Tempted at Thoroughbred Lake - Delores Fossen (Canary Street Press - May 2023)

Series: Last Ride, Texas (Book 5.5)
 
Life’s too short to wonder what if… Eighteen years ago, Brennan Dayton married the wrong girl. He thought it was the right thing to do after a night of bad decisions resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. Still, he’s never forgotten his high school crush, Ruby Parkman—or forgiven himself for breaking her heart.
 
Ruby has carved out a good life for herself and her daughter, Vivian, despite the sting of her ex–best friend’s betrayal. When Alice hooked up with Brennan all those years ago, Ruby’s heart was shattered six ways from Sunday. Now that he’s divorced, she can’t deny her still-simmering attraction for the Texas rancher. But when their kids decide to get married on a whim, Ruby and Brennan are thrown together once more. And if she’s not careful, she could get burned a second time…
 
Short second chance romance. Brennan and Ruby had just started a relationship in high school when her best friend swooped in and stole him away. An unplanned pregnancy had Brennan doing "the right thing" and marrying Alice. He never forgot Ruby or the guilt he felt for his actions. Ruby consoled herself with someone else and ended up with an unplanned pregnancy herself, but avoided the mistake of marrying someone she didn't love. She never forgot her feelings for Brennan though she tells herself she's moved on.
 
Ruby and Brennan get quite a shock when his son and her daughter get married two weeks before they're supposed to leave for college. Neither Brennan nor Ruby makes any secret of their dismay at their kids' impulsive action, but they also know there's nothing they can do about it. Moreover, Vivian and Seth point out that their parents obviously still have feelings for each other, and it's time they did something about it.
 
The rekindling of their relationship takes place over a few days as they spend time together exploring the attraction that never died. Older and wiser, they spend some time talking about the past. I liked their acknowledgment of mistakes made and lessons learned as they look toward a future together. There's an interesting twist involving Vivian and Seth at the end of the book. 

 

Twilight at Wild Springs - Delores Fossen (Canary Street Press - July 2023)

Series: Last Ride, Texas (Book 6)
 
Family is always worth the fight
 
Lily Parkman has a Texas-size secret. For years, the single mother has managed to keep the true identity of her daughter Hayden's father under the saddle. But after a mysterious note turns up at Wild Springs Ranch, Lily knows it's time to come clean…starting with Wild Springs' ruggedly handsome foreman, Jonas Buchanan.
 
Jonas already suspects that his deceased brother is Hayden's real father. Still, the widowed rancher isn't prepared for what Lily's revelation means for their friendship -- or their future. They both soon discover that when there's more to love, there's more at stake. And when a troublesome figure from the past comes to Last Ride, they must fight like never before…or risk losing their newfound family forever.
 
Terrific book about families - of the blood and the heart. The depth of emotion as secrets were revealed kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. This is the story of two teenagers and their parents whose lives are upended when those secrets come to light.
 
Lily is the owner of Wild Springs Ranch. Her daughter Hayden is fourteen years old. When Lily was a teenager, she fell in love with Griff. When Griff died right after learning Lily was pregnant, her grief was devastating. Cam, a good friend of hers and Griff's offered to marry her and claim the baby as his. Though the marriage ended quickly, Lily never told Hayden the truth. She knows she should, but the time never seemed right. Then a note appears in the mailbox, claiming that "Dad" wants to tell the truth. Lily is panicking, knowing she must tell Hayden before Cam shows up. Her ranch foreman and business partner, Jonas, is Griff's older brother, and she knows he needs to hear the truth from her.
 
Jonas is a widower with a fourteen-year-old stepson he's raised since the boy was two. He thinks of Eli as his son, no "step" about it. Jonas and Eli have a terrific relationship. Eli's mother, Maggie, was the love of Jonas's life, and he still grieves her loss. Maggie never talked about Eli's father, only saying he was bad news and not in their lives. Jonas has long suspected that Hayden is his niece but has never said anything to Lily.
 
Matters become highly complicated when Lily calls the number on the note and discovers it isn't her ex on the other end of the line. Instead, it is Eli's father, Bentley, who claims he never knew he had a son and wants to be part of Eli's life. I ached for Jonas, who was gutted by the thought of this man taking Eli away. I understood his wariness of a man who seems to appear out of nowhere after so many years. It was hard to see Eli's happiness at getting to know his bio dad when it was apparent how hard it was on Jonas.
 
Meanwhile, Lily tries to work up the courage to tell Hayden the truth. That choice is taken out of her hands by another anonymous note, this one attached to Hayden's bedroom window. I ached for Lily and Hayden as Hayden's feelings of betrayal drove a wedge between her and her mother. I liked how Lily's patience and understanding paid off. The emotions of the cemetery scene were a two-tissue event.
 
During this time of upheaval, Lily and Jonas lean on each other for support. Both are shocked to discover that under their long-standing friendship, there now burns an undeniable attraction. They try to fight their feelings, afraid of doing something that would destroy their friendship and make their partnership awkward at best. I loved seeing how their mutual support and understanding grew into so much more until they could no longer resist. I loved the ending and seeing them surrender to the love they couldn't deny.
 
Meanwhile, Jonas and Lily have reservations about Bentley and his sudden interest in Eli. The more I saw of him, the more I agreed that there seemed to be something off about him. I understood Jonas's fear that he was projecting his personal feelings and appreciated that he didn't interfere with Eli's desire to get to know Bentley. What happened in the end wasn't much of a surprise, but I hurt for Eli and his disillusionment.
 
A secondary storyline in the book is the town's tradition of picking one person to research someone buried in the town graveyard. This year's research project falls to Lily, and the subject is the town founder, Hezzie Parkman. Even this won't be the easy project Lily hoped for, as Hezzie had more than a few skeletons in her closet. Not everyone is happy about those secrets being made public, and Lily has to walk a fine line. I laughed out loud at some things old Hezzie got up to in her day. Her photography exploits were especially notable, and seeing reactions to the pictures was fun. I liked how Lily found a way to display honesty and discretion in her report.

Breaking Rules at Nightfall Ranch - Delores Fossen (HQN - Feb 2023)

Series: Last Ride Texas (Book 4.5)
 
When it comes to love, nothing's by the book
 
After a string of failed relationships and broken engagements, Alana Parkman has finally sworn off men. No more tears, no more disappointments. With the help of her support group -- and a six-month vow of celibacy -- she's ready to focus on healing her heart. Following the rules is easy enough…until Gray Russell returns to Last Ride, still hotter than the Texas sun itself.
 
Gray's come home looking for answers. Since learning the truth about his biological mother, the former rodeo champion must find his real father -- and he needs Alana's help to do it. Only now that he's back, that first flame between them burns brighter than ever. As they dig through his complicated past, will they also find a second chance for a happy future together?
 
Good second chance love story. At less than sixty pages, it was a quick and satisfying read. Alana and Gray were high school sweethearts until he left town right after graduation, breaking her heart. They haven't seen each other since then.
 
Alana had multiple failed relationships, including one marriage and two engagements. For six months, she's sworn off men, concentrating on healing her heart. She wasn't tempted to break the rules until Gray returned to town and realized she'd never gotten over him.
 
Gray came home after finding out his life had been a lie. An inheritance from his biological mother has thrown everything he thought he knew upside down. His burning questions are: why didn't his mother want him? And who is his father?
 
I loved the first meeting between Alana and Gray. She went to the cemetery to get a picture of a tombstone for her research, and she did not expect to find Gray there, looking at the same tombstone. She never saw the reason coming when he dropped the bombshell that Sadie Jo had been his mother. Gray only took a minute to accept that he needed Alana to help him make sense of things the way she used to do when they were in school. I liked seeing Gray open up to Alana about the shock, his feelings on the matter, and his mixed feelings on what to do with his inheritance.
 
Then there was the heat between them, despite their long separation. I liked their honesty about what separated them: Her parents didn't like him and wouldn't have accepted him, even though Alana wouldn't have broken things off. He didn't want that miserable circumstance for them, so he left. Now he's back and needs Alana's help and support to deal with what lies before him.
 
I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Gray and Alana. They are older and better able to handle the obstacles that stopped them before. The heat between them is even more intense than it had been before. They can't be together for long before that heat bursts into flame and pulls them together, though interruptions stop them from giving in more often. I loved Alana's empathy, understanding of Gray's turmoil, and ability to help him work through his feelings. That becomes critical when Gray learns the truth about his biological dad.
 
I ached for Gray and the betrayal he felt. He had a lot to consider, from accepting the truth of his birth to whether to keep the ranch. I loved the ending and seeing that Gray and Alana realized that their heat has its foundation in the love they have always felt for each other.

A Texas Kind of Cowboy - Delores Fossen (HQN - Mar 2023)

Series: Last Ride Texas (Book 5)
 
They’re in for the ride of their lives
 
When single mom Lorelei Parkman discovers the biological father of her adopted daughter could be Dax Buchanan—the Dax Buchanan—she’s shocked. Of all the men in Last Ride, Texas, the bull-riding bad boy doesn’t quite fit the bill of…parent. But as Lorelei learns more about Stellie’s mysterious birth mother, she realizes she’ll have to trust the reckless rodeo star…or risk losing her baby forever.
 
Dax is normally up for any kind of challenge, and Daddy duty, however, is best left to the pros. Still, being with the little girl, and the gorgeous Lorelei, unlocks something inside—a completeness he’s been chasing his whole life. And now that he has it, he’s sure as hell not about to let it go.
 
Good book. Lorelei adopted the infant daughter of a woman with no known relatives who died in their town. Right after the adoption was final, she found a photograph that might be of the biological father. She has a sinking sensation that she knows who it is and goes to confront him.
 
Dax is a bull rider with a reputation for his romantic exploits. He's never made any question of his disinterest in relationships of any kind. He's understandably shocked when Lorelei tells him that he may be little Stellie's father.
 
I thought the impetus behind Lorelei's research into Stellie's birth mother was interesting. Every quarter, the town draws the name of someone buried in their cemetery to research and report on so that person isn't forgotten. Lorelei never anticipated the can of worms waiting when she started her project. Dana Smith turned out to be someone very different from the down-on-her-luck jewelry maker she portrayed herself as. Uncovering her identity opened Lorelei up to her worst nightmare - the possibility of someone taking her daughter away.
 
I liked Lorelei. She's a strong woman who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. She owns a successful business and has close relationships with her family and friends. The only thing she doesn't have is a man in her life. She has trust issues stemming back to an incident with her college boyfriend. She loves being a mother to Stellie and wants what is best for her.
 
I liked Dax, too. He has a reputation but has started moving past his reckless younger self. He is a successful bull rider who also raises bulls for rodeo work. After years of injuries, Dax realizes that it's time to retire before he does himself permanent damage. Dax has some secrets from his past that have convinced him that a family is not in his future.
 
Matters quickly become complicated when Dax remembers Stellie's mother, who used a different name. When they take that information to the sheriff, he discovers that Valerie Ford had parents and a husband. This is a blow to Lorelei, who could lose custody of Stellie to her grandparents or Valerie's husband if he turns out to be the father. I ached for Lorelei, who was devastated by the news. Though Dax is in no hurry to become a father, he hates to see Lorelei's distress and immediately does a paternity test. I loved how he showed up at her house that night to keep her company and provide moral support. That was especially important when Valerie's parents and husband showed up the next day. The parents were okay, but the husband, Aaron, was obnoxious and had all the hallmarks of an abuser.
 
I loved Dax's protectiveness toward Lorelei. Despite what he thinks of himself, he has a deep core of goodness, and watching out for Lorelei and Stellie is a no-brainer. What neither counts on is the strength of the attraction between them. Both try to fight it, but it isn't easy, especially with as much time as they spend together. I loved seeing them get to know each other, share the good and the bad in their lives, and grow closer. Neither wants to admit their feelings, though those around them can see them clearly.
 
There is a lot of stress as Dax and Lorelei join forces against Aaron. His methods stir up ghosts of the past, including using Lorelei's college boyfriend as his lawyer. I loved how Julian was so smug and condescending until he discovered that Lorelei wasn't the naïve college girl she used to be. There were several great scenes where either she or Dax got the better of him, which was fantastic. There were times when things looked dark for Lorelei, but an unexpected revelation brought the case to a very satisfying conclusion.
 
Meanwhile, the heat between Dax and Lorelei continues to burn. Just when it looks like their lives are settling down, Dax receives devastating news that brings back his old fears. I hurt for him and its effect on his belief in himself. I loved Lorelei's support and attempt to make him see the truth. I loved the ending and seeing Dax talk about his "epiphany." The rodeo at the end was fantastic. I especially enjoyed the pre- and post-bull ride scenes between Dax and Lorelei. The conclusion was terrific. I hope to see more of them in future books.