NORTHERN HEARTS by Paige Lee Elliston

I found myself wanting to wrap up in a blanket while reading this book, because the author does a great job of making you feel you were there when the winds blow and the snow falls and the storm comes to Alaska. Anthropologist Tessa Rollins gets an offer she can't refuse; a chance to study the Inuit people in the remote regions of Alaska. She falls in love with its beauty and faces the dangers head on. She finds herself a part of a very rigorous expedition with 5 other people in the dead of Winter and that is when the exciting adventure really begins. It will turn into a life and death struggle. On the expedition are two men who both want to win her heart. Who will she choose? This is one ending I wasn't sure which way it would go until the very end and I must say I enjoyed the way it ended.

This is a great Alaskan adventure that isn't all about the romance, but more about the people who choose to live and love Alaska for many different reasons. This is the closest I will probably ever get to experiencing the isolation and ruggedness of living in a small town in Alaska, but is was a story that will stay with me for awhile because it was very well written. I loved the cover of this book and was captivated by the story also.

HER LONE STAR COWBOY by Debra Clopton

Jess Holden is a cowboy who doesn't think he will ever get married because of his horrible childhood. Then he rescues Gabi Newberry from a flash flood near Mule Hollow, Texas. Gabi is a veterinarian's assistant, granddaughter to one of the matchmakers in Mule Hollow, who has "come home" to start a new life for herself as a new believer. She is spunky, full of life, laughter and love and has Jess rethinking the whole love and marriage idea. But when Gabi shares some of her sordid past with him it could end the love relationship that has just begun.

I loved Gabi in this story. She was fresh, honest and full of life. The impact of alcohlism in this story and how many lives it touched in differing ways makes one realize how awful it is for those who have lived or are living through it. But I loved the hope that Gabi showed; that you can be free from the addiction if you place your faith and trust in the Lord . This was a great romantic story, but it had a good message of forgiveness and hope with it. This is book two in the Mule Hollow Homecoming Series. I look forward to reading more in this series!

TEXAS RANGER DAD by Debra Clopton

A complicated past comes to a quick, present situation when former Texas Ranger Zane Cantrell shows up in Mule Hollow to live and work. He came to see if the only girl he ever loved (and then left to protect her from harm) could still have feelings for him many years later. What he is about to find out is he has a son he never knew about.

Rose Vincent has been living in Mule Hollow with her 14 year old son Max, and making a new life for herself after fleeing a husband who abused her. They are finally making a life for themselves. When she runs into Zane her world is turned upside down. She must now share her secrets with her son and try not to let her heart love again a man who left her when she needed him most. The problem is the whole town, including her son, really wants to get these two together. It is fun to watch, but there is also always a truth to realize in these stories. As the author states in her letter at the end, "I believe we must embrace today and use our past, be it good or be it bad, to make us stronger. If we don't then we aren't helping ourselves and we certainly aren't helping God's purpose for our lives." This wasn't certainly true in "Texas Ranger Dad".

There was humor, heartache, romance and lessons to be learned. I had a good time and also always enjoy reading about the other folks (and animals) in Mule Hollow that I have met from reading the other stories in this series.

THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE by Debra Clopton

First off I would like to say that the cover alone would draw me in to read this story. But I am already hooked on reading all the books in this Mule Hollow series, so regardless of the cover I would have read this story. Mule Hollow, Texas is just a town the romantic at heart will fall in love with.

Sugar Ray Lenox (what a name!) has only one dream - to make it big in Hollywood. One way she thinks she can maybe get noticed is to move to Mule Hollow (where a good friend of hers lives) and open up a "summer stock theatre" and be the leading role. She finds the perfect place for it, an old barn that isn't being used, but belongs to a rancher, Ross Denton. Ross has been raised in the "performance industry" in Branson, MO and came to Mule Hollow to begin a new life of living and working his ranch. He wants no part in turning his barn into a theatre. But you have no idea how persistant Sugar Rae can be, and how attracted Ross is to her. The sparks fly and it is fun to watch! Another fun and fulfilling story in this series.

