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The Canyon #1
Long, Hot Texas Summer
A sassy redhead with an axe to grind…
After catching her husband kissing another woman in the barn, Loretta Sullivan Bailey left Lonesome Canyon Ranch and swore she’d never come back. But when her daughter threatens to drop out of college to become a rancher’s wife, Loretta refuses to let her baby make the same mistake she did. She returns to the ranch, determined to get her daughter back in school by the summer’s end…and resolute on ignoring her feelings for her ex-husband.
A bullheaded but oh so sexy cowboy…
A cowboy from his hat to his boots, ruggedly handsome rancher Jackson Bailey is none too pleased that his feisty—and gorgeous—ex-wife has suddenly shown up seventeen years after their divorce. But despite all their fighting and fussing, the two stubborn former lovers soon discover that old flames burn the hottest. Can they finally put aside their differences and find happiness together…forever?
After catching her husband kissing another woman in the barn, Loretta Sullivan Bailey left Lonesome Canyon Ranch and swore she’d never come back. But when her daughter threatens to drop out of college to become a rancher’s wife, Loretta refuses to let her baby make the same mistake she did. She returns to the ranch, determined to get her daughter back in school by the summer’s end…and resolute on ignoring her feelings for her ex-husband.
A bullheaded but oh so sexy cowboy…
A cowboy from his hat to his boots, ruggedly handsome rancher Jackson Bailey is none too pleased that his feisty—and gorgeous—ex-wife has suddenly shown up seventeen years after their divorce. But despite all their fighting and fussing, the two stubborn former lovers soon discover that old flames burn the hottest. Can they finally put aside their differences and find happiness together…forever?
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2014
2986 people are currently reading
2315 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Brown
181 books4,117 followersHi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
January 3, 2016
Long, Hot Texas Summer is my second Carolyn Brown story and this one did not disappoint. I love her take on romance. She writes smart, feisty heroines and sexy, sweet cowboys! Giddy up!
Loretta is on her way back to Lonesome Canyon Ranch after being gone for seventeen years. She married young and after four years of marriage she left with her daughter and a broken heart. Loretta hasn’t looked back since, or at least that’s what she tells herself, but necessity forces her to return. Her twenty-one year old daughter, Nona, is has announced her plans to stay on at Lonesome Canyon, learn ranching so that she can take over someday when she inherits the ranch. Loretta is determined to convince her to come back to Oklahoma and finish college. She doesn’t care if she has to face Jackson, her ex-husband, or the sparks he still ignites when she sees him. Loretta’s not giving up on her daughter’s future.
Both Jackson and Loretta have regrets with how things played out in the past. They married young when Loretta found out she was pregnant at eighteen, and they let the horrible influence of Jackson’s mother put doubt in their minds which undermined their relationship. They both know they should’ve fought harder to save their marriage, but Loretta thinks that’s water under the bridge and they can’t go back. Jackson has other ideas:
It was his fault that Loretta left; it was hers that she hadn’t fought for their marriage. But this was a second chance, the only one he might ever get, and he damn sure wasn’t going to blow it.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine, and Jackson and Loretta’s was the kind of love that only comes once in a lifetime. No other person ever came close to igniting the same powerful feelings in either of them, and you could feel the tension crackling in the air every time they were together!
I’m as attracted to you as I was in the fifth grade, Loretta, and ever’ bit as much as I was in high school. I’ve measured every woman I’ve gone out with by your yardstick and they came up lacking.
I yearned for them to fight out the past and patch things up. I was happy that Loretta and Jackson weren’t childish in their interactions and yet still managed to speak their mind and be honest.
The heat of the summer, the smell of hay, the beauty of a Texas sunset, and the hard, satisfying work on a ranch came to life through Ms. Brown’s writing. I felt I was living and breathing it, as well!
I can tell Carolyn Brown is a smart cookie when it comes to relationships and love, it shows in her romance writing. I love her portrayal of ranch life and sexy cowboys, and I can’t wait to dive into another of her cowboy stories!
Loretta is on her way back to Lonesome Canyon Ranch after being gone for seventeen years. She married young and after four years of marriage she left with her daughter and a broken heart. Loretta hasn’t looked back since, or at least that’s what she tells herself, but necessity forces her to return. Her twenty-one year old daughter, Nona, is has announced her plans to stay on at Lonesome Canyon, learn ranching so that she can take over someday when she inherits the ranch. Loretta is determined to convince her to come back to Oklahoma and finish college. She doesn’t care if she has to face Jackson, her ex-husband, or the sparks he still ignites when she sees him. Loretta’s not giving up on her daughter’s future.
Both Jackson and Loretta have regrets with how things played out in the past. They married young when Loretta found out she was pregnant at eighteen, and they let the horrible influence of Jackson’s mother put doubt in their minds which undermined their relationship. They both know they should’ve fought harder to save their marriage, but Loretta thinks that’s water under the bridge and they can’t go back. Jackson has other ideas:
It was his fault that Loretta left; it was hers that she hadn’t fought for their marriage. But this was a second chance, the only one he might ever get, and he damn sure wasn’t going to blow it.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine, and Jackson and Loretta’s was the kind of love that only comes once in a lifetime. No other person ever came close to igniting the same powerful feelings in either of them, and you could feel the tension crackling in the air every time they were together!
I’m as attracted to you as I was in the fifth grade, Loretta, and ever’ bit as much as I was in high school. I’ve measured every woman I’ve gone out with by your yardstick and they came up lacking.
I yearned for them to fight out the past and patch things up. I was happy that Loretta and Jackson weren’t childish in their interactions and yet still managed to speak their mind and be honest.
The heat of the summer, the smell of hay, the beauty of a Texas sunset, and the hard, satisfying work on a ranch came to life through Ms. Brown’s writing. I felt I was living and breathing it, as well!
I can tell Carolyn Brown is a smart cookie when it comes to relationships and love, it shows in her romance writing. I love her portrayal of ranch life and sexy cowboys, and I can’t wait to dive into another of her cowboy stories!
May 31, 2022
2.5/5. Loretta and Jackson married young after she fell pregnant at 18. Theirs was a case of puppy love turned the real deal, or so Loretta had thought until she caught Jackson making out with a local girl in the barn whereupon she promptly packed up herself and their little toddler and left town with nary a glance back. Seventeen years later, she is forced to return back to their Texan ranch in order to persuade their now 21 year old daughter to give up ranching and return to college to finish her degree. The years have been kind to Jackson, who naturally has matured splendidly into an attractive and self-assured man in his prime. Resentment and hurt makes a volatile mixture when sizzling sexual attraction is added to the pot.
I love second chance romances. There is so much greater potential for intense angst when there's an interesting backstory. This just didn't work for me on so many levels. Perhaps the audible version is guilty of portraying the heroine as more brassy and coarse than the author intended, but it certainly gave me a less than favourable impression of her. She came crashing into the scene and immediately started to slut-shame Jackson's date - a lovely, sensible lady, who wisely did not want a bar of the whole drama. Loretta then also proceeded to slut-shame and place the majority of the blame of their marital breakdown on another woman, who certainly shamelessly offered her wares to Jackson. However, Jackson flirted with her and other women during their marriage and had organised for a sexual rendezvous with this OW, and since he was the one with the ring on his finger, he should have shouldered most of the blame. He never really took responsibility for his actions nor expressed genuine remorse. Instead, he gave some flimsy excuse of trying to make Loretta jealous with his flirtations and was happy for the OW to be the villain. Then why set up secret meetings in the barn with the full intention of going all the way with OW, if the purpose was to recapture Loretta's attention following the birth of their child? How many times have married men used this excuse for infidelity, because the wives were too busy with work, looking after the daily needs of their children and the bloody husbands to take time out to stimulate said husbands' sagging egos and body parts?
Furthermore, their daughter also let loose on a girl who was caught unzipping the boyfriend's pants. Once again, all the blame was heaped on this other girl, who might not even have known the guy was taken. Why was the boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend to come and peel this woman off him? Was he not capable himself of slapping the woman's hand away and step back way before it got to that point? The author and these females in the book was too ready to provide excuses for their menfolk to stray thereby enabling them in their sordid activities.
