Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath

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Lorraine Heath actually has a novella for her Texas Trilogy, Texas Legacy. This is listed as 3.5, but I almost wish it was a prequel or in between book for her writing stories for the sons and daughters of our Texas city named brothers. This the kind of forbidden romance of Rowley and Faith.

Faith is Dallas and Dee's only daughter and Rowley is the young boy they rescued and kind of adopted. I have seen people say this is pretty taboo, but even though there were raised together, once they both hit puberty they both stopped thinking of each other as sibling. Even then I don't think that they ever had that relationship. I do think that Lorraine wrote it in a way that just felt star-crossed and not taboo.

Rowley had left after Faith had kissed him on her 19th birthday. He couldn't deal with his passion for her and see her everyday once that seal was broken, so he decides to leave. This is several years later and Rowley received notice from Dee to come home. It's believed that Dallas has had a heart issue and needs to start stepping back in his running of the ranch. Rowley comes to help out, but leave Faith in charge and follows her orders.

Rowley is such a sexy cowboy. He's also still dealing with feeling dirty after the horrors he went through before Dallas took him in. While he was gone, Faith was raped and left with child. She is such a sweetheart and is immediately drawn to Rowley. Not being that this is a novella, they got together pretty quickly, but I feel like the tension and history was laid out pretty well. They were pretty hot together and it was definitely steamier than the other books. However this was written 20 years later.

It was also fun seeing a lot of their kids grown up, especially Maggie May, Houston and Amelia's eldest daughter. She's gone to university and is the local reporter. Like I mentioned before, I almost wish we got heas for the all the Leigh kids. Lorraine, please please please do a spin off of this series with the other kiddos getting heas. I don't care if they're all novellas, I want them! Anyways, it was so cute to see everyone aged up and I'm sure for people that read these back in the day it was nice to see them all again. I really enjoyed this novella. The only thing that really bothered me is that a big factor of Rowley finally making a move on Faith is finding out about her trauma. I know it was meant as more of a protective, care-taking, alpha-move, but when he realized she was "dirty" too (he refers to himself as such) it almost felt more that he was okay to be with her now that she wasn't pure anymore. I don't know. Like I said, I know it wasn't meant that way, but it just came off a bit weird to me. I still overall really enjoyed the novella and am sad I don't have any other books in this series. But it's also fun to finally say I completed one of her series as well (I have several I've started).

Have you read Texas Legacy?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Texas Legacy, Lorraine Heath, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 192 pages, published in 2019

Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath

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The third book in Lorraine Heath's Texas Trilogy is Texas Splendor. I immediately jumped into this one after finishing Texas Glory. I just had to get Austin's hea, especially with how his portion of the story ended and then was teased.

So this book picks up 5-years after the end of Texas Glory and picks up with Austin getting out of jail. Lorraine doesn't go too much into what he's gone through in prison, but we do know that he was beaten a lot, has scars, and has really matured and changed as a person. Austin also mentions that he's lost his music. He's kind of a violin savant and we got to "hear" his beautiful music in the first couple books. After getting attacked and talked about behind his back, Austin decides to clear his name. Oh, and the girl whose reputation he saved and was supposed to wait for him, has married his best friend Cameron. Austin is heartbroken and really just feeling out of sorts around his family since so much has changed. He never met Faith or the younger girls of Houston and Amelia. It comes in a lot throughout the novel, but every time something was mentioned that (not intentionally) excluded him, it hurt. There was scene partway through where he would be the one to pass out presents at Christmas, and since he was gone, he didn't do it anymore. Instead of his brothers or Amelia or Dee remembering, they go on, almost like it's not a thing anymore. And while it had changed, it just felt weird that everyone except Austin's sweet wife noticed that he was hurt by the disregard. Like I said, it's not intentional. But I've felt that a lot and still do when I visit some of my family. It just really hard to process feeling left out or ignored, but still know it's not intentional. But, back to the fun stuff.

So Austin finally puts together that Boyd didn't write Austin as his name, but the city. He heads there to see if he could find the true killer. Almost there his horse gets injured and he comes across Loree's homestead. She assists him and the connection they form is really deep. There is a little bit of caretaking (yay!) but also some angst because Austin is still dealing with losing Becky to someone else in prison (and nobody notified him when it happened). I loved that Austin was so caring and sweet to Loree. Although, her dog died. I did not like that. It was a bobcat so at least it was nature, but he ends up buying her a puppy later. I loved how he kept coming back to see her and do things with her while he was in the area. We also get a surprise baby, but they decide to marry, after some angst, and then they head back to Dallas's ranch. 

