Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Texas Heart, #2)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Texas Hearts #2)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 878 ratings · 52 reviews

"New York Times" bestselling author Christina Dodd, whose first contemporary novel "Just the Way You Are" was hailed as "lively, sexy...nothing short of a success" "(Publishers Weekly), " presents her new novel featuring the Prestcott sisters.As the middle child, Pepper Prescott's rebellious nature helped her survive when her parents disappeared and she and her siblings we...more

Mass Market Paperback, 375 pages

Published December 26th 2006 by Pocket Books (first published May 25th 2004)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Have You Read This Chick-lit?

425th out of 464 books — 415 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-29 of 1,407)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 06, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dan Graham - son of a ranch owner, good looking, attracted the girls, cocky... at 17 he took a liking to rebel, new to town Pepper. She ignored him, and ignored him, until he finally figured out how to spend time with her - at her home, with her foster mother, baking cookies, working in the garden, helping out at the ranch, where they got to be friends... and at a party, in reaction to meanness said about her, Pepper snagged Dan, and they kissed him - and they spent a lot of time kissing... but...more Dan Graham - son of a ranch owner, good looking, attracted the girls, cocky... at 17 he took a liking to rebel, new to town Pepper. She ignored him, and ignored him, until he finally figured out how to spend time with her - at her home, with her foster mother, baking cookies, working in the garden, helping out at the ranch, where they got to be friends... and at a party, in reaction to meanness said about her, Pepper snagged Dan, and they kissed him - and they spent a lot of time kissing... but one night, they crossed into intercourse, and Pepper got scared and ran away...

Pepper Prescott - middle Prescott daughter, rebellious, tantrum throwing - at age 8, when her parent's were murdered, and the town separated the children, she ended up on the west coast in foster homes - she did not adjust well - but at 16 found herself with Mrs. Dreiss, in Idaho, who looked past the tattoos and the piercings and accepted and guided her, shared her love of her garden & of cooking. but when she had sex with Dan, and was overwhelmed with the fear of the future, she ran away - and for 9 years, she moved at a momen'ts notice, changing her name - but continued to send Mrs. Dreiss seeds and clippings of plants for her garden. And she's getting settled - in great part to the books written by General Jennifer Napier, who had a difficult childhood, a rebellious youth, and took control of her life. Pepper has a landscaping business, and she goes to a book signing with Napier - tells her own story to an apparently sympathetic Napier - and returns after the store closes with a book to sign for a friend - and thinking on Napier's advice to not let anything stand in your way, and seeing her car in the lot, heads to the back of the building... and overhears her assistant confront her about terrorist activity, and Napier shooting her assistant. She drops her books (drawing the general's attention), and runs - escaping - picking up her alternate ID & cash ... and 7 days later, she's in Idaho - going back to Mrs. Dreis...

Except Mrs. Dreis has passed away, she has inherited the ranch, and Dan has been staying at the ranch. Dan is recovering, both physically and mentally, from his last tour in special forces, where he took a shot in the gut & the family he was 'courting' for information is blown to bits - including their 4 year daughter... He had killed the terrorist's son, and was at the ranch to be the terrorist's target - to draw him out... He had looked for Pepper after Mrs. Driess' death, and both are very surprised to find each other there.

and Dan expresses himself with action - not even having the words in his own head - he kisses her right off, he feeds her Mrs. Dreiss' cookies, he gives her the hat that he had shyly gifted her with 9 years earlier, he overwhelms her with sex - taking control, and he watches her - at first suspicious that he is part of the terrorist plot, seeing through her lies (she does has trust issues), urging her to tell him the truth so that he can help and protect her... And Pepper is lost, wanting to trust her feelings, to trust him... he takes her to the cabin where they had made out many times (but is now fortified for the anticipated attack - along with all sorts of warning systems, and booby traps on the property)... and he gives her the letters that Mrs Dreiss wrote to her over the years... and Pepper feels anchored for the first time, and hears Mrs. Dreiss' voice encouraging her to tell Dan the truth - for his protection as well as to help her...

and in the meantime, Hope, Zack, Gabriel, and the butler are closing in... and though at first believed Napier's sincerity in helping them, quickly realize Pepper is in big trouble...

and when she goes to Dan - and tells him, he interprets her trust as her love - and expresses his love for her in passion (though it requires her submission to him , hmmmm)... and he ties General Napier as the last key in the terroist plot - and she is nearby...

and Pepper is scared - and tries to leave him - and he says hurtful, distrustful things to her - but he gets her to the cabin, and they unite as they hold the enemy (and there are a lot), and the backup finally gets there - and Napier is captured. and Hope and Gabriel are at the house - welcoming her, assuring her they were always looking for her - and Hope delivers the baby (yeah, Zach brought the midwife, just in case) - and Pepper turns away from Dan - and Dan makes her listen to him, to his regret, his apology, his challenge not to run like she usually does - and she defends Dan when Napier grabs a gun form her captor, shooting the gun from Napier's hand...

