The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas

The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas

Pub. date:  May 7, 2019 – HQN Books

Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Description:  A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives.

Redheaded, curly-haired Zoe is open-hearted, kind and free-spirited, and dreams of becoming a famous actor in New York City. Shy Emily struggles with mental health but has the heart and soul of a writer. And Shannon—tall, athletic, strong—has a deep sense of loyalty that will serve her well when she heads off to military college.

As Zoe, Emily and Shannon grow into women—forging careers, following dreams and finding love—they’ll learn that life doesn’t always unfold the way they want it to, but through it all, the one constant is each other, and their regular tea parties. And when the unthinkable happens, the girls must come together to face the greatest test of all. (publisher)

My take:  The Little Teashop On Main is the story of 3 forever friends and the man who loved them all.  Zoe, Emily and Shannon couldn’t be more different but they were brought together as little girls and their friendship grew over the course of their lives. They were more like sisters and stayed loyal and protective over the years. Jack was their friend and loved them as such, with one exception. He loved them all but was in love with one.

This novel felt a bit different from author Jodi Thomas’s other books. I felt a dream-like quality from the very first page that continued throughout. I liked that aspect but wasn’t sure how things would end up – as I usually do with her novels. That said, it still had the same heart and humor that I’ve come to expect in a Jodi Thomas book. I liked it very much. Just be prepared for an emotional journey with this one. Recommended to fans of Jodi Thomas and novels about friends/sisters.

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PRAISE FOR JODI THOMAS, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

“You can count on Jodi Thomas to give you a satisfying and memorable read.”
—Catherine Anderson, New York Times bestselling author

“Western romance legend Thomas’s Ransom Canyon will warm readers
with its huge heart and gentle souls.” —Library Journal

“Compelling and beautifully written, it is exactly the kind of heart-wrenching,
emotional story one has come to expect from Jodi Thomas.”
—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“This tale will grab readers, who will fall in love with the main characters and be just as
enamored of the others.” —Library Journal, starred review, on Lone Heart Pass

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A fifth-generation Texan, New York Times and USA TODAY
bestselling author Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Thomas traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.
With a degree in family studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A&M University campus, where she served as Writer in Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Thomas said, “When I was teaching classes full-time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher or nurse or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place.”
When not working on a novel, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo and checking up on their two grown sons.

For more information, please visit Jodi’s website at http://www.jodithomas.com.

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A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas

• Title:  A Christmas Affair
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #6.5
• Author:  Jodi Thomas
• Pages:  90
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance; Christmas
• Published:  October 2017 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

My take:  This novella picks up a short time after book 6, Indigo Lake, ends. In that book we met Maria  Davis who had come out of a tragic car crash being completely blind. Before the crash she had a promising career as a chef in her future. Now she lives at home with her sister and grandmother in Crossroads, Texas. She makes jams and jellies and sells them at the local market which is owned by Wes. He fell for her the first time they met but was too shy or scared to act on his feelings. Only when Maria decides she wants more than a working relationship with him does anything happen. Wes can’t believe his life has changed in such a wonderful way. He keeps waiting to wake up from his dream. It was hard not to chuckle as these two figured things out.  Another storyline is about Travis, a 15 year-old boy who comes to live with his three bachelor great-uncles when his home situation is deemed unsuitable. Once again, Crossroads is a place that welcomes all and saves most. I hope Travis’s story will continue in a future book. Jodi Thomas inserted her usual charm and humor in all of her characters and settings. Grab a cozy blanket and settle into your favorite comfy chair to spend an hour or two with the folks of Crossroads. Recommended to fans of Jodi Thomas, the Ransom Canyon series, and novellas with a Christmas theme.

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Jodi Thomas Guest Post – Spotlight on: A Christmas Affair

A warm welcome back to Jodi Thomas, author of the Ransom Canyon series. Today Jodi will give a brief glimpse into the next installment – a novella: A CHRISTMAS AFFAIR. Thanks for visiting today, Jodi. I can’t wait to read Maria’s story!

Often when I write a book there is a story that I didn’t have time to tell.  A person who didn’t get their happy ever after ending.

Maria, Dakota’s sister in INDIGO LAKE, was that person.  I wanted to see her with her own story.

The fact that she is blind is only a part of the story.  For one time, one moment, she wants to feel alive.   She sets out to make her dream come true.  In her mind she can’t see forever, but she’s daydreamed of having an affair with the kind storekeeper she talks to every week.  Since her accident she’s never felt fully alive, so she decides to give herself a gift for Christmas.  An affair with Wes Whitman.

Even if it only lasts one night, she’ll have a memory to keep.

Only, he wants far more.  Wes wants forever.

I look forward to my readers stepping into the familiar setting of Crossroads, Texas, and celebrating Christmas with Maria and Wes.

Happy Reading,

Jodi Thomas 

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• http://www.jodithomas.com/
• www.facebook.com/jodithomasauthor
• www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

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Review: Indigo Lake – plus author guest post by Jodi Thomas

• Title:  Indigo Lake
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #6
• Author:  Jodi Thomas
• Pages:  432
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  July 2017 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

Description:  Two families long divided by an ancient feud. Can a powerful love finally unite them? 

