Review and Giveaway: The Texas Billionaire's Bride by Crystal Green

The Texas Billionaire's Bride by Crystal Green

Genre: Romance (Silhouette Special Edition)
Series: The Foleys and The McCords (book 1)










Rating: 4.5/5.0




Melanie Grandy grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She worked her way through school and has made a name for herself as a nanny. Now she is given the opportunity to become a nanny to Olivia Foley, the only daughter of Texas businessman Zane Foley. The is the opportunity of a lifetime for her. Olivia seems to go through nannies rather quickly, so this is a great proving ground for Melanie. It is also a perk to the job that Zane Foley is very handsome, a fact that Melanie is well aware of.

Zane is a quiet man. He conducts his business and stays out of the public eye. His daughter Olivia needs a new nanny and Melanie is well-qualified for the job. He also likes her spunk and hopes that she will be the one that finally stays with his daughter. He worries about his daughter and wants the best for her. He is also attracted to Melanie, but as her boss and also for himself he will not act on that attraction.

But not all is as seems for either Melanie or Zane. Melanie quickly learns of problems in the family, she wants to fix them for Olivia's sake and she just can't help her attraction to Zane. Her spunk is what quickly lands her in his sight and around him frequently. And when Melanie and Zane are around each other sparks start to fly.

I enjoyed watching the relationship of Melanie and Zane develop. They both felt the attraction but did not feel right to act on it (the employer/employee angle plus other secrets that they both have). The makeover scene is wonderful and Olivia fits into everything perfectly. Seeing the faults of both Zane and Melanie endear them as characters to you. I really felt them, their emotions, as I read about them. They came to life for me. I think almost everyone can identify in some way with Melanie. She's the woman most women want to be - strong, yet feminine and when she sets her mind to something she will do everything she can to get it. Yet she has insecurities too. All this deep layering of emotions make the book very real and enjoyable.

This is the first in The Foleys and The McCords series and it sort of sets the stage between the two families, why there is a rivalry and why the rivalry is coming back into play after years of a kind of truce. You learn about the Magdalena Diamond which figures prominently in the arcing storyline of the series. All of this not only makes The Texas Billionaire's Bride a very interesting book, but also piques your interest in continuing the series. Not only that but I would like to see a little more of Zane and Melanie later on and learn more about the family members introduced in The Texas Billionaire's Bride.

In short, this is a book you should run out and grab then sit in the sunshine for the summer afternoon and get to know Zane and Melanie. Watch them fall in love and just enjoy. (That is what I did).

Thank you Crystal Green for sending me this wonderful book.

Publisher: Silhouette
Release Date: July 2009
Pages: 210
Format: paperback

Buy The Texas Billionaire's Bride at eHarlequin.com
Buy The Texas Billionaire's Bride at Amazon.com

For the giveaway - the author Crystal Green has graciously offered to send out a copy of The Texas Billionaire's Bride (Book 1 in The Foleys and The McCords) to one lucky commenter on this blog. Thank you Crystal for offering this giveaway!

Contest will run through Friday July 10th at midnight and I'll draw the winner and post by Monday the 13th. Giveaway is open only to the U.S. and Canada. For entries:

1. Leave a comment (and make sure I have a way to contact you)
2. Become a follower or if you are already a follower let me know (for an additional entry)
3. Follow me on twitter (see sidebar for link or I am cfulcher)
   
4. Twitter about the contest (use @cfulcher so I will see it) and let me know about it (for an additional entry)
5. Blog about the contest, sidebar mentions are fine (for an additional entry)
6. Tell me if you have read any Crystal Green/Chris Marie Green books before and what they were.

So there are 6 ways to enter! Good luck.