Her Texas Rescue Doctor - Caro Carson (HSE #2499 - Sept 2016)

Series: Texas Rescue (Book 4)

Spin doctor meets ER doctor

Living in her Hollywood movie star sister's shadow is hard enough! But as her personal assistant, Grace Jackson is continually repairing the swath of damage the diva leaves in her wake. And now her antics have landed her in the Texas Rescue ER! What Grace needs is to find her sister the perfect man -- someone to dispel the rumor mill. Satisfy the paparazzi. But where could she find this superhero wannabe?

Enter ER doctor Alex Gregory: he's dignified, gifted…and a bit of a nerd. Still, he has an eye for genuine people like lovely Grace. So he reluctantly agrees to let Grace make him over and help salvage her sister's reputation. From geek to chic, Alex becomes a dazzling escort for a celebrity-studded charity ball. But Grace has to wonder: did she remake Alex for her sister -- or herself?

Good book. Grace has been her actress sister's personal assistant since she left high school. She is used to being in the background. The book opens with Grace attempting to get her uncooperative sister to do the right thing. Sophia has recently become involved with a man who has influenced her in all the wrong ways, and Grace is attempting to do damage control. Instead, Sophie's willfulness has resulted in a trip to the emergency room, where they meet Dr. Alex Gregory.

Alex is one of Texas Rescue's ER doctors. He came to the US as a teenager, when he and his mother fled Russia and his abusive father. He is dignified, always in control of his emotions, and very attractive in a nerdy kind of way.

I loved the first encounter of Alex, Grace, and Sophie in the ER. Alex is not at all impressed with Sophie and treats her as just another patient. This puts her in an even worse mood, which makes her even more obnoxious. Sophie claims that her PA will fix everything for her, leading Alex to expect a battle ax. Instead, he gets sweet, effacing, beautiful Grace, who knocks him for a loop from the moment he met her. I especially liked how impressed he was by her determination to help the abused woman in the next cubicle. When he arrives at their hotel room the next day, it is Grace he is most concerned with, and I loved the protectiveness that he showed. I enjoyed his shock as he heard himself offer to let them stay with him while Sophie recovered.

I loved the development of their relationship.  Alex was fascinated and intrigued by Grace, and also very protective of her. When asked to help out by escorting Sophie to the charity ball, he agreed only because it would help Grace. He drives a hard bargain as he requires that Grace spend time with him in exchange. He plans to try to show Grace her own self-worth. There were sparks between them from the beginning. Grace fights the attraction because she wants to push Alex and Sophie together to save her sister from herself. But the more time she spends with Alex, the more she wants him for herself. Alex is attracted to Grace but knows she is leaving at the end of a week. He has been hurt by so many people leaving him in the past that he has closed himself off emotionally. In his determination to help Grace, he discovers that she has worked her way past his barriers. He wants more from her but is afraid to ask for it for fear of being hurt. Grace is attracted to Alex but doesn't believe that he could want her. I liked seeing them grow closer over the week and really understand what drives each other. I ached for Grace, who was so used to putting Sophie first that she's willing to give up what she wants, though she does try to reach out to him. I also hurt for Alex, who is afraid to ask her to stay because she might reject him. I liked the ending as each puts their heart on the line.

I really enjoyed seeing the changes in both Alex and Grace as their love for each other gives them the motivation to change. Grace irritated me a little at first because she seemed like such a pushover. But the more I saw of her, the better I liked her. She had some pretty subtle ways of trying to get Sophie to see reason and knew when to push and when to find another way. She also didn't have much confidence in her own appeal. I liked how Alex's treatment of her opened her eyes.  Alex seemed to be pretty rooted in his memories of the past and the way he let them affect his life. I loved how seeing Grace's strength made him look at those memories differently.

Sophie was a character that I spent most of the book wanting to shake. She was selfish, inconsiderate, and blind to the way her actions affected others. There were a few brief moments when I liked her, but they were few a far between. I've already read her story, so I know what happens to her, but this one really showed how far she has to go.

A Cowboy's Wish Upon a Star - Caro Carson (HSE #2918 - Dec 2016)

Series: Texas Rescue (Book 5)

From Hollywood…

A cattle ranch is the perfect place for movie star Sophia Jackson to escape her scandalous past and the paparazzi hot on her trail. But foreman Travis Chalmers makes it clear who's running the ranch. When their constant clashing ignites unexpected attraction, Sophia takes on her greatest acting role: pretending she isn't falling for the sexy, domineering cowboy.

…to Motherhood

Once Travis sweeps her into his arms at her sister's wedding, she knows the feeling's mutual. But a precious secret followed Sophia to Texas. And now a Hollywood hurricane is about to blow through Travis's peaceful Texas town. Is the mother-to-be ready to fight for her future and see her most passionate Christmas wish granted -- she and Travis vowing to love each other forever?

Good book. Sophia is a movie star whose recent bad decisions have put her in the paparazzi's crosshairs. Her sister and future brother-in-law have arranged for her to hide out on a local ranch. She's not thrilled with the idea, but she doesn't have any other options. Travis is the foreman of the ranch and not very happy to have to deal with the diva, but he'll do what he has to.

The sparks flew between these two from the moment they met. At first, they were very confrontational. Sophia behaves like a spoiled brat, expecting Travis to do whatever she wants him to do. Travis isn't having any of it and lets her know that he has more important things to do. But underneath the antagonism is a simmering attraction that neither wants to admit.

I liked the development of their relationship. Travis is practical, level-headed and unexpectedly fascinated by Sophia. It was fun to see him fight his fascination as thoughts of her invaded his mind at all hours of the day and night.  I really enjoyed how he calmly stood up against her brattiness and began to see the vulnerability that her attitude hid. There are some really sweet scenes as he begins to break down the walls she has built around her heart. Sophia was hard to like at the beginning, but it soon became obvious that she used that attitude to hide her fears. All she wanted was to be loved, and with the betrayal of her ex and her sister getting married, she felt very alone. I also ached for her because her ability to trust those around her had been destroyed by those who just wanted to use her. As she settles into life on the ranch, her softer side emerges. I loved the scene with the kitten and her determination to take care of it. She is just as attracted to Travis as he is to her. There are some funny scenes as she tries to use her acting skills to come on to him, but he sees through them. As they really get to know each other, the heat between continues to build. This just adds to the connection between them. I loved the changes in Sophia brought about by Travis's care for her. But she is hiding the secret of her pregnancy from him, and it hits him hard when it comes out. I ached for them both as Travis worked his way through his feelings of betrayal. But his realization of his love comes just in time to deal with her obnoxious ex. I loved that scene, as well as its aftermath. The epilogue was fantastic, as Travis's calm continues to be the perfect balance for Sophia's occasional freak outs.

A Texas Rescue Christmas - Caro Carson (HSE #2376 - Dec 2014)

Series: Texas Rescue (Book 2)

Home for Christmas

Trey Waterston has been on the outside looking in for so long he nearly forgot where home is. But when he has to go back to the ranch that is his Texas birthright, he expects it to be as difficult to navigate as everything else in his life. He does not expect to find a halfhearted search afoot for a missing heiress. Beautiful and innocent Rebecca Cargill has disappeared, and nightfall -- and a snowstorm -- is coming. If they don't find her, she could die.

Not on my watch. Instinctively, and directed only by a photograph, Trey knows he is the only one who can help her. Maybe he can finally claim his legacy. But why is he suddenly so sure Rebecca is a part of it?

I loved this book. Trey is part owner of the James Hill Ranch, but hasn't been home in ten years. After a promising college football career ended with him flunking out of school, he has spent his time working out of state and trying to hide what is happening to him. After one too many blows during football games, Trey suffers from memory problems, ones that make him feel stupid and useless. When he receives an invitation to his brother's wedding, he knows it's time to go home, but he dreads it. He arrives home in the middle of a search for a missing wedding guest.

Rebecca has spent her entire life under the thumb of her social-climbing, money-grubbing mother. She has had no life of her own. When her mother announces that it's time for Rebecca to start pulling her weight by accompanying her and a gentleman friend on a trip, Rebecca has had enough. She flees to her former stepsister, Patricia, who just happens to be marrying Trey's brother. She arrives in the middle of a storm to find that Patricia isn't there. A disturbing call from her mother sends Rebecca fleeing across the ranch on a borrowed ATV, unprepared for what she encounters.

I loved that Trey immediately takes charge of the rescue. Being back on the ranch seems to give him a boost of confidence, and his own experiences give him some insight into Rebecca just from her photograph. His quick action gets him to Rebecca before it's too late, and they hole up in a cabin to wait out the storm. Trey's attempts to behave like a gentleman while he works to warm Rebecca inside the sleeping bag were so sweet. Rebecca is innocent but much stronger than she believes. She shares her life story with Trey, who is impressed by her willingness to take a chance on her future. I loved their connection. Trey's care of Rebecca gives him a purpose and a focus that keeps his issues mostly in the background. Rebecca feels a sense of safety with Trey that gives her the courage to explore her own feelings and desires.

After their rescue, which has some of its own challenges, Trey welcomes Rebecca back to the ranch. He invites her to stay as long as she wants to. Over the next few days, they explore that which is growing between them. I ached for Trey, whose self-worth took a beating every time he had a problem with his memory. He was falling so hard for Rebecca but believed that there was no way for them to be together. At the same time, Rebecca fell in love with Trey, but because of her mother's example is suspicious of the truth of her feelings. Of course, Rebecca's mother eventually catches up with her, but things don't go quite as she expected. I loved that scene, with her going up against Rebecca and Trey together. Trey still believes that he doesn't deserve Rebecca, but he's losing the battle thanks to her love and understanding. I loved his big moment at the end, with his "you are imprinted on my heart." I adored how Rebecca took over the planning of their honeymoon and what she came up with.

I loved the realism of Trey's issues with his memory. His fears and frustrations are understandable and believable. I hurt for him every time he forgot something or said something unexpected, and how it made him feel. It was great to see that there was no miracle fix at the end of the book, but the honest truth that there would always be challenges. There was also hope given for some improvement. I hope they make appearances in later books so I can see how they are doing.