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Plots and Pans
Can a cranky cowboy...
Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life--his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for dainty ladies. That's just part of why he loves it.
...and a clever cook...
Jessalyn Culpepper's life is perfectly ordered--by men. By her father's mandate, she was booted from their beloved ranch for lady lessons abroad. Now Jessalyn has returned home, determined to show them all that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle--whether they like it or not!
...stir up more than trouble?
Tucker does his level best to keep his partner’s headstrong sister out of trouble--and he's horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they lose their chuck wagon cook, the last thing Tucker wants might be the only solution....
Will God lead two stubborn souls to love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?
Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life--his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for dainty ladies. That's just part of why he loves it.
...and a clever cook...
Jessalyn Culpepper's life is perfectly ordered--by men. By her father's mandate, she was booted from their beloved ranch for lady lessons abroad. Now Jessalyn has returned home, determined to show them all that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle--whether they like it or not!
...stir up more than trouble?
Tucker does his level best to keep his partner’s headstrong sister out of trouble--and he's horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they lose their chuck wagon cook, the last thing Tucker wants might be the only solution....
Will God lead two stubborn souls to love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?
313 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
13 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Eileen Hake
44 books188 followersKelly Eileen Hake is a reader favorite of Barbour's Heartsong Presents series, where she has released several books. A credentialed Secondary English teacher in California, she is pursing her MA in Writing Popular Fiction. Known for her own style of witty, heartwarming historical romance, Kelly is currently writing the Prairie Promises trilogy, her first full-length novels. She has been writing since she could hold a pen and was first published at the tender age of eighteen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 6, 2017
I loved this book! I really enjoyed the banter between Tucker and Jessie. An overall great book.
March 22, 2021
I reread this about once a year! One of her best....... if you love a good banter, this is it!
March 15, 2014
Jessalyn Culpepper has always wanted to feel like part of the Bar None Ranch. And not only feel but to truly be. Unfortunately, years ago her stubbornness got the better of her and ended up not only causing her "exile" but also costing her her father's health. After spending her growing-up years in British boarding schools she is now ready to give it all up and return home. With her father now dead and her beloved norther lacking in the communication department Jess pulls up stakes and makes the ocean crossing alone as she hopes to surprise her brother with her arrival. However, it is Jess who is in for the surprise.
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If this had been written in the first-person I think it would have been a first-rate book. The author likes to let the characters do a lot of speaking and thinking (think: italicized paragraphs) and in third-person it's a bit much. Frankly, I've always thought the looonnnnngggggg "thought" pargraphs a sign of an amateur (yeah - now you know what my old manuscripts are like, mwahahaha!), but Kelly Eileen Hake is far from being an amateur. The first chapter showed a lot of promise but beyond that I found it difficult to take an interest in. That felt like a let down because the cover art really drew me into the story. When I first seen it I though "Huh. This looks like my kinda book". Admit it. You thought it was going to be a book about a witty heroine who knocks cowpokes upside their heads with skillets, Well, it was sort of like that, but it still felt like it was lacking. There was a good deal of tension between her and the main male character, but she isn't quite that feisty.
So you can guess that I skimmed a good deal, which stinks. Don't get me wrong, it's still a fairly good book, but if I knew what I know now I wouldn't have read it.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “Plots and Pans ” from Netgalley.com provided by the publishers, Barbour Publishing, Inc., in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
September 4, 2014
2.5 Stars
I’m really torn with this book. I have to admit, I haven’t finished it yet. This is the first time that’s happened. I got about 75% done and decided I had to set it aside. I do want to finish it at some point, but I thought it best to quit for now.
The thing is, the writing is very good. Very witty and entertaining. I loved that when I started reading it. And I even really like Jess! That’s definitely saying something since I typically like less than a quarter of the female protagonists I read about. I had really high hopes when I started this book. Where things went wrong for me, personally, was the internal monologue of the characters. As I said, it’s incredibly witty, but . . . there was just too much. It took up the majority of the book, and I began to feel as if nothing was actually happening. There was no antagonist that I’m aware of unless one shows up in the last quarter of the book. It was just the conflict between the two main characters. I guess I’m just used to quite a bit more action and less monologue.
On a good note, it has a good cast of characters. As I said, I really like Jess, and Tucker is an interesting character as well. My favorite besides those two was Desta. I really liked her part in the story. So if you don’t mind a more slow-paced Western romance with a spunky female protagonist and entertaining banter, you’ll probably enjoy Plots and Pans a lot more than I did.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I’m really torn with this book. I have to admit, I haven’t finished it yet. This is the first time that’s happened. I got about 75% done and decided I had to set it aside. I do want to finish it at some point, but I thought it best to quit for now.
The thing is, the writing is very good. Very witty and entertaining. I loved that when I started reading it. And I even really like Jess! That’s definitely saying something since I typically like less than a quarter of the female protagonists I read about. I had really high hopes when I started this book. Where things went wrong for me, personally, was the internal monologue of the characters. As I said, it’s incredibly witty, but . . . there was just too much. It took up the majority of the book, and I began to feel as if nothing was actually happening. There was no antagonist that I’m aware of unless one shows up in the last quarter of the book. It was just the conflict between the two main characters. I guess I’m just used to quite a bit more action and less monologue.
On a good note, it has a good cast of characters. As I said, I really like Jess, and Tucker is an interesting character as well. My favorite besides those two was Desta. I really liked her part in the story. So if you don’t mind a more slow-paced Western romance with a spunky female protagonist and entertaining banter, you’ll probably enjoy Plots and Pans a lot more than I did.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2015
Really great read! I couldn't help but laugh throughout the story. Jess just wants to feel that she belongs, and Tucker just wants Jess to stay where he thinks she belongs. Their differences of opinion cause many arguments, but in the end they learn that, with God's love and direction, they can both find where to belong. :)
May 24, 2014
It was ok...enough said
February 15, 2019
With that ridiculous cover I expected something a little more funny. There were a lot of surprisingly feminist thoughts in this but then also a lot of sexism and the mix was weird and a little annoying.
I don't like romance (so why did I read this? Because I saw that cover on Bookbeat and was like "okay, that looks hilarious") but I had expectations that weren't met and the way it is presented it's quite cringy and weird. I liked the banter at first but then suddenly the guy is like "mine" and she becomes a blushing school girl and.. No. That's not how I wanted them to get together.
Also the timing is really off in the book. I think my audiobook was the unabridged one but I honestly can't be sure because sometimes chapters seem to end in the middle of a sentence and then there's a huge time gap in the story and it's just really weird. The POV changes were also rather abrupt.
Overall it's an okay read if you don't have to pay extra for it anyway, but like I said, it was a lot less funny than I thought and a lot more cringy in the romance department than I prepared myself for.
I don't like romance (so why did I read this? Because I saw that cover on Bookbeat and was like "okay, that looks hilarious") but I had expectations that weren't met and the way it is presented it's quite cringy and weird. I liked the banter at first but then suddenly the guy is like "mine" and she becomes a blushing school girl and.. No. That's not how I wanted them to get together.
Also the timing is really off in the book. I think my audiobook was the unabridged one but I honestly can't be sure because sometimes chapters seem to end in the middle of a sentence and then there's a huge time gap in the story and it's just really weird. The POV changes were also rather abrupt.
Overall it's an okay read if you don't have to pay extra for it anyway, but like I said, it was a lot less funny than I thought and a lot more cringy in the romance department than I prepared myself for.
May 9, 2024
Between that adorable cover and the punny title, my expectations of this were pretty high. It sounded so cute!
Unfortunately, I had trouble connecting with story, mostly due to the writing style. The changes in perspective were choppy and confusing. Characters were introduced with very little background or description which made it hard for me to keep them straight in my mind. A lot of the story - especially near the end - was told and not shown. For example, when the cattle drivers found out that there was alkaline water along the route and they would have to drink only from what was in their stored containers, the main character thought to herself something like, oh, I hope we make it or whatever. Literally after the page break, she basically said, “well, we made it” which was anticlimactic to say the least.
Jessalyn sort of irritated me. She had an attitude of “can’t tell me what to do” and her “banter” with Tucker did nothing for me either.
Unfortunately, I had trouble connecting with story, mostly due to the writing style. The changes in perspective were choppy and confusing. Characters were introduced with very little background or description which made it hard for me to keep them straight in my mind. A lot of the story - especially near the end - was told and not shown. For example, when the cattle drivers found out that there was alkaline water along the route and they would have to drink only from what was in their stored containers, the main character thought to herself something like, oh, I hope we make it or whatever. Literally after the page break, she basically said, “well, we made it” which was anticlimactic to say the least.
Jessalyn sort of irritated me. She had an attitude of “can’t tell me what to do” and her “banter” with Tucker did nothing for me either.
July 10, 2021
Een grappig boek, lekker simpel. Een sterke vrouwelijke hoofdpersoon die altijd ad rem weet te reageren op haar omstandigheden en zich niet door details uit het veld laat slaan, zoals dat ze de enige vrouw is tussen een zwerm cowboys.
Tucker is natuurlijk vanaf de eerste minuut wantrouwig en ziet alleen maar leeuwen en beren op de weg. Die continue strijd tussen de twee is grappig en geeft vaart aan het verhaal maar wordt uiteindelijk ook een beetje vermoeiend.
De schrijfster weet wel wat gevoelige onderwerpen aan te snijden, zoals de positie van kleurlingen, maar ik vond het in een boek dat vooral geestig en gevat wil zijn, niet helemaal passen.
Een luchtig vermaak, maar een keer lezen was genoeg.
Tucker is natuurlijk vanaf de eerste minuut wantrouwig en ziet alleen maar leeuwen en beren op de weg. Die continue strijd tussen de twee is grappig en geeft vaart aan het verhaal maar wordt uiteindelijk ook een beetje vermoeiend.
De schrijfster weet wel wat gevoelige onderwerpen aan te snijden, zoals de positie van kleurlingen, maar ik vond het in een boek dat vooral geestig en gevat wil zijn, niet helemaal passen.
