The Maverick's Christmas Secret - Brenda Harlen (HSE #2947 - Dec 2022)

Series:  Montana Mavericks: Brothers and Broncos (Book 6)
 
Is he finally home for Christmas -- and for good?
 
After years of believing he was an only child, Sullivan Grainger discovered he was adopted -- and that he has a twin! Eager to uncover the truth about his past, Sullivan arrives in Bronco and is drawn to Sadie Chamberlin, whose own connection to his family pushes her to help him find out the truth. But Sadie is afraid to trust her wary heart to a man who won't let down his guard…or stick around. Yet as Christmas approaches, her holiday wish is for the lonesome cowboy to find the closure he seeks…and perhaps an unexpected happy-ever-after under the mistletoe!
 
Good wrapup to this subset of the Montana Mavericks series. Since the first book in the Brothers and Broncos series, the residents of Bronco have been faced with the question of what happened to Bobby Stone. He was a resident who disappeared while hiking - his backpack was found, along with signs he'd fallen down the side of the mountain, but no body was found. However, in each book, someone thought they saw Bobby - or his ghost. At the end of the previous book, Thankful for the Maverick, a man who looked like Bobby appeared in Sadie's holiday store, startling her into fainting.
 
Sullivan Grainger spent his whole life believing he was an only child until he learned he was adopted. Devasted by what he saw as his parents' betrayal, he headed for Bronco to find out the truth. Sadie, who was Bobby's sister-in-law, is determined to help him. Neither she nor Sullivan expected the feelings that grew between them.
 
I ached for Sullivan. In addition to his feelings of betrayal, he no longer feels like he knows who he is. He's spent the last few months on the edges of Bronco life, attempting to learn more about his twin brother. He finally realizes that his best bet is to talk to Sadie, who seems to be the person who knew him best. They got off to a rough start, but Sadie was a very empathetic woman who could understand his turmoil. I liked her willingness to talk to him about Bobby and to help him find out more.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Sullivan and Sadie develop. They begin as friends, despite the sparks that are evident between them. Sadie has been burned before by men who didn't stay around, and Sullivan has not indicated that he'll stick around once his curiosity about Bobby has been satisfied. Sullivan is drawn to Sadie, but his life is in too much turmoil for him to feel comfortable pursuing a relationship.
 
I loved seeing these two people together. Sadie is sweet, understanding of his confusion, and always willing to listen to his worries or fears. I liked how she helped him resolve his feelings about his adoptive parents by reminding him that they chose him and raised him with all the love they had to give. Sullivan was adorable in how he looked after Sadie, cooking for her and worrying about her during the storm. It wasn't long before each realized they were in love, but their fears and insecurities prevented them from saying anything.
 
There is potential heartbreak at Christmas when Sullivan and Sadie make a discovery at Bobby's last known location, furthering Sullivan's turmoil. When he disappears to deal with those feelings, Sadie doesn't know if she'll ever see him again. A discussion between Sullivan and his parents gave me hope, furthered when he showed up at Sadie's home. I liked how he showed Sadie how he felt by sharing his plans for the future. The last chapter was terrific. I loved Sullivan's big moment, though there were a few amusingly tense moments and an ending I hoped for, but it still took me by surprise.

Thankful for the Maverick - Rochelle Alers (HSE #2942 - Nov 2022)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Brothers and Broncos (Book 5)
 
The one she didn't know she was waiting for…
 
As a rodeo champion, Brynn Hawkins is always on the road, but something about older, gruff-but-sexy rancher Garrett Abernathy makes her think about putting down roots. Brynn doesn't know why she is so drawn to a man who says he doesn't date, but his quiet dignity makes her rethink everything. As Thanksgiving approaches, Brynn fears she's running out of time, but she's determined to find her way into this callused cowboy's heart!
 
Good book. Garrett returned to Bronco after the end of his ten-year marriage, determined to put down roots and protect his heart. He'd married his high school sweetheart, then moved with her to New York City. While Faith took to city life like a duck to water, Garrett missed Montana's wide-open spaces and his ranch life.
 
Brynn is a member of the Hawkins Sisters rodeo group. She and her sisters have been involved in the rodeo all their lives, traveling all over the country. They recently decided to make Bronco their headquarters after Brynn's sister Audrey fell in love with Bronco native Jack Burris (In the Ring with the Maverick). Brynn is ready to cut back on her rodeo time and settle down, and Bronco looks like an excellent place to do it.
 
