Trap, Secure - Carol Ericson (HI #1450 - Oct 2013)

Series:  Brothers in Arms: Fully Engaged (Book 3)

The last thing Miranda Lewis remembers is being shot…then tumbling over the balcony. When a sexy, blue-eyed stranger finds her, she has no memory of who she is or what she's doing in the jungles of Colombia.

Gage Booker risked his life in the raid on the compound, only to discover his quarry gone and an injured woman left for dead, a woman the covert operative would be a fool to trust. But her amnesia seems real -- and so does the passion exploding between them. 

Good book with some intense action.  Gage is part of a team that has raided the compound looking for an arms dealer.  What he finds is Randi, injured and with no memory of who she is or why she's there.  He's sure that she's Zendaris's mistress and wants to make sure that they get every bit of information possible from her.  But first he has to get her home alive.

Both Randi and Gage were pretty awesome.  In spite of her memory loss Randi kept a pretty good grip on herself.  She's not sure at first if she should trust Gage but he's her only option.  It doesn't take long before he wins her trust.  I really liked her confidence that Gage would find a way to save her from the crazy CIA people in Panama.  As the intensity of their danger continued Randi also felt a growing attraction to him.  They tried to convince themselves that it was just because she was dependent on him but she was sure that it was more than that, at least on her side.  She is still fighting his belief that she was Zendaris's mistress even though she is sure she was not.  I liked Randi's confidence in her own morality that she could be so sure.

Gage was not happy that his target was gone when he got to the compound.  His group has been after Zendaris for a long time.  When he finds Randi he's sure he's bagged Zendaris's mistress, thanks to a blurry photo of Zendaris with a similar woman.  He thinks she's lying about her amnesia at first and does whatever he can to try to trip her up.  By the time they reach the CIA base he's pretty sure she's telling the truth - just in time for them to be drugged and separated.  I really liked seeing everything he did to get her away safely.  He also feels a strong attraction to her, something that isn't welcome with his certainty of who she is.  He really doesn't like to think of her in that position.  Thanks to the run-in with the CIA Gage isn't sure who he can trust so avoids contacting anyone in authority to help.  As their attempts continue to restore Randi's memory Gage becomes more convinced that he was wrong.  I loved the final confrontation, though I did feel like Randi's memory return was glossed over.

The Maverick's Christmas Homecoming - Teresa Southwick (HSE #2230 - Dec 2012)

Series:  Montana Mavericks: Back in the Saddle (Book 6)

THUNDER CANYON NUGGET
Guess who's coming for Christmas dinner?

The fine citizens of Thunder Canyon have always gone out of their way to make the holidays special. But Christmas this year promises to be one no one will ever forget. You know that handsome celebrity chef everyone's been talking about, Shane Roarke? Don't tell anyone, but it turns out he has a remarkable-and shocking!-connection to our town. And not everyone is going to be happy about it....

Gianna Garrison has been looking downright radiant, however. Is it true that the Gallatin Room waitress has been sneaking under the mistletoe with the mysterious maverick? Hang on to your spurs, merry readers, because the surprises are just beginning. Wait till Gianna finds out who her sexy boss really is! 

Very good book.  Gianna's had a crush on Shane ever since he arrived in Thunder Canyon.  She doesn't expect anything to come of it since she's just a waitress.  But after sharing a meal in the restaurant kitchen one night things are heating up between them.  As they get closer Shane tells Gianna what brought him to Thunder Canyon.  Shane is looking for answers but those answers are going to shock him to his bones.  He's not sure if they will bring Gianna closer or drive her away.

I really liked both Gianna and Shane.  Gianna had come home to Thunder Canyon feeling pretty low.  The business she started in New York went bust, none of her romantic relationships worked out, and she was homesick.  She has come to enjoy her job at the Gallatin Room and the scenery isn't so bad either.  Besides his looks, Gianna is impressed with his abilities as a chef and his down to earth attitude.  When they share a late night meal there are definite sparks between them, and Shane follows up with an invitation to dinner at his place the next night.  It goes very well and Gianna feels the attraction between them intensify before Shane suddenly pulls back and pretty much ignores her for several days.  Gianna is hurt and first and then gets angry and confronts him.  When he apologizes and explains what happened and why she is surprised.  I loved her support for Shane and how she makes sure she is there for him through all the steps of his search.  She's the one who encourages him to talk to his potential half-brother and is there for him when it doesn't go well.  The more time they are together the stronger her feelings for Shane grow.  She is fighting a bit of an inferiority complex comparing her own problems to Shane's success so she sometimes wonders where they are headed.  I loved her poise when his family suddenly showed up at an awkward time and how well she got along with them.  

