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Valentine Valley #1
A Town Called Valentine
Welcome to Valentine Valley--where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . .
Emily Murphy never thought she'd return to her mom's rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . .
Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town--he's no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she's only there to sell her family's old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily's perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.
Emily Murphy never thought she'd return to her mom's rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . .
Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town--he's no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she's only there to sell her family's old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily's perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.
479 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2012
110 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Emma Cane
17 books421 followersEmma Cane grew up reading and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine Valley, her fictional small town in the Colorado Rockies.
Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and their rambunctious dog Uma.
Emma also writes USA Today bestselling historical romances under the name Gayle Callen.
Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and their rambunctious dog Uma.
Emma also writes USA Today bestselling historical romances under the name Gayle Callen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 2, 2012
When Emily Murphy walks into a bar and sees a sexy cowboy looking at her from under his hat, she knows she is in trouble. After having a couple of beers and making out with him on the pool table in the back room, she knows she is more than in trouble.
Emily Murphy finds herself back in Valentine Valley, a mountain town she hasn’t been in since she was a little girl. Now that her mom has passed away, Emily has inherited a store on the main street of this town. Emily has decided now that she has divorced from a very controlling man, she is ready to take control of her own life, and that will start by fixing up the store to sell and then going back to college. But then she meets Nate.
Nate is a cowboy, who works on a cattle ranch with his dad and brothers, and has lived in the valley all his life. He loves to help people, maybe a little too much. So when he sees that the store Emily now owns is a ramshackle, he reaches out and offers his help. But Emily wants to do things on her own,
A Town Called Valentine is the contemporary debut for Emma Cane, although I do believe this is a pen name for historical writer Gayle Callen. I wanted to like this book. Valentine Valley has a small town feel to it, with elderly busy bodies and a cowboy. Things I enjoy in books. But it just didn’t come together for me. I had a very hard time warming up to Emily. First of all, Nate and Emily have a couple of beers and share a kiss and a little over the shirt groping action. And for much of the book, Emily freaks out because she did that with a stranger.
Was he good at keeping secrets, too? So far, she didn’t think he’d said one word about what they’d done together – even though the whole town knew something had happened. But he’d been a gentleman so far and forgiven her for leading him on. And she’d forgiven him for taking advantage.
Emily is obsessed with how awful it was to be overcome by two beers and make out with Nate the entire book. It drove me nuts. Who cares if you kissed a stranger? I can understand if they slept together, but a little make-out session in a bar doesn’t really constitute taking advantage of her. The blame she puts on Nate annoyed me.
She very much wants to take control of her life, now that she has divorced a controlling husband. Her mother was also a hippie and now she is looking for structure. But instead of coming off as wanting to be independent and strong, she came across as very ungrateful and prickly. Throughout the whole book Emily’s reactions to Nate’s (or anyone’s) help made me cringe. She also gets annoyed when the town busybodies try to set her up with Nate, or make comments about the two of them. Yet, she also gets annoyed because Nate doesn’t tell his family about her (this is before they really start a relationship too)
“No offense, Ms. Murphy,” he said, “but I don’t recognize you. Did Nate meet you in Aspen?”
This was just another confirmation that Nate didn’t tell anyone – even his family – about her. But why wouldn’t Grandma Thalberg have mentioned her? Was the old widow trying to keep Emily hidden so that Nate would feel less family pressure? Before she could explain who she was, Nate answered for her. Biting her tongue at his presumption, she poured some of the dressing over her salad.
I just couldn’t get into the romance, or even believe Nate would be attracted to someone who acted like this. She totally grated on my nerves. Nate’s big conflict in the book is that he helps people too much. He dives into someone’s life and steers them, and sometimes he ends up steering them wrong, although not intentionally. So he is afraid he might do this with Emily. I just didn’t find this plot very strong and felt it an odd problem for someone to have. Almost like it is too easy of a set-up – Nate helps people too much, and Emily doesn’t want help at all from anyone. It made for a weak conflict between them and left me more frustrated than anything else.
Rating: D
Emily Murphy finds herself back in Valentine Valley, a mountain town she hasn’t been in since she was a little girl. Now that her mom has passed away, Emily has inherited a store on the main street of this town. Emily has decided now that she has divorced from a very controlling man, she is ready to take control of her own life, and that will start by fixing up the store to sell and then going back to college. But then she meets Nate.
Nate is a cowboy, who works on a cattle ranch with his dad and brothers, and has lived in the valley all his life. He loves to help people, maybe a little too much. So when he sees that the store Emily now owns is a ramshackle, he reaches out and offers his help. But Emily wants to do things on her own,
A Town Called Valentine is the contemporary debut for Emma Cane, although I do believe this is a pen name for historical writer Gayle Callen. I wanted to like this book. Valentine Valley has a small town feel to it, with elderly busy bodies and a cowboy. Things I enjoy in books. But it just didn’t come together for me. I had a very hard time warming up to Emily. First of all, Nate and Emily have a couple of beers and share a kiss and a little over the shirt groping action. And for much of the book, Emily freaks out because she did that with a stranger.
Was he good at keeping secrets, too? So far, she didn’t think he’d said one word about what they’d done together – even though the whole town knew something had happened. But he’d been a gentleman so far and forgiven her for leading him on. And she’d forgiven him for taking advantage.
Emily is obsessed with how awful it was to be overcome by two beers and make out with Nate the entire book. It drove me nuts. Who cares if you kissed a stranger? I can understand if they slept together, but a little make-out session in a bar doesn’t really constitute taking advantage of her. The blame she puts on Nate annoyed me.
She very much wants to take control of her life, now that she has divorced a controlling husband. Her mother was also a hippie and now she is looking for structure. But instead of coming off as wanting to be independent and strong, she came across as very ungrateful and prickly. Throughout the whole book Emily’s reactions to Nate’s (or anyone’s) help made me cringe. She also gets annoyed when the town busybodies try to set her up with Nate, or make comments about the two of them. Yet, she also gets annoyed because Nate doesn’t tell his family about her (this is before they really start a relationship too)
“No offense, Ms. Murphy,” he said, “but I don’t recognize you. Did Nate meet you in Aspen?”
This was just another confirmation that Nate didn’t tell anyone – even his family – about her. But why wouldn’t Grandma Thalberg have mentioned her? Was the old widow trying to keep Emily hidden so that Nate would feel less family pressure? Before she could explain who she was, Nate answered for her. Biting her tongue at his presumption, she poured some of the dressing over her salad.
I just couldn’t get into the romance, or even believe Nate would be attracted to someone who acted like this. She totally grated on my nerves. Nate’s big conflict in the book is that he helps people too much. He dives into someone’s life and steers them, and sometimes he ends up steering them wrong, although not intentionally. So he is afraid he might do this with Emily. I just didn’t find this plot very strong and felt it an odd problem for someone to have. Almost like it is too easy of a set-up – Nate helps people too much, and Emily doesn’t want help at all from anyone. It made for a weak conflict between them and left me more frustrated than anything else.
