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Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan #5
Bright Eyes
Zeke Coulter has no intention of getting married --- until he buys a ranch next door to Natalie Patterson, a sexy divorcee with two kids, a zany extended family, and a philandering ex-husband involved in shady business dealings. When Natalie's twelve-year-old son vandalizes Zeke's property and she is unable to pay for the damages, Zeke offers to let the boy work off the debt.
As Zeke struggles to instill a sense of responsibility and self-worth in the troubled youngster, he finds his life being turned upside down by Natalie, whose sultry singing voice and striking eyes disguise her underlying lack of belief in herself or in her dream of becoming a professional singer. With rugged determination, Zeke undertakes to bolster her confidence, revive her ability to trust men ... and thoroughly seduce her. But just as their attraction begins to blossom, a twist of fate gravely threatens their life together ...
As Zeke struggles to instill a sense of responsibility and self-worth in the troubled youngster, he finds his life being turned upside down by Natalie, whose sultry singing voice and striking eyes disguise her underlying lack of belief in herself or in her dream of becoming a professional singer. With rugged determination, Zeke undertakes to bolster her confidence, revive her ability to trust men ... and thoroughly seduce her. But just as their attraction begins to blossom, a twist of fate gravely threatens their life together ...
419 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
191 people are currently reading
1722 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Anderson
102 books2,961 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
March 10, 2016
Reviewed for THC Reviews
For the second time in a row, I picked up a book by a somewhat neglected favorite author. I read one of Catherine Anderson's stand-alone novels last year, but it's been four years since I read the previous book in the Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan Families series. For the second time in a row, I received the gift of a great read. Bright Eyes is filled with tender romance, family drama, and a light mystery that kept me fully engaged throughout. I loved all the characters and how they interacted with one another. As a writer myself, I know it couldn't have been easy to juggle all those characters and still manage to balance each one's contribution to the story and to give each of them their own unique voices and personalities. Catherine Anderson is a talented author and one who I'm going to have to remember to read more frequently, because she almost always gives me a wonderful and emotional read.
Zeke is another of Ms. Anderson's to-die-for heroes. He's a real sweetheart who's much more of a beta hero, although he does possess a touch of alpha protectiveness. Even in those moments, though, I thought he came off as a lot less dictatorial than Natalie perceived him to be, but after her horrible marriage, it was understandable that she would feel that way. Zeke was very understanding to allow Chad to work off his debt rather than calling the police or demanding immediate restitution from Natalie for Chad's misdeeds. Even though he takes a hard line on Chad missing church summer camp if necessary to finish paying him back, Zeke even softened on that point once he understood the full import of it. He's great with little Rosie too. In spite of not really considering the possibility of having kids before Chad and Rosie came into his life, I think he was a natural insta-dad, probably a product of his own father being such a great role model. What I love most about Zeke, though, is how wonderful he is to Natalie. He falls hard and fast, even surprising himself with the intensity of his feelings for her within a very short time. He's the exact opposite of her ex in every way, treating her and her kids like precious jewels. I adore how sweet and reassuring he is with Natalie about the perceived imperfections in her body and how supportive he is of her work and her dreams. Despite owning and running his own business, he finds the time to help her come up with new ideas for her club to increase business and best of all, he does the legwork to try to help her sell her music. I also think it's cute how he sneaks into her second-story bedroom window every night in an attempt to preserve her “reputation” with her family and to not set a bad example for her kids. Zeke is just an all-around amazing guy, who I'd love to have in real life. He's definitely earned a pretty high spot on my favorite romance heroes list.
Natalie isn't quite as broken as some of Catherine Anderson's other heroines, but she's still had a pretty rough life. She got pregnant and married young to a man who was significantly older than her, not realizing at the time that he was a master manipulator and a serial cheater. She put up with his infidelity for eleven years before finally giving him the boot, and even then, he took her to the cleaners in the divorce settlement. Despite already being a wealthy man, he ended up with half of everything, while Natalie was left to move back in with her dad and scrape just to get by. He never pays any attention to his kids either, which is why Natalie's son, Chad, starts acting out by causing mayhem on Zeke's property. Natalie is an amazing mom who does her best to provide for her kids financially as well as emotionally. She's also a great sister, daughter, and granddaughter to the other members of her colorful family. Natalie is an incredibly talented singer who started her club to have a place to live out her dream of performing for an audience. Although Zeke thinks she's good enough to be in Nashville, she's learned to content herself with her club and tries her best to keep it up and running. It's cute how she's always so distracted by the music in her head that she burns dinner and forgets day-to-day things. I can totally relate since I'm the same way except that I have stories crowding my mind instead of music. I think the most touching and relatable thing about Natalie, though, is her self-consciousness and vulnerabilities surrounding her body and her fear of getting involved with another man who might hurt her, especially considering how quickly her feelings for Zeke develop. I was happy that despite having her fears, Natalie didn't push Zeke away, and that she comes to understand that she can trust and rely on him. She was a nicely rounded heroine who has a bit of an independent streak, but who's still sweet and readily accepts Zeke in spite of her painful past.