Shane came to Thunder Canyon looking for his birth parents. He has felt a deep connection to Thunder Canyon ever since he arrived.  Finding out that his father is the most hated man in town and is in prison is devastating for him.  He has heard the rumors regarding him and a woman who could be his mother but that news would bring pain to the woman's family.  He is attracted to Gianna and nearly kisses her the night he cooked for her but is worried bout what her reaction would be to the identity of his father.  So he pulls away, but can't get her out of his mind.  When she calls him on it he apologizes and they start over.  Telling her his secret is hard and he's surprised when she doesn't pull away.  Shane is determined to find out who his mother is and appreciates Gianna's unwavering support.  When they figure it out Shane is really hesitant to talk to his siblings because he knows it's going to rock their world.  I loved the way he faced up to it anyway and didn't back down, but his unhappiness over the result was obvious.  It made him think that perhaps he wouldn't be staying in Thunder Canyon after all but he didn't want to leave her.  I loved his invitation for her to visit his parents with him on Christmas Day and her counteroffer for him to come to her family on Christmas Eve.  I loved seeing him fit in so well with her family, especially with the children.  I loved the meeting with his new brothers on Christmas evening and the difference it made to Shane's whole outlook on his life.

Stranger in a Small Town - Kerry Connor (HI #1207 - May 2010)

Series: Shivers

The mysterious blue-eyed stranger who showed up in the middle of the night wasn't just looking for work. No, when "John Samuels" signed on with Maggie Harper to restore the decrepit old house, he was hoping for answers and a chance to face the demons of his past. But then strange happenings started threatening his beautiful new boss -- and disrupting the passion that sparked between them. Someone didn't want them in that house. Someone who knew the truth about what had happened there thirty years before, about the brutal murder that destroyed John's family.

John never expected redemption. But danger waited in the old house, haunting them both....

Maggie is trying to restore the old house her grandfather left her.  The problem is that a double murder occurred there thirty years ago and no one can forget it.  The people of the town don't want it restored and they all let her know it.  She can't even get anyone to help her with the work until a stranger shows up in town.  She senses a deep sadness in him but she's happy to have the help.  She's even happier to have him there when strange things started happening. 

Maggie had come to renovate the house as a way to cope with the end of her marriage.  Her husband had walked away with no explanation.  She knew about the murders but thought after that long there should be no trouble.  She is surprised by the level of anger that people have for her plans.  She is desperate for help when Sam shows up.  She is wary of him as she senses that there are things he isn't telling her but he can do the work.  When he comes to her rescue after someone attacks her in the house, they decide that the only way to stop the attacks is to solve the murder.  Maggie is a very stubborn, determined woman.  If she has to team up with the mysterious and sexy Sam to do it, that's what she'll do.  She definitely feels an attraction to him but she's cautious because of the secrets she senses.  When she discovers who he really is it's just one more betrayal that she feels.  But the closer that they get to the killer the more her heart starts to overrule her head. 

Sam has come back to face his demons.  He blames himself for the deaths of his parents and the breakup of his family.  He feels that only by solving the mystery can he begin to move on with his life.  Discovering that Maggie needed help with the house was the perfect cover for his plans.  He didn't expect to be attracted to Maggie and that just added to the guilt that he felt over his deception.  That attraction also became part protectiveness as the attacks on them started to escalate.  Sam has always felt that he didn't deserve any happiness in his life because of what happened, but being around Maggie makes him wish that things could be different.  I really liked the way that he told her everything once she figured out who he was.  He'd never done that with anyone else and it relieved some of the stress he felt.  I really enjoyed the intensity of the suspense as they got closer to identifying the killer.  I have to say that I was kept guessing until the end. 

Stern - Brenda Jackson (HD #2251 - Sept 2013)

Series: Westmorelands (Book 27)

Stern Westmoreland never makes mistakes -- until he helps his best friend Jovonnie "JoJo" Jones with a makeover…for another man. Now Stern wants JoJo for himself. Their attraction is undeniable and there's only one way to test it: one long, steamy night together as much more than friends!

