A Convenient Christmas Wedding by Regina Scott

A Convenient Christmas Wedding by Regina Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fifth book in the Frontier Bachelor series, but stands very well on its own. I haven’t read the other books yet (planning to), but jumped to this one since I’m reading Christmas books right now.

I thought this was a sweet story. I really liked Nora, I thought she was an interesting character. I love how she turns Simon’s life upside down. He can be a bit of a fuddy-duddy, but she brings out a better side to him. I’m always a sucker for a good marriage of convenience story and thought it was well done here. There are some really sweet moments and fun interactions between the characters. I liked the Christmas elements, and cozy setting. Overall, a fun read!

Content: Clean, mild kissing, no language or violence. Moderate religious elements.


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Blog Tour: A Cowboy to Keep by Karen Rock

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

A Cowboy to Keep

by Karen Rock
Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 7th 2017 by Harlequin

Can't stop running from the past

Dani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she'll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy's arms…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo
Book Depository│Harlequin

My Review

I really enjoyed this one. I thought the plot and setting were a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed the characters of Dani and Jack. Both have troubling pasts that they're trying to get over and neither are looking for romance. They have great chemistry together, I enjoyed their playful teasing. I also loved how Dani was able to see past Jack's gruffness to the good mad underneath. I really enjoy contemporary westerns and this had an added mystery that kept things interesting. Overall, I thought I really enjoyed this one. I thought the plot and setting were a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed the characters of Dani and Jack. Both have troubling pasts that they're trying to get over and neither are looking for romance. They have great chemistry together, I enjoyed their playful teasing. I also loved how Dani was able to see past Jack's gruffness to the good mad underneath. I really enjoy contemporary westerns and this had an added mystery that kept things interesting. Overall, I thought this was a fun contemporary romance. I hear it's the start of a new series and I can't wait to read more!

About the Author

In a quest to provide her ELA students with quality reading material, educator Karen Rock read everything out there and couldn't wait to add her voice to the genre. In addition to her work as a Young Adult romance novelist, she's now an author for Harlequin's Heartwarming line and thrilled to pen stories that moms can share with their teenage daughters. She's loved Harlequin books since she spent summers going through her grandmother's Presents books that she passed along in paper grocery bags each year. As half of the writing duo J.K. Rock, Karen also pens young adult romance. When she's not busy writing, Karen enjoys scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, reinventing her gardens to suit her moods and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels, who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website.

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Tour Schedule

February 4th: Launch
February 5th:
Christy's Cozy Corners
underneath the covers
Rockin' Book Reviews
Katie's Clean Book Collection
Bookworm Nation
February 6th:
I Am A Reader
Nicole's Book Musings
With Love for Books
Reading Is My SuperPower
Urban Book Reviews
Mythical Books
February 7th:
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
Hearts & Scribbles
Brooke Blogs
Okie Dreams Book Reviews
Falling Leaves
February 8th:
Paulette's Papers
Getting Your Read On
Thoughts of a Blonde
Becky on Books
Book Reviews
Heidi Reads...
February 9th:
Fire and Ice Book Reviews
Mel's Shelves
Lola's Reviews
Zerina Blossom's Books
Anny Books
February 10th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will win the above Prize Pack: 7 Paperbacks & a $50 Amazon Gift Card (US only)
- 1 winner will their choice of an ebook of one of Karen's backlisted titles (open internationally)
- Ends February 14th

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The Express Rider's Lady by Stacy Henrie

The Express Rider's Lady by Stacy Henrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

I thought this was a charming western romance. Delsie is determined to get to her sister's wedding, only problem is she's in California and only has two weeks to get there. With little options for her, she decides the best way to get there is higher and Express Rider and ride like the wind!

Myles Patton has been burned by women before and when Delsie shows up pleading for an escort to California, he doesn't want anything to do with her. When she offers him an outrageous some of money to get her there he simply can't refuse. Thinking she'll bail out after one day, he is surprised when she takes on challenges head-on and never gives up. Slowly his apprehension turns to admiration. I really enjoyed Delsie and Myles, I love a relationship that develops naturally and isn't instalove. They have to learn to trust one another and through their experiences they really become to depend on one another. It's really a sweet romance.

