(originally from All About Romance)
Rosemary Laurey, Karen Kelley and Dianne Castell
2006, Contemporary Romance
Brava, $14.00, 296 pages, Amazon ASIN 0758214839
Grade: B-
Sensuality: Hot
The “Bad Boys” in the title of this new anthology in the long-running Brava Bad Boys series is actually a bit of a misnomer. Texas is true enough – all three stories take place in the little town of Silver Gulch. But the heroes of the story, the so-called “Bad Boys,” are, in fact, all examples of fine, upstanding citizens.
However, that’s no reason to avoid the book. The publisher may be trying to capitalize on the bad boy appeal – who hasn’t wanted the James Dean look-alike sitting on his motorcycle? – but there’s lots to be said for nice boys as well.
The plots are intertwined. The three heroines share the same father, from all accounts the ultimate deadbeat. The girls were never introduced to their paternal relatives, and only know their wealthy grandfather through their father and they were told that he wanted nothing to do with them. As each girl grew up with her respective mother in somewhat reduced circumstances, none of them have particularly warm fuzzy feelings towards Grandpa Maddock. So, when they learn that he has died and left them each a sizeable inheritance, they are taken aback. The rules are simple. Each girl gets a piece of property around Silver Gulch and a large sum of money. But they can’t sell the property or get their hands on the money unless they live in Silver Gulch for three consecutive years, starting now. A second complication arises soon after, when it becomes apparent that three men are also intrinsically tied to the three properties and are feeling a little put out.
The stories get fairly predictable from here – but not in a bad way. The close proximity romance is, after all, one of the most popular. These three authors have fun heroines and hot heroes; the stories are enjoyable. There is a not-so-surprising twist, but, to fall into a rather bad cliché, the anthology’s heart is in the right place.
Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
In Rosemary Laurey’s In Bad With Someone, Juliet inherits the Ragged Rooster, the local bar. However, the Rooster was long ago promised to Rod, the man who made it profitable. When he finds out that he’s now working for a red-headed English art enthusiast, sparks begin to fly. Laurey has the task of introducing the town and the premise, which cuts into her story a little bit. However, the main reason I’m knocking the grade down a little bit on this story is a number of strange elements that don’t get even a marginal explanation. The first is the Juliet’s last name – ffrench – and the second is her martial arts history. They’re both quirky and interesting character points, but are left unexplained. It’s a short story, so obviously some things have to be taken on faith, but these two were just a little too unconventional to pass over.
Grade: B-
Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Karen Kelley’s Run of Bad Luck sees photographer Nina inherit a ranch that everyone expected to go to real, live cowboy Lance. Now he needs the money to buy his own spread – but will he sacrifice his dignity and pride to get it? Of the stories, Kelley’s is the most enjoyable, not for any artistic reason, but because she has the most space. The other two stories have to introduce and conclude. This means less room to tell the individual story of their couple. Nina and Lance, however, get all the space, and they use it well. It helps, too, that as Texas Bad Boys go, a cowboy wins hands down over a bar owner and a policeman.
Grade: B+
Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Finally, Lillie gets the old hotel, but decides to turn it into Silver Gulch’s first healing day spa in Come to a Bad End by Dianne Castell. The women of Silver Gulch love it, but the men are passionately opposed. It’s up to recently disgraced police officer John to keep the peace. Castell has the task of tying everything up, revealing the big secret, and showing the Happy Ever After. Her couple is cute; John’s grandstanding to the boys but inability to deny Lillie is endearing, and Lillie’s determination to follow her dream is strong. But in order to enjoy the overly-sugared HEA the anthology chooses, the reader has to take a flying leap into suspension of disbelief territory, which detracts from Castell’s overall story. I don’t think this is really Castell’s fault, but a bad choice in the planning of the anthology.
Grade: B-
Texas Bad Boys is a Brava anthology; if you’re new to the Bad Boys series, expect a little more heat than you may have been used to in the past (though long-time readers of the series may actually find this one on the milder side). The characters in the story get down and dirty very quickly. This haste is the anthology’s downfall. It is perfectly conceivable for a couple to jump into bed together on a first date — especially if sparks fly as fast and as furious as they do between these three couples. However, it is less believable for said couple to fall into deep and committed love. One character cries “I can’t believe I fell helplessly in love after three days!” Frankly, I can’t believe it either, and I think this anthology would have been stronger if the authors had not rushed the traditional HEA ending. As a reader, I can fill in the future myself. Yes the wedding dresses would have come, but maybe a year or two in the future. After all, according to the will, the characters are there for three years at least. Why the rush?
