Casey

Buckhorn Brothers #5

by Lori Foster

Sawyer, Morgan, Gabe and Jordan -- they're the sexiest men in Buckhorn, Kentucky.

But meet Sawyer's son, Casey...

Like father, like son!

Emma Clark was back in Buckhorn. As a teen she'd been the girl with the bleached-blond hair, too much makeup and a bad reputation -- and she'd tried everything she could to get Casey Hudson into bed. He'd been the cutest guy in town, and the only one who seemed to care about her.

As a hot-blooded teen it had been hard for Casey to resist Emma. But now, eight years later, it was impossible. Emma's adult sensuality was more subtle, more beguiling. He had to have her. But Emma was doing her best to shut him out. Casey had to convince her the attraction wasn't just leftover teenage lust, but his real love for a real woman....

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Harlequin, Friends To Lovers

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.

•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.

•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.

•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.

•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.

•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.

•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.

•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.

•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.

•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.

Reviews

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for book lovers and readers.

If I could give this book more then 5 stars I would. Casey, is the long awaited followup to the Buckhorn Series. Casey is the son of Sawyer. He most definitely is a chip off the old block. This book takes you back to the ending of Jordan's book, when Emma Clark appears at the Hudson family home. You find out what happens to Emma that night and then the story picks up 8 years later when Emma comes back home to Buckhorn. Emma fights her attraction tooth and nail with Casey. But when she finally gives in to her desires, it is amazing. This book will make you laugh, cry and swoon. It is a wonderful read and a fantastic ending to the series.

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com

[Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I officially love Lori Foster. What a sweet, heartfelt romantic book. I loved Casey and Emma. Fabulous low drama, low angst book.

[Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a terrific read,this is my first book by Lori Foster and i loved the story and liked the way she writes

Casey-Emma both love each other but they keep their feelings to each other,Cassie cause he has other plans for his future and Emma is not in that plans and Emma keeps to herself cause inspite of throwing herself at Casey so many times he always backs out which makes her think he does'nt wants her and she is not good enough for him and the only reason he talks and friends with her her is cause of pity

Emma has troubled n lonely childhood,keeps doing wild things and is being looked down by other town members,and her sleeping around makes more tongues wagging about her reputation,i liked teh way author hs potrayed how society judges men-women differently,Emma runsaway makes a new life gets her degree and gets a good family whom she has bonded well but now after 8 years she is back cause her father is sick and in hospital from here she has to face her demons again

Casey always regretted and was guilty how he could'nt help Emma and is also angry that she ran away from him and not trusted him enough but now after 8 years he has got a second chance and he is not letting it go and will make Emma stay with him no matter what

Liked the story,characters were great and well developed and this time Casey stuck with Emma and made her trust him and makes her confess all her secrets and fears and what exactly happened that night

Great read
Recommend it

[Krissy P (Kris) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, hot and sweet- I enjoyed.

Casey Hudson, the most eligible bachelor in Buckhorn, has never forgotten the girl that got away, Emma Clark. Saddled with a bad home life and an even worse reputation, Emma had no choice but to leave Buckhorn behind and the boy she has always loved. Eight years later, she returns home after her father has a stroke and comes face to face with Casey. Casey has never stopped thinking about her and has always regretted refusing her advances. It was not until after she left that he realized how much she meant to him. Now that she's back, he's not going to let her slip away this time. Emma, stronger than ever, still has feelings for Casey but at first refuses to give in for fear of being hurt. Soon they are back to their old routine of spending time together and are getting to know each other again. Only this time Casey wants her bad and after convincing her to give him a chance, he finally has her but will their love for each other be enough to leave behind her new life and stay with him forever.

I recommend this sexy little read for all lovers of contemporary romance.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it wrapped up the series nicely. Casey the youngest, Sawyer's son is all grown up. Emma was the girl with the bad reputation, the one who most peopled judged as a "slut". She always wanted Casey and did her best to get him interested in her, but in her mind he way above her and out of her reach. While still quite young, she runs away from home and Buckhorn. Leaving Casey to wonder where she went and how she is doing.

Eight years later she comes back to Buckhorn and the attraction between them is still there.

I enjoyed this book and the series, I like the Buckhorn men, they are mouth drooling hot and sensitive and funny. A nice distraction and a fun read.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

She's been eight years gone
He wanted her at eighteen
Now wants her much more

Overcoming past
She had bad reputation
And bad family

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I first met Casey in his father's book (Sawyer) where he was a seventeen year old boy being raised by his bachelor father and uncles. He was a good guy even then, honorable, kind, and a definite charmer. All the girls wanted him. In this book, we first see him at that age, resisting the girl who is determined to make a conquest of him, even though he'd really like to give in. Then that same girl is brought before him with a claim that he knows can't be true, but he and his family are willing to step up and help her. Determined not to bring her troubles to him, Emma disappears into the night, leaving Casey worried and wondering what became of her.

Eight years later, Emma comes back to Buckhorn to care for her sick father. She knows she'll run into him again and hopes she'll be strong enough to resist the feelings she still has for him. She still feels guilty for the way she left, but hadn't felt like she had any other choice. Casey is stunned to see her, and can't believe how much he still wants her. He still feels bad that he hadn't been able to help her, and mad at her for the way she disappeared.

I loved the heat that was still there between them. Casey was more than happy to pursue it and see where it might go, even though she doesn't plan to stay in Buckhorn. He doesn't expect to quickly feel more than just lust for her, and isn't quite sure how to deal with it at first. Emma tries to keep him at a distance, both because she doesn't feel that she's any good for him and to protect her heart. But she really can't resist him, and the more time they spend together the deeper she falls for him. I loved the time they spent together, learning more about each other. There were some pretty funny moments, when Casey's possessiveness gets a little out of hand. There are also some really sweet times, such as when he gets all protective of her when they run into some folks who aren't very nice to her.

I also loved seeing them open up to each other about their fears and hopes for the future. I loved Casey's sensitivity when he began to delve into Emma's past, as he could feel that there was more to her resistance of him than met the eye. I really loved his support of her throughout the book, and especially when her secret came out at the end. I also loved the way that she listened to his dream and encouraged him to go after it. The ending was great, as Casey is determined that he won't let her go again, and they find a way to be together.

I really loved seeing the brothers, how they are and what they are currently up to. I especially enjoyed the scenes with/about Gabe and his daughters and what the future holds. I also liked the secondary story that dealt with Emma's friend Damon. Seeing him go from uptight businessman to more relaxed Buckhorn convert was really fun.

[Amy Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buckhorn Legacy is the fifth book in the Buckhorn Brothers series by author Lori Foster. The main characters featured are Casey Hudson and Emma Clark.

Casey. Oh sweet and sexy Casey. I have been dying to get to your book in my pile and I finally got to read about you. I loved the previous books in this series, but Casey's book was the one I was dying to read. There was just something about that character that drew me in and kept hold of me up until the last page. Casey is Sawyer's son. He is also the one that had this reader drooling in anticipation. Emma was considered the town tramp even though she was young.

Fast forward eight years and and Emma has returned after running away at a young age. Casey always wondered what happened to her, but he never knew. In The Buckhorn Legacy we find out what happened and read about the chemistry between the two. In this book we also get to see the true depth of Casey's heart and feelings.

This was a wonderful conclusion to a great series. I am sad to see it end, but the best certainly came last. While it is not necessary to read the previous books in the series, I highly recommend that you do to get the full picture of the family dynamics and Casey.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casey was annoying, bratty, and his initial behavior was very inappropriate. However, once he had her attention, things settled into the normal Lori Foster groove. 2 stars for the first 1/3, 3 for the rest.

[Vfc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is classic Lori Foster. She wrote this in response to popular demand for Casey, the youngest untold Hudson…Buckhorn’s golden son. A sweet, charming story of second chances - of losing a tangible connection, realising only after the fact. This book will remain an everlasting favourite...Casey is a true hero.

A realistic eight-year separation that depicts a chemical attraction that never faded although from Casey’s resentment, the reader could easily be convinced into believing that these two were romantically involved yet for all Emma’s attempts, Casey respected her, even when she failed to respect herself. His uncles instilled in him the importance of respecting women; he simply never mastered navigating the force that was, Emma.

