To Tame a Cowboy - Jules Bennett (HD #2264 - Nov 2013)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 5)

Royal, Texas, is the perfect place for rodeo star Ryan Grant to slow down and finally show Piper Kindred she's the woman for him. When an accident sends Piper rushing to take care of him, her sexy bedside manner suggests to Ryan that seducing his best friend will be easier than he'd expected. 

But Piper knows the lure of the rodeo circuit--and the risk of a broken heart, when Ryan realizes he's not ready to hang up his saddle for good. She can't let herself fall for a cowboy. If only her heart would listen.

This is a terrific friends to lovers story.   Piper and Ryan have been best friends since she punched him in the nose in third grade.  Ryan has had a great career as a rodeo star but now he's ready to move on.  He is planning to open a rodeo school there in Royal.  He's also ready to show Piper that he wants to be more than just friends.  When he gets a concussion in an accident Piper rushes to take care of him.  She feels the same attraction but doesn't want to risk a broken heart if he changes his mind about settling down.

Piper has been friends with Ryan for a long time.  She's also been feeling a bit more than friendship for him lately but she doesn't want to risk losing that friendship if something goes wrong.  When he lets her know that he's feeling the attraction too, she tries to fight it.  One of her biggest worries is what will happen if she falls for him and he decides to go back to the rodeo circuit.  Her father was a rodeo rider and had never been able to stay in one place for long.  He had completely deserted her and her mother when she was still young, leaving her mother heartbroken.  Piper fears the same thing happening to her.  I really enjoyed seeing Piper's independence and her determination not to be dependent.  She does her best to stand up to Ryan when he tries to push her into accepting his help.  I love the banter between them and the way that she teases him about his "guyness".  I also loved the building heat between them.  They were already friends and knew each other well, but the chemistry took things to a new level.  I loved seeing Piper relax and begin to accept that just maybe Ryan was serious when he talked about staying.  Her fears come back when he leaves to help a friend and it takes a reunion with her father to open her eyes to the differences between the two men.

I really liked Ryan.  He didn't hide the fact that he was interested in stepping things up with Piper.  I loved his honesty with her when she was taking care of him after his accident.  She caught him checking her out and laughed at him because of it, not believing he was serious.  He had to work at it a little to convince her.  Then he had to exert some patience to keep from rushing her.  I really enjoyed seeing him work on her house with her, overcoming her objections by reminding her that friends help each other out.  I also loved seeing him slowly overcome her fears and remind her that he was not her father.  He was really worried about telling her he was going to go help his old partner for awhile.  His worries were justified and his missing her while on the road was causing him some real problems.  I loved the conversation with his partner that helped him make some decisions.

The mystery of their missing friend has taken a step toward being solved.  Alex turned up at the site of a traffic accident, but with a case of amnesia.  His fiancee is with him trying to help but the stress is wearing on them both.  There is an interesting scene with Cara's father and Alex's best friend that may have bearing on the mystery, but we'll have to wait and see.

The Lone Star Cinderella - Maureen Child (HD #2258 - Oct 2013)

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.

Something About the Boss... - Yvonne Lindsay (HD #2252 - Sept 2013)

Series:  Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 3)

Ever since Sophie Beldon's boss vanished, she's been working for Zach Lassiter. But Zach's been acting mysteriously, and Sophie can't help wondering what he's hiding. Could he be involved in the disappearance?

The trouble is Sophie's had a red-hot yearning for Zach from the moment they met. So when she decides to seduce him to uncover his secrets, perhaps she's kidding herself about her reasons. Because the soul-searing passion she discovers in his arms has Sophie praying that her mistrust is unfounded.

Very good book.  Sophie is Alex's assistant, but since his disappearance she has been working for Zach.  Between the two of them they have been keeping Alex's part of the business going.  Sophie has been attracted to Zach from the time they met, but she hasn't done anything about it.  Now she's seriously considering seducing him to get close enough to figure out why he's been so secretive lately.  I loved Sophie's no nonsense attitude toward her work.  She has been used to keeping track of many things since she was a child as she and her mom struggled to survive.  It has worked well for her in her job.  She has kept her attraction to Zach under control until they go out to dinner for business and he kisses her.  The passion burns hot and motivates her to try seduction.  While that was her initial motivation, her feelings for Zach quickly overtake her suspicions and she really hopes that he is innocent of her suspicions.  When he catches her snooping their newfound relationship is wrecked and Sophie realizes that it is her fault.  She also believes that he is still in love with his ex-wife and when she discovers a secret about Anna she thinks that there is no way she and Zach can ever have a future together.  

Zach is worried about his best friend.  There are rumors that Alex lied about who he is, but Zach doesn't want to believe that's possible.  He is also dealing with guilty feelings over the mental state of his ex-wife, so he spends a lot of time on the phone with her. I loved the way that he cared for her even though the marriage was long over. Sophie's presence in the office has been a lifesaver for the business and a personal challenge for him as he fights his attraction to her.  When he discovers that it's mutual, nothing can stop them from taking advantage of it.  I like the way that Zach feels so peaceful when Sophie is with him.  She has a great effect on his stress levels until the night he finds her snooping on his computer.  He can't believe he'd been so wrong about her and the feelings of hurt and betrayal are strong.  It takes a little while before his logical side makes him feel that he over reacted and he wants to get back together with Sophie.  His reaction to Sophie's news about Anna was great.  I loved the way he was finally able to convince Sophie of the truth regarding the state of his relationship with Anna.  I liked the way he and Sophie finally talked about everything and the decision they made about their wedding.

