Customer Reviews

Bright Eyes (Coulter Family Series)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Normally, Catherine Anderson can fill 400 pages with riveting ease. BRIGHT EYES launches easily -- prompting the reader to settle back, fully anticipating another Anderson gem. Unfortunately, half way into her story Anderson flounders. This gifted writer usually delivers heartwrenching, poignant stories -- but here she chose 'cutesy' -- coupled with a predictable crisis.

The rugged Coulter family continues. BRIGHT EYES is Zeke's story. Zeke Coulter is the normal Anderson hunka-hunka burning love male -- gorgeous, sensitive men who ooze toughness. Zeke is a busy bachelor who is content with his life and his new acreage.

Fortuitously, Zeke's new property borders Natalie Patterson's land. Mrs. Patterson is a sexy mom with two children and a worthless ex-husband -- a jerk who continues to make life miserable for Natalie and his children. Natalie Patterson and the kids find Zeke Coulter equal to a knight in shining armor. A spectacular man who bolsters their confidence, builds their self-worth, and brings new hope to their bleak lives.

As usual, Catherine Anderson draws wonderful characters. Natalie falls from the pages as a normal woman, a woman who tugs at her summer shorts, frets over 10 pounds, yet is determined to lose 20. However, the true character prize is little Rosie Patterson, Natalie's young daughter. This four year old is adorably precocious and has enough charm to leap from Anderson's pages straight into the reader's heart. Oh how, I cherished the pages this child inhabited.

Yet, somewhere around page 200, the story became ordinary. A predictable crime soared to the foreground changing Zeke and Natalie into grisly sugar-coated lovers -- I love you -- I love you -- say you love me -- say it again --.

The beginning saved the rating, but that ending! Oh, Ms. Anderson pull out that heart-rending pen! Save the syrupy-sweet for another author -- nobody does poignancy better than you!

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

There are good ways and not so good ways to meet your neighbors. Among the not so good is having to confront the mother of a young vandal about her son's misdeeds, only to have an argument and get chased off by an attack goose. Despite the inauspicious beginning, Zeke Coulter, a brother of other Anderson heroes, finds himself admiring Natalie Patterson. Not only is she beautiful, her own opinion notwithstanding, and hard headed as he himself is, but has an inner strength and the voice of an angel. Her children, even the vandal, also win Zeke's heart. His entry into their lives could not have come at a better time either. Natalie's ex has finally p.o'd someone one too many times, and winds up dead, with the best suspect being Natalie. Fortunately, Zeke has strong shoulders for her to lean on; and no one messes with the Coulter family and gets away with it.

**** Bright Eyes has a bit more tension than some of Ms Anderson's books, but is still heartwarming and real. The pages ripple with gentle humor and love. I hope the Coulter clan has a few more siblings to meet in future novels. ****

Amanda

4th book in the Coulter family series.

In this one you have Zeke Coulter, who owns and runs a ranch supply store. He also recently bought a ranch bordering another ranch. When he comes home one day, he finds that his home has been vandalized by a 12 year old. He chases the boy to the neighboring ranch where he meets the kids mother, Natalie. Natalie is a divorced mother of two who is living with her odd family because her rich, creep of an ex-husband has not paid child support. Since she can't pay Zeke for the damages, she agrees to let her son work at Zeke's house to repay him. In the process, Zeke gets to know Natalie and her children, and despite the fact that he has never had any desire to get married and have kids, he finds himself falling in love with all of them. Things get complicated when Natalie's ex-husband is murdered and she is the main suspect.

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.

Rating: 4 / 5

I have to start out by saying that I could not put this book down. From start to finish, I enjoyed every page of this book. This was my first Catherine Anderson book and it WONT be my last. I want to read about all the siblings now!
Natalie Patterson is a devoted mother to two children that you grow to love. Chad, a child suffering from divorced parents acting out and growing up far to fast. Rosie, a little girl that you love from the start. (Although I think that Rosie's character was far fetched for her age.) Natalie has divorced her husband and the father of her children after 11 years of marriage and she lives at her family home with her gramps, father, and sister. (They are included in this quite story quite a bit and you have too love them also.) She owns a club where she loves to sing her songs. Zeke Coulter lives next door and falls in love with Natalie almost instantly when Chad destroys some of his property. He hires Chad and Natalie and little Rosie to work off the debt by fixing all the work themselves. Then, Natalie's ex-husband is murdered and she is the main suspect right up to the end of the book.
This book was very WELL written and instead of foccusing on the two main charcters, you got to read about their families and actual surroundings. Also, the family pet is even included in this book a lot. She is a goose that will make you laugh so hard you'll cry. I wouldn't say that this is a hot steamy romance book, more like a knight in shining armor book that is family oriented. If you like heated emotional scenes between the two main characters than this book is not for you, but if you like simple, love inspired books then read this one.

I normally absolutely love the Coulter series. Of the 8 there are, this one I couldn't even finish. I really didn't like the extra characters. I felt disgusted reading about overly slutty Valerie and drunk and dirty Grandpa. I thought Catherine painted a very low "white trash" picture of Natalie. Neither did I like the whole murder mystery angle. I know Catherine usually does the mystery thing very well, but the feel of the entire book was off. So, I guess I am one of very few people who did not like this book. ALL of the other ones have earned a place on my favorites list, and Catherine is still one of my favorites too. Was hoping for better, I guess.

This was my first Catherine Anderson book & I absolutely loved it! When I read the back cover to see what the book was about, it didn't seem so interesting, but once I started reading, I could not put the book down.

Catherine Anderson has a way of making her leading man seem like the perfect man. Instantly, I fell in love with the characters & was rooting for Zeke & Natalie to get together. This book has good romance & an interesting mystery as well.

I can't wait to read my next Catherine Anderson book.

I picked up this book because I liked the title, I have never read any Catherine Anderson books before. I really liked this book, I liked Natalie's character how she wanted to be independant and didnt want Zeke to order her around. I didn't like Zeke's character, I thought he was way to perfect and no guy is that perfect. I thought Rosie was adorable, but can 4 year olds really talk like that? I don't even talk that perfect and Im 17. She uses huge words that she doesnt know what they mean and she's never even been in school. And I don't think Chad would have overcome his anger that fast just because of Zeke, who he doesnt even know.

I love all of Catherine Anderson's books. Bright Eyes is no exception. Zeke and Natalie are a wonderful couple; and the secondary characters are so real and entertaining. Like all of Catherine's books, this story has it all. I really enjoyed this book. I found it endearing and very funny at times. I also enjoyed the mystery plot as well.

I haven't had a Catherine Anderson book that I didn't like, so I was anticipating a great read when I stopped and picked Bright Eyes up at the bookstore. I was not disappointed - in fact I was so entertained by the story line as well as the secondary characters that I found myself laughing out loud. The gander and Rose are pure fun.

Bright Eyes is fun - full of tender romance - heated passion - and lead characters who have depth and character. Catherine Anderson has written a beautiful story about love that comes when you least expect it and manages to overcome all obstacles. By the time I finished the book (all in one sitting, I might add) I was believing in the magic of the heart and that love can find us even when we aren't looking. Cannot wait for the next book to be released..........

I look forward to every Catherine Anderson novel that comes out. And I am never disppointed. She has created wonderful characters and stories with every book, and "Bright Eyes" is no exception. Be prepared to fall in love, and laugh out loud!

Now I am counting the days until the next one!