Drive-bys...

Hey there. So, the drive by is one I wish I didn't feel obligated to do, but sometimes I just don't have it in me to write more than a few thoughts about a book. Anyway, I enjoyed these two, so I thought I'd pass my words of immense wisdom on to you. *snicker*

Claiming Colleen by Beth Kery
From Forbidden Crush…To Forever Love?


In high school, small-town princess Colleen Kavanaugh had had it all, and Eric Reyes was the outsider with his nose pressed against the glass. Then a sudden change in circumstance led to a reversal of fortune. Now Eric was a wealthy, successful, arrogant surgeon who rubbed the onetime golden girl the wrong way.


When an ironic twist of fate forced Eric and Colleen back together, the single mom found herself drawn to the irresistible doctor despite their dark history. Sure, she’d felt something for Eric when they were teenagers, but those memories were long forgotten—or so she thought. It wasn’t long before he wooed her into his arms…and his bed. But could their newfound passion lead to the happily-ever-after of their dreams?
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This is book 3 of the Home Town Harbor series. I really enjoyed the first two. The underlying story is that the Kavanaugh's father caused a car accident many years ago that killed him and 3 other people. The books all deal with interactions between those families and the fallout from the accident years later.

I loved the continuation of the story arc here in book 3. Loved Eric, and how he admitted early on that he wanted Colleen, even though he wasn't quite sure for what. Colleen's been very prickly over these 3 books, and she stayed true to form. I wish she had warmed up sooner. But I really liked that she owned it, and apologized to Eric.

The evolution of all these characters from animosity, distrust, and fear to acceptance and becoming a family has been lovely to watch, and I think, quite realistically portrayed.

A well done series. I'll definity be interested to read oldest sister Deirdre's story, since she really is at the heart of it all.

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman
Annie Weaver always planned to return home, but the 20-year old RN has lived in Philadelphia for three years now. As her time of rumschpringe is about to come to an abrupt end, bringing for Annie an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She returns home and finds herself face-to-face with a budding romance with an Amish farmer and important choices to make.
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I find that I really enjoy reading Amish romances. This one, I thought was very well done. The religion factor doesn't bother me in Amish romance because it's just such a way of life for the Amish that it seems like the story would be lost without it. Where in other inspys, I often feel as though the story could be told without the religious aspect.

Chapman did a lovely job of showing that the Amish are just like anyone else, with hopes, dreams, fears, insecurities, and deep love. Annie and Samuel are a nice couple, and I really enjoyed reading their story. I liked all of Annie's siblings and the community.  It's nice sometimes, in the world of romances.that get more explicit and our lives that get so crazy busy, to slow down and think about life in a simpler way, but with the same depth of feeling. Chapman really conveyed a ton of emotion, and there is all of one (maybe two?) very chaste kisses in the book, right at the end. A perfect example of how we don't need sex in a book to make a lovely romance, even though oftentimes a book doesn't feel right without it. Here, the romance was full, and the characters evolved nicely, even without any sex whatsoever.

I would read another book by Chapman in a heartbeat.