Veena’s review of Should Have Said No (Thistle Bend, Book 1) by Tracy Marsh
Contemporary Romance published by Loveswept 24 Nov 15
This is a cute contemporary small-town romance. Lindsey arrives in town to set up a heritage museum in Thistle Bend, Colorado, where her role puts her smack dab in the middle of a feud between the Crenshaws and Karlssons, who both want her to represent history in their favor. It turns out that she is also not quite unbiased, since the Karlssons are not only distant relatives but they’ve also helped her land this job. As she goes about settling down, meeting the locals and making friends, will she get the chance to find the truth or will her loyalties to the Karlssons get in the way of her growing romance with Carden Crenshaw?
Carden is the poster child for a perfect hero: young, handsome, rich and a really nice young man. Despite being related to one of the ruling families of the town, he helps the older townspeople with all manner of jobs that they need. I like that he actually goes out and does some of this work himself as opposed to paying some of the ranch hands to do it. He’s a bit gun shy about love, having been hurt in the past, but Lindsey blasts through all his shields, until he finds out that she’s done her own brand of deceit in keeping her family connections hidden from him.
Lindsey is talented and determined to make her way back to the big city, but the small town and its inhabitants, especially Carden, have wormed themselves into her heart. Her project to bring the heritage museum to life is fulfilling and absorbing. She’s had her own share of betrayal in her past, which makes her as wary as Carden, but love has a way of sweeping away doubts and fears.
The back story about the feud and how it originated threads itself throughout the book. It’s fun to follow along the path with Lindsey as she tries to work through the stories and documents to figure out what happened and why. The actual origin will come as much as a surprise to the reader as it does to the townspeople. For a town that thrives on gossip, where everyone knows everyone’s business, sometimes even before they know it themselves, this is definitely a well-kept secret.
I enjoyed the historical facts about the wildflowers and lapis lazuli and other local facts that are scattered throughout the story. Colorado is one state that I haven’t visited, but this story definitely wants me to consider a vacation in the region.
Grade: B
Summary:
Welcome to Thistle Bend! this charming series debut introduces a small town where old secrets are revealed—and wounded hearts are opened to new love.
A year after being laid off from the Smithsonian, Lindsey Simms says yes to a job offer as curator of a heritage museum in Thistle Bend, Colorado (population 1,519). It could be worse—and it is. Because the new museum has escalated a dispute between the Karlssons, Lindsey’s relatives, and the Crenshaws, a blood feud which goes way back to a land deal that changed the fortunes of both families. Trying to stay objective, Lindsey can’t tell anyone about her conflict of interest—especially not the ruggedly handsome handyman fixing up her cabin, who seems to be keeping secrets of his own.
Although he’s the executive director of the family trust and one of Colorado’s most eligible bachelors, Carden Crenshaw prefers getting his hands dirty in town and on his sprawling ranch. Staying busy has given him an excuse not to risk heartbreak, but getting to know the beautiful “museum lady” makes him reconsider. Little does he know, the heat between them will only add fuel to the fire—unless this unlikely couple can prove they’re lovers, not fighters.
No excerpt available.
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