Very good friends to lovers story.  Stern and JoJo have been friends since they were kids.  They hang out together a lot, including going up to his hunting lodge.  They can talk to each other about almost anything.  Lately JoJo has realized that she's tired of being friends with all the guys and wants some romance.  Being a tomboy who is great at karate, hunting and as a mechanic, she lost when it comes to feminine pursuits.  So she goes to her best friend Stern, a definite ladies man, for advice on what to do.

I loved both JoJo and Stern.  JoJo is an independent woman who knows what she likes and is capable of.  She and Stern have been friends for a long time, but recently she has noticed that her feelings for him are changing.  She doesn't want to lose his friendship by putting the moves on him so she decides to try to fall for another man instead.  But she has no idea how to go about it, so she asks his advice.  She talks him into giving her kissing lessons which sets off even more fireworks.  I loved her absolute trust in Stern and his actions.  She had no idea what she was doing to him.  Having been friends with Stern for so long she's also friends with the rest of the family, so has a great time when the ladies help her with her makeover.  I thought she was a little naive going to that bar chasing after the guy with "possibilities".  I loved the way that Stern was there but didn't interfere when she asked him not to.  That's when she finally admitted to herself that there was no way another man would be able to replace what she felt for Stern, and decided that she would go after what she had wanted in the first place.  I really liked the deepening of the relationship even though she still avoided telling Stern her true feelings.  I completely loved the scene at the garage at the end, though I did see it coming.  

Stern was great.  He's a bit of a ladies man since he has no plans to settle down until he's thirty-five.  But he's seeing more of his family members falling to the love bug and wonders if he should be looking too.  I love his friendship with JoJo and the way he doesn't get mad when she beats him out at one of their activities.  He is taken by surprise when she asks him what she should do to attract a man.  He's her friend so he answers and offers to help, but finds that he's not really happy with the idea of another man being with her.  When she asks him to kiss her and teach her how it's done he is stunned by the strength of the desire he suddenly feels for her.  It really freaks him out because he's never thought of her as anything other than a friend.  Now he can't get her out of his mind or his dreams.  He resists as hard as he can.  I loved the way that he keeps going to other guys in the family for advice and  they all look at him like he's nuts and tell him  that he's in love with her.  It takes awhile for him to admit to himself that they are right, and then he has to decide what to do about it.  I loved the scene at the bar when he made sure he was there as backup but let her deal with things herself.  He accepted her request for "friends with benefits" but knew he wanted more.  He just didn't know how to tell her.  I loved the ending.
 

Canyon - Brenda Jackson (HD #2245 - Aug 2013)

Series: Westmorelands (Book 26)

Years ago, Canyon Westmoreland wasn't ready to settle down. But when Keisha Ashford returns to town with a two-year-old son, everything changes -- except for the blazing attraction he still feels for Keisha. This time around, nothing will stop Canyon from claiming what is his -- his woman and his child!

Three years ago Canyon and Keisha broke up over a misunderstanding.  Canyon was hurt and furious that she hadn't trusted him enough to hear his side of the story, and Keisha felt betrayed by him.  She moved away, taking a very important secret with her.  Now she's back and she still won't have anything to do with him.  Canyon is determined to confront her and follows her one day - only to discover what that secret is.

I loved Canyon.  He isn't one of the men who resists the idea of commitment.  He had been ready to propose to Keisha when all the trouble started.  Since she left he had dated some, but nothing serious.  Now that she's back in town he really wants a chance to clear the air, but she is still avoiding him.  I loved the scene where he is basically stalking her and his brother is trying to convince him that he's going to get in trouble.  He is stunned when he finds out she had his son, and furious that she never told him.  I loved the fact that he had no trouble with the idea that he was a father and that he was going to be fully involved from then on.  Seeing him with Beau was just so sweet.  There are some great scenes between the two of them that show what a great dad he is going to be.  When Keisha's house was broken into he insisted that they stay with him - perfect for getting a chance to straighten things out between them.  He's not happy that she still doesn't believe the truth but hopes to convince her.  Being together so much shows him that his love for her never died and their chemistry is still off the charts.  I liked the realism of his character.  He isn't perfect.  He gets frustrated, he loses his temper sometimes, and he has to be shown that he probably would have made the same mistake in her place.  He also has a great love of family, as is shown in the closeness of the Westmoreland clan.  I loved the effort he put into getting Keisha to finally accept the truth, and his frustration when she then wouldn't forgive herself.