I really loved how they both were so drawn to each other, but I did get a little frustrated with them both. Yes they were more upfront with their feelings than the previous books, but there were still other issues not discussed or not discussed properly. It was also weird how upset Loree was with Austin when she found out he actually used to play the violin. But instead of realizing that there must be a reason why he said he didn't play, she just called him a liar and it became an issue. I really didn't like that fight. It felt so unnecessary and a little extreme on her end. But she was pregnant, so I don't know. Like with the previous books, too much happened to them once again. I kind of saw who the actual killer was based on how Lorraine was writing it, but I didn't like the decisions that both people made when it came to light. It was cute to see Austin get tapped by a famous composer for his music and then they head to Europe for several years. We get a little bit of a time jump at the end when they come back to Texas. I love that even then, Austin still strips her shoes off to dance. Such a cute moment between them.

I really enjoyed the trilogy and all books were a 4-star read for me. What's fun is there's also a novella, which I read next, and it was written 20 years later! I enjoyed the brothers and it's been a while since I read a true western feeling romance. Don't get me wrong, I liked the Beverly Jenkins I read, it just didn't feel western to me. I don't know, maybe it's the cowboy thing. These are definitely different than Lorraine Heath's more recent works, but I still really enjoyed them, just in a different way. If you are on the fence, please try them. They are really great!

Have you read Texas Splendor?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Texas Splendor, Lorraine Heath, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 320 pages, published in 1999

Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath

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After having some free reign and really enjoying the Rake Appreciation Society's April book Texas Destiny, I decided to jump back into the series and finish the trilogy by Lorraine Heath! The 2nd book is Texas Glory and based around the eldest brother Dallas and his bargained bride Dee McQueen.

I was really excited to see Dallas get his hea after Amelia left him for Houston in the first book. This started off with a kind of Hatfield vs. McCoy vibe with the McQueen's thinking (wrongly) they have more land than they do. They were what was known as land grabbers and didn't always follow the rules and file the proper paperwork. When someone did file the proper paperwork, like Dallas, it contradicted their thoughts and could get dangerous. The book starts off with the three brothers waiting for the "twang" of the barbed wire to chase down the people that have been cutting their fences and killing their cows. 

They come across the McQueen brothers doing this and a fight ensues. Dallas ends up breaking the arm of one of the brothers and Austin gets shot. When the doctor finally shows up, he admonishes Dallas for breaking the McQueen's arm. Dallas is kind of pissed that it took the doctor so long to get to Austin's gunshot wound because he was led astray by the McQueens. That's one thing that happens a lot throughout the novel that bothered me. Dallas is known as an upstanding gentleman, a hard working and strict boss, but upstanding. He also created the town their all living in and around. However some  people always take the word of the McQueens. Anyways, the doctor mentions off-handedly that he left the brother in the care of his sister. A ha! The McQueens have a sister, Cordelia. She goes by Dee to those that know her. Dee has been mentally and physically abused, kept almost captive by her family and is incredibly naïve about the world. On top of the fact she watched her father torture and abuse her mother. She is a very scared and nervous person in the start of the book. Her evolution is so hopeful and beautiful to read.

I felt so much for Dee and she was so terrified that her father "sold" her to Dallas for the strip of land they were fighting over. I really loved the progression of their relationship and that Dallas really came to love Dee and really want more than just a son, but a full family. He really cared and disliked that she was so afraid of him. It always angered him, but then she'd get more scared since Dallas looked angry. It was this viscous cycle they rotated through. Once Dee finally felt comfortable to push against her perceived boundaries, things really started to flourish between them. Although, I absolutely hated her elder brothers and father. I wish Dallas was able to keep them away more after they were married. 

What dropped this down to 4-stars is similar to my reasonings for the first book. First of all, they both waited waaaaay too long to talk about their feelings. Dallas kept putting it off, and putting it off. Then, too much happened to them. It wasn't just one "bad thing" in the third act, but at least like three. They didn't deserve it. And then there was the whole, Dallas is fighting to stay alive after getting his back destroyed (by a whip) and here's Austin going to jail for a crime he didn't commit. It just wouldn't end with the sad. Oh, and maybe I should've mentioned this earlier, but they have a miscarraige and Dee almost dies. Then she's kidnapped later. Like I said, just too much.

It was fun to see Dee and the little boy Rowley connect and have Dallas take him in. I can see in a way that he replaced their son with him, but I feel like Dallas wasn't replacing him persay, but needed more in his life to keep from completely drowning in his grief. Training the young boy (he's guesstimated to be like 8-years-old) really helps him keep getting through the grief of both losing their son and Dee still being pretty injured. It was nice to see at the end a family Christmas with everyone, and I love how many kids Houston and Amelia are having. Maggie May, their eldest daughter, is such a delight. So freaking adorable! It was also nice that despite all Dee's injuries, they were able to have a daughter to spoil with their large house, Faith. I still enjoyed this book and series and immediately jumped into Austin's story.

Have you read Texas Glory?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Texas Glory, Lorraine Heath, 4-stars, 1 day, eBook, 358 pages, published in 1998

Glacier by Miranda Bridges & Kyra Snow

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Wanting some more fun after reading Saving Verakko, I decided to check out some other alien romances! Going through what I had on my kindle I realized I still have to start Miranda Bridges new series Eternal Mates. She co-wrote it with Kyra Snow and the first book is Glacier. I had previously read and really enjoyed Miranda's other series House of Kaimar and Hearts of Stone.

Oh I really struggled on how to rate this book. If I were to be a little more strict, it would probably be more of a 2.5-star rating, but I rounded up to 3-stars. So Earth has been through a fire apocalypse and now there a few different alien species coming to Earth for mostly nefarious reasons. Xelias our hero is here looking for compatible females for their race. When they find their mate their true powers "unlock" allowing them access to their "true potential." It was definitely an interesting take on the fated mates trope with aliens that I haven't read before. Part of what rubbed me wrong was our heroine Hazel. She was overly stubborn, especially when they first meet and she's stealing food from his ship. I understand her being stubborn and why they didn't go for her just submitting to the aliens. However, it seemed sometimes that there was too much disparity between how Hazel was acting outwardly both alone with Xelias, around others and her inner monologue. Sometimes it felt like she was just being stupid, not stubborn. She just really rubbed me the wrong way. 

Now in Miranda Bridges other series I've read, they were pretty steamy. This one, while it felt the same number of scenes, it felt written differently. And not good differently. It just felt more juvenile and cliched. I'm not sure if that's the influence of the second author or just a one off for this book. I was still overall intrigued by the uniqueness of the plot and will most likely try at least the next book in the series. If you are looking for a good alien romance though, definitely check out the other series I have linked above. The Hearts of Stone is a spin-off of the House of Kaimar and the aliens are more gargoyle and elf-type species respectively.

Have you read Glacier?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Glacier, Miranda Bridges & Krya Snow, 3-stars, 1 day, eBook, 167 pages, published in 2020

Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend by Holly Renee

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After getting through another book club book, I jumped back into Holly Renee's Rock Bottom series and read the latest book in the series, Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend. Now, before getting to much into the review I did want to do a little update. This book is 5-stars for me. I couldn't think about anything that bothered me enough to dock it all. However, I definitely enjoyed the first book more. I am also now considering Trouble with the Guy Next Door 5-stars (and will update that post).

This book focuses on Brooke and Liam, the roommates and best friends of Tucker and Kennedy (from book 1). They have had great tension in the first two books and I was excited to finally get to their story. The prologue is during Kennedy and Tucker's wedding in book 2, and they finally crack the seal a little bit on their attraction. However they get interrupted and Liam takes that chance to not go further. The main part of the book is a little while afterwards and Kennedy and Tucker are moving out into their own house. Liam's cousin is also getting married soon and his mother is very much marriage and baby-minded when it comes to Liam. To get her off his back, he says he has a girlfriend and is bringing her to the wedding. 

This book mostly covers the week that Brooke is Liam's fake girlfriend during the various festivities. I really loved the tension that Holly Renee created between them. There was also a little bit of mutual pining, but Brooke's was a lot more obvious. It was really nice that Liam was able to see Brooke as she actually was and saw past the front she shows to world. I loved how welcoming his parents were to Brooke and that they both saw the true feelings they were trying to hide to each other. I loved when Brooke was trying to sleep in the guest room and Liam's mom kept pushing her to staying in Liam's old room with him. It had me cracking up. Especially because we usually see the opposite. 

Once they kissed (again) and broke the seal so to speak the sexual chemistry was so great. Liam is definitely more on the dominate side which was a fun surprise. I did wish that they were a little more open with their feelings nearing the end of the week, but I totally understood both of their timidity based on their previous hurts. I also loved that when his ex Katie tried to cause issues, she didn't really outside of Brooke assuming what their conversation was and freaking out. Another part I liked is that we had a little bit of a time jump so didn't have to see too much angst and wallowing once they got home and separated. 

I really enjoyed this series so far, and after seeing Ryan more in this book I really hope Holly gives him an HEA too. I don't know if he'll be paired with Chloe, but if not she deserves one too! I checked into her other books recently and noticed they were more new and/or young adult, which I usually don't read too much. I absolutely love Holly Renee's writing though, so I'll probably check them out at some point. I say that, but I usually don't read too much contemporary but here I am with this being the 11th contemporary of the year. 

Have you read Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Trouble with the Fake Boyfriend, Holly Renee, 5-stars, 1 day, eBook, 264 pages, published in 2020