A Cowboy's Recipe for Romance by Amy Proebstel

From Goodreads:

He’s ready to settle down. Her first love is music. When he brings home a gold digger to meet the folks, will the hired help put a song in his soul?

Randy Easton is a rancher at heart. So when the wealthy Texan decides to propose to his high-maintenance girlfriend, he takes her to the family homestead hoping she’ll embrace the quiet wide-open spaces. But after her loathing for horses shatters his dreams, he finds himself drawn to a melodious singing voice coming from the kitchen.

Becky Monroe has found her groove as personal chef to rich cattlemen. But the aspiring songwriter’s perfect pitch screeches out of tune when the ruggedly handsome heir rides in, accompanied by a backstabbing spitfire. And when her employers leave on an extended vacation, she’s trapped serving the hunky cowboy and the vegan vixen with a predator’s thirst for the kill.

Though Randy strikes a fast friendship with the country-gal cook, he struggles to search for his suddenly missing parents while keeping his would-be bridezilla happy. And as Becky does her best to maintain a professional distance, she can’t help but feel that falling for the boss’s gorgeous son has all the ingredients for happily ever after.

Will this star-crossed couple discover that together they hit all the right notes?

My Take: 

Hm, where to start? There may be some mild spoilers in this review, but I will try to keep it vague, so read at your own discretion.

This story had a lot of potential. There are several mysteries that never quite get off the ground. We have the disappearance of Randy’s parents, we have the identity of Becky’s father, we have Kate’s shenanigans while she’s away from the ranch, and then we have the parent’s return with no explanation of the slightly paranormal mystery of some “time warping” element in play. None of which are ever explained.

Randy and Becky are both likable characters, but they come across flat at times. Perhaps because so much of the story is told to us, not shown. Time often passes by in chunks, and we simply must accept that during that passage of time our two characters spent enough time together to fall in love. But we don’t get to experience it with them. Kate is an over-the-top villain with no redeeming qualities. Completely one-sided with no explanation of why or how she became that way. She made me roll my eyes more than once with her two-year-old temper tantrums.

So, while this book is well-written technically, there were things that made me want to put it down and walk away. The only reason I didn’t was because I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think the story could have been really good with a little more show and less tell, and if the conflict was more about the missing parents and less about a one-sided witchy woman.

I give The Cowboy’s Recipe for Romance a 3 and a Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad 

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing 

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive 

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love 

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading 

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read 

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure,p>

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen" 

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door 

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door. 

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy 

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Southern Bride by Lenora Worth

From Goodreads:

Melissa Sonnier is desperate to find her own happily ever after as she helps her sister celebrate her beach wedding in Driftwood Bay, but it’s difficult to move on and find love when she can’t let go of Judson Duvall, a boy she’s loved since middle school, even after their last break up in their on again, off again relationship. But as she watches her sister exchange her sacred vows, she sees Judson, waiting for her asking for one last chance. He vows he’s changed. Can she risk her heart one last time?

After his latest rodeo related injury, Judson Duvall is ready to hang up his spurs and always a man of action, defies doctors and drives all night to reach the only woman he’s ever loved. He begs for one last chance and is prepared to do anything to win back Melissa’s love. He claims he’s changed, but is it enough or is it too late?

My Take:
This one's been sitting in my kindle for a long time. It was a short read, and I think that hurt the storyline for me. I wanted more from the characters and their journey to their happy ever after. It felt too much like a summary. There were missed opportunities to build on this painful history that Melissa and Judson shared. It would have been really good to see them working harder to build trust and love but they just decided to do it and then months have passed and they're engaged again.

I really wanted to like this and give it a higher rating. The writing was good, but I didn't feel the emotional payoff at the end.

I give it a 3.5 and Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Romancing the Singer by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
Don't miss this Return to Snow Valley Romance by bestselling sweet romance author, Cami Checketts

Daisy Castleton won Singing with the Stars and a huge recording contract, but when she discovers she has throat cancer, she escapes to Snow Valley, Montana. She didn't plan on literally running into her childhood hero, Jamison Hall, on a hiking trail. Jamison makes her laugh and forget her bleak situation and that might be more dangerous than the predators in the music industry.

My Take:
You know what this means? I've missed a Snow Valley anthology somehow. I'll have to go ferret out the other stories.

Anyway, here's another fun story from Checketts. Daisy is quite stubborn about trying to keep Jamison at a distance. All the reasoning why makes sense, even if you do want to kind of slap her for it. And Jamison! He definitely doesn't have any lack of confidence. Even though he comes off cocky, you can still see that he's a really good guy with his own insecurities. The two of them together have great chemistry and there are several moments that are just funny.

I did feel for Daisy too. She had so much fear about the cancer because of her mother dying from cancer that she couldn't allow herself to hope for the relationship she wanted with Jamison.

As always, Checketts' writing made it easy to fall in the story and not come out until the very end.

I give Romancing the Singer a Clean rating with a 4.5 on the scale. Nothing pulled me out of the story and that's a big deal for me.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

 R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Cupcakes and Cowboys by Lindzee Armstrong

From Goodreads:
Cassidy wants two things-to make her cupcake shop a success, and to forget the ex-fiance who traded her for the lights of Hollywood. She can't stand actors, movies, or anything resembling the guy who ruined her life. So when Jase-best friend of her ex and A-list actor-shows up at the ranch to research an upcoming role, ignoring her past becomes impossible.

Jase is desperate to escape Hollywood, and ranch life gives him a temporary reprieve. But ranching is starting to feel less like preparing for a role and more like the life he's always wanted. And he can't help envisioning Cassidy as his co-star. Can Jase convince this stunning cupcake shop owner that he's really a country boy at heart?

My Take:
This was a fun fast read. I liked Cassidy from the very beginning and felt her pain and shock at having Jase show up at her home. I felt like the initial misunderstanding made sense, and I was glad that once Jase understood why Cassidy was hostile to him he took the steps to remedy it by talking to her. So many times, romances create conflict simply by having the characters NOT talk to each other. Thank you Lindzee for not following the crowd in that respect!

The story flows nicely, although it could have easily been made longer by showing more of their "dating" moments instead of speeding us through the month. The only other thing on my wish list for this story came near the end. When Drew showed up and opened his mouth, I really needed Jase to deck him really good.

I give this lovely short a solid 4.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Adam by Chris Keniston

From Goodreads: 
Welcome to Farraday Country, set in cattle-ranching west Texas, with all the friends, family and fun that fans have come to expect from USA TODAY Bestselling author Chris Keniston.

On a barren road in the pre-dawn hours, Adam Farraday, the oldest of seven siblings, happens upon a disabled sports car and an angel in white searching for a disappearing dog. What is it about this secretive redheaded beauty that intrigues him as no woman has before?

After learning her fiancé's true nature minutes before her wedding, Meg O'Brien drives as fast and as far away from her world as she can. Stranded with no money, and nowhere to go, the city girl must learn to fit in to small town life and all its quirky trappings. Too bad falling in love with her handsome rescuer is not an option.

My Take:
First of all, I LOVE the idea of a modern cowboy take on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! That movie has always been one of my favorites. I'm planning to read all of them, because I enjoyed this one so much. And just in case you're curious, child number seven is actually a sister--Grace.

Okay, Adam is everything a country veterinarian should be. Tall, broad-shouldered, compassionate, tough and gentle all at the same time. Meg is his ray of sunshine. Well, she's kind of everyone's bit of happiness. The whole town can tell she's in trouble and they instinctively want to protect her even though she's fully capable of dealing with her own troubles.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but seriously you have to read to the end to see her take care of her lying, thieving fiancee. Seriously, I was cheering "you go girl!"

The romance is sweet and steamy while staying mostly clean. There is quite a bit of innuendo and sexy thoughts floating around. The town and Farraday family are filled with great characters that you can't wait to learn more about. And that mystery dog from the beginning? Looks like he's going to make another appearance in the next book--Brooks.

All in all, I love Keniston's easy to read style. I give this one a 4.5 only because it did take a few days to read. *Christmas might have played a part in that*

Update with the rating scale: PG to PG-13 because of language and innuendo.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen sex

R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Protective One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance by Cami Checketts

From Amazon:

Betrayed by an FBI agent while in protective custody, MacKenzie Gunthrie escapes a crime lord and is left hiding from the authorities and her enemies. She finds solace in the peaceful mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. With help from a longtime girl's camp friend and a new identity, she's starting to feel safe. The only problem is the overconfident and much too good-looking Isaac Turnbow. Protecting identity has become second nature, but Isaac poses a threat to her heart.

