Romances with an Edge: Round the Bend -- Links

A FEW REVIEWS OF THE BOOKS

ROUND THE BEND
In 1851, childhood friends Amy Stevens and Matthew Kane travel with their families in a large wagon train bound for Oregon. Matt has long known he loves Amy, but she’s only ever harbored brotherly feelings for him. As the massive trek begins, Matt makes his intentions known, but Amy rebuffs him. However, once the seeds of awareness are planted, Amy discovers that her attachment to Matt gradually begins to change. When Matt’s vengeful brother starts trouble, Amy is forced to hide the budding relationship because Matt insists on protecting her reputation. With compelling and likeable main characters, colorful and well-drawn secondary characters, and immersive descriptions of the Oregon Trail, Ms.Trueax has crafted an epic novel that will pull you in, slowly but surely. You won’t soon forget Matt and Amy, or their bumpy path to a happily-ever-after.

ARIZONA SUNSET
I am not a reader of "romance" novels. Having said that, I am almost finished with this book and I have enjoyed it very much. I look forward each night to crawling into bed to see what Sam and Abby are up to. She is a prim gal, for sure, and he is lust incarnate. I think the author has done a great job in creating all the characters (of course I love Ollie) and you've covered quite the range of human behavior. It's not what I expected from a "romance" novel, and I'm quite pleased. It's a fully fleshed out story, full of details of the natural world and social and domestic life of the times. I'll be reading more from this author -- I especially enjoy her intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna of the southwest. And, of course, the dynamics of love relationships.

Born in the Pacific Northwest, growing up in the foothills of the Cascades, Rain Trueax has always loved learning, nature, ranching, art, family, and her writing, which brings it all together. In her early 20s, she wrote her first full length novel, but didn't submit it anywhere for publishing. It set a pattern of writing novels but not attempting to get them published. Her interests remain historical, contemporary, suspense, and paranormal romances-- all based in the American West. She is a member of RWA, PAN, Women Writing the West, and Saguaro Romance Writers.

She writes from her family sheep and cattle operation in the Oregon Coast Range, a desert home near Tucson, Arizona, or from a small RV somewhere in the inter-mountain west via satellite link.With her husband of over 50 years, Ranch Boss, she has two grown children, and four grandchildren.

In the romances, whether historical, contemporary, suspense, and paranormal, the underlying themes are the values of generosity, hard work, courage, community, and living true to oneself—all the while intertwining the complications of physical attraction, sexuality and outside challenges, whether, malicious or societal.

These are romances with an edge, stories of love involving adventure and danger. Other than novellas, her books are generally spicy (between 3 and 4 on a scale of 1-5). Characters sometimes use strong language, as suits the action.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Round the Bend -- Links