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Cadence Creek Cowboys #2
The Rebel Rancher
With his break-your-heart smile, rodeo star and rebel Ty Diamond has a reputation that should have Clara Ferguson running scared--not straight into his arms!
Ty knows he needs to take it easy with Clara--her past has left her with a bruised heart and she's determined never to rely on a man again. But Ty isn't all he seems...and his gentle side shakes Clara's resolute independence to its breaking point.
Ty knows he needs to take it easy with Clara--her past has left her with a bruised heart and she's determined never to rely on a man again. But Ty isn't all he seems...and his gentle side shakes Clara's resolute independence to its breaking point.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Donna Alward
296 books694 followersSince 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 28, 2019
Was he flirting with her? It seemed preposterous. She was plain as ditch water, and to a man like Ty, probably twice as dull. For heaven's sake, she lived in a woman's shelter and spent her days as a private nurse. She was distinctly unworldly and unexciting. And Ty was a rodeo star and drifter. They had absolutely nothing in common. 5%
There's a lot to talk about in this book. Clara is a survivor of domestic abuse. She lives in a woman's shelter and is a LPN who works for the Diamonds. She cares for Virgil, who has had a stroke. Virgil's wayward adopted son, Ty, comes back from the rodeo. Sparks fly.
ANALYSIS
The book is unpredictable. Alward managed to surprise me. There were some surprises in here.
Another good thing is making an abuse survivor the heroine. It's awkward. Alward doesn't shy away from the awkwardness. Clara is fucked up in the head. Dating her is not easy. Oftentimes I felt sorry for Ty. Clara really put him through the wringer. Sometimes I couldn't believe how cruel she was being to him, but in her head it made sense.
Clara is not pretty. It's rare to find a plain, not-pretty heroine in romance novels. Usually they are beautiful. But Clara is not pretty. She describes herself as "plain as dishwater" and instead of making the hero think she is beautiful, even Ty himself admits that she is not pretty.
I kind of felt sorry for Ty for two reasons. One, Clara is so fucked up he almost doesn't know what to do. Usually abuse-survivor novels are a little more, um, romanticized. Not with Alward. She does not shy away from the awkwardness and confusion.
There's a lot of kissing, breaking up. Kissing, breaking up. Having sex - she tries to sneak out the next morning, he catches her. Breaking up. We can't do this. We can't be together.
There's no reason they can't be together. The reasons she were coming up with for not being together were stupid.
There were ways in this was really good - for example, the scene where Clara wants to make out with Ty and he's pushing for more and she has to put on the brakes and say she only wants kissing. He feels like a heel, she feels like a 13-year-old who is hurting him by not moving faster with him sexually - I mean, this is real, awkward stuff. It's not easy. Alward doesn't try to sugarcoat it.
They end up having sex later in the book but then Clara can't handle it. She runs away from Ty and from the relationship, claiming cockamamie reasons. There's nothing he can do about it. He's just got to let her go. There's no reasoning with her.
Luckily he is adamant about so he and she work it out in the end, but it was a difficult romance and a difficult coming-together. It has a happy ending, but only despite the stubbornness of both characters.
One of the reasons I think Clara is so cruel to Ty is that she doesn't realize he has feelings. Ty's sexual past is used against him. Clara somehow figures that because he's been with a lot of women, he has no feelings or that she can't hurt him or something. She uses his sexual past as an excuse to be cruel to him.
In some ways, this is Ty's fault. On a date (non-date?) in which he takes her to a diner and buys her pie and coffee, he just straight-out tells her that there are benefits to being a bull-rider. And those benefits are tons of sex with 'buckle bunnies.' I was staring at him in disbelief. He's grinning at her and referencing all the casual sex he's had.
