Customer Reviews

Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Texas Hearts, Book 2)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the second installment of Dodd's contemporary trilogy, the middle Prescott sister, Pepper is featured as a hard-nosed, hard-working, wounded young woman with a tremendous amount of trust issues. Orphaned, and torn from her family at the age of eight, she had been parceled out and lived in various foster homes, none for very long as her rebelliousness caused her to be tossed around quite often. Only once, - the final foster home in Diamond Idaho, where she had stayed the longest did she feel some sense of belonging, but even from there she ran. The years in between, after reading an inspiring memoir of a woman's accomplishments, she turned her life around and started a thriving landscape business. Discovering and witnessing her hero, General Jennifer Napier, killing her aide after he accused her of furnishing government secrets to terrorists, Pepper who had been living under an assumed name herself, knew she had to run for her life because who would believe her word over that of a General. Running to the last place that had felt like a home to her, Pepper discovered that her long lost lover Dan Graham, had taken up residence and was now keeping up the ranch. Not only was Dan there, but her foster mother had died and left the ranch to her. Years before, Dan was the reason she had left, and the years in between hadn't lessened the attraction they both still felt, but trust was another matter entirely.

In this sequel, Dodd turns up the heat in some very passionate and exciting sensual laden encounters. Brisk writing, page turning action, and hot and steamy sex had all the makings of this being a stellar read, but for the fact that I was totally aggravated with our heroine and hero - especially Pepper. After all, after having this amazingly sensual connection with a he-man type gorgeous soldier, she couldn't TRUST him to tell the truth, to share her burdens that someone (an Army General) was trying to kill her? And her reasons for running away from him in the first place - didn't cut it. Granted he had his secrets too, but she was just too prickly to warm up to. I did like the action, the covert gadgets and thrill of terrorists attack. Unfortunately, even the hero turned into too much of a cave-man with the `you belong to me - we're mated' statement! Ugh, I cringe! But sensibilities aside, when an author can arouse readers emotions with a characters' distasteful personality - then you do have to appreciate the writing talent and Ms. Dodd is certainly that, a writer with enormous talent. Bottom line - I enjoyed the read, I just didn't warm up to nor embrace the main characters. ----- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ----

This is the first book I read from this Author, and I truly enjoyed it. I read these kind of books to relax, to complete my lunch time at work. The story really got me going and it was a quick read. Those reviewers upset that she is trying something new, I take she writes a different kind of novel, historical, like that will make these kind of books "literature". WE all read romance novels for FUN! So get the chip off your shoulder, and enjoy Ms. Dodds venture into "contemporary romance". I'm a Nora Roberts fan, and will always read someone new in between, this lady was a great choice, and I look forward to choosing more of her books.

This book went a little over the top for me. The sexual tension between Pepper and Dan went a little too far to be believable. Can she really be this tough independent woman who built her own life on her own and then melt into a puddle of complicity whenever Dan crooks his little finger? And, Dan. Supposedly sensitive, ends up throwing his he-man attitude around like piles of dung for Pepper to trip over. I don't know. The story was good. Bad guys after both of them end up working together. Heroics and modern technology save the day. Other than the two of them, the story was enjoyable.

Jackie Porter is running. She saw her mentor shoot someone and now she is going to run back to the place that she felt the safest in her life. Unfortunately, everything has changed in the years she has been gone from the Idaho Ranch that belonged to her Foster Mother, including the death of the woman that meant so much to her. Can Jackie, or Pepper Prescott, find safety in her old home?

Dan Graham has been taking care of the ranch until he could find Pepper to tell her about her inheritance, but until he did find her he had been using it to uncover a secret plot in the military. Once that assignment was over he planned on retiring from the military for good. When Pepper shows up before things are settled he worries about keeping his ex love safe. Will the two be able to get past the hurt and pains of the past and find love with each other?

This is Book Two of the Lost Texas Hearts series about siblings that lose their family in a tragedy. This book is about the middle child.

Almost like Being in Love is very far fetched, but it was fun to read anyway. The Terrorist Plot that touched both Pepper, and Dan's lives was interesting and complex and it kept me reading despite overly dramatic wording and plot lines. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

Tori
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The strong character of Pepper and her tragic story had me from the first page. This book has a very seductive cover but the story line, although it contains some romance is so much more. It is about family relationships and some military schemes are incorporated as well. This is the first book I read by this author, and I really enjoyed it.

Pepper Prescott had her world torn apart at a young age. Her parents were killed and she was separated from her siblings. Pepper has created a new life for herself as a landscaper. She witnesses a murder and runs to the one place she feels safe, the foster home of Mrs. Dreiss.

Dan Graham has been taking care of Mrs. Dreiss ranch since her passing several months ago. He has been recovering from a life threatening injury from his job as a Special Forces soldier.

Dan and Pepper share a past from their teen years. Dan had no idea where Pepper has been. Now that she is back he will do anything he can to make sure she realizes that the ranch is where she belongs.

As danger from both their past catches up to them, they fight to protect each other from harm.

Almost Like Being In Love is a wonderful follow up book to Just The Way You Are. These characters have such depth and passion. You feel their joy and pain.

I really hope Gabriel and Caitlyn stories will follow.

Pepper Prescott believes her family betrayed her when she was put into foster care, so now that she's an adult she has changed her name and made a life for herself without letting anyone in to love her. Then she sees the one person she admires commit murder, and she returns to the one place she is safe, a small ranching community in the mountains of Idaho. There her high school love is, and she finds herself entangled in his life again. She's trying to escape being a murder victim. He's a soldier on an undercover mission. The sexual attraction between them burns, but they've both grown up and now have ulterior motives and deep secrets.

Almost Like Being In Love is compelling and HOT (wait until you read the scene in the barn) but the story is complex and exciting. I hate ranch books, hate cowboy hats, hate horses, but Christina Dodd sucked me in when she wrote Just The Way You Are and I had to read this book. Fabulous! I can't wait for the third installment.

For Hope, Pepper, and Caitlin Prescott and their foster brother, Gabriel, life as they knew it changed forever the night their parents were killed in a car accident. Mysteriously separated and sent to different parts of the country, all four have grown to adulthood and forged new lives, but are constantly looking for each other. Life has dealt harsh lessons to them all, especially the middle sister, Pepper.

Just eight years old when she was torn from her home and family, Pepper became a ward of the system, moving from one foster family to another, each experience adding a layer of resolve and determination to never trust anyone other than herself. That resolve faltered the year she was sent to live in Diamond, Idaho. For a while, Pepper found a home with her foster mother, Mrs. Dreiss, and a youthful passion with the town's most popular son, Dan Graham. But when they finally gave in to their feelings for each other, Pepper's fears and insecurities got the best of her, and she ran away from Diamond and the boy she loved.

Nine years later, Pepper Prescott is calling herself Jackie Porter, and she is the owner of a successful landscaping business in Washington, D.C. Taking to heart the teachings of her favorite role model, General Jennifer Napier, Pepper has disciplined her body and mind to achieve her objectives. That new life is destroyed, however, the night Pepper goes to a book signing to meet her idol. Inadvertently witnessing the General kill her aide after being accused of treason, Pepper is spotted and barely escapes. Knowing she is a marked woman, Pepper decides to return to the last place that felt like home...Diamond, Idaho.

Dan Graham has spent the last nine years trying to forget Pepper and not really succeeding. Now in the military as part of an anti-terrorist unit for the Special Forces, Dan is home on medical leave and is keeping a promise to the late Mrs. Dreiss to care for the ranch until Pepper returns to claim it. Now Pepper's back, and the past is about to collide with the present. For these reunited lovers have an unresolved past to deal with and enemies to vanquish.

The second installment in Christina Dodd's series about the Prescott family, ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE is part action thriller and pure exhilarating romance. Pepper and Dan are impetuous, strong-willed characters made interesting by their all too human flaws. Interspersed throughout the story is the continuing search for her siblings by Hope, the eldest sister, whose story, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, started the series. Missing siblings, reunited lovers, terrorist plots -- all come together in this intense, powerful story sure to become one of your favorite summer reads.

TheSchemer

I have enjoyed most of Ms. Dodd's historical romances. I didn't like "Almost Like Being in Love" at all. It wasn't till Pepper's sister, Hope, appears that I realized I neither liked nor finished her story in "Just the Way You Are". I can't remember why for that one. I didn't like Hope, I think. I didn't finish this one either. I skipped around. Hoping it would get better. It didn't. I did check out the ending. <sigh> I should have just left it at the store.

And I can't think of a recent heroine that I've disliked more than Pepper Prescott. Sheesh! That chip on her shoulder was the size of a redwood. I really, really don't like "prickly" heroines. She is awful! Why he loved her, I'll never know.

On top of that, it's hard to believe that she ran away after her first sexual encounter. And that she's still mad at Dan Graham for some reason. In fact, she stays mad at just about everybody and everything. The romance part wasn't very believable. Nor or we told why she kept travelling under an assumed name for so many years. Well, there was the lame excuse that she was afraid to find out her sisters and brother wouldn't want her if she ever found them. Right!

I'm no expert on the army/terrorist stuff that is presented. But, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. For me, it was too far-fetched that both sets of villains got together and stormed the ranch. The whole plot is far too over-done.

I guess there are 2 more books to come in this series. Brother Gabriel and baby sister Caitlin. The latter was less than a year old when the family was broken up. I am making a note to self right now to give them a pass.

All in all, I think Ms. Dodd should stick to her historicals. She does so well there where not many do.

While it was not the best book I have ever read, it was still enjoyable. There were details left out and it could have been put together more. I espically think that the end needed more, I wanted there to be more. Really bad. But I still liked it. It had my heart pounding and I couldnt put it down. Pepper does have a REALLY BIG chip on her shoulder, but she is not totally unlikeable. Just when she goes off on her tangents. Maybe the military stuff is a little far fetched, but for all we know, it could be more advanced then even that. I dont think anyone really knows what weapons our Special Forces units have, till after they have used them and gotten new ones. Does not seem like something that would be out there for everyone to read up on all the facts. Ya know? It is the top, most dangerous, advanced and all that of the Army. Even if it is a little made up, that is what we all read for right? A story. A fictional story. Some elements did match up really well and you could identify with them and their feelings at times. I will read the rest of the books in the series and even check out some of her historicals. This was a gripping story and I loved the effect it had on me. Oh, Dan does use the term "mating" more then necessary in my opinion. Like he was a stalion and she a mare. Odd, really. Didnt know what to make of it.