Series: MacAllisters (Book 3)
Special Forces veteran Roman Gallardo is a ghost.
With the nightmares of his past weighing him down, the best thing he
can do is keep to himself. So when a heroic act forces him out of
solitude, he's not expecting a connection to a woman as vibrant and
alive as Jenna MacAllister. Or as determined to help other people, no
matter how hopeless, no matter the cost to herself.
He can't explain it, but he's drawn to Jenna and the rebuilding project
she's started. And the more he works with her, the more he wants to
leave his past behind and act on the intense attraction between them.
The temptation is so strong, this could be his second chance at
life...at love.
Excellent book. Roman is living in his grandmother's house, doing some repairs on it, basically hiding out. He is haunted by the things he saw during the war, and avoids people because of his flashbacks. He rescues Jenna one night when she confronts someone who is stealing from one of her construction sites. He starts volunteering at that site to keep an eye on Jenna and also to try to help a homeless fifteen year old boy. He doesn't understand why he is drawn to Jenna enough to pull him out of his self imposed exile. Jenna is the eternal optimist. She always sees the best in people and is usually able to get them to use that best to help her projects. When she is rescued by Roman, and again when he starts working with her, she feels an intense attraction to him. She can also see that he is troubled and wants to help him. She gets advice from her brother who had also been military. As they work together to help the boy, their feelings for each other deepen, but Roman still insists he's no good for her. When Jenna is attacked again and Roman rescues her, he is the only one who is able to help her deal with the memory of what happened. I really liked both characters. Roman thinks he is a hazard to other people, but he is a protector under it all and that is the main quality that comes through. His memories of his last tour are heartbreaking, but it still shows what a deeply caring man he is. I liked Jenna too. She is a smart, independent and capable woman. She tends to take a few more risks than she should, but that is a reaction to the overprotectiveness of the men in her family. I loved the way that she insists on helping Freddie and how she gets Roman to help her. I also liked the way that she refused to give up on Roman.
Series: MacAllisters (Book 2)
Detective JD Cameron is on to something big. He's got evidence of a
human-trafficking ring operating here in Austin, Texas. And he's
targeted one guy as his way into the ring. But how can JD get close
enough without alerting the suspect?
The solution comes with actress Violet James. In town for personal
reasons, she needs a bodyguard, and JD is perfect for the job. But this
simple assignment quickly changes. An unexpected and powerful connection
develops between Violet and JD -- one that can't be ignored. Not only
is it jeopardizing his objectivity, he's also aware he's not telling her
the truth. Confessing all risks his career, but not confessing risks so
much more.
Very good book. I really liked both JD and Violet. Violet had come to Austin to hide out and recover from her divorce from a guy who betrayed her. She was staying at Hotel Serenity (from A Texas Chance) and starting to feel better, but needing to get out. Because she was so well known, Sophie suggested her friend JD act as a bodyguard for her. JD was thrilled to do it because Violet's friend Avery was under investigation and this would give him a chance to get close without giving anything away. As soon as they started spending time together, JD realized he was in trouble. He liked her - a lot - and the guilt he felt was killing him. He saw the real Violet, a kind and caring woman who enjoyed the simple things. He also saw no future for them since their lives were so different. I really enjoyed watching them have fun on the hikes, and watching the bats. Violet was really enjoying spending time with someone who saw her, not just the star. When she found out what was going on she was devastated. When everything went down at the club she realized just how much danger she was in. Both of them had so much pain to deal with, and so much guilt it took them some time apart to come to grips with it. I loved the final scene with the photographer.
Series: MacAllisters (Book 1)
After a scandal torches her career, hotelier Sophie Carlisle vows to
rise from the ashes. She pours her all into turning a run-down house in
Austin, Texas, into a fabulous boutique hotel. Now, with the opening
mere weeks away, Sophie is running out of both time and money!
So when Cade MacAllister swoops in and offers to help, it seems like a
godsend. And yet Sophie is leery. Why would Cade, a hotshot adventure
photographer, want to spend his days swinging a hammer for her? Sophie
has learned the hard way that everything has a price -- especially
trust. With so much on the line, can she risk her career -- and her
heart -- on a wanderer with secrets?
Really good book. Cade and Sophie were both self-sufficient loners. When her friend Jenna volunteers her brother Cade to help her out, Sophie is unwilling to accept the help. But something about Sophie draws Cade in and helps him forget his problems. As they spend time together, both find themselves opening up to the other, telling things they'd never told anyone else. When a bad publicity story came out about Sophie, Cade called in his family to help Sophie get ready to open and counteract the negativity. Sophie had never been exposed to anything like the MacAllister clan, and couldn't believe that they were so willing to help her. I loved the way everything turned out, and how it was accomplished.
Series: MacAllisters (Book 3) 
