Having the Cowboy's Baby - Trish Milburn (HAR #1468 -Sept 2013)

Series: Blue Falls Texas (Book 2)

A New Plan

Skyler Harrington is a planner. After the tumult of her childhood, she's built a life for herself in Blue Falls, Texas, that's comfortable, predictable, safe. The last thing she needs is to go gaga over a rodeo cowboy. It felt great to let her hair down with sexy Logan Bradshaw, but she'll be happy if their paths never cross again.

A surprise pregnancy is something neither expected. Skyler has no intention of letting her baby grow up the way she did, with an unreliable father. She's willing to raise their child alone, but Logan is determined to prove there's more to him than being a devil-may-care risk taker. He's daddy material!

Good book.  Skyler's friends think that her life is a little too boring, so for her thirtieth birthday they get her a session of skydiving.  Filling in for his sick cousin, Logan is the one to take her up.  The rodeo bull rider has a great time pushing her buttons and they end up spending one really hot night together.  When Skyler ends up pregnant she's ready to be a single mother, not expecting footloose Logan to want any part of being a father.  But Logan finds that his wanderlust has faded, if only he can convince Skyler.

Skyler keeps tight control over her life these days.  When she was a kid her dad never seemed to be able to stick around for long, leaving her and her mother always wondering when he'd be back.  When her friends push her into skydiving, the cowboy who takes her up is an accomplished flirt.  She's attracted to him but intends to resist the temptation.  When he shows up at her birthday celebration later those intentions go up in smoke after a superhot kiss.  Deciding to take one night to live it up she gives in to the heat between them, but makes it clear that's the end of it.  When she discovers she's pregnant she isn't sure at first whether to even tell him, figuring no father is better than an unreliable one.  When she tells him he is stunned and not sure what to do.  I liked the fact that Skyler didn't hide the news from Logan. I wasn't so happy with the way that she kept telling Logan she was sure that he wouldn't stay involved.  Her experience with her father kept her with that negative attitude.  As Logan stayed around she let herself dream a little but still kept that negative expectation in the back of her mind.  She needed to separate her past from her future and give Logan a chance.

Logan was a footloose rodeo cowboy and liked it that way.  He had grown up on an isolated ranch in North Dakota and couldn't wait to get away.  When he met Skyler he was attracted to her right away.  After their night together she stayed on his mind, even after he left Blue Falls.  When he went back a few weeks later he was stunned to discover she was pregnant.  His first reaction was to run, but he stayed around to get to know Skyler better.  As he did he began to contemplate the idea of settling down, but it still didn't seem like something he could do.  But the longer he stayed around and the closer he got to Skyler the more possible it seemed.  I loved the work he did on her property to help her sell it.  I really liked the emotional growth I saw in him especially when he went to see his parents.  I really enjoyed his surprise for Skyler at the end and the decision he made about his future.

White Christmas in Dry Creek - Janet Tronstad (LI #806 - Oct 2013)

Series: Dry Creek (Book 26)

A Holiday Hero

Renee Gray doesn't believe in fairy tales -- not even at Christmastime. But when a wounded stranger collapses on their porch, her daughter, Tessie, believes they've discovered a handsome Prince Charming. Though he has his own reasons for shutting out the world, Rusty Calhoun can't resist little Tessie's invitation to play a king in the church Christmas pageant. Renee and Rusty have both built up walls as tall as castles, but as their trust and love grow, they wonder whether real life can include a little storybook magic. 

Renee is frightened when a wounded stranger collapses on her front porch, but her daughter thinks he's a fairytale prince.  Renee's ex-husband is in prison for armed robbery and Renee has learned to be very cautious around men.  She's not too sure she can trust Rusty around her daughter.  Rusty has returned to Dry Creek after leaving the army.  He is looking for his younger brother who he suspects is involved in something illegal, which is how he got shot.  While Rusty tries to get Eric to come clean he is also falling for Renee.  But can they overcome their trust issues and have a future together?

