Grand-Prize Cowboy - Heatherly Bell (HSE #2864 - Oct 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 4)

Has he found a match made in denim and diamonds?
 
Rancher Boone Dalton has felt on the outs with Bronco Heights society since his family moved to town. Everyone sees them as rough gamblers instead of as the wealthy ranchers they are! So when a family prank lands him a makeover with Sofia Sanchez, he's determined to say “Hell no!” Until one look at the sexy stylist has him wanting to say “I do!” Sofia has designs on a career outside of Bronco, and she's not looking for a forever cowboy. But what if her heart is telling her Boone might just be The One?
 
Good book. The book opens as Boone admits that he envies his two brothers, who have found love. He's ready for a wife and family of his own but finding the right woman has been difficult. He and his family have only been in town a couple of years. His father bought their ranch after winning big at gambling. Unfortunately, the established "money" ranchers seem to look down on the newcomers, making Boone feel like he's on the outside looking in. When his younger brothers put his name in for a makeover with a local stylist as a prank, he's furious and determined to decline the offer.
 
Sofia works for a local boutique that will soon carry a menswear line, and the owner comes up with the idea for a makeover to advertise it. As Sofia reads over the entry letters, she's visited by local psychic Winona, who pulls a random letter from the stack and tells her that's the one she should pick. After reading it, Sofia agrees. That cowboy sounds like the perfect candidate for a confidence-boosting intervention.
 
I had to laugh when Boone went into the boutique to turn down the makeover in no uncertain terms. Instead, Sofia's beauty bowled him over, and he decided to go along with it so he could get to know her better. Sofia is equally entranced with Boone, who showed up in his work clothes, straight from working with his horses. She sees a somewhat scruffy, slightly shy man who she knows she can help. She has no idea that he's one of "those" Daltons.
 
I liked watching Boone and Sofia get to know each other. There are some sweet scenes between them before Boone's guilty feelings force him to confess the truth. Sofia's anger and hurt are pretty intense at first, but Boone eventually wins her over. Their feelings for each other grow, but there are obstacles. Sofia has dreams of a career in fashion design and has plans to go to New York. She's honest about those plans and that marriage is not in her immediate future. But Boone made up his mind that she was the one for him and proposed anyway. I felt as frustrated as Sofia did with the way he didn't listen to her. Then when he tries to make it up to her, he digs himself deeper into the hole of her frustration with him.
 
Sofia has some baggage of her own that makes her resist her feelings for Boone. She is convinced that there is no way she can combine her career and a family of her own. Like Boone, she didn't truly listen to his point of view. It took an eye-opening conversation for her to realize the power of compromise. Boone also received a reminder that setting the right priorities makes a world of difference. I loved the ending and seeing both give a little to find a way forward together. 

 

The Most Eligible Cowboy - Melissa Senate (HSE #2857 - Sept 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 3)

If Brandon Taylor wanted to be married, he would be.
 
But the oh-so-desirable, oh-so-wealthy rancher has zero interest in tying the knot -- until his unexpected fling with ex-girlfriend Cassidy Ware. Now she's pregnant -- and he proposes. Cassidy, however, is not jumping at his practical proposal. She remembers their high school romance all too well, and she won't wed without proof that Brandon 2.0 can be the real husband and co-parent she longs for.
 
Terrific enemies to lovers story. Brandon and Cassidy have a history together. They dated for a while in high school when she was a freshman, and he was a senior. They broke up over a misunderstanding on her part, but Brandon was a jerk about it, so they've avoided each other ever since. Then they ran into each other at his brother's wedding while avoiding all of the people talking about why neither was married yet. Too much champagne and high school reminiscing led to a quick roll in the hay, and now Cassidy is pregnant.
 
Brandon and Cassidy's outlook on love couldn't be more different. Thanks to watching his thrice-married father, Brandon doesn't believe that love lasts. He's very careful to date only women who understand his position. Being wealthy and good-looking, Brandon never has trouble finding female companionship and certainly has never had to work for it.
 
Cassidy is an intelligent and independent woman. Raised by a single mother, she has worked for everything she has. She owns the very popular and successful Java and Juice coffee shop and is finally ready to expand her business to a second location. Though she's had several unsuccessful relationships, she hasn't given up on love and finding The One.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Brandon and Cassidy. Their encounter in the stable went beyond anything either expected. Cassidy felt a little hope in her heart until Brandon talked about being together for as long as it lasted. Disappointed and a little hurt, she turned him down flat, surprising Brandon. Over the next couple of weeks, Brandon couldn't get her off his mind, so he was pleased when he got a text from her to come to see her. Pleasure turned to shock when she told him she was pregnant.
 
I was pleasantly surprised by Brandon's reaction. Instead of denial or insisting it wasn't his, he stepped right up and took responsibility. But then he went a step further with a business-like proposal of marriage. Of course, Cassidy turned him down, letting him know she wouldn't marry without love. Cassidy won't give in on that subject no matter how hard he tries. They do agree to get to know each other better to be good co-parents. I loved watching Brandon demonstrate that he has all the right instincts. There are sweet scenes of his efforts to take care of Cassidy, from food to a coat she'd been dreaming of. I loved their trip to the parenting class.
 
Cassidy fought hard against falling in love with him when he obviously cared. The evening they babysit for a friend was tough because Brandon was a natural with little Maeve. Her biggest problem with him, besides his anti-love stance, was his tendency to take control. The purchase of the coat was bad enough, but when he interfered in her request for a bank loan for her business, she hit the roof. Her confrontation with Brandon was hard enough, but when his dad overheard and stuck in his opinion, she'd had it. When she attended a family dinner a few days later, I loved watching her tear into Cornelius. Unfortunately, Brandon froze when she faced him with what she really wanted.
 
The ending was terrific as Brandon finally realized the truth of his feelings. I loved seeing his emotional declaration to Cassidy and her belief in what he said. I hope they pop up in later books so I can catch up with their lives.
 
I also enjoyed the part that Winona Cobb played in their relationship. Her "readings" and comments are always enigmatic until her subjects look back and see what she meant. Her statements to Brandon and Cassidy are no different.

Cold Case at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels (HI #2013 - Aug 2021)

Series: Cardwell Ranch: Montana Legacy (Book 6)

Buried secrets threaten a lawman
And a woman with everything to lose.
 
A grisly discovery at the bottom of an abandoned well leads cold-case detective Waco Johnson to Cardwell Ranch -- and a thirty-year-old unsolved homicide. When evidence points to Ella Cardwell's missing mother as the murderer, Waco knows he'll need the Montana rancher's help to find the vanished woman. Ella's desperate search for answers uncovers family secrets that could break the case wide open…and thrust Ella and Waco into a killer's sights.
 
Good book. When Detective Waco Johnson gets a call about some bones at the bottom of an old well, it starts him down the trail of a thirty-year-old murder. The most logical suspect, the man's ex-wife Stacy, vanishes before he can question her. Waco believes that watching the woman's daughter Ella will lead him right to her.
 
Ella worries about her mother. Stacy always kept secrets and often disappeared for days at a time with no explanation. Now Ella wonders if her mother is capable of murder. With the detective on her heels, Ella desperately searches for answers to where Stacy is hiding.
 
The story's suspense was very good, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The dead man, Marvin Hanover, had any number of people with a motive to kill him. His ex-wife Stacy filed for an annulment after his disappearance, happy to escape his plans for the child she carried. His adult children from his first wife showed no grief when notified of his death, only an obsessive interest in what happened to his money.
 
I enjoyed watching Ella try to evade Waco while she attempted to find Stacy and discover how tenaciously he sticks to her. Her determination pays off when a search through an old photo album turns up a likely bolt-hole for her mother. In this case, Ella lucks out when Waco follows her, as her destination turns out to be a bit sketchy. Ella realizes that they both want to find Stacy and agrees to work together. They get some help from an unexpected source and get quite a shock when they catch up to Stacy. The revelation of a family secret stuns Ella creating hurt and confusion. That same family secret complicates the investigation of Marvin's murder.
 
Ella, who lacks patience when dealing with the investigation, takes matters into her own hands. Though furious at her for risking herself, Waco has to admit that the plan was a good one. The intensity ramps up as Ella carries out the plan to draw out the killer. The final confrontation takes a couple of twists and a dangerous turn before it is all over. I didn't see that ending coming and breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.
 
The relationship between Waco and Ella progressed very rapidly. It started with distrust and wariness and ended with professions of love within a few days. Sparks of attraction bubbled under the initial antagonism and popped to the surface after they started working together. Waco finds himself unexpectedly protective of Ella. However, I honestly didn't feel that there was much in the way of emotional connection between them in that short of a time.
 
I enjoyed seeing more of the previous couple Ford and Hitch (Trouble in Big Timber). Hitch is in a tough spot as the medical examiner because of her connection to the Cardwell family. She's worked with Waco before and knows him pretty well, and I liked their interactions. Dana Cardwell's devotion to her family plays a significant role in the book, especially when it comes to her sister Stacy. I also enjoyed the interactions between Dana and her husband, Hud. I loved that she finally got her long-delayed wish at the end. 

His Dry Creek Legacy - Janet Tronstad (LI #1360 - June 2021)

Series: Dry Creek (Book 28)

Earning her trust could be his hardest job yet
 
Helping a single mother find a home could give him the family he needs.
 
In his years as a ranch hand, Joshua Spencer's done difficult work, but nothing's harder than convincing Emma Smitt to claim the home her unborn child inherited. Betrayed by a fake marriage, Emma is determined to make a home on her own. But now, as Joshua's steadfast help and quiet caring earn her reluctant confidence, can they somehow secure happiness together?
 
Good book. Emma married Junior Rosen in good faith, only to discover upon his death that he was already married and a father. Though her unborn child could inherit half the family ranch if its paternity is proven, Emma looks at it as charity and declines the test, leaving her almost destitute. Her pride carries her through the funeral, where she refuses to fall apart.
 
Joshua, a ranch hand at the Rosen ranch, wants to help Emma after seeing her at the funeral. Several months later, at the behest of Bailey Rosen (the real wife), he tracks down Emma to invite her to come to the Rosen ranch. With a past that haunts him, Joshua looks at helping Emma as a chance for redemption.
 