And why was Loretta trying to hypocritically lord over her daughter, when the latter is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions? Their lack of concern and care for their longtime loyal housekeeper/cook is also quite astonishing. She's 80 and naturally weary of attending to their needs but instead of giving her a generous pension years ago and looking after her needs, they whinged about her wish to retire. Loretta's mother and sisters were awful. Most characters really were quite unlikeable except for the housekeeper and the elderly neighbour. There's plenty of lusty feelings between Loretta and Jackson, but I didn't really sense genuine affection between them.
I love second chance romances. There is so much greater potential for intense angst when there's an interesting backstory. This just didn't work for me on so many levels. Perhaps the audible version is guilty of portraying the heroine as more brassy and coarse than the author intended, but it certainly gave me a less than favourable impression of her. She came crashing into the scene and immediately started to slut-shame Jackson's date - a lovely, sensible lady, who wisely did not want a bar of the whole drama. Loretta then also proceeded to slut-shame and place the majority of the blame of their marital breakdown on another woman, who certainly shamelessly offered her wares to Jackson. However, Jackson flirted with her and other women during their marriage and had organised for a sexual rendezvous with this OW, and since he was the one with the ring on his finger, he should have shouldered most of the blame. He never really took responsibility for his actions nor expressed genuine remorse. Instead, he gave some flimsy excuse of trying to make Loretta jealous with his flirtations and was happy for the OW to be the villain. Then why set up secret meetings in the barn with the full intention of going all the way with OW, if the purpose was to recapture Loretta's attention following the birth of their child? How many times have married men used this excuse for infidelity, because the wives were too busy with work, looking after the daily needs of their children and the bloody husbands to take time out to stimulate said husbands' sagging egos and body parts?
Furthermore, their daughter also let loose on a girl who was caught unzipping the boyfriend's pants. Once again, all the blame was heaped on this other girl, who might not even have known the guy was taken. Why was the boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend to come and peel this woman off him? Was he not capable himself of slapping the woman's hand away and step back way before it got to that point? The author and these females in the book was too ready to provide excuses for their menfolk to stray thereby enabling them in their sordid activities.
And why was Loretta trying to hypocritically lord over her daughter, when the latter is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions? Their lack of concern and care for their longtime loyal housekeeper/cook is also quite astonishing. She's 80 and naturally weary of attending to their needs but instead of giving her a generous pension years ago and looking after her needs, they whinged about her wish to retire. Loretta's mother and sisters were awful. Most characters really were quite unlikeable except for the housekeeper and the elderly neighbour. There's plenty of lusty feelings between Loretta and Jackson, but I didn't really sense genuine affection between them.
June 9, 2014
Young love, betrayal and 17 years apart would seem like a sure fire end to ever making up and getting back together but what if you were given a second chance? Loretta and Jackson were kids when they fell in love, married and had a baby girl then one fateful day the floor drops out from under them. Fast forward almost two decades and they reunite for their daughters sake but come face to face with the reality they both played a part in how things turned out how they had. Through love that never really died and hope for righting all the wrongs and moving forward this couple will make you laugh, get mad and root for them to make it work. Throw in a sassy, determined to be a rancher daughter Nona and a feisty, don't give her any lip housekeeper Rosie and you'll be cracking up in no time with their no-nonsense approach to almost everything. There is a good story here and great characters with a lot of spunk, love and opinions that all together make for a great book. I think everyone can agree that somewhere in our lives we have all wished for a second chance now you can sit back and read about Loretta and Jackson's. Enjoy!
May 4, 2015
Ended up all right
This book was ok but not a favorite for one reason. The couple divorced 17 years earlier and throughout the story all blame was placed on her. She caught him making out with someone else and because she didn't stay and 'fight for what was hers' by literally scratching the other woman hardheaded it was her fault their marriage ended. Even her ex accused her of not fighting. News flash: a husband should never put his wife in the position that he expects her to fight for him and frankly i found that whole storyline disgusting. And fighting is meant in the literal term as in fists flying and hair pulling. Not my idea of a loving relationship.
This book was ok but not a favorite for one reason. The couple divorced 17 years earlier and throughout the story all blame was placed on her. She caught him making out with someone else and because she didn't stay and 'fight for what was hers' by literally scratching the other woman hardheaded it was her fault their marriage ended. Even her ex accused her of not fighting. News flash: a husband should never put his wife in the position that he expects her to fight for him and frankly i found that whole storyline disgusting. And fighting is meant in the literal term as in fists flying and hair pulling. Not my idea of a loving relationship.
December 14, 2020
Fun, light, cowboy romance!
June 11, 2014
The ultimate of ultimate cowboy romance authors has done it again! This time Carolyn Brown tells us of the story of Loretta Sullivan Bailey.
She catches her husband kissing another woman in a barn and leaves the place of Lonesome Canyon Ranch as fast her boots can carry her, swearing to never return. But she has no choice when her daughter threatens to drop out of college and become a rancher's wife.
Which mother let's her daughter make the same mistake she did? Definitely not this one, so naturally she heads back to the ranch in a heartbeat, the past be damned! All she has to do is focus on getting her daughter back in school and to ignore her feelings for her ex-husband, easy, right ?
Jackson Bailey is a real boot scooting, tight jean wearing tougher than tough cowboy and nothing scares him. That is until the moment his ex wife comes back. It's been seventeen years since their divorce and her coming back is so not what he had on his list of things to happen. There 's bound to be a lot of fighting and fussing to come but what neither one counts on is the blazing attraction that's still in the air. Can they turn away from the past and look towards the future or will it once again blow up in spectacular Texas style.
Like all previous Carolyn Brown reads this book was fun, spunky, sassy and romance at it's best! I adored all of the characters and the story of a second chance love was exquisitely crafted !
Both main characters we so much fun to read about, they both have their issues and of course the conflict was electrifying and such excellent entertainment I nearly died laughing. And mad, I got so mad at them both at times I wished I could shove them into a stable, lock them in and tell them to just get over it , sort it out and and don't come before you have sorted it out.
I really liked the idea of both characters coming around to the same conclusion of the past failure was not just the fault of one person but both. So often the books go either the way of the hero saying sorry and it's his fault or the other way around, but very seldom of both characters being at fault and actually being able to admit it, really nice touch Carolyn!
The secondary characters were just as wonderful as the main ones, from the sassy and very determined Nona to the absolutely my new heroine of the year, housekeeper Rosie, she takes no lip from anyone and she makes darn sure things go her way, it was highly entertaining.
I am taking away a message of everyone wants a second chance at happiness , or to get back that one true love that someone slip through our fingers. We don't always get that chance but when life places us in the position or as in the case of Loretta guides us back to the past, it is not the time to start running. It 's the time to re-think our actions and try to get over the past, for as long as we hold onto the past we will truly never be happy.
I highly recommend this read for anyone and everyone that enjoy a good old fashioned second chance romance read full of spunk, crazy humor, lots of entertainment and sweet and sexy heat, written by one of the most remarkable authors ever. A book so hot it beats even the hottest of hot Texas summers!
5/5 star review
" They generate more heat than the summer sun, the question is can they handle it? "
She catches her husband kissing another woman in a barn and leaves the place of Lonesome Canyon Ranch as fast her boots can carry her, swearing to never return. But she has no choice when her daughter threatens to drop out of college and become a rancher's wife.
Which mother let's her daughter make the same mistake she did? Definitely not this one, so naturally she heads back to the ranch in a heartbeat, the past be damned! All she has to do is focus on getting her daughter back in school and to ignore her feelings for her ex-husband, easy, right ?
Jackson Bailey is a real boot scooting, tight jean wearing tougher than tough cowboy and nothing scares him. That is until the moment his ex wife comes back. It's been seventeen years since their divorce and her coming back is so not what he had on his list of things to happen. There 's bound to be a lot of fighting and fussing to come but what neither one counts on is the blazing attraction that's still in the air. Can they turn away from the past and look towards the future or will it once again blow up in spectacular Texas style.
Like all previous Carolyn Brown reads this book was fun, spunky, sassy and romance at it's best! I adored all of the characters and the story of a second chance love was exquisitely crafted !
Both main characters we so much fun to read about, they both have their issues and of course the conflict was electrifying and such excellent entertainment I nearly died laughing. And mad, I got so mad at them both at times I wished I could shove them into a stable, lock them in and tell them to just get over it , sort it out and and don't come before you have sorted it out.
I really liked the idea of both characters coming around to the same conclusion of the past failure was not just the fault of one person but both. So often the books go either the way of the hero saying sorry and it's his fault or the other way around, but very seldom of both characters being at fault and actually being able to admit it, really nice touch Carolyn!
The secondary characters were just as wonderful as the main ones, from the sassy and very determined Nona to the absolutely my new heroine of the year, housekeeper Rosie, she takes no lip from anyone and she makes darn sure things go her way, it was highly entertaining.
I am taking away a message of everyone wants a second chance at happiness , or to get back that one true love that someone slip through our fingers. We don't always get that chance but when life places us in the position or as in the case of Loretta guides us back to the past, it is not the time to start running. It 's the time to re-think our actions and try to get over the past, for as long as we hold onto the past we will truly never be happy.
I highly recommend this read for anyone and everyone that enjoy a good old fashioned second chance romance read full of spunk, crazy humor, lots of entertainment and sweet and sexy heat, written by one of the most remarkable authors ever. A book so hot it beats even the hottest of hot Texas summers!
5/5 star review
" They generate more heat than the summer sun, the question is can they handle it? "
October 4, 2015
I wish the book had had better explanations and more emotion. A lot of the time I felt that there just should've been...more.
I feel some important emotional scenes were missing. Stuff happened and words were said but the there was little to no emotional impact in it (at least not that I saw). Sometimes I felt scenes were cut at points when there should've been more (since the awkwardness after some scenes is just as important--if not more--than the actual scene itself).
Also, Jackson is a straight ass for kissing Dina all those years ago. He puts a part of the blame on Loretta for not trying to work it out. However, I absolved her of any responsibility for walking out on his sorry ass when I saw that his reasoning was so dumb. His mother put doubt in his head and then he saw other guys looking at his girl so he decided to flirt with Dina to make her jealous? And then planned a rendezvous? Then felt she should've taken care of Dina when she saw them all over each other? Okay, I would've liked to see a real fight between them when Dina kept coming back (since it wasn't her fault either that Jackson was flirting back--Loretta said it right: takes two to tango). Oh and the best-- the best --part was that he had a paternity test done to see if Nona was his kid and that--surprise, surprise!!--Loretta hadn't been cheating on him.
Oh. My. God. I would've loved to see Loretta find out about that paternity test. Once it was revealed to the reader I was waiting for her to find out so she could've knocked Jackson on his lame ass for it since he definitely deserves it.
When Dina comes to Jackson and Loretta's ranch upon Loretta's return, I felt like there should've been more reactions and emotions but there just wasn't. I feel Jackson should've been putting in more of an effort to get Dina out of his house rather than sitting back and watching it happen.
Hell, Nona was putting in more emotion and had more of a reaction to the whole thing than he and Loretta were having.
It also seemed weird to me that Loretta kept her lips shut about the reason for their separation for a good seventeen years but soon after her return she's spilling to everyone? Made no sense.
Also, she finds out from Rosie that Jackson came to Oklahoma at least once a month for a full year following their separation (before he granted her a divorce) but Loretta says she never saw him and Rosie said he never did say what he was doing. I was hoping there would be a follow-up to this and Jackson would fill us in on why he went to Mustang/what he did and why he didn't call her or show up to talk to her in that time. BUT, I don't recall it ever coming up.
She muses about this later when she's alone:
Does she mean that he didn't call at all during that year? Then why does she feel guilty for "not returning any of his hundred calls" later on?
I feel some important emotional scenes were missing. Stuff happened and words were said but the there was little to no emotional impact in it (at least not that I saw). Sometimes I felt scenes were cut at points when there should've been more (since the awkwardness after some scenes is just as important--if not more--than the actual scene itself).
Also, Jackson is a straight ass for kissing Dina all those years ago. He puts a part of the blame on Loretta for not trying to work it out. However, I absolved her of any responsibility for walking out on his sorry ass when I saw that his reasoning was so dumb. His mother put doubt in his head and then he saw other guys looking at his girl so he decided to flirt with Dina to make her jealous? And then planned a rendezvous? Then felt she should've taken care of Dina when she saw them all over each other? Okay, I would've liked to see a real fight between them when Dina kept coming back (since it wasn't her fault either that Jackson was flirting back--Loretta said it right: takes two to tango). Oh and the best-- the best --part was that he had a paternity test done to see if Nona was his kid and that--surprise, surprise!!--Loretta hadn't been cheating on him.
Oh. My. God. I would've loved to see Loretta find out about that paternity test. Once it was revealed to the reader I was waiting for her to find out so she could've knocked Jackson on his lame ass for it since he definitely deserves it.
When Dina comes to Jackson and Loretta's ranch upon Loretta's return, I felt like there should've been more reactions and emotions but there just wasn't. I feel Jackson should've been putting in more of an effort to get Dina out of his house rather than sitting back and watching it happen.
Son of a bitch! The catfight had arrived. Jackson wasn’t sure whether he should sit still and hope the bullets didn’t hit him or to run for the hills.
Hell, Nona was putting in more emotion and had more of a reaction to the whole thing than he and Loretta were having.
It also seemed weird to me that Loretta kept her lips shut about the reason for their separation for a good seventeen years but soon after her return she's spilling to everyone? Made no sense.
Also, she finds out from Rosie that Jackson came to Oklahoma at least once a month for a full year following their separation (before he granted her a divorce) but Loretta says she never saw him and Rosie said he never did say what he was doing. I was hoping there would be a follow-up to this and Jackson would fill us in on why he went to Mustang/what he did and why he didn't call her or show up to talk to her in that time. BUT, I don't recall it ever coming up.
“You had your reasons and I’m sure Jackson had his that next year when he signed those papers. I swear to God all those times he went to Oklahoma, I thought he’d bring you back with him one of them,” Rosie said.
“He came to Oklahoma?”
“At least once a month for that whole year. He didn’t see you? He never did tell me why he finally let you have the divorce. Guess he had his reasons same as you had yours for leaving.”
She muses about this later when she's alone:
“I wonder what he did when he came to Mustang. Did he spy on me or watch Nona play in the yard? Why didn’t he at least call me?”
Does she mean that he didn't call at all during that year? Then why does she feel guilty for "not returning any of his hundred calls" later on?
May 29, 2022
Toxic theme - WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND
Carolyn Brown is from era that taught women to blame themselves and each other for men’s indiscretions. Two men in this book engaged in openly disrespectful behavior of the women in their lives and their relationships. One man went so far as to have intimate contact with another woman. Instead of writing female characters that say No to this, Brown barely slaps the wrists of the men and puts the blame on the other women and gives the female lead ownership and blame for her ex husband’s behavior. There is absolutely NO place for this BS. I won’t ever read this old lady’s books ever again and will advocate for her to retire her sexist, slut shaming, misogynistic, double standard writing!
Carolyn Brown is from era that taught women to blame themselves and each other for men’s indiscretions. Two men in this book engaged in openly disrespectful behavior of the women in their lives and their relationships. One man went so far as to have intimate contact with another woman. Instead of writing female characters that say No to this, Brown barely slaps the wrists of the men and puts the blame on the other women and gives the female lead ownership and blame for her ex husband’s behavior. There is absolutely NO place for this BS. I won’t ever read this old lady’s books ever again and will advocate for her to retire her sexist, slut shaming, misogynistic, double standard writing!
September 3, 2014
I enjoyed this novel. It reminded me of the type of books I used to read before all of these erotic stories etc came into play! I liked the writing style and I loved the references to Country music as I'm a fan.
The storyline was paced well. I'm not always a fan of how long a couple let things fester before discussing it and in this case it was left 17 years however, Loretta has well and truly matured since and this time around she is no pushover and can stand up for herself where 'the other woman' is concerned.
I liked all the characters and the 'country' feel to the story. Loretta and Jackson made a good pairing. The story was of course predictable but it was a good read and well written.
ARC provided by Netgalley
The storyline was paced well. I'm not always a fan of how long a couple let things fester before discussing it and in this case it was left 17 years however, Loretta has well and truly matured since and this time around she is no pushover and can stand up for herself where 'the other woman' is concerned.
I liked all the characters and the 'country' feel to the story. Loretta and Jackson made a good pairing. The story was of course predictable but it was a good read and well written.
ARC provided by Netgalley
May 6, 2015
Long, Hot Texas Summer was a great romance, and a fun one to read! I loved both of the main characters, Loretta and Jackson Bailey, and there was a wonderful cast of secondary ones as well. The storyline of this couple's second chance romance was a good one, and I enjoyed each second spent reading this book.
Loretta Bailey returns to Texas and Lonesome Canyon Ranch after seventeen years, determined to bring her twenty-one year old daughter, Nona, back to Oklahoma so that she will finish her last year of college. Nona is set on staying on her daddy's ranch, where she intends to join him in his business and wait for her ranch hand boyfriend's proposal.
As a an 18 year old bride, Loretta loved the ranch, but that changed a few years later when she found her husband Jackson kissing another woman in the barn. Loretta took 4 year old Nona, and went to live with her parents in Oklahoma, where she has since remained. Now that Loretta is back on the ranch, she has to make peace with her feelings for Jackson.
This was an entertaining book, and a very quick one to read. The ranch setting provided a scenic backdrop to the story, as did the country music that was mentioned, and the interesting secondary characters. I liked the banter between Loretta and Jackson almost as much as the chemistry they shared. It was touching to watch them find their way back to one another. This was a very satisfying story!
Loretta Bailey returns to Texas and Lonesome Canyon Ranch after seventeen years, determined to bring her twenty-one year old daughter, Nona, back to Oklahoma so that she will finish her last year of college. Nona is set on staying on her daddy's ranch, where she intends to join him in his business and wait for her ranch hand boyfriend's proposal.
As a an 18 year old bride, Loretta loved the ranch, but that changed a few years later when she found her husband Jackson kissing another woman in the barn. Loretta took 4 year old Nona, and went to live with her parents in Oklahoma, where she has since remained. Now that Loretta is back on the ranch, she has to make peace with her feelings for Jackson.
This was an entertaining book, and a very quick one to read. The ranch setting provided a scenic backdrop to the story, as did the country music that was mentioned, and the interesting secondary characters. I liked the banter between Loretta and Jackson almost as much as the chemistry they shared. It was touching to watch them find their way back to one another. This was a very satisfying story!
August 11, 2019
Hate is a strong word, but...
Here we are.
I love the premise of this book, but it broke my heart and not in a good way.
I gave myself a solid week after finishing Long, Hot Texas Summer to really let it marinate in my brain for a little bit.
Basically, I don't like or trust the main male character. I think's Jackson's full of shit and he's slept with Dina, probably several times. Otherwise, when she came to his house and yelled about how she was pregnant with his baby, he could have very easily disputed but he did not.
At the end of the day, this book is insulting to both men and women. A large part of the plot revolves around this idea that if a woman cares about a man, she'd better guard him like a dog and scratch the eyes out of any woman who comes near him. The man, on the other hand, has zero responsibility to remain faithful. Even after all those years, there's *still* a point in the book after the main couple have reunited where Dina, the very same woman he cheated on her to begin with and whom I suspect he's been messing around with for years - is hanging all over Jackson and he's just standing there.
I wanted to love this because I'm always looking for romance with older main characters, but honestly, as a woman around their same age, this book just left me a little depressed.
Here we are.
I love the premise of this book, but it broke my heart and not in a good way.
I gave myself a solid week after finishing Long, Hot Texas Summer to really let it marinate in my brain for a little bit.
Basically, I don't like or trust the main male character. I think's Jackson's full of shit and he's slept with Dina, probably several times. Otherwise, when she came to his house and yelled about how she was pregnant with his baby, he could have very easily disputed but he did not.
At the end of the day, this book is insulting to both men and women. A large part of the plot revolves around this idea that if a woman cares about a man, she'd better guard him like a dog and scratch the eyes out of any woman who comes near him. The man, on the other hand, has zero responsibility to remain faithful. Even after all those years, there's *still* a point in the book after the main couple have reunited where Dina, the very same woman he cheated on her to begin with and whom I suspect he's been messing around with for years - is hanging all over Jackson and he's just standing there.
I wanted to love this because I'm always looking for romance with older main characters, but honestly, as a woman around their same age, this book just left me a little depressed.
June 15, 2014
I received an ARC copy of this book and it was awesome! I loved Loretta and Jackson's story. Loretta is one sassy lady and as they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Nona her daughter is just as sassy! It's hard to write a review for an author as great as Carolyn brown is without giving away the story. So I'll leave it with this: if you want a story about true life and the ups an downs that go with it, you add some sugar and spice, then shake it up. That's how I feel about this book! I love a woman that's not afraid to speak her mind and a cowboy that's man enough to take it. This book was my favorite summer read. Thank you Carolyn for giving me the book to read. I will cherish it forever.
June 19, 2014
As usual, this book was great. It's McLintock! meets Sweet Home Alabama. I expect nothing less from Carolyn Brown. She makes you want to move to Texas, or wherever her current book is set. And if you are like me, you have to listen to every song she mentions, plus any other country songs that pop in your head. I like that she actually goes into detail about what being a rancher is like. And the cussing is always hilarious!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2019
This is one book that I wanted to love because I was born in Texas and I love the cover, but I just didn't connect with it. I didn't dislike the characters in particular but neither did I love any of them. I hate to say this but I listened to this one on audio, had no text version, and I really didn't care for the narrator. I think that's why I couldn't connect to the story.
In this plot there are Loretta, Jackson, and Nona (their adult daughter). When Loretta and Jackson were very young, she got pregnant with his child and Nona was the product. Loretta caught him kissing another woman so she up and took off with Nona...fast forward to the current day when Nona is in college but decides she wants to go "home" and be what she was destined to be: a farm worker. Loretta is bound and determined to get Nona's head back in gear to get her education.
The entire story is based pretty much around those life's issues, but of course there is also that one little problem that when Loretta sees Jackson again old feelings surface. Jackson seems to have the same "problem" because he also likes to flirt with Loretta. I won't say what does or doesn't happen between them, but both of them have Nona's interest at heart and Loretta did run off with her once so she just might do it again and leave Jackson in the dust...again.
Recommendation: I would say that I can't personally recommend this book but I really do think the narrator killed it for me (sorry if she ever reads this). So I suggest you read it if you are interested because it has some good reviews and you just might like it a lot better.
In this plot there are Loretta, Jackson, and Nona (their adult daughter). When Loretta and Jackson were very young, she got pregnant with his child and Nona was the product. Loretta caught him kissing another woman so she up and took off with Nona...fast forward to the current day when Nona is in college but decides she wants to go "home" and be what she was destined to be: a farm worker. Loretta is bound and determined to get Nona's head back in gear to get her education.
The entire story is based pretty much around those life's issues, but of course there is also that one little problem that when Loretta sees Jackson again old feelings surface. Jackson seems to have the same "problem" because he also likes to flirt with Loretta. I won't say what does or doesn't happen between them, but both of them have Nona's interest at heart and Loretta did run off with her once so she just might do it again and leave Jackson in the dust...again.
Recommendation: I would say that I can't personally recommend this book but I really do think the narrator killed it for me (sorry if she ever reads this). So I suggest you read it if you are interested because it has some good reviews and you just might like it a lot better.
June 1, 2021
4.5 stars
What a pretty cover, right?! I’m glad the story matched the cover 😍
Delightful characters. Sassy heroine. A certain hot cowboy and hurt feelings made this second chance romance a fun and cute heartfelt love story.
Carolyn Brown’s writing was so vivid that I felt like I was right there melting away from the heat of a hot Texas summer with them.
