Tag Archive | Twilight Texas

Book Review-The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde

Title: The Welcome Home Garden Club 
Author: Lori Wilde 
Series: Twilight Texas 
Format: Paperback 
Release Date: March 29 2011 
Publisher: Avon Books 
Pages: 371
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
ISBN: 978-0-06-198843-1
Where To Find:

Synopsis

Traditional meaning of Pink and White Roses: I love you still and always will.

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn’s world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.

Gideon had left town in the middle of night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changed since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an independent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.

He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there’s a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

My Review

Caitlyn Marsh, fell in love with Gideon Garza, but her father drove him out of town and she believed him to be dead all these years, and she has had to raise their son all on her own, still aching for Gideon and the love that they shared. But then he appears in Twilight and like a ghost she has no idea how to handle that he has been ALIVE. Gideon was born a ‘bastard’ and his father and brothers never have accepted him. He was driven out of his hometown, and joined the military, but lost something precious when a bomb exploded. When he learns that his father has died, he is summoned to Twilight, and Gideon knows this is the one way to get closure from his past so that he can move on with his future. But there is one person he doesn’t know he can ever get closure with and that is Caitlyn. When he learns that he has a son, and a chance to be with Caitylyn he is determined as ever to win her forever…no matter what it takes.

Oh my what a lovely romance this turned out to be. I know that I keep saying this every time I read Wilde’s stories, but can I just say she has to be one of my top top TOP favorite contemporary romance authors to read from, she knows how to write the best ones, and The Welcome Home Garden Club is definitely at the top of my list. I can’t believe how much I loved this one. Quite frankly I love reunion romances, especially when you have the added bonus of a child. Lori Wilde has such a beautiful way of creating truly magical stories that wraps its way around your heart and holds on forever. A beyond memorable story.

It begins with Caitlyn in Twilight, where she and other members of the “Garden Club” decide to put a carousel–the carousel that has been in her family for generations, and create a garden circling around it with a “Welcome Home” theme, so they can win a contest. Tensions are still pretty high between Caitylyn and her father, and her father, well he basically has done some awful things, but we see his side of things and how much he regrets the past and all he wants is reconciliations with his daughter, a daughter that wants nothing to do with him. I fully understood why, and I don’t blame her for her harsh feelings toward her father, because of him she has had to raise her son on her own. Then the least expected happens, the man she loved more than life and thought dead has arrived back in town, and wants her back in his life. Gideon has been serving in the military, believing he would never see Caitlyn again even though he still loves her. You see even though the last thing he wants is to stay in Twilight, learning about a son he never knew about changes everything. Gideon and Caityln have some powerful sparks and they start to reconnect.

It is definitely a emotional driven story and it had me in its tender hooks from the first few chapters. You can’t help but be captivated by the set up of the story, and add the authors storytelling ability…good luck putting this one down, you won’t regret it. What sexy fun this one was. The heat in it is pretty light, but I was in the mood for that, and I loved the focus on the building of the relationship and it had such a charming tone to it that you are captivated. Fun, Sweet and packed with everything you need for a solid romance!! UTTERLY CHARMING!

My Rating

4 Blossoms

Heat Level 

Warm

Series Order
The Sweetheart Knitting Club (1)
The True Love Quilting Club (2)
The First Love Cookie Club (3)
The Welcome Garden Club (4)
Christmas At Twilight (5)

Book Review-The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

The First Love Cookie Club
Twilight Texas (3)
Lori Wilde
Avon Books
Paperback
Publkished November 2010
370 Pages
Contemporary Holiday Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-198842-4
Authors Website 

Synopsis

“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.”

The townsfolk of Twilight, Texas, believe the legend, but not Sarah Collier—not since she was a pudgy teenager, running down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. She may be grown-up, slimmed-down, bestselling children’s book author “Sadie Cool”now, but Sarah will never forget that day. And she’ll never fall foolishly in love again!

But when a letter from a sick fan brings Sarah back to Twilight, she’s shocked to discover that Travis is the little girl’s father—unattached and hotter than ever. His smile still makes her melt, but Sarah knows that ship has sailed. Travis, however, might have different ideas.

My Review 

There is a legend among the town of Twilight, Texas, that if you sleep with kismet cookies and dream of your true love, then he will be your future. Sarah Collier, as a teenager, had known that Travis was her one true love. But when she hears that he is to married, she tries to stop the wedding, only to be rejected, now all grown up, an adult, a scrooge, but yet a author for children’s books, and is well known among children everywhere. She then receives a letter, from a sick girl, who begs to meet her, that is her Christmas wish, thinking she is going to die. So Sarah reluctantly agrees, to stay in her hometown, but what she is surprised to discover is the girl’s father is none other than Travis Walker himself. Now she knows that she is in trouble, because he is her weakness. For years Sarah has prided herself on moving on from that embarrassing moment as a teenager, and now doesn’t believe in fated love…but a building trust like her parents. But as her hearts gets wrapped up in Jazzy’s dilemma, with her suffering from what appears to be a fatal illness with no cure in sight. Will Sarah and Travis find their happy ending?