Joshua and Emma are two people with deep-seated trust issues. As a child, he spent years bouncing around various family members and foster care, learning how to use a glib tongue to get what he wanted. After using those same "talents" as an adult, he turned his life around but still has trouble trusting others. Emma grew up with a mother and grandmother who constantly hammered home how untrustworthy men are, and Junior's actions proved it. Their situations sometimes forced them to accept charity, something they found personally repugnant. Now alone in the world, Emma is almost phobic about anything that smacks of charity.
 
Horrified by her living conditions when he arrived at her home, Joshua was determined to get her to the ranch. Considering her situation when he arrived, Emma's denials of her need made no sense to him. Convincing her to go was an uphill battle until an emergency with her seven-year-old stepbrother tipped the scales in Joshua's favor. I loved Joshua's reaction and how he jumped right in to help.
 
I liked seeing the relationship between Emma and Joshua develop. Once Emma and Tommy arrive at the ranch, a whole new world opens for them. Joshua wants nothing more than to fix things for them, but Emma's pride often gets in the way. Despite the occasional conflict, Joshua and Emma become friends, each of them eventually sharing their painful pasts. As she gets to know the residents of the ranch and town, Emma slowly loses some of her distrustfulness. The scenes between Emma and Joshua are sweet, and it's easy to see the feelings that spring up between them. I loved the surprise he prepared for her and his determination to make it perfect. I loved the scene at the hospital and held my breath when it looked like miscommunication might spoil things. But Joshua's former sweet-talking ability reappeared enough for him to show Emma the depth of his love. The epilogue was terrific and a nice wrap-up for the book.
 
The secondary characters were wonderful. I loved Max and his parrot Cupid. Ma's protectiveness of Emma at the beginning came through until he got Joshua's measure. He and Cupid provided some fun moments that helped relieve some tension. I loved that Mark and Bailey didn't blame Emma for what happened and encouraged her to feel part of the family. The two kids, Rosie and Tommy, were adorable. Rosie seems the type who could rule the world, and I'd love to see her with her own book twenty years down the line. Tommy was a sweet boy, and I loved the sensitive portrayal of his Down Syndrome. 

For His Daughter's Sake - Stella Bagwell (HSE #2851 - Aug 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 2)

The Cowboy's Second Chance
 
Single dad Tyler Abernathy has vowed to devote himself completely to his little girl, Maeve. The widowed rancher's belief that he wasn't a present-enough father or husband pushes him to turn down the locals' well-meaning attempts to fix him up. But when he meets Callie Sheldrick, she disarms him in ways he can't explain…or ignore. Walking away would be the right thing to do. Yet doing the "right" thing might end up breaking all three of their hearts…
 
Good book. Tyler is the single father of a nine-month-old little girl who is the center of his life. After his wife's death six months earlier, it seemed as though everyone in town had someone they think would make the perfect wife/mother. Tyler isn't interested until he meets Callie, who appeals to him in ways he doesn't understand and can't resist.
 
Callie works as the admin assistant for Bronco Ghost Tours. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, and while at a bridal shower for a friend, contemplates her singleness. She wants the same sort of love she sees her friends finding and wonders if it will ever happen. Town mystic Winona gives Callie some unexpected and mysterious advice, leaving her puzzled about what it means. Callie is drawn to Tyler but gets tongue-tied around him.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Tyler and Callie. Drawn to each other from the beginning, issues from their pasts make them wary of risking their hearts. Riddled with guilty feelings about his marriage, Tyler believes that he doesn't deserve to be happy. I ached for him because he couldn't see that his late wife was a selfish woman who brought many of her problems on herself. Tyler made some mistakes, but I felt he was driven to them by his wife's attitude. I loved how hands-on he was with Maeve, but because of his belief that he was a terrible father, he went a little overboard. He frequently felt overwhelmed between his ranch work and caring for Maeve because he accepted only the bare minimum of help.
 
Callie couldn't resist Tyler when he asked her out. She's interested but wary. Having never spent much time with babies, Callie feels inept initially, especially when Maeve cried the first time she saw Callie. She's also cautious about risking her heart because previous boyfriends walked away so easily.
 
When Tyler decided he wanted to get to know Callie better, he went all in. I loved the sweet scenes of their time together, both with and without Maeve along. Seeing the differences between Callie and his late wife opened Tyler's eyes to the truth about his marriage. He still fought against admitting his feelings for Callie, preferring to believe they are casual. Meanwhile, Callie falls hard for Tyler but thinks he's still in love with his wife. When Tyler accidentally learns how Callie feels about him, he panics and runs away, claiming things are moving too fast. I ached for Callie, who was blindsided by Tyler's actions. I felt that Tyler earned every bit of his misery. Even after some excellent advice from his mom, Tyler still can't let go of his guilt. I loved how his brother Dean's words to Callie sent her to confront Tyler. I loved his emotional confession and its effect on Callie.
 
I laughed at the ending scene and Winona's comments to Callie and Tyler. Mystic or not, she certainly saw something back at the beginning that told her they belonged together.

