From This Day On - Janice Kay Johnson (HS #1867 - Aug 2013)

Series: Wakefield College (Book 2)

A new beginning…from this day on

Jakob Nilsson has tried to keep his distance from Amy. Like a forbidden temptation, he's always known his weakness where she's concerned. Then an unexpected weekend brings them together. Despite the torture of being so close to her, Jakob is glad he's there…especially when the opening of a time capsule reveals a confession that upends Amy's world. Nothing is the way it was.

But that revelation also means the barriers between Jakob and Amy are gone. Finally he's free to pursue the woman who has always fascinated him. The challenge now is to convince her to look beyond their past. And to consider a future that includes him.

This was a very emotional book.  Jakob and Amy had spent their lives thinking they were half siblings.  Jakob had made Amy's life miserable and Amy had felt unloved by everyone.  When a time capsule confession reveals that they are not related at all, both their lives are completely changed.

I liked both Jakob and Amy though both had their moments when I wanted to shake them.  Amy is living in her mom's house while her mom and stepfather are in Australia teaching for a couple years.  Amy is hoping that this time will give her an insight into her mother's life and why she had never been a warm and loving mother.  When an invitation to a time capsule opening comes from Wakefield Amy decides to go.  Jakob offers to go with her, which she finds a little strange since they have never gotten along, but she accepts his offer.  Now that they are adults there seems to be a better chance for a civil relationship.  When the contents of the time capsule reveals the truth of her birth, Amy is devastated.  Jakob is the one who helps her deal with the news and is there for her as she comes to terms with it.  The news also frees them to pursue a different kind of relationship.  For the most part I really liked Amy.  She had had a pretty strange childhood with a mom that was pretty cold and withdrawn, a father that after they divorced seemed to treat her differently, and a brother that truly tormented her.  Although she had some serious self esteem issues, other than that she was a funny, independent and intelligent woman.  I liked the way that she was able to start an adult friendship with Jakob, but also didn't pull any punches when she let him know just how he had made her feel when they were growing up.  When their relationship stepped up, she still had some trouble believing that his attitude toward her had changed and kept waiting for him to abandon her the way everyone else did.  I loved the way she called him on his attitude toward the end and pointed out the way he had been treating her.  She knew they would have to get over their memories of the past if they were going to have a future.  I also liked the way that she confronted her mother over the revealed truth and then worked hard to forge a new relationship with her.  I loved the way she supported her mom at the end with the visit to her biological father.

Jakob was reluctant at first to get in contact with Amy.  He was still fighting feelings of guilt over some things he overheard as a child.  Seeing her again after many years only reinforced the feelings from when he was younger, but he couldn't resist offering to go with her to the time capsule opening.  I loved the way he was determined to support her.  When he didn't hear from her after she read the contents of the envelope he got worried and went to see her.  His immediate actions to help her showed the kind of person he really was.  Finding out that they aren't related at all, it was a big relief to him.  It also made it possible for him to look at her in a whole different way.  He confessed to her why he had treated her the way he did when they were younger and was horrified to find out just how damaging his actions had been.  While his attraction to her was real, as were his growing feelings, he also had a bad habit of treating her like he needed to "fix" the damage he had caused.  He got really angry when she accused him of it to his face but later had to admit that she was right.  I really liked the way he was there when she needed him, even when they had been arguing.  I loved his admitted fascination with everything about her and how much he enjoyed getting to know her.  I also liked the way that he realized that she had been right about the way he had been treating her and that he had to change if they were going to move forward..

I really liked the way the entire date rape issue was handled.  Not just showing what Michelle's reactions and feelings were at the time, but also the long term effects on her.  I also liked seeing the effects of the revelation on Amy and Jakob and how it changed their feelings toward Michelle..  It was also emotional to see them confront Amy's father and see the effects his actions had had on him and his life.

Ruthless - HelenKay Dimon (HI #1440 - Aug 2013)

Series: Corcoran Team (Book 2)

What happens when the only man who can protect you is also your best customer?

Kelsey Moore looked forward to her daily visit from Paxton Weeks. Watching the broad-shouldered, quiet man led to some wonderful daydreams. But for real? That was downright dangerous….

It was no mistake Paxton visited Kelsey's shop every morning. This was his first mission back from injury and he had something to prove: stake out the shop for a wanted man and take him in. But when two robbers hold Kelsey at gunpoint, Paxton blows his cover to save her life -- and adds bodyguard to his list of duties. Now, with his secret out in the open -- and her life in danger -- the days have just become far from routine….

Very good book, full of action from the very beginning.  Kelsey loves her coffee shop and for a bonus the last two weeks there have been daily visits by Paxton Weeks,  a definitely sexy guy who has been flirting with her.  When two guys try to kidnap her it's Pax who comes to her rescue and then whisks her away to protect her from the people who are after her to get to her brother.  I really liked Kelsey.  She had a crappy family life thanks to her con man father and has been estranged from him and her brother for years.  She doesn't trust easily and when Pax suddenly turns into a fighting machine and tries to get her to leave the shop, she isn't going to go easily.  I loved the way she stood up to him and fought back until she was convinced he was at least the lesser of two evils.  It was even better when he got her back to Corcoran's headquarters and she stood up to all of them.  I loved the way that she had them cooperating with her.  She does a great job of handling the stresses of being attacked.  She also goes from not trusting Pax to trusting him pretty quickly.  The attraction between them has been building during his visits to her shop, and now it really takes off.  They have to try to keep a lid on it as they try to find her brother and figure out who is after Kelsey.  I also liked the way she seemed to understand Pax pretty well. 

Pax is a great hero.  He was injured saving his brother's girl in Fearless.  Now he's recovering and has been given the job of staking out Kelsey's shop to see if her brother shows up.  When two guys try to kidnap her he breaks cover to save her.  Even though he gets frustrated when she doesn't just  do what he says, he's pretty impressed with her self-preservation skills.  When he finally gets her away he ends up telling her more than he's supposed to because he understands that's the only way to get her to cooperate.  He really wants to keep her safe and her insistence on being an active participant makes it much harder.  It also makes it hard to fight his attraction to her, which can be a distraction under the circumstances.  I loved his protectiveness and the way he got angry on her behalf over the way her father and brother treated her.  His vulnerability showed at the end, and he was able to show her that he really cared.

The mystery itself was pretty good.  Of the secondary characters, I really liked Joel. His work as the tech and communication guy put him in the spot for some marvelous lines.  I'd love to see him get his own story soon.

The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh - Stephanie Laurens (Avon - June 2013)

Series: Cynster (Book 23)

The Honorable Miss Mary Cynster always gets what she wants. As the last unwed Cynster of her generation, she is determined to remain in charge of her life and of the man she will marry. At the very bottom of her list of potential husbands is Ryder Cavanaugh, the daring and devastating Marquess of Raventhorne, an overwhelming and utterly unmanageable lion of the ton. But destiny has a different plan.

Ryder needs Mary as his wife, not just because she is delightful, fiery, and tempting, but because he values all she could be. When fate and circumstance hand him the chance, he claims Mary as his marchioness...only to discover what he truly desires is not just to take her hand in marriage, but to capture her heart.

Fantastic book.  I love the Cynsters series and this was another terrific one.  Mary is ready to find herself a husband.  She is very strong-willed and has no intention of giving up control of her life so she wants a husband she can manage.  Ryder is definitely not the type of man she wants but he has set his sights on her, and like her he is determined to get what he wants.

Mary is a Cynster woman.  She is independent, intelligent and strong willed.  Most of the (non-Cynster) men she knows are the type who will do things their way and their wives have no say and she wants nothing to do with that type.  She has set her sights on Ryder's younger brother, but as she puts her plans into motion Ryder keeps interfering.  I loved the dialogue between her and Ryder from the very beginning.  She doesn't hold back when talking to him and it doesn't take her long to discover that he is much more satisfying to converse with that his brother was.  Pretty soon Ryder is the man on her mind but she is still reluctant to get involved with him.  When she ends up in a position where marriage is the only option she decides to make the best of it.  By this time she is starting to realize that Ryder is the one for her, but she also needs to make him realize that being partners is the best way to go on. One of the best quotes in the book is from a letter to Mary from Minerva, Duchess of Wolverstone: "Rather than go against them - which only results in immediately meeting the solid and instinctive wall of their resistance - I have found it pays to find a way to work with them.  Once you make it clear you are entirely willing to find a way to solve whatever issue they have - that you are content to work alongside them rather than oppose them - the poor dears are usually so grateful they'll happily share the reins, and then one can steer the applecart in a more amenable direction."  This makes sense to Mary and starts her evolving from the bossy control freak into a woman who knows the art of compromise.  There were times that her take charge manner was exactly what was needed and others where it just didn't work.  In the second half of the book they are trying to figure out who is trying to kill them.  I enjoyed seeing them work together and how each was learning about the other. 

Ryder was an interesting hero.  He had determined that it was time for him to marry, but he wanted to do it his way without interference from matchmaking mamas.  He had settled on Mary as his choice and was slightly dismayed to find her pursuing his brother.  He knew that they would not suit, but also knew that she would resist his advances.  I loved the way that he started out by simply getting in her way over his brother, then moved on to pursuing her somewhat subtly.  I loved the way that when she finally figured it out she confronted him, he listened but told her he would have her.  Ryder had settled on her because she was suitable, but soon realized that her wit and attitude really appealed to him.  He also wanted her because, as a Cynster, she knew and appreciated the value of family.  His own family was pretty fractured and he wanted her to help him build a family like hers.  He was also determined to stay in control of his emotions, though that became increasingly harder.  When he was attacked and nearly killed it was Mary who saved his life.  It also put her in a compromising position that Ryder immediately took advantage of: "I haven't reached where I am today without learning to take advantage of every blessing Fate sends my way. So no, I won't be searching for any way to undo what Fate has done."  I love the way that he seems to understand her so well.  He is protective and possessive but he is also accepts that her traits are what make her the woman she is so he doesn't try to change her.  He still spends a lot of time trying to convince himself that his emotions are still completely under his control, when they obviously are not.  Especially as she becomes the focus of the attacks he begins to realize that he needs her in his life.  The final one really brings it home as they fear they have really reached a point of no escape.  I loved the way that the mystery of the attacks played out and how it allows the Cavanaugh family to move on.

One of the best parts of the book is the epilogue as the entire family gathers for its summer retreat.  Honoria and the original Cynster brides talk about the family and how far it has come.  The importance of family is reinforced as they note that Mary was the last of the current group to get married.  They also talk about their children and what they will be like when it's their turn.  I especially liked Honoria's thought about trying to manage Devil when their daughters come of age.  I hope this sets the stage for books about the next generation, who will be living at the beginning of the Victorian period.

A Hero to Come Home To - Marilyn Pappano (Forever - June 2013)

Series: Tallgrass (Book 1)

First he fought for his country. Now he'll fight for her.

Two years after losing her husband in Afghanistan, Carly Lowry has rebuilt her life in Tallgrass, Oklahoma. She has a job she loves teaching third grade and the best friends in the world: fellow military wives who understand what it means to love a man in uniform. She's comfortable and content...until she meets a ruggedly handsome stranger who rekindles desires Carly isn't quite sure she's ready to feel.

Staff Sergeant Dane Clark wanted to have a loving family, a twenty-year Army stint, and then a low-key civilian career. But the paratrooper's plans were derailed by a mission gone wrong. Struggling to adjust to his new life, he finds comfort in the wide open spaces of Tallgrass--and in the unexpected attention of sweet, lovely Carly. She is the one person who makes him believe life is worth living. But when Carly discovers he's been hiding the real reason he's come to Tallgrass, will Dane be able to convince her he is the hero she needs?

Fantastic book.  Carly is slowly rebuilding her life after the death of her husband in Afghanistan.  Some days are harder than others, but she has her friends in the Tuesday Night Margarita Club to help her.  They have all lost husbands in the war so they understand.  When she meets Dane there is a connection but she's not sure if she wants it to go anywhere.  Dane is in Tallgrass recovering from his injuries.  He's not coping well with his changed circumstances, but meeting Carly has brightened his life.  Now he needs to find a way to tell her why he's in Tallgrass.

I loved Carly.  The loss of her husband hit her really hard, but with the help of her friends she is starting to live her life again.  When she meets Dane she notices him but doesn't think anything about it until she starts running into him in various places around town.  I loved the way that they started talking to each other and became friends first.  It didn't take too long before she started noticing him as a man as well as a friend, but she was torn over those feelings.  She felt somewhat disloyal to her late husband but she also knew that she deserved to have a life of her own.  I loved seeing the changes she started making in her life, from painting her house to giving herself permission to feel things for Dane.  One of the things I loved most about her was her sensitivity. She takes her class to visit the soldiers every week and has a great way of making everyone comfortable with the visits.  As she gets to know Dane she has a great way of being there for him without pushing for more than he's comfortable with.  She also has a wonderful sense of humor and uses it on Dane constantly, something he really needs.  When she finds out his secret she is furious that he hadn't told her, but also hurt that he hadn't trusted her with it.  She has to decide if she wants to fight for him through those feelings or back away.

Dane was great. There is a lot about him that I really like.  He has a fun sense of humor that meshes well with Carly's.  I also like the way that he starts his relationship with Carly as friends.  I loved the scene where he helps her pick out the paint.  He is in Tallgrass trying to decide what direction he's going to take now that his previous plans are no longer possible.  He is pretty bitter about his injury and the loss of his career.  Carly makes an impression on him when he meets her but a relationship is not in his plans.  He divorced his wife when he discovered she was sleeping around, sometimes even with men in his unit.  After his injury even his mother is treating him like he isn't a whole man and it's really doing a number on his self image.  He spends a lot of time pretending that there is nothing wrong with him.  When he starts hanging out with Carly he doesn't tell her about his injury because he doesn't want to risk possible rejection.  By the time he realizes that it wouldn't matter to her he can't figure out how to bring it up.  When she finds out about it he has to figure out how to show her that he knows what an idiot he had been and how to get her back in his life.  I completely loved the ending.  It was obvious how hard it was for him but that he was doing it for her.

Besides the wonderful romance between Carly and Dane, I loved the whole theme of the book.  The realism of the lives of Carly and her friends and the soldiers in the WTU was occasionally hard to read because it was so emotional.  As the first book in the series there was also a fair amount of time devoted to the supporting cast.  Therese and her issues with her stepchildren were a secondary story that got a lot of attention.  I wanted to shake her a few times and tell her she was going overboard on being understanding of their issues.  Jacob was semi-obnoxious but somewhat typical of his age.  Abby, on the other hand, was a first class brat and bitch-in-training.  I'm looking forward to the next book, which is Therese's story.  I'm hoping to see her grow a backbone when it comes to those kids.

The Cowboy's Return - Susan Crosby (HSE #2266 - June 2013)

Series: Red Valley Ranchers (Book 1)

A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND

Single mom Annie Bernard needed a new beginning for her young son and a miracle for her run-down farm. Enter Mitch Ryder, the sexy blue-eyed handyman who answered her call for help. Their attraction was instant, and with Mitch's tender ministrations, more than Annie's farm began springing back to life....

Mitch yearned for a fresh start of his own-or at least more time before he had to return to the life he left behind. And what better way to avoid his past than to mistakenly slip into the role of Annie's handyman? But he'd never counted on falling for Annie and her precious son. His true identity might be hidden, but his feelings toward Annie might be too strong to hide....

Good book.  Mitch is back in Red Valley after three years away.  He's not really ready to return to his family's ranch, so when his truck breaks down in front of Annie's place he goes along with her assumption that he's a handyman.  He's attracted to her, but with him hiding his identity from her he knows it's a bad idea to get involved.  But his heart isn't getting the message.

I liked both Mitch and Annie.  Annie got the farm in the divorce settlement with her ex-husband.  She loves having a settled home for herself and her son after years of a vagabond existence.  She is determined to make a success of her fledgling organic farm and is counting on Mitch's help for some of the physically intense repairs.  Mitch's presence is a bit of a problem for her.  She needs his help but the attraction she feels for him worries her.  She knows he's hiding more than just his name but she doesn't seem to care.  Besides doing everything she needs him to do on the farm, he's giving her son a male role model he really needs.  I really loved her farming efforts and how she is so determined to make it succeed.  I enjoyed seeing the things she did to improve the business.  I also liked the way that she accepted Mitch's desire to stay away from people he might know but also realized that it may cause trouble in the long run.  I loved seeing her stand up to the people who are trying to buy her land.  When she finds out who Mitch is she is angry and also hurt because she feels like she's been used.  I liked seeing her accept Mitch's help at the end and how it enabled her to really get to know him.

Mitch left his family's ranch three years earlier after his grandfather's death.  Besides dealing with the loss of the man he felt really understood him, he was furious with his father's refusal to listen to any of his ideas for their ranch.  Now he's back but he's still not ready to face his family.  Being mistaken for Annie's handyman seems like the answer to a prayer.  He doesn't expect the intense attraction to her or how much he enjoys being around her son.  I liked Mitch.  Other than his lie about who he was, he is a pretty awesome man.  I loved seeing how patient he was with Austin and how much he enjoyed working with the boy.  I also loved the way that he was so impressed with Annie's intent to make a go of her farm and how hard she was working at it.  I liked the way that he refused to be the snake that his father suggested.  Even though Mitch wasn't sure that Annie would succeed I loved the way that he wanted to help her make the best effort she could.  I loved seeing him refuse to give up on Annie at the end and how he just kept coming back.  It was great how his persistence paid off.

I admit that I was not impressed by Mitch's dad.  I didn't like what he wanted Mitch to do and I didn't like the way that he refused to listen to Mitch.  I sure hope he improves over the rest of the series.  I did like his brothers and how they all supported each other.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  

The Cowboy She Couldn't Forget - Patricia Thayer (HR #4387 - Aug 2013)

Series: Slater Sisters of Montana (Book 1)

One stolen kiss with a cowboy

When Ana Slater's father is taken ill, she knows she can't look after The Lazy S Ranch alone. There is one man who can help. The cowboy she has found it impossible to forget -- Vance Rivers.

With the words "Work hard and hands off my daughters!" etched into his memory, Vance knew from the very beginning that Ana was strictly off-limits -- no matter what! All he could do was ensure he was the best cowboy in Montana.

But now, with Ana back on the ranch, the rules are set to change. And finally their chance at happiness might be just around the corner….

Ana's father has had a stroke and can't run the ranch while he's recovering.  Ana is made co-executor of the ranch along with ranch foreman Vance.  Vance came to the ranch as a runaway when he was fourteen.  Colt gave him a job but made it clear Vance was to leave his daughters alone.  He's had it bad for Ana ever since, but knows to stay away from her.  Now they have to work together to save the ranch from financial ruin.

This is a book with a lot of emotion in it.  Ana is the only one of her sisters who has remained close to home.  When their mother deserted them years ago it caused their father to completely withdraw from them.  He was there physically but emotionally he was unavailable.  The girls had tried everything they could but he pretty much ignored them.  When Vance showed up suddenly he was getting all the attention the girls wanted.  Ana especially resented it feeling doubly rejected.  Now she is being forced to work with him and she doesn't like it.  I mostly liked Ana.  She was finally getting the chance she had wanted to be involved in the ranch.  She didn't expect to have to share the duty with Vance and wasn't really happy about it.  Then they found out that the ranch was in trouble financially and really have to work together to save it.  Having to work with Vance so closely made Ana realize that, though she may resent his relationship with her father, she had feelings of her own for him.  I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and learn what they had in common.  I loved the way they were able to work together to find ways to help the ranch.  Ana still has a lot of resentment against her father and also has a hard time letting go of some of the feelings against Vance.  Just as their feelings are growing something comes up that sets Ana off again against Vance.  Her reaction was really extreme and she ended up saying some really hurtful things.  I was glad to see her come to her senses and especially apologize for what she said before they made up.

Vance had had a rough start in life.  His mom deserted him and his father.  Vance's father became an abusive alcoholic and when Vance was fourteen he'd had enough and left.  He ended up being taken in by Colt and given a job and a place to live.  Colt trained him in the ranch work and pretty much treated him as a son, except for telling him to stay away from the girls.  All Vance really wanted was a place where he really felt like he belonged.  He developed a crush on Ana early on, and except for one kiss when they were teens, managed to keep his distance.  Now that they have to work together he's hoping to change that.  I liked Vance a lot.  He had worked hard for Colt and had come a long way.  He is looking forward to working with Ana and having a chance to get closer to her.  I really liked the way that he tried to show her that Colt's treatment of the girls wasn't his fault or his choice.  I had high hopes that he was really getting through to her.  I also liked the way that Vance supported Ana with the ideas she had for the ranch.  His growing feelings for her were obvious.  He was devastated by her reaction to the land problem and so hurt at the things she said.  I felt terrible about what he was going through and what he decided to do to make things right.  All he had really wanted was a family of his own with Ana.  I was happy that Ana went to him at the end, he deserved the apology she gave him.

The storyline with Colt and the way he treated his daughters is very interesting.  I like the fact that we are getting his thoughts and feelings.  I'm looking forward to seeing how things go with his desire to make things right with the girls.

All Out of Love - Lori Wilde (Avon - June 2013)

Series: Cupid Texas (Book 2)

Football star Pierce Hollister has fame, fortune, and beautiful women who'll do anything for him . . . whether he asks them to or not. But when it all comes crashing down, Pierce finds himself back home, running the ranch in Cupid, Texas, wondering how it all went wrong.

But one thing is right: Lace Bettingfield. The former plain-Jane has turned into a luscious knockout--trouble is, she won't even give him the time of day no matter how many passes he makes.

Being in love with your older brother's best friend is awkward enough, and Pierce was the cause of Lace's most embarrassing high school moment ever when her secret letter to him declaring her love landed right on the front page of the school newspaper Pierce is still as stubborn, sexy, and arrogant as ever . . . but Lace is about to see that things aren't always as they seem . . . especially when it comes to love. 

Such a fun book.  Lace suffered terrible humiliation when her crush on Pierce was published in the school newspaper.  She had been shy, slightly overweight and stuttering, but adored her brother's best friend.  Now she's all grown up and has put the past behind her.  She loves her job as curator of the Cupid Botanical Gardens.  So she still has the problem of most of the town still bringing up that unfortunate event - she just tries to ignore it.  When Pierce suddenly comes back to Cupid, she's dismayed to find that those feelings are still there.  She's determined that she won't fall prey to his playboy ways.  I really liked Lace.  She's smart, she's sassy, and she's pretty content with her life just the way it is.  When Pierce shows up and starts putting the moves on her she is determined not to give in.  She sees him as the same arrogant jerk he was in high school, and that he just wants her because she's there.  I loved the way that she talked back to him and didn't just fall at his feet.  She worked really hard at keeping him at arm's length until she ended up needing his help for a fundraiser.  Then she had to meet his conditions and actually spend time with him.  As she did, she discovered that there was more to Pierce than the playboy he was portrayed in the press.  She finds him to be sensitive to her wishes, determined to help his father get better, and worried about his future.  She worried about falling for him all over again, and that she'd get hurt even more.  Her feelings ended up being even stronger, and her self worth issues popped up again making her doubt that he would be interested in anything permanent with her.   

Pierce had been the star quarterback in high school, with girls falling all over him.  Being a typical teenage boy he didn't exactly chase them off.  He hadn't been aware of Lace's crush and felt really bad about her humiliation but there wasn't anything he could really do about it.  What he never admitted to anyone was that he had liked her too.  But in high school four years is too big a gap, plus you don't put the moves on your best friend's sister.  When he comes back to Cupid twelve years later he is recovering from a badly broken leg that may end his football career.  He is also helping his brother with the family ranch while their father is sick.  When he runs into Lace he is stunned by his reaction to her.  She's nothing like the women he usually dates, but he can't get her out of his mind.  He makes it clear to her that he is going to pursue her.  At first he is just interested in sleeping with her, but as time goes on he realizes that he wants more.  I love his reactions to her sassy rejoinders and that he appreciates her wit.  I'm also glad that he likes her body just the way it is and doesn't hesitate to let her know it.  It was fun seeing him use the fundraiser as a way to get her to spend time with him.  He was also surprised by her support and understanding with his father's illness and his own injury and recovery.  It only made her even more appealing to him.  I loved the way that he accepted his feelings for her before she admitted hers.  I loved his "go big" moment at the end.