Sara Orwig

Despite several attempts to get the Ruark family to evacuate, when the dam breaks they are still there. Rangers Jason and Terrell go to the rescue and Jennifer Ruark, her 3 sons, her sister, her father and his dogs all end up in Jason's cabin. He's a very organized loner and they are a zoo. Not only do the Rangers need to do their job in the Park, but feed the group and keep the boys out of trouble until the water goes down. The they find out that Jennifer's sister, Goldie, is carrying a show more stash of stolen money and there are some very bad characters looking for that money. The flood scene was finger-bitingly suspenseful, but most of the rest was average romance. Goldie was too dumb to believe. You had to wonder what Terrell is drawn to. Jennifer and Jason are more believable. show less

Good story of opposites attracting. Sierra is a former interior designer who has left that career behind to run a non-profit charity. She's much happier doing that work and can't conceive of going back to her former life. Blake is a billionaire rancher and real estate developer. He's building a new wing on his ranch house and wants only the best to decorate it. For him, that is Sierra, and he refuses to let anything get in the way of what he wants.

I really enjoyed their first meeting. From show more the moment he walked into her office, the sparks flew between them. Blake is determined that she will decorate his place, and she is equally adamant that what she does now is more important. Not only does Blake want her decorating expertise, but as attracted as he is to her, he also wants to spend time with her. Throwing caution to the wind, he writes a large check to her for the job, and an equal amount to her charity, if she will do it. He also promises the same amount to the charity for the next three years. Unable to turn away a donation of that magnitude, Sierra gives in. The negotiations between them were very interesting. Blake can't understand why she gave up such a lucrative profession to run a charity. His opinion is that people are only out for what they can get, and that she's naive for thinking that she's really going to make a difference. Blake is extremely cynical about people, starting from when he was a child. His father divorced his mother, married again and had more children, and paid no attention to any of them. He also cheated on his wives. Blake has harbored a great deal of anger toward his father and has spent the last several years taking quiet revenge by trying to put his father's hotels out of business.

Once Sierra arrives at the ranch and begins work, every time she and Blake are near each other the fire between them burns hot. Sierra doesn't want to get involved, as she doesn't see it turning out well, but she's helpless to resist. It's interesting to see that when they avoid his need for revenge and her charity work, they have a lot in common. They don't have a lot of time together, as both have to travel, but when they are apart they miss each other. Neither is willing to consider that they are falling in love because they are just too different.

I liked seeing Sierra try to convince Blake that his quest for revenge isn't worth what it is doing to him. She even invites him to go with her to a charity picnic, where he can see some of the good his donation is already doing. It becomes obvious to Sierra that he's not quite as hard as he thinks he is, which softens her heart toward him a little bit. I liked seeing Blake around her family, as he fit in better than I thought he would. But in spite of it all, he insists that she isn't going to change him.

Their differences become a much bigger stumbling block when Sierra discovers she is pregnant. Blake is all for getting married, even though they aren't in love, because he wants to be a full time dad to his child. He thinks that their passion and how well they get along is enough for a successful marriage. Sierra grew up with parents who loved each other and their children, and she refuses to settle for anything less. I really liked seeing her stand up to him and not be guilted into settling for less. By standing firm, Sierra forces Blake to actually think about what it is that's keeping them apart. I loved seeing the steps he took, and the difference it made to his outlook. It wasn't a warm and fuzzy experience, but it felt realistic. There was an interesting twist to the conversation that opened Blake's eyes to what was truly important in his life. It also brought an unexpected windfall into Sierra's life. I liked Blake's big moment at the end. The epilogue was a nice lead in to the next book. show less

Good book. Cade lost his younger brother and sister-in-law in a crash, leaving him as guardian for his niece. But Cade has no idea how to care for little Amelia and is terrified of screwing it up. After all, he didn't exactly have the best examples for parents while growing up. After several unsuccessful interviews to find a nanny, Cade accepts his best friend's suggestion of his younger sister for the job. Luke also warns Cade to keep his hands off Erin, who is suffering from enough show more heartbreak.

Erin is getting ready to start her post-graduate work, but has taken a semester off to earn the money she needs. She doesn't plan to give up the job she has until Cade makes her an offer she just can't refuse. Luke has warned her off any involvement with Cade, who is a known playboy. Still reeling from her own heartbreak, she isn't too worried, until she meets him.

