Love on the Line, by Deeanne Gist

Setting

1904

Brenham, Texas

Synopsis

Luke Palmer is a handsome Texas Ranger, sent to work with local switchboard operator, Georgie Gail, undercover as a telephone repairman. The two have a love/hate relationship from the start.  Sparks fly and tempers flare.  Georgie is very independent, and proud of making her own way in a man's world.  Luke has no patience for a spunky bird watcher who doesn't know her place. However, once she spies him, armed and acting suspiciously when he's supposed to be working, he is forced to tell her what he's up to.  When she is put in danger as a result, his job and his life get a great deal more complicated.  Will he jeopardize everything to protect her?

Review

What a quirky, humorous, unique and charming story!  Georgie's obsession with birds and her fight against women using bird parts in their gawdy hats was certainly unexpected.  Luke's character was endearing.  He's so gruff and determined.  He has no desire to work with this woman or to fall in love.  This job is just a means to an end, a way to roam the countryside unnoticed, while he searches for a notorious gang.  Yet he can't seem to prevent himself from thinking about Georgie.  There is such wonderful tension between the two of them, as they fight their attraction for one another.  My favorite scene is when she has to pull a multitude of splinters from his body after he falls down a telephone pole.  It is so awkward and sensual.  It could read that part over and over again and still enjoy it immensely!  I totally recommend this book if you like a story with plenty of sparks and humor, and a bit of suspense mixed in.

Edgy Content

1) Romance scenes are sure to make your pulse pick up a notch.  This is definitely not a story that white-washes human emotion. However, as always, this author finds a way of including these things in perfect measure, without going over the top.

A Passion Most Pure, by Julie Lessman

Setting

1916
Irish community in Boston, Massachusetts

Synopsis

Faith O'Conner has loved Collin McGuire since she was a child, when he stood up to those who bullied her.  However, he has undeniably grown into a rogue.  Her strong convictions tell her that she should not be attracted to him.  Besides that, he is secretly dating her sister, which causes a rather awkward situation.  Faith finds herself fighting her own feelings, though she is largely unsuccessful.  Collin feels trapped between his commitments, his past, and his growing love for Faith, all the while knowing that she will not marry him unless he changes his ways.  But war has a way of changing men.  By the time he becomes the man he is meant to be, will it be too late for him and Faith?

Review

I absolutely fell in love with this book!  Anything by Julie Lessman is sure to please, but this one is my favorite.  Set in 1916, it is a bit more of a modern setting than I am usually drawn to, but I'm so glad I gave this one a chance.  Collin's character is so endearing. He is one of those people who is so sure that he is beyond the scope of redemption and true happiness. He's been promiscuous and confused for so long, looking for love in all the wrong places. Faith tries so hard to do the right thing, but she can't squash her deep affections for him no matter how hard she tries.  He is always there, in the forefront of her thoughts and her heart.  The emotions and depth of character are so real and so enthralling.  I couldn't help but be utterly captivated from start to finish.  It is definitely worth reading over and over again.

Edgy Content

1) Steamy romance scenes, which are quite emotional and likely to cause your pulse to race, though tastefully written.

2) Promiscuity and struggling with temptation.  Collin's immorality might bother some readers of the Christian Romance genre. I, for one, was endeared by it, not because I agree with it but because it added so much depth and agony to Collin's character.  It caused so many of the struggles throughout the story, and it made his fighting against his baser instincts, and also his eventual gaining of greater faith, feel all the sweeter.