Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Wyoming Cowboys - Regan Black, Janie Crouch (Calamitte Jane Pub - Sept 2023)

Series: Never Too Late for Love: Wyoming Cowboys (Books 1 - 3)
 
Maria's Cowboy

Maria Boyne feels like she’s living inside a country song, and not in a good way.
 
Everything that could possibly go wrong has... from a husband who died and left her with major debt on her tiny ranch, to a horse that’s gone missing, to feeling like she’s being watched.
 
At 50, she never thought this was the life she’d be living: alone, broke, and scared.
 
Cowboy Huck Samuels came to Sweet Pine, Wyoming to work on a friend’s ranch and start a new life. Most people assume his scars and limp are from his rodeo days.
 
That’s better than them knowing the truth.
 
When the gentle beauty at the neighboring ranch needs help with her horses, one of the few things Huck’s ever been good at, he’s more than happy to volunteer.
 
It doesn’t take him long to realize Maria’s string of bad luck is actually something much more sinister. And that, despite his injuries, he’s not going to let her face them alone.
 
It’s not too late for him to be the man he once was.
 
And it’s never too late for love.

 
Terrific combination of romance and suspense. Maria is the widowed owner of a struggling ranch. When her husband died, he left her with a lot of debt she is slowly paying down. But lately, it seems like nothing is going right. Her best horse has gone missing, putting her riding lesson business in jeopardy. the debt feels overwhelming, and she feels like she's being watched. When her friend drags her to a bar for a night out, Maria meets Huck, a cowboy she thinks is just passing through. She connects with him and relieves her loneliness with him, believing he'll be gone the next day.
 
Huck is a former rodeo cowboy who has been hired as foreman on his friend Cole's ranch. He has some pain in his past that makes it difficult to believe in a happy future for himself. He's surprised to see Maria again, and hopes to get to know her better.
 
I ached for Maria and all the trouble she has. Because of it, she's started avoiding people, tired of being the one who needs help. But when her horses get sick and she has an intruder on the ranch, Huck suspects that what she has isn't bad luck, it's vandalism. He believes someone has a vendetta against her. Even with that knowledge, Maria is reluctant to accept Huck's help. It takes a great deal of patience and understanding for Huck to work past Maria's pride. When the person working against her goes too far, Huck is there to save the day.
 
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Each has a lot of pain in their past, but patience and understanding helps them realize that a happier future is possible. I liked seeing them together, from sharing their pasts to working around her ranch. The sparks between them are undeniable, and that attraction also brings them closer. I loved the ending and the epilogue and seeing how their lives have changed.
 
 
Teresa's Cowboy
 
Teresa is a city girl, on the run after she witnessed a murder. She stops running in Sweet Pines, Wyoming, when she is offered a job at the coffee shop there. Add in the attentions of local rancher Cole and she feels she has found a safe haven. Then her past catches up to her.
 
This is the story of Cole, a secondary character in the first book (Maria's Cowboy) and Teresa, a newcomer to town. Cole has been smitten with Teresa since she arrived in town, but is slow about asking her out - until his friends Huck and Harvey tease him into it. Unfortunately for Cole, Teresa is wary of getting involved as she initially doesn't plan to stay in Sweet Pines. But when Teresa's past comes looking for her, Cole steps in and offers her a place at his ranch.
 
It isn't long before the time they spend together shows that Teresa's attraction to Cole is as strong as his is to her. I enjoyed seeing Cole introduce the city girl to ranch life, and how easily Teresa took to it. I loved seeing her make friends and begin thinking about a future there.
 
Ricky, the man after Teresa, shows up in town looking for her, but leaves when the town rallies around her to convince him she isn't there. But I spent a lot of time waiting for the other shoe to drop, sure that he would return. I was on the edge of my seat when he made his move, knowing that Teresa was in terrible danger. I loved that she kept her head and took steps to try to save herself. I felt Cole's fear when he realized she was missing and his determination when he went after her. I laughed out loud at Harvey's way of helping and was glued to the pages during the final confrontation.
 
The ending was sweet, and the epilogue was fantastic. I loved Cole's big moment.
 
 
Callie's Cowboy
 
Callie is on the run from an abusive ex and hides on a trail ride led by Harvey, one of Cole and Huck's rodeo friends. Their attraction is clear, but Callie's lack of honesty could pull them apart.
 
Sweet Pines, Wyoming, is the latest stop in Callie's attempt to escape from Calvin, the abusive ex who won't give up. Before she can check into her rental house, she comes to the aid of Olivia, a young woman who fell and sprained her ankle. As a nurse, Callie knew what to do and helped her to the hospital. There, she discovered that Olivia had planned to go on a trail ride that is now impossible. Desperate to get a few days respite, Callie takes Olivia's name and place on the trail ride.
 
Harvey is bowled over by the beautiful woman who showed up late and ill-prepared for the trail ride. He senses that something isn't right and is ready to send her back when she comes to the rescue of a snake-bit rider. Against his better judgment, he allows her to continue, fighting his attraction to her.
 
The trip into the mountains is a rollercoaster of good and bad. Harvey and Callie grow closer as they spend time together, but he becomes more convinced that she is hiding something. There are moments of sweet connection between them, such as sharing the beauty of nature around them. But a possible intruder in the camp one night ends the trip early, and a violent storm separates Harvey and Callie from the rest of the group. Then Harvey discovers Callie's deception, and his feelings of hurt and betrayal drive a wedge between them.
 
Callie and Harvey were miserable after their parting, with Callie's guilty feelings piling on to her heartbreak. Fortunately, both receive some good advice that brings them back together. I liked how Callie opened up to Harvey about her past and her fear, and Harvey's promise to keep her safe. Things look promising for their future until her past rears its ugly head. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how it worked out. The resolution was fantastic.
 
I loved the ending and seeing Callie and Harvey find happiness together. The epilogue was great, and Harvey's surprise for Callie was sweet.
 
 
In all three stories, the couples are older, in their forties or fifties. It's great to see romances that show that love has no age limit. Though the "I love yous" came quickly, the epilogues show that the couples take time to get to know each other. 




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