He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Christina Cole

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
By: Christina Cole
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: January 28, 2015
Genre:  Historical, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: August 10, 2015

 

After three months away at school, Emily Sue Phillips returns to Sunset eager to resume her relationship with Benjamin Brooks. The two have been sweet on each other since childhood.

But Ben isn’t there to greet her. He claims he’s “too busy” to spend time with her. When she calls on him at the horse farm where he now works, and she meets dark-haired Della White, Emily quickly figures out what’s keeping him busy.

Ben doesn’t like lying to Emily, but it’s for her own good. Trouble is lurking around him and the Henderson Horse Farm. The only way to ensure Emily’s safety is to keep her far away.

A ruthless murderer who’s been set free, an outlaw’s illegitimate daughter, and buried gold said to be worth thousands… can Ben protect Emily when her search for truth puts her in the middle of it all? Or will her snooping spell disaster for them both?

Emily Sue Phillips comes home from Denver after getting a letter from her boyfriend telling her not to return. As she is waiting for Benjamin Brooks to come and pick her up, she fights back tears when he has not shown up.

Ben finally shows up. He asks her why she came back and Emily tells Ben that she came home for the holidays to be with her family. He tells her to go back to Denver. Ben's actions leave Emily wondering why Ben is being so distant. She loves him but she is not sure if he even likes her anymore.

When Emily returns once again from school, Ben is now acting likes he does not love her. He won’t tell her what is going on. Ben claims that he will eventually tell her, just not right now. Emily is tired of Ben’s actions. She finally tells him how she feels.

Trouble is happening at the ranch Ben works at. Tom, the owner, won’t be run off his land. It is only when the barn is burnt down that Tom finally decides to take his family to Denver to keep them safe.  Ben wishes he could do the same with Emily.  Too bad she can be such a stubborn and willful woman.

I loved He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. I normally don’t read many historical western romances, but this book caught my interest from the beginning. I kept reading hoping that Ben and Emily would finally get together and I wasn't disappointed. 

I liked it so much that I can't wait to read the other books in the series.   Great job Ms. Cole.