One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books from the Coyote Canyon series. Talulah was such a hit for me, I had to return to this world again and again. All trips were a great success!
The Talk of Coyote Canyon by Brenda Novak
Published by MIRA on November 28, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
She’s not here to make friends. She’s here to make trouble.
With her piercings, tattoos and spiky blond hair, Ellen Truesdale doesn’t quite fit in with the other folks in Coyote Canyon—and that’s just fine with her. She’s only here to put her father out of business, as payback for abandoning her when she was young.
Or is she more interested in finally proving that she was worth keeping?
Either way, she’s struggling to keep her rival well-drilling company afloat. And being a single woman in a male-dominated field has started to take a toll. So when Hendrix Durrant steps in to help, Ellen has no choice but to let him—even though he happens to be her father’s business partner and therefore her enemy. But the closer she works with him, the more she sees what she’s been missing…in life and love. And once she lets go of her anger long enough to learn the truth about her past, she might just find the family she’s always wanted.
When I met Ellen in the last book, I would never have figured her past had been that tough. Ellen was an independent and confident woman, but deep down, she dealt with a lot of loneliness and feelings of abandonment.
It was a twist of fate that she and Hendrix found something special in each other. Ellen had long seen him as the enemy who won the attention of her father. Hendrix saw Ellen as the competition who was stealing his customers. But when they stopped and took the time to really think about the other person, they found someone they wanted to know better. I liked them together. Their romantic trysts were punctuated with lots of glee, and I had no problem imagining them sharing a future together.
As with the last book, there was a bit of a suspense element. I was rather surprised by it, to be honest. I really didn't see that coming, but in all honesty, it was the union between Hendrix and Ellen that I cared about most. It was wonderful seeing them grow closer, and it was fantastic to see someone care for Ellen when she had to take care of herself for so long. I felt like she was robbed her childhood by her mother, and she deserved to have someone lavish her with love, affection, and attention.
I look forward to reading more stories set in Coyote Canyon and getting the opportunity to catch up with Ellen, Hendrix, Talulah, and Brant.
The Messy Life of Jane Tanner by Brenda Novak
Published by MIRA on February 20, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
When your life is chaotic, what’s one more complication?
Jane Tanner’s friends are settling down, while she’s been settling for less. She longs for adventure and the big city, but caring for her ailing grandfather means she's shackled to her small town. She’s excited her vintage gift shop is finally up and running, but it’s not enough.
Longing to fulfill at least one dream—to become a mother before her biological clock ticks out—Jane drunkenly propositions the worst possible candidate for Dad . Kurt Elway is off-limits with a capital O . He’s a good friend, but he's too young, too busy running his family’s ranch. Plus, he and Jane’s sister, Kate, used to date. That kind of off-limits.
Unbeknownst to Jane, Kurt’s pining for her. When he’s fully on board to father her baby, she sees him in a new light. Then lingering baggage between Kate and Kurt suddenly surfaces and Jane is reminded of just how messy life is. But…so is parenting. Maybe it’s time to embrace the mess?
Jane Tanner wasn't getting any younger, and well, her clock was ticking. She made a choice that she was going to have a child on her own, but she didn't want an anonymous donor. What Jane thought was a favor from a friend turned into something that was simultaneously messy and wonderful.
I am a big fan of the Coyote Canyon books. It's been a pleasure getting to know Talulah and Ellen, and I was eager to learn more about Jane. I liked Jane a lot, and she earned my respect and affection because she was a good person. She gave a lot of herself to those she loved. Some examples are caring for her ill grandfather, stepping in to help her sister, and being a great friend. There were times I felt she sacrificed her own happiness for others though, and it really frustrated me. She almost passed on a man who had hearts in his eyes for her for a few not very good reasons if you ask me.
But not to worry, Kurt and Jane's romance took root despite her reluctance to let him in. Kurt really was a gem. I didn't care that he was younger than Jane, nor did I care about who he dated in his past. Kurt was a sweetheart who had had a thing for Jane for a long time. She had written Kurt off for being younger while he thought Jane was out of his league. It took them some time to realize there was something special between them to explore, and they were so good together.
If you have read the other Coyote Canyon books, I think you will enjoy how much page time Talulah, Ellen, and their partners get. I am such a fan of the couple catch up, and not only did we catch up, we spent some quality time with them, too. The inclusion of these characters really highlighted their friendship and the community of Coyote Canyon, and I have a soft spot for such things.
One thing I enjoyed more than I thought I would was Averil's part in this story. She was the villain in the past two books, but Novak was very kind, and granted her a redemption and comeback arc in this book. It was great to see Averil atone for her missteps and attempt to make amends while also taking positive steps to rebuild her life.
As expected, I had a wonderful time in Coyote Canyon. I really hope Novak has more stories to tell because I am eager to return to this world.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Let us know in the comments!
I am such a fan of the couple catch up, and not only did we catch up, we spent some quality time with them, too. - I think this is a big part of the reason that Score's Knockemout series is so long. All of the couples, plus a few that aren't the main couples, get so much page line and are integral to the plot. That's definitely one of the things I love about the series. This sounds like a winner, too!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the big draw of companion novels for me. You can read them all or only one, but there is a payoff when you read them all.
DeleteYes, I felt so terrible for how Ellen was treated! The stepmother was awful and I think she needs to spend a long time making amends. I'm surprised that Averil turned around. She was really a villain in the last couple of books. I'm looking forward to reading all about it!
ReplyDeleteHer stepmother was terrible, her mother was terrible, and then, YOU KNOW! I was happy with how it all turned out though. I like that Novak gave Averil a redemption arc. I saw Deanna pondering if she will get a book. I would read it, though I felt like she got a big spotlight in Jane's book. Who knows!
DeleteIt's been a while since I read anything from Novak but I enjoy her style of women's fiction/romance. She tells a solid story with characters that feel real and relatable.
ReplyDeleteThis series was solid. I liked it a lot and plan to check out some of her older books
DeleteIt really sounds like the author has created such a rich world full of wonderful characters!
ReplyDeleteShe did, and I found I cared for them all, too. I hope are there are more stories to tell
DeleteYay! Glad you enjoyed both of these. I was with you on enjoying Averil's part more than I thought I would.
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for a redemption story. Even though this book wasn't Averil's, she was given a big chunk of hit
DeleteWell I might have to add that Coyote Canyon series to my TBR then!
ReplyDeleteIt is a great series. So much to enjoy, too
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