Series: The Good, the Bad and the Texan (Book 5)

When Jessica Farrell shows up on Nate Rafferty's ranch five months pregnant with his child, he doesn't hesitate to propose. But the beautiful nurse can't believe this wealthy rancher will ever change his love 'em and leave 'em ways.

 

Nate tempts her into a monthlong trial run, and soon they're spending long days -- and steamy nights -- living in close quarters. But can he give Jessie the love she's truly looking for? The clock is ticking…

 

Very good book. Jessie and Nate have had an on-again, off-again relationship for more than two years. The last time that Nate broke things off, Jessie told him she was done and not to come back. Four and a half months later she shows up at his ranch to tell him she's pregnant, but doesn't expect anything from him.

 

Nate is one of six foster brothers who spent their teen years on the Last Chance Ranch - their only option other than juvenile detention after getting into serious trouble. He has avoided getting serious about anyone because he is afraid of turning out like his worthless father. But no matter how many times he ran from Jessie and his growing feelings for her, he always came back to her. When he finds out she's pregnant, he proposes, determined to do everything he can to take care of her and the baby. He's surprised when she turns him down, but talks her into staying at his ranch for a month so that he can convince her.

 

Jessie is wary of staying so close to Nate. She appreciates his desire to do the right thing and be there for the baby, but she has to protect her heart. She won't marry for anything less than love, and Nate's track record doesn't give her any confidence that he has the staying power she needs. But she can't deny him his chance to be involved, so she gives in.

 

Nate was pretty sweet in his attempts to convince her while keeping his promise not to pressure her. It wasn't easy for him to deny himself the closeness he wanted. I loved seeing him read everything he could find so he could try to understand what she was going through. His reaction at the ultrasound was priceless, as the truth about becoming a father hit him hard. Nate and the unicorn toy at the baby store was such a sweet scene. His feelings for Jessie continue to grow, though admitting it is still a problem. He knows he has to tell her about his past, but is deeply afraid that once she knows the truth she will leave him.

 

The time she spent with Nate was hard for Jessie. It was so hard because she wanted him, and being close was making her ache for him. She was afraid that if she let herself believe in a future together, he would leave again and her heart would never recover. She could see how hard he was trying, and some of the things he did made her love him even more. How much she cared was really brought home to her when she saw him compete in the rodeo and feared for his safety.

 

But it was a health crisis involving Jessie that made Nate realize that he couldn't lose her. I loved seeing him gather up his courage to tell her everything, in spite of his fear. Of course, he hadn't had the confidence in Jessie that he should have had, and he's blown away by her reaction. In return, his reaction to Jessie's tale about her parents is perfect. He deals with them awesomely. Seeing Nate finally believe that he's capable of being a husband and father was the perfect ending to the book.

 

One of the great things about the book was the frequent appearances of Nate's foster brothers. I love the relationships they have, with the fun and teasing, but also the immediate support when it's needed. I loved the reaction he got from Jaron when Nate told him the baby was a girl. It made me laugh and think of other men I know who have had the same reaction. It was also very emotional to see the way they all showed up at the hospital to support Nate while Jessie had surgery. The scene where they are all betting on Jaron's downfall was a great lead in to the next book.

I have a good friend who is the Meteorologist on the local news station.  She has to get up hella early. Luckily, we live in San Diego so she suffers little public rage of bad weather reports.  

 

One of my favorite things about Romance Novels is learning all about different professions. 

 

Here are some wonderful Romance Novels featuring Meteorologists!!

 

My lists are never in any particular order. Enjoy!

 

1. Let it Snow by Nancy Warren

 

When meteorologist Marisa Langley gets stuck in the cold with The Last Man She'd Ever Want to be Trapped with, survivalist cameraman Rob Sheridan, she can't begin to forecast how hot things are about to get between the two of them.

 

2. Winning Love by Abby Niles

 

Mac "The Snake" Hannon has spent years throwing himself into cage fighting as a way to lash back at the natural disaster that destroyed his future. A call for help has Mac returning to the one place he swore never to return: Kansas--in the height of tornado season.

