Wildflower Bride

CONNEALY, MARY

WILDFLOWER BRIDE

Wade has a hero reflex but Abby has a knife reflex!

Glowing Sun has never met a man she didn't pull a knife on -- including the man who's determined to marry her.

Glowing Sun, a white woman raised by the Flathead Indians is one of a handful left alive after the people of her village are slaughtered. When those remaining blame her for bringing on the killing spree, she is forced to leave her tribe.

With a vague memory of her life in the white world, which eventually includes a name -- Abby Lind -- she declares her life as Glowing Sun over. But where does she belong now?

Wade Sawyer, having broken ties with his cattle-baron father, makes himself responsible for Abby's survival. But can he win her heart when she pulls a knife at everything that moves?

When Wade receives word that his father may be dying, he heads home, with Abby reluctantly following behind. Neither is aware that land-hungry killers slink in the shadows of the Sawyer Ranch.

Will Abby be able to keep the mild-mannered Wade out of trouble? Will Wade rescue reflex in the way of his common sense? Can they stay alive long enough to fall head over spurs in love?

IF WADE HAS A HERO REFLEX AND ABBY HAS A KNIFE REFLEX, I HAVE A MARY REFLEX! I JUST HAVE TO REACH OUT AND GRAB EVERY SINGLE BOOK I CAN GET MY HANDS ON. AND THEN I HAVE TO READ IT STRAIGHT THROUGH. I LOVE HER HUMOUR -- IT'S DOWN-HOME WITTY AND SO ENTERTAINING. AND I LOVE HER HEROINES. THEY ARE SUCH STRONG WOMEN. IN FACT BELLE TANNER...OOPS, HARDEN...AND GLOWING SUN COULD BE FOLK HEROINES IN THEIR OWN TALL TALES.

I LOVE THAT MARY REDEEMED WADE. I WAS SO SET ON HATING HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF MONTANA ROSE AND SO RELUCTANT TO SEE ANY GOOD IN HIM REGARDLESS OF WHAT RED PREACHED. BUT I HELD A SOFT SPOT FOR HIM AT THE END OF THAT BOOK (FIRST IN THE SERIES) AND WAS THRILLED TO SEE HIS GROWTH IN THE HUSBAND TREE AND ECSATIC (YES I GET WAAAYYY TOO ATTACHED TO MY FAV BOOK CHARACTERS) WHEN I DISCOVERED HE HAD HIS OWN BOOK COMING OUT.

MARY DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF FLESHING HIM OUT, HELPING HIM TO GROW INTO A MAN WITH THE KIND OF STRENGTH THE BULLIES AROUND HIM COULDN'T BEGIN TO MATCH. I LOVED HIS DOGGED DEVOTION TO ABBY; HIS RELENTLESS DETERMINATION TO PURSUE HER DESPITE THE NARROW ODDS OF WINNING HER. BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVED HIS CONVERSION STORY. IT IS SUCH AN UPLIFTING PART OF THE BOOK AND SEAMLESSLY WOVEN IN AMONGST THE LAUGHTER AND ANGST.

SPEAKING OF ANGST. MARY HAS THE OLD WEST OUTLAW DOWN PAT. PURE EVIL BENT ON CAUSING AS MUCH MAYHEM AS POSSIBLE AND MARY LETS THEM HAVE THEIR WAY...TO A POINT.

AND THOSE ACTION SCENES -- STARTING WITH THE VERY FIRST PAGE! MARY HAS PACING DOWN TO A FINE ART AND EXPENDS JUST ENOUGH WORDS TO CATAPULT YOU OUT OF YOUR EASY CHAIR AND RIGHT INTO THE WILD WEST.

ABBY IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE HEROINES I HAVE MET. I LOVE HER FRESH POINT OF VIEW -- AS A WHITE WOMAN WHO HAD GROWN UP IN A FLATHEAD VILLAGE SHE HAS KEEN OBSERVATIONS OF THE SUPPOSEDLY SUPERIOR WHITE WORLD THAT ARE BOTH HUMOUROUS AND PROFOUND. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED HER INTERACTIONS WITH WADE'S FATHER. I COULD HAVE READ A WHOLE BOOKFUL OF THOSE TWO GOING AT EACH OTHER!!! LOL.

