Texas Sweetie Engineers a Big Adventure
920726
Hetti is a wise-cracking red headed engineer who plans to take her yacht to a quick consulting job in Baja Mexico, but finds dangerous foes ashore and afloat. Getting had me laughing out loud and swiping pages faster and faster. Yacht fans or wannabes will find the nautical details fascinating and accurate. Bravo!
1065992
This book is packed with many photos and delightful stories of touring a number of neighborhoods in pretty little Galveston, Texas. Walking tours (with a little driving included) are given step-by-step through this historical city along with notes on architects, builders and owners, past and present,  of particular buildings and homes in this city of rich architecturally significant structures. The author Jan Johnson has certainly done her homework and presents a delightful read!
2889475
Really entertaining read! Harlin weaves a wonderful yarn across Texas exploring back roads and highways. While giving the reader a taste of the Iives of some true Texas characters. I highly recommend this book!
1273279
I loved Houston from the moment he went to get Dallas's mail order bride and did not think I would love Dallas at all.  Boy, was I surprised!  Dallas turned out to be a beautiful person especially with his new bride and the little boy they eventually adopted.  I was glad Houston and his wife appeared regularly in Splendor.  I have both books in hardcover and read both last year but the book I really want now is the third book of the trilogy about Austin. I was told by a clerk at Borders bookstore that the book is now out of print but I could get the book for seventeen dollars at some warehouse.  I didn't just fall off the turnip truck baby.  I need to know the name of the book about Austin and where I can get the book at a reasonable price.  Lorraine Heath,  you are a beautiful  writer and I will always buy your books.  Thanks and keep the books coming. Toni
2240222
Was so interesting I could hardly put it down. I love this kind of writing about adventures in early Texas. These gentlemen paved the way for all the people who now enjoy the Great state of Texas.
3168534
This was such a darling story (hehe) it really was with a lot of spunk. Julia Darling lives in Salt Lake City, and is engaged to a man she is coming to find out she does not love. She finally gets up the nerve to call it off and at the same time answers and add for a cook in Wyoming. She meets her boss Mr. Otto, and the ranch hands, they are all a little surprised at their new cook. From here there is one adventure after another on the cattle ranch. Whether with the the ranch hands, stock, weather, or matters of the heart concerning Julia and Mr. Otto.
Julia was such a wonderful character, she is out there in the middle of no-where Wyoming in an environment completely different from the way she was raised. She does amazingly well! She is trying to figure out who she is and what she believes in and why. She is also smitten with her boss Mr. Otto. She has some wonderful disasters with cooking moments that were quite funny. She is very determined, witty, spunky, has a big heart, and is very kind, and flawed. Mr. Otto I think is wondering what he got himself into, and sure glad he did. He is a quite giant, has integrity, solid, no nonsense, intimidating, and under it all gentle and kind. He is one of those hero's you just love to pieces! There are several secondary characters with all the ranch hands and friends that are just as wonderful, and I came to love them all. I loved the romance it is nice and slow, which is nice we get to see them become friends and trust each other first. This story is so well rounded and interesting, kept me glued to the pages and wanting more. The writing seems effortless and flows wonderfully. I can't wait to read her next Enduring Light.

Clean language
Clean romance
532219
Sara Howard tells the tale of a young engineer's first job; but a job that created HISTORY!  Working on the Main (first) stage of the missile that launched our astronauts to another planet, Sara brings us along as she discovers what it is like to join a huge workforce dedicated to one of the greatest achievements of the modern era.

Walk through the huge plant in Louisiana that holds the biggest, most complicated device ever created by man, and learn about the red velvet couches in the lady's room.  Be dispatched on an important mission to the far reaches of the construction floor - just to get the attention of the competition.

This is, in some ways, a book for young ladies who may need a nudge toward a technical career.  YOU CAN do it.  Sara did it!

Finally, enjoy reading about life in southern Louisiana - the people, the food, the weather, the crawfish.

