Brenda Jackson (1) (1953–)

Good book. Hunter returned to Phoenix after she divorced her cheating husband. She's opened her own architectural firm and is focused on getting it up and running. While at a nightclub with her two best friends, she runs into playboy Tyson Steele who makes it clear that he wants her.

Hunter and Tyson have a history. He was as big a player in high school as he is now and had a reputation with the school's girls. When he zeroed in on Hunter, she held out for a relationship or nothing - and Tyson got nothing. He still remembers Hunter as the one who got away and is determined to remedy the situation.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Tyson and Hunter. I will say that Tyson irritated me at the beginning. He is so arrogant and cocky about his appeal to women that he can't imagine anyone turning him down. He is honest about his intention to seduce her and get her out of his system before moving on to the next conquest. Hunter is not impressed. She's attracted to him but has no intention of getting involved with another man who avoids commitment. Yet, after a while, she considers giving in and using Tyson the way he plans to use her - just a fling.

I had to laugh to see Tyson the playboy hoist on his own petard. Instead of a "one and done" night to get Hunter out of his system, he can't stop thinking about her and wanting her. This freaks him out because it has never happened to him before. He knows he should walk away but proposes a weeklong fling instead. I cheered at Hunter's response. She has enjoyed her time with Tyson. His care and attention have gone a long way toward restoring her sense of self as a woman. Her ex blamed his cheating on her, claiming she wasn't enough for him, but her time with Tyson brings out her passionate side. She tells Tyson she'll go along with his plan but with certain conditions - they must do things outside the bedroom.

Tyson has never "dated" the women he slept with but found himself more than willing to indulge Hunter's demands. Watching him get into movie nights, dinner and dancing dates, and other ordinary pursuits was fun. He also loses all interest in chasing other women. He gets a lot of teasing from his brothers, even the married ones, and some knowing looks from his brother Eli. I loved Tyson's "aha" moment when he realized he was in love with Hunter.

Hunter knew she was risking heartbreak when she explained her conditions to Tyson, but she had to try. I loved seeing her confidence in herself grow, though there was still a part that kept her from believing Tyson could change. There was a bumpy spot where Hunter's jealousy got the better of her and created a bit of a misunderstanding between them. I ached for her as she thought Tyson was ready to break things off.

The ending was sweet with a side helping of spice. I loved how Tyson decided to show Hunter how he felt. It may have been a tad too subtle at first, but the more he talked, the more Hunter began to hope. Tyson's reputation made her wariness understandable, but that made the truth so much sweeter. The epilogue was great as the fourth Bad News Steele bit the dust, leaving only two more for their mother to focus on.… (mais)

Thank you to Katie Mettner (author) who I won this book from on her FB page.

I'm a little confused but on the back of the book it stated that she was an attorney but in the first few pages it mentioned that she was an accountant for a real estate company. What I thought was funny that it had 4 pages of the Medaris' family and friend of family tree. I was thinking, I hope all these characters aren't in the book. The family was and maybe some of the family friends but didn't go back and forth to see who was and who wasn't.

I like romances but this one was a little bit too romance-y and sex ridden for my usual tastes. I liked the Medaris family and how they protected and helped Skye and the almost end of the book was eye-opening.… (mais)

Good book. Durango Westmoreland and Savannah Claiborne met at the wedding of his cousin Chase to her sister Jessica. Their attraction was instant and intense, and they snuck away from the reception to enjoy it. Two months later, Savannah shows up at his Montana ranch to let him know she's pregnant.

Durango was stunned at the news and reacted like a complete jerk. Years earlier, he'd fallen for a city woman who had used and manipulated him, destroying his trust in women. With that at the back of his mind, his suspicious and dismissive comments made his opinion clear. Savannah was hurt and furious. She came to tell him in person because it was the right thing to do, but she didn't need him. I loved seeing her push back and walk away.

But it isn't over. Durango quickly realizes that the baby is his, he acted like a jerk, and as a Westmoreland, he has to step up and take responsibility. He immediately goes after Savannah and catches up with her at the airport, where she's just learned all flights are canceled because of an impending blizzard. Durango offers the use of his guest room and says it will give them a chance to talk.

Durango wants to be involved in Savannah's pregnancy and their baby's life. He proposes that they marry now and plan to divorce when the baby is six months old. Savannah is wary. She doesn't believe in love and marriage thanks to her father and doesn't see the need to marry Durango. He eventually wins her over when he agrees that it will be a marriage in name only. This made me laugh because it's clear that he wants her back in his bed.

The sparks of attraction between Durango and Savannah are just as intense as before. Durango accepts it and plans to use the attraction to get her back in his bed while she's living there. Savannah also feels the sparks but believes that she can resist them. It was fun to watch her try to fight the battle against Durango's campaign of sexy kisses. Eventually, they give in to the power of the attraction, both believing that it's just for fun while they are together. With their time together and getting to know each other, the attraction deepens into stronger feelings. Both fight hard against admitting those feelings until forced to do so in conversations with others. I loved those conversations - Durango and Jared, and Savannah and Jessica - who brought the voice of experience to the situation.

Thanks to a document Savannah received in the mail, there's a bit of a hiccup in the prospect of a future together. Believing Durango doesn't share her feelings sends her fleeing into the teeth of a blizzard. I loved Durango's big moment and the emotional confession of his feelings. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved the big family get-together and Durango's meeting with the other Westmoreland men. I especially enjoyed the tagline, "Which one of you will be next?"… (mais)