Series:
Slater Sisters of Montana (Book 2)
Driving through the Lazy S Ranch after ten years
away, the first person Josie Slater sees is the gorgeous-as-ever Garrett
Temple The memories of her first love and her first broken heart come
flooding back.
She doesn't have time for old attractions, as the
Lazy S needs her help But when a snowstorm blows in, Josie and Garrett
are left stranded together. With nowhere to run, the feeling that they
still belong together is undeniable....
Good story about second chances. When Josie left the ranch ten years ago she left behind a father who had no time for his daughters and the memory of her first broken heart. She has come back to help one of her sisters with the guest lodge they are building and to reunite with her father. She doesn't expect to see Garrett, the one who broke her heart. She isn't interested in starting anything new with him, she'll be headed back to California soon. But it's hard to resist the attraction that is still strong between them.
When Josie comes back she's not sure if she's ready to see her father. She's been told that he's changed but she can't quite believe it. While putting it off a little longer she drives over to see how the construction on the new guest lodge is doing and runs into Garrett. Seeing him again makes her want to head right back to California but she's committed to helping for a couple weeks, so she can't avoid him. She doesn't want to accept his apologies for the past, but being thrown together with him they have to deal with their past. Part of her wants to be with him again, but their lives are too far apart for anything permanent and she doesn't want to lose her heart again. I was a bit frustrated with Josie. She was still angry about the fact that Garrett had married someone else and had a child, even though she was the one who had broken things off with him back then. She had gotten mad at him because he accepted an internship that would keep him away for the summer, but be important experience for him. I thought it was selfish of her then, and worse now because she didn't seem to see how selfish she had been and was still holding a grudge. I did like her relationship with Garrett's son, she was very good with him. As she and Garrett worked together their old feelings started to come back. Josie saw that she was falling for him again, but she was still thinking inside the box about how to have a relationship with him. I liked the way that it was Brody that came up with the perfect fix.
Garrett had moved back home with his son in order to help his father with his ranch and be able to give his son Brody more of his time. He is also keeping his building business going. He's given the Slaters a good deal on his work. He is surprised to see Josie. He has moved on past their history but still feels it's important for her to see his side of the story. He gets pretty frustrated with her attitude but keeps it under control so that they can work together. It doesn't take him long to realize that he's still interested in her. He knows she's supposed to leave but hopes he can convince her that they should at least try to see if they can make it. I loved the way that he even went back to California with her and helped her at one of her events. He was impressed with her abilities and made sure she knew it. His feelings deepen for her but she keeps pushing him away. I loved the way that he and Brody teamed up to convince her to stay.
The storyline with the girls' father is moving along also. Colt is recovering from his stroke and realizing even more how much he missed when the girls were young. I like the way he isn't trying to force reconciliation but let Josie know that he's sorry and wants to make things different now. I love seeing her reactions to the new Colt. There is also an interesting development at the end of the book that I'm anxious to see how it turns out.
Series:
Slater Sisters of Montana (Book 1)
One stolen kiss with a cowboy
When Ana Slater's father is taken ill, she knows she can't look after
The Lazy S Ranch alone. There is one man who can help. The cowboy she
has found it impossible to forget -- Vance Rivers.
With the words "Work hard and hands off my daughters!" etched into his
memory, Vance knew from the very beginning that Ana was strictly
off-limits -- no matter what! All he could do was ensure he was the best
cowboy in Montana.
But now, with Ana back on the ranch, the rules are set to change. And
finally their chance at happiness might be just around the corner….
Ana's father has had a stroke and can't run the ranch while he's recovering. Ana is made co-executor of the ranch along with ranch foreman Vance. Vance came to the ranch as a runaway when he was fourteen. Colt gave him a job but made it clear Vance was to leave his daughters alone. He's had it bad for Ana ever since, but knows to stay away from her. Now they have to work together to save the ranch from financial ruin.
This is a book with a lot of emotion in it. Ana is the only one of her sisters who has remained close to home. When their mother deserted them years ago it caused their father to completely withdraw from them. He was there physically but emotionally he was unavailable. The girls had tried everything they could but he pretty much ignored them. When Vance showed up suddenly he was getting all the attention the girls wanted. Ana especially resented it feeling doubly rejected. Now she is being forced to work with him and she doesn't like it. I mostly liked Ana. She was finally getting the chance she had wanted to be involved in the ranch. She didn't expect to have to share the duty with Vance and wasn't really happy about it. Then they found out that the ranch was in trouble financially and really have to work together to save it. Having to work with Vance so closely made Ana realize that, though she may resent his relationship with her father, she had feelings of her own for him. I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and learn what they had in common. I loved the way they were able to work together to find ways to help the ranch. Ana still has a lot of resentment against her father and also has a hard time letting go of some of the feelings against Vance. Just as their feelings are growing something comes up that sets Ana off again against Vance. Her reaction was really extreme and she ended up saying some really hurtful things. I was glad to see her come to her senses and especially apologize for what she said before they made up.
Vance had had a rough start in life. His mom deserted him and his father. Vance's father became an abusive alcoholic and when Vance was fourteen he'd had enough and left. He ended up being taken in by Colt and given a job and a place to live. Colt trained him in the ranch work and pretty much treated him as a son, except for telling him to stay away from the girls. All Vance really wanted was a place where he really felt like he belonged. He developed a crush on Ana early on, and except for one kiss when they were teens, managed to keep his distance. Now that they have to work together he's hoping to change that. I liked Vance a lot. He had worked hard for Colt and had come a long way. He is looking forward to working with Ana and having a chance to get closer to her. I really liked the way that he tried to show her that Colt's treatment of the girls wasn't his fault or his choice. I had high hopes that he was really getting through to her. I also liked the way that Vance supported Ana with the ideas she had for the ranch. His growing feelings for her were obvious. He was devastated by her reaction to the land problem and so hurt at the things she said. I felt terrible about what he was going through and what he decided to do to make things right. All he had really wanted was a family of his own with Ana. I was happy that Ana went to him at the end, he deserved the apology she gave him.
The storyline with Colt and the way he treated his daughters is very interesting. I like the fact that we are getting his thoughts and feelings. I'm looking forward to seeing how things go with his desire to make things right with the girls.
