LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Lori Wilde

A Cupid, Texas Novel, Book One

Avon

May 28^th, 2013

978-0-06-221893-3

Contemporary Romance, Cowboys

Paperback ARC

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

Natalie McCleary didn’t believe in love at first sight until she got struck with cupid’s arrow when she spies a hot & sexy man in her path. Being half naked at the time she saw him just fueled her imagination even more. But for practical Natalie, this whole love at first sight thing has left her reeling. She can’t be in love with a virtual stranger…can she?

For ex-Navy Seal Dade Vegas, all he wanted to do was keep a promise to a military friend but spying Natalie, wet and delicious looking stopped him in his tracks. Can Dade and Natalie figure out their hearts even as love weaves its magic around them?

Lori Wilde is a new to me author and her introduction into Cupid, Texas with LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT was an interesting premise. A town where love at first sight happens. I don’t think I ever read a series or book about that sort of thing before. Unfortunately a few things kept me from fully enjoying the book. One was the stilted dialogue at times between characters. While reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, the characters talked like they were very awkward between each other; that kind of through me out of the story at times. The other thing that had me scratching my head was the Red mystery and it just did not fit within the story in my opinion. I wondered why t he author felt she needed to put this in the story when it could have done better without it. The author does a good job in creating an interesting town and the whole ‘love at first sight’ aspect was intriguing. The romance between Dade and Natalie is sweet and believable. The writing could have done with a bit more tightening but overall the story moved nicely to the ending which wrapped up a few things with a big red bow so to speak.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is an interesting premise into a new series by Lori Wilde and though it had a few issues I felt could have been deleted or otherwise fixed to make the story flow better, the book overall charmed me. I really enjoyed seeing the town and meeting all the characters there. It was a fast, easy read for me and one that left me looking to see more from Cupid, Texas series. If you enjoy the whole ‘love at first sight’ plot with some interesting characters, then you might enjoy this introduction into Cupid, Texas. I look forward to seeing where this author takes this series in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Lori Wilde

Publisher:   Avon

Date published:   May 28, 2013

ISBN:  978-0062218933

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Book format: Paperback

Obtained via:  Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

 

Welcome to Cupid, Texas, home of…Cupid and true love. Long ago the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter, that would be Millie Greenwood, found true love after asking Cupid for his help. Cupid lives in a cave outside of town and over the years soul mates seeking their other half have ventured to the statue in the cave and left letters asking for Cupid’s help. Rather than carved from human hands, the statue is wrought from nature itself, lending to the mystique of the town and what happens when a seeker finds his or her way to the town. As the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter, Natalie McCleary carries on the family tradition of answering the letters to Cupid. Along with an array of family and friends they meet weekly, divvy up the letters to Cupid and set about dispensing advice on true love. On her way to pick up the latest batch of letters Natalie rides her bike past perhaps the most stunning sight imaginable—a naked man.

Okay, he’s not really naked. Well not all the way naked. He’s tall, dark and gorgeous and is working on his Harley sans a shirt. And what a magnificent sight he is. So much so that hours and days later Natalie cannot stop thinking about him.

Dade Vega has come to Cupid for one reason and one reason only – his foster brother, Red, has sent him an urgent message: “come quickly and trust no one.” Red is more than a foster brother. As children he saved Dade’s life. And together they went on to become Navy SEALs. After leaving the Navy they went their separate ways with Red settling down in the peaceful town of Cupid while Dade continued his rambling ways. When Red calls for help Dade rushes to his side. What he finds in Cupid confuses and at the same time enthrals him. Well actually Natalie enthrals him. He cannot keep the image of the woman stepping soaking wet out of a pond from his mind. As he begins tracking down Red he finds himself becoming more and more involved with Natalie. Can he trust her with what happened to Red?

And more importantly, can he trust her with his heart?

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is the first Lori Wilde book I have read. It definitely will not be my last and I have since picked up pretty much her entire back list. She tells an entertaining story, full of love and romance that is realistic, palpable and leaves you believing in love at first sight.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT begins as a sweet contemporary romance and lulls you into thinking of a cool summer morning, lazing on a porch swing while reading about Dade and Natalie’s meeting. Like the turn of the day, from cool morning air to a warm summer afternoon, Dade and Natalie meet and begin to get to know each other. As the day warms so does their relationship with the intensity of their attraction growing step by step until it culminates and a passionate love scene. And as evening approaches though the story takes a deciding cool turn from a sweet romance to a solid, heart stopping, romantic suspense. The shift caught me so completely off guard and I couldn’t put the book down until I found out what happened to Natalie, Dade and Red.

Ms. Wilde’s characters are complex, entertaining and lifelike. Her aunts and other family members and some of their antics are a hoot. The town of Cupid is the kind of town you want to live in. It’s a place where people don’t lock their doors, where neighbours look out for neighbours and the townsfolk rally behind their friends and family.

I really liked Natalie. Despite her own life issues and fears she has no qualms about wading into a pond to save a struggling duck. She gives and gives to anyone in need without a thought for herself.