Blade Hamilton is the last of his line. He’s never even heard of Crossroads, Texas, until he inherits land there. Riding in on his vintage Harley-Davidson, Blade finds a weathered ranch house, an empty prairie and a dark river that cuts a decisive path between the Hamilton’s land and that of their estranged neighbors. 

When Dakota helps a stranger on the roadside, she isn’t prepared for the charisma of the man on the motorbike—or for the last name he bears: Hamilton, of her family’s sworn enemies, representing all she’s been raised to loathe. The problem is, it looks like Blade is in town to stay, and there’s something about his wolf-gray eyes she just can’t ignore. 

Lauren Brigman feels adrift. Unhappy in work and unlucky in love, she knows she ought to be striving for more, but she’s never truly at peace unless she’s at home in Crossroads. If the wider world can’t satisfy her, is home truly where her heart is?  (publisher)

My take:  I love going back to Crossroads, Texas and seeing what’s new with the people we’ve met in previous Ransom Canyon series books and meeting new ones. Indigo Lake introduces readers to Blade and Dakota – two people who don’t think love will ever find them. Blade is a man whose job takes him in every direction so he’s never put down roots. He plans to sell the ancestral home (he didn’t know about until recently) he’s inherited and move on. Dakota’s life revolves around her job, studying, and taking care of her older sister and grandmother. She doesn’t have time for a relationship. And besides, their families are in a feud! It was fun watching these two become important to each other. It was also fun seeing Lauren Brigman’s life progress in a way she didn’t dare hope. I thought it was very sweet (in a good way) how Jodi Thomas made that happen. Of course, there are the usual quirky characters and inept criminals who added the element of suspense as well as humor to the novel. I enjoyed it all and wonder if there will be more to come in the Ransom Canyon series. I hope so!

Note:  Included at the end of this book is the Ransom Canyon series introductory novella Winter’s Camp.

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Author post:

When I started INDIGO LAKE, I wanted to write a love story happening in the middle of an old feud.

Blade Hamilton is a man who has no family ties. Since he turned 18, he’s been on his own. When he find out he’s inherited a little farm from a father he never knew, he rides down to Texas from Denver on his Harley to take a look. (Fun note and photo: I had to learn a little about Harleys.)

Sell the place and ride away is his plan, until he meets Dakota Davis and falls into the middle of a hundred-year-old feud. Legends and curses seem to keep them apart, but an attraction neither can deny keeps pulling them together.

Blade  finds himself surrounded by legends and a deep family history as he falls in love with a woman who is afraid to step on his land and has a grandmother who regularly threatens to kill him.

As Blade is drawn into an investigation in town, he truly finds home for the first time in his life. I know you will love Blade and Dakota’s story.

Good news for Ransom Canyon fans, WINTER’S CAMP  is included in the back of INDIGO LAKE!

Hope you enjoy both,

Jodi Thomas 

• http://www.jodithomas.com/
• www.facebook.com/jodithomasauthor
• www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

INDIGO LAKE is available wherever books are sold and at http://www.HQNBooks.com

INDIGO LAKE JODI THOMAS $7.99 U.S. ISBN-13: 978-0-373-79936-7

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Praise for the Ransom Canyon series:

“Thomas sketches a slow, sweet surrender.” –Publishers Weekly on the RANSOM CANYON series

“A pure joy to read.” –RT Book Reviews on the RANSOM CANYON series

“Western romance legend Thomas’s Ransom Canyon will warm readers with its huge heart and gentle souls.” –Library Journal

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A fifth-generation Texan, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Thomas traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.

With a degree in family studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A&M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Thomas said, “When I was teaching classes full- time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher or nurse or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place.”

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo and “checking up” on their two grown sons.

For more information, please visit Jodi’s website at http://www.jodithomas.com

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Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne

• Title:  Serenity Harbor
• Author:  RaeAnne Thayne
• Series:  Haven Point #6
• Pages:  384
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pub. Date:  June 27, 2017 – HQN Books

Description:  Computer-tech millionaire Bowie Callahan is about the last person that schoolteacher Katrina Bailey wants to work for. As far as she can see, he’s arrogant, entitled and not up to the task of caring for his young half-brother, Milo. But Kat is, especially if it brings her closer to her goal of adopting an orphaned little girl. And as her kindness and patience work wonders with Milo, she realizes there’s more to sexy, wary Bo than she’d ever realized. 

Bo never imagined he’d be tasked with caring for a sibling he didn’t know existed. Then again, he never pictured himself impulsively kissing vibrant, compassionate Katrina in the moonlight. Now he’s ready to make her dream of family come true…and hoping there’s room in it for him, too… (publisher)

My take:  Serenity Harbor is the newest book in RaeAnne Thayne’s Haven Point series. It’s the story of Bowie and Katrina, two people who aren’t looking for love. Bowie’s life took an unexpected turn when he found he had a little brother he didn’t previously know existed. Now he’s responsible for the little boy who is on the autism spectrum. He has no idea how he can juggle seeing to Milo’s needs as well as work a full-time job. Katrina is the answer to his prayers. Turns out, he can help her. She’s in the middle of complicated adoption proceedings of a little girl in Columbia. When Bowie offers Kat a sizable amount of money to care for Milo until permanent help arrives she can’t refuse him. That money will help her with adoption costs so she accepts the offer. What she didn’t see coming was the attraction to Bowie. She’d been concentrating only on bringing Gabi home to Haven Point – not her love life. She’d made so many mistakes in that area before that she’s going to set her sights on making Gabi’s life better and forget about romance.

