Return To Crystal Creek

Rating:
Summary: An enchanting read -- Highly recommended
Review: Authors Vicki Lewis Thompson, Cathy Gillen Thacker and Bethany Campbell have made this reviewer a new fan of the delightful small town of Crystal Creek and its charming citizens. As it faces the radical changes of moving into the new decade, Crystal Creek's determination to maintain small town closeness provides a delightful refuge to readers longing to escape the hurried pace and impersonal feeling of big cities.

"I'll Take Texas" by Bethany Campbell: In the midst of May Madness, a stranger moves through evaluating the landscape and its inhabitants. Nick Belyle brings the promise of radical change in the guise of progress with his representation of Castle Enterprises. But his mysterious errand and its consequences promise to affect all of Crystal Creek. Worse, the last thing Nick expected was to confront the girl he never forgot, or the explosive passion they could share if their interests were not so divided by his job.

Author Bethany Campbell pens a powerful tale of lovers caught in star-crossed purposes, confronting the desires of the heart and the demands of loyalty in a story both tender and passionate. Shelby Sprague mistrusts slick men with big city values. Nick is loyal to Castle Enterprises and the miracles the owner made possible. While progress must continue, Campbell pens a solution that shakes the small town of Crystal Creek without destroying it.

"Made for Lovin' You" by Cathy Gillen Thacker: Claire Page left her groom standing at the altar after a stunning disclosure left her unable to marry her blue-blooded fiancé. Now she seeks refuge from the gossip in Crystal Creek, planning to stay away from another relationship until she has time to heal. However, her fierce independence only serves as a challenge to veterinarian Dusty Turner, who cannot resist this sexy city-girl. The more she pushes him away, the more Dusty becomes determined to prove that time has no meaning in matters of the heart.

Cowboys, pick-up trucks and spicy Tex-mix make for a flavorful combination with Cathy Gillen Thacker's pen. Claire wisely refuses to salve one broken romance by springing immediately into a new one. Her feistiness and sassiness make for a lively read, especially when Dusty is equally determined to enjoy the magic of love, despite the unfortunate romantic circumstances that drove them both to Crystal Creek. Thacker presents a lovely tale of small town values, healing and enchantment.

"She Used to be Mine" by Vicki Lewis Thompson: Teague Sloan Jr. returns to Crystal Creek on a traitor's mission. Once an employee of the Hole in the Wall Dude Ranch, now he has been contracted to move their exotic animals elsewhere to prepare for Castle Enterprise's extreme changes. Kendra Lynn Burton fell in love with Teague during their time there, but refused to follow him to the big city when he left. Instead, she makes plans to dig her roots even deeper, no matter how Teague uses his return visit to lure her away.

Vicki Lewis Thompson uses her skills to blend hot passion with tender emotion to great effect in "She Used to be Mine." Teague's carefully planned seduction that goes awry will touch reader's hearts, even as his determination to win the woman he loves puts him directly at cross-purposes with her dreams. With a shared history but different goals, Kendra and Teague seem to find themselves at an impasse that only the charm of Crystal Creek can overcome.

Small town Crystal Creek confronts traumatic change when Castle Enterprises lures sellers with millions. From the first moment Nick appears in town, Crystal Creek will never be the same. Nevertheless, authors Thompson, Thacker and Campbell confront those changes with unique voices even as they all move through the transitions gracefully. Readers who have not yet enjoyed a quiet afternoon in Crystal Creek will treasure its memorable citizens and new friends. Readers who've treasured this town through the previous twenty-seven books will take great pleasure in this RETURN TO CRYSTAL CREEK.