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The Calamity Janes #2

Courting the Enemy

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FOE…OR FIANCE?

Karen Hanson's oldest friends, the Calamity Janes, urged her to sell her struggling ranch and pursue her lifelong dreams of travel. But the only bidder for her land was brooding, enigmatic Grady Blackhawk—her late husband's worst enemy. How could she sell the land to him? Then Grady set out to prove that he wasn't the scoundrel Karen thought him. Spending time with her drop-dead handsome adversary might cost Karen a lot more than her ranch. Because Grady was becoming less interested in claiming her land…and more intent on claiming Karen herself!

THE CALAMITY JANES: Five women. Five dreams. A lifetime of friendship.

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 25, 2001

221 people are currently reading
436 people want to read

About the author

Sherryl Woods

556 books4,530 followers
With two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.

"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."

The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.

Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.

A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.

In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.

When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.

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5 stars
176 (32%)
4 stars
213 (38%)
3 stars
131 (23%)
2 stars
20 (3%)
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10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa .
241 reviews
January 20, 2020
Wow! A book you can't put down.

As I was reading this book, I thought it was an up n down book. Didn't know where it was going. I stuck with it and finished reading it. Was a very good book. She got what she wanted and more.
Profile Image for Urbandale Library.
364 reviews16 followers
June 10, 2019
This is the second book of a Series, The Calamity Janes. No need to read them in order because in the book tells you a little bit of the things that you could have learn on the prior book. For me, reading them in order makes sense. This is a Romantic with suspense book. I thought I was not going to know who was trying to sabotage the farm. Love Sherryl Woods' books.--UPL Library Patron
Profile Image for Booklover.
645 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2011
This was Karen's story,the story was great and Grady-Karen both were awesome,the suspense that built was great but i was disappointed,hhmm how i do i put it the person who was doing damages and sets fire was least expected by me

Karen what to say she went through so much,lost her husband and her love and after she tries to collect pieces of her shattered life and try to save the ranch that meant so mcuh to Caleb that is when the truth about her relationship with Caleb comes out he was going to leave her,that was so shattering my heart also broke along with Karen's and that is not enough Caleb's parents blame her for Caleb's death and also question her loyalty towards Caleb

Grady he is such a good man he also suffered his losses in his own way but liked that the grandfather was always there for him and he acknowledges n accepts his feelings as soon as he realises he loves Karen,the way Cassie keeps warning Grady is also cute

The one thing that kept Karen going was her Calmity Janes group,loved and adored the way these 5 stick together for each other,i was so happy they got their HEA and we also got some insights on Gina's problems and hints towards Lauren's also

Really liked the story
Recommend it
Profile Image for Bree Marks.
329 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2022
Karen Hanson is trying to pick up the pieces and run the ranch left to her after her husband suddenly and tragically dies. With so much resting on her shoulders, she's grateful to her friends, the Calamity Janes, as they rally around her. But even they can't help her when Grady Blackhawk comes to offer to buy the ranch.

Grady Blackhawk has wanted the Hanson ranch for years. He's made countless offers and figures he can try one more time. When he finally approaches Karen, and the grudge she dutifully carries for her late husband, Grady is determined to prove he's not the evil man he's been portrayed as. He figures showing up unannounced to help her with the ranch and challenging her to get to know him will help change her mind. But as the days turn into weeks then into months, it's Brady's mind, and heart, that will be changed. Now his greatest problem is proving to Karen he wants her, not her land.

With a series of mysterious problems and a heart torn in two directions, can Karen trust Grady and learn to love the enemy? Or will her husbands ghost cause her to loose everything?
819 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2021
Karen Hanson has lost her husband and now she struggling to keep the ranch that they both worked so hard to keep. While she is struggling her deceased husband's "supposed enemy" has approached her with an offer to sell the ranch to him. Grady Blackhawk wants that ranch and will try everything to convince Karen to sell it. He has his own reasons for wanting that ranch. Karen is struggling to keep things running and feels there is no way she can betray her husband by selling to his worst enemy. But when the real reasons behind the animosity between her husband and Grady are revealed, can she still look at him as the enemy? The Calamity Janes are there to support her in any way she needs. Once feelings begin to develop between Grady and Karen will he have a different outlook about acquiring the ranch?
179 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2022
I am obviously reading the entire series in a very marathon-y manner due to, well reading goals. But it seems that its a good choice because so far so good. I knocked the first star off because i personally don’t like the death kind of trope thats like when he died i realized that i loved you alll along. But we weren’t super invested in the first love interest so it was ok. For the second star knocked off its just because well I just didn’t feel super obsessed with the book. So again just like bridgerton. Its just a super mediocre romance i guess.
Profile Image for Moira.
1,262 reviews12 followers
August 16, 2020
The second book in the Calamity Jane's series was better than the first.

There was a lot of mystery and suspense to determine who was responsible for all the damaging incidents occurring at the Hansen ranch. Grady Blackhawk stepped in to help out and protect Karen. The issue is that he was her late husband's enemy.

He presents a truce and that becomes the start of something special.

Now looking forward to reading Gina's story!
518 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2022
I thought this would be more about the relationship with the Jane’s, not the stupid romance. But it was stupid romance. The danger was so forced. They why can’t they be together was so forced. And the narrator made the townsfolk sound like hokum yokels rather than real people. And made the main characters sounds and act like they were sixty, not “just shy of 30!’

I only finished this because I was on a road trip.
Profile Image for Kayla Bain-Vrba.
Author 22 books12 followers
August 24, 2017
This was a sweet enemies to lovers story with a bit of spice, and more than a few surprises that I didn't see coming! I really enjoy when a story can catch me offguard, and this story nicely meshed the romance and suspense/intrigue moments. Great read!
Profile Image for Pat.
645 reviews7 followers
February 27, 2021
I liked the storyline of this book, but not wild about the main character Karen Hanson. If she truly loved the hero, Grady Blackhawk, she wouldn’t need proof of his love for her. Got a 3 star rating for that, instead of the 4 star I wanted to give.
623 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2023
When looking for a book on CD, I forgot my glasses so grabbed this one thinking it was historical fiction about Calamity Jane. It ended up being kind of a simple sappy predictable romance story. It probably is not bad for it genre but it is not my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Pam.
526 reviews4 followers
August 5, 2018
I did not care.for this one as much as the other Calamity Janes.I just did not care for the Heroine. I did like the Hero story i just couldn't grasp her point.
Profile Image for Beth.
1,290 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2019
I liked this book. I like Karen and really liked Grady.
6 reviews
January 3, 2020
I had not read the Calamity Janes before, but will go back and read them. This book was very well written and fast moving.
Profile Image for Brenda.
405 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2016
The second in the Calamity Janes series. Each can be read individually but will get more out of reading them in order. Karen Hanson and her husband owned a ranch in Winding River, Wyoming. After a class reunion with her four other friends, her husband suddenly suffers a heart attack at a very young age. A rival rancher makes an attempt to purchase her ranch only to be thrown out on his butt. She knew her husband had hated and mistrusted him immensely and refuses several times. When he finally discovers why he had mistrusted him, he sets out to prove it a lie. A mysterious virus, fires and cattle slaughtering has everyone looking at him until he discovers the real villain, a new kind of shock. But the heat sparked between the rancher and Karen can't be denied even as she feels as though she is being unfaithful to her husband. Nice mystery, fraught filled romance and loads of friends offering advice and love. Five stars well earned by Sherryl Woods, an ultimate writer of romance.
Profile Image for Kari.
4,027 reviews96 followers
October 12, 2015
I liked this one a lot more than the first book. I felt like Karen's hesitancy to get involved with Grady came across as genuine. While she is attracted to Grady, she feel incredible guilt as if she is betraying her late husband. Grady's patience with her was very sweet . I loved them together. The only thing about this book that I wish was better explained was who was really behind all of the sabotage. There is a solution to who set the fire, but it wasn't clear to me whether or not this person was behind everything.

7 reviews
July 20, 2019
Great story.

I enjoyed the way the story evolved it was very enjoyable I found it hard to put down even though it was predictable.
2,672 reviews
September 6, 2019
It was really dated. I think I need to stop reading old romances. The characters are too one-dimensional. The heroine never quite measures up to my expectations.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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