The Major Gets It Right - Victoria Pade (HSE #2847 - July 2021)

Series: Camdens of Montana (Book 3)

He was the son her father always wanted…
 
Major Quinn Camden is a man of honor. But working with Clairy McKinnon on her father's memorial tests every chivalrous code! Clairy is feisty, beautiful -- and still hurt that General McKinnon mentored Quinn over his own adoring daughter. When their years-long rivalry is replaced by undeniable attraction, Quinn wonders if the general's dying wish is the magic they both need…or if the man's secrets will tear them apart for good.
 
Fantastic enemies-to-lovers story. After her mother's death when she was eight, Clairy's Marine father packed her off to his parents to raise, leaving him free to pursue his career. On his rare visits home, he paid very little attention to Clairy. Those attentions disappeared altogether when ten-year-old Quinn showed up, asking for the general's help preparing to become a Marine himself. Over the next eight years, Clairy found herself shoved aside time and again.
 
Quinn was raised to pursue any goal in a no-holds-barred fashion, so he saw nothing wrong with asking for the general's help. However, with the typical selfishness of a teenage boy, he never saw the effect it had on his idol's daughter.
 
The book opens shortly after General McKinnon's death. In his will, he left instructions and money for a memorial and foundation showcasing his career and those of other town military members. The foundation will help veterans, and is to be run by Clairy. Quinn is tagged to set up the actual display of the general's life and career. This means that Clairy and Quinn must find a way to work together. Furious, Clairy wants nothing to do with Quinn but can't find a way out of it. All she can think of is the way he treated her, even though she hasn't seen him in fifteen years.
 
Quinn knows he has a challenging task ahead of him. He recently learned some things about the general that shook him to the core and caused him to take a hard look at himself and his attitudes. Can he overcome the effects of his mentor's training, or is he destined to follow in his footsteps?
 
The first couple of meetings between Quinn and Clairy are painful. The hurt and anger Clairy feels run deep, and with her father's death, any hope of changing their relationship is gone. She still holds Quinn responsible for keeping her father from her, and she makes no secret of her feelings toward him. Quinn attempts to apologize, but Clairy is skeptical of his sincerity. I liked that Quinn didn't give up and did his best to demonstrate by his actions that he'd changed. In a very emotional scene, Clairy explains to Quinn what life with her father was like, countered by the same events from Quinn's point of view. It was an eye-opening conversation for both of them and the first steps in healing the rift between them. As the general's secrets come out, we see the effect on Quinn as he learns about them and again as he shares them with Clairy. Her reaction surprised him, and I loved how she helped him deal with the guilt he felt.
 
As that rift narrowed and then disappeared, the attraction that each felt began to simmer and grow. The question became one of what to do about it? Clairy, recently divorced from a man who turned out to be much like her father, wants no part of a relationship with a man whose life revolves around his work. At the same time, Quinn's look at his past relationships leaves him wondering if he's capable of a normal relationship with any woman, much less Clairy. I loved watching Quinn's journey as he looked at himself, the changes he needed to make, and the effect that Clairy had on how he saw himself. I loved the ending as he bared his heart to her, and Clairy had to decide if she could trust him and herself enough to have a lifetime together.
 
My only complaint about the book has nothing to do with the story itself. Yet again, Harlequin and its editors have shown themselves unable or unwilling to capitalize the word Marine in their books properly. When writing of a member of the United States Marine Corps, the word Marine is ALWAYS capitalized. Lower case "marine" refers to something related to water or the sea, such as marine mammals or marine life.
 
See:  P 151, The Associated Press Stylebook, 2004
 
Marines:  Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces:  the U.S. Marines, the Marines, the Marine Corps, Marine regulations.  Do not use the abbreviation USMC.
Capitalize Marine when referring to an individual in a Marine Corps unit:  He is a Marine.
Do not describe Marines as soldiers, which is generally associated with the Army.  Use troops if a generic term is needed.

The Rancher's Summer Secret - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2846 - July 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 1)

"Your secret is safe with me."
 
Science teacher Vanessa Cruise is spending her summer working in Bronco. Rekindling her short-term fling with the hottest rancher in town? Not on her to-do list -- especially since commitment is her number one don't. But Jameson John promises to keep their relationship hidden from the town gossips, then finds himself longing for more than just a summer affair. Convincing Vanessa he's worth the risk might be the hardest thing he's ever had to do…
 
Terrific start to the new Montana Mavericks series. Vanessa was born and raised in Bronco. She went to college in Billings and moved there after graduation, vowing that she would never live in Bronco again. After her high school boyfriend betrayed her twice, and the school mean girls made her life miserable, Van looked forward to happier times far from those memories. Unfortunately, her love life didn't improve, leaving her gun-shy when it came to relationships. On New Year's Eve, while in Bronco visiting her family, she indulged in a one-night-stand with Jameson, with the understanding it would never be repeated or spoken of again.
 
Jameson was also born and raised in Bronco. He and his family have a successful ranch, and he has no plans to leave Bronco. One of the popular kids during high school and after, Jameson had a reputation as a player for a long time. After a failed marriage, Jameson put his player days behind him. On New Year's Eve, he felt a little lonely with no one to kiss the New Year in with. Then he met Vanessa, and the night improved immensely. Though he accepted her conditions, he came to regret it because he couldn't forget her.
 
