His Country Girl by Jillian Hart

Hmm, glad to be back amongst the decent romance novels again. Its amazing how you can get into a streak of bad ones. But anyways, I digress. This romance was pretty enjoyable. Sure it had a few flaws, but they weren't enough to spoil the book at all.

Sierra Baker is a nervous wreck. Her little boy is due for surgery and since he's all she has after her husband left both of them, she can't really contain what she feels. So she has mixed emotions when little Owen gets his miracle wish fulfilled in the form of Tucker Granger, a rodeo cowboy she grew up with. But Tucker turns out to be a surprise. He's excellent with Owen and she finds herself becoming very attached to him. But that's not what either of them want because Sierra doesn't want upheaval in her life and Tucker isn't the type to settle down. But there is an attraction there, regardless of what they want to feel.

I think Tucker was my favorite character in all of this. He seemed like a good down to earth guy who wasn't afraid to just be himself. And he had believable emotions and motivations. Sierra, I haven't quite decided on her yet. She was very very skittish. Which is somewhat understandable, but she changed her mind so easily on everything that she wasn't as believable as Tucker. Owen, the kid, was ok too. He bounced around the book in a cheerful haze for the most part and was genuinely kid-like.

The sick kid theme is actually one I haven't read before. I'm sure there are plenty of books out there that involve that theme, but since this was the first one I read it was unique. And I liked it. Although I think a little more drama could have been squeezed in. The romance was satisfactory. Since this is a Love Inspired it was kind of slow going and tame. But at least this one wasn't very preachy like some from that romance line can be. In fact it was very tolerable. And the romantic parts were pretty tame as well, maybe a few sneaky kisses. The ending was kind of rushed, but that was probably the most noticeable problem with the book, and still not a huge deal.

A nice smooth read with likable characters. This is a romance that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to fans of the genre.

His Country Girl
Copyright 2011
218 pages

Blind-Date Bride by Jillian Hart

I'm not sure this author has ever been to Bozeman, MT. I lived there for three years, and I've got to say, considering this book supposedly takes place there, it just doesn't feel like Bozeman to me. Except for the tater tots at the Mexican restaurant, that was authentic.

Brianna gets stood up again. This blind dating business isn't obviously for her. But then, Max Decker is also stood up. He wasn't really ready to date anyway, just felt pressured into it, but as he and Brianna strike up a conversation about their failed dating experiences, he feels drawn to her. But they've both got some issues from their past aside from the dating. Brianna has PTSD from a robbery and Max too has been caught in the line of fire, being that he's a cop. It makes both of them have some serious trust issues.

Brianna was very very timid. Every page you expected her to break. Now granted she had been through a very traumatic experience, so she had reason to be, but she just seemed like she'd blow away in the wind. And then there's Max, who is the exact opposite, except for his worries. He was a little too tough. Actually I think about the worst character in the book was Max's half brother who lived with him. For a kid that went to getting into trouble in L.A. to this squeaky clean do good kid in Bozeman, it just didn't seem realistic. Frankly I can't consider most kids acting the way this one did.

The plot was kind of feeble. And it was way too rushed. Everything happened so fast that it seemed the couple had barely gone out on a few dates before they loved each other so deeply. It takes time to get to know someone, more than a week or two. And aside from them dating and a few minor issues, nothing really happened in the book. It was just them going places with each other. And considering those places were in Bozeman, it didn't even ring authentic for me. I kept picturing real places and the book's just didn't line up. This was a Love Inspired romance, and unlike the other by this author that I read, this one was very preachy. Scripture quoted everywhere and faith turned too outrightly. Granted, its my fault for reading this book knowing what type it was, but the author's other one wasn't this way.

I wasn't a fan. I liked the author's other book about a soldier, but this one was just a little too sappy and fast-paced to take.

Blind-Date Bride
Copyright 2009
208 pages

The Soldier's Holiday Vow by Jillian Hart

What a sweet little book. Definitely one of the kinder romances that I've read in awhile.

When she falls down an old mine shaft with one of her students, September knows that they will be rescued. But she still worries. And then her worry increases when she's rescued by none other than Mark Hawkins. Mark was a friend of her late fiance and brings back several painful memories for her. But slowly he inches his way into her heart as she recovers, despite her determination not to let anyone close again. She never wants to hurt that much again. Mark too isn't sure what he wants, his life as an army ranger is dangerous, and he's not sure if he would be a good match for someone as a result. But there's something too kind in September for him to resist.

September is a very sweet person. And she has a lot of grief. Its painful to see some of her emotions sometimes as they feel very real. And Mark honestly is too sweet and good to be real. But I think I like him anyway. Romance novels aren't always realistic in that sense, but a girl can dream there's a guy out there like that. He just seems like he'd be cute in that boy next door way and would treat a girl right. September's sister is the only one I really didn't like. I know she was trying to be protective or something, but she was just a little too harsh.

I really enjoyed the plot. It didn't even need the rescue in the beginning. An old army buddy helping out a grieving girlfriend seems just right. Like something the deceased would have wanted for his friends. Now this was a Love Inspired but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't preachy at all. And I appreciated that. Made it an easier read for me and I could really sink in and enjoy it. I do wish it had been longer though. And since its Love Inspired, there are no graphic scenes in this book, just kissing. So if you were worried about that, rest assured, no vicarious passion to be found here.

A very nice little romance. I would definitely read something by Jillian Hart again.

The Soldier's Holiday Vow
Copyright 2009
214 pages