Listen, men. Pro tip. It's not a good idea to tell a woman you are romantically interested in "I've fucked so many women, isn't that great?!?!!?" It might impress your buddies - even though I have my doubts about that. Ty is in his thirties, I think, and he and his buddies should be past this - but telling a woman this isn't going to earn you any points. There are exceptions, but I think the majority of women aren't going to be just thrilled to hear that the thing you loved most about your job was the meaningless and extremely frequent sex you were getting.
Another thing that really annoyed me about Clara, Ty, and Alward were their treatment of said 'buckle bunnies.' As if these women, because they were sleeping with rodeo riders and were sexually available and perhaps promiscuous, were 'sluts,' 'less deserving women' and people with no feelings. It was really angering me, and it was a dose of misogyny I could have done without in this book quite frankly.
"I'm sorry I misled you. You're probably used to women who are more confident."
She couldn't make herself look him in the eye.
"I'm not mad. Frustrated? Maybe?" His voice was rich and seductive. "But you didn't mislead me, Clara. Not ever. And I wouldn't want you to change one hair on your head. You're worth far more than any of those other girls." 57%
UGH. Why did he have to ruin something good - backing off sexually when she asks him to - with a dose of misogyny!? Oh, YOU I value. But those other 'girls' I fucked - they were valueless. WTF, man? Please stop. This doesn't make me think well of you. It makes me think you are a jerk.
Maybe Ty was a different man but she still doubted she was the woman for him. He was the rodeo star with the belt buckles and a wagonload of experience. She'd only ever been with one man, and it had been enough for a lifetime. 65%
She always uses Ty's sexual past as an excuse to treat him cruelly. It goes like this: he's fucked a lot of women. Women don't matter to him. I can't hurt him, because he has no feelings. ??? Even when it's clear Ty has feelings for her and that he doesn't see her as just a fling, she ignores this and stomps all over him. It was painful to read about.
She's actually angry with him that he tries to fight for her and tries to keep her.
Frustration simmered. Why did he have to make this so hard? He should just let her go, right? What was one night to a man like Ty? He'd broken hearts before, she was sure of it. Had each one been entitled to this touching goodbye? The sarcastic words sat on her tongue. 75%
He's probably regretting telling her - in an offhand, isn't-this-funny manner - that he's enjoyed fucking tons of women as a side benefit of his 'job.' YOU'RE REGRETTING IT NOW, AREN'T YOU, ASSHOLE? LOL Ha ha ha. ANYWAY. What I'm saying is she completely discounts his feelings, thinking he is a callous, cold, unfeeling cad because he has an extensive sexual history. Even though that is obviously not true. She uses it to justify doing whatever she wants to do.
And I feel sorry for the women who slept with him in the past, who are sneered at now by both him and Clara, spoken of like they are just 'sluts' or just women with no feelings who deserve no respect or kind treatment. It's sick. This madonna/whore thing has to end. It's bad form to think women who sleep with you are just feelingless, interchangeable people with no rights to respect, kindness, or individuality. It would really bother me if a man talked about his past lovers in this kind of dismissive, hateful way. I think men who value women who have decided to sleep with him are a turn-on, and those who dismiss them as "easy" or "not valuable" are disgusting. It's not a turn-on to be told, "Oh, you're not like all those other women I slept with!" I want you to value women. Not only value women who made you wait a long time to have sex. I want you to think women are human beings with feelings and people who deserve respect - especially if they've allowed you to stick your penis inside them! - not think that they are worthless and interchangeable. It's not attractive.
The joke's on him - his dismissive and casual treatment of the 'buckle bunnies' he's slept with is exactly why Clara herself treats him so dismissively and as if his feelings don't matter. Both are wrong, of course, but we see how the shoe is on the other foot, now. LOL
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
While these two do have sex in this book, it is completely off-page.
