My Big Old Texas Heartache

Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: For the sixteen years since high school, Kate Harmon has been avoiding her hometown of Cedar Dell, Texas. When Kate became an unwed mother, she created a Texas size scandal by not only keeping the baby but also by keeping the father's identity secret. Max Cooper, the father of Kate's son Ryan, was not prepared to become a father as a senior in high school. He grew up the poor son of an alcoholic father. His only hope of getting out of poverty was to go to college and possibly playing pro football. While Max didn't marry Kate, he did forgo a possible football career and signed up for the Air Force so he could be sure to provide his son with child support. Max did become a part of Ryan's life for a while but the two are now estranged. Kate and Max are both back in Cedar Dell. Kate is caring for her elderly father who has been in an accident and Max, who is widowed, wants to raise his five year old daughter in the small town he grew up in.

This is a great story. The characters are well developed. You really get a feeling for life in this small town. Ms. Dawson did a good job of growing the relationships between the characters so you could believe how they go from conflict to friendship to more. Kate works with Max to resolve the problems between Ryan and Max because it's what's best for her son.

Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: For the sixteen years since high school, Kate Harmon has been avoiding her hometown of Cedar Dell, Texas. When Kate became an unwed mother, she created a Texas size scandal by not only keeping the baby but also by keeping the father's identity secret. Max Cooper, the father of Kate's son Ryan, was not prepared to become a father as a senior in high school. He grew up the poor son of an alcoholic father. His only hope of getting out of poverty was to go to college and possibly playing pro football. While Max didn't marry Kate, he did forgo a possible football career and signed up for the Air Force so he could be sure to provide his son with child support. Max did become a part of Ryan's life for a while but the two are now estranged. Kate and Max are both back in Cedar Dell. Kate is caring for her elderly father who has been in an accident and Max, who is widowed, wants to raise his five year old daughter in the small town he grew up in.

This is a great story. The characters are well developed. You really get a feeling for life in this small town. Ms. Dawson did a good job of growing the relationships between the characters so you could believe how they go from conflict to friendship to more. Kate works with Max to resolve the problems between Ryan and Max because it's what's best for her son.

Rating:
Summary: A Keeper For Me
Review: Kate comes back home and brings her son Ryan, she got pregnant and no one knew who the father was, she was the talk of the town. When Kate comes back home, Max Ryan's father is so thrilled that they are back now he can get to know his son but Ryan dosen't want nothing to do with him. Max has a daughter she is the cutest litttle thing the things she would say just made me laugh. Kate is trying to get along with her father, he is not making it easy for her. Reading this book, I fell in love with Max, and I found myself rooting for them to be a family but they have to get through things before that happens this book will be a keeper for me.

Happy Reading Lisa

Rating:
Summary: I must be the only one!!!
Review: Let me start off by saying that this book was extremely well written BUT I hated the hero, Max. He left the heroine when she was pregnant with his child, got angry with her because she wouldn't have an abortion, angry with her when she wouldn't give her son up for adoption, fell in love with and married another woman, had a child with her and then after his wife died decided maybe the woman he'd dropped might look pretty good after all. He let everyone in their hometown call their son a bastard, never once in 18 years admitting to being his father(although since they both lived in another city he did have a relationship with his son and did pay child support) So, after all that he pretty much expected Kate, the heroine to be grateful that he decided it was "the right time" for them to be together. Personally, if I was Kate, I'd have jumped on Nicholas(the good looking boss)and told Max to hit the road.

Rating:
Summary: A Hero to Go Home To
Review: Max Cooper. Yummy. Lucky, lucky Kate. This book was too good to put down. I read it in one sitting and it made me miss my psychology class. There's probably a message in that.

Rating:
Summary: A Hero to Go Home To
Review: Max Cooper. Yummy. Lucky, lucky Kate. This book was too good to put down. I read it in one sitting and it made me miss my psychology class. There's probably a message in that.

Rating:
Summary: MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE
Review: MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE
Geralyn Dawson

Pocket
August 2003

When Kate Harmon is summoned back to Cedar Dell, Texas, for a family emergency, she does not hesitate one second. Kate's father has been in a car accident and will need someone to help take care of him for about three months while his injuries heal. Kate's two older siblings, Tom and Sarah, are unable to be responsible for him; Tom because he can't leave his job in Houston for that long, and Sarah because she is expecting her first child and is having complications. Kate can run her accounting business out of her father's home, and run into Dallas if a client needs her.

Kate left Cedar Dell seventeen years ago after causing quite a scandal; she was pregnant and unwed. She and her father parted on bitter terms, and she is hoping that they can mend the rift that has caused her so much pain. Kate, her seventeen-year-old son, Ryan, and Adele, Kate's best friend and companion, make the temporary move to Cedar Dell.

Max Cooper has also returned to Cedar Dell with his five-year-old daughter, Shannon. Ryan knows that Max is his father, but the young man wants nothing to do with him. Kate is upset that Max is back in town because one look at him and Ryan together, and the good folks of Cedar Dell will know that they are father and son, a fact that Kate has kept secret from everyone.

This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE for several reasons, the prime one being that the book was extremely well written and moved smoothly and rapidly. Kate and Max share a history and a son; their "history" was only for one night, but they both love their son deeply. Geralyn Dawson does a magnificent job of weaving this story in a believable way that grabs your attention from the beginning. This is a very enjoyable visit to small town Cedar Dell, Texas, that will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone and leave you with a big old smile on your face.

Betty Cox for readertoreader.com

Rating:
Summary: MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE
Review: MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE
Geralyn Dawson

Pocket
August 2003

When Kate Harmon is summoned back to Cedar Dell, Texas, for a family emergency, she does not hesitate one second. Kate's father has been in a car accident and will need someone to help take care of him for about three months while his injuries heal. Kate's two older siblings, Tom and Sarah, are unable to be responsible for him; Tom because he can't leave his job in Houston for that long, and Sarah because she is expecting her first child and is having complications. Kate can run her accounting business out of her father's home, and run into Dallas if a client needs her.

Kate left Cedar Dell seventeen years ago after causing quite a scandal; she was pregnant and unwed. She and her father parted on bitter terms, and she is hoping that they can mend the rift that has caused her so much pain. Kate, her seventeen-year-old son, Ryan, and Adele, Kate's best friend and companion, make the temporary move to Cedar Dell.

Max Cooper has also returned to Cedar Dell with his five-year-old daughter, Shannon. Ryan knows that Max is his father, but the young man wants nothing to do with him. Kate is upset that Max is back in town because one look at him and Ryan together, and the good folks of Cedar Dell will know that they are father and son, a fact that Kate has kept secret from everyone.

This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE for several reasons, the prime one being that the book was extremely well written and moved smoothly and rapidly. Kate and Max share a history and a son; their "history" was only for one night, but they both love their son deeply. Geralyn Dawson does a magnificent job of weaving this story in a believable way that grabs your attention from the beginning. This is a very enjoyable visit to small town Cedar Dell, Texas, that will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone and leave you with a big old smile on your face.

Betty Cox for readertoreader.com

Rating:
Summary: A sure fan favorite.
Review: North Dallas CPA Kate Harmon is excited about going out with legal hunk Nicholas Sutherland until she receives a cell phone call from her brother-in-law Alan. He informs her that her dad Jack is in the hospital due to a car accident and her pregnant sister Sarah is there too because of a fear of a miscarriage. Though estranged from her family, Kate rushes to her hometown where she is known as the "Cedar Dell Slut". Already at the hospital is her brother Tom who treats her like a pariah. When her siblings discuss who can stay with their elderly father while he heals, Alan says Kate and her teenage son Ryan. To the shock of Tom and Sarah, Kate agrees.

Two weeks later, Kate, Ryan and her older friend Adele move into Jack's home to a rather icy reception. Next door is photographer Max Cooper and his five year old daughter. Max is the father of Ryan, who loathes him. Still Max wants Ryan in his life, but realizes he also needs Kate too. As they fall in love, both wonder if the second time around will work since her father remains nasty to her and her son remains nasty to his father.

At times the level of angst can become overwhelming, but readers will agree that this is a puissant three generation contemporary family drama. The story line is loaded (perhaps overloaded) with relational conflict between characters who feel like family and friends. Kate, with her big Texas heartaches, serves as a great nucleus that makes Geralyn Dawson's tale a sure fan favorite.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A sure fan favorite.
Review: North Dallas CPA Kate Harmon is excited about going out with legal hunk Nicholas Sutherland until she receives a cell phone call from her brother-in-law Alan. He informs her that her dad Jack is in the hospital due to a car accident and her pregnant sister Sarah is there too because of a fear of a miscarriage. Though estranged from her family, Kate rushes to her hometown where she is known as the "Cedar Dell Slut". Already at the hospital is her brother Tom who treats her like a pariah. When her siblings discuss who can stay with their elderly father while he heals, Alan says Kate and her teenage son Ryan. To the shock of Tom and Sarah, Kate agrees.

Two weeks later, Kate, Ryan and her older friend Adele move into Jack's home to a rather icy reception. Next door is photographer Max Cooper and his five year old daughter. Max is the father of Ryan, who loathes him. Still Max wants Ryan in his life, but realizes he also needs Kate too. As they fall in love, both wonder if the second time around will work since her father remains nasty to her and her son remains nasty to his father.

At times the level of angst can become overwhelming, but readers will agree that this is a puissant three generation contemporary family drama. The story line is loaded (perhaps overloaded) with relational conflict between characters who feel like family and friends. Kate, with her big Texas heartaches, serves as a great nucleus that makes Geralyn Dawson's tale a sure fan favorite.

Harriet Klausner