Book Review-True Love At Silver Creek Ranch by Emma Cane

True Love At Silver Creek Ranch
Valentine Valley (2)
Emma Cane
Avon Books
Paperback
Published January 2013
352 Pages
Acquired: Library Borrowed
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-210229-4
Authors Website

Synopsis 
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .

Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows’ Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam’s arms, she’s shocked to discover she may just want more.

Adam knows it’s crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?

Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!

My Review (Warning: May Contain Spoilers)

Adam Desantis, grew up in Valentine Valley, played football in high school, and was a bad boy at times. At eighteen years old, he joined the marines, and now he is back, visiting his grandmother whom he believes has health problems. Brooke Thalberg, sees Adam again, when he helps her save horses from a barn fire, and her family offers him a job on the ranch. Brooke finds Adam delicious, but has no interest in a relationship. But when Brook and Adam share a passionate embrace, she can’t resist the sparks that fly between them. So they agree to have a “secret” relationship, one that they keep from everyone, especially her family and closest friends. Brooke feels more alive than ever, and Adam coming back from battle scars, finds himself healing from the past and looking forward to the future. But Adam wants more than a few secret nights making love before the fire, he wants a future because he has fallen hard for Brooke…can he convince her to take a leap of faith?

True Love At Silver Creek Ranch is the second installment in the Valentine Valley series. Last year I was able to discover this author, and each time I read her….I am always impressed, and this installment is no different. There is so much in her books….that just satisfy every romantic urge in me when I am reading a romance novel. She always come out on top for me…which is rare for a contemporary romance…not many authors in this genre can do it for me like Emma Cane can. This story I have been wanting to read for quite sometime. I have seen this couple in some of the later books of the series, and I have been anxiously waiting for a chance to read this. So I just couldn’t contain my excitement when I was able to grab this from the library shelves.

The story begins when there is a barn on fire, and horses inside, and Brooke being the only one home at the ranch, knows its up to her…but there is a strange man she runs into that beats her to it….sexy Adam Desantis. From that first moment of meeting, we see some sexual tension between the two. At first they do this whole flirting dance with each other, until well one moment they are talking, and Adam shoves Brooke against the wall and kisses the hell out of her….tingles…one of my favorite parts of the books. I do love a man that goes after what he wants. We also see some other aspects of the story, involvement of the old biddies of the town, in defense of a lingerie shop….I never get enough of these ladies, makes me wish this place was real and I could live there!!

This story is such a warm and tender romance that pulled at my heartstrings!! The characters were fiery and passionate, and full of enough zest to appeal to any reader. A story that is guaranteed to warm you on a cold winters night and watch out for the ending…it might bring a tear to your eye and leave a smile on your face!! CHARM IN EVERY CHAPTER!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
A Wedding in Valentine
The Cowboy At Valentine Valley
A Promise At Blue Bell Hill
A Town Called Valentine
When The Rancher Came To Town
Sleight Bells In Valentine Valley
Ever After At Sweetheart Ranch

ARC Book Review-When The Rancher Came To Town by Emma Cane

When The Rancher Came To Town
Valentine Valley (4.5)
Emma Cane
Avon
E Book
Published September 23 2014
100 Pages
Acquired: Edelweiss
ASIN: B00JZOX5DQ
Authors Website 

Synopsis
Welcome to Valentine Valley!

The Silver Creek Rodeo is in full swing, and everyone’s talking about the rancher who came to town…

Bed-and-breakfast owner Amanda Cramer wants nothing more than a quiet, private life. Well, she wants guests too, but after suffering her share of unwanted notoriety, she’s gotten comfortable hiding out in her inn . . . perhaps a little too comfortable. When her newest customer arrives—tall, dark, and breathtaking—Amanda begins to question her self-imposed exile.

Ex-rodeo star Mason Lopez knows all about the limelight. He’d avoid it if he could, but since one last ride could mean saving his family’s ranch, he’ll go all in. When he gets to Valentine Valley for the Silver Creek Rodeo, Mason checks into the Connections B&B and finds himself immediately drawn to the beautiful, reserved woman who owns it.

Mason has only three days in town . . . can he convince Amanda to open her heart to him and welcome the world back in?

My Review

I received a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review, thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss. 

When The Rancher Came To Town is a charming and sweet novella, that takes place between books “A Promise at Bluebell Hill” and “Sleigh Bells In Valentine Valley”. It only consists of 100 pages, so a short love story, but what a lovely one it was. I read this in just half a hour this morning. What a great way to start my day. Its a story a a cowboy, who is looking for sponsors to help out their ranch and is about to participate in the local rodeo, and boy can that man ride a bull. The heroine of the story, Amanda, suffers from fear of crowds, due to a past experience that still haunts her. She keeps to herself and doesn’t like being around reporters, but when she starts to fall in love with Mason, he helps her believe in herself again and realize that inner strength was always there. I loved having Mason and Amanda as a couple, they really complimented each other pretty well, and I loved the small town setting and seeing their romance blossom despite the old ladies (who will make you laugh). Overall this is a great addition to the Valentine Valley series, and full of witty humor, charming characters and a sweet and lovable story to warm your heart. WELL DONE EMMA CANE!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
A Town Called Valentine
A Wedding in Valentine
True Love At Silver Creek Ranch
The Cowboy At Valentine Valley
A Promise At Blue Bell Hill
Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley
Ever After At Sweetheart Ranch (Coming out 2015!! YAY!!)

ARC Book Review-Sleigh Bells In Valentine Valley by Emma Cane

Sleigh Bells In Valentine Valley
Valentine Valley (5)
Emma Cane
Avon Books
E Book
Published October 2014
368 Pages
Contemporary Romance
ISBN:  9780062323415
Authors Website 

Synopsis
Return to Valentine Valley, where Christmas lights are twinkling and first love burns brighter the second time around…

When Tony De Luca’s ex, Kate Fenelli, waltzes through the door of his tavern and pulls up a bar stool, she turns his balanced world on end. Once they’d been each other’s first love, first everything. But then life happened, and they walked away with broken hearts. Now Kate is back in Valentine, and they can’t seem to stay out of each other’s way. When Tony begins wondering what would happen if they rekindled the sparks, he knows he’s in big trouble.

Kate can’t believe she’s sitting at Tony’s bar spilling her life-changing problems to him. He’s as gorgeous as ever, and she can’t seem to forget how incredible he always made her feel. Still, the door on that chapter of their lives closed long ago. Yet with Christmas buzzing in the air, Kate can’t help wondering if anything is possible—even a second chance with the only man she’s ever loved.

My Review

When Tony’s ex wife, Kate, comes into town, he is blown away, Valentine is the last place he would ever expect her to be. Then when she starts to share everything that’s on her mind, and the reason she is here, he still can’t believe it. They have been divorced for nine years, and share a son. Tony has never been able to fully get over Kate, but having her choose her career over him was hard to swallow, when they stopped talking to each other, he knew it was a matter of time before they would grow to resent each other. So they ended it, and it was a mutual agreement, but there is a still a part of him that loves her. Kate always has been driven and goal oriented, and she worked hard to work for a big city law firm. But when she questions her bosses, that may put the health and welfare of the public at risk, they send her on a two month sabbatical. At first Kate has no idea what to do with herself, then she finds herself working at Tony’s bar and grill. After years of conversing for their son, they develop a friendship of sorts, but then they decide to have a sexual relationship until she leaves, they have always been able to have a fire burn between them. But Kate will have to decide if the love she has always had for Tony will be enough, or should she return to her lonely big city life and lose the man she has only loved…again.

Sleigh Bells In Valentine Valley, is a heartwarming holiday romance that warms you from head to toe. This is a reconciliation story, which is always fun to have. It has been a while since I have read a story that the characters are a bit older, and have a teenage son. But I really enjoyed this from the first chapter and it starts right off with Kate entering Tony’s bar and spilling out all of her problems to him. He is a bartender so it is part of his job description, but have his ex wife , where they barely speak until it concerns Ethan, is what really shocks Tony. This story was such fun and it does put the reader through a emotional ringer…that’s for sure. You never know what is going to happen next with these two. At the beginning of the story, things are tense between them, but the longer Kate stays, the more comfortable and  at ease they are with each other. I also liked seeing Ethan a major aspect of the story, normal teenage boy, wanting a smart phone, snowboarding with his friends, and doesn’t share everything with his parents. It was a unique take on parenting in this one, and seeing the child a bit older. It was also fun seeing characters from previous books involved in the story line, and added a certain depth to the story that made it seem that much more real.

Overall I couldn’t help but fall for the magic of Valentine Valley once again. A must read for lovers of contemporary romance, a tale of renewing, learning to love again, and a passion that never dies!! REMARKABLY WELL WRITTEN!!

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
A Wedding in Valentine
True Love At Silver Creek Ranch
The Cowboy At Valentine Valley
A Promise At Blue Bell Hill
A Town Called Valentine

ARC Book Review-A Promise At BlueBell Hill

A Promise At Bluebell Hill
Valentine Valley (4)
Emma Cane
Avon Books
E Book
Published February 2014
384 Pages
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06224253-2
Authors Website

Synopsis 
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where romance blooms and love captivates even the most guarded of hearts . . .

From the moment Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont strides into the town and through the door of Monica Shaw’s flower shop, she feels a sizzle of attraction. After years of putting everyone else’s needs first, Monica is ready to grab hold of life. If she can just persuade the ultimate protector to let his own walls down for once . . .

The President’s son is getting married in Valentine Valley, and Travis should be avoiding all distractions . . . not fantasizing about a forthright, sexy-as-hell florist. Especially when she’s keeping secrets that could jeopardize his assignment. But just this once, Travis is tempted to put down the rulebook and follow his heart—right to Monica’s door.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and in Valentine Valley, love will always find you.

My Review 

Received a copy of ARC in return of a honest review. 

Monica Shaw runs a flower shop, and unlike her twin sister, doesn’t need the glamour of the city lights to satisfy her, all she needs is her small town home and the charming people that live within its boundaries. A stranger comes into town, acting strange but she feels a attraction to him that she doesn’t fully understand. Travis Beaumont is a secret service agent, and with the President’s son having his wedding in Valentine, its his job to prepare for her arrival, even with the beautiful distraction of Monica Shaw. Travis has his own past and has served in the military for years, and has always wanted a command. But when he meets Monica his perspective on his life changes. He starts to see that the little things in life matter just as much as the big ones. When a tender love starts to blossom between these two Travis will have to make a choice his job and career as a secret service agent, one he has dedicated his whole life to or choosing the love he has for Monica and sharing his life with her….

A Promise At Bluebell Hill is the most recent addiction to the Valentine Valley series. This latest installment just might be my favorite one so far. Its a charming and emotional driven romance that completely won me over from the first chapter. In the beginning you start to see how sparks fly between these two even though both of them don’t see a future together. As the time of the wedding day draws closer though, Monica and Travis’s bond to each other only becomes that much stronger, and its almost heartbreaking watching them struggle with finding their HEA. Of course I knew it had to happen, but you wonder how it does and it does happen in such a delightful way. One of my favorite aspects of this story was trying to find out the way they make a future together. I could barely put this one down, I was so intrigued by their dilemma and wondering how these two would make it work.

From beginning to end this author totally enthralls the reader with a beautiful love story that will win your heart! SENSATIONAL!!

My Grade 
4 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

ARC Book Review-The Cowboy of Valentine Valley

The Cowboy of Valentine Valley
Valentine Valley (3)
Emma Cane
Avon Books
E Book
Published January 28 2014
384 Pages
Contemporary Western Romance
ISBN:  9780062242525
Authors Website

Synopsis
Ever since a heated late-night kiss—that absolutely should not have happened—cowboy Josh Thalberg makes former Hollywood bad girl Whitney Winslow’s pulse beat faster. But when she decides to use his gorgeous leatherwork in her new upscale lingerie shop, Leather & Lace, she’s determined to keep their relationship strictly professional . . . even if she wants so much more.

Josh has never met a challenge he isn’t up for. Which is probably why he allowed Whitney to persuade him to take the sexy publicity photo that went viral—and now has every woman in America knocking down his door . . . every woman except the one he can’t get out of his head.

But how to convince a reformed bad girl that some rules are worth breaking?

My Review

The Cowboy of Valentine Valley is the third installment of the Valentine Valley series. Now this is a new author for me, and I am really starting to like her writing. I tend to be picky about contemporaries, but throw a sexy cowboy in the mix, and I am hooked. Although after reading this one, made me wish I had read the second book. I wasn’t too lost but as I was reading this story, I felt like it would be a advantage to read this series in order.  However despite all that, I found this story to be quite a stirring read. It definitely has quite a bit of displayed emotion that sets the reader on edge. It was interesting seeing this couple together. They both have come from totally opposite sides of the tracks. Whitney, is from a high class family, with plenty of wealth. But she is far from being a snob. She ends up creating her own business and is now setting up the third location in Valentine Valley. Josh is quite a busy bee, having his days filled with business on the ranch and working with leather and other talents. Josh and Whitney keep ending up together, and we see the beginning of a slow courtship.

The first half of the book does start out slow, so it does take a little while to get fully immersed into the story. But I felt once the plot picked up paced a bit, that’s when it starts to really get interesting. Of course I don’t wish to spoil the story for those that haven’t read it, but I really love the turn of events when Whitney’s family comes to visit, and boy do tensions rise. complications interfere with the pleasant and comfortable relationship that Whitney and Josh have going on. Now there are some battles they both have to face if they wish for a HEA for each other and themselves. The characters in the story are easy to love and very warm and inviting to the reader. They don’t 100% capture the heart, but I found myself being captivated by the beautiful bond that Whitney and Josh have.

In this story, we see that no matter the background, that two people can make a relationship work, even if its a bit bumpy and rocky. There is such a free spirited feeling to this story that is woven in such a way, it will steal your heart!

My Grade
4 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
A Town Called Valentine
A Wedding in Valentine
True Love At Silver Creek Ranch
A Promise At Blue Bell Hill

Book Review-A Town Called Valentine

A Town Called Valentine
Valentine Valley (1)
Emma Cane
Avon Books
Paperback
Published  February 2012
372 Pages
Contemporary Western
ISBN: 978-0-06-210227-0
Authors Website

Synopsis
Welcome to Valentine Valley—where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . .

Emily Murphy never thought she’d return to her mom’s rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . .

Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town—he’s no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she’s only there to sell her family’s old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily’s perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine

My Review
Emily has just recovered barely from a bitter divorce, and has come to the small town Valentine to sell her mothers restaurant, when she encounters a sexy cowboy who makes her head spin with his kisses. Emily’s plan is to fix the place enough to sell, then go to San Francisco to go back to college. Nate is a rancher, and his life is full of taking care of his responsibilities. When he sees a beautiful young woman, he is intrigued when they share a passionate encounter that makes him forget everything but having her in his arms. As Nate starts to help Emily repair her mothers restaurant, they start to build a friendship which slowly turns into something more than either of them imagined. Soon Emily will have to make a choice a life in the big city where she knows no one, or a life in Valentine Valley with a man who loves her?

A Town Called Valentine is the first in the series. I have seen this author pop up quite a bit lately, and since I am a fan of Avon romances, I decided to pick this one up at the library. I do love the sweet contemporary westerns, and this one fit the bill 100%!! I had read some mixed reviews, so I was a bit nervous to read this one, and now that I have read it, I definitely need the other books in the series. I fell in love with this story. It has a fun beginning, with Emily coming into a bar for a bit to eat when she first arrives, where her car breaks down. Nate challenges her to a game of pool in the back and the bet is a kiss, and then Nate keeps popping up helping her out when she needs him. Thus begins a sweet and slow courtship. There is also a bit of a mystery involved when Emily learns that her birth father may be in town but she has no idea who he is. Plus with some involvement of some elderly ladies, one who is Nate’s grandmother, who think of themselves as matchmakers, adds to the mix of this charming romance.

The characters were lively and fun and very endearing. They captured my heart from the beginning. Nate is a heart melting cowboy whose smile makes you want to melt. I loved him as the hero. Nate is a helper, and is very involved in the community. I loved him as a “Good Boy” even though he does have a bit of a daredevil side to him. He loves risk. He doesn’t settle for any woman, and has the record of never dating a woman longer than 10 dates. Emily is a woman that has been hurt by her ex, and all she wants is to have children, even if she has to adopt. She is very independent, and I loved seeing how she starts from letting no one help her out, to building close bonds to the Valentine Valley, even though she tries to close herself off from doing so. The side characters definitely were lively and fun. I liked how they added the extra spice to the story.

This story is charming and a classic contemporary western that warms you from your head to toes. A captivating romance that is impossible to put down, with heart endearing characters, fun engaging plot, a dialogue to capture your attention,  and a sweet tale that will make you believe in finding the happily ever after when you least expect it. A FAVORITE OF WESTERN ROMANCE!!!

My Grade
4.5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
A Wedding in Valentine
True Love At Silver Creek Ranch
The Cowboy At Valentine Valley
A Promise At Blue Bell Hill