TL;DR The two finally end up together, but it's a long, uphill battle. There were some unforeseen occurrences that took me by surprise. Extra points to Alward for not shying away from some of the more difficult and awkward aspects of dating an abuse survivor. It would be easy to pretty it up and make it like Ty just steps in to show Clara what a REAL MAN is like. But no. Clara is nervous, flighty. She's not ready to move as fast sexually as Ty wants to. She's fucked up about being in a relationship. There's all kinds of messy things going on here. Kudos to Alward.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Takes place in Canada.
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
STEM Heroine - She is a Licensed Practical Nurse
Non-Virgin Heroine
Rape/Abuse Survivor
He's a Rancher; She's a LPN
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
There's a lot to talk about in this book. Clara is a survivor of domestic abuse. She lives in a woman's shelter and is a LPN who works for the Diamonds. She cares for Virgil, who has had a stroke. Virgil's wayward adopted son, Ty, comes back from the rodeo. Sparks fly.
ANALYSIS
The book is unpredictable. Alward managed to surprise me. There were some surprises in here.
Another good thing is making an abuse survivor the heroine. It's awkward. Alward doesn't shy away from the awkwardness. Clara is fucked up in the head. Dating her is not easy. Oftentimes I felt sorry for Ty. Clara really put him through the wringer. Sometimes I couldn't believe how cruel she was being to him, but in her head it made sense.
Clara is not pretty. It's rare to find a plain, not-pretty heroine in romance novels. Usually they are beautiful. But Clara is not pretty. She describes herself as "plain as dishwater" and instead of making the hero think she is beautiful, even Ty himself admits that she is not pretty.
I kind of felt sorry for Ty for two reasons. One, Clara is so fucked up he almost doesn't know what to do. Usually abuse-survivor novels are a little more, um, romanticized. Not with Alward. She does not shy away from the awkwardness and confusion.
There's a lot of kissing, breaking up. Kissing, breaking up. Having sex - she tries to sneak out the next morning, he catches her. Breaking up. We can't do this. We can't be together.
There's no reason they can't be together. The reasons she were coming up with for not being together were stupid.
There were ways in this was really good - for example, the scene where Clara wants to make out with Ty and he's pushing for more and she has to put on the brakes and say she only wants kissing. He feels like a heel, she feels like a 13-year-old who is hurting him by not moving faster with him sexually - I mean, this is real, awkward stuff. It's not easy. Alward doesn't try to sugarcoat it.
They end up having sex later in the book but then Clara can't handle it. She runs away from Ty and from the relationship, claiming cockamamie reasons. There's nothing he can do about it. He's just got to let her go. There's no reasoning with her.
Luckily he is adamant about so he and she work it out in the end, but it was a difficult romance and a difficult coming-together. It has a happy ending, but only despite the stubbornness of both characters.
One of the reasons I think Clara is so cruel to Ty is that she doesn't realize he has feelings. Ty's sexual past is used against him. Clara somehow figures that because he's been with a lot of women, he has no feelings or that she can't hurt him or something. She uses his sexual past as an excuse to be cruel to him.
In some ways, this is Ty's fault. On a date (non-date?) in which he takes her to a diner and buys her pie and coffee, he just straight-out tells her that there are benefits to being a bull-rider. And those benefits are tons of sex with 'buckle bunnies.' I was staring at him in disbelief. He's grinning at her and referencing all the casual sex he's had.
Listen, men. Pro tip. It's not a good idea to tell a woman you are romantically interested in "I've fucked so many women, isn't that great?!?!!?" It might impress your buddies - even though I have my doubts about that. Ty is in his thirties, I think, and he and his buddies should be past this - but telling a woman this isn't going to earn you any points. There are exceptions, but I think the majority of women aren't going to be just thrilled to hear that the thing you loved most about your job was the meaningless and extremely frequent sex you were getting.
Another thing that really annoyed me about Clara, Ty, and Alward were their treatment of said 'buckle bunnies.' As if these women, because they were sleeping with rodeo riders and were sexually available and perhaps promiscuous, were 'sluts,' 'less deserving women' and people with no feelings. It was really angering me, and it was a dose of misogyny I could have done without in this book quite frankly.
