GRR Reviews Keeping Katie (A Mother's Heart Book 1) by Patricia Keelyn

Keeping Katie asks the question: how far will you go to protect your child?

Maureen just settled in a small town a few hours away from Seattle with her three-year-old daughter Katie, and working as a waitress in the local cafe. Local sheriff Alan knew there's something not quite right with her as if she's fleeing from something, but he decided not to push, for he liked her a lot. Maureen had indeed been running from something... the law itself. When Alan learned this... what will he do about it? And will she keep running? Who was the stranger in town keeping an eye on them?

It's angst-y, but not overly melodramatic. And the resolution was very masterful in wrapping up all the loose-ends. Maureen's struggle was real, and her solution may not have been the wisest, but it was the simplest one she can execute. Sheriff is right on the dot: want to do things right, even though justice may or may not be the right thing. All in all, it'll make you sigh.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: What is the mother with the cute daughter hiding? The police chief intended to find out even as he fell for her...

Tropes: small town, stranger in town, law enforcement, single parent, family secrets

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Reviews Where The Heart Is (A Mother's Heart) by Patricia Keelyn

Where the Heart Is is a contemporary romance about a pregnant woman who had to flee her life only to encounter the man who broke her heart years ago. This particular series deals with fathers and mothers and children in intricate family drama, and this book is no exception, but not quite as heart-wrenching as the previous volume.

To recap, Maddie Adams went home, away from big city. Her beau, despite years of relationship, was not man enough to marry her when she got pregnant, quite by accident. She was surprised to see the man who broke her heart 16 years ago, Nick Ryan, is the doctor in town, trying to raise his 15-year-old son alone. Diane, whom Nick chose 16 years ago instead of Maddie, had died 2 years prior in an automobile crash, something Nick's son still blames him for. Nick had even expressed his desire to go back to the city, to get away from this place of sadness. Maddie cannot allow herself to rekindle the feelings to Nick because Nick destroyed her once, esp. when he may not even stay around, but she cannot deny they had a thing together. Nick grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and the only one who believed him was Maddie... But he screwed up and in order to do the right thing, he had to let Maddie go. But now that Maddie's back, he knew that this is his chance to build a family based on love, rather than obligation...

The family drama was intricate, with multiple roles and obligations binding each of the characters. Nick had to balance his role as a doctor, as a son (to his father, the reason he moved back), as a husband (when Diane was alive), as a father, and as an ex-lover. Maddie had to balance her role as the dutiful daughter, the ex-lover of two men, and more. The only reason this didn't get 5/5 is I wish for more karma upon that irresponsible beau.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Expecting mother had to move home after being dumped AND pregnant; encountered the man who broke her heart 16 years ago, now a single father...

Tropes: pregnancy, reunion, return, docto/patient, scars, single parent, family pressure

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Loving Lindsey (The Protectors Book 1) by Patricia Keelyn

Loving Lindsey managed to combine several layers of intrigue and suspense into a second chance romance. While I kinda realized who the perp is by about mid-book, it was somewhat jarring to see "kidnap the FMC" used to resolve the plot, then I was surprised to see a SECOND grand gesture (rescue was the first) to resolve the story on a genuine happy note.

To recap the story: Lindsey Baker and Will Claxton had once been best friends until Lindsey's father foreclosed on a loan that cost Will his family's land. That ended that friendship. But now Will is back and managed the largest ranch in the area, and he'd love to buy Lindsey out of a piece of her ranch to get back his family land. And it just happens that a series of accidents and sabotage on Lindsey's ranch set the ranch hands on edge... But Will claimed he had nothing to do with it. Lindsey would love to sell the land but she promised her dying father never to break up the ranch, much to her brother's dismay. And Lindsey did not like (but enjoyed) the new affection toward her by Will... Could it be that Will finally saw her not as a little sister, but a real woman? Or was he just messing with her head trying to get her to sell? Who's sabotaging her ranch if it's not Will?

Both Lindsey and Will are pretty well-rounded characters. Lindsey won't take guff from disrespectful people, and she's completely honorable in trying to keep her father's promise, even though it's not very reasonable request, as the land they had to manage is a bit larger than they can handle. Will on the other hand, was a bit weaker. He'll make a deal to get his land back, and he offered SEVERAL solutions to help Lindsey out of her problems, esp. after her barn burned down and she had no insurance, but she was stubborn and took none of them. The HEA was a compromise of sorts, and I fear I already revealed too much. But the resolution was definitely satisfying AND sweet.

Category: romantic suspense

Primary Plot: Woman's family ranch is being sabotaged, is her handsome neighbor responsible? If not, can he protect her from the saboteurs?

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, kidnapping, woman in peril, protector

Overall Rating:  5/5

GRR Review Once A Wife (A Mother's Heart Book 2) by Patricia Keelyn

Once A Wife is a surprisingly emotional drama about what appeared to be the right choices at the time have very lasting consequences, but actions done for love always deserve forgiveness. And lovers will be together at the end.

Reese, a blueblood, married Sarah, a half-white/half-native American when they were barely of legal age and had a son that was diabetic upon birth. Reese was disowned due to his marriage, and was working multiple jobs trying to make ends meet. Sarah, hiding her pregnancy, chose to leave her husband and child to let his family take him back, when her mother-in-law offered her the devil's bargain. Twelve years later, the kid's a teenager and getting self-destructive because Reese is about to marry for convenience and get into politics, neglecting his home life and his son. Sarah chose to get involved in her son's life, even if she had to pretend to be a stranger... and when the truth is revealed, Reese and Sarah must confront their past and possibly rebuild their future.

While the emotional swings are very poignant and almost tear-jerking, there was also a lot of pride and honor, as each doing what was right based on their own beliefs, and they don't always match. When Sarah chose to get involved with the kid Drew's life to help the kid cope, Reese's first instinctive reply is "no". All he remembered was the betrayal, for she did a great acting job twelve years ago pretending to be leaving for someone else. Twelve years later, he was still reacting emotionally rather than logically upon seeing her. This is both dramatic... and yet not very logical for someone supposedly mature enough to run for state office.

The darkest hour was pretty dark when secrets were revealed ahead of schedule. However, grand gesture was too far delayed (months later) in book time resulting in a bit of exasperated "what's taking so long!" reaction. Still, it's an emotional journey and a reminder that love takes many forms.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman who chose to leave her husband to save her son (and carried a secret daughter) have to go back twelve years later to help her son... without revealing her real identity

Tropes: secret baby, reunion, enemies to lovers

Overall Rating: 4/5