My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille (My Heart Belongs) by Erica Vetsch

Fashion artist Priscilla Hutchens has a grudge against the army that has ruined her family and taken the people she holds most dear. When her twin niece and nephew are left orphaned at Fort Bliss, Texas, she swoops down on Fort Bliss to gain custody of them immediately.

There is just one thing standing in the way—Post surgeon Major Elliot Ryder, who is also the twins uncle, also claims the children and thinks he knows what is best for them.

Priscilla and Elliot will cross swords, but each will have to lay down arms if they are to find a lasting peace on which to form the family both are longing for. Who will win the battle? Or will a truce be called for the sake of love and family?

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I really enjoyed this gentle romance set in the heart of Texas during a very volatile time with the surrounding Indians.  The author did a great job of painting a clear picture of the setting and the people for my mind.

Priscilla and Elliot are at odds.  Both are determined to have custody of their young niece and nephew.  Priscilla wants to take them away from the awful Fort they have been living at and Elliot is determined to keep the kids right where they are because it's all they have ever known.  Fortunately, both Priscilla and Elliot are good people trying to do good things so things never get mean or nasty- but there are definitely some tense moments with their tenuous relationship.

I really enjoyed the setting and how the author was able to weave so many characters and situations into the story to make me feel like I was sitting right there, watching it all play out.  It reminded me of a Hallmark movie- especially with the children playing such a large role in the book.  It's a slow and gentle romance and I thought it was great!

I didn't realize when I started reading that this book is part of a series being released- each book by a different author so I'm going to have to keep my eyes on that!  :)

Content:  Clean, some minor peril, Christian elements although nothing preachy

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Cactus Creek Challenge (Cactus Creek Challenge #1) by Erica Vetsch

Anything he can do, I can do better. At least that was what Cassie Bucknell thought before she pinned on Ben Wilder’s badge and took to patrolling the streets of Cactus Creek, Texas. Cassie has been in love with Ben since primer school, but Ben treats her like a little sister. When they are picked to swap jobs for a month as part of the annual Cactus Creek Challenge in their Texas hometown, the schoolhouse is thrown into an uproar, the jail becomes a temporary bank vault, and Cassie and Ben square off in a battle of wills that becomes a battle for their hearts.

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Reviews for this book were popping up and people were saying how fun this book was so I decided that I need to check it out for myself.  I love a good, fun romance.

It took me a little while to get into this book.  It jumps between four main characters and at first I found myself a little annoyed that there were so many people.  I wanted to just focus on the one couple or the other.  Not both.  From the blurb, it sounds like it is just one couple, but it isn't.  It took awhile for me to settle in and know the characters enough that I cared about them all but it did happen.  I became invested in each one of them.  Things start out a little slowly but the momentum builds and by the end things are really rolling along.

I enjoyed Cassie and her inner turmoil the most.  She is trying so hard to get Ben to realize that she is a woman and not a kid anymore.  Ben is so dense.  It's all very amusing.  I enjoyed the dialogue and the sparks between all the main characters.

I thought the premise of the book was creative and different.  The characters switch jobs for a month and Ben becomes the school teacher and Cassie becomes the sheriff.  The other couple switch also and he becomes a baker and she runs the livery.  It's all very comical and I enjoyed this book a whole bunch.  I'll be on the lookout for the next book in this series by this author.

Content:  Clean.  Christian fiction.