Delores Fossen

Kissing me is an anchor?

When you think life at Saddlebrook Ranch in Emerald Creek, Texas can’t get more complicated, it does, as youngest son Blue finds out after he crash lands his fighter jet during a demonstration flight and is forced home to recover. Having woke up the news he’s got a ‘girlfriend’ and a son he previously knew nothing about he handles that gracefully while being riddled with guilt over the unintended fallout of his crash that hurt others. His only distraction is Marin and Leo, and making sure they stay where they belong when Leo’s actual father shows up with nefarious intentions. And that’s just a recap that barely scraps the surface among the goings on in the second installment of the series! A true page turner, I can’t wait for book three.… (altro)

I loved this second book in a series about a family of ranchers who also serve their country. In this book, Blue Donnelly is an Air Force test pilot. Flying is all he ever wanted to do. As this book opens, Blue is in the hospital after crash-landing his jet. He is badly injured and feels guilty about the injuries received by some of the people on the ground. He's feeling pretty sorry for himself when he gets a surprise visitor.

Marin and her six-year-old ward were spectators at the air show. Young Leo is an avid fan of Blue and believes that Blue is his father. Marin needs Blue's help to show Leo the truth without hurting him.

I enjoyed Marin and Blue's first meeting. His good looks and rogueish charm stirred Marin up. Blue was blown away by Marin's beauty and stunned by the news she brought. Although Blue is not Leo's dad, I liked that he wanted to help the little boy. Marin works with abused horses, and the Donnellys had just rescued several from a neighbor, so they hired her to work with them on their ranch. This gives Marin steady work, Leo a safe and exciting place to live, and Blue needs distractions as he recovers from his injuries.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Blue and Marin. Neither was looking for anything. Marin has trust issues with men, and Blue will return to his base as soon as he is fit. As the story developed and I got to know the characters, it was easy to see how right Marin and Blue are for each other, even though the obstacles seem insurmountable. Complicating matters, Leo's real dad shows up, threatening to take Leo away from Marin. I could feel Marin's fear over what Brian would do, and I loved the support she got from Blue and the rest of the Donnellys.

The more time Marin and Blue spent together, the stronger the sparks between them grew. Each knew giving in to them was a bad idea, but neither had the strength or resolve to resist. Besides his growing feelings for Marin, Blue must also face uncertainty about his future. If his injuries don't heal enough to allow him to return to the life he loves, can he be happy doing anything else? I ached for Blue and the range of emotions he experienced as he faced a possibly life-changing decision. The ending was terrific.

I also enjoyed the Donnely family dynamics. The siblings are all stand-up characters with a deep-rooted sense of honor and family. Combining military careers with ranching is difficult, but they make it work. I liked seeing more of Egan (Heart Like a Cowboy) and his lady, Alanna. Blue's other brother, Cal, and his sister, Remi, appear in this book as their military duties allow. We also get to catch up with the elder Donnelly, who is recovering from a heart attack, and his wife, Audrey, an Air Force general. A twist involving them in the latter part of the book throws the entire family for a loop. I loved young Leo, whose hero worship of Blue was sweet. I enjoyed seeing him wiggle his way into everyone's hearts.

#netgalley… (altro)

So that others may live...to return home with honor

There’s alot to unpack in Emerald Creek, Texas as this first installment proves. When the Donnelly patriarch has a major health crisis, his oldest son has to face his own demons upon his return to town to take the reins of the family ranch...temporarily...or so he tells himself. Haunted by the death of his best friend, and seriously attracted to his widow and his former sister-in-law, Egan’s journey to find peace and happiness is a page turner full of intriguing main and secondary character that promise this series will be a must read!… (altro)

Terrific start to the series. Egan is the oldest of four siblings, all choosing to serve in the military rather than remain on the family ranch. When his father suffers a heart attack, Egan takes a month's leave to come home and run the ranch while his dad recovers. Egan doesn't like visiting his hometown because they consider him a hero, and he thinks he's anything but. Egan and his best friend Jack joined the military together. Jack was killed by an IED, and Egan feels responsible.

Jack's widow, Alana, has mixed feelings since his death. She is grieving his loss because she loved him, but she's also angry over his infidelity. She also feels guilty because they argued about that infidelity right before his death.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Egan and Alana. With Egan home and Alana caring for his dad at the ranch, they are thrown together often. It doesn't take long for them to realize they are attracted to each other. But there are obstacles to their relationship. Alana's mother-in-law, Tilly, believes that Alana will always be "Jack's wife" and expects Alana to play the part of a grieving widow at the upcoming celebration of Jack's wife. Egan used to be married to Alana's sister, making things a bit awkward. Add the rampant gossip in the small town, and both feel the pressure.

I liked that Egan and Alana were honest with each other about their feelings and reservations. That openness prevented misunderstandings and kept the focus on what they wanted. I ached for both when Tilly's grief and mama bear blindness to Jack's faults caused problems for them. I liked how Alana stood up for Egan against Tilly's vitriol. The emotional storm came to a head with an unexpected revelation. I loved how Alana and Egan faced things together, realizing it gave them greater strength. The only question remained: what would happen when Egan's leave was up?

I liked meeting Egan's siblings and look forward to reading their stories.… (altro)