self-conscious around Wendy because he never went to college and doesn't exactly have a successful career going on. He also has some trust issues, stemming from a relationship a few years earlier, when the woman had used him to make another man jealous. He has the occasional worry that Wendy is using him for her job. But his feelings for her overpower most of his doubts. I loved seeing him introduce her to darts and karaoke. I really liked the way that he was determined to prove himself to her parents and show them that he was worthy of Wendy. I got really frustrated with his brothers and sister when they were ragging on him about his many jobs and women without noticing that he had changed. I really felt bad for Wendy with the situation she was in. She's a modern American woman with a great job, who is smart and pretty and longs for a chance to have a normal life. But she was raised to respect her parents, their values and traditions. After a disastrous relationship in college, she doesn't trust her own judgment so has been going along with her parents' choices for her dates. The problem is that none of those nice, successful Chinese men have done a thing for her, Porter is the one her heart has chosen. She really wants to respect her parents' wishes, but the idea of giving up her happiness to do so is breaking her heart. I was really rooting for her to stand up to them. I enjoyed the secondary story of the investigation into why Porter's boss had had several of his bulls disappear while being transported. It added a little bit of suspense and action to the story. There was also an interesting twist involving the identity of Porter's father that made a great addition to the book. The ending was sweet and funny as Wendy's parents were treated to a parade of people pleading Porter's case. I loved Wendy's reaction and what she did afterward. The epilogue was a very satisfying wrap up. ...more |
Notes are private!
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not set
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Dec 16, 2014
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Dec 16, 2014
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Paperback
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| 4.05
| 133
| Sep 29, 2013
| Oct 15, 2013
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really liked it
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Short and sweet Christmas story. Garret runs the family maple syrup business while at the same time is trying to raise his son. Christmas is a rough t
Short and sweet Christmas story. Garret runs the family maple syrup business while at the same time is trying to raise his son. Christmas is a rough time for him as he lost his wife and unborn child two years earlier. In spite of his grief, he is determined to give his son the best Christmas he can. The big thing currently happening is the prep work for the holiday festival, Frosty Frolics. In charge of the event is Lily Parker. She was hired as public relations manager by Garret's mom, who, it turns out, has more than just business help in mind for Lily. Lily was happy to get out of New York City after the end of her marriage, but she's not sure that the small town is right for her after all. Garret's been curious about Lily from the time she started working for him, but now he's starting to notice her as a woman. He's not real happy about it to start with, as he had put any idea of relationships out of his mind since his wife's death. He's not so sure he wants to risk his heart again when there's always a chance that he could end up alone again. Lily intrigues him, but his growing feelings scare him. Every time he moves a little forward, he ends up retreating and pushing her away. Lily's got the same feelings for Garret, but his hot and cold attitude makes her mad. Her marriage had ended when her husband pulled away from her when she needed him the most. She has enough in her past to deal with, she doesn't want to get involved with another man who does the same thing. Things get even crazier at the farm when an abandoned baby is found in the Nativity scene. No one knows how it got there or who the baby belongs to. One thing Garret notices is that Lily gets upset every time she's around the baby. He's curious, but more than that, he wants to comfort her in her distress. While they are dealing with the unexpected infant, Garret is also trying to figure out how to make his son's Christmas the best he can. It doesn't help that the only thing he asked Santa for is a trip to the North Pole. Duncan wants it so bad that he tries to get there on his own, sending the family into a frenzy as they search for him. When he's found, the reason for his wish comes out and is a very emotional moment for both Garret and Lily. I loved seeing Garret and Lily come together. Both of them have enough sadness and heartbreak in their pasts, and I loved the way that together they found something that would fill the voids in their hearts. The secondary characters were also well done. Garret's sister is protective and his parents are nurturing. I enjoyed seeing them take in the baby while the police try to figure out who she belongs to. I also like the small town setting and how the people look after their own. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Ivy and her family, as I suspect they are going to play a bigger role in the story than I first thought. I am also looking forward to learning more about brother Jimmy, who is only mentioned a couple times. I expect that his story will be very interesting. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Dec 16, 2014
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Dec 16, 2014
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Kindle Edition
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my rating |
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| 3.40
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really liked it
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Apr 2014
not set
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Sep 22, 2024
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| 3.47
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really liked it
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Jan 2014
not set
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Sep 11, 2024
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| 4.21
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it was amazing
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Dec 31, 2014
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Dec 31, 2014
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| 3.70
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it was amazing
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Dec 30, 2014
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Dec 30, 2014
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| 4.09
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it was amazing
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Dec 29, 2014
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Dec 29, 2014
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| 3.97
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really liked it
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Dec 29, 2014
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Dec 29, 2014
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| 4.36
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really liked it
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Dec 28, 2014
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Dec 28, 2014
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| 3.74
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really liked it
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Dec 27, 2014
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Dec 27, 2014
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| 4.00
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really liked it
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Dec 26, 2014
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Dec 26, 2014
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| 4.03
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it was amazing
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Dec 24, 2014
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Dec 24, 2014
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Dec 23, 2014
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Dec 22, 2014
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| 4.24
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really liked it
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Dec 22, 2014
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Dec 22, 2014
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| 3.92
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really liked it
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Dec 21, 2014
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Dec 21, 2014
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Dec 19, 2014
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Dec 19, 2014
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| 3.86
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it was amazing
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Dec 19, 2014
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Dec 19, 2014
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| 4.16
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it was amazing
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Dec 18, 2014
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Dec 18, 2014
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| 3.60
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really liked it
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Dec 18, 2014
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Dec 18, 2014
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| 3.48
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really liked it
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Dec 17, 2014
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Dec 17, 2014
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| 4.31
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it was amazing
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Dec 16, 2014
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Dec 16, 2014
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| 4.05
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really liked it
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Dec 16, 2014
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Dec 16, 2014
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