THIS IS A FUN READ.
312030
This is a riveting, funny, thoughtful, happy and clever documentary about some crazy people in Texas standing around waiting to take home a Nisson, Hard Body truck.  The idea seems crazy at first and the contestants more  than somewhat loopy, but I was quickly won over by the insiteful comments  and commitment of each of the participants in the contest, who have every  variety of reasons to put themselves through this insane mental and  physical test.  It makes for exciting TV
2721913
This is another fast-moving visit to Bramble, Texas.  But this time, some serious issues are hidden under all that fun as a mismatched couple work out a lifetime of misunderstandings.  I think I enjoyed this one even more the first!  And the steamy scenes are HOT!
1291466
This is an oversized book with pictorial boards and matching dust jacket and pictorial endpapers. The story is more lenghty than I thought it would be and you might have to read it to any child below 1st grade level reading. The illustrations are different than most though and they will enjoy those.  When Estrella Rivera is born into the world there is nothing to suggest that she would soon become the blazing hero of the California Gold Rush at age 10. As soon as she was able to stand she began running. She ran faster and faster and soon was leaving a blaze of flame behind her.  When she was 10, she also came up with another skill. The animals loved her and any animal that was hurt made it's way to Primo's Rancho. Even the most fearful beast could be tamed by Estrella.  First to arrive was a baby Kicle Snifter with a sore throat. Kicle was small as a lamb but stronger than an elephant and could kick boulders into the air as easy as a ballon and make the earth shake. Estrella's mama said the critter had to go after it had kicked all her heavy iron cook pans onto the roof. But no one could get it to leave so the ranch hands finally built it a coral from Whitewood logs. Next came Sidehill Wowser with a broken leg. Wowsers can climb hills but can't seem to stand straight on solid ground. So Estrella built it a hill (after it also refused to go). Then in flew a rubberado (dog) who sounded like a dog but could bounce off roofs. She named it Comet because it was so fast. Mama allowed it to stay only because it's main food was rocks and the family needed rocks out of the wheat fields.  Then one day her 3 pets came up missing and she ran all the way to San Francisco looking for them (80 miles). They aren't there so she keeps running north and comes upon the wagon trains heading for the gold mines in hopes of striking it rich. The wagons are being pulled by ants (yes, indeedy in this book 6 or 7 half grown California ants could pull a stagecoach). But the wagon line is stalled so she rushes ahead to find out the problem after she spots her pets footprints in the ground. Someone finally told her about a town called Luckless Gulch where there were a lot of earthquakes and snowstorms (and it's only August). Estrella thought this might be where her pets were taken so off she runs again. She gets to the town to find all the people frozen in position and there are lights in the windows like from a flame but no smoke from the chimneys. She finally finds one old man only partially frozen who tells her ghosts have taken over the town and every creature (human and animal) froze at the sight. Even the moon froze in fright which is why the town has been in darkness for 2 weeks. Estrella is a fearless child though and goes after the ghosts and takes them on in a most unusual way (I don't want to give away the ending.). Soon she has her pets free and rushes home in time for supper! The Gold Rush is back on and the Whitewoods have turned into the Redwoods that we now know. As you can see there is a big fantasy element in story but it is delightful and the kids will love it. 45 pages.
3843027
Danger, love, family, a little sex, and many wonderful characters drive this delightful novel.  I really enjoyed the humorous romantic suspense plot, but the best thing about this novel is the way Ms Everett brings her characters to life with just a few thoughts and expressions that make them so real.  Having spent many summer days in west Texas, I can relate to some of the delightful expressions in this book, but I have never before heard a kiss described as "an uptown route to downtown business".

Although it is the characters that make this book so successful and unique, the story is well plotted.  I could not figure out who the villain was, even though I probably should have and usually do.  The paranormal touch is not heavily played but it does add a little spice to the small Texas town.

It is a strange word but I keep thinking this book is smoothly written.  Good pacing, appropriate shifts, good editing, excellent story, and a handsome Texas Ranger.  OK, maybe the Ranger wasn't why it was smooth, just another reason I enjoyed the book so much.  I look forward to the next one coming out in September.  Good Reading.
2736852
A real page turner.  I have family in Texas and have recommended this to them.  Allows reader to experience the Tex-mex border in the 1880s-1890s where self reliance, friendships, lawlessness and tough weather conditions fashioned a culture to tough men and women.  This is a vignette of this culture that readers will enjoy and has good character developmen. This is a sequel to The Hardest Ride and expands a this story's main characters.  I would recommend reading the Hardest Ride first.
1664149
What a fun jaunt through Texas. The hero was so quintessential Texan and the female lead in the story so anti anything Texas, that it was a fun read. There were so many personalities to choose as to the deceased person, that I am still not sure which of our eccentric women he decided on.

The only reason I did not give the book a five star-the switch between first and third person narrative. It is too distracting.

(I received a copy of this book for a review.)
3640791
I spent a few days recently roaming around Austin, and I didn't pull my car out of the driveway. I poured a glass of lemonade, slid into my reading chair andoff to Austin. All over Austin with some new gal pals courtesy of authors George Arnold and Ken Squier.
 We started off with an escapade at H-E-B in Oak Hill, then zoomed up Mo-Pac out to Great Hills; that was the beginning of my escapades with my new old-lady friends. Its okay to call them thatafter all, this transporting book is named Adventures of the Church Lady Gang: A Conspiracy of Crones.  The ladies live up to their namethey certainly have adventures and like true church ladies, they do good. But they do their good in such distinctive (and questionably legal) ways that they quickly involve the Austin Police Department.
 Enter Detective Sergeant Craig Rylander and his wife-advisor Amy Clark-Rylander. The Rylanders may be familiar to many readers. This book is the fourth in a series crafted by Texas writers (and lifelong friends) Arnold and Squier. Its the first for me, but my to-read list just got longer by three. I like their story, and I like their style.
 The shifting point of view lets the reader know whats going on with every one of the many actors. A list of characters helped me keep up and the handy map let me know where I was. Many thanks for this, I wish more authors did it. The story has an almost-satisfying resolution. I have just a few questions left.
 Good news! A new Rylander book is on the horizon CLUSTER: Beyond Alchemy will be out soon; maybe those questions will be answered. I hope some of the church crones make it into the story. I do wonder what that gang will be up to next.
This book will be a great welcome-to-Austin gift to new residents. They can learn the territory while they wonder what kind of weird place they're calling home.
1555289
"Sometimes you've got to get a machete and hack your way through the kudzu to make your own path in life."

ONE TEXAS COWBOY TOO MANY by Carolyn Brown is a sexy romp returning fans of the series back to Burnt Boot, Texas where the Gallagher/Brennan family feud has escalated into territories previously unimagined. This installment is the story of good girl schoolteacher Leah Brennan and green-eyed, tattooed, long-haired, mouth-watering rancher Rhett O'Donnell.

Leah and Rhett shined as our hero and heroine. Rhett roared into the small western town on his cycle sporting a set of impressive steer horns on its handlebars. You'd better believe that there's a story behind those horns... but don't expect to hear it until after you've survived a third date with its dangerous, hot rider.

Leah had been crushing on Tanner Gallagher for as long as she could remember. Being a Brennan, a Gallagher was off-limits to her. But, as the two families' feud literally explodes into uncharted territory, Leah finds herself on Tanner's radar just as she starts questioning her attraction to him in light of the raw chemistry that's sparking between her and another forbidden guy, Rhett. Mavis, her grandmother and the matriarch of the Brennan's, isn't budging on her strict refusal to consider Rhett as a possible beau for Leah. No one expects Leah to buck Mavis' rules, but that's exactly what Leah does creating a mini-feud within the Brennan's.

Rhett's and Leah's romance is a sure-fire standout alternating between sweet and hot. Even though the title implies a love triangle, there's no real competition once Rhett and Leah set their eyes on each other. Their romance is self-contained within this book. However, this series is best read in order as the feud's wonkiness would not play well as a standalone.

Supporting characters included favorite characters from the previous books. It's an added treat to catch up with them.

This series is lighthearted and whimsical. It's a fun read and not meant to be taken seriously. You can expect an action-packed, fast-paced, sexy tale with a generous dose of laugh-out-loud silliness. There's a plethora of drama - but not in the romance dept - the theatricals are concentrated between the wonky feuding families. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys highly entertaining sassy romances featuring sex-on-a-stick cowboys.

My full review will be posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there.

4 Wine Glasses!
424045
I love being swept along by a story and its characters. Magnolia City did just that, while offering a delicious taste of Texas during those crazy years of wildcat oil drilling and Prohibition. Hetty makes a fine and scrappy heroine - wouldn't we all like to be that tenacious... Good for her, and good for the author for inviting us along on such a twisty, bumpy, but ultimately satisfying journey. What's next?
3101462
I loved this story.  I could not put it down.  I loved the quirky characters and vivid and realistic portrayal of the life and land in Texas during the 1870's.  I love books like this that add real technical detail, simliar to a Tom Clancy novel. In this case the authors description of authentic firearms of the period as well as other details.