Keisha frustrated me a lot of the time.  She was so sure about what she saw that she refused to listen to what Canyon tried to tell her.  Then she left town, taking the news of her pregnancy with her.  She held on to her feelings of betrayal, refusing to tell Canyon that he was a father, even after she returned to Denver.  At least when he confronted her she didn't try to lie about it, but she wasn't pleased with the idea of him being involved.  I loved the way that her surprise at his rapid acceptance and obvious happiness at being a father made her begin to realize that she had been wrong not to tell him.  She still wasn't ready to believe that he hadn't been unfaithful to her.  She had serious trust issues when it comes to men because of the way her father had treated her mother and it affected the way she treated Canyon.  When her house was broken into Canyon insisted that they move in with him until the person was caught.  This made her very nervous because she was still attracted to him and didn't trust herself around him.  I loved the way that he started breaking down her walls and showing her that his feelings for her hadn't changed.  I also loved her reaction to meeting the whole family and the fact that they didn't treat her badly because of what she had done.  She really didn't know how to deal with that.  I was glad to see that she finally accepted the truth, but then the subsequent refusal to forgive herself and move on with him was a bit much.  It took facing some real danger for her to realize what she was doing.  
 

Doctor, Soldier, Daddy - Caro Carson (HSE #2286 - Sept 2013)

Series: Doctors MacDowell (Book 1)

Dashing soldier Jamie MacDowell needs a mother for his infant son, stat! And while the handsome M.D. has no shortage of candidates, he lets his baby boy help with the selection. Little Sam falls for quiet Kendry Harrison -- a surprising choice, maybe. But Jamie quickly realizes that the orderly's sweet veneer hides a multitude of attractions -- and if he's not careful, he could wind up wrecking their carefully set-up "arrangement."

Kendry knows her marriage to Jamie is strictly business, but that doesn't stop her from dreaming of a more permanent place in the healer's heart. If only he'd stop resisting the passion simmering between them. Then maybe he'd realize they were made for each other…and meant to be married in every sense of the word…

Jamie had fallen for an Afghani woman while deployed.  When she died in childbirth he knew he needed to get the baby to the US in a hurry.  He fudged some of the paperwork and knew there could be problems later.  He wanted to make sure he had a wife so that he could show a stable home life if needed.  Since he was still mourning Amina he wasn't looking for love, just the best he could find as a mother for Sam.  He finds that in Kendry, a hospital orderly who has a real connection with Sam.  So he proposes a marriage of convenience, not expecting to start wishing that he could change the rules.

Kendry is working as an orderly at the hospital trying to earn enough money for school.  Thanks to some bad luck she has barely enough money to live on.  One of her favorite jobs at the hospital is working with the children and Sam is her favorite.  When Jamie starts paying particular attention to her she doesn't know what to think.  His proposal that they marry for Sam's sake surprises her.  She has come to care for Jamie and would rather marry for love, but will take what she can get.  I loved Kendry's determination to make the best of her life.  She is very proud and knows that her current financial difficulties are mostly her fault.  She is doing whatever she must to survive.  It was heartbreaking to see how bad things really were for her.  Marrying Jamie was like a dream for her, but she also didn't want to feel like she was taking advantage of him.  I loved seeing the way that Jamie tried to take care of her even though she resisted.  The more time that they spent together the more her love for him grew.  I really enjoyed seeing how compatible they were when working together and even more so after they were married.  I loved the way that she tried to take care of him.  The way that she got him to the football game was great and I loved seeing her enjoyment of it.  Her support of him when she found out the full story behind Sam's birth was very emotional.  I loved the way that she stood up for her own needs at the end and won it all.

Jamie is a tortured man at the beginning of the book.  He had loved Amina and had wanted her to marry him and go back to the US where she and the baby would be safe.  When she refused so that she could continue her work and then died in childbirth, he was devastated.  All he could think of was taking care of Sam.  All he does is work and take care of him, making Sam the center of his life.  He remembers his father as not being around much and doesn't want that kind of memory for Sam.  He also worries that Sam could be taken away because of his irregular arrival in the US.  Jamie is convinced that having a wife would make that unlikely.  Since he has no intention of falling in love again, he sets out on a logical search for a wife.  Seeing Kendry's care for Sam when he's in the hospital playroom puts her at the front of his search.  I loved seeing him start to get to know her.  Their cafeteria lunches are something he starts to really look forward to and when they have an intense night working together in the emergency room he realizes that she is just what he needs.  He seems somewhat oblivious to the challenges she is under until she can no longer hide them.  He is ashamed of himself for his blindness and kind of goes overboard trying to make it up to her.  I loved seeing the way that his feelings for her are growing even though he doesn't realize that he's coming to love her.  His protectiveness is so sweet.  I really enjoyed the way that his eyes were opened at the football game and he admitted his feelings to himself.  When he finally confesses to her about the difficulties he could be facing with Sam he is surprised by her unquestioning support.  I loved his final confession at the end - so wonderful!

