What do you think?
Rate this book
Texas Heat Wave #3
At Last
Eleven years ago, Riley Stone left Hope, Texas with a head full of dreams about taking the music world by storm, and a heart shattered by unrequited love. Since then, she's developed some common sense about those dreams and a sense of humor about her long-ago infatuation with Jackson Hope, the scion of the town’s namesake family. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so happy to return to the tiny tourist town to sing blues in a nostalgia bar - that is, until she runs into Jackson and realizes that not so much has changed between them after all.With Jackson’s father wanting to tear down the town’s beloved dance hall to build a SaversMart, Riley unites the local artists and shop owners to save the historic landmark. Soon, Jackson finds himself caught between his desire to do the financially responsible thing for the town and his unwelcome desire for the bane of his existence – Riley Stone. Can they overcome all the old hurt, shocking scandals, and family secrets standing in the way to declare their love for each other, at last? Originally published in print as Unforgettable by Signet Eclipse.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
71 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Julie Ortolon
19 books550 followersMost authors will tell you they've been writing and reading since childhood. Not me. I hated reading and never imagined I'd someday be a writer. Of course, the fact that I have dyslexia probably has a tiny bit to do with my aversion to the written word.
Nonetheless, I had a very active imagination and spent most of my school years staring out the window dreaming up stories. When I finally escaped the torture of public school, I attended Schreiner College in the Texas Hill Country. Schreiner specializes in programs for students with learning disabilities. With the help of a school administrator, who was willing to type out one of my short stories, I entered a writing contest—won first place!
That was when I started longing for a way to get the other stories that were in my head down on paper. But the act of writing longhand, when I couldn't spell, could barely read, and knew zip about punctuation, proved impossible.
So, I became an artist instead—and was perfectly happy.
Then came the day my journalist husband brought home a computer, and I discovered the wonders of "spell check." I cannot describe how I felt in that moment. That computer was like a magic box—a gateway into a world where anything was possible. I spend every spare minute teaching myself to type, read, punctuate, and somehow get my stories out of my head and onto that glowing white screen.
Ten years, and five complete manuscripts later, I had another magical moment—the day I sold my first book. When I got the news I screamed and cried and made a perfectly ecstatic fool of myself.
The journey to becoming a published author was long and hard, but writing is the most thrilling thing I've ever done.
Nonetheless, I had a very active imagination and spent most of my school years staring out the window dreaming up stories. When I finally escaped the torture of public school, I attended Schreiner College in the Texas Hill Country. Schreiner specializes in programs for students with learning disabilities. With the help of a school administrator, who was willing to type out one of my short stories, I entered a writing contest—won first place!
That was when I started longing for a way to get the other stories that were in my head down on paper. But the act of writing longhand, when I couldn't spell, could barely read, and knew zip about punctuation, proved impossible.
So, I became an artist instead—and was perfectly happy.
Then came the day my journalist husband brought home a computer, and I discovered the wonders of "spell check." I cannot describe how I felt in that moment. That computer was like a magic box—a gateway into a world where anything was possible. I spend every spare minute teaching myself to type, read, punctuate, and somehow get my stories out of my head and onto that glowing white screen.
Ten years, and five complete manuscripts later, I had another magical moment—the day I sold my first book. When I got the news I screamed and cried and made a perfectly ecstatic fool of myself.
The journey to becoming a published author was long and hard, but writing is the most thrilling thing I've ever done.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 6, 2012
This was a fun romance with interesting characters and a unique setting. I liked the town of Hope, Texas and cared as much for the future of the town as I did the future of the two main characters.
Both main characters have advantages that appear, on the outside, to be wonderful. Riley is gorgeous and a talented singer. Jackson is rich and a successful lawyer. Both would seem to have the world at their feet. But both also suffer the drawbacks of those gifts. Riley is used to being seen as nothing more than her body and has had to develop defenses against those who would use her. Jackson is used to being seen as a tool to fulfill the desires of others, as well, and has had to learn to wall off his feelings lest they become just another lever to get him to do what someone else wants him to.
So they both have to overcome their instincts for self-defense as they learn to trust each other. This isn't easy to do, particularly while trying to save a town they both love from the consequences of its past.
One thing I really hate is when people make unilateral decisions in a relationship because they think it's "for the best". Riley goes off on this whole jag at one point in the novel and I found it deeply annoying. Still, at least in this story, it's clearly flagged as the stupidity it is and she does, eventually, get over it.
And the book becomes a little preachy about learning to look past appearances, and it's obviously a first(ish) novel—though not obnoxiously so.
All that said, and even with the occasional weakness, I found myself enjoying this book immensely. I just liked Riley and Jackson so much. And in the end it was as much about love and family as it was attraction and desire, and I found that as heartwarming as I did the central romance.
------
An administrative note:
With this book, I'm going to create a new bookshelf so I can mark those novels with explicit sex. Some of my friends don't mind, but others do, so look for the "steamy" tag if you want to make sure. This book had a small handful of explicit sex scenes, so it certainly qualifies for the new designation.
Both main characters have advantages that appear, on the outside, to be wonderful. Riley is gorgeous and a talented singer. Jackson is rich and a successful lawyer. Both would seem to have the world at their feet. But both also suffer the drawbacks of those gifts. Riley is used to being seen as nothing more than her body and has had to develop defenses against those who would use her. Jackson is used to being seen as a tool to fulfill the desires of others, as well, and has had to learn to wall off his feelings lest they become just another lever to get him to do what someone else wants him to.
So they both have to overcome their instincts for self-defense as they learn to trust each other. This isn't easy to do, particularly while trying to save a town they both love from the consequences of its past.
One thing I really hate is when people make unilateral decisions in a relationship because they think it's "for the best". Riley goes off on this whole jag at one point in the novel and I found it deeply annoying. Still, at least in this story, it's clearly flagged as the stupidity it is and she does, eventually, get over it.
And the book becomes a little preachy about learning to look past appearances, and it's obviously a first(ish) novel—though not obnoxiously so.
All that said, and even with the occasional weakness, I found myself enjoying this book immensely. I just liked Riley and Jackson so much. And in the end it was as much about love and family as it was attraction and desire, and I found that as heartwarming as I did the central romance.
------
An administrative note:
With this book, I'm going to create a new bookshelf so I can mark those novels with explicit sex. Some of my friends don't mind, but others do, so look for the "steamy" tag if you want to make sure. This book had a small handful of explicit sex scenes, so it certainly qualifies for the new designation.
April 8, 2012
The name of the town is Hope, and this is a book about having hope. Riley Stone is a singer who has moved back home after ten years of trying to be discovered. She was blessed/cursed with a great body which everyone during high school assumed she was a loose cannon. Nothing can be farthest from the truth. She spent her high school years loving Jackson Hope who wouldn't even look her way.
Jackson Hope is coming back to his hometown. And when I say his hometown, I mean his family owns the whole town. They can make any decisions, sometimes with poor outcomes. The town is falling apart.
Riley decides to take the initiative to protect the town's music hall and she won't rest until she saves it.
Jackson is shocked to see that Riley is back in town. Their attraction is real and soon they are sharing more than an idea to save the town.
2.5/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot
Jackson Hope is coming back to his hometown. And when I say his hometown, I mean his family owns the whole town. They can make any decisions, sometimes with poor outcomes. The town is falling apart.
Riley decides to take the initiative to protect the town's music hall and she won't rest until she saves it.
Jackson is shocked to see that Riley is back in town. Their attraction is real and soon they are sharing more than an idea to save the town.
2.5/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot
May 30, 2012
This book was predictable but maddening in some ways. There's never any sort of explanation as to why the protagonist, Riley, would wish to leave her burgeoning music career in Austin to return to the sleepy town of Hope. I also felt like Riley's relationship history just wasn't plausible or believable. Jackson's character was surprisingly well-developed and accessible for a romantic hero.
October 12, 2012
great read. love Riley and Jackson together. just wish the book didn't end so suddenly
November 17, 2021
What a beautifully written romance! loved reading it and wanted to read it slowly, but of course there are other books in this series and other books that I want to get to, so read it fast instead.