I also enjoyed the setting and learning more about express riders. Overall, I thought this was a fun read. The story was well developed and paced well. The characters were likable and easy to root for, a nice sweet romance and easy to recommend.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Moderate

Source: Review copy

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Before the Larkspur Blooms by Caroline Fyffe

Before the Larkspur Blooms by Caroline Fyffe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took me to finally read this one. The author was very kind to send me a review copy awhile back, unfortunately with all my moving around it's now safely in storage. While updating my reading list the other day I realized I never reviewed this one. So I grabbed a copy from Amazon and curled up next to the fire and dived into the charming town of Logan Meadows.

Thom Donovan has spent the past eight years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He is finally free and looking forward to returning home and starting new. Things are not quite how he left them and he's in for a few surprises, not all of them are good. I liked Thom's character quite a bit. He has grown a lot over the past eight years. I liked that he was strong and wanted to redeem his family name, prove himself. I also liked our heroine, Hannah. Also a strong character who doesn't put up with much. I liked that she wasn't afraid to show Thom how she felt, even when he was pushing her away. I felt their friendship and felt their love for each other. I thought they were a cute couple.

There were two different stories woven into this one book. I admit, I wasn't a big fan of sharing page-time on another couple/story. Maybe if the second story had been told more from Thom/Hannah's POV somehow it wouldn't have bugged me so much. I guess I just wanted the focus to be on Thom and Hannah.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I liked the setting of Logan Meadows and the interesting people that live there. I look forward to checking out the rest of the series!

Content
Romance: Clean, mild kissing
Language: None-Mild, seems like there might have been a couple
Violence: Mild
Religious: None

Source: Originally review copy in storage so got mine via Amazon

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Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton

A bet gone wrong. A small town s meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch. Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it s beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie s bosses know this is the opportunity she's been looking for to launch her career and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the betthat he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat. Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he d like, but he knows it's the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru s fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do for her own good. In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart s desires.

I really enjoying this one!

When I saw my friend Aimee's review mention swoony cowboys I had to give this one a try. This was a sweet contemporary western. I liked the overall plot and the characters were great.

Maggie has had a hard life, but is always able to see the positive in things. She has taken this talent and become an advice columnist. She was an easy character to like and relate to. I liked how even though she had experienced a rough upbringing, she was still a caring person. She went out of her way to help others and was always lifting up those around her. I loved that.

Tru Monahan was a true cowboy. He is hardworking and loyal and takes care of those he loves. He has to fight his attraction to Maggie, but still ends up doing a good job of courting her despite his intention to leave her alone. They have good chemistry together and I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. I like that they were able to become friends and that Maggie was able to turn to Tru when she needed him (drives me nuts when heroines refuse to go to the hero for help), it was refreshing to see her actually trust him, especially after everything she had been through. It was a big move for her.

I also enjoyed the side-story of Jenna, which touched a little close to home. I am on the opposite side of adoption, I was blessed with a sweet little boy almost five years ago. I often think of his birth mother and the amazing sacrifice she made to give him up and to a loving family. I know that Heavenly Father sends extra blessings to these birth moms who are able to help a couple have a baby when they haven't been able to on their own. Adoption is truly a wonderful thing and even though I can't imagine how hard that sacrifice is, I know being on the receiving end is truly a miracle. I thought it was handled well in the story.

Overall, a charming read! I enjoyed the setting and am looking forward to reading Bo and Jarrods story, I'll be keeping my eye out for more in this series for sure! I do wish there had been an epilogue, there were a couple things left up in the air.

Content
Romance: Clean
Other: Mild talk of Jenna and Maggie's past, nothing graphic
Religious: Mild, very little religious content and not preachy at all

Source: Received review copy from publisher for honest review.

This has been nominated for a 2015 Swoony Award, you can vote for it here.

