Series:
Saddlers Prairie (Book 5)
A Holiday Change Of Heart
Gina Arnett comes home to Saddlers Prairie to say goodbye to her uncle
and sell the family ranch she's just inherited. Her focus is on getting
back to Chicago and her high-powered job. Two things change her plans: a
sudden blizzard that causes the town to be snowed in, and Zach Horton
-- the ranch foreman who tries to convince her to stay.
Gina's boundless ambition is something Zach understands all too well.
He's kept his past a secret, and to uncover it, she'll have to reveal
her own uncomfortable truths -- and her growing feelings for Zach. He's
not the kind of man she dreamed of falling for. But at the Christmas
season, all dreams seem possible….
Good book. Gina has come back to Montana to sell the ranch she just inherited from her uncle. She has no interest in staying there, she wants to get back to her marketing job in Chicago. She's not happy when she gets snowed in by a blizzard. Plus, the ranch foreman promised her uncle he'd try to get her to stay.
I had a hard time with Gina for most of the book. I understood her desire to get back to her job, that wasn't the problem. What I didn't like was the way she was looking down on Zach because he was a ranch foreman and didn't seem to have the ambition to do anything else. She realized she was attracted to him right away but since she'd only be there a week she didn't plan to get involved with him. Plus she figured he wasn't her "type". She also didn't really appreciate the way he kept trying to talk her into keeping the ranch. After getting snowed in together she realized that they had more in common than she thought and the attraction between them was growing. She sensed that he was keeping some secret from her since he wouldn't talk about his past. This frustrated her but since she was keeping her own secrets I didn't have much sympathy for her. I did like the way that she started to think more about keeping the ranch. I thought the solution she eventually came up with was great.
Zach had promised Gina's uncle that he would try to convince her to keep the ranch and stay in Montana. He and Zach had come up with an idea for a dude ranch that would make it possible. But Gina was so determined to go back that Zach could barely get her to listen. He understood her attitude since he used to be the same way. When one of his deals had unintended consequences he sold his business and looked for a new direction. Eventually he ended up getting hired on the ranch and found that he really enjoyed it. He gets a lot of grief from his family about his decision which just adds to his reluctance to talk about his past. His attraction to Gina is getting stronger the longer she stays but he doesn't want to get involved with someone who doesn't accept him for who he is. I thought he was a really nice guy and loved his non-judgmental reaction to her secret. I liked the way they finally got together and his part in the ranch solution.
I liked seeing some of the characters from previous books. I also loved the portrayals of Gina's relatives, especially her aunts. The two of them with their bickering were so realistic I could practically hear them. I also loved their obvious attempts at matchmaking.
It's a race against time--and a fatal outbreak--
In
one passionate night Special Agent James Reynolds and scientist Kelly
Jarvis went from friends to lovers. Then Kelly walked away with only an
apology. Now James is charged with solving a bioterrorist attack--and
Dr. Jarvis works at the suspected lab.
Is Kelly an accomplice or a
victim? Just what are her secrets that drove her from James's bed? Soon
one thing becomes clear: The ghosts of her past have nothing on the
terrorists targeting her and Washington, D.C. Another threat bathes the
city in red alert, and now there are lives at stake, in addition to
hearts....
Fantastic first book from this author. The suspense is both physical and mental as they have to outrun and outwit the bad guy. Kelly and James had been friends for about six months when they spent one night together. The next morning Kelly panicked and walked away, cutting off all contact with James. Now he's investigating an apparent bioterrorist attack and the lab she works at is in the middle of it. When her boss disappears Kelly becomes a target and James has to decide if she's a victim or part of the problem.
Kelly and James became friends first, then one night gave in to the attraction that had been building between them. The next morning she panicked and ran away. Kelly no longer trusts her judgment in men because her last boyfriend had been abusive. Now she wonders if James could be like that and just hides it as well or if she made a mistake in running away. The next time she sees James he has come to take her in for questioning about her boss's activities. She can't believe that he thinks she could be involved. When she's attacked and nearly kidnapped she is thankful for James's rescue. She realizes that she never stopped caring about him and wants to mend her relationship with him. She is nervous about telling him about her past because other people have treated her differently afterward. She notices a difference in him also and tries to think of their relationship as strictly business but has a hard time doing that. I did like the way that she stayed pretty calm throughout all the things that happened to her - including getting shot twice. I loved how she was the one who saved the day at the end.