Loretta sounded just like a true Texas woman. Loved all the bickering and sparks seemed to be flying between Loretta and Jackson!
Such a good read.
What a pretty cover, right?! I’m glad the story matched the cover 😍
Delightful characters. Sassy heroine. A certain hot cowboy and hurt feelings made this second chance romance a fun and cute heartfelt love story.
Carolyn Brown’s writing was so vivid that I felt like I was right there melting away from the heat of a hot Texas summer with them.
Loretta sounded just like a true Texas woman. Loved all the bickering and sparks seemed to be flying between Loretta and Jackson!
Such a good read.
July 8, 2014
One of my favorite books to date....
Books like LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by Carolyn Brown are the very reason I read romance. They lift my spirit and make me run a gamut of emotions. In one word, LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER is perfection to me.
Divorced for seventeen years, after finding her husband in the arms of another woman in her own barn, Loretta Bailey returns to the Lonesome Canyon Ranch on a mission. Her twenty-one year old daughter Nona has told her parents that she no longer wishes to finish her last year of college. Nona would prefer to be a rancher and continue her budding relationship with her ranch hand boyfriend Travis, but Loretta will have none of it. Having not seen the ex-husband, Jackson Bailey, since Nona learned to drive herself to the ranch, Loretta is both out of her element and back home at the same time.
Handsome forty year old, Jackson knows he did his first love, Loretta, wrong when he sneaked off to the barn to lip-lock with local diva Dina, but after it happened, he thought Loretta would fight for their relationship, not hightail it back to her parents and siblings, taking their only child, Nona with her. As soon as Jackson sets eyes on his ex, he knows those intense feelings he always had for her are still there, but his stubborn and outspoken ex, Loretta has a one track mind, which only includes taking Nona away from the ranch and making her finish out her college career. Jackson finds Loretta to be more beautiful than ever and even more alluring with age and he wouldn't mind exploring a new relationship with her.
After spending time in her old stomping ground and having the perspective of a mature forty year old woman, Loretta realizes that maybe she didn't give Jackson the second chance he deserved. Maybe there was more than what met the eye when she caught him in Dina's arms. The fact that Loretta has a career and a contented life, or so she believes, is what prompts her to get Nona away from the ranch. She wants her beloved daughter to have more choices with her life than she thinks she had. Nona is one headstrong young lady though, and her parents are to thank for that. Nothing can sway this lady in love from her path to Travis and the ranch, but can Loretta and Jackson move on from their painful past and renew those feelings that put them in each other's lives in the first place?
As much as I would love to continue to tell you about this amazing story, I think I need to quit before I give too much away. As you already know, I truly loved LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by the indomitable Carolyn Brown. This book reflects the authors spunky personality, which I endlessly admire. Maybe because I'm of a certain age where romances between twenty-somethings now bore me that this story of two mature but lively forty year olds, just sang to me. The story between Loretta and Jackson is so real and the colorful cast of supporting characters just bring life to all in this Texas town and I wish I could throw myself right in there as well. I so highly recommend LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by Carolyn Brown to all. It has definitely jumped to one of my all-time favorite reads to date.
~KIMBERLY~
Books like LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by Carolyn Brown are the very reason I read romance. They lift my spirit and make me run a gamut of emotions. In one word, LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER is perfection to me.
Divorced for seventeen years, after finding her husband in the arms of another woman in her own barn, Loretta Bailey returns to the Lonesome Canyon Ranch on a mission. Her twenty-one year old daughter Nona has told her parents that she no longer wishes to finish her last year of college. Nona would prefer to be a rancher and continue her budding relationship with her ranch hand boyfriend Travis, but Loretta will have none of it. Having not seen the ex-husband, Jackson Bailey, since Nona learned to drive herself to the ranch, Loretta is both out of her element and back home at the same time.
Handsome forty year old, Jackson knows he did his first love, Loretta, wrong when he sneaked off to the barn to lip-lock with local diva Dina, but after it happened, he thought Loretta would fight for their relationship, not hightail it back to her parents and siblings, taking their only child, Nona with her. As soon as Jackson sets eyes on his ex, he knows those intense feelings he always had for her are still there, but his stubborn and outspoken ex, Loretta has a one track mind, which only includes taking Nona away from the ranch and making her finish out her college career. Jackson finds Loretta to be more beautiful than ever and even more alluring with age and he wouldn't mind exploring a new relationship with her.
After spending time in her old stomping ground and having the perspective of a mature forty year old woman, Loretta realizes that maybe she didn't give Jackson the second chance he deserved. Maybe there was more than what met the eye when she caught him in Dina's arms. The fact that Loretta has a career and a contented life, or so she believes, is what prompts her to get Nona away from the ranch. She wants her beloved daughter to have more choices with her life than she thinks she had. Nona is one headstrong young lady though, and her parents are to thank for that. Nothing can sway this lady in love from her path to Travis and the ranch, but can Loretta and Jackson move on from their painful past and renew those feelings that put them in each other's lives in the first place?
As much as I would love to continue to tell you about this amazing story, I think I need to quit before I give too much away. As you already know, I truly loved LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by the indomitable Carolyn Brown. This book reflects the authors spunky personality, which I endlessly admire. Maybe because I'm of a certain age where romances between twenty-somethings now bore me that this story of two mature but lively forty year olds, just sang to me. The story between Loretta and Jackson is so real and the colorful cast of supporting characters just bring life to all in this Texas town and I wish I could throw myself right in there as well. I so highly recommend LONG, HOT TEXAS SUMMER by Carolyn Brown to all. It has definitely jumped to one of my all-time favorite reads to date.
~KIMBERLY~
August 5, 2014
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review, thank you.
This book is about second chances. I don’t really like these types of books, but I really liked the way this book was written. Carolyn has such a great writing style, she knows how to draw you in and keep your attention. The love that Loretta and Jackson had shared is a hard love to kill. After Jackson got caught kissing another woman, Loretta left, as she should, with their daughter Nona. But even seventeen years apart, it goes to show that true love can and will concur all. All would be Loretta’s family and the hussy who thought to kiss her cowboy. The characters Carolyn has in this story are sassy, mouthy and if I ever needed back up, I hope to have them in my corner. Nona is so much like her momma, which makes for a really funny read.
After being divorced for seventeen years, Loretta Bailey is going back. Going back to where she left everything she called home. Her daughter Nona has decided to drop out of college and work on her daddy’s ranch. Loretta will not let her make the same mistakes she made at such a young age. So, Loretta is prepared for a fight; she’s got Jackson, her ex-husband to face and to get their stubborn daughter to listen to reason, her reason. “Just finish out the last year of college”, sounds fair to me. But, as Loretta drives down that dirt road to Lonesome Canyon Ranch, she is faced with the memories of why she left. Can she overcome her feelings that she may still have for the one cowboy that was her everything? Can she get her daughter to go back and finish college? Guess you better read to find out!
This book is about second chances. I don’t really like these types of books, but I really liked the way this book was written. Carolyn has such a great writing style, she knows how to draw you in and keep your attention. The love that Loretta and Jackson had shared is a hard love to kill. After Jackson got caught kissing another woman, Loretta left, as she should, with their daughter Nona. But even seventeen years apart, it goes to show that true love can and will concur all. All would be Loretta’s family and the hussy who thought to kiss her cowboy. The characters Carolyn has in this story are sassy, mouthy and if I ever needed back up, I hope to have them in my corner. Nona is so much like her momma, which makes for a really funny read.
After being divorced for seventeen years, Loretta Bailey is going back. Going back to where she left everything she called home. Her daughter Nona has decided to drop out of college and work on her daddy’s ranch. Loretta will not let her make the same mistakes she made at such a young age. So, Loretta is prepared for a fight; she’s got Jackson, her ex-husband to face and to get their stubborn daughter to listen to reason, her reason. “Just finish out the last year of college”, sounds fair to me. But, as Loretta drives down that dirt road to Lonesome Canyon Ranch, she is faced with the memories of why she left. Can she overcome her feelings that she may still have for the one cowboy that was her everything? Can she get her daughter to go back and finish college? Guess you better read to find out!
