Nate Marshall isn't sure why he'd said yes to Eden Quinn. She is house-mom to a group of troubled boys and wants to take them to the Double M Ranch for some new experiences. Nate is surprised when he finds himself drawn to the boys but more importantly to their feisty guardian. Eden is attracted to Nate for lots of reasons but how he interacts with the boys makes him especially appealing. Nate observes the way she keeps the boys in line and how they respect her. When a problem arises that will affect Latimer House Nate wants to help, but will Eden's independence get in the way?

This was an enjoyable story overall. Nate was a great hero from the get-go and I loved the Marshall family. Eden was someone I had mixed feelings about. I appreciated the way she interacted with boys and the love and care she showed to them. I must say though, I didn't like the way she was with Nate. To me she was unkind and unfair in the way she treated him. I really don't see what Nate saw in her. I also felt like things ended too abruptly and there was a thread left undone concerning a particular person. It would have been great to have an epilogue to finish things out. There is some danger along the way and you also find out where the name 'Sweet Mountain' comes from. This is Harlequin's Heartwarming Line of stories so they are sweet with traditional values but no 'spiritual' message as with their Love Inspired line. Sweet Mountain Rancher is the second book in a series but you can easily read it as a stand- alone and not feel lost.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about this book or other books by Loree Lough, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.loreelough.com/ ( )