The Wanderer: My Review

The Wanderer (Thunder Point)

About the Book:

Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands. 

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful. 

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

My Comments:

I guess Robyn Carr figured she'd moved about as many ex-military guys to the small town of Virgin River as she could plausibly do, so she moved the show down the road a ways, to coastal Oregon.  Cooper is a friend of one of the guys in Virgin River and he heads to Thunder Point when he inherits some land (from an ex-military buddy) that includes a bar/grill/ bait shop etc.  Though his original thought is to put the property on the market and move on with life, life catches up with him.  He makes connections and not just romantic ones.  

Speaking of romance, the book had plenty--romance between high school students, romance between those approaching middle age and romance between those who are almost ready to say goodbye to middle age.  Yes, the adults ended up in bed, and the adults talked about the kids ending up having sex but the scenes were not the most explicit out there.  

I guess Cooper's place is going to end up like Jack's place in the Virgin River books, and there are a few people left to marry off in Thunder Point so I look forward to reading more books in this series.  Like the Virgin River books, this one is more light read than thought-provoking, but it does deal with the subject of teen bullying.  

The story includes a mystery, and frankly it all wraps up a little too neatly, but I can't say I expected anything else.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley  Grade:  B

New Love for New Year: My Review of Countdown to First Night

Countdown to First Night: Winter's Heart\Snowbound at New Year\A Kiss at Midnight (Harlequin Anthologies)

About the Book:

Ten, nine, eight, seven…

Winter's Heart by Jillian Hart

Shelby Craig comes to Snow Falls for a First Night job, but secretly hopes it will be a respite from her grief and a haven for her two young kids. A sympathetic cop becomes the determined widow's staunchest ally—though helping her may break his heart.

Six, five, four…

Snowbound at New Year by Margaret Daley

This was supposed to be a done deal! Children's book author Ellie Summers came to the festival to meet her new illustrator. She didn't expect him to turn down her proposal. And then to find the obstinate man so charming… Is it wrong to hope his matchmaking twin daughters succeed?

Three, two, one…

A Kiss at Midnight by Brenda Minton

Pride is a hard thing to swallow, but Jolie Godwin does her best to ignore her grievances with Jake Wild this one time. The man is graciously letting her exhibit her artwork in his luxury resort for First Night. He seems like a good person and a devoted uncle. If only he'd always been so perfect. Because his kiss is something she can't forget….

Cue the fireworks!

My Comments:

I enjoyed these sweet clean romances, all set in a small Colorado town around New Year's Eve.  They were short and really had no subplots, just the main plots of learning to trust, taking a chance and gaining new love for a New Year.  If short sweet reads are  your thing, you'll like this book.  Grade:  B- (about the best I give formula romances).  Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.

The Long Way Home

The Long Way Home: The Chesapeake Diaries

About the Book:

As the only child of a wealthy investment manager, Ellie Chapman has never known anything besides a life of perfect privilege. But her years of good fortune come to an abrupt end when her father is exposed for swindling billions of dollars from innocent investors in a massive Ponzi scheme. And just like that, Ellie loses everything: money, job, home—even her fiancé, who’s jailed as her father’s partner in crime. With no job prospects on the horizon, no cash, and her family name in tatters, Ellie has only one place to go.

Sleepy St. Dennis, Maryland, is hardly where Ellie intends to stay, however. Keeping her identity a secret, she plans to sell the house her late mother left her in the small town and use the proceeds to move on with her life. Unfortunately, her ticket to a new beginning is in dire need of a laundry list of pricey improvements, many of which she’ll have to do herself. And until the house on Bay View Road is fit to be sold, the sole place Ellie will be traveling is the hardware store. But as the many charms of St. Dennis—not to mention Cameron O’Connor, the handsome local contractor who has secrets of his own—begin to work their magic, what begins as a lesson in do-it-yourself renovations might just end up as Ellie’s very own rejuvenation.

My Comments:

I enjoyed this story of love and healing, even if it was a bit on the unrealistic side.  Ellie comes to St. Dennis because she has no where else to go (though she is smart, well-educated and has a close friend who has a lot of connections).  When she gets there she meets Cameron who has been putting a lot of effort into keeping up a house that isn't his.  I liked the fact that the two of them took some time to get to know each other; I didn't like the fact that they ended up in bed before marriage, or even before they were really serious.  I liked  the fact that they realized that overnight visits were not a good idea with a teenager in the house.  While readers were told they were intimate, the act was not described in detail.  

