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This Time for Keeps
Tracy Hill, the heroine of Kathleen Kane's This Time for Keeps, has the worst luck. In 1998, she is prematurely killed by a bowling-ball accident while on a date. Through the centuries, she has been killed eight times; each was a freak accident involving the man she loved. Tired of this endless pattern, she makes a deal with the Resettlement Committee in an attempt to ensure a better outcome in her next life. Tracy bargains for wealth and health, but there's no chance for love. She also asks to keep the memories of her past lives: "If you can't guarantee that I won't fall in love, the least you can do is to let me remember why I shouldn't," she implores.
The Committee sends Tracy into the body of a woman living on a Montana ranch in 1875. When she meets the blue-eyed foreman, Seth Murdoch, she is happy to find that she isn't attracted to the rugged cowboy type--at least at first. Sparks develop between them, causing Tracy to have some very unsettling dreams regarding the man she has loved throughout time. Try as they might, Tracy and Seth are unable to deny the desire they have for each other. The two must decide if they dare take a chance on love. For both it is a big gamble, but the outcome is worth the ride. It is fun to watch Tracy, a modern Los Angeles woman, struggle with 1800s Montana, and Seth's reaction to the modern Tracy is just as entertaining. Kane has delivered a novel with enough twists to keep the angels enthralled, if they're watching.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 1998
12 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Kane
20 books11 followersMaureen Child was born 28 September 1951 in California, USA. She and her husband enjoy traveling, usually taking road trips with her parents. When she’s at home, she is kept busy with her two grown children and a somewhat confused golden retriever named Abbey. She is busy writing her next book.
Under her own name, Maureen Child writes short contemporary novels—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling, she is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances. Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing. She writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings. Now, a USA Today best selling author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas, she is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America. One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Under her own name, Maureen Child writes short contemporary novels—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling, she is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances. Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing. She writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings. Now, a USA Today best selling author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas, she is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America. One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 22, 2025
Considering how her other 8 lives have ended in a terrible tragedy, it's understandable that the heroine does not want to reincarnated again. So, she throws a temper tantrum in front of the reassignment board demanding she not be put into another body unless her terms are met. One, she wants to remember her previous lives. Two, she wants to be rich and healthy. Three, she does not want to fall in love. The board members hum and haw over her stern demands but soon relent and accept. They send her back, into the body of a woman in the 1800's. This woman whose body the heroine now inhabits was apparently a sickly creature with no backbone or true personality for her own. Those around her look stunned she is even alive. But the heroine has a lot more surprises in store for those who knew this woman.
The heroine is not the shrinking violet and she certainly is not the type to mince words. She refuses to relent to their treating her as an invalid and the first day in this new body is spent confusing those around her. Apparently this woman never ate or really spoke to anyone besides her fathers widow or her brother. The hero, this farm boss in charge of the heroine's vast country estate isn't the type of man the heroine usually looks to as attractive but she has to admit this rugged man is quite the specimen. Too bad he's obnoxious and stubborn and arrogant. He fights with her constantly, seeming to think he knows her better than she knows herself. But the heroine secretly enjoys their arguments and as her fiancé is the sort of sneaky little man who has alternative motives, the hero is looking even better. But the heroine is stubborn herself and arrogant. She demands that the hero accompany her on a tour of her land to understand the stability and worth of the cattle she owns. It's on this trip that the hero and heroine grow closer.
The hero refuses to succumb to the temptation of this woman, knowing he can not offer her marriage. He's confused by her complete personality transformation and even more disturbed by the sexual feelings he's now developed for her. She is brash and stubborn and she is magnificent. And he sees her in his dreams. Looking deep into his eyes, she realizes the hero is the man she's loved and lost 8 times now. But she is determined that this time, this man will be different and that they will finally have their happily ever after.
Well, this was great. I loved so much about it and what I loved outweighed what I didn't by a large margin. I loved the time travel/ reincarnation theme. I loved the historical old west cattle ranch setting. I loved the hero who was a rugged cowboy with loyalty to his employer - both the sickly fragile one and this new vibrant creature. He could argue with the heroine easily and knew how to push her buttons but for sure, she usually got the best of him. He was confused by her manner of speech and her unladylike behavior but horribly turned on by her lust for life and her bold intentions towards him. What I didn't like was the heroine. I found her to be far too stupid and arrogant for her one good. She stormed into her new life determined to ignore every piece of advise given to her and to completely disregard any attempt to 'fit in'. She thought she knew it all and nobody could tell her anything she didn't already know herself. She was frustrating and very unlikeable as a person for the most of the book and now that I think of it, I never really got to the point where I forgave her. The problem is, overall the book was lovely. However, when you really really dislike a major character it's hard to justify a 5 star rating. 4 Stars is sufficient and I believe fair. This author is quite talented and I haven't encountered a book yet that I didn't like so that's a major plus. If the heroine was more humble and patient I would have loved this book a whole lot better but as it stands it was still a very nice story.
The heroine is not the shrinking violet and she certainly is not the type to mince words. She refuses to relent to their treating her as an invalid and the first day in this new body is spent confusing those around her. Apparently this woman never ate or really spoke to anyone besides her fathers widow or her brother. The hero, this farm boss in charge of the heroine's vast country estate isn't the type of man the heroine usually looks to as attractive but she has to admit this rugged man is quite the specimen. Too bad he's obnoxious and stubborn and arrogant. He fights with her constantly, seeming to think he knows her better than she knows herself. But the heroine secretly enjoys their arguments and as her fiancé is the sort of sneaky little man who has alternative motives, the hero is looking even better. But the heroine is stubborn herself and arrogant. She demands that the hero accompany her on a tour of her land to understand the stability and worth of the cattle she owns. It's on this trip that the hero and heroine grow closer.
The hero refuses to succumb to the temptation of this woman, knowing he can not offer her marriage. He's confused by her complete personality transformation and even more disturbed by the sexual feelings he's now developed for her. She is brash and stubborn and she is magnificent. And he sees her in his dreams. Looking deep into his eyes, she realizes the hero is the man she's loved and lost 8 times now. But she is determined that this time, this man will be different and that they will finally have their happily ever after.
Well, this was great. I loved so much about it and what I loved outweighed what I didn't by a large margin. I loved the time travel/ reincarnation theme. I loved the historical old west cattle ranch setting. I loved the hero who was a rugged cowboy with loyalty to his employer - both the sickly fragile one and this new vibrant creature. He could argue with the heroine easily and knew how to push her buttons but for sure, she usually got the best of him. He was confused by her manner of speech and her unladylike behavior but horribly turned on by her lust for life and her bold intentions towards him. What I didn't like was the heroine. I found her to be far too stupid and arrogant for her one good. She stormed into her new life determined to ignore every piece of advise given to her and to completely disregard any attempt to 'fit in'. She thought she knew it all and nobody could tell her anything she didn't already know herself. She was frustrating and very unlikeable as a person for the most of the book and now that I think of it, I never really got to the point where I forgave her. The problem is, overall the book was lovely. However, when you really really dislike a major character it's hard to justify a 5 star rating. 4 Stars is sufficient and I believe fair. This author is quite talented and I haven't encountered a book yet that I didn't like so that's a major plus. If the heroine was more humble and patient I would have loved this book a whole lot better but as it stands it was still a very nice story.
November 7, 2015
Really far-fetched but cute story about reincarnation. I did like that most of the story was a western. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
September 2, 2022
I loved it. The woman had enough sass for me to enjoy. It was a good lost lovers and reuniting kind of story. I don't like to discuss it only with people who've read it. But my summary, re-encarnation goes awry too many times but the fates get it right in the end. What happens in the middle is funny, serious, gets a little suspicious and a great happy ending. I LOVED IT!
August 6, 2021
Laughter a plenty
This a thoroughly entertaining love story written by a talented author. The main character is refreshingly confident and funny while she meets the challenges of living in the past.
This a thoroughly entertaining love story written by a talented author. The main character is refreshingly confident and funny while she meets the challenges of living in the past.
July 30, 2018
This book is funny, romantic and well written.
August 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this story! It’s funny and unique, a refresh after all other standard time travel romance books.
July 8, 2024
Loved it
September 1, 2021
Woman finally Comes of Age in her 8th Life!
I enjoyed watching “Nora” learn how to live and love. The last portion of the book was most enjoyable as she finally understood the meaning of her serial lives.
Perfect book to unwind from Pandemic stress!
Explicit consensual love scenes.
I enjoyed watching “Nora” learn how to live and love. The last portion of the book was most enjoyable as she finally understood the meaning of her serial lives.
Perfect book to unwind from Pandemic stress!
Explicit consensual love scenes.
May 25, 2020
Enjoy these books by Kathleen Kane, romance, set in the West in the late 1800's, with a touch of magic.
July 18, 2014
Nora gets reincarnated after her accidental death. She meets Seth and discovers he was responsible for all her previous deaths, and all the love as well.
Quirky storyline, satisfied.
Quirky storyline, satisfied.
December 10, 2016
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4...
Light entertainment. Complete fantasy, but quite fun with the time travel element.
Light entertainment. Complete fantasy, but quite fun with the time travel element.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews