Judy Duarte

 

Almost Home

Anthology

Authors: Debbie Macomber, Cathy Lamb, Judy Duarte, Mary Carter

ISBN: 978-1420108866

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 28, 2009

 

5 Hearts

 

This anthology boosts a 1996 novella from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber, but the other three lesser known authors have brand new never released stories in the book.

 

While all of the stort stories are great romantic stories, the first story in the book, Whale Island by Cathy Lamb was just outstanding. The author's wit and charm came through in flying colors throughout the story. The story was written in the first person, which I generally don't like that much, but the author was well versed and made the text flow. I couldn't put the story down. I found the hero and heroine so true to life characters I could easily picture their romance happening and the two sticking together forever.

 

The other three stories were equally interesting and fun to read. There were heartwarming romantic stories that you don't get to read often enough these days. Judy Duarte's Queen of Hearts, was a little slow to get into at first, but I simply enjoyed the way Judy wove the letters from the advice columnist's readers into the fabric of the story that soon I was engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down until the very end.

 

The Honeymoon House featured two sets of friends that just knocked my socks off. I just loved Kate's friend Amanda and her relationship with her on again-off again fiance, as well as Kate's relationship with Andy.

 

Debbie Macomber has long been a favorite of mine. Her inspirational stories full the need for any romantic at heart. I liked the fact that the lead heroine, Katie, has a conscious and worries for the bride-to-be, even as she gets carried away with the moment, with the groom.

 

Delightful stories every one, I think that the traditional romance novel lovers will like this collection of stories.

 

Description:

The Marrying Kind by Debbie Macomber

High school sweethearts Katie and Jason haven't seen each other in ten years - and now she's walked back into his life. With one look, the love they shared comes flooding back - only now the odds seem stacked against them.

 

Whale Island by Cathy Lamb

Family secrets and imposing friends are making Chalese feel like an outsider in her very own home on beautiful Whale Island. But it's only when a shocking revelation makes her feel truly lost that she opens her heart to the possibilities the past offers - including a chance at love with the last man she expected.

 

Queen Of Hearts by Judy Duarte

Her high school reunion is coming up, and advice columnist Jenn Kramer couldn't be dreading it more - until she lays eyes on Marcos. Jenn hardly noticed him when they were kids, but know he's all grown up.

 

The Honeymoon House by Mary Carter

It doesn't get more romantic than Andy Beck's cottage on Martha's Vineyard. But love is the last thing on his mind - he just wants to get the cottage ready for his best friends honeymoon. At least that's the plan, until he finds the gorgeous Maid of Honor ransacking his house - in the most irresistible way.

 

A Real Live Cowboy

Author: Judy Duarte

Series Connection: Fortunes of Texas—Return to Red Rock

ISBN: 978-0373654468

 

3 Hearts

 

This book is the fourth in the continuing series of the Fortunes of Texas—Return to Red Rock. JR Fortune is the older brother of both two other Fortune's seen in this series, Darr and Nicholas. JR has just moved to Red Rock from Los Angeles to be closer to his family. He purchases a ranch close to town and plans are making it a working ranch, something he has always wanted to do. After giving up his job for his father's company JR dives right in to making his new venture a success.

 

He enlists the help of Isabella to redecorate the house in its original style. Isabella has made a marriage pack with some of her girl friends. She hopes to be married by the end of the year. To that end she has created a list. Her list seems fairly simple and JR Fortune doesn't seem to fit the mold at all.

 

I am generally a fan of Judy Duarte's and really love the Fortune series, but I was a little taken a back by this particular book. The heroine in the book was frankly too snobbish for me. I understand her wanting to seek out a man who would be a good mach for the woman she wanted to be, but she never gave JR, the hero, and the chance to really show her who he was.

 

The character spent the majority of the book putting words in JRs mouth and never taking into consideration that he said in the beginning that he hired her because he like her dedication to her art and her heritage. How he wanted her to redesign his house in that manner. Instead the character, Isabella, constantly went on about how she refused to make the Kitchen too modern, albeit to herself, because it wasn't historically pleasing to herself. Not thinking that someone who lived in the house would want modern fixtures. She did the same on other issues in the house, even if JR didn't say one-way or the other how he felt.

 

I am all for characters who have issues in their past to work out and characters who may feel that rich men are spoiled and get bored easily, but after three quarters of the way into the book and the lead hero hasn't done anything that would prove her thoughts, it is long since time to let it go and move on with the plot.

 

Otherwise, I liked JR's character and the continuation of the mystery into the Fortune and Mendoza's current mystery. For those keeping up with the series, that's is the important reason to read this book and stay current with the series mystery.

 

Description from the back of the book:

He was a Texan down to his Stetson and booksÉ

Isabella Mendoza knew what she wanted in a husband. And William "J.R." Fortune was so not that man. The irresistibly attractive businessman turned rancher might wear denim and spurs, but what happened when he got tired of playing cowboy?

Eldest son J.R. had come home to Red Rock to live up to the Fortune legacy. Now he wanted Isabella to share it with him. Hiring the fiery artisan to design his new ranch house was the first step. But when a devious enemy targeted both their families, he realized how far he'd go to protect the woman he loved. He'd prove that together, theirs was a heritage worth saving.