Storms & Secrets by Ann Summerville is the tale of Heather, an English woman who falls in love with a cowboy and marries him, only to have him leave her and head home to Texas. Tired of waiting for him to return, she hops on a plane and follows. Being a proper British lady, she’s not prepared for the Texas heat, quirky but friendly people, and a husband who not only won’t talk with her, he avoids her. She’s given herself two weeks to talk her husband into coming back to England. She becomes close to those who befriend her, including the man who gives her a ride from the airport after her husband is a no-show. But the days go past and she’s no closer to getting her husband back. In fact, things become more and more complicated.
The author, Ann Summerville, was born in England and now lives in Fort. Worth, so she definitely knows both areas. I don’t know how long she’s lived in Texas, but I felt she got the characters right. Some were strange, some were friendly, some were quirky (those I think she patterned after my relatives). It was interesting to see Texas through the eyes of Heather.
I learned to really like Heather as she begins to like Texas and the new friends she’s made. If she stays in Texas (and you’ll have to read the book to find out if she does), I could see her adapting and become a Texan, in which case she would not wait for her husband to come to her to talk. Like any good Texas woman, she’d take a cast iron skillet to the side of his head, knock him out, tie him up, give him a piece of her mind, and keep him gagged so he couldn’t talk back while she ate some scones. I’m just saying…
I’m just saying I liked Storms & Secrets enough to give it a rating of Hel-of-a-Story, since this was the first book I've read where I cheered for the Brit in a stand-off with a Texan.
Storms & Secrets
Amazon paperback
Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Nook
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FTC Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, but that did not influence my review, nor did she ask for a review. I was influenced by the twists and turns and interesting characters. And I actually would like to see more tales starring Heather. If you like a book where the characters push the story forward, I would recommend Storms & Secrets. Speaking of characters, I do believe the character Caroline was based on my Granny Murriel. That’s okay. She’s been gone quite a few years, otherwise, she’d be asking for royalties. Wait a minute, I’m a descendant…I’m just saying.
Like any good Texas woman, she’d take a cast iron skillet to the side of his head, knock him out, tie him up, give him a piece of her mind, and keep him gagged so he couldn’t talk back while she ate some scones.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about what a woman should do with a male who is basically an idiot, and I'm not Texan. I also like scones.
I can't decide if Texan women will scare me or excite me!
ReplyDeleteGo TX women! Ha! Great review, Helen. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review Helen. I had a laugh out loud moment when I got to the skillet part.
ReplyDeleteAnn
'Course, y'all realize I would never do that. I sure do wish I hadn't given my cast iron skillet to my daughter.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun!
ReplyDeleteGood review, Helen, but interesting that the 'cast iron skillet' thing seems to garner the most attention ... what if you had suggested using a Calphalon Unison Slide Nonstick fry pan?
ReplyDeleteChristopher, that doesn't have near the heft or effect of a good old fashioned cast iron skillet. Now there's something to remember.
ReplyDeletelol, Helen. I've got to read the book. My Texas relatives would love it. :)
ReplyDeleteNever had one of those fancy pans, Christopher.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Heather in Storms & Secrets adapts to Texas better than I would to being plopped down in England.
A proper Brit in Texas? Now that is one heck of a twist.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem like polar opposites, don't they Diane? Although...the couple of times I've been to England, I loved it. So it could work in reverse!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of fun to read.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
A Brit in a standoff with a Texan. That line alone is chock-full of story possibility :)
ReplyDeleteNow someone, preferably female, needs to go cast iron skillet on V S Naipaul since he doesn't feel that women are his equal in writing, not with all that sentimental "female tosh."
ReplyDeleteWell if it caused a Texas gal to stand up and cheer for a Brit against a Texan, then it's gotta be one helluva good book!
ReplyDeleteThe husband needs to be smacked? And is there happy ending?
ReplyDeleteChemical Fusion
When I read "cowboy", I expected historical fiction set in the 19th century, with gun fights and stuff like that. When I read "hops on the plane", I realized I was wrong. I may have read to many cowboy books when I was a kid >:D
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I loved the cast iron skillet part too! Sounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteLike any good Texas woman, she’d take a cast iron skillet to the side of his head, knock him out, tie him up, give him a piece of her mind, and keep him gagged so he couldn’t talk back while she ate some scones. I’m just saying…
ReplyDeleteHaha, this made me smile so much. I would hope most women would go this route, given the circumstances. :)
The book sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing your review!
Can't tell you the ending, Enid. You'll have to read the book.
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven, plenty of cowboys still alive and ranching here in Texas.
You talked me into putting the book on my wish list at Amazon. Just out of curiosity, does it have any humor?
ReplyDeleteA little, Glynis.
ReplyDeleteHi Helena .. certainly brought out the Brit jokes!! .. do you know - I don't know if it'd be easy to adapt to life in Texas .. but I guess it just might be...
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting story though .. and love the thought of reading it .. to find out the end .. perhaps the skillet makes it to a boot fair .. for a murder mystery follow up ..
Sounds fun though - good reviewing Helen - loved it and the comments - cheers Hilary