Toughest Cowboy in Texas

Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown was an enjoyable, well-paced, small town romance, with a bit of the second chance element tossed in. There was a relationship with the characters in the past, but it was never one that was allowed to grow and neither of them saw it was something with a future, so while this was a second chance, it really was more of their first chance to explore what they had without it having an automatic expiration date. But at the same time, she was only there for the summer... so it was like a do-over of their history, but as adults.
Lila and Brody have chemistry, but they also like each other and appreciate one another for who they are. The story at the end was so perfect that you get to see how they really felt about each other. Don't worry! I won't spoil the ending! You will know what happens when you get there and it's perfect! *JK*

Suddenly One Summer

Suddenly One Summer is a new story by Julie James. In this story, Victoria Slade is a successful divorce attorney and has definite commitment issues and she's jumped to the wrong conclusion about her new neighbor Ford Dixon. Ford is an investigative reporter and doesn't like the assumptions she's made about him and goes out of his way to antagonize her. I really enjoyed reading about Victoria and Ford's romance. They have a love/hate relationship, but it was clear to see where each of them were coming from, and when things started moving along, they had a really nice flow. I felt like everything just fell into place naturally. *JK*

Summer Secrets

When the women of the Kelleher family come to the beach house in Maine, simmering emotions reach the boiling point. Alice, the matriarch of the family, is cold and demanding. She is hiding an old secret that has been eating away at her for many years. Her eldest daughter Kathleen is present under protest, resentful and rebellious toward family members. She has created a safe haven in California and longs to put in her time and return. Ann Marie, a dutiful daughter-in-law, is re-evaluating her “perfect” life. She has developed a tempting crush that threatens her long-time marriage. Maggie, the youngest woman there, has just discovered that she’s pregnant. Her boyfriend has commitment issues and has yet to learn that he will be a father. As these four women resolve old grudges and face new challenges the family story unfolds and grows. Read Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan for a sea-side summer drama. DB