The Christmas Baby Surprise - Shirley Jump (HR #4398 - Oct 2013)

Series: The Gingerbread Girls (Book 1)

The secret to mend their marriage

With an aching heart, Emily Watson knows her marriage is in trouble. She wants it to work more than anything in the world, so walking away from Cole is the hardest thing she'll ever do. But one last night together is set to change her life and her marriage forever….

Needing time to think, Emily returns to the one place that always feels like home: the Gingerbread Inn. It is the perfect setting to work out what to do with her little secret.

And when Cole finds her, and her growing bump, he realizes that this Christmas, some things are worth fighting for….

What an emotional book.  Emily and Cole have been married for ten years and Emily has had enough.  She understood Cole's long hours and dedication when he was just starting his business.  But business is still his number one priority and nothing she says will get him to lighten his load and spend time with her, except for one night.  Now she's pregnant and looking for answers for what to do about her future.  Cole tracks her down and tries his best to get her to come back home, but he's having trouble understanding why she left in the first place.

Emily feels that she has no choice but to give up on her marriage.  For years she has been trying to get Cole to spend less time at the office and more time on their marriage.  Whenever she thinks she's making a little headway he goes right back to his workaholic ways.  Six months ago she asked for a separation and began to think about what she wants for herself.  The problem is that Cole keeps showing up trying to stay part of her life.  She gave in once to her hope that he would change and ended up pregnant.  She has wanted a baby for a long time but Cole kept putting her off saying the time wasn't right.  She can't handle his frequent appearances as she is trying to make some decisions, so she heads for the Gingerbread Inn, a place with a lot of happy memories for her.  She is dismayed to find it in poor repair and up for sale.  The innkeeper has just not been able to keep up with things but welcomes Emily back and gives her a place to regroup.  Emily plans to take the time to pursue her dream of writing while she decides her future.  I loved seeing the way that she really got into her writing and how happy it was making her. She's surprised when Cole tracks her down and continues his campaign to bring her home.  She's even more surprised when he stays around to make repairs on the inn.  She doesn't know what to do about his presence.  She has had her hopes dashed so often that she just can't handle trying again.  I really ached for Emily.  She has tried to tell Cole how she felt but he never seemed to actually listen to her.  She sees him there at the Inn, making the repairs, but wonders how long he's going to stay before he gives in to the lure of his business again.  She still loves him but feels she has to do what is best for herself and the baby.  The longer he stays the more she begins to hope, until she tells him about the baby.  His reaction breaks her heart and she feels there is no longer any hope at all for them.  I liked the fact that at the end she admitted that not all of the fault was his.

Cole was so clueless about what was happening.  No matter what Emily tried to tell him it never seemed to make an impression on him until she left.  Cole is a man who doesn't like to lose or quit at anything and he is determined to get Emily to come home.  I liked the way that he found himself doing repairs at the Inn himself rather than just hiring someone to do it.  He was surprised at how good it made him feel to do it himself.  I liked the way that he knew he still loved Emily and wanted to repair their marriage.  He just had no idea what he was doing wrong.  Every time he felt that he was making some progress with her, something would happen to send her off again.  He didn't seem to be able to see that always putting business ahead of her was at the root of the problem.  Because he had had a father who expected perfection, all he knew was to treat his business that way.  Plus, they had been so poor at the beginning of their marriage that he equated his love to being able to provide more and more for Emily in the way of material goods.  He never really heard her pleas for his attention.  Emily's requests for them to start their family also fell on deaf ears, mostly because the idea scared him.  He was afraid that he would turn out to be the type of father he had.  The more time he spent with Emily and away from his business the more he liked it, but breaking habits like that were very hard.  I really loved the way that both his friend and his secretary also told Cole the same thing about needing to put Emily first.  Emily's ending up in the hospital was a real eye opener and it took him awhile to process what it really meant for him.  I liked seeing him open up to Emily about why he is the way he is.  It was hard to see him so fearful about his abilities as a father.  I loved the ending and how he was finally convinced of the possibility of a future for them.  I hope to see more of them in the next two books and see how things are going for them.

Snowbound With the Soldier - Jennifer Faye (HR #4396 - Oct 2013)

Maybe this Christmas…?

It has been seven long years since Kara Jameson last saw Jason Greene. Returning home as a wounded war hero, Jason looks a shell of the man she once knew. Yet her heart still skips a beat as if it was yesterday….

