A Different Shade of Blue

Shades of Blue #1

by Hildie McQueen

Town rake, Grayson Cole, climbs into a hayloft where schoolmarm Nora Banks is hiding and puts them in a compromising situation. What makes things worse is the group of people who gather in the barn just when Grayson slips and falls on top of her.

Reluctantly agreeing to a shotgun wedding, they hatch up a plan to break up. Now only if they were not to attracted to each other.

A delightful love story that takes place in 1860's Alder Gulch, Montana.

Genres: Westerns, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Western Romance, Amazon

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of Romance in Highland historical, Western Historical and contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.

Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.

She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt, an unruly boy Chihuahua Pepito and a spoiled rotten girl Chiweenie named Lola.

Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
Instagram: @HildieWrites

Reviews

[Susan Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different shade of book

I just decided to read a book of "fluff" 'cause I was tired of the intense mystery/crime "who done it" books I usually read. Tried this thinking it would be just like the "romance/cowboy" books usually are. Was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was very different than the insipid, dumb completely silly and unrealistic books I 've read in the past. Unexpectedly great read. Not filled w/the predictable, silly plot-less book I expected. Just light enjoyable characters and plot that was satisfying to read. Very light and tastefully done sex, no graphic violence, no gutter language. Will definitely read more from this writer. A pleasure to read and enjoy.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely historical romance by Hildie McQueen. Becoming one of my favorite authors this year.

[Sometime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some Spoilers...

This book was just OK. It started out good and had an interesting premise. But the characters just didn't seem to act true to themselves. Grayson is a big cheating pig who sleeps with married women and everyone in this conservative town just looks the other way and says awww Grayson! And our sweet little school teacher who would have to behave above reproach becomes a floozy who has no problem whatsoever with intimacy despite the fact that she was raped as a teen. What???!!? Things just didn't make sense. And Grayson's unwillingness to commit and his waffling just made me mad at him. I think Nora should've dumped him and gone for Bronson.

Deleted from my kindle

[Hildie McQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so I think it's perfect. Hope my readers enjoy it.

[Wende · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora and Grayson were not your typical couple in western books. Nora might have been sweet but she was no man’s little doormat. She did not have a terminal case of the to Stupid to live disease that threatens so many of the western leading ladies lately. She is strong but true to the time period that the book was written in. Grayson was a broody hot mess of a man. He was trying to lock his heart away from future hurt. He tried but despite his better judgment Nora wormed herself passed his defenses. Be warned you will laugh out loud at the exploit that these two get up to. It is a book that begs to be read in one sitting.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally avoid Westerns- mostly because they are 'clean inspirational romances' aka no smut. This had a nice touch of smut, and engaging plot.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for something a little less intense and more softly sweet and this book was it. I love how Hildie's women are not doormats. Nora was smart, determined, teache and had a painful past only her brother Mitch knew about. Grayson was a widower who was afraid to love again. I enjoyed the banter, the push/pull, the fake engagement that well, ended up not being fake. There was a mystery, miscommunication and some very interesting side characters who will also get their own books. I also loved that low heat with a sweet HEA.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good characters

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to like and understand. I look forward to reading more from this author and this series.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

I enjoyed the sweet characters. I love that she introduces you to other characters and their soon to be mates. I'll definitely be buying her other books.

[Angelka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book.
It definitely was a lot to take it at some points.
The whole thing that happened with Nora, I just can't even imagine how terrifying that would be.
The whole engagement thing where where Nora first says oh were engaged and thats how I knew where the man was located and same thing after Grayson got hurt and was at the hospital but then right after she spends the entire night by his bedside she says well Grayson shouldn't expect me because we are not engaged. What? Also, when two weeks later Grayson is still hurt and they have not seen each other for two weeks which is a very long time in my opinion, like, two weeks without interaction.?? Also, why did their dad have to die? I don't get it at all.
I'm glad they did not dwell on the sadness and moved on with life.
I have no words for Grayson, he is just so confusing.
I am honestly mad about the situation where he leaves town and then comes back like nothing happened... that really frustrated me. And then he went to the grave to talk to Sophia which was so sweet but he just needs to figure things out for himself.
Honestly I am so glad that we also get Ashley's perspective on things and not just Grayson and Nora.
I seriously adore Ashley and I can't wait to read about him and Grace hopefully.

[Timothy Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I picked at random on iBooks. I normally read books on my Kindle App on my iPad; but when my iPad is being juiced up or unavailable I read from the iBooks App on my iPhone. I am glad I picked this one to read. It was very good and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and very much held my interest. The characters were very well developed. I really got into the development of Grayson and Nora’s relationship. There wasn’t any profanity and there was no sexually explicit dialogue although there was a few adult situations. I liked how the Author handled describing them. I feel as an adult I can pretty much figure out what went on so I don’t feel there is a reason for explicit dialogue. In most books that I have read that contained explicit dialogue end up mostly end up being filler to give length to the book but don’t really add to the story. This book is just good storytelling.

[Kelly Fountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grayson is hurting and has been for some time. To cover it up, he became quite the rake. He’s flirted and been a womanizer. He’s scared of letting someone to close.
Nora has been traumatized in the past. From that time, she knows she is not good for any man. Her mother is pressuring her to marry. At 25, she’s becoming an old maid. At a dance, she winds up in a hay loft trying to escape all of the noise. Grayson ends up there as well and after an argument, slips and falls upon her. They’re caught and the wrong time and am engagement soon must follow. They devise a way to get out of it but at the same time their attraction is intense. In all honesty, she’s loved him for a long time now and this tease does nothing but hurt her heart.
It’s a confusing time and a lot of turmoil must pass for them to ever find their chance of happiness.
This is a great story and an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to more in this series.

[Dolorianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to see Hank and Elizabeth so many years later with a grown family ready to start new lives of their own. Grayson is up first and it was sad to see his loss so early on, but I liked how he eventually saw room in his heart for someone new. I liked how brave Nora was. She tried to be a good daughter, and while she loved her parents, she wasn't blind to their manipulation to try marrying her off. The fake marriage plan was on her and Grayson's terms, and when they needed to stand up for themselves, they did. There was a mystery element that was linked with a horrible experience of Nora's past, which explained her involvement in the current troubles, but mainly the troubles were more linked with Grayson's brother, who's book is coming next. Because of that, I strongly suggest reading this series in order.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the story of Nora and Grayson. We see glimpses of life for the other Cole brothers as well as Nora's brother Mitch. Setting up for future books in the series. I admit I have already fallen for the Cole brothers and look forward to their stories. Nora and her brother Mitch share a dark secret that has kept both from allowing themselves to find love. Grayson having found love once in his life and having lost his wife to death through an accident, is not willing to face the chance of losing his heart again. Each is fighting their own internal battles, but when caught in the barn, rumors start flying about this play boy and sweet Nora. Her family insist on an engagement. Thus starts their story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet read

I enjoyed this story. I did find it a little irritating that Grayson was supposed to be a strong, determined man, but was so set against getting married again. I admired Nora' s strength and determination to be an independent woman. However for her to have dealt with the problem from het past on her own without talking to anyone, did seem far fetched. At first it was hard for me to remember Ashley was a man, as I had only heard that name for a woman. I look forward to Grayson's brothers finding a woman worthy of them. I wonder though....if the sheriff is their uncle, wouldn't his daughter be their cousin???

[E Oygard · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read

Grayson and Nora are discovered in what looks to be a compromising situation in the hayloft. After his wife of only two weeks had died years earlier, Grayson promised himself he would never marry again, but now he is forced into an engagement he does not wish for.
Nora has always loved Grayson, but realised this engagement needs to be broken.
Grayson and his brothers are obviously dreamy characters in their own ways, but there was something about Grayson's attitude in the way he treats Nora I did not like. I definitely liked his brothers better.
The story was ok, but not riveting.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Nora and Grayson's story and getting to meet the grown up Ashley and his parents and other brother too. This is the continuation of the Cole family where we watched Hank and Elizabeth fall in love and marry and now has a grown family. This is their son Grayson's story.

Grayson is the ladies man about town and no intention of settling down that is until he is forced to by a misunderstanding.

Nora is content to never marry and never tell the secret why but her mother has other ideas and when the man who makes her heart beat faster is forced to become her fiancé she will do everything to protect him even if it means to give him up.

Loved reading this book and recommend it. You don't have to have read the novella of his parents but it is good too.

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only did I find the editing lacking, but also the passion factor. The characters spoke as if they were in the modern era of time while the story is supposedly set in the mid 1800's. The plot was predictable and a bit boring. If there was anything exciting in this story, it would have to be the sparks that flew between Ashley and Grace, which would make a great intro into another story, maybe one with more passion and suspense. All in all, a light western romance that could use some color (figuratively speaking).

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy to read, enjoyable story. While I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, sometimes I lost sight of the hero and heroine. While set as a western it sometimes almost felt like more of a contemporary romance. There were a few editorial issues and some typos but nothing that couldn't be overlooked and continue reading. It had a decent plot and a bit of humor as well. Overall, I found it to be enjoyable enough to read more by this author.

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayson Cole suffers the loss of his new wife and finds that it changes him over the passing years. Nora Banks has been smitten with Grayson Cole for quite some time. However, instead of Grayson calling upon her she finds his brother calling upon her and wanting to court her. This book has incredible characters, romance, tragedy, healing, second chances at love and some intrigue too. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a 4 star book if not for several places where the consistency is off. For instance, in one place the brothers are talking while riding in a wagon together and then a couple pages later one of them rides off on his horse which wasn't there to begin with. It's as if the author forgot what she wrote and then didn't edit it before publishing.
I am going to read the next book and hopefully the inconsistency isn't there in the next one.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Small town America, in times of mercantile & saloons. Hero & heroine both suffering from the past tragedies, unwilling to move on. However, match making parents make a big fuss over an innocent hayloft encounter pushing the couple into something they aren't ready for.
While I like the premise there is too much flitting about with sideline stories & not much substance.

[Penny Friday-Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Different Shade of Blue...pretty good

Good story and characters. Will be fun to follow the Cole brothers on their journeys. Choppy in some areas. Felt a little rushed at the end. Many typographical mistakes. Might pick up book 1 book 3 to see if errors are in them. This is my first read from this author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Nora, and while Grayson was a bit annoying with his self-pity and excuses, I did like how supportive he was of his family. I would have preferred a bit more sassy, humor and sex, but I love reading about American frontier life so much that I still enjoyed this and will read more of the series, which are pretty obviously set up from book to book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a big gathering at Grayson’s family ranch and in a big crowd the hay loft is the perfect spot to hide away from everyone. When more than one person has the same idea, missteps happen! Grayson and Nora each have their own tragedies that they are working on putting behind them. Their banter is amusing and total foreplay! Nice story.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I liked:
1. FMC Nora was tough
2. Nora’s brother has some things to work through
3. Ashley and Bronson - the MMC’s brothers

Things I didn’t like:
1. There was so much going on that the romance felt forced
2. Nora’s parents
3. I just had a hard time connecting with the characters

[Larcie Fitzmorris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of life and finding happiness

Grayson and Nora get thrown together. And fight for their own happiness. Sometimes fighting and thinking to much of others, to see what is right in front of you.

[Debbie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT WESTERN ROMANCE

I hope many people read this book. In it, they can find away to let go of things that trouble their mind and soul. One day at a time is the way Nora conquered her darkest memory. Thank you for an engaging and heartwarming story, Danny Scott.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. So true to the way two people who are attracted to each other but it takes awhile to adjust to their own feeling and then except how the other feels toward them. Well written. Every one will really like it.

[Patti Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved the characters strong determined both face many hardships and disappointments and tragedies in their lives but how they cope and work through them makes this book a very good read. Looking forward to more