When Summer Comes - Brenda Novak (Mira - Feb 2013)

Series: Whiskey Creek (Book 3)

One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news…

She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances of finding a compatible donor aren't good.

Determined to spend whatever time she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out to her late grandparents' farm. She's always wanted to live there. But the farm hasn't been worked in years and she begins to fear she can't manage it, that she'll have to return to town.

One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door…

He's an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud, and he offers to trade work for a few nights' shelter. Callie figures she doesn't have anything to lose. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she needs an extra pair of hands. The arrangement seems ideal until what was supposed to be temporary starts to look more and more permanent. Then she realizes she does have something to lose -- her heart. And, although he doesn't yet know it, Levi stands to lose even more.

An emotional book that is also very satisfying.  Both Callie and Levi are characters that seem very real.  Callie is coping with the diagnosis of liver disease and the fact that unless she gets a transplant she will likely die by the end of the summer.  She doesn't tell her family or her friends about any of this because she doesn't want to deal with the emotional fallout.  Having turned most of her photography business over to her assistant she moves to her grandparents' farm where she is supposedly getting it ready to sell.  One night she's awakened by someone pounding on her door.  Levi has been drifting since his return from Afghanistan and was attacked by a couple dogs near Callie's house.  She takes him in and offers him a place to stay in exchange for his help.  She doesn't expect him to be there for long, but is determined to enjoy his company while he's there.

I really understood Callie's decision not to tell anyone about her illness.  She knew that people would treat her differently and she didn't want that.  But in her efforts to keep her secret she also pushed away the very people who could provide her with the emotional support she needs.  She's wary of Levi when she first meets him but soon recognizes a fellow wounded soul.  Levi's attentions to her make her feel normal, but he's determined to keep his distance.  She doesn't really pester him for details but she's there to listen when he wants to talk.  She's pretty much resigned herself to her fate, but as she and Levi get closer she'd love to have a chance at a future with him.  She still refuses to tell him about her secret because she expects he'll be leaving soon.  She wants him to have good memories of her and not feel like he has to stay until the end. I liked the realistic portrayal of the challenges she is facing with her disease, but also that she was able to laugh and love.  There were some wonderfully tender moments between her and Levi that made me ache for what might not happen. I loved the fact that despite her own troubles Callie is always interested in her friends' lives and wants to help them with their problems.  

Levi has plenty of demons of his own.  Trained as a fighter by his father, he escaped that life by joining the army.  During his last deployment he fell in love with an Afghani woman who was killed by her family when they discovered she was pregnant with his child.  Levi is consumed by his guilt over her death.  He has been traveling around the country doing odd jobs to survive.  He is also using an assumed name because he got into trouble with a couple cops and is trying to avoid arrest.  When he's attacked by a couple dogs near Callie's home he ends up there looking for help.  Despite how scary he can be, Levi is at heart a kind and honorable man.  He accepts Callie's offer of help because he sees that she needs him too.  He's also attracted to her, but his guilty feelings won't let him pursue the attraction.  It becomes a real battle for him and one that he soon loses.  His growing closeness to her starts to heal his heart but he also senses that there is something very wrong that she is hiding.  When he discovers what it is he is devastated and runs, but soon has to decide whether to pursue what he really wants.  He also has to face his past before he can look at a future.

I love the small town feeling and the closeness among Callie and her friends.  It's not a perfect relationship among them as there are various issues between characters that are very realistic.  I liked the fact that they noticed something was up with Callie, but I have to say that there were some things that bugged me.  Once again the group of friends gets rather judgmental.  Some of them make comments about Levi without ever having met him.  I also got irritated with Eve's determination to bust in on Callie and demand to know what's going on.  I kind of hope that when it comes time for her book she gets a taste of her own medicine.  I did like the support they gave Callie once they knew the truth of what was going on.  Another character that irritated me was the police chief.  I really didn't like his attitude toward Levi and thought that he was going too far in threatening him.  

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Whiskey Creek books.

The Real Mr. Right - Karen Templeton (HSE #2313 - Feb 2014)

Series: Jersey Boys (Book 1)

Is an old crush the new beginning this single mom has been searching for?

Finding refuge from her ex-husband at her friend's house was her best option, Kelly McNeil thought--until Matt Noble answered the door. She'd had a huge, unrequited crush on him as a teenager But as adults, he'd never even given her a second look. Then she got married and left town and, well, now here they are again....

Matt had never mustered up the courage to ask Kelly out, and now fate has literally knocked on his door and given him a second chance. But Kelly is afraid to risk her independence and her children with a man who could only hurt them again. He'll have to prove that he's worth the risk--and that he's the Mr. Right she can truly depend on. Forever.

Very good book.  I love a story that can make me laugh and cry.  Kelly's search for a safe place brought her to the home of her best friend's family.  She didn't expect to see Bree's brother Matt, who she'd had a huge crush on as a teenager.  Unknown to her, Matt had also had a crush on her, but had never had the courage to do anything about it.  Now he's got a second chance, but both of them are wary of risking their hearts again.

Kelly's marriage had started out well, but things changed and when her ex-husband couldn't accept that the marriage was over she knew she had to get herself and her kids away.  Seeing Matt again has brought those old feelings back to the surface.  She has no desire to get involved with another man.  She has finally gotten to the point where she is comfortable with her ability to take care of her family without depending on anyone else.  She can see losing herself in a relationship with him, coming to depend on him and then losing it all again if he leaves.  But she can't resist his friendship, and the kindness he shows her children.  There was a lot that Kelly was dealing with.  She had to provide a stable home for her children who had been through so many changes in the last couple years.  Her son was especially in need of the extra attention.  Matt's presence was good for him, but she worried about them becoming dependent on him.  Her own heart wanted him in her life, but she was afraid to trust him so she kept a certain amount of distance between them.  I loved seeing how a talk with her son about his fears opened her eyes to what she was doing to them both.

Matt is still recovering from his divorce when Kelly reappears in his life.  He is the kind of guy who lives for taking care of people, but his ex accused him of smothering her.  Matt really wants to help Kelly and her kids, but her insistence on keeping total independence keeps him at a distance.  I loved the way that he slowly got involved in her life by trying to keep things at the friend level.  One of the things I loved best about him was seeing how good he was with her kids.  He was able to be a friend and role model for her son.  There was a really  sweet scene where he and Cooper had a man-to-man talk about Kelly that really showed what a terrific guy he really was.  His feelings for Kelly got to be so strong that he couldn't resist her any longer.  But he too had trust issues, for a long time feeling that the only person he could depend on was himself.  That by protecting others he was also protecting himself.  He had to give himself permission to let Kelly get close to him.

I loved the realistic characterizations in this book.  Besides the portrayals of Matt and Kelly, I really liked Kelly's son Cooper.  He had the kind of attitude that could be seen in almost any intelligent eight year old.  He had moments when he'd talk back, but also times when he was incredibly sweet to his mom and little sister.  I also really enjoyed Kelly's mother-in-law and the way she was so supportive of Kelly.  Completely loved the push she gave Kelly that got her closer to Matt, and then the scolding she gave Matt when he appeared to have given up was priceless.

A Marriage of Notoriety - Diane Gaston (HH #1170 - Jan 2014)

Series: Masquerade Club (Book 2)

The scars she keeps hidden...

The mysterious pianiste is the Masquerade Club's newest attraction, captivating guests with her haunting music. What is the true identity of the lady concealed beneath the mask?

Only Xavier Campion, the club's new proprietor, recognizes Phillipa Westleigh, the lady with whom he once shared a dance. Concerned for her safety, Xavier escorts her home each night. But when their moonlit strolls are uncovered, the only protection Xavier can offer is marriage.

Excellent book.  Because of a childhood injury that caused a scar on her face, Phillipa hides herself away from people.  She spends her days on playing and writing music.  When questions about her father and brothers send her to the Masquerade Club, she sees Xavier an old friend from her childhood.  Intrigued by the idea of the club, Phillipa convinces him to let her play the piano at the club, remaining masked to protect her reputation.  Just as Phillipa begins to gain some confidence in herself, her activities are discovered and Xavier offers marriage.  Phillipa doesn't want a forced marriage, but can she believe that Xavier wants her for herself?

I really liked both Phillipa and Xavier.  Phillipa had been badly injured as a child, and as a result is very self-conscious about the scar on her face.  She found that people, especially men, avoided looking at her and when they did it was with pity.  She remembers one fantastic dance with her childhood friend Xavier, where he didn't look at her with pity but treated her as he always did.  But a jealous friend ruined that dance for her and Phillipa withdrew from society shortly after.  Her music becomes her life.  When family troubles send her to the Masquerade Club looking for answers, she encounters Xavier once again.  As they renew their friendship she convinces him to let her play the piano at the club, enabling her to get out in public without her usual problems.  She accepts Xavier's escort to and from the club each night as simply another indication of how he feels sorry for her.  Her feelings for him are changing from friendship into love but she has no expectation that they would ever be returned.  When her mother discovers what she is doing, she tries to force them to marry.  Phillipa refuses to sentence Xavier to be married to a freak like her and stands firm against her mother.  Phillipa has spent most of her life being protected from life's realities by her family and she is tired of it.  She knows very well that she is strong enough to cope with anything as long as she knows the truth.  I loved seeing her stand up to her family members, especially her mother.  I detested her mother and found her actions toward Phillipa to be quite cruel, first by reinforcing that the scar was such a hideous thing that no one would want her and then by depriving Phillipa of her music in an attempt to force her to marry.  I wouldn't blame Phillipa at all if she refused to ever see her mother again.  I loved the way that Xavier's attentions to her started opening her eyes to the possibility that he really did care for her.  She also had to face her own insecurities and decide if she was willing to fight for what she wanted.

Xavier is an incredibly good looking man, but he wants to be known for more than his looks.  He spent ten years in the army, where he achieved an excellent reputation for his leadership skills. He has also become known as a man of his word and as a true gentleman. Since returning he has been working with his friend Rhys to run the Masquerade Club.  He has fond memories of his childhood friend Phillipa and the one dance they shared years earlier.  When she comes to him for answers about her family he tells her the truth, treating her like the intelligent woman she is.  It hurts him to see the way that she has locked herself away from life.  He's not happy about her desire to play at the club, but he can't tell her no.  I loved his feelings of protectiveness toward her, and the way he insisted on escorting her each evening.  The more time he spends with her the more he starts to care about her.  I loved the way that her scar doesn't bother him, that he hardly even notices it.  Everything he does with and for her seems to be intent on building up her confidence in herself.  He would like nothing more than to marry her, but he refuses to allow her to be forced.  He wants her to marry him because it's her choice.  I loved his fury when he discovered what her mother had done to her to try to force Phillipa to marry him.  His methods of achieving his goal were pretty creative, and I loved seeing him finally get Phillipa to himself.  He has a tremendous amount of patience and I really liked seeing him start to break down her walls.  I especially enjoyed seeing him shut down the beautiful woman who was pursuing him because he knew his feelings for Phillipa were the real thing.  

There was a minor mystery through the book as Phillipa's memory of her accident starts to return.  She gets very frustrated as her mother refuses to talk about that day even when Phillipa tells her how important it is to her.  It just reinforces to me how horribly selfish her mother is.  I liked seeing Phillipa confront her mother with her fully restored memories.  She also had to face Xavier with his own part in that day.  I liked that they were able to talk things out and how it ended up strengthening their love.

Secret Agent Secretary - Melissa Cutler (HRS #1786 - Jan 2014)

Series: ICE: Black Ops Defenders (Book 2)

Bullets whizzed past as Ryan Reitano and Avery Meadows escaped into the night. How could Ryan have suspected Avery of being the mole inside ICE? It was true she was no ordinary secretary. The way she used her wits and her lethal stiletto heels against the gunmen pursuing them astonished the jaded agent. And that killer body he'd somehow never noticed before...

Too bad there wasn't time to explore the possibilities. With Chiara's men hot on their trail, capturing the mercenary was more than just a mission for Ryan. He had his own reasons for wanting the criminal dead. But with his surprising--and utterly enchanting--new partner, perhaps there'd be a chance for romance later...if they survived.

Wow.  Action packed from the beginning, I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the action. At the end of Tempted Into Danger, the ICE team had broken up because of the betrayal of one of the members of the team.  However, Ryan is still determined to stop the third Chiara brother.  He has gone undercover at the San Diego office because Chiara is expected to attempt to steal some jewels that will be on display there.  While doing surveillance on New Year's Eve, he needs a file from his computer and calls Avery, the office secretary to email it to him.  When she can't get in his computer or find the hard copy, she heads to his location to tell him what's in the file.  She has a photographic memory and can use it to help him.  When she gets there all hell breaks loose and she and Ryan are on the run trying to escape from Chiara's men.  As a wanna be secret agent, Avery gets the chance to help Ryan nab Chiara while indulging her fantasy.  It doesn't hurt that Ryan is pretty fantasy worthy himself.

I loved both Ryan and Avery.  Avery has been working as a secretary for ICE for six years.  She has been fascinated by anything "secret agent" all of her life, in spite of being raised by pacifist parents.  She has also had a major crush on Ryan since he came to work for them.  When she can't find the file he needs she takes her photographic memory to him to give him the information he needs.  When they are attacked, Avery finds herself in the middle of some intense action.  At that point her truly amazing personality comes roaring to the surface.  I loved the way that she didn't freak out but stepped up to help Ryan as best she could.  Her quick thinking with her shoes and some paper clips get them out of immediate danger.  Working with Ryan to stop Chiara is a dream come true for Avery.  It gives her a great taste of the operations side of things and makes her realize that she really wants to be able to make a difference. Avery's abilities mesh well with Ryan's.  She had a great way of really surprising Ryan with just what she could do.  It was so much fun seeing her blow him away with the way she took to using his "gadgets" and his reaction to her car was priceless.  I also loved the chemistry between Avery and Ryan.  The scene in his "secret lair" was really hot.  

Ryan was an awesome hero.  He is undercover at the ICE office because he suspects there is a mole there.  When Avery first appears at the hotel during his surveillance he wonders if it could be her.  It doesn't take him long to decide that she's not as she and her high heels help get them out of trouble.  He has been so focused on his mission that he had never really paid much attention to her, but he's looking now.  He's fascinated by her combination of innocence and kick-ass attitude.  He is constantly surprised by her quick thinking and willingness to take action. After all the time he's spent dealing with violence and betrayal, he's not quite sure what to do with Avery.  I loved seeing the way that she broke down some of his barriers, changing him from the brooding loner that he was to someone open to possibilities.  I loved Ryan's confidence in himself and his abilities.  He always seemed to know just what needed to be done.  He wanted to protect Avery but he also admitted that her assistance was crucial to catching the bad guy.  It was fun seeing Ryan get so involved with Avery and start thinking of ways that they can be together, especially when it came to their bucket lists.

The entire suspense portion of the book was awesome from start to finish.  From the first attack at the hotel to the final showdown the action was nonstop, with car chases, explosions, and shootings.  The identity of the mole wasn't obvious and there were some pretty good twists and turns as Ryan and Avery have to stay ahead him.  There was a very interesting plot twist that showed why it was so important to Ryan that Chiara be stopped.  The final showdown was fantastic.  I hope we get to see some of Ryan and Avery in future books, as I'd like to see how things work out for them.

From Ruin to Riches - Louise Allen (HH #1169 - Jan 2014)

A lord in want of a wife

Ruined and on the run, Julia Prior is in desperate straits when she meets a gentleman with a shocking proposal. Certain he is close to death, William Hadfield, Lord Dereham, sees Julia as the perfect woman to care for his beloved estate when he is gone--if she will first become his wife....

Marriage is Julia's salvation--as Lady Hadfield, she can finally escape her sins. Until three years later, when the husband she believes to be dead returns, as handsome and strong as ever and intent on claiming the wedding night they never had.

Very good book with plenty of joy, sadness, humor, and heartache.  Julia made the mistake of trusting a man who claimed to love her.  After convincing her to elope with him, he ravished her and then told her he never intended to marry her.  When she fought back she believed she had killed him and ran.  When she encountered Will she overcame her fears to help him back to his home, seeing how ill he was.  When he proposed a marriage of convenience to protect his estate until his cousin could be trained to handle it she agreed.  Then he left, fully expecting to die soon, but knowing his lands would be cared for.  Three years later he returned, unexpectedly healthy and ready to take back control of his lands and see if his marriage could become real.

I really liked both Julia and Will.  Julia started out as rather naive as far as men were concerned.  That is why she was duped by Jonathan into running away with him.  In spite of being panicked when she fled after hitting him with the poker, she actually kept a pretty good head and managed to get herself far away from the scene of the crime.  I liked the way she overcame her own fears to help Will when she found him on the bridge and helped him home.  I really enjoyed her conversation with him about estate management, which she was familiar with thanks to her late father.  When that knowledge led to Will's strange proposition she was desperate enough to take him up on it.  When the story resumed three years later with his return and improved health, she had become used to being the one in charge.  I really enjoyed seeing the way that she and Will had to learn how to compromise and work with each other.  I loved seeing her stand up to him when he would try to leave her out of everything. There were some really fun scenes with the two of them as they worked together around the estate.  Julia also discovered that there was a huge difference between her one encounter with Jonathan and her relationship with Will.  His tenderness and care for her caused her feelings for him to grow even more.  Her biggest problem was that she had never told him about her attack on Jonathan and she feared what his reaction would be.  This secret was a huge obstacle to her happiness.  I had a feeling from the beginning that the issue would play a big part and it did.  I loved the way that the whole thing was resolved.

Will was a fantastic hero.  At the time Julia met him, he was very ill and thought to be dying.  His heir was still young and in no way ready to take over the management of the estate.  Talking with Julia he discovers that she is very knowledgeable about the subject.  He comes up with the idea of marrying her so that she can run the estate and train Henry in what to do.  If he marries her, then leaves the country and doesn't stay in contact, it will take seven years for him to be declared dead, more than enough time to do what is needed.  So they married and he left the next day.  Three years later, he returned healthy, having been saved by a Spanish doctor.  He is ready to take back control of his land, which he had missed dreadfully, and to see if it would be possible to continue his marriage.  He did not expect to find that his lands had been so well cared for that he had barely been missed.  He was intent on taking back control, and it took a few days for him to realize that to sideline Julia completely would devastate her.  I loved seeing the way that he learned so much about her and listened when she told him that all she wanted was to be able to share the work with him.  I loved seeing him accept her for who she was and appreciate her abilities.  He also quickly came to enjoy their physical relationship.  His biggest concern was that he could sense that she was hiding something from him.  He has a real problem with anything resembling a lack of honesty because of the miserable way his parents had treated each other and him.  Just when things are going well for them, her past comes calling, and he is blindsided by his feelings of betrayal.  After saying some cruel things to her he finally comes to his senses, but then has to find her.  I loved his final rescue of her and the way his feelings become clear to him. 

What a Rancher Wants - Sarah M. Anderson (HD #2282 - Feb 2014)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: The Missing Mogul (Book 8)

When it comes to the Texas Cattleman's Club, what a rancher wants, a rancher gets...

Nothing's come easy to Chance McDaniel since his best friend betrayed him. And when the deception explodes into a Texas-sized scandal, his best friend's sister, Gabriella del Toro, shows up to pick up the pieces. Now Chance's luck is about to change. He wants this innocent beauty, and seducing her has become his top priority.

Gabriella's sheltered upbringing has always left her wanting more. Now, with this rich rancher, she sees a chance to break free. But will the web of deception her family has woven ensnare her yet again?

Very good book.  Chance is still dealing with the fallout of Alex's disappearance and reappearance.  Even though Alex was his best friend, many people consider Chance to be the number one suspect.  All Chance wants is the opportunity to talk to Alex and try to clear his name.  When he goes to Alex's home, he doesn't see Alex but he does meet his sister Gabriella.  He is immediately attracted to her and the feeling appears to be mutual.  

I really liked both Chance and Gabriella.  Gabriella has come to Texas from her home in Mexico along with her father to take care of her brother Alex.  It also gives her a chance to get away from her home estate where she is practically a prisoner.  Because her father worries about kidnapping she always has a bodyguard with her plus she is not allowed to do anything on her own.  At the age of twenty-seven, Gabriella is desperate to experience a normal life.  She's hoping to be able to get out and about in Texas, but so far she has been stuck in Alex's house.  That changes when she meets Chance, who besides being incredibly good looking, is also the main suspect in Alex's disappearance.  She decides that spending time with him would be a good way to find out if he had anything to do with the kidnapping.  It doesn't take long for her to realize that Chance was completely innocent of the accusations.  That doesn't stop her from continuing to spend time with him.  I loved seeing the way that his attentions give her the boost of confidence she needs to start standing up for herself.  She has never had someone work so hard to take care of her and take the time to discover what her hopes and dreams are.  Her love for him grew the more time they spent together and she really wanted to believe that a relationship between them would work. Her inexperience and insecurities showed at the end when there was a misunderstanding between them, but she also had the courage to seek out the truth.  I loved the relationship she had with her bodyguard and the way she would get him to help her do things against his will.  I did not like her father at all and his actions at the end were horrible.  

Chance is still reeling from all the things he is finding out about Alex, the man he thought was his friend.  He doesn't understand how someone who claimed to be a friend could have told him so many lies.  Alex's disappearance put Chance on the hotseat as a suspect which made him even madder.  I felt so bad for him with the way people were treating him, even though law enforcement had cleared him.  One day he finally has enough and storms over to Alex's house to confront him.  He doesn't get near Alex, but he does meet Gabriella.  He's very attracted to her, but he's not sure he can trust her since she could be as big a liar as her brother.  I loved seeing him get her to his ranch so that they could get to know each other.  He thinks getting closer to her could get him a chance to find out what's going on with Alex.  As he gets to know her he is disturbed by the way she seems to be held prisoner by her father.  I loved the sweetness and sensitivity he showed as he took her riding, out to dinner, and gave her the chance to work with metal the way she did at home.  I loved his determination to give her whatever she wanted.  Their growing closeness made him dream of what it would be like to have her in his life permanently and he tried to think of ways they could still see each other if she went back to Mexico.  I loved seeing the way he jumped into action at the end when Gabriella appeared to be missing and then when the truth was discovered.  The ending for the two of them was fantastic.

The mystery involving Alex himself is starting to come together.  It appears that his memory loss isn't as extensive as he has been portraying.  It looks like he may have a plan of some sort that will become clear in the next book.  I don't like the way his actions are hurting Chance and feel like he could have told him what was going on.  There were a couple of things in the book that gave me an idea of who might be behind Alex's kidnapping and I'm looking forward to seeing if I am right.

A Callahan Christmas Miracle - Tina Leonard (HAR #1473 - Nov 2013)

Series: Callahan Cowboys (Book 13)

TO LOVE, HONOR…AND MULTIPLY!

Becoming a husband and family man in the middle of a raging land feud wasn't the destiny Galen Callahan saw for himself. But once he laid eyes on Rose Carstairs, he knew the bouncy blonde with the warrior heart was his future. Now, with Rancho Diablo under siege, the eldest Callahan sibling will do whatever it takes to protect his new wife and triplets.

Except Rose refuses to be protected! No husband of hers can stop her from fighting by his side while keeping their newborn sons out of the line of fire. With Callahan lives and legacy on the line, Galen has a new mission: to vanquish a dangerous enemy and bring his family together in time for Christmas!

Very good book.  Galen is the oldest of the family and the one that took over care of the family when their parents left for witness protection.  He still feels responsible and doesn't plan on a family of his own until the problems with Uncle Wolf are done.  He doesn't count on the effect that Rose has on him from the moment they meet.  He is determined to make her his, and once he does he intends to keep her safe.  But Rose isn't the type to sit back and do nothing, which drives Galen nuts.

I really liked both Rose and Galen.  Galen hadn't really paid much attention to Rose until she became one of the nannies to the Callahan children.  Once he did, he couldn't get her off his mind.  He was very attracted to her physically, but he also liked her spirit.  Having her help investigate a cave put her in danger that he regretted getting her involved in, but helped him realize that he wanted her in his future.  I loved the way that he decided that he would not be like his brothers when they married.  They all seemed to fall for women that got pregnant and then ran them ragged before finally getting married.  He was going to make sure that he married Rose first, before she got pregnant, and that would keep things simpler.  He was thrilled when she got pregnant right away and when it turned out to be triplets.  He was frustrated by the fact that she wasn't very cooperative of his efforts to protect her.  He didn't understand when those efforts seemed to drive a distance between them.  It took quite awhile for him to realize that Rose needed to be included in their fight to save the ranch.  Once he did, many other things became clearer to him.  I loved the way it was one of his brothers who pointed out to him just how capable Rose was of being a part of the whole thing, not just wrapped up and put in a safe place.  He finally understood that he was making his decisions out of fear for his family instead of doing what was right for the situation.

Rose has had it bad for Galen for a long time, but it took a long time for him to actually notice her.  Once he did, she couldn't believe how intense he got around her.  She really liked being involved in the investigation of the cave.  Unfortunately, once he proposed and they got married, he suddenly started treating her differently, trying to keep her away from danger.  While she was pregnant she agreed to stay with her father, away from the ranch, but she was very unhappy because she rarely got to see Galen.  Once the babies came she became even more determined to get her family back together.  I really loved seeing Rose keep insisting to Galen that she would not be hidden away and separated from him for who knows how long.  I loved her part in Galen's rescue and how it served to emphasize to him that she is capable of taking care of herself.  I loved seeing her get her Christmas wish.

The ongoing fight against their Uncle Wolf and his attempts to get the ranch continues.  Things are getting more dangerous as they discover that there is a network of tunnels under the land that are being used by the cartel.  Galen is captured and rescued and Rose manages to incur real hatred from Wolf to herself.  There are two books left in the series and I am really looking forward to seeing how the Callahans save the day.