Texas Baby

Josie Whitfield wasn't trying to break up the party when she crashed her car into the front gate of the Clayton ranch during Chase Clayton's engagement party. She was just trying to confront him with the fact that she was pregnant and he was going to be a father, and perhaps find out why he had disappeared after a quick one month fling and a new pair of bed sheets. Unfortunately, she passed out from exhaustion before she could park the car. Tired and overworked, though recently out of a job after introducing her creepy, vengeful manager to the joys of morning sickness, Josie finds her way to Chase's doorstep, only to discover that she has been duped. She knows intimate details about his childhood, but she has never seen this sexy, sensitive cowboy before in her life. Chase Clayton is about to get married to his childhood friend and the owner of the adjoining Everly Ranch, Susannah Everly, who needs to marry to satisfy the requirements of her grandfather's will. The ranch means everything to her, and she would do just about anything to keep it. Many in town hope the marriage of convenience might blossom into something more, but Chase knows of the tangled history between Susannah and his best friend and ranch manager Trent Maxwell, and his heart just isn`t in it. The appearance of a lovely, pregnant waif who knows private details about his life, claiming to be the mother of his child-to-be certainly doesn't help. And who is this impersonator running around seducing women on his behalf? Chase and Josie join forces to track down Mr. Flim Flam, and end up discovering much more than they had expected. Kathleen O'Brien's poetic style and her ability to create warm, genuine characters and steamy romantic tension (and occasionally a spooky, engaging murder mystery!) really set her books apart. Kathleen has a gift for story, and a companionable way of drawing readers in and making them comfortable. In the Firefly Glen series, she introduced readers to the town of Firefly Glen, the very embodiment of the joy of returning home, a place where natives and travelers alike can find a warm smile and a helping hand. In Quiet as the Grave she explored the darker desires of the heart, and created a creepy murder mystery that certainly sent a shiver down my spine. Throughout all of her books she explores the love found in all areas of our lives- the love for a niece, a neighbor, a best friend, or a life companion. Thank you for many hours of happy reading, Kathleen!

Josie Whitford is a waitress in a small town when she is seduced by a handsome cowboy who says he is Chase Clayton IV. He takes her out, buys her fancy sheets, and other luxuries that she could never afford, and then disappears into the night. She realizes she is not in love with the man who left her, but she does find herself pregnant with his baby. Josie is angry and confused and finds herself going to find the man who left her. When she crashes his engagement party she is stunned to find out the man she fell for, is not the real Chase Clayton IV. Chase is about to marry his childhood friend to help her save her ranch, when Josie throws him for a loop. Josie and Chase make great leading characters. As a heroine she is strong, yet vulnerable. She has been taken in by a con, has no money yet she feels the need to go back to her old life and not take charity. She shows her true colors and fights for the right to stand on her own two feet, when she could have easily taken advantage of Chase's generosity. Chase may have money but he never looks down on Josie, nor does he easily give in to his lust knowing he is engaged to another woman - even though the marriage would have been in name only. He only goes to Josie, the woman he lusts after when his "bride-to-be" goes after the man she loves. Two better characters could not have been created for this tale of love and lies. Kathleen O'Brien is a talented author who created a tale that is emotionally fulfilling. She makes Texas come alive as Josie and Chase search for the man who used his name. Whether in real life, Chase would have been so forgiving, or if Josie would have truly walked away are to be left to the reader's imagination, however in this novel, the scenes feel real and give a sense of being a part of the world these characters live in. This reader enjoyed this novel and will be looking for more of Ms. O'Brien's backlist to find out what this author has to offer.

College student and waitress Josie Whitfield is elated to learn she is pregnant as she thinks she loves her boyfriend Chase Clayton IV. However, when she goes to inform him, she is stunned as he left without a word. Outraged, she heads to his vast Clayton Creek ranch to confront him. Josie crashes Chase's engagement party that includes enough guests to fill up Texas University's football stadium. Even more stunning is she finds this Clayton is not her Clayton. He agrees to help her find the scoundrel even though she destroyed the gala and embarrassed his fiancée Susannah Everly. As they travel together, the real Clayton and Josie are falling in love, but his engagement to his neighbor requires he do the honorable thing by her so she can control her family ranch. The real Clayton is too nice a guy to be real as his sacrifices are beyond noble; for instance he is willing to marry to help his neighbor and goes on the quest to help Josie find the scoundrel pretending to be him. Still in spite of this perfect paragon, TEXAS BABY is a fun contemporary romance as the modern day chivalrous knight in shining armor and the damsel in distress make a fine couple while his engagement to Susannah adds complications to the lead couple's changing relationship. Harriet Klausner