With Open Arms: Song Of The West\Her Mother's Keeper (Silhouette Single Title)

Song of the West

The towering mountains and windswept plains called to her. But she'd never intended to stay forever -- until Jake Tanner stirred her emotions like a summer tornado and made it impossible for her to leave. But no man was going to seduce Samantha Evans to give up her dreams. Even a cocky cowboy who made her blood go hot . . .

Her Mother's Keeper

She'd left town a starry-eyed innocent headed for the big city. Now Gwen Lacrosse returned home a savvy, sophisticated woman. But her mother's maddening new boarder enticed her as no one had before. Luke Powers was reputed to be an expert in both words and women -- and soon he was turning Gwen's cool reason into something else entirely . . .

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Boring!, 2007-08-01
Both of these short stories are basically the exact same down to some of the dialogue used in each. Don't waste your time.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Open Arms, 2007-04-04
Dear Ms. Nora Roberts:
I am a sophomore at Lee Davis High School and loved your book. I thought this book was the most interested yet by far a great book I have read in the past month. This book kind of sent out a message about love and stuff she didn't want to do. The first story I'm going to talk about is called Song Of The West. I loved what you have done to make it seem so real to people who might want to read this or have already read it. It's like she didn't want to leave because somebody has swept her off her feet. It was like it was to impossible for her to leave or saying goodbye to him would just hurt them both. The next story I'm going to talk about is called Her Mother's Keeper. This one right here was good also but I just didn't quite get it when she moved back to her old city. When she moved back she found love and happiness in a guy that she had been introduced to when she came back. It's like he had the way with the lady's and always said things to make her feel good inside. Well thanks for listening and keep up the good work and I wish nothing but the best for you in the future.



12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

I can't believe this book was written by Nora Roberts, 2005-02-22
The stories, and especially the dialogues, are absolutely ridiculous. The only redeeming and worthwhile parts were the vividly described, luscious settings.

1. Song of the West: The description off the back cover is so inaccurate it's like they are talking about a totally different story. For example, I wonder what dream Jake was trying to seduce Samantha into giving up for him?

Samantha came to Wyoming to look after her pregnant twin sister, who was on medically prescribed bedrest. While she was there she fell in love with the wide-open spaces, the country air, and the lifestyle on the Wyoming ranch. She wanted to remain in Wyoming permanently, but what made it impossible to stay was that she also fell in love with the rancher next-door. She thought he was committed to a more sophisticated woman, and she couldn't bear to stay while he made a homelife with someone else, so she decided to leave as soon as possible. (The opposite of what the back cover says) It's hard to imagine that someone as strong and as self-sufficient as Samantha would walk away from the challenge of another woman being interested in the man she loved.

One thing I find very annoying in romance novels is incessant and unnecessary bickering between the characters, supposedly representing sexual tension or a conflict. Samanatha started off as a giving and unselfish woman, yet I was immediately turned off by her antagonistic and hostile reaction to Jake. Yes, he was very flirtatious, but definitely not the arrogant condescending playboy he is made out to be, and Samantha seemed to overreact in such a silly negative way to his charm. In the end, Jake became quite aggresive in his pursuit of her, but quite frankly it was a welcome break in the plot, and the only way he'd get through her stubborness and they'd finally come together and resolve their conflict.

2. Her Mother's Keeper: I enjoyed this story a little more than the first one, and at least the back cover described it accurately. I found the entire concept upon which the story is based, that Gwen left her job in NY and came home to New Orleans to break up an assumed affair (which turned out to be unfounded) between her 47 year old mother and a 35 year old writer, to be totally proposterous. Why should this bother her, and what business it is of hers???

With the same annoying bickering as in the above story, Gwen immediately responded to Luke with undeserved harsh animosity, judging him without knowing anything about him, or having the facts straight. Gwen was so quick to assume the worst about him (she was also too quick to have sex with him, especially while proclaiming to dislike him so much). Luke summed it up best when he told Gwen that one day, she just might be the woman her mother is, one who looks for the good in everyone and finds it.




2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Couldn't even finish..., 2004-09-03
Ususally i love Nora Roberts, but I couldn't even finish these stories. Especially " Her Mother's Keeper", because in the beginning, Gwen doesn't like the idea of her mother dating a man twelve years younger than her, but she herself is 12 years younger than Luke. She's very hypocrytical.



2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Fluff, 2004-08-05
Nora sure knows how to describe the men. I can understand how the "cowboy" got and kept his alluring shape, but how did the novelist in the 2nd story do it? Occasionally chopping down a tree? I found it difficult to remember Gwen's mom was stated as being 47. Her mannerisms and expressions and behavior spoke of someone at least 20 years or more older. Do 47 year old women go around calling 35 year old male boarders darling? And everyone was dear with a pat on the hand. I have a 47 year old daughter and she certainly doesn't act like that, nor do I. Yes what was the reason to republish these 2 old novels in a new book?

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