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Chatam House #2
A Match Made in Texas
Kaylie Chatam is a pediatric nurse––she cares for babies and children. But her new patient is a very handsome man. One with a harrowing secret. Why is Stephen Gallow recuperating from a serious injury at her family home in Texas? And why has Kaylie been asked to nurse him back to health? Her dear maiden aunts seem to be playing matchmaker. But Kaylie isn't expected to find true love and marry––everyone knows that. Except Stephen...who just may hold the cure for them both!
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2010
20 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Arlene James
218 books89 followersArlene James has written romance for four decades, and has published 100+ novels. A mother of sons and now a happy grandmother to the brightest, most talented, and lovely of all granddaughters, she is finding her sixth decade to be great fun.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 27, 2019
This is the third time I've read this book, and the fact is that it is a very nice, traditional romance. It gives a sense of comfort and peace. Sure, the plot's not original, and it's been done many times over with variations. But what makes this unique is the spiritual growth of the characters. Love Inspired books are part of the Christian romance fiction genre. The idea is to look at romantic love from a Christian perspective, in other words, placing God in the center of a relationship. In the book, Steven goes from being a non or periphery believer to a true believer. He learned how to trust in God, as well as in His grace and mercy. Kaylie learns to trust fully in God's guidance. That is what makes it such a enjoyable read. Also, the three aunts make is such fun to revisit Buffalo Creek, Texas.
October 2, 2023
I enjoyed this book but felt the story was a bit rushed or maybe not rushed in time but in words. I would have enjoyed more details.. things worked out quickly and easily. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the inner workings of how it all came to be. That said.. it was a sweet story.
August 9, 2021
I didn't know what this was when I started reading it,but I knew the whole plot and its conclusion within 2 pages. Boring predictable drivel, (apologies to the author)
January 6, 2023
I didn’t think the writing in this book was bad, but it’s hard to invest in a romance novel where you dislike the male protagonist. Stephen Is whiny and petulant throughout most of the book and his conversion isn’t convincing enough to warrant Kaylee falling madly in love with him.
It also seemed like all the plot takes place in the last chapter. It’s strange and abrupt at the end.
Other than that, James really knows how to show and not tell. Her writing is beautifully descriptive.
It also seemed like all the plot takes place in the last chapter. It’s strange and abrupt at the end.
Other than that, James really knows how to show and not tell. Her writing is beautifully descriptive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2024
A friend sent me this book in a box of books. A different friend would probably say that this belongs in the subgenre of medical related romances since the plot revolves around nurse Kaylie Chatham assisting with the recovery of professional hockey player Steven "Hangman" Gallow.
The two main characters engaged me as did the three aunts in whose home Steve is recovering. I appreciated the thoughts about God's calling to remain single, however topical they might have been in this novel. Steve's agent seems a somewhat stereotypical portrayal of an agent, though he does seem to really care about Steve. Kaylie's father seems rather inflexible and unreasonable in his expectations of Kaylie.
For me, it took a while to realize Nick was Steve's cousin (not his brother), and though I remembered Kaylie's rodeo brother, I forgot she had 2 more brothers until the end of the book. I'm sure Kaylie's father thought her brothers would be on his side, though I found it hard to decide whether all were on her side or only some.
As for the romance--well, fiction, where you can make characters do what you want, is different than real life where people do not always. First off Kaylie's (a Christian) is falling in love with a man who has claimed to not be a Christian. Most Christian faiths teach on the unequally yoked idea where if you're a Christian, you shouldn't marry a non-Christian--with the thought apparently being that it is easier for the non-Christian to pull the Christian away than it is for the Christian to direct the non-Christian to Christ (especially when the believer is a woman who is supposed to obey her husband). So, while in this novel, Steve becomes a Christian prior to them dating etc. (partly because he's laid up for most of the book so dating as we usually think of it isn't much of an option), that may not always be the case in real life. Secondly, their romance happens in the space of a few months at most (at the beginning of the book, Steve has just been released to recover outside the hospital, and by the end, he's still on crutches and in a leg cast--also, the span of slightly more than a 7 game series of playoff games.) In reality, I'm not sure this is realistic. He's in pain and under the influence of medications and pretty much helpless during most of his time with Kaylie. Will their feelings remain the same as that situation changes? Again, fiction is one thing, reality is another. But in real life, I'm not sure that's enough time to really know you want to commit your life to being with this person. I'm not saying it can't happen, just that in reality it might not work out in the way romance books paint it.
The two main characters engaged me as did the three aunts in whose home Steve is recovering. I appreciated the thoughts about God's calling to remain single, however topical they might have been in this novel. Steve's agent seems a somewhat stereotypical portrayal of an agent, though he does seem to really care about Steve. Kaylie's father seems rather inflexible and unreasonable in his expectations of Kaylie.
For me, it took a while to realize Nick was Steve's cousin (not his brother), and though I remembered Kaylie's rodeo brother, I forgot she had 2 more brothers until the end of the book. I'm sure Kaylie's father thought her brothers would be on his side, though I found it hard to decide whether all were on her side or only some.
As for the romance--well, fiction, where you can make characters do what you want, is different than real life where people do not always. First off Kaylie's (a Christian) is falling in love with a man who has claimed to not be a Christian. Most Christian faiths teach on the unequally yoked idea where if you're a Christian, you shouldn't marry a non-Christian--with the thought apparently being that it is easier for the non-Christian to pull the Christian away than it is for the Christian to direct the non-Christian to Christ (especially when the believer is a woman who is supposed to obey her husband). So, while in this novel, Steve becomes a Christian prior to them dating etc. (partly because he's laid up for most of the book so dating as we usually think of it isn't much of an option), that may not always be the case in real life. Secondly, their romance happens in the space of a few months at most (at the beginning of the book, Steve has just been released to recover outside the hospital, and by the end, he's still on crutches and in a leg cast--also, the span of slightly more than a 7 game series of playoff games.) In reality, I'm not sure this is realistic. He's in pain and under the influence of medications and pretty much helpless during most of his time with Kaylie. Will their feelings remain the same as that situation changes? Again, fiction is one thing, reality is another. But in real life, I'm not sure that's enough time to really know you want to commit your life to being with this person. I'm not saying it can't happen, just that in reality it might not work out in the way romance books paint it.
June 7, 2020
Oh my goodness…I fell so in love with the triplet aunties! Especially that darling and whimsical Odelia—but I know she must be everyone’s favorite. Leading lady, Kaylie, was almost upstaged by her sweet, elderly aunt, I’m afraid. However, I found Kaylie’s father to be irrational and self-righteous. How could a loving father be willing to let his daughter go through life without love? Oh, but he sure was ready to have her shackled to HIM for the rest of his crotchety days! Thank God for meddling aunts and brothers who can see reason. As far as Kaylie’s love interest, Stephen, all I have to say about him is…um SWOON. Altogether well done.
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July 19, 2020elibrary
January 30, 2025
Wonderful story! A good show of the change one can go through after a traumatic incident.
January 17, 2015
Pretty close to a 5 star ... but I'm not into all the many many many descriptive words in this book, as well as all the 'out of the norm' words ... this was to be an 'easy read' and I did ... but there were a number of words I didn't take the time to look up the words I didn't know.
okay the story line was predictable as in most of these kind of books; however, was glad at the end that I did read it all the way through despite my challenges I noted above.
===================================
There was many parts that 'jumped' off the pages for me and I'm going to share them:
If it was God's will for here, then she had ....
Was that why God had brought ...
His sudden presence in her family's life had to do with a loving God's plan...
God continually reached out to all of His creation
"Lord, guide me. I am so confused, so torn. I'm not sure how to help either of them. I want Your will in all things, so I ask You please to reveal Your will to me in unmistakable ways. I know you I should be able to discern and decide, but I don't trust myself to know what is best. I don't even know what I want!
<<<>>>
The point of prayer is to keep us in contact with our Heavenly Father, to get to know Him, You can't live your life ignoring God and the things of God and then expect Him to offer mercy on demand. That's like ignoring the law, then when you're caught, expecting the court to come to your rescue. Prayer is as much guidance as rescue. It starts with a personal relationship with God.
okay the story line was predictable as in most of these kind of books; however, was glad at the end that I did read it all the way through despite my challenges I noted above.
===================================
There was many parts that 'jumped' off the pages for me and I'm going to share them:
If it was God's will for here, then she had ....
Was that why God had brought ...
His sudden presence in her family's life had to do with a loving God's plan...
God continually reached out to all of His creation
"Lord, guide me. I am so confused, so torn. I'm not sure how to help either of them. I want Your will in all things, so I ask You please to reveal Your will to me in unmistakable ways. I know you I should be able to discern and decide, but I don't trust myself to know what is best. I don't even know what I want!
<<<>>>
The point of prayer is to keep us in contact with our Heavenly Father, to get to know Him, You can't live your life ignoring God and the things of God and then expect Him to offer mercy on demand. That's like ignoring the law, then when you're caught, expecting the court to come to your rescue. Prayer is as much guidance as rescue. It starts with a personal relationship with God.
August 11, 2016
To be honest I got this book by mistake. I was looking for another book with a similar title while using the online catalog for my local library. Thinking I had the other book I placed it on hold and was surprised to get this one but I'm glad I did! It's a nice good clean romance. A light read for a quiet evening at home.
February 8, 2015
It's a story of a professional hockey player Stephen hiding out at the Chatam mansion while recuperating from an accident. He hires the young Chatam niece Kaylie to be his personal nurse. The mansion is owned by three quirky aunts which I remember from a previous book in the series.
June 4, 2013
The book is so lame and with no story line that I'm not even bother with an extensive review. Just don't read it, the book is not even worth half a star!
August 20, 2013
Hockey Player, Steven Gallow, recuperates at Chatam House.
September 11, 2016
corny, but cute. :)It's a cute christian romance book.
February 13, 2014
You know what's going to happen from the beginning, but I still thought it was a nice, easy read.
February 27, 2014
Hockey player Stephen Gallow recovers at Chatham House with the help of nurse Kaylie Chatham.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews