California girl with a grudge against her absentee father moves to Montana to qualify for inheriting a quarter of his ranch, along with the three men California girl with a grudge against her absentee father moves to Montana to qualify for inheriting a quarter of his ranch, along with the three men he adopted as teens. The oldest is the romantic hero. There's a nice bit of juicy angst and a good read. I liked it....more
Nice story about a young woman who gave up her twins for adoption when she gave birth while serving a prison sentence. Now she's out and suspects she'Nice story about a young woman who gave up her twins for adoption when she gave birth while serving a prison sentence. Now she's out and suspects she's found them. She wants to stay away, but the twins' uncle is attracted to her and tracks her down. There's lots of angst, gently handled. Most all the people are nice, and even the one who disappoints her does it nicely. It's a good read, especially if you prefer a more gentle read. I liked it....more
Good story. The heroine has run to the island in Wisconsin in hopes of hiding safely with her nephew. We gradually learn what she's afraid of as she iGood story. The heroine has run to the island in Wisconsin in hopes of hiding safely with her nephew. We gradually learn what she's afraid of as she is drawn into the community. The hero is the new island police chief, and she hits on all his suspicion buttons, as well as attracting him more than any woman he's ever met, which raises his hackles all the more. It's good stuff. I liked it....more
Good read about an antisocial horror novelist who lives a reclusive life on an island in Lake Superior, and a "do-gooder" who opens a small camp for tGood read about an antisocial horror novelist who lives a reclusive life on an island in Lake Superior, and a "do-gooder" who opens a small camp for troubled children right next door. It's a lovely feel-good story perfect for the Christmas season, or any time one might want to feel good. It's not saccharine-- the two leads get some sharp licks in on each other, but the conflict is believably resolved. I liked it a lot....more
Nice angsty story about a widowed family court judge with junior-high age twin boys, and the ex-businessman crossing guard and basketball coach who heNice angsty story about a widowed family court judge with junior-high age twin boys, and the ex-businessman crossing guard and basketball coach who helps her boys. They have issues from their dad's death and his behavior before then. One of the boys who comes before her court also has issues. The romance part slides in between them dealing with issues. It's nicely done and a good read....more
Nice story about a close family, and twin brothers both in love with the same girl. One brother died before he and the heroine could marry, and the otNice story about a close family, and twin brothers both in love with the same girl. One brother died before he and the heroine could marry, and the other has been away a long time. Now he's home again and the heroine doesn't know how to tell him that the son he always thought was his brother's might be his. It's got some nice angst, but these people don't wallow in it. They fret, and then they deal. I liked it. Good read....more
A sweet, sweet story about... growing up and learning to communicate. The heroine always knew she'd been adopted, but her mother discouraged her learnA sweet, sweet story about... growing up and learning to communicate. The heroine always knew she'd been adopted, but her mother discouraged her learning anything about her birth parents. Now her mother has died and left her information on the woman she's always wanted to know about. Her lawyer makes arrangements for a PI to find the woman, except the investigator is an ex-boyfriend of the heroine's. They broke up when he unexpectedly asked her to marry him and agree to a certain number of children. The heroine didn't want any-- she's afraid she can't take care of them-- and he walked out. Then he married someone else and had a son right away. That marriage didn't work out, and now the chance for a rekindling of the romance pops up. It's a nice story, with some real complications, which didn't seem so complicated while I was reading it. The characters obsessed over some things that seemed kinda trivial and skimmed right over others that seemed more stress-worthy. A lot of things happen, and yet the story felt a little light on plot to me, which probably goes back to the emphasis the story placed on what seemed to me to be weird things. It's a good story, worth reading....more
Super-angsty reunion story. The setting, on an isolated, no-cars-allowed island in northern Wisconsin, is almost as important as the characters. It drSuper-angsty reunion story. The setting, on an isolated, no-cars-allowed island in northern Wisconsin, is almost as important as the characters. It drives the motivation for the story. The hero grew up restless, needing to get away from the island where they've lived all their. lives and explore the world. The heroine has no desire to leave because her dad dies just as she's graduating high school and is needed to take over running the family inn. They are sweethearts, desperately in love, but the hero leaves anyway. The heroine mourns-- and then marries the hero's brother. Now, after 15 years without communication either way, the hero is back on the island after a career taking pictures in all the war zones around the world, because he needs to recover from losing a leg in Iraq. And all the old wounds are stirred up again. The heroine is angry. The hero is angry. His dad is pissed. And Brenna, after stirring everything to a fever pitch of anger and angst, brings it all beautifully home. The story is exceptionally well done. I liked it a lot....more
Nice story. The hero comes to a little town not too far from Fort Worth because this woman keeps writing letters to her landlord. His dead brother. HeNice story. The hero comes to a little town not too far from Fort Worth because this woman keeps writing letters to her landlord. His dead brother. He's committed to doing something with the property for his brother's widow, but meeting the heroine hits him like the proverbial lightning bolt. She has tragedy in her past. He has a lot of guilt in his. It's a pretty good story, though it does feel a bit padded. I liked it....more
Good read, but then Emilie's books are always good. The cover copy does a good job of describing the plot. The heroine turning from "hate" to love is Good read, but then Emilie's books are always good. The cover copy does a good job of describing the plot. The heroine turning from "hate" to love is done quite well. I liked it a lot....more
I'm not quite sure how to classify this book. It had moments of high hilarity and near-tear-jerking sadness. The hero was a real jerk in the beginningI'm not quite sure how to classify this book. It had moments of high hilarity and near-tear-jerking sadness. The hero was a real jerk in the beginning of the story and took his own time about finding his redemption. The heroine wasn't that great a prize either. And yet, I really enjoyed reading it. Their attempts to maneuver around and manipulate each other were fun, and neither hero nor heroine was a bad person. They had good hearts and good intentions, mostly. The heroine is determined to get the hero to come home and deal with his parents, who have not yet dealt-- not really-- with the drowning death of his sister right before he left for med school. He married the heroine, his sister's best friend, so she could ignore her grandparents' threat to take her from her dying mother and stay near his parents. Now she has maneuvered him into coming to spend time with his parents and coincidentally get a divorce. It sounds convoluted and kinda goofy-- and it is. But it's also fun and a good read. I liked it....more
Good read. The hero has come to stay on an island in Lake Superior where no cars are allowed, with his oldest brother, who is the head cop on the islaGood read. The hero has come to stay on an island in Lake Superior where no cars are allowed, with his oldest brother, who is the head cop on the island. He just got out of prison and is very uneasy staying with his brother's happy family. Big bro got him a job remodeling a house for a friend, the heroine. She has a wild child past and recognizes the hero for a bad boy. She's very attracted but doesn't trust her own judgment. And that's pretty much the story. It's a sweet romance about guilt and redemption and forgiveness. I liked it a lot....more
Sweet story. The heroine is a widow whose husband died while being reckless on a rock climb. The hero is one of the dead husband's climbing buddies whSweet story. The heroine is a widow whose husband died while being reckless on a rock climb. The hero is one of the dead husband's climbing buddies who owns a feed/ hardware/ sporting goods store. When the heroine comes in to cancel her layaway & get a refund because she needs the cash, the hero offers her a job. She's resistant because she blames the buddies for the hubby's death and resents them for being so careless and reckless, but she needs the money. And the story begins. It's got some nice angst without going overboard. I enjoyed reading it....more
Great read. I really liked this book. The heroine has come back to the town where she tried to settle into high school to take over custody of the dauGreat read. I really liked this book. The heroine has come back to the town where she tried to settle into high school to take over custody of the daughter her sister adopted. The daughter she had as a scared teen. It's been kept secret for 14 years and she's determined to keep it quiet now that her sister has died in a single car accident. The hero is the athletic director and head football coach of the school district where her daughter goes, and his niece is the girl's best friend. He's also the baby daddy. And doesn't know it. You see where the story is going. But Emilie puts so much depth in every little element of the story. She actually made me cry. There are secrets on top of secrets and angst piled on more angst, and I loved every secretive, angsty moment. Brava, Ms Rose, Brava! (Just go write some single titles now, since HQ is closing the Superromance line. You have the SKILZ, friend!) Really, this is good, good stuff....more
This is a secret baby story with a twist. A big, fat, twisty twist. The hero isn't the daddy of the heroine's baby, but he let her tell everyone in toThis is a secret baby story with a twist. A big, fat, twisty twist. The hero isn't the daddy of the heroine's baby, but he let her tell everyone in town that he was. And got kicked out of his parents' house for it. She was supposed to tell the truth before the baby was born, but never came back to town to check. Now he's back for his mother's funeral and learns that the girl, a teenager now, still thinks he's her dad. Mom finally tells her he's not, and everything blows up. So, there's two families to fix and the actual truth about the baby daddy to come out. It's good angsty, well-written stuff. I liked it a lot....more
Nice story. Kind of a friends to lovers story, except that the hero was the heroine's brother's best friend. The hero is recovering from an injury he Nice story. Kind of a friends to lovers story, except that the hero was the heroine's brother's best friend. The hero is recovering from an injury he got in a helicopter crash when the best friend was killed. A helicopter the hero was flying. He's determined to get back in shape to fly again, and go back to the army. The heroine is lonely now her brother is gone, and has a lot of social anxiety, but she wants to start dating anyway. She has a phone list of characteristics for her potential mate. The hero intends to look after her the way her brother would have, except he can't quite be brotherly. It's a nice story with a lot of angst over social situations on the heroine's part, and a lot of misplaced guilt on the hero's. I liked it....more
Very much a romantic suspense. Except it's more a legal thriller, only not very scary. The heroine is a prosecutor in Houston, who has finally won a cVery much a romantic suspense. Except it's more a legal thriller, only not very scary. The heroine is a prosecutor in Houston, who has finally won a case against the defense attorney hero. She despises him for getting criminals off, and then her father invites him to dinner the same night her twin brother comes to visit from his home in London. To ask him to join the family firm. She throws a bit of a tantrum and storms out (she's had a bad day), then learns in the morning what dad was up to. Her brother is arrested for murder. Seems that years ago, in his rebellious drug/booze phase, he was with a buddy and his girlfriend out getting wasted on multiple intoxicants when the girl was killed. The buddy was convicted of the crime but police always believed someone else was involved. This is all backstory, but important backstory. So the heroine-- who knows she owes the hero an apology and intends to make it-- also manages to talk the hero into taking her brother's case. Which Dad was trying to manipulate him into doing. The rest of the story is about the trial and the growing relationship between hero and heroine. It grows very slowly. The heroine has lots of awful things to learn to cope with, as well as issues around her protectiveness toward her brother. The hero has some things in his own past to get past. All in all, it's a good story. I liked it. I liked the suspense elements, and I have to admit that I liked the not-too-scariness of it. (Yes, I am still a wussy baby.) It's a good read....more
Read on the airplane on the way to Vegas. Good read. The hero and heroine were high school sweethearts, but he had ambitions. Which he achieved by walRead on the airplane on the way to Vegas. Good read. The hero and heroine were high school sweethearts, but he had ambitions. Which he achieved by walking away, though he didn't abandon his responsibility to the daughter he fathered. Mostly he threw money at things once he became a professional hockey player. Now he's back in town after helping his team win the Stanley Cup, and he wants to mend the relationships he ignored while he was achieving his goals. His sister's husband has left her and she seems unable to cope. He doesn't know what to do with his barely teenaged daughter who resents him and any comments about her health or chubbiness. And her mother, his high school sweetheart, has been blaming and resenting him for years. It's interesting to see how Andrews sorts all the mess out and comes up with a happy ending. But she does a beautiful job. I liked it a lot....more
Sweet story that did a pretty good job of avoiding being too sweet. The hero is a widower whose wife was a military officer who died at war. The heroiSweet story that did a pretty good job of avoiding being too sweet. The hero is a widower whose wife was a military officer who died at war. The heroine is working at the family business, a bed-and-breakfast town in California's gold country. His twin girls are having a hard time dealing with their mother's death, so he gets talked into taking a month off from his business and spending it with his girls in the heroine's town. Voila! Most of the story is doing fun Christmas-y stuff. There's a subplot story with the hero's sister and abandoned kitties and the veterinarian she takes them to. So two romances in one. It's a nice story. I liked it, somewhat to my surprise....more
Good Read. Heroine is in town to clear out his great-uncle's house that he inherited and get it on the market. He's on leave from his police job in ErGood Read. Heroine is in town to clear out his great-uncle's house that he inherited and get it on the market. He's on leave from his police job in Erie so he gets a job helping out the sheriff. Who is the heroine. She has a love-hate relationship with the mayor, who is really the County Executive Officer, but that's too hard to say. Anyway, the mayor twists her arm into taking on the hero. There's a lot of cute incidents-- I think they're supposed to be funny, but they're really not. But cute, I will agree with. There's a fair bit of angst on the heroine's side, and the black moment is seriously black. I particularly liked the way Altman resolved it. All in all, I enjoyed it....more