A Cowboy's Christmas Carol - Brenda Harlen (HSE #2803 - Dec 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? (Book 6)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 133)

This holiday... He'll come face-to-face with his past.

Bah, humbug!

It's the holiday season in Bronco, but for tour operator Evan Cruise, 'tis only the season for making money. Haunted by his past, he refuses to celebrate the festivities around him -- until he meets Daphne Taylor. As the owner of the local animal sanctuary challenges Evan's resistance to yuletide spirit, their attraction grows into something deeper. But when Daphne uncovers Evan's shocking family secret, it threatens to tear them apart. Will a little Christmas magic change everything?

Terrific conclusion to this year's Montana Mavericks series. In addition to the ongoing search for Beatrix, there is also a touch of the paranormal. The title is indicative, too, as there are some definite parallels to A Christmas Carol.

Evan is the owner/operator of Bronco Ghost Tours. He is very business-focused, working long hours to make it more successful. He has a reputation as a difficult boss and, combined with his lack of Christmas spirit, frequently leads to Scrooge-like comparisons. His newest idea for during the slow winter season is Yuletide Ghost Tours, a potential money-maker. When he hears that the local animal sanctuary is haunted, he is determined to add it to the tour.

Daphne is the out-of-step daughter of the area's most prominent rancher. She runs an animal sanctuary and is a vegetarian, both of which irritate her father to no end. Daphne and her animals are popular with the townspeople, and she has plenty of volunteers to help her. She's surprised when Evan contacts her about a "business proposition."

I loved the first meeting between Evan and Daphne. Evan is very focused, with a "time is money" attitude, where Daphne is more laid back - and sometimes a little forgetful. She forgot about her meeting with Evan and was mucking out stalls when he arrived. Evan was not impressed and thought that he could easily charm Daphne into doing what he wanted. He couldn't have been more wrong. I loved watching her bring up her concerns, make sure he addressed them, and then negotiate for a portion of the proceeds. I loved seeing him leave confused about how it happened.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Evan and Daphne. Neither one expected the attraction that arced between them. While Evan did his best to ignore it, Daphne was firmly convinced that she'd met "The One." Though Evan doesn't believe in romantic love, he can't deny that he's drawn to Daphne. I loved watching them spend time together over the next few weeks, slowly getting to know each other. Their connection was a little surprising because of their differences. Daphne believes in love at first sight; Evan doesn't. Evan is all about making money, while Daphne is happy having enough to keep the sanctuary going. Daphne loves everything to do with Christmas and is horrified by Evan's lack of Christmas spirit. I loved watching Daphne slowly chip away at that attitude. I also loved the scene where Evan discovered Daphne is a vegetarian. His reaction was great and very unexpected.

Things look very promising between them until Evan and Daphne face off about a secret he keeps from his grandmother. Evan believes he is protecting her, while Daphne thinks he denies her a possible connection she was unaware of. Some harsh words are exchanged. Fortunately, he quickly realized that he went too far (reinforced by comments by both his sister and his grandmother). But on his way to apologize, he wrecked his car in the snow. While unconscious, his experiences gave the book its title in a very amusing interlude. It did serve to bring Evan and Daphne back together, though their story was not finished.

One of the themes running through the book is the haunting of Happy Hearts Sanctuary. Though Evan claims he doesn't believe in ghosts, that wasn't always so. Though a traumatic event as a child caused him to deny his feelings, Evan is very sensitive to the spirit world. On his first visit to Happy Hearts, he heard Alice's ghost crying and was sure that Daphne heard it. Though she didn't admit it to him, Daphne has been conversing with Alice for six months. I loved the scenes between Daphne and Alice, who was full of all kinds of advice. Evan, too, began to experience some strange dreams that were tied to the sanctuary. I loved following this thread and how Daphne and Evan worked together to help Alice. The end of her story was sweet.

Then there was the story of the missing Beatrix, which was a thread throughout the entire series. In the previous book, Melanie (In Search of the Long-Lost Maverick) put a notice on social media with the information she's learned so far. I loved seeing that post bear fruit. The scene as the missing Beatrix was told of the past was fantastic. Her reunion with her mother was incredibly emotional, and I loved seeing the effects on them all.

