How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward

www.donnaalward.com

I do so enjoy the emotion in Alward’s stories. The drama is so vivid it’s almost surreal, and yet somehow I’m still able to connect to the characters. In How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart Megan Briggs has just returned home after receiving treatment for breast cancer. With one breast removed and her hair gone thanks to chemo, Meg is feeling less than pretty when she runs into neighbor Clay Gregory, her old friend and crush from her adolescent years. Even as she tries to stay away from him due to her fear and shame, she finds herself unable to resist his charm and their past closeness. As it happens, Clay’s Aunt is getting married and he’s without a date to the wedding so he asks Megan to go with him. When she shows up in a knockout dress, he sees her for the first time as a woman, not a kid sister or a sickly girl. But is it too late for romance to blossom?

I loved Megan and Clay, even though I was occasionally annoyed with them. They were both very human – they didn’t always make the right choices for themselves or in regards to one another and it led to a lot of extra challenges and hurdles on the path to their happy-ever-after. Often I like my heroes and heroines to do exactly what they’re supposed to do all the time, and get annoyed when they’re ‘stupid’ and mess up. But the reality is that we all mess up. Alward gives us a taste of realistic romance and How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart showcased a lot of the drama that is omnipresent in real life, especially when real life includes cancer. The entire story was loaded with love, caring, fear – the emotions that build relationships and tear them apart. Watching delectable Clay and sweet Megan weather such an emotional hurricane was wonderful and inspiring.

Now, of course, let’s get to the important part of the review – the romance. I loved watching both Megan and Clay grow out of their fear and Clay grow in his support and love, and they made for a heart-warming, if occasionally heart-breaking, couple. Clay and Megan are so comfortable in their friendship that the new dimension of romantic attraction is really hard for them to assimilate, and Alward handled the contrast between comfort and uncertainty beautifully. The sexual tension (which, by the way, is never resolved so those of you looking for ‘warm’ sensuality level romance, here’s one for you) is dramatic and smoldering throughout the book as soon as Megan steps out in that red dress. Whew, was it steamy! Of course, with Megan mastectomy, there was plenty of emotion interlaced with the lust, making for an entirely touching romance all around.

There were only a few things that bothered me in this book, and to be honest I was so enamored with Megan’s strength and Clay’s struggles that I barely noticed the occasional inconsistencies and annoyances. The book is pretty smooth, overflowing with emotion, and is definitely a worth-while read for any lover of Alward’s style, cowboys, or best-friend-to-lover romances. Alward writes consistently stunning romance novels and How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart is no exception – make this one for your keeper shelf.

Favorite Quote:

“I’m telling you, Meg, weddings make women stir-crazy. All of a sudden they think everyone in the universe should be paired up.” (Clay)

“Sexy”ness rating: Warm (no sex, but plenty of Unresolved Sexual Tension)

Overall Rating: B

Bottom Line: A fun, flirty best-friends-to-lovers romance, this book was deeply emotional as the hero and heroine overcame their fears together. Any book with cancer in it will be emotional, and this book was a stunner. Plus, the cowboy was super-sexy.

Pages: 192

Published: October 4, 2011

Genre: Western Contemporary

Chasing the Sunset by Barbara Mack

This review was done on an ebook copy provided by the lovely ladies at Siren's Song Reviews. Check out my post on their website: Chasing the Sunset by Barbara Mack

This isn't a series, but Dreaming of You is Katherine + Stone's story, who appear in this book

http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-the-Sunset-ebook/dp/B0055ODBLG

Blurb about plot to get us started: Maggie is on the run from authorities after killing her abusive husband (she thinks. I suspect he’ll show up later. Head wounds bleed like a mother). She hides away on a horse farm in the middle of nowhere, having gotten a position as a live-in house keeper through the finagling of her Uncle Ned, who cares for the horses. Nick is accused of having killed his wife, and so is shunned by society and has a hard time finding a house keeper even though he’s innocent of any crime. Can passion build between these two fucked-up people? You betcha! (or not.)

So I actually do have to finish this book, because I got the copy from Siren’s Song Reviews and I’ve promised them a review of the entire book. Were I simply reading this book for my own enjoyment (and this book is NOT enjoyable) I would’ve stopped reading long ago, but definitely by page 134. Frankly, it’s a miracle I’ve gotten this far I’m so bored and disgusted. Here’s why.

The main characters – Nick and Maggie - are so flat they’ve been steam-rolled. Not only are they flat, they talk like cardboard cutouts, and they act stiff and strange. They’re poor actors, and there’s no truth to any of their statements. By that I mean their thoughts about themselves are not backed up in any way by their actions throughout the book. They tell not show, but what they tell is weird and unpredictable. They’re completely inconsistent. It’s impossible to feel emotionally connected to them.

The dialogue is stiffer than morning wood. The writing is terrible and disjointed. The scenes are disconnected and each is so short as to be inconsequential. She rushes through an entire deathly illness in half a chapter. She spends more time talking about a new dress – I kid you not (and it may have been more moving too). She also completely skips over Maggie’s process of mental healing – which bothered me because that should’ve been ENIRELY what the book was about. It was the biggest issue and she skipped over it by say ‘three months went by’… or some such shit. I was pissed. I was bored by page 50. I was despairing that I had to keep reading by page 100. I was wondering how it could possibly get worse even as I had to practically force myself to go to the next page at page 120. There were also grammatical errors all over the place to match the awkward phrasing. Example A (pg 134)/ “The first time their eyes had met, the pain and confusion they usually kept hidden from the rest of the world was revealed each to the other.” (the pain and confusion WERE revealed, not was. Was is singular. Pain and confusion is plural. K’thanks. I’m part of the dumbest generation that texts and never learns grammar rules and even I know that).

 I hate to be mean (actually, no I don’t) but this book is a disgrace to writers everywhere. It’s like a seventh grade piece written in math class, speeding through plot devices and weak attempts at emotional connections/inner conflicts. The writing is poor, the characters (is it possible?) worse. I have a system when I read a book. I keep a notepad nearby and make ‘N -’ notes and ‘H-pg#’ highlights of funny or moving quotes. The more Hs and the less Ns the more likely the book was so engrossing I could hardly put it down for a second to even make a note. This book has more notes than I’ve ever made, ever, and it’s all in the first 134 pages. Since I refuse to waste any more time reviewing this book, I thought I’d simply list the notes I made while reading the first 134 pages alone for you:

·        Cheating on his wife, even in mutual hatred? Hm... think on it (meaning I hate heroes that cheat, for any reason and Nick cheated on his first wife)

·        really rushed admissions. Hm. REALLY rushed sexual desire on her part. No discussion of the growing trust and friendship, no build-up... damn (no romantic build-up either. No tension. No heat. That damn is because I'm just starting to realize how terrible this book is.)

·        He has to get drunk to admit his feelings for the girl? THAT speaks of his character

·        Pg 78 WHAT? First she’s flirty and coy with him and then she's all shy and nervous? WHAT? GAH! DO YOU WANT HIM OR NOT?

·        awkward, stilted dialogue. Double damn, have you ever heard of a conjunction?

·        Nothing feels meaningful!

·        She keeps skipping time - doesn't have anything development. Can't feel what's occurring in those gaps, no growing sexual tension or trust. WTF is going on here?

·        everything sadly disjointed and disconnected

·        I take it back. Not just stiff dialogue. STIFF writing EVERYWHERE

·        unfrickinbelievable. She manages to go through an entire life-or-death sickness in a chapter! Everything is so inconsequential, without point.

·        his name changes from Duncan to Stone. With NO explanation

·        I hate that. 'I shall be jealous of you, fair maiden, even as I have no claim or right to claim you because I chose it to be so, and therefore I shall be a stubborn, bitchy bastard to everyone I meet who is of your acquaintance and male.’ So unreasonable, stupid and annoying. ‘And I shan’t even be jealous in a well-written fashion.’

An utter waste of time. Never read this book.

A Good Quote:

 “May I have some more coffee, please?”  I would get it myself if I did not have the biggest erection of my life, he [Nick] thought sardonically.

 “Sexy”ness rating: Sex. Flat with no sexual tension or heat. Why, when everything else was so stiff, could Mack not pull off a good stiffie scene?

Overall Rating: DNF* (got to page 134 of 293, and it was really an effort to make it that far)

Bottom Line: If this were the LAST book on Earth, I wouldn’t read it. Lord, I’m disgusted. It was like reading the writings of a seventh grader. And I should know. It wasn’t that long ago I was in seventh grade.

Pages: 293
Published: June 12, 2011
Genre: Historical (Western United States)

*Note: This book did get better towards the end, but only good enough that it might get an F. I had to finish it for Siren’s Song, and the ending was, admittedly, better. But it doesn’t matter because, by personal preference, I never would’ve gotten there. This review stands at a DNF.

Anticipation by Patrice Michelle

http://www.patricemichelle.net/novels/anticipation.htm

I give Ms. Michelle the award for the most-overused title-cliché in the history of romantic writing. The word 'anticipation' appears so many times in the book, I couldn’t decide if I should laugh, cry, or gag. Also, what was with the goat noises partway through their first sexy scene? The beginning, sure; the end, why not? But right in the middle? I don’t know about you, but goats ruin my mood.

Onto the story itself. Jonas Mendez and Diedre Nelson have loved each other since she left town ten years ago. Diedre moved to the city and hasn’t returned once. However, she has now returned to Ventura to run the small Bed and Breakfast her parents own while they go on vacation. Acts of vandalism against her B+B force her and Sheriff Mendez together – which leads almost immediately to some oh-la-la-bang with a side of cookies (really, I’m serious!). Where the emotional stuff falls a little (a lot) weak in times, the lusty, sexy, unrequited passion mostly makes up for it. Just saying, the scene on the horse - well, there's really nothing to say. It was... mmmmm.... 

The plot falls by the wayside and is sorely underdeveloped, but it serves its purpose of reuniting the characters. It’s a little sad that we don’t get to see them grow to like each other at all, we just get to see them sex each other up. I think it had all the trappings to become a great story but it was lacking a lot of excitement and emotion and it felt a little dull and lackluster to me. Unfortunately, this was a story where it seemed the events reacted to and revolved around the characters, instead of the characters reacting to life's events. Its just that little tilt that makes this story seem a tad off-kilter.

Favorite quotes:

“Sheriff Mendez, I know you just got off, but we need you down at the station ASAP!” (Radio)

“Tell him you haven’t gotten off yet, but when you’re done, you’ll get right back to him.” (Deidre)

“I was sure the moment you said, ‘In another life’.” Jonas froze at her statement. After all these years, she remembered his last words to her. What did that say about her? It says she’s one helluva woman, you jackass, and if you keep her waiting any longer she may just tell you she’d rather wait for you in another life.

“Sexy”ness rating: Hot!

Overall Rating: C+

Bottom Line: If you like sexy cowboys taking their long-lost sweetheart for a ride, grab your saddle and YEE-HAW! Looking for emotion beyond delicious, sexy passion? Seek elsewhere.

Pages: around 100

Published: October 23, 2007

Genre: Western

The Boys Next Door by Sierra Dafoe

http://store.samhainpublishing.com/boys-next-door-p-6199.html?osCsid=3a8ddc57d8d84ba0e28dfaaba7798209

Kinks include: Sex with two brothers at the same time (no anal, but there is oral)

If you like double trouble, this book is it – you’ve got one familiar, comfortable, boyish younger brother (Tommy Ambinder) in competition with his dark, equally handsome, brooding older brother (Judah Ambinder) for their teenage sweetheart and childhood best friend Annie Parson. Dafoe combines Tommy’s sweet, fun loving with Judah’s darker lust for a ‘supreme blend’ of light and dark. Judah with Tommy is like coffee with creamer.

The characters are fleshed out well by trips down memory lane that give this novella more dynamic, real characters than most accomplish. Dafoe also manages to keep the jealousy between the brothers at believable levels – the brothers begin the book as opponents, fighting over her, and even when they decide to share some of the jealousy  still remains. This is, indeed, a positive thing because it’s consistent with the characters. There’s little I hate more than characters that change completely to fit the situation based on the outcome the author wants. For instance, a pyromaniac who suddenly is scared by fire just so she can be rescued by the oh-so-scrumptious firefighter (that does NOT happen in this book). Dafoe relieved me of my worries and kept her characters consistently human throughout the book.

The bad? Annie Parson waits twenty years to come back to town after she runs away at seventeen. Making her thirty-seven, Judah closing in on forty-one, and Tommy thirty-seven – a little too old for this kind of teenage-reminiscent romance. The time frame of this book really is ridiculous. Nobody comes back after twenty years just to ‘check things out’. It’s not realistic – she might’ve come back after five, maybe, or ten. But twenty… that’s more than half her lifetime. If you were too scared to go back for twenty entire years, doubtless it hasn’t changed now. Also, if you’ve been away from someone for twenty years, you don’t fall quite so easily back into the same routine – you aren’t the same people. You don’t look the same, or have the same habits. Again, maybe after five or even ten years, but not after twenty. It didn’t make sense and it nagged at me how easily Annie fell back into the boys’ arms – or they into hers.

Also, if you’re a fan of witty dialogue and humor, this book is not, I repeat NOT for you. This novella is intensely focused on the feelings reawakened within Annie, Tommy, and Judah, and there’s no time for humor with the passion they’re feeling. That was a bit of a let down. Finally… ‘mons’? The dreaded ‘m’ word? Why, Dafoe? Why must you torture me so?

Favorite Quote:

Oh jeepers.

“Sexy”ness rating: Hot

Overall Rating: C

Bottom Line: If you like brothers doubling up for a girl, the innocent romance of teenage years, or novellas with dynamic characters, here’s one little 90 page number for you!

Pages: Around 90

Published: October 24, 2010

Genre: Western