and she spends a week in Washington being debriefed (with Zach's lawyer right at her side)... she spends 3 weeks with Hope, Gabriel, and the new baby... and she tries hard not to think of Dan. But Hope sends her home - a friend from Idaho calls up and she is invited to Dan's parent's wedding - and Dan is sad, feels her presence but doesn't see her - goes back to the ranch - and she's not in any room he looks for her - he goes into his room to change - and the hat is on the bed -and he turns, and she is there reaching out for him. ahhhhh(less)

like · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook-version, romance-contemporary

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't have high hopes for this book, after being somewhat disappointed with the first in the series. I think Ms. Dodd's writing style is nice, interesting, even humorous and realistic. But there's something that feels lacking in both books of her's I've read. In the first one, the ending sort of felt rushed and fell apart for me. In this one I would say it suffered the same fate. For about the first half of the book, I enjoyed a great deal of it, the story line is well thought out, intriguing...more I didn't have high hopes for this book, after being somewhat disappointed with the first in the series. I think Ms. Dodd's writing style is nice, interesting, even humorous and realistic. But there's something that feels lacking in both books of her's I've read. In the first one, the ending sort of felt rushed and fell apart for me. In this one I would say it suffered the same fate. For about the first half of the book, I enjoyed a great deal of it, the story line is well thought out, intriguing, but after a point it feels as though the story is some sort of giant juggling act and some of the balls get dropped. I'm not sure what exactly could be fixed, but it just doesn't seem as tight or well-controlled as the first half. I hope this isn't a common occurrence in her books, as I rather like her otherwise.

I also probably liked this a lot better because Dan the hero is Special Forces Army. I am a sucker for military men! The relationship between Pepper and Dan was great, again for the first half of the book, then it went all over the place and I was annoyed. There's a part where Pepper is running away, once again, and Dan totally calls her on it, and in a fit of anger let's her have it. I loved this! Pepper deserved the dressing down, she was being totally cowardly and she needed to be put in her place. Unfortunately, Pepper twists it to make him feel bad because he's suppose to love her and can't talk to her that way. This is where the book really began to lose me. She was running away! The whole rest of the book she held this against him, and he let her! Coward was running away from danger, after promising to let Dan help her, to let Dan protect her, and she was going to run away and screw up the operation, putting herself and several others in great danger. He literally tackles her to keep her from running, and when he calls her out, Pepper someone turns it on him, as he much not love her, and she was only leaving to protect him. He has to beg for forgiveness and she still refuses to hear him out. A month goes by, she finally decides she can't live without him, and runs back to him. No words are spoken, no regret for treating each other that way, they just agree they are two wounded souls who need each other. Whatever and good luck with that.

There is one more in the series, I want to read it, hoping third time is the charm, and also to solve the mystery of what really happened to the parents and why the children were scattered like seeds in the wind, and what the town of Hobart, Texas is really hiding. God I hope I'm not disappointed by it, please let it be something really seedy and evil and well plotted. Is that too much to ask for?(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 12, 2009 Joy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christina-dodd, contemporary-romance, romantic-suspense

I liked this better than the first, whatever the first book had, this book contained twice as much. The suspense never let up once Pepper ran for safety in a little town in Idaho, where she fatefully met her old flame Dan Graham. Pepper is the opposite of her sister in attitude and physical looks, she's definitely stronger and she matched perfectly with Dan. There is little humor in this book but I still enjoyed their arguments. The drama and their life-defining moments brought tears, and their...more

like · see review

Jun 25, 2009 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pepper Prescott was orphaned at 8 years old.She and Her siblings were sent to homes across the country. She grew up wild and rebellious. Then, partially due to the autobiography of an Army LTC, she settled down and developed a successful landscape business. Pepper really want an autographed copy of the author's book, but she got to the bookstore to late for the signing so she waits in the parking garage to try to catch the author before she leaves only to witness the author shoot her aide when t...more

like · see review

Dec 14, 2008 penelopewanders rated it 3 of 5 stars

Taking a break from rings and books for work.