I so enjoyed this story of people finding out that perspective can change your idea of how life should go. Yes, a few things worked out much easier than they probably would in real life but this is a novel and I just went with it. I love the series, the characters and the setting and recommend it fans of the author and contemporary, small town romance.

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About the author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at http://www.raeannethayne.com.

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Forever a Hero by Linda Lael Miller

• Title:  Forever a Hero
• Series:  The Carsons of Mustang Creek #3
• Author:  Linda Lael Miller
• Pages:  384
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  March 2017 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley; Little Bird Publicity

Description:  For the youngest Carson brother, finding—and fixing—trouble seems to be all in a day’s work.

Mace Carson doesn’t consider himself a hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened—but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she’s in Wyoming on business…a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only, he’s not selling. 

Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue, has never forgotten him. The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she’s secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance…against both of them. (publisher)

My take:  It was fun to return to Wyoming and to see what was new with the Carson family in Forever a Hero. Linda Lael Miller’s stories about three brothers connected to the family ranch had me from the start. And it drew to a fitting close with this book.

It had to be fate ten years ago when Mace Carson rescued Kelly Wright from an attacker on their college campus. But because of circumstances there was no chance to have more of a relationship at that time. He’d be remembered by Kelly as her hero. They both moved on with their lives. One failed marriage and ten years later Kelly is working for a company that wants to buy Mace’s wine – all of his wine. He may not want to sell but he’d like to get to know Kelly more and maybe convince her to work for him. All bets are off when the man who attacked her is released from prison. Could he possibly be the person who sent her a menacing text? Once again, Mace is ready to step up and keep her safe.

This book is typical Miller in that the romance is so nice, it’s filled with funny people and pets, and the setting is spectacular. Those reasons are why I keep picking up her books and look forward to the next one. Recommended to fans of Linda Lael Miller and contemporary romance.

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About the author:

“First Lady of the West” Linda Lael Miller has written more than 100 contemporary and historical novels. She was awarded the prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America in 2007 and the RT Book Reviews Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

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PRAISE FOR THE CARSONS OF MUSTANG CREEK TRILOGY

“[A] marvelous contemporary Western trilogy launch…fraught with amazing chemistry.” — Publishers Weekly Starred Review on Once a Rancher

“Another deftly crafted western romance by a true master of the genre, [Once a Rancher] continues to showcase this author’s truly impressive storytelling talents. A riveting read from beginning to end.” — Midwest Book Review on Once a Rancher

“Miller’s deep knowledge and love of the West shine through in a refreshing, tender romance that sees another Carson brother blissfully bite the dust and seamlessly bring fans up-to-date with characters they’ve come to love.” Library Journal on Always a Cowboy

“Longing has a way of overcoming doubts, and readers will root for this appealing couple. The glimpses of ranch life and the extended Carson family make this a Western to remember.” — BookPage on Always a Cowboy

“Miller writes some of the best cowboy books around.” — BookTrib on Always a Cowboy

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On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins

• Title:  On Second Thought
• Author:  Kristan Higgins
• Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
• Pages:  480
• Published:  January 2017 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

My take:  Two sisters, Kate and Ainsley, have recently suffered the loss of their partners. Kate’s husband of a few months has died and Ainsley’s boyfriend of eleven years broke up with her in a humiliating way. Kate is grieving her loss like one would expect and so is Ainsley.

Eventually the two sisters wind up living together in Kate’s home. This proves to be a second chance of sorts for the sisters to get to know each other. They are seven years apart and really only share a father. Ainsley never felt her step-mother, Kate’s mom, accepted her and that affected her relationship with Kate. Living together now as women in their 30s gives new perspective to both.

Yes, this is a novel about grief and going through the phases but it was also about sisters and the many facets of that relationship. I could relate. I loved Ainsley and Kate – very different women outwardly but quite similar at the core.

Kristan Higgins writes with her usual humor and ease about the human condition. I enjoyed On Second Thought very much and recommend to fans of Higgins and women’s fiction.

About the author:

Kristan Higgins is the author of more than a dozen novels, including the beloved Blue Heron series. She has won two RITA® Awards from the Romance Writers of America and is a five-time nominee for the Kirkus Prize for best work of fiction.

 

Guest Post by author Jodi Thomas plus my review of Wild Horse Springs by Jodi Thomas

Today author Jodi Thomas is here with a guest post about her new book WILD HORSE SPRINGS:

Now and then when a writer is working on a series, one of the characters steps from the shadows and comes alive. This happens to me often, maybe too often.  My sons say they are afraid I’ll name one of my characters in the will. 🙂

But, Sheriff Dan Brigman started as a character in someone else’s story.  book 1, Ransom Canyon.  He was a good guy.  An honest man like most of the men I’ve met in law enforcement.  As the series continues he proved to be a good friend, a concerned father and a man the town of Crossroads could depend on.

Only, Dan never had anyone to love.  His wife had loved her career far more than him and their daughter.  Then, he was the sheriff in a small town.  How does the sheriff date?  The only women he met were usually speeding or bailing their husband out of jail.  He wouldn’t even let friends set him up with their unmarried relatives for fear of hurting their feelings when he didn’t ask for a second date.