His Christmas Cinderella - Christy Jeffries (HSE #2797 - Nov 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix (Book 5)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 132)

An enchanted evening with a stranger leaves him wanting more…

A gift money can't buy…

Super-rich rancher Jordan Taylor has it all -- except someone to share his life with. What he really wants for Christmas is to win the heart of Camilla Sanchez, the hardworking waitress he met at a charity ball. Camilla thinks they are too different to make it work, but Jordan is determined to prove her wrong. She grants him his wish: three weeks to convince her he is worthy of her love. Perhaps this will be the holiday that changes everything…

I loved this book so much! I loved Jordan in The Cowboy's Promise when he came through with a job for Erica. I hoped to see more of him, and this book delivered in a big way. Jordan is Bronco royalty, a member of one of the town's most prestigious families. One nickname is "The Crown Prince of Bronco Heights," while another, "He Who Will Not Be Tamed," alludes to his reputation as a ladies' man. His sister calls him a serial dater, but Jordan can't see sticking with someone who isn't right for him. All of that comes to an end the night of the family's charity ball.

Camilla is a hardworking waitress with big plans for her future. She's almost finished with her MBA and ready to move ahead with opening her own restaurant. She accompanies her employer, DJ Traub, and his wife to the charity ball intending to find investors. Though confident about her plans, she feels like a fish out of water at the grand event.

I loved the first meeting between Jordan and Camilla. As in any good Cinderella story, he spots her from across the room and is immediately intrigued. Thanks to his father's poor eyesight, Jordan thinks Camilla is someone else, but they never bother to exchange names. Instead, they spend the evening dancing and talking and enjoying each other's company. The evening comes to an abrupt end when one of the attendees (Erica) goes into labor, and Jordan takes control of the situation. Things get a little awkward when Jordan says goodbye to Camilla but calls her by the name he thought was hers. Stunned, Camilla makes her escape without setting him straight.

The next morning, Jordan wants to call her to ask for a date and is confused when he discovers that she wasn't who he thought she was. I loved seeing his determination to find her and the lengths he went to to do so. Camilla was shocked when he showed up at her workplace, and more so when she found out what he wanted. Though she also felt the connection between them, she is firmly convinced that they are too different to make a relationship work. Jordan isn't a successful businessman for nothing, and he negotiates a deal to get to know her - three weeks, six dates to make her believe.

I absolutely loved the development of the relationship between Jordan and Camilla. Jordan is a genius at coming up with dates that don't meet their criteria of a date but still allows him to spend time with her. There were Sunday dinners with her family, volunteering around the community, and the occasional real "date." It's easy to see that Jordan falls fast and hard for Camilla, but his reputation works against him. Though she enjoys their time together, Camilla is sure that he'll come to his senses soon. They manage to keep their relationship under the radar, but the reactions are brutal when they are outed. I ached for both Jordan and Camilla. He is ready to take on the world for her, but Camilla has reservations and asks for space. I hurt for Jordan, who wanted to DO something to convince her they belonged together. He got advice from multiple sources, all telling him the same thing. It was a rather eye-opening experience for him, and I loved that he learned from it. Meanwhile, Camilla has to face her fear of risking her heart. Her conversation with her dad was beautiful and gave her much to think about. I loved Jordan's big moment at the end, including his comments to his father.

The secondary characters are well done, with enough relevance to the story without taking it over. Jordan's assistant, Mac, was one of my favorites. She gives excellent advice, is a big influence on kids of all ages, and provides a fun twist at the end. I also loved Camilla's family and their noisy, exuberant love for each other. I liked how they accepted Jordan so readily, though Camilla tried to keep who he was quiet. The scene at Thanksgiving dinner was priceless. My least favorite character was Jordan's father. I don't like the way he treated Camilla and his daughter, Daphne.

There were a few mentions of the search for Beatrix and the difficulties of tracking her down. The epilogue is a terrific lead-in to the final book in the series and, hopefully, some answers.

The Cowboy's Promise - Teresa Southwick (HSE #2792 - Oct 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? (Book 4)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 131)

We all need somebody to trust

WHAT NOBODY EXPECTED

Flirty rancher Morgan Dalton is all about keeping things casual…until Erica Abernathy moves back to Bronco. She's sweet, sexy -- and about to have a baby all on her own. Morgan steps up to be a shoulder she can lean on, telling them both it won't lead to more. But when he offers to be Erica's labor coach, the charismatic cowboy finds it hard to be a man of his word…

Very good book. Erica came home to Bronco to regroup after ending a relationship, deciding to have a baby on her own, and losing her job. She left home twelve years ago for college and has only returned a few times for visits. Her return was a little rough as her parents were not as supportive as she had hoped. To escape the tension at home, Erica visited a local restaurant where she met Morgan Dalton.

Morgan and his family are relatively new arrivals in Bronco. He and his brothers agreed to work the ranch with their father to support their mother. There are hard feelings between father and sons because he cheated on their mother. They also feel like outsiders in Bronco because the local "old-timer" ranching families have not been particularly welcoming.

I liked the first meeting between Erica and Morgan. Morgan was drawn to Erica as soon as he saw her. I loved how easily they could talk to each other, even after he realized she was pregnant. After being away for so long, Erica also feels somewhat like an outsider, so it is easy for them to band together. I loved seeing how their relationship progressed from friendship to love. I especially enjoyed Morgan's support of Erica, from taking her to doctor's appointments to offering to be her labor coach. I loved so many of the scenes of them together. There are also sparks of attraction that both try to ignore, but they grow along with their deepening feelings for each other. I ached for them both when a moment of intimacy ended in a misunderstanding. I wanted to shake Erica for allowing her insecurities to send her running without letting Morgan explain. I hurt for Morgan, who realized the depth of his love for Erica and didn't know what to do. Thanks to advice from an unexpected source, his big moment at the end was fantastic. I loved the epilogue with their next steps into a future together.

A big theme of this book was family and expectations. Erica arrived home feeling that she was a disappointment to her parents. This was apparent to her in their reactions to her pregnancy. I ached for her and her reluctance to share the truth with them. I liked the eventual repair of those relationships, especially the one with her mother. Her brother, Gabe, irritated me at times with his attitude toward Morgan. I expected better of him, having read his story in In Search of the Long-Lost Maverick. Morgan had his own family issues. His problems with his father were a result of his love for his mother and anger at his father's actions. It was easy to see how Morgan held on to his anger and was hesitant to trust Neal again. I liked how Erica's influence helped Morgan work past his anger and alter his relationship with his father.

Also part of this book is the ongoing search for Josiah's daughter, Beatrix. At the end of the previous book, the investigation had stalled as they ran into dead-ends. However, hope returns thanks to an unusual clue. I look forward to seeing how it works out.

The Maverick's Baby Arrangement - Kathy Douglass (HSE #2785 - Sept 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? (Book 3)

            Montana Mavericks (Book 130)

He'll do anything for his child's sake…

THE COWBOY TAKES A (FAKE) WIFE

Wealthy workaholic rancher Daniel Dubois has everything money can buy, but it's not enough. If he can't convince authorities he's worthy, he will soon lose custody of his orphaned baby niece. Event planner Brittany Brandt rejects Daniel's marriage of convenience until little Hailey wins her over. Soon they are a cozy family of three -- and Daniel's biggest problem is guarding his heart against his make-believe bride…

Good book. Daniel is a wealthy rancher who plans to turn part of his horse ranch into a dude ranch. As a newcomer to Bronco, and a horse rancher in cattle country, he feels that he's looked at with suspicion by the locals. To get his neighbors on board with his plans, Daniel wants to hold a dinner where he can explain his goals. To do that, he needs a top-notch event planner. The ones he's hired so far haven't met his needs. He decides to try a local company and see if they can do better.

Brittany, who made appearances in the first two books of the series, In Search of the Long-Lost Maverick and The Cowboy's Comeback, wants this job very much. If she does well, she has a chance for a much larger event. She is focused on her career and her plans to have her own event-planning business in the future. She's excited when she has a chance to pitch her ideas to Daniel.