Fast forward to the summer. Van finds herself back in Bronco, teaching science to young teens at a summer program. She spends a lot of time looking over her shoulder, worrying about seeing Jameson again. When she does, he makes it clear that he'd like to see her again. Van shuts him down hard because she refuses to risk her heart on anyone again. Finally, after thinking about it, she agrees to a summer fling, IF and ONLY IF they keep it secret. Van doesn't want to deal with her family getting their hopes up about marrying a local boy and moving home. Initially reluctant to accept her conditions, Jameson eventually agrees, hoping to use the time to convince her that he's worth the risk.
 
I liked both Jameson and Vanessa. Jameson is an all-around nice guy who gave up his player ways long ago. He has a great relationship with his family, especially with his little sister, Charity, and hers with him. I loved that Vanessa was an unusual heroine for a romance. She is a glasses-wearing, curvy, slightly geeky science teacher. Van has a fantastic relationship with her Young Adventurers, and their love and respect for her are evident. I loved how she encouraged them to work for changes in the Miss Bronco contest and how they repaid her by secretly writing her in as a contestant. Her shock when she was named the winner was hilarious. Her issues made her feel that she wasn't up to the task, but the support she received from Jameson and Charity proved otherwise.
 
I loved seeing the relationship develop between Jameson and Vanessa. Jameson was all in from the beginning. He wanted to see where the attraction between them would go because he felt she was special. Van thoroughly enjoyed their time together but flat-out refused to consider taking it public or continuing past the end of summer. Van frustrated me on several occasions because she allowed the events from high school to run her life a decade later. I felt that Jameson showed extraordinary patience as he tried to show Van that she could trust him not to hurt her. Van panicked when she realized she was falling for him anyway and pulled away, desperate to protect herself. I ached for both of them, as Jameson saw his hope for the future disappear and Van want what she was too scared to reach for. I loved seeing Jameson go to Winona for advice. Meanwhile, Van's friend Callie has some advice for her that opens Van's eyes. I loved the ending, with Van stepping way out of her comfort zone to show Jameson how she feels.

Trouble in Big Timber - B.J. Daniels (HI #2001 - June 2021)

Series: Cardwell Ranch Montana Legacy (Book 5)

He's back at Cardwell Ranch
to find a killer.
 
Ford Cardwell is shocked when his college crush calls him out of the blue -- even more so when he hears a gunshot. But when he joins forces with medical examiner Henrietta "Hitch" Rogers, she makes him wonder if the random call was a setup -- not a murder. Together, they'll need to discover the truth, but looking into the case will put them in the sights of a killer.
 
Good book. The book opens as Ford, on his way home after leaving the military and haunted by his experiences, comes close to ending his pain by driving off a cliff. Stopped by the ringing of his cellphone, he is shocked to hear a woman scream and then a gunshot. When he realizes the call came from his college crush, Rachel (who married his best friend), he calls the cops and rushes to Rachel's side. But, when he discovers she'd been badly beaten before killing her husband, he doesn't know what to think.
 
Henrietta, aka "Hitch," is a state medical examiner assigned to the case by the governor. Unfortunately, the dead man's father is a bigwig, and she's under a lot of pressure to solve the case quickly. Though the local sheriff believes it's a clear-cut case of self-defense, Hitch isn't so sure. Something doesn't feel right.
 
The suspense of this story was great. Hitch considers that "butt-dial" call suspicious from the get-go, while Ford believes it was accidental. Though the two butt heads at the beginning, it isn't long before Hitch's suspicions have their effect on Ford. As Hitch uncovers more suspicious activity, Ford joins her in her pursuit of the truth. There were quite a few twists as they considered if Rachel had an accomplice and, if she did, who it was. Just when I thought I had it figured out, someone new would appear on the scene. The tension ramped up when both Hitch and Ford experienced attempts on their lives. I never suspected the person finally identified as Rachel's partner. The final confrontation was a nail-biter to the very end when karma came for Rachel.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Ford and Hitch. Once they got past their initial suspicion and antagonism, both noticed sparks of another kind. I loved seeing them work together and get to know each other along the way. Ford discovered that when he was with Hitch, the numbness that he'd felt since the crash began to fade, and his emotions came roaring back. Hitch had pretty much given up on relationships. She found that she intimidates a lot of men, and her job hours are irregular at best. I loved their interchange after their first kiss: "You don't find me too scary, then?" "Oh, I wouldn't say that," he chuckled... I liked that each recognized their feelings and continued to get to know each other in the aftermath of the case. The epilogue was excellent, as Ford took Hitch home to Cardwell Ranch to meet the family.

The Marine's Baby Blues - Victoria Pade (HSE #2837 - May 2021)

Series: Camdens of Montana (Book 2)

This Marine is meeting his toughest mission yet…
 
Tanner Camden knew hooking up with his ex was a bad idea. But he never thought he'd end up getting a call that he might be a father -- or that his ex had died, leaving little Poppy in the care of her sister, Addie Markham. Addie may have always resented him -- and his potential ability to take away the only family she has left doesn't help -- but with their shared goal of caring for Poppy, they're willing to set aside their differences. Even if allowing their new feelings to bloom means both of them could get hurt when the paternity test results come back…
 
Good book. Tanner arrived back in town on leave at the end of the previous book, The Marine Makes Amends, facing the news that he may be a father. Eleven months earlier, Tanner made the mistake of hooking up with his old high school girlfriend. Della was always a little obsessed with him, and her actions back then nearly caused a disaster in his plans for the future. The most recent encounter turned out to be more of the same, but she didn't live to carry out her plans. Instead, Della's sister Addie took over as Poppy's guardian, loving her like a mother.
 
I ached for both Addie and Tanner at the beginning. Tanner's arrival could mean the end of Addie's dream of being Poppy's mom. If Tanner really is Poppy's father, he'll have the right to take her away and raise her himself, leaving Addie alone. At the same time, Tanner wants to do the right thing, but he is terrified of being responsible for a tiny baby. I liked how Tanner stepped up, determined to learn how to care for Poppy. I had a little harder time liking Addie at this point because she attempted to discourage Tanner. I wanted to shake her for her teaching methods and loved it when he called her out on it.
 
Tanner and Addie came to an interesting arrangement. Tanner would help do the repairs on the house she inherited in exchange for baby care lessons. This entailed Tanner moving into the home with Addie and Poppy so that he could experience ALL of it. I felt terrible for Tanner because he was so nervous and tense that the lessons didn't go well. This was very hard on his confidence. Though Addie's attitude frustrated me initially, I understood a little of what made her that way. She lost her parents and her sister in a short period, leaving her with no family except Poppy. Then her fiancé left her at the altar.
 
Both Tanner and Addie had past issues that influenced the way they looked at each other. Addie was a preteen when the high school drama between Tanner and Della happened and only saw it from Della's perspective. She saw Tanner as cold and uncaring and didn't want that for Poppy. Meanwhile, we learn about the hell Della put Tanner through, why he was so ready to leave town, and why he rarely came home for a visit.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Addie and Tanner. Once they moved past the initial problem of Addie's sabotaging his lessons, things got a little easier. Despite the tough Marine reputation, Tanner is a pretty sensitive man. I liked seeing him pitch in to help Addie with the post-jilting cleanup and how he supported her when she returned wedding presents. I liked seeing them get to know each other and some of the deep conversations they had. One night, aided by a bit of wine, Addie learned how deep an effect Della's actions had on Tanner. I loved Addie's take on the things he told her and his reaction when she told him. Of course, Addie's jilting affected her, and Tanner pointed out some things she hadn't considered either.
 
Complicating the whole waiting for the paternity results issue was the attraction that grew between Addie and Tanner. Tanner is wary because Addie is Della's sister, and how can he be sure that she isn't as excessively emotional? Poppy resists because of his former relationship with her sister, plus it being so soon after her breakup. But the attraction continues to build until they can't help giving in. The experience profoundly affected Tanner, and I loved his time of introspection the next morning. The ending was terrific. I loved the thought that Tanner gave to Addie's love for Poppy, his feelings for both Poppy and Addie, and what he saw as his role.
 
There were a couple of issues I had with the book. They did not affect my enjoyment of the story. One very minor, and one that is a consistent problem with Harlequin books. The minor issue was with the timeline of Tanner's departure for Annapolis. Unlike civilian colleges, which start at the end of August or the beginning of September, the Academy does things differently. If you are a Plebe (freshman), you report in at the beginning of July for Plebe Summer. "Plebe Summer is the summer training program which is required of all incoming freshmen to the United States Naval Academy. The program lasts approximately seven weeks and consists of rigorous physical and mental training. The stated purpose of Plebe Summer according to the Academy is to "turn civilians into midshipmen" (Wikipedia).
 
The other issue is that Tanner is a Marine, not a marine. Marine is ALWAYS capitalized when referring to a member of the Marine Corps. Harlequin nearly always gets it wrong.
 
P 151, The Associated Press Stylebook, 2004
Marines:  Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces:  the U.S. Marines, the Marines, the Marine Corps, Marine regulations.  Do not use the abbreviation USMC.
Capitalize Marine when referring to an individual in a Marine Corps unit:  He is a Marine.
Do not describe Marines as soldiers, which is generally associated with the Army.  Use troops if a generic term is needed.

From the Shadows - B. J. Daniels (HQN - Mar 2021)

Series: Buckhorn, Montana (Book 2)

Dark secrets always come to light…
 
Some people might dream of inheriting a hotel somewhere as picturesque as Buckhorn, Montana. To Casey Crenshaw, though, her late grandmother's property is a white elephant to be sold as quickly as possible. The place has been boarded up for years, and locals have murmured about ghost sightings ever since a young woman was murdered there. But it's not the imaginary ghosts that worry Casey -- it's the flesh-and-blood man who's throwing a wrench into all her plans.
 
Finn James intends to find out what really happened at the hotel years ago. Not even the capable, highly independent redhead who owns it will stop him. But though the quest draws Finn and Casey together, digging into the past is dangerous, especially when there are others determined to keep the truth hidden -- by any means necessary…
 
Good book with gripping suspense and a bit of romance. Casey's grandmother recently passed away, leaving the old Crenshaw hotel to Casey. An elegant old hotel in its heyday, hosting the rich and famous, it has been boarded up since her grandmother became ill. Casey wants nothing more than to sell it as soon as she can and leave Buckhorn in her past. She spent her summers there with her grandmother and worked in the hotel when she was old enough. That all came to an end when she was sixteen and a young woman was murdered. Rumors of ghosts abound, but it's the all-too-human man who has been living in the hotel who has her attention now.
 
Finn James is a multibillionaire who, at loose ends after selling his company, arrived at the Crenshaw looking for answers about what happened to a former girlfriend. He searched the hotel from top to bottom, looking for clues, but turned up very little. Two things Finn found were Anna Crenshaw's journals and a notebook with one very disturbing entry. He found Anna's journals intriguing, especially the parts about Casey.
 
I loved the first meeting between Finn and Casey. While he expected her arrival, she had no clue that he was there. Sparks flew between them (the shower scene was terrific), but Casey was wary of trusting him. Casey received quite a shock when he showed her the invitation he got inviting him to a reunion of people who knew Megan, the murdered woman. That shock was compounded when the other staff members that summer also arrived, having received the same invitation. Finn immediately suspects that someone in the group has a hidden agenda and worries about Casey's safety. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer as they worked together. After their slightly rough beginning, it didn't take long for them to trust each other. I liked how Anna's journals gave Finn insight into Casey and what she'd been through. I loved his protectiveness and how it led to helping out over the sale of the hotel and land. Casey carries some guilt over something she did that summer, and it weighs on her until she tells Finn about it. I liked how their growing feelings for each other helped them heal and move on from the past. I loved the ending and the epilogue.
 
As the weekend progresses, revelations about Megan come out. Each staff member reveals some episode that makes them suspects in her murder. Everyone suspects everyone else, and it only gets worse when two people disappear. Ghostly appearances and strange noises add to the tension. That tension ramps up when Finn and Casey make a grisly discovery behind a locked door. An unexpected twist lands Casey in extreme danger, and I was on the edge of my seat until she was out and safe. But the threat isn't over yet, as Megan's killer remains unidentified. But with new information, it doesn't take long to figure it out.  The conclusion was a bit of a surprise but quite satisfactory. 

Heart of Gold - B.J. Daniels (HQN - Aug 2020)

Series: Montana Justice (Book 3)

A cold case leads to present danger

Charlie Farmington has been blaming herself for her stepsister Lindy's unsolved murder for fifteen years. Then, through the twinkling lights and pine-scented air of a Montana Christmas, she glimpses Lindy -- alive -- standing on the street. Shocked and afraid, Charlie turns to the only person she can trust to help her: William "Shep" Shepherd, her first love, who knows all of Charlie's secrets…except one.

The intriguing girl Shep fell hard for has become a breathtaking woman -- and now that she's back in his life, he'll do whatever he can to help her uncover what really happened to her sister. But when Charlie finally reveals the secret that ripped them apart all those years ago, Shep realizes how much danger is still lurking. For the truth about that night isn't just dark -- it's deadly. And their second chance together could end before it's even begun…

Very good combination of second chance romance and intriguing suspense. Charlie has turned her life around since her years as a troubled teenager. She is a talented and successful graphic artist with a good job, friends, and a boyfriend. Life is good until she spots her dead stepsister across the street, bringing back all of the horrible memories of that time. After her mother's death, Charlie's father remarried a woman with her own daughter. Lindy was a vicious bully whose mother thought she could do no wrong. On the night of Lindy's murder, Charlie had had enough and locked her out of the house. Her father died in a car accident that same night, leaving Charlie at the mercy of the foster system. Charlie's guilty feelings about the night of the murder came out in destructive behavior that eventually landed her in front of a judge. Judge WT Landusky sent her to a boot camp for troubled teens rather than juvie.

William "Shep" Shepherd was another of the judge's boot campers. He was drawn to Charlie and set out to help her make it through the camp. The two of them became fast friends, circumventing the judge's no fraternization rules whenever possible. By the time they finished with the camp, Charlie and Shep were in love. Shep wanted them to get married, but Charlie thought they were too young. She left without a word to him about where she was going, breaking his heart. Both went on with their lives, never expecting to see each other again.

When Charlie saw Lindy that day, she called the judge for help, though she later tried to walk that back. By then, the judge had called on Shep to help Charlie find out what was going on. As a middle school math teacher, Shep was on holiday break, so he rushed right to her. He was eager to see her again. Charlie was stunned to find Shep on her doorstep when she came home from work. She's ready to send him away until she sees Lindy again, and Shep insists on getting to the bottom of the mystery.