MARY HAS OUTDONE HERSELF WITH THE THIRD OF HER MONTANA MARRIAGES SERIES. PLUS SHE'S LEFT THE DOOR OPEN (I HOPE) WITH ALL THOSE UNMARRIED JESSUP BROTHERS NOT TO MENTION TACITURN TOM LINSCOTT.

A Soldier's Devotion

WYATT, CHERYL
A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION

An accidental meeting : U. S. Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon was headed to a lifesaving mission. Until a too-pretty lawyer crashed her fancy car into his motorcycle -- sidelining him for two weeks. Vince can barely accept Valentina Russo's heartfelt apologies. Ever since his brother was wrongly convicted -- and killed -- in prison -- Vince has lost respect for lawyers. But wait -- is that Val volunteering as his refuge for underprivileged kids? If Vince isn't careful, this lady of the law might just earn his respect and his heart.

A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION HAD ME ENTHRALLED FROM THE GRIPPING FIRST PAGE TO THE HEART-WARMING CONCLUSION. THE SOLID ISSUES THAT VINCE AND VAL BATTLE ELEVATE THIS BOOK FROM AN ENJOYABLE LOVE STORY (THOUGH IT IS THAT) TO AN INCREDIBLE AND UPLIFTING MUST-READ.

IT IS FILLED WITH THE STUFF GOOD BOOKS ARE MADE OF -- TENDER MOMENTS...ROMANTIC TENSION PULLED SO TAUT THAT YOU'RE SQUIRMING. IN FACT, THE BOOK IS PEPPERED WITH DROP-DEAD, HEAR-PALPITATING MOMENTS WORTHY OF A FULL BLOWN SWOON! BUT CHERYL ALSO ALLEVIATES TENSION WITH HILARIOUS, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD SCENES.

WHAT STRUCK ME MOST AS I READ THIS BOOK WAS CHERYL'S ABILITY TO CREATE TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS WITH HER EXQUISITE CHOICE OF WORDS.

VINCE IS A MEMORABLE HERO. HE IS ANGRY, BITTER AND HURTING AND HASN'T LET GO OF HIS PAST. THIS IS CONVEYED BY TERSE, SINGLE WORD SENTENCES PUNCTUATED BY FRAGMENTS OF THOUGHTS. GRITTY AND REALISTIC, IT HAD MY HEART POUNDING IN FEAR FOR VAL EVEN THOUGH I KNEW VINCE WAS GOING TO BE THE LOVE INTEREST.

BY CONTRAST, VAL'S THOUGHTS AND WORDS ARTICULATELY FLOW WITH EMOTION AND COMPASSION. THIS TECHNIQUE CARRIES THROUGHOUT THE STORY UNTIL VINCE BEGINS TO CHANGE. AS HE GROWS SO DO HIS THOUGHTS AND WORDS WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTED INTO LONGER SENTENCES THAT GIVE US A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS MAN. I THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC TECHNIQUE TO CONVEY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A CHARACTER. IT ALSO SHOWS HOW FAR APART VAL AND VINCE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF A SOLDIER'S DEVOTION AND HOW UNITED THEY BECAME BY THE END OF THE BOOK.

CHERYL TELLS THIS STORY WITH COMPASSION BORN OF AN UNDERSTANDING HEART WHICH DEFINITELY MAKES IT STAND OUT AMONG OTHER CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES. A BRILLIANT BOOK BY A BRILLIANT AUTHOR.

Whirlwind

HAKE, CATHY MARIE
WHIRLWIND

As a nanny, Millicent Fairweather poured her energy and talents into the two young charges under her care – only to have them suddenly and without explanation sent to a boarding school. Bereft and unsure of where life will lead her, she agrees to accompany her sister and brother-in-law to America. They board the Opportunity, confident a better life awaits.