The only issue I had with the book wasn't anything with the story at all, it was the cover.  Jamie is an army doctor.  The man on the front is wearing a Marine Corps uniform (collar emblems are the eagle, globe and anchor).  To top it all off, the medals are on the wrong side of the uniform.  If you're going to put a man in uniform on the cover, the publisher needs to take the time and effort to do it right!  There are a lot of us that notice such things and it is very frustrating!
 

Flirting With Destiny - Christyne Butler (HSE #2289 - Oct 2013)

Series: Welcome to Destiny (Book 6)

It's a tough road to recovery for Devlin Murphy after a helicopter accident leaves scars that are more than skin-deep. But there's a new girl in Destiny, Wyoming, who's got the healing touch. Sure, Tanya Reeves's approach -- acupuncture, anyone? -- makes Dev's eyes roll. The woman also makes his heart rev up like no other.

For her part, Tanya can't believe it when she first runs into this fling from her past. Dev doesn't even recognize her! Even crazier -- history is repeating itself with this irresistible man. And Tanya has to ask herself: Who's healing whom?

A moving book, but also a fun one.  Dev is still recovering from his injuries in a helicopter crash.  He has reached the point where he doesn't feel he is progressing and has just about given up hope that things will get any better.  Then he meets his friend Mac's granddaughter who is skilled with therapy, massage, and even acupuncture.  But more than that, she appeals to him on a much more basic level.  He doesn't recognize her from a brief encounter ten years earlier.  Tanya is willing to help Dev, but she doesn't want to get involved with him.  She has plans that don't include staying in Destiny.

Tanya is a woman who has a plan and doesn't want to risk derailing that plan.  She has come to Destiny to help her grandfather with his arthritis before she leaves for London.  She doesn't expect to run into Dev, who she had a one night stand with ten years ago.  She also didn't expect that he wouldn't recognize her.  When her grandfather asks her to help Dev, neither one is thrilled with the idea at first.  Tanya doesn't want to deal with the attraction she still feels for him, but she also can't stand to see him hurting.  I loved their first session of water therapy and how the old ladies kicked his butt.  Tanya is very good at deflecting his flirtations for a long time, but eventually loses her resistance.  I did like the fact that they kept it to frequent dating and some pretty heavy makeout sessions, but nothing further until near the end.  It was nice to see them getting to know each other and become friends.  Tanya also saw the guilt that Dev still carries about the accident and tries to help him past it.  Tanya also has healing of her own to do after leaving a relationship that hurt her self esteem and cost her her job.  She feels the need to make sure she doesn't repeat past mistakes by relying on someone else.  I loved the final scene at the airport.

Dev is a man who is in pain both physically and emotionally.  He has hit a wall in his physical therapy and is afraid that he will never be free of the constant pain he is in.  When he meets Tanya he is first attracted to her before he finds out that she is Mac's granddaughter.  When Mac suggests that she use her therapies on him Dev refuses flat out.  He doesn't believe in all that alternative stuff, plus he's deathly afraid of needles.  The scene where he observes Mac's treatment for his arthritis is really funny.  He really wants to get to know Tanya better, but she won't get involved with someone she's working with.  He convinces her to help him as a friend, and begins a not-so-subtle campaign to win her over.  When he finds out that they had met before he apologizes for not remembering.  He admits to her that that had been when he was still drinking and that whole time was pretty fuzzy.  I liked his strength in telling her about his problem and how well he is doing in remaining sober.  I liked the realism of showing that it isn't easy and that the temptation is still there.  I really liked the way that he paid attention to her wishes and didn't push her for more than she was willing to give.  Dev was also dealing with the apparent loss of his volunteer firefighting job, even though the fire chief isn't letting him resign.  There's a great scene with him at the end where he puts his skills to use which shows him that he isn't done yet.  I loved the part where he overcomes his fears to follow Tanya and tell her how he feels.