Stepping back into civilian life, Jason looks to Kara for help. But there's too much water under the bridge -- not to mention too much lingering attraction.

But it seems that the mountain weather has other ideas, and when Kara and Jason end up snowbound together they are forced to confront the ghosts of Christmas past.

Very good book about second chances.  Jason has returned to Pleasant Valley as the new owner of the resort, which he has purchased from his father, who he has not spoken to in seven years.  He also hasn't seen Kara in seven years, ever since he broke their engagement and left town.  Now he needs her help getting the resort back up and running.  He would also like to clear the  air between them and tell her why he left the way he did.  There's still a strong attraction between them and Jason would like to start over, but he has to show her he can be trusted first.

I liked Kara.  She is a great mom, devoted to making sure her daughter Sam has the best life she can give her.  She has worked hard keeping the resort running under difficult circumstances.  She has also been a friend to her ex-fiance's father, especially since he has been so ill.  When she hears that the resort has been sold, she is worried about her job.  When she discovers that Jason is the new owner she is sure that he won't want to keep her on, especially when he asks her to stay on "through the opening".  They get caught in a blizzard and have to spend the time together until they can get out.  She realizes that she is still attracted to him even though she doesn't want to be.  As they work together on getting the resort up and running again, Kara realizes that she never stopped loving him.  She slowly starts letting him back in her life.  His easy relationship with her daughter softens her toward him even more. There are also some things that she needs to tell him about the past that she's afraid will make him look at her differently.  I loved her support of him when he finally told her why he had left her all those years ago.  I also liked the way she kept trying to get him to talk to his father before it was too late.  After all her support of him it was heartbreaking to see his initial reaction to her revelations.  When he came to his senses she could have made it a lot harder on him than she did.

Jason had run from Kara and Pleasant Valley after finding out some disturbing things from his father, things that made him feel that he wasn't safe to be around people like Kara.  It also caused him to avoid any contact with his father.  When he was wounded during the war and discharged he made the decision to purchase the resort and get it back the way it was during his grandfather's time.  In order to do it right he needs Kara's help.  He also wants to mend his fences with her and see if they can start over.  Rather than come right out and tell her he wants her to stay on permanently at the resort, he decides to keep from pushing her and only asks her to stay for awhile.  When they get snowed in at his house he wants to explain what had happened in the past but she didn't want to hear it.  She also was trying to understand the new Jason, who doesn't celebrate Christmas and is very closed off emotionally.  He starts to open up some when he meets Kara's daughter who he assumes is his.  He really takes a shine to her and becomes more like the Jason she used to know.  When their attraction really starts to heat up he knows he has to tell her his secret.  It worries him because he's sure that she won't want anything to do with him afterwards.  I loved his astonishment when it made no difference to her.  That made his attitude toward her news that much harder to bear.  I was glad to see him realize what an idiot he'd been.  I loved his "go big" moment.

I also liked Kara's daughter Sam.  She was a good blend of sweet and sassy.  She took to Jason right away and had no problem trying to get her way with him, but not being a brat about it.  She could be pouty or grumpy, but was mostly a good kid.

His Brown-Eyed Girl - Liz Talley (HS #1878 - Oct 2013)

She's saving him from…the kids?

Lucas Finlay is used to calling the shots. But looking after his two nephews and niece in New Orleans, he's entirely out of his league. Luckily help is next door. With almost no effort Addy Toussant manages to make order from the kid chaos. Lucas is beyond grateful…he's also very attracted to her. Images of an adults-only playdate are soon dancing in his head.

Yet something in Addy's golden-brown eyes tells him not to rush her. If this romance is to go anywhere, he needs to let her take the lead. Given the sizzling potential of what they have together, Lucas is okay with that.

Good book with both fun and emotional depth. It was a little slow to start for me, but really picked up steam by the middle.  Lucas is in New Orleans looking after his niece and two nephews.  He had been estranged from his brother and sister-in-law for thirteen years, but when his brother was injured in Afghanistan and his sister-in-law needed to be in Virginia with him, he went.  The kids don't know him at all and Lucas has no experience with kids so he is floundering.  When one of the boys drives his motorbike through Addy's greenhouse she takes pity on Lucas and offers to help him with the kids.  There is an attraction between them, but Lucas sees a great deal of wariness in Addy's eyes, so he is determined to take his time.