Deep in a Texan's Heart - Sara Orwig (HD #2246 - Aug 2013)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 2)

As a card-carrying member of the Texas Cattleman's Club, Sam Gordon is conservative to the core. Discovering Lila Hacket -- the woman he'd shared a passionate night with -- is carrying his baby? Heck yeah, he means to marry her! Never mind that marriage is not what she wants.

With a budding career, Lila has no intention of changing her life to become Sam's idea of the perfect wife. So if he wants their baby to wear the Gordon name, he needs to change his ideas about what he really needs from Lila…and just what he's willing to give her in return.

This is a story of two stubborn people, neither of whom wants to give up on or compromise on what they want in life.  Lila is a production designer for a movie company who is only back in her hometown because of a film she is working on.  She is also pregnant with Sam's baby and isn't looking forward to telling him.  They have opposite points of view on many things, especially the role of women.  She knows that he will try to pressure her into marrying him and giving up her job and she isn't willing to do that.  I had mixed feelings about her.  I liked the way that she went after the job she wanted and was independent enough to do it.  She was confident in her ability to be a single parent while doing the job she loved.  I had a hard time with her constant waffling around Sam.  She knew he was a chauvinist who didn't believe in women working after they were married.  He had been adamantly against women being admitted to the TCC and against the building of the childcare center.  But every time he asked her out and basically steamrollered her into agreeing, she caved in.  She was sure that she was falling in love with him but that there would only be heartache because they were too different.  She wouldn't accept his idea that they marry for the baby's sake because she refused to marry without love.  She also wasn't sure that even love would be enough to counteract such different views.

Sam was definitely an old fashioned kind of guy.  He had thoroughly enjoyed his one night with Lila and wanted more.  When she refused to take his phone calls he tried to move on but he couldn't forget her.  When she returned to town, he tried again.  He kept pursuing her, even when she told him no.  He saw that she was still attracted and figured that was enough to ignore what she said.  He kept trying to figure out why she said no, even though she explained that she didn't agree with his viewpoints and that she saw no future for them.  When he discovered she was pregnant he was even more determined to get his way, but he tried to appear reasonable to get her to go along with him.  When he finally understood what her job meant to her he backed off and tried to accept that it wouldn't happen, but suddenly realized that the reason he hadn't been able to forget her was that he did love her.  That got him thinking about her accusations and wondering if he could change enough to give them a chance.  As much as he really irritated me through most of the book, I thought he ended up making far more of a change than she did.

There was a little bit of new information on the missing TCC member, and acknowledgement that people are getting nervous the longer he is missing.  There was also some vandalism at the childcare center that hasn't been resolved.  I have a feeling I know who did it, but I guess it will be a later book before we find out.

Rumor Has It - Maureen Child (HD #2240 - July 2013)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 1)

"Something to Hide?"
Seven years ago, wealthy sheriff Nathan Battle proposed to his pregnant girlfriend. But Amanda Altman ripped out his heart, left town--and suffered a miscarriage. Now she's back and Nathan has to get over her once and for all. But his plan to seduce her, say goodbye forever and focus on his job isn't working too well.

Upon returning to gossipy Royal, Texas, Amanda's determined not to show Nathan how much she still loves him. Yet resisting the gorgeous lawman is impossible. Especially when she discovers she's pregnant with his child...again.

Very good book with plenty of heat.  Seven years ago Nathan had proposed to Amanda when he found out she was pregnant.  While he was away at the police academy she suffered a miscarriage.  Rumors had the reason as something else and Nathan believed them.  Amanda broke their engagement and left town.  Now she's back and the attraction between them is just as intense as it ever was.

Okay, let me start out by saying that, as nice a guy as he basically was, Nathan was an idiot when it came to Amanda. When she got pregnant he proposed because it was the right thing to do.  He never told her if he loved her, he just told her the way it was going to be. When she lost the baby all those years ago he believed the rumors and didn't even bother to ask her about them.  He just accepted the end of the engagement and walked away.  He's never really forgotten her and now that she's back he can't get her off his mind.  So he decides to sleep with her one more time to get her out of his system.  Instead, she's just getting deeper under his skin.  Nathan is the kind of guy who makes plans, and when things don't go according to that plan he gets a bit testy.  He doesn't like not being in control.  I really enjoyed seeing the effect that Amanda had on his life and how it blew his control all to pieces.  I also loved seeing the way he had to deal with the gossip and realize that there was nothing he could do about it.  It took a long time for him to accept the fact that he still loved her and he still had trouble actually saying the words. I did like the scene at the Fourth of July celebration when he was winning teddy bears for the little kids.  It showed that there really was a nice guy there, even with all his idiocy.

Amanda had come home to help her sister run the diner. She missed the small town while she was off in the city and is glad to be back.  The gossip is an irritation but she can live with it.  It's a small town and she knows she's going to run into Nathan sooner or later.  When they do, sparks start flying again.  At first she wants nothing to do with him, but when he comes to her and invites her out so they can talk she gives in.  She doesn't expect to enjoy their dinner out so much and is reminded of why she loved him so long ago.  She also doesn't expect to end up in bed with him again.  She is dismayed to discover that she still loves him and once again has no idea if he loves her too.  When she ends up pregnant and he proposes again, just like the last time, she has to decide if she can trust him with her heart again.

I kept waiting for the "Missing Mogul" part of the book to come up, which didn't happen until near the end.  I like what I saw of Alex and am looking forward to seeing how this storyline plays out.