I loved their first meeting. Daniel is brusque and skeptical of her abilities, and Brittany is determined to show him what she can do. The way she stood up to him and didn't allow him to blow her off was terrific and got his attention. There were also sparks of attraction that neither could deny, though both tried to resist. Daniel has more than enough on his plate between his business and caring for the niece he inherited from his deceased sister. Brittany is focused on her career and wants neither husband nor child. As the oldest in her family, she spent a lot of time caring for her siblings and doesn't intend to do it again.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Daniel and Brittany. Brittany was surprised by Daniel's revelation of Hailey's existence and Daniel's vehement desire to keep her presence secret. Their confrontation over the matter was intense. Brittany was there filling Daniel in on his dinner event when he received news that Hailey's grandparents planned to sue for custody. Desperate not to lose her, Daniel proposed a marriage of convenience to Brittany to improve his chances of winning custody. Though resistant at first, Brittany quickly came to love the little girl and agreed to Daniel's proposal.

I loved watching Daniel and Brittany spend time together, with and without Hailey. It wasn't long before their fake marriage began to feel all too real. There were some sweet scenes of them as a family, and it was easy to see that the feelings between Daniel and Brittany grew. Neither realized what was happening between them until the visit from the social worker brought it into focus. I ached for them both as they avoided confessing their feelings and hid behind their agreement rather than risk rejection. Daniel and his friend's conversation gave him the push he needed to go after Brittany and tell her the truth. The ending was great as both Daniel and Brittany realized they could have the future they both wanted.

My only disappointment was that there wasn't much time devoted to the ongoing search for Beatrix. Hopefully, there will be more progress in the next book.

The Cowboy's Comeback - Melissa Senate (HSE #2779 - Aug 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? (Book 2)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 129)

He's the one who got away…

You never forget your first…

Anyone can see why Amanda Jenkins fell for Holt Dalton way back when; the hunky rancher and former bad boy is all kinds of adorable. So is his son, Robby, their dog, Bentley, and their cat, Oliver. When Holt asks her for a second chance, it is awfully tempting to imagine them as a happy family. First, however, the charming cowboy will have to convince her that he's playing for keeps…

Very good second chance story. Shy Amanda and handsome Holt fell in love ten years earlier when both worked at a summer camp. They spent a lot of time sharing hopes and dreams of the future. But Holt hadn't been entirely open with Amanda, avoiding the fact that he was there performing court-ordered community service. He made some poor decisions that landed him in trouble and didn't want her to see that side of him. When the end of the summer came, Holt broke things off with her rather than chance her rejection of him. Amanda was stunned and brokenhearted by the way he walked away from her.

Ten years later, they unexpectedly encounter each other. Amanda is a marketing professional specializing in social media and online marketing. It is a perfect job for her since she is still uncomfortable around a lot of people. Holt is a divorced father of a seven-year-old boy who works on the family ranch with his father and brothers. From the moment they met, it was clear that the sparks between them were still there. But both of them had been burned by past relationships. Holt's marriage broke up because his wife had no interest in being a mother, while Robby was the center of Holt's world. Amanda still hurt from Holt's actions years ago, plus she was recently left at the altar by her fiancé.

The development of their relationship was not an easy one. Holt never forgot his feelings for Amanda and wants a second chance with her. Amanda is very wary, remembering the pain from him walking away the first time. Holt's cause is helped by his son Robby, who needs the reading help Amanda can provide. I loved seeing how quickly Amanda and Robby bonded. There are some adorable scenes involving the two of them and the effect their relationship had on Holt. I liked Holt's determination and his patience with Amanda's fears. Things moved along quite nicely until an unexpected encounter with Holt's ex-wife brought his fears and insecurities back to the surface. I wanted to shake him for pushing Amanda away, and I hurt for Amanda, who had begun to trust again. Holt earned every bit of misery he felt. I loved how he finally came to understand how he sabotaged his relationship with her. I loved the unexpected events that showed him what he needed to do. I also liked that Amanda didn't sit around waiting for Holt to see the light and was ready to take things into her own hands. The ending was terrific as Holt finally put his fears to rest in an emotional scene with Amanda. 