The story opens with an expanded version of events eight years before to younger versions of Casey and Emma.

Emma’s life was turbulent and complicated. As a child, she was unloved and neglected, deprived of affection, she sought affection from the opposite sex, earning herself an unflattering reputation. Despite her reputation, Casey remained Emma’s friend in high school. Her inherent sensuality attracted every boy’s attention in school save one; the one she and every other female wanted.

Casey had his life planned and Emma was not part of those plans, also, she has no plans to disrupt or derail those plans.

Late one night, a tense family situation escalates and she arrives with a bruised cheek accompanied by an irate, outraged father, on the Hudson’s doorstep, insisting Casey marry her (she lied to her family claiming a pregnancy).

Emma stays the night with the Hudsons after admitting that she isn’t pregnant, it was a ruse to escape her home life. The next morning she was gone.
"You came to me."
He couldn't seem to get beyond that, and she was beginning to think he put far too much emphasis on that one small fact. "With the intent of only staying one night."
"If I'd known that, you never would have gotten away."
"I had to leave”.

The search for her was quickly diverted elsewhere as resources were needed for a more immediate emergency. This disappearance weighed heavily on Casey.

Eight years later she’s forced to return accompanied by her friend Damon after being notified that her estranged father, Dell has had a stroke. Casey is twenty-seven to Emma’s twenty-five.

An unplanned visit, Casey is shocked and elated to see her. He encounters her on her first night back and recognises this golden opportunity, boldly pursuing her.

Casey is suspicious of Emma visiting a father, whom for all intents and purposes drove her away (he eventually learns otherwise). Casey rearranged his thoughts and decided he'd come to false assumptions. Just as Emma had fled to his house for protection, perhaps Dell had gone along with that plan for the same reason.

Now, that she’s in town, Casey’s determined to make up for lost time and to uncover her secrets and maybe this time persuade her to stay…with him.

Damon is part of a subplot, adding much needed comic relief to a tense situation and subsequently meets his match in restaurant owner, Ceily (pivotal to Emma’s backstory). Casey sees him as competition, despite his pseudo-brother assurances adding to Damon’s entertainment.

His admonition to Casey:
“Emma's got this natural sexuality about her that turns normal men into wildebeests in heat."
Casey's hands curled into fists. Was it his imagination, or was Damon getting stranger by the moment?
"Is there a point to this, Devaughn?"
"Yeah. If you're half as honorable as Emma claimed, you'll leave her alone."
"I can't do that.”

Sawyer isn’t Casey's biological father. His mother was caught cheating and Sawyer divorced her. When Casey was born, she planned to place him for adoption. Instead, Sawyer had been at the hospital with her and once he held Casey, he'd immediately claimed him. After some nasty gossip – spread by Casey's mother – she left. Sawyer, Morgan, Jordan and Gabe, had raised Casey, and there wasn’t a soul who knew them, would question that Casey had been well-loved. He confided to Emma that he once sought out his birth-mum and she’d rejected him, something he’s never shared with anyone else.

"I'm special, but not special enough to share a meal with?"
"I'm sorry—"
"Will you quit saying that!"
She flipped her hair back and her eyes flashed. "Don't yell at me."
"Then quit apologizing. You always did apologize too much."

Emma doesn't apologise for her past indiscretions. She handled interactions with members of Buckhorn graciously with humour.

Emma's mother is an alcholic and has emotionally and physically abused her. Emma along with her father devised a plan eight years before. They engaged in a ruse, contrived for her to escape an abusive situation. Her father never physically hurt her, but he hurt her in so many other ways such as never making her his priority, as a good parent should. He took her to the Hudson homestead and proverbially dumped her, accusing Casey of fathering the child she is carrying (there was no child). Emma explained that she just needed to escape from a bad situation, disappearing during the night.

Casey had always been Emma’s hero and she knew that fateful night that Casey would not disappoint her.

She'd spoken to her father over the years, but because of how they'd parted, their conversations always felt superficial. Now that Dell is hospitalised, Emma wants to mend fences.

Until she returns and Casey pursues her with a single-minded purpose .

Her mother forces a public confrontation revealing the events of that night. Emma was a product of an abusive, reclusive drunk mother and a father that turned a blind eye and deaf ear to his daughter’s plight. Starved for affection, she sought and earned a reputation from the town’s male population.

