Category Archives: Cynthia D’Alba

April 11, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Texas Lullaby by Cynthia D’Alba

Title: Texas Lullaby by Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks Series Book Seven
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 211 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

When Fate tosses you in the deep end, it’s time to sink or swim.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 7

Lydia Henson’s four-year-long engagement to Jason Montgomery is about to end in a Texas wedding everyone is anticipating. She’s come to accept Jason doesn’t want children. She can live without children. She can’t live without the man she loves.

Jason has never wanted a family. At least, that’s his story and he’s sticking to it. The falsehood is less emasculating than the truth. Yet when tragedy on the eve of their wedding lands Lydia with her sister’s children to raise, Jason finds himself surprisingly calm in the midst of the chaos.

Everything he swore he didn’t want seems as natural as breathing. But just as he gathers the courage to grab for the golden ring, another unexpected twist threatens to tarnish what could have been a shining future.

Product Warnings: Sticky fingers and dirty diapers can change a couple forever.

Review:

Texas Lullaby by Cynthia D’Alba is another enthralling addition to the delightful Texas Montgomery Mavericks series.  This final installment in the series is heartwarming and fans will be thrilled to see Jason Montgomery and Lydia Henson finally get their happily ever after.

Jason and Lydia have weathered many ups and downs over the course of their long relationship but just as they are on the verge of marriage, tragedy strikes. Overwhelmed and grieving, Lydia is now the guardian of three small children and knowing how Jason feels about parenthood, she begins pushing him away.  Jason is confused and concerned about the growing distance between them but will his efforts to give Lydia the space and time she needs bring them together?   Or will it tear them apart once and for all?

Lydia is a strong and independent woman but she is ill-prepared for instant motherhood.  Unwilling to accept the support offered to her, she is exhausted and worried about how well the children are adjusting to this unexpected change.  Knowing that Jason is adamant about not having kids, she is concerned that he will eventually regret honoring his promise to marry her.  Instead of talking to him about her  fears, she holds him at arm’s length despite his eagerness to move forward with their plans.

Jason is good with kids but he has done a fantastic job convincing everyone, including Lydia, that fatherhood is not part of his future. There is more to his decision than he has revealed to anyone, including Lydia. Although he is always willing to pitch in and help with the kids, the gulf between them continues to widen and despite his efforts to hold their relationship together, Lydia makes a decision that breaks his heart.

While there is never any doubt that Jason and Lydia love another, lack of communication threatens to tear them apart.  Part of the growing problem between them is Jason’s reticence to add to her stress so he keeps his concerns about their fracturing relationship to himself.  Their biggest problem is the fact Jason has been keeping a huge secret from her and although his actions once the children enter into their lives speak volumes, Lydia’s refusal to talk to him puts added strain on their increasingly precarious relationship. While they both are to blame for the chasm between them, Lydia makes unfair assumptions about Jason which leads her to make a unilateral decision without consulting him.

Texas Lullaby is a poignant and heartfelt addition to the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series.  With plenty of unexpected twists and turns, the story is fast-paced and engaging with an incredibly sweet and highly emotional conclusion.  While saying good-bye to this marvelous series is a little sad, I am eagerly anticipating Cynthia D’Alba’s next release.

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Filed under Contemporary, Cynthia D'Alba, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Texas Lullaby, Texas Montgomery Mavericks

November 23, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Texas Hustle by Cynthia D’Alba

texas hustleTitle: Texas Hustle by Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks Series Book Six
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Length: 244 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

They’re different as night and day…but it’s the right time for love.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 6

Porchia Summers was born into a family who gave her everything except affection. She acted out until her parents sent her to Whispering Springs before their high-society friends found out about her arrest record.

She builds a good life in Texas, but then the old boyfriend who got her in trouble tracks her down. Desperate to find a way to keep her past and present separate, she places a bid at a bachelor auction on the one man who’ll get her out of town for a few days.

Darren Montgomery is thrilled when Porchia wins him and a week of camping with his entire family in a charity bachelor auction. He’s also curious. He’s been flirting with the town’s sweet, sexy baker for years. Sometimes she flirts back, but she’s never let things go further than that. Darren’s not complaining, but he wonders just what’s going on behind Porchia’s pretty eyes.

Product Warnings: Watch out for chigger bites, love bites, and secrets that bite.

Review:

With a unique premise and a slight suspense element to the storyline, Cynthia D’Alba does a wonderful job keeping the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series fresh with her latest release, Texas Hustle.

Bakery owner Porchia Summers’s past has caught up with her and in an effort to buy time to figure out how to defuse the situation, she bids on local rancher Darren Montgomery at a charity bachelor auction. Not realizing their “date” is a weeklong camping adventure with the rest of the Montgomery clan, her dismay quickly turns to delight as she gets to know Darren’s extended family. Porchia and Darren have a smoking hot attraction that she has managed to ignore up until now but spending so much time in close proximity to the charming cowboy makes it very difficult to avoid giving in to their mutual desire.

Porchia is a likable but somewhat frustrating heroine. She is sassy, smart and well-liked but she continues to allow a youthful mistake to cloud her judgment about herself and her family. Her parents’ overreaction to that long ago event continues to plague her and instead of telling anyone about her current situation, Porchia refuses to ask for help in an effort to keep her indiscretion from being exposed. Equally exasperating is the reason she has kept Darren at arms’ length despite his obvious interest in her. Just when their relationship finally takes a romantic turn, Porchia makes a decision that that jeopardizes their future together.

Darren is a sexy, fun and hardworking hero with a heart of gold. He has been interested in Porchia for quite some time and he is a little confused as to why she flirts with him only to turn around and put him back in the friend zone. Knowing how skittish she is, Darren patiently waits until she is ready to take their relationship to the next level. His romantic side is a little unexpected but this gentle wooing is incredibly sweet and heartwarming. While Darren is taken aback by Porchia’s sudden decision, he tries to give her the space and time she needs to figure out what comes next. However, this does not mean Darren sits idly by and lets her walk out of his life without voicing his opinion about what she is hoping to accomplish.

The suspense element is the weakest part of the storyline and Porchia’s reaction to something that happened seventeen years earlier seems a little overblown. The incident was definitely a defining moment in her life but her inability to move past it is a little difficult to believe. Wanting to make peace with her family is understandable but watching her turn into a doormat seems out of character considering the happy and successful life she created for herself in Texas. Fortunately Darren is not willing to let their relationship go without a fight, but will Porchia realize what is most important to her before it is too late?

Texas Hustle is another well-written and engaging addition to Cynthia D’Alba’s Texas Montgomery Mavericks series. The characters are delightfully appealing with believable strengths and weaknesses. The storyline is interesting with a few unexpected twists and turns. All in all, a sweet, sensual love story that fans of contemporary western romances are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Cynthia D'Alba, Rated B, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Texas Hustle, Texas Montgomery Mavericks

September 8, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: Texas Twist by Cynthia D’Alba

txTitle: Texas Twist by Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book Four
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Real bad boys can grow up to be real good men.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 4

Hit hard by the death of her parents, Paige Ryan needs to figure out what to do with her life. She moves to Whispering Springs, Texas, to be near her step-brother. But just as she starts to get her life on track, the last man she ever wanted to see again sends it right back off the rails.

Cash Montgomery was on the cusp of having it all. Three bull riding titles, fame, fortune and respect from his family. Until a bad bull leaves him injured, angry and searching for comfort at the bottom of a bottle. With nowhere to go, he moves into his sister-in-law’s old ranch house in Whispering Springs—which he’s surprised to find already occupied.

As Cash rebuilds the dilapidated home and Paige starts out on her medical career, their old friendship begins to reemerge and sparks are ignited. Paige knows that Cash is nothing but a heartache waiting to happen. But maybe this bad boy has grown up to be a real good man?

Product Warnings: Watch out for falling lumber, falling in holes, and falling for the wrong guy…again. You can leave your hard hat on.

The Review:

Texas Twist is the latest addition to Cynthia D’Alba’s delightful Texas Montgomery Mavericks series. This fourth book centered around the Montgomery clan can be read as a standalone but it can be a little overwhelming trying to sort out the various relationships if you are new to the series.

Cash Montgomery and Paige Ryan’s paths crossed frequently for a number of years as they both traveled the rodeo circuit. As a teenager, Paige had a huge crush on the four years older Cash, and after her eighteenth birthday, she left for college nursing a broken heart. Fast forward a few years, and they are unexpectedly reunited when they wind up living together in Cash’s sister-in-law’s ramshackle ranch house. Paige is dismayed by her continued desire for Cash, but once she realizes he is also attracted to her, she proposes a no-strings fling.

Paige is a well-adjusted, sensible young woman in her mid twenties. She has been helping out in her step-brother’s bar while mourning the deaths of her parents, but she is preparing for the next step in her life when she runs into Cash. Despite her continued attraction to him, Paige does not sit around mooning over him. She embarks on a new job and dates a new man in town while she is waiting for school to begin in a few months.

Cash’s career as a bull rider is more than just a job to him. In his mind, bull riding is what defines him, so it is no surprise that after a career ending injury, he is convinced his life is over. In the months since his accident, he has been drinking heavily while wallowing in self-pity.  At loose ends, he begins repair work on the old house, and he is pleasantly surprised when a new future begins to take shape.

Living in the same house puts Paige and Cash in daily contact with one another and they slowly renew their old friendship. The attraction between them simmers below the surface but neither acts on it until Cash’s jealousy leads to a very passionate kiss. Paige is no longer content to ignore her feelings and although she knows there is little chance of a long term relationship for them, she convinces him to agree to a casual affair until she leaves for school. They are soon indulging in some very hot and steamy lovemaking, but love soon sneaks up on both of them.

Texas Twist is a light and easy read with very little conflict. Paige and Cash’s romance is mostly problem free, but a misunderstanding late in the story threatens their relationship. Cynthia D’Alba saves all the drama for the novel’s conclusion, and although Paige and Cash resolve their issue quickly, there is plenty of pulse-pounding action before they are fully reunited.

Fast-paced and engaging with likable characters, Texas Twist is another fabulous installment in the very charming Texas Montgomery Mavericks series that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Cynthia D’Alba’s next release.

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Filed under Contemporary, Cynthia D'Alba, Rated B, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Texas Twist

February 3, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: Texas Fandango by Cynthia D’Alba

fandangoTitle: Texas Fandango by Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book Three
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novella/106 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Two weeks on a beach can deepen more than just their tans.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 3

KC Montgomery was eleven when she met the love of her life. Of course, seventeen-year-old Drake Gentry didn’t know she existed, but that didn’t stop her girlish fantasies from growing and changing over the years.

Now, after enjoying a front-row seat to his breakup with his latest girlfriend, she’s been handed an all-grown-up fantasy come true—two weeks at the Sand Castle Resort. With him.

Drake most definitely noticed KC a long time ago, but the timing’s never been right. Now that he’s facing a lonely vacation that was supposed to be for two, it seems only natural to accept KC’s offer to fill in. And as far as her terms go… No strings. No expectations. No holds barred. Drake is no fool—he’s all over it.

But once they’re back in Texas there are invisible strings still hanging between them. Strings labeled attraction, affection…even love. And the more they try to untangle the knots, the tighter they’re bound together.

Product Warnings: Beware of sunburns, whirlpool sex and sand in delicate places.

Purchase Links: Samhain * Amazon * B&N * iTunes

The Review:

Cynthia D’Alba’s newest release, Texas Fandango is the perfect escape from the cold wintry weather. The beach setting is particularly welcoming this time of year, but it is the delectably steamy sex scenes between KC Montgomery and Drake Gentry that are guaranteed to make your temperature rise.

There is a long and sometimes complicated past between KC and Drake. Drake is not only one of her cousin’s best friends but he is also her cousin Olivia’s ex-husband. Now that Olivia is happily reunited with the love of her life, she is eager to see Drake find happiness as well. When Drake’s latest relationship ends, KC is quick to seize the opportunity to enjoy a commitment free fling with him but she is secretly hoping this might be the chance for them to form a lasting relationship.

There is definitely chemistry between KC and Drake and even though their past is rather convoluted, I did not have any problem with the two of them as a couple. I liked that KC was able to speak up and convince Drake that she is serious about going with him to resort despite her fear of rejection. Drake has a few initial reservations about accepting her offer, but after taking the time to consider their history, he jumps at the chance to explore his attraction to her.

For the most part, Texas Fandango is fun, flirty and super sexy. The conflict between KC and Drake is self-imposed but they resolve their issues with very little angst. The ending is sweetly romantic and I enjoyed watching KC and Drake find their happily ever after.

Even though Texas Fandango is the third installment in Cynthia D’Alba’s Texas Montgomery Mavericks series, it can be read as a standalone. However, the tantalizing and intriguing glimpses of the other relationships will leave you eager to read the previous books in this marvelous series.

3 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Cynthia D'Alba, Rated B, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Texas Fandango, Texas Montgomery Mavericks