I also liked the secondary characters. I loved the friendship between Amanda and Brittany. They are very different personalities, and I loved seeing the contrast between the two. Brittany is also observant and level-headed and gives Amanda good advice. Holt's father, Neal, is another important part of the book. He doesn't make a good impression at the beginning with his attitude and impatience with Robby. I hurt for both Holt and Robby when they had to deal with him. Neal surprised me at the end with some of the things he did. I have great hope for his relationships with his family.

Part of the book was also spent on the series question of "What Happened to Beatrix?" At the end of the previous book, In Search of the Long-Lost Maverick, Melanie asked Amanda's help to search for clues. At the end of the book, Amanda receives a response to one of her online queries that gives Melanie and her fiancé a possible answer. I look forward to the next book and seeing what comes of it.

In Search of the Long-Lost Maverick - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2773 - July 2020)

Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix (Book 1)
            Montana Mavericks (Book 128)

He could hold the keys to the past

“You know you're tempted.”

Men are trouble. And Melanie Driscoll has already had more than her share of trouble. She has come to Bronco seeking only a fresh start; what she finds instead is Gabe Abernathy. The blond, blue-eyed cowboy is temptation enough. The secrets he could be guarding are a whole 'nother level of irresistible. Peeling the covers back on both might be too much for sweet Mel to handle…

Terrific start to the new series, Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? Melanie Driscoll had a plan for her life. She had a great job and a handsome fiancé that she loved. Everything turned upside down when she came home one day and found him in bed with another woman. Betrayed, hurt, and angry, she called off the engagement, packed her car and left. During a brief stopover in her hometown of Rust Creek Falls, Mel attends the wedding of a friend. She was blindsided by catching the bouquet, something that she doesn't want, being done with men. Instead, she gives it to the flower girl, who insists that she take an old diary in exchange. That diary is the beginning of a puzzle, involving the Abernathy family.

Mel heads for Bronco and her new job managing one of DJ Traub's restaurants. On the way she stops along the road for a picnic, not knowing that she is trespassing on the Abernathy ranch. There she meets Gabe Abernathy and the sparks fly between them. Gabe is immediately smitten and wants to get to know Mel better. Mel is resistant on two levels. One, she is done with men for the foreseeable future. Two, she will only be in Bronco until the first of the year, after which she is going to Austin for a new job and fresh start.

I loved Gabe. He is a nice guy. He has a loving relationship with his family, even though he and his dad butt heads frequently over their visions for the ranch's future. He is also very close to his great-grandfather who has dementia and visits him frequently.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mel and Gabe. He knows that he has his work cut out for him if he wants a relationship with Mel. I enjoyed his persistence as he showed up at the restaurant night after night, sitting at the bar until convincing Mel to stop and talk to him. He wasn't creepy about it, he was just there until Mel finally gave him a chance. The more time they spent together, the closer they became, though Mel still insists she is leaving. There were times I wanted to shake Mel because she knew she was falling for Gabe but was too afraid to take a chance. Some good advice from her friends helps Mel face her fears and realize what she has to do. Her scene with Gabe at the creek was fantastic.

Mel also has that mysterious diary. Seventy years earlier, the writer of the diary, Josiah, and his girlfriend, "W", were torn apart after she gave birth to his baby. She was told the baby died, while his parents took the child and gave her to another family to raise. The question is, what happened to the baby? The only person who might know is the author of the diary. Is that Josiah Abernathy Gabe's great-grandfather? There are some heartwrenching scenes as Gabe has to face the idea that his beloved Gramps had a secret like that. It is also hard to watch his pain at Gramps' mental decline. There are quite a few twists and turns as Mel and Gabe try to find the truth, culminating with a surprise on the last page.

I loved seeing characters from earlier books. Winona plays an important part in this book, and I suspect will continue to do so in the rest of the series. I liked seeing Homer again and hearing Mel tell the story of Homer's moonshine in the wedding punch (Montana Mavericks: What Happened at the Wedding). I had to laugh at Mel naming her new kitten after him. Mel's job with DJ Traub was a great throwback to the Thunder Canyon books. I also liked that DJ knew Mel well enough to see that something was bothering her and give her some advice. He also provided a little extra incentive for sticking around!