Review: Here to Stay is emotional and an instant favorite
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 16, 2013
Author Kristine Raymond has unearthed a gem of a series with her debut novel, Here to Stay.  It is book one in her series, Hidden Springs.  This western romance weaves its way into your heart, leaving you with a craving for more.  You will enjoy getting to know these well-developed characters as they make their way through life in the old west.  Where building a life on a ranch, in a small western town was the golden dream.  It is like sitting at the dinner table drinking coffee with Kate, Sam, Jack, Daniel, Carly, and Rusty...chatting and getting to know them.The author paints a beautiful vision for her readers of a realistic old west.  Small town, Hidden Springs, where everyone knows everyone and helps each other survive through the revitalization of the town.  Everyone is on horseback, men spend their free time in the saloon, having a beer or whiskey with friends, and women had their place in society to be ladies.  However, Kate breaks the mold on that societal view of women.  Kate is independent and when she resigns to the fact that she needs to hire help to put fencing up around her ranch, she has no problems finding the help she needs.Kate is young, beautiful, ambitious, strong willed, and ready to see her dreams of owning and running her own ranch come true.  Kate is also closed off and private about her personal life due to surviving a horrific tragedy.  The closest thing she has to family are Daniel and Carly.  Daniel and Carly were in Hidden Springs by a run of bad luck that actually worked out to be good for everyone.  Kate offered Daniel and Carly jobs on her ranch and gave them the second house on her property along with some acreage; they were more than thrilled.  The three of them together, were an instant family.  Kate struggles with a broken heart and a worried mind, all alone; will she ever find it in herself to open her heart again?Sam is young, handsome, hardworking, and is in need of family and togetherness as much as Kate, whether either of them will admit to it or not.  Sam unknowingly, will have a devastating secret revealed to him...will he be able to cope and continue to have a strong heart that is open to love?  Sam and Kate's immediate attraction and quick development of feelings for one another, creates intense love scenes that are unforgettable and definitely leave you wanting more!It may be 2013, but the author pulls you into 1867 with gifted visuals, adding warmth, love, and drama.  You will love the details of this story.  Here to Stay, is beautifully crafted and should easily meet the requirements necessary to make its readers fall in love.  The storyline is smooth and well thought out.  You will glide through the development of relationships and understand the burdens and issues of the hearts involved.  This romance series will keep you anxiously waiting for the next book.  Out of all of the romantic series' I have read, this one climbed right to the top with its steamy love scenes, handsome cowboy heroes, beautiful and tough heroines...all wrapped up in a beautiful cover!!