The book is part of a series though I did not realize it until I went to Amazon to get the photo and blurb for this review.  The characters from the other books make brief appearances but I didn't feel overwhelmed by useless characters.  However, Ellie's friend (who is single) discovers that Ellie's ancestor was a renowned  painter who had many paintings in the house Ellie inherited. I'll bet we'll see her in a future book and I'm curious about what will happen to the paintings.  Her gallery-owning friend is eager to show and sell them. Ellie was eager for the money they'd bring, but now that she's decided to stay in St. Dennis, and has learned about her family, will she still want to sell?  How will those paintings affect her relationship with her best friend?  I feel left hanging about those questions, and I'm sure that was the author's intent.  

Another thing I didn't like was that one of the characters mentions speaking to one of Ellie's ancestors via a Ouija board.  Another character saw this ancestor (or a ghost of her) in the house.  I don't think those elements advanced the story and to me they were just creepy.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss Galleys.  Grade:  B.  

Christmas Roses: My Review

Christmas Roses

About the Book:

Celia Anderson doesn't need anything for Christmas except a few more boarders, which are hard to come by in this small mining town. She certainly doesn't have a husband on her Christmas wish list. But when a wandering carpenter finds lodging at her boarding house, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man--the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas. It would take a miracle to get roses during a harsh Wyoming winter. But Christmas, after all, is the time for miracles . . .

Amanda Cabot invites readers to cozy up with a romantic, heartwarming tale of the greatest gift of all--love.

My Comments:

I read this short Christmas novella (172 pages) in just a few hours.  It was a sweet Christmas romance, and while it had definite spiritual content and message, it wasn't really preachy and was an enjoyable way to spend the evening.  

Celia was widowed a few months ago.  While she had grown to love her husband and considered him a good man, she did not want to enter into another arranged or convenience marriage.  Mark came into town looking for the father who had abandoned his family years ago.  As they get to know each other love blooms...

Ok, it wasn't the most original plot in the world and one of them had to find God before they got to live happily ever after, but I already told you it was a Christmas story, so I doubt you ever wondered if Celia and Mark would get together.  

I'd like to thank Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for providing me with a complimentary review copy of this book.  “Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”  Grade:  B-

A Cold Creek Noel: My Review

A Cold Creek Noel (Harlequin Special Edition)

About the Book:

Caidy Bowman had been the apple of her family's eye-until a devastating tragedy forced her to hide from the world. She was used to devoting her time to the animals on her family's ranch. Then widower Ben Caldwell and his two adorable children arrived in Pine Gulch, and suddenly, Caidy wanted more than a life in the shadows....  

As the town's new vet, Ben needed a place to stay for the holidays-and for his family to heal from their own loss. He absolutely wasn't looking for love again! But Caidy Bowman's sparkling green eyes and sweet smile touched Ben's broken heart, giving him hope for a new future. Their future-if he could convince the beautiful cowgirl that Christmas was a time for new beginnings....

My Comments:

This is a pretty basic romance novel, set at Christmas time.  It is set, as noted in the title, in Cold Creek, where RaeAnne Thayne has set several other books.  As noted above, Caidy has been mourning her parents' deaths and has basically put her life on hold since they died.  Ben recently lost his wife and has moved to Cold Creek to get away from the in-laws who blamed him for his wife's death and who were trying to turn his kids away from him.  Neither of them is looking for someone, both feel an instant attraction...  There are no major subplots to this book, what you see is what you get.  While he dreams of physical intimacy with her, we are never told that they are physically intimate.  Grade:  B-(about the best I give this kind of book).

Review: Jane's Gift

Jane's Gift

About the Book:

A devastating house fire cost Jane Clark nearly everything: her husband, her confidence, and her looks, with the physical scars marbling her body. Now, two years later, she’s living and healing back in her childhood hometown of Lone Pine Lake. The upcoming holidays are the perfect opportunity to bring some Christmas cheer into her young children’s lives, starting with a visit to the firehouse, where her brother’s best friend has offered to help quell their residual fears.

Lone Pine’s resident playboy, fire captain Christian Nelson is happy with his single-guy lifestyle. He’s an everyday local hero, so he’s never wanting for attention around the holidays. But when Jane Clark shows up, Chris is immediately drawn to the beautiful widow—even though kids and commitment have never been his style.

Despite her brother’s warnings about his friend’s playboy status and dangerous occupation, Jane can’t help but fall for the gorgeous fire captain. The holidays are a time of new beginnings, but can two scarred people find the strength to let go of their pasts to live in the present, when a lifetime together might be the sweetest gift of all?

My Comments:

This was a pretty formula romance between two people who were both afraid to get involved, but who were so attracted to each other than they threw caution to the wind.  She had loved, and then lost her husband in a fire; his childhood home lacked loved, and so he has avoided marriage (and, he thought, hurt).

It was a quick easy read without substantive subplots.  They ended up in bed shortly after they got involved and the bedroom scenes are very romantic but not terribly graphic, though we are definitely not left outside the bedroom door.  My guess is that it is the first in a series as a couple of supporting characters got a few too many lines to just be dropped.  

I'd like the thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-

A Gift for All Seasons: My Review

A Gift for All Seasons (Harlequin Special Edition)

About the Book:

Hiring Patrick Shaughnessy to landscape her new inn was strictly a business arrangement. Until April Ross got to know the war-scarred single father…and his irrepressible little girl. Patrick made it clear he wasn't looking for romance. Neither was April. But could she make him see that some risks were worth taking?

The lively, widowed blonde might be the most tempting woman Patrick had ever known, but the returning vet knew a happy ending wasn't in the cards. Still, that was before April started working her magic on his daughter…and on him. Maybe this Christmas was a time for new beginnings—if Patrick had the courage to go with the powerful feelings April had awakened in him….

My Comments:

Once upon a time we were with a bunch of friends who were married at the same time we were and who had kids about the same age as my older kids.  One night we got talking about what we would do if we lost a spouse--more specifically, whether we thought we would date/look for a new spouse, and if so, how, since we all pretty much said we didn't know anyone to whom we could introduce to a friend our age who was looking for a spouse.  I declared that I did not think I would date.  Simply put, I would not want to get emotionally involved with someone only to find out that he and my kids were not a good mix, and I wouldn't want to introduce my kids to a date before it got serious because I don't think a parade of men through Mom's life is a good thing for kids to see.    There would be time for dating once the kids were grown.

A Gift for All Seasons features Patrick, a single father who thinks much the way I do.  Whether he was using her as an excuse or genuinely felt that way, keeping his little girl from having her heart broken again was one of many reasons Patrick avoided a relationship with April, and in the end, of course, two girls had him wrapped around their fingers. 

I found Patrick to be very human; April seemed kind of good to be true.  Lili, his daughter, was adorable, but what four year old isn't?  

I enjoyed the story, but didn't like the way these folks who were barely getting to know each other headed to bed on the second date.  Of course it was great, but eventually she realized that was the main thing they had, and that she wanted more--no kidding.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  It was a sweet predictable read with some unnecessarily crude language (though not a lot).  I'll give it a B-

Review: A Winter Wonderland

A Winter Wonderland

About the Book:

In "A Winter Wonderland" by Fern Michaels, Angelica Shepard leaves New York for Christmas in Colorado to relax and unwind - but an out-of-control snowboarder almost has her laid to rest. When she wakes up in the hospital, all she remembers is the handsome angel who saved her. "The Joy of Christmas" by Holly Chamberlin introduces Iris Karr, who thinks "not all happiness is good for you," when she decides to move away instead of marrying her sweetheart Ben. Even years later, living with that decision isn't easy - until a familiar face comes to call her home for the holidays. In Leslie Meier's "The Christmas Thief," Elizabeth Stone is ready for a white Christmas in Tinker's Cove, Maine - until a fancy Yule ball at the Florida hotel where she works dumps snow on her plans. The sponsor's jewels have gone missing and the police are asking about her ties to a cute mystery guest. Good thing Elizabeth's mother, Lucy Stone, flew down to surprise her. 'Tis the season for a little investigating. In "The Christmas Collector" by Kristina McMorris, estate liquidator Jenna Matthews isn't one for Christmas nostalgia. But when one grandmother's keepsakes suggest a secret life, unwrapping the mystery leads Jenna - and her client's handsome grandson - to the true heart of the holiday spirit.

My Comments:

The fun thing about Christmas anthologies is that they give you a chance to sample writers whose works you keep seeing, but not buying.  I've never read any of these authors before but will definitely give Holly Chamberlin another chance.

None of these stories was terribly sophisticated or long and they were easy reads.  "A Winter Wonderland" was a pretty basic romance set in Colorado.  She's an actress who figures her time on stage is about at an end; he is a surgeon who just lost a patient and isn't sure he wants to remain a surgeon.  I really enjoyed "The Joy of Christmas".  It was a little darker than the average Christmas romance, but in the end... I really didn't care for "The Christmas Thief" but those who like a little "who dunnit" with their romance probably would like this one--it is part of a series about some crime solving old ladies.  "The Christmas Collector" fell flat for me but it included a second chance at first love.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.  Grade:  B-

Review: When Snow Falls

When Snow Falls (Whiskey Creek)

About the Book:

After growing up in cheap motels, moving from town to town with her sister and mother, Cheyenne Christensen is grateful to be on her own. She's grateful, too, for the friends she found once her family settled in California. But she's troubled by the mystery of her earliest memories, most of which feature a smiling blonde woman. A woman who isn't her mother.

Although Cheyenne has repeatedly asked for explanations, the people who could help aren't talking. Cheyenne is set on finding answers, but without so much as a birth certificate, it won't be easy.

Things get even more complicated when her closest friend is attracted to the man Cheyenne has secretly loved for years. For Eve's sake, she decides to step aside—which lands her right in the arms of Dylan Amos, oldest and baddest of the hell-raising Amos brothers. He's the kind of guy she's sworn to avoid. She can't afford to make a mistake, not when she finally has a chance to learn who she really is and change her life for the better. But…maybe there's more to Dylan than she thought. Maybe letting him go would be a bigger mistake.

My Comments:

This is a sweet story of two people who have plenty of reason to be bitter about life.  Both are the most responsible ones in their families.  She is caring for dying mother who never really properly cared for her; he was left to raise three younger brothers when his mom died and his dad was sent to prison.  Both live on the wrong side of the tracks but she is friends with the crowd from the right side, and plans to move there as soon as her mother dies.  He has never been a part of that crowd, but has always had his eye on her.  

An interesting sub-plot is that Cheyenne has memories that she can't explain; memories her mother won't explain.  There is also the matter of her birth certificate--no one can find it.  Will she ever learn that there is more to her story than meets the eye?

I enjoyed the story, especially the part about Cheyenne's history.  I was a little less fond of the way she and Dylan got together.  To put it simply, it was pure physical attraction on her part, and she really didn't treat him well. It wasn't until after she got to know him (well after they had been physically intimate) that she realized what a good guy he really was.  Grade: B-

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.

Review: My Kind of Christmas

My Kind of Christmas (A Virgin River Novel)

About the Book:

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and-tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough...the tough find the love of a good woman. 

Except the woman who has caught Patrick's attention is Jack Sheridan's very attractive niece. 

Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she'd never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants-and the kind of man! 

Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas-until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie-and for Christmas, Virgin River– style!

My Comments:

This book was very typical of the Virgin River series.  Patrick is military and has been given extended leave after an accident in which his best friend was killed.  He is trying to decide whether to return to the Navy, or to marry his best friend's wife (not that he has consulted her about this).  Angie  is an academic overachiever who, after a serious accident, has decided to pursue the social side of life.  They meet and .....

Like the other Virgin River books it contains pre-marital intimate scenes and when they start, both characters characterize their relationship as a fling.  

Like most books that are part of a series, this one contains a large cast who play little role in the story.  However, the story is simple enough and their appearances brief enough that it really doesn't matter if you've read the other books.  Unlike many Christmas romances, this is a full length book.  

I like the Virgin River books, so I liked this one.  If you have read and not liked others in the series, this one is just more of the same.  Grade:  B.  

Review: An Outlaw's Christmas

An Outlaw's Christmas (Mckettricks)

About the Book:

Celebrate the holidays with a brand-new McKettrick tale by beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller

With his wild heart, Sawyer McKettrick isn't ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona. So he heads to Blue River, Texas, to seek a job as marshal. But in a blinding snowstorm he's injured-and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico.

