Sara RichardsonReseñas

Counting on a Cowboy by Sara Richardson
Star Valley series #3. Contemporary western romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. Couples from the previous books play roles and attends a few different events. Conclusion to the series.
Retired SEAL Thatch Hearst moved to Star Valley four years ago with a couple of his teammates. He wants to earn some extra money bull riding in the big leagues. His trainer tells Thatch he’s not moving with the bull so he enlists the help of a local yoga instructor to help him learn to bend and move. Thatch has been interested in Lyric for a while but after being turned down twice, he’s kept his distance. He will make it clear he is looking for her professional help and maybe she will relax a little around him

Lyric Valenza has worked with difficult clients in the past so Thatch should be just another appointment on her calendar. She’s definitely not getting involved with another cowboy. But the handsome man is really trying to understand and listen to Lyric that she can’t help being charmed. Just a little bit. When he helps break up an argument between two teens, Lyric impulsively claims they are dating and suddenly it’s all around town.

I liked that Thatch wasn’t at all comfortable lying to their mutual friends. He also arranges to get the teen a job just because Lyric asked. He’s supportive and a hard worker. He’s willing to stay in the background until he needs to step up.
I didn’t care for Lyric’s bossy attitude all the time. She’s been hurt in the past so I understand her trying to protect the female teen based on her own experiences. But think they were too soft on a “borrowing” situation.
I loved the whole town acting together to help the family in need.
Plenty of steam and appreciation for the group dynamics of friends.
Great romantic ending and epilogue.
3.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.½

No Better Man by Sara Richardson is a delightful book that is a must read, book recommendation.

Let's highlight the book with a few bullet points:
- Fast paced, happily ever after romance
- Relatable characters in difficult situations
- Slow burn, but gets hot fast when the heat is turned up
- Incredible setting, family ties
- Baseball, family ranch/inn, dog!

Overall, I seriously loved this book. Sara Richardson is one of my favourite authors and I love reading through her series.

Four out of five stars.

Sara Richardson is one of my favourite authors. I get so excited whenever I have the chance to pick up her books. They feel whimsical, romantic and fun. I hate romance novels that bore me - I want the joy of being whisked away on a romantic adventure (like a swash buckling pirate wants to go on a ship and sail across the sea). Every time I pick up Sara's books, it feels like home. I'm free to enjoy the romance and smile. These are the kind of books I LOVE.

This book was no different! I'm super glad I picked this book up because it was such a gem. I read the original book of this series, so it was no problem for me going for round two. I do recommend picking up the first book if you get the chance, because a lot goes on in the first novel (and man am I glad it continued - so many ways this could have gone!).

New relationships, new adventures and a whole lot of spunk fills this book. It's a heartwarming, drama-filled, women's fiction novel. These women grow and learn - which is exactly what I want. Give me more! I love it.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

One Night with a Cowboy by Sara Richardson is an emotional roller coaster of a romance book (in all the best ways!).

My heart melted with this book and some of it honestly brought me to happy tears (which is quite the feat!). It was nice to have a book that made me feel so much, and it made me feel quite happy to call myself a Sara Richardson fan. But, you may be asking... why?

In this book we have Weston Harding (or simply, Wes) who is a hometown boy, rodeo clown/bull rider. His sister Jane is pregnant so he's sticking around and helping her out during a scary part of her pregnancy. Jane was working on a retreat with her college friend Thea Davis. Thea has a sad past - her husband died in Afghanistan, leaving her and their two children, Liv and Ryan, behind. Wes and Thea meet and butt heads (to no surprise) but slowly start falling for each other. Lots of drama and scary situations will come their way, but you know they will find a way to overcome it!

So many parts of this book made me smile and cry! "He was a goner." Man, that line made my heart do all sorts of back flips. And it's just a small sentence! But the timing and the story behind it... Yeah, it felt so good. And when you pair it with the very last sentence of the book... Yeah, so good! You'll need to read it to find out why it's so warm, fuzzy and wonderful!

Ryan and Wes's relationship building was what actually brought tears to my eyes. Some of the comments Ryan says to Wes and Wes's reaction will make you feel SO HARD. My poor heart couldn't take the sweetness and beautiful aspect of their story. As someone who lost their own Father - finding someone who can give you experiences you thought you'd lost forever is amazing.

Add in how passionate this book is - R rated sexy scenes - and the wonderful heart to heart talks that happen in this book and you've got a winner! This is one marvellous book that romance fans will absolutely love! I highly recommend it.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Home for the Holidays by Sara Richardson is a sweet, contemporary, romantic drama that will bring you some holiday spirit and share the value of family.

