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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tumbles into Sugar-Coated Silliness., June 9, 2004
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good..., June 6, 2004
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
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another wonderfully emotional Anderson romance book, July 7, 2006
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
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