I liked Rusty a lot.  He had stayed away from Dry Creek while he was in the army because his father had threatened to hurt Eric if he didn't.  He stayed in touch as best he could without endangering his brother, and came home after his father's death to take care of Eric.  He stumbled on some cattle rustlers at the same time he saw Eric.  Landing on Renee's porch saved his life and gave him some hope for the future.  Even though he could see her wariness he couldn't get her off his mind.  The ranch owner offered him the chance to stay in the bunkhouse until he recovered.  Rusty and his brother had been raised by their abusive father after their mother left them.  Rusty was totally lost when it came to knowing how to relate to a woman but he really wanted to get to know Renee better.  I loved his gentleness with Renee's daughter Tessie and how she could get him to do almost anything.  Because of what Eric was involved in, Rusty was afraid that everyone in town would suspect him of being a criminal and that it would reflect badly on Renee.  I loved his determination to do the right thing.  I really liked seeing his soft heart.  One of my favorite scenes was at the beginning when he got talked into being the king in the Christmas pageant.

I had a harder time liking Renee.  She was working very hard to make a better life for Tessie after escaping her abusive marriage.  She was very wary around men because of it.  When Rusty fell into her life she judged him very quickly without knowing anything about him.  She thought he was a criminal just because he had been shot, not even considering that he was a victim.  I understood her wanting to protect Tessie but I found her waffling back and forth about him to be very frustrating.  His tenderness with Tessie moved her but she still kept thinking the worst about him.  She slowly began to build up some trust, but even then she didn't give it fully until after the resolution with the rustlers.  I would have liked to see her have more faith in him.

Home to Wyoming - Rebecca Winters (HAR #1467 - Sept 2013)

Series: Daddy Dude Ranch (Book 2)

It's Never Too Late

Wounded in love and war, ex-Marine Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him. He finds peace working at the Teton Valley Dude Ranch, a special place for families of fallen soldiers. Maybe one day, he'll have a family of his own -- right now he can't afford to indulge in dreams.

Alexis Wilson is no dream. Tasked with overseeing Alex and her young ward during their visit to the ranch, Buck finds himself falling for both the woman and the little girl. Like Buck, Alex has had more than her share of heartache. But maybe between them, they can build a future that's still full of possibilities.

Very good book.  When Buck and his friends Carson and Ross left the Marines each was suffering from lung disease from the war and a need to give back after surviving the war when so many hadn't.  They began a Dude Ranch which also invites the families of the fallen for a special vacation.  This month's visitors are assigned to Buck for their week.  Buck is enchanted by seven year old Jenny and completely smitten by her oh-so-young grandmother.  But Alex is already committed to a man back home and Buck won't go after another man's girl.  He can't help but dream a little of a future with both of them.

I loved Buck.  He noticed Alex even before he knew who they were, and once he did he was thrilled to be able to spend time with them.  Thanks to having nieces and nephews he was already good with kids, but Jenny was something special.  He had a hard time believing that Alex was Jenny's grandmother with as young as she looked.  That didn't really matter to him but finding out she was committed to another man caused him to step back. A long time ago his girlfriend left him for another man - his own brother.  Since that time he hadn't had a real relationship with another woman, only light ones. I loved seeing Buck with the kids and how good he was with them.  In spite of his health issues he was pretty spontaneous and fun loving.   He was also calm in a crisis which helped when Jenny got hurt. Buck has a hard time thinking he's good enough for Alex when he thinks of what she is used to in her current life. When Buck was given a second chance with Alex he had to decide if he was willing to risk his heart.  

Alex was pretty terrific.  She had had a baby at seventeen but managed to get her education and make a good life her her and her daughter.  When her daughter also started young, Alex became a very young grandmother.  She was Jenny's only family now, since her daughter had died and her son-in-law had been killed in Afghanistan.  She was engaged to a very nice man who was older than she was, and with whom she'd been friends with for a long time.  Jenny wasn't adjusting well to the engagement and when the invitation to the ranch came Alex thought it would be a great distraction.  She was immediately impressed with Buck's rapport with Jenny and how he was able to calm her through the storm.  She was amazed by how quickly Jenny became attached to Buck.  She also found herself noticing Buck in a way she hadn't noticed a man in many years, but tried to ignore it because of their age difference.  She was later surprised to find that it was only five years.  I loved the way that she so quickly came to like the area and how it began to change her.  Buck had told her that the Tetons had a way of changing a person's perspective and she found that to be true.  I loved the way that she and Jenny came back to the ranch and how she and Buck had a chance to talk some.  I loved the way she went to support him with his family and how they finally got everything straight between them.  I loved the epilogue and can't wait for the next book.

