Single parent Jessie Walker was preparing to meet the man with whom she had been corresponding by mail for the last six months, cowboy Seth McCabe, and when he turned up on her doorstep there was even more chemistry than she had expected. Big, strong, sexy, and very attracted to her, he thought she was adorable even covered in bubble bath suds and wearing a terry robe.

He also forged a strong connection with her son Scott, and whisked them both away to his Texas ranch. Seeing how much Scottie loved Seth-and how Seth loved him in return-reminded Jessie how badly her son needed a father. Upon their arrival in Texas, she realized that he was a wealthy man, and a generous one at that. Jessie knew that when they got home, she wouldn't be able to afford to give Scott whatever he asked for, and she didn't want him to get used to it. But Seth wanted her to see past the money to the man, and marry him.

He brought her sister Vicky over to visit, who took a liking to Seth's good friend Pete. Pete pushed her away, having been wounded by a woman who wooed him, stole his sculptures and then ran away and sold them as her own. When he was tossed during a bull-riding competition, Vicky leapt into the ring to make sure he was all right-and was attacked herself, which forced them to admit to their feelings for one another.

But Pete refused to confront the thief even for Vicky's sake, and Vicky believed that the woman who stole his sculptures also stole his heart. Heartbroken, she flew home in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye to Jessie. Pete had never told her how he felt about her, assuming that she knew, but he couldn't live without her, and set out to show her how much she meant to him.

I had never really been that keen on cowboys, but Eve Moore has sure changed that. Two lines into the story, and I was hooked! GETTING PERSONAL features great writing, as well as engaging and truly believable characters. Eve Moore's great dialogue and vividly painted scenes bring the characters to life on the page.

She also really captured the essence of five-year-old boys, with Scott uncannily reminding me of small boys I have known. I felt a real connection, though, to Jessie, who is absolutely adorable. She is sweet, sincere, and as apprehensive as one might expect after being cheated on and left with a small child to support. I honestly teared up on more than one occasion.

My one complaint is that there's a bit of head hopping, which threw me because every now and then I had to double check on who was thinking what, but the story is so strong that it didn't affect my pleasure in reading it. Eve Moore is one woman that I plan to look out for in the future, and she's a writer that you really don't want to miss. If you love a determined cowboy, you'll love GETTING PERSONAL.

Reviewed By: Melinda Stanners
(c) September 2004