February 2016 Book of the Month & Giveaway
April 4, 2016 06:41 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
My favorite five-star read from February was a small-town, contemporary, western romance by one of my favorite authors. It has also become my favorite thus far in the series of which it’s a part. It’s filled with tender romance, family drama, and a light mystery that kept me fully engaged, and I was very impressed with how deftly the author juggled a diverse and extensive character palette. It was simply an all-around great read that I really enjoyed.
Our heroine, Natalie, had dreams of becoming a country music star, but she got pregnant and married quite young to a man who was significantly older than her, not realizing that he was a master manipulator and a serial cheater. After enduring his infidelity for eleven years, she finally filed for divorce, but despite being a wealthy man who didn’t need the money, her husband took her the cleaners in the divorce settlement. Now she’s struggling to start over and make ends meet, while raising an eleven-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. Aside from her kids and her eccentric family, music is Natalie's life, but she’s had to settle for performing almost nightly in her small town at the supper club she owns that’s nearing bankruptcy. Therefore she can ill afford it when her troubled son vandalizes their new neighbor’s house, so she’s very grateful when he offers another solution. She starts falling for the guy soon after, but she’s afraid of being hurt again and worries that her body isn’t what it once was in her youth. Lucky for her, though, he’s a very gentle, patient man who isn’t easily scared off by her baggage.
Zeke is a to-die-for hero who is a total sweetheart, more of a beta hero with a touch of alpha protectiveness. Not long after meeting the boy who vandalized his house, Zeke figures out that’s he’s really a good kid who only wants his dad’s love and attention. Zeke is able to step up to the plate to become a father figure for the boy and his adorable, precocious little sister. Despite having been a confirmed bachelor before meeting them, he almost instantly falls for Natalie and both her kids, treating them all like precious jewels. He’s always sweet and reassuring toward Natalie about her physical imperfections and extremely supportive and encouraging of her business and her dreams. It’s absolutely adorable how he climbs in her second-story bedroom window at night in an attempt to preserve her “reputation.” Zeke was an all-around amazing guy, who I'd love to have in real life.
Overall, this was an emotional read. Some of the things Zeke said and did for Natalie made me melt. It may have been just a teensy bit slow to get going, but once it does, it's filled with some swoon-worthy romance and family drama, and the light mystery adds some danger and intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to finish. That’s why I'm naming Catherine Anderson's Bright Eyes as my February Book of the Month. If you enjoy small-town westerns with a sweet, sensual, heart-stopping romance then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- Zeke Coulter has no intention of getting married --- until he buys a ranch next door to Natalie Patterson, a sexy divorcee with two kids, a zany extended family, and a philandering ex-husband involved in shady business dealings. When Natalie's twelve-year-old son vandalizes Zeke's property and she is unable to pay for the damages, Zeke offers to let the boy work off the debt. |
Read my complete review of Bright Eyes.
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Bright Eyes to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon, B & N, or AllRomance). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N or AllRomance). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I won't have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Catherine Anderson