"I'm sorry I misled you. You're probably used to women who are more confident."
She couldn't make herself look him in the eye.
"I'm not mad. Frustrated? Maybe?" His voice was rich and seductive. "But you didn't mislead me, Clara. Not ever. And I wouldn't want you to change one hair on your head. You're worth far more than any of those other girls." 57%
UGH. Why did he have to ruin something good - backing off sexually when she asks him to - with a dose of misogyny!? Oh, YOU I value. But those other 'girls' I fucked - they were valueless. WTF, man? Please stop. This doesn't make me think well of you. It makes me think you are a jerk.
Maybe Ty was a different man but she still doubted she was the woman for him. He was the rodeo star with the belt buckles and a wagonload of experience. She'd only ever been with one man, and it had been enough for a lifetime. 65%
She always uses Ty's sexual past as an excuse to treat him cruelly. It goes like this: he's fucked a lot of women. Women don't matter to him. I can't hurt him, because he has no feelings. ??? Even when it's clear Ty has feelings for her and that he doesn't see her as just a fling, she ignores this and stomps all over him. It was painful to read about.
She's actually angry with him that he tries to fight for her and tries to keep her.
Frustration simmered. Why did he have to make this so hard? He should just let her go, right? What was one night to a man like Ty? He'd broken hearts before, she was sure of it. Had each one been entitled to this touching goodbye? The sarcastic words sat on her tongue. 75%
He's probably regretting telling her - in an offhand, isn't-this-funny manner - that he's enjoyed fucking tons of women as a side benefit of his 'job.' YOU'RE REGRETTING IT NOW, AREN'T YOU, ASSHOLE? LOL Ha ha ha. ANYWAY. What I'm saying is she completely discounts his feelings, thinking he is a callous, cold, unfeeling cad because he has an extensive sexual history. Even though that is obviously not true. She uses it to justify doing whatever she wants to do.
And I feel sorry for the women who slept with him in the past, who are sneered at now by both him and Clara, spoken of like they are just 'sluts' or just women with no feelings who deserve no respect or kind treatment. It's sick. This madonna/whore thing has to end. It's bad form to think women who sleep with you are just feelingless, interchangeable people with no rights to respect, kindness, or individuality. It would really bother me if a man talked about his past lovers in this kind of dismissive, hateful way. I think men who value women who have decided to sleep with him are a turn-on, and those who dismiss them as "easy" or "not valuable" are disgusting. It's not a turn-on to be told, "Oh, you're not like all those other women I slept with!" I want you to value women. Not only value women who made you wait a long time to have sex. I want you to think women are human beings with feelings and people who deserve respect - especially if they've allowed you to stick your penis inside them! - not think that they are worthless and interchangeable. It's not attractive.
The joke's on him - his dismissive and casual treatment of the 'buckle bunnies' he's slept with is exactly why Clara herself treats him so dismissively and as if his feelings don't matter. Both are wrong, of course, but we see how the shoe is on the other foot, now. LOL
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
While these two do have sex in this book, it is completely off-page.
TL;DR The two finally end up together, but it's a long, uphill battle. There were some unforeseen occurrences that took me by surprise. Extra points to Alward for not shying away from some of the more difficult and awkward aspects of dating an abuse survivor. It would be easy to pretty it up and make it like Ty just steps in to show Clara what a REAL MAN is like. But no. Clara is nervous, flighty. She's not ready to move as fast sexually as Ty wants to. She's fucked up about being in a relationship. There's all kinds of messy things going on here. Kudos to Alward.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Takes place in Canada.
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
STEM Heroine - She is a Licensed Practical Nurse
Non-Virgin Heroine
Rape/Abuse Survivor
He's a Rancher; She's a LPN
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
May 22, 2012
First of all, a huge thank you to Donna Alward for sending me a copy of this book.