Soooo, finally in WILD HORSE SPRINGS the sheriff’s chance comes.  One night, in the middle of a deserted highway, he finds a fancy ladies boot in the center of the road.  It has him wondering what kind of woman would own such a boot and his quest begins. When he finally finds her, she’s as beautiful and wild as he guessed she might be.

As the weeks passed, this story almost wrote itself.  Some nights I couldn’t wait to get back to it and see what happened to Brandi and her sheriff. Now, finally, WILD HORSE SPRINGS is about to hit the stands.  I’m excited to share it with readers.

Come along with me and see what happens when the sheriff finds the lady who fits the fancy boot. 

Jodi Thomas 

• http://www.jodithomas.com/
• www.facebook.com/jodithomasauthor
• www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

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• Title:  Wild Horse Springs
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #5
• Pages:  384
• Author: Jodi Thomas
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  January 2017 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

My take:  The Ransom Canyon series continues with Wild Horse Springs (book 5). In the small town of Crossroads, Texas (on the edge of Ransom Canyon) it’s finally time for steady Sheriff Dan Brigman to find some happiness (with the help of a lovely Country singer just passing through the area) – but the people in his life keep pressing the pause button. His daughter Lauren finds an excuse to come home from Dallas where her post-college life isn’t working out how she’d planned. When she gets back to Crossroads she’s met by the two men from her past who could help or hinder life going forward.

For a charming, small town like Crossroads there’s a dark undercurrent lately that most of the residents would be shocked to know about. The Sheriff has his hands full with a crime of arson to solve and a case of a child in peril that threatens to tear his heart out (as well as the reader’s).

Then there’s a Texas Ranger who goes for a nighttime ride that’s interrupted when his horse tosses him into the Canyon. Lucky for him a certain park Ranger finds him and calls for help. She takes control of his life from that moment (since he’s in the hospital and helpless) including making his ranch house a safe place for one of Crossroads’ favorite sons. There’s a lot going on in this novel.

Yes, there are a good deal of dramatic events in this story but also a lot of heartfelt and upbeat moments. Told in Thomas’s usual warm, folksy style, Wild Horse Springs is a strong addition to the series and I look forward to reading the next book.

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About the author:

A fifth generation Texan, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state. With a degree in Family Studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Thomas said, “When I was teaching classes full time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher, or nurse, or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place.”

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and “checking up” on their two grown sons.

For more information, check out Jodi Thomas’s website.

Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne plus a US Giveaway

• Title:  Snowfall on Haven Point
• Author:  RaeAnne Thayne
• Series:  Haven Point #5
• Pages:  384
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  September 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley; Little Bird Publicity

Description:  It’s been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie’s friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who’s recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother. 

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie’s gentle nature is a salve, and her kids’ excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all.  (publisher)

My take: Readers met Andrea Montgomery (Andie) in Riverbend Road, book 4 in the Haven Point series. She’s been to hell and back and just wants to live a normal life with her two young children in the town they recently moved to. When the local sheriff is run down by a hit-and-run driver his sister Wyn, Andie’s good friend, asks her to look in on him until she can get home.

As you might expect, Andie and Marshall’s friendship grows into something more. The thing is, Andie doesn’t want to be involved with anyone in law enforcement. Her first husband was killed in the line of duty and she just can’t put herself or her children through that again. Marshall never liked kids and certainly never wanted any of his own. Then why does he think Andie’s kids are so sweet? Changes are in the air.

Snowfall on Haven Point is an enjoyable Christmas romance. Along with the issues between Andie and Marshall there’s the mystery of the hit-and-run, some missing money at the Sheriff’s Department, and the next-door neighbors may be more than just neighbors. I liked it all and recommend it to fans of RaeAnne Thayne and contemporary Christmas romance novels.

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New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. Her love affair started as soon as she learned to read, when she used to devour anything she could get her hands on: cereal boxes, encyclopedias, the phone book, you name it! She loves the way words sound, the way they look on the page and the amazing way they can be jumbled together in so many combinations to tell a story.

Her love of reading and writing those words led her to a fifteen-year career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor.

Through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best. She sold her first book in 1995 and since then she’s published more than 40 titles. Her books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews.

RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at http://www.raeannethayne.com.

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US Giveaway

Please click here and fill out the form

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Giveaway ends on November 1, 2016

Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

• Title:  Always a Cowboy
• Series:  The Carsons of Mustang Creek #2
• Author:  Linda Lael Miller
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pages:  384
• Published:  August 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley; Little Bird Publicity

Description:  He’s the middle of the three Carson brothers and is as stubborn as they come—and he won’t thank a beautiful stranger for getting in his way! 

Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can’t deny the longing—and the challenge—she stirs in him. 

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals—and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who’s stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything—for both of them. (publisher)

My take:  Drake Carson is the head of his family’s ranch. All his life he’s wanted to carry on the tradition of tending the ranch that’s been in his family for several generations. He cares about the land and the animals who live there. That includes the cattle and the predators that threaten them.

Luce Hale cares about animals and the environment and plans to write her dissertation about the wild horses that roam the Carson ranch. Drake sees them as a nuisance and threat to his horses and land. She hopes to convince him to find a humane way to deal with the wild horses. Eventually these two find a mutual respect and even more.

The second book in the Carsons of Mustang Creek series was enjoyable and I learned a bit about wild horses – I’ve heard about them before but didn’t know much about them. The novel ends a bit abruptly but I still liked it. The scenes with Drake’s brothers and the rest of the family were fun and a bit exciting near the end. If you enjoyed the first book in the series I think you’ll love Always a Cowboy.

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About the author:  The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, the self-confessed barn goddess pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.

Linda traces the beginning of her writing career to the day a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold her first title to a publisher in 1983. Linda then successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, to concentrate on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. In 2016 Linda will receive a Lifetime Achievement award from RT Book Reviews. Currently the Hallmark Movie Channel is developing a series based on Linda’s Big Sky Country novels.

For more information about Linda and her novels, please visit lindalaelmiller.com

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Sunrise Crossing by Jodi Thomas: Author Guest Post and My Review

Guest post by Jodi Thomas:

I believe in love, the kind that lasts a lifetime.  My grandfather met my grandmother at a barn raising.  She was fifteen and he was seventeen.  They wrote letters back and forth for a year, then the next spring he drove a buckboard back to her place and married her that day.  They were married 64 years and their children say they never saw them argue.  It may not always work out that way in real life, but I like to think it should in fiction.

One of my main characters in SUNRISE CROSSING is Clint Montgomery, a widower who sold the house he built for his wife a month after she died to a woman passing through.  Parker Lacy always meant to return, but she runs a very successful art gallery and never has the time until a friend of hers needs a hideout.  Parker is totally unaware that Clint has spent ten years watching over her place.  To the world Clint seems to be only a hard, cold, rancher, but to Parker he’s the one man she can trust. They are as different as they can be, but find love even though both swear they are not looking for it.

For those of you who love a good love story, SUNRISE CROSSING  is the book for you.   Maybe because I believe in love and I love reading happy endings, but this book was so fun to write.

So, saddle up and ride with me through SUNRISE CROSSING.

Jodi Thomas

http://www.jodithomas.com/

www.facebook.com/jodithomasauthor

www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

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I hope you’ll take a few moments to watch this video to see where Jodi Thomas found her inspiration for the Ransom Canyon series.

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• Title:  Sunrise Crossing
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #4
• Author:  Jodi Thomas
• Pages:  384
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  August 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

Description:  Return to peaceful Crossroads, Texas, where community comes first and love thrives in the unlikeliest places… 

Yancy Grey is slowly putting his life back together after serving time for petty theft. As he rebuilds an old house, he finally has a sense of stability, but he can’t stop thinking of himself as just an ex-con. Until one night, he finds a mysterious dark-haired beauty hiding in his loft. But who is she, and what secret is she protecting? 

The art gallery Parker Lacey manages is her life—she has no time for friends, and certainly not lovers. But when her star artist begs Parker for help, she finds herself in a pickup truck, headed for the sleepy town of Crossroads. A truck driven by a strong, silent cowboy… 

Gabe Snow has been a drifter since he left Crossroads at seventeen after a violent incident. When he accepts a job in his hometown, he’ll have to decide whether he can put the worst night of his life behind him and build a future in the community that raised him.  (publisher)

My take:  Sunrise Crossing is another good Ransom Canyon book that has Jodi Thomas’ usual mix of romance, drama and humor. In this story we have characters who have every reason to give up on life but through circumstances and connections made in Crossroads the case for not giving up begins to gather strength for all of them.

Tori can’t survive another minute under the thumb of her mother and step-father. She’s a talented artist who has a total meltdown in front of a gallery owner who becomes her guardian angel. Parker, the gallery owner, has lived under a cloud most of her life knowing she probably wouldn’t live much past the age of forty – like the rest of her family. Before succumbing she’d like to help Tori find a safe place to live and even thrive. The person to help them is a man she’s only met once but he’s their only hope. We also get to know Yancy a little better. He’s made an appearance in each book of the series and it’s been fun to see him develop into a more confident  person. There are a few more storylines that I hope will continue in future books.

I enjoyed Sunrise Crossing and all the supporting characters Jodi Thomas introduced. It’s one of the things I like about her books – the characters who seem so familiar to anyone who has lived in a small town. As usual, I can’t wait to see what happens next in Crossroads, Texas.

Riverbend Road by RaeAnne Thayne

• Title:  Riverbend Road
• Author:  RaeAnne Thayne
• Series:  Haven Point, #4
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pages:  368
• Published:  June 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

Description:  Protecting the streets of Haven Point isn’t just a job for police officer Wyn Bailey, it’s a family tradition. But lately she’s found herself wanting more, especially from her boss—and overprotective brother’s best friend—sexy chief of police, Cade Emmett. The only problem is getting Cade to view her as more than just a little sister. 

Cade’s hands-off approach with Wyn isn’t from lack of attraction. But his complicated past has forced him to conceal his desire. When Wyn is harmed in the line of duty, Cade realizes the depth of his feelings, but can he let his guard down long enough to embrace the love he secretly craves? (publisher)

My take:  The latest addition to the Haven Point series is Riverbend Road. RaeAnne Thayne gives readers a look into the lives of a couple of Haven Point’s finest. Cade and Wyn have known each other since childhood and have worked together for the past few years. Gradually their friendship grows to a surprising (to them) romance of sorts. That’s a problem because he’s her boss. Along with this dilemma Wyn is concerned about a new family that moved into her neighborhood. Her internal radar tells her something’s not quite right. And on top of everything else she suspects her recently widowed mother has started dating someone. How can that be?

Riverbend Road features two people who’ve faced challenges in life and were made stronger as a result. It was easy to cheer for Wyn and Cade. This is a romantic story that focused on the importance of family and friends.

I love RaeAnne Thayne’s novels and Riverbend Road was no exception. They are warm and charming and this was a perfect in-between book. I’d read some heavier books and this was a welcome escape. It’s the fourth book in the series but can easily stand alone. Recommended to fans of the author and contemporary, small town romance.

Best of My Love by Susan Mallery

• Title:  Best of My Love
• Author:  Susan Mallery
• Series:  Fool’s Gold #20
• Pages:  384
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance series
• Published:  April 26, 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

My take:  Shelby Gilmore, sister to Kipling who was featured in a previous book in the Fool’s Gold series, has decided it’s time to take control of her future by dealing with her issues from the past. The main issue is that she can’t trust men. Her abusive father is responsible for that. She decides to ask Aidan Mitchell, a guy she barely knows, to help her overcome that issue by being a friend. Nothing more, nothing less. If nothing else, she’ll find out if it’s even possible to be friends with a guy. But can it be that simple?

Aidan is at a point in life where he decides being friends with a woman sounds like a good plan. He has come to the realization that having an eternal string of “girlfriends” who never last more than a week might not be the greatest way to go through life. In the end, learning to trust another person could be easier for these two than learning to trust themselves.

Susan Mallery wrote an entertaining love story with an unconventional premise. Filled with many familiar characters from the series, I can say it’s not necessary to have read any of the previous novels but it was fun to see what was new in their lives. Recommended to fans of the Fool’s Gold series. I thought it was a nice, easy vacation read.

Rustler’s Moon by Jodi Thomas

• Title:  Rustler’s Moon
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #2
• Author:  Jodi Thomas
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pages:  384
• Published:  January 2016 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher/NetGalley

About:  On a dirt road marked by haunting secrets, three strangers caught at life’s crossroads must decide what to sacrifice to protect their own agendas…and what they’re each willing to risk for love. 
If there’s any place that can convince Angela Harold to stop running, it’s Ransom Canyon. And if there’s any man who can reveal desires more deeply hidden than her every fear, it’s Wilkes Wagner. Beneath the rancher’s honorable exterior is something that just might keep her safe…or unwittingly put her in danger’s path. 
With his dreams of leaving this small Texas town swallowed up by hard, dusty reality, all Wilkes has to show for his life is the Devil’s Fork Ranch. Though not one to let false hope seduce him, he can’t deny the quiet and cautious beauty who slips into his world and changes everything. 
Lauren Brigman finally has freedom at her fingertips. All she needs is Lucas Reyes’s attention—a look, a touch, some sign that she’s more to him than a girl he rescued one dangerous night. But now it’s her turn to rescue someone, and the life-altering decision may cost her more than a chance with Lucas.  (publisher)

My take:  Angela, Wilkes and Lauren may find themselves at a crossroads but so do a few other characters in Rustler’s Moon.

As usual, Jodi Thomas’ newest Ransom Canyon book is filled with drama, mystery and romance. Will Angela be able to escape her past and build a future she never dreamed would be hers? If so, how will Wilkes figure into it? Lauren is finally at college but why doesn’t freedom feel as good as she thought it would? And what’s the deal with: A) her roomie; B) her best friend; and C)Lucas, her love?

One of the things I love about a Jodi Thomas novel is the multi-generational aspect. In this book a man is trying to find a place in the canyon that has haunted him most of his 70+ years. A few friends join him in his search which had me laughing or feeling sad for him at different times.

I enjoyed all the storylines and look forward to seeing arcs continue in future books. I recommend Rustler’s Moon to fans of Jodi Thomas and contemporary/small town romance.

Evergreen Springs by RaeAnne Thayne

• Title:  Evergreen Springs
• Series:  Haven Point #3
• Author:  RaeAnne Thayne
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance; Christmas
• Pages:  384
• Published:  September 2015 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher

Description:  Christmas is the last thing on Cole Barrett’s mind this year. He’s barely hanging on trying to care for his two grieving children since his ex-wife died in a tragic accident. For the reclusive Cole, this is no time for gift-giving and celebration—and certainly not for a sunny-natured optimist to blow into his screwed-up life. 

Physician Devin Shaw has long researched the curative powers of Lake Haven’s mineral waters. Unfortunately, the hot springs are on Barrett property, forcing Devin to strike a bargain with the ranch’s attractively gruff owner: she’ll give Cole’s children a magical Christmas, and Cole will allow her patients access to the springs. But can she work her holiday magic to heal the Barrett family’s battered hearts—and her own? (publisher)

My take:  Evergreen Springs is the third book in the Haven Point series. It can stand alone but I recommend reading in order from the start. Even though I’ve read her books for a year or so I consider myself a new fan of RaeAnne Thayne’s books. I love the emotional tone struck in each book.

In Evergreen Springs Cole Barrett is trying to do right by his children. He wants to give them a safe and secure place to live – something that’s been missing in their short lives. He also wants to establish his horse-training business at the family ranch he recently inherited. If that doesn’t seem like enough to juggle his very pregnant-with-twins sister has just moved in with him.

Devin Shaw is a doctor and, of course, wants to help people. When she meets Cole she can see he needs to be helped if not saved. He also needs to cut himself some slack. They hit it off but then he starts to feel she can do much better than him. But what if that’s not what she wants.

The theme of forgiveness runs through Evergreen Springs which makes it a perfect book to read during the holidays (or any other time of the year!). I loved seeing Haven Point decorated for Christmas and the cameos by previously featured characters were fun.

I enjoyed Evergreen Springs and recommend it to fans of RaeAnne Thayne, the Haven Point series, and contemporary small-town romance.

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New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. Her love affair started as soon as she learned to read, when she used to devour anything she could get her hands on: cereal boxes, encyclopedias, the phone book, you name it! She loves the way words sound, the way they look on the page and the amazing way they can be jumbled together in so many combinations to tell a story.

Her love of reading and writing those words led her to a fifteen-year career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor. Through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best. She sold her first book in 1995 and since then she’s published more than 40 titles. Her books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.

RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at http://www.raeannethayne.com.

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Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller

• Title:  Christmas in Mustang Creek
• Series:  The Brides of Bliss County #4
• Author:  Linda Lael Miller
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance; Christmas
• Pages:  272
• Published:  September 2015 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

Description:  Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, and couldn’t wait to escape to the big city. But life in New York isn’t as fabulous as she’d like to admit—she’s lonely, doing a job she doesn’t love and dating too many frogs she meets online. 

There was one potential prince, though—Jaxon Locke, a veterinarian with definite possibilities—but his move to Idaho to fill in at his dad’s vet practice ended things just as they were getting interesting. What Charlotte doesn’t know is that he misses her, more than he expected… 

Meanwhile, Charlotte’s great-aunt Geneva—the woman who raised her—needs to enter an assisted-living facility. So, just before Christmas, Charlotte moves back home. When Jax catches wind of her move back West, he’s determined to get to Wyoming and do whatever it takes to win her back. 

Christmas in Mustang Creek is a magical time in a magical place, not least because of a mysterious visitor named Mrs. Klozz. She knows that love is the greatest gift of all, and she’s ready to help out Santa by giving these two a push in the right direction!  (publisher)

My take:  The book description above tells you everything you need to know about Christmas in Mustang Creek. With the backdrop of the Wyoming mountains and a quaint town, Linda Lael Miller’s setting of her Brides of Bliss County series is gorgeous at the holidays.

It’s filled with familiar characters from previous books as well as a few new ones. One or two might even seem to possess magical powers! Or perhaps it’s simply the magic of the season. Either way, this is an entertaining book sure to cheer the reader.

Though I’m posting a review before October I have no doubt this will be just the book for fans of the series and Miller to get into the holiday spirit in a few weeks. I would suggest getting it now so you have it on hand when you’re ready to read it. Again, recommended to fans of the series, Linda Lael Miller, and contemporary romance. Although it’s the fourth book in the series it can easily stand alone.

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The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than one hundred historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, the self-confessed barn goddess now lives in Spokane, Washington. Linda hit a career high in 2011 when all three of her Creed Cowboys books—A Creed in Stone Creek, Creed’s Honor and The Creed Legacy—debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Linda has come a long way since leaving Washington to experience the world. “But growing up in that time and place has served me well,” she allows. “And I’m happy to be back home.” Dedicated to helping others, Linda personally finances her “Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women,” which she awards to those seeking to improve their lot in life through education.

More information about Linda and her novels is available at http://www.lindalaelmiller.com. She also loves to hear from readers by mail at P.O. Box 19461, Spokane, WA 99219.

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If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

• Title:  If You Only Knew
• Author:  Kristan Higgins
• Genre:  Women’s Fiction
• Pages:  416
• Published:  August 2015 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher; NetGalley

Description:  Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected…especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing this isn’t exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she’ll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel’s picture-perfect family life…and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who’s utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time. 

Rachel’s idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague. She always thought she’d walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny’s surprise. Rachel points to their parents’ perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship­—and reveal a family secret she’s been keeping since childhood. 

Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.  (publisher)

My take:  Kristan Higgins’ novel about sisters who face challenges and choices will be on my 2015 Favorites list. I loved how real the challenges were that faced Jenny and Rachel and how they met those challenges. Jenny, the strong and outgoing sister, is starting over in her hometown after her husband told her he didn’t want to be married to her anymore. She’s an optimist though and is determined to move forward. Rachel, the introvert who takes pride in her orderly house and life, thought she could keep her family safe and happy by spending every moment trying to keep them insulated from anything bad. I was pulling for them both and was so pleased with how Higgins brought them both through at the end.

The support characters are pretty wonderful too. A few are as well-developed as the primary characters and had a hold on my heart through the entire novel – I’m looking at you Leo and Evander and… well, you get the idea. Even though I wanted to throttle Leo a couple of times everything became clear in the end.

If You Only Knew is a book I’d recommend to book clubs whose members (adults) are of varied ages. I think that would bring a lot to the discussion because of the different perspectives. If you’re like me and aren’t a book club member I’d recommend it to fans of Kristan Higgins and women’s fiction.