I always love Sara Richardson's books: They feel realistic yet whisk you away. She brings romance, family, friendship and life into a book that makes you feel like you would know the characters. This book was no different! It wasn't purely a romance, but it did dip in that department. It also wasn't purely dramatic either, but it had some drama. The whole focus on this book is three sisters learning to adapt to their changing environments: love, loss, family and friendship. It's one great book and I kind of hope it turns into a series so I can see more of these lovely characters.

Dahlia, Magnolia and Rose are relatable and lovable characters in not so amazing situations. They are all unhappy in some way or another. But, don't worry, they'll end up happy by the end of the book - maybe just not in the way you expected. Troubled relationships, difficulty getting pregnant and family secrets will flutter across the page, and by the end you'll feel warm and fuzzy about it all. Who doesn't love an uplifting holiday book?

I may have read it after the holidays, but honestly I needed it now. I needed the happy, go lucky, holiday spirit kind of book that this book provided. With all the insanity of the world going on and on, a book like this makes you feel that maybe there is a hope out there for a happily ever after.

This book is cozy and I highly recommend you pick it up if you love a good, sweet read.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

More Than a Feeling is a marvelous continuation of the Heart of Rockies series by Sara Richardson.

Years ago I managed to get my hands on one of the first books in this series, and then I bought the sequels! Silly me lost them among my shelves until I recently managed to clean my little library up. Of course, I had to pick this book up and continue the series (I'm sure #2 is hiding somewhere in my house. Whoever said you had to read these in order?!).

I really enjoy this series, but it is an R rated book - sex scenes, abusive pasts and a miscarriage are just a few parts of this story that make it a "tougher" read. It felt like an adult romance novel, which is what it was intended to be. That being said, this book could be a potential trigger for some readers.

I like that Sara didn't hold back with Ruby's story. Her story is rough and tough and isn't all sunshine and roses. She's lucky to find a man like Sawyer and a beautiful, unconventional family to fill her heart with. Oh, and the sex scenes made for a good romp too!

This book has a lot of tug and pull. Ruby wanted Sawyer, but didn't want to tell him her secrets. Sawyer was very similar, but he was all in for this relationship. The 'should I, shouldn't I' was a little annoying, but that's because it's one of those specific cliches I get bored with. That part of the book didn't go on for a long time, but it's still there. This little cliche made this book a slow burn romance, but when it hits the hot parts... wowza, it is hot!

I like contemporary romances like these. For whatever reason, they are really hitting all of the notes I want them to hit this year. There were some cons though...

1. Potential animal abuse. I strongly dislike animal abuse. Fortunately, a lot of the potential abuse isn't shown in this novel. There's just a little bit and it's used to show Ruby's compassion. Still... it's a touchy topic for me.

2. Abusive exes. Yeek... These do happen in real life but they still make me shiver. Some readers might not enjoy some of the comments said in relation to this topic! So, reader beware...

3. Miscarriage. It happened in the past but I know it's a very touchy subject for some people. Again, reader beware!

4. Sawyer is a really horny man. It's not necessarily a giant con (it's a romance novel, you kinda have to expect it) but I know a good friend of mine did not enjoy that part of the novel. So, it's a potential con? Not for me, but for some readers.

If I had to pick the good things, they would be as followed:

1. Foster families and happy endings. I like seeing the positive side of building trust and making friendships! I'm glad this book put foster families in a good light.

2. Stand-alone versus series. This book could easily have stood alone, yet it's apart of a series. Sara gives you just enough info to be able to jump into this book without knowing the rest of this series.

3. NO CLIFFHANGER! Thank goodness there was no cliffhanger. Those kill me.

Overall, I liked this book! The touchy subjects dropped one star off my rating, but realistically they can happen! So why not put them into a romance novel and use them for a happy ending?

Four out of five stars!

Something Like Love was an excellent romance/drama novel!

I loved this book! Lately I have been craving a good romance novel, and this filled the void! Sara Richardson did an excellent job writing this book!

I very rarely found it boring. I can't remember a time reading it where I felt the need to put it down. While it didn't have me hooked at every single word, I craved to continue the story and know what was going to happen to Paige and Ben.

The novel moves smoothly and doesn't have any chapters that seem out of place. All of the situations seem realistic and not like a cheesy soap opera. It was a good quality romance novel!