I don't read a lot of the Harlequin Romance line (I'm more of an angst-loving Presents reader!), but I do like the line and I know that Donna Alward writes some of the best. She also writes brilliant cowboy stories, you should all know by know how I can't resist a cowboy, and this one is no exception.
A Rebel Rancher is sweet to it's very core. Full of heart wrenching reality, as well as heart warming hope, all wrapped into a wonderful journey that the hero and heroine go on.
The relationship is built beautifully, and even though this is a 'sweet' romance there is a lot of spark between the hero and heroine, as well as a very moving love story. I couldn't put the book down!
Donna Alward writes characters that you can believe in and relate to, as well as giving them enough pain that you are as desperate as they are to find their HEA.
My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed, in my opinion. But, oh, the epiliogue is lovely!
A beautiful read from start to finish.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
October 15, 2019
Enjoyed reading it a lot.
Loved (for the most part) how the characters acted around each other, with awareness and mutual respect. I think the author did a good job here balancing a difficult backstory, domestic abuse, against a fluffy romance setting. With a heroine who's both gaining her independence back and falling in love, and a hero who shows strength without being overbearing.
Though, it's not that Ty is too perfect a character, he has his less sensitive moments, too:
Telling someone "you don’t have to be afraid of me."
That's already red flag territory on it's own; yepp, it's a typical dude thing to say, but add to it Ty's awareness of Clara having an abusive past and ... he's well meaning, but I don't think Ty ever realized where he went wrong with that line.
Favourite part (which made me giggle while reading):
Fair warning:
Loved (for the most part) how the characters acted around each other, with awareness and mutual respect. I think the author did a good job here balancing a difficult backstory, domestic abuse, against a fluffy romance setting. With a heroine who's both gaining her independence back and falling in love, and a hero who shows strength without being overbearing.
Though, it's not that Ty is too perfect a character, he has his less sensitive moments, too:
“Away from busybodies,” he said quietly. “I promise you, Clara, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you."That line here?
Telling someone "you don’t have to be afraid of me."
That's already red flag territory on it's own; yepp, it's a typical dude thing to say, but add to it Ty's awareness of Clara having an abusive past and ... he's well meaning, but I don't think Ty ever realized where he went wrong with that line.
Favourite part (which made me giggle while reading):
"Shock rippled through Clara’s body. If it weren’t for the coat he would know exactly what his touch was doing to her."Not sure if this says what I think it says, but that's the charm of it. :)
Fair warning:
June 11, 2012
This is my first Donna Alward book, and I find the heartwarming story here quite charming. Her characters burrow under your skin quickly, and you find yourself sinking deeper into the sofa to live and love with them.
Ty has come home, at the behest of his brother, after their father’s stroke. Having never really gotten along with his dad, he’s determined to make inroads with him this time, especially when it comes to the ranch and the ideas he has in mind to move into the future. But for all the way things have changed, he’s still up against the same roadblocks as in years past. The reason he took off back then is still in place, and he begins to doubt if it was the right thing to return.
Though she’s Virgil Diamond’s physical therapist, Clara has come to love the family who makes her feel comfortable and at home when she’s with them. She’s escaped an abusive marriage and has made huge strides going forward with her life, but it’s still very difficult to let anyone touch her, get near, invade her space. Except when it comes to Tyson Diamond. Clara finds herself wanting more with the man, including trust, but if she pushes too hard too fast, she’s not sure she can truly forget the past.
Both of these characters have so much healing to do. Clara needs to do it on her own, have the independence that was taken from her. Ty needs to show his family the man he is, what’s underneath the stoic facade he’s always got in place, and needs his father’s love most of all. Ty and Clara see each other so clearly, but they’re afraid to act on their feelings, frightened of being hurt again. I love the tenderness and patience in Ty when he’s with Clara. He knows her fear and pain are still very much a part of her, and even when he tells himself he should stay away, his gentleness is so heartfelt.
Other than Clara, Ty’s biggest stumbling block at home is his father. Virgil has always shown disinterest. impatience, and annoyance when dealing with Tyson, so this time Ty is determined to sit down and really talk with his dad. Of course, things are always easier said than done and the same old arguments rear their ugly heads again. Clara is a different type of stumbling block for Ty, one he actually enjoys interacting with. He never thought he could love someone, but his woman is close to making him eat his words.
Clara is surprised at how quickly she begins to trust Ty. His compassionate nature is just what she needs to further heal, and it helps her see the man he doesn’t want the world to know. The more gentle consideration he shows her, the more of everything she wants from him. But Clara knows that can’t be. Once Virgil is back on his feet, her job with the Diamond family is done and she’ll move on. Keeping her distance is the best for both of them.
If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good read, look no further. And you get cowboys in the bargain. No way you can go wrong with this latest from Donna Alward.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
Ty has come home, at the behest of his brother, after their father’s stroke. Having never really gotten along with his dad, he’s determined to make inroads with him this time, especially when it comes to the ranch and the ideas he has in mind to move into the future. But for all the way things have changed, he’s still up against the same roadblocks as in years past. The reason he took off back then is still in place, and he begins to doubt if it was the right thing to return.
Though she’s Virgil Diamond’s physical therapist, Clara has come to love the family who makes her feel comfortable and at home when she’s with them. She’s escaped an abusive marriage and has made huge strides going forward with her life, but it’s still very difficult to let anyone touch her, get near, invade her space. Except when it comes to Tyson Diamond. Clara finds herself wanting more with the man, including trust, but if she pushes too hard too fast, she’s not sure she can truly forget the past.
Both of these characters have so much healing to do. Clara needs to do it on her own, have the independence that was taken from her. Ty needs to show his family the man he is, what’s underneath the stoic facade he’s always got in place, and needs his father’s love most of all. Ty and Clara see each other so clearly, but they’re afraid to act on their feelings, frightened of being hurt again. I love the tenderness and patience in Ty when he’s with Clara. He knows her fear and pain are still very much a part of her, and even when he tells himself he should stay away, his gentleness is so heartfelt.
Other than Clara, Ty’s biggest stumbling block at home is his father. Virgil has always shown disinterest. impatience, and annoyance when dealing with Tyson, so this time Ty is determined to sit down and really talk with his dad. Of course, things are always easier said than done and the same old arguments rear their ugly heads again. Clara is a different type of stumbling block for Ty, one he actually enjoys interacting with. He never thought he could love someone, but his woman is close to making him eat his words.
Clara is surprised at how quickly she begins to trust Ty. His compassionate nature is just what she needs to further heal, and it helps her see the man he doesn’t want the world to know. The more gentle consideration he shows her, the more of everything she wants from him. But Clara knows that can’t be. Once Virgil is back on his feet, her job with the Diamond family is done and she’ll move on. Keeping her distance is the best for both of them.
If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good read, look no further. And you get cowboys in the bargain. No way you can go wrong with this latest from Donna Alward.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
May 11, 2012
Very good book. I really liked Clara when I first saw her in the previous book (The Last Real Cowboy). She had been through so much, but still had the courage to move on and fight for a new life. In this book, I could see how far she had come - she has a job that she likes and is getting better about not hiding in the shadows. When she meets Ty, she has heard all about his reputation. But she sees something in him that reminds her of herself, and finds herself in the unusual position of trusting him. She also is attracted to him, but doesn't want to give in to it. She is finally getting on her feet and wants to enjoy her independence. She doesn't want to depend on a man again. Ty has come home after being away for years. He had left the ranch after butting heads with his father one too many times and hadn't been back since. But when his brother called and asked him to come home and help with the ranch, he couldn't say no. He was drawn to Clara from the beginning, but didn't want to do anything to make her uncomfortable. So he tried to be gentle and sensitive to her feelings, and found himself falling hard. He also found that Clara could see past the surface that he showed everyone, to the man beneath. I loved the way that she was able to help him mend fences with his dad, and how he showed her that she could be independent and loved at the same time.
