The Rebel's Return - Nadine Gonzalez (HD #2857 - Mar 2022)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 5)
 
An asset to his business…             
Or a danger to his heart?
 
Only moments after a mysterious outsider catches hotelier Rafael Wentworth's eye at the Texas Cattleman's Club, he saves her from catastrophe. Their subsequent steamy night together leaves the recently returned black sheep of Royal's illustrious Wentworth family craving more. In town to find her nephew's father, Eve Martin needs a job, and Rafael is only too glad to help…and indulge their hotter-than-Texas chemistry. But Eve's priorities are clear, and the perennial playboy has no plans to settle down. Maybe ever. Is he playing with fire? Definitely…
 
Good book. Rafe has returned to Royal for the first time since he left at seventeen. The son of a wealthy rancher, he and his father have had a strained relationship. Rafe is a self-made man, wealthy in his own right, and the owner of two high-end hotel properties in Florida. Taking advantage of his return to Royal, he plans a new property there. Thanks to his experiences, Rafe has no plans to become a family man and keeps his relationships short and superficial. As the story opens, he arrives at the Cattleman's Club to make some connections at the current event, then leave as soon as possible. His plans are derailed when he spots a woman in red at the champagne tower and is immediately drawn to her.
 
Eve is the sister of Arielle, the woman who died shortly after giving birth to a son. She never told Eve who the boy's father was, and when circumstances made it impossible for Eve to take care of him, she came to Royal looking for Micah's father. All she has is a clue from Arielle's diary - he's a member of the TCC. A health crisis for Eve put the baby in the care of Cammie Wentworth, where he has remained during Eve's illness and recovery. Eve is determined to get well enough to take him back until his father can be found. Meanwhile, as the book opens, she's gone to the TCC for a night out.
 
I loved the first meeting between Rafe and Eve. Even though he's told himself he doesn't have time to get involved with a woman, Rafe can't stay away from her. From teasing her about her gazing at the champagne tower to whisking her out when it collapses, his attraction and fascination are undeniable.  Their conversation later led to a passionate night together that neither could forget. Even after Eve takes a job working for Rafe, they can't stay away from each other. I enjoyed seeing Rafe's more light-hearted take on life as he helped Eve learn how to have fun.
 
The more time they spend together, the closer Rafe and Eve become. Rafe doesn't want to see an end to their affair and slowly realizes that what he feels for her is more than physical. But he has made it clear that he is not interested in a family. Eve has never hidden her plan to regain her health and take back Micah to raise herself if his father isn't found. I ached for both when it came to the point where Eve had to decide - stick to her plans or give in to Rafe. She loves him, but she also loves Micah, and he needs her. Rafe can't see past his fears of failing as a parent to see that he already loves both of them. I loved the conversation with his father that opened his eyes and laughed out loud at his subsequent conversation with his sister. Eve also went through some self-reflection, looking at her fears and motivations. I loved the ending, with the scene in the baby-gear-filled car being honest, open, and romantic.
 
In the search for Micah's father, the investigative journalist Sierra has uncovered a possible clue in Arielle's diary. It is quite likely that the series's final book will answer the question everyone is asking: Who is Micah's father?

From Feuding to Falling - Jules Bennett (HD #2852 - Feb 2022)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 4)
 
Falling for his fake fiancée wasn't part of the plan!
 
Securing the fortune owed to the Texas Cattleman's Club is a top priority for its new president, Carson Wentworth. But to get there, he needs to win over rival Lana Langley and unify their feuding families. What better way than through a wedding…or at least a fake engagement? It might even be fun.
 
Lana has her doubts. They've been battling each other so long, how can they make their charade believable for one full month? Perhaps the key is the chemistry raging between them -- which could also be their downfall!
 
Good enemies-to-lovers story combined with a fake engagement. Lana and Carson are among the younger generation of two families that have been feuding for a hundred years, though no one can recall how it started. Each family's members have been raised to hate the other side, though the younger ones are ready to move on. Most recently, the feud has been front and center because Lana and Carson ran against each other for the presidency of the Texas Cattleman's Club. The race is over, with Carson coming out on top, but Lana refuses to melt into the background. The story opens as she approaches Carson with her proposal for a dedicated area for the women of the TCC.
 
Carson has plans for the TCC, and Lana's proposal falls far down the list. Both are stubborn and determined, and neither is willing to give in. The sparks of attraction between them are pretty obvious under the antagonism. When circumstances cause them to visit Carson's great-grandfather, Harmon, together, he mistakes a moment between them for something entirely different. He wants the feud between the families to end and believes what he witnessed is Carson and Lana's precursor to announcing their engagement. With his promise of a large donation to the TCC in celebration, Carson and Lana decide to fake an engagement until the money is safely handed over.
 
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Carson and Lana. They are so much alike that it is no wonder that they constantly butted heads, though neither was willing to admit it. But now that they are working together, they can no longer deny the similarities or the attraction. Their conversational back and forth is fun to watch. Their chemistry is explosive, and giving into it is irresistible. Carson and Lana agree that it's only for the duration of their engagement, and no emotions will be involved (HA!). The more time they spend together, the more it feels right, but the guilty feelings over the deception start to weigh on them. I loved how everyone around them could see they belonged together, but Carson resisted the idea. It takes a conversation with Harmon for Carson to see the light. Lana also has fears that hold her back from admitting her feelings. I liked Carson's big moment at the end and how he helped Lana overcome her fears.
 
Two mysteries have been running through the series. First is the question of who the father of baby Micah is. He is known to be a member of the TCC, but that is all. This mystery is briefly addressed when the DNA results clear one of the members. The other thread has been Harmon Wentworth's search for the identity of his birth mother, which may be linked to the origins of the Wentworth-Langley feud. A journalist has been busily investigating, but the answers come from an unexpected source.

The Rancher's Reckoning - Joanne Rock (HD #2864 - Apr 2022)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 6)
 
“All of Royal, Texas, wants to know who the father is.”
And a beautiful outsider knows the truth.
 
Rancher Colt Black is stunned to learn he has a secret son. And he owes Sierra Morgan big-time for bringing him together with baby Micah. What Colt feels for the intense reporter goes beyond gratitude, however -- and that's a problem. Indulging in the connection with Sierra is an irresistible risk, especially after she moves onto the ranch to help him with the baby. But soon Colt learns Sierra's life-changing secret…and their newfound arrangement may never be the same.
 
Good conclusion to the Fathers and Sons mini-series. Sierra is a journalist who has worked hard from Book One to find the father of an infant boy found abandoned in the hospital parking lot. She believes she has done so but is frustrated at the lack of response to her texts and emails. In desperation, she finally sends one last bluntly worded text, hoping for a response. She never expected him to show up on her doorstep the next day.
 
Colt was stunned to find out that he was the father of an infant son. He has been in France for the last year, establishing a winery that had been his grandfather's dream. When he finds out the circumstances of Micah's birth and abandonment, he is riddled with guilt. Now he is determined to be the best father possible to little Micah, even if that means trusting a journalist to teach him.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Sierra and Colt develop. Over the past few months, Sierra has become attached to the little boy, so she is happy to help Colt while he and Micah get to know each other. This entails moving in with Colt, which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the inconvenient attraction she feels for him. Colt is just as attracted to Sierra, but his guilt over Micah's mother makes him reluctant to do anything about it. To reinforce his decision, he tells Sierra he plans to return to France and take Micah with him as soon as possible. This upsets Sierra, who thinks they should remain in Royal. She hopes she can convince him to stay.
 
I loved seeing Colt bond with little Micah. From the moment he arrived, it was obvious that Colt was all-in as a father. From feeding to teething to bedtime, Colt was sweet in his efforts to do it all. But all those "daddy lessons" meant time spent with Sierra, and the sparks between them continued to grow. Giving into the attraction is inevitable, but things get complicated when Sierra's secrets come to light. One is personal, and one is professional, and either can derail their growing relationship.
 
I ached for Sierra with her personal secret and its effect on her life and self-worth. It was easy to understand why Micah meant so much to her and why it hurt to think of him and Colt leaving Royal. I loved Colt's reaction when she told him and how much it meant to her. The professional secret wasn't as easily dealt with. While searching for Micah's father, Sierra has also been researching one of Royal's founders for a book. She has been searching for the woman's diary to get the answers she needs and believes it is on Colt's ranch. With his distrust of reporters, she delays telling him of her search until she finds the book. He doesn't take it well. I ached for both of them as their conflict pulled them apart, leaving them miserable. I liked how they faced their issues and found a way forward together.

Married by Contract - Yvonne Lindsay (HD #2845 - Jan 2022)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 3)

Their night together had consequences.
Now their nuptials are nonnegotiable.
 
Fashionista Rosalind Banks flew to Texas to win back her ex-boyfriend. Instead, she spent the most passionate night of her life with a total stranger! Now Ros is having Gabriel Carrington’s baby and the Royal rancher just made an offer she can’t refuse. Gabe needs a wife and an heir, with a marriage on paper, strictly for show. But the rules of their arrangement are made to be broken. Will inconvenient chemistry derail their marriage of convenience or take it to a whole new level?
 
