Series:
Forever Texas (Book 9)
The Best Christmas Present
Since the first grade, Holly Johnson has known that Ramon Rodriguez is
the only man for her. But the carefree, determinedly single Texas cowboy
with the killer smile doesn't have a clue. Until they share a dance and
a kiss…and Ray finally sees his best friend for the woman in love she
is.
With his brothers racing each other down the aisle, Ray figured he'd be
the last bachelor in Forever. That was before the night that changed his
life. He can't believe the sexy, beautiful lady who arouses
heart-stopping desire is his pal and confidante, and loving aunt to the
most adorable little girl. Now that he realizes what he's been missing,
Ray plans to make up for lost time…starting with the three little words
Holly's waited thirteen years to hear.
And the last Rodriguez man goes down for the count. Holly and Ray have been friends since first grade. She has also been in love with him, but he is clueless. Then his eyes get opened to just what he has been ignoring and he has to figure out how to show Holly just how much he really cares.
I loved Holly. She is a hard worker, putting in long hours at the diner, taking care of her mother and niece and also studying for her nursing degree by taking classes online. This doesn't leave her much time for having fun. Then one night she gets talked into going out with some friends and ends up dancing with Ray. Suddenly he's looking at her in a whole different way and she's not sure how to deal with it. She has spent so long being his friend and hearing about his woman troubles that having him look at her like one of those women is disconcerting. She's not going to complain, she's going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts. She just hopes that their friendship won't be hurt after it's over. I really enjoyed seeing the way that Miss Joan has been able to see what Holly's feelings for Ray are all this time and takes it upon herself to try to move things along. I loved seeing Holly start to enjoy Ray's attentions. I especially loved seeing her go for what she really wanted that night in the diner. Then it became her turn to be clueless the night of Mike and Sam's wedding when she didn't understand what Ray was trying to tell her, thinking that he was going to break up with her. I loved her reaction when she finally got it.
Ray was so much fun to watch. In previous books he had been very much the good time guy, buzzing from woman to woman. He's always been friends with Holly, who he can talk to about anything. She's always just been his good buddy, until the night he rescues her from some unwanted attentions. Suddenly he's seeing her as a sexy woman and he's a little freaked out about it. When he finds himself kissing her, the desire gets a little out of control. I loved seeing him try to reconcile the two Hollys and getting really confused about his feelings. I also loved the way that his longtime friendship with her has enabled him to know her far better than he thought. I loved seeing his confidence in her after she delivered Alma's babies at the diner and how much it meant to her. I really enjoyed his complete confusion about his feelings after he and Holly had made love. I really enjoyed the way his brother Rafe cornered him about his mood and figured out what the problem was. Poor Ray was so shook up the night of the wedding that he wasn't making a whole lot of sense when he was talking to Holly. I loved seeing him finally get it right and his happiness was fantastic.
Series:
Forever Texas (Book 8)
A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR
Ghostwriter Samantha Monroe has just arrived in Forever, Texas, to turn a
remarkable woman's two-hundred-year-old journals into a personal
memoir. The Rodriguez clan welcomes her with open arms…and awakens Sam's
fierce yearning to be part of a family. But it's the eldest son --
intensely private rancher Mike Rodriguez -- who awakens her passion.
Hiring Sam to preserve his great-great-great-grandmother's story for
future generations was Mike's inspiration. He just didn't realize how
much he'd want her to be part of his family's continuing saga. Delving
into the past has made Sam hungry for a future -- with Mike. The next
move is up to him -- if he doesn't make it, the best woman he's ever met
just might waltz back out of his life forever!
First, the cover blurb isn't entirely accurate. It wasn't Mike's idea to hire Sam, it was his father's idea. Mike started out against it. He doesn't like having strangers on the ranch and is initially afraid that Sam will be some kind of con artist who will take advantage of his father. Sam is surprised by how warmly she is welcomed by most of the family. It's her reaction to Mike that has her wishing for something she's never had.
I really liked Sam. She had been on her own a lot as a child because, as a single mother, her mom spent a lot of time working to make ends meet. That made her pretty independent. When she was eighteen her mother married and left with her husband leaving Sam completely alone. She later married her high school sweetheart but he died in an accident soon after the wedding, leaving her alone again. Her ghostwriting job came about as a way for her to deal with the loneliness. I really liked the way that she had no trouble standing up to Mike and his negative attitude. I really loved how most of the family made her feel so welcome and how she started to feel a little bit like part of the family. She wasn't sure how to deal with the attraction she felt for Mike as it was unlike anything she had ever felt before. As Mike's father found ways to throw them together she began to see a different Mike than the one she first met and her feelings for him began to grow. She was excited to have the job working on the journals because it was something very different than she had ever done before. She also began to identify with his ancestor's feelings about her life and choices. I loved Sam's involvement in the family's Thanksgiving celebration and how much it meant to her. I loved the change in her relationship with Mike and ached for her lack of confidence that anything would come of it. I loved the way it ended and what Sam told Mike about her dream for her future.