I enjoyed the first meeting between Brynn and Garrett. Garrett is taken by her beauty and skill as a barrel racer. Brynn notices his good looks, but something else she can't name draws her to him. She impulsively offers Garrett and his family tickets to the upcoming rodeo. Each finds themselves thinking of the other often. Garrett is a little disturbed by his fascination with Brynn, who he believes is far too young for him. He also has no intention of getting involved with anyone after being burned by his marriage. However, their connection cannot be denied, and it becomes more evident during the post-rodeo dinner at DJ's restaurant.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Garrett and Brynn, but it also frustrated me. Their connection and attraction were clear, but Garrett was so hung up on his failed marriage and the age difference between himself and Brynn that he refused to consider a relationship with her. He worked hard to convince himself that friendship was the only option. Brynn is also not interested in a relationship. She has rodeo commitments that would make it difficult to sustain a relationship, and her craft business also keeps her busy. She's agreeable to Garrett's proposal of friendship.
 
But the more time they spend together, from Brynn giving him cooking lessons to Garrett playing tour guide, the deeper their connection grows and the stronger their attraction becomes. Their feelings deepen, and they want more than friendship, but each is wary of opening their hearts. Garrett allows his fears to push Brynn away. I loved seeing her call him out on his inability to let go of the past and ached for the pain she felt as he pushed her away. Garrett earned every bit of the misery he felt at losing her. I enjoyed seeing his brothers rip into him because of his idiocy. Seeing his brothers and Brynn's sisters conspire to get them back together was also fun. The ending was terrific, with Garrett finally seeing the light. I loved his reunion with Brynn and hope to see more of them in future books.

The Maverick's Marriage Pact - Stella Bagwell (HSE #2935 - Oct 2022)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Brothers and Broncos (Book 4)
 
Fake wedding.
Fake pregnancy.
 
His plan is almost foolproof.
 
Commitmentphobic cowboy Maddox John will do anything to hang on to the Double J Ranch -- even if it means getting hitched. He finds a semi-willing bride in Adeline Longsworth, who agrees to the marriage of convenience for reasons of her own. But their strictly business arrangement hits an unexpected bump in the road when the pretend lovebirds make love for real…
 
Overall, this was a good book. Maddox has just discovered that his father will give a majority share of the ranch to the son with the most elaborate wedding. He has been vocal in his refusal to marry but is now rethinking his stance. He hatches the idea of finding a woman willing to enter into a marriage of convenience long enough for him to secure his claim. Then he meets Adeline.
 
Adeline's father owns one of the area's largest ranches. He and his wife are very conscious of their position (snobs), and he is very controlling in his attitude toward his daughters. As the story opens, Adeline has reached the breaking point in the job arranged for by her father and decides to quit. She wants to open her travel agency, but her father won't loan her the startup money she needs. I liked Adeline's decision to stick up for herself after how her coworkers and bosses treated her.
 
The first meeting between Adeline and Maddox was interesting. Maddox has quite the eye for the ladies, and Adeline immediately attracts his attention. She also notices him, and they strike up a conversation. I liked their banter as they commiserated about controlling fathers. Underneath their teasing, there are also sparks of attraction. After hearing Adeline's story, Maddox floats his idea to her, but she turns him down.
 
Adeline reconsiders when she has another run-in with her dad. When she shows up at the ranch to talk to Maddox, he takes her agreement and runs with it. This is where Maddox started to irritate me. He is so consumed with beating out his brother for control of the ranch that he doesn't consider all the ramifications of their deception. Adeline at least felt guilty about it, though she was willing to go along.
 
As Maddox and Adeline begin their deception, neither expects the attraction or the feelings that grow between them. There were some sweet scenes between them as they got to know each other. Unfortunately, Maddox's laser focus on his goal causes him to ruin many of those moments by reminding himself and Adeline that their relationship isn't real. By the time they give in to their attraction, Adeline realizes she's in love with Maddox, but he is still fighting his feelings. I ached for Adeline as she admitted she wanted more than he was willing to give and did what she had to do to protect herself. Maddox earned every bit of his misery while coming to grips with his feelings and guilt. He redeemed himself somewhat in the end through his emotional confession to Adeline.
 