Overall, I loved it! I want to read the first novel in this series and continue on with the rest of the books.

Five out of five stars!

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Kyra's estranged father has left her all his land in Star Valley. She goes to fix some things he said must be fixed before she can sell it. She needs the money to claim her dream of moving and living in London. The townspeople of Star Valley decide to show her how good their town is and why she should stay and not sell it to developers. The more she gets involved with the people of Star Valley especially Aiden and his family, the more she starts to see the method of her father's will. Of course, nothing worth having is easy. Kyra and Aiden have problems to work out individually and together. Can they?

I enjoyed this story. Set around the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Kyra sees the town differently as she reconnects with her best friend Lyric. As she becomes part of the community and cleans out her dad's house, she has to deal with what she thought she knew versus what is reality. She has some hard truths to face. Aiden also has to deal with the death of his brother-in-law and his own PTSD. His pain puts a strain on his relationship with Kyra. It causes him to be stupid and cruel.

I loved Morgan and Willow, Aiden's nieces. They brought comic relief when the story was getting heavy. I liked his sister. I liked his friends who busted his chops about a lot of stuff but were there for him. The townspeople were a delight.

I look forward to the rest of the series to see if certain romances happen or not.

When her estranged father died, he left the heroine a huge inheritance that came with stipulations. The heroine has dreams to go to London, England, to start a new life. Instead, she ends up at the small town in Wyoming that her father left her and she meets the hero along the way. The hero wants her to stay and love the small town, because there are dire consequences if the heroine sells the place. He didn't expect to fall in love with the heroine as he interacts with her in a plan to save the town.

This is the first book in the Star Valley series. It features a heroine who closes herself off after her father left her and a hero who is struggling with his own personal demons after his brother-in-law died in the battlefield. There were some wonderful supportive secondary characters in the story, which definitely helped the heroine open up to others and showed how the hero has a caring side to him as he interacted with his nieces. I liked the story vibe of the book but do feel that there are some more details needed in some parts of the story to make it better in my eyes. I also have some deep feelings about the heroine's parents, but glad that the heroine didn't let their actions make her closed off from others. Overall, it's still an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more books in the Star Valley series in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thought in the review are my own.**½

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
Title: Colorado Cowboy
Author(s): Sara Richardson
Character(s):
― Charity Stone: Blonde, Blue Eyed
― Dev Jenkins: Brunette, Brown Eyed
Setting: Topaz Falls, Colorado
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Hot
Favorite Quote(s): N/A
Overall Opinion:
I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this a lot more than I had expected. The characters were mature and the premise was refreshing. The ideal that Charity became the caregiver of her trouble nephew whom she haven't seen since he was a toddler was a unique twist to this romance series. Overall a decent read filled with opposites attract romance and good old family drama.

Three sisters: Dahlia, Magnolia and Rose are summoned by their Aunt Sassy to a childhood favorite place: Juniper Inn in Colorado from their homes. Dahlia is from Minneapolis, Magnolia lives in Florida and Rose is from Savannah. They haven't connected in years with their busy schedules and haven't been to the Inn since their mother cut ties with her sister years ago. It's Christmas and the sisters cleared their calendars to get together without their other halves to make time for each other and bring back wonderful childhood memories. The book addresses issues with relationships in the family and was very predictable with romantic fluff. But so what. It's a nice change from many other intense novels -- easy to read, cozy, seasonal book that makes you drift into La La Land.

My thanks to the author, Forever Books and the Book Club CookBook for providing our bookclub with a complimentary copy.

Thanks to the Book Club Cookbook giveaway program and Hachette Book Group, Inc. for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

A warm and cozy Christmas read about three sisters who return to their Aunt Sassy's Colorado-based Juniper Inn for the holidays after fifteen years without connecting with their aunt.

The sisters, all named after flowers, bring their issues with them - Dahlia, newly divorced, is spending Christmas without her young children who are in France with their father; Rose is about to be married and having second thoughts about her fiancé and his family; Magnolia is dealing with infertility which has strained her relationship with her husband. Two attractive young local men are also invited by Aunt Sassy to assist the sisters in setting up the Inn's traditional Christmas Extravaganza.

Checks the boxes if you're looking for a Christmas-time family story with a bit of a mystery (Why are two sisters estranged? Why are the girls invited back to visit after fifteen years? What is the relationship between Aunt Sassy and Colt, a young man who has grown up at the Juniper Inn? Will the sisters resolve their issues and listen to their hearts?) A feel-good story with a happy ever after ending.

