Sweet Return

West Texas Series #3

by Anna Jeffrey

He's traveled the world, but renowned photojournalist Dalton Parker had his reasons for staying away from his family's Lazy P ranch. Now he's back in Hatlow, Texas, for the first time in 20 years to help his family--and face his past. But he's appalled to find that the cattle ranch has become home to a bunch of chickens. And there's only one woman to blame: Joanna Walsh--the most ornery, stubborn, and compelling woman he's ever met...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Fiction

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Anna Jeffrey is an award-winning author of romance novels as well as romantic comedy/mystery. She has written 11 romance novels and co-authored 8 as USA Today Bestselling author, Dixie Cash. Her most recent book is "The Cattleman."

Her Anna Jeffrey books have won the Write Touch Readers' Award, the Aspen Gold, and the More Than Magic awards. Her books have been finalists in the Colorado Romance Writers award, the Golden Quill and Southern Magic as well as the Write Touch Readers' Award, the Aspen Gold and the More than Magic awards. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and NINC.

Anna is a fifth generation Texan. She was born and grew up in West Texas, where most of her family members were farmers and ranchers or worked in the oil fields. She left Texas for many years and lived in four of the western states, a rich experience she'll never forget.

She loves most things western, from the customs and culture to the philosophy of life. She enjoys many hobbies, i.e., reading, painting and drawing, crafting, needlework and beading.

These days, she's back home in Texas. She and her husband currently live in Granbury, Texas, a small town not far from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of Sweet Return was really great but the second half felt choppy and rushed. Joanna was an awesome heroine, kind, smart, and strong. I also loved Dulce, the chicken. By the end of the book I found myself disliking the hero very much. He was a pushy and cruel jerk.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off great, and I really enjoyed the characters, however about midway through the book the author added unneeded scenes and included a sex scene where the heroine was drunk and not "into" it. The whole scene was smarmy and made reading the rest of the book a chore more than a pleasure.

[Lynn Calvin]

Amazon preorder,headless woman cover

[Tressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the romance between Joanna and Dalton in Sweet Return. I liked that they both had their own lives. I liked Joanna’s independence and intelligence and how Dalton grappled with what he wanted in life. I like the families that Anna Jeffrey shows in her stories because they are all different, complex, and human.

[Awilma Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read this year so far...I really like the waves of emotions that show up in this story. When I read this book, I completely imagined the whole story as if it were a play. This book talks about the love that grows between a city man and a cowgirl, well, I should say "hen-girl". Joanna, the protagonist in this paperback, has a full day every day and never has any vacations. She is tired of being alone and is wasting her life inside two jobs. Both owned by her and her mother. Dalton, a city man who used to date every single girl in high school back at the farm. When he got the call from a mysterious girl telling him that his brother had had an accident, he panicked and rushed to Hatlow, Texas to see what was really wrong. He had not seen his mother and brother since he had left 20 years before. Today, he was eager to see them and hug them. When he got to Hatlow, instead of seeing his mother, he saw the mysterious woman who had called him.
These two learn to love each other even though many hardships separate them but still fail to break their love. My rating is not 5 stars, it's simply the greatest word.
"A masterpiece."

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Walsh contacts photographer, Dalton Parker, estranged son of her good friend Clova, when Clova's second son is badly hurt in a DUI accident and she needs help running her ranch. Joanna runs a beauty salon and supply business in town and operates a free range egg business on a portion of Clova's ranch. When Dalton arrives he is overwhelmed by the problems facing Clova and suspicious of Joanna's influence. Joanna's soft spot for people in need often get her into things over her head. As these 2 feel their way and become attracted they each put up barriers and are not straight-forward with each other. I was not drawn to Dalton at first; he seemed self-centered and rude. He did grow on me somewhat as I got to see beneath the surface, but often acted without considering others. Joanna was the opposite and I felt a couple of well-placed questions could have cleared the air occasionally. I'm not a fan of women who talk graphically about men, including their partner's, amongst their friends. That turned me off in this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story. Of a small cattle ranch in Texas. The owner is a mom of two adult boys. This takes you thru her challenges as she grows older, family drama, and a sweet young woman who helps her out. It was a relaxing read, that will make you laugh and tear up a bit. I will be checking out other books by this author
I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for a review/feedback. All opinions are my own.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great love story

Setting in the Texas west, a good book about a cattle ranch and possible oil well, but mostly a love story. A little bit about chickens too. A lot of cussing that I don't like and a few explicit sex scenes that could have been left out without hurting the book

[Brenda Mathes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So romantic and believeable...

Besides being very sexy, it is modern cowboy realistic. Makes you want one of your own...even if not rich ! The dancehall scenario was so believable, made you want to do some boot scootin of your own .

[Pam]

08/08 rec via pbs

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Strong characters. Sexy and a little angsty. Wish it was longer though. Hate when books just end a the HEA point.

[Nilda McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending came up a little quickly, but it was a fun little romance story. Just what I was looking for at the time.

[Mel ReadingWithMAC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received my copy free from the Goodreads Giveaway.

I really enjoyed Jeffrey's novel, and the depth of the characters.

[Rae Latte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Texas Ranch romance -don't miss this must read.