Good book. Rosalind flew from Australia to Royal to see if she could win back the man she broke up with six months earlier. To her dismay, she discovered that Drake had moved on and was engaged to someone else (An Heir of His Own). So when the sparks flew between her and TCC member Gabe, she had no problem giving in to them. One unforgettable night together and Ros flew on to New York to find buyers for her clothing line. A few weeks later, she's on the way back to Texas to tell Gabe he's going to be a father.
 
Gabe wants a wife and child but doesn't want the messy emotions of marrying for love. He even went so far as to hire a matchmaker to find him a woman who would accept his conditions: a marriage of convenience; she gets a settlement when they marry and complete access to his money for as long as they are married. If the woman leaves the marriage, Gabe receives full custody of the child. So far, he has no takers on his proposition.
 
When Ros tells Gabe her news, he immediately proposes they get married, using his contract. Ros will get the cash infusion she needs for her business, and Gabe will get the child he wants. Though the plan is for a paper marriage, the chemistry between them is too strong, and they give in immediately. Gabe freaks out at the depth of the connection he feels with Ros and suddenly pulls away, going from hot and heavy to cold and aloof overnight. Ros knew quickly that she would have trouble with an emotionless marriage.
 
I liked watching their relationship develop. These two people are opposites in so many ways. Gabe doesn't believe in love; Ros does. Gabe is a country boy, and Ros is definitely a city girl. Gabe is super-protective, and Ros is very independent. Gabe's childhood with a father that cheated on Gabe's mother and paid little attention to Gabe added to a relationship where his ex also cheated on him, leaving him determined to protect his heart. He'll save all his love and care for his child; after all, he knows very well what not to do. But Gabe has difficulty keeping his mind from thinking about what it would be like to have a real marriage which only makes him more determined to fight his feelings.
 
Meanwhile, Ros is determined to show Gabe what he's missing. But no matter what she does, he keeps pushing her away. The one time she managed to break through his barriers, she made the mistake of whispering her feelings when she thought he was asleep. He wasn't, and the next morning's fallout was devastating for her. I cheered when she stood up for her own needs and flew back to New York.
 
I felt Gabe earned every bit of his misery, especially when he kept fighting his feelings. It wasn't until an unexpected conversation with his father that he realized what an idiot he was. I cheered when he went after Ros. His emotional confession at the end warmed my heart and gave me hope for their future. I especially liked seeing him admit what a selfish jerk he'd been. I hope to see them reappear in future books so I can see how they are doing.

How to Handle a Heartbreaker - Joss Wood (HD #2840 - Dec 2021)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 2)

For her, the man in the tux spells trouble in more ways than one…
 
After clashing with Jackson Michaels, sheriff's deputy and law student Hayley Lopez doesn't know whether to arrest the gorgeous billionaire developer…or kiss him senseless. Sure, the second option presents obvious difficulties. She didn't fight for independence from her powerful family to let this supersexy older man boss her around. But when they fall into bed together, Hayley starts rethinking the whole mistress-of-her-own-destiny thing. Can she handle a no-strings fling or is she setting herself up for heartbreak?
 
Good book with two strong-willed personalities. Hayley is a sheriff's deputy who also attends law school. She knew she wanted to be a lawyer from an early age, but her wealthy parents disapproved. Her father wanted her to study business and then run the PR department for the family company, and her mother wanted her to marry and have babies. After a blow-up with her dad, Hayley swore she would do things her way and without daddy's money. She also helps friends with legal advice, being careful she doesn't cross any lines. Her latest efforts include helping an older gentleman resist the pressure of a real estate developer who wants his lakeside land.
 
Jackson is a billionaire developer who got where he is by going after what he wants. He has plans for a big, mixed-use development at the lake, but he needs that parcel of land. During yet another visit to the property's owner, Jackson runs into Hayley, the person propping up the stubborn property owner.
 
I loved the first meeting between Hayley and Jackson. The sparks between them practically set the pages on fire. Hayley has difficulty keeping her mind on why she's there but wrenches her mind back where it belongs. Her pride won't let her show that he shakes her up. Jackson is just as drawn to Hayley but hides his attraction by teasing her. He also estimates that he's thirteen years older than she is, which he considers too large an age gap for what he has in mind.
 
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Hayley and Jackson. Neither of them wants a relationship. Jackson saw what his mother's departure did to his father and refused to put himself at risk of that kind of pain. He limits himself to women who have no expectations of anything more. Hayley has been burned by men interested in her money or family connections. She's also had issues with men who think she's too independent, forthright, and "unfeminine." 

I laughed at how they admitted they want each other, but Jackson balks at the age difference, and Hayley plans to convince him she knows her mind. They agree to help each other out for the Cattleman's Club Gala by being each other's date, with plans for some after-party shenanigans. Those plans get derailed when Hayley mixes business with pleasure, pushing one of Jackson's hot buttons while his reaction stomps on one of hers. But mutual apologies lead to those shenanigans, and the connection they experience freaks them both out.
 
