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reading_is_life08's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
smitchy's review
3.0
Good solid read, and a nice romance. I read this as a free e-book on ibooks and its one of the better ones but not super outstanding (it didnt make me want go and buy her other books). The characters (with the exception of the "villian") were fairly believable, the teenage kids gave me a few issues (I found it hard to believe they are as accepting as they are)but over all the book moved along at a nice place and was fairly enjoyable.
tlandrews's review
3.0
This wasn't bad for a free read. I felt like I was getting their inter-monologue too much, which causes me to skim a bunch.
gettinglostinagoodbook's review
3.0
A freebie that I downloaded. It was a pretty good read. No major surprises, and pretty predictable, but enjoyable just the same. The woman has a ranch, but doesn't not know how to work out. A man is a rancher with no ranch to run. It is natural that they come together in a mutually beneficial relationship. Naturally there are misunderstandings and confusion, but they work it out in the end. The characters are well developed, but background information is lacking in some places. I would have liked the editing to have been a bit better, but overall the book was enjoyable.
hrusewif's review
3.0
Typical to most romance novels, the love story was your usual improbable love at first sight- and overall the book had a lot of your typical romance tropes. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised (and happy) that the sex scene was neither long, nor pervasive or poorly written- which is a freaking shocker. It also had an interesting base story, even if it too was a little improbable. And aside from some minor errors, overall it was well written.
I'd definitely suggest it if you're looking for a quick, light, traditional romance read.
I'd definitely suggest it if you're looking for a quick, light, traditional romance read.
ymiranda's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! Everything about this book hit the spot for me.
I've never read anything by Christy Hayes but you'd better be believe I'm going through her back catalog immediately!
This was a very well written romance, the hero/Dodge and heroine/Sarah were front and center. Their relationship built slowly and when they finally get "together" it was so worth the wait.
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a small town romance, staring a super sexy Alpha cowboy, a side of STEAM and a dash of suspense!
I've never read anything by Christy Hayes but you'd better be believe I'm going through her back catalog immediately!
This was a very well written romance, the hero/Dodge and heroine/Sarah were front and center. Their relationship built slowly and when they finally get "together" it was so worth the wait.
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a small town romance, staring a super sexy Alpha cowboy, a side of STEAM and a dash of suspense!
allenfarm's review
4.0
This was a good story. A widowed mom brings her two kids to the vacation ranch she bought with her husband looking for a fresh start. The prime piece of property is overgrown and she quickly realizes the task is above her head, so she reaches out to fellow rancher Dodge for assistance. A quiet man with his own broken past, together they develop the land and their relationship. Dodge is a great hero. He is strong, brave, intelligent, sexy, and loving. And he reads romance novels. What more can a girl ask for?
raelynn's review
3.0
This was a freebie I picked up on amazon some time ago. I am really happy I picked this one up. The story was great and paced perfectly. I enjoyed the characters and I felt I was able to understand each and every one of them perfectly. I hope to read more from this author in the future.
raspberryhoney's review
2.0
This book was simply, okay. It didn't really do anything for me. Dodge and Sarah were cute, but the senator was annoying and the whole conspiracy was just not for me. Dodge and Sarah's slight adorableness saved it from being a total dump.
Definitely not a re-read, but not a complete failure. If you like the grown-up, predictable love story/conspiracy, you may enjoy this book.
Definitely not a re-read, but not a complete failure. If you like the grown-up, predictable love story/conspiracy, you may enjoy this book.
dollycas's review
4.0
A.J. Dodge is a man with a past. He recently returned home to Hailey, Colorado, to become a rancher like his dad. He has six sisters so “he knows women”.
Sarah Woodward is trying to put her life back together. Her husband passed away over two years ago and she has decided to leave Atlanta and relocate to Hailey where she and her husband bought a ranch they hoped to move to someday. Her sons are not very happy about moving but she feels the small town is a better place to bring up her sons than the fast paced city of Atlanta.
What Sarah doesn’t understand is why a U.S. Senator is trying so hard to buy her land in Colorado away from her. She doesn’t understand that the Senator has made some promises he can’t fulfill without her land.
Sarah really knows nothing about running a ranch and realizes the place needs a lot of work but she is not going to let anything deter her dream. She is very surprised when a handsome man shows up at her door offering help, telling her the Senator sent him through a local friend, Tommy Thorton, to help get her off to the right start. The handsome man is A.J. Dodge and when the Senator finds out that Tommy sent Dodge to help Sarah, he is livid.
The Senator wanted someone he can control, someone that would ensure that Sarah would see that there was no way she could run a ranch. Dodge was the exact opposite of what the Senator had in mind. Now he will have to take drastic measures to get that land and Dodge is the man standing in his way.
Plus Dodge may understand women, but Sarah is unlike any woman he has every known. He finds himself risking everything to keep her and the kids safe.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love a story with a strong woman and Sarah has been through the wringer but she is still tough as nails. She is stubborn and opinionated and sparks fly immediately between her and Dodge as he tries to treat her as a helpless woman.
Dodge is a strong man that doesn’t care what anyone think about him. He is in Hailey to put down roots no matter how many people are talking behind his back.
The mystery of Dodge’s past and the suspense of the Senator trying to steal the land added nicely to make this a very enjoyable read. It is very well written and I can see why is was a finalist in the 2007 Virginia Romance Writers Fool for Love Contest. This is my first Christy Hayes novel but it definitely will not be my last.
Sarah Woodward is trying to put her life back together. Her husband passed away over two years ago and she has decided to leave Atlanta and relocate to Hailey where she and her husband bought a ranch they hoped to move to someday. Her sons are not very happy about moving but she feels the small town is a better place to bring up her sons than the fast paced city of Atlanta.
What Sarah doesn’t understand is why a U.S. Senator is trying so hard to buy her land in Colorado away from her. She doesn’t understand that the Senator has made some promises he can’t fulfill without her land.
Sarah really knows nothing about running a ranch and realizes the place needs a lot of work but she is not going to let anything deter her dream. She is very surprised when a handsome man shows up at her door offering help, telling her the Senator sent him through a local friend, Tommy Thorton, to help get her off to the right start. The handsome man is A.J. Dodge and when the Senator finds out that Tommy sent Dodge to help Sarah, he is livid.
The Senator wanted someone he can control, someone that would ensure that Sarah would see that there was no way she could run a ranch. Dodge was the exact opposite of what the Senator had in mind. Now he will have to take drastic measures to get that land and Dodge is the man standing in his way.
Plus Dodge may understand women, but Sarah is unlike any woman he has every known. He finds himself risking everything to keep her and the kids safe.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love a story with a strong woman and Sarah has been through the wringer but she is still tough as nails. She is stubborn and opinionated and sparks fly immediately between her and Dodge as he tries to treat her as a helpless woman.
Dodge is a strong man that doesn’t care what anyone think about him. He is in Hailey to put down roots no matter how many people are talking behind his back.
The mystery of Dodge’s past and the suspense of the Senator trying to steal the land added nicely to make this a very enjoyable read. It is very well written and I can see why is was a finalist in the 2007 Virginia Romance Writers Fool for Love Contest. This is my first Christy Hayes novel but it definitely will not be my last.