This was a fairly enjoyable read, but it did not grab me the same way the first one did. This may partly be due to the fact that I didn't have much time so read it in bits and pieces rather than in one fell swoop. Although Pepper was a promising character, once she got to the ranch things felt rather stagnant and claustrophobic... endless sequences of "I want him but it's a terrible idea" start to feel repetitive after a while. The flashes to the fami...more

like · see review

Dec 06, 2010 Ceej rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really would have given this a 3.5 if I could have. The story was much better than the first book. The relationship between Dan and Pepper was more "human". Although, her running away because he cared enough to look for her family, is kind of hard to stick with. Also the way General Napier kills her aide in a public parking garage is a bit over the top. A top general who's involved in espionage would take a bit more care than that and she definitely would be caught trying to capture the person...more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2010 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense

For my first Christina Dodd I was suitably impressed and will definitely read more. I picked up this author from goodreads friend Gina who is reading a lot of her historicals. That's probably where I should have started but Ms. Dodd has so many books on the bookstore shelves that I was intimidated and just grabbed one and ran. It turned out to be a contemporary in the middle of a series but is well written and kept my interest throughout. However, I skip sex scenes that don't add to the story so...more

like · see review

May 19, 2009 Juliana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romance

I'm not generally a contemporary romance fan, but Christina Dodd is one of my favorite historical romance authors so I've given a few of her modern books a try. Almost Like Being in Love is the second in her "Lost Texas Heart Trilogy" and though it wasn't as enjoyable as the first - Just the Way You Are - it was a decent read ... my time period of choice, however, remains the 18th-19th centuries.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Alysia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

I love getting free stuff and thanks to the Passion and Prose Conference for the amazing gift back of stuff. This was one of the many items in the bag.
I have never read a Christina Dodd book and had no expectations at all going in.
The story of a grown woman constantly on the run from nothing in particular and nothing "life threatening" not until she witnesses a murder seems a little off to me. Pepper Prescott is always moving changing her name and her looks to hide from her past. But we never r...more

like · see review

May 04, 2008 Ana T. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: traded, contemporary

This is the second book in a trilogy about 3 sisters and a brother whose family was split up when they were just children and teens. Their parents died in a car crash and were accused of having stolen money.

I read the first one in this trilogy last year and although it had some flaws I enjoyed it enough to pick the other 2 books.

Pepper is the middle sister and at the age of 8 she was put in foster care and away from her siblings. She has survived by using false identities and finding jobs as a l...more This is the second book in a trilogy about 3 sisters and a brother whose family was split up when they were just children and teens. Their parents died in a car crash and were accused of having stolen money.

I read the first one in this trilogy last year and although it had some flaws I enjoyed it enough to pick the other 2 books.

Pepper is the middle sister and at the age of 8 she was put in foster care and away from her siblings. She has survived by using false identities and finding jobs as a landscape gardener.

After attending a book signing by a famous author that she much admires she is the witness of a murder. The famous author, who is also a military general is accused by her aide of selling information to the terrorists and kills him in cold blood.

On the run after having been spotted Pepper returns to the ranch where she lived for a few years as a teen. She discovers that the woman who was her foster mother as died and her former boyfriend is around with his own agenda. Contrary to what usually happens in most books I’ve read lately I thought the suspense subplot was very weak. Pepper spends a lot of her time on the ranch worrying about the general being after her but there’s no sign of the general or any danger for a long time.

Also Dan was there as part of a plot to lure some terrorists but these don’t show up for most of the book. So basically it’s just the 2 of them and their recollections from the past. I think this part dragged a bit and they were too angry and didn’t seriously talked about what was upsetting them for too long. And when they do, they get mad at each other in a way that I thought was just to keep them apart for a while longer.

So actually there were 2 problems that made me give this one a C+: the suspense subplot needed to be more important to the story, if they were in actual danger it would be easier to believe they would bond and only trust each other and one thing leading to another; it seemed weird to me that they just went back to lusting after each other after 9 years while still not talking or trusting the other.

We already know from book 1 that Hope, the big sister, is trying to find the rest of the family and that there is more their parents accident than what was revealed at the time. So there’s a reunion when the family finds Pepper and I guess the rest will be explained on book 3.(less)

like · see review

Mar 31, 2010 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read this book in 2006 while on a road trip just before the start of my matric year. Only remembered I'd read it when my mum picked it up at the libary a few weeks ago and brought it home, not realisimg that she'd already read it. Seeing as how I was on a road trip when I read it, and I don't read too well in moving cars, I guess it's obvious why I'd want to forget it. But I have to admit that the story wasn't really bad and the tension between the characters made for engaging reading.

like · see review

Jun 22, 2009 Shea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

I enjoyed the second installment of this series more than the first. I really enjoyed Dodd's descriptions of the mountain landscape in Idaho and life on a ranch. This book had more excitement than the first. Not only is there a compelling love story but also terrorism and international intrigue as well. I found the sparring between Dan and Pepper entertaining and I wasn't sure if I wanted them to fall in love or beat eachother up. I would read the first book in the series first, but this one is...more

like · see review

Jan 02, 2010 Ry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, romance

Pepper Prescott ran away from her foster home when she was a teenager so Dan Graham wouldn't break her heart. Nine years later, she's back in the county and who does she run into? Dan Graham. But this isn't the Dan she remembers. This man is hardened by war and violence that most people can't imagine. Something is not quite right about the stories either tells the other, but what will happen when what they run from catches up?