Addy is a woman who lives looking over her shoulder.  As a teenager she was attacked and nearly raped by a man who is currently in prison.  She frequently gets things in the mail that she knows are from him but it can't be proved.  He is due up for parole and she fears what will happen when he gets out.  She still participates in support groups and feels like she is doing well.  She is still very cautious around men, especially large ones and Lucas's sudden appearance makes her nervous at first.  Strangely enough for her that nervousness doesn't last and her sympathy for his distress takes over.  I really loved seeing her step outside her comfort zone and spend time with Lucas and the kids.  His obvious attraction to her, coupled with his patience, went a long way toward making her think that she had a chance at a normal life.  But when the threats against her escalated she pulled away, not wanting her problems to create danger for Lucas and his family.  Addy's strength really impressed me.  In spite of her fears she was living a relatively normal life.  She was cautious but had friends and activities that she participated in.  I also really enjoyed her willingness to help Lucas.  There were some pretty emotional parts where she was able to comfort one of his nephews and also where she was able to give Lucas a different way to look at things.  I loved her strength of purpose at the end as she was determined to protect little Charlotte and her aunt.

Lucas had cut off all contact with his brother and sister-in-law years ago.  Courtney had been his girlfriend while he was going to school, until she met and fell in love with his brother.  He felt betrayed and couldn't forgive them.  As a result he didn't know the kids at all when he suddenly showed up to care for them.  He is used to living alone and having everything quiet and well ordered.  His oldest nephew knows there is something going on with his parents that he hasn't been told about and is taking his anger and resentment out on Lucas.  The other two kids just seem to be scared of him most of the time.  His sister-in-law left very few instructions for him and he is totally lost about how to deal with all of it.  When he met Addy he was instantly attracted to her.  As much as he was interested in pursuing that attraction he sensed that it would not be easy to get close to her.  He was, however, very appreciative of her offer to help him with the kids.  I loved seeing him at the beginning trying to cope with doing Charlotte's hair, keeping Chris from destroying everything, and dealing with Michael's anger.  Once Addy joined him he started having a better chance at keeping his sanity.  His Saturday trip with Addy and the kids to show them places he and their father had liked as kids was a brilliant idea and marked a turning point with the children.  I also liked seeing him start to realize that he didn't want his problems with his brother to continue and to try to figure out how to fix them.  He was also trying to deal with his growing feelings for Addy and fighting the idea that it was love, and emotion he'd tried to convince himself didn't exist for him.  I did have a problem with the way that he blew off her fears at the end, even though she hadn't told him everything.  

The secondary characters were very well done.  All three kids acted just like kids of that age would, especially under the stress they were under.  I really enjoyed Michael and his teenage attitudes toward his little brother, especially when that little brother was so good at tormenting him.  I also loved Addy's Aunt Flora.  Her struggles with coping with the beginnings of her Alzheimer's were just heartbreaking.  On the other hand her joy in experiencing so much of life was wonderful to see.  I especially liked her coming to the rescue at the end - she was a hoot!  The conflict with his brother and the possible resolution was believable, as was his brother's attitude when they talked.

Marrying Dr. Maverick - Karen Rose Smith (HSE #2287 - Oct 2013)

Series:  Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys (Book 4)

Rust Creek Ramblings

It seems as if all we've been hearing about these days in Rust Creek Falls is folks falling in love and getting engaged. But this latest one tops them all. Dr. Brooks Smith, our favorite veterinarian, the most confirmed bachelor in all of Montana, is taking himself a bride!

The fact that he has chosen Jasmine "Jazzy" Cates, his new assistant, a visitor from Thunder Canyon, is only fueling speculation. Rumors are this "love match" is really just a business proposition, but sweet Jazzy may have something more in mind. Can she turn her convenient husband's wedding fever into a lifelong condition?

Very good book.  Brooks has been trying to get his father to slow down.  Both are veterinarians but Brooks's dad won't make him part of his practice until Brooks has settled down and gotten married.  He is adamant on the subject and Brooks is just as determined to stay single.  He first tries setting up his own practice to take some of the workload off his dad.  He needs an assistant to help run the new office and settles on Jazzy.  After just a week he realizes she is perfect for the job. There is also a simmering attraction between the two of them that they fight in order to keep a good business relationship. When his dad ends up in the hospital with heart problems Brooks decides that entering into a marriage of convenience is the best way to take care of his dad.  He asks Jazzy to do that for him, offering her something she really wants in exchange. I loved the chemistry between the two of them and also the way that they were so compatible with each other outside that chemistry.

Jazzy is one of a group of volunteers from Thunder Canyon who have come to help with the flood relief.  She was happy to get out of Thunder Canyon for a while.  She recently broke off a relationship with a man when she realized she was only with him because her family approved of him.  There was no real passion between them.  She has realized that she is a "pleaser" who tends to want to do things that make other people happy, sometimes at a cost to her own wishes.  By coming to Rust Creek Falls she is able to be away from their influence and decide what she really wants.  She meets Brooks in the local saloon and they hit it off.  He asks her if she would be interested in working for him as his assistant as he sets up his vet practice.  Jazzy feels an instant attraction to him but tries to ignore it in favor of taking what sounds like an interesting job.  I loved the way that she took to the job right away.  She has great ideas and is able to implement them easily because Brooks actually listens to what she says.  The spend a lot of time together over the next week and get pretty close.  They have a lot of things in common.  Jazzy realizes that she is falling for him, but also that he has no interest in a relationship because of his past.  By the time he asks her to participate in the marriage she is fully in love with him.  She knows she is risking a broken heart but says yes anyway.  I loved the way that she takes care of both Brooks and his father, giving them a kind of care that neither had had in a long time if ever.  The way that she stood up to her family when they tried to talk her out of the wedding was great to see - she was finally to the point where she was willing to stand up for her own wishes.  I liked her sense of honor when she talked to Brooks' dad later on.

Brooks has been worrying about his father.  The man is a workaholic and doesn't take very good care of himself.  He has asked to join with his dad in the vet practice but his dad insists that Brooks has to be married first.  Brooks was engaged once but the woman broke it off because she didn't like the idea of living in a small town and having a husband with such crazy hours.  She wasn't faithful to him either.  Now Brooks has no intention of getting married, blaming himself and his job for the breakup.  He decides to set up his own practice in hopes of drawing enough business from his dad that he'll be forced to slow down.  When he meets Jazzy at the saloon he is drawn to her but also senses that she would make a great assistant for his new practice.  He offers her the job and as they set it up he is more and more attracted to her.  He fights it because of his past and because he doesn't want to lose her.  When things go really bad with his dad he asks Jazzy for the fake marriage thinking that it will solve the problem.  He doesn't expect the attraction to grow and also to start feeling things he never expected to feel.  It was fun watching him fight those feelings so hard and seeing that it just wasn't working.  When he finally gave in to the attraction he panicked, feeling that he was being unfair to Jazzy because he broke his word.  I loved seeing the way it was his father who straightened him out on what was really happening to him.

A Weaver Beginning - Allison Leigh (HSE #2288 - Oct 2013)

Series: Return to the Double C (Book 8)

Small town deputy Sloan McCray was making amends for his past. They called him a hero but only he had to live with the difficult choices he'd made. And he certainly wasn't prepared to fall in love again, not even with his beautiful -- and innocent -- new neighbor, whose very presence was a balm to his troubled soul.

There was no doubt in Abby Marcum's mind that Sloan was the guy for her. Though she'd moved to Weaver, Wyoming, to make a better life for her little brother, she saw her future with Sloan. Now she had to convince the man who felt unworthy of love that she, and her heart, were his for the asking…. 

Good book.  Abby has come to Weaver to be the new school nurse.  It also gives her a chance to make a better life for herself and her seven year old brother.  As she is moving in to her new house she meets next door neighbor Sloan who comes over to shovel her driveway.  She's wary of him at first but also very attracted to him.  Sloan is drawn to her also, but tries to resist.  

I really liked Abby.  She hasn't had things easy in her life.  She was raised by her grandparents when her mom dumped her with them and split.  A few years ago mom showed up again and dumped Abby's half brother Dillon with them.  Her grandfather passed away two years ago and her grandmother has Alzheimer's and had to be put in a care facility. Now she is sole caretaker of her little brother and worries that she's not up to the job.  She has taken the school nurse job in Weaver so that she is on the same schedule he is.  When she meets Sloan she is nervous at first until she finds out who he is.  Then she relaxes as she considers him to be a hero.  She also notices an intense attraction to him.  Even though his kisses are fantastic, he tells her that he's no good for her and can't make any promises.  She sees how good he is with Dillon and how much he loves his sister and knows that there is more good in him than he thinks there is.  I really loved the way that Abby knows that Sloan is the man for her and is willing to be patient.  There is one scene where she is the one providing comfort to him that shows just how much she cares.  Her patience is tested at one point as he fights the demons of his past and she doesn't know if she'll ever see him again.

Sloan spent years deep undercover with a gang when he was with the ATF.  During that time he did things and saw things that haunt him, including losing someone he cared about.  When he left the ATF he moved to Weaver to be near his sister, but didn't know if he could handle staying in one place.  He's working as a deputy sheriff and enjoying the work but still dealing with his memories.  When he met Abby her sweetness calmed some of the misery he felt, but his attraction to her worried him.  Because of his past he feels that he's not worthy of anyone's love, much less someone like her.  He had a bad habit of giving in to his growing feelings and then pulling back, but it was getting harder for him to do so.  I also loved how good he was with Dillon.  Some of the things he did showed how great he would be as a father if he would just let himself care.  His hero status only went up with Abby and Dillon when he rescued them from an angry parent.  When his past calls him away from Weaver he realizes he has some choices to make.

I also loved some of the secondary characters.  Abby's brother Dillon was well done ax a seven year old.  He acted very much in character for his age.  I loved the way he would say some things that were true but inappropriate at the time.  I also loved seeing characters from other books and the impact they have, especially on Sloan.

The Mighty Quinns: Rourke - Kate Hoffmann (HB #768 - Oct 2013)

Series: Mighty Quinns (Book 24)

Her hero. Her savior. And her undoing. Rourke Quinn found her on the storm-tossed shores of Cape Breton. The woman in his arms was unconscious and bleeding. And Rourke knew her. Annie MacIntosh was the town outcast--a wild thing. And as untamed and beautiful as the Atlantic itself. This storm was just the thing to keep Rourke as close to her as he dared.... 


Annie grew up fiercely independent. She was a survivor, needing no one and nothing. She cut herself off from the town and society, relying only on her raw need for survival. But Rourke unleashes a hunger she never knew existed. This man--this stranger--satiates an appetite she hardly dared imagine. It's more exciting and more turbulent than that storm that rages outside. And Rourke has only one chance with the wild girl he can't live without...before losing her to a world he can never be part of...

Good book.  Rourke has been on the island to fix up a house he inherited from his uncle.  He isn't sure whether he'll keep it or sell it yet.  On the day he's ready to leave he sees Annie, a woman he knew when they were younger.  She lives alone near a lighthouse and he worries that she's not ready for the storm that's coming in.  When he goes to check on her he finds her on the shore, unconscious and carries her to safety.  When she comes to, they discover they have an intense attraction to each other.  Annie is very independent and refuses to depend on anyone but she's also ready to indulge herself with Rourke.

Annie had grown up on the island.  As a girl she had a terrible stutter that made her a target for bullies.  One day a visiting Rourke saved her from their tormenting, making him a hero in her eyes.  Over the years he stayed there in her fantasies.  Now she is very much a loner, living in her cottage without electricity or any modern conveniences.  She avoids the townspeople feeling that they look down on her because of her parents (mom was bipolar and committed suicide, father may have also).  When Rourke rescues her again she is surprised by the strength of her attraction to him.  She invites him to spend a couple nights with her, figuring that would be enough to scratch the itch.  But she finds herself opening herself up to him emotionally, something she's never done with any other man.  She also starts doing things that she's never done before such as going out in public with him and selling her work at an art show.  She worries that she's getting too dependent on having him around and that she will be hurt when he leaves, since she doesn't expect him to leave his city life behind.  She also fears getting too close because she doesn't want to take a chance on putting him through dealing with her if she ends up with her mother's disease.  I really enjoyed seeing Annie's simple life and the way that she was content with it the way it was.  I also liked how she got Rourke to slow down and enjoy things her way.  It took a lot of courage for her to make the changes she did at the end.

Rourke had left his job in the city when he had a difference of philosophies with the other partners.  He has spent the last three months working on his uncle's house and trying to decide what to do next.  I loved his reaction to Annie the first time he saw her again, and how he was so blown away by her beauty.  He also worried about her being alone with the storm coming and went to check on her.  His timing was perfect as he was able to rescue her from her fall.  He was surprised by her proposition to him that they spend a couple days enjoying each other.  He was fine with that idea at first but quickly found himself wanting more.  I really enjoyed seeing him start to relax and enjoy the peace of living Annie's simple life.  It gave him the chance to actually think about his dreams and hopes.  I loved his worry about Annie's emotional isolation and the way he tried to help her overcome it.  It was hard for him to be patient and not push but it paid off in the end.  I also enjoyed seeing his surprise at the contact from his great-aunt and what the inheritance means to him and his plans with Annie.