4.5 stars

True-Blue Cowboy by Sara Richardson is an incredibly heartwarming contemporary romance. Although this latest release is the fourth installment in the marvelous Rocky Mountain Riders series, it can be read as a standalone.

Everly Brooks is a high-powered lawyer turned farmer who loves the new life she has made for herself in Topaz Falls, CO. She is a kind-hearted, compassionate woman who gives back to the local community in a variety of quiet, thoughtful ways. Although Everly's parents are displeased with her decisions, she remains firm when they attempt to bend her to their will. Thankfully, she has a wonderful group of women with whom she finds the love and support she needs to make her dreams a reality.

Bronc rider Mateo Torres has a successful career on the rodeo circuit but he is realistic enough to realize he needs to plan for his future. He has been providing financial support to his mother and sisters for most of his adult life. In order to ensure his fiscal future is secure, Mateo makes an investment purchase that he plans to develop into luxury condos. The only problem? Everly is his tenant.

Circumstances quickly throw Mateo and Everly into close quarters. Both are strong attracted to each other but Everly is well aware of Mateo's love 'em and leave 'em reputation. They genuinely like one another and they enter into a cycle of coming close to acting on their desire only to pull away for a variety of reasons. Everly refuses to settle for less than a true commitment but will Mateo be willing to risk his heart?

True-Blue Cowboy by Sara Richardson is a delightfully charming and uplifting romance with a wonderful small town atmosphere. Everly is a fantastic heroine who stands up for herself in all aspects of her life. Mateo's philosophy of never looking back is becoming a hindrance to his life in present, but will he finally face the problems he has ignored for so long? Old and new fans of Sara Richardson's Rocky Mountain Riders series are going to love watching this endearing couple find their happily ever after.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Jessa was just dumped by text and for someone who has such an open heart, she sure has trouble finding someone to love her back.
Ever since Lance's mother left without looking back, he's been a love them for one night and leave them.
When Lance needs help watching his father, Jessa is there and he's starting to enjoy her at his home more than he should.
Jessa loves love, Lance wants to be a loner, and long held family secrets are bubbling under the surface as these two heat up under the Colorado sky.

She might have sworn off relationships, but technically she hadn't sworn off kissing.

I enjoyed how this one started off, we're introduced to the Cortez family of Lance, his younger brothers Lucas, Levi, and their father Luis. With Luis out following the rodeo circuit as a champion bull rider, their mother couldn't handle the stress of raising three boys alone and leaves. As the oldest, Lance feels it is his responsibility to take care of the family but Levi has serious anger issues with his father and ends up burning down a barn. The three boys decide Lucas will take the wrap as his record is squeaky clean but things go sideways when he gets charged as an adult and ends up going to jail. When he finally gets out, he leaves not wanting to deal with the small town always looking at him like he is a criminal, Levi can't stand the guilt and constantly travels on the rodeo circuit, which leaves Lance to run their ranch and work on becoming the best bull rider like his dad. I wish there had been more detail to Lance running the ranch and his bull riding career. They're mentioned but not really done anything with, we get a few glimpses of Lance practicing for World's, championship rodeo in Las Vegas, but I didn't understand how he ran the ranch year round and was such a top bull rider, when would he have time to travel to rodeos?

The Cortez family drama kind of overshadowed Jessa, she grew up spending the summers with her father and school year with her mother, she craved a big stable family. Her father just died and she is trying to take over his animal rescue, Lance's father Luis tries to help her out with it. Like Lance and his ranch and rodeo, there wasn't much to Jessa's animal rescue. We know she needs money to keep it running but other than carting a pig around, it was definitely pushed to the side of her life and the story. Her friendship with two other women, helped to flesh out her character more but they never seemed to have longer, in depth scenes together to endear them to me more than series baiting.

It's a gift when someone believes in you at a time no on else does. When you've lost some of the belief in yourself.

I thought the first half was just a lot of lust attraction making up Jessa and Lance's relationship. Jessa is supposedly on a break from wanting a relationship and Lance is supposed to have this hardened heart but the storyline of Jessa not wanting a relationship seems abandoned almost as soon as she says it. I'm not sure until the very end I felt any depth to Lance's feelings for Jessa. They are thrown together because of circumstance and they never evolved for me beyond “sexy legs” and “hot bod”.

