This is another book towards this month's challenge ~ New to You ~ and I chose it for a couple of reasons. Chief among them, I guess, is that Donna Alward is a fellow Albertan! I'm thrilled to know that, only about 3½ hours south of me live a number of Harlequin authors... who knew? Not me. So I've decided to celebrate the authors that live in my home province ... and other Canadians too! ... and what a better way to do that than to explore their books.
Well, I'm very definitely adding Donna Alward to my list of favourites and autobuy authors, along with Vivi Anna, whose books I've enjoyed this past year already. Next on my list is CJ Carmichael... among others ~ and I will list them as I figure out just who they all are. 
RATING:
Excellence: Great to Excellent ~ 3.5 stars
Steaminess: Romantic
BOOK READ:
Donna Alward; Marriage at Circle M; HR #3978; September 2007
FROM the BACK:
Secrets are hard to keep in a small town...
But Grace Lundquist is determined to hide her pain. Hardworking and always cheerful, she's the town's sweetheart. Everybody loves her....
Grace knows that one man isn't fooled. When Mike Gardner looks at her, she feels he can see right into her soul. But try as she might to keep the strong, gorgeous cowboy out of her business, Grace can't douse the spark between them....
MY NOTES:
I admit it, I'm a fan of cowboy stories, and this story is a perfect example why. Cowboys are strong, often solitary, people and Mike is no exception. His rootless childhood, never long with a foster family or having anyone that really cared, have all combined to teach him that love isn't for him. But Grace, over the years, had snuck under the fence he had built around his heart. The only problem is that both his leaving years ago and the loss of all her dreams have left her fighting to be on her own. No longer open to a future, she's been hiding away... but now, with Mike looking to settle, she's finding that he's repaying her in kind. Now, he's the one working to find a way into her life. Wonderful and emotional, humourous and serious, this story has it all... what a wonderful treat!! Now I'm on the lookout for the book preceding this and the rest following ~ fun!
Books read in March: 3
Har / Sil ~ 3
Others ~ 0
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Kalyko....
Oh, thanks so much! I'm so glad you liked it.
CJ has Dad Next Door which was out in February, get it quick! It's next on my own tbr.
CHeers,
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
I enjoyed this one, I like
I enjoyed this one, I like cowboy and western romances too. You are right. I had not thought of the solitary aspect before but you are rightand it appeals to me too. I love solitude. I got Donna Alward's next HR in the mail and am reading as fast as I can to catch up. Lots of authors I like in that month plus some new ones.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
Hi Donna,
.. you're very welcome. I'm looking forward to finding the other related books... and being able to visualize the scenery and the places, wow...that's awesome!
I'm reading one of CJ's books right now that I came across awhile back. It's the third book in her Shannon Sisters series... figures, I very, very rarely start at the beginning! But that's not a problem for me. I'm really enjoying it as well and I've actually got her latest book in my TBR... I love that Zellers has the "pay the US price" plus the usual 25% off... talk about a nicer way to buy new books.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Merri... I love how you phrased that...
"... reading as fast as I can to catch up." 'cause that's a constant goal. Of course it would probably help if I didn't keep going out and finding more books that I just need to have.... but what fun would that be, eh?
And while I love cowboys and their stories, in real life it'd kill me... severe allergies to horses, etc just would not be conducive to a relationship... so I doubly enjoy stories like Donna's.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
RE: MARRIAGE AT CIRCLE 'M' ~Donna Alward~
To me, one of the truly distinct treasures of the book was that the cowpokes are from Canada. I've always known there were Cowboys and C&W cats in Canada, but to see stories about it is cool. The same is true for Argentina, Australia, and even UK areas like Britian! Contrary to popular thought, it is NOT a uniquely American phenomenon.
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
I never even thought of that Marty,
... but what an excellent point. And, now that you mention it, I've read one or two 'cowboy' stories set in Argentina... years and years ago, now, but they are out there.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
us prices
I noticed that in a lot of places I got to now. the PO that I normally go to is in a small gift shop and they have a sign up that states "all cards and magazines are in Us prices"
I have this one and her latest in the TBR pile, now I just need more reading hours in the day
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
Christa, more hours in the day...
... to READ... would be wonderful!!
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!