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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