Customer Reviews

Casey (Buckhorn Brothers, Book 5)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CASEY by Lori Foster is the final book in the Buckhorn Brothers series originally published back in 2000 by Harlequin Books. This time, Casey gets the big book treatment and what a delight these 290+ pages are.

When we last saw Casey Hudson, the son of Sawyer Hudson and the nephew of Morgan, Gabe and Jordan, he was just reaching adulthood facing not only his future, but the wrath of a angry man...the father of Emma Clark, a close friend of his. Readers were left hanging, wondering what happened to Casey and Emma. In CASEY, we find out.

The story opens with an expanded version of what happened that night and what transpired for the young Casey and Emma. She left that night, never to be seen again until she shows up in town to visit her sick father. Casey, in the meantime, becomes a successful businessman and still remembers Emma and wonders what happened to her. They meet the first night she is back, and the sparks still fly.

Casey wonders why Emma is back in town to see her father, when the man was mean to her. Ultimately he learns the truth. In the meantime, they explore their relationship, only this time as adults. Casey is determined that Emma stay in town this time and does a good job convincing her, both in bed and out of bed. As always, Ms Foster knows how to write a steamy romance that curls your toes and makes you reach for ice water, with characterization that is honest and true.

Sometimes sequels, or long awaited stories, do not live up to a reader's expectations. With CASEY, the anticipation was worth it. The words flowed and I hated to put it down. I learned what happened to Casey and the rest of the Buckhorn town folks, including Sawyer and his brothers. I got introduced to new characters. (Loved the Nurse named Lois) A subplot in the book was a romance between Ceily, the waitress seen in the Buckhorn series books, and a male friend of Emma's. It went well with the rest of the story, and the ending of the book helped tie up the loose ends for the characters. It was great seeing the brothers again and their interaction with one another.

If you are looking for a steamy romance with a story of families that are close and great characters, then you must read CASEY. The whole Buckhorn Series has been delightful reading for me and I know for others. I can't wait to read the next Lori Foster book.

I just finished Buckhorn Brothers: Casey. I continue to be very impressed with Ms Foster's writing. She pulls you into the story and makes you feel what her characters are going through. She is also not afraid to write about modern day problems. In this case what untreated alcoholism can do to a child emotional well being. Emma's Mom is an alcholic and has emotionally and physically abused Emma most of her life. Emma finally has enough and with her father develop a plan to get her away from the situation.

In comes Casey. Casey has always defended Emma and she is more than a little in love with him. So she knows that Casey will at least help for one night. Emma's father takes her to the Hudson home and dumps her into Casey's arms. Her father tells Casey he is reponsible for fathering the child she is carrying. However, ther is no child. Emma explains to Casey parents that she just needed to get away from a bad situation. Honey and Sawyer take her in and make her spend the night. Casey wants to protect her and help her. Emma disappears during the night and stays away for 8 years. Breaking Casey's heart.

Eight years later she returns because her father has a stroke. She runs into Casey first thing. Casey decides that he is not letting Emma get away this time. The rest of the story is warm and loving. It is a story of trust and compassion.

Emma Clark's notorious reputation can rival anyone's in Buckhorn, Kentucky. Unfortunately, what makes a man a stud makes a woman a whore, and, at seventeen, already Emma endures the gossip and the label. Her innate sensuality attracts every boy in school but one; the only one she truly wants. The late one night, her tense family situation escalates and she arrives, with a bruised cheek an outraged father, on the Hudson doorstep. She had told her family that she was pregnant.

Casey Hudson will not let his plans get sidetracked regardless of his need for Emma. Indeed, Casey learned a lot from his family about how to treat women, but he never learned how to cope with Emma. When admits to not being pregnant, Emma stays the night with the Hudsons, before disappearing. A search does not turn up the teenager, and resources are quickly diverted to a more immediate problem. Still, Casey not forgot the girl who got away. When she suddenly returns to Buckhorn eight years later, Casey cannot stifle long-buried emotions and passions.

Clashing family backgrounds and desperate need bring Casey and Emma together in CASEY, before decisively dividing them once again. This second chance at forever can only come with blistering honesty and scorching need. Unfortunately, Emma guards secrets that threaten her chances for forever. Secondary characters, including favorites from the past and B.B. Emma's delightful dog result in a passionate, tension filled plot that is uniquely inventive. Such marvelous characterizations have made author Lori Foster one of the most dazzling authors in the industry, as she once again proves with her deft ability of balancing the wild side with strong integrity. Very highly recommended.

Crafting Casey's story had to be a tough job for Lori Foster, after the incredible build-up of the character in previous books and the high anticipation factor from fans...but she pulled it off fantastically.

Casey, last a teen when we saw him, has grown into a wonderful man and hero readers will love: smart, supportive, sexy and kind-hearted. His sensitivity to Emma's emotions was as heart-melting as his unabashed physical desire for her. Emma's hard-earned strength and self-confidence was rewarding to see after learning her less than ideal past, and her unapologetic attitude about her sexuality and sexual history is refreshing.

Their chemistry together is fabulous, with Foster expertly creating a balance between sexy and friendly. The sexual tension between them never feels forced or contrived, and it leaves you with greater anticipation for the next scene.

The story provides a nice look at the family as a whole, at how they've expanded and bonded over the past 8 years, a perfect contrast to Emma's dysfunctional family. I would have liked for the secondary romance to be fleshed out more, but the well-developed focus on Casey & Emma made up for it. It was a fitting end to the series.

Casey is the last story in the Buckhorn series, and it's the best one yet. I got so involved in the story that I couldn't put the book down! I loved the way Casey and Emma evolved, both as individuals, and in their relationship. I liked seeing Emma gradually let Casey in on the details of her past - and how he figured some things out on his own. Seeing how Casey and Emma treated each other, each realizing that the other had changed and grown over the years, and watching them adjust to the changes. Seeing how Emma was so easily accepted by Casey's family as one of their own - as a scared teenager, and as Casey's wife. I loved the way all of the Buckhorn brothers and their families were involved in the story, too. It was also great to see Ceily have a romance of her own. I wasn't too sure about Damon at first, then I realized it was because I had been seeing him through Casey's eyes! It's sad to see the Buckhorn series end, but I'm sure I'll be back for plenty of visits.

Casey is the son of Sawyer from the first book of the series. Casey grows up through out the previous books and his story is left as cliff hanger in Book 4, 'Jordan'. The story takes placed when Casey and Emma are in the mid-twenties and she has returned home. You get to see how the Buckhorn Brothers are doing. A great way for me to finish a week of Buckhorn Brothers.
This series is fantastic you have four handsome, intelligent, real honest men who love women. The underline theme is that good men do exist. Buy the whole series, get glass of favorite beverage and the series will leave with a smile!

Buckhorn Brothers Series; Sawyer (Book 1), Morgan (Book 2), Gabe (Book 3) Jordan (Book 4)and Casey (Book 5 published in 2002).

If I could give this book more then 5 stars I would. Casey is the long awaited followup to the Buckhorn Series. Casey is the son of Sawyer. He most definetly is a chip off the old block. This books takes you back to the ending of Jordan book when Emma Clark appears at the Hudson family home. You find out what happens to Emma that night and then the story picks up 8 years later when Emma comes back home to Buckhorn. Emma fights it tooth and nail her attractions to Casey. But when she finally gives in to her desires it is amazing. This book will make you laugh, cry and swoon. It is a wonderful read and a fantastic ending to the series.

I was extremely disappointed by Casey's story. After falling in love (and lust) with the other men of the Buckhorn series, I was hoping for a really great conclusion to the series. Unfortunately, Casey's story did not live up to my expectations. I found the plot very contrived and the love scenes were quite static compared to Lori Foster's other novels. I probably would have enjoyed the reading a lot more if 'Casey' had followed the format of the other four from the series. In short, the book was way too long for such a poorly fleshed out story. Sorry.

Romance maestro Lori Foster brings a most gratifying conclusion to her popular Buckhorn Brothers' series where Sawyer's son, Casey Hudson reunites with the reputed bad girl Emma Clark after a 8-year separation and finds himself in love with the stronger, resilient woman who had outgrown her adolescence and shame.

Readers will immediately identify with the awkward teenage Emma who escapes from her dysfunctional family and runs into the embrace of the reliable Casey, lying to her father that she is pregnant. She is ashamed but helpless especially when Casey's family offers her comforting solace. Harboring a crush for Casey but knowing that his bright future excludes her, she escapes alone to Chicago and finds herself a new life with the help of the affectionate Damon as a massage therapist. Her return to see her ill father 8 years later becomes a reunion and a revival of love between Casey and her.

Lori Foster glosses the Cinderella romance with a dose of emotions and gumption in the determined Emma and pumps warmth and kinship into the arteries of the Kentucky town with the gathering of Sawyer, Morgan, Gabe and Jordan and a glimpse of their bliss. Even the unlikely Ceily has found herself a love interest. Ms. Foster's sensual style as usual is a pleasure to watch and Casey is a delicious hero with the protective streak. What more can we ask for given the first-rate romance and sanctuary of family bliss except indulge in more?

CASEY is the end of Lori Foster's THE BUCKHORN BROTHERS series and maybe that's not such a terrible thing. Although, CASEY was not a bad read, THE BUCKHORN BROTHERS appear exhausted!

As a child, Emma Clark was unloved and unwanted. As a teenager, she was the town tramp. However, today, Emma lives in Chicago surrounded by true friends, professional respect, and inner peace. Then duty calls! Emma's father is sick and she must return to Buckhorn, Kentucky, where the turbulent past and the familiarity of Casey Hudson are all too real!

When Emma Clark disappeared, eight years ago, her uncertain fate weighed heavily on Casey Hudson's mind, but it was her sexuality that devoured his dreams. Now, Emma Clark was back and Casey Hudson's sensual dreams were up and running again . . . but this time he would do something about it! Impulsively, Casey takes it upon himself to uncover Emma's mysterious secrets and maybe his actions will stop Emma from leaving . . . again.

Reviewer's Comments:
As far as heroes go, Casey Hudson appears demanding and heavy-handed. His constant mulling over Emma's running away is bothersome. Yet, Casey Hudson is not entirely unlikable. On the other hand, Emma Clark is a most favorable heroine. There is just something rewarding in watching a "knocked down" girl gain self-confidence!

Yet, the best thing about this book is the secondary character, Damon Devaughn. He's funny, smart, and compassionate. His dialogue lines are cute and his disapproving humor and handling of the hero simply make the book. He's the type of secondary character who is easy to root for and it almost seems a shame Lori Foster did not grant him his very own story.

Overall, CASEY was a decent read. I liked Foster's writing style; her storyline flowed well and the story's mystery was gentle yet intriguing! Still, after following the entire Buckhorn saga, I really wanted and expected more from this final payoff. Unfortunately, many moments felt forced and some moments needed more development. That said, CASEY still warrants a read. Especially if, like me, you have read the series' previous four. What's more, Lori Foster did the job she set out to do - she neatly closed THE BUCKHORN BROTHERS!
Grade: B-

MaryGrace Meloche.