June 27, 2018
Loved this fun and feisty story! Loretta picked up her daughter and drove out of Lonesome Canyon Ranch seventeen years ago after she witnessed her husband kissing another woman. Now she has returned to talk her daughter into staying in college and not become a ranching woman. That also means facing her past and the only man she ever loved. Jackson Bailey has never stopped loving Loretta or regretting that stupid kiss that lead nowhere. Now he wants to show Loretta just how sorry he really is. This story had me laughing, blushing, yelling and wanting to be Loretta's friend!
June 25, 2014
Loved this story! Descriptive writing, fun and totally relatable characters, believable storyline, and some great humor. I adore strong characters and am a huge fan of cowboys as well as second-chance love, so this story did not disappoint. This may have been the first book I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last! Carolyn Brown has a new fan!
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2014
Another hit for Carolyn Brown.. She makes me want to sit a porch swing with a glass of ice cold sweet tea, and cuddlin up to a handsome sweet talkin cowboy...Can't wait to go back to Lonesome Canyon....
April 11, 2021
It just never drew me in. Too much blame was put on the two main females. And it jumped and left off at places.
July 31, 2020
This Texas summer is gonna heat up fast when Loretta arrives at her ex-husband's Texas ranch to drag her daughter back to college away from a handsome cowboy and a whole lotta future regret. Carolyn Brown writes feisty country gal and sassy romance like no other and I settled in the shade with a chilled glass beside me to appreciate this middle-aged summer second chance romance.
It has been seventeen years since Loretta Sullivan Bailey left Lonesome Canyon Ranch and if weren't for Nona dropping out of college, taking up with a cowboy, and stating she's going into ranching with her dad, Loretta wouldn't be back. Jackson Bailey was her childhood sweetheart and a teenage whoopsy pregnancy saw them married young and setting aside their dreams to take on spouse, child and work. Then she caught Jackson in the barn with a hussy and she grabbed Nona and ran all the way to Oklahoma. Her mad is still on and her temper frayed, but what has her really flustered is that after all this time, Jackson hasn't left her thoughts or her heart. Why didn't he come after her?
Jackson made the biggest mistake of his young life back then when he he got caught in another woman's arms. It never occurred to him that Loretta would leave and never give him a chance to explain. He deserved what he got and he's lived with that mistake ever since. But, here she is and he's ready to fight for what he ruined and let go. She was always it for him.
Nona knows she's in for the fight of her life when her mother shows up to drag her back to Oklahoma and college, but she's up for it. She's not Loretta's daughter for nothing. She loves ranching and she loves Travis even when he makes her as mad as fire. She has no idea what broke up her parent's marriage, but watching them tangle makes her realize that her mama's return might be more about the past than Nonna.
At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one. I like second chance romances, but some situations really stretch my credulity and patience. I knew there was seventeen years of silence since this pair broke up and it wasn't long into the story when cheating came up. How was this ever going to work for me?
But, I do love the author's stories and trust her to write her characters and relationships well so I gave it a chance. Let's just say that the truth was complicated and not as straight forward as it seemed. Just like I really could see how this pair needed the years to grow and mature. They really weren't ready the first time when they were basically teenage marriage partners and parents and their own parents weren't exactly supportive though they lived on Jackson's family ranch. In fact, the pair's relationship got some help breaking up.
Loretta has a huge head of steam coming into the story and I had to chuckle because she really thought she'd lock it all up in a couple of days, dust off her manicured fingers and head back home. It was obvious that she was projecting her own fears and disappointments onto Nona's life and she had to face all that before she could even deal with Nona.
Jackson screwed up, no doubt, but he knows that and works hard to show Loretta that she's it for him and always has been. He isn't a doormat by any means, but he's wise enough to let mother and daughter sort out their own luggage. He patiently waits for when Loretta is ready to have the heart to heart and the clear the air talking they needed to have. Meanwhile, he shows her that they still have that sexy fire together when she doesn't see herself the way Jackson does.
I enjoyed the setting and descriptions of life on a working ranch, the surrounding cast of colorful characters, fun times, sexy times, and the heartwarming moments. I read the second book in the series first and now I see how that all began when certain characters and their stories were introduced in this book.
All in all, it was a firecracker of a summer romance between a mature pair against a country backdrop. Those who enjoy cowboy romance or small town country romances should give this a try.
It has been seventeen years since Loretta Sullivan Bailey left Lonesome Canyon Ranch and if weren't for Nona dropping out of college, taking up with a cowboy, and stating she's going into ranching with her dad, Loretta wouldn't be back. Jackson Bailey was her childhood sweetheart and a teenage whoopsy pregnancy saw them married young and setting aside their dreams to take on spouse, child and work. Then she caught Jackson in the barn with a hussy and she grabbed Nona and ran all the way to Oklahoma. Her mad is still on and her temper frayed, but what has her really flustered is that after all this time, Jackson hasn't left her thoughts or her heart. Why didn't he come after her?
Jackson made the biggest mistake of his young life back then when he he got caught in another woman's arms. It never occurred to him that Loretta would leave and never give him a chance to explain. He deserved what he got and he's lived with that mistake ever since. But, here she is and he's ready to fight for what he ruined and let go. She was always it for him.
Nona knows she's in for the fight of her life when her mother shows up to drag her back to Oklahoma and college, but she's up for it. She's not Loretta's daughter for nothing. She loves ranching and she loves Travis even when he makes her as mad as fire. She has no idea what broke up her parent's marriage, but watching them tangle makes her realize that her mama's return might be more about the past than Nonna.
At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one. I like second chance romances, but some situations really stretch my credulity and patience. I knew there was seventeen years of silence since this pair broke up and it wasn't long into the story when cheating came up. How was this ever going to work for me?
But, I do love the author's stories and trust her to write her characters and relationships well so I gave it a chance. Let's just say that the truth was complicated and not as straight forward as it seemed. Just like I really could see how this pair needed the years to grow and mature. They really weren't ready the first time when they were basically teenage marriage partners and parents and their own parents weren't exactly supportive though they lived on Jackson's family ranch. In fact, the pair's relationship got some help breaking up.
Loretta has a huge head of steam coming into the story and I had to chuckle because she really thought she'd lock it all up in a couple of days, dust off her manicured fingers and head back home. It was obvious that she was projecting her own fears and disappointments onto Nona's life and she had to face all that before she could even deal with Nona.
Jackson screwed up, no doubt, but he knows that and works hard to show Loretta that she's it for him and always has been. He isn't a doormat by any means, but he's wise enough to let mother and daughter sort out their own luggage. He patiently waits for when Loretta is ready to have the heart to heart and the clear the air talking they needed to have. Meanwhile, he shows her that they still have that sexy fire together when she doesn't see herself the way Jackson does.
I enjoyed the setting and descriptions of life on a working ranch, the surrounding cast of colorful characters, fun times, sexy times, and the heartwarming moments. I read the second book in the series first and now I see how that all began when certain characters and their stories were introduced in this book.
All in all, it was a firecracker of a summer romance between a mature pair against a country backdrop. Those who enjoy cowboy romance or small town country romances should give this a try.
July 20, 2022
RATING 2* . nu una ca inceputul a parut oarecum promitator facand abstractie de ridicolul situatiei.
De ce am ales cartea asta ? Mai multe motive, niciunul nu a avut insa legatura cu blurb ul din care an citit primele doua randuri. In primul, pt ca avea TEXAS in titlu si pt maratonul asta aveam nevoie de o locatie. Motivul nr doi ..ca era la Kindle unlimited. Motivul trei a fost ca stiam ca e cu love iar ultimul motiv a fost despre coperta, ca a fost ok. Ca asa titluri am tot gasit...amanta din Paris, sotia grecului in Canada, o aventura nebuna in Helsinki si tot asa
Actiunea incepe cand eroina vrea sa isi impiedice fata de 20 de ani sa se casagoreasca cu un tp despre care ea crede ca nu e potrivit, pt ca asta inseamna ca fata sa nu termine studiile, ci sa se mute la ferma lui, care este langa ferma tatalui ei -al fetei-. Erona si fostul sot nu s au mai vazut de 4 ani, si au divortat in urma cu 16, cand eroina l a surprins in hambar pe erou, cu o alta fata, sarutandu se. A plecat rapid, cica pana sa apuce el sa se despeticeasca, ...asta ma face sa cred ca avea bagajeel deja fcte sau ca avea haine putine- si nu a vrut sa mai vorbeaca cu el. catva ani nici nu au mai facut o, vprbind doar despre copil , si cat mai putn posibil. si iata ca acum eroina se intoarce la ferma fostului sot fara sa ii spuna, ba mai mult decat atat, alege sa stea in camera de oaspeti din casa care ii apartine candva, si face o scena cand barbatul vine acasa cu o tipa cu care iesise in oras, pe motiv ca spera ca el nu isi aduce acasa femeile cat fiica lor locuieste cu el.
plotul a absolut aberant. 16 ani oamenii astia nu au vb , nu au incercat sa clarifice, s imediat ce eroina se intoarce la ferma, cei doi sunt unul gramada pe celalalt. si aflam ca de fapt socara ei a bagat raca intre ei/ ca ea a ascukttat soacra cad aceasta i a zis ca sotul ei o sa o paraeasca pt ca au facut un copil preaa repede si ca s a maritat c ea doar din obligatie, iar el si a crezut mama cand aceasta a zis ca sotia il inseala, ba chiar a facut un test de paternitate s si a dat seama ca fata era intr adevar a lui.
in fine..ani de comunicare deficitara, eroina ridicol de stuida si plot lipsa final fericit desigur, cand 16 ani mai tz astia o iau iar de la capat :))
De ce am ales cartea asta ? Mai multe motive, niciunul nu a avut insa legatura cu blurb ul din care an citit primele doua randuri. In primul, pt ca avea TEXAS in titlu si pt maratonul asta aveam nevoie de o locatie. Motivul nr doi ..ca era la Kindle unlimited. Motivul trei a fost ca stiam ca e cu love iar ultimul motiv a fost despre coperta, ca a fost ok. Ca asa titluri am tot gasit...amanta din Paris, sotia grecului in Canada, o aventura nebuna in Helsinki si tot asa
Actiunea incepe cand eroina vrea sa isi impiedice fata de 20 de ani sa se casagoreasca cu un tp despre care ea crede ca nu e potrivit, pt ca asta inseamna ca fata sa nu termine studiile, ci sa se mute la ferma lui, care este langa ferma tatalui ei -al fetei-. Erona si fostul sot nu s au mai vazut de 4 ani, si au divortat in urma cu 16, cand eroina l a surprins in hambar pe erou, cu o alta fata, sarutandu se. A plecat rapid, cica pana sa apuce el sa se despeticeasca, ...asta ma face sa cred ca avea bagajeel deja fcte sau ca avea haine putine- si nu a vrut sa mai vorbeaca cu el. catva ani nici nu au mai facut o, vprbind doar despre copil , si cat mai putn posibil. si iata ca acum eroina se intoarce la ferma fostului sot fara sa ii spuna, ba mai mult decat atat, alege sa stea in camera de oaspeti din casa care ii apartine candva, si face o scena cand barbatul vine acasa cu o tipa cu care iesise in oras, pe motiv ca spera ca el nu isi aduce acasa femeile cat fiica lor locuieste cu el.
plotul a absolut aberant. 16 ani oamenii astia nu au vb , nu au incercat sa clarifice, s imediat ce eroina se intoarce la ferma, cei doi sunt unul gramada pe celalalt. si aflam ca de fapt socara ei a bagat raca intre ei/ ca ea a ascukttat soacra cad aceasta i a zis ca sotul ei o sa o paraeasca pt ca au facut un copil preaa repede si ca s a maritat c ea doar din obligatie, iar el si a crezut mama cand aceasta a zis ca sotia il inseala, ba chiar a facut un test de paternitate s si a dat seama ca fata era intr adevar a lui.
in fine..ani de comunicare deficitara, eroina ridicol de stuida si plot lipsa final fericit desigur, cand 16 ani mai tz astia o iau iar de la capat :))
August 22, 2014
Four stars: A sizzling, hot summer you won't soon forget.
Loretta turns up the radio. The local country station is keeping her company and taking her down memory lane as she heads back to the place she swore she wouldn't return: Lonesome Canyon Ranch. Loretta hasn't set foot on the ranch for seventeen years, since the night she caught her husband, Jackson, kissing that hussy Dina in the barn. Loretta grabbed their four year old daughter, Nona, and left. Now, Nona is twenty one and refusing to finish her final year in college because she is in love with a cowboy and determined to be a rancher. So in order to convince her daughter to return home and finish college, Loretta is going to stay at the ranch until Nona relents. What she doesn't expect is for her traitorous heart to keep her there. Will Loretta survive the long, hot summer on Lonesome Canyon Ranch?
What I Liked:
*Once again, Carolyn Brown has delivered another hot, spicy cowboy book with lots of humor sprinkled in. This is a book perfect for end of summer. It has everything you love in a good cowboy romance. Hot cowboys, Texas ranches, headstrong women, and a sizzling romance. If you need something fun and spicy for a hot afternoon, grab this book.
*I adore Carolyn's female characters. She never fails to write a female that makes me laugh. In this book, there are three feisty, stubborn, cussing gals who will make you giggle. First there is Loretta. At forty, she is divorced and settled in to her real estate career. Seventeen years ago, she packed up her daughter and left her husband when she caught him kissing the town floozy in the barn. She refused to look back and never gave him the chance to explain. The years have gone by, but her heart refused to heal and find someone else. As much as she hates to admit it, her heart still goes pitter patter when she sees her ex husband. Her stubbornness might keep her from forgiving. Nona, her daughter, at twenty one, is just as head strong as her mother. She is determined to be a rancher and marry the cowboy who stole her heart. She has no desire to go back to Oklahoma and finish her last year of college, her mother will have to drag her off the ranch. Finally, there is the sharp tongued Rosie, the eighty year old house keeper. Rosie can whip up something delicious in no time and give you a good dressing down if you don't toe the line and follow her rules. These three gals make sure that there is plenty of sparks and hilarity throughout with their feisty comments and actions. Not one of them is afraid of a few cuss words. This trio made me laugh.
*The romance is sizzling hot. I loved that this was a romance born when the couple was ten years old and rekindled after the two realize the error of their ways and admit their mistakes. Jackson and Loretta have a long history and their chemistry is amazing. It was sad to see that they were torn apart due to their own insecurities and bull headedness, but thankfully, a second chance is in the stars for them. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them try to deny their attraction. This is a hot, hot romance and so fun. Loved it! Sometimes you can go back.
*The Texas setting was fantastic. Ms. Brown always manages to make her Texas ranches come alive in her books. I could almost feel the dry, dusty heat while reading this. I not only liked the Texas setting, but I also enjoyed the small town setting. There is just something so cozy about a small town where everyone knows everyone and they all have long memories. It was fun to watch Loretta walk down memory lane and see how little things had changed since she was a teenager. The folks in the town are memorable, my favorite being Ezra, the eccentric old man. I get the feeling that book two is going to be all about Ezra and his kin, and it is set up to be hilarious.
*I appreciated the way that Ms. Brown wove in lots of well known country songs current and past into the book. It gave it more flavor, and I liked the way the music seemed to reflect the characters' lives.
I love that with Ms. Brown's books, I get a complete story, a fantastic romance and a happy ending with no loose ends. *Even though this is the first in the series, there aren't any lingering questions. I love that about Ms. Brown's books.
And The Not So Much:
*There was one scene that I wished was in the book. Loretta is feeling rather blue, so her high school best friends proceed to get her drunk at eight in the morning, and Loretta does some drunk dialing. I think this scene would have been hilarious, so I am not sure why it wasn't in the book. Instead the reader gets a brief recount of what went down.
*Both Jackson and Loretta make some immature decisions and their stubbornness causes them to split up. I was curious as to why Jackson didn't fight harder to win Loretta back. Why didn't he ever talk to her afterwards, especially on all those trips he took to Oklahoma? Was he too embarrassed? Worried of rejection? It wasn't clear as to why he gave up so easily.