An English Bride in Scotland - Lynsay Sands (Avon - June 2013)

Series: Highlands (Book 1)

She never expected to marry
Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun, when her mother suddenly arrived at the abbey to take her home... so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed.

He never expected to fall in love
From the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy, sweet bride...and the fact that she's blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he'll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel's not the bride he planned for, she's the only woman he desires...

A very fun book.  Lynsay Sands always has a great deal of humor in her books.  The interactions among the characters have some really funny moments.  Annabel had been dumped at a convent when she was seven years old with the expectation she would become a nun.  Fourteen years later her mother shows up and pulls her out before she can take her vows.  It seems her older sister has run off with the stable boy and Annabel is needed to take her place in an arranged marriage.  She's used to obeying orders, so she does what she's told.  Ross has finally showed up to claim his bride after taking a few years to cement his position as laird.  He's not thrilled about having an English bride and is ready to walk away until he sees her.  It's her looks that capture him first, but it's her sweet but sassy personality that keeps him hooked.  When she's attacked he'll do whatever he must to keep her safe.

I loved Annabel.  She's been at the convent for fourteen years but hasn't taken vows yet.  It seems that no matter what she does she's always in trouble.  She has trouble following their rules and just doesn't have the personality to be a nun.  When her mother shows up and takes her from the convent, Annabel doesn't know why and her mother isn't talking about it yet.  Once they get home, Annabel is stunned to find out she's going to be married off to her sister's fiance.  She's worried about it because she has no training suitable for that job.  She's also been put down because she's not the rail thin type of woman, but one with definite curves.  The wedding ceremony is rushed and then she's alone with Ross.  The wedding night is pretty funny.  Once they're on the road back to MacKay lands, Annabel's joy at being away from the convent comes out as she chatters and asks questions.  Even being attacked doesn't slow her down.  I really liked her resilience and the way she is able to make the best out of anything.  Her introduction to the people was when she took over when a merchant was hurt.  She had no problem giving orders and doing what needed to be done.  But even with that, she is very insecure about her abilities.  Her sweetness goes a long way toward winning over the people.  Another thing I loved was her growing relationship with Ross.  Although she started out very nervous around him, the attraction she felt went a long way toward making her happier around him.  The love scenes were fantastic as she learned that sex was not the horrible thing that she heard about in the convent but a fun and satisfying activity.  She also learned that Ross is a man who takes care of his own.  She did make some stupid moves, circumventing the protection Ross tried to give her, resulting in more injuries to her and Ross.  Those could have been worse though if not for her own ingenuity and strength.  There are problems when her sister Kate shows up and she is shown as the spoiled brat she is.  Annabel gets down on herself at first, but soon grows the backbone to realize that she's got what her husband wants and is loved by her people.  Loved the solution they came up with for Kate at the end.

Ross turned out to be a really nice guy.  He's a bit wary about this wedding, not knowing what to expect.  When he finds out he's getting a substitute bride he's ready to walk out on the whole thing until he sees Annabel.  It's her looks that hook him first, but her sweetness is what lands him.  He sees that she's not treated well by her parents and rushes her away after an aborted wedding night.  On the journey to his home he is enchanted by Annabel's joy in everything she sees.  He is also really attracted to her but holds off so they can be intimate in better surroundings.  His protectiveness kicks in when she's attacked on the road.  When it happens again at home he believes that the attacks are related and takes steps to find out who is behind it.  I enjoyed his surprise at the way she took charge when the merchant was injured.  Some of the best parts of the book are when he is trying to figure out how to get her into bed with him.  There's a lot made of the church's ban on "bedding" on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.  So Ross has a great time circumventing the restrictions by simply avoiding beds and doing the deed outdoors instead.  He gets really frustrated with her when she keeps avoiding his protections, but neglects to tell her why he's doing things.  I really liked the way that he made sure Annabel knew that he had no interest in Kate and that she was the only woman for him.  I did love the ending.

I really enjoyed some of the other characters also.  The maid Soenag was a great helper to Annabel and often gave Annabel the information she needed to get things accomplished.  Ross's sister Giorsal was just what Annabel needed to see.  She was another woman with a strong will and the abilities to get things done in a manner that is not always appreciated.