Clara Seavers’s Grandmother Mary has temporarily hired a new worker named Tanner to help her out on her ranch. (Grandma lives alone on the ranch next to the Seavers ranch.) At first Clara is worried about having a stranger on the ranch with Mary, but when Tanner comes to their rescue one day when two dirty, lecherous men show up at Mary’s ranch and hold Clara and Mary at gunpoint Clara realizes the value of having him around. Tanner also has a magnificent looking stallion that Clara is interested in breeding with her mares. As they get to know each other a little better they become attracted to each other. But Tanner has secrets of his own and he isn’t planning on staying at the ranch long.

This was a highly enjoyable read. The book had some happy moments, and some sad moments. I liked the heroine Clara. She was strong, brave, and spirited. Clara always wanted to breed and train horses and loved working on her family’s ranch. I also liked Tanner (whose real name was Jace Denby). He used to work as a field geologist, was an engineer, and he would have liked a future in politics but he voluntarily took the blame for his brother-in-law’s murder and he has been on the run as a wanted man ever since. The other characters in the book were interesting and likable, especially Clara’s Grandmother Mary. I liked the time period/era of the book, 1919, and I liked how the families were close and cared about each other.

A lovely western historical romance. ( )