Dell had been genuinely worried when Emma had run off. He'd blustered and cast blame, yet there'd been no mistaking the fear and regret in his eyes.
Her mother ... not once had she enquired about Emma, or shown any concern.
Now Emma was in town, staying at a motel rather than her childhood home.

Casey, is now an eligible bachelor, having joined the Hudson hunks complete with his own groupies (Kristin and Lois) vying for his attention. Growing up with his father and his uncles as the most eligible bachelors in Buckhorn and being in an all-male household watching his uncles and his father navigate the overwhelming female adoration, Casey has since gained his fair share of popularity.

He'd learned a lot from observing them – but he hadn't learnt the skill of mastering Emma.

Emma lived in Buckhorn for years, shunned and treated as a pariah, few befriended her. Casey is the one person she has serious reservations about seeing again considering her last night in town.

Her time away had allowed her to mature into a self-confident woman, in search of security, respectability and a loving family. Being back in Buckhorn...some memories never died and her last ones shared with Casey haunted her. She still remembers being dumped on Casey's doorstep –she cringed with embarrassment, having relentlessly thrown herself at him, utilising every feminine wile to entice him – she had planned to see him, of course. Just not yet.

She now has a good job, a family; not her own, but the Devaughns were very special to her and she loved them. She'd never be close with her own family; seeing her father again had proven that.

A perpetually aroused teen, resisting her had been his greatest struggle. As an adult, it wasn't much easier. He had no intention of resisting her now and consoles himself with despite her appeal and his feelings – she'd left and hadn't bothered to get in touch in eight long years. And she hadn't come back for him now. If her father wasn't so sick, she wouldn't be here.

Casey’s never been anything more to her than a friend – and an adolescent fantasy. He wanted to be her everything…but she hadn't contacted him. He’d felt her loss, he just hadn't realised it until it was too late.

His reaction on seeing her, that of a slighted love...perhaps because he hadn't been with her, the one that got away. He'd perpetually kept Emma at arm's length – marginally close but at a distance. Then she was gone and he'd gone from worried sick to angry and bitter. Conflicted and adrift.
“The night you left me – you and your mother had been fighting?"
"I didn't leave you." Good God, where did he get these notions? "I left Buckhorn."

“Give us a chance, Emma. That's all I'm asking. Quit shutting me out and let's see how it goes.”

This book picks up to the ending of Jordan’s book when Emma was with Casey at the hospital, the night they met. Georgia's mother, Ruth, was sick, and Jordan had brought them, along with Georgia's two kids, to the hospital. While driving to the hospital to lend a helping hand, Casey had found Emma walking on the side of the road. As if the picture had been painted on his brain, he recalled exactly how she'd looked that night in ultrashort shorts, a hot-pink halter, and her skin dewy from the humidity as she'd sashayed down the roadway. All alone. He'd been worried about her, as usual, and had insisted on giving her a ride. She'd climbed into his car, then made him sweat even more with wanting her.

DAYS TICKED BY without a word from Emma.
The fire at the diner had stolen all the news, and Emma's disappearance was pretty much overlooked. She hadn't made any lasting friendships in the area. The boys had used her, the girls had envied her, and the schools had all but given up on her. Not many people missed her.
In the following weeks, the town gradually settled down to normal, but an edgy nervousness remained because whomever had broken into Ceily's diner and started the fire never came forward.
Casey went through his days by rote, hurt, angry with himself as much as with Emma. Three months later, he got a fat envelope filled with the money Emma had taken, and a few dollars more. In her brief note, Emma explained that the extra was for interest. There was no return address and she'd signed the note: Thanks so much for everything. Emma Clark.
The return of the money proved she was alive and well. Casey tried to convince himself it was enough, that he'd only wanted her safe, that all he'd ever felt for her was sympathy with a little healthy lust thrown in.
But he'd be a complete fraud if he let himself believe it. The truth burned like acid, because nothing had ever hurt as much as knowing Emma had deliberately walked away from him.
Since she didn't want to return, didn't want to trust him, didn't want him, he couldn't help her. But he could get on with his life.
With nothing else to do, he went off to school as planned. And though he knew it hadn't been Emma's intention, she'd changed the trajectory of his life forever. He wanted her back, when he'd made a point of never having her in the first place.
Forget her? There wasn't a chance that would ever happen.

It was delightful visiting with characters as they made a reappearance.

Emma had a reputation that rivalled his Uncle Gabe's, and that said something since Gabe had been a complete and total hedonist when it came to his sexuality. Gabe had started young, Emma had started even younger. At seventeen, she flaunted herself with all the jaded expertise of a woman twice her age. Her bleached-blond hair and overdone makeup portrayed her being on the make. Lately she'd been on the make for Casey. For the most part, he'd been able to resist her. For the most part.

Casey was a possessive, caveman.
On her career as a massage therapist:::
“I treated one of the Chicago Cubs for a while early in the season."
New jealousy flared. "What the hell for?"
"He was in a slump and so every time he went to bat, he got tense. Massage can help loosen contracted, shortened muscles and at the same time, stimulate flaccid muscles."
"With you touching him, I find it hard to believe there was anything flaccid on the guy." Sure as hell wasn't anything flaccid on him, and he was just thinking about her touch, not experiencing it. But he would.

Epilogue
“You know, sweetheart, though it's usually your line, I have to say thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"You came back home to me, Em. You gave me a second chance to have the only woman I want. You gave me back me, because without you I was only half-alive."
Her eyes were enormous, sexy, shining with love. "Casey."
"I love you so damn much. Just as you are, just as you've always been, and however you'll be in the future. You're mine. Now and forever.”

T H E E N D.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Col libro dedicato a Casey, figlio di Sawyer (protagonista del primo volume) concludo la mia avventura con la famiglia Hudson a Buckhorn.
Nel primo capitolo viene ripresa la parte finale del libro precedente con un Casey diciottenne che ha una mezza cotta per Emma, ma lei è una ragazza un po' difficile, con una pessima reputazione.
Una sera sulla porta di casa arriva una Emma in lacrime insieme al padre che lancia pesanti accuse.
La ragazza viene accolta dalla famiglia ma poi se ne va senza lasciare tracce.
Ora dopo 8 anni torna in città in seguito alla malattia del padre ed è l'occasione per Casey per capire se è rimasto qualcosa di quei sentimenti.

Come al solito è un libro con buone basi ma poi si perde via via.
C'era qualcosa di interessante, sia nella storia personale di Emma, nella visione che tutti hanno di lei, dell'incendio, della relazione con Damon, ma tutto si risolve troppo facilmente, senza troppi drammi e con una pacca sulla spalla.
Non è che pretendessi una strage ma vogliamo mettere un po' di suspance? Un po' di pathos?
Nada, tutto scorre liscio.
Che noia.
La serie continuerebbe con i figli dei vari fratelli ma i libri non sono stati tradotti e a questo punto forse è meglio così.

[dahlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read.

a vulnerable heroine - self conscious, struggling and without choices.

a great hero coming into his own.

The second chance at romance sees the heroine stronger, smarter than before and hero ready to go after his heroine.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought some beginning of this book that Emma and Casey Belong Together as teenagers they were good friends but became adults they got closer but Emma was playing hard to get love how it ended

[Nancy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.

[Zee · Rating 2 out of 5]

as much as I liked emma I just couldn’t warm up to casey or believe in their bond. Damon and Ceily story was more interesting I wish they had their own book.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Delighted Reader

Casey Hudson grew up in an all male household with his father and uncles. He lived all of them falling in love and all the broken hearts they left behind before that. A healthy respect for the female gender, Casey loves them, but he doesn't flaunt anything he has done or hasn't done. When the story starts, Casey is ready to go off to college. He has plans and goals that don't include a girl, especially not Emma Clark. He is attracted to her more than he should be, but he knows he can't offer her anything. So while he avoids he, he often finds himself defending her, especially since she has slept with a lot of his friends. He doesn't share.

Emma Carter has a really bad home life. Hated by her mother, she turns to sex as a way to feel loved, when she knows very well it means nothing. The one boy she wants above all is Casey, but she knows he won't take her on. While Casey is going off to college, Emma is escaping her home life and tells Casey she is leaving. He never expects her to leave in the way she does, pulling him into the situation.

Parting, it is eight years later when Emma comes back to Buckhorn to help her father who is in the hospital. Casey helps her when her car has broken down and all the old emotions rear their ugly and beautiful heads. Emma isn't the same young girl looking for affection. She has made a life for herself far enough away and doesn't plan on staying around, even for the one boy she once loved.

Casey graduated college and now works in a career he felt he loved, but is now questioning. His step grandfather is grooming him to take over the company in a fast tracked path. He's ready to move back to Buckhorn permanently and the girl he once desired is kicking his blood to the boiling point.

As the two get to know each other again, the connection rises again. Casey is kicking himself that he didn't protect Emma more and understand she didn't come from a good life. Emma just worried she was a noose around Casey's neck. Both realize they can't go back and change things. They can only move forward, but they both have lives outside of Buckhorn. Can they make their way back to Buckhorn and each other?



A Buckhorn story wouldn't be complete without time on the lake, which showed off that Casey has a cabin he wants to turn into a home. Maybe sooner than later. The family all makes appearances even all the cousins that have been born since the last Buckhorn book. The father figures...Sawyer, Morgan, Gabe and Jordan, all give their stamp of approval.

While these two had a past that wasn't about romance, the fell right into place thinking it would be temporary. With every Buckhorn book, there is no temporary about it. Romance seems to fill the air in this town and the handsome, alpha, flirty men fall like a tree yelling "Timberrrrrrr."

Emma didn't come to town alone. While gone to Chicago she was taken in by a family who had a son, Damon. Damon and Emma have no spark so don't worry, but Damon is having a crisis of career, so when Emma heads out he tags along. His story is interspersed with the main one and he finds a woman that is reeling him in and a career spin that may have him also moving to Buckhorn.

So some things get taken care of that should have the night Emma came to Casey's house, the night she disappeared. Casey does all the stand up things you want a man to do when claiming you. He didn't hide, he stood proud and he gave everything to Emma. What more could you want? A simple, but complicated romance that hit al the right notes.

This review was originally posted on Delighted Reader

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sawyer, Morgan, Gabe and Jordan - 8 years later, and all still happily married, with steady careers and blessed with children.

Sawyer's son Casey Buckhorn - in last book, he was on the way to college... and his life changed when long time friend, Emma Clark, shows up on his doorstep - she's the easy girl in HS (hey... guys can enjoy sex, why not girls?)... she's after Casey, but he keeps her at friend level (one time, hurtfully saying that that he doesn't share)... her mother is a closet abusive alcoholic, and one night, drunkenly at the local diner after hours (looking for Emma) starts a fire... and when Emma finds her and is unsuccessful in putting it out, Mom threatens to tell all Emma started it...

so dad (who loves his wife, to exclusion of Emma's well being) helps her to take refuge at the night at Sawyer/Casey's (telling them he was kicking her out as she was pregnant)... and Casey takes the opportunity to sneak out early in the morning - ending up in Chicago, where after 2 weeks of sleeping in a park, is taken in by a vet's family, who help her... she now has a dog (the one that the vet helped her with, that she had befriended at the park), her GED, and a successful business as a massage therapist...

But when she showed up on Casey's doorstep, his heart opened to her and he started to rewrite his future...and when she was gone, and no word from her, he lived the next 8 years feeling that a part of him was missing...

but she's back in town (dad had a stroke)... with Damon (her new brother of the heart, of the vet family that helped her) and Casey rescues them when her car broke down just outside of town... and he makes it his business to reconnect...

she is confident, capable... but unable to see a future for them... but cannot resist him...
and as he gets past his hurt, and sates the lust a bit, he knows he wants her in his life....
they eat dinner together every night (often with his extended family), they go out on the boat, they stay in his apartment or his lake cabin)...

Mom, drunk, makes a scene - with witnesses... and Casey, and the restaurant owner all see it, and none blame her a bit... and they get mom into rehab (or else no contact with dad)...

he's ready for a career change (has been working corporate for gramps) - and when dad to be released from hospital, and she makes statement it's time to leave - he asks, what day and time? he's going with her... home is where she is... ahhhh

and of course, she elects to stay, start her business there... marry Casey... and they all live happily ever after...

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Casey...When he was eighteen, Emma, the girl with the reputation around town, set her sights on him, but he resisted. But one night, she showed up on his door needing help, the family supplied it and, just as Casey was coming to realize that Emma was the one for him, she disappeared. Eight years later, he's a little bitter, but Emma has made something of her life. She's back in town and Casey is determined to finally have his shot with the one that got away. Although, he's not really thinking about love - he's just regretting that he never made love to her before she left him. Emma's on board because she's not staying. After a while though, it's this little detail that starts to bother Casey.

Eh. I was ambivalent about Casey before and I'm still ambivalent about him now. He's very honorable, until he's thinking he just wants to have sex with a girl since he missed his opportunity eight years earlier, then he doesn't appeal to me so much. I can't explain it, but something about Casey rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the insta-lust and how extremely bent out of shape he got because some girl that he barely knew, but lusted after, left without accepting his help. I just couldn't figure why he'd be so pissed about it. Emma was pretty stubborn with her secrets, but that's par for the course with this series. I did like that she stood up for the double standard with sluts and manwhores and that she refused to be ashamed of her sexual promiscuity in her teens. The only flaw in her reasoning is that she didn't really pursue sex because she loved it, so much as she pursued it to feel loved and needed. And she was very needy about it rather than confident. And for all of her claims, you could tell she actually was ashamed. I still liked that she tried to be confident about it. My absolute favorite part of this story was Damon! By far my favorite character in this entire series! He was so quirky and sarcastic. And I liked how he riled Casey - it's always good to see the hero get a bit of harassing.

So while I enjoyed the series on the whole, I wasn't LOVING it. Same goes with this story. And incidentally, it did seem that Foster upped the heat in some of the bedroom scenes for this story.

[Sx3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when Lori Foster was just starting in the Harlequin Temptation line and it makes me feel old. But I do kind of like that she's an author who was able to expand her work within the Harlequin framework. Not that I read a lot of romance novels per se but it is just nice for some reason.

But that said, The Buckhorn Legacy which is a reprint of a 2002 book features Casey, one of the nephews or something and the town bad-but-not Emma Clark.

Casey is a super honorable guy. He can withstand all kinds of temptation even at 17 although he is, wait for it, tempted.

*hahaha* It is a very heavy handed book. Foster's writing is unobtrusive and I like that she never overdoes it to be heavy literature but the plot of this book lays it on thick in how good Emma really is and how good Casey already is and how awful Emma's life was and how successful she is in the present and so on and so forth.

But a bonus is that the sex scenes are pretty good.

Anyway, good book to use to pass time but not memorable enough to recommend to anyone as anything but a time filler.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casey's story didn't WOW me. It was humorous of course because all his Uncle's and family were included, but after reading his Uncle's short stories, it kinda felt like I was reading same stuff different name....We obviously knew from the ending in Jordan's story that Emma would be 'the girl', but the actual development of the relationship just had no zing.
However, the twist in Emma's family life...now that I didnt see coming and it made me feel a bit better about the book as a whole.
I also found myself more interested in Damon and Ceily's silly little story...I was hoping I would find a short novella about them, but no :(

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished off this series, I don't know why it took me so long to get to this last book. But it was worth it. Casey was the teen boy that was in all the previous books, Sawyer's son. I couldn't wait to see how the series was concluded and in the end I was happy with it. It was nice to see the whole family together and to see that the Buckhorn men were still acting the same way with their wives. If you enjoyed the previous books in the series than this one will not be a disappointment. Enjoy!

[ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book out of order without knowing and felt like I was missing a little. This book was good, but written a bit corny. I enjoyed reading about Emma. Her story was heart breaking and was very well written. Casey on the other hand was a bit of half written. I enjoyed reading about their history and how they fit together but this story was definitely missing a lot. It was a good read but definitely not a keeper.

[AKA · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars but I rounded up because Emma was refreshingly straightforward about her sexuality. Not a blushing virgin but refusing to be labelled a whore... and Foster rightly called out the double standard present in the previous book. However, Emma being so much better than the previous heroines didn't make this a good read. The second best thing about the book is the cover.

[Meagan Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book! And the ones that proceeded it! Lori Foster is truly amazing and creates characters that anyone can fall in love with!

The full review will be posted on By the Book Reviews website this month!

[Elliebit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why do I keep on reading her books?? The blurbs promise so much, but then the books don't deliver. Ughhh I want hot, sexy, and well-written. Is that too much to ask?

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute, the history with this one made it seem more rounded than the other stories.

[Joycee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, really. Hot as usual, for Ms. Foster. But at the beginning, Casey was striking me as too alpha male ... Domineering, unrelenting, unbending, vengeful, almost.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't buy the relationship between Casey and Emma. They barely knew each other in high school and nothing about their re-connection showed any great reason for their bond.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the 5 Buckhorn books I've read (and I enjoyed each to varying degrees) this one is by far the best. Having read several of Lori Foster's books now I have to say the scene between Casey and Emma in the hospital waiting room where they both expose their pain to each other, Emma for what she considers the sexual double standard which caused her youthful indecretions to cause her to be labeled the town slut (You sleep around you're a stud, I do it I'm a whore!) and Casey, his pain at Emma leaving Buckhorn and him, his sense of having failed her in her time of need and now her rejecting his advances, is easily the most powerfully moving scene I've read in any of her works. Emma's shame and pain of her horrible homelife was extremely touching.
Downside that kept me from giving this book 5 stars, I thought was Casey's apparent rationalization 8 years later upon her return that all he felt for her was unresolved lust. Any man that was supposed to be as perceptive and introspective as Casey would have realized he loved her long before she ever returned to Buckhorn. Also, Emma still thinking she was going to leave Casey after a month of living out her fantasy and realizing how much and for how long she'd loved him seemed way to contrived to create some drama towards the end of the story. Telling herself there was nothing for her in Buckhorn but shame over her mother and a bad reputation when it meant leaving the love of her life and his supportive family behind, seriously? And why wasn't his Uncle Gabe building the new house? Also one of the things I had enjoyed about this series was the inclusion of all the characters from the previous books in the next installment to the series. Although referred to by Gabe, his wife Elizabeth was mentioned for her libido, she never had a role even though Gabe did and while Jordan had a small role, his wife Georgia, the heroine of Book #4 was barely mentioned and didn't attend any family functions. Did Elizabeth and Georgia have a falling out with Honey and Misty?

[Floriana Amoruso · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Letto e recensito da Iaia
Emma e Casey si rivedono dopo otto anni. Fin dall'adolescenza hanno provato sentimenti reciproci non dichiarati, ma per gravi ragioni familiari lei scappa dalla cittadina dove vive per tornare dopo lungo periodo d'assenza.
Il loro ritrovarsi ha scatenato di nuovo quei sentimenti, che hanno conosciuto quando erano giovani, con emozioni che li scombussolano; c'è la necessita di una spiegazione per capire cosa abbia provocato l'allontanamento di Emma lasciando un Casey, allora, stordito, confuso e arrabbiato.
Il romanzo è molto dolce, l'autrice mette in luce come e quanto la separazione abbia contribuito a far maturare i protagonisti. Se da ragazza Emma era bisognosa d'amore, insicura, con poca autostima, ora le cose vanno molto meglio. Ha finito il liceo e ha un buon lavoro, quindi è indipendente. La Foster non ha mai calcato la mano sulle avversità di Emma, pur essendo pesanti, ma ha condotto la storia con leggerezza, non superficialità, portando il lettore a proseguire il romanzo per vederne presto la fine. Nello stesso tempo fa capire quanto Casey sia stato fortunato ad avere una famiglia solida alle spalle che lo ha fatto diventare un uomo capace, onesto e volitivo. Durante la lettura ho parteggiato per Emma, lui è troppo ... perfetto (?) ma è anche tenero.
Consiglio di leggerlo, aiuta a far trascorrere del tempo molto piacevole.


Serie "Buckhorn Brothers" -

#1 Mio eroe - recensione
#2 Un guaio col distintivo - recensione
#3 Puro fascino - recensione
#4 Senti il battito - recensione
#5 Mi vuoi? Conquistami