Breathless

Beverly Jenkins is so good at creating fully-realized worlds in her novels - she does the research for her historical romances, and it shows. It's been quite a while since I read [b:Forbidden 25760151 Forbidden (Old West, #1) Beverly Jenkins https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436290539l/25760151.SY75.jpg 45264426], the first book in the series, but since this takes place 15 years later and in a different location, I didn't feel like I was missing a ton. There's not a ton of conflict in this, and the one big external conflict/drama happens in the last 30 or so pages and is resolved in one chapter, so I honestly think it could've been cut out altogether. Regardless, Beverly Jenkins books have become sort of comfort reading for me, even if they're books I haven't read before - I know most of the characters will be good people, the bad ones will get their consequences, and everyone will end up happy. Plus, I'll learn something about history, all around a win.

Alright, I am sorry. I really tried. I wanted to really like this one. But, it had a few things already going against it that I don't typically like in my romances. First, its a western, and second, its a western. Alright, so I guess that didn't sink in when my Aunt told me it was a western, all I heard was it was Dare's publisher, and I was like, Tessa Dare! I love her.

It started out good, there was a lot of drama, they were on the run because Portia's Aunt's husband was pretending to be white and people found out and did not like it, which I imagine in 1885 was a big deal. Then, the story picks up 15 years later, they have a successful hotel and dude ranch, and this is where I got lost. I would have liked to see the story lead up to that I think, instead of all of a sudden they are successful, and have all this stuff. But, at about 18%, I fell asleep. Then, when I woke up I tried to pick the book back up, and fell asleep again. Well, thats a good sign, right? Unfortunately, I just find this writing style and story boring. Portia is adamant about not marrying, but when Kent is drinking water and some drips down his face, she wants to lap it up? OOOOOOOOOOK, lets work up to that. Lets get some flirting in, with him flirting with her, and her getting flustered first, then her having those thoughts since she is supposed to be a strong character who knows what she wants. And she is supposed to not want to get married because of her mother, which is a damn good reason. A strong woman wouldn't just fall apart on her convictions because an attractive guy walks in her life. He would have to have more than looks, yes?

DNF'd at 20%