The shirtless, bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St. James's room behind the schoolhouse says he's a McKettrick, but he looks like an outlaw. As they wait out the storm, the handsome loner has Piper remembering long-ago dreams of marriage and motherhood. But for how long is Sawyer willing to call Blue River home?

As the gray skies clear, Piper's one holiday wish just might bring two lonely hearts together forever.

My Comments:

Now what exactly did you expect when you saw that cover and that title?  Yup, that's what you get.  The rugged handsome guy who is just bad enough to be interesting, coupled with the prim and proper schoolteacher who lets humanity come before prim and proper.  As they spend the week before Christmas cooped up in the schoolhouse of this rural Texas town sparks fly and eventually... However, they don't consummate the marriage until after the marriage, and there is one other intimate scene in the book where readers get to watch the action.  In short, it is a short Christmas novella totally typical of what Linda Lael Miller writes.  Grade:  B-

My Review: Dream Lake

Dream Lake (Friday Harbor)

About the Book:

Dream Lake takes readers once again to the exquisite setting of Friday Harbor, and tells the story of Zoe Hoffman, an innkeeper who has all but given up on love. She’s a gentle, romantic soul, but has been so hurt in the past that she dare not trust her heart with anyone. Especially not Alex Nolan. Alex is the most haunted of all the Nolan brothers. He drinks to keep his demons at bay and not only has he given up on love, he has never, ever believed in it. Zoe and Alex are oil and water, fire and ice, sunshine and shadow. But sometimes, it takes only a glimmer of light to chase away the dark. Dream Lake is classic Lisa Kleypas: romantic, powerful, emotional, and magical.

My Comments:

If you like romances and ghost stories, you'll like this one.  As Alex is renovating his brother's house, he meets the ghost of a WWII pilot.  The pilot does not remember who his is, nor does he know why he is a ghost.  Zoe is a friend of his brother's fiancee, and Zoe needs someone to renovate a house into which she and her grandmother will move.  Her grandmother is descending into dementia.  Of course the story comes together with the ghost knowing the grandmother.  Of course, despite protestations, Zoe and Alex end up together.  As a Kleypas novel, it is steamy in parts.  

Often with series fiction  you feel you've missed something if you don't read the earlier books.  In this case, the books seem to repeat a lot of stuff from earlier books, since the stories are all happening at the same time.  

I enjoyed this library book and give it a B.

Sweet Laurel Falls: My Review

Sweet Laurel Falls (Hqn)

About the Book:

Spring should bring renewal, but Maura McKnight-Parker cannot escape the past. Still reeling from the loss of one daughter, the former free spirit is thrown for a loop by the return of her older daughter, Sage, and the reappearance of her first love, Sage's father. Jackson Lange never knew his daughter-never even knew that he'd left the love of his life pregnant when he fled their small town-but he has never forgotten Maura.

Now they are all back, but Sage has her own secret, one that will test the fragile bonds of a reunited family. Thrown together by circumstances and dedicated to those they love, Maura and Jackson must learn to move forward and let go of the mistakes of their past for the bright future that awaits them and their friends in Hope's Crossing.

My Comments:

I enjoyed this third book set in Hope's Crossing Colorado.  Maura is a single mom who recently lost one of her two daughters in a car accident that touched the characters in all the books in this series.  Her other daughter returned home from college with her father in tow--the father Maura loved when she was in high school, the father who left before he knew she was pregnant, the father who never knew he had a daughter.  These two get to know each other and the father from whom he is estranged.  They learn that problems in families tend to repeat themselves but that people can change.  All in all, its a sweet story with some depth.  It is also a reasonably clean read with no bedroom scenes, and one that shows the real consequence of bedroom scenes.  It was fun to see that I guessed the mystery character from the other books (though it wasn't the toughest mystery to solve).  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.   Grade:  B.  

The Rancher's Secret Wife: My Review

The Rancher's Secret Wife (Love Inspired)

About the Book:

After knowing the woman for all of three hours, soldier Reese Cooper married waitress Cheyenne Jones. She was pregnant and scared, alone in Las Vegas—and he was about to ship out on a dangerous tour of duty. But months later, Reese comes home to Dawson, Oklahoma, no longer the strong cowboy who vowed to help Cheyenne. Shrapnel and a guarded heart changed everything. But with a wife and baby counting on him, Reese is about to learn what real courage is all about.

My Comments:

I was in the mood for short mindless romances and NetGalley provided this one and others.  If you can get past the highly improbable premise for this book it isn't a bad story.  Reese came home blind and is having to re-learn how to do everything.  Luckily for him, he is part owner of the family ranch and he is a member of a large supportive family.  Cheyenne thinks that no one loves her.  The father of her baby abandoned them.  She was adopted by her parents, and later overheard them make a comment which she took to mean she was not loved.  Together the two of them get to know each other and fall in love.  Reese seemed awfully good at adapting to blindness and citizens of this small town readily took to Cheyenne, so realism isn't a big part of this book.  Still, I enjoyed it and will give it a B-.

Review: Lakeside Family

Lakeside Family (Love Inspired)

About the Book:

In the space of a minute, Nick Brennan learns he has a nine-year-old daughter—and that she desperately needs his help. All this time, his high school sweetheart, single mother Josie Peretti, thought he knew about their child. And that he just didn't care. About the ill little girl—or Josie, the woman he's never forgotten. But Nick made a long-ago promise never to forsake his family the way his father did. A promise he vows to make good on now…if only Josie will bless him with a second chance.

My Comments:

This is a sweet, squeaky-clean somewhat religious romance.  While certainly no classic, it was a perfect book to read while watching the water go by from my chair on the deck of a cruise ship.  Nick and Josie are both highly likable characters and it was easy to root for them.  Books like this show you how HOT a loving kiss can be.  Grade B.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.  

Big Sky Mountain: My Review

Big Sky Mountain

About the Book:

With his rugged good looks, vast wealth and family name, hell-raiser Hutch Carmody is still the golden boy of Parable, Montana. But he's done some growing up-making peace with his illegitimate half brother and inheriting half of Whisper Creek Ranch, which should have been all his. These days, Hutch knows there are some things money can't buy: like the heart of loving, ladylike divorcée Kendra Shepherd.

Kendra's quiet mansion reminds her of what she wants most-a devoted husband and the pitter-patter of little feet. She can't get Hutch Carmody out of her mind. But a rough-and-tumble cowboy like Hutch, coming home for family dinner? Seems crazy! Then again, crazier dreams have become reality under the vast Montana sky.

My Comments:
I reviewed the first book in this series last month, and hopefully will remember to link to it before this is  published.  Like the Big Sky Country, this is an enjoyable read about likable people.  The plot is predictable but as I've said before, I don't read romances for their original plot lines.

Those who read Big Sky Country will remember Hutch and Kendra,and in this book we learn why her ex summoned her to England as he lay dying--it was so she could adopt the baby he had with another woman.  Of course Kendra is a wonderful mom and of course the little one falls in love with Hutch before she does, but in the end, all is well.

I foresee at least two more books in this series, based on characters introduced in the first two books, and I look forward to reading them.  Like all of Miller's books, this one has a steamy scene.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade B.

Other Linda Lael Miller Books:

My Review  My Review My Review My Review My Review

Review: A Callahan Wedding

A Callahan Wedding (Harlequin American Romance)

About the Book:

"Holy Smokes. I'm A Father."
Sabrina McKinley broke Jonas's heart when she left him for another man. Then the eldest Callahan brother gets the surprise of his life when he sees her again…holding his son. Even at six months, his bouncing baby boy was wearing the legendary Callahan smile!

Which means Sabrina has got to marry him, even if Jonas has to drag her to the altar.

Sabrina's been head over heels for the hunky cowboy doctor since the day she first came to Rancho Diablo; it's always been Jonas keeping her at arm's length. She won't settle for anything less than the real deal—the love and happiness that Jonas's five brothers have found.

But when a revelation about a family secret comes out, Sabrina can see Jonas is ready to look toward the future. He won't be the last bachelor on the ranch. After all, he's a Callahan!

My Comments:

You can tell by looking at the book that it is no serious piece of literature.  It is a romance novel and it pretty much follows the basic format.  The subplot about Jonas' parents is interesting and my guess is there is a sequel that will pick up where this book stopped.  I liked the way Sabrina went for what she wanted in life, and the way family was important to all the characters.  Grade:  B- (about the best I give this type of book).

Thanks to the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Review: Woodrose Mountain

Woodrose Mountain

About the Book:

Evie Blanchard was at the top of her field in the city of angels. But when an emotional year forces her to walk away from her job as a physical therapist, she moves from Los Angeles to Hope's Crossing seeking a quieter life. So the last thing she needs is to get involved with the handsome, arrogant Brodie Thorne and his injured daughter, Taryn.

A self-made man and single dad, Brodie will do anything to get Taryn the rehabilitation she needs…even if it means convincing Evie to move in with them. And despite her vow to keep an emotional distance, Evie can't help but be moved by Taryn's spirit, or Brodie's determination to win her help—and her heart. With laughter, courage and more than a little help from the kindhearted people of Hope's Crossing, Taryn may get the healing she deserves—and Evie and Brodie might just find a love they never knew could exist.

My Comments:
This book is  a sequel to Blackberry Summer, which I reviewed a few months ago.   Taryn was one of the kids hurt in the accident which happened in that book, but you do not have to have read it to enjoy this one. The book takes us through rehab after a major incident; both the rehab of Taryn's body and the rehab of Evie's heart.  The mystery person from Blackberry Summer is back, and if this person is who I think s/he is, I'd love to read his/her story--I'd like to read it even if my guess is wrong.

While the book includes passionate kissing and one couch scene with a couple of undone buttons, the characters stop at that point, definitely putting this in the "clean" category.  However, the physical attraction between these two crackles every time they are in the same scene.

I really enjoyed this quick easy read and since the rehab subplot was almost more important than the romance plot (which was pretty standard and predictable, I'll give the book a B+.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review, or any review.

Short Review:

Dancing in the Moonlight (Silhouette Special Edition)

About the Book:
Lieutenant Magdalena Cruz had come home…And though all she wanted was to be alone, infuriatingly handsome Dr. Jake Dalton—of the enemy Daltons—wouldn't cooperate. And she needed him to, because the walls around her heart were dangerously close to crumbling every time he came near.…

Jake had spent most of his life trying to get closer to Maggie, with little to show for it. But she was the woman he'd always wanted, and no injury in the world could change that. Now if only he could convince her that the woman who stood before him was beautiful, desirable, whole…and meant to be his.…

My Comments:
I got this as an Amazon Freebie, and as of this writing , it is still free.  You can click the link under the book cover to get it (and I appreciate those who do).  It one of those stories of the boy who has secretly loved her since they were kids, and she has had a grudge against him just as long.  A fun mindless read, some adult activity, but not too explicit.  Grade:  B-

Review: Redwood Bend

Redwood Bend (A Virgin River Novel)

About the Book:
Katie Malone and her twin boys’ trip along the beautiful mountain roads to Virgin River is stopped short by a tire as flat as her failed romance. To make matters worse, the rain has set in, the boys are hungry and Katie is having trouble putting on a spare. As she stands at the side of the road pondering her next move, she hears a distinct rumble. The sight of the sexy, leather-clad bikers who pull up beside her puts her imagination into overdrive.

Dylan Childress and his buddies are on the motorcycle trip of a lifetime. But the sight of a woman in distress stops them in their tracks. And while the guys are checking out her car, she and Dylan are checking out

one another.In one brief moment, the world tilts on its axis and any previous plans Katie and Dylan might have had for their futures are left at the side of the road.

My Comments:

As you can tell by clicking on Robyn Carr's name below the post, I've read and enjoyed all of the Virgin River books published so far, and Redwood Bend is no exception.  Katie is trying to get her life together after being forced to spend a year away from family due to her brother being a witness to a murder.  She's visiting Virgin River, and while she'd like to stay near her brother who now lives there, she doesn't plan to stay in Virgin River.  While there, she meets Dylan, a man just passing through, a man with a past.  In some ways it is love at first sight; in others it is a re-kindling of old love (on her side, not his).  Both of them are afraid of getting hurt.  She wants to make sure her kids don't get hurt.  It's a Virgin River book so we know it has a happy ending--and a couple of steamy pre-marital scenes.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.  Grade:  B.