Note:  I read most of this book while on the treadmill but I knew when I had about 100 pages left I would need to find a quiet room (and a box of tissues). So that’s my heads-up.

Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas

• Title:  Ransom Canyon
• Series:  Ransom Canyon #1
• Author:  Jodi Thomas
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pages:  368
• Published:  August 2015 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher

Synopsis:  From New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas comes the first book in a compelling, emotionally resonant series set in a remote west Texas town—where family can be made by blood or by choice… 

Rancher Staten Kirkland, the last descendent of Ransom Canyon’s founding father, is rugged and practical to the last. No one knows that when his troubling memories threaten to overwhelm him, he runs to lovely, reclusive Quinn O’Grady… or that she has her own secret that no one living knows. 

Young Lucas Reyes has his eye on the prize—college, and the chance to become something more than a ranch hand’s son. But one night, one wrong decision, will set his life on a course even he hadn’t imagined. 

Yancy Grey is running hard from his troubled past. He doesn’t plan to stick around Ransom Canyon, just long enough to learn the town’s weaknesses and how to use them for personal gain. Only Yancy, a common criminal since he was old enough to reach a car’s pedals, isn’t prepared for what he encounters. 

In this dramatic new series, the lives, loves and ambitions of four families will converge, set against a landscape that can be as unforgiving as it is beautiful, where passion, property and pride are worth fighting—and even dying—for.

My take:  Ransom Canyon is the first book in Jodi Thomas’s new series. I enjoyed meeting the people who live in and around Crossroads, Texas. After maintaining an almost aloof relationship for years Staten Kirkland and Quin O’Grady are faced with a life-changing decision.

Newcomer Yancy Grey is hoping for a second chance at life when he falls into a job that surprises him even more than the people who will come to rely on him.

There’s a budding friendship between two teens that may become more over the course of the next few years. That will have to wait if Lauren’s father has anything to say about it. He’s the sheriff, after all.

I loved the way Jodi Thomas wove her story with love, drama and humor. It’s why I enjoy her books so much. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Ransom Canyon series. Recommended to fans of the author and contemporary, small town romance.

 

Guest Post by Jodi Thomas, author of Ransom Canyon

With seven generations of my family in Texas, of course I write about the state I love.  In this new series I’m going more modern-day western than I ever have.  Step into the life of small towns and ranching with me.  I promise, you’ll fall in love with the people of Ransom Canyon.

The idea for RANSOM CANYON came from living in the Texas Panhandle.  I wanted to write about the real west of today.  I wanted my people to be like the men and women I grew up with, honest and true.  Not the cowboy on a book cover who has never been on a horse, but the cowboy who gets up at five to load his own horse and make it to the ranch before dawn.  He doesn’t work by the hour, but by the day.

More than anything else I’ve always thought the people make the stories in books.  I love characters who walk off the page and the reader falls a little bit in love as they discover not only passion, but a bond as deep as time.

As I began my first book in the series Staten Kirkland jumped off the page.  He’s strong and good, a rancher everyone looks up to, but he’s broken and only one woman can calm his heart. Shy Quinn asks nothing of him.  She offers understanding amid the storm of his life.

Ransom Canyon is about the beauty of people and how they interact with one another as friends, families and lovers.  And, of course, the winners in life’s game are the people who love the deepest. So, saddle up with me and step into Ransom Canyon.

Jodi Thomas

www.jodithomas.com

www.facebook.com/jodithomasauthor

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 41 novels and 13 short story collections. A five-time RITA winner, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

If you’d like to read the history behind the Ransom Canyon contemporary series there is a free novella available for Kindle and Nook.

The Marriage Season by Linda Lael Miller

• Title:  The Marriage Season
• Series:  The Brides of Bliss County #3
• Author:  Linda Lael Miller
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  June 2015 – HQN Books
• Source:  Publisher

Synopsis:  Will the marriage pact be fulfilled? Return to Mustang Creek, Wyoming, with #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller for more Brides of Bliss County! 

Since Hadleigh, Melody and Bex—the best of best friends—entered into a marriage pact, two of them have found (and married) the men of their hearts. But Bex doesn’t think she’ll be as fortunate as the others. Her own first love died years ago in a faraway war, and Bex has lost hope for a happy marriage of her own. She concentrates on her business, a successful chain of fitness clubs, instead. 

Then, when single father Tate Calder comes to Mustang Creek with his two sons in tow, who befriend Bex’s eight-year-old nephew, she and the handsome, aloof newcomer are constantly thrown together. But is the marriage season over? Or can a man with doubts about love be the right husband for a woman who wants it all?  (publisher)

My take:  This is the story of two people who need to learn to love again. Bex’s fiancé was killed at war years earlier and Tate’s first wife died unexpectedly from an illness leaving him with two young sons.

Bex is the third of three friends who made a pact to find their true loves. One of the friends, a jewelry maker, made them each a bracelet with a charm that would bring luck to the woman who wears it. Two of the friends have found their love and now it’s time for Bex.

I thought The Marriage Season was a sweet story. I liked the family theme and selflessness of the two principal characters. All in all, a very satisfying addition to the Brides of Bliss County series. Recommended to fans of the author and contemporary, small town romance.

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