Always Dakota

I didn't like this book as much as I liked her other books - Montana, Blossom Street series, etc. I think my dislike stemmed from the Axel subplot and the handling of Shelley's pregnancy. Having friends/family who have endured the adoptive process, I really disliked the way Axel was taken from the couple. I work as a volunteer GAL, and the first mandate is to keep the child feeling stable. Unless the home was truly unfit (and this would be determined by a caseworker as WELL AS a CASA volunteer), the child most likely would have stayed in that very loving home he already knew. I also didn't like the way it was 'wrapped up' so neatly with him adjusting so easily - again, personal experience. I am also a stepmother, and my DH's ex is a lot show more like Shelley - used the children for personal gain, vindictive, hateful and spiteful. I can guarantee you that she will never give up her rights like that - no matter how much she would like. In fact, most stepmothers that deal with vindictive exes have pretty much the same experience - even when mothers abandon their young (one moved to England with no visits) they still play victim and refuse to give up their rights. The hate runs too deep. I also know that the strain on the marriage would have been nearly unbearable once the baby was on the EOW schedule and the women were interacting (which would be inevitable). It would not have been so easy to just pack him off to the hospital for that first visit, and it's never that easy to just "forgive, move on and love another woman's child" - trust me. Again, the ending for this part of the book was too "neat and tidy" to align with my personal experience. show less

This volume of the Buffalo Valley series deals with Margaret Clemens and Matt Eilers. Margaret has loved Matt for years but is a rough rancher with little knowledge of her feminine side. When her father passes and she inherits is large ranch she proposes to Matt. Matt is seen by the town to be a hard working rancher but a ladies man and rather shallow. He is dating Sheryl, a beautiful conniving waitress when Margaret declares herself. Sheryl wants him to take advantage of the situation and marry Margaret for her money and then divorce her. Instead Matt breaks off with Sheryl and agrees to marry Margaret. Sheryl is not about to go away quietly. I liked this story because the hero is not heroic but does have a basic sense of honor. He show more grows tremendously through the course of the story. And Margaret who says she loves Matt and is willing to take him with his faults for better or worse, has to discover whether she really means that and live through the worse times. We also connect up with the families that are still struggling through problems from the earlier books. Very well done. show less

The final book in the Dakota Valley story about a small farming town in North Dakota. The town was dying until someone steps in and breathes hope into it again. This installment followed a couple characters that were only mentioned briefly in the second book, it was nice to see their stories developed. This book along with the other two are just good solid stories. There is nothing exotic or challenging about them just people relating and communicating with one another. These books definitely have a female perspective without being overly "syrupy sweet".

I easily became wrapped up in this small town. The people have real problems but with the help of family and friends deal with them. I ended with happy tears. Very good.

I love Debbie Macomber but I just didn't like this book or (honestly) this series very much. I felt like the main characters were either victim (her) or jerk (him). I just couldn't get past that.

third in what was originally a trilogy. Margaret has always set he cap on neighbor bad boy Matt, but everyone thinks it's a bad idea. But after her father's death leaves her a wealthy woman, she pursues and proposes to Matt. He marries her for the land and ranch, but slowly comes to love her.

Margaret Clemens, a local rancher,is thinking of marrying a cowboy who has a reputation.