"Engaging relational romantic suspense"

In Crystal Falls, ranch supply store owner Zeke Coulter turns livid when he sees the damage to his house. When he notices a boy running towards his neighbor's house Zeke follows only to have his brain malfunction as he sees the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He informs Natalie that her eleven year old son Chad vandalized his property. An angry Chad says so what just ask dad to pay. Natalie knows that Robert is too busy with his latest bimbo to worry that his son is falling apart. She informs Zeke she cannot pay him at this time. He says Chad can help repair the damage.

Zeke shows a sullen Chad how to use a saw and praises the lad for doing a fine job making Chad feel good as he is used to his father telling him he is clumsy. That night, Natalie's other child four year old Rosie cuts a deal with Zeke that allows Rosie and Natalie to help Chad pay off his debts. Over the next few days, Zeke falls in love with Natalie and her two children, but know he must go slow as the mom and the son have major relationship problems that become compounded when Natalie will face murder charges.

BRIGHT EYES is an engaging relational romantic suspense that readers will enjoy because of the intriguing interactions between the cast including Chester the gander and the strong attraction between the two lead protagonists. Though Chad overcomes his anger too easily and Robert is too self-indulged, fans will appreciate this fine contemporary even if the lead couple needs to stop chasing fast mice in her bedroom.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 3, 2004

Now in Anderson's latest Coulter family story, serious- minded Zeke Coulter's life begins to sizzle when he finally meets his match .....

Summary

Zeke Coulter has no intention of getting married—until he buys a ranch next door to Natalie Patterson, a sexy divorcée with two kids, a zany family, and a philandering ex-husband involved in shady business dealings. When Natalie's twelve-year-old son vandalizes Zeke's property and she is unable to pay for the damages, Zeke offers to let the boy work off the debt.

As Zeke struggles to instill a sense of responsibility and self-worth in the troubled youngster, he finds his life being turned upside down by Natalie, whose sultry singing voice and striking eyes disguise her underlying lack of belief in herself or in her dream of becoming a professional singer. With rugged determination, Zeke undertakes to bolster her confidence, revive her ability to trust men...and thoroughly seduce her. But just as their attraction begins to blossom, a twist of fate gravely threatens their life together ...