like · see review

Mar 25, 2011 Kasey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, contemporary-romance, men-in-uniform, romance

This was another enjoyable read from the Lost Texas Hearts series. It didn't grab my attention as quickly as the last one did, but I was happy to see there were no comical rescue attempts this time around. I enjoyed our leading characters although they were to stubborn for their own good at times. It was great to see Hope and Zach again and look forward to them finding the rest of their family.

like · see review

Jun 21, 2010 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

The middle volume in the saga of the Prescott Sisters, this was a fun, action-packed read about the spirited middle sister, Pepper. It was fun and fluffy, but Pepper kind of annoyed me. Also, this book shed no light on the mysteries begun in the first book in this series, which left me feeling somewhat impatient.

like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007-2008

Pepper became a foster child at 8 when her family was torn apart. She later meets hott cowboy Dan and the rest is history lol. I expected a big talk at the end and was disappointed when it never came. Still a great easy read...

like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Jul 03, 2010 Ariel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this one , I would have liked to read more about Pepper when she was at the ranch in her youth . It was still really good though , probably my favorite of the series .. Not sure though . I would like to read a book about Gabriel . I don't have a lot to say about this book , but anything by Christina Dodd is worth reading in my opinion (:

like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This is the first of Christina Dodd's novels that I've read. Enjoyed every bit of it. Now I see it's the second in a series. Guess I'll be adding more to my TBR list.

like · see review

Feb 10, 2012 Natalie added it

Shelves: small-town, suspense

If you want a soldier-cowboy hero, this is your book! A romantic suspense, I kept turning the pages not to unmask the villan, but for the romance between Pepper and DAn. Very hot!

like · see review

Jan 28, 2009 Shelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed the continuing storyline about the family separated as children and placed into foster care, I found a hard time believing Pepper's current predicament. I did, however, believe everything she said about rejecting love, just not the predicament with General Napier. Despite that, I couldn't put the book down. I kept waiting for the moment Pepper would be reunited with Hope, and that certainly did not disappoint.

like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 Misty rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

about as ambivalent about this installment as I was about the first book. Still not really sure if its the book I don't like or the narrator. Maybe its the female lead, she drove me nuts in this book! I think it could have been really good but Pepper just drove me batty! :)

like · see review

May 17, 2012 Tia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hea

I enjoyed the book, but pepper was such a stubborn brat. Definitely not my favorite kind of character.

like · see review

Oct 14, 2011 Lindie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read. I liked it better than the first although I do like the continuing story line. I would recommend it.

like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 03-2013, 2013, audiobook, library-download, trilogies, zbook-2, stars-3

Pepper Prescott
Dan Graham

Not as great as the first story but still pretty good. Found it to have a bit too much filler in the middle but a very good climax. 3 Stars

like · see review

Jan 16, 2009 Meg marked it as to-read

I was reading this when i discovered Twilight....never finished but i want to!

like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Christy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is my favorite book of the series but that's probably because I love Pepper the best!!! Thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it!!!

like · see review

Jul 21, 2010 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

very light read. a little silly at times. didn't realize this was 2nd in a series of 3. i might go back and read #1.

like · see review

Mar 29, 2013 Me Lin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2-stars, modern, just-a-story

Not a bad follow up to a mediocre series opener.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 46 47 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (19)

More editions...

Genres

Romance

73 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

45 users

Contemporary

27 users

Romance > Romantic Suspense

10 users

Suspense

8 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

6 users

Modern

4 users

Romance > Historical Romance

3 users

Adult

3 users

Mystery > Crime

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Along Came Trouble
by Sherryl Woods
Shadow Dance
by Susan Andersen
Pink Jinx
by Sandra Hill
Dirty Sexy Knitting
by Christie Ridgway
Gone With the Nerd
by Vicki Lewis Thompson

About Christina Dodd

Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. As she was growing up, she read everything, but discovered, because she likes humor, that she liked romance best. In romance, the relationship between one man and one woman holds center stage, and that’s always good for a laugh.

A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on m...more

More about Christina Dodd...

Books by Christina Dodd

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Almost Like Being...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Almost Like Being in Love
avg rating	preview: Almost Like Being in Love Goodreads rating: 3.71 (878 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/358851.Almost_Like_Being_in_Love?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1174076627l/358851.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/358851.Almost_Like_Being_in_Love?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Almost Like Being in Love by Christina Dodd[/url]

Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Texas Hearts #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website