At the Rancher's Request - Sara Orwig (HD #2361 - Mar 2015)

Series: Lone Star Legends (Book 3)

Pregnant, abandoned and stranded in a Texas blizzard, nurse Savannah Grayson is grateful when billionaire rancher Mike Calhoun rescues her. The widowed father offers shelter -- and only shelter -- at his vast ranch.

Determined to never love another woman again, Mike tries to do the right thing and resist his attraction to his vulnerable guest. As they spend cold days building snowmen with his son and long nights talking and kissing by the fire, Mike fights the thaw of his heart…a battle he just might lose.

Good book about two people whose past hurts keep them from wanting to risk their hearts again. Mike is the widowed father of a three year old boy. The death of his wife hit him hard and he doesn't want to go through anything like that again. Savannah was engaged to a man who didn't bother to tell her he doesn't want kids until she gets pregnant. Devastated by the realization that she hadn't really known the man she thought she loved, she breaks their engagement and leaves home to go visit her aunt in California.

Mike and Savannah meet during a rainstorm where Mike and his son Scotty have pulled into a gas station to wait out the downpour. Savannah pulls in because her car is making noises and just as she stops the engine erupts into flames. Mike puts the fire out and invites Savannah to stay at his ranch until her car is fixed. He even tells her she can call the local sheriff for a reference if she needs one. She accepts his offer, hoping it will just be for a couple days.

Neither of them expected the strength of the attraction between them. Savannah insists that they do not give in to it, as she is still healing from her previous relationship and doesn't want to make another mistake. Mike doesn't want another relationship either, but feels that they can enjoy each other without making an emotional commitment. 

Because it will take time for her car repair, Savannah ends up staying longer than she expected. She started getting really attached to Scotty and liked taking care of him when Mike had to be out on the ranch. She also began developing feelings for Mike as she got to know him better, realizing that he's nothing at all like her ex. She has to keep reminding herself that she isn't staying and that she's not ready to risk her heart again. But she also finds it very easy to give in to his kisses and doesn't trust herself to be able to keep her heart protected.

Mike bugged me a little bit. He knows he doesn't want a commitment and that Savannah is still hurting from her previous relationship. She has told him repeatedly that giving in to their attraction would be a bad idea. But he keeps finding excuses to kiss her and every time he pushes for more, trying to convince her that they can keep their emotions out of it. However, even though he can't deny that his actions may cause her more hurt, he keeps doing it. It does come back to bite him though, as he discovers that being with Savannah has begun to change him more than he expected. 

A medical crisis with her pregnancy delays Savannah's departure, and also brings Mike to the conclusion that he has lost his heart to her after all. Both he and Savannah have to find a way to let go of their past hurts if they want to have a chance to have a future together. I liked the way it worked out for them.

Scotty was an adorable little boy and had a big part in bringing Mike and Savannah together. My biggest issue with him was that he did not talk or act like a child just turning three. He was way too articulate and able to be reasoned with. I thought he was more like a five year old.

The Rancher's Secret Son - Sara Orwig (HD #2417 - Dec 2015)

Series: Lone Star Legends (Book 5)

Wealthy rancher Nick Milan's future was all planned: he'd marry the woman he adored and have a dazzling political career. Instead, their affair ended in bitter breakup. So he isn't prepared for the surge of desire when he sees Claire Prentiss again. Then he learns her shocking secret.

Losing Nick once was hard enough, but now Claire's faced with telling him about his son. The scandal could destroy everything he's worked for. But their child needs his father. Could a happy ending still be theirs?

Good second chance story. Nick and Claire had known each other four years earlier and had fallen in love. Nick had his future all planned and knew that Claire would make it even better. He was stunned when his proposal ended in a huge fight and breakup. Devastated, a short time later he married a woman who was an old friend and suitable for his plans, but not one he truly loved. After her death and that of the baby she carried, Nick has moved on alone. He is surprised to see her at a real estate deal, and to discover that his desire for her has never died.

Claire was equally heartbroken over the loss of her relationship with Nick, but she was certain there was no way to make a marriage between them work. When she discovered she was pregnant she was willing to try, but then she discovered that he was already engaged to someone else. Determined not to be the "other woman", nor to allow an illegitimate child wreck his political career, Claire decided not to tell Nick about the baby. Four years later she is stunned to see Nick again and find out that he is a widower and still grieving his loss. At this point she knows she has to come clean and tell Nick about his son. She's worried about how he'll take it, and what he'll want to do about it.

The reunion is quite a shock to both, as is the attraction that still burns between them. I loved how Nick knew that asking Claire out was probably not a good idea, but he couldn't help himself. Claire fought with herself about telling Nick about Cody, but knew it was the right thing to do. One of the things I liked best was that once she did, what happened next was two people acting like the adults they are. Yes, Nick was angry, but there was no yelling, nor were there any threats about taking him away. I liked that they sat down together and talked about the best way to tell Cody and for Nick to get to know him. 

I loved seeing Nick and Cody get to know each other. Nick is pretty nervous, but really wants to be a good dad. Cody was a really awesome kid, though I would have liked to see a little more typical three year old behavior (not one meltdown, or even bad day?). I especially enjoyed seeing Nick show Cody around the ranch. Cody's introduction to Nick's side of the family was great, though I had been worried about Nick's dad. Some of my expectations about his reactions thankfully did not come to pass.

The renewing of their relationship happened almost unwillingly. Claire is still based in Houston, now running the family real estate business and caring for her grandparents. Nick is a state representative and lawyer who spends his time in Dallas and Austin and has political ambitions that will keep him even busier. They still don't see a way for a relationship to work, plus both are reluctant to risk their hearts again. Spending as much time together as they do, their hearts don't listen to their heads, and each starts dreaming of what could be. Nick really starts to take a good look at his life and his goals after Claire brings up some things that she has observed about him. Claire has her own fears to face and decisions to make. I loved the ending and seeing how they solved their problem by talking instead of having some big drama to overcome.

I liked seeing Wyatt and Madison and their spouses from earlier books. It's always nice to catch up on what previous characters have been up to. I'm still looking forward to Tony's story, which I'm sure will be a good one.

Kissed by a Rancher - Sara Orwig (HD #2373 - May 2015)

Series: Lone Star Legends (Book 4)

When a blizzard strands rancher Josh Calhoun at a tiny Texas inn, it's not boredom that makes him notice innocent Abby Donovan. There's something about the B & B's owner, with her ponytail and sweet smile. Now Josh can't stop wanting her…or kissing her. He refuses to say goodbye…

When the roads clear, Abby lets herself be whisked away -- to New York City, to Josh's vast Texas ranch, to a wealthy world she's never known. Will she stay with the tempting cowboy? Or return to the life she left behind?

Sweet story. When Josh is caught in a freak blizzard he takes refuge in a local B&B. The inn is full, but Abby makes room for him in her own set of rooms. There's something about her that draws him in and he can't figure out what it is. Attraction, yes, but it's more than that. Over the next couple days, Josh hangs with Abby, helping around the inn and just spending time with her. Once the roads are clear, he doesn't want to say goodbye.

Abby is wary of Josh at the beginning. He's wealthy and used to getting what he wants. He's also handsome and charming, which adds to her wariness. Her father had also been a handsome, charming man who traveled a lot for business, and ended up walking out on his family, so she doesn't trust that type of man. 

I loved seeing them get to know each other. Josh is a nice guy at heart. He sees how busy Abby is with the inn overflowing and steps in to help. He shovels, carries wood, washes dishes, all kinds of things that surprise her. She doesn't expect someone so wealthy to know how to do these things, much less actually want to do them. They spend a lot of time together doing things around the inn and talking while they do it. Abby sees the huge differences in their lifestyles and knows that there's no way there would ever be a future between them. She's a homebody, never been out of Texas, devoted to her family. She's a great listener, and hears the longing in Josh's voice when he talks about how his business keeps him from spending the time he wants to on his ranch. She encourages him to not waste his life on doing what he doesn't want to do.

Josh was attracted to Abby, but listened when she told him that she wouldn't sleep with him. The entire time he's at the inn, he can't get enough of being with her, even without the prospect of sex. He doesn't understand why he's so taken with her, as she's nothing like the women he usually dates. He assumes that the fascination will wear off quickly, but it doesn't. When he learns that she's never been out of Texas, he's suddenly determined to take her to New York with him and show her a different side of life.

I loved the trip and the enjoyment they both got from it. I really liked the way that Josh did everything he could to make sure Abby had a good time. He also discovered that the fascination still wasn't fading, which really confused him. Abby was equally determined to enjoy every minute, as she knew that it would be her only time with him. She admitted to herself that she has fallen in love with him, but feels that love isn't enough when the differences are so great. The added days at his ranch show her another side of him that only makes her feelings even stronger.

At the end of the trip, Josh doesn't want it to end, but makes a proposition that angers Abby. She feels it shows that he really doesn't know her after all. She goes back to her life at the inn, determined to try to forget him, but can't. However, she can't go on the way they were, so she avoids his phone calls. Meanwhile, Josh is miserable. He can't stop thinking about Abby. He knows he messed up, but doesn't know what to do about it. It takes dinner out with an old friend, who shows Josh what his problem really is. Now all he has to do is convince Abby that they can have it all. I loved seeing the way that Josh approached figuring out just how to do it, and the solution he came up with was perfect. I also liked that Abby was able, with the help of her mom, to realize that Josh and her dad were two different types of people, let go of her fears and allow herself to be happy.