There is so much emotion that is riding on this story. I knew going into it, it would be a winner, since every book I have read from this author has been phenomenal and I have come to really admire this author’s talent in weaving a sweet and poignant romance…and lets just say that she has done it again…only this story has one more positive note…it has a holiday kick to it, with the heroine being the scrooge of the story. Now that usually doesn’t happen too often, so it was fun seeing the building up of Sarah as one of the main characters. Now in the beginning of the story, it starts us off with that teenage embarrassing moment, which I am sure that we can all relate to, however my heart just went out to Sarah. Then we skip ahead to the present, and we see Sarah all grown up, hates Christmas, and almost refuses to return to twilight until she reads Jazzy’s letter…which just about broke my heart. From the first moment we see this little girl enter the story, you just cave. You just want Jasmine to get a happy ending, and find a way to beat this illness.

The romance section of the story was pretty emotionally driven for the most part. It doesn’t really kick in for a while, it more of a dancing around each other for a while. Sarah has a lot of issues and most of them revolving around Travis, and boy does she make him work for it, and he so deserve it!! LOL I loved Travis, I really did, but there was some moments, where I wanted to just shake him and throw him out…but in a very loving way. Then there were others, where I just wanted to give him a hug, he is such a great father, and I loved the way his character was with his daughter, it was so precious and it just made me want to cry. I enjoyed seeing Travis and Sarah really come together, and work on past issues together, and it isn’t easy for either one of them, but they definitely persevere, and it was such fun seeing these two work out all the kinks.

I could tell from the beginning, that this story wouldn’t be a easy to relax into one. It would definitely be the type to put my emotions through the ringer, pull out your tissues ladies, and a pom pom and be ready to cheer this couple on, cry in those tender and heart wrenching moments, and just dance when something good happens to this darling little family. A story that is guaranteed to magically weave its way into your heart, with the magic of the season to warm you on a cold winter’s night!! SPECTACULAR!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books in Series 
The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club
The True Love Quilting Club
First Love Cookie Club
Welcome Home Garden Club
Christmas At Twilight

Book Review-The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club by Lori Wilde

The Sweethearts Knitting Club
Twilight Texas (1)
Lori Wilde
Avon Books
Paperback
Published December 2009
384 Pages
Acquired: Library
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-180889-0
Authors Website 

Synopsis

“Throw a penny in the fountain of the Twilight town square, and you’ll be married to your first love . . . “

For ten years, pretty Flynn MacGregor has been turning down the same solid, upright man’s marriage proposal. Her friends at the Sweethearts’ Knitting Club tell her they’re a match made in heaven, but Flynn knows there’s only one dangerous reason why she keeps saying no: high school sweetheart Jesse Calloway. She was just sixteen when Jesse was forced out of town under a cloud of suspicion . . . but he’s never left her heart.

Now Jesse is back, and every time she turns the corner he’s there—gazing at her with his smoldering eyes and tempting her with his kisses. Jesse has never played by the rules, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to now. And Flynn, who’s always done just what her family, friends, and fellow knitters have told her to do, must finally break free and claim the love that binds Jesse to her heart.

My Review

Jesse Calloway, has spent the past ten years in prison, for a crime he didn’t commit. When he saved a kid and prevented a prison riot, he was granted release two years early. Jesse already has a plan…go back and and get justice, and the find the one woman who has always held his heart…Flynn MacGregor. Flynn, has always had a secret love for Jesse, but has never had hope to make a future with him. She has just accepted the proposal of the chief of police, one who she has dated since high school. Everyone seems to think they are perfect for each other. Flynn is determined to set up a ‘yarn barn’ in memory of her mother, she is part of the Sweethearts Knitting Club, even though she feels like a liar and not worthy of that title and belonging to that club. For one she can’t knit worth a darn, but has tried most of her life and still can’t even do one proper stitch. When she bumps into Jesse after ten years, she is overwhelmed with feelings of desire and love she has always held for him. But she is engaged, and her commitment is to him. But when Jesse starts to romance her again, and show her the woman she truly is, how to get wild and crazy and have fun with life….she begins to realize she will have to decide between being proper and marrying a man with prestige and a good name in the community or choose a man who knows her inside and out and sees the true Flynn…who will she decide to be the man she does marry?

Ever since last year when I was introduce to Lori Wilde a couple years ago, I was hooked on her stories. She is one of those authors, that got me addicted to Contemporary romances again. For quite some time I just couldn’t sink my teeth into this genre for a while, I was really into historical and paranormal (and I still am just added another sub genre I am beginning to love again). So when I was introduced into the series when I read Christmas At Twilight, so I was very intrigued with the setting of Twilight Texas, and wanted more. So I picked this one up at the library, and definitely couldn’t get enough.