I loved watching the relationship develop between Shep and Charlie. Shep never forgot Charlie and discovers that his feelings for her are even stronger. Charlie has a boyfriend but quickly realizes that her feelings for Daniel don't come anywhere close to those she still has for Shep. She fights those feelings hard, believing that she doesn't deserve happiness after what she did. Shep has an uphill battle convincing Charlie that she isn't responsible for Lindy's death. Shep is determined to protect Charlie and uses his time to look into the circumstances surrounding the murder. As the sightings escalate, Shep's protective instincts come out. There are some sweet scenes of him taking care of Charlie, showing her how he feels without pressuring her. Charlie isn't sure what to do. Her feelings for Shep keep growing, but she's sure that she's bad for him. Slowly, his steadfast belief in her chips away at her fears. I loved the patience Shep had at the end, as he waited for Charlie to deal with everything that happened. The epilogue was fantastic.

The suspense of the story was terrific. The appearance of a person Charlie knows is dead throws her life into turmoil. Being stalked by a ghost is enough to put anyone on edge. Shep is just as confident that the stalker is no ghost. I loved his attention to detail as he performed his investigation. It seemed as if each person he talked to raised more questions than providing any answers. There were several twists to the story as Shep and Charlie got closer to the truth. I figured out one of them right before they did, but the last one I never saw coming. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Charlie ended up at the mercy of her tormentor. I loved seeing her take charge of her own rescue, aided by a perfectly timed arrival by Shep.

There were added complications thanks to some issues Charlie had at work. Her boss is a little too appreciative of her work, and his fiancée, who is also the office manager, doesn't take it well. Amanda spends far too much time getting in Charlie's face when it's Greg she should take issue with. Things got even stranger the closer they came to the wedding day, while the wedding itself didn't go as anyone expected.

The Marine Makes Amends - Victoria Pade (HSE #2812 - Jan 2021)

Series: Camdens of Montana (Book 1)

Micah Camden ruined Lexie Parker's life.

That might have been years ago, but now that she's back in Merritt to care for her grandmother -- who was hurt due to Micah's oversight -- she has no plans to forgive him. But the former Marine knows that he made mistakes back then and hopes to make amends with Lexie, if only so they can both move on from the past. Everyone says Micah's changed, but it's going to take more than someone's word to convince her...

Terrific second chance story. Lexie, Micah, Jason, and Jill were friends who knew each other from kindergarten on. They did everything together, to the point where they all thought of Lexie's grandmother as theirs, too. Things started to change when they were in middle school, though. That's when Micah began to look at Lexie far differently than he looked at Jill. He tried getting her attention the way many young boys do - by acting silly, stupid, or obnoxious - and she never picked up on it. Instead, she latched on to Jason, ultimately becoming his girlfriend and wife. When a class project incident involving Micah and Lexie gave rise to salacious rumors, Micah not only didn't correct them, he encouraged them, destroying her reputation. Her father sent her away to boarding school, and Lexie's relationship with him was never the same. Ten years later, Lexie still holds a grudge against Micah because of it.

Ten years later, Lexie returns to her hometown, newly divorced and ready for a new start and to take care of her grandmother. Gram broke her leg during an incident involving Micah, and Lexie holds him responsible. That same incident forces Lexie and Micah to share living quarters, much to Lexie's dismay. At the same time, Micah wants a chance to apologize and show her that he's changed.

I loved Micah. Yes, he made stupid mistakes back then, but what teenager hasn't? He was somewhat handicapped by a mother who had strange ideas about how to raise her sons. Fortunately, Micah had Lexie's grandmother to help counterbalance that influence. She didn't give him a pass on what he did to Lexie, but she didn't write him off either. Her work with Micah gave him the seeds for his future career as a brewer, while his time in the Marines taught him about loyalty, honesty, and brotherhood. I loved seeing the changes in him as he worked to fix the damage he feels responsible for and move forward with his career plans. His continued friendship with Gram was sweet.

I had a harder time warming up to Lexie. While her anger at Micah at the time of the incident was understandable, that grudge had too much of a hold on her life. From the moment he picked her up at the airport, she made sure Micah knew that she hadn't forgiven him. She held on to that grudge even when others tried to show her that he had changed. She frustrated me with how she kept looking for any reason to prove her point.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Lexie and Micah. He was incredibly patient as he waited out her anger, taking every chance he could to show her the new Micah. During those first few days, Lexie spent a lot of time dwelling on the past. She wasn't too happy when she realized that they had begun to reconnect over their shared memories of their childhood, undermining her desire to keep hating him. Things really started to change when she finally listened to Micah's reasons for his actions back then. He made no excuses, simply laid out what he did and why he did it. I liked watching them get to know each other as adults and discover the things they had in common. It was terrific to see Micah help Lexie figure out her future, and I loved watching them connect over the similarities in their dreams. There was a little hiccup in their relationship's progress near the end, but patience, faith, and communication brought them the future they never thought possible.

I enjoyed the setting of Micah's brewery and seeing everything that went into making it a success. I especially liked the bits with Micah, Gram, and Lexie talking about the various brews' flavors. I don't have that kind of sensitivity, so it was fascinating to see their conversations. Micah's frustration with some of the problems gave an extra layer of realism to the story. I also liked the mentions of the other Camden family and Micah's connection with them, and the links back to the author's Northbridge series. Micah's brother, Tanner's, arrival has me looking forward to the next book.