Series: Gold Valley (Book 3.5)
Christmastime in Gold Valley, Oregon, means hot
chocolate, snowy nights and one very sexy cowboy holiday surprise…
There's only one thing Chloe Nolan wants for Christmas
this year -- and he wears a cowboy hat and is completely off-limits. When her
mom married into the Reid family, Chloe found her calling, working with horses
on the ranch. How could she risk that newfound stability by revealing her crush
on her stepbrother, Tanner? But when Chloe and Tanner get snowed in on their
way to a family gathering, it's just the chance to extinguish the flame that's
been burning for too long. One night. One wish. One bed…
She's the woman Tanner's always wanted -- and vowed he'd
never touch. Yet when Chloe reveals her secret wish, all those years of pent-up
longing erupt with life-changing force. Now it's Tanner's turn to take a risk,
and turn one magical Christmas night into the beginning of forever…
Short and steamy story. Years ago, Chloe's mom married
Tanner's father, giving Chloe three new brothers. The problem is, the oldest
brother, Tanner, never felt like a brother to her. She's always had feelings
for him, and they've gotten stronger the older she is. She has a great job
working with the ranch horses and terrific relationships with Calder and
Jackson and their wives. She doesn't want to risk those relationships by
revealing her feelings for Tanner.
Tanner is caught between a rock and a hard place. The
family is gathering at a cabin in the mountains, and he and Chloe are the only
ones who haven't left yet. Bad weather has made it inadvisable for Chloe to
drive her car, which means riding with him. Tanner is not looking forward to
being cooped up in his truck with the woman who has driven him crazy since she
turned eighteen. Lusting after his stepsister is all kinds of wrong...
I liked the relationship between Chloe and Tanner. They
know each other well and have had a good influence on each other. Tanner taught
Chloe everything she knows about horses and gave her the confidence to work
with them. Chloe's arrival at the ranch and her wide-eyed wonder and
appreciation for it opened Tanner's eyes to everything he took for granted
about it. This made him appreciate it more. Neither has let on to the other
about their "inappropriate" feelings, unwilling to rock the family
boat.
Then Chloe and Tanner get trapped by bad weather on their
way to the family get-together. They get the last room at the hotel - a room
with only one bed. Chloe can't take it anymore and confesses to Tanner about
how badly she wants him. Tanner is stunned, but there's no way that he can
resist her. Both agree that it's just one night because neither wants to deal
with family reaction. The problem is that once just isn't enough. Tanner
realizes that Chloe is it for him and is willing to take a chance. But Chloe is
afraid to trust that Tanner's feelings will last. I loved Tanner's
determination and laughed when he sought advice from his younger brothers. His
big moment at the end was sweet and romantic, as he systematically countered
all of her fears. I also loved the epilogue - especially Chloe's Christmas
present for Tanner.
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