This story is a bit of a triangle romance but not really. Its more about a young woman who loves two men, but one is unavailable at the time, and the other proposes and she feels he is safe. But right after she accepts that proposal where she hesitated agreeing too…her high school sweetheart comes strolling back into her life, and is fighting for a chance with her. The man she is engaged to is really the villain of the story, and that is evident from the start. His character always seemed to perfect but Jesse…now that is one sexy hero. He has a bad reputation, grew up around drugs and made mistakes. Then he comes to Twilight as a teen and meets Flynn who changes his life. He was such a great character to get to know. Even though he has this bad boy image, he is anything but a sweet and kind man that only wants justice and to get his girl. (oh sigh) he was lovely, and sexy in every way. The kind that is swoon worthy. Flynn could have had more backbone, her character was a bit flawed in some ways I liked but in others I couldn’t stand.  I felt like she could have fought more for Jesse, especially when she knows he needs it. And Jesse won’t take it, he will fight for her, but demands the same. It is the wake up call Flynn needs to realize what is really important. Then we see her get her backbone…and then she becomes a great heroine instead of average.

This story was pretty intense…as in the way the story line turns out. Its the type of story that is pure intense in the love story, and really puts you at the edge of your seat needing to know what happens next. It was quite a adventure seeing these two characters really find their happy ending, and after finishing it…I knew I couldn’t wait to get the second book of the series. There was such satisfaction in reading a romance that puts you on edge, stimulates the senses, intrigues you with each sensual scene and gives you a romance worth reading…GUARANTEED!! A HEART STOPPER!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series
The True Love Quilting Club
First Love Cookie Club
Welcome Home Garden Club
Valentines Day Disaster
Christmas At Twilight

ARC Book Review-Christmas At Twilight by Lori Wilde

Christmas At Twilight
Twilight Texas (5)
Lori Wilde
Avon Books
E Book
Published October 2014
400 Pages
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780062310255
Authors Website

Synopsis
It’s Christmas in Twilight, Texas. The Cookie Club is baking, the town is decorated, and Delta Force Operator “Hutch” Hutchinson has finally, reluctantly, returned home . . .

. . . only to get pepper sprayed by the delicious- looking stranger who’s taken over his house. She says her name is Jane, and she immediately sets down ground rules. Top priority: no touching. For Hutch that isn’t easy—he was wounded in action, but one part is still working very well.

Then Hutch learns the truth. Jane harbors a frightening secret—she’s really Meredith Sommers, on the run from a dangerous ex-husband and desperately in need of the safety Hutch can provide. In that moment, he vows he’d do anything in his power to protect her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer the past and overcome any obstacle—but what price will they pay?

My Review

Meredith Summers, is on the run, she has changed her name to “Jane”, always looking over her shoulder for her abusive ex husband, and she will protect her son at any cost. Meredith has felt more contentment in Twilight, Texas than she has anywhere else. When she comes home one day, she finds a stranger there, and sprays him with pepper spray, not realizing that he is her roommate’s brother. Hutch, has just been discharge from the military. Hutch worked for the Black Ops, and was the “best of the best”. Then he got injured, lost a finger, and got damage to his throat, and now can’t speak. He decides to return home to Twilight, only to get sprayed with very potent pepper spray, and despite being injured he feels a attraction to his “attacker”, young Meredith with her son. As Christmas draws closer, so does Meredith and Hutch. At first they form a friendship, but there is sizzling chemistry between them. And Meredith knows it is only a matter of time that she will have to be on the run again, can Hutch convince her that they are worth taking a stand and fighting for?

Christmas At Twilight, was quite a wonderful romance.  It is the fifth in the Twilight Texas Series. I have read most of her other books, but I have yet to read this one. Now despite the fact that it is the fifth book, you can definitely read it as a stand alone. I a curious to read the previous books and see how they connect with this one. Christmas At Twilight is such a tender and poignant romance, and there were many times, I felt such a kinship to the characters, and there was so much emotion that seemed to jump out from the pages, and due to the circumstances of the story line…it definitely keeps the reader on edge at times.

The characters in the story, were so unique and life changing. I had no issue with any aspect of the characters…both the hero and heroine I fell in love with. The hero, Hutch, well he is one sexy male, even without working voice. He definitely knows how to convey his feelings…especially sensuality with just one searing look…I practically felt it to my toes. One of the things that I adore about Lori Wilde, is her ability to convey each emotion and feeling to the reader…there was such a vitality to the story and especially in connection to the characters. Now the heroine…such is one complicated character. After you finish the story, you really come to respect her strength and determination to make a life for herself, even on the run. She loves her son, and has enough respect for herself to leave a man that would treat her with cruelty and abuse. There was such a fierce tone to the story that keeps you reader and what a page turner this one was. Now the kids…oh the kids…oh adorable they were. We have Meredith’s son, and then we have Hutch’s niece, and they were so precious and just made me want kids.

A beautifully written Christmas romance that will tug at your heart strings, and bring that sweet Christmas spirit to your heart! A story to keep you engaged, with sensuality and deep characters, an intriguing and suspenseful plot, expertly crafted to captive you!!! A WINNER OF A ROMANCE!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 

Warm

Other Books In Series 
The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club
The True Love Quilting Club
First Love Cookie Club
Welcome Home Garden Club