Isaac Turnbow has an undeniable need to convince MacKenzie he’s someone she can trust and kiss, but when well-armed men arrive to disturb their budding relationship, he must prove to her and himself that he can protect her.

This fast-paced, clean Billionaire Bride Pact Romance is a fun and touching read you won’t be able to put down.

My Take:

Here's another clean romance from Cami. She's back to what I think she does best. Suspense! I loved how MacKenzie is skittish throughout the book. There's none of this everything is okay feeling going on--she has anxiety throughout even though she has moments of feeling safe with Isaac. Even Isaac gives her moments of fear. Especially when he's giving Brad exactly what he needs!

Brad is a character we first met in THE INDEPENDENT ONE, another of the billionaire bride pacts. He is a real piece of work and I'm glad he finally gets some of what he deserves by the end. I highly suggest you read that book to appreciate all the Brad scenes in this one.

Back to Mac and Isaac...

Isaac is dreamy in that, cowboy artist, will always watch out for you, kind of way. The fact he's insecure about his abilities. He knows Mac is keeping something secret, but he also knows he needs to slowly gain her trust.

There is great romantic tension and the suspense is just as great. The writing is clean and the fear Mac feels is realistic. I loved the story and read it in one sitting.

The Protective One gets a 4.5!

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Cowboy with a Cause by Carla Cassidy

From Goodreads:

I'd apologize for kissing you, but I'm not all that sorry...

Dancer Melanie Brooks had escaped small-town Oklahoma, giving up the country for Broadway's bright lights. Yet after her mother's funeral called her back, her own health issues forced her to stay. Now her tenant, too-hot-for-his-own-good Adam Benson, is giving her a reason to dance again. But has a killer set his sights on her, too?

Adam knows a little something about fresh starts. As for his beautiful neighbor, he doesn't see a wheelchair he sees a woman who understands. But as the heat grows between them, he can't avoid the feeling that more than her big-city past haunts her and that danger has been lurking, waiting to strikes.

My Take:

I'm a sucker for cowboys, don't know why, but I am. I even devoured Louis L'Amour books in high school. Anyway, Adam had all the hero factor he needed to make this story work. Melanie's health issues came on very fast, and at times (just the beginning) I wondered if they could come on that fast, but in the end I didn't even care. The chemistry between her and Adam was wonderful. (I later learned from the author that this disease often does happen very quickly.)

My favorite part of the story though was the suspense. How creepy to know someone is watching you, judging you--and then deciding that you don't get to live. I loved that Adam brought out Melanie's own strength. He was the hero by helping her realize that she could save herself. That's something girls don't get a lot of these days--you can be beautiful, feminine and strong as nails.

(Note: It's been several months since I read this so I can't remember how many scenes there were. I think there was at least one I had to skip.)

I really enjoyed this story. I give it a 4.5 for the creep factor of the suspense.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Fourth and Long by Liz Isaacson

From Goodreads:

Can one summer together make up for eight years of separation?

Commander Brett Murphy left his family’s construction firm in Oklahoma City for a life of hard work at Three Rivers Ranch. Alone, without a wife and kids, Brett needs the camaraderie he enjoyed while serving overseas with his Army buddies, Squire Ackerman and Peter Marshall.

What Brett doesn’t need is the reappearance of his ex-wife. Fiery Kate Donnely has come to Three Rivers to confess to Brett that they’re still married, and oh, he has a seven-year-old son she never told him about. At least not in letters she mailed.

Eight years ago, Kate left Oklahoma City only weeks after Brett’s first deployment, shamed because of her bad choices and the unborn child of a man she’d already asked for a divorce. She needs him to sign the papers now or she can’t have access to her hefty inheritance. But Brett absolutely does not want Kate to take his son away from him again.

They strike a deal: She’ll stay at Three Rivers for the summer so Brett can have the opportunity to get to know his son. How far will they have to go and how much will they have to forgive in order to become a family?

My Take:
I really enjoyed this story, but I did have an issue with one major point. How do you not tell a man you really loved that he has a son for 8 years? From the letters we see Kate write over the years, it's clear she's still in love with him. Crazy, manipulative, overbearing mom and grandma or not, I'd find some way to contact the man I loved. The man I clearly hoped would come for me. I don't buy that she'd be stupid enough to think he'd just "know" where she was.

Take that out of the equation and the rest of the story is wonderful. The conflicting emotions when they reconnect, the mistrust, the hurt, the hope. The writing is clean and powerful.

I especially enjoyed the little snippets that showed the unsent letters and emails Brett and Kate wrote to each other over the years. Everything in them made sense based on the fact they were not in contact with each other. But then again, how hard is it to hit "send"?

I still give Fourth and Long a solid 4 because I enjoyed the progression of their relationship, the fact it was clean, and the compelling writing. 

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

Running from the Cowboy by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
Missy Horman escaped an abusive marriage and returns to Snow Valley to help her father deal with her emotionally disturbed mother. Volunteering to teach a youth Sunday school class seems like a good way to get out of her comfort zone—until she ends up kissing Porter Wilson in front of a bunch of teenagers. Embarrassed, and secretly thrilled, by the kiss, she writes Porter off as a playboy. But, Missy wasn't the only one affected and Porter's new mission in life is to prove that there's more to him than flirting and world-tilting kisses. He wants to show her that a true cowboy knows how to treat a lady and, if Missy can't keep her wits about her, she might just let him.

My Take:
This story was part of the newest Snow Valley set (which I haven't read yet, but I'm looking forward to it!)

The last time we saw Missy Horman, she had made a pass at her long lost boyfriend Luke (Porter's brother). What I remember liking about Missy is that when she discovered Luke was in love with someone else, she gracefully bowed out. She recognized that she wasn't ready for what Luke had already found with Annie. She's still not sure she's ready to risk her heart again, but Porter has decided she's what he wants.

There is good give and take, push and pull with this story. The emotions are natural and like any woman, Missy has the right to change her mind. I'm referring to her adamant phrase, "I don't like cowboys." I actually liked it when Missy would spout some childish thing in an effort to distance herself from Porter. I liked the way Porter handled it even more. Ever patient, he let her work through everything in her time. Of course, a few stolen kisses might have helped keep her on the path he wanted her on.

This was a great new story from one of my favorite authors. Solid 4!

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Third Time's the Charm by Liz Isaacson

From Goodreads:

Book two in the Three Rivers Ranch Romance series by bestselling author, Liz Isaacson.

First Lieutenant Peter Marshall has never felt as safe and whole as he does at Three Rivers Ranch. With massive scars covering most of his upper body, he's self-conscious and searching for his life's purpose. He thinks he's found it in Courage Reins, an equine therapy program for veterans he's starting out at the ranch. He didn't plan on the beautiful Chelsea Ackerman looking at his deformities with admiration.

After her second failed engagement, Chelsea vows she'll never wear another diamond ring. But as she and Pete work together to train the horses and launch Courage Reins, she heals faster than she thought possible. Pete has a truckload of debt and no way to provide for a family, but Chelsea helps him see past all the obstacles, all the scars. With so many unknowns, Pete and Chelsea will have to develop the love, acceptance, and faith needed to find their happily ever after.

My Take:
We met Pete in the previous book SECOND CHANCE RANCH, but only glimpsed Chelsea over a few phone conversations with her brother Squire. Now we get to know both of them even better.

Three Rivers Ranch has worked wonders on Pete. He's feeling better about himself, at peace with his life, and he's found a new purpose. Chelsea on the other hand doesn't want to be on the ranch. The problem is she doesn't want to be anywhere. Traumatized by a previous relationship and the death of her fiancé, she's carrying more guilt than she can bear.

Pete recognizes the signs as soon as he meets Chelsea and enlists her help with the horses, knowing they can help her.

Once again, Isaacson does a great job letting the emotions feel real and progress naturally. They do happen fast, but it all makes sense. Even the choices Pete makes regarding his business and the growing relationship makes sense. Sort of. Okay, it does. I can totally see a guy make this decision thinking it's the only way to accomplish both his goals--one at a time. Come on, women multitask all the time. :) LOL

All in all, I give Third Time's the Charm a solid 4. 

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Anyway, fun, clean, sweet, and I like the way Isaacson talks about the hidden scars we often carry around with us. Trauma comes in many forms and we all need to learn how to forgive ourselves and others so we can be whole again.