In addition to a wonderful hero and heroine, Bright Eyes boasts a large and eclectic supporting cast. Natalie's family is a wild bunch. There's her grumpy grandpa who's obsessed with Court TV, her divorced parents who can't be in the same room with one another without fighting like cats and dogs but who obviously still harbor some affection for one another, and her zany sister, Valerie, who's great with the kids but can't find a job. Natalie's kids were stand-outs too. Her son, Chad, begins the story as a troubled boy who's desperate for his father's love, respect, and attention. Zeke easily steps into that role for Chad, helping him to grow from a sullen pre-teen into a more mature young man and to find a new perspective on life. Rosie is precocious and wise far beyond her four years. She has a huge vocabulary and an understanding of things most kids her age don't, but at the same time, she can get excited about Barbies and other little girl things. Chester, a gander who is the family pet, completely cracked me up with his antics, but he's also as good as any guard dog. Zeke's brothers, Jake (Sweet Nothings) and Hank (Blue Skies) are in a couple of scenes, as are his mom and dad. The rest of the Coulter clan are pretty much relegated to the background with Tucker and Isaiah, the final two unattached Coulter siblings and heroes of the next two books, only being mentioned. Natalie's ex-mother-in-law isn't a bad person per se, but she is a stiff, formal lady who seems more concerned with the family wealth than with genuine expressions of love. Monroe, the stubborn police detective who's hell-bent on nailing Natalie with her ex's murder, rounds out the notable secondary players.
Overall, Bright Eyes was an emotional and engaging read that held my attention extremely well. Things were maybe a teensy bit slow to get started in the romance between Zeke and Natalie with a lot of family drama in the opening chapters, but as soon as Zeke decided to jump in with both feet, the story took a very romantic turn. Some of the things Zeke says and does for Natalie made me melt, while the mystery and danger keeps the conflict elevated and the stakes high. Bright Eyes has become my favorite book in the Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan Families series so far. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to finish and will have to try harder to read more of Catherine Anderson's books sooner in the future.
For the second time in a row, I picked up a book by a somewhat neglected favorite author. I read one of Catherine Anderson's stand-alone novels last year, but it's been four years since I read the previous book in the Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan Families series. For the second time in a row, I received the gift of a great read. Bright Eyes is filled with tender romance, family drama, and a light mystery that kept me fully engaged throughout. I loved all the characters and how they interacted with one another. As a writer myself, I know it couldn't have been easy to juggle all those characters and still manage to balance each one's contribution to the story and to give each of them their own unique voices and personalities. Catherine Anderson is a talented author and one who I'm going to have to remember to read more frequently, because she almost always gives me a wonderful and emotional read.
Zeke is another of Ms. Anderson's to-die-for heroes. He's a real sweetheart who's much more of a beta hero, although he does possess a touch of alpha protectiveness. Even in those moments, though, I thought he came off as a lot less dictatorial than Natalie perceived him to be, but after her horrible marriage, it was understandable that she would feel that way. Zeke was very understanding to allow Chad to work off his debt rather than calling the police or demanding immediate restitution from Natalie for Chad's misdeeds. Even though he takes a hard line on Chad missing church summer camp if necessary to finish paying him back, Zeke even softened on that point once he understood the full import of it. He's great with little Rosie too. In spite of not really considering the possibility of having kids before Chad and Rosie came into his life, I think he was a natural insta-dad, probably a product of his own father being such a great role model. What I love most about Zeke, though, is how wonderful he is to Natalie. He falls hard and fast, even surprising himself with the intensity of his feelings for her within a very short time. He's the exact opposite of her ex in every way, treating her and her kids like precious jewels. I adore how sweet and reassuring he is with Natalie about the perceived imperfections in her body and how supportive he is of her work and her dreams. Despite owning and running his own business, he finds the time to help her come up with new ideas for her club to increase business and best of all, he does the legwork to try to help her sell her music. I also think it's cute how he sneaks into her second-story bedroom window every night in an attempt to preserve her “reputation” with her family and to not set a bad example for her kids. Zeke is just an all-around amazing guy, who I'd love to have in real life. He's definitely earned a pretty high spot on my favorite romance heroes list.
Natalie isn't quite as broken as some of Catherine Anderson's other heroines, but she's still had a pretty rough life. She got pregnant and married young to a man who was significantly older than her, not realizing at the time that he was a master manipulator and a serial cheater. She put up with his infidelity for eleven years before finally giving him the boot, and even then, he took her to the cleaners in the divorce settlement. Despite already being a wealthy man, he ended up with half of everything, while Natalie was left to move back in with her dad and scrape just to get by. He never pays any attention to his kids either, which is why Natalie's son, Chad, starts acting out by causing mayhem on Zeke's property. Natalie is an amazing mom who does her best to provide for her kids financially as well as emotionally. She's also a great sister, daughter, and granddaughter to the other members of her colorful family. Natalie is an incredibly talented singer who started her club to have a place to live out her dream of performing for an audience. Although Zeke thinks she's good enough to be in Nashville, she's learned to content herself with her club and tries her best to keep it up and running. It's cute how she's always so distracted by the music in her head that she burns dinner and forgets day-to-day things. I can totally relate since I'm the same way except that I have stories crowding my mind instead of music. I think the most touching and relatable thing about Natalie, though, is her self-consciousness and vulnerabilities surrounding her body and her fear of getting involved with another man who might hurt her, especially considering how quickly her feelings for Zeke develop. I was happy that despite having her fears, Natalie didn't push Zeke away, and that she comes to understand that she can trust and rely on him. She was a nicely rounded heroine who has a bit of an independent streak, but who's still sweet and readily accepts Zeke in spite of her painful past.
