Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings has been one of the most exhilarating and emotional reads this year for me. It had me laughing, squealing, biting my nails, and crying. This is the third book in the Ladies of Caldwell Series, and though it comes in third place it certainly does not come out in last place. This is the best of the series thus far! It's full of character's you will feel like calling friends by the end of the book and never want to say goodbye to.
Goodreads Summary
A Most Unlikely Heroine Takes Center Stage
in This Fun Historical Romance
The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring Nicholas Lovelace to the next victory in his life and career. Instead, it gets held up by robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected–Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.
Anne’s been working as a buffalo hunter and hiding from polite society. She’s only coming to town to talk their runaway cook into returning. Instead, the woman flees–and leaves Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person she knows in town who can help, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.
Both soon find themselves stuck in complicated situations. To care for the child, Anne’s forced into polite society–and it’s not going well. Meanwhile, Nick is being pressured on all sides of his business, and being seen with Anne isn’t helping his reputation. Still he can’t quite seem to forget her and must make a choice between the leading of his heart and his plans for the future.
My Thoughts
As always I need to make a tiny comment about the cover: I love it. It's quirky and gives us a glimpse at the layered and deep character that is known as Anne Tillerton. I love the little peek of her dirty boots from beneath her dress, the expression on her face that shows she doesn't feel comfortable in that dress, and that one strand of hair that is out of place from her curls.
To me that cover picture exemplifies Anne. Anne is a strong independent woman who feels more comfortable when she is in control and I feel a lot of readers can relate with that train of thought. For Anne feeling in control helps her to prevent herself from being hurt by those she assumed loved her or those that she loved but didn't love her in return. Anne is character that brought out a lot of emotion for me due to the fact that her past was full of physical and emotional abuse. Then she meets Sammy. The baby who needs Anne to help him stay alive. Through the relationship Anne develops with Sammy she begins to develop love and attachment to life again. I loved seeing Anne transition from a tense character that wanted to cover herself up from the world to a woman who was putting Sammy's needs in front of her own even if it meant giving him to a better family.
So much happened in this book that I loved. I love, love, loved Nick. Can I call him Nick? I just grew so attached to his humorous behavior that he felt like a friend. Nick brings the lightness to this book that can sometimes have dark passages. He's also a great listener. Never did he not listen to Anne talk about her ex-husband and the terror that grew from that relationship. He was patient and loving towards Anne in a way that she wasn't familiar with and for that I love Nick. He did everything in his power to show Anne that not all men are the same and that some are better than she might think.
Their relationship was golden! Oh gosh the scene with the flower pot and his office is the best scene in the book! This is a book that can be read in public but warning it may cause sudden bursts of laughter and crying at parts that are unknown to reader!
Recommend this book to the moon and back for everyone who loves a great historical read that gives the reader more than they could ever ask for!
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.
About the Author
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
Sigh I can't wait to read this one! Have really enjoyed the previous two!
ReplyDeleteYou will be sighing the whole book! ;)
ReplyDelete