WAITING FOR SPRING, by Amanda Cabot

As a widow, Charlotte Harding faces a daunting challenge. She's hiding from the tainted legacy of her late husband, and caring for her young son on her own. She believes that by coming to Cheyenne, she's successfully put the past behind her, although she's troubled by the lies she's had to tell to do so.
Barrett Landry is one of Cheyenne's most influential cattle barons. He's on the cusp of running for senator for the soon-to-be state of Wyoming. His political slogan is "Landry Never Lies."  One of the town's most eligible young women is waiting to receive his proposal.
Yet once he meets Charlotte, he finds himself drawn to her ideals, as well as her beauty. She knows their match is impossible--her past would never stand up to political scrutiny. The hurdles the two of them face seem insurmountable.
Throw in a shadowy threat from Charlotte's past, and the challenges of rearing her young son, and the reader wonders how Waiting for Spring will ever reach a satisfying conclusion.
I enjoyed Amanda Cabot's careful crafting of this plot, as well as the authentic details of early Cheyenne. Waiting for Spring is an absorbing tale.
I recommend this book. If you haven’t read Summer of Promise, the first book in the Westward Winds series, you’ll enjoy that one as well, although it's not necessary to read the books in order.
My thanks to the author and Revell for providing my review copy.

DEADLY ADDITIVE, by Donn Taylor

Donn Taylor's book, Deadly Additive, is a roller-coaster ride of excitement. I don't normally gravitate toward Action/Adventure novels, but as a fan of Taylor's writing. I knew I'd like this one.
He mixes switched identities, loathsome bad guys, and an appealing hero and heroine into a hard-to-put-down novel. The action ranges from the tropics to the northern United States, and in every case his descriptions make you feel you're part of the story.
One extra feature that I particularly enjoyed was the inclusion of a family who mangle the English language with malapropisms. I remembered Taylor's humor from his previous book, Rhapsody in Red, and was glad to see it surface again in Deadly Additive.
If you're looking for an enjoyable read over these dark winter nights, I recommend Deadly Additive. The tropical scenes will help you forget the cold.

COURTING CATE, by Leslie Gould

Cate Miller's younger sister Betsy has attracted the attention of most of the eligible men in Paradise, Pennsylvania. The only attention Cate attracts is teasing and avoidance, due to her sharp tongue and quick temper.
When Betsy settles on one beau and wants to marry him, their father makes a new rule: Cate, the older sister, must marry first. Unfortunately, most of the local bachelors have been scorched by Cate's tongue and want nothing to do with her.
When newcomer Pete Treger arrives in town, he's attracted to Cate's beauty and intelligence and seeks out her company. Things look rosy for Betsy and her beau until Cate begins to suspect Pete is more interested in her father's money than in her.
From this point on, the story gets better and better (not to say it wasn't terrific in the first place). The choices Cate and Betsy make had me chuckling through much of Courting Cate.
I loved Courting Cate and recommend this novel highly.
My thanks to the author and Bethany House for my review copy.