Petticoat Detective by Margaret Brownley

Pinkerton detective Jennifer Layne is no stranger to undercover work. But posing as a lady companion named Amy at Miss Lillian’s Parlor House and Boots is a first for her. She’s finally landed a high-profile case and is on the trail of the notorious Gunnysack Bandit, when one of Miss Lillian’s girls essential to her investigation meets an untimely demise. Only a handful of people are in the house at the time of her death, including handsome Tom Colton, a former Texas Ranger determined to clear his brother’s name. Amy has many reasons to suspect Tom of murder—and one very personal reason to hope that she’s wrong about him.

I really enjoy Ms. Brownley's Westerns. She is always able to weave in a fun western setting with humor and romance.

Even after reading the synopsis I didn't realize the story takes place at a bordello, our heroine Amy has to pose as a prostitute in order to track down the Gunnysack Bandit. Even though the story takes place at a bordello and the mystery around two murders, it was an uplifting and pretty lighthearted read, never felt too heavy even though the subject matter was pretty serious.

Amy works for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, I remembered studying them a little while in college and it's always fun to see them references in my historical novels. Anyway, Amy has a hard time with this assignment, but it was interesting to get a "behind the scenes" look into a bordello and your heart can't help but hurt for ladies forced into this profession. One of the girls Rose is killed the day Amy arrives, she was also supposed to be Amy's contact so she's having to start from scratch. A mysterious stranger in town, Tom Colton is also investigating the case and the two pair up to try and solve the mystery. Tom doesn't realize Amy's true identity and purpose and is turn when he starts to have feelings for who he thinks is a prostitute. There are some funny situations that arise from Amy's deception and I was impressed that the author was able to keep things light. I also liked how things wrapped up at the end.

Overall, a fun western romance.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Moderate
Other: Mild (details about life at a bordello)

Source: Received ARC from publisher for honest review.

Longing for Home by Sarah M Eden

Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she'll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots. The town is caught in an ongoing feud between the Irish and the "Reds" the frontiersmen who would rather see all the Irish run out of town and the Irish immigrants who are fighting to make a home for themselves in the New World. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie on as his housekeeper, the feud erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love though only one might be able to restore hope to her heart.

I liked this one. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but overall I liked it. Our heroine, Katie, has a lot of spunk. She has had a very hard life and is pretty hard on herself. She has moved to Wyoming to try and earn enough money to move back to Ireland to help out her estranged family. Once there she finds a new family and friends who love and accept her. With their friendship she really starts to warm up and open her heart to letting people in. Her sad story is a constant part of the story and you can’t help feeling sorry for her and rooting for her to find peace.

When she arrives in the small town of Hope Springs it stirs up an old rivalry between the Irish and non-Irish. I know these prejudices existed, but it was sure hard to read about. I have never been able to understand how people can be so cruel to one another, especially over something as stupid as where they were born. It is especially hard to read about supposedly Christian people who would hate someone just because of their nationality. And it’s sad that their preacher would encourage this kind of discrimination. He should know better.

So, aside from Katie’s sad past and all the turmoil with the townsfolk, I think what I had the hardest time with was the love-triangle. I am just not a fan of these, as many of you know. While I loved both Joseph and Tavish, I always feel this plot distracts from the courtship. Both guys are hard working, charming and care a great deal for Katie. I liked that they put her first and were always doing things to support her and make her feel welcome. I'm think I'm on Team Tavish, but I sure hope there is someone for Joseph. Since this is the first book in the series, hopefully it will end with everyone getting their own happily ever after.

It did seem like the first in a series, where there is a lot of set-up and back story, but not a whole lot happens. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where things go. If you like historical fiction I suggest picking it up, Ms. Eden is a great storyteller.

Content: Clean.

A Secret Fire by Deborah McBride Hathaway

Synopsis
Emma Marchant leads an uneventful life, but when cowboy Thatcher Deakon walks into the Marchant Inn that she runs with her family, she fears she may never be the same. Can Emma gain confidence in herself and realize that she has the right to be in love? Only Thatcher can help her overcome her insecurities, but he has his own fears to surmount. This heartwarming romance novel reveals that when the love between two people is real, it can exceed all obstacles.

Review

I really enjoyed this one. I was quickly sucked into the story by Emma’s endearing character. I thought Emma was really likable, a bit shy at times, but a sweetheart. Thatcher was a doll, I fell for him right off the bat, just like Emma. I thought they had good chemistry and some really nice moments together (Mmmm, kissing in the rain!). It really is a sweet story and full of that good old western charm. I even got a kick out of snobbish Nancy Jane, she was quite mean-spirited, but added a fun element to the story.  I thought the story was well written and moved along nicely. I also liked Eliza, Seth and James who were all fun characters and added a lot to the story. I’ll definitely be rereading this one! Overall, a very enjoyable read, at times it reminded me of Marcia McClure (which is a good thing), so if you enjoy her books you’ll enjoy this one just as much!   

Thanks so much to the author for a review copy, I loved the story and look forward to reading more from Deborah McBride Hathaway! 

Content: Clean

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

Bookworm Rating: 4

Synopsis: Shay Brandenberger is a survivor. She's lived through a crazy childhood, a failed marriage, and single parenthood-with her confidence intact. But not for long. Because when Shay participates in her town's Founder's Day wedding reenactment, she finds herself face-to-face with the one man who takes her breath away and leaves her weak in the knees: Travis McCoy. Travis is back in town after years way on the rodeo circuit. His one regret in life is breaking Shay's heart when they were high-school sweethearts. He's determined to get it right this time.So when their Founder's Day "marriage" is accidentally made official, Travis seizes the day. Can Shay put aside her pride to let Travis help her, or will their accidental marriage be dissolved before it can begin?

Review: This is the first book I’ve read by Denise Hunter, and it won’t be the last. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed reading Travis & Shay’s story. Travis ditched Shay on their wedding day, and now fourteen years later he shows up wanting to win her back. I admit, sometimes I was pretty mad at Travis. Why are guys so dense? But, he really won me over. I thought he and Shay had great chemistry together. I could totally understand why Shay had some pretty thick walls up and I’m glad she made Travis work for it. This has two of my favorite kinds of plots, lost-love and marriage-of-convenience, what could be better? I thought the accidental wedding storyline was very believable. I really enjoyed how everything played out.

I didn’t realize that there had been a book before this, A Cowboy’s Touch, about Wade and Abigail who show up in this story. The Accidental Bride stands on its own, but I’m excited to go back and read Wade and Abigail’s story.

Release Date: January 3, 2012

The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice

This was a really sweet read. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Georgie was forced to move away from her childhood home and always longed to return. After five long years she is finally able to return to her Grandfather in Colorado. Once back she immediately runs into her childhood crush and the fun really begins. Georgie is a really likable character. She speaks her mind and yet is very sweet and loving. She cares deeply for her family and friends. Our leading man, Ridge, is also very likable. They have nice chemistry together. The supporting characters are also enjoyable. I loved Georgie’s Irish grandfather and the loveable cowhands. Samantha and Dawson were also great.

I really enjoyed the story, the setting was nice. There is even a little adventure thrown in at the end which added a fun element to the story. It was a fun escape. The story did remind me of a book called The Touch of the Lover’s Moon by Marcia McClure, which is also about childhood sweethearts who are torn apart and then reunited years later.