 

 

There he meets free-spirited Gayle Matthews. At first he wants nothing to do with the infuriatingly persistent woman, but the crazy challenges she tosses his way are impossible to resist. As she thaws years of bitterness, bringing back the Mac he believed long gone, he starts to make peace with the past and see the future again. Until he learns she chases his worst nightmare--then he can't get away fast enough.

 

Meteorologist and storm chaser, Gayle Matthews is no stranger to being left behind and now believes in living in the moment. She wants to do just that with the handsome extreme fighter with the achingly sad eyes. As she works to replace the sorrow with desire, she finds herself breaking her one rule: have fun but don't fall in love. When he suddenly pushes her away and she discovers the horrifying reason why, she issues one more challenge: face his fear and come on a chase with her.

 

Will squaring off with the past lead to a victory for heartache or love?

 

3. The Weather Girl by Amy Vastine

 

Summer Raines knows when it's going to rain. She can feel it. That's why the local weather girl's so good at her job. Too bad she couldn't have foreseen the tumultuous arrival of Travis Lockwood, everybody's favorite star NFL quarterback. Make that former star NFL quarterback. Sidelined back to Texas after an injury, the golden boy is trying to steal her precious on-air time. Summer is reduced to reporting from… football games. It's enough to make her quit and become a storm-chaser like her parents. She's stuck with a career that's going nowhere and a man who delights in her refusal to be charmed. Falling in love isn't nearly as easy as predicting the weather.

 

4. Hell on Wheels by Karen Leabo

 

Roan Cullen isn’t used to feeling out of his depth. As a photojournalist, Roan travels the planet in search of trouble and chaos—and captures it all through the lens of his camera. But the woman leading him on his first-ever tornado chase makes him crazy. She’s subtle, mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous, and always in control. If the conditions are right, Roan could end up with some incredible photos—and a newly broken heart.

 

Victoria Driscoll is used to the “boys’ club” that is storm chasing, but the man she’ll be sharing the Chasemobile with for two solid weeks is unlike any of her meteorological colleagues—for a start, he’s far more handsome. But Roan Cullen is a brash risk taker, the exact opposite of Victoria with her precise measurements and forecasts. As tornado season ramps into high gear, the elements are all in place for a massive twister—and an electric, shocking connection between these two chasers.

 

5. Love Easy by Roe Valentine

 

News reporting is the main joy in Norma Hill's life. She is hell-bent on being more than a weather reporter, but new tyrant boss, Henry Chapel, doesn't agree. While she is following a news lead, Henry saves her from a handsy heir. His words warn her of danger, but his actions stir deeper emotions. Despite his gruff words, can she find the love forever absent from her life? Pompous and determined, Henry Chapel revives sagging rags and brings them to their former glory. When Lawson Publishing begs Henry to take over the Chicago Daily News, he is more than happy to comply; after all, it had been his favorite newspaper as a child. What he didn't anticipate was a fiery sass-mouthed weather reporter to contend with. He also didn't anticipate finding what he'd been looking for his whole life in the press room.

 

6. Impossible by Laurel Curtis

 

Veronica Russo chases storms, but runs from her past by staying firmly in the present. Unwilling to consider the possibility of a future, she’s checked out of life by using solitude and standoffishness as her armor and a sharp tongue and quick wit as her weapons.

 

Coleman Cade is a walking contradiction- just like his mismatched eyes. A rough and manly bull rider with a playful side. A ladies man with thousands of willing victims, but what he really wants is one woman. The right woman.

 

Will Roni be able to let go, move on, and find a way to fulfill her dream of having everything? Or will unsubstantiated choices and unresolved demons stand in the way of their happily ever after?

 

In order to overcome past tragedies and find true happiness- in order to have Everything- Roni needs to do one thing. Find the impossible.

 

7. It Happened at Midnight by Cait London

 

Michaela Langtry returns home to Wyoming seeking peace, and if she can avoid Harrison Kane II she might succeed in getting it. Harrison's cool composure and frustrating logic challenge Micaela, so she sets out to crack his carefully built shields. After all, Langtry women are known for being as bold as their men and Michaela is as much a Langtry as any of them...

 

...It Will Remain True Forever

 

Harrison counted on Michaela coming back to Wyoming where she belongs. She's always fascinated him with her passionate nature, and he enjoys pushing her to the limit. He's prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her where he can get his hands on her. But buried deep in the Rocky Mountains are secrets that are Harrison's alone. Can the powerful past rise to permanently destroy the fragile emotions growing between Harrison and Micaela?

 

8. Wrong Dress, Right Guy by Shirley Hailstock 

 

When a mix-up leaves Cinnamon Scott with a gorgeous wedding dress instead of a ball gown, she can't resist trying it on. MacKenzie Grier appears at her door to retrieve his sister's missing gown, only to be floored by this angelic vision and his own deepest longings. Sparks fly, and soon some enterprising folks are conspiring to give Cinnamon the perfect wedding—all she needs is a groom.

 

Mac had sworn off commitment. Then the Washington, D.C., journalist sees beautiful Cinnamon wearing white. Still, a man reluctant to believe in love is going to need a lot of sweet persuasion to get him to the altar. Luckily, Cinnamon's already got the dress.…

 

9.  Taken By Storm: WhirlwindUpsurgeWildfire by Kathie Denosky, Kristi Gold,  and Laura Wright 

 

WHIRLWIND by Kathie DeNosky

 

Josh Garrett refuses to let storm chaser Kacie Davidson track a tornado across his Texas ranch alone. He's going with her. Now Kacie faces head-on danger from the powerful twister and from the mounting attraction between her and Josh.

 

UPSURGE by Kristi Gold

 

When a devastating hurricane threatens Florida, Marissa Klein and her attractive neighbor, Dr. Greg Westbrook, seek shelter from the storm together. And as the hurricane rages out of control, so does Marissa and Greg's long-denied passion.

 

WILDFIRE by Laura Wright

 

After one unforgettable night together, Nora Wallace and Gabe London never expected to see each other again. But when Nora is trapped by a California wildfire, smoke jumper Gabe is determined to rescue her—not realizing he's also saving his unborn child.

 

10. Blue Water by Liz Hunter

 

Baltimore TV station's Chief Meteorologist Mariah Mattison badly needs a vacation. When a last minute vacancy opens on a two-week, crewed charter in the Bahamas, Mariah jumps at the chance, and accepts her casual co-worker's invitation, unaware that she'll be coupled with a strange man. Master sailor and yacht delivery Captain Simon Hatcher is dealing with his late father's business affairs when two couples descend on his newly-inherited charter business. Simon thought he'd cancelled all the pending charters, but the two demanding executive-types are insistent, and Simon sure could use the money. Life gets complicated when Mariah balks at coupling up with her intended companion, in favor of Captain Hatcher, and the allure of voodoo and deep diving entice the threesome, Mariah's friend and the two men, to leave the charter in favor of island life. The Caribbean heats up when the captain insists on showing Mariah the real sailing life and a lesson in love.

 

Do you have a favorite? Let me know! Vote on my Goodreads list: Sunny Skies! Meteorologists in Romance Novels

 

 

This isn't working for me. It's just not keeping my attention, and I don't find the premise or the protagonists very interesting

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: After the Storm (Book 7)

The tornado that tore apart Royal, Texas, ripped Paige Richardson's world to shreds. She lost her husband, and she expected her husband's twin, construction tycoon Colby Richardson, to offer a shoulder to lean on. But instead, he's distant. Why? What happened to the closeness they once shared?

 

For years, Cole has kept his distance, but now he's staying on Paige's ranch while he helps the town rebuild. It's only a matter of time before the feelings -- and secrets -- he's hidden all come to the surface.

 

Very good book and excellent conclusion to the series. When the tornado hit Royal, Paige's husband Craig was one of the casualties. His twin brother came to Royal to help with the funeral, and stayed to help the town recover. Paige had hoped to be able to lean on Cole a little, but he hasn't been very available. She had thought they were friends, but now she wonders what is wrong.

 

Back in high school, Cole had been interested in Paige, but her parents wouldn't allow her to date until after she graduated. Cole was two years older and promised to wait until after graduation and ask her out then, but he never did. Instead, she was pursued by his twin brother, and when she ended up pregnant, they were pressured to marry by their parents. Cole had kept his distance ever since, rarely returning to Royal.

 

When it's time to do repairs on Paige's ranch, Cole ends up staying in the ranch house with Paige. This is very difficult for him because he's never lost the feelings he had for her, but he won't disrespect her by making advances. He believes her marriage had been a good one, and he won't disillusion her by telling her of what had caused the rift between him and his brother. 

 

Paige had had a crush on Cole back in school and had been quite willing to wait for Cole to ask her out after graduation. But when he never followed through on his promise, she gave in to his brother's determined pursuit. Because of their parents' conservative views, she never really had a choice about marrying Craig, even though she didn't love him and was sure he didn't love her either. It wasn't much of a marriage, especially once she lost the baby that forced their marriage. Craig traveled a lot and she never got pregnant again. With his death, she has no real interest in marrying again.

 

Thrown together in the ranch house, both Paige and Cole discover that the old attraction is stronger than ever. Cole feels guilty about it, feeling that it is disrespectful to Paige, but resisting is nearly impossible. The attraction that Paige feels for Cole is far and above anything she ever felt for her husband. When a storm outside the house sets off a storm inside the house, they are powerless to resist. Regrets hit the next day, but it's too late to go back.

 

Both Cole and Paige spend a lot of time blaming themselves for what happened, and not wanting to admit that it was completely mutual. Cole's need to get his head on straight sends him out horseback riding, but he neglects to pay attention to what he's doing and winds up getting hurt. When Paige rushes to the hospital to check on him, Cole is full of painkillers and acting pretty silly. The fun continues at home as he recovers from surgery. The things he says under the influence have Paige thinking that maybe there's more than just attraction between them after all.

 

While he's laid up Cole comes across some information that shows just how much of a jerk his brother had been. It frees him from the guilt he had been experiencing about his feelings for Paige, and made him determined to show her how much he really cares. He is also equally determined that she never find out just how rotten Craig had been. But best intentions aside, Paige discovers a small portion of it, which makes her think she's been used all over again. It takes a very intent Cole to show her the truth and open up a brighter future for them together.

 

The epilogue takes place a year after the tornado, and we get updates on all the couples from the series. I loved seeing Royal's comeback and look forward to future visits.

The Cowboy's Way - Kathie DeNosky 2.5 stars I'm not even sure how I got this ebook if it's not even released yet and it's not my type of story, but whatever.

Kind of annoyed with Heather. Her ex's parents accused her of being a gold digger, so she's determined to never ever accept help of any kind from anybody for any reason. This goes well beyond "prideful" or "stubborn" and right into "fucking stupid"... Because it results in things like trying to take care of a working ranch all on your own, while sick with the flu, and carrying around a two year old the whole time. Or contemplating crossing the road that's underwater while driving a tiny sedan with a sick child in the back seat. Heather doesn't even have any friends, she's so convinced she has to (and can) do everything on her own, by herself, and alone. It's frustrating to read about somebody shooting themselves in the foot over and over again. If that horrible attitude weren't enough, she also gets offended by everything that comes out of T.J.'s mouth. She's rude and contrary. She doesn't want anyone else bonding with her son, as if she can somehow be the only person he'll ever need or come into contact with. She jumps to conclusions - I mean, leaps. She was about to move to another state because she refused to open an envelope and find out the truth.

It was simply ridiculous and I did not enjoy her at all. T.J. was a little slow on the uptake, but he made an effort. Heather was just a goddamn mess. Her son Seth, totes adorable, though.

Nothing special. Kinda boring really. Not much happens, aside from Heather being a moron. I was almost hoping a threat would appear, like some shady character wants to buy her ranch, so he starts burning down barns or taking shots at her. Unfortunately, we just get lots of Heather being a moron.