I loved the two kids, Jenny and Johnny.  I thought both were portrayed pretty accurately for their ages.  I loved Jenny's immediate connection with Buck and what a difference it seemed to make in his life.  It really showed, too, what a terrific father he'd make.

The only problem I had with the book was with Harlequin's continuing inability to accept that the word Marine is ALWAYS capitalized.  Every time I saw marine or ex-marine, it pulled me out of the story.  

Bodyguard Under Fire - Elle James (HI #1446 - Sept 2013)

Series: Covert Cowboys Inc. (Book 3)

In a small town in Texas, everyone has a secret. Especially Chuck Bolton. Formerly a Special Forces soldier, Chuck now poses as a ranch handyman. His real mission? To protect his ex-fiancée, and the baby girl he never knew they'd created, from a malevolent masked man.

Who is behind the attack -- and what could they possibly want with Peggy Jane ("PJ") Franks? While the answer remains unclear, one thing is certain: Chuck never stopped loving PJ after she left him. And PJ, afraid of falling for the same man who broke her heart, doesn't want to repeat history. But that's the least of her worries when her enemy's motive is finally revealed.

I really didn't think it was possible for the series to get even better, but I was wrong.  I was on the edge of my seat during almost every page.  Chuck's first assignment for CCI is to protect PJ and her daughter from the man stalking them.  At the time he didn't know that Charlie was his.  He was stunned to learn of it and determined that both of them would be safe.  PJ had broken things off with Chuck before she knew for sure that she was pregnant and had never told him.  Now that he's back she won't keep them apart but she isn't sure she wants to risk her heart.  She also doesn't know his real mission at first but does know that she feels safe when he's with her.  

PJ had been in love with Chuck, but broke things off with him when he chose to leave her behind to go to war.  Having lost everyone else she loved she wasn't willing to take that chance with him.  When she discovered she was pregnant she chose not to tell him rather than risk him being distracted by the news.  She didn't intend to keep it from him forever.  She didn't expect him to show up in Wild Oak Canyon a couple months early and not right across the hall from her.  She was glad of his presence when he saved her from an attacker.  I did like the way that she didn't deny that Charlie was his and made sure that he knew that his participation in Charlie's life was welcome.  She discovered very quickly that her feelings for Chuck had not gone away but she was still intent on protecting her heart.  As the attacks escalated Chuck made the decision that he and his boss had to let PJ know what was going on and why.  She was furious at the deception but came to accept that she needed the protection.  I loved her independence and determination to make a better life for Charlie than she had had.  I also liked the way that she held her own against Chuck and made him think about his own family issues.  The intensity of the final chapters really had my heart racing, especially when it came to the discovery of her parentage.

Chuck had never stopped loving PJ and when he returned to the US in need of a job he went back to Wild Oak Canyon.  When Hank asked him to join CCI and protect one of his employees he said yes, not knowing it was going to be PJ and Charlie.  I loved the way he burst onto the scene to save her from her attacker before he knew it was her.  His initial anger at PJ's deception ended pretty quickly once he held Charlie.  It only reinforced his need to keep them safe.  I loved the way that he became uncomfortable with the deception and insisted that Hank tell her the truth.  He had never gotten over his love for her and was trying to find a way to show her that he still cared and wanted them to be together.  I loved all the instances of him being a daddy, from falling asleep with her on his chest to his first time trying to diaper her.  Those all went a long way toward softening PJ's feelings for him.  I liked the insight we got into his problems with his own family and the way that becoming a father started to get him thinking about changing things.  The conclusion was great.

The escalating attacks really kept my attention, especially since each one was different.  Chuck and Hank really had their work cut out for them trying to figure out who was doing them.  I figured out pretty quickly who the older Hispanic guy was, but not what his role would ultimately be.  There wasn't really anything in this book about who was behind the troubles in the first two books, especially within the FBI.  Hopefully we'll get more about that in the next book.

Taking Aim - Elle James (HI #1439 - Aug 2013)

Series: Covert Cowboys Inc. (Book 2)

After witnessing the murder of his partner, former FBI agent Zach Adams suffers the weight of his own guilt. An unexpected assignment hunting down the members of the Texas gang responsible -- who have kidnapped a local woman -- could offer long-awaited revenge.

Zach understands the danger of tracking the cartel, but it's his desire for the sister of the missing person that he fails to anticipate. Determined to find her twin, Jacie Kosart is as strong-willed as she is alluring. But when Zach's ruthless search for the kidnappers lands Jacie in the crosshairs of deadly enemies, Zach realizes he'll risk everything to keep her alive…even if it means confronting the demons of his own past.

Very good book. So far I really like this series.  Based on my experience with Elle James's books I don't see that changing any time soon.  Zach has been invited to join Covert Cowboys Inc. after leaving the FBI.  He is still suffering from guilt and anger over the death of his partner and isn't interested until he is offered the chance to go after the gang who did it.  This pairs him with the sister of a woman kidnapped by the cartel.  He is very attracted to her but tries to keep her out of the action, not wanting to be responsible for danger to another woman.  But she won't be left behind and soon she's in just as much danger as her sister.

Jacie was great.  She is a woman with a very nontraditional job of being an outdoor field guide.  She knows her way around the woods, is handy with firearms, and is cool in a crisis.  When her FBI agent twin comes to visit she gets worried that there is something wrong.  When the two of them take out a pair of hunters things go bad quickly and Tracie ends up getting kidnapped.  Jacie's cries for help bring in CCI who quickly discover that Tracie was investigating a possible mole in her office.  She and Zach strike sparks off each other right away until she is able to convince him to help save her sister from his partner's fate.  I really loved the fact that she was so independent.  She was also able to show Zach that they could work very well together.  I especially loved the part where they worked together to question the cartel member they caught - she was very convincing.  She did have a tendency to disregard Zach's orders for her to stay back when he went to do something dangerous.  It got her into hot water a couple times especially at the end.  Though it also saved Zach's neck a couple times.  I really enjoyed the strength of their attraction, but that they were also able to control it when they needed to.  

Zach had left his job with the FBI after his thirst for revenge interfered with his job.  He's not too interested in the job with CCI until Tracie's kidnapping gives him a lead into his own search.  Plus he can't handle the idea of another woman going through what his partner went through.  He is unwillingly impressed by Jacie and her capabilities.  Because of them he can't deny her the opportunity to help him find her sister.  I loved seeing his attempts to keep her out of the action and how she ends up in the middle of it every time.  He is also fighting his attraction to her because he doesn't want to open up his heart to another risk.  Even though he tried his protectiveness kept coming out.  He also had his gentle moments with her when treating injuries and trying to comfort her.  I loved the effect that helping Jacie had on his need for revenge.  She was also able to enable him to look at a future for them in a more positive way.

Triggered - Elle James (HI #1433 - July 2013)

Series: Covert Cowboys Inc (Book 1)

To protect their future, a Texas bodyguard must revisit his past

After taking justice into his own hands, Austin police officer Ben Harding faces an unknown future. But a new job referral carries the possibility of salvation. His mission seems simple: protect a woman and her young daughter -- recent residents of the Flying K Ranch who have become the target of threats.

When Ben meets Kate Langsdon, he is immediately struck by her beauty…and by the memories of the tragedies that touched his own family. Resolved not to become emotionally invested, Ben protects the pair as new dangers -- and old ranch secrets -- emerge. As enemies draw closer, can Ben keep this family alive long enough to explore a future with Kate?

Excellent book with nearly constant action and suspense.  Ben lost his job as a cop after killing a suspect.  When he's offered a job with the new Covert Cowboys Inc., he accepts.  His first job is to protect Kate and her daughter Lily.  Kate inherited the ranch from her father, who she had never known.  Someone is trying to drive her away with threats and attacks and it's Ben's job to keep them safe.  Ben is fighting the memories of his murdered wife and daughter as well as his attraction to Kate.  

Kate had never known her father and was stunned to find out she had been left his ranch when he died.  Shortly after inheriting her home in Houston was broken into and ransacked.  No longer feeling safe there, she packed up her daughter Lily and moved to the ranch, only to find the danger there was even worse.  After contacting a friend of her father's he sends Ben to protect her.  He arrives just in time to save her from another attack.  She is immediately attracted to him, something that hasn't happened to her since the death of her husband four years earlier.  Ben has made it clear that he is there for protection and will leave as soon as the job is done.  She sees the anguish in his eyes when he looks at Lily but also the gentleness and care that he treats her with.  She is afraid of falling for him and the suffering that will follow for her and Lily, but she can't stop her feelings.  One of the things I really liked about Kate was her determination to make the ranch her home.  She was afraid for herself and Lily but she wasn't going to run away.  I loved seeing her stand up to the sheriff and the others who threatened her.  

Ben lost his job as a cop when he killed a suspect who had been trafficking and abusing girls.  The boss at Covert Cowboys Inc. hired him because of his abilities.  Ben's first assignment was to protect Kate an Lily.  At first he tried to get out of it because of the memories being around them brought back.  His wife and daughter were killed by a criminal that Ben had caught but who had been released on a technicality.  He was also attracted to Kate which opened up a whole new set of guilty feelings.  I really loved seeing Ben with Lily.  In spite of his sadness there was something about her that he just couldn't resist.  Seeing him read her a story or brush her hair was so sweet.  It didn't take long before Ben no longer wished to get out of his assignment.  He was fully invested in keeping Kate and Lily safe.  I liked the way that he was able to make connections between what was happening on the ranch to what had been happening with his case in Austin.  It made him even more determined to get to whoever was behind the troubles on the ranch.  Ben continued to try to fight his feelings for Kate but he wasn't succeeding.  It took nearly losing her for him to realize he was ready to start living again.

A Lady Dares - Bronwyn Scott (HH #1149 - Aug 2013)

Series: Ladies of Impropriety (Book 2)

A LADY IN A GENTLEMAN'S WORLD

According to society, I, Elise Sutton, haven't been a lady for quite some time-a lady couldn't possibly run the family company and spend her days on London's crowded, tar-stained docks. And she most certainly wouldn't associate herself with the infamous Dorian Rowland-privateer, smuggler and the Scourge of Gibraltar himself

But I need Rowland and his specialized expertise-especially with the wolves circling, waiting for me to fail. I yearn to feel alive, and Rowland, who can kiss like the devil, inflames my senses and makes me dare to break free.... 

Pretty good book.  Elise is trying to keep her father's shipyard going after his death.  She has a half built yacht that she hopes will give it the boost she needs - if she can get a shipbuilder to finish it for her.  She's having trouble getting anyone to work for her because she's a woman.  When her brother introduces her to Dorian she's not impressed.  She especially doesn't like the effect he has on her.  But she soon realizes that he has what it takes to finish the ship.  He also makes her want to forget society's rules and do things she wouldn't otherwise do.

Elise is very independent.  She has been involved with the shipyard since she was a child and is fully qualified to run it.  Unfortunately her investors don't agree and have pulled all support, leaving her struggling.  Dorian's arrival is just what she needs to save the business.  She is attracted to him from the beginning but also frustrated by his high handedness.  She hates being banished from her office, where she has spent most of her time, but approves of the progress Dorian is making.  One of the things I really liked is the way that, once they started talking, they respected each other's knowledge and opinions.  They also started to develop a real friendship as they worked together.  She also had to admit to herself that she was glad he was there as accidents and attacks started happening at the shipyard.  I also enjoyed her reaction to his kisses.  She admitted the attraction and made her own reasoned decision to pursue it even though she knew that he had no intention of staying in England.  As the danger increased Elise got closer to Dorian and knew she would have to make a decision about her future.  I loved the race and its aftermath.

Dorian was intrigued by Elise.  He wasn't used to women who were so intelligent and independent.  He took on Elise's job as a way to get the money to get back to Gibraltar.  With his attraction to Elise he also thought about romancing her out of the boat he was building.  He also found himself very protective of her from the beginning which was very unusual for him.  Although he had been born a gentleman he has spent most of his adult life doing less savory activities and is not received by society.  He really doesn't care.  From the beginning he makes no secret of his attraction to Elise and seems to really enjoy stirring her up.  He also takes advantage of her life on the edge of scandal to push her into fun but risky activities.  When the problems start happening he figures out who is behind it pretty quickly, but it take awhile before they figure out why.  I liked the way that his plan to simply seduce Elise starts to change as his feelings for her deepen.  He doesn't feel that anything can come of it because of who he is and thinks that she'll feel the same when she finds out.  I liked the fact that he did tell her about his past and enjoyed his surprise when she didn't condemn him.  His increasing feelings for her made him think about changing his plans.  He was really worried about her safety and tried everything he could to protect her.  I really enjoyed the way they worked together to sail the ship and how it showed their connection.  I really enjoyed the ending.