First book in a new series- The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller

Linda Lael Miller's first book in a new Brides of Bliss County series and it's a good start. Three friends have started a marriage pact to support each other while they try to make their dreams come true. Hadleigh once thought she had Mr.Right until her late brother's friend Tripp kidnapped her at the altar and ruined her wedding. Then Tripp dropped the news on her that he was married and left her to deal with the aftermath. 
Years later, the women have started the pact and learn that Tripp is back in town sans wife. Hadleigh has to reexamine her feelings about Tripp- does she or doesn't she still love him. Her friends think she needs to resolve her situation once and for all but Hadleigh isn't sure she could stand another rejection. Tripp has finally realized he has feelings for Hadleigh but isn't sure how to win her over.

It takes a while for the romance to get going in this book, but when it finally does it's pretty explosive. Hadleigh and Tripp waste a lot of time circling around each other so when they do get together it seems like you want to say Finally !!! 

The pact premise is a good one to set up future books in the series and there seems to be hints about at least one of the women and a certain town sheriff. Lael Miller is one of my favorite authors and this is a nice addition to her list. 

Wyoming Tough by Diana Palmer

A cowboy through and through, ranch owner Mallory Kirk knows what it means to put in a full day's work. But does his new cowgirl? He has his doubts that Morie Brannt will be able to pull her own weight, even if the petite young woman does seem to have a lot of spirit. As they spar over events at the ranch and a past that threatens their hopes for the future, sparks begin to fly, and Mallory can't help but notice Morie in a new light. But is this tough Wyoming man ready to love? (synopsis from B&N.com)
 

 Harlequin. Mass Market Paperback , 320pp

Wyoming Tough is the first in a Trilogy by Diana Palmer. It features Morie Brannt and Mallory Kirk. Morie is the daughter of Shelby & King Brannt from "To Love and To Cherish" an older Diana Palmer favorite.

Morie is working at the Kirk ranch as a ranch hand. She has kept her real identity a secret because she is trying to be herself not the rich daughter of a well-known cattle baron. Mallory Kirk is her boss, one of the brothers who own the ranch. The chemistry between them is strong ,but Mallory has been betrayed before and is cautious. Morie is inexperienced in the love department but knows how to handle a rough, tough cowboy, having grown up with one for a father.

As happens in many Palmer books, there is a poisonous girlfriend who does everything she can to destroy Morie and turn Mallory against her.

Even though we have seen this before, it still works in this book because Ms. Palmer does such a good job of setting up the inevitable confrontation between the two would be lovers and again between the two women. There is nothing as satisfying as when Ms. Palmer makes the hero and villainess pay for their actions against the usually spunky heroine.

The Kirk brothers have lots of issues between them and I can't wait to read the books about Cane and Dalton Kirk. After I read this book, I had to go back and read the original book about Morie's parents. I enjoyed it as much as this book. That is the great thing about Diana Palmer, many of her books are connected and you can read them over and over and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. This book will not be any different in that regard.

RPL NOTES: This book is available in the Adult New Paperback section. RPL has many of Diana Palmer's other books in the Adult Fiction section.