Read
June 25, 2011not recommended!!!
bukan karena kisah hero atau heroine ga bagus.
gw malah paling suka kisah dimana hero/heroine pada suatu masa di masa lalunya pernah saling tertarik tapi ga kesampean. ntar beberapa tahun kemudian mereka ketemu lagi dan akhirnya bersatu. paling demen ama cerita yang beginian :)
yang paling bikin illfeel dari buku ini adalah latarbelakang cerita yang menyebabkan kedua tokoh bersatu.
cerita bermula dari Riley Stone yang kembali pulang ke Hope, Texas dan menjadi penyanyi di restoran di kota tersebut. setelah diamatinya, ternyata Hope, kota yang dimiliki oleh keluarg Hope, hampir terlihat seperti kota mati. para anggota keluarga hope sendiri sudah jarang tinggal dikota tersebut karena sudah turun temurun kalu anggota keluarga Hope pasti bakal jadi senator dan berkantor di Washington DC.
tokoh cowoknya adalah Jackson Hope, satu2nya anggota keluarga Hope yang memikirkan nasib kotanya tapi ga berdaya melakukan apa2 karena hak mengatur Hope ada ditangan ayahnya.
waktu jackson kembali ke Hope untuk pertemuan keluarga di bertemu kembali dengan Riley yang pada suatu masa pernah ditaksirnya.
nah cerita berlanjut terus dengan jackson dan riley berusaha mempertahankan dance hall yang jadi trademark kota tersebut dan ingin dihancurkan oleh ayah Jackson.
kemudian terungkap kalau sebenarnya pengelola Dance Hall tersebut sebelumnya adalah simpanan kakek Jackson dan juga merupakan perampok bank ternama, kalu ga salah namanya Molly. satu2nya orang yang tidak tahu mengenai fakta ini adalah Jackson!
Si kakek kurang ajar ini menempatkan istri dan anak2nya di kota kecil yang sama dengan simpanan dan anaknya (bastardnya si kakek ini).
yang paling bikin amarah gw meledak adalah seolah2 kisah cinta si kakek dan simpanannya ini adalah cinta sejati dan dielu2kan oleh warga kota(bayangin aja bikin museum atas kisah mereka berdua!). padahal sebenarnya si kakek ini udah pacaran sama si perampok sebelum menikah tapi karena ingin menjadi senator dia mutusin pacarnya dan menikahi gadis dari keluarga terhormat lain.
gimana coba perasaan istri dan anak2nya, yang setiap hari harus menghadapi keluarga lain yang dimiliki si kakek. belum lagi anak simpanan si kakek yang ternyata lebih pintar,lebih ganteng dan paling demen merebut cewek yang disukai si anak sah (ayahnya Jackson).
ughhh.. udah deh, ga usah dibahas lagi
membara lagi nih!!!
bukan karena kisah hero atau heroine ga bagus.
gw malah paling suka kisah dimana hero/heroine pada suatu masa di masa lalunya pernah saling tertarik tapi ga kesampean. ntar beberapa tahun kemudian mereka ketemu lagi dan akhirnya bersatu. paling demen ama cerita yang beginian :)
yang paling bikin illfeel dari buku ini adalah latarbelakang cerita yang menyebabkan kedua tokoh bersatu.
cerita bermula dari Riley Stone yang kembali pulang ke Hope, Texas dan menjadi penyanyi di restoran di kota tersebut. setelah diamatinya, ternyata Hope, kota yang dimiliki oleh keluarg Hope, hampir terlihat seperti kota mati. para anggota keluarga hope sendiri sudah jarang tinggal dikota tersebut karena sudah turun temurun kalu anggota keluarga Hope pasti bakal jadi senator dan berkantor di Washington DC.
tokoh cowoknya adalah Jackson Hope, satu2nya anggota keluarga Hope yang memikirkan nasib kotanya tapi ga berdaya melakukan apa2 karena hak mengatur Hope ada ditangan ayahnya.
waktu jackson kembali ke Hope untuk pertemuan keluarga di bertemu kembali dengan Riley yang pada suatu masa pernah ditaksirnya.
nah cerita berlanjut terus dengan jackson dan riley berusaha mempertahankan dance hall yang jadi trademark kota tersebut dan ingin dihancurkan oleh ayah Jackson.
kemudian terungkap kalau sebenarnya pengelola Dance Hall tersebut sebelumnya adalah simpanan kakek Jackson dan juga merupakan perampok bank ternama, kalu ga salah namanya Molly. satu2nya orang yang tidak tahu mengenai fakta ini adalah Jackson!