Een luchtig vermaak, maar een keer lezen was genoeg.
November 23, 2020
Funny, lighthearted romance
I had a hard time putting this one down. I loved Jess’s strong character and the fact that she learned to master it without losing the heart of who she was. Tucker, too, was strong. I liked the way her aunt helped Jess to see the side of Tucker that Jess thought controlling and manipulative, was actually his desire to keep her from pain and suffering that would come from her actions. The characters were well developed and real. They had issues but also found ways to grow and learn. The humor was quite good and added flavor to the narrative.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I loved Jess’s strong character and the fact that she learned to master it without losing the heart of who she was. Tucker, too, was strong. I liked the way her aunt helped Jess to see the side of Tucker that Jess thought controlling and manipulative, was actually his desire to keep her from pain and suffering that would come from her actions. The characters were well developed and real. They had issues but also found ways to grow and learn. The humor was quite good and added flavor to the narrative.
July 13, 2021
I didn't really like Jessalyn or Tucker at the start of the book. I thought Jessalyn was selfish and she didn't seem to care about anyone except her Aunt. Tucker was Mr. Bossman and you had better do what he said. After they started on the cattle drive I got into the story more 😊. Both of them had this personality change and I actually liked them by the end. 😀 Really liked the story and I will be continuing on my Kelly Eileen Hake binge. 😉
January 28, 2018
Kelly Eileen Hake is among my favorite authors due to her witty writing and humorous dialogue and this book does not disappoint! From start to finish it was a fun ride that had many heart warming moments and a wonderful message of never being alone and belonging. A perfect read for those wanting something light and quick, Plots and Pans is definitely a recommended read!
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February 2, 2022The best Hake novel I've read to date. Jess, a fun, sassy, and spunky heroine determined to lead her own life outside of male jurisdiction and Tucker, a grumbling ranch overseer who is now part owner of the ranch alongside her according to her father's will. Add in Desta, a former slave and Jess's black aunt, and there is a good cast of characters that make the story compelling and diverse.
May 18, 2017
Cute fun book
December 17, 2017
Cute story with a bit of a slow start and an abrupt ending. I enjoyed it overall!
January 12, 2018
I really enjoyed the back and forth banter between the hero and heroine, and lets be honest, heroines who are troublemakers are the best!
September 5, 2019
Started off ok, but got increasingly preachy and chauvinistic as I read more. Didn't really enjoy it.
January 22, 2020
This was a fun western story to read. I enjoyed reading it.
April 19, 2024
Cute story. This is another that has sat on my shelf for years waiting read. I liked the story, it has likable characters and it’s a fun western themed story.
August 31, 2024
her books are always a fun read characters and plots not to out there but off beat sometimes
August 1, 2014
Jessalyn was bold and independent enough to take risks, such as the risk of breaking her neck climbing down stealthily out of dorm room windows to rendezvous with her horse Morning Glory in early mornings or afternoons. She was bold and rebellious enough to eschew four different boarding schools in seven years, and brash and daring enough to board a ship crossing the ocean to American from an English port--alone. She was bold and foolish enough to take a train and eventually a stagecoach, alone, to Texas and the Bar None ranch, her home. To top it off, she was bold and skilled enough on her horse, dressed in split skirts that looked like chaps, a Stetson and common duster and a scarf over her face to approach the ranch and pass for an itinerant hand, given a job, a bunk and a meal by the ranch boss, Tucker Carmichael.
Tucker Carmichael was not only the foreman for Carson Culpepper's Bar None ranch, he was part owner. Before his death, Carson charged his son Ed, and Tucker with Jess's care. Tucker took that job to heart, perhaps a bit too much, especially after he had seen her. What happens when spunk and impulsive meets responsible, stubborn and controlling?
I loved the author's attention to detail, especially in her description of the round-up, the preparations the women had to make for the drive, and the meals cooked for these events. I could easily picture all of it in my mind from her detailed accounts. It gave this book a unique point of view, from the cook's perspective.
Another thing I appreciated about this story is the relationship between Aunt Desta and Jess that developed in the short span of time this book covers. The author skillfully conveys the warmth of understanding between the more mature woman and young Jess, who needs Desta for spiritual guidance as well as her friendship and the sense of family she was deprived of for so many years. It was Desta who ferreted out that under her bold and brash exterior Jess was insecure and in need of stability and a sense of belonging. And it was Desta who realized that Jess's attitude toward God reflected her feelings of anger and abandonment from her father because he sent her away to school. Through the hardships of the cattle drive, Desta played an important role in helping Jess resolve these issues.
Thirdly, I enjoyed see the evolving relationship between Jess and Tucker. Both needed to dig deeply inside themselves to find compromises they could live with. Their journey toward a romance was filled with potholes, but endearing nevertheless. I enjoyed how the author used humor to help iron out some of those wrinkles. Overall, this was a fun book to read and I can heartily recommend it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Barbour Publishing, Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Tucker Carmichael was not only the foreman for Carson Culpepper's Bar None ranch, he was part owner. Before his death, Carson charged his son Ed, and Tucker with Jess's care. Tucker took that job to heart, perhaps a bit too much, especially after he had seen her. What happens when spunk and impulsive meets responsible, stubborn and controlling?
I loved the author's attention to detail, especially in her description of the round-up, the preparations the women had to make for the drive, and the meals cooked for these events. I could easily picture all of it in my mind from her detailed accounts. It gave this book a unique point of view, from the cook's perspective.
Another thing I appreciated about this story is the relationship between Aunt Desta and Jess that developed in the short span of time this book covers. The author skillfully conveys the warmth of understanding between the more mature woman and young Jess, who needs Desta for spiritual guidance as well as her friendship and the sense of family she was deprived of for so many years. It was Desta who ferreted out that under her bold and brash exterior Jess was insecure and in need of stability and a sense of belonging. And it was Desta who realized that Jess's attitude toward God reflected her feelings of anger and abandonment from her father because he sent her away to school. Through the hardships of the cattle drive, Desta played an important role in helping Jess resolve these issues.
Thirdly, I enjoyed see the evolving relationship between Jess and Tucker. Both needed to dig deeply inside themselves to find compromises they could live with. Their journey toward a romance was filled with potholes, but endearing nevertheless. I enjoyed how the author used humor to help iron out some of those wrinkles. Overall, this was a fun book to read and I can heartily recommend it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Barbour Publishing, Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 5, 2016
Link to review: http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
About this book:
“Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life— his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for women. After years at school, Jessalyn Culpepper has come home and is determined to show everyone that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether they like it or not! Tucker tries to manage his partner’s headstrong sister, horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they need a chuck wagon cook, Jessalyn seems the only solution. Will God stir up love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Tucker & Desta have a Faith, and while she was raised in the Word, Jessalyn has a hard time separating her earthly father with her Heavenly Father; Church goin’, many Prayers are said, Scriptures are quoted & Bible reading and talks about God, His Will, and Trusting Him.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘heck’; Being on a cattle ranch, mentions of chicken pluckers, sewing bulls’ eyes shut and how they may have to shoot an animal to put it out of its misery (they never do) {Very sensitive animal lovers read with caution—I skimmed those parts}
Sexual Content- One not-detailed kiss; Tucker wants to hold Jessalyn many times.
-Jessalyn Culpepper
-Tucker Carmichael
P.O.V. switches between them & Desta
Set in 1879 (Prologue set in 1872)
313 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
High School Teens- Four Stars
My Personal Rating- Four Stars
This book made me swoon and grin like a ninny! It was so stinkin’ cute! And it was set in Texas! Bonus points for that! {Whaaat? Me? Biased? Nooooo!} Plus the cover is perfect for “Plots and Pans”, {Get it? Plots and Pans? Like Pots and Pans? Heeheehee!} the girl on the front cover has a mischievous look – like she’s up to trouble! Just perfect!
See y'all on Monday for another review! :)
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Shiloh Run Press) for this review.
About this book:
“Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life— his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for women. After years at school, Jessalyn Culpepper has come home and is determined to show everyone that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether they like it or not! Tucker tries to manage his partner’s headstrong sister, horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they need a chuck wagon cook, Jessalyn seems the only solution. Will God stir up love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Tucker & Desta have a Faith, and while she was raised in the Word, Jessalyn has a hard time separating her earthly father with her Heavenly Father; Church goin’, many Prayers are said, Scriptures are quoted & Bible reading and talks about God, His Will, and Trusting Him.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘heck’; Being on a cattle ranch, mentions of chicken pluckers, sewing bulls’ eyes shut and how they may have to shoot an animal to put it out of its misery (they never do) {Very sensitive animal lovers read with caution—I skimmed those parts}
Sexual Content- One not-detailed kiss; Tucker wants to hold Jessalyn many times.
-Jessalyn Culpepper
-Tucker Carmichael
P.O.V. switches between them & Desta
Set in 1879 (Prologue set in 1872)
313 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
High School Teens- Four Stars
My Personal Rating- Four Stars
This book made me swoon and grin like a ninny! It was so stinkin’ cute! And it was set in Texas! Bonus points for that! {Whaaat? Me? Biased? Nooooo!} Plus the cover is perfect for “Plots and Pans”, {Get it? Plots and Pans? Like Pots and Pans? Heeheehee!} the girl on the front cover has a mischievous look – like she’s up to trouble! Just perfect!
See y'all on Monday for another review! :)
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Shiloh Run Press) for this review.
April 1, 2014
This was the first book I've read by Kelly Eileen Hake and published by Shiloh Run Press. I was curious about the new line after reading the Publisher's Weekly article dated 1/7/14, "Shiloh Run Press will provide a new category umbrella for Barbour’s successful original full-length fiction line.”
Jessalyn (Jess) Culpepper grew up on the Bar None ranch, but her daddy sent her overseas to finishing school, hoping the headmistress could offer what the ranch could not: a female's touch. Tucker Carmichael feels responsible for Jess after promising her daddy on his deathbed that he'd look out for her. Of course, he'd made that promise while she was safely ensconced at boarding school on the other side of the world. Now that she's back on the ranch, keeping that promise isn't so easy. Especially since Jess is headstrong and stubborn, and harbors a deep desire to belong. I could easily relate to Jess and Tucker, but I would have found their romance to be more believable with less sparring and definitely with more physical tension.
Some people maintained that prayer required knees on the ground and eyes screwed tight against distraction. But the way he saw it, God made man for company, and he could talk while riding. If anything, working in tandem with another of God's creatures out in the open, breathing fresh air and drinking in the seemingly endless expanse of the sky strengthened his connection with the Creator.~Tucker
Gentle spiritual nuggets like this trickled throughout the story, seamless and natural, and deeper issues made me pause and reflect.
"...when you stop looking for what you have in common with other people, it's the first step to not seeing them as people a'tal." ~Aunt Desta, a former slave
The slang tended to weigh the story down a bit in places, but all in all, Plots and Pans is a solid read and a great taste of what's to come with Shiloh Run Press. If you enjoy clean, historical romance with strong characters and a gentle spiritual thread, you'll want to scoop this one up.
Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Shiloh Run Press/Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this book. I received a free copy of Plots and Pans in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.
Jessalyn (Jess) Culpepper grew up on the Bar None ranch, but her daddy sent her overseas to finishing school, hoping the headmistress could offer what the ranch could not: a female's touch. Tucker Carmichael feels responsible for Jess after promising her daddy on his deathbed that he'd look out for her. Of course, he'd made that promise while she was safely ensconced at boarding school on the other side of the world. Now that she's back on the ranch, keeping that promise isn't so easy. Especially since Jess is headstrong and stubborn, and harbors a deep desire to belong. I could easily relate to Jess and Tucker, but I would have found their romance to be more believable with less sparring and definitely with more physical tension.
Some people maintained that prayer required knees on the ground and eyes screwed tight against distraction. But the way he saw it, God made man for company, and he could talk while riding. If anything, working in tandem with another of God's creatures out in the open, breathing fresh air and drinking in the seemingly endless expanse of the sky strengthened his connection with the Creator.~Tucker
Gentle spiritual nuggets like this trickled throughout the story, seamless and natural, and deeper issues made me pause and reflect.
"...when you stop looking for what you have in common with other people, it's the first step to not seeing them as people a'tal." ~Aunt Desta, a former slave
The slang tended to weigh the story down a bit in places, but all in all, Plots and Pans is a solid read and a great taste of what's to come with Shiloh Run Press. If you enjoy clean, historical romance with strong characters and a gentle spiritual thread, you'll want to scoop this one up.
Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Shiloh Run Press/Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this book. I received a free copy of Plots and Pans in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.
May 23, 2014
What Might Have Been...
Plots and Pans is a book I really looked forward to reading. Set on the Bar None Ranch in Texas during the 1870's, the book is rich in the history of the old Chisholm Trail.
The main characters are Jessalyn (Jess) Culpepper and Tucker Carmichael. Jess is the daughter of the ranch owner. She is sent to Europe and has lived in numerous boarding schools since her mother's death. Her father simply did not know what to do with her.
Tucker is the ranch foreman, but is very close to the Culpepper family. When the Bar None Ranch patriarch dies, Tucker inherits a portion of the ranch, along with Jess and her brother, Ed.
Sparks fly between Jess and Tucker. Tucker is very controlling and expects others to follow his orders. Jess is headstrong and independent. No man will tell her what to do. Regardless of their differences, they are attracted to one another. It was interesting to watch the plot unfold and to find out if Tucker and Jess would finally realize that they had grown to care deeply for each other. Plots and Pans was a good story.
All that being said, I am giving 3 stars to what might have been a 5-Star review. While I liked the story very much, I did not like the author's writing style. As I read the first few chapters, I noticed that the dialogue was repeated as each chapter transitioned into the next.
I found myself stopping to think "Didn't I just read that?" and then wondering "Why?," so I turned back to find out if I had missed something which would explain the repeating text. At first I thought the book was poorly edited, but as I continued through to the end of the novel, I realized it was the author's intent to transition the chapters in this way.
I did not enjoy the book as much because of this. It caused me to lose my focus far too often. To me, that made the book feel "choppy" and disconnected. I've never before seen this issue in a book. It really bothered me.
In conclusion, the storyline would be worth 5 stars had the author written it in an easier to read, more free flowing style. Maybe other readers can overlook the unusual dialogue transitions and enjoy the novel. I could not.
I received this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
Plots and Pans is a book I really looked forward to reading. Set on the Bar None Ranch in Texas during the 1870's, the book is rich in the history of the old Chisholm Trail.
The main characters are Jessalyn (Jess) Culpepper and Tucker Carmichael. Jess is the daughter of the ranch owner. She is sent to Europe and has lived in numerous boarding schools since her mother's death. Her father simply did not know what to do with her.
Tucker is the ranch foreman, but is very close to the Culpepper family. When the Bar None Ranch patriarch dies, Tucker inherits a portion of the ranch, along with Jess and her brother, Ed.
Sparks fly between Jess and Tucker. Tucker is very controlling and expects others to follow his orders. Jess is headstrong and independent. No man will tell her what to do. Regardless of their differences, they are attracted to one another. It was interesting to watch the plot unfold and to find out if Tucker and Jess would finally realize that they had grown to care deeply for each other. Plots and Pans was a good story.
All that being said, I am giving 3 stars to what might have been a 5-Star review. While I liked the story very much, I did not like the author's writing style. As I read the first few chapters, I noticed that the dialogue was repeated as each chapter transitioned into the next.
I found myself stopping to think "Didn't I just read that?" and then wondering "Why?," so I turned back to find out if I had missed something which would explain the repeating text. At first I thought the book was poorly edited, but as I continued through to the end of the novel, I realized it was the author's intent to transition the chapters in this way.
I did not enjoy the book as much because of this. It caused me to lose my focus far too often. To me, that made the book feel "choppy" and disconnected. I've never before seen this issue in a book. It really bothered me.
In conclusion, the storyline would be worth 5 stars had the author written it in an easier to read, more free flowing style. Maybe other readers can overlook the unusual dialogue transitions and enjoy the novel. I could not.
I received this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
April 9, 2016
Hake has written some fun characters. I loved Jess and Tucker's verbal sparring - as an observer, sometimes I would side with one and then the other, since neither was always right or in the right. In general I liked what Tucker has to say (or at least could see where he is coming from), but he suffers extreme foot-in-mouth disease and I simply could not sympathize after some major verbal blunders. Jess is more abrasive, but that stems largely from feeling unwanted and hurt, and she can be a gentle, loving soul when Tucker is not involved. Her interactions with her aunt Desta are among the tenderest and most insightful parts of the book.
One little thing that bothered me was the tendency to repeat dialogue when the point of view shifts; it was jarring to suddenly be a sentence or two back in time. Normally when the point of view shifts in the middle of a scene, the second viewpoint picks up immediately where the first leaves off, rather than recapping the dialogue from the second point of view. It happens maybe half a dozen times in this book - not a lot, but enough to lose some conciseness and feel like words are being wasted.
I like how Hake has interspersed the story with little nuggets of wisdom, both humorous ("a closed mouth gathers no boots" (74)) and serious. I especially like the conversation Desta and Jess have about slavery, when they are still a little awkward and getting to know each other. Hake writes, "When you stop looking for what you have in common with other people, it's the first step to not seeing them as people a'tal" (125). It was a reminder that we do that all the time - on a personal level with that annoying jerk we just can't stand, to on an international level with whomever we fight against in war.
I would not have minded a little more conclusion to the novel to wrap up the whole story a little better and not just the romance - it was a rather sudden ending. However, I enjoyed the story as a whole. 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you Barbour and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
One little thing that bothered me was the tendency to repeat dialogue when the point of view shifts; it was jarring to suddenly be a sentence or two back in time. Normally when the point of view shifts in the middle of a scene, the second viewpoint picks up immediately where the first leaves off, rather than recapping the dialogue from the second point of view. It happens maybe half a dozen times in this book - not a lot, but enough to lose some conciseness and feel like words are being wasted.
I like how Hake has interspersed the story with little nuggets of wisdom, both humorous ("a closed mouth gathers no boots" (74)) and serious. I especially like the conversation Desta and Jess have about slavery, when they are still a little awkward and getting to know each other. Hake writes, "When you stop looking for what you have in common with other people, it's the first step to not seeing them as people a'tal" (125). It was a reminder that we do that all the time - on a personal level with that annoying jerk we just can't stand, to on an international level with whomever we fight against in war.
I would not have minded a little more conclusion to the novel to wrap up the whole story a little better and not just the romance - it was a rather sudden ending. However, I enjoyed the story as a whole. 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you Barbour and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2014
About the Book:
Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life— his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for women. After years at school, Jessalyn Culpepper has come home and is determined to show everyone that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether they like it or not! Tucker tries to manage his partner’s headstrong sister, horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they need a chuck wagon cook, Jessalyn seems the only solution. Will God stir up love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?
About the Author:
Kelly Eileen Hake is a reader favorite of Barbour's Heartsong Presents series, where she has released several books. A credentialed Secondary English teacher in California, she is pursing her MA in Writing Popular Fiction. Known for her own style of witty, heartwarming historical romance, Kelly is currently writing the Prairie Promises trilogy, her first full-length novels. She has been writing since she could hold a pen and was first published at the tender age of eighteen.
My Review:
As a young girl, Jessalyn was sent away to a girls boarding school. Now an adult she is expected to go back to her past life at home before school. But sometimes things just don't go the way they are expected to go. Soon Jess receives a letter informing her of her father's death, heartbroken from the time she has lost with him, she begins to plan her trip back home. Her brother decides its in her best interest not to come back, but Jess has other plans.
Tucker has worked at the Bar None Ranch for quite a while now, and when he hears that his partner's sister is headed back home, he has mixed feelings. There are so many men on the ranch it isn't the best place for a woman. The plot line has many twists and turns, this book isn't your typical wild west story. Jessalyn soon realizes that these "men" aren't going to allow her in on any of the work to be done. She is so head strong that I don't they will even be able to stop her.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Fun.
Order dictates Tucker Carmichael’s life— his orders. On a cattle drive, a moment’s hesitation can mean death. The Chisholm Trail is dirty, dangerous, and no place for women. After years at school, Jessalyn Culpepper has come home and is determined to show everyone that a woman can manage everything from cooking to cattle—whether they like it or not! Tucker tries to manage his partner’s headstrong sister, horrified when she wants to join the cattle drive. But when they need a chuck wagon cook, Jessalyn seems the only solution. Will God stir up love along a trail filled with their Plots and Pans?
About the Author:
Kelly Eileen Hake is a reader favorite of Barbour's Heartsong Presents series, where she has released several books. A credentialed Secondary English teacher in California, she is pursing her MA in Writing Popular Fiction. Known for her own style of witty, heartwarming historical romance, Kelly is currently writing the Prairie Promises trilogy, her first full-length novels. She has been writing since she could hold a pen and was first published at the tender age of eighteen.
My Review:
As a young girl, Jessalyn was sent away to a girls boarding school. Now an adult she is expected to go back to her past life at home before school. But sometimes things just don't go the way they are expected to go. Soon Jess receives a letter informing her of her father's death, heartbroken from the time she has lost with him, she begins to plan her trip back home. Her brother decides its in her best interest not to come back, but Jess has other plans.
Tucker has worked at the Bar None Ranch for quite a while now, and when he hears that his partner's sister is headed back home, he has mixed feelings. There are so many men on the ranch it isn't the best place for a woman. The plot line has many twists and turns, this book isn't your typical wild west story. Jessalyn soon realizes that these "men" aren't going to allow her in on any of the work to be done. She is so head strong that I don't they will even be able to stop her.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Fun.
May 6, 2014
"Plots and Pans" is written by Kelly Eileen Hake, daughter of Cathy Marie Hake. It is a stand-alone book and was published on April 1, 2014 by Barbour Publishers.
Jessalyn Culpepper has been wounded in her past when her ranching father sent her away from their Texas homestead to an English boarding school, in hopes that she would become a fine young lady like her late mother was. Jessalyn constantly misbehaves and wants desperately to go home; when her father dies, she makes that trip.
Tucker Carmichael has worked on the Culpepper's land for a least half a decade. When his boss dies, he inherits an unexpected portion of the land, alongside Ed, the boss's son and Jessalyn's brother. When she returns one night, he is surprised to see how much she has grown, but is wary of giving her any jobs on the land because he wants to protect her. She continues rebelling against the rules, and because her brother left on a business trip, he's put in charge of her.
This book reminded me of "Fancy Pants" by Cathy Marie Hake in some ways, so I would not recommend reading the two back-to-back or you may get confused. Overall, though, this was a decent story. I really enjoyed the background information on Jess; it helped me feel her pain and understand her. Tucker was a lot shadier on how he came to work with the Culpeppers and his family background and upbringing, but still was a fairly solid character. The plot was mainly about the characters finding themselves and each other, and while that is good and I did not put it down, it's not something so magnificent I would read it again. It begins slowly but remains pretty steady throughout the book, except towards the end where the resolution super-speeds up to the closing. The setting was your typical Western ranch, but it and the dialogue were good. I would recommend this book as a simple yet heartfelt read.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Barbour Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
June 9, 2014
In Plots and Pans we meet Jessalyn Culpepper getting into one scrape or another in the beginning. Her father had sent her away when she was 12, from their Texas ranch to Britain, where her late mother was from, so that she could learn to be a lady. More than that though, her father sent her away because he thought that was the only way he could protect her from the dangers of the cattle ranch. However, Jessalyn just doesn’t fit in nor does she want to, so for the next seven years she is kicked out of one school after another. By the time she is ready for her father to send for her to come home, she receives some devastating news from her brother, Ed, who tells her just to stay in England till he can come fetch her. More than ready to come home, she decides to come home without letting anyone know she is on her way. When she finally gets to her beloved ranch she has many surprises in store for her. Relations she was not aware of, and her brother is not there to greet her. Instead it is Tucker Carmichael, the ranch foreman and part owner. He is set to protect her no matter what, and she is set to prove herself worthy no matter what. Those two butting heads can be quite comical to watch as their love story unfolds. There is another side romance story also blossoming. I really felt for Jessalyn and why she tried so hard to prove herself worthy. Her father, out of his love and what he thought was best at the time, sent her far away and never came back to bring her home. Then when she meets Tucker, he treats her like a child and I think at least in the beginning did not think she belonged on the ranch. I was rooting for her all the way. I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc. and the opinions are my own.
May 1, 2014
3.5 Stars.
Jessalyn was a handful as a teen and her father sent her away to England to become a lady. But no school could take the cowgirl out of her. When her father dies she heads home to her brother to take her rightful place on the ranch. Tucker was just a young ranch hand when Jessalyn left. Now he is part owner and very much in charge. When Jessalyn shows up unexpectedly and with her brother gone it’s up to Tucker to keep her safe and out of trouble until he returns.
Plots and Pans is kind of sad due to Jessalyn being sent away and her not getting to see her dad again. She is a woman with a backbone and everyone keeps trying to put her in a box and all she wants is to be herself.
What I liked: Jessalyn was a likeable character. I felt bad for her yet she pushed forward and kept trying to get her brother and Tucker to except her. Tucker and Jessalyn had some fun interaction’s and the chemistry between them was enjoyable.
What I did not like: The author did an odd thing. When the characters switched who was telling the story at the start of a new chapter they would overlap the scene. It was done a lot and after a while it got annoying to be honest. It was just over done and took away from the book at times. I also found the title was a little misleading.
Overall this was an okay book. The book seemed to drag on at times and the overlapping between chapters made it less enjoyable than I had hoped for. It was still a good story though. I have read books from this author before so I was surprised at her style in this book.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2014/0...
Jessalyn was a handful as a teen and her father sent her away to England to become a lady. But no school could take the cowgirl out of her. When her father dies she heads home to her brother to take her rightful place on the ranch. Tucker was just a young ranch hand when Jessalyn left. Now he is part owner and very much in charge. When Jessalyn shows up unexpectedly and with her brother gone it’s up to Tucker to keep her safe and out of trouble until he returns.
Plots and Pans is kind of sad due to Jessalyn being sent away and her not getting to see her dad again. She is a woman with a backbone and everyone keeps trying to put her in a box and all she wants is to be herself.
What I liked: Jessalyn was a likeable character. I felt bad for her yet she pushed forward and kept trying to get her brother and Tucker to except her. Tucker and Jessalyn had some fun interaction’s and the chemistry between them was enjoyable.
What I did not like: The author did an odd thing. When the characters switched who was telling the story at the start of a new chapter they would overlap the scene. It was done a lot and after a while it got annoying to be honest. It was just over done and took away from the book at times. I also found the title was a little misleading.
Overall this was an okay book. The book seemed to drag on at times and the overlapping between chapters made it less enjoyable than I had hoped for. It was still a good story though. I have read books from this author before so I was surprised at her style in this book.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2014/0...
April 2, 2014
4 STARS
I like the cover it fits with Jessalyn personality. I like the characters, the plot, not to preachy just how prayer helps in lots of ways. Like the secondary characters too. Clean read.
I was expecting more of the story to be on the cattle drive part of the story. Wanted a little more to their courtship besides fighting. Maybe more long walks and discussions ect.
Love how Jessalyn accepted her Aunt and welcomed her into the family. She just wanted to be loved and accepted. Did not matter the color of her skin.
Jessalyn has been away from home for seven years. She has been sent over to England to become a lady. She just wants to be free and be back home in Texas. She did not like her answers to prayers so stopped praying. She is feisty, brave and sometimes jumps into things before she realizes the dangers.
Tucker is the ranch foreman. He does not want to see Jess hurt and takes his responsibility too heart to protect her. He is a hard worker. Is afraid of Jess getting hurt and causing lots of trouble.
It touches a little on troubles of slavery and acceptance of blacks after the civil war. A little about what woman were expected to be and do for their safety. About ranch life and being on a cattle drives and the problems.
The setting for most of the book is Bar None Ranch 1872- 79.
Full of laughter, drama and action
I would read more from Kelly Eileen Hake in the future.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley and Barbour books.
publication: April 1st 2014 by Shiloh Run Press Barbour Publishing, Inc. 320 pages ISBN 9781620299586
I like the cover it fits with Jessalyn personality. I like the characters, the plot, not to preachy just how prayer helps in lots of ways. Like the secondary characters too. Clean read.
I was expecting more of the story to be on the cattle drive part of the story. Wanted a little more to their courtship besides fighting. Maybe more long walks and discussions ect.
Love how Jessalyn accepted her Aunt and welcomed her into the family. She just wanted to be loved and accepted. Did not matter the color of her skin.
Jessalyn has been away from home for seven years. She has been sent over to England to become a lady. She just wants to be free and be back home in Texas. She did not like her answers to prayers so stopped praying. She is feisty, brave and sometimes jumps into things before she realizes the dangers.
Tucker is the ranch foreman. He does not want to see Jess hurt and takes his responsibility too heart to protect her. He is a hard worker. Is afraid of Jess getting hurt and causing lots of trouble.
It touches a little on troubles of slavery and acceptance of blacks after the civil war. A little about what woman were expected to be and do for their safety. About ranch life and being on a cattle drives and the problems.
The setting for most of the book is Bar None Ranch 1872- 79.
Full of laughter, drama and action
I would read more from Kelly Eileen Hake in the future.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley and Barbour books.
publication: April 1st 2014 by Shiloh Run Press Barbour Publishing, Inc. 320 pages ISBN 9781620299586
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