Dade is more than a cookie cutter hero. He is complex with his own issues that he puts aside for his friend. Both he and Natalie grow throughout the story, both within themselves and as a couple.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT is a fantastic read and I can’t wait for book two in this series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS by Lori Wilde

Avon

October 30^th, 2012

978-0-06-204780-9

Contemporary Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

For Lisette Moncrief, Christmas is not a time for her to celebrate. With her husband’s sudden death in Afghanistan, her world has been turned upside down then finding out her son is going deaf….it was like the world was conspiring against her. When she finds out her husband left his death benefits and life insurance to his half-brother, Rafferty, well let’s just say Lisette was ready to crawl under the blankets and not move forever. But life has a way of making things right especially when Rafferty comes to Jubilee to give her the money that should rightfully belong to her son. Lisette finds she needs to turn from people pleasing Lisette to one who can stand on her own two feet, say no and make a place in this changing world with her son. She just never anticipates having Rafferty steal her heart of make her believe in Christmas miracles again.

I love the Jubilee, Texas series and found A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS to be a bit more serious than the other stories in the series. This time the author tells a tale of loss, love, forgiveness and more within its pages and the reader is lost within the world she has created in Jubilee, Texas. I loved how the author created such an amazing cast of characters for readers to enjoy. This is a story of two very different people who find themselves drawn to one another. I really enjoyed the sparks between Lisette and Rafferty as well as the secondary storyline that involved Lisette’s mother-in-law. The romance between Lisette and Rafferty was charming to read, as they forged a friendship and soon found themselves falling in love. The author does a wonderful job in creating a storyline that had serious overtones with sensitivity and without angst.

Meet Lisette Moncrief. Finding out her husband died overseas was a blow she knew she could recover from. But finding out he left his life insurance and death benefits to his brother instead of their son, well let’s just say Lisette was upset, frustrated and very angry. Enter in Rafferty, Jake’s half-brother, who is determined to give Lisette the money for her son that is rightfully his. I loved these two together. Both have pasts that they need to overcome and the sparks flew between them the minute they stepped upon the pages. Rafferty is a sweetheart as he gave Lisette space to grow, be independent and let herself feel in control of her world again. Lisette was a strong woman who found that Rafferty is her equal in all ways. I loved how these two did a give and take in their relationship. From friendship to love, these two forged an unbreakable bond even if there was some issues causing both to be a bit gun-shy on the whole romance between them. The characters are very well written and I highly enjoyed the banter between Lisette, Rafferty and other secondary characters in the series. This is an author who knows how to create well rounded characters that readers’ can fall in love with.

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS is a wonderful holiday story you can enjoy anytime. Ms. Wilde is one of my favorite authors to pick up when I need that romance fix. Her stories are delightful, endearing and very entertaining. I do highly recommend reading the series in order just for sheer enjoyment as each of the Jubilee, Texas novels are a stand alone story. I look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS by Lori Wilde

Jubilee, Texas Series Book 2

Avon

July 31^st, 2012

978-0-06-204777-9

Contemporary Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cowboy-Princess-Lori-Wilde/dp/0062047779/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Obtained by Publisher

 

Princess Annabelle of Monesta is running away from an arranged marriage. In Jubilee, Texas, she masquerades as a cowgirl and finds herself drawn to the sexy cowboy who rescued her one night. Brady Talmadge is a man who has five rules and he broke them all when Annie drops into his lap. He invites her home to get warm, some food and when sparks fly between these two, will Annie’s secret destroy this budding romance before Brady and Annabelle get their own version of happily ever after?

This is the second book in the Jubilee, Texas series and it is just as good as the first one was. We got a masquerading princess, a horse whisperer cowboy and lots of simmering sexual tension between these two. Ms. Wilde delivers another wonderful installment in this new series of hers and I was enthralled from start to finish over it. The writing is tight, storyline flows smoothly and the characters are larger than life, which is what I enjoy about this series. They are so realistic that I feel I could go vacation in Jubilee, Texas just to meet them all.

Meet Annabelle, Princess of Monesta and masquerading as ‘Annie’, a down on her luck cowgirl. She is a joy to behold. A fresh faced innocent and naïve girl who looks at the world through a child’s eyes. She was a delight to behold when she would get excited over the littlest things. Brady is laid back, loves horses and a man whop has hidden depths and secrets inside him. These two struck sparks the minute they laid eyes on one another and I was rooting for these two to get their own happily ever after. The secondary characters were a joy to experience again. I swear some of them should get their own story in this series.

THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS is a fun, wildly entertaining story that will keep you on pins and needles as you flip the pages to see what happens next. There are a few twists that had me biting my nails and hoping it all works out. Ms. Wilde is this reviewer’s new favorite and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Jubilee, Texas. I have a feeling it won’t be a dull affair, that’s for sure.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE by Lori Wilde

Jubilee, Texas Series, Book 1

Avon

March 27^th, 2012

978-0-06-204775-5

Contemporary Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Takes-Bride-Avon-Romance/dp/0062047752/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354310713&sr=1-3&keywords=Lori+Wilde

Obtained by Publisher

3.5 hearts

 

For Joe Daniels, waking up in a horse trough with nothing on but your boots and a Stetson on your head could be a little hard to take in the morning. Especially when a blonde haired filly of a woman is staring at him. Joe is drawn to Mariah Callahan but is determined to not fall for the vulnerable woman. For Mariah, Joe calls to something deep inside her heart and with no job, no home and a run-down ranch left to her by her now deceased father…well lets just say sparks fly between these two more than once. Can these two emotionally vulnerable people find a way to let their hearts desires become known and will they take that chance on a forever love?