Si kakek kurang ajar ini menempatkan istri dan anak2nya di kota kecil yang sama dengan simpanan dan anaknya (bastardnya si kakek ini).
yang paling bikin amarah gw meledak adalah seolah2 kisah cinta si kakek dan simpanannya ini adalah cinta sejati dan dielu2kan oleh warga kota(bayangin aja bikin museum atas kisah mereka berdua!). padahal sebenarnya si kakek ini udah pacaran sama si perampok sebelum menikah tapi karena ingin menjadi senator dia mutusin pacarnya dan menikahi gadis dari keluarga terhormat lain.
gimana coba perasaan istri dan anak2nya, yang setiap hari harus menghadapi keluarga lain yang dimiliki si kakek. belum lagi anak simpanan si kakek yang ternyata lebih pintar,lebih ganteng dan paling demen merebut cewek yang disukai si anak sah (ayahnya Jackson).
ughhh.. udah deh, ga usah dibahas lagi
membara lagi nih!!!
March 25, 2012
Very cute story about a young woman who wants to be a famous singer but life has other plans. Riley is a young woman trying to make it in the music business. She has a golden voice and an unstoppable beauty that she works to her full advantage. She had a rough life growing up and was considered trailer trash by the small town Texas snobs she went to school with. Her defense mechanism was to hide behind the blonde bombshell facade to keep unwanted attention away. Unfortunately, it also kept away any girlfriends she might have made duee to jealousy.
Riley comes home to Hope, Texas to work and is saddened by the poor straits the town is in. She wants to save the town, especially the historic dance hall located in the heart of Hope. When the powerful and wealthy Hope family make plans to demolish the dance hall and build a discount store in its place, sparks of every kind begin to fly when Jackson Hope, her old school crush, blows back into town to oversee the project. Riley must face off with Jackson and fight her growing attraction to him once more.
Romantic, funny, light read.
Riley comes home to Hope, Texas to work and is saddened by the poor straits the town is in. She wants to save the town, especially the historic dance hall located in the heart of Hope. When the powerful and wealthy Hope family make plans to demolish the dance hall and build a discount store in its place, sparks of every kind begin to fly when Jackson Hope, her old school crush, blows back into town to oversee the project. Riley must face off with Jackson and fight her growing attraction to him once more.
Romantic, funny, light read.
November 14, 2015
What can happen when the past tries repeating in the present? This second chance at love. This is where secrets can and did last several generations. Old hatred rears its ugly head. But when two young people come back to the town called Hope anything can happen. Jackson was born to take over the small town from his father. But his dad had a past there that was tearing the town apart. Riley came to the town as a young girl who's grandmother ended up raising. Their story wasn't an easy one for either. Misunderstanding separated them after they first met. Now they come together to save the town from his dad. Secrets have a way of coming to light even years later. Want the sound tract that goes with this book. WILL also be reading more books by Julie Ortolon soon.
July 29, 2014
**I got an email about a year after I read this book, telling me it had been "updated." Apparently, updated meant rewritten--looking at the synopsis and reviews, it's a completely different book, now, and even changed titles to "At Last.' That might have been a good move. It was pretty unimpressive, originally. **
Recommended by Amazon's Kindle store, which obviously isn't as good as some engines. Here's an example of the sample being a whole lot better than the rest of the book. I kept reading because I was having a bored, lie-around-and-read kind of day, but wow. Trite, oversexed, and predictable. Bleh.
Recommended by Amazon's Kindle store, which obviously isn't as good as some engines. Here's an example of the sample being a whole lot better than the rest of the book. I kept reading because I was having a bored, lie-around-and-read kind of day, but wow. Trite, oversexed, and predictable. Bleh.
January 13, 2014
My copy of this book is titled "At Last".
I did like this book because it was a complex romance. That said, the backstory of the struggling town of Hope, TX, had a lot of sub-plots and characters that all wove together and could have been an interesting story unto itself. I would have really liked this book if it developed this story more thoroughly and did away with the romance.
Because the romance was the part that I considered "okay" (3-stars on Amazon), and 2-stars on Goodreads means that I probably won't read it again. The heroine was just too neurotic and the hero too quiet. I just couldn't understand how they were together.
I did like this book because it was a complex romance. That said, the backstory of the struggling town of Hope, TX, had a lot of sub-plots and characters that all wove together and could have been an interesting story unto itself. I would have really liked this book if it developed this story more thoroughly and did away with the romance.
Because the romance was the part that I considered "okay" (3-stars on Amazon), and 2-stars on Goodreads means that I probably won't read it again. The heroine was just too neurotic and the hero too quiet. I just couldn't understand how they were together.
June 19, 2011
Too corny and dated for my taste.
- Almost 30 year old vixen heroine, who's secretly a virgin but acts experienced in front of other men. She's extremely pissed that the hero does not see her true self ( he's suppose to be a mind reader I suppose. She's also a TSTL female, who didnt know it would hurt when she first had sex with her secret crush from High school. Right, made my eyes roll, this is a contemporary romance after all.
- I usually adore beta heroes, but this one was a complete wimp.
- Almost 30 year old vixen heroine, who's secretly a virgin but acts experienced in front of other men. She's extremely pissed that the hero does not see her true self ( he's suppose to be a mind reader I suppose. She's also a TSTL female, who didnt know it would hurt when she first had sex with her secret crush from High school. Right, made my eyes roll, this is a contemporary romance after all.
- I usually adore beta heroes, but this one was a complete wimp.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2012
I had never heard of the author but story sounded good for my kindle. A town in the middle of nowhere was trying to stay alive using the famous robbery in the past as a selling point for travelers.
The famous outlaw Molly disapeared and only a few people know what realy happened. Interesting how they search for the truth and find a way to make the town great again. I loved it. Have found another book by this author and looking forward to finding out if she is just as good in her second book.
The famous outlaw Molly disapeared and only a few people know what realy happened. Interesting how they search for the truth and find a way to make the town great again. I loved it. Have found another book by this author and looking forward to finding out if she is just as good in her second book.
February 25, 2013
This is one book i have been waiting to get a copy to read. I had searched a lot but now only i got it! It was worth the wait....i liked the book....its a nice, entertaining read!!
The story is based on a small town Hope, Texas and the characters living there, mainly Riley Stone and Jackson Hope who are trying to save the historic dance hall of the town. The romance between Riley and Jackson is cute and sweet!!
Good one....no much complications...just a easy read!!
The story is based on a small town Hope, Texas and the characters living there, mainly Riley Stone and Jackson Hope who are trying to save the historic dance hall of the town. The romance between Riley and Jackson is cute and sweet!!
Good one....no much complications...just a easy read!!
October 12, 2011
This story was okay. It started with lots of details and little action so I started skimming a lot but the plot was interesting enough to keep reading and it did get better near the end. Riley has a steady job singing but the town if falling apart and the owners son Jackson is talking about tearing it down.
January 16, 2013
oddly, the copy I have is called "at last" but the book description above definitely describes the book. flimsy characters, predictable storyline, incredibly irritating final chapter. I wish people would stop conflating general fiction with romance. if I know it's a Romance I'm not likely to pick it up.
April 25, 2016
Excellent story of a small-town girl returning to her roots in a fading Texas town owned by a wealthy absentee family. The author has the Austin music scene down perfectly; I felt like I was back on Sixth Street! Thoroughly enjoyable story.
July 16, 2008
This is a fairly predictable romance book. I enjoyed the setting be just outside Austin, TX, one of my favorite places.
Read
January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
March 6, 2010
Good but not as great as her other books, something was missing with this one.
June 17, 2013
reread 2013
February 3, 2012
A bit too much information in the romantic scenes, but loved the story.
April 23, 2012
It was a good book. I enjoyed the passion of a small town (about to go away) trying to revive itself and the main character's ability to come up with a way to save the town from extinction.
March 29, 2012
This is another book that I just loved for no explainable reason.
May 13, 2012
This book is one of those light romances that are fun to read when you have nothing else to do (or you need a little escape). It is predictable, but a pleasant escape for an hour.
July 28, 2012
Loved this one. Hope for all the romances that don't come true the first time around. A must read
August 24, 2012
A solid 3.5 read. Maybe the hero was a bit too good to be true. Solid romance, decent suspense, and good musical taste. A good read all the way around.
January 4, 2013
Two-haiku review:
She sings in a bar
He's rich, family owns town
They fight to save it
Much more than romance
Hist'ry, scandal, politics
Tied in neat package
She sings in a bar
He's rich, family owns town
They fight to save it
Much more than romance
Hist'ry, scandal, politics
Tied in neat package
November 5, 2013
A fun, lightweight romance.
April 11, 2014
Well written. Wonder why it's not listed on good reads?
June 16, 2014
Good book until the stupid behavior at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews