Review - - Twins for the Rancher

Twins for the Rancher
By Trish Milburn
Publisher: Harlequin Western Romance
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

TV chef and baker, Lauren Shayne has come to Blue Falls, Texas to start a new business, not a new relationship. Lauren has little trust left for the male half of the population after her louse of an ex-fiancé tried to steal half of her business, ruin her reputation, and publicly disavowed paternity of their twin daughters. The only male she needs in her life is her grandfather, Papa Ed, the man behind the idea to open a restaurant in Blue Falls where Lauren will feature Papa Ed's award-winning barbeque recipes, and who has come along to help take care of the babies while Lauren whips the building she's purchased into restaurant shape. But then along comes Adam Hartley. He stops by to pitch his family ranch's branded beef for that delicious barbeque and stays to help. Multiple times. The more Lauren is around him the more she likes him. Everyone says he's a good man. Her grandfather likes him. Her babies adore him. His family seems welcoming and genuine. But Lauren still has those trust issues.

Adam Hartley has a good life and a good family. One of five adopted children, he's known nothing but love and support from the Hartleys. Now he's searching for the right way to give back to the family ranch - as his siblings are doing - to ensure it's stability and prosperity for future generations. The Rocking Horse Ranch Collection - including branded beef - is his idea. If he can secure Lauren's business for his family ranch it will go a long way toward the establishment of that dream. He never anticipated that he would want to "secure" the woman herself. He's smitten from the get-go but, once he learns her background, he knows he has to take it slow if he's going to earn her trust. Will she be able to overcome her fears enough to trust him with her business? With her heart? If she's only willing to choose one, which will it be? Adam knows what he would choose but what about Lauren?

Trish Milburn returns to Blue Falls, Texas for another heartwarming story in this long-running series. I've read, and enjoyed, each one of these books and always look forward to another visit when a new book is released. Milburn really captures the essence of this part of the Texas Hill Country and the essence of the community represented in her fictional town of Blue Falls. While characters from previous books are featured in this one, it doesn't lessen the appeal for readers who haven't read those stories. If you're a fan of the series, it will feel like a visit with old friends but if you're new to Blue Falls, Milburn writes in such a way that you'll feel like you're meeting these characters for the first time, not an outsider looking in on a reunion of people you don't know.

The sizzle factor is low (but not non-existent) in this one and toward the end of the book. The sexual tension, however, builds throughout, making it realistic and heightening the anticipation. Adam and Lauren are both likable characters, deserving of a happy ending. I enjoyed their banter, their close relationships with their respective families, and the way Adam immediately embraces Lauren and the twins as a unit. His scenes with the twins melted me into a puddle or, as Lauren puts it, "her ovaries struck up a lively tune and started tap dancing."

The secondary characters in this book aren't just window dressing. They help to move the plot along while not distracting from the main couple. There is, however, a surprise secondary storyline that should delight fans of the series. I really hope we'll find out more about that down the line along with a story for Adam's sister. I'm also intrigued with Lauren's sister, Violet. Maybe we'll see more of her as well?

If you're looking for a fun, heartwarming romance from the heart of Texas that makes you laugh, sigh, and maybe causes your ovaries to do a little two-step, do give this one a try.

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Saturday Special: One person who leaves a comment on this post before 11:00 PM (Eastern), March 12, will receive a print copy of Twins for the Rancher (U.S. only)

Do you enjoy cooking or baking? What's your signature dish?

If you opened a restaurant, what kind would it be?

Who is the last fictional hero (books/TV/movies) who made your ovaries strike up a lively tune?

Harlequin Highlights

I've been catching up on some new Harlequin category books by a few of my favorite authors this month. Here are my thoughts on the first two.  


Stranded with Her Greek Tycoon
By Kandy Shepherd
Publisher: Harlequin Romance
Release Date: February 1, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

Hayley and Cristos were probably too young when, after a whirlwind courtship, they married against both of their families' wishes but they were deeply in love and determined to be together. Two and a half years into the marriage, a crisis tore them apart and, with the help of her family, Hayley disappeared from his life without a word. Two and a half years after that, while Cristos is attending a family celebration on a Greek island, she reappears just as abruptly...with divorce papers in hand. Desire and deeper feelings still simmer between them but Hayley has buried the past and has no desire to face the emotions that are sure to arise from revisiting it with Cristos. She's made a new life far away to which she plans to return as soon as she gets Cristos' signature on the papers. Will a freak storm give Cristos the time he needs to convince her to give them a second chance? 

Shepherd brings a lot of emotion to this second-chance love story, touching on sensitive topics such as depression, self-worth, and cross-cultural marriage. She makes her characters work for their happy ending in a satisfying romance that is sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heart-wrenching, and carries enough humor, sexual tension, and uncertainty to keep me engaged from beginning to end.


Note: If you like your covers to match your characters, check out the UK cover for this book. It's exactly how I pictured Cristos! 

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Rodeo Sheriff
by Mary Sullivan
Publisher: Harlequin Western
Release Date: February 1, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

Sheriff Cole Payette has had a crush on bar owner Honey Armstrong since arriving in Rodeo, Montana several years ago but has never acted on it. In fact, he barely talks to the beautiful, free-spirited woman. But when he suddenly leaves town then returns, grief-stricken, with two grieving young children in tow, it's to Honey that he turns for help. After the death of her deputy fiance, Honey has vowed to never become involved with another lawman but the more time she spends with Cole and his young niece and nephew, the more that vow is tested. Both Cole and Honey have their reasons for avoiding relationships but when two of Cole's reasons, his estranged parents, show up in town with unreasonable demands, working together may be their only hope of protecting his niece and nephew. Will it also be what opens their eyes to the joy to be found in a life together? 

I've thoroughly enjoyed the first four books in Sullivan's Rodeo, Montana series and have become invested in the lives of these characters and the future of their small town. Her characters are fully developed and relatable, leaving me with the sense of having made new friends with each story I read. Children have had key roles in many of these books, including Rodeo Sheriff, and Sullivan has a particularly deft hand in creating these young characters who bring an endearing, sometimes humorous - but always realistic - quality to the pages.  The sense of community, depth of emotion, and complexity that she brings to these characters and their stories has made Rodeo Sheriff another addition to my keeper shelf and Mary Sullivan one of my auto-buy authors. 


Do you read Harlequin category romances? Do you have a favorite line?  I'm so disappointed that the Harlequin Western line has been cancelled. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all of my favorite Western authors will find a new home for their wonderful stories. 

Review - - Twins on the Doorstep

Twins on the Doorstep

By Marie Ferrarella

Publisher: Harlequin / Western Romance

Release Date: October 3, 2017
Reviewed by Janga

 

Cole McCullough is working part time at The Healing Ranch, the horse ranch run by his friends Jackson and Garrett White Eagle as a last chance before incarceration for troubled boys, and part time with his brother Connor on the family ranch. But neither of these jobs is Cole’s calling. With his three siblings having found their purpose, Cole is wondering what he wants to do with his life. His focus shifts abruptly one morning when twins, about three or four weeks old, are left on his doorstep. The White Eagles question if Cole is the father, a possibility he denies. Another possibility is that since brother Cody delivered the baby of Devon Bennett, now his wife (The Cowboy and the Baby) and sister Cassidy rescued a baby from the river (The Rancher and the Baby), the McCulloughs have just gained the reputation of being good with babies. But with Stacy Rowe, who left town without saying goodbye eight months ago, back in Forever, Cole begins to wonder if he might be the father after all.

Stacy left town when she became convinced that Cole did not return her feelings. Her Aunt Kate, convinced that a change of scenery was the best cure for Stacy’s broken heart, took her niece on an extended European vacation. But Aunt Kate died on the trip, and Stacy had to return to settle her affairs. Finding that her house had been destroyed by fire during her absence, she takes a room at the hotel. She is volunteered to help care for the twins from their first visit to the medical clinic, and when Connor McCullough offers her a room in exchange for caring for them in the McCullough home, she agrees. Soon she and Cole are caring for the babies together and falling in love again. Can they move past the misunderstandings of the past to become a family of four? And who is the twins’ mother?

Twins on the Doorstep is the seventeenth book in Marie Ferrarella’s Forever, Texas series. Typical of this popular and prolific author’s short category romances, it is a slight story with a sweet romance and an emphasis on family dynamics. The McCulloughs are an appealing family. Stacy may be less sympathetic initially, but her sad history and her devotion to the twins should win readers over quickly. Forever is filled with stout hearts and amiable eccentrics who will please those who have an affection for the small-town subgenre.

If you have enjoyed Ferrarella’s books in the past or if you like shorter stories, Western settings, and simple conflict in your romance, you should find this one an enjoyable read. Although it is connected to the other books in the McCullough subset, it can be read easily as a standalone. For those hooked on the larger series or on the McCullough family, Connor McCullough’s story will be released December 1. The title? A Baby for Christmas.

Review - - Rodeo Father & Rodeo Rancher

Rodeo Father
By Mary Sullivan
Rodeo, Montana - Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Western Romance
Release Date: January 3, 2017
    

Travis Read never wanted to settle down anywhere—with anyone. He's in Rodeo, Montana, just long enough to fix up a house for his sister and he'll be on his way. Then he meets Rachel McGuire. Beautiful and kind—and with magnetic whiskey-colored eyes—Rachel is everything that Travis could want. Except that Rachel is also very, very pregnant. 

A struggling widowed mom, Rachel wants to give her family the stability she's never had. Travis dashed those hopes by buying her dream house. Okay, she can start over. But she wasn't counting on such a fierce attraction between them. And this cowboy was never meant to settle down…

Rodeo Rancher
By Mary Sullivan
Rodeo, Montana - Book 2
Publisher: Harlequin Western Romance
Release Date: March 1, 2017
    

Visitors are rare at widower Michael Moreno's Rodeo, Montana, ranch. When Samantha Read and her two sons turn up, seeking shelter in a snowstorm, his kids are ecstatic. Michael is less enthusiastic. Sammy's sophisticated city vibe seems out of place in his country home. But even he can't deny that the bubbly beauty lights up the whole house. 

Though Sammy doesn't know much about ranching, she recognizes an aching heart when she sees one. Michael and his kids could use some cheer, and she's determined to make the most of their time together. But as the heat between Sammy and Michael threatens to melt the snow, Sammy wonders if Michael's heart could be thawing, as well... 





I've been a fan of Harlequin romances for years but didn't discover Mary Sullivan until last spring. It only took that one book (Cody's Come Home - Harlequin Superromance) to move her from unknown author to Harlequin auto-buy. This year, Sullivan moves to the Harlequin Western Romance line with her new Rodeo, Montana series, a collection of stories about the hardworking people in a small Montana town that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you smiling. Each of the first two books can stand on its own but, as part of Samantha's story is told by Travis in Rodeo Father and the ramifications play out in Samantha's book, Rodeo Rancher, I think readers will have a clearer understanding of events and a richer appreciation of Samantha's story if they read the books in order. 

In Rodeo Father, Sullivan pairs a kind, caring man who, because of his childhood, doesn't believe he's cut out to be a family man, with a struggling widow who has an adorable three-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. I loved these characters. Neither Rachel nor Travis has had an easy life but neither is wallowing in self-pity. This is especially true for Rachel who, because of her circumstances, certainly would be justified in a good melt-down. Both are good, caring people who put others before themselves. Their actions speak louder than words and show their true character. Though Travis could have easily become the knight-in-shining-armor rescuer of the story, Sullivan keeps these two on an even keel with "rescuing" on both sides which it made it all the more enjoyable and satisfying in the end. It should be noted that I'm a pushover for adorable kids and Rachel's daughter is one of the best. She plays a vital role in this story, capturing many hearts, mine included. 


Samantha "Sammy" Read, the heroine of Rodeo Rancher and sister of Travis Read (Rodeo Father) has a zest for life and a penchant for landing in trouble. After blowing the whistle on her crooked boss who swore retribution, Samantha and her sons left Las Vegas and are on their way to the home her brother bought for them in Montana. Sammy's showgirl looks may give people the wrong first impression but this whip-smart woman has a caring heart, a quirky sense of humor, and will do anything to keep her sons' safe and happy. When she sweeps into Michael's home in the middle of a blizzard, the poor man doesn't stand a chance.

Michael Moreno is a hard-working rancher struggling to move forward after the death of his beloved wife. He's a loving father whose children mean the world to him but the joy left his life - and consequently, his children's lives - when his wife died. Sammy is like a breath of spring air, bringing light and laughter to a colorless existence. Sullivan does an outstanding job of showing the push and pull of a man frozen in grief and a woman hesitant to hand her heart over after having it broken then spices it up with four realistically crafted, steal-your-heart children who bring their own issues to the table. Sammy breathes life, hope, and fun into the hearts of Michael and his children but he returns the favor by by bringing love and stability to Sammy and her sons and helping them heal the hurts of the past. I cheered for this couple and this family every step of the way. These are people who deserve love and happiness. I appreciate the gradual hand Sullivan took with their relationship. It's realistic, with steps forward and back, and, just like Sammy, left me singing a happy tune at the end. 

Mary Sullivan's next book, Rodeo Baby publishes on July 1. I already have it on pre-order and am looking forward to my next visit to Rodeo, Montana! 

Review - - The Christmas Triplets

The Christmas Triplets

By Tanya Michaels

Publisher: Harlequin Western Romance

(formerly Harlequin American Romance)

Release Date: November 1, 2016

 

   

Megan Rivers moved to Cupid’s Bow, Texas, because she wanted a new life for herself and her two-year-old triplet daughters after divorcing her cheating husband. A year later, she is still getting to know people in the small town and struggling to find a moment for herself between the demands of her job as a florist and her responsibilities as mom to three active three-year-olds: outgoing Daisy, focused Iris, and shy Lily. The hunky firefighter who lives next door is her candidate for the greatest heartbreaker in town. She has little tolerance for his hectic social life, which seems to feature flavor-of-the-week dates.

Will Trent is accustomed to women responding to his charm, and he’s puzzled but not unduly concerned by his neighbor’s hostility. Having spent half his life being faithful to one love, he has taken his father’s advice and is enjoying variety in his dating life since his fiancée dumped him twenty-four hours before their wedding. Still, he’s a good guy who enjoys a close relationship with his two brothers and the trust of his friends. One of those friends, a young woman with an infant son and a bad-news boyfriend, trusts him enough to leave her baby with him when she enters a rehab facility to get clean so that she can be a better mother. When Will is faced with a screaming baby boy and no idea how to quiet him, who better to turn to for help than the experienced mother of three?

Megan may not like Will, but she cannot resist young Tommy. It doesn’t take long for her to discover that Will is quite different from the playboy she imagined him to be. Not only is he doing his best for Tommy, but he also bonds with her girls, even demonstrating his ability to tell them apart. But Megan is leery of giving her heart to a man who was clearly enjoying his bachelorhood before Tommy and will presumably eagerly reclaim his freedom when Tommy’s mother returns. Can Will convince Megan that he is ready for a long-term commitment to her and her girls?

I have enjoyed many of Tanya Michaels’s stories, and I am a soft touch when it comes to Christmas stories with kids. Thus, I began this novel expecting it to be a sweet holiday reading experience, and it met my expectations. Megan and Will are likeable characters, good people with hearts a bit battered but still generous and giving. Daisy, Iris, and Lily are real kids. Each is a distinct personality, and they share a high adorability quotient without becoming too perfect and precious. Tommy is as heart-stealing and demanding as a baby should be. Will’s family adds an extra layer of warmth. And the Christmas scenes are genuine with sentiment that avoids slipping into treacly sentimentality.

Michaels also does an excellent job of balancing kid-appeal and feel-good family making with romance. I believed in Megan and Will's forever. This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. I had no difficulty with it even though I had not read the first two books. I do warn you that I liked the secondary characters so much that I bought Falling for the Sheriff and Falling for the Rancher after reading The Christmas Triplets, and I am looking forward to a book for Will’s younger brother Jase.  Some readers don’t like children in romance fiction. If you fall in that group, clearly this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you like kids and Christmas and romance rich with sweetness and believability, I think you will be as charmed by this book as I was.

 ~Janga