Stef Ann Holm

I had a hard time getting into the story but once I did, I enjoyed it. I loved the romance between Vince and Jillene. The girls cracked me up with their matchmaking attempts. The second time the girls got it right. The criminal that Vince interviewed was one of a kind. I am intrigued enough to want to try book 2.

A contemporary romance. Perhaps I wasn't engrossed to being reading a contemporary romance at this time but the novel seemed rather ‘typical' or ‘ordinary' to me. Damsel in distress. Male comes into damsel's life at moment of distress. Tall, handsome guy and damsel live “happily ever after.”

I think the reason that I was disappointed in this novel is due to the missed opportunity. The main character, Lanie Prescott, is deputy in Majestic, Colorado and feels invisible at work, show more compared with male colleagues. Police Chief Herb Deutsch (nickname Dutch) has kept Lanie on mundane assignments (e.g. meter maid, funeral procession director, school safety crossing guard, crowd control at a local grocery store's grand reopening) and without challenge or action.

An online definition of Gender Equality shares: “Gender Equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored.”

Lanie Prescott has chosen to pursue another law enforcement position in a neighboring community as the past four (4) years on the Majestic police force have not given her the decision-making and same rights and opportunities as her male colleagues on the force. This novel had an opportunity to have Lanie as main character be more assertive in bringing the issue to light not merely complain (almost to the extent of whining in an “Oh, woe is me!” way).

Reminiscent of reading a Danielle Steel novel - Predictable. But then sometimes a reader is looking to engage in light reading and then it could be the perfect novel that readers coming in the bookstore would ask for as a “beach book.” show less

Ella Brown brings in a Mr. Hobbs for the bounty. Her brother was shot and killed attempting to capture him. Her brother Cal told her to find a man named Tigger Grandy who has a deed to land that Cal purchased to make them a home. She asks around the town where she turns the body in and gets a general direction. That night John Snow enters her room wanting information about the same man. During the scuffle he learns she is a woman disguised as a man and threatens to expose her if she doesn't show more give him the info. They end up heading the same way and so begins a very contentious association; one aim for 2 different reasons. There adventures on the road lead them through danger and eventually to love. Lots of differences and stubbornness in the getting there. Good story. show less

Divorced Mom, Lucy Carpenter, moves with her 2 sons, Jason, 16, and Matt, 12 to Red Duck, ID from Boise to remove Jason from some bad influences. She rents a rundown house in this resort area and begins looking for clients for her personal chef business. Ex-baseball pro, Drew Tolman, coaches Little League and the school baseball team. Drew also has a 17 year old daughter that he had denied was his until she was 14, at which point she wanted nothing to do with him. When her mother dies she show more moves in with her aunt in Florida but Drew tries to develop a relationship. Drew has past issues that need to be addressed and Lucy needs to rebuild her self-worth and family life, while both address their attraction. Their stories are well developed. A great side story involving Drew's ex-girlfriend and a 103 year old resident at the Seniors Home is both funny and touching. Highly recommended. show less