Charlene Sands

Terrific conclusion to the series. After all the twists and turns of the previous books, the role of King of Alma has come to rest on Juan Carlos's shoulders. Determined to bring peace and prosperity back to his country, at his coronation Juan Carlos promised to put his people and his country first. Then a glimpse of a beautiful woman at his coronation turned his heart upside down.

I loved Juan Carlos and Portia. I had my doubts about him in previous books, as he seemed uptight and sometimes show more unsympathetic to his cousins' difficulties. However, he won me over quickly in this book. His love for Alma and its people was evident in his thoughts during the coronation. His immediate fascination with Portia was a surprise to him, as was the way she took over his thoughts. Portia was as drawn to Juan Carlos as he was to her. But she was burned in a previous relationship with a high profile man and had no intention of getting involved with another one.

I loved the development of the relationship between Juan Carlos and Portia. He was adorable in his "love at first sight" determination to win Portia over. The rumors of the missing art treasures gave him the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her. Portia was wary of the attraction between them. Her attempts to fight it were a losing battle, though she tried hard. One of my favorite things about Juan Carlos was how down-to-earth he was. The time they spent together during the search was almost like any regular couple as they got to know each other. The connection that grew between them was more than a physical one, and it wasn't long before they admitted their love.

But as Portia prepared for their wedding, she discovered a family secret that changed everything she thought she knew about herself. Devastated, she broke things off with Juan Carlos, unwilling to bring scandal to his fledgling monarchy. Hurt by her inexplicable actions, he tried to change her mind, until she was forced to confess the real reasons she left. I wanted to shake Juan Carlos at this point because his reaction was to lash out with anger and distrust. I loved the enlightening conversation he had with a friend, and how it gave him a new perspective. His big moment at the end was fantastic and perfect for who and what he was.

I loved the search for the missing art treasures. Juan Carlos's determination to find them and make them part of the new Alma was wonderful. I could feel their frustration as their searches turned up empty time after time. I was very impressed with the cleverness of how they were hidden when they were finally discovered. It was a very emotional scene. show less

Pearl in the Mist wasn't the best book in the Landry saga, but it is made up for in this book. The twin angle is really played here - for some rather unexpected results. And unlike Secrets of the Morning/Twilight's Child in the previous series, the babydaddy in this one is actually a nice guy - so I'm not sure which guy to root for here, Beau or Paul.

Neither is perfect of course, but I was glad to see that Beau wasn't going to be like Michael in the Cutler books, and Paul treats Ruby with a show more lot of kindness and respect. Part of me wishes that Ruby could have let go of her reservations regarding Paul, because the circumstances that created them was not their fault. Because Ruby kept that wall between them, it only caused Paul a lot of pain and misery, even though Ruby wasn't attempting to inflict it on him, she knew she was causing him pain nonetheless.

Of course, Daphne is up to her usual tricks - and if that's not enough, you have Gladys Tate. With them and Giselle, Ruby sure does have a lot on her plate. Plenty of exciting stuff happens - action, drama, secrets and what have you. I would have to say that this is my favorite book in the Landry series. show less

Very good friends to lovers story. Emma and Dylan have known each other for a very long time. She is best friends and business partners with his sister Brooke, and has always had something of a crush on Dylan. One night when at a party she got a bit tipsy, then the power went out all over the city. Panicking, she called Dylan for help and he picked her up and took her home. She has vague recollections of begging him to stay because of her fears, and things went further than she expected. show more Dylan remembers nothing because of an on-set accident the next day that killed his best friend and stunt double and injured him.

I liked Emma. She is a strong and independent woman, determined to make her own way in the world. She is also a very good friend to both Brooke and Dylan. She cherishes her friendship with them and doesn't want what happened that night to change things with Dylan. She's not sure whether she's relieved or disappointed that he doesn't remember their night together, but decides to keep it to herself unless he remembers. Then she discovers that she's pregnant and knows she'll have to tell him.

Dylan was great. He's made it big in Hollywood, but it hasn't gone to his head. He loves his sister and by extension, her friend Emma. Still grieving for his friend and recovering from his injuries, she and Brooke are keeping a close eye on him. Dylan finds himself attracted to Emma, but as his sister's friend it should be hands off.

I loved that Dylan and Emma were friends first. I loved the way he asks her to go with him to a hospital event because he knows he can trust her. His attraction to her starts to show, and she notices the way he keeps touching her. She's not sure what to do, because she wants him but can't believe that he'd really be interested in her. They're getting closer when she discovers her pregnancy. I loved the way that Dylan became so protective of her and wanting to take care of her. It's a circumstance that he never expected to happen to him as he's careful not to raise expectations in the women he's with. He'd been hurt once before and has been protecting himself ever since.

It was sweet to see how Dylan wants Emma to move in with him so he can take care of her, but when she resists he backs off. Emma would like nothing more, but she wants to be wanted for herself, not because of the baby. Being an obligation is not what she wants from the man she is coming to love. I really liked the way that Dylan decides that going slow is the way to win her over, and uses old fashioned dates as the way to do it. I loved the progress he made, and the terrific scene where his wish comes true. Things are really looking good for them until his memory returns, revealing an unexpected twist from the night of the blackout. Dylan's insecurities rear up, causing him to react badly. The pain that both were in had me reaching for the tissues as I read.

An attempt on his life has Dylan realizing that he had made some mistakes. When the threat suddenly extends to Emma also, he is terrified for her safety. I loved seeing him wake up to the truth of his feelings. The ending was so sweet and romantic and perfect for them. show less

Good book. Erin came to Royal from Seattle to work as a nanny. That job ended when her employer fell in love, so Erin is at loose ends until she returns to Seattle at the end of the year. After a night out with friends at a local bar, Erin decides to try a ride on the mechanical bull. She quickly finds herself flat on her back, staring into the eyes of a big, hunky cowboy.

Dan was more than happy to be the one to pick Erin up. He'd noticed her earlier and been drawn to her. As he walked her show more to her car, they witnessed a dog get hit by a car. As they work together to care for the dog, attraction simmers between them. They fall into bed together for a night of passion, but reality hits the next morning. Dan makes it clear that he doesn't do relationships and since Erin is leaving soon, they leave it at that.

But neither can forget the other. When Erin agrees to help her friend Chelsea in her investigation into the person blackmailing members of the Texas Cattleman's Club, she discovers that Dan is Chelsea's brother. As the two work together to help Chelsea, they find themselves combining investigation with passion as the attraction burns between them.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Dan and Erin. Besides the obvious physical attraction, it was clear that they liked each other. I loved their time together riding, taking care of Dan's many rescued animals, and just being together. As time goes on, Erin realizes that her feelings are more than a fling and that she wants more from Dan. A pregnancy scare brings home just how far apart they are. Dan likes being with Erin, and he's happier than he's been in a long time. But he doesn't believe in happy-ever-afters thanks to his mom's abandonment of the family. I ached for them both on Thanksgiving Day, as Dan witnesses Erin's joy at her friends' engagement and her happiness holding baby Faye, and realizes that he can't give her what she needs. As his guilty feelings over hurting Erin begin to build, he distances himself emotionally. I liked Erin's strength as she left early for her new job as a way to end things with Dan quickly and cleanly. I hurt for them both as their unhappiness at being apart was obvious. I loved Chelsea's sneaky way of getting Dan to face his fears and realize the truth of his feelings. His big moment at the end was awesome, especially considering his strong and silent personality.

There is more progress on the search for the blackmailer known as Maverick. Though a couple of leads didn't work out, at the end there is one that looks quite promising. I am looking forward to the next and final book in this series and the resolution of the mystery. show less