Heather Rae Scott

I’ve been reading quite a bit at night since M-W I’m not getting a whole lot of sleep. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lori Wilde and am happy that I discovered her new series Twilight, Texas once she was finished with it. I’m not patient when it comes to series books. I never have been and I suppose at almost forty-one that isn’t going to change.

Now, this series is not about Vampires. So, if you stumbled upon it because of that, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Twilight, Texas is a small town in, well, Texas. The people are whimsical and remind me of some of the people I know in my own hometown. There’s a military history there as well, same as where I live. There are four books in the series.

I ended up starting with the last book. I am, afterall a dork. But seriously, we were walking through Walmart, I saw “The Welcome Home Garden Club”, picked it up and was quite pleased to see there were more. This is the reason I chose to bring it home:

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn’s world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight.

Gideon left town in the middle of the night with threats ringing in his ears. A lot of things have changes since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an idependent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch.

He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there’s a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age. Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he so richly deserves?

I adore reunion stories and this town thrives on them. There’s something about getting back a lost love. Toss in a secret baby and well, put a fork in me because I’m done!

If you click on the cover, it will take you to Lori’s page and you can read an excerpt.

This book was chalked full of emotion and I loved every single page. Lori truly captured the emotions of a soldier coming home after war, of a mother whose been used to being independent and of a child whose lost a lot at such a young age and then recaptures it. Gideon and Caitlyn are both damaged by their past and yet their coming home to each other is a bittersweet ride. My only regret is that I read this one first.

And not to be outdone by completely reading this series out of order–haha.

Next up was “The True Love Quilting Club” (If you click on the cover, you can read an excerpt )

“The pattern of a quilt will always lead you back home.”
Trixie Lynn Parks changed her name to Emma, shook the dust of Twilight, Texas, off her shoes, and vowed to make it big in the city. But after twelve years of shattered dreams, she heads back to the ladies of the True Love Quilting Club . . . and to her first love, Sam Cheek.

Some things—and some people—sure have changed. Sam has grown from a carefree boy to a single dad. And even though the chemistry between them sizzles hotter than ever, Trixie Lynn quickly discovers she must choose between the fame and fortune that have finally come her way—or the one true love who has the power to mend her patchwork heart.

I honestly wasn’t sure if these two would get their happily-ever-after. The chemistry was there, the love was there, but Trixie/Emma was pretty damaged by her childhood. Not that Sam wasn’t, but Trixie/Emma’s mother walked out on her. I’ve never experienced that personally, but wow. This story rocked. I absolutely loved the cast of characters and delving more deeply into who these people were as well as falling back in love with Trixie and Sam. It was very touching and at times heart-wrenching, but also quirky and comical in places.

I’m not sure which one I’ll read next. I regret not reading them in order, but I can always go back and reread them in order one day. Lori is working on another series, but I shall be appeased by her Blaze’s until they’re all out. Oh and she has an on-going contest. YOU could win a Kindle. Check out her blog.