In addition to a wonderful hero and heroine, Bright Eyes boasts a large and eclectic supporting cast. Natalie's family is a wild bunch. There's her grumpy grandpa who's obsessed with Court TV, her divorced parents who can't be in the same room with one another without fighting like cats and dogs but who obviously still harbor some affection for one another, and her zany sister, Valerie, who's great with the kids but can't find a job. Natalie's kids were stand-outs too. Her son, Chad, begins the story as a troubled boy who's desperate for his father's love, respect, and attention. Zeke easily steps into that role for Chad, helping him to grow from a sullen pre-teen into a more mature young man and to find a new perspective on life. Rosie is precocious and wise far beyond her four years. She has a huge vocabulary and an understanding of things most kids her age don't, but at the same time, she can get excited about Barbies and other little girl things. Chester, a gander who is the family pet, completely cracked me up with his antics, but he's also as good as any guard dog. Zeke's brothers, Jake (Sweet Nothings) and Hank (Blue Skies) are in a couple of scenes, as are his mom and dad. The rest of the Coulter clan are pretty much relegated to the background with Tucker and Isaiah, the final two unattached Coulter siblings and heroes of the next two books, only being mentioned. Natalie's ex-mother-in-law isn't a bad person per se, but she is a stiff, formal lady who seems more concerned with the family wealth than with genuine expressions of love. Monroe, the stubborn police detective who's hell-bent on nailing Natalie with her ex's murder, rounds out the notable secondary players.
Overall, Bright Eyes was an emotional and engaging read that held my attention extremely well. Things were maybe a teensy bit slow to get started in the romance between Zeke and Natalie with a lot of family drama in the opening chapters, but as soon as Zeke decided to jump in with both feet, the story took a very romantic turn. Some of the things Zeke says and does for Natalie made me melt, while the mystery and danger keeps the conflict elevated and the stakes high. Bright Eyes has become my favorite book in the Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan Families series so far. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to finish and will have to try harder to read more of Catherine Anderson's books sooner in the future.
August 14, 2009
Bright Eyes was a little different than the previous 4 books in the series with a little more suspense but I still found it quite enjoyable.
Zeke’s first intentions when seeing his vandalized property was to march next door to talk to the boys’ mother and teach him a lesson. When he meets Natalie, the sexy country singer, he almost forgets why he marched over there. He’s blown away with her beauty and the way her hips move in her sequin dress. They both decide that in order to pay off the damages Chad has to work for Zeke to pay off his debt. During their days at work Zeke starts bonding with Chad, a boy who is in serious need of a father figure due to his non-existent relationship with his father. Natalie and Chad's 4 year old sister also help out to speed up the repairs. But as Zeke spends time with the three of them he starts loving their company. He instantly falls in love with Rosie, who talks non-stop and speaks with the eloquence of an adult, and Natalie whose beauty and sexy voice just stops him dead in his tracks. Zeke who once enjoyed living in complete solitude suddenly finds his home empty. He has grown to love the three of them as if they were his own family and feels alone when they are not around. Natalie soon falls in love with Zeke and is always in need of his embrace. She spent 11 years married to an unfaithful man and Zeke is nothing like her cheating ex husband. When Natalie’s ex-husband is murdered she first becomes the number one suspect and then becomes the number one target. Zeke helps her clear her name and the real murderer is finally caught. Finally Natalie has met the man meant for her who loves her kids as his own.
There were so many cute scenes in this book. I loved the part when Rosie knocks on Zeke’s door and they have a one on one. Such a little girl with so many demands! Zeke fell instantly in love with her then. Also, I thought it was cute how Zeke would climb into Natalie’s room window every night like sneaky teenagers! Zeke was so old fashioned that he wouldn’t be caught sleeping with Natalie even though they were engaged. They had to be married first! It was so funny when little Rosie caught Zeke in the room one morning...Oh and the part where Zeke proposed while Natalie was singing on stage…. I loved when he got down on both knees… VERY CUTE!
Zeke’s first intentions when seeing his vandalized property was to march next door to talk to the boys’ mother and teach him a lesson. When he meets Natalie, the sexy country singer, he almost forgets why he marched over there. He’s blown away with her beauty and the way her hips move in her sequin dress. They both decide that in order to pay off the damages Chad has to work for Zeke to pay off his debt. During their days at work Zeke starts bonding with Chad, a boy who is in serious need of a father figure due to his non-existent relationship with his father. Natalie and Chad's 4 year old sister also help out to speed up the repairs. But as Zeke spends time with the three of them he starts loving their company. He instantly falls in love with Rosie, who talks non-stop and speaks with the eloquence of an adult, and Natalie whose beauty and sexy voice just stops him dead in his tracks. Zeke who once enjoyed living in complete solitude suddenly finds his home empty. He has grown to love the three of them as if they were his own family and feels alone when they are not around. Natalie soon falls in love with Zeke and is always in need of his embrace. She spent 11 years married to an unfaithful man and Zeke is nothing like her cheating ex husband. When Natalie’s ex-husband is murdered she first becomes the number one suspect and then becomes the number one target. Zeke helps her clear her name and the real murderer is finally caught. Finally Natalie has met the man meant for her who loves her kids as his own.
There were so many cute scenes in this book. I loved the part when Rosie knocks on Zeke’s door and they have a one on one. Such a little girl with so many demands! Zeke fell instantly in love with her then. Also, I thought it was cute how Zeke would climb into Natalie’s room window every night like sneaky teenagers! Zeke was so old fashioned that he wouldn’t be caught sleeping with Natalie even though they were engaged. They had to be married first! It was so funny when little Rosie caught Zeke in the room one morning...Oh and the part where Zeke proposed while Natalie was singing on stage…. I loved when he got down on both knees… VERY CUTE!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2009
A wonderful story!! I was drawn into this one in the first few pages. Zeke is a confirmed bachelor. He comes home one day to find his property vandalized by the boy next door. This leads him to the boy’s mother, who he is instantly attracted, too. The woman just came out of a terrible marriage, and is wary of Zeke. They strike a deal that the boy will repay Zeke for the damages by working for him. I really like the relationships in this book. There is Natalie’s family that is hilarious, as well as the Coulter clan. A romance, humor, and murder mystery thrown in too! So far, I think this is my favorite in the series.
May 26, 2017
Bright Eye's Zeke and Natalie's story was exactly the type of book I was looking for when I happened on this book. I'd never heard of Catherine Anderson but after reading this book she took top honors as my favorite author. I was totally blown away at the synopsis, love, and drama incorporated in this book. Absolutely a book I'll keep close to my heart. Ms. Anderson just gave me a reason to believe in love.
August 25, 2020
Another awesome book by a great author. I am loving her books!
April 9, 2022
Loved this one
September 15, 2011
Gostei bastante. Não é tão bom como o anterior "Mais perto do céu" mas é sem dúvida um bom livro, aliás como é característico desta autora. Até agora nao houve nenhum livro que nao gostasse. Gosto sempre dos protagonistas (como não gostar!?) e claro das damas que vem arrebatar os corações da família Coulter :)
Neste livro Zeke vê a sua moradia vandalizada e percebendo que os estragos foram feitos pelo filho mais velho da sua vizinha, Natalie, que por sinal não tenho dinheiro para pagar as reparações, o vaqueiro oferece trabalho ao miudo em troca do dinheiro que receberia. Depressa Zeke e Natalie se apaixonam. Natalie, traída pelo marido mas sonhadora, tem potencial para cantar mas falta-lhe ambição. Zeke vai mostrar que todos merecem uma segunda oportunidade no amor e que todos devemos lutar pelos nossos sonhos. A felicidade do casal não dura muito devido á morte de Robert, ex-marido de Natalie, assassinado. Natalie como principal suspeita, vai precisar de todo o apoio e ajuda de Zeke para limpar o seu nome.
Mais uma vez a autora é brilhante a descrever as qualidades e defeitos das suas personagens, as forças e fraquezas de cada uma, juntando ao romance um pequeno toque de mistério que só reforça o amor, amizade e protecção que se sente entre os protagonistas.
Agora é ler o resto da saga na lingua original :)
Neste livro Zeke vê a sua moradia vandalizada e percebendo que os estragos foram feitos pelo filho mais velho da sua vizinha, Natalie, que por sinal não tenho dinheiro para pagar as reparações, o vaqueiro oferece trabalho ao miudo em troca do dinheiro que receberia. Depressa Zeke e Natalie se apaixonam. Natalie, traída pelo marido mas sonhadora, tem potencial para cantar mas falta-lhe ambição. Zeke vai mostrar que todos merecem uma segunda oportunidade no amor e que todos devemos lutar pelos nossos sonhos. A felicidade do casal não dura muito devido á morte de Robert, ex-marido de Natalie, assassinado. Natalie como principal suspeita, vai precisar de todo o apoio e ajuda de Zeke para limpar o seu nome.
Mais uma vez a autora é brilhante a descrever as qualidades e defeitos das suas personagens, as forças e fraquezas de cada uma, juntando ao romance um pequeno toque de mistério que só reforça o amor, amizade e protecção que se sente entre os protagonistas.
Agora é ler o resto da saga na lingua original :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2008
Bright Eyes is a little different in tone than the other two of Anderson's books I've read. It's not quite a poignant, but it's still an interesting romance. I enjoyed seeing Zeke's perceptions and desires shift. His relationship with Natalie's son was wonderfully done. I liked how that was the initial focus of the connection between Natalie and Zeke.
One of the things I liked most about the book was the more traditional romance of it. Natalie and Zeke meet, are attracted to one another, engage in a relationship, fall in love, and decide to get married. So many romances in books are chock full of angst, denying feelings, breaking up, getting back together, etc. It's nice once in a while to read a book where there is a more natural flow to two people getting together and staying together. So I really enjoyed that aspect.
Another great part of the book was that there were some truly hilarious scenes. I couldn't stop laughing at a couple of them. It's always great when some humor is surprisingly slipped into a book.
All in all, a good read. It's maybe not a serious and dramatic as Anderson's other books, but I liked it.
One of the things I liked most about the book was the more traditional romance of it. Natalie and Zeke meet, are attracted to one another, engage in a relationship, fall in love, and decide to get married. So many romances in books are chock full of angst, denying feelings, breaking up, getting back together, etc. It's nice once in a while to read a book where there is a more natural flow to two people getting together and staying together. So I really enjoyed that aspect.
Another great part of the book was that there were some truly hilarious scenes. I couldn't stop laughing at a couple of them. It's always great when some humor is surprisingly slipped into a book.
All in all, a good read. It's maybe not a serious and dramatic as Anderson's other books, but I liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2021
A captivating addition to Catherine Anderson's Kendrick-Coulter-Harrigan saga! Zeke Coulter's run in with next door neighbor Natalie's belligerent son draws you into this heartwarming story featuring a beautiful divorcee with two unforgettable children. There is humor, supplied mainly by Natalie's parents and grandpa, as well as the suspense that revolves around the murder of Natalie's ex-husband. After reading Bright Eyes, if you're not already a Catherine Anderson fan, you'll become one.
August 3, 2016
A pontuação correcta seriam 2,5*.
Mais um romance que se lê bem, mas... ficou ali a faltar qualquer coisa.
Os personagens são giros, a filha então é um amorzinho, mas foi muito amor e muito de repente com nenhuma contrariedade e isso tornou-se aborrecido para mim.
É engraçado e aconselho a pessoas bem românticas ;)
Mais um romance que se lê bem, mas... ficou ali a faltar qualquer coisa.
Os personagens são giros, a filha então é um amorzinho, mas foi muito amor e muito de repente com nenhuma contrariedade e isso tornou-se aborrecido para mim.
É engraçado e aconselho a pessoas bem românticas ;)
August 22, 2017
4 stars.
I'm a bit of a sucker for stories with precocious kids. 4 yo Rosie was a real charmer in this one. Also I like a hero who doesn't dither around once he sees someone he likes. Zeke is quite aware of the issues getting involved with a divorced woman with 2 kids but he has no problems with taking it all on.... a hero in every sense!
I'm a bit of a sucker for stories with precocious kids. 4 yo Rosie was a real charmer in this one. Also I like a hero who doesn't dither around once he sees someone he likes. Zeke is quite aware of the issues getting involved with a divorced woman with 2 kids but he has no problems with taking it all on.... a hero in every sense!
January 15, 2022
A little bit more action on this one and unpredictable. I enjoyed it! The romance is one of those sure thing and a steady one. The conflicts were mostly external.
Read
January 25, 2025Good story, enjoyed author's writing. Have read several other books by her.
April 6, 2016
Author: Catherine Anderson
First published: 2004
Length: 414 pages, 5939 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Crystal Falls, Oregon.
Sex: Explicit. Reasonably frequent.
Hero: Owns hardware store.
Heroine: Divorced with children. Owns a club. Singer/songwriter.
Cheating: Natalie’s ex cheated on her throughout the marriage.
Trigger: Natalie suffered emotional abuse throughout her marriage.
Includes: Excerpt from Back in My Heart (renamed Always in My Heart).
First up, a quote. There they are, busily getting it on, and she wants him to hurry it up:
“Any more romantic, and she was going to rape him.” loc.3055
My jaw dropped.
Not funny, Jan.
Once more, we have the potential for an interesting story but Anderson muddies it.
~ Autocratic and slightly odd Hero.
~ Story is told mostly from his pov, and I didn’t like him.
~ Anaemic police officer.
*groan*
I want to like it. And I do like the overall story. Even how the characters from previous books gently wind through. I simply am not enamoured of the writing style.
And the rape reference, while very minor and throw away, I can’t see as appropriate.
Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan series:
Book 1 Baby Love - Rafe Kendrick and Maggie Stanley
Book 2 Phantom Waltz - Ryan Kendrick and Bethany
Book 3 Sweet Nothings - Jake Coulter and Molly Wells
Book 4 Blue Skies - Carly Adams and Hank Coulter
Book 5 Bright Eyes - Zeke Coulter and Natalie Patterson
Book 6 My Sunshine - Laura Townsend and Isaiah Coulter
Book 7 Sun Kissed - Samantha Harrigan and Tucker Coulter
Book 8 Morning Light - Loni MacEwan and Clint Harrigan
Book 9 Star Bright - Rainie Hall and Parker Harrigan
Book 10 Here to Stay - Mandy Pajeck and Zach Harrigan
Book 11 Perfect Timing - Caera O’Ceallaigh and Quincy Harrigan
References:
Author's website: http://www.catherineanderson.com/book...
(ISBN 978-1-1012-1002-4)
-CR-
First published: 2004
Length: 414 pages, 5939 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Crystal Falls, Oregon.
Sex: Explicit. Reasonably frequent.
Hero: Owns hardware store.
Heroine: Divorced with children. Owns a club. Singer/songwriter.
Cheating: Natalie’s ex cheated on her throughout the marriage.
Trigger: Natalie suffered emotional abuse throughout her marriage.
Includes: Excerpt from Back in My Heart (renamed Always in My Heart).
First up, a quote. There they are, busily getting it on, and she wants him to hurry it up:
“Any more romantic, and she was going to rape him.” loc.3055
My jaw dropped.
Not funny, Jan.
Once more, we have the potential for an interesting story but Anderson muddies it.
~ Autocratic and slightly odd Hero.
~ Story is told mostly from his pov, and I didn’t like him.
~ Anaemic police officer.
*groan*
I want to like it. And I do like the overall story. Even how the characters from previous books gently wind through. I simply am not enamoured of the writing style.
And the rape reference, while very minor and throw away, I can’t see as appropriate.
Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan series:
Book 1 Baby Love - Rafe Kendrick and Maggie Stanley
Book 2 Phantom Waltz - Ryan Kendrick and Bethany
Book 3 Sweet Nothings - Jake Coulter and Molly Wells
Book 4 Blue Skies - Carly Adams and Hank Coulter
Book 5 Bright Eyes - Zeke Coulter and Natalie Patterson
Book 6 My Sunshine - Laura Townsend and Isaiah Coulter
Book 7 Sun Kissed - Samantha Harrigan and Tucker Coulter
Book 8 Morning Light - Loni MacEwan and Clint Harrigan
Book 9 Star Bright - Rainie Hall and Parker Harrigan
Book 10 Here to Stay - Mandy Pajeck and Zach Harrigan
Book 11 Perfect Timing - Caera O’Ceallaigh and Quincy Harrigan
References:
Author's website: http://www.catherineanderson.com/book...
(ISBN 978-1-1012-1002-4)
-CR-
January 27, 2016
Em 2008, quando esta autora começou a ser publicada em Portugal, li um livro dela e, apesar de não ter achado nada de extraordinário, entreteve e acabou por ser uma leitura agradável. Passados 4 anos, achei que seria curioso voltar a ler algo dela e perceber se ainda tinha o potencial de me fazer passar algumas horas descontraídas.
A história é muito simples: Zeke Coulter compra uma casa no campo e um dia percebe que a sua casa e culturas foram vandalizadas. O culpado é um rapaz de 11 anos, que se sente revoltado pelo divórcio dos pais. Zeke vai pedir responsabilidades à mãe do rapaz, Natalie, que acaba por concordar que o pagamento dos estragos seja feito com ajuda do miúdo. Como seria de esperar, Zeke e Natalie acabam por se apaixonar, mas o livro gira também à volta de um assassínio, a partir de cerca de metade.
O livro divide-se assim, claramente, em 2 partes: a primeira aborda a evolução da relação entre Zeke e Natalie; a segunda ganha contornos policiais e acompanha a resolução de um crime. Um dos problemas é que são duas partes tão estanques que quase podiam pertencer a livros diferentes. Na primeira metade, pouco ou nada faz antever o crime que irá ocorrer; na segunda, a relação entre os dois protagonistas é quase completamente posta de lado. Isto faz com que, na minha opinião, estejamos perante um livro desequilibrado em termos de narrativa.
A primeira metade é previsível, o que não é necessariamente mau se, como eu, o leitor já sabe ao que vai e está na disposição de descontrair um pouco lendo uma história que não lhe exija muito – e, nesse aspecto, o livro é minimamente bem sucedido. A segunda metade apresenta um caso pouco interessante e que não dá pistas ao leitor que lhe permita adivinhar quem é o culpado, estragando, no meu caso, qualquer interesse que pudesse ter surgido até àquele ponto do enredo.
Parece que este é um livro até bastante apreciado entre os fãs da autora, e juntando esta informação a outros factores concluo que, entretanto, eu é que mudei como leitora e os seus livros perderam o potencial de me cativar para além do mínimo exigível. Fico contente por ter trazido este livro da biblioteca… trata-se de uma autora a que não deverei voltar tão cedo.
A história é muito simples: Zeke Coulter compra uma casa no campo e um dia percebe que a sua casa e culturas foram vandalizadas. O culpado é um rapaz de 11 anos, que se sente revoltado pelo divórcio dos pais. Zeke vai pedir responsabilidades à mãe do rapaz, Natalie, que acaba por concordar que o pagamento dos estragos seja feito com ajuda do miúdo. Como seria de esperar, Zeke e Natalie acabam por se apaixonar, mas o livro gira também à volta de um assassínio, a partir de cerca de metade.
O livro divide-se assim, claramente, em 2 partes: a primeira aborda a evolução da relação entre Zeke e Natalie; a segunda ganha contornos policiais e acompanha a resolução de um crime. Um dos problemas é que são duas partes tão estanques que quase podiam pertencer a livros diferentes. Na primeira metade, pouco ou nada faz antever o crime que irá ocorrer; na segunda, a relação entre os dois protagonistas é quase completamente posta de lado. Isto faz com que, na minha opinião, estejamos perante um livro desequilibrado em termos de narrativa.
A primeira metade é previsível, o que não é necessariamente mau se, como eu, o leitor já sabe ao que vai e está na disposição de descontrair um pouco lendo uma história que não lhe exija muito – e, nesse aspecto, o livro é minimamente bem sucedido. A segunda metade apresenta um caso pouco interessante e que não dá pistas ao leitor que lhe permita adivinhar quem é o culpado, estragando, no meu caso, qualquer interesse que pudesse ter surgido até àquele ponto do enredo.
Parece que este é um livro até bastante apreciado entre os fãs da autora, e juntando esta informação a outros factores concluo que, entretanto, eu é que mudei como leitora e os seus livros perderam o potencial de me cativar para além do mínimo exigível. Fico contente por ter trazido este livro da biblioteca… trata-se de uma autora a que não deverei voltar tão cedo.
September 23, 2012
While we're back to the typical "poor traumatized divorcee learns to trust men again and is attacked by an evil stalker only to be rescued" format, I have to give this one some credit for making the ex-husband less rage-inducing than Rodney in "Sweet Nothings". Robert Patterson was a jerk, but at least he wasn't a psycho, and I do like that his Freudian Excuse wasn't meant to excuse his behavior. And Natalie accepted that her son still did love his dad even if his dad didn't love him.
The murder mystery was kind of blah, though. The cops were so eager to believe Natalie did it, they didn't even bother to examine who else might have had plenty of reason to want Robert dead. And maybe it's just me, but the real culprit trying to kill Natalie felt very tacked-on, like it was an excuse for a gratuitous rescue scene.
And Natalie got kind of annoying at one point, too. Too much "woe is me, my body isn't perfect enough for the hero, I'm so fat and ugly and unloveable" despite her flaws being minor at best, and the hero thinking she's the hottest thing since jalapeno peppers. At least she didn't wangst about it as much as Molly Sterling did.
I did like the little subplot with Natalie and Valerie's parents, how they loved each other but got a divorce over a misunderstanding, and I was disappointed that we didn't get a lot of backstory or much of a resolution to that. And the scene with Natalie and Valerie bonding was pretty sweet, too. And despite Natalie's moaning and self-pity being annoying and Zeke being Yet Another Catherine Anderson Cowboy, the romance was kind of sweet and I was happy to see them finally get together.
As for the kids...they were okay. Chad bonding with Zeke was pretty cute, but Rosie felt a little too fake for me. I know some kids are wise beyond their years but this book really pushed it. Still, her offering Zeke her money to help pay for Chad's vandalism was pretty cute.
Overall, this was a pretty run-of-the-mill romance. Nothing spectacular, but nothing too horrible either.
The murder mystery was kind of blah, though. The cops were so eager to believe Natalie did it, they didn't even bother to examine who else might have had plenty of reason to want Robert dead. And maybe it's just me, but the real culprit trying to kill Natalie felt very tacked-on, like it was an excuse for a gratuitous rescue scene.
And Natalie got kind of annoying at one point, too. Too much "woe is me, my body isn't perfect enough for the hero, I'm so fat and ugly and unloveable" despite her flaws being minor at best, and the hero thinking she's the hottest thing since jalapeno peppers. At least she didn't wangst about it as much as Molly Sterling did.
I did like the little subplot with Natalie and Valerie's parents, how they loved each other but got a divorce over a misunderstanding, and I was disappointed that we didn't get a lot of backstory or much of a resolution to that. And the scene with Natalie and Valerie bonding was pretty sweet, too. And despite Natalie's moaning and self-pity being annoying and Zeke being Yet Another Catherine Anderson Cowboy, the romance was kind of sweet and I was happy to see them finally get together.
As for the kids...they were okay. Chad bonding with Zeke was pretty cute, but Rosie felt a little too fake for me. I know some kids are wise beyond their years but this book really pushed it. Still, her offering Zeke her money to help pay for Chad's vandalism was pretty cute.
Overall, this was a pretty run-of-the-mill romance. Nothing spectacular, but nothing too horrible either.
December 9, 2015
I thought that I would love anything by Catherine Anderson--this is the sixth title of hers that I've read so far, and I loved the five that came before. I just couldn't get into this one, though.
Zeke Coulter is 34 and enjoys being a bachelor. Then he meets Natalie, his next door neighbor. She's a divorcee with a troubled 12 year old boy who just vandalized Zeke's property. So Zeke has the kid work for him to pay for the damages and falls for Natalie in the process.
The book was well-written and all, I just wasn't into it. They had chemistry, but the romance was too smooth and predictable. Usually, Anderson's heroines have a lot of issues that need to be worked through and overcome. Natalie, for all that she got cheated on by her former husband and had trust issues, was pretty normal and well-adjusted.
On a side note, why do so many of Anderson's heroines have to go into detail about having cellulite? I can only conclude at this point that the author must have some body-image issues of her own that keep on leaking onto her characters. I don't mind a heroine who worries about being chubby, but knowing she has tapioca-like cellulite on the insides of her thighs is too much.
Zeke Coulter is 34 and enjoys being a bachelor. Then he meets Natalie, his next door neighbor. She's a divorcee with a troubled 12 year old boy who just vandalized Zeke's property. So Zeke has the kid work for him to pay for the damages and falls for Natalie in the process.
The book was well-written and all, I just wasn't into it. They had chemistry, but the romance was too smooth and predictable. Usually, Anderson's heroines have a lot of issues that need to be worked through and overcome. Natalie, for all that she got cheated on by her former husband and had trust issues, was pretty normal and well-adjusted.
On a side note, why do so many of Anderson's heroines have to go into detail about having cellulite? I can only conclude at this point that the author must have some body-image issues of her own that keep on leaking onto her characters. I don't mind a heroine who worries about being chubby, but knowing she has tapioca-like cellulite on the insides of her thighs is too much.
May 7, 2010
This was my first time reading Catherine Anderson. The first half of the book was great and I thought the story had a lot of possibilities. The introduction of the murder mystery put a damper on the whole thing for me. First off, I am not a big fan of murder mystery books....It's just not what I like to read. Second, it completely took the focus off the love story and the developing relationship between Zeke and the kids. I think I would have enjoyed it more if Zeke and Nattalie had fought against falling for each other harder. I also would have liked seeing more of the precocious Rosie. She was so much fun in the beginning, but she got lost toward the end. Anyway, it was a good fun read and I will probably read more from this author.
July 29, 2011
I guess this would be called a "romance." It was in the fiction section of my library.I skipped dozens of pages of the first half which was all the typical stuff of man meets woman, woman can't stand man, man and woman have chemistry and fall in love. When the woman's ex is found dead it became more interesting. I liked her characters, they were all probable, except for the man who was, of course, handsome, rugged, self-emplyed, kind, caring about her children, capable of doing any "handy" job and just about perfect. He has one episode of becoming "the protector," she sets him straight, but he doesn't swear to never fall into the protective, old-fashioned man again. The last half was a fun read, but i don't know if i'll look for others.
January 12, 2009
The book started very well. The first part was funny and the author introduce some really great characters but I felt that the book finished around chapter 10. Then the author add a murder investigation to add some kind of suspense which totally failed. I think the idea of the book was nice but it was really bad executed. Something that really annoys me is that the main male character is way more smarter than the policeman. WTF? Other thing that really bugs me was that the author has to repeat the same thing over and over. Like the reader are stupid. Overral, it was a good book. It wasn't a bad one just not one i'll reread in the future!
June 20, 2014
I was definitely going to read this, I love Catherine Anderson, but I had some reservations. I saw a few reviews about how the book started strong then fizzled plus I am not normally a fan of romance books with older children involved. However, I am glad I read this book, it was fantastic! The romance was so touching and real, and the bond between the hero and the heroine's children was amazing to read about. As far as fizzling halfway through the book, it does shift from more of a focus on the romance to a bit of a mystery. However, there is still plenty of touching interactions and proof of the deep feelings the hero and heroine have for each other. This series is still going strong!
September 12, 2016
Didn't realize this book was part of a series until I went to write this review. The story does mention some background but was very much stand alone as far as I could determine. I really liked the little girl character in this story. We are introduced to a rather disfunctional family by way of a young boy lashing out his emotions on his neighbor's yard. This introduces the reader to the two main romantic characters. What's really interesting is there's a murder mystery in the storyline and the action moves along quite nicely.
August 18, 2009
Another great story from Anderson in the continuing saga of the Hot Coulter brothers. Bright Eyes was very different from her 1st four books. It almost seems Anderson tried to approach this book in a romance/ detective/ suspense writing style. Nonetheless, it was a great story between Zeke and Nattie.
I'm really starting to belive cowboys with boots, wranglers, Chambray shirts and stetsons are HOT!! I hope this series carries on as good as it has been.
I'm really starting to belive cowboys with boots, wranglers, Chambray shirts and stetsons are HOT!! I hope this series carries on as good as it has been.
December 14, 2008
Loved this book! Zeak is fun and a great example of patience as he meets his next door neighbors kids. You will love the relationship he builds with both of the children and wish it were yourself when he courts their mother Natalie. The way he looks at Natalie, a woman having had two children and a bad marriage is an inspiration. I loved it from beginning to end.
December 22, 2021
My first Catherine Anderson book was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely be reading more if the others are as good. She writes well, the main characters, Zeke and Natalie, don't immediately hop into bed with each other, and there are kids, who are wonderfully portrayed. I am a sucker for books with kids in them.
June 5, 2021
So so good!!! It was honestly really unexpected, I would say it took a while to get into but it was a pretty easy read. Definitely more unpredictable than I anticipated. Cutest relationship ever but the spicy scenes are not for the faint of heart. Very graphic at some parts....
January 15, 2009
I love Catherine Anderson's books. This one was good but not my favorite. I loved the secondary characters and felt they really made this story.
April 12, 2018
Kind of repetitive and predictable
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