Tag Archive | Arlene James

Carbon Copy Cowboy… A Book Review

Now you would think I would learn my lesson about NOT judging a book by its cover… In fact, one of our Australian facts found recently was that there is a bookstore that has special books wrapped in brown paper with just the genres listed for just that very reason. (Elizabeth’s Bookshops) Yet when I go to the library and have to manage the kids at “library voices” levels… well a quick title read and a brief glance at the cover and then move on. That was what Carbon Copy Cowboy was (add in the series title – Texas Twins). 

Now I realize that I cannot expect too much… first off, I am never sure that if they ARE in a series they are first book (NOPE… book 3!), that I am going to love all the characters (well so so) or that I will even be completely drawn into the book… Carbon Copy Cowboy by Arlene James was a relatively quick and light read. The overlying issue of the story – about the history of the main family, was never answered… annoyingly enough. I WAS able to understand somewhat what had occurred in the previous two books, enough so that blanks are filled in relatively nicely over all. 

The main issue of the book that WAS answered was the identity of the woman found in her car with a bridal veil on of all things post accident with amnesia. This did wrap up a lot of questions through out the story. (very tidy in some respects). The romance is an interesting one, what with one person (“Kendra”) not even knowing if she had a family etc. that were waiting for her. The other half (Jack Colby) has his own unknowns… though his are all centered around his mother in a coma. She has all the answers and he has all the questions… including why he and his sister are actually each half of a set of identical twins who knew nothing about the other.

There are quite a few characters in this book. Of course, starting with the first in the series would have simplified that more than a little! But I think you CAN pick this one up without the others and still get by nicely. All in all an enjoyable read, I am unsure if I will make the effort to hunt down the rest (before and after) of the series. These Love Inspired paperbacks can be as hard to find in the system as a pure Harlequin. (not that I look often!) So if you need something set in Texas with twins and mystery and romance… all in a contemporary setting ON A RANCH… AND with a faith aspect to it.. go for it! Though I have to warn you, this book is FULL of prayer moments. So if that is not your cup of tea….13548084

This entry was posted on 08/04/2016, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

Second Chance Match… a book review

Ok so I am two for two on difficult library reads… Second Chance Match by Arlene James (of the Chatam House series) was a well written Christian romance but I had a bit of a struggle to get through it. I am not sure if this is because it is one in what I assume is the middle of the series or just the content didn’t speak to me, but I honestly got this book way before Fresh-Start Ranch and had struggled to completely finish it. 

The main character is a single mom Jessa who has moved to a new town to start over with her young son. Sadly the home she has been promised has also been promised to Garrett. Both have a business plan for the old Victorian and are stubborn and strong people. Or at least they seem so on the surface. 

I found that the idea of their businesses complimenting each other (wee bit of a spoiler) came to me INSTANTLY. I was not overly fond of the way the characters were written, but that may have been because BOTH parties had LARGE secrets they were withholding from each other. The element of a child was not unwelcome and the people around the main characters were definitely unique. I think I would have enjoyed this one MORE if I had read a previous volume. 

There IS a strong faith element to the story and definitely multiple tense moments towards the end. So it does call to someone on the look out for these themes in a story. I just think this is NOT the story for me. But I did find some satisfaction out of the ending. If you DO read this story please let me know what you think, I am always curious to hear other opinions. 51lt3ZiSYwL._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_