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MEN! #2
The Stranger's Surprise
Mills & Boon Sweet series promises love affairs to last a lifetime…MEN!
STRANGER ON HER DOORSTEP
Perpetual do-gooder July Johnson's latest cause was no straggly alley cat but six feet of pure male. And though the stranger was surely hiding secrets, something told July that beneath Tucker's gruff exterior was a soul longing to be loved.
Undercover lawman Tucker Haynes had chosen July's apartment as his hideout. But cozying up with the exasperating July had the cool cop seeing stars. For his feisty housemate had him dreaming of a future that could never be.
MEN! A good one isn't hard to find we've handpicked the strongest, bravest, sexiest heroes yet!
STRANGER ON HER DOORSTEP
Perpetual do-gooder July Johnson's latest cause was no straggly alley cat but six feet of pure male. And though the stranger was surely hiding secrets, something told July that beneath Tucker's gruff exterior was a soul longing to be loved.
Undercover lawman Tucker Haynes had chosen July's apartment as his hideout. But cozying up with the exasperating July had the cool cop seeing stars. For his feisty housemate had him dreaming of a future that could never be.
MEN! A good one isn't hard to find we've handpicked the strongest, bravest, sexiest heroes yet!
- GenresRomance
Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1997
413 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Laura Anthony
32 books16 followersPseudonym of author Lori Wilde.
Laurie Blalock was born on 1958 in Texas, USA. She started writing at age eight. She credits her father, Fred Blalock, as the guiding force behind her career. She can't remember a time when she didn't want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write. She sold her first book in 1994 as Laura Anthony, but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out under the pseudonym Lori Wilde. She has achieved a lifelong dream and now pursues writing fiction full-time.
First married with Anthony Moeller, now she is married with Bill Vanzura, her own real-life hero. She continued living in her native Texas, with a red heeler/Australian shepherd dog, Cinnamon, and four ducks, Quacker, Big Guy, Affleck, and Sheepidy. She is an adventuresome, she traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone. She's taken flying lessons, rode in a hot-air balloon, completed two marathons, and performed with a professional jazz band.
Laurie Blalock was born on 1958 in Texas, USA. She started writing at age eight. She credits her father, Fred Blalock, as the guiding force behind her career. She can't remember a time when she didn't want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write. She sold her first book in 1994 as Laura Anthony, but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out under the pseudonym Lori Wilde. She has achieved a lifelong dream and now pursues writing fiction full-time.
First married with Anthony Moeller, now she is married with Bill Vanzura, her own real-life hero. She continued living in her native Texas, with a red heeler/Australian shepherd dog, Cinnamon, and four ducks, Quacker, Big Guy, Affleck, and Sheepidy. She is an adventuresome, she traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone. She's taken flying lessons, rode in a hot-air balloon, completed two marathons, and performed with a professional jazz band.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 16, 2019
Tucker by Lori Wilde
Texas Rascals Series Book Five
Tucker Haynes had grown up on the wrong side of the tracks. In the wrong kind of family. All these years later, that young boy was still alive and well. Pulling the man down. Not moving forward. And then he met a feisty young woman who was all that he wasn't.
July Johnson looked on the bright side of things. Helping others however she could. So, on a cold snowy day...how could she not invite the handsome homeless man into her apartment? Of course, her helpfulness and more often her nosiness always seemed to lead her into trouble. And she never seemed to learn that lesson.
Two opposite personalities pull together like magnets. Only, their pasts get in between that pull. Along with the fact that Tucker has a secret and he can't share it with July.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
Texas Rascals Series Book Five
Tucker Haynes had grown up on the wrong side of the tracks. In the wrong kind of family. All these years later, that young boy was still alive and well. Pulling the man down. Not moving forward. And then he met a feisty young woman who was all that he wasn't.
July Johnson looked on the bright side of things. Helping others however she could. So, on a cold snowy day...how could she not invite the handsome homeless man into her apartment? Of course, her helpfulness and more often her nosiness always seemed to lead her into trouble. And she never seemed to learn that lesson.
Two opposite personalities pull together like magnets. Only, their pasts get in between that pull. Along with the fact that Tucker has a secret and he can't share it with July.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
March 10, 2019
Enjoyable
July and Tucker, as different as night and day. One trusts everyone and the other trusts no one. July gives her all to anyone in need, but doesn’t like being on the receiving end of help or attention. Tucker has walls built around himself and believes he’s unworthy of love and incapable of commitment. Can the two of them get past their issues and find love?
There were a couple of annoying issues with the book. One, the power went off during a storm, yet there was the glow from a night-light in the hallway, and shortly after that the power comes back on. Maybe I missed something. Second, I read the digital version where there were numerous occurrences of sentences dropping to the next line for no apparent reason. There was plenty of room on the current line.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book in the series.
July and Tucker, as different as night and day. One trusts everyone and the other trusts no one. July gives her all to anyone in need, but doesn’t like being on the receiving end of help or attention. Tucker has walls built around himself and believes he’s unworthy of love and incapable of commitment. Can the two of them get past their issues and find love?