August 4, 2012
What a great read!
Tyson (Ty) comes home to Diamond Back Ranch and meets Clara, his father's nurse. She's straightforward yet thunderstruck by her attraction to Ty.
He's the playboy rebel come home to see if he can make amends with Virgil his father and his brother Sam.
Little clues such as Ty leaning over the sink to finish off a home made sweet and opening the doors for women around him make us realize, as the reader, that he may have had several "Buckle Chasers" in his past but he's still a gentleman at heart thanks to Molly his mom.
This story takes us through Clara's doubts, fears and heartbreak from an abusive past and shows us how if we dare to love we can believe in a future we all need to have.
Another great Alberta ranch story!
Tyson (Ty) comes home to Diamond Back Ranch and meets Clara, his father's nurse. She's straightforward yet thunderstruck by her attraction to Ty.
He's the playboy rebel come home to see if he can make amends with Virgil his father and his brother Sam.
Little clues such as Ty leaning over the sink to finish off a home made sweet and opening the doors for women around him make us realize, as the reader, that he may have had several "Buckle Chasers" in his past but he's still a gentleman at heart thanks to Molly his mom.
This story takes us through Clara's doubts, fears and heartbreak from an abusive past and shows us how if we dare to love we can believe in a future we all need to have.
Another great Alberta ranch story!
May 30, 2020
A quick read since it was both under two hundred pages and a Harlequin Romance. I didn't realize it was the second book in the series when I picked it up but there was enough information that I didn't feel lost.
This is Clara and Ty's story. Both have issues, secrets and don't trust easily. She's out of an abusive relationship and living in transitional housing and works on the ranch as the nurse to the ailing patriarch. Ty is the adopted son who only comes home when his father's health is failing but promises he'll stay and run the ranch with him. Clara and Ty have trouble communicating but definitely have chemistry. While they have a depth to them, the plot doesn't.
It was hard not to like the characters. There are twists and turns along with a few surprises. The ending gave the happily ever after and nice closure, especially with the epilogue. The story is set in Canada and has a nice cover.
Ms. Alward is an author I've read before but not for a while. Her books are always an enjoyable read.
This is Clara and Ty's story. Both have issues, secrets and don't trust easily. She's out of an abusive relationship and living in transitional housing and works on the ranch as the nurse to the ailing patriarch. Ty is the adopted son who only comes home when his father's health is failing but promises he'll stay and run the ranch with him. Clara and Ty have trouble communicating but definitely have chemistry. While they have a depth to them, the plot doesn't.
It was hard not to like the characters. There are twists and turns along with a few surprises. The ending gave the happily ever after and nice closure, especially with the epilogue. The story is set in Canada and has a nice cover.
Ms. Alward is an author I've read before but not for a while. Her books are always an enjoyable read.
December 21, 2019
Couldn’t get hold of this book in my library. But had read book one. Read the reviews from people as a catch up. I feel now I know enough to move to book 3.
January 13, 2014
Reviewed by Jen
Book provided by the author for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The Rebel Rancher is your typical Harlequin book. Because it’s under 200 pages, it’s pretty simplistic in plot. I mean, there’s not much diverting from the basic romance. Don’t get me wrong, I know what to expect when reading these stories – a fast read, with a solid story line. And with Donna Alward’s newest release, we get just that. Nothing more and nothing less.
In The Rebel Rancher, the reader is following the love story of Ty and Clara. Ty is a rodeo star and has a reputation of a playboy. He comes home to the family ranch because his father’s health is failing. He meets Clara, his father’s nurse, who is skittish because she’s coming out of an abusive relationship. So this story is all about Ty and Clara overcoming their pasts to embrace a future together.
