Series:
Rich Rugged Ranchers (Book 3)
From Secretary to Wife?
Jennifer Dunning's boss has made her an offer too good to refuse. Or is
it? Jen knew Marshall Grainger's reputation with women before she took
the job. Disillusioned with love, she expected to be immune to the sexy
rancher's charms. But nothing could prepare her for the explosive power
of their mutual attraction...nor for Marshall's proposal.
But Marshall, too, is cynical about love. And his only reason for
marrying is to provide himself with heirs. So despite their fireworks in
bed, how can Jen say "yes" to a loveless marriage-especially when it's
not loveless for her?
Good book. Jen had left her previous job after getting tired of the way she was treated. Then she ran from home after seeing her parents in compromising positions. She chose to take a job as assistant to Marshall Grainger. She was disgusted with the actions of people who claimed to be in love, so she was sure she would have no trouble with Marshall. He too did not believe in love. All he could see was people acting foolishly and would rather base a relationship on compatibility. Neither expected the instant attraction that they felt. I really liked both Jen and Marshall. Both were completely honest about their feelings at the beginning. Marshall realized that he really wanted a couple kids to leave his empire to and also to have someone to share his life with. His fascination with Jen worried him a little, but he felt that they were so compatible that they could have a good life together even without love. He was so blind to his feelings that I really wanted to smack him a few times. I liked the way that he could be so lighthearted with her and the way they were able to laugh and have fun. Jen couldn't believe how intense her attraction to Marshall was. She was stunned when he proposed marriage to her. She was very conflicted because she could tell she was falling for him and didn't want a loveless marriage. But she also didn't like the idea of no longer having him in her life. Both of them ended up having to face their demons before they could find their happiness.
Series:
Mail Order Brides (Book 2)
CAN SECRETS AND SECOND CHOICES EVER LEAD TO LOVE?
After three months in a mail-order marriage, Hannah Wentworth McMurtry
is a widow -- pregnant, alone, and near death in the Wyoming wilderness.
Though she is saved by a man with a face cut from stone, she still
grieves the husband who died on their journey west. Hannah needs a
husband, but does she dare marry another stranger?
Flint Creed has also lost someone he loved -- when the woman he hoped to
marry chose his younger brother instead. Now he must find a ranch wife
of his own. But every female in the remote Wyoming Territory is too old,
too young, or already married . . . until he discovers Hannah on the
prairie. Flint doesn’t pretend to love her, but he doesn’t tell her he
loves another woman, either. Hannah doesn’t pretend to love him, but she
doesn’t tell him about the child she carries. Though danger surrounds
them on the Wyoming frontier, the greatest threats of all are the
secrets within -- revelations that could destroy the new life Hannah and
Flint have begun to cherish.
Good book. Hannah becomes a mail order bride in order to get herself and her two sisters away from the orphanage where they have been living. On their journey west her husband dies, and they are attacked by Indians, leaving Hannah alone in the wilderness. She is rescued by Flint and taken to his ranch. Hannah knows she needs another husband to take care of her and her baby to be, and when Flint offers to marry her she accepts. Flint is in love with the woman his younger brother is going to marry. He figures the only way to survive living on the same ranch is to get himself a wife of his own. When he finds Hannah it's like the answer to a prayer.
I really liked Hannah a lot. Although she had dreams of finding her Prince Charming, she put them aside in order to save herself and her sisters. She had the inner strength to handle the journey west and try to keep her sisters in line. When they were on their own she was the one that kept things together. When she struck her bargain with Flint, she made sure he didn't walk all over her. She had conditions of her own and stuck to them. She didn't tell him at first that she was pregnant because she was afraid he wouldn't marry her. As time went on she found that there was a lot about Flint that she really liked. She was also very attracted to him. She wasn't happy when she found out he only married her because he was in love with his brother's fiancee. She grew to love him, but wouldn't tell him so because of his feelings for Emaline. I enjoyed seeing her stand up to him. I also liked seeing her adapt to the ways of the west and become an even better person.
Flint was a little harder to warm up to. As the older of the two brothers, he was used to being in charge and often treated his brother Ransom like he wasn't too smart. He had fallen in love with Emaline, but she only had eyes for Ransom. When they became engaged, Flint decided he needed to find a wife of his own to keep him distracted from Emaline - not the greatest reason to get married. When he rescued Hannah he was drawn to her and offered to marry her more as a convenience to them both than anything else. He spent most of the book basically worshipping Emaline as a goddess on a pedestal while blowing off his own wife. He wasn't deliberately cruel, just thoughtless. It was interesting to see him try to reconcile his growing feelings for Hannah and his "love" for Emaline. There were many times that it was obvious that he was coming to love Hannah, but he just couldn't see past his idealized version of Emaline.
The secondary romance between Emaline and Ransom was well done. She had some serious issues with the realities of being married and seeing her try to convince Ransom to her way of thinking was pretty funny. She and Ransom both showed some good character growth, though Ransom still has some maturing to do.
I enjoyed the cattle ranching aspect and seeing the interactions among the ranchers. The problem of the missing cattle and the bad guy was very good. I liked seeing the ranchers' meeting and how things were handled there. The culmination of the conflict was good, though I'd like to know what happened to that ranch next.
Overall a good book. I'm looking forward to Hetty and Josie's stories.
Series:
Rocky Mountain Brides (Book 4)
He's brooding, wary..but underneath lies a good heart.
With his military dog in tow, ex-soldier Grady Fletcher plans to keep
his troubled mind occupied while staying on his grandfather's
property-until it's time to move on again.
Single mom Gina Williams is usually wary around men. Yet she gets the
distinct feeling that beneath Grady's rugged, guarded exterior lies a
kind, honest, trustworthy man.
So when Gina's little boy goes missing there is only one person she'll
turn to for help-a man whose survival instinct is as strong as his
heart....
Good book. I was glad to see Lori's sister Gina get her own story. Gina came to Destiny with her son to get away from her ex-husband who abused her. Then her ex showed up and kidnapped her son. Grady and his dog Scout were able to track Zack and bring him home. I really liked both Grady and Gina. Gina had the courage to get herself and her son away from her ex and start a new life. I loved the way that she was determined to stand on her own feet. She also was doing her best to give her son a normal life now so that he could be a kid again. She was surprised that she was so comfortable around Grady considering that she had trouble trusting men now. I liked the way that she was so tuned in to Grady's feelings and could tell when he was uncomfortable. I really liked the way she didn't push him to be something other than he was, but that she was not going to be pushed away either. Grady felt and acted like a loner. He had been married once but it didn't work out. He blamed himself and was sure that he wasn't meant to have a family of his own because of it. It was easy to see the nice guy under the gruff exterior. He didn't hesitate to jump in and help with the search for Zack and he was instrumental in capturing Gina's ex. I also loved how good he was with the dogs and how obvious it was that he cared for them. He was also great with Zack, not talking down to him and making sure he understood the responsibilities of caring for a dog. He kept insisting he would be leaving as soon as his grandfather was well enough, but he could also see that deep down he didn't want to go. He was afraid to hope that he could have a normal life. I loved the way that everything worked out for both of them.
Series:
Sisters of Bell River Ranch (Book 1)
When temptation calls
Sheriff Dallas Garwood has followed the straight and narrow all his
life. The one exception? When he tangled with Rowena Wright. The
experience had lasting consequences he'd rather not repeat.
That may be easier said than done. Rowena is back, set on restoring her
family's ranch to sell it. Is this Colorado town big enough for the two
of them? Not the way his nine-year-old son keeps sneaking onto her land,
forcing Dallas into her company. Every one of those encounters sparks
an urge in him to tangle with her again. This time he'll call the
shots-and be the one to leave. But he doesn't expect all these powerful
emotions...and he's not sure he can walk away.
Very good book. Rowena has returned to Bell River Ranch after sixteen years away. Her plans are to fix it up to sell it. Having had the reputation of a wild child she doesn't expect to be welcomed back by the people of the town. Neither does she expect to be welcomed by Dallas, who her father shot when he found them together. I really liked both Dallas and Rowena. Rowena has some serious issues to deal with. The ranch is the place where their father murdered their mother, then she and her sisters were sent to live with relatives. Her feelings have kept her from settling anywhere for long which has also caused tension between her and her sisters. I loved the way she settled in at the ranch so quickly. She also made friends with Bonnie, a young woman looking for a job and a place to stay, recognizing that Bonnie had secrets of her own. She also made friends with Alec, Dallas's nine year old son who loves hanging out at the ranch. I loved seeing her start to put down some roots, even though she kept insisting she was going to leave. I also loved the dreams that she started to have about the future of the ranch and the way she started to go after them. She also discovered some information that really shook her up and almost wrecked her dreams.
I loved Dallas and his calm temperament. He was dealing with raising his son as a single parent after his wife walked out on them. He was also dealing with his younger brother, who he saw as rather irresponsible, and trying to get him to taking charge of his own life. I really liked seeing the way that he dealt with the various problems as sheriff and how he could see the humor in some of the situation. He was also trying to do the best he could with Alec, who didn't always make things very easy for him. Dallas had never forgotten Rowena and when she came back the attraction flared back to life. I also really liked the way that he was able to see under the outer shell she showed everyone and saw the scared woman underneath. He did a great job of being there when she needed him. I loved seeing Rowena come to terms with her past and be able to make a grab for her future.
The secondary characters were all well done also. I'm looking forward to Bree's story in hopes that she can redeem herself a bit. I really didn't care for her at all with her attitude toward Rowena. I also hope that there will be more about Bonnie and Mitch, because I'm really curious about her story. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Series:
Fast Track (Book 6)
She’s holding tight. He’s hanging loose.
Eve Monroe is a stock-car PR pro who puts her career first -- until an
on-track wardrobe malfunction reveals more than the sexy smile of her
race-car brother’s jack-man, Nolan Ford. The video’s become an internet
sensation, and it’s Eve’s job to calm the sponsors and put a spin on the
unexpected exposure. It may be purely a public relations job, but now
that Eve’s seen what’s under Nolan’s crew suit, it’s gotten a little
personal -- and after a few dates she has Nolan pretty revved up. If
only she’d learn to relax and enjoy it…
And they both have the same drive.
Nolan’s sure that the spontaneous birthday bash he’s throwing for Eve in
Las Vegas should loosen her up. It does more than that. Somewhere
between cocktails and a smoking-hot motel-room derby, Eve and Nolan wake
up hitched, thanks to a post-sex-high detour to a Vegas chapel. A
hangover marriage to a virtual stranger isn’t good for anyone’s image,
so Eve plans to play the happy wife long enough to satisfy the press,
and then quietly part ways. Now all she has to do is convince her new
personal jack-man. But Nolan has plans of his own…
Definitely a fun book. Eve has been a supporting character in the
previous books, where we see her mainly as the uptight grouch who is
constantly raining on everyone's parade. This one starts out with Eve chewing out Nolan because of his wardrobe malfunction. As the team PR person, Eve is the one who gets stuck dealing with problems like this and she really hates it. Nolan is listening to her but refuses to see it as a problem. All he can think about is how cute he thinks she is. I really liked both Nolan and Eve. Eve knows she is not the nicest person around, but she doesn't seem to be able to do anything about it. She constantly worries about everything and feels out of control if she doesn't have things planned down to the minute. She knows she is attracted to Nolan but has no intention of doing anything about it, until he talks her into going out with him. Then she discovers that his laid back attitude makes her feel better about herself. Nolan is an absolute sweetheart of a guy. I loved the way that he understands Eve from the very beginning. He can see that she doesn't know how to relax and let go of her stress and figures that he is the perfect guy to help her do that. He seems to know exactly how to get her to have fun. They had great conversations with her bluntness offset by his sheer delight in everything she said. I loved the way that he actually listened to what she said and treated her far better than even her own family did. Their date at the beer festival was fantastic and showed both of them at their best. I loved the thoughtful things he did for her that always seemed to surprise her - probably because nobody else treated her like that. Nolan was pretty consistent in his behavior throughout the book and I loved the way he was there for her. Eve drove me nuts sometimes with her constantly changing attitude toward Nolan. She had a hard time believing that he actually cared for her and that caused her to do some pretty stupid things, especially at the end. I was glad to see that she finally got her act together at the end. I wish there would be more in this series because I have really enjoyed it.