James had gotten to know Kelly through meeting her for drinks every Friday for six months. He enjoyed their friendship a lot but was also wondering if it would be possible to have more. When they had that one night together he was happy about it, until she ran out the next morning and refused to talk to him again. He was worried that he had done something wrong. When her name came up during his investigation he didn't want to believe she was capable of doing something like that. He had had two bad experiences with that kind of betrayal - first his father and then his best friend turned out to be dirty cops. So he is hesitant to assume that Kelly is innocent even though he feels that she is. It doesn't take long past the first attack on her to make him pretty sure she's ok, but that little sliver of doubt hangs on for a long time. I did enjoy his protectiveness, even when he wasn't sure about her. I also liked his friendship with Thomas and how that friendship helped James keep Kelly safe. I also liked the way that Thomas straightened James out at the end.
I loved the Washington DC setting also. Having lived in the area for most of my life I recognized so many of the places in the book that it made the story that much more realistic to me. The premise of the story also felt very realistic, also because of the location.
Series:
Slater Sisters of Montana (Book 2)
Driving through the Lazy S Ranch after ten years
away, the first person Josie Slater sees is the gorgeous-as-ever Garrett
Temple The memories of her first love and her first broken heart come
flooding back.
She doesn't have time for old attractions, as the
Lazy S needs her help But when a snowstorm blows in, Josie and Garrett
are left stranded together. With nowhere to run, the feeling that they
still belong together is undeniable....
Good story about second chances. When Josie left the ranch ten years ago she left behind a father who had no time for his daughters and the memory of her first broken heart. She has come back to help one of her sisters with the guest lodge they are building and to reunite with her father. She doesn't expect to see Garrett, the one who broke her heart. She isn't interested in starting anything new with him, she'll be headed back to California soon. But it's hard to resist the attraction that is still strong between them.
When Josie comes back she's not sure if she's ready to see her father. She's been told that he's changed but she can't quite believe it. While putting it off a little longer she drives over to see how the construction on the new guest lodge is doing and runs into Garrett. Seeing him again makes her want to head right back to California but she's committed to helping for a couple weeks, so she can't avoid him. She doesn't want to accept his apologies for the past, but being thrown together with him they have to deal with their past. Part of her wants to be with him again, but their lives are too far apart for anything permanent and she doesn't want to lose her heart again. I was a bit frustrated with Josie. She was still angry about the fact that Garrett had married someone else and had a child, even though she was the one who had broken things off with him back then. She had gotten mad at him because he accepted an internship that would keep him away for the summer, but be important experience for him. I thought it was selfish of her then, and worse now because she didn't seem to see how selfish she had been and was still holding a grudge. I did like her relationship with Garrett's son, she was very good with him. As she and Garrett worked together their old feelings started to come back. Josie saw that she was falling for him again, but she was still thinking inside the box about how to have a relationship with him. I liked the way that it was Brody that came up with the perfect fix.
Garrett had moved back home with his son in order to help his father with his ranch and be able to give his son Brody more of his time. He is also keeping his building business going. He's given the Slaters a good deal on his work. He is surprised to see Josie. He has moved on past their history but still feels it's important for her to see his side of the story. He gets pretty frustrated with her attitude but keeps it under control so that they can work together. It doesn't take him long to realize that he's still interested in her. He knows she's supposed to leave but hopes he can convince her that they should at least try to see if they can make it. I loved the way that he even went back to California with her and helped her at one of her events. He was impressed with her abilities and made sure she knew it. His feelings deepen for her but she keeps pushing him away. I loved the way that he and Brody teamed up to convince her to stay.
The storyline with the girls' father is moving along also. Colt is recovering from his stroke and realizing even more how much he missed when the girls were young. I like the way he isn't trying to force reconciliation but let Josie know that he's sorry and wants to make things different now. I love seeing her reactions to the new Colt. There is also an interesting development at the end of the book that I'm anxious to see how it turns out.
Series:
Marshals of Maverick County (Book 4)
With two infants already missing, Maya Ellison
worried that her son would be targeted next. She would guard him with
her life, but for once she wouldn't have to do it alone. Slade Becker
went beyond the call of duty and sequestered the single mother and her
son on his ranch.
Slade guaranteed their protection, and soon Maya
learned there was no place safer than within his embrace. Just as she
knew there was no place in Texas that the kidnapper could hide from the
imposing U.S. marshal--and nothing on earth that could break up their
new family....
Very good book. Someone is kidnapping adopted baby boys in the Maverick County area. Maya was unaware of this until Slade was assigned to protect them. There is something about him that puts her on edge but she can't deny that he can protect her son. As the attempts escalate their attraction also grows. Then Maya discovers that Slade's protectiveness is a lot more personal than he let on.
I liked Maya's independence and determination. She had survived a brutal attack that left her unable to have children and cautious around men. She took control of one of her dreams and adopted a baby boy, only to find out that he could be the target of a kidnapping. When Slade is assigned to be their protection she is nervous around him at first. He's tall, serious and very intense. It becomes obvious pretty quickly that he can keep them safe from whoever is after them. Once she learns to trust Slade the initial attraction she felt starts to grow. Because of her scars from her attacker she is very self conscious around him. I liked the way that he showed her that the scars don't matter. She also becomes concerned about the intense way that he watches her son. When she finds out why she is worried that she could lose the baby to him. I loved her determination during the confrontations with the kidnapper and the way she was part of the solution.
Slade is one of six marshals who are working the kidnapping cases. He has volunteered to be the protection for the one infant who has not yet been kidnapped. He is determined to keep them safe and is tested from the very beginning. First he has to overcome Maya's reluctance, which doesn't take long after the first attempt is made. He also has to fight his attraction to her which is a distraction to his mission. This is something he doesn't do too well at as Maya fascinates him. I loved the way that the attraction grew deeper and he began to think of having her in his life permanently. He also has to contend with the fact that one of the three babies is possibly his son from a one night stand. Being around Evan is an eye opening experience for him. He discovers a kind of caring he'd never experienced before. I really loved the scenes where he was caring for the baby and his family just stared at him like they didn't know who he was. The confrontations with the kidnapper at the end were very intense and had a couple interesting twists.
There wasn't much mention of the ongoing series mystery of who all was involved in the murder of the former director of the children's home where Slade and his brothers grew up. Their foster father isn't seen at all and barely mentioned. I'm looking forward to finding out how it turns out.
Series:
Men of Wolff Mountain (Book 7)
Realizing his entire life is a lie, Pierce Avery
hires Nicola Parrish to find answers. Learning his father is not his
biological parent is mind-blowing; discovering the desirable woman
behind his new lawyer's professional facade puts him over the edge. But
his growing passion for Nicola could be blinding him to her motives for
getting him to embrace the truth of his past. His heart may be ready for
more, but can he really trust her?
Very good book and surprise addition to the Men of Wolff Mountain series. When Pierce tests to become a kidney donor for his critically ill father he discovers they aren't biologically related. This is stunning news to himself and his mother (his father hasn't been told yet). Pierce's entire world has been rocked and he isn't quite sure how to deal with it. He hires Nicola to look for the answers. Adding to his unsettled feelings is his growing attraction to Nicola. She has her own opinions about what he should do and they don't always match his.
Pierce feels he has to get the answers behind his identity. The whole idea that he isn't who he thought he was is tearing him up. He fights his attraction to Nicola but can't deny the way she soothes his fears. I liked the way that he thought about her past and the effect it has had on her life. It also makes him think about his options. Once he gets the whole story behind his birth he has to decide if he is going to contact his biological father or just bury the whole idea. He stresses so much about it and ends up falsely accusing Nicola of interfering. I loved the conclusion and the way things worked out for him.
Nicola has always been on her own. Raised in an orphanage she would have loved to find out who her parents were. When Pierce comes to her for help finding the truth about his birth she feels his pain. She also feels an intense attraction to him that she fights at first. She feels that they are too different to have any kind of relationship. She can't resist the attraction for long. Nicola also finds that she wants Pierce to contact his birth family and tries to convince him that he will regret it if he doesn't. Even when he accuses her of interfering she can't keep from being there for him when he needs her. I really liked the way that she empathized with Pierce's struggles and did her best to support him. I especially loved her actions at the end.
Series:
Billionaires and Babies
It is only an affair...or so they believe
From
their first explosive night, Caliope Sarantos and Maksim Volkov agreed
to no commitment, only pure pleasure. Then her pregnancy changed
everything.
Though the Russian tycoon made the baby his heir, he
disappeared from Caliope's life. Now, he's back, offering everything he
didn't in the past. But the shining promise of a happy ending is
eclipsed by the shadow of his tragic past...and his dark future. Will
Caliope's heart break again? Or will Maksim risk everything to claim
this woman and child as his own?
There is so much angst in this story that it was occasionally hard to read, but worth sticking it out. The affair between Cali and Maksim was explosive. They had agreed to stay clear of any kind of commitment and it was working well for them - until Cali got pregnant. At that point Maksim's actions became very erratic. He told Cali that he would make sure that the baby would be his heir and she would be taken care of but he could not be part of their daily lives, though he still wanted to be her lover for as long as she'd have him. Then he would leave for awhile, then come back as if nothing was wrong. Finally, when she was about seven months along, he disappeared completely. Cali was heartbroken and desperate to find out what had happened to him, giving up only when she gave birth. When Leo was nine months old, Maksim suddenly reappeared, ready to explain what had happened and to give Cali everything she had dreamed of. But there are still obstacles to their happiness.