West of Paradise by Marcy Hatch

From Goodreads:
Katherine Kennedy has it all—she’s beautiful, wealthy, and engaged to a man who, at one time, seemed perfect for her. Only she can’t marry him, and she can’t say why. All she knows is there is suddenly nothing she wants. Not her fiancé Antonio. Not any of the hundred thousand things her money can buy.

Jack McCabe comes home from the war with a pretty medal and a lot of ugly pictures in his head. He has nowhere to go, nor anyone to go with. All he has is a vague sense of discontent, a restlessness that will not abate.

Separately, Katherine and Jack are drawn to Paradise Tours on the privately owned Cristobel Island, a resort promising life-altering adventure. Just choose the time and place. Suddenly they find themselves over 125 years in the past, 1881 to be exact. Neither of them knows the other is a fellow time-traveler.

For Jack McCabe it’s the life he craves, and he’s at the top of his game—until his run-in with Alanna McCleod, the beautiful but deadly train robber. Katherine no sooner lands back in time than she is mistaken for Alanna McCleod and can’t understand why—until she sees the wanted poster.

Set in the Old West, this high-spirited tale of mistaken identity, romance, and murder is part historical fiction, part time travel fantasy, and completely captivating.

My Take:
This is Marcy Hatch's debut novel and holy cow does she come out swinging. I read her book in one day. The best way I can sum up this book is Back to the Future III meets Somewhere In Time. Yes, there is time travel involved, the Old West, and someone gets left behind. Or do they?

I got lost in the story and didn't pay any attention to the writing. This is good because there was no author intrusion at all. I felt fear for Katie, angry at Jack for being such a jerk in the beginning, but grew to like him as much as Katie did.

Marcy floored me by making me feel like I really was back in 1881. The style is different, but the details were as good as the Louis L'Amour books I read as a teen. Didn't see that one coming did you? Yes, it was awesome. And when our characters were in the "near future" time of their actual time, Marcy had nice little details that made it feel real and totally possible. Nothing way out there crazy, but just little things that still gave it the flavor of "not now".

I give West of Paradise by Marcy Hatch a solid 5 because I couldn't put it down.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Second Chance Ranch by Liz Isaacson

From Goodreads:

A new Christian western romance from bestselling author, Elana Johnson, writing as Liz Isaacson for her contemporary adult romance debut.

After his deployment, injured and discharged Major Squire Ackerman returns to Three Rivers Ranch, anxious to prove himself capable of running the cattle operation so his parents can retire. Things would be easier if the ranch wasn’t missing 1.6 million dollars, which forces Squire to hire Kelly, the girl who rejected his high school prom invitation, as his accountant.

She’s back in town with her four-year-old son, living in her parent’s basement until she can get her life back together. With fresh ink on her divorce papers and open gashes on her heart, she’s not ready for much beyond her new job on the ranch.

Squire wants to forgive Kelly for ignoring him a decade ago. He’d like to provide the stable life she needs, but with old wounds opening and a ranch on the brink of financial collapse, it will take patience and faith to make their second chance possible.

For fans of inspirational western romance authors Kimberly Krey, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter.

My Take:
This is a classic example of how a little misunderstanding can turn into years of heartache.

Squire Ackerman was just a teen boy, younger than Kelly, when he asks her to the prom with a room full of balloons. Too hurt by the fact she never answers, he carries the pain with him another ten years.

Kelly on the other hand has attempted love, marriage, and motherhood only to be disappointed in all of it other than her sweet son Finn. She blames herself for the failure of her marriage, and is determined to protect her son and her heart at all costs.

I loved the chemistry between these two childhood friends. They both have trouble separating the anger and frustration from the attraction. Little by little they open their hearts to find forgiveness and the second chance they both so desperately need.

This was a fun read with great tension between the characters. It was nice that the romance was there all the time, but it unfurled slowly as both Squire and Kelly dealt with choices and pain from their past. They questioned themselves and each other until they finally unraveled the truth.

The writing is clean, without excessive typos to throw you out of the story. It was easy to fall into life on the ranch and forget the laundry was piled up beside me. I give Second Chance Ranch a solid 4, and I've already picked up the next book in the series. :)

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure