Snowbound with a Baby - Melissa Senate (HSE #3009 - Oct 2023)

Series: Dawson Family Ranch (Book 12)
 
Snowy with a chance of love
 
Detective Reed Dawson should be looking for the mother who abandoned her infant in his office. But a freak snowstorm has him stranded and left to care for the baby with social worker Aimee Gallagher. Reed can see that Aimee is a caring person and a natural mother. But despite their ice-melting attraction, Reed's painful past prevents him from getting involved. So why does he keep imagining their future as a family?
 
Good book about two people with painful pasts who come together to care for an abandoned baby. Detective Reed Dawson arrived at work one morning to find a newborn baby on his desk and a note begging him to care for her "for a few days." Because of that note, Reed intends to care for baby Summer himself despite the efforts of social worker and foster mother Aimee Gallagher. When Reed joins Aimee at her home to discuss the matter, a freak snowstorm snows them in together.
 
I enjoyed watching Aimee and Reed's relationship develop as they cared for little Summer. Reed's ease with the baby impresses Aimee, but she also senses some turmoil. His past marriage made him wary of getting close to anyone, but Summer and Aimee didn't take long to sneak past his walls. Reed fights against his growing feelings for Aimee to the point where he makes a boneheaded decision near the end and almost loses her. He gets some good advice from his cousin, but the real eye-opening comes from a conversation with a new acquaintance.
 
Aimee also has a painful past, one that sent her on the journey to become a foster mother. I ached for her and the betrayal she suffered. She, too, doubts the likelihood of a successful relationship, but she doesn't let that stop her from her dream of becoming a mother. Her excitement at caring for Summer was evident, as was her disappointment at Reed's refusal to give up on her care. I ached for her as she fell hard for Reed and realized he would not return her feelings. I liked how she stayed true to her needs despite Reed's idea and held out for love.
 
The scenes of Aimee and Reed caring for Summer were sweet and realistic. I loved how Reed's experience showed Aimee the difference between the classroom and real life.
 
Part of the book covered Reed's search for Summer's mother. Her note implied she knew him, and I could feel Reed's determination to figure out who she was. I enjoyed seeing her story unfold. The resolution of her dilemma was terrific.

 
 
 

Undercover Cowboy Protector - Kacy Cross (HRS #2274 - Apr 2024)

Series: Secrets of Hidden Creek Ranch (Book 1)
 
A hidden treasure may save her ranch…
Or cost her her life.
 
Ex-SEAL Ace Madden is working undercover as a cowboy to protect Sophia Lang, a new ranch owner who's in more trouble than she realizes. But his attraction to Sophia is complicating his mission. When Sophia's confronted by an intruder searching for a treasure map, she enlists Ace's help to find the treasure before her mysterious attacker does. As danger draws them close, Ace must resist his hunger for Sophia. Can he find a way to protect her from the people trying to steal the fortune on her land? And can he save himself from falling in love while they solve the mystery?
 
Good mix of romance and suspense, with a bit of history mixed in with it. Sophia is a former advertising executive who gladly gave up her job when she inherited her grandfather's ranch. She plans to turn it into a dude ranch.
 
Ace is a former SEAL who started a security firm and was hired by an unknown person to protect Sophia, with the condition that he doesn't reveal his identity. Ace is undercover as a ranch hand and has a tough time. He is intensely attracted to Sophia, which distracts him from his mission.
 
The trouble begins when she confronts a masked intruder searching for a treasure map. Fortunately, Ace is nearby and saves her. Sophia immediately recruits him to help her find the treasure before the intruder does. Their search draws some unwelcome attention, including shots fired and runaway heavy equipment. Their search has ups and downs, and there is an intense confrontation at the end. While the immediate question of who was behind the attacks was solved, there are unresolved questions that I expect will be addressed in the following books.
 
I enjoyed watching the development of Sophia and Ace's relationship. Their attraction is immediate, though neither is looking for a relationship. Ace resists for two reasons: first, he is there for the job, and getting involved would not be professional. Second, because of past actions, Ace believes he does not deserve a woman like her. Sophia has trouble trusting men but finds it easy to trust Ace. Their attraction continues to grow, no matter how they try to resist. I was a little frustrated by Ace's tendency to back away every time he gave in to the sparks. There are fireworks when Sophia learns the truth about Ace's presence, and it takes some self-examination from each to overcome the insecurities holding them back. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in subsequent books.
 
The secondary characters also have essential roles in the story. Sophia's sister, Charli, originally wanted no part of Sophia's plans for the ranch. She shows up near the end, expressing more interest in participating. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between the sisters and seeing the dynamics of their relationship. There is a good part near the end where Charli makes a vital contribution to the plans for the ranch.
 
Also arriving near the end are Ace's two partners, Heath and Paxton. They, too, start as undercover ranch hands, backing up Ace as he tries to keep Sophia and Charli safe. I laughed at how they gave Ace a hard time about his distractedness around Sophia. I suspect both men will play roles in the following books with Sophia's sisters, Charli and Veronica. 

Reunited with Her Off-Limits Surgeon - Amy Ruttan (HMED #1354 - Nov 2023)

One stolen night -- and ten years later…
 
Deaf audiologist Maeve hasn't seen Finn since their stolen night ten years ago. Now he's her hospital's temporary ENT surgeon -- and sparks are still flying! Finn's only returned long enough to learn sign language for his dream job. Maeve's always craved adventure, but has people who depend on her. Unable to leave and protective of her emotions, she knows a relationship with Finn is off-limits! But denying their attraction has never been easy…
 
Good second chance romance. When they were growing up, Finn and Maeve had crushes on each other. But Maeve was Finn's best friend's little sister and off-limits to him. Neither knew how the other felt until the night before Finn left for college when they gave in to their feelings. But Finn couldn't wait to get out of Kansas, and once he was gone, he didn't return.
 
Ten years later, Finn returns to Wichita to settle his parents' estate and learn American Sign Language to improve his chances of getting the California-based job he wants. While doing so, he fills in as the local hospital's ENT surgeon. He often wondered what had happened to Maeve and is stunned to find her working in the same hospital.
 
Maeve is mostly deaf and had an over-protective mother. Her best memories are the times she tagged along with her brother, Rolf, and Finn. She works as an audiologist at the hospital and teaches ASL. She lives with Rolf and his deaf son, helping to care for them.
 
During their ten years apart, Maeve and Finn never forgot each other and never entered into relationships with other people. Finn has been too busy with his career. He also has no plans to marry and have a family. After being raised by indifferent parents, he fears that he would be like them and refuses to inflict that pain on children of his own. Maeve is comfortable with her life as it is, caring for her brother and nephew. She was affected by how other people treated her as a child and keeps her emotions tightly controlled.
 
The sparks between Maeve and Finn are intense, but he has no intention of staying in Kansas, and Maeve has no plans to leave. They attempt to bury their feelings and limit themselves to being friends only. But the time they spend together brings them closer, and emotions bubble to the surface. I ached for Finn, who realized he was lonely and wanted Maeve to stay in his life. But he fears rejection, so he says nothing about his feelings. I ached for Maeve, who longs for a change but won't desert the people who need her. I liked seeing them work through their issues and find the courage to be honest with each other. I loved the advice both received and the difference it made. The epilogue was terrific, and I liked how their future worked out.
 
Maeve's nephew, RJ, was a sweetheart and stole the scenes he was in. I especially enjoyed seeing his effect on Finn. A crisis at the end involved him, and I was glued to the pages to see how it worked out.
 
I enjoyed the medical theme of hearing loss, its causes and treatments, and its challenges. The information was integral to the story, not just an info dump.

 
 

A Lyon in Waiting - Abigail Bridges (Dragonblade - Dec 2024)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 68)
 
They are both hiding the darkest of secrets. But will saving one be the destruction of the other?
 
Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, owner of the renowned Lyon’s Den, knows how to match unmarriageable women with the perfect mate. But even she may not be able to help a woman too determined to walk her own path, failures and all.
 
After Lady Mary Caudale faced ruin and humiliation because of a mistake, she knew her chances of a debut season had vanished. Then her brother, the Duke of Kirkstone, and his new wife Beth came up with a daring plan to salvage Mary’s future. But as the family returns to London, they discover that Mary’s “secret” is not so secret, with the news working its way through the ton. So Mary and her brother turn to the owner of the Lyon’s Den, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon herself, to find Mary a husband before her reputation is destroyed beyond repair.
 
Enter Lord Thaddeus Ephraim Bolton, second son, Earl of Crookham, a man with an unfortunate gambling habit who owes Mrs. Dove-Lyon a great deal of money. But Thad, in the way of such gentlemen, has a number of dark secrets of his own. Secrets that will screech into the light if he agrees to the Lyon’s demand that he marry this odd but lovely woman from the north.
 
But as Mary and Thad risk giving each other a chance, Thad realizes this secretive beauty may just be the very person he has been waiting a lifetime to find.
 
Very good book. Both main characters are likable and realistic, with believable faults and insecurities. Once again, Mrs. Dove-Lyon arranges an excellent match.
 
Two years earlier, Lady Mary made a mistake that had lasting consequences. Her brother, Kit, Duke of Kirkstone, and his wife Beth helped cover up the scandal, but when Mary went to London for her Season, rumors followed. Society shuns her, making it impossible for her to find a husband. With Kit and Beth about to leave for India, Kit and Mary appeal to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help finding her a husband.
 
Thad is the younger son of the Earl of Crookham. As the "spare," he was mostly ignored by his family. He and his father disagreed on his future plans, and the woman he loved married someone else. With no direction, Thad spends his time gambling badly and accumulates more and more debt. Some he owes to a shady character, and some to the Lyon's Den. When Mrs. Dove-Lyon offers to pay his debts if he marries Mary, Thad agrees. He is instantly attracted to her but also wary of the secrets that forced her to take this route.
 
I liked Mary and Thad and enjoyed following the development of their relationship. I liked how Thad insisted that they take two weeks to "court," giving them a chance to know each other and him a chance to uncover her secrets. One of the things I liked best about Mary is that she stands up for herself despite her family's attempts to mold her into their version of "ladylike." Thad appreciates her fire. I loved his surprise at her vocabulary and how her obvious intelligence made her more appealing to him. I liked his protectiveness, also. There were a couple of terrific scenes in which he faced down a particularly vicious gossiper in her defense. He won my heart with his reaction to her secret.
 
Thad has a few secrets/issues himself. One was surprising, considering his age and the era in which he lives, but it doesn't seem to have been a problem in the end. However, he is badly injured when one of his mistakes catches up with him. I hurt for him because of his family's reaction and loved how Mrs. Dove-Lyon, Mary, and her family stepped in and made him feel as though he was part of a family.
 
I loved that Mary and Thad were open and honest with each other about their pasts, feeling that a genuine relationship must be based on trust. I liked the epilogue and seeing how they are doing a few months later. I have great hopes that Thad has finally found something better than gambling to occupy his time. 

Fortune's Holiday Surprise - Jennifer Wilck (HQN - Dec 2024)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: Fortune's Secret Children (Book 5)
 
He'd lost the holiday spirit…
Until she brought light back into his life.
 
Rancher Arlo Fortune is devastated when he loses his best friend in a tragic accident. The only thing that heals him is opening his heart to his friend's adorable daughter, Aviva…and his friend's grieving sister-in-law, the brand-new guardian to the orphaned child. Carrie Kaplan has one mission: to lavish her niece with love in a Jewish home like her sister always wanted. Her stop in Chatelaine is only temporary. Right? But as she teaches Aviva about the miracle of Hanukkah, holiday magic might just beckon from Arlo's ranch around the bend…
 
Terrific book. I loved the multicultural aspect of the story with the inclusion of Carrie' Jewish heritage and customs. I know very little about Jewish traditions, and this was enlightening and enjoyable.
 
After the unexpected deaths of her sister and brother-in-law, Carrie became the guardian of her niece, Aviva. Coping with her grief at the same time, she tries to give Aviva as normal a holiday as possible, which is not easy. She longs to return to her life in Albuquerque but doesn't want to upend Aviva's life any more than necessary.
 
Arlo is grieving the loss of his best friend, Isaac. He wants to continue being part of Aviva's life and makes a point of spending time with her. He is also dealing with unresolved issues about his father, adding a bit of mystery to the story.
 
I enjoyed the development of Carrie and Arlo's relationship. They come together because of their grief and love for Aviva. Arlo insists on helping Carrie fix up the house while she deals with settling the family's affairs.  Their romance developed as they got to know each other. I loved seeing Arlo's interest in Carrie's traditions and enthusiastic participation as Carried prepared for the holiday. Carrie's support of Arlo as he deals with a mystery surrounding his father goes a long way toward restoring Arlo's holiday spirit. The question is whether Carrie's growing feelings for Arlo will be enough to keep her from returning to Albuquerque.
 
I liked seeing Carrie's introduction to small-town life. She's used to the anonymity of city life, and it takes her some time to adjust to the closeness of the people of Chatelaine. I loved how welcoming and inclusive they were, with a terrific scene at the town's holiday festival. I also loved the ending and seeing both families' celebrations. 

Regency Christmas Weddings - Christine Merrill, Liz Tyner, Elizabeth Beacon (HH #1829 - Dec 2024)

Overall, an enjoyable trio of holiday stories. I liked the first one the best.

In A Mistletoe Kiss for the Governess by Christine Merrill, Major Frederick Preston is stunned when his daughters' governess is not the stern matron he expects but a beguiling miss who challenges and tempts him!
 
After five years at war, Frederick looks forward to spending time with his daughters. He's shocked when he discovers the governess he hired (sight unseen) isn't the older woman he expected but a much younger one. He's uncomfortable with his immediate attraction to her, which causes him to behave rudely at first. I liked that Charlotte stood up for herself and her actions with the girls. However, Frederick and Charlotte had gotten to know each other reasonably well through the letters they exchanged over the years, which helped Frederick readjust his expectations. During that same period of letter writing, Charlotte developed feelings for Frederick that translated into romantic dreams. Frederick fights his feelings until he finally realizes that Charlotte has had his heart all along.
 
 
 
In The Earl's Yuletide Proposal by Liz Tyner, delivering the news that her cousin is calling off her engagement should be simple for Adriana. Until the earl proposes to her instead!
 
Adriana is the poor cousin who acts as her wealthier cousin Velma's companion. Velma is spoiled and manipulative. As the story opens, Velma hears a rumor that her fiancé isn't as wealthy as she thought, so she sends Adriana to end their engagement. Adriana is stunned when he proposes to her instead. However, she has strong opinions on marriage and love and turns him down. Lord Philbrook, once he has an idea in his head isn't going to let go of it easily, and persists. Adriana's relationships with the other servants at her cousin's make her reluctant to leave them. Meanwhile, Philbrook quickly realizes he had a lucky escape and won't give up on convincing Adriana to marry him. I liked the ending and the unexpected help he received.
 

 
In Lord Grange's Snowy Reunion by Elizabeth Beacon, years ago, Juno fell in love with Lord Nathaniel Grange, then war tore them apart. Will a snowbound night lead to a second chance?
 
Juno fell in love with the newly divorced Lord Nathaniel Grange five years earlier. Fearing that his scandal would reflect poorly on her, he went to war, hoping the gossip would fade while he was away. But as time passed, his insecurities convinced him he was unworthy of her, so he stayed away, expecting her to move on and marry someone else. Juno never forgot Nathaniel and has never married. When Juno makes an impulsive trip to visit family, a snowstorm strands her at Nathaniel's home. Forced together for several days, they have the opportunity to deal with their pasts and clear the air. Their feelings for each other are as strong as before, but it takes some effort for Nathaniel to let go of his fears.
 

 
 

A Colby Christmas Rescue - Debra Webb (HI #2254 - Dec 2024)

Series: Colby Agency: The Next Generation (Book 1)
 
Two special agents take on an impossible mission…
 
Special agent Jamie Colby is on a can't-fail mission. Kidnappers need her unique skills and have leveraged her family to get them. Her partner, Kendrick Poe, is a bonus for the abductors. But with ransom and reunion complicating the assignment, Jamie and Kendrick will have to break every professional rule to rescue loved ones caught in the cross fire. An unexpected dangerous attraction is the least of their troubles but could prove to be deadly if they're not careful.
 
I enjoy long-running series, and it is even better when the author keeps the series going with the children/grandchildren of the original characters. This is the first book in a new series involving the grandchildren of Victoria Colby-Camp, and it bodes well for the rest of the series.
 
Jamie Colby is an excellent agent in her own right. She's just finishing up a mission with her partner, Kenny Poe when she receives an urgent call from her grandmother. Jamie's brother Luke has been kidnapped to use as a hostage. The kidnappers need Jamie's skills, but she isn't happy with what she must do to fulfill the requirements. She and her partner, Kenny, have worked together for several years and are good friends.
 
There isn't much romance in this story. It is evident from the start that Kenny has feelings for Jamie but doesn't want to wreck their friendship by saying anything. He is protective of her but respects her abilities as an agent. It wasn't until the end that I got a good read on Jamie's feelings for him. This was a friends-to-more story, though I never saw much heat between them. I liked the ending and the easy shift into a couple.
 
The suspense was terrific. Matters quickly become complicated when the kidnapper's contact is a man Jamie has worked with before. It is difficult to tell whether he is working with them or against them, and there were times I wanted them to tie him up and leave him in a closet. Interference from a third party adds a layer of intensity when Jamie and a young girl are kidnapped themselves. Some tense moments ensued, but Jamie and Kenny could complete their mission. After all the build-up, I found it somewhat anti-climactic, but it kept my attention to the end.
 
I liked the twist at the end regarding Jamie's future. It will be interesting to follow her progress in later books.