Series:
Secrets of Eden (Book 2)
CEO Brody Eden is a loner. The brooding
billionaire has secrets that he refuses to unveil to anyone…until he
meets his new assistant, Samantha Davis. She's temptation personified,
and she's sitting right outside his door.
Samantha's never met a man as guarded -- and gorgeous -- as Brody. She
doesn't want to fall for her boss, but there's something about Brody….
Beneath his gruff manner, Sam senses tenderness -- and an intense
passion waiting to be unleashed. And she'll make it her mission to enter
his lair…and his bed.
Excellent book, a real beauty and the beast story. I really liked both Sam and Brody. Sam takes the job as Brody's assistant while her godmother is on vacation. Because of terrible scarring Brody never goes out in public. Brody doesn't expect the beautiful Sam to be oblivious to his scars. He is very attracted to her but still cautious. Sam is just as attracted to him but wary of getting involved as she just left a bad relationship with her former boss. As they get to know each other their feelings deepen, but will Sam be able to get the beast out of his cave?
Sam was great. She takes the job as temporary assistant to Brody because it's the only job she can find right now. She only gets it because she is filling in for her godmother while she is on vacation. She got let go from her last job after a bad relationship with her boss there. She is told that Brody can be prickly but as long as she does her job it will be fine. She is also told that he has terrible scarring and the best thing she can do is not react to it. Brody doesn't even come out of his office the first few days and Sam loses her temper with him. When he finally makes an appearance she doesn't react to the scars, she is too fascinated by his eyes. Now she wants nothing more than to really get to know this fascinating man. I loved the way that she didn't put up with his rudeness at the beginning and stood her ground when he confronted her. After that everything she did went further toward breaking down the walls that Brody has erected around himself. The more they were together the more she saw a caring and sensitive man. I loved the way that she drew him further and further out of his shell. Her love for him grew stronger every day. But with that love came the realization that being with him meant living in the shadows and she had a hard time with that. Her wish to help him created a huge misunderstanding that tore them apart.
Brody is incredibly smart and has become extremely wealthy. As a child he was horribly scarred when his father threw battery acid on him. He had it better when he was with his foster family, but his scarring has changed his life. He avoids being around people, not wanting to deal with their reactions. His few relationships with women have soured him on the idea of love because they have all been more interested in his money than in him. He is drawn to Sam right away. He can't believe someone so beautiful is not affected by his scars. I loved his sweet and romantic side. When she visited his home she got to see his more relaxed side as he played with his dog, and his vulnerability as he tried to make a special dinner for her. The secret he shared with her later made him all the more a sympathetic character to me. I loved seeing him open up even more with her when they went on their trip. It made their breakup scene even more heartbreaking as each said terrible things to the other. I loved the scene when Agnes came back and had a long talk with him. What Brody did after that was really among the best of romantic gestures by a hero.
Series:
Alpha Brotherhood (Book 4),
Billionaires and Babies
'Tis the season to be jolly? It isn't for Dr.
Rowan Boothe when a princess on the run from the photo-hungry press
invades his hotel room. He and Mariama Mandara had their professional
clashes in the past, and Rowan has no desire to become involved in her
latest predicament--until they discover an abandoned baby. Now he needs
Mari's help and soon discovers she's no pampered royal but a desirable
woman. Yet how long can their Christmas escape really last?
Loved it. Catherine Mann is an auto-read for me and once again she's written a great story. Rowan and Mari are both doctors, in Cape Verde for a medical conference. The have been medical adversaries for years, with Princess Mari claiming his diagnostic software cuts too many corners to be accurate and Rowan telling her she's too insulated in her lab to know about practical medicine. When an attempt to escape from pursuing paparazzi sends Mari bursting into his hotel room it also leads to the discovery of an abandoned baby. Rowan uses his contacts to have the baby left in their care and convinces Mari to help him care for the baby and use her princess status to publicize the search for the baby's family. Being in constant company with each other two things become obvious. First, they are incredibly attracted to each other. Second, there is more to the other one than either had suspected.
Mari is an only child whose parents divorced when she was young. She spent a lot of time being shuttled back and forth between the two parents. She is highly intelligent and has always felt socially awkward, making her feel even more out of place as a princess. She is happiest in her research lab where she feels in control of her life. When Rowan talks her into helping with the baby she feels out of her depth. In spite of her intelligence she is not confident in her abilities to relate to other people. She is surprised by the desire she feels for Rowan but very interested in pursuing it when she discovers that he is just as attracted to her. Over the course of the book she finds herself sharing things with him she's never told anyone. She also wants to know more about him and while he shares some things she senses that he's holding back even more. I loved the way that being temporary parents brought them so close together. I also loved the way that Rowan's attention to her and her feelings opened her eyes to everything that she had been hiding from in her life. She had a wonderful conversation with her mother at the end of the book that really opened her eyes.
Like the others in the Alpha Brotherhood, Rowan feels that he has a debt to society that he needs to pay. He runs a small clinic in West Africa and tries to help as many people as he can. He's had a contentious relationship with Mari for many years thanks to their differing views. But those views have not stopped his fascination with her. The combination of her arrival in his room and the appearance of an abandoned baby gives him just the excuse he needs to get to know her better. By convincing her to help him care for the baby he gets her to share his suite at the hotel putting them in constant contact with each other. He quickly discovers that she's not the spoiled princess he had thought she was. He sees a beautiful and caring woman who can't see what she has to offer the world. The attraction he feels starts to deepen, but he has spent a long time keeping his heart closed off. The guilty feelings he has over the event that sent him to the reform school have convinced him that he does not deserve a family of his own. Add his undercover work with Interpol and he has a lot he feels he has to keep secret. I like the way that he that he opens up to her with a little bit of his past but he makes the mistake of keeping too much back. This made Mari feel that he did not care for her as much as she deserved. I loved the phone conversation that he had with Elliot at the end of the book and the boot in the butt that he needed. The conclusion of the book was great with Marin and Rowan finally getting what they needed.
Never be distracted by a woman is hotel magnate
Luke Marlow's golden rule, especially when the woman just inherited half
his late uncle's luxury cruise liner. But ship's doctor Della Walsh is
the exception. Her dignified beauty ignites Luke's desire despite his
suspicions. Even so, he will gain full control of the ship at all costs.
For Della, the ship has been a sanctuary. Now she has just three weeks
to change Luke's mind and save the ship -- until passion comes along and
steers them off course….
Very good book with emotional growth on the parts of both Della and Luke. Della has been the ship's doctor for two years, ever since the death of her husband. She is physically and emotionally scarred and intends to lead a celibate life. She refuses to open herself up to the pain of that kind of loss again. She became good friends with the ship's owner and was there for him during his final illness. Luke is Patrick's nephew and has scars of his own. After family issues and a bad marriage, his motto is "No distractions. Rely on no one." When the will is read, they discover that each has been left half of the ship. Luke is determined to get full control of the ship, which he intends to anchor and make into a floating hotel. Della doesn't like that idea at all and is convinced that Patrick intended for her to show Luke the joys of cruising. She challenges him to spend three weeks on board. Neither expects the passion that flares between them. Della resists because of the scarring she suffered in the attack that killed her husband. She feels that no man would consider her body beautiful. It will take a great deal of patience on Luke's part to overcome those feelings. Meanwhile, Luke makes it clear that he doesn't do commitments of any kind. His parents had always been too busy to give him any loving attention and after his sister's death he was sent away to school. Patrick had been the only loving relationship he had, and even Patrick would only visit. Luke's brief marriage to a woman who used him cemented his resolve. I loved the slow developing of their relationship. Della learned that there was more to her than the scars on her body and Luke learned that there is more to life than the bottom line. I really liked seeing the way that being with Luke moved her out of her self imposed exile and opened her up to feeling again. Even though she knew the end of their relationship would hurt she embraced her love for him. Luke tried really hard to convince himself that what he felt for Della was only lust. I loved his patience and understanding once he knew about her scars. His feelings for her grow stronger even though he doesn't want to admit it. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect for the two of them.
Series:
Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 4)
Dave Firestone has no intention of getting
married, but he'll pretend anything if it means sealing a tough business
deal for his ranch. Needing a spur-of-the-moment fake fiancée, he turns
to housekeeper Mia Hughes. With her boss -- and Dave's business rival
-- missing and her paycheck on hold, she accepts Dave's fantasy
proposal. But when their pretend romance takes an unexpected turn into
passionate nights, Dave isn't ready to let Mia go. Can the
smooth-talking businessman negotiate a more permanent arrangement?
Very good book. With Alex missing and his bank accounts frozen, housekeeper Mia is no longer getting paid to do her job. She's been using her own savings to pay the bills but now that's gone and her tuition is due. When Dave comes to her with a business proposition she takes him up on it. The rules are simple - no emotional entanglements and kisses are just for show. Dave just needs the appearance of a stable relationship to close a deal and figures Mia is perfect for the job. He doesn't expect to want it to continue.
Mia was great. She'd had a very unconventional childhood. Her mom died when she was young, so she was raised by her father - a professional gambler. They were constantly on the move, following the tournaments. She loved her father but she longed for an actual home, the chance to make and keep friends, to have roots. Now that she's an adult she's working her way toward that life. Though the house isn't hers, she has a place to stay and is almost done getting her degree in childhood counseling. She's made some great friends and has a terrific boss. She's worried about Alex who has been missing for several months. She's also worried for herself because she's no longer getting paid. She is surprised when Alex's business rival comes to her with a proposition. He needs a fake fiancee in order to close a business deal and he's willing to make it worth her while. He'll pay her $10,000, buy her the clothes she needs to pull it off, and pay off her student loans. All he needs is a month of her time. He warns her that it's just for show. He doesn't do commitments or relationships. She worries that she's getting in over her head but she says yes. It isn't long before that little spark of attraction she felt for him has built into a bonfire and they've started giving in to it. Mia has found that there is a lot more to Dave than the ruthless businessman she's heard so much about. Once living with him on his ranch she sees his connection to his land and finds that they have a lot in common. She's falling hard for him but he is still insisting that love doesn't exist. He wants to continue as they are, but Mia won't settle for less than everything. Mia is very independent and is determined to stand on her own. I liked the way that she considered all the points of Dave's proposal before she accepted. I really enjoyed seeing her settle in at Dave's house and how right it felt to her. She knew that it was a bad sign as far as her emotions went. She felt really guilty when Dave's mom showed up and started going on about wedding plans and so on. I loved the way that she stood up for her own needs at the end.
Dave is a self-made millionaire. His father had walked out on him and his mom when he was ten, causing them to lose their ranch. That and his mother's heartbreak made Dave into a man who doesn't believe in love. He sees it as something that doesn't last, unlike contracts which are promises that are designed to be kept. So when he needs the appearance of a fiancee in order to close a business deal, he offers Mia a contract she can't refuse. He figures that the attraction he feels for her is a bonus, especially if he can talk her into his bed. He expects that attraction to burn itself out pretty quickly and is surprised when it only gets stronger. He also finds that he likes having her in his home and looks forward to seeing her in the evenings. She is also constantly on his mind which begins to worry him as it's never happened to him before. He is still trying to convince himself that it's only desire when he asks Mia to make it permanent but still insists there's no such thing as love. He's stunned when she turns him down and leaves and spends several days wondering why he feels so bad. I loved the way it's his mom that sets him straight. By the way, there is a terrific scene when he gets quite a surprise when he walks into his mom's house. It had me laughing out loud at his reactions.
The two mysteries are still ongoing. There is nothing new on Alex's disappearance, though the state investigator is still in town and talking to people. The vandalism at the new child care center from the last book hasn't been solved, and an even worse incident takes place. People are furious and have suspicions about who is behind it, but no proof. I still think I know who, but will have to wait to find out.
Series:
Covert Cowboy Inc. (Book 4)
Thorn Drennan stares death in the face when he's
nearly shot by a ranch trespasser. But this is no ordinary trespasser.
Pregnant and running for her life, Sophia Carranza has crossed the
Mexican border, leaving a trail of ruthless enemies behind.
Sophia's protection is Thorn's first assignment as an undercover agent
and he senses trouble. Inexplicably drawn to Sophia's beauty and
fighting spirit, Thorn fears his growing desire for Sophia could
jeopardize the mission. And when Sophia's captors finally catch up to
them, will Thorn trade his own life for another?
Excellent conclusion to the series. The action started on the first page and didn't stop until the bad guys were taken down. While checking the fence line Thorn finds Sophia hiding in a nearby line shack. She is on the run from her abusive fiance who is also a member of the Mexican drug cartel. His boss makes her protection his first assignment with CCI. He doesn't expect to feel an intense attraction to her as he tries to keep her safe. Sophia feels the attraction also but she also knows that her fiance won't give up until he has her back and will kill anyone who gets in his way.
I really liked both Sophia and Thorn. Sophia had been fooled by Antonio when she first met him, not knowing what he was really like until he got her away from her family and imprisoned in the cartel compound. Once there she was subjected to emotional and physical abuse. When she discovered she was pregnant she knew she had to escape. With the help and encouragement of another captive she got away and headed for the refuge the woman told her about. Her guide was killed along the way, leaving her to go the rest of the way alone. With a storm coming she took refuge in a shack, terrified that she would be found. When Thorn burst in, she thought she was doomed, until he convinced her that she would be safe. Finding out that his boss was the person she'd been sent to find was a relief, until they were attacked on the way back. She was convinced that she was putting everyone in danger and just wanted to be turned loose. The more she insisted on leaving the more determined Thorn was to keep her safe. She also found herself increasingly attracted to him, and those feelings grew the more she was around him. I loved her determination to escape her captivity and give her baby a chance for a better life. She pushed herself in amazing ways in order to get to Hank's ranch. Her concern for the safety of the others showed what a caring person she was. She had a hard time believing that they could protect themselves against the cartel. Every time it looked like she was going to be safe something would happen to shake her up again. She was constantly trying to give herself up to save others. Throughout everything she tried to contain her feelings for Thorn. She knew he still mourned his wife and child and didn't expect anything to come of their attraction. At the end she nearly lost everything.
Thorn had been emotionally frozen since the death of his wife and unborn child. As the local sheriff he had been targeted by a recently released criminal who missed him and hit his wife instead. He quit his job and had been doing mostly nothing until Hank hired him to be part of CCI. He wasn't happy about being assigned to Sophia because he was feeling things with her he hadn't felt since his wife's death. There wasn't anyone else available so he sucked it up and did it. It wasn't long before her beauty and determination started getting to him even more. Once they got past their initial meeting I loved his gentleness with her. He could see her suffering and wanted to do what he could to protect her. The more time they spent together the more he wanted to do for her. When he had to take her to his home as part of her cover it was hard to see her there where he pictured his wife. When that home was destroyed he finally started to see that he hadn't been living just existing and that was no way to honor her memory. He also started to realize that there was room in his life for more love.
The conclusion to the mystery was very satisfying. From the first book on the CCI have been fighting a battle against one of the drug cartels. It seemed that no matter what they did they couldn't get a break. It became obvious that there was someone on the American side feeding them information. More and more they were sure that there was a mole inside the FBI who was working against them. In this book Sophia's fiance seemed to be just one short step behind them whatever they did. There was a surprise piece of information that Sophia had that sent Hank and the CCI into Mexico to the cartel compound. It was there that the final confrontation with the cartel leader took place, ensuring a happy ending for all of them. In the last chapter, Hank talks about hiring some more cowboys, and maybe a cowgirl, for the CCI. I hope this means there will be more books for the series - especially the cowgirl one!
Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe
Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town,
leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road
again. After all, she's only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help
investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.
The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But
Brock can't stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And
when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he's ever
loved. Even if it costs him everything.
I had a really hard time connecting with this book. Zoe has come back to town to see if she can find her best friend Shayna. She hasn't been back since her mother's murder and dumping Brock shortly before their wedding. She doesn't want to see him, but it's a small town so she knows she will. Meanwhile Brock is still furious over her actions and doesn't want to be around her either. They have to work together to figure it out and discover that their passion never went away. But can they overcome past hurts and move forward.
Zoe has come to help find her "best friend". I started right there having a problem with Zoe. She had been gone for five years. In that time she had never invited Shayna to visit. She only talked to her occasionally on the phone and the last time Shayna called Zoe blew her off because she was going out. Those are not the actions of a best friend. Now that she's back she's having to deal with her feelings for her ex-fiance. She had never stopped loving him and had left him for his own safety after she was threatened by the man who killed her mother. She didn't come back after he was caught because of some devastating medical news that again she kept from him for his own good. Their interactions during their search were erratic. First she'd be glad of his help, then push him away because she didn't trust herself with him. Even though she knew that she owed him a complete explanation of her actions she was still going to leave without telling him. I did like her determination to find out what happened to Shayna.
Brock has spent the last five years trying to cope with Zoe's abandonment. He tried drowning his sorrows for awhile, but got sober and now doesn't drink at all, though her reappearance causes the temptation to do so. He dated a lot and had one-night stands. He even had a short relationship with Shayna before they became just friends and roommates. He doesn't believe that there's foul play at first, thinking that Shayna had finally followed through on plans to leave town. He can't believe that he is still attracted and finally admits that he never stopped loving her. He spends most of the book blowing hot and cold also. He'll work with her for a bit then blow up and walk away, or just try to avoid her. He finally gets a partial explanation of why she left but senses that she hasn't told him everything. He realizes that he doesn't want Zoe to leave again and wants a second chance for a future.
The suspense part of the book just wasn't there for me. Yes, there was the mystery of what had happened to Shayna and having to sort through all the conflicting information. But there just wasn't any real sense of urgency until the very end. Even the culprit wasn't that much of a surprise. The other books I've read by her have been great, but this one just didn't compare for me.
Series:
Coltons of Wyoming (Book 3)
The dark mystery of a Colton child's
disappearance has haunted Dead River Ranch for thirty years. Solving the
crime is foreign correspondent Jagger McKnight's last chance to put his
war-ravaged past to rest. But his undercover mission leaves him the
victim of an attack. And he wakes up to discover that beautiful
infirmary nurse Mia Sanders believes he's the missing Colton.
Now the real danger begins. An unknown enemy has Jagger -- and Mia -- in
sight. For survival and the sake of his story, he must lie to the woman
he'll do anything to protect. But when deception turns deadly, can love
save them both?
Good book. Jagger has been drifting along, trying to come to terms with his memories of the war when he hears about the long past mystery of the missing Colton baby. As the victim of a childhood kidnapping himself he wants to put his investigative talents to work to bring justice to the missing boy. Before he can even begin his undercover investigation he is attacked and left for dead. Mia finds him and takes him back to the ranch to heal. All of his things have disappeared but he is left with two items that lead people to believe that he is the missing Colton. Not knowing who to trust, Jagger pretends he has amnesia while he tries to find out who is behind the attacks. When those attacks spill over onto Mia, Jagger knows he has to tell her the truth.
Both Mia and Jagger are running from their pasts. Mia was left at the altar by her fiance who didn't even have the guts to break it off in person. She has been left doubting her judgement in choosing men. Her ex-fiance was also an adrenaline junkie who swore that he was ready to settle down. When she finds Jagger she is immediately drawn to him but senses that there is more to him than he is letting on. She also suspects that he could be the long lost Colton though his amnesia makes knowing his past impossible. There is something about him that reminds her of her ex and tells her she should not get involved with him, but her heart has different ideas. The more time they spend together the more she is torn between her two desires. When she discovers Jagger's deception she feels betrayed and decides to leave it all behind.
Jagger has terrible memories of his final assignment in Afghanistan. They have left him with physical and mental scars and nightmares that he can't escape. When he hears about the renewed search for the missing Colton it appeals to him on a very deep level. Having been a kidnap victim himself he can't understand why Jethro Colton had given up looking all those years ago. He feels that searching himself will give him back some of the self respect he lost. When he is attacked on his way to the ranch it is made to look like he is the missing Cole Colton. Not knowing who he can trust, he pretends to have amnesia so he has a better chance of investigating. He quickly realizes that he can trust Mia, but having begun the deception he doesn't know how to tell her the truth. As they get closer he knows he has to tell her but he fears that it will drive her away from him. I found it very interesting that no one questioned his quick thinking and actions during the crises. I liked the way that being around Mia soothed Jagger's memories and allowed him to see the changes he had already made in his life. When Mia found out the truth he was desperate to make her understand but she didn't want to listen. I wasn't sure how they were going to get their happy ending. The way it happened was definitely heart-pounding in its intensity. I really liked the way that Jagger got his love across to Mia. By the end I could see that both Jagger and Mia had been able to face and overcome their problems.
More layers of the mystery have been exposed in this book but there is still no resolution. Jagger and Mia uncover some information that makes Jethro's part in his son's disappearance rather suspect, though he slips into a coma before they can get any answers from him. There is more activity from the person behind it all who may be a woman (I have a couple ideas of who it might be). The investigations done by the sheriff are thrown into doubt as his actions become suspect also. I'm looking forward to the next books to see how many more things are exposed.