Release Date: December 6, 2011

The Marryin' Kind by Nancy J. Parra

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: February 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: At the ripe old age of twenty-three, Madeline Morgan is resigned to the idea that love and marriage are not for her. Unfortunately, her father disagrees and comes up with an ingenious plan. Robert Morgan proclaims that neither of his younger daughters can marry until Maddie does. Aghast at being hounded by sweaty bachelors anxious to win the pot and her hand, Maddie turns to her brother for help. Her brother's solution is to spread the story that Maddie was pining away for the love of her life, Evan Montgomery, who left for the war and has never returned. As luck would have it, two years later Trevor Montgomery returns home to find a beautiful stranger living there, claiming to be his brother's fiancé. Trevor works to uncover the truth behind the woman who has stolen more than his family home.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoy the Morgan Brothers/Sister books. This story follows the oldest sister Maddie. Maddie was a likable character, she is headstrong and won’t be pushed into marriage. Our leading man, Trevor, was also likable. I wondered at one point if there was going to be a twist to the story (Trevor was actually Evan), but it all played out pretty predictably. They had good chemistry together and the main plot was believable.

Overall, I thought the story was cute, it wasn’t my favorite of the series, but still enjoyable (I think Beth’s story is still my favorite). Both series are fun, clean, romantic reads and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice light-hearted story.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: The Marryin' Kind
Book Two: The Bettin' Kind
Book Three: The Lovin' Kind

Loving Lana by Nancy J Parra

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: October 2003

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Lana Tate dreams of the day she can leave Wyoming and live in a more civilized place like San Francisco or New York. Since her mother died her father has been paralyzed with grief, and Lana must sing in the saloon just to earn enough money to make it through the winter. Taggart Morgan watches the reward for the capture of the legendary wild stallion grow until it reaches two thousand dollars. Taggart expects competition for the stallion, but he never suspected that a delicate but determined young gal would be the one to stand between him and his goal.

Kathy’s Review: I really enjoyed this one. The story was cute, lighthearted and fun. Lana and Taggart had great chemistry. They could be arguing one moment and totally caring the next, and it worked. The plot was cute, how they are both going after the same wild stallion and eventually have to work together. Both the Morgan Brother series and the Morgan Sisters are fun reads, I think I like the sisters a little more, but overall they are great and I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice romantic story.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: Marrying Kind
Book Two: The Betting Kind
Book Three: The Loving Kind

Wyoming Wedding by Nancy J Parra

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: October 2004

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Shay Morgan has never met a woman he can't charm---ever. When old Ben Edwards asks Shay to bring his stubborn daughter Jenny home for one last visit before he leaves this world, Shay is sure she'll gladly come home with him. Dr. Jenny Edwards has no love for the father who abandoned her and her sick mother when she was a child. When Shay rides into town he's taken aback by the beautiful, gentle doctor. He opts not to tell her why he is in town, knowing he must gain her trust before he can take her home.

Kathy’s Review: This wasn’t my favorite of the Morgan series that I have read. I enjoyed the story and like that it was quick and clean. Jenny Edwards was a good heroine. She overcame a lot of struggles and became a great leader in her community. She is a doctor, which was kind of rare at the time, but the town loved her and supported her. She had a big heart, but is very cautious of trusting men. All her beliefs get flipped upside down when Shay Morgan comes to town. I wasn’t a big fan of Shay’s, he was just a little too into himself and knew what his looks did to people and used it to his advantage. He just wasn’t humble enough for me I guess. Jenny did have a good influence on him and they had good chemistry. The story was a little predictable; I was a little disappointed with Jenny’s dad and wanted a little remorse and some explanations from him. Overall, it was an okay read. It worth reading if you read the other books in the series, which I recommend.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Morgan Brothers:
Book One: Saving Samantha
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Wyoming Wedding

Morgan Sisters:
Book One: Marrying Kind
Book Two: The Betting Kind
Book Three: The Loving Kind

To Echo the Past by Marcia Lynn McClure

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: As her family abandoned the excitement of the city for the uneventful lifestyle of a small, western town, Brynn Clarkston's worst fears were realized. Stripped of her heart's hopes and dreams, Brynn knew true loneliness. Until an ordinary day revealed a heavenly oasis in the desert . . . Michael McCall. Handsome and irresistibly charming, Michael McCall (the son of legendary horse breeder Jackson McCall) seemed to offer wild distraction and sincere friendship to Brynn. But could Brynn be content with mere friendship when her dreams of Michael involved so much more?

Kathy’s Review: This was the sequel (kind of) to Desert Fire. It follows the son from Jackson & Annie. I thought it was a cute story, kind of uneventful and a little cookie-cutter. Brynn seemed really similar to a lot of other heroines in McClure books, I kind of wish she had more of a backbone and wasn’t so bashful around Michael. Michael was also a lot like other heroes from McClure books. I did like that they had normal names, and even though it was predictable it was still enjoyable. The “drama” at the end seemed a little random, not enough build up and was over pretty quickly. Not my favorite McClure book, but still cute.

Bookworm Rating: 3

Desert Fire by Marcia Lynn McClure

Genre: Western Romance

Publication Date: 2005

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

First Line: She felt something on her face.

Kathy’s Review: The book starts with our main character waking up with amnesia with a very handsome man rescuing her from dying in the desert. He takes her back to his family and slowly her memories begin to come back. As her memories return she realizes that she is in danger and on the run.

I really enjoyed this story, it was a quick, fun read. I liked Annie (I prefer to call her Annie rather than her real name…Malania), she was spunky and held her own. While she does fall for Jackson quickly, its believable and their relationship progress at a nice pace. I liked Jackson, he was a good leading man and even though he was rough around the edges he was a softy at heart. There were quite a few close calls for Jackson, six times saving Annie may have been a bit too much. It also seemed to be a little less cheesy then some of the other McClure books I've read. The story really reminded me of Marcia’s other book Weathered Too Young; the storylines seemed a little too similar. Overall, a cute western romance.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Similar Reads:
Weathered Too Young by Marcia L McClure

The Prairie Prince by Marcia Lynn McClure

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: April 2008

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: For Katie Matthews life held no promise of true happiness. Life on the prairie was filled with hard labor, a brutal father, and the knowledge she would need to marry a man incapable of truly loving a woman. Men didn't have time to dote on women-so Katie's father told her. To Katie, it seemed life would forever remain mundane and disappointing-until the day Stover Steele bought her father's south acreage. Handsome, rugged and fiercely protective of four orphaned sisters, Stover Steele seemed to have stepped from the pages of some romantic novel. Yet, his heroic character and alluring charm only served to remind Katie of what she would never have-true love and happiness the likes found only in fairytales. Furthermore, evil seemed to lurk in the shadows, threatening Katie's brightness, hope, and even her life! Would Katie Matthews fall prey to disappointment, heartache and harm? Or could she win the attentions of the handsome Stover Steele long enough to be rescued?

Kathy’s Review: This was another enjoyable story from Marcia McClure. I was glad at least one of the leading characters had a normal name (Katie), even though our hero (Stover) was stuck with a very unique one. I did enjoy Katie and Stover, although I felt the book went by a little too quickly. While I realize this is a “romance” book, I still would have liked a little more buildup between Katie and Stover; I love a little more tension at the beginning. The side story of Jared and Pillar was sweet and I loved Stovers three little sisters. I also thought Katie’s home life added a little more depth to the story, and was happy that everything ended up well. All in all, I thought this was a good book and one I would read again.

I just have to get this off my chest, the only thing that bothered me about this story was how whenever Katie was thinking about Stover (which was all the time) she always thought of him as “Stover Steele” I guess I just got tired of hearing his first and last name throughout the entire story. This happened with a couple other characters as well, and I just wonder what the significance is with using his last name all the time? I guess it’s just a personal pet peeve of mine and distracts from the flow of the story…at least for me.

Bookworm Rating: 4

The Heavenly Surrender by Marcia Lynn McClure

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: 2001

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Genieva Bankmans had willfully agreed to the arrangement. She had given her word and she would not dishonor it. Yet when she saw, for the first time, the man whose advertisement she'd answered...she was desperately intimidated. The handsome and powerful Brevan McLean was not what she'd expected-he was not the sort of man she'd reconciled herself to marrying. This man-the stranger whose name Genieve now bore-was strong-willed, quick-tempered and expectant of much from his new wife. Brevan McLean did not deny that he had married her for practical reasons only. He merely wanted any woman whose hard work would provide him assistance with the brutal demands of farm life. Still, Genieva would learn there were far darker things, grave secrets held unspoken by Brevan McLean concerning his family and his land. Genieva Bankmans McLean would find herself in the midst of treachery, violence and villainy-her estranged husband deeply entangled in it.

Kathy’s Review: I think my expectations may have been a little high for this one. I thought the plot sounded fun and I’ve grown to love the old western setting. I just couldn’t get past the (sorry to say) awful Spanish and Irish accents. Brevan (as well as Brian & Brenna) sounded like an Irish Yoda. Their way of speaking just distracted me from the story, as well as Lita (and her brothers) Spanish accents. While I did think the story was sweet, I thought it was missing some of the tension that really captures your attention. I was a little tired of Brevan and Genieva both being in love but doing nothing about it. When Genieva went to bed exhausted from all the farm labor, I felt exhausted as well. I know I wouldn’t have been a very good rancher’s wife. I admired her coming from the busy city life and adjusting so well to the frontier life. However, looking back on it, I don’t think her need to “run away” was really fully developed, and was a little disappointed with how things played out with her family. The secrets that Brevan were keeping also ended up being a little lackluster; I couldn’t see any reason why he would have kept them from Genieva. Anyway, I would have liked a little more tension between Brevan and Genieva, as well as a little more build up with the “bad guys”; I never really felt any real fear of them or the situation. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys McClure’s novels.

Bookworm Rating: 3

The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: July 2002

One Word Review: Comfy

Author Website: www.marcialynnmcclure.com

First Line: “Oh, Vonnie…this is so exciting!”

GoodReads Synopsis: Youthful beauty, naïve innocence, a romantic imagination thirsting for adventure-an apt description of Vaden Valmont, who would soon find the adventure and mystery she had always longed to experience-in the form of a man. A somber recluse, Ransom Lake descended from his solitary concealment in the mountains, wholly disinterested in people and their trivial affairs. And somehow, young Vaden managed to be ever in his way-either by accident or because of her own unique ability to stumble into a quandary. Yet the enigmatic Ransom Lake would involuntarily become Vaden's unwitting tutor. Through him, she would experience joy and passion the like even Vaden had never imagined. Yes, Vaden Valmont stepped innocently, yet irrevocably, into love with the secretive, seemingly callous man-Ransom Lake. But there were other life's lessons Ransom Lake would inadvertently convey to her as well. The darker side of life-despair, guilt, heartache. Would Ransom Lake be the means of Vaden's dreams come true? Or the cause of her complete desolation?

Kathy’s Review: Marcia McClure is quickly becoming a favorite author. I’ve read a couple of her eBooks and two of her novels, all have been a pleasure to read. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, I had read a few reviews that said this was their favorite McClure book so I gave it a try. I really enjoyed the story, the romance and the setting. Vaden starts off very naïve, young and full of life. I actually wondered how old she was because she was acting so young, but her character does grow throughout the story. I think she was a bit hung up on Ransom, I would have liked a little more independence, but it is a “romance” novel so o-well. I also really liked Ransom, he is a great leading man, full of troubles, grumpy and you know deep down he’s a teddy bear. I liked that Ransom and Vaden brought out the best in each other and of course they had great chemistry. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and will definitely be reading more McClure books in the near future!

What kept this from being a “five star” rating was first, the names. I am not a fan of weird character names (Ransom and Vaden??). Second, it also bothers me when authors use a characters full name throughout the entire book. The whole book we hear Ransom Lake this and Ransom Lake that. I think we know his name; Idon’t need to be reminded of it all the time. Just a personal pet-peeve. And lastly, the majority of the story takes place in winter and yet Ransom seems to be running around with his shirt off an awful lot (not that that is a bad thing, just not consistent with the weather, IMO).

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

A Wanted Man by Nancy Parra

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: December 2002

One Word Review: Fun

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

First Line: “The boy is mine, bought and paid for fair an’ square.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Brianna McGraw ventures out West to find and rescue her brother from bandits who will sell him illegally to the highest bidder. Separated after they were orphaned a few years ago, Brianna has worked hard as a librarian to save money for the trip. But when she arrives, she realizes she has to somehow come up with a thousand dollars to buy him back. She then sees a wanted poster with a sufficient reward and decides to become a bounty hunter, accomplishing two good deeds at once--bringing a criminal to justice and saving her brother. Trey Morgan's renegade days are long over. He is at home on his ranch, tending to his cattle, when Brianna appears and arrests him. He is more amused than concerned, wondering how she thinks she's going to drag him 900 miles through the mountains. To his surprise, Brianna proves over and over again that she is intelligent and strong enough to make the long and grueling trip. While he quietly observes his beautiful captor, his discomfort grows when she begins to win more and more of his respect and admiration. Soon, the threat his beautiful captor holds over him is not so much in the pistol she wields, but the lasso she has firmly fastened over his heart.

Kathy’s Review: Parra certainly creates some very likable characters. Brianna was a hoot, I liked her right from the start. Her interactions with Trey were fun and left a smile on my face. I’m not sure about the historical aspects of the story, but she finds herself in a tough situation and really takes her problems head on. With all of the Parra novels I’ve read so far she takes these interesting plot ideas and makes them very believable. I thought Trey was great, I loved that he just “gives up” right at the beginning because he is so curious about what this “little chit” was up to. The more time they spend together they more they fall for one another, and it was fun to be along for the ride. Again, like her other books, I wish it had been a little longer. It kind of feels like things get wrapped up a little too quickly and I would have liked a few more chapters, at least. I still really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it.

Bookworm Rating: 4

The Lovin' Kind by Nancy J Parra

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: April 2006

One Word Review: Cute

Author Website: www.nancyjparra.com

First Line: “It was the most humiliating day of Beth Morgan’s life.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Beth Morgan has never met a man she couldn't love. All her life the Wisconsin beauty has been happily surrounded by beaus. It isn't until she starts down the aisle that she realizes it's the attention she loves and not the actual men. So, Beth does what any self respecting socialite would do. She turns on her heel and runs. Quaid Blair hunts down the runaway bride, drags the spoiled willful girl home, dumping her ruined wedding dress and all in her father's study. She has to get out of town now, even if it means going all the way to Wyoming with none other than Quaid Blair. Quaid agrees to take the spoiled vixen to her brother in Wyoming. He figures it will take one maybe two days on the trail before Beth Morgan caves to the hardship of pioneering and demands to be taken back home. The trip becomes a battle of wills and Quaid learns there is more grit to this stubborn woman than he first thought. Admiration turns to love, but once back in civilization, will this fickle woman go back to gathering beaus? Beth comes to understand the difference between infatuation and true love. But Quaid has seen her at her worst. How could any man forget the spoiled girl she once was?

Kathy’s Review: I actually think I liked this one more than The Bettin’ Kind, which is saying a lot since I really enjoyed The Bettin’ Kind. I guess I just really liked Beth and Quaid. Beth is so stubborn, she totally reminded me of me. I have a pretty strong stubborn streak and could totally see myself in Beth’s shoes, although I think she probably handled things a lot better than I would have. Quaid was just great, I liked that he tried to get under Beth’s skin, but was also really protective of her and deep down really cared about her. The setting was a lot of fun as well and the different struggles they have to go through. The romance is sweet and grows stronger throughout the story; I was enjoying myself so much I didn’t want the story to end. I do wish it would have been a little longer, but again its probably just because I liked the characters so much. I look forward to reading more of Nancy’s books!

Bookworm Rating: 4.5

Morgan Sister Romance:
Book One: The Marryin’ Kind
Book Two: The Bettin’ Kind
Book Three: The Lovin’ Kind

Morgan Brothers Romance:
Book One: Wyoming Wedding
Book Two: A Wanted Man
Book Three: Loving Lana
Book Four: Saving Samantha