The portrayal of the two sets of parents was very interesting. Maddox's parents are warm and accepting of Adeline, and I didn't get much of that controlling feeling from his dad. I felt that Maddox could have avoided much of the angst if he had talked to his dad about his feelings regarding the ranch. Adeline's parents gave off a completely different vibe. Her father is obnoxious in his refusal to accept Maddox as Adeline's choice, and her mom is a bit of a doormat. I understood Adeline's need to get away. There is clear growth on both sides by the end of the book, and I enjoyed seeing the changes happen.

One Night with the Maverick - Melissa Senate (HSE #2929 - Sept 2022)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Brothers and Broncos (Book 3)
 
"Maybe we could just have tonight."
 
Everyone thinks Shari Lormand and veterinarian Felix Sanchez are a couple. Unfortunately, the guarded widower has made it abundantly clear all he's looking for is a buddy. Shari is afraid she's hurtling toward another heartbreak. But with a little help from town psychic Winona Cobbs, Felix's uncle Stanley and a foster kitty named Page, she and Felix just might have a shot after all…
 
Good friends to lovers romance. Felix has been a widower for three years and does not intend to risk his heart again. It hurts too much when that love is gone. His family, however, is determined to change that. His mother and his Uncle Stanley constantly push "suitable" women at him, with his uncle producing numerous subterfuges to do so. As the book opens, Stanley tells Felix about a woman who wants advice about her dog. As a vet, he wants to help, even though he knows what to expect, and bluntly extricates himself after answering her concerns.
 
Shari is a children's librarian still recovering from a relationship that failed after five years together when her boyfriend decided she wasn't what he wanted. She hasn't given up entirely on finding love but feels the likelihood is fading. She's exploring other options for the family she wants, and as the book opens, she's stopped in at the bar for some wings, a beer, and to be around people. She doesn't like to think about it, but she's lonely.
 
Shari and Felix start a conversation while Stanley flirts with Winona, the psychic. The next thing he knows, Stanley and Winona are gone, stranding Felix at the bar. Shari offers Felix a ride home, and he repays her with a cup of coffee. The sparks of attraction are there between them, but Felix falls asleep before they can do anything about them. Shari goes home, realizing she had a lucky escape. Getting involved with an emotionally unavailable man won't get her the future she wants.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Felix and Shari, but I sometimes wanted to shake Felix. The sparks he feels freak him out because he feels he isn't ready to move on. Instead, he tells Shari that all he can offer is friendship. She accepts that offer, something inside her, hoping it will grow into more. Attending a family party with him, Shari glows from the easy acceptance of his relatives. Though Felix insists to anyone who will listen that they are just friends, everyone can see they belong together.
 
There are sweet scenes, from Felix bringing her coffee at work to Shari making dinner for him. I loved how comfortable they were with each other and how easy it was to share their thoughts and dreams. The more time they spent together, the more feelings were stirred up. Shari realized she was in love with Felix, who only wanted friendship. Felix's feelings grow for her, too, but he refuses to admit them. Both realize that something has changed when they give in to the sparks one night. Though Shari is ready to see where it goes, Felix panics and pulls back. Though I ached for her, I loved that Shari respects herself and her feelings enough to call him out on his choices. It takes a talk with his Uncle Stanley (and a bit of trickery) for Felix to finally see the light. I loved the ending, from Felix's admission of his idiocy to the sneakiness of Stanley and Winona.
 
One of my favorite secondary characters was Page, the kitten Shari found at the library. She helped bring Felix and Shari closer when Shari offered to foster the kitten. I laughed out loud when Felix flat-out told her he saw a "foster fail" in her future, as she already loved the little critter. Page plays a significant role by giving Shari someone to come home to and talk to, relieving a little of her loneliness.
 
I also loved Uncle Stanley, a widower himself, who has the most wonderful outlook on life. I loved how he embraced life and got a huge kick from his meeting with Winona. Those two were very sweet together and an excellent example for Felix if he had just opened his eyes and heart. Winona is still freakishly good at telling people what they need to hear, but in a way that they have to figure it out for themselves. It made me happy to see that she has a chance at her own happily ever after.