This was an easy quick read, the outline for a deep emotional story was there but the depth and building blocks never showed up. The big ending had me disliking Jessa's character a bit as she acted fairly inconsiderately towards Lance and very blindly towards one of her friends, all because she “knew” she was right; family dynamics are tough waters to wade into and I just didn't think she gave it the consideration it deserved. There was nothing new or exciting to this story but, like I said, the outline is there for deep emotion with the Cortez family trying to heal from the lie they told that fractured the brothers. Details, depth, and fully fleshed out characters were absent in this one, but with two brothers left single, the author has a nice setup for their stories.

Julia is just going through the motions of her brother's wedding, keeping a huge secret that she plans to skip town right after. She wants the independence she lost years ago, a life without her mom and brother's help. She's willing to do whatever it takes to make the wedding perfect, until the one man she hasn't forgotten about in 12 years shows up. At 15, Isaac Nash was the love of her life, but 12 years in the Navy has severed those ties. Except, Isaac never forgot Julia, and after making a life for himself, he may be ready to make room in his heart for her. The past may be too much for the both of them to get over, but spending the Christmas wedding together shows Isaac that he must convince Julia to give him another chance.

Julia is a quirky character, she completely sucks you in, but her reasoning doesn't always make sense. At 25, I completely relate to her feelings of needing to step out on her own, except she has a handicap to deal with on top of it. Her desire to be independent is refreshing, I really liked that she didn't take one look at Isaac and want to jump right in with him. She wants him, recognizes that she has feelings for him still, but also doesn't believe he could want to be committed to her and her needs forever. Isaac is total book boyfriend material, he's got a rough past, found himself and a new life, and held onto his feelings for 12 years. If that isn't love, I don't know what is. He works to show her that her handicap is something people who love her want to help her with, not out of requirement. I love the situation they are tossed into, allowing them to finally share some of the feelings they'd been holding onto. Plus, when the family finally learns of Julia's decision it led to al to of sparks, some interesting character drama, and a lot of development in the relationships of all characters.

This is a 5 star novella, but I had to dock a point for the lack of Christmas feelings. I really felt like it came across as just a convenient timeframe, however the wedding part really brought it to life. It is a novella in the Heart of the Rockies series, so everything moves fairly quickly, however the characters and their past is just right for the speed. The romance is a bit predictable, but the characters themselves are not and there are a couple tasteful, steamy scenes. While it isn't really a Christmas story, it is a great love story and one that will leave you smiling. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest the entire series as a whole.

This is the second book I have read in this series. Each book can be read as a stand alone novel. So this is great for new readers as they can jump right into this series at any point. I do have to admit that I am a bit bias. This book combines two things that I have a fond place for in my heart...horses and Colorado. Being a Colorado naïve, I am drawn to books that are based in Colorado or authors that were from or live in Colorado.

Right away, I was drawn into this book. I just liked Charity, Dev, and Brodie. If it was not for Brodie, than, Charity would have kind of been of been just another person. Not that her barrel riding skills make her dull but she was more straight and narrow. Brodie pushed her to her limits and to expand her horizon. Speaking of Brodie; I felt bad for him. His mother just leaves him with his Aunt without a goodbye.

Finally, there is Dev. He is kind hearted but also made me laugh. For example, when he got to put on his sirens and drive more than twenty five miles an hour to the scene of the "crime" involving Charity and Brodie and a wild night ride excursion. Dev and Charity did not hook up until about the half way point. The love making scenes are brief but hot.

Readers should make sure that Colorado Cowboy is on their purchase list! You don't want to miss out on this book.

I have not had the pleasure of reading the previous book in this series. If I had maybe I would have learned more about the history of Ben and Paige's relationship. I enjoyed them as a couple. There was more going on underneath Paige's resistance. Paige is scared to open herself up to more hurt. Her relationships whether romantic or familial have consisted of her being labeled a disappointment and I believe she has taken those words to heart. In her mind she can't disappoint anyone else if she pushes them away. Ben would not have been my choice of her rescuer but he ended up surprising me. Something Like Love takes a look at the fragility of the heart and the power love has to mend it. I am going to read book one as soon as I can.

This story made me really emotional. Julia could have easily been bitter about all that she had to face within her young life. Yet she handled the obstacles put before her with strength and optimism. In fact she dealt with it better than those around her. Her courage is what I believe help Isaac to face his own issues. Her gentle spirit and kind heart made her resilience all the more incredible and is what was most inspiring about this novel. I have read exactly two stories by Sara Richardson. Something Like Love and One Christmas Wish. Her ability to write inspiring characters is a beautiful facet of her storytelling. Requested an ARC of One Christmas Wish from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's the surprises that make each day special and life interesting. Sawyer and Ruby are learning that hoping and planning does not equate perfection. It's the lessons learned from life's upsets that are unifying. Those are what build an unbreakable seal. Rocky Mountain Wedding is the final novel in Ms. Richardson's Heart of the Rockies series. What has remained consistent in every book of this series is family. Whether by blood or friendship, in times of adversity there is always someone to count on. Am going to miss this series.

Mateo knows his way around stubborn animals, but's he clueless when it comes to feisty women. Everly is one complication he doesn't need. She is as stubborn as a mule, but as tempting as the land is rugged. A big city girl with a love for the simple life, Everly sets out to make herself happy. When that goal finds her in Colorado working on a farm, she starts to make plans. Those plans do not include bullheaded cowboys. Mateo may be easy on the eyes, but a pain in every other sense. How can she possibly be attracted to a jerk? Prepare to be charmed by True-Blue Cowboy. Richardson puts ego to the test between a firecracker of a city girl and a hard headed country boy. Who will win this call of the wild? A side-splitting, heartwarming, irresistible good time.

Naomi Sullivan has learned a few lessons in her life. Never trust a cowboy to stay and never willingly give your heart away. Lessons learned courtesy of Lucas Cortez. All loving him got her was a bunch of heartache and a ton of responsibilities. Her pride and her daughter are all that she needs. When her biggest heartache walks back into her life, can she endure the emotions he resurrects and hold tight to the secret she keeps? Ms. Richardson creates the stories she's best known for. Second chance romances. Comeback Cowboy is teasing, tempting and smothered with an emotion that Sara Richardson excels at. LOVE!

HOMETOWN COWBOY (ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDERS) BY SARA RICHARDSON  
 
ARC Review:  Hometown Cowboy (Rocky Mountain Riders) by Sara Richardson
 
The best gifts are the ones presented with love.  Words to live by.  Hometown Cowboy has LOVE written all over it.  Ms. Richardson's kinship with her readers is evident with every word she writes and each character she creates.  She targets the heart and scores with every aim.  Hometown Cowboy starts with regrets and sorrow but gradually builds with a brighter hope for a better tomorrow.  Lance and Jessa's path is not always pretty, but it's built on real emotion and not manufactured in any way.  To heal the pain of the past, we have to face it, accept it and move forward.  I never tire of this author, her melodies always hit the right chord with me.
 

Trying to escape her past brings Ruby face to face with her future. Ruby is a wonder. She has endured much in her life but her hope and her belief that there is something better in store for her is inspiring. She is one of those characters that has to grow on you though. Sawyer is a tough guy on the outside but a big ole softy inside. I have read many of the stories within Ms. Richardson's Heart of the Rockies series. More Than a Feeling is full of contradictions and twists but turned out to be a spellbinding read. The Heart of the Rockies series is full of stories of courage, hope and love. Each story is different and some more appealing than others but the emotion put into each one keeps me coming back.

Jessa Mae Love has been dumped yet again, but this time by text message! So she is done with men, done with kisses, she is just going to focus on her father's animal rescue legacy to her and make him proud! She is certainly NOT going to kiss Lance Cortez, her father's best friends eldest son! No way!! And she certainly isn't going to fall in to bed with him either...

When Lance Cortez's mother walked out of his and his brothers lives when he was 9 years old, he would have never imagined that it would shape his whole life, or even be the cause of splitting up his family.

Lance was sure he could never love anyone? Not even his family, especially then Lucas and Levi left town and never looked back. But when his father Luis went missing, the only person who would know where he would be was Jessa, but when he see her almost naked...well it defiantly shines a new light on Jessa.

As Jessa starts to help Lance out by keeping an eye on his Dad, things start to warm up between them, and when things start changing for the better with Lance and Jessa, Lance puts his big foot in it and now he is scrambling to get Jessa back, but has he destroyed their relationship for good.

My synopsis above only gives you a brief glimpse of the story and I sure as heck have left things out. But I will say that Hometown Cowboy is a sweet, heartwarming love story, where they both realize that love is real and you can't make someone love you. The writing is also smooth and they story reads at a steady pace, and there is no fact cramming any, which I love.

The characters of Jessa and Lance are likeable from the start. I also liked the way the author didn't have the lead characters come from the quintessential American home, but from broken homes, with parents who did what they could with what they had. Though I will say I'm curious to find out what happened with the other 2 Cortez brothers.

I give Hometown Cowboy 4 stars!