I got to admit I absolutely adored this first book of Ms. Wilde’s. It took me 3 hours to read and half the time I was giggling like mad over some of the antics the characters were doing. This is definitely one of those feel-good books to read and has the right amount of humor, romance and a little bit of sass to keep the reader thoroughly entertained. Ms. Wilde delivers a story that is full of emotion. Love, loss, friendship, love all play a part in this story and I can attest you will need some tissues in the beginning.

The writing was tight, story flowed smoothly and the characters were very well written. It was almost like I could meet them on the street or at a local coffee shop.

Meet Joe Daniels. An ex-champion bull rider and a cowboy horse cutter, he is a wounded man and one I fell in love with immediately. He was gruff, had that little boy lost appeal and the way Mariah meets him for the first time had me in stitches. Mariah is a strong, vulnerable city girl and one Joe wants nothing to do with though he is drawn to her like a moth is to a flame. After losing his late wife then his best friend Dutch (Mariah’s dad) in the last few years, Joe feels he has no heart left to give anyone. Mariah forces him to see her as a woman  and the build up between these two is sweet, sexy and totally enjoyable. The secondary characters kept the story flowing smoothly and I can not wait to meet them again in the future books of the Jubilee, Texas series.

THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE is a fun, sweet and sexy tale of two wounded hearts finding their chosen mate. The one who can heal their wounds and show that love can happen to them. Ms. Wilde does a wonderful job in creating a wildly dynamic cast of characters to enjoy as well as a storyline that is realistic and at times, heartbreaking. THE COWBOY TAKES A WIFE is pure enjoyment and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Jubilee, Texas. Run-don’t walk-to grab this exciting debut book into the Jubilee, Texas series. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

THE WELCOME HOME GARDEN CLUB by Lori Wilde

A Twilight Texas novel
Publisher: Avon
Date published: March 2011
ISBN: 9780061988431
Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary romance
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained by publisher


Caitlyn Marsh and Gideon Garza were high-school sweethearts when Gideon left for Iraq. Now Caitlyn raises her small son, takes care of her florist shop, and tries to head off her gardening club members matchmaking endeavors. Caitlyn is newly widowed and believes Gideon is dead, until he shows up one day for his father’s funeral. Now her whole world turns upside down, as her love for Gideon had never faded and Gideon still has feelings for Caitlyn. But Gideon is scarred from the war and now has a huge cattle ranch, inherited from his father who never recognized him in life. To top things off, Caitlyn’s little boy looks just like Gideon. Will these soul mates get over the past and find the love they have always longed for? Or are their problems so deep-rooted they will hinder them coming together and making a family?

This is a story that will reach you on all levels of emotion. Lori Wilde is a master of romance and you will be rooting and tooting for Caitlyn and Gideon throughout. I did find the story a little predictable, but the reading of it was so enjoyable. I liked how Ms. Wilde labeled each chapter with a flower and the meaning of it. This is a story that is so much deeper than just a secret baby, or two high-school sweethearts finally getting together. There are a lot of scars to overcome, a lot of baggage to drop, and you will enjoy how these two work out their problems and overcome the obstacles. As I said before, emotion is high in this story. It certainly gave me the goose-bumps a few times and brought a tear to my eyes. The love scenes are both tender and sensual and this is all in all a great romance. I can highly recommend it.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB by Lori Wilde

Publisher: Avon
Date published: April 2010
ISBN: 9780061808906
Romance
Paper
Reviewed by Pam
Obtained by publisher


When Trixie Lynn Parks took off from the town of Twilight, she had no thoughts of ever returning. After changing her name to Emma and working hard for twelve years to make it big as an actress, her dreams are shattered. An unexpected request brings her back, only to find many things are the same and her first love still makes her sizzle.

Sam Cheek has become a single dad and a vet. He’s no longer the gangly, loveable boy she’d left behind, but a man who knows what he wants, but has a different approach to almost everything.

The chemistry that sizzled when they were young is still there, but both want their own way and this causes problems, especially when there’s a little boy in the equation.

THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB is a winner for this reviewer, as I really enjoyed this tale. It’s well written and not the usual romance, because this one had a heart and plenty of folk interfering. There is a large cast of characters, but it doesn’t really interrupt the romance, well not much.

The romance going on with Trixie and Sam is a tale of youthful love, as the story of what has happened since school days slowly unfolds.

Putting on a re-enactment play was hard work and interesting, as some made the grade and others dropped by the wayside. The quilters and actors were all well written and there’s a great side story, with Trixie learning to quilt and learning her lines over a fence with Sam. With a little bit of outside interference the two main characters will surely live happily, but of course the war and Trixie’s career causes hiccups along the way.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.