*Ezra was a fascinating character. I wanted to know him better. I am hoping that the next book is going to be about Ezra and his kin. There were some tantalizing threads laid down for what I hope is going to be an entertaining companion novel.
Long, Hot Texas Summer is my favorite Carolyn Brown book to date. This book is all kinds of fun with its head strong, feisty females, sizzling romance and entertaining story. Loretta proves that sometimes you can go back and get a second chance. There is never a dull moment in this one. If you are looking for a light, breezy romance to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon, grab this one. I assure you that you will laugh and smile.
Favorite Quotations:
"Loretta shot a mean look his way, but he reached up and pretended to catch the look and shove it in his pocket. "I'll keep that one for later when I need to remember how mean you are."
"History couldn't be changed no matter how much anger was applied. But that did not mean history had to be repeated---bot even if a physical attraction would die."
"If a sock falls in the forest and no one is there to pick it up, does it make a noise?"
"If a man throws his clothes toward the hamper and he doesn't have a wife, the next closest female will bitch about it," she said."
"They say that you can't believe anything a woman says when she's drinkin' or what a man says when he's having sex."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Loretta turns up the radio. The local country station is keeping her company and taking her down memory lane as she heads back to the place she swore she wouldn't return: Lonesome Canyon Ranch. Loretta hasn't set foot on the ranch for seventeen years, since the night she caught her husband, Jackson, kissing that hussy Dina in the barn. Loretta grabbed their four year old daughter, Nona, and left. Now, Nona is twenty one and refusing to finish her final year in college because she is in love with a cowboy and determined to be a rancher. So in order to convince her daughter to return home and finish college, Loretta is going to stay at the ranch until Nona relents. What she doesn't expect is for her traitorous heart to keep her there. Will Loretta survive the long, hot summer on Lonesome Canyon Ranch?
What I Liked:
*Once again, Carolyn Brown has delivered another hot, spicy cowboy book with lots of humor sprinkled in. This is a book perfect for end of summer. It has everything you love in a good cowboy romance. Hot cowboys, Texas ranches, headstrong women, and a sizzling romance. If you need something fun and spicy for a hot afternoon, grab this book.
*I adore Carolyn's female characters. She never fails to write a female that makes me laugh. In this book, there are three feisty, stubborn, cussing gals who will make you giggle. First there is Loretta. At forty, she is divorced and settled in to her real estate career. Seventeen years ago, she packed up her daughter and left her husband when she caught him kissing the town floozy in the barn. She refused to look back and never gave him the chance to explain. The years have gone by, but her heart refused to heal and find someone else. As much as she hates to admit it, her heart still goes pitter patter when she sees her ex husband. Her stubbornness might keep her from forgiving. Nona, her daughter, at twenty one, is just as head strong as her mother. She is determined to be a rancher and marry the cowboy who stole her heart. She has no desire to go back to Oklahoma and finish her last year of college, her mother will have to drag her off the ranch. Finally, there is the sharp tongued Rosie, the eighty year old house keeper. Rosie can whip up something delicious in no time and give you a good dressing down if you don't toe the line and follow her rules. These three gals make sure that there is plenty of sparks and hilarity throughout with their feisty comments and actions. Not one of them is afraid of a few cuss words. This trio made me laugh.
*The romance is sizzling hot. I loved that this was a romance born when the couple was ten years old and rekindled after the two realize the error of their ways and admit their mistakes. Jackson and Loretta have a long history and their chemistry is amazing. It was sad to see that they were torn apart due to their own insecurities and bull headedness, but thankfully, a second chance is in the stars for them. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them try to deny their attraction. This is a hot, hot romance and so fun. Loved it! Sometimes you can go back.
*The Texas setting was fantastic. Ms. Brown always manages to make her Texas ranches come alive in her books. I could almost feel the dry, dusty heat while reading this. I not only liked the Texas setting, but I also enjoyed the small town setting. There is just something so cozy about a small town where everyone knows everyone and they all have long memories. It was fun to watch Loretta walk down memory lane and see how little things had changed since she was a teenager. The folks in the town are memorable, my favorite being Ezra, the eccentric old man. I get the feeling that book two is going to be all about Ezra and his kin, and it is set up to be hilarious.
*I appreciated the way that Ms. Brown wove in lots of well known country songs current and past into the book. It gave it more flavor, and I liked the way the music seemed to reflect the characters' lives.
I love that with Ms. Brown's books, I get a complete story, a fantastic romance and a happy ending with no loose ends. *Even though this is the first in the series, there aren't any lingering questions. I love that about Ms. Brown's books.
And The Not So Much:
*There was one scene that I wished was in the book. Loretta is feeling rather blue, so her high school best friends proceed to get her drunk at eight in the morning, and Loretta does some drunk dialing. I think this scene would have been hilarious, so I am not sure why it wasn't in the book. Instead the reader gets a brief recount of what went down.
*Both Jackson and Loretta make some immature decisions and their stubbornness causes them to split up. I was curious as to why Jackson didn't fight harder to win Loretta back. Why didn't he ever talk to her afterwards, especially on all those trips he took to Oklahoma? Was he too embarrassed? Worried of rejection? It wasn't clear as to why he gave up so easily.
*Ezra was a fascinating character. I wanted to know him better. I am hoping that the next book is going to be about Ezra and his kin. There were some tantalizing threads laid down for what I hope is going to be an entertaining companion novel.
Long, Hot Texas Summer is my favorite Carolyn Brown book to date. This book is all kinds of fun with its head strong, feisty females, sizzling romance and entertaining story. Loretta proves that sometimes you can go back and get a second chance. There is never a dull moment in this one. If you are looking for a light, breezy romance to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon, grab this one. I assure you that you will laugh and smile.
Favorite Quotations:
"Loretta shot a mean look his way, but he reached up and pretended to catch the look and shove it in his pocket. "I'll keep that one for later when I need to remember how mean you are."
"History couldn't be changed no matter how much anger was applied. But that did not mean history had to be repeated---bot even if a physical attraction would die."
"If a sock falls in the forest and no one is there to pick it up, does it make a noise?"
"If a man throws his clothes toward the hamper and he doesn't have a wife, the next closest female will bitch about it," she said."
"They say that you can't believe anything a woman says when she's drinkin' or what a man says when he's having sex."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
May 7, 2020
The first book in the Canyon series will keep you entertained from beginning to end! A tall redhead firecracker by the name Loretta Bailey has to return to her ex-husbands ranch to try to influence their 21 year old daughter, Nona, to return to Oklahoma with her and finish college. Nona wants nothing more than to stay on her father's ranch and hopefully marry the love of her life Travis, a cow hand that is being trained to take over as foreman, of The Lonesome Canyon Ranch, one day. After leaving the canyon 17 years ago and divorcing Jackson Bailey, Loretta is unprepared for the feelings that have overtaken her when she comes face to face with him. Will Jackson and Loretta finally talk about the reason behind their divorce? Will Loretta be able to talk Nona in returning with her to Oklahoma and finishing college? Will seventeen years be long enough to erase the love from Loretta and Jackson's heart? Author Carolyn Brown always puts her special touch on her novels and gives her readers a storyline and awesome characters that will keep them coming back for more!
March 2, 2021
What a fantastic book. I loved the characters and the plot. I really wanted this country le to find a way back to each other. I also enjoyed the romance between their daughter and her boyfriend. The narrator helped bring the characters to life as well. Happy reading and listening!
July 4, 2024
I just discovered Carolyn Brown and I will be reading more of her stories! I've never been on a ranch and I love that her narrative took me where I haven't been. This was such a fun, cowboy love story. Sign me up for more Carolyn Brown!!
March 13, 2019
Great Cowboy story... a marriage that had gone bad becuse of betrayal only to possible spark again?
May 5, 2019
Cute
Loved the story loved the characters. Wish we could find out more!! Would love to know what happens 3 years later kinda thing!!
Loved the story loved the characters. Wish we could find out more!! Would love to know what happens 3 years later kinda thing!!
May 27, 2019
Good read! The story was ok but what kept me reading were the characters!
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