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Half Moon Ranch #1
Hunter's Moon
While preparing for the arrival of his father, who is returning home to Half-Moon Ranch after spending ten years in prison, Brent Hunter stumbles upon trouble in the form of Crystal Stewart, a headstrong beauty who captivates his heart. Original.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2003
89 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Bobbi Smith
71 books514 followersAfter working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2025
Rating: 2.9 / 5
The idea of having four different authors each complete a book as part of a series about siblings finding love is...pretty cool, I've gotta admit.
However, that also puts quite a bit of the onus on the author from the first book of the series to set up a bunch of conflicts and...yeah, that's what Bobbi Smith does. She throws conflict after conflict at us, resolving only the most immediate one that pertains specifically to this book; other conflicts, however, are left hanging....and therein lies the problem.
From the narrative point of view, this forces the reader to have to read the entire series to see what happens, and I believe that weakens the impact of this individual book on its own. It:
- introduces a lot of characters to keep track of, and all their different motivations
- it develops some of those plots and characters better than others, leaving the reader with unanswered "whys" both throughout and at the end of the book
- it doesn't take enough time to develop characters, as much as telling/rushing us through the main plot
- it does a lot of perspective changes, which...well, to give fair credit to the author, I was interested in ALL of them and so I never got bored, but it often felt like a scene got cut short just so we could "move on, move on, move ON already" to the next big thing
- by the end...it doesn't have me sold on some of the remaining characters (i.e. for instance, Jack Hunter was a completely unlikeable character, and he in no way gets redeemed throughout any of this or even makes an attempt to redeem himself. His whole "killing his wife when drunk" thing was the catalyst for the entire plot, so you'd think that that's gonna be a huge and main focus, right? Well...NOT SO. Basically, after 10 years in prison, this asshole hasn't changed at all--which ISN'T believeable, by the way--and still just goes back to drinking, and for some reason his kids don't just kick him to the curb like they should, but awkward sort-of skirt around him and ignore/not-ignore him. Like...ugh. It just felt so half-assed, that it pissed me off.)
_____________________
All in all, therefore, while it had a lot of likeable elements, including
+ fast-moving plot, so no boredom
+ likeable main characters (Brent and Crystal were so cute together, although the sex scenes were cursory at best)
+ intrigue of Abby and how much of a tomboy she is
+ definitely intrigue for the two missing brothers--Quince and Matt
+ building up Edmund as a great two-faced-rat villain
+ happy ending (for Brent and Crystal, at least--more to come in the future, I'm sure, for the other Hunter siblings!)
I did like the book overall, and, yes, I will be continuing with the series to see each of the siblings get their happy ending--and hopefully some redemption and/or death for their asshole father.
Still a lot of truths that need to come to light, lemme tell ya!
The idea of having four different authors each complete a book as part of a series about siblings finding love is...pretty cool, I've gotta admit.
However, that also puts quite a bit of the onus on the author from the first book of the series to set up a bunch of conflicts and...yeah, that's what Bobbi Smith does. She throws conflict after conflict at us, resolving only the most immediate one that pertains specifically to this book; other conflicts, however, are left hanging....and therein lies the problem.
From the narrative point of view, this forces the reader to have to read the entire series to see what happens, and I believe that weakens the impact of this individual book on its own. It:
- introduces a lot of characters to keep track of, and all their different motivations
- it develops some of those plots and characters better than others, leaving the reader with unanswered "whys" both throughout and at the end of the book
- it doesn't take enough time to develop characters, as much as telling/rushing us through the main plot
- it does a lot of perspective changes, which...well, to give fair credit to the author, I was interested in ALL of them and so I never got bored, but it often felt like a scene got cut short just so we could "move on, move on, move ON already" to the next big thing
- by the end...it doesn't have me sold on some of the remaining characters (i.e. for instance, Jack Hunter was a completely unlikeable character, and he in no way gets redeemed throughout any of this or even makes an attempt to redeem himself. His whole "killing his wife when drunk" thing was the catalyst for the entire plot, so you'd think that that's gonna be a huge and main focus, right? Well...NOT SO. Basically, after 10 years in prison, this asshole hasn't changed at all--which ISN'T believeable, by the way--and still just goes back to drinking, and for some reason his kids don't just kick him to the curb like they should, but awkward sort-of skirt around him and ignore/not-ignore him. Like...ugh. It just felt so half-assed, that it pissed me off.)
_____________________
All in all, therefore, while it had a lot of likeable elements, including
+ fast-moving plot, so no boredom
+ likeable main characters (Brent and Crystal were so cute together, although the sex scenes were cursory at best)
+ intrigue of Abby and how much of a tomboy she is
+ definitely intrigue for the two missing brothers--Quince and Matt
+ building up Edmund as a great two-faced-rat villain
+ happy ending (for Brent and Crystal, at least--more to come in the future, I'm sure, for the other Hunter siblings!)
I did like the book overall, and, yes, I will be continuing with the series to see each of the siblings get their happy ending--and hopefully some redemption and/or death for their asshole father.
Still a lot of truths that need to come to light, lemme tell ya!
August 14, 2022
Wow!
Bobbi Smith was one of the first historical romance authors I read. Hunter’s Moon reminded me of why I loved her books. It is a wonderful story with action and romance. It’s not as racy as modern books. This is actual romance! I highly recommend this book.
Bobbi Smith was one of the first historical romance authors I read. Hunter’s Moon reminded me of why I loved her books. It is a wonderful story with action and romance. It’s not as racy as modern books. This is actual romance! I highly recommend this book.
Read
August 8, 2008Should have 2 other books. Girl is a saloon girl
December 6, 2018
Not my thing at ALL.
February 21, 2025
I've probably read this book at least 8 times, at least. I first picked it up in my small town, at a cafe, as a hand me down book, when I was in high School. I loved it. Cherished it. The story was good, it really takes you back to that time. I loved Brent and Crystal's story. It was sweet and passionate. A young love. this book also has murder and mastery, it's very intense, keeps you on the edge of your seat. My copy is so old and worn from the years of rereads. I decided to reread it now 16 years later. it was very sentimental. It felt like coming home. A story I'm well aquatinted with. It still holds a special place in my heart.
September 20, 2020
First Book in a Series
I have always enjoyed reading books by Bobbi Smith. While browsing one day, I found this older book by Bobbi that I had not read before. And I really enjoyed it. It is the first in a series of four books. The other books are written by other authors I've read and enjoyed in the past. This is the story of Brent Hunter and the other books will focus on other members of the Hunter family. This book ends with a cliff hanger so I'll just need to read the second book to find out what happens next.
I have always enjoyed reading books by Bobbi Smith. While browsing one day, I found this older book by Bobbi that I had not read before. And I really enjoyed it. It is the first in a series of four books. The other books are written by other authors I've read and enjoyed in the past. This is the story of Brent Hunter and the other books will focus on other members of the Hunter family. This book ends with a cliff hanger so I'll just need to read the second book to find out what happens next.
January 1, 2018
Simple cowboy romance
Good story but because it's the first of series it felt like it ended too soon with lots of unfinished areas. Even this story felt unfinished so you have to do the whole series. I only liked it. I didn't love it.
Good story but because it's the first of series it felt like it ended too soon with lots of unfinished areas. Even this story felt unfinished so you have to do the whole series. I only liked it. I didn't love it.
April 17, 2022
A Classic Western Romance
With beautiful classic characters and an engaging plot line, readers won’t be able to put down this wonderful happily ever after love story set in the old west.
With beautiful classic characters and an engaging plot line, readers won’t be able to put down this wonderful happily ever after love story set in the old west.
May 29, 2023
Good book .Enjoyed reading it.This author is one of my favorite writers ..Girl is own the run.Meets tall dark stranger .Stranger saves her life.Many twist and turns in story.I kept reading.Wanted to see what would happy next.
October 10, 2017
Very good read
This book kept me entertain all through it the characters were great at times I wish I was a character myself.
This book kept me entertain all through it the characters were great at times I wish I was a character myself.
June 1, 2025
3.5 stars. Liked the storyline and the main characters.
July 13, 2013
I LOVED Brent's & Crystal's story (Hunter's Moon) and Abby's and Jonah's story (Moon Racer) the best from the four books. I love the whole series (1. Hunter's Moon (Brent & Crystal), 2.Renegade Moon (Quince & Glory) 3. Moon Racer (Abby & Jonah) 4. Dark of the Moon (Matt & Juliana). But theirs were my absolute favorites in the saga.
August 15, 2022
I love this series, but it will take a few different authors to get them all. It does sort mess up my library list sometimes. I put them all together instead of with the alphabetical author way. But they are good!
May 4, 2013
It's the first of 4 books based on a family of four siblings: 3 brothers and their baby sister. I thought it was well written for a romance novel.
January 27, 2020
I like this book. People should read this book. I am thinking of getting the next book to now what going to happen to this people. So I want people to read it if they hadn't read this book ok.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews