Entanglements: Blithe Images and Song of the West

by Nora Roberts

Blithe Images

Offered a modeling contract for one of New York City's most prestigious fashion magazines, Hilary Baxter leaves her small-town life behind in Kansas. What she didn't expect was to fall for the handsome and charming publisher of Mode Magazine, Bret Bardoff. As they spend more time together, will Bret see past her beauty and pursue something more?


Song of the West

Succumbing to her twin sister's pleas for help during her pregnancy, Samantha Evans leaves city life behind for the idyllic scenery of the Wyoming plains. Sam doesn't intend to stay long, but it seems Mother Nature has other plans when she finds herself stranded during a blizzard with the gorgeous but infuriating ranch owner Jake Tanner.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Anthologies, Collections

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Roberts can do no wrong in my eyes. I always thoroughly enjoy her books and that was no different with these two. She just knows how to reel you in and make you feel for her characters, she really makes them come to life on the page. I really enjoyed that both stories were so different from each other, from the modelling world to a horse ranch, Nora really knows how to write it all!

[Julene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick enjoyable read, recommend for the romantics

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't even realize I was committing myself for 2 books within 1. They were okay, I liked the first one better.

[Michelle Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ Nora roberts!!!

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

These two books are practically the same in two different settings, even down to their looks. Strong powerful man who’s rich, has a very successful business, and has many ladies throwing themselves at him, sets his sights on a pretty brunette. The girl is practically pushed around by the man because he’s stubborn and wants what he wants. The whole time the girl fights against it cause she’s stubborn too, won’t accept his advances, but ultimately falls in love. There’s another woman in the mix that has her sights set on the man and makes it known to everyone else that she wants him. Main girl thinks he just wants her for an affair and wants the other woman as a wife so she tries to avoid him. But you learn in the end that he doesn’t have feelings for the other woman and only for the pretty brunette he fell in love with when he first set his eyes on her. And at the very end, instead of asking, he simply states they are going to get married and she gives in.

Nora roberts writes in a way that plops you into the story rather than giving you background first. At times I struggle with this because she brings up details later that don’t go with the mental picture I made in my head. Both books are well written, not very deep, but a fun short read. I liked the second one a bit better (I’m a sucker for a cowboy)

[Sneha Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blithe Images:
Better than Song of the West. There was a spark between Bret and Hillary although they were not quiet quick. Hillary's thoughts and feelings for Bret was well written. However, I couldn't say the same for Bret. His feelings could have been written throughout the story instead of all the way in the end when he actually reveals to Hillary's father about his intentions to marry her. June and Larry were just great from beginning to end. Charlene was just a mood spoiler but her role was written well. Although Bret claims that there was nothing between him and Charlene after Hillary entered the scene, but he didn't do a good job of hiding it. He was seen everywhere with Charlene and he didn't do any effort to get away from Charlene. I felt Hillary's thoughts were pure and genuine and honest compared to Bret's expression of his thoughts and feelings.
Song of the West:
Definitely a drag. This is the first book of Nora Roberts that I read lacked spark (spark in the entire story). I loved Annie and her protectiveness over Jake Tanner. Bree and Dan were such grateful for Sam's undying love and support during difficult times which made me think do we even have such supportive family thoughts anymore in the world.

[Twila · Rating 1 out of 5]

TBH I didn’t finish the book. I couldn’t bring myself to go on after chapter 7 of Blithe Images. I had suspected that this story wasn’t from this decade from the fact they were using typewriters and she could sit close enough to the driver to put her head on his shoulder. That said Brett is too aggressive and chauvinistic. He pushes himself into Hillary even after she tells him to stop and makes threatening comments like “You’re darned lucky there are other people in the house, or I’d give you a fine example of what it’s really like to be pawed” This in conjunction with home constantly talking down to her is why I stopped reading. I considered reading the second story however when I checked I found that story had only been written a year after in 1982 and likely would contain more of the same. It’s a shame because this was my first time reading Nora Roberts and although she’s written hundreds of books, I doubt I will take a chance on her again.

[Charlynnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually read Nora Roberts's books but since this was a reprint and a new copy at the local library, I gave it a shot. A quick read and rather formulaic plots; combining 2 books in one. Seems like Blithe Images was produced in 2003 while Song of the West was written in 1981. Wow.

I read Blithe Images in 1 hour and briefly skimmed through Song of the West - small town romances are not my cup of tea.

If you want something light and an easy read, pick this book up.

Otherwise, steer clear.

[Vrinda S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a drag. An okay read, nothing that involves the wow factor. Both stories were predictable and had the same plot. The writing was bland and I was tuned off by the plot as it was blatantly boring and nothing exciting occurs. The southern writing style involving a man falling in love with a “pretty little thing” but facing an intrusion in their romance from another woman, was evident in both the stories and predicable to say the least. I expected more from this author.

[Shivantee Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for all those who love to read Love stories anytime.
Nora Roberts is my all time Favourite author when it comes to romantic stories. This book definitely made me fall for her writing once more. Winter Dreams is having 2 of Nora Roberts' romantic stories named: Blithe Images & Song of the West. Both the stories have strong women characters. This book is a perfect read for any time.

[Sandy Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great literary read but nice “beach” read. Two stories in one book but both stories are very similar - just the characters are changed. Still good to read when you want a book to read for enjoyment and not have to think too hard.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked song of the west story better

[AG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super quick read. Entertaining

[K'la Brasseur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The males come on a bit strong and would never happen in real life in my opinion but overall I kept reading enjoyed the ending of the stories

[Sue Eklund · Rating 2 out of 5]

An extension of my mother’s collection. Two books in one. Just so, so.

[Alexandria Rockwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed with the writing at all. Found it very jumpy in the timeline, and the main character in the first story was a very disappointing person overall

[laurel jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

just a typical harlequin

[maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. the men kinda gave misogyny but it’s okay because the mcs were okay with it i guess??

[Evelyn Goughnour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora Roberts never disappoints me I love her books and characters!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved both stories so so much! they both had similar plots but were equally as intriguing. Enemies to lovers but he falls first😩🫶🏼

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two books in one. Blithe Images and Song of the West. Nice easy, fairly predictable reads.

[Rkrynak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well.... a bit simplistic, but a super fast read

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blithe Images - 2/5 - A very dated, early romance novel from Nora Roberts. Characters smoke, they use typewriters, even their clothing suggests 80's! The hero is kind of an asshat and the heroine is a virginal doormat. Maybe I would have liked this a bit more if this had been more modern or if this had a Harlequin label and I had expected it. But I've read enough Nora Roberts that I expect better...

Song of the West - 2/5 - Another one of Nora's early books in which the Hero, Tanner has a brand of arrogance that is supposed to pass for charm, but actually makes him seem like a jackass. He's walks around the entire time saying, "I'm going to make love to you." or "I always get what I want, and I want you." Meanwhile, there's no chemistry between these two. And the heroine really does seem to find Tanner resistible. Their first kiss - out of the blue with no chemistry at all. So she understandably gets upset that he's just manhandled her. And he spends the entire book doing that - he grabs her, pulls her close and kisses her. Then she gets angry and tries to stomp off. Lather, rinse, repeat. So after two or three such episodes in which she gets absolutely furious and they don't really get along, she decides that she's in insta-love with him. WTF? Why? And then there's that miscommunication that has the overly stubborn running instead of simply asking the hero about it.

And after all this my biggest question is...How is a man supposed to "go sterilize some towels, lots of them" in relatively short period of time to prepare for the birth of a baby? Does he have a UV light? He could boil them and dry them, but that would take more than a few minutes. Weird...

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such sweet romantic stories. Feel this will be my christmas read every year from now one.
Blithe Image
I really enjoyed read about Hillary it was such a refeshing change and it was fun with the way her relationship with Bret unfolded.
Song Of The West
I loved this story it was so heart warming and just really lovely. Sam and Jake made me laugh and smile throughout this short sweet read.

[Janet]

hilary baxter is a model from a small town . bret bardoff is her new employer who she mistakes for a camera man but learns he is her employer what will happen over christmas.
samantha evans does not plan to give up her dream until she meets a cowboy one snowy night

[Shenika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have enjoyed both stories more if I had read them individually and not in one book. Both of them were similar in plot line and character development and whatnot.

Though, it’s still a good enough romance book for a quick read.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A typical chick-lit, very predictable. A 10 minute read.

[Chereze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these quick easy reads

[Patricia Leone]

2 Older stories of Nora Roberts' in one book. Nice sweet stories. Easy read