Book Review: The Cowboy's Runaway Bride by Laurie LeClair

  

 

The Cowboy's Runaway Bride by Laurie LeClair

This story starts out with Connor and his gramps as they are riding around town and notice a wedding veil just flew out of the top of the limo. He was able to rescue it and return it to the bride.  They had not expected an electric shock when their hands met.

Elizabeth Eve was there to get married to Gavin but she had overheard the reason he wanted to marry her-to get to her father's money. She hightailed it out of there to land in the back of a truck and she covered with a tarp. She had hit her head and just curled up and slept til the truck stopped.

She had no idea where she was but the man in front came to investigate the movement in the tarp.

The family welcomed her in, with just her wedding on and no other clothing or possessions. They gave her everything she needed. 

Gramps needed Connor to head up to the base headquarters in the mountains and he took Eve with him. He helped her get over her fear of the horses and she learned so much with his guidance about the terrain, animals there and newborns. She even learned how to start the outside fire and cook food on the flames.  They had both opened up a bit to each other but he still didn't know exactly why she had run away from the wedding.

Twists and turns and the unimaginable happens.

Great story, can't wait to read more from this author. So detailed descriptions, different age group problems and solutions, scenery, learning more about the local ranch and area.

 

Sept 12 The Prodigal Brother Returns by Susan Lute

 

 

 

The Prodigal Brother Returns by Susan Lute

Story starts out with Malorie and she's a RN thats been hired by the brothers to tend to one of their own who got injured.

She walks  in on them arguing and sets them straight. She and her two children are to live in a cottage nearby on the grounds of the ranch.

Blake has been summoned home after 15 years to help out with the ranch books as they are failing. Nathan is the injured one and Jonas does a lot with his lawyer business to help fund the ranch.

Blake wants to get more horses in, make amends with his brother from the last night he was there and wrecked their father's truck before he was banished.

Blake has an autistic son Timmy who he writes middle grade books about that the kids just love. 

There are misunderstandings and misconceptions with relationships and at the end we find Malorie and her kids leaving ...

There are plans to help keep the ranch running, love hearing about them, so easy to do and will make some money for them.

It's a wonder who will end with the RN or if anybody will.... Great read.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing  and this is my honest opinion.

  

Cookbooks reviewed: sep 11

  

 

The Complete Slow Cooker Collection: 50 Effortless Recipes for Heartwarming Home-Cooked Meals Across the Globe by James Stott

Short into about the book, full page color photographs of the meals.

TOC where recipes are listed.

Each recipe starts with a title,, prep, cook times and servings.

To left are list of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items. There are a lot of items you will need, be sure to have them all first.

Instructions are to the right hand side of the page. step by step.

Small color photo of bowl with finished item is under list of ingredients section.

Nutritional information per serving: calories,  protein, carbs and and fat, NOT broken up into sat, poly, mono, etc.

Next page shows full page color image of the finished product.

What I like about this book is that there are everyday favorites and new ones to try.

Book ends with other works by the author.

 

  

Healthy treats in 10  minutes by Glenn Walton

Starts with table of contents where recipes are listed along with intro material.

Intro discusses all about making things healthy and why that is so important.

The recipes are divided into snacks which includes smoothies and shakes.

Each recipe starts with a title, medium size color photo and has a list of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium, low sugar and fresh vs canned items.  

Instructions are given and there is NO nutritional information although the ingredients are healthy and fresh.

Some recipes included time to prepare and serve. Fruit salad would be my favorite. So many options and variations they suggest.

There is also a sweet section  savory delights,  mini sandwiches and wraps,  kid friendly options,  nutritious options for your favorite treats, and on the go snacks. Tips for meal prep are included at the end. 

What I like is that the recipes are short, handful of fresh healthy items and so easy to put together and go.

  

Sep 10 Book Review: The Undercover Cowboy by Jamie K. Schmidt

  

  

The Undercover Cowboy by Jamie K. Schmidt

Story starts out with Dolly and she's got a lot of jobs at the rodeo.  She's not only in charge of the media but a lot of other hands on chores.

Love the petting zoo for the kids to enjoy. 

She also works with Nash who's she's trying to make him into a cowboy to keep him involved in the circle of things.

His sister Shelby  owns the company with Blevines who the FBI is investigating. Nash is now a PI and helping them out.

He and Dolly accumulate a lot of clues but there are so many suspects as there is a lot of people involved in the rodeo.

Love how they gather their clues. Story also follows her sisters who are involved in other riders in the rodeo. One sister paints and sets up her stand nearby.

Love how this comes full circle by the end. They each have secrets and they hold out til very last minute.

Never saw, by the title, how this would even play out. Great writing!

Adult situations. Can't wait to read more from this author.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing  and this is my honest opinion. 

Children's books reviewed: Sept 7

  

 

Vijay visits a farm by Nadia Ronquillo

Colorful, children's educational story.

When Vijay arrives at the farm he just wants to play video games and hates the smells.

She starts showing him the animals at the farm and he really gets into enjoying it.

The farmers daughter takes Vijay out and is able to pet some of them.

He does not want to leave and his mom promises they can come another day.

Amazing that he really does enjoy being outside and can put the gaming machines away.

 

My rainy day by athena grace

Colorful, rhyming, children's educational story.

Story starts out with the child and it's a rainy day out so they must play inside.

They are bored and mom tells them to go find some toys to play with.

She starts looking around her room and does actually find toys to play with. A lot of them and she has so much fun and doesn't realize the day is almost over and it's time for bed.

 

 

Woe is Me...It's Autumn by Amy Dua

Story is about the animals and insects that are outside and it's turning colder.

Rhyming, colorful, children, educational story.

love that it encompasses everything from teh bee, caterpillar, squirrel, bear, etc

They all must eat and get food they will need for the winter months ahead.

So interesting and entertaining.

 

Sept 5 The Cowboy's Forbidden Bride

  

 

The Cowboy’s Forbidden Bride by Megan Crane

This story starts out with Wilder and his family on the family ranch. His father Zeke has told them all he is dying and he wants grandkids.  Wilder has no intentions of getting married to have kids. He loves his work on the ranch mending fences taking care of animals and anything else that needs to be done. 

Story is also following Cat she works at her family general store at the Cowboy Point. Their families are similar to the McCoys and the Hatfields.   An event occurred centuries ago between the 2 families and they still are very separated. Cat is out at the bar and sits next to Wilder and it all starts there. Love all the talk about the detailed descriptions of the different areas, the gossip that goes around because it is a small area  - everybody knows everybody's business. 

Adult situations. Really good read. Love this series.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing and this is my honest opinion.

 

Sep 7 Book Review: The Ultimate Surrender by Elsa Winckler

  

   

The Ultimate Surrender by Elsa Winckler

Story starts out with  Hannah on a shot and she can't help herself. She's in a flowing dress and she just to twirl to make it fly up and encase her.

Little did she know who was watching. The photographer, Darryn shows up, she has to stay away from him. He photographs her with nobody else around and gets the perfect shots. Love hearing about their careers and family ties.

They do meet late but she also has a stalker that knows her every move.

She tries to escape but she surfaces again for the family.  They connect on and off for many months and he knows she has his heart from the beginning.

She tries to elude the stalker and he tracks her down, burns down houses of place she was just at.

So terrifying but so loving as the whole family comes together to protect her. 

So intense, as are bed scenes. Love travel scenes, all over the world.

Mention of the next book in the series at the end of this one.

Enjoyed this series because for the most part it took you out of the USA and love beach areas the most.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing and this is my honest opinion.

 

Sep 3 Book Review: The Cowboy's Baby Surprise by Kaz Delaney

  

 

The Cowboy's  Baby Surprise by Kaz Delaney

Story follows Evie who is a lawyer but also now taking care of her friends infant daughter Mia. Evie has to locate the father and deliver the baby and supplies to him.

Hope is going through breast cancer and at times she's doing well, other times NOT so well at all.

Evie heads out to the ranch where JD lives and just shows up one day. Well she had left a message with the voice recorder but how was she to know nobody checked that phone?

JD sees the delivery truck and then the woman with the baby. He's not slept in days, they are 4 men short on the ranch and so much has to be done.

She follows him into the house and she did find JD there, but is he the right one as he tells her how the parents named all the siblings JD, each with a different meaning.

He declares he is not he father at all.

She spends the night and is able to get a few hours’ sleep til the morning. She had studied you tube podcasts how to tend to a newborn. She does all she can loving the child.

Things don't go according to plan, she only wanted to stay 2 days.  A call and made and nobody can contact the youngest JD who they think is the father.

Her and JD, Justin tend to the baby while he also works at the ranch. He shows them around some and they grow close to one another.

The local busybodies show up and tongues will be wagging...

He has a thing for her and her for him, but is it only if they get to keep and raise the child or did he want her for herself with no baby....

SO many secrets and twists and turns.

Great story.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing and this is my honest opinion. 

Book Review: To Wrangle a Rancher by Kelsey McKnight

   

To Wrangle a Rancher by Kelsey McKnight

This story starts with Olivia who's in Ct and is heading to Montana when she learns she did not get the VP job in the family business, a cousin did.

She is concentrating on the Homes Magazine her grandmother loved and plans to renovate the whole house in Marietta and use magazine to boost subscriptions.

Story also follows Kit who lives next door the house and has been checking on it for years as it's lay vacant. Olivia and her 2 sisters show up in town and take up residency for a few days.  They end up at the bar and the yearly male auction is taking place so they attend that and each gets a winning bid.

Love hearing about all the different shops in Marietta that I've not heard about yet and what they are all about.

Super love all the outdoor activities and the scenery, flowers and escapes others take to lose themselves.

The couple hit it off til they don't.....Just a quick fling  til they part. Love what the locket represents and all the hidden places.

Enjoyed this book and can't wait to read about the other sisters stories in Marietta.

Adult situations.