I’ll be honest, it’s not a unique story. If you’ve ever read a Harlequin novel, you’ve seen these characters before and even this plot. It’s quite well written, but I just couldn’t get myself to care about either character or their romance. Ty was a bit easier to like and understand. He had to come to terms with his dying father and some of their history. But Clara’s hot and cold attitude toward Ty left me cold. Perhaps it’s because I’ve never been in an abusive relationship and can’t relate to how it messes with a person’s head. But all I know is that while I was reading, I kept wanting to tell Clara “to get over it” and to “move on”. I know that it’s not that easy, but I want it to be that easy in my romance novels and not listen to a character’s internal struggles for 150 pages of a 180 page book.
Overall, it’s not a bad book. I think it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I wanted more out of the story and was left hanging in the end.
Book provided by the author for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
The Rebel Rancher is your typical Harlequin book. Because it’s under 200 pages, it’s pretty simplistic in plot. I mean, there’s not much diverting from the basic romance. Don’t get me wrong, I know what to expect when reading these stories – a fast read, with a solid story line. And with Donna Alward’s newest release, we get just that. Nothing more and nothing less.
In The Rebel Rancher, the reader is following the love story of Ty and Clara. Ty is a rodeo star and has a reputation of a playboy. He comes home to the family ranch because his father’s health is failing. He meets Clara, his father’s nurse, who is skittish because she’s coming out of an abusive relationship. So this story is all about Ty and Clara overcoming their pasts to embrace a future together.
I’ll be honest, it’s not a unique story. If you’ve ever read a Harlequin novel, you’ve seen these characters before and even this plot. It’s quite well written, but I just couldn’t get myself to care about either character or their romance. Ty was a bit easier to like and understand. He had to come to terms with his dying father and some of their history. But Clara’s hot and cold attitude toward Ty left me cold. Perhaps it’s because I’ve never been in an abusive relationship and can’t relate to how it messes with a person’s head. But all I know is that while I was reading, I kept wanting to tell Clara “to get over it” and to “move on”. I know that it’s not that easy, but I want it to be that easy in my romance novels and not listen to a character’s internal struggles for 150 pages of a 180 page book.
Overall, it’s not a bad book. I think it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I wanted more out of the story and was left hanging in the end.
March 29, 2015
I'm having trouble with this series. I've read a few really good books by Donna Alward like The House on Blackberry Hill. This book feels like it was written by a different author. I started to read the next book in the series and already a chapter in I want to quit.
April 16, 2015
I was looking forward to this book but found it less engaging than the previous one in the series. I liked Clara but never really connected with Tyson although he was a fairly complex character. I also never felt the connection between the two main characters. Even with these issues though, it was still a pretty good read.
January 14, 2013
Moving story, with the heroine's abusive past heart-wrenching yet bittersweet at the same time. I'm glad that the heroine found happiness with the hero, and the hero found himself in this book. Nice story.
July 25, 2014
Predictable and not.
Predictable and not.
This story was not just the same as Angela's and Sam's story, which I was kinda worried it would be so that was nice. but, while there were some slight twists, overall or was pretty easy to predict what was coming.
Predictable and not.
This story was not just the same as Angela's and Sam's story, which I was kinda worried it would be so that was nice. but, while there were some slight twists, overall or was pretty easy to predict what was coming.
February 4, 2023
Ty, Tyler was the bastard son of his uncle who raised him as a son. Clara was an abused nurse, care giver to Mr Diamond. Tyler instantly felt the attraction to Clara but knew he needed to take it slow. But an unexpected pregnancy sped up the marriage!
May 9, 2012
Read my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 29, 2013
Canadian cowboys... Not what I expected...
August 28, 2013
Fun second book in the series. Very sweet story. The Butterfly House is current and relevant?
September 20, 2014
love that this is set in Canada. a nice change from Texas.
December 17, 2016
An enjoyable sweet romance
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews