Marriage at Circle M

I really liked this book. I could feel the tension between Mike and Grace from the very first line. A great opener and I was hooked. And, I stayed hooked til the end. It's actually a premise I've thought about many times: what would happen if the hero or heroine admitted they were attracted to someone while `under the influence'. And they didn't tell just anyone - they told the person they were attracted to. How would they feel the next day when they were feeling more like themself? That's what happened to Grace Lundquist. She used to date this guy, Mike and had a real crush on him but one day he just left town. Walked away without a word. She was devastated to the point where she went and did something that negatively affected her whole life. Now, she's back in town with her secret and she's working like 3 jobs trying to make ends meet. She's too busy living to have a life. And then one night, she goes out for some R & R, and ends up dancing with Mike who's also back in town. The only problem, she's had a little bit too much punch and says something to Mike she will regret not just the next day, but for months. When Mike Gardner left town all those years ago, he joined the rodeo circuit. But, a body can only take so much injury before it starts to affect hurt. So, Mike came back to town and is ready to settle down. He saw Grace around town but neither one seemed ready to pick up where they left off all those years ago. And then one night, he goes out for some R & R and ends up dancing with Grace. And she says something that gets him wondering if maybe their spark didn't die, after all. But, can he get her to admit it when she's not `under the influence'. This is the 2nd book with characters from Windover Ranch. The 1st book was Hired by the Cowboy - Harlequin Romance 3954 - May 07 Heat level: Sensual My Rating: Great! - 4 ½ stars (a keeper)

MARRIAGE AT CIRCLE M is a short tender romance set in ranching country between a hero and heroine who have known each other for a long time but who discover each other anew as they reveal their secrets and vulnerabilities in heart-to-heart exchanges. These conversations vary from tender to dynamic and fiery. Grace Lundquist returns home, determined to hide her pain and her past. She is a hard worker, always there for everyone. The town loves her but what about her childhood sweetheart who upped and left when things got to serious? Of all the people to show up back in her life, Grace just has to encounter Mike Gardner, the man behind all her pain, the man she never really stopped loving! Grace and Mike know each other down to the very soul, but that certainly doesn't mean things will be easy. Knowing someone intimately isn't quite the same as loving someone. Can their heart-to-heart conversations lead to love or will Grace's secret be more than either of them can handle? The title of the mini-series Heart to Heart is perfect for this romance! Donna Alward narrows the plot action down to specific moments and focuses instead on the interrelation between the hero and heroine. It works well in this romance. The reader see both the intimacy and the distance between the hero and heroine in their heart-to-heart conversations. These two really do know each other at heart but also, as they share, that knowledge becomes more intimate. The reader feels the love growing between Grace and Mike as they begin to share their vulnerabilities. MARRIAGE AT CIRCLE M shows how intimate talks are wonderful but don't exactly equate to romance itself. Dating a good conversationalist is easy but love takes more than just a good heart-to-heart talk. As the reader hears Grace and Mike talk --- including their mistakes with one another ---- the happily ever after of this romance has more power than just a good talk. Mike and Grace find a certain intimacy and understanding of one another's hearts that will sustain them long after the book's ending. Nice! As a reader, I particularly appreciate romances that have heroines who represent women in all our variety. In MARRIAGE AT CIRCLE M, Donna Alward goes beyond a stereotype of the traditional romance woman in her creation of the heroine. A nice twist in Grace's character!