Bright Eyes

May 24, 2004
Former rodeo star Zeke Coulter falls head-over-spurs in love with a talented single mom in Anderson's latest Coulter Family romance (following Blue Skies
). The story starts out when Zeke discovers that his house has been vandalized. He chases Chad, the 11-year-old culprit, to a farmhouse where he spies the comely backside of his new neighbor, Natalie Patterson. Natalie, however, is Chad's mother, and the two get off on the wrong foot when Zeke insists that Chad work off the damage over the summer. An impoverished singer and songwriter, Natalie has more on her plate than just a difficult preteen; she also has a four-year-old daughter and a supper club that's on the verge of bankruptcy. Nevertheless, she and her kids pitch in to help Zeke repair his damaged house. Inevitably, love blossoms between the two, but their happily-ever-after seems less than assured when Natalie is accused of murdering her philandering ex-husband, a villain pulled straight from central casting. The bedroom scenes between the two strong-willed, slightly mistrusting protagonists are sweetly titillating, and Anderson's portrayal of Natalie's uncannily smart daughter is winning. Though conventional in plot and sketchy in setting, this is still a rewarding read. Agent, Steve Axelrod.

June 1, 2004
Zeke Coulter thought he liked living alone until he meets his sexy next-door neighbor, singer Natalie Patterson. He went over to talk to her about her young son, Chad, who had vandalized Zeke's vegetable garden and damaged his new home. Hoping to teach the boy to take responsibility for his actions, Zeke insists that Chad work off the damages, but along with her daughter, Rosie, Natalie convinces Zeke to let her help her son so that he can attend summer camp. Recently divorced and struggling to support her two children, Natalie knows Chad is going through a rough time, but it turns out that being with Zeke is exactly what Chad needs. The only problem is that Zeke now realizes just how lonely he is. Anderson, an author who excels at crafting emotionally powerful romances that celebrate the importance of family and love, gives readers another touching, sweetly passionate story of romance as she continues her exceptional contemporary series featuring the Coulters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)