There were a couple of annoying issues with the book. One, the power went off during a storm, yet there was the glow from a night-light in the hallway, and shortly after that the power comes back on. Maybe I missed something. Second, I read the digital version where there were numerous occurrences of sentences dropping to the next line for no apparent reason. There was plenty of room on the current line.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book in the series.
March 25, 2019
July Johnson is the ultimate do-gooder. She is the first to lend a hand wherever it is needed. Yet because of her childhood she finds it hard to let anyone help her. Tucker Haynes is from the wrong side of the tracks. His cruel upbringing has left him with a very pessimistic outlook on people and the world in general.
Tucker is an undercovercop working in Rascal, Texas. His cover is that he is a homeless man and is wandering in the complex where July lives. A rare snowstorm has July offering him a warm place to stay and a hot meal until the weather changes. This is the beginning of a great story and you will have to read the book to see what happens between July and Tucker. You won't regret it.
Tucker is an undercovercop working in Rascal, Texas. His cover is that he is a homeless man and is wandering in the complex where July lives. A rare snowstorm has July offering him a warm place to stay and a hot meal until the weather changes. This is the beginning of a great story and you will have to read the book to see what happens between July and Tucker. You won't regret it.
March 3, 2025
"A Blast from the Past—Vintage Lori Wilde at Her Best!"
If you love the classic days of category romance, buckle up, because The Stranger’s Surprise is a full-throttle, heart-tugging, vintage Lori Wilde (writing as Laura Anthony) experience. You get the swoon-worthy hero, the unexpected twists, and the kind of emotional depth that makes you sigh and clutch the book to your chest like you’ve just unearthed a hidden gem at a used bookstore.
The setup? Delicious. Our heroine, suddenly responsible for an adorable surprise (no spoilers, but it’s right there in the title), is thrown into close quarters with a rugged, enigmatic stranger. And because this is Wilde—er, Anthony—we get just the right blend of heat, humor, and heartache before these two can figure out their happily ever after.
Is it a little over-the-top in the best possible way? Yes. Will you want to shake both characters at some point while grinning like a fool? Absolutely. But that’s part of the charm. The Stranger’s Surprise is a nostalgic romance delight, reminding us why Lori Wilde’s early works still hold up—full of emotional stakes, compelling characters, and that signature magic she weaves so well.
Grab a copy if you love small-town romance, a reluctant hero with a heart of gold, and a storyline that pulls you in from the first page. Vintage Wilde, indeed.
If you love the classic days of category romance, buckle up, because The Stranger’s Surprise is a full-throttle, heart-tugging, vintage Lori Wilde (writing as Laura Anthony) experience. You get the swoon-worthy hero, the unexpected twists, and the kind of emotional depth that makes you sigh and clutch the book to your chest like you’ve just unearthed a hidden gem at a used bookstore.
The setup? Delicious. Our heroine, suddenly responsible for an adorable surprise (no spoilers, but it’s right there in the title), is thrown into close quarters with a rugged, enigmatic stranger. And because this is Wilde—er, Anthony—we get just the right blend of heat, humor, and heartache before these two can figure out their happily ever after.
Is it a little over-the-top in the best possible way? Yes. Will you want to shake both characters at some point while grinning like a fool? Absolutely. But that’s part of the charm. The Stranger’s Surprise is a nostalgic romance delight, reminding us why Lori Wilde’s early works still hold up—full of emotional stakes, compelling characters, and that signature magic she weaves so well.
Grab a copy if you love small-town romance, a reluctant hero with a heart of gold, and a storyline that pulls you in from the first page. Vintage Wilde, indeed.
April 18, 2019
The only thing lacking was an epilogue.
This book had a fast moving story. While the Hero, Tucker was withdrawn , the heroine, July was a busy body, trying to solve everybody's problems. I found it hard to like her. In her efforts to spread good around she managed to get in all kinds of trouble. Tucker ended up saving her from herself many times. While trying to watch two criminals stealing passports, social security cards and drivers licenses July kept trying to find him shelter in a snow storm.
This book had a fast moving story. While the Hero, Tucker was withdrawn , the heroine, July was a busy body, trying to solve everybody's problems. I found it hard to like her. In her efforts to spread good around she managed to get in all kinds of trouble. Tucker ended up saving her from herself many times. While trying to watch two criminals stealing passports, social security cards and drivers licenses July kept trying to find him shelter in a snow storm.
August 9, 2019
A series to enjoy
Another captivating story from Rascal, Texas. More than romance, more than a suspenseful tale. My fifth book is as good as the first. Lori Wilde creates characters with shattered hearts and only one possible way to mend. Her characters find each other in ordinary ways but they become attracted to each other in extraordinary ways. I get lost in the story, feeling the emotional pain and joys of the characters and Tucker and July's needs touched my heart. Very well-written.
Another captivating story from Rascal, Texas. More than romance, more than a suspenseful tale. My fifth book is as good as the first. Lori Wilde creates characters with shattered hearts and only one possible way to mend. Her characters find each other in ordinary ways but they become attracted to each other in extraordinary ways. I get lost in the story, feeling the emotional pain and joys of the characters and Tucker and July's needs touched my heart. Very well-written.
September 14, 2019
July Johnson is always helping others out. Putting her needs last. One morning she sees a stranger digging in a dumpster. Thinking he digging for food she goes out to him to offer to make him breakfast.
Tucker Haynes is a undercover cop. Working a case as a homeless man to keep a eye on the bad guys. When July spots him in the dumpster and come ask him if like some breakfast.
July and Tucker both have secrets about their pasts that have made them who they are today. A snowstorm has them sharing July apartment. Will they find love or does the bad guys find them? Fifth installment of Te
Tucker Haynes is a undercover cop. Working a case as a homeless man to keep a eye on the bad guys. When July spots him in the dumpster and come ask him if like some breakfast.
July and Tucker both have secrets about their pasts that have made them who they are today. A snowstorm has them sharing July apartment. Will they find love or does the bad guys find them? Fifth installment of Te
March 12, 2019
Excellent!!!
I was so looking forward to reading this book and excited but little did I know it would take me on a journey to learn that given and receiving is still very important in life...and learning how to let go of the past. Thank you Lori Wilde once again for keeping the mystery and excitement alive!!!! And let's not for get the love !!!
I was so looking forward to reading this book and excited but little did I know it would take me on a journey to learn that given and receiving is still very important in life...and learning how to let go of the past. Thank you Lori Wilde once again for keeping the mystery and excitement alive!!!! And let's not for get the love !!!
March 14, 2019
Good read
Well, the book is written well and the storyline is pretty good. The hero is hot, sexy and very masculine, if not lacking in emotions....til he meets the heroine. She is cute, persistent, sometimes sassy, but way too naive and trusting for my tastes. The book has a little kissing, but no foreplay or sex. Recommend.
Well, the book is written well and the storyline is pretty good. The hero is hot, sexy and very masculine, if not lacking in emotions....til he meets the heroine. She is cute, persistent, sometimes sassy, but way too naive and trusting for my tastes. The book has a little kissing, but no foreplay or sex. Recommend.
October 19, 2019
Liked
I enjoyed this silly story about two people who after a while finally see that it's not just one person who needs to learn about about giving and accepting. They both have something that they both can learn from each other. It goes both ways, not just one person letting go.
I enjoyed this silly story about two people who after a while finally see that it's not just one person who needs to learn about about giving and accepting. They both have something that they both can learn from each other. It goes both ways, not just one person letting go.
February 23, 2020
A great story for a television series.
July and Tucker were the best characters in this book. I hope there will be a wedding in the next of this series. I especially liked the setting with the hard winter weather in the northwestern location. And now I am looking forward to the next book. But you so enjoy this story as I did.
July and Tucker were the best characters in this book. I hope there will be a wedding in the next of this series. I especially liked the setting with the hard winter weather in the northwestern location. And now I am looking forward to the next book. But you so enjoy this story as I did.
March 10, 2019
Different Yet the Same
From undercover to social worker, from criminals to homeless, the bAckbone of characters either stiffened or easily went. About doing good. How much h is too good? How much is too cynical? Will Tucker and July surfAce through the debris to understand love?
From undercover to social worker, from criminals to homeless, the bAckbone of characters either stiffened or easily went. About doing good. How much h is too good? How much is too cynical? Will Tucker and July surfAce through the debris to understand love?
March 11, 2019
Tucker!!
I loved the undercover police officer plot. July is such an amazing woman. So sweet and soft hearted. Tucker is a tortured soul that had some family things to take care of before he could fully commit. Great book!!
I loved the undercover police officer plot. July is such an amazing woman. So sweet and soft hearted. Tucker is a tortured soul that had some family things to take care of before he could fully commit. Great book!!
March 26, 2019
Tucker and July
A true love story with some suspenseful moments. A great story by a great author. Lori Wilde is awesome and knows how to write a great book.
A true love story with some suspenseful moments. A great story by a great author. Lori Wilde is awesome and knows how to write a great book.
March 30, 2019
Tucker is undercover and July lives in the apartment complex. She thinks he is homeless and offers him help. I have read all of these books and they are all good reads.
April 24, 2019
Different
A little slow 🐌 going an ok story but not to par.Not what I really expected from or am used to from Lori Wilde.
A little slow 🐌 going an ok story but not to par.Not what I really expected from or am used to from Lori Wilde.
December 26, 2023
Disappointed. Not the caliber of story as the others in this series.
April 2, 2024
Good messages but heroine truly had no street smarts whatsoever
June 10, 2019
A very enjoyable story
The story of July and Tucker reminds the reader that love and acceptance can be found if the heart is open and receptive.
The story of July and Tucker reminds the reader that love and acceptance can be found if the heart is open and receptive.
January 24, 2014
hacia rato no me emocionaba un secuestro una persecución lo tiene todo en su justa medida
November 26, 2015
Found the internal dialog to be very annoying and repetitive.
May 13, 2022
Tucker, was another great book .
Thank you Lori for a great book to keep one wanting more. I can not wait to read the next one.
Thank you Lori for a great book to keep one wanting more. I can not wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews