Where The Skies Are Not Cloudy

Published: February 19th, 2013
Home to Montana
By: Charlotte Carter
Love Inspired
ISBN-13: 9780373878031

Staying in one place was never Nick Carbini's plan. When his troubled past leads him to Bear Lake, Montana, single mom Alisa Machak makes him consider putting down roots. Alisa doesn't have a problem letting Nick work in her diner, but when he starts edging his way into her heart, she has to draw the line. He reminds her too much of her son's father, another drifter who abandoned them both. Nick wishes he could be there for them, but believes he's not fit to be a husband. When his worst fears come true one night, it's up to Alisa to show him the perfect recipe for a forever romance.

Review

     Single Mom Alisa Machak has been burned before, and she's not eager to repeat the experience.  So she stays away from men who present any danger of upsetting her life in any way - in other words, she avoids true love like the plague.  Nick Carbini has become a drifter, with no place to truly call home since he was a kid and his Mom was alive.  So he returns to the only place he can get that feeling - Bear Lake, Montana. Working in Alisa's family diner, Nick and Alisa immediately feel sparks fly.  But not willing to risk her heart or her son's Alisa hardens herself against the new-found possibility of a relationship.  Especially with a man who reminds her of her son's Father, a deadbeat drifter.  Can Nick move away from the demons of his past and convince Alisa that they have a future together?  Or will both of them end up with a broken heart?  Not realizing this book was Love Inspired and not a Harlequin Super Romance, I requested it from NetGalley.  I wish that I hadn't.  While the characters are relatable and fairly well written, this book was downright depressing.  Alisa is a woman who loves her son, her Mom and her town.  But she is a complete shrew and not a very interesting character to me.  Oh poor baby, had a bad experience in love.  So now she treats this veteran with major issues like he's Jeffery Dahmer reincarnated or something!  And every time he shows any interest in her son (who is starved for male companionship of any kind at all, as he has no Dad or Grandpa in his life) she freaks out and acts like Nick's trying to kidnap him from her.  Any excuse not to be nice to Nick and Alisa will take it, no hesitation.  I loved Alisa's Mother, who was an absolute gem of a woman, especially dealing with such a bitter daughter.  Nick had issues, but he saw the shades of grey in the world order which endeared him to me a LOT more than Alisa as a character and romantic interest.  While being a Christian romance, it managed to avoid the preachy overtones for the most part, until the second half of the book which was saturated in religion.  I got extremely annoyed with having it shoved in my face and was glad when the book was over.  My overall opinion is that people who like a predictable  bland romance will like this one. If you're not super religious avoid it like the plague.

VERDICT:  2/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published February 19th, 2013.*

Wild For You

Expected Publication: February 5th, 2013

Wild for the Sheriff (The Sisters of Bell River Ranch # 1)

By: Kathleen O'Brien

Harlequin

ISBN-13: 9780373607549

Sheriff Dallas Garwood has followed the straight and narrow all his life. The one exception? When he tangled with Rowena Wright. The experience had lasting consequences he'd rather not repeat.

That may be easier said than done. Rowena is back, set on restoring her family's ranch to sell it. Is this Colorado town big enough for the two of them? Not the way his nine-year-old son keeps sneaking onto her land, forcing Dallas into her company. Every one of those encounters sparks an urge in him to tangle with her again. This time he'll call the shots—and be the one to leave. But he doesn't expect all these powerful emotions… and he's not sure he can walk away.

Review

     Rowena Wright is back in her small hometown, somewhere that she never thought she'd be again.  But now fifteen years after she left, Rowena is back to fix up the family ranch and sell it for good this time.  It might not be as easy as that, with her old flame Dallas Garwood as the Sheriff and still just as tempting as ever.  Determined to resist him, Rowena pulls away at every opportunity.  But when she comes across a discovery that could take away any claim she has to Bell River, will all the secret dreams she has of turning it into a dude ranch go up in smoke?  And with Dallas, his son Alec and a mysterious girl named Bonnie all finding a way into her heart, will she be able to leave when the time comes, or will Rowena finally stay in one place - home?  This was very well written for a Harlequin romance!  I usually go in expecting light fluff, but this was definitely not under that heading AT ALL.  Rowena hasn't been back home in fifteen years, since her Father murdered her Mother and she & her sisters were sent to live with relatives.  Also, the last time she saw Dallas her Father caught them having sex in a pickup and shot him!  Rowena had serious trust issues and real reasons for having them.  But I adored her feisty personality and self-reliant nature.  Dallas was a good love interest, who had his own share of past heartbreak.  Alec's Mom had left him for another man, started a new family and effectively ditched Alec while she was at it.  Dallas describes his son as being like Huck Finn, and he is right.  Alec is adorable and mischievous to the max, which adds something extra to the book.  And the whole storyline where he thinks he has to get Dallas dating again before he can go live with his Mom (and THAT'S why she won't take him yet) is so sad, but definitely how an elementary aged kid would rationalize.  The strained relationship between Rowena and her sisters Penny & Bree is painful but truthful.  The resolution and beginnings of true sisterhood near the end of the book was a great touch.  The romance itself was swoony, but the angst was a little too thick for my taste.  Overall, loved this book more than I thought I would.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is February 5th, 2013.*