Over the next few weeks, Hayley and Jackson find it impossible to stay away from each other. Though both fight their feelings, they suspect it's a losing battle. There are some sweet scenes between them, plenty of hot ones, and more than a few where they battle for control. I loved Jackson's respect for Hayley's determination and independence, even when that same independence ran up against his desires. Things look promising between them as they start coming to terms with their feelings until a misunderstanding drives them apart.
 
I ached for Jackson because he didn't deserve Hayley's anger. As readers, we see the truth of his plans for the lake property. Hayley jumps to conclusions and says some awful things to Jackson. Both are miserable after a few days apart. I loved Jackson's epiphany while visiting his friend Cammi and baby Pumpkin from An Heir of His Own and what he decided to do about it. Meanwhile, Hayley has an unexpected and eye-opening visit from her parents. I especially loved the conversation between Hayley and her dad, especially this comment from him: "So, what comes next? Are you going to visit with Jackson and ask him for an explanation or do I need to visit with him and remind him that I own a shotgun, a shovel, and sixteen backyards where I can bury his dismembered body parts?" I loved the ending, the honest exchange of feelings with no games or manipulation (though I did enjoy Hayley's attempt at slipping in driving his car and Jackson's response). I look forward to seeing them as secondary characters in later books.
 
There is some progress in identifying baby Pumpkin from the first book. Hayley and the reporter, Sierra, have been helping each other with the investigation. They bring different abilities to the process, and they work well together. We have an identity for the hospitalized Jane Doe, and the baby and his mother. Questions remain unanswered about who the father is. We also see the return of Rafe Wentworth, Cammi's estranged brother, and get a little bit of his back story. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see how everything turns out. 

 

An Heir of His Own - Janice Maynard (HD #2833 - Nov 2021)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons (Book 1)

Did he really just agree to live with his ex for the sake of a baby in need?
 
After he raised his stepsister, being a father feels been there, done that for Texan Drake Rhodes. But when his ex-lover, Cammie Wentworth, needs his help to care for an abandoned baby, Drake steps up. It's ironic that Cammie's desire for children was why they broke up. And two years apart hasn't cooled anything between them. Cammie will be back in his bed. But when it's over, will he walk away again…or go after a legacy of his own, with her?
 
Good second chance romance. Two years earlier, Drake and Cammie had been together in a heated relationship. But when Cammie's desire for a family ran up against Drake's absolute refusal to become a father, she broke things off.
 
Two years later, Cammie is shocked to encounter Drake in the hospital parking lot as she leaves a meeting there. Drake, who returned from an extended trip to Australia to care for his stepsister, Ainsley, was equally surprised to see her. As he walks her to her car, both are stunned to discover an abandoned baby left on her car. After calling 911, Drake isn't surprised to find that Cammie wants to care for the infant herself. Because she isn't certified as a foster parent, and he is, he reluctantly volunteers himself as her helper.
 
Cammie is stunned but grateful and also wary. The years apart haven't diminished the attraction between them, and Drake makes no secret that he wants her back in his bed. One other thing hasn't changed - they are still miles apart on their parenthood opinions. When Drake was twenty-two, his father and Ainsley's mother were killed, leaving her an orphan. Drake left school and became her foster parent. It wasn't an easy task to parent a teenage girl who displayed her grief in inappropriate ways, and it put Drake off ever becoming a father himself. Meanwhile, Cammie still wants a child of her own and is pursuing ways to make that happen.
 
I loved watching Cammie and Drake deal with their unresolved feelings while caring for the baby. Cammie is all-in for the baby care but also a little overwhelmed at times. Though Drake had no intention of doing anything with the baby, he couldn't bear to see Cammie struggle. Over the next few days, baby "Pumpkin" wiggles his way into Cammie's heart, and Cammie wiggles her way back into Drake's. And neither of them can resist the attraction that still burns as hot as ever. But reality is never far away. Drake is supposed to return to Australia any day, and Pumpkin's parents could be found at any time. Can either Cammie or Drake give up their dreams for a chance to be together?
 
I liked the ending, as both Cammie and Drake took hard looks at their deeply held beliefs. Both had to decide what was more important to them. Drake had a bit of a wake-up call thanks to a doctor's appointment and an unexpected decision to make regarding his ranch. I liked how he involved Cammie and used the opportunity to have a serious talk with her. The scene on the ranch was very emotional, and I loved seeing how they came together.
 
The story ended with Pumpkin's fate still up in the air. I wonder if that is the story arc that will carry through the series. There is also some page time spent on the estrangement between Cammie's brother Rafe and their father, which may refer to the series subtitle of Fathers and Sons. I look forward to reading the rest of the books to see how everything turns out.