This unusual western romance centres around an Arizona ghost town. When a young woman inherits land next door to the town, she arrives to inspect. TheThis unusual western romance centres around an Arizona ghost town. When a young woman inherits land next door to the town, she arrives to inspect. The local marshal owns the ghost town now, and he doesn't want to let her in on the fact that he is a werewolf and some other weres use the town as a den. The marshal is also hunting a rogue were who kills cattle and may have killed a human. Not the kind of situation where you can afford to be distracted by romance.
Enjoy. This is suitable for adults or mature teens. I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Merged review:
This unusual western romance centres around an Arizona ghost town. When a young woman inherits land next door to the town, she arrives to inspect. The local marshal owns the ghost town now, and he doesn't want to let her in on the fact that he is a werewolf and some other weres use the town as a den. The marshal is also hunting a rogue were who kills cattle and may have killed a human. Not the kind of situation where you can afford to be distracted by romance.
Enjoy. This is suitable for adults or mature teens. I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review....more
I enjoyed this story of a lady who has overcome serious illness and is now a lone parent of her sulky kids, back in the town she left for better thingI enjoyed this story of a lady who has overcome serious illness and is now a lone parent of her sulky kids, back in the town she left for better things. She intends to build a house but there's a squatter camping out on her site. The biker guy claims he played there - on his family's land - as a kid, and he wasn't aware it had been sold. Maybe some mixup or something more like negligence, given that the lady's ex handed the site to her as part of the divorce settlement.
The people come across well, as grounded, realistic individuals, with all the usual issues and hopes as well as family baggage. We see them take a sensible approach to the legal matters and unravel the ownership of the land as they get to know each other better and find their feet in the town.
The small town is also well populated with interesting and varied people, from unusual occupations to crusty old timers, which may be because it is part of a series. I found this adult romance book well written and it addresses issues for cancer survivors with straightforward but tactful language.
Merged review:
I enjoyed this story of a lady who has overcome serious illness and is now a lone parent of her sulky kids, back in the town she left for better things. She intends to build a house but there's a squatter camping out on her site. The biker guy claims he played there - on his family's land - as a kid, and he wasn't aware it had been sold. Maybe some mixup or something more like negligence, given that the lady's ex handed the site to her as part of the divorce settlement.
The people come across well, as grounded, realistic individuals, with all the usual issues and hopes as well as family baggage. We see them take a sensible approach to the legal matters and unravel the ownership of the land as they get to know each other better and find their feet in the town.
The small town is also well populated with interesting and varied people, from unusual occupations to crusty old timers, which may be because it is part of a series. I found this adult romance book well written and it addresses issues for cancer survivors with straightforward but tactful language....more
I like tales about trying to turn a run-down business into something viable, and this post-pandemic ranch is run down, barely ticking over, with not eI like tales about trying to turn a run-down business into something viable, and this post-pandemic ranch is run down, barely ticking over, with not enough wealthy boarders, when Molly inherits. She did spend time on her aunt's ranch as a child, but not for years, and knows nothing about horses. She's not all that keen to learn, and decides to patch the place up and sell, which has to be better than working two low-paid jobs.
Molly has a lot of growing up to do, to put it politely, and I never took to her, though I like that she starts getting to know a retired horse. The supposed relationship between two women consists of much arguing, scowling, and total bad manners on both parts, so I don't have much to say except that it's nice to see a female farrier.
Women are the central characters, across two generations, when most ranch stories are more peopled with men, so the reading experience is different.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review....more
This is a novella which may account for the paucity of information. We don't know why the adult siblings have never met their quite pleasant grandpareThis is a novella which may account for the paucity of information. We don't know why the adult siblings have never met their quite pleasant grandparents in New Mexico. We don't know anything much about their lives. Cyan is a young man who goes to the NM guest ranch for the first time. He is instantly accepted and falls in with prep for the holiday season. During the story a child develops diabetes which may be of interest to parents. A relationship develops very fast and there is a lot of emphasis on prayer, none on women's status in organised religion. I am all in favour of treating others well, but not of leaving a deity to sort things out, because that stops people from having to think and to take responsibility. This is an undemanding romance tale. ...more
This tale follows a young woman leaving her mother and their bakery in Billings, Montana and heading to a recently established town. She is in serviceThis tale follows a young woman leaving her mother and their bakery in Billings, Montana and heading to a recently established town. She is in service to a pleasant family and takes the notice of a young man, of course. But she's left behind a man we would now call a jealous control freak. The main event sees two people stuck in a cabin during snow, which is not new, but one has been shot, providing interest. Some good medical details. I enjoyed the story and realism....more
I like the fact that a lady is a successful thriller writer though I don't know that she does much research. The mountain cabin serves as a peaceful rI like the fact that a lady is a successful thriller writer though I don't know that she does much research. The mountain cabin serves as a peaceful retreat for writing. When the local dog trainer gets stranded there during a blizzard they get to know each other but I'm pleased that there's no pressure on anyone. Not an original story line but a pleasant read and nice dogs. ...more
This tale set at the start of the pandemic lockdowns, requires a young woman to consider what really and truly makes her happy, and who is involved inThis tale set at the start of the pandemic lockdowns, requires a young woman to consider what really and truly makes her happy, and who is involved in her happiness. The ex-boyfriend she hasn't seen in years reappears on the island for a safe haven. She'll rent him a loft, but her days are filled with training young horses to work, tapping trees for maple sap, painting a cabin, and the support of her friends and neighbours. So - what does her heart need?
I enjoyed the read, which nicely recalls the ominous news, the somewhat panicky buying and adjusting, the sliding of days and requirement to destress. Of course, I love the horses. Tudor Robins writes horses really well, providing just the lockdown many of us would have loved. This is an adult book, or mature young adults could read it, but it's not intended for kids. This is an unbiased review. ...more
This book has a lovely cover and I got a free e-copy. As the book is just published I very much got the impression it needs more work, and if the copyThis book has a lovely cover and I got a free e-copy. As the book is just published I very much got the impression it needs more work, and if the copy is tidied up and an update released I'll be happy to re-read and may improve my rating. I get the impression the book was dictated; lines are missing occasionally, like someone walks towards her car and the next line she has run over a kitesurf board. The text sometimes is formatted badly, check line breaks. And on quite a few pages several seemingly random words are in italics. This means there is no way to know if a word is intentionally being stressed. I can cope with this in a Kindle version but would be really annoyed with a paperback.
The characters are all pleasant, every one, and it is a formulaic story - but that may be what you want if you don't really want to think about what you are reading, just relax. Told in present tense. A lady who is working as nurse in a hospice - turns out later she is in Italy - inherits some beach land in Florida from a late patient, who donated funds to the hospice as well. I cannot see why owning land in another country means the lady needs to resign / retire. She could treat it as a holiday home or rent it out to visitors. Anyway, she goes to see the house and oversee the needed work. While there she starts a gentle relationship and is confused about whether to sell the house or not.
Someone from Italy can't just come to travel or reside in America without a visa, but no mention. She is conflicted about wanting to go back to work, but never says, well I can be a nurse anywhere, does Florida need nurses? which is the obvious question to ask. Nor does the gentleman suggest this. And at the end, she would not make an intercontinental journey when she could phone and say, what do you think about my working in Florida? Can I get a work visa, if I need one? Can I take the State Nursing Board exams? Why wouldn't she look into it when she had been there for weeks? Irish trained nurses used to be in great demand in America so maybe it would be the same.
Research is needed and people do actually like supporting detail. Without it, they're going to think the book was turned out by AI. If you want a light, clean romance story with pleasant characters and a hopeful mindset, this may suit you. Also there is a good reminder that serious conditions like stroke present differently in women. That's worth a star.
I availed of a free download offer. This is an unbiased review....more
Fantastic fun for any dog-lovers. Romance, Christmas and eleven rescue dogs plus one much loved pet. There's deep snow and peril, the Catskill MountaiFantastic fun for any dog-lovers. Romance, Christmas and eleven rescue dogs plus one much loved pet. There's deep snow and peril, the Catskill Mountains and a town called Avalon which celebrates with sports, laughter and hot chocolate. Be prepared for a start with divorce, after which the heroine's life only improves. Susan Wiggs writes small town America well, and her dogs in this story steal the show. I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review. ...more
Painted Pony Creek is a nice Montana town, which welcomes a young mom and her daughter. They're far enough away from family not to be hassled, which tPainted Pony Creek is a nice Montana town, which welcomes a young mom and her daughter. They're far enough away from family not to be hassled, which takes on serious importance later. The tale starts in August and romance builds gradually, as we get to know the neighbourly folks. Christmas is a big event, culminating in something of a showdown, as the family's past catches up to them. The love story is balanced with the interests of a child and could be read by teens or adults. I found this a relaxing and charming read. I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review. ...more
The Summer of Second Chances in more ways than one... Darla has recently beaten cancer and has been holding down a very nice teaching job in a West CoThe Summer of Second Chances in more ways than one... Darla has recently beaten cancer and has been holding down a very nice teaching job in a West Coast college, which makes her happy. She's dropping back to Seashell Harbor on the East Coast for just long enough to reconnect with folks, sell her house and autograph a few copies of the book she wrote.
Straightaway people start pushing her together with her ex-husband. He's the only builder in town and has been refurbishing her house as required, which has a long way to go yet. This makes it all the less likely that the two of them would agree to go taste samples of wedding cake for his brother's upcoming wedding. He would be taking hours out of the work day, between cleaning up, driving, talking, sampling, getting back to work and changing again. With deliveries and workers scheduled. There's a reason builders eat on the site. Also, the cake is not a groom's side priority.
That's the kind of thing that keeps happening, and I am annoyed that the whole town just assumes this accomplished, aspirational woman will just stop doing everything that makes her who she is - because they want her to be around town to eat cake with. She would go back to her job, which nobody cares about but her. If the ex wanted to go with her, no doubt he would get work.
This is a busy and thoughtful romance, with a look at the life of a cancer survivor. There's a lot to like. I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review. ...more
Probably my favourite romance so far this year. The so-called cowgirl is a farm girl in training, as she comes from Georgia to a Montana ranch to sellProbably my favourite romance so far this year. The so-called cowgirl is a farm girl in training, as she comes from Georgia to a Montana ranch to sell the idea of wind energy generation. Along with her personal doubts and drive to succeed, she wants to please her father and is invested in clean energy. The ranch owner has other plans and even a pretty face can't persuade him to take time away from the calving season. So the saleslady mucks in alongside, making many friends as she does.
This is a lively tale with horses, goats and a donkey, nuanced characters and a breath of fresh air. I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review. ...more
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