Series:
Men of Hawaii (Book 4)
Too Close For Comfort...
Deana Armstrong needs a hero -- not for herself, but for the nephew all
her money and time can't seem to get out of jail. Unfortunately, the
best hero in all the Hawaiian Islands is set on turning in his badge and
getting his excellent butt into another line of work. If that wasn't
enough, Josh Windsor also has a big-time grudge against Deana herself.
But if there's anything being rich, smart, and stubborn has taught
Deana, it's never to settle for second best...
Josh has had it with saving people. He's had it with getting hauled into
court. And boy, has he ever had it with Deana. Or well, he hasn't had
it. Yet. But the more she pops up sounding infuriating and looking good
enough to eat, the more her hot bod and her cold case wriggle into his
mind. And there's only so much even a hero can resist...
Absolutely fun book. Deana is still trying to get her nephew out of jail. She has set her sights on getting Josh to do more investigating on her behalf. The problem is that they have had run-ins before because of Ryan, and he wants nothing to do with her or the case. She eventually wears him down, but he lets her know up front that he doesn't expect to find anything new. They definitely start out as adversaries, and the sparks are obviously flying. Josh has his way of doing things, but Deana wants to be involved all the way. Josh has issues with people who have a lot of money. He soon learns that there is more to Deana than he thought there was and she is getting to him. He can't get away from her, physically or mentally, and it is messing with his strategy. Deana ignores Josh when he tells her not to follow him. She also discovers that he really messes up the calm and cool persona she shows the world. Their developing relationship feels very realistic and has some bumps along the way. Their chemistry is intense and the dialogue in the book is great. Josh frequently ends up on the short side of the stick, especially when his friend Kane gets involved also. The investigation into Ryan's guilt or innocence has enough twists that the conclusion is not too obvious.
A LADY OF ICE
Beautiful and elegant, Elise, the Duchess of Wynd, has survived among
the nobility by carefully cultivating a facade of cutting wit and
heartlessness. Nothing ruffles her. And no man can break through her
defenses...
A MAN OF FIRE
A fierce Scottish warrior, Colin is the new Duke of MacGowan and--in
polite circles--looked upon as no better than a barbarian. Nevertheless,
he is a lord who brooks no defiance...and holds no rein on his
pleasures...
A PROMISE OF PASSION
Colin's very presence ties Elise's sharp-edged tongue: She is all too
aware that he could be the answer to her prayers--or her worst
nightmare. For Elise harbors secrets that could change the course of
both their lives. But before she can reveal them, she must make the wild
knight her own...
This book was okay. I liked the idea of the book but I had a hard time connecting with the main characters. Elise was married and widowed at a very young age. Since then she has protected herself by playing the part of a heartless flirt. Then her sister ends up falling for a Scotsman who leaves her pregnant, then she dies in childbirth. Elise is left with trying to find a way to tell his family about the baby. This worries her a lot because her sister had nothing good to say about the family. When she meets Colin, the baby's uncle, she is not impressed by him at all. She finds him crude and rude, but is also drawn to him. She spends most of the book trying to tell him about the baby, but only telling bits at a time which get she into trouble with him. I know she is young, but I really wanted to smack her at times. Colin was definitely living up to his reputation as a barbarian. He kept giving her orders, not listening when she tried to tell him things, and generally being a butthead. There were occasional glimpses of a nice guy, but then he'd turn around and be an ass again. Perhaps if the author had included his point of view and thoughts his actions might have been understandable, but most of the time he just seemed mean. The last few chapters were the best, but even the resolution wasn't completely satisfying with Colin going from ass to lover in just a few pages. I preferred the maid, Daisy, and Colin's servant, Miles, as characters.