Rating: D
January 8, 2016
Nice story. The hero and heroine meet in a bar in small town Colorado, play some pool, and get all hot and bothered with each other. Then they both get irritated with themselves when she stops things from going further. Then her car won't start so he gives her a ride, except the place she's going is a ruin, so he takes her to his grandma's boarding house, and the story is off and running. He's a rancher who has problems with helping people too much. She's a recent divorcee who's trying to start her life over by selling her grandmother's old general store building, but she has repairs to do first. There really seriously is not much plot in this. The main characters go on dates. They work on repairing her building. She gets furniture for the upstairs apartment. She does get a letter from her grandmother delivered by a lawyer that starts an investigation but that's basically a series of conversations. She meets the hero's family. I liked it, but even the angst-- and it did have angst-- wasn't very angsty. Read this if you are in the mood for something sweet and gentle. I liked it.
January 14, 2012
I started off loving the vibe of the small town immediately. What can I say? I'm a sucker for small town romances. However, I fluctuated between liking and disliking the heroine. She was too hot and cold for my own taste. I did like the hero. Eventually I did feel the connection between them. I mostly enjoyed the secondary characters and I look forward to discovering what happens to them. Overall, not a bad start to a series.
February 19, 2023
I chose this book because of the holiday, wish i would of chosen a different one. It was an ok read. I couldn't get into the story it really didn't hold my interest for very long. Struggled to finish it. I own the second book in this series so i guess i will read that one later on way later on, and then thats it for this series.
April 17, 2012
Good book. I loved the small town atmosphere and all the quirky characters. I really liked Emily and the way she was taking control of her life. She planned to take a couple weeks and get her building ready to sell. She wasn't expecting it to be in as bad a shape as it was, and realized it was going to take longer than she thought. Nate is a really nice guy (sexy too) who is involved in many things around town. He offers to help Emily as she fixes up her place. It also gives them a chance to explore their attraction to each other. There were times when I just wanted to shake both of them. Emily was so darned scared of depending on someone, or being impulsive like her mother, that she couldn't relax and look at the big picture of being in Valentine Valley. Nate tried to keep an emotional distance while still trying to help, because several years before someone had gotten too dependent on him. He also had involved himself in so many things that he really had no real life of his own, just the things he felt he was responsible for. I really liked seeing Emily as she became part of the town and made some good friends. I hope some of these characters will star in future books.
September 20, 2012
A Town Called Valentine is the start of another "small town romance series". It seems like there are a lot of these around after the success of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. I've grown weary of that series, started Emily March's Eternity Springs series and have grown weary of that series as well. Perhaps this is just me needing a change of genre, but I found this book to be just "more of the same".
Emily Murphy has come to Valentine Valley, Colorado on the heels of a bad marriage/recent divorce. She has plans to go to college in San Francisco, but needs to sell the property that her mother left her in Valentine Valley. Of course, she finds a dilapidated building in desperate need of repairs and TLC. She also finds sexy Nate Thalberg whom she shares instant chemistry with. Unfortunately, Nate has commitment phobia and resists the growing attraction.
I feel like I've been down this road before. On a positive note, the writing is great and I was entertained despite my growing boredom with this idea. The town is filled with interesting people who will no doubt be featured in future books.
Recommended for lovers of Virgin River and Eternity Springs.
Emily Murphy has come to Valentine Valley, Colorado on the heels of a bad marriage/recent divorce. She has plans to go to college in San Francisco, but needs to sell the property that her mother left her in Valentine Valley. Of course, she finds a dilapidated building in desperate need of repairs and TLC. She also finds sexy Nate Thalberg whom she shares instant chemistry with. Unfortunately, Nate has commitment phobia and resists the growing attraction.
I feel like I've been down this road before. On a positive note, the writing is great and I was entertained despite my growing boredom with this idea. The town is filled with interesting people who will no doubt be featured in future books.
Recommended for lovers of Virgin River and Eternity Springs.
February 11, 2018
Small town romance at it finest. draws you in with beautiful descriptions of the small town life of a romantic town . love the main character as well as all the town's people and the picture painted of ranch life!
February 14, 2021
If you're looking for a sweet love story to read this Valentine's weekend try this. You will fall in like with the town of Valentine and it's friendly citizens.
January 14, 2022
I loved this book until the last quarter. It was too long for starters, but most importantly why all the graphic sex? Based on the cover I didn’t think I would run into that but I did. I like romance but I don’t like smut. I do love the town setting and it was such a cute love story but nix the sex already!
February 16, 2019
I read the second book in this series last year. I actually took it home free from the shop I volunteer at. I rated it 2 stars, but I don't remember exactly how I felt about it.
The dialogue was too old-fashioned, and proper:
'He should get to bed, for the next day would be another long one.'
'It was how she has first discovered she loved to cook, for fast food or late meals had grown irritating.'
"You mustn't clean up."
'The bar had had the same dark shadows as now enfolded them in the parlor.'
'That had made Emily giggle, for she was a child of the city, and she hadn't been able to imagine her mom on a farm. It was easier to imagine now, for her mom had grown up right next door to a working ranch.'
'To her surprise, she realized he'd been holding out a cue to her, and she'd barely noticed, so focused was she on his broad chest scattered with dark hair.'
'Emily barely saw Nate wave away the waiter, so focused on Joe was she.'
Being hit with a divorce, a lost baby, not being able to have another one, wanting to adopt, her mom into Wicca, was a lot. And both her parents dying. Then Emily finds out her dad wasn't her real dad and the book became a hunt for her bio dad.
There's so much going on in here; it was too much.
The entire series and town is corny. I mean, it's called Valentine valley. And to imply that there's lovers everywhere, kissing, holding hands, getting married, was a little ridiculous.
People's names and names of shops in town are corny too, what with all the alliteration: Carmina's Cucina. Hal's Hardware.
I had to look at book 2 to refresh myself on who the characters were. I didn't remember their names: turns out it's Brook, Nate's sister's story. I didn't remember Brooke's brother Nate being adopted.
Idl how Nate likes to rescue women. And doesn't know how to help someone and have a good relationship. I found it kind of pathetic, and he wasn't manly enough for me. I've never read a character who had that problem. Definitely not a male character.
The 'tragic' back story for why he is the way he is was ridiculous. Story of his college gf he helped as a freshman, with classes, tests, and then when her dad got sick, he helps her study, then a family emergency sent him home. He left, she felt abandoned, and somehow flounders in school, drops out entirely and leaves? That's a bit dramatic. How did she spiral so far? How long did it take to drop out? We never got a time frame on that.
Idk why Emily ever thought Nate was mad when she stopped the kiss at the bar and didn't have sex with him that night. He did nothing to imply he was mad.
She said the town knew she'd been married since she didn't have her mother's last name, but she would have her dad's last name, not her mom's. Kids generally take their dad's last name. She started as Emily Murphy, her husband's last name. Then suddenly she was Emily Strong, her dad's last name. It was confusing. And why would you continue to use your ex-husband's name??
He plans to take her out for a BLT, and she says "what if I'm a vegetarian?" And he reminds her that she ordered a burger at Tony's Tavern. She says she keeps forgetting about that and I love when he said "I don't." That was a nice moment.