HER BABY DREAMS by Debra Clopton

Another good story taking place in Mule Hollow. Ashby Templeton has moved to Mule Hollow in the hopes of falling in love, getting married and having a baby. There is just one cowboy though she has no interest in, Dan Dawson. Dan is a cowboy who likes everyone and seems to flirt with all the ladies in town and Ashby wants no part of him. But to Dan, Ashby is a challenge he can't let go of. Dan could make all of Ashby's dreams come true, but first they both need to understand each other, instead of irritating each other.

This was another delightful story taking place in Mule Hollow. The "Mule Hollow Matchmakers" are alive and well in this story also. The town is such a good place to go and enjoy oneself and when my books come to an end, I will miss this place. But I still have more stories to go!! (As a side comment - I didn't think the cover of this story matched the story. By the cover you would think there would be a cute little baby involved in this story, but there is not; there is though the dream of a cute little baby.)

NEXT DOOR DADDY by Debra Clopton

I loved the ending message of this story! It is a story that shows that it is possible after having truly loved someone once, to fall in love again, and to still pay tribute to how one's first love will never be forgotten.

Pollyanna McDonald and her 8 year old son move to Mule Hollow to start over after having lost her husband through a car accident. She finds herself neighbors to Nate Talbert, a reclusive cowboy who has lost his wife. They both have loved and lost someone very special, someone they cannot forget. But this story so beautifully shows a friendship, based on a mutual understanding of each other, and how that grows into a love for each other, without ever taking away from the love they have lost. This was very well done by this author and moved me to tears near the end. It is one of my favorites of this Mule Hollow series.

I also appreciated the author's letter to the reader at the end of the book (something you should always take the time to read). She states, "I pray each of you knows how wonderful and gracious God is. His love is everlasting. He is with us in the best of times, but more importantly, He is with us in the worst of times. When we are weak, He is strong." This is the kind and tenderhearted way that this author writes and I appreciate the way she handled this story. It had a fun and enjoyable feel to it, with a very good love story that will stick with me long after having read it.

OPERATION: MARRIED BY CHRISTMAS by Debra Clopton

Okay, I must say that this story in the Mule Hollow Matchmakers series drove me crazy! I liked the story line, but I just couldn't wrap myself around why Haley Bell Thornton was so mad and unable to forgiven and to stop blaming Will Sutton for the way her life turned out. You see, 10 years ago Haley left Will standing at the altar and since then she has left 2 other men standing at the altar (kind of like the movie, "Runaway Bride". She has now run home to her Grandpa Applegate in Mule Hollow. The folks in Mule Hollow have plans to see Haley and Will married by Christmas, but both of them have to learn to communicate and not "blow up" every time they start to talk. Will starts to see how he might have been at fault for not understanding Haley 10 years ago, but Haley doesn't seem to want to take any responsibility for walking out on their marriage; which is something I just couldn't understand.

I will continue on in my Mule Hollow saga, but this story for me just wasn't as good as the first 5 in this series. The folks of Mule Hollow though have grown on me so I am off to see who will fall in love next!

MEETING HER MATCH by Debra Clopton

Debra Clopton is fast becoming one of my favorite "Love Inspired" authors. Her Mule Hollow series has just been fun and enjoyable, and very romantic!

This story revolves around Sheri Marsh, who is best friends with Lacy Brown, who started the whole series rolling by painting the town of Mule Hollow and getting the whole matchmaking idea rolling. Sheri's mantra is that she has to much fun dating men to actually settle down and marry one. But she didn't count on crossing paths with Pace Gentry, a cowboy "rough around the edges, but whoe heart is true". The author summarized it well in her letter at the end, "And Pace was just the man to help Sheri face her fears and become the woman God intended her to be. And in doing so, he became the man God had set him on the journey to become. They completed each other." That pretty much sums it up for me. Except for saying how much fun it was to watch the romance grow.

I am having a good time reading this series on Mule Hollow and can't wait to see who will be next to find true love in the town of Mule Hollow. As you read this series you will also stay in touch with other characters from previous stories and I like reading about them and seeing how they are doing and getting along.

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM by Debra Clopton

Another fun and delightful story taking place in Mule Hollow, a matchmaking haven for the romantic at heart. This story centers around the reporter, Molly Popp who writes an article on the "marraige-worthiness" of a local rancher, Bob Jacobs. He is not exactly thrilled with the article Molly wrote, nor the overwhelming responses he is getting, via mail and in person. When trouble strikes and Bob gets hurt, Molly, who feels guilty for what happened, steps in and helps Bob out. You know what is going to happen next don't you!

This was fun to watch Bob and Molly try to get along with each other, without falling in love with each other, when they both know it won't work out for them. I liked the way the author very naturally writes into her story lessons to learn and truths to trust in as a Christian. Very well done each and every time. This book is in a series, this being #4, and so far they have all been enjoyable, fun and easy to read. I recommend you begin with #1 ("The Trouble with Lacy Brown") and get to know the town of Mule Hollow and the people who live there

NO PLACE LIKE HOME by Debra Clopton

I am growing to love the folks in Mule Hollow. It would be great if such a town existed, where folks really care for one another, they have a love for the Lord, even when things go wrong sometimes, and where love and romance always seem to be in the air. Debra Clopton does such a good job of developing her characters and writing a good romance story.

Dottie Hart was on a mission, but when she picked up Cassie as a hitch-hiker along the road, she felt it her duty to drive her to where she wanted to go; to Mule Hollow to find herself a husband. Now Dottie is stuck in Mule Hollow with an RV that won't run and a town that seems destined to match her up with the local sheriff, Brady Cannon. Dottie and Brady both have obstacles to overcome, but trust me, the folks of Mule Hollow see the possibilities and Dottie and Brady don't stand a chance. This is just another fun, quick, romantic get-away to the adorable town of Mule Hollow.

This can be read as a stand alone, but it is so much better to read them in order so you get to know the people of Mule Hollow. Once you arrive you will definately want to stay!

AND BABY MAKES FIVE by Debra Clopton

This is another adorable story in the Mule Hollow series. The back of the book says it well, "Two stubborn humans, his dog, her donkey . . and a brand-new baby". Who would ever guess that a donkey named Samantha would be such fun to read about. She had me laughing out loud. And what fun to watch two stubborn people try to hold back their feelings for each other and just be "neighbors". Cort Wells just wants to left alone and Lilly Tipps grew up by her grannies thinking all men are no good, so it will take the donkey to bring them together. A lovely and fun romance!

Although these books I am reading are all a part of the Mule Hollow Series you can read them as a stand alone without any trouble, although they do mention the town and characters from the stories before this one. And they have all been good stories, so start at the beginning and grow to love the folks of Mule Hollow!

THE TROUBLE WITH LACY BROWN by Debra Clopton

I like to read 'Love Inspired" books every now and then because they are quick and easy and generally have a good story line to them. This is the first book in the "Mule Hollow Matchmakers" series and I like the way it is starting off.

Lacy Brown believes the town of Mule Hollow is where the Lord is calling her. The reason she feels called there is kind of cute and humorous. She is going to help the town from dying out by opening a hair salon. You see the town of Mule Hollow has put out an ad for 'women wanted' for all the cowboys in town with no mates. Lacy is there to spruce up the town and the women as they arrive in Mule Hollow. She is a little spitfire who is always on the go. When she literally runs into Clint Matlock she is not prepared for the sparks that fly.

Yes, you know exactly how this is going to end, but it sure is fun reading and watching how it all takes place! Now I am on to another story in the Mule Hollow saga.

For those of you who don't read the author's letter sometimes at the end of a book (you really should if you don't) I felt Debra hit the nail on the head by her description of this story. Speaking about Lacy Brown, "Her zeal for God made me want to draw closer to the Lord in my daily walk and to seek His will with all my heart. She made me want to let my hair down, too, and have some fun. She made me laugh-and that was a very good thing for me at a time when I really needed to smile. I pray you had as much fun as I did and that God blessed you in a special way as you read Lacy's story." Thanks Debra, your story did exactly that for me.