Widower Daniel Clark determines to begin life anew in Gooding, Texas, operating a mercantile. But when his nanny leaves him stranded aboard the ship with his young son, he finds himself in dire need of assistance. Obtaining temporary help from steerage, Daniel is initially taken aback by the pretty bundle of energy who takes over his suite. Yet Miss Fairweather’s unique child-rearing techniques and tireless devotion to his son win him over.

When tragedy ensues and a whirlwind decision is made, Daniel and Millicent’s lives irrevocably intertwine. Will love soon follow?

THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK I’VE READ BY CATHY MARIE HAKE AND I’M ECSTATIC TO FIND THAT SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF OVER TWENTY NOVELS BECAUSE IF THEY’RE ALL AS CAPTIVATING AS THIS ONE I HAVE HOURS OF READING ENJOYMENT AHEAD OF ME!

DANIEL IS PARTICULARLY APPEALING IN HIS EARNEST ENDEAVOR TO ORGANIZE EVERYTHING – INCLUDING POOR, FREE-SPIRITED MILLICENT. HIS INTENTIONS ARE SO GOOD, BUT HIS DELIVERY LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED WHICH CREATES PLENTY OF HUMOROUS SITUATIONS.

MILLICIENT IS REFRESHING AND FUN AND AN INNOVATIVE NANNY. I LOVE HOW SHE KEEPS DANIEL IN A FLUMMOXED STATE AND HOW BLUNDERING HE IS IN THAT STATE. BUT THERE’S ALSO HIS DETERMINATION TO WOO MILLIE THAT MAKES HIM SO ENDEARING.

THIS IS A LOVELY HISTORICAL READ.

Plain Perfect

WISEMAN, BETH

PLAIN PERFECT

On the rolling plains of Lancaster County, PA, Lillian Miller is searching for her grandparents' house...and so much more. After years of neglect and abuse, she's turning to a lifestyle of simplicity among the Amish to find herself.

As she discards the distractions of her former life, she befriends the young boy working on her family's farm and his attractive widowed father, Samuel Stolzfus. Despite Lillian's best efforts to the contrary, her feelings for Samuel -- and his for her -- deepen. Will Lillian find her faith in plain living or will she be forced to return to her former life?

THIS IS MY FIRST 'BONNET' BOOK THOUGH I'VE LONG HELD A FASCINATION FOR THE PLAIN LIVING PRACTISED BY THE AMISH. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I READ IT IN ONE SITTING. IT IS A STUNNING NOVEL ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND THE PEACE IT BRINGS.

THE ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT IS NICELY PACED AND SAMUEL'S STEADFAST FAITH IS A GREAT FOIL TO LILLIAN'S EMOTIONAL CONFUSION. I ENJOYED WATCHING THEIR LOVE GROW IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES.

ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THIS NOVEL COME TO LIFE. I PARTICULARLY LOVED GRANDPA JONAS, WHO OFTEN HAD ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD. THIS BOOK IS RICH IN DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS -- AND IN HEALING THEM. LILLIAN'S ABILITY TO PUT THE PAST TO REST SO THAT SHE CAN GROW SPIRITUALLY IS INSPIRING. ALL IN ALL A VERY GOOD READ.

A Case for Love

DACUS, KAYE

A CASE FOR LOVE

Falling in love with your lawyer isn't all bad...unless he's the son of the people you're suing.

The Alaine Delacroix that all of Bonneterre knows is the carefully polished image she puts forth every day on her noontime news magazine program. When her parents' home and small business are threatened by the biggest corporation in town, Alaine is forced to choose between her image and fighting for the life her family has built.

Lawyer Forbes Guidry is used to making things go his way. But when he's asked to take on a pro bono case for a colleague he'll learn that he can't control everything -- including his feelings for his new client : Alaine Delacroix.

Alaine's only option to help her family is hiring Forbes, but can she bring herself to trust the handsome, disarmingly charming lawyer? And will Forbes Guidry be able to make a case for love before losing his job and family? Can both trust that God will present a solution before all is lost?

KAYE'S ATTENTION TO SIMPLE DETAILS BROUGHT ME THE TASTE AND FEEL OF LOUISIANA. I ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE VISITED THERE A TIME OR TWO. I LOVE BEING TRANSPORTED TO NEW PLACES THROUGH THE PAGES OF FICTION!

THIS IS MORE THAN A LOVE STORY -- THOUGH I APPRECIATED FORBES' SWIFT 'FALL INTO LOVE'. HIS RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF ALAINE WAS DEFINITELY SWOONWORTHY BUT THE LEGAL CASE THEY ARE EMBROILED IN HAD ME TURNING PAGES AT AN ALARMING SPEED.

I LOVED THE CHARACTER GROWTH IN BOTH FORBES AND ALAINE AND HOW IT PARALLELED EACH OTHER. THEY BOTH TOOK CAREER MOVES THEY HADN'T PLANNED ON -- COULDN'T HAVE EVEN DREAMED OF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK -- BUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL JOURNEYS WERE BOTH BELIEVABLE AND INSPIRING.

Sushi for One?

TANG, CAMY

SUSHI FOR ONE?

Lex Sakai's family is big, noisy, and marriage-minded. When her cousin Mariko gets married, Lex will become the oldest single female cousin in the clan. Lex has used her Bible Study class on Ephesians to compile a huge list of traits for the perfect man. But the one man she keeps running into doesn't seem to have a single quality on her list. It's only when the always-in-control Lex starts to let God take over that all the pieces of this hilarious romance finally fall into place.

MADCAP, CRAZY, SLIGHTLY IRREVERENT AND DEFINITELY HILARIOUS, THIS WAS SUCH A FUN READ. I THINK WE CAN ALL IDENTIFY WITH LEX'S ROMANTIC STRUGGLES ON SOME LEVEL -- THE MORE AUDACIOUS THE BETTER. AND HER ZANY EXTENDED FAMILY! WHAT A RIOT. CAMY HAS A TALENT FOR PAGE-TURNING HUMOUR THAT SHE SPINS WITH HER OWN UNIQUE WRITING STYLE. EVEN SO, THERE IS A POIGNANT SPIRITUAL MESSAGE WOVEN INTO THE STORY AND THE COMBINATION MAKES FOR A VERY SATISFYING READ.

The Husband Tree

CONNEALY, MARY

THE HUSBAND TREE

Standing over her third no-account husband's grave, Belle Tanner makes a vow - no more men. Now all she needs to do is get her cattle to market before winter sets in. But there's no one around except the drifter Silas Harden, and Belle is such a poor judge of men that she can't decide if he is worth hiring on.

Silas just escaped a shotgun wedding -- only to lose his money, his ranch, and his pride. Although he's determined never to get tangled up with womenfolk again, Belle and her four daughters seem to bring out the protector in him. And he can't seem to stop kissing Belle senseless.

When a group of cowpokes show up along the drive Belle has her hands full. Can she keep her oldest daughter away from a no-good cowhand -- and herself out of Silas's arms? Will anyone get through this treacherous cattle drive unscathed and unhitched?

SIGH! A HUNKY HERO BENT ON 'KISSING SENSELESS' CERTAINLY HOLDS MY ATTENTION! WATCH OUT, BELLE, I'VE FALLEN FOR SILAS HARDEN! I LOVE MARY'S HEROES. THEY'RE SO....SWOONWORTHY! AND SHE WRAPS UP THE ROMANCE WITH HUMOUR -- ONE LINE ZINGERS THAT HAD ME HOWLING OUT LOUD (WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARRASSING WHEN READING IN PUBLIC PLACES). TIGHT PLOT, ROMANTIC TENSION, UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TOUCHES OF HUMOUR MAKE THIS A VERY, VERY, VERY, SATISFYING READ.