Series: Angel Falls MT
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart
Christina Eberlee is desperate for the safe haven promised to her by the Montana man whose bridal ad she answered. Yet she can't forget the handsome marshal who helps her on the journey. Maybe venturing from her planned path could lead Christina to the home she was truly meant to find.
Good story. Christina is on her way to Angel Falls to meet the man she is supposed to marry. She is robbed on the way and meets Elijah, the local marshal. He is a kind man who is immediately taken with her, but knows she is promised to another man. They also rescue a young homeless boy. When Christina meets Tom she is worried because he doesn't seem to be the nicest of men and certainly doesn't compare to Elijah. I enjoyed seeing the way that Elijah looked out for Christina and the young boy Toby. It's always nice when the nice guy finishes first.
Series: Dry Creek
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Maybe you could marry her." Gabe Stone's niece and nephew long for a mother just like the mail-order bride Gabe's brother sent for and then abandoned. Yet in making the children's Christmas dreams come true, Gabe and Annabelle may discover the most precious gift of the holidays is love.
I enjoyed my visit to historical Dry Creek and meeting some of the ancestors of the characters I am familiar with. Annabelle had come to Dry Creek to marry Adam and was disturbed to find out he wasn't there when she arrived. Instead she was met by Adam's brother Gabe, a big man who initially made her nervous. She soon saw his kindness to his niece and nephew and to herself. Gabe was drawn to Annabelle's inner beauty and kindness to his niece and nephew. He also discovered that he would like nothing better than to claim Annabelle for his own.
Series: Dry Creek (Book 24)
Her neighbors in Dry Creek, Montana, think Gracie
Stone is rebuilding her life just fine on the family ranch. But Calen
Gray knows better. Foreman of nearby Elkton Ranch, Calen has been sweet
on Gracie half their lives. But harrowing circumstances kept them
apart—and sent Gracie away. Now she's back, barely holding her head up,
and refusing to believe she has a second chance at happiness. With
faith, love and the gentle airing of long-held secrets, Calen just might
find a way to bring back her smile—forever.
Good book. Gracie is settled back on the family ranch and happy that her sons are all married and settled down. Now they want to see her have a second chance at love. Calen works on the ranch next door and has always been sweet on Gracie. One night there's a knock on the door and it's an injured young woman with a child. The woman turns out to be Calen's daughter and she has her daughter with her, on the run from her abusive husband. As Gracie helps take care of the little girl, Calen is able to spend time with her and show her that she can trust again. I liked Calen and Gracie. He has liked Gracie since they were teenagers, but her husband had asked her out first so Calen was out of luck. He has felt guilty for not being able to protect her from Buck's abuse and for not being there for her when she went to prison. Now he knows he must be patient and show her that he is just what she needs. Gracie still feels that she is looked down on and barely interacts with other people. Calen's kindness to her makes her want to trust him, but she doesn't know if she can. Seeing him with his granddaughter and having him around to help her opens her eyes to the kind of man he is. I really enjoyed the conclusion to this story.
Series: Dry Creek (Book 23)
Marry a secure businessman, or become a bunkhouse cook for twenty
hungry cowboys on a cattle ranch? When Angelina Brighton chooses the
ranch, she runs from the wedding her billionaire father arranged.
Angelina won't marry a man she doesn't love. Then along comes former
special ops soldier Tyler Stone, barreling into Dry Creek to bring her
back home. Or so she thinks.
But Big Sky country is full of surprises for everyone—especially for a faithful gal and rugged cowboy who discover what home really means.
Liked the book. It was a "gentle" romance, as the Love Inspired line is, so not my usual fare. I really liked Angelina. She had grown up and changed from the spoiled, flighty girl Tyler had known before. She had come to Dry Creek to avoid the wedding her father had tried to arrange, and because Tyler had talked about it when she knew him before. Tyler had come home to bring Angelina back to her father. He didn't know that his mother and brothers were back, and that they hadn't been told he was actually alive after being wrongly listed as killed in action. Everyone, including Angelina, got quite a surprise, but were very happy to have him home. I loved the way that Angelina became so much a part of the town. It was hard for Tyler to believe that she had changed that much. He also still felt that he wasn't good enough for her, but she was doing her best to change his mind. I liked the way they dealt with her father when he came, and how she reconciled with him. The book had a very satisfying ending.
Series: Dry Creek (Book 22)
When she ran away from the juvenile home she was raised in, Cat Barker
left more than an unstable childhood behind. She also left her first
love, Jake Stone. The two had more in common than anyone understood, but
neither knew how to trust. Now Cat needs help, and there's only one
person she can turn to - Jake, her daughter's secret father. Though Cat
can see the tender man she once cared for, she still fears love and
marriage. Until a daunting challenge renews her faith - and teaches them
all a lesson about trust.
Good book. Cat came looking for Jake because she needed him to look after their daughter if something happened to her. Jake was surprised to see her and stunned at the news he was a father. He was wary of marriage because of his father's abuse - he was afraid he'd be just like him. But he wanted to do the right thing and take care of Cat and Lara. He could also tell that Cat was holding something back from him. It took almost losing her for Jake to realize he really needed them both in his life.
Series: Dry Creek (Book 20)
Rodeo rider Wade Stone never thought he'd step foot in Dry Creek,
Montana, again. Not with his family's harrowing past. But nine years
later, he's back on the Stone ranch and getting stared down by the
townspeople. Except by Amy Mitchell, whose heart he broke after one
sweet kiss. Wade knows she's afraid he'll leave again, but surely
there's no second chance for them.
It seems the whole town -- and her family -- is against them. Until one
beautiful Christmas sleigh teaches everyone the true meaning of the
holiday.
Good book. I liked the way Gracie came back to Dry Creek after her release from prison. Wade wasn't comfortable at first because he was worried about how his mother would be treated. When he saw Amy again he realized that he still had feelings for her. Amy had loved Wade from the time she was a teenager. She wasn't sure if he returned her feelings. She also was having trouble with some of the revelations that had come out since the Stones came home. I did like how she stood with Wade at the end of the book.