Things happened really soon in the book, with a make out scene early on, and then over a hundred pages went by with nothing else happening. It's like the chemistry vanished.
Her going to and fro from the boarding house to the building she owned, baking and fixing up the building became repetitive. I wanted the plot to be a little more exciting.
Also I wasn't interested in her mom, or the father search at all.
I remembered being annoyed by the widows in the book I read,& that hasn't changed in here. Idl matchmaking busybodies. The elderly men were even that way, with one of the men at the hardware store calling Nate,& him somehow arriving mere minutes later. For a busy rancher and investor, he sure has time to show up wherever Emily is all the time.
Nate's 'helpfulness' could be seen as domineering and annoying.
He's Dudley Do Right over here, doesn't know when to stop.
He told her to order a BLT when she wanted to look over the menu. And of course she scans the menu and settles on a BLT. Because the hero told her to. Is there nothing else on the menu to eat, not one thing?
Then he tells her he'll help with the town doctor regarding her mom's records.
He said because of confidentiality she might have to show death certificates, which seems completely reasonable to me. Just by him talking to the doctor, he's going to show classified info? Very unprofessional, even for good ol boy Nate. Idk why he actually had to go with her. He should not have been there. It's private.
I didn't like that there's a chance they could have been related. Not sure why authors do that between the romantic leads...
I found it really odd the first thing Nate's dad said when he told him Emily wants to find out her dad's name is "don't let her have you believing I might be on a boyfriend list." Why would you even say that based off of what Nate said? And wouldn't you say you never dated her or something? Very odd. It made him look incredibly suspicious and guilty.
Things always ended up way too perfect in here. She needs furniture and Monica's parents have a mattress. The widows have old furniture. Emily needs a job and Monica happens to have an open spot.
I didn't like the comments on his past. How a college student hoped to get with him. He's 30. That's gross.
She says she's never seen so many women burst into smiles at the sight of a man and asked what he'd done for that kind of welcome. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively& she laughs. Not funny to me.
She asks even the young hostess and he says no, though she keeps trying. But he likes em a lil older than 20. His sister used to babysit her and he's feel like a pervert. When she asks if that's the only reason he says he likes women with a little more experience. Life experience, that is.
They're said to have 'passion between them' that 'burned just a little brighter, a little hotter' but I wasn't seeing the passion myself. Not since that first night at the bar.
When Nate proposes they date it wasn't romantic at all.
"You and I get along."
"We're hanging out a lot. It'd be stupid not to enjoy it."
When she says she doesn't know anything about dating and the night they kissed alcohol had a lot to do with it. He says "I don't believe that for a minute. Or is that just what you've been telling yourself?"
He didn't seem to be accepting her answers and came across as needy and desperate. Telling her to 'think of this as an experiment." She's obviously not the casual relationship type, so just let it go and accept it. It irritated me she gave in.
This was cringe-worthy: "But aren't you the master of dating? Won't it be beneath you to try to teach a neophyte like me?"
After they kiss she says "Hey, in a neophyte, remember?" Totally ruined the moment. Who even says the word neophyte?!
"I couldn't have taken another moment working side by side on renovations."
"So you're saying that now you'll feel free to seduce me instead of teach me to drywall?"
"Heck, no. I'm just saying that now I can be patient, knowing that I'll have my shot."
That was bizarre to me that in a romance book, the Hero's response to seducing the heroine is heck no. What is that about? & patience? Was he impatient? He didn't even want to have a relationship until 0.2 seconds ago and was always hiding his feelings before and trying not to get close.
'It wasn't as if he was unaccustomed to dating and enjoying himself, ending it when the urge to smother the woman with his opinions and his help started to prove too attractive.'
This is just a bizarre problem to have.& he's been like that from the beginning, without them dating...I think you're just controlling to everyone, romantic or not.
Nate was kind of lame at times. 'He came toward her, and she was forced to step back, or he'd have run right into her. He was carrying a bag and a paperboard container with two cups.
He paused, and his smile dimmed. "Running away from me already?" He asked quietly.
He seemed strangely solemn all of a sudden.
"Running away? I'm trying to stop myself from giving you a kiss."'
How can you not tell when someone is stepping back because you're walking right past them. Man up. That was just a stupid moment.
I felt Emily was overstepping her bounds by telling Monica she shouldn't order those desserts from the local inn, and she'd bake for her. You're new there. Just something else that worked out too perfectly.
If I hear drywall one more time. How long does it take to put it up?! They were always drywalling. Drywall. drywall. DRYWALL! Who cares?
The business of Monica's shop selling flowers and crafts was interesting, how when Mrs. Ludlow's vase sold she'd get a nice check when she does the monthly consignment payout. There's a shop like that I've gone to, and I wondered how that works.
Nate always leaves ranching to help her. For a busy rancher, he was never that busy. I got irritated when he'd always pop up and wish they could have spent some time apart sometimes, so she could do things with friends or on her own. Then when she gets a job she delivers flowers to his house. She could have came and went without seeing Nate, but his dad says Monica won't mind if she stays, and Emily just up and stays for an ATV lesson with Nate's dad. I was so irritated.
"I...don't know when to stop, Em. When people need help, I...help them. Over and over again, until they don't know when my helpful suggestions are doing more harm than good. Idk either, until it's too late."
This sounds absolutely ridiculous. Who has this problem? That also implies that not only is Nate domineering, but the person he is 'helping' is weak-willed and just let's Nate control them. It takes two for it to happen, and I'm not buying that all these people are so easily controlled, with no mind of their own, that they just let someone dictate every aspect of their lives. Like his college gf, or his cousin who went into the military because Nate told him to.
Nate finally tells her his dark past, of not being able to stop helping people, & she says he hasn't overstepped his bounds with her and she won't let him. When he lends his tools or knowledge it's because she allows it. But that wasn't true to me. He's done nothing but offer his opinions, even on the menu, and she always gives in. She did a lot of the renovations, but Nate was there a lot, too. She wasn't as independent as she always claimed. Not to mention, Nate was even there when she went to the doctor and met her dad.
Emily has been at the shop for like a few days and Josh speaks to her about selling his leather on consignment while Monica, the owner, goes in the back room. Emily knows nothing about consignment, or flowers, or running a business& it's not even her shop! Wth!
It makes florist work look like a joke she learned it so easily. Of course she had a talent for arranging bouquets, and was perfect at everything.
When he feels like pulling back at the hockey game, he then goes to her apartment for sex that night. I really didn't like him then. It seemed like he was only after sex. He didn't want a relationship with her or to get even remotely close to her. They can't even smile or appear to be having fun without him fearing they're growing too close.
Her mom left a very convenient diary entry in her childhood diary about a boy she was seeing with blue eyes. Something else that's too perfect in here.
Nate even tells her not to wear clothes to get ice cream even when she said her blinds are open. Just demanded she wear no clothes like a caveman jerk. And she does. Because she's weak-willed and does whatever Nate wants. How exactly is she independent?
She wants to pay for their date, saying it's her idea and for her benefit and he says "who says it's for your benefit? You're puttin' out later." I found that disgusting, creepy, and just wrong considering he's been wanting to break things off with her.
She couldn't even call sex making love because of Nate's stupid rules. To say making love might imply there were feelings involved. Or say she loved something about him. She had to correct herself to "really enjoy that about you."
She never said how old her baby was. Near the end of the book she finally says her baby died without ever taking a breath. Then later says she'd gotten pregnant before and would have miscarriages. Idk why that was kept a secret so long. Totally unnecessary.
Emily ended up being the one who didn't wanna marry at the end, while Nate changed his mind--miracle of all miracles. 'He thought things had changed between them, deepened. They had--he couldn't mistake that. But whereas he accepted it, anticipated a future they could share, she was putting on the brakes.'
Now he's acting all superior, when it's what he's wanted the entire time!!
The HEA felt rushed and not believable. They don't even know each other that well, and have barely dated or spend meaningful time together, and then they're in love? I didn't buy it.
I think getting engaged that autumn was a little soon. We dk if they'll adopt or she's able to have kids after all.
Something I realized while reading, the characters are all grandkids of the widows at the boardinghouse. You can't have all your characters be related to the three widows. This is another series I just don't think the town is for me. It's just not exciting, or charming, and is more annoying and corny.
This started ok, and got steadily more annoying as the book progressed. It hit me at one point that this wasn't enjoyable and I didn't want to be reading it.
I didn't buy the chemistry or love between the characters. I don't understand why you'd have a makeout scene at the beginning, and then have the chemistry fade to the background like it just disappeared. It made it seem like they weren't even attracted to each other because of it.
It didn't even add up that Nate, who doesn't want relationships or to be close to anyone, wouldn't casually date Emily the entire time, because he knew from the beginning that she was leaving. She was the perfect person for him to date, yet he kept putting her off? How does this make sense?
Emily's past wasn't clear enough. She never wanted to talk about her ex, so therefore we had no clear picture of what happened between them. You mean a happy marriage just dissolved with her last miscarriage? More likely it happened over time, but we had nothing to go on. Don't put it in there if you're not going to go beneath the surface and delve into it, so we at least know what happened.
I didn't really like any of the characters in here, or the town. There wasn't really a plot, just all these things the author crammed in here: ex-husbands, miscarriages, dead parents, adoption, biological families. It was like she crammed in all she could trying to scrounge up a plot, but there just wasn't one. It was way too much going on for one book. I wasn't interested in any of it, either, and found the book boring.
I love cowboys but Nate wasn't much of one. He was into business, but Emily barely even knew what he was into, and we didn't either. The ranch life was very typical, with them either digging irrigation or looking for cattle, and fixing fences. I wanted more.
The only thing I liked about this story was the fact that Nate was a cowboy, although the author didn't do much with that. One or two scenes with him on a horse. I looked forward to the rodeo to add some excitement to the plot, but the author didn't even include any of the events, just skipped it entirely. That was more interesting than anything else going on in here.
I felt things worked too perfectly for Emily. I prefer things to be a lil more realistic. She meets her dad, while many people will never know their bio parents, and don't conveniently have a list of names to go by and a diary entry of their eye color. The scene with her bio family was rushed and felt tacked on. I didn't care for that side plot at all.
There was very little I liked about this. Actually, I can't think of anything I really liked...
I gave the second book 2 stars, but I remember it being better than this. Being that that was 2 stars and this less than 2, I'm thinking this series might just not be for me.
1.5 stars
The dialogue was too old-fashioned, and proper:
'He should get to bed, for the next day would be another long one.'
'It was how she has first discovered she loved to cook, for fast food or late meals had grown irritating.'
"You mustn't clean up."
'The bar had had the same dark shadows as now enfolded them in the parlor.'
'That had made Emily giggle, for she was a child of the city, and she hadn't been able to imagine her mom on a farm. It was easier to imagine now, for her mom had grown up right next door to a working ranch.'
'To her surprise, she realized he'd been holding out a cue to her, and she'd barely noticed, so focused was she on his broad chest scattered with dark hair.'
'Emily barely saw Nate wave away the waiter, so focused on Joe was she.'
Being hit with a divorce, a lost baby, not being able to have another one, wanting to adopt, her mom into Wicca, was a lot. And both her parents dying. Then Emily finds out her dad wasn't her real dad and the book became a hunt for her bio dad.
There's so much going on in here; it was too much.
The entire series and town is corny. I mean, it's called Valentine valley. And to imply that there's lovers everywhere, kissing, holding hands, getting married, was a little ridiculous.
People's names and names of shops in town are corny too, what with all the alliteration: Carmina's Cucina. Hal's Hardware.
I had to look at book 2 to refresh myself on who the characters were. I didn't remember their names: turns out it's Brook, Nate's sister's story. I didn't remember Brooke's brother Nate being adopted.
Idl how Nate likes to rescue women. And doesn't know how to help someone and have a good relationship. I found it kind of pathetic, and he wasn't manly enough for me. I've never read a character who had that problem. Definitely not a male character.
The 'tragic' back story for why he is the way he is was ridiculous. Story of his college gf he helped as a freshman, with classes, tests, and then when her dad got sick, he helps her study, then a family emergency sent him home. He left, she felt abandoned, and somehow flounders in school, drops out entirely and leaves? That's a bit dramatic. How did she spiral so far? How long did it take to drop out? We never got a time frame on that.
Idk why Emily ever thought Nate was mad when she stopped the kiss at the bar and didn't have sex with him that night. He did nothing to imply he was mad.
She said the town knew she'd been married since she didn't have her mother's last name, but she would have her dad's last name, not her mom's. Kids generally take their dad's last name. She started as Emily Murphy, her husband's last name. Then suddenly she was Emily Strong, her dad's last name. It was confusing. And why would you continue to use your ex-husband's name??
He plans to take her out for a BLT, and she says "what if I'm a vegetarian?" And he reminds her that she ordered a burger at Tony's Tavern. She says she keeps forgetting about that and I love when he said "I don't." That was a nice moment.
Things happened really soon in the book, with a make out scene early on, and then over a hundred pages went by with nothing else happening. It's like the chemistry vanished.
Her going to and fro from the boarding house to the building she owned, baking and fixing up the building became repetitive. I wanted the plot to be a little more exciting.
Also I wasn't interested in her mom, or the father search at all.
I remembered being annoyed by the widows in the book I read,& that hasn't changed in here. Idl matchmaking busybodies. The elderly men were even that way, with one of the men at the hardware store calling Nate,& him somehow arriving mere minutes later. For a busy rancher and investor, he sure has time to show up wherever Emily is all the time.
Nate's 'helpfulness' could be seen as domineering and annoying.
He's Dudley Do Right over here, doesn't know when to stop.
He told her to order a BLT when she wanted to look over the menu. And of course she scans the menu and settles on a BLT. Because the hero told her to. Is there nothing else on the menu to eat, not one thing?
Then he tells her he'll help with the town doctor regarding her mom's records.
He said because of confidentiality she might have to show death certificates, which seems completely reasonable to me. Just by him talking to the doctor, he's going to show classified info? Very unprofessional, even for good ol boy Nate. Idk why he actually had to go with her. He should not have been there. It's private.
I didn't like that there's a chance they could have been related. Not sure why authors do that between the romantic leads...
I found it really odd the first thing Nate's dad said when he told him Emily wants to find out her dad's name is "don't let her have you believing I might be on a boyfriend list." Why would you even say that based off of what Nate said? And wouldn't you say you never dated her or something? Very odd. It made him look incredibly suspicious and guilty.
Things always ended up way too perfect in here. She needs furniture and Monica's parents have a mattress. The widows have old furniture. Emily needs a job and Monica happens to have an open spot.
I didn't like the comments on his past. How a college student hoped to get with him. He's 30. That's gross.
She says she's never seen so many women burst into smiles at the sight of a man and asked what he'd done for that kind of welcome. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively& she laughs. Not funny to me.
She asks even the young hostess and he says no, though she keeps trying. But he likes em a lil older than 20. His sister used to babysit her and he's feel like a pervert. When she asks if that's the only reason he says he likes women with a little more experience. Life experience, that is.
They're said to have 'passion between them' that 'burned just a little brighter, a little hotter' but I wasn't seeing the passion myself. Not since that first night at the bar.
When Nate proposes they date it wasn't romantic at all.
"You and I get along."
"We're hanging out a lot. It'd be stupid not to enjoy it."
When she says she doesn't know anything about dating and the night they kissed alcohol had a lot to do with it. He says "I don't believe that for a minute. Or is that just what you've been telling yourself?"
He didn't seem to be accepting her answers and came across as needy and desperate. Telling her to 'think of this as an experiment." She's obviously not the casual relationship type, so just let it go and accept it. It irritated me she gave in.
This was cringe-worthy: "But aren't you the master of dating? Won't it be beneath you to try to teach a neophyte like me?"
After they kiss she says "Hey, in a neophyte, remember?" Totally ruined the moment. Who even says the word neophyte?!
"I couldn't have taken another moment working side by side on renovations."
"So you're saying that now you'll feel free to seduce me instead of teach me to drywall?"
"Heck, no. I'm just saying that now I can be patient, knowing that I'll have my shot."
That was bizarre to me that in a romance book, the Hero's response to seducing the heroine is heck no. What is that about? & patience? Was he impatient? He didn't even want to have a relationship until 0.2 seconds ago and was always hiding his feelings before and trying not to get close.
'It wasn't as if he was unaccustomed to dating and enjoying himself, ending it when the urge to smother the woman with his opinions and his help started to prove too attractive.'
This is just a bizarre problem to have.& he's been like that from the beginning, without them dating...I think you're just controlling to everyone, romantic or not.
Nate was kind of lame at times. 'He came toward her, and she was forced to step back, or he'd have run right into her. He was carrying a bag and a paperboard container with two cups.
He paused, and his smile dimmed. "Running away from me already?" He asked quietly.
He seemed strangely solemn all of a sudden.
"Running away? I'm trying to stop myself from giving you a kiss."'
How can you not tell when someone is stepping back because you're walking right past them. Man up. That was just a stupid moment.
I felt Emily was overstepping her bounds by telling Monica she shouldn't order those desserts from the local inn, and she'd bake for her. You're new there. Just something else that worked out too perfectly.
If I hear drywall one more time. How long does it take to put it up?! They were always drywalling. Drywall. drywall. DRYWALL! Who cares?
The business of Monica's shop selling flowers and crafts was interesting, how when Mrs. Ludlow's vase sold she'd get a nice check when she does the monthly consignment payout. There's a shop like that I've gone to, and I wondered how that works.
Nate always leaves ranching to help her. For a busy rancher, he was never that busy. I got irritated when he'd always pop up and wish they could have spent some time apart sometimes, so she could do things with friends or on her own. Then when she gets a job she delivers flowers to his house. She could have came and went without seeing Nate, but his dad says Monica won't mind if she stays, and Emily just up and stays for an ATV lesson with Nate's dad. I was so irritated.
"I...don't know when to stop, Em. When people need help, I...help them. Over and over again, until they don't know when my helpful suggestions are doing more harm than good. Idk either, until it's too late."
This sounds absolutely ridiculous. Who has this problem? That also implies that not only is Nate domineering, but the person he is 'helping' is weak-willed and just let's Nate control them. It takes two for it to happen, and I'm not buying that all these people are so easily controlled, with no mind of their own, that they just let someone dictate every aspect of their lives. Like his college gf, or his cousin who went into the military because Nate told him to.
Nate finally tells her his dark past, of not being able to stop helping people, & she says he hasn't overstepped his bounds with her and she won't let him. When he lends his tools or knowledge it's because she allows it. But that wasn't true to me. He's done nothing but offer his opinions, even on the menu, and she always gives in. She did a lot of the renovations, but Nate was there a lot, too. She wasn't as independent as she always claimed. Not to mention, Nate was even there when she went to the doctor and met her dad.
Emily has been at the shop for like a few days and Josh speaks to her about selling his leather on consignment while Monica, the owner, goes in the back room. Emily knows nothing about consignment, or flowers, or running a business& it's not even her shop! Wth!
It makes florist work look like a joke she learned it so easily. Of course she had a talent for arranging bouquets, and was perfect at everything.
When he feels like pulling back at the hockey game, he then goes to her apartment for sex that night. I really didn't like him then. It seemed like he was only after sex. He didn't want a relationship with her or to get even remotely close to her. They can't even smile or appear to be having fun without him fearing they're growing too close.
Her mom left a very convenient diary entry in her childhood diary about a boy she was seeing with blue eyes. Something else that's too perfect in here.
Nate even tells her not to wear clothes to get ice cream even when she said her blinds are open. Just demanded she wear no clothes like a caveman jerk. And she does. Because she's weak-willed and does whatever Nate wants. How exactly is she independent?
She wants to pay for their date, saying it's her idea and for her benefit and he says "who says it's for your benefit? You're puttin' out later." I found that disgusting, creepy, and just wrong considering he's been wanting to break things off with her.
She couldn't even call sex making love because of Nate's stupid rules. To say making love might imply there were feelings involved. Or say she loved something about him. She had to correct herself to "really enjoy that about you."
She never said how old her baby was. Near the end of the book she finally says her baby died without ever taking a breath. Then later says she'd gotten pregnant before and would have miscarriages. Idk why that was kept a secret so long. Totally unnecessary.
Emily ended up being the one who didn't wanna marry at the end, while Nate changed his mind--miracle of all miracles. 'He thought things had changed between them, deepened. They had--he couldn't mistake that. But whereas he accepted it, anticipated a future they could share, she was putting on the brakes.'
Now he's acting all superior, when it's what he's wanted the entire time!!
The HEA felt rushed and not believable. They don't even know each other that well, and have barely dated or spend meaningful time together, and then they're in love? I didn't buy it.
I think getting engaged that autumn was a little soon. We dk if they'll adopt or she's able to have kids after all.
Something I realized while reading, the characters are all grandkids of the widows at the boardinghouse. You can't have all your characters be related to the three widows. This is another series I just don't think the town is for me. It's just not exciting, or charming, and is more annoying and corny.
This started ok, and got steadily more annoying as the book progressed. It hit me at one point that this wasn't enjoyable and I didn't want to be reading it.
I didn't buy the chemistry or love between the characters. I don't understand why you'd have a makeout scene at the beginning, and then have the chemistry fade to the background like it just disappeared. It made it seem like they weren't even attracted to each other because of it.
It didn't even add up that Nate, who doesn't want relationships or to be close to anyone, wouldn't casually date Emily the entire time, because he knew from the beginning that she was leaving. She was the perfect person for him to date, yet he kept putting her off? How does this make sense?
Emily's past wasn't clear enough. She never wanted to talk about her ex, so therefore we had no clear picture of what happened between them. You mean a happy marriage just dissolved with her last miscarriage? More likely it happened over time, but we had nothing to go on. Don't put it in there if you're not going to go beneath the surface and delve into it, so we at least know what happened.
I didn't really like any of the characters in here, or the town. There wasn't really a plot, just all these things the author crammed in here: ex-husbands, miscarriages, dead parents, adoption, biological families. It was like she crammed in all she could trying to scrounge up a plot, but there just wasn't one. It was way too much going on for one book. I wasn't interested in any of it, either, and found the book boring.
I love cowboys but Nate wasn't much of one. He was into business, but Emily barely even knew what he was into, and we didn't either. The ranch life was very typical, with them either digging irrigation or looking for cattle, and fixing fences. I wanted more.
The only thing I liked about this story was the fact that Nate was a cowboy, although the author didn't do much with that. One or two scenes with him on a horse. I looked forward to the rodeo to add some excitement to the plot, but the author didn't even include any of the events, just skipped it entirely. That was more interesting than anything else going on in here.
I felt things worked too perfectly for Emily. I prefer things to be a lil more realistic. She meets her dad, while many people will never know their bio parents, and don't conveniently have a list of names to go by and a diary entry of their eye color. The scene with her bio family was rushed and felt tacked on. I didn't care for that side plot at all.
There was very little I liked about this. Actually, I can't think of anything I really liked...
I gave the second book 2 stars, but I remember it being better than this. Being that that was 2 stars and this less than 2, I'm thinking this series might just not be for me.
1.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2012
Romance is in the air in a charming small town filled with engaging characters who convince you that happy-ever-afters are not just expected, they're inevitable. Add in some alluring cowboys, their irresistible families, plus some meddling old ladies, a bake-off and a rodeo — and you have the ingredients for one heck of a fun ride!Emily Murphy stops at a tavern intending to eat and be on her way. Nate Thalberg, one tall, long drink of water who Emily meets at the tavern, entices her into a game of pool and more than conversation when she loses their bet. Normally not so bold, Emily surprises herself when she gives Nate his reward of a kiss, on top of a pool table no less. Things get rather heated in that back room until Emily comes to her senses and runs out.
Emily has arrived in Valentine Valley in Colorado to sell the property she inherited from her mother when she passed away. Emily hopes the sale will finance her college degree at Berkeley. Recently divorced, she needs a fresh start and college will give her a chance to find herself. Emily's ex-husband did enough damage to her self-confidence to last a lifetime so any move forward will be positive after what she's been through.
Nate has run his family's ranch efficiently as well as invested wisely. He's not the settling type so the thought of a fling with Emily is more than intriguing. It's how most of his relationships have gone...short-lived and emotionally withdrawn, so no one gets hurt. But everything about Emily turns on his helpful buttons, and he can't stop himself from becoming more involved in her life than he expects. Not that Emily necessarily wants his help because she's quite determined to make it on her own.
From the very first pages, I felt the sizzle between Emily and Nate, laced with a good sense of humor, flirty one-liners plus a little push and pull, these two are completely irresistible to any romantic. That includes Nate's grandmother and her lady friends, who take Emily into their boarding house and hearts, when she finds herself without a place to stay. These ladies put a capital M in meddling and match-making! But that could describe the rest of the town too, because everyone is in everybody's business and Nate, well, he's the target where Emily's concerned. Very funny situations are layered amongst the emotion throughout the book and the best part is watching Nate try so very hard not to fall in love with Emily.
A TOWN CALLED VALENTINE by Emma Cane has great laugh-out-loud moments, a ton of charm and smokin' hot cowboys living close to an adorable small town so well-suited for love that resistance is futile. I lost count of how many times I smiled – this novel is really irresistible from a pure charm perspective and the entertaining characters. From the interactions between the perfect leading couple, to the eccentric old ladies who rule the preservation committee, to good friends keeping their besties grounded with their no-nonsense advice and teasing, you can't help but love this novel. It's also layered with some alluring cowboys in need of a good woman — what's not to adore?
The ending leaves you wondering who will be matched up next in this town of romance. I can think of several I'd love to see fall hard, including Nate's sister, Brooke, or his brother, Josh — both of them seem like they'd be hard to catch, but so much fun to witness the chase. When a book this enjoyable is Emma Cane's debut, it's inevitable that you'll be craving her next novel of love in the VALENTINE VALLEY series. Definitely a novel to be read more than once, A TOWN CALLED VALENTINE is pure pleasure.
4.5 Blue Ribbons, Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies.
February 17, 2016
I started reading A Town Called Valentine on Valentine's Day because I thought it was an appropriate title. And to tell the truth, I really enjoyed the first half of the book. But then a series of small odd details started to irk me. By two thirds of the story I was almost ready to call it a day and I managed to stumble through the happily ever after just relieved the book was finally over.
The romance between Nate and Emily is fairly predictable, but then, that happens in a lot of romance novels. So, what didn't I like?
The are lots of inconsistencies in the story First we know that Emily is recently divorced because her husband cheated and lied to her. So, when she finds out, almost at the end, that Nate lied to her from day one, she forgives him in the blink of an eye? Even though she needed to forgive him to get to the happy ending, it shouldn't have been so easy. Not a very auspicious start for a couple that intends to get married.
Then, I never understood where her money to renovate the store/apartment she inherited from her grandmother came from. Renovating a house isn't cheap, so even if Nate is helping her and lending her his tools and she's working part-time in a flower shop, it seems odd that she can manage (taking into account that she didn't have money for a motel the first might she arrived in town, or to pay for her car to be repaired).
And don't get me started on Nate. I was pitying him for the heartbreak he'd had in college when he had to choose between his girlfriend ad family duty, until I realized that he blames himself because he feels he helped said girlfriend so much that she was too dependent on him, and that she dropped out of college just because he couldn't help her study that one time. Hello??? An adult with such dependency problems must have mental issues. And how can you hurt people just by helping? How can he think that he can't have a relationship with Emily because he's helping her and as such, he will end up hurting her? Frankly, the whole thing doesn't make sense when you really think about it. But Nate truly spends the entire book, minus the last pages after he decides to propose to Emily, saying that he's helping so much he will hurt her in the end.
As the renovation of the house drags on, so many characters are added that I was lost on who some of the people were, and the side plot of Emily's search for her biological father just ads more confusion instead of the bit of suspense that I believe was the author's intention.Oh, and how can a ranch can be operational with just with four people working on it, one of which a middle aged man, especially when they seem to hang around town so much? But if you look into it, there's no mention of anyone else working on the ranch.
So, while I had high hopes for it, A Town Called Valentine failed to convince me and to pick my interest. There are too many details that don't add up, too many secondary characters that don't contribute to the story and just make the book unnecessary long, and after the initial sizzling attraction between Nate and Emily, the romance fell flat and ended nothing but lukewarm. Sadly, I think the story had lots of potential, it just needed to be streamlined and move at a faster pace. So, while this book has a higher rating both at Amazon and Goodreads, it won't get more than three stars from me.
The romance between Nate and Emily is fairly predictable, but then, that happens in a lot of romance novels. So, what didn't I like?
The are lots of inconsistencies in the story First we know that Emily is recently divorced because her husband cheated and lied to her. So, when she finds out, almost at the end, that Nate lied to her from day one, she forgives him in the blink of an eye? Even though she needed to forgive him to get to the happy ending, it shouldn't have been so easy. Not a very auspicious start for a couple that intends to get married.
Then, I never understood where her money to renovate the store/apartment she inherited from her grandmother came from. Renovating a house isn't cheap, so even if Nate is helping her and lending her his tools and she's working part-time in a flower shop, it seems odd that she can manage (taking into account that she didn't have money for a motel the first might she arrived in town, or to pay for her car to be repaired).
And don't get me started on Nate. I was pitying him for the heartbreak he'd had in college when he had to choose between his girlfriend ad family duty, until I realized that he blames himself because he feels he helped said girlfriend so much that she was too dependent on him, and that she dropped out of college just because he couldn't help her study that one time. Hello??? An adult with such dependency problems must have mental issues. And how can you hurt people just by helping? How can he think that he can't have a relationship with Emily because he's helping her and as such, he will end up hurting her? Frankly, the whole thing doesn't make sense when you really think about it. But Nate truly spends the entire book, minus the last pages after he decides to propose to Emily, saying that he's helping so much he will hurt her in the end.
As the renovation of the house drags on, so many characters are added that I was lost on who some of the people were, and the side plot of Emily's search for her biological father just ads more confusion instead of the bit of suspense that I believe was the author's intention.Oh, and how can a ranch can be operational with just with four people working on it, one of which a middle aged man, especially when they seem to hang around town so much? But if you look into it, there's no mention of anyone else working on the ranch.
So, while I had high hopes for it, A Town Called Valentine failed to convince me and to pick my interest. There are too many details that don't add up, too many secondary characters that don't contribute to the story and just make the book unnecessary long, and after the initial sizzling attraction between Nate and Emily, the romance fell flat and ended nothing but lukewarm. Sadly, I think the story had lots of potential, it just needed to be streamlined and move at a faster pace. So, while this book has a higher rating both at Amazon and Goodreads, it won't get more than three stars from me.
August 26, 2015
This was a new read for a more contemporary series than I've read in the last few years. I also don't think of myself as being cowboy related but Nate is written in such a way that you like him. His sex appeal is lost on me but his kindness and how much he loves his family seems sweet. The pressures he experiences seem real and I believe in him as a character. I don't really know anything about ranching so I don't know if it seems real or not. I thought that the ranch should have more workers than it does, but that's a side thought on my part.
Emily is really the heart of this story. She comes into town determined to be strong and do for herself. She's suffered in life generally and she's a very lonely soul. I like that she meets Nate and unexpectedly throws caution to the wind, but then she starts slut shaming herself. I found the slut shaming very problematic because if she wanted to get with Nate there's nothing wrong with that. As long as you are able to consent and adults you can get together with whomever you want to get together with.
These two together was just an bouncy ride! Throw in new friends, nosy community, and family for even more fun and side amusements to the general story line.
Emily is really the heart of this story. She comes into town determined to be strong and do for herself. She's suffered in life generally and she's a very lonely soul. I like that she meets Nate and unexpectedly throws caution to the wind, but then she starts slut shaming herself. I found the slut shaming very problematic because if she wanted to get with Nate there's nothing wrong with that. As long as you are able to consent and adults you can get together with whomever you want to get together with.
These two together was just an bouncy ride! Throw in new friends, nosy community, and family for even more fun and side amusements to the general story line.
December 25, 2011
A TOWN CALLED VALENTINE by Emma Cane
01/12 – Avon, a division of HarperCollins Publishers
Why are making choices so difficult?
Emily Murphy is free from her ex-husband and shedding the past to build a bright future. A few backward steps are required to do this, one of which is selling the building in Valentine Valley the town where her family is from. Emily led an eclectic lifestyle with her mother and rarely visited so why does this town feel like home. The unexpected need for some reconstruction is going to set back her timeline but a new friend in Nate Thalberg turns from a blessing into a complete surprise.
Emily and Nate become more than friends over the course of the days and nights they work to restore her property. They confide secrets about growing up with less than perfect situations, talk through events past and present, as well as explore the possibility of a relationship. Both Emily and Nate are reluctant to jump in too fast and they know Emily will leave before too long. The more time Emily spends in Valentine the more she learns to love the idiosyncrasy of small town life and appreciate that not everything is found in the big city.
Emily and Nate have stirred up all these feelings between them. Is it possible now that they have taken steps to build a new life together, and resolve the past that they can now walk away from one another?
If you are looking for romance pick up Valentine Valley and be reminded of how it feels to fall in love. The characters are charming every one of them, the story has just enough drama to make it intriguing, and the town is a place to hang your hat.
01/12 – Avon, a division of HarperCollins Publishers
Why are making choices so difficult?
Emily Murphy is free from her ex-husband and shedding the past to build a bright future. A few backward steps are required to do this, one of which is selling the building in Valentine Valley the town where her family is from. Emily led an eclectic lifestyle with her mother and rarely visited so why does this town feel like home. The unexpected need for some reconstruction is going to set back her timeline but a new friend in Nate Thalberg turns from a blessing into a complete surprise.
Emily and Nate become more than friends over the course of the days and nights they work to restore her property. They confide secrets about growing up with less than perfect situations, talk through events past and present, as well as explore the possibility of a relationship. Both Emily and Nate are reluctant to jump in too fast and they know Emily will leave before too long. The more time Emily spends in Valentine the more she learns to love the idiosyncrasy of small town life and appreciate that not everything is found in the big city.
Emily and Nate have stirred up all these feelings between them. Is it possible now that they have taken steps to build a new life together, and resolve the past that they can now walk away from one another?
If you are looking for romance pick up Valentine Valley and be reminded of how it feels to fall in love. The characters are charming every one of them, the story has just enough drama to make it intriguing, and the town is a place to hang your hat.
February 9, 2012
A Town Called Valentine is Emma Cane's debut novel. I must say.....it was an excellent start! Emily Murphy takes what she expects to be a relatively short trip from San Fransisco to Valentine Valley after her mother passes away to sell the store her mother owned. She'll sell the building and go back to San Fran to finish college and adopt a baby. Well, she arrives in town on a rainy night and she's hungry. She stops in a local bar/restaurant for a quick bite to eat. She doesn't expect to see a gorgeous cowboy. Neither does she expect to make out with him....at the bar...on a pool table!
Nate is just at the bar for a couple beers to relax. His plan goes awry after seeing a beautiful stranger. After bringing her into the back room for a game of pool (and some serious kissing ON the pool table) he ends up having to take her into town, since her car won't start. Even worse, he has to take her to his Grandmother's house to stay, since the building that Emily's mother owned is a complete wreck, and without heat or electricity.
My FULL REVIEW here: http://shoes-n-more.blogspot.com/2012...
Nate is just at the bar for a couple beers to relax. His plan goes awry after seeing a beautiful stranger. After bringing her into the back room for a game of pool (and some serious kissing ON the pool table) he ends up having to take her into town, since her car won't start. Even worse, he has to take her to his Grandmother's house to stay, since the building that Emily's mother owned is a complete wreck, and without heat or electricity.
My FULL REVIEW here: http://shoes-n-more.blogspot.com/2012...
October 13, 2013
I read the first chapter on Amazon and loved where I thought this story was going but unfortunately, I found it pretty difficult to get through A Town Called Valentine. There were parts were the dialogue seemed very stilted and dated, not like how 30-somethings would talk, Emily was difficult to like - she seemed to act either much older than her age, or very immature. There was also some head swapping which is jarring to read. Everything seemed to happen really slowly after the first couple of chapters and then in the last 10 pages, there were declarations of love, marriage proposals etc.
I loved the Thalberg's though and will give the next book in the series a shot.
I loved the Thalberg's though and will give the next book in the series a shot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2015
I liked this book and was tempted to give it four stars, but there were a few details which held me back. I can understand why Emily was hesitant to start a new relationship, but Nate's explanation for not committing was really dumb- he hurts people because he's too helpful. Um, what? I also expected the drama surrounding Emily's paternity to be more exciting. There was so much buildup then we get the big reveal and... nothing. It fell flat. I also feel there could have been more added to the epilogue to give more closure to the story. Besides those details, I enjoyed the book. I downloaded this as a free promo and I may just give the other books in the series a try.
February 6, 2012
It was a heartwarming story about second chances. I enjoyed how Emily started growing on her journey of self-reliance and was able to move forward with her life. The fact that Nate was a handsome "Cowboy" was just icing on the cake. I can't wait to read more about Valentine Valley. Please keep them coming.
February 25, 2012
I thought it was a great read. There are so many people involved. I hope she continues it with a series.
February 13, 2013
The charming beginning of Emma Cane's new series set in Valentine Valley, Colorado! This is a fun contemporary romance with great characters and a great story!
March 5, 2015
Just okay. I got this book free from B&N. Could have been much better if the characters had been developed more fully.
June 29, 2015
Very predictable and everything wraps up way too smoothly, but this was a freebie so no harm done.
May 10, 2019
DNF'd at 67%.
First of all, Nate's problem... is weird. He's helpful. Too helpful. Or at least that's what the author seems to think. The reality is he's helpful to the point of being overbearing. He just won't let anyone stand on their own two feet. He's not helpful... he's pushy. He just takes things over and we're supposed to find it attractive. Given that we're told Emily's ex was controlling, I can't imagine how we're supposed to find it attractive. The author seems to be going in the route of "well, he knows his problem, and he means well so it's different!" except traits are on a scale. "Overly helpful to the point of crippling your SO and making them entirely dependent on you" is MUCH different than "trying to help the new girl get things in this small town where everyone knows everyone and you know where to call in favors." It wouldn't be a leap to take that behavior to domineering and totally controlling. Nate seems to function in an I-know-best way. He's high-handed, and he never asks if she actually wants the help, he lies to her about his father holding the stock (he bought it out from under his father), and he's unpleasant. I really cannot imagine Emily being attracted to him, but since I know she's already been in one controlling relationship, it's not a stretch to say she's not actually aware of how pushy he is and how much of a pushover she is.
First of all, Nate's problem... is weird. He's helpful. Too helpful. Or at least that's what the author seems to think. The reality is he's helpful to the point of being overbearing. He just won't let anyone stand on their own two feet. He's not helpful... he's pushy. He just takes things over and we're supposed to find it attractive. Given that we're told Emily's ex was controlling, I can't imagine how we're supposed to find it attractive. The author seems to be going in the route of "well, he knows his problem, and he means well so it's different!" except traits are on a scale. "Overly helpful to the point of crippling your SO and making them entirely dependent on you" is MUCH different than "trying to help the new girl get things in this small town where everyone knows everyone and you know where to call in favors." It wouldn't be a leap to take that behavior to domineering and totally controlling. Nate seems to function in an I-know-best way. He's high-handed, and he never asks if she actually wants the help, he lies to her about his father holding the stock (he bought it out from under his father), and he's unpleasant. I really cannot imagine Emily being attracted to him, but since I know she's already been in one controlling relationship, it's not a stretch to say she's not actually aware of how pushy he is and how much of a pushover she is.
March 7, 2021
A Wonderful Story
A small town in beautiful Colorado, a close knit group of people, and all of them knowing that family and friends are what is most important. It's a story that makes a reader feel good. Emily came to Valentine Valley to sell her grandmother's property that she inherited. But it won't be that easy. The building has a lot of damage that needs repaired. As she begins working on it, she discovers a whole lot more about the town, it's citizens, and herself. Kate is the very first person she meets when she gets to town. He has been wonderful in the help he has given her. It's a beautiful story. I really enjoyed it.
A small town in beautiful Colorado, a close knit group of people, and all of them knowing that family and friends are what is most important. It's a story that makes a reader feel good. Emily came to Valentine Valley to sell her grandmother's property that she inherited. But it won't be that easy. The building has a lot of damage that needs repaired. As she begins working on it, she discovers a whole lot more about the town, it's citizens, and herself. Kate is the very first person she meets when she gets to town. He has been wonderful in the help he has given her. It's a beautiful story. I really enjoyed it.
December 21, 2017
After having her life fall apart (marriage and discovering she can't have children) Emily returns to her mother's hometown to sell a building she inherited and discovers another family secret that shakes her identity. However, her first night in town she meets a handsome cowboy who proves her heart still beats and might even be ready to love again.
July 23, 2024
This has been in My Digital Library since Feb 27, 2015.
I like these characters who have a certain level of maturity about their willingness to be concerned about things and emotions that need repaired. They are willing to talk to each other.
I like these characters who have a certain level of maturity about their willingness to be concerned about things and emotions that need repaired. They are willing to talk to each other.
February 18, 2017
Cute, sweet, happy ending!! Just what I needed!!
July 13, 2017
I am a sucker for small town romances and I have to say this one definitely hit the mark, it was engaging, heartwarming, and left me smiling! Highly recommend!
September 24, 2018
Exactly what doctor ordered after one too many romantic suspense books in a row. Small town, sweet love and some interesting characters - what can be better than that?
October 8, 2019
Perfect romance! Easy reading, interesting characters.
The ending felt a little rushed with things just wrapping up quickly in last few pages. However I really like the rest of the book
The ending felt a little rushed with things just wrapping up quickly in last few pages. However I really like the rest of the book
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