Loralee Lillibridge

A perfectly reasonable romance, that didn't particularly catch me or interest me in the characters or the situation. I don't really understand why he thought the bet was such a big deal - it didn't even happen, the other guy cheated and jumped the gun. Basically all the obstacles between them felt artificial, author fiat rather than growing from the characters. There's quite a lot of action, but most of it seems, again, artificial - especially the house burning down (and for that matter, the condition of the house to start with. If there was a renter in there until two weeks previous, how did it get so bad?). The magic connection between Dani and the horses is another convenience. Overall, the characters didn't feel real so nothing that happened felt organic - it all feels like the author saying "So now I need them to get physically close. Let's see, how about..." - just pushing cardboard characters around. An odd level of explicit, too - very steamy and fully-described kisses, but when they actually go to bed (ok, to couch) it's very lightly skimmed over - a polite curtain drawn across the specifics. Overall, eh. Not going to reread, and it doesn't inspire me to look for more by this author.… (mehr)

Every now and then, I enjoy an easy romance. By easy, I don’t mean that everything flows together perfectly as in a fairy tale. I mean a read that is enjoyable and laid back even if the relationship on the pages gets rocky. Loralee Lillibridge was able to supply that in Hill Country Man.

Youthful mistakes not realized until maturity sets in is not an uncommon story. We’ve all experienced. In this story, a young man makes a foolish bet and trusts someone unworthy of it. A young woman thinks money will bring a lifetime of happiness to only find sixteen years later after a bitter divorce that it can’t. She returns home with her rebellious teenage daughter to find herself face to face with feelings long buried for the man who really held her heart. Now, she has to face her own past and deeply buried feelings before she can move forward and consider true love.

The story moves along at a good pace. This is not a hundred thousand word novel. It’s not a novella, either. It gets to the point and carries the reader where she needs to go. Flashbacks are common throughout the book. These thoughts of the past are important in understanding story while not drawing it unnecessarily out.

Ms. Lillibridge brings in real life experiences as in the relationship between the rebellious teenage daughter and her newly divorced mother. The feelings are raw and the actions of the girl are true to life including the attitude and disrespect. The author does a good job of describing the realistic conflict and the process of growth and forgiveness in such a short about of time.

There is one very intimate scene that lasts a few pages. All other scenes are alluded to and not described in detail. The language is very clean. Overall, there is only the one scene that a reader needs to be warned about.

I really enjoyed this read. I was able to read it in one day. It is the perfect book for a trip or just to lose yourself in to escape the stress of everyday life.

Note: This book was won in a giveaway by the author/publisher with no expectation of a positive review.… (mehr)