Mike is sort of the odd one out in his family. As the oldest he's always felt the responsibility for his family and the ranch. He doesn't seem to resent it, it "just is what it is". He's also not as social as his siblings. He does value his privacy and is frustrated by the way his father is constantly inviting strangers to stay at the ranch. He seems to have a more cynical view of life as he is sure that the writer who is coming is some sort of con artist out to take advantage of his father. Meeting Sam seems to put an end to that viewpoint. He also is so stunned by her beauty that he has a hard time thinking around her and making sense when he tries to talk to her. He's a bit frustrated by the way his dad keeps making him take Sam to do things off the ranch. He'd rather stay away from her and the feelings she's causing, but there's no way to say no to his father. I loved the way that he got to know her and discover that she's not the kind of person he thought she was. Just being around her caused changes in him that everyone else noticed but he didn't want to admit to. It was fun seeing the way it took his brother Eli making him face the truth for him to have the courage to go after what he wanted. It was so sweet seeing what he offered just so that they could be together.
I loved seeing more of Miguel and how much love he had for his family. I really enjoyed the way he got his kids to do what he wanted them to do without threats or yelling. It's always great seeing more of the previous characters and what they are doing now. Mike's comments to Cash about getting sleep while he can before Alma's baby arrives were fun to see, as were Alma's suspicions about what Mike was telling him.
Series:
Forever Texas (Book 7)
A Real Cowboy. A Real Home?
Rafe Rodriguez never reckoned on playing hero to a beautiful, big-city
stranger. But when he saves Valentine Jones from a charging bull, this
Rodriguez brother's fate is all but sealed. The Hollywood photographer
is on location in Forever to scout out an authentic dude ranch. And
nothing could feel more real -- or right -- than the fiery feelings
Val's awakening in Rafe. And he knows just how their real-life romance
should end!
Haunted by tragedy, Val knows life isn't like the movies. Still, a girl
could get used to having a sexy protector like Rafe around. The Texas
rancher is wreaking havoc with her credo of never settling in one place.
Is Val headed for heartbreak again? Or has she finally found a place to
belong with this cowboy who's starting to make her believe in forever?
Very good book. I love my visits to Forever. Rafe never expected to see a beautiful woman in one of his pastures, much less rescue her from a charging bull. Once he does, he is a goner. Everything about Val fascinates him. Val is intrigued by Rafe also, but holds out no hope for a happy ending. She tried that once and doesn't want to take that risk again.
I really liked both Val and Rafe. Val loves her job as a location scout. It keeps her busy and on the road enough that she isn't tempted into another relationship. When she finds the perfect location for her boss's next movie she also finds Rafe who makes her feel things she hasn't felt in a long time. Once the movie crew comes to town they end up spending a lot of time together and her feelings only grow stronger. I really liked Val's forthright attitude. She doesn't have the fakeness that so many Hollywood type do. She relates very well to the people of Forever. I loved seeing the way that she gets Miss Joan on the movie's side and how she gets along so well with Rafe's father. When her feelings for Rafe get to the point where she can no longer deny to herself that she loves him, she gets scared and retreats, fearing that she'd never survive losing him.
Rafe starts out the book admitting to himself that he is a little envious of his siblings' happiness. This leaves him open to the impact that Val has on him when he meets her. He is fascinated by the way she is able to make friends with everyone and how well she fits in with Forever. As the filming takes off Rafe gets to spend more time with Val and starts to dream of what it would be like if she stayed. But he has no reason to think that she would give up her fast paced and successful Hollywood life for one in Forever. I loved the way that Rafe was so drawn to Val from the beginning. He didn't fight his feelings and really wanted a future with her. He was stunned and hurt when she suddenly withdrew and wasn't sure what to do about it. I loved seeing even his family avoid him until Mike finally called him out on his attitude.
It's always fun to visit Forever and see the regular residents and what's happening with the previous couples. Miss Joan remains one of my favorites. I love the way that everyone looks to her for direction. It was fun watching her direct the chaos at the diner when the movie crew was in town.
Series: Forever Texas (Book 9)
