Title: Tempting the Deputy (Men of Marietta #1)
Author: Heidi Rice
Publisher: Montana Born, Tule Publishing
Publication Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Western Romance
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Amazon
synopsis
Tough, taciturn and wounded in ways that no one else knows about, Marietta rancher and part-time Deputy Sheriff Logan Tate is a man in total control of his life. Until he catches British photographer Charlotte Foster hitchhiking and ‘insists’ she gets a ride into town in his squad car…
After her run-in with Deputy Hardass, Charlie Foster is ready to ride her thumb right back out of Marietta the very next day. But that night, a trip to Grey’s Saloon fires up her imagination – and her wild side – when she overhears the town’s first responders panicking over how to come up with the money needed to repair Harry’s House in just 90 days.
Charlie has an ingenious solution to their problem, that might just require her to photograph twelve smokin’ hot guys naked. And, as luck would have it, also involves getting some much needed payback on Deputy Hardass–who isn’t too enthusiastic about participating in the calendar shoot.
But as he spends more time with Charlie, Logan can’t ignore the chemistry sizzling between them. Can a man who lives by the rules fall in love with a woman who breaks all of his?
♦ Personal Thought ♦After last February’s binge on Marietta’s Bake-Off, it’s good to finally read stories on the first responders. And I really like Heidi Rice’s way of bringing Deputy slash Rancher Logan Tate make it work with British photographer Charlotte Foster; even if I felt Charlie didn’t sound so British most of the time.
Tempting the Deputy set the tone of “Men of Marietta series” which would feature a few first responders who involved in Hot Calendar project for Harry’s House. Logan had his own reason to support Harry’s House, other than Harry being fellow first responder. The purpose of said house was something he wished to have when he’d been young. The revealing of Logan’s dark past had me stunned and speechless. I liked how the author didn’t make overdramatic phase on the revelation; and instead showing Charlie more grown-up conduct over it.
Also helping to spice up the story was Logan’s brother, Lyle who would have his own story next. Seeing him in this first entry to the series had me so looking forward to Flirting with Fire.
Having easy pace and even leisure romantic approach, the last chapter felt way too rushed for me with all the sudden development. Personally, to me it read as if the author’s running out of pages to conclude the story. So overall the last chapter seemed like a mad dash to finish line. That saying, I truly enjoy the start of the new series and certainly would follow each entries.
Title: Flirting with Fire (Men of Marietta #2)
Author: Kate Hardy
Publisher: Montana Born, Tule Publishing
Publication Date: March 28, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, Western Romance
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Amazon
synopsis
Meet Mr. July…
When meticulous rule-follower Emily Foster meets adrenaline junkie Lyle Tate, the last thing she wants to do is get involved with him–especially as her twin sister has fallen in love with his older brother.
But under his charming, reckless, sexy exterior, Tate’s the kind of man who rescues people. Can Emily break her rules enough to learn that she can trust Tate with her heart? And will Tate let Emily close enough to learn his deepest, darkest secrets and let her prove to him that he’s worthy of love?
The thing with multi authors series such as this one, sometimes I found the character went through changes from how he habitually acted and talked as side character in book #1 to the main cast in book #2 and vice versa. This applied to Lyle Tate, brother of hero in Tempting the Deputy and MC in this one.
Don’t get me wrong, both authors wrote nice story that connected closely with one another. I guess I just zoom in how Lyle in previous book didn’t use endearment like “sugar”or Logan always called Charlie by her full given name. That saying, I did feel the twins both acted and talked more British than Charlie did on previous book.
Flirting with Fire followed closely where Tempting the Deputy left off, with Lyle feeling added guilt over what he perceived personal failing to protect his brother. Kate Hardy brilliantly followed up on the issue of the Tate brothers past with another secret on Lyle’s side.
His custom to throw pet names aside, Lyle Tate was as likeable as ever – using glibness as defense mechanism to keep from getting hurt. Despite earlier impressions, I also find myself warming up to Emily.
This novella complemented earlier installment to the series and together served as nice closure to Tate brothers’s dark past. It’s no less heartrending than Tempting the Deputy, only from different perspective. As previous book, last chapter did feel sprint-like. But all in all, I say this series of “Men of Marietta” is off to a good start.
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