The chemistry between Cade and Erin is intense from the moment they meet. They try hard to resist it, but it is a losing battle. Erin may still be recovering from her heartbreak, but she hasn't given up on the hope for a husband and family of her own someday. She also knows that Cade can never be that man. Cade has sworn off the idea of marriage for himself. Having witnessed his parents' terrible marriage and his father's inability to commit, he figures that he's far safer not taking the risk of hurting himself or someone else. Becoming father to little Amelia creates a huge change in his life. He's determined to be a better father than his own was, and Erin is the path to that goal - as long as he doesn't screw it up.

I loved seeing the development of their relationship. It doesn't take long to acknowledge their mutual attraction, but they start out successfully resisting it. Cade reminds himself of his long friendship with her brother and that he doesn't want to lose that friendship. He also knows of her vulnerability and doesn't want to add to her hurt. Erin reminds herself that he doesn't want marriage and she does. There are some terrific scenes of the two of them fighting the attraction that continues to grow as they spend time together with baby Amelia. But it's too strong to resist, and pretty soon they give in. Erin knows from the start that she's in danger of losing her heart to both Cade and Amelia, but she takes the chance anyway. Cade spends a long time trying to convince himself that the strength of their connection doesn't mean anything. I loved seeing Erin work on Cade's confidence in being a father, and also that he doesn't have to cut himself off from the prospect of marriage in his future. But when Erin's time is up, she knows she has to cut ties completely to have even a small chance of getting over her feelings. Meanwhile, Cade has to face the reality of Erin's departure and his feelings for her. Cade's big moment at the end was great, including some interference from Luke.

I really liked seeing the changes that Cade went through. His fears about taking care of Amelia were real, as was his desire to overcome them. His caution at the beginning was sweet and kind of amusing, considering how confident he was in everything else. I loved seeing him become more confident, and some of his scenes with Amelia were quite heartmelting. show less

Good conclusion to the series, as the last of the Milans and Calhouns bring an end to the family feud. The antagonism between Lindsay and Tony has been present throughout the series and it was only a matter of time before it lit sparks of a different sort. Tony lost a bet with his brother and as a result ended up as one of the prizes in a bachelor auction. The last person he expected to bid on him was Lindsay.

Lindsay has one goal from this dinner and dancing event - to set up a truce between show more them. She figures that getting them into neutral territory will make it easier. She doesn't expect the irresistible attraction between them and the complications it brings to their lives.

Tony was pretty funny in his reaction to a cleaned up and dressed up Lindsay. He'd spent so long looking at her as an adversary that seeing her as a beautiful woman throws him for a loop. He's pretty sure that she has a reason for winning the bid, but he's more interested in the woman than the rancher. Lindsay fights the attraction, but gives up pretty quickly. She looks at their time together as a one time thing because they are just too different.

Lindsay doesn't want to get involved with a fellow rancher because she doesn't want someone telling her how to run her ranch. She has worked too hard for her independence to give it up. She sees Tony as another take charge, bossy kind of guy who would try to take over. Her frequent run ins with him have come when she thinks he is trying to tell her what to do. Their night together shows her a different side to him, one she likes, but is reluctant to believe is the real him.

Over the next few weeks, Lindsay and Tony try to stay apart, but discover that they can't do it. Whenever they are apart, they find that they miss the other, not just in bed but just talking and being together. Then one or the other will find an excuse to see each other, and it will start all over again.

Then Lindsay discovers she's pregnant. She knows that Tony is going to want to be involved, and that he will immediately try to take things over. She can't give up the independence she's worked so hard for. I loved seeing Tony fight his instincts as he gives Lindsay the space and time she needs. They got support from their families instead of pressure, which helped a lot. I liked seeing both of them look at themselves, their relationship, and what they want for their future, and see what had been going on all along.

The ending was pretty sweet. Tony maintains his sense of humor even when Lindsay's stubborn streak rears up. I liked that both of them seem to have a realistic view of what their life will be like, and that they don't expect it to suddenly be all sweetness and light. There is a little twist regarding her pregnancy that shows up at the end. show less