Cali was an amazingly strong woman. The chemistry between her and Maksim was strong and she had started to develop feelings for him before her pregnancy. His actions afterward confused her and she didn't know what to do. When he disappeared all she wanted was to find out if he was ok, but heard nothing from him. After Leo was born she put her life back together and was moving on when Maksim suddenly reappeared. He is explains what sent him running and she is ready to accept him back into her life until he tells her one more thing. She is afraid of losing him all over again but cannot deny him the chance to get to know his son. I loved the way that she does everything she can to make it easier on Maksim to spend time with Leo. The more time he spends with them the closer she comes to giving him her entire heart. I liked the way that the more she saw of him with Leo and also with his mother the more she was convinced that he could never be like his father. When tragedy nearly takes him from her again she has to decide if she's willing to accept his limits or hold out for everything.
Maksim has a terrible secret eating away at any chance he has for a future with Cali. He comes from a long line of abusers and desperately fears that he could become one also. The strength of his passion for Cali makes him fear that other passions could overwhelm him. When he finds out about her pregnancy his fears overcome him. As much as he tries to stay away to protect her his passion for her keeps drawing him back, until finally he forces himself to stay away. When he shows up again a year later he has finally gotten a handle on his fears and is ready to offer her his heart. He is dismayed when she refuses to accept him back into her life, but does get her to allow him to get to know his son. He would like nothing more than to become a proper family but accepts her demands. I loved seeing the way that he became such a wonderful father, willing to do anything that Cali told him to do. I also loved the way he accepted whatever her family wanted to say to him as being deserving of it. Maksim's obvious love for Leo and the care he takes of his mother make it obvious that he could never be an abuser, but it takes a lot to convince him. Then his health issues cause him to try to drive Cali away in an attempt to protect her from grief. He nearly throws away his chance for a happy future because of a possibility.
His ex is back--and she wants a baby. How can any
red-blooded billionaire say no to siring a child with the one who got
away...?
It's an offer Matthew Cooper can't refuse. Make a baby with
his long-ago lover, AJ Reynolds? He'd like nothing better than to bed
her again. The brilliant doctor has had ten years to contemplate where
he went wrong. This time, he won't let her get away.
Free-spirited
AJ wants no romantic entanglements with the all-business ex-boyfriend
who broke her heart. All she wants is a child. But Matt's persistent
attentions weaken her resolve, threatening all her carefully laid
baby-making plans....
Ten years ago Matt and AJ were in the midst of a hot and heavy affair. They had started out wanting no commitments. AJ's feelings started to change and she was about to tell him so when he abruptly broke things off. When they meet again, Matt wants AJ in his bed again. AJ doesn't want to risk her heart again, but she does want a baby. All they have to do is find a way to make both of them happy.
When AJ sees Matt again she doesn't want anything to do with him. She remembers the work-obsessed doctor who put everything else ahead of what they could have had together. The attraction is still there, but she won't risk her heart again. Then she gets some health news that puts a rush on her desire to have a baby of her own. When an artificial insemination appointment falls through and a new one isn't available for six months, she settles on Plan B. Matt had made no secret of the fact that he wanted her in his bed again. She went to him and agreed, as long as she got a baby out of the deal. I really liked AJ's determination to go after what she wants. What she doesn't expect is to see major changes in him from the Matt she used to know. His ability to see past her own issues to the woman underneath causes her any number of worries. She finds herself opening up about her own troubled past and telling him things she'd never told anyone else. Her intent to keep her heart safe is slowly being eroded under his attentions. AJ starts dreaming about what it would be like to have something permanent with Matt, but doesn't think it's possible for her with the background she has. She still doesn't think that she is good enough for him and that he wouldn't want her for anything long term. I liked the growing up she has done since she was with him the last time. She has more confidence than she did before, which shows in the ladies' room scene with his ex-wife. I also loved the scene with her parents.
When Matt saw AJ again he couldn't believe how much he still wanted her. She walked out on him when he tried to get her to sleep with him and he figured she was still angry over their breakup. When she came to him later with her proposition about giving her a baby, this time he was the one who was angry. He had divorced his wife over the fact that she didn't want children, and now AJ wants him to give her a baby and then walk away. He then decides to go along with her but also try to get her to fall for him so that he can keep her and a potential child in his life. I really enjoyed seeing him do everything he could to woo her. Everything he did showed just how well he knew her and what she would like. He didn't expect their time together to have such a strong effect on him. Thoughts of her kept creeping into his daily life even when he was working. I really liked the changes he had made in his life and the effect those changes had on AJ. I loved the way he tried to be there for her and support her in whatever she needed. He was falling for her and fighting it all the way because he didn't want to risk his heart either. I really liked the way that he went to her at the end.
