Just Friends?

Return to the Double-C Ranch #1

by Allison Leigh

He was the most infuriating man. But on television it was a different story. There, Evan Taggart came off as handsome. Confident. Single. A state the reality show played up a little more than producer Leandra Clay planned.

All too soon women with the same thought in mind—marriage!—started invading their smalltown in droves. So now it was payback time. Evan's ultimatum to Leandra—masquerade as his fiancée or he was walking (and her career in television was toast).

The choice seemed easy at the time. But this Evan didn't act like the childhood friend Leandra remembered. Who knew he could kiss like that? Or that his slightest touch could set her skin on fire? Just friends? Stay tuned.…

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Harlequin, Contemporary

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 30, 2007

About the author

A frequent name on bestseller lists, Allison Leigh's highpoint as a writer is hearing from readers that they laughed, cried or lost sleep while reading her books. She’s blessed with an immensely patient family who doesn’t mind (much) her time spent at her computer and who gives her the kind of love she wants her readers to share in every page. Stay in touch at www.allisonleigh.com.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leandra ist TV-Produzentin. Für eine Realityshow überredet sie ihren alten Jugendfreund Evan, bei dieser Show mitzumachen. Er willigt ein und wird quasi über Nacht zum Star. Damit kann er allerdings nicht umgehen und gibt kurzerhand Leandra als seine Verlobte aus, um sich so vor seinen weiblichen Fans zu schützen. Was Leandra nicht weiß: Evan ist tatsächlich schon seit Jahren in sie verliebt.
💜
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich lese diese Romanheftchen gerne bei der Arbeit, wenn ich dort ein bisschen Leerlauf habe. Dafür sind sie eigentlich ideal, denn sie sind recht dünn, meistens anspruchslos und nicht unbedingt spannend, so dass man sie schnell auch mal wieder zur Seite legen kann.
Auch die Geschichte von Leandra und Evan, die in diesem Heft erzählt wird, bildet hier keine Ausnahme. Leicht und flüssig zu lesen mit der Gewissheit, dass es ein Happy End geben wird.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin hat mir dabei eigentlich recht gut gefallen, aber mit der Geschichte an sich hatte ich stellenweise Probleme. Einiges kam mir einfach zu realitätsfern vor.
Auf jeden Fall aber hat mir die Story die Zeit gut vertreiben können.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Another nice one. So the book opens with the heroine getting married to the hero's close friend. That is where we learn that the hero has feelings for her. Fast-forward years later, the loss of the heroine's daughter led to her divorce and her withdrawing from her family & heading to Europe. Now, she is back to shoot a show and not liking the attraction she feels towards the hero. Once again, another great entry in this series. I liked the hero quite a bit, how caring he was towards animals and his niece and everyone really. He was a genuinely nice guy. The heroine on the other hand was just running away from her pain.

[valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yo siempre me he leído estos libros por la joda y tal, pero justamente este me pegó por la angustia y carga emocional que trae, que incluso me hizo derramar un par de lágrimas.

Básicamente Evan y Leandra se conocen toda la vida, y mientras que Evan se enamoraba de su mejor amiga, Leandra tenía la vista fuera de Weaver.

Por un lado, tenemos a Evan. Con un historial familiar que me dejó confundida y que realmente quedé con preguntas al respecto al árbol genealógico de los Taggart. Quitando sus problemas de identidad y todo eso, él era un buen tipo. Tan bien tipo que una vez llevó a un colega de la universidad a su pueblo natal para que conociera a la chica de sus sueños, para que este terminara conquistando el corazón de su amaba y viera desde lejos como estos tenían su gran “felices para siempre”. De paso, actualmente tuvo que lidiar con la muerte de su hermana, y hacerse cargo de su sobrina Hannah, que tiene autismo y necesita de cuidados especiales.

Por otro, está Leandra. Una mujer que siempre ha soñado con ir más lejos y que quería cambiar el mundo para mejor. Ella se casa con Jake, tienen una hija juntos; pero desafortunadamente la pierden en un accidente y eso deja a Leandra con una gran culpa encima. Básicamente lo qué pasó fue que Em se despertó antes de su siesta y se puso a trepar por los muros de la piscina, y en una de esas cayó dentro y se ahogó. ¿Qué estaban haciendo Leandra y Jake? Estaba teniendo sexo en intento por salvara chispa de su matrimonio y todo terminó en tragedia. Y por eso Leandra se culpa y tiene dudas/miedos en cuanto a niños se refiere.

En fin, este libro me dejó muy triste porque Leandra rechazo TANTAS veces a Evan, y él siempre decía que esa sería la única vez y tal, pero siempre volvía a aparecer, en su intento de que ella se enamorara de él finalmente, y nunca se rindió con ella ni dejó de suplicarle que se dieran una oportunidad. Y capaz fue un poco intenso, pero el hombre quedó sin dignidad para el final del libro y todos los dramas que Leandra le hizo pasar.

Algo que en dejó molesta fue saber que Jake estaba comprometido e iba a ser padre de nuevo. O sea, capaz a Leandra no le importó pero a mí sí jeje

Ahora me causa curiosidad saber si Hannah la pegó y realmente Evan y Leandra tuvieron un hijo llamado Brandon porque ahorita no lo recuerdo muy bien.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

buehh

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Continuing with the Clays we have now moved on to the next generation and the children of the Clay brothers are all grown up. Leandra Clay (Jefferson and Emily's daughter) has come back to Weaver to film a reality show starring childhood friend Evan Taggart who is now a vet in Weaver. She has avoided coming home so as not to face her family and the tragedy that is still haunting her and has thrown herself into her work. Evan lost Leandra once when he didn't let his feelings for her be known and he is determined not to let it happen again. This story had me crying at Leandra's heartbreak and smiling at the HEA she deserves. Another great read from Weaver Wyoming and I love how all the characters makes this place feel like your home but these books can all be read as standalones although you would be missing out on the dynamic of the family and town if you don't read them all. Good recommended read

[Victoria♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Moni · Rating 1 out of 5]

188

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

back to the Clay family. <3

I'm yawning as I write this. 5pm, and I'm exhausted. I blame a 6am wake-up call and I've been go-go-go the whole time.

But I loved this book. I enjoyed reading about Evan and Leandra.
I remember a brief mention of Evan with Lucy, in that book, and I'll admit, at first I was expecting him to still be wanting Lucy, or something, but nope, not at all.

I love the end, when they all are at Squire's 85th birthday (85 ... wow. Squire!), and they were all "Leandra's in love with Evan" and no one was surprised that she was, nor were they surprised that Evan loved her. Everyone knew that Evan had been in love with her for years, everyone but her.

I loved the story. A lot.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just really enjoy the Clay family! I don't find myself getting tired of them as the series goes on. This one was a bit strange since it started the Return to Double C Ranch and now the kids from the original books are all grown up. It seems odd to see the Clay brothers as graying and becoming grandparents! But i still liked this one just as much as the originals.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really ok kind of read, it did have me crying my eyes out at the end. This is the second time I've it and I still enjoyed it.

[MBR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't what I was expecting. An okay read.
My review: http://bit.ly/da0AOK

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Allison Leigh. It is part of her "Return to the Double C Ranch" series...