Thank you in advance to the author, Tina Radcliffe, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required, and all words are my own.
While this book was released two months ago, due to a few medical issues, I am just now getting to it. And, wow! It was definitely a quick read, much like the first one. I read 60% of this book in six (6) hours off and on. And, I finished inside of a 24-hour period.
For those who haven’t already – please read the first book in in Radcliffe’s Lazy M Ranch series, The Baby Inheritance. It not only introduces the characters of the series, but the couple featured in this book – their background is started about 46% of the way in.
My experience with the author began with the Hearts of Oklahoma series (4 books). I also LOVED her Love Inspired Suspense debut, Sabotaged Mission. I DO have her 4-book series, Big Hearts Ranch, on my never-ending TBR.
Moving on …
Radcliffe did such a wonderful job of establishing the characters in the first book, it was a joy to come back and visit with them, and get to see more of them (especially Trevor).
Coming back to Homestead Pass and the Lazy M Ranch:
👨🏻🦳 Gus Morgan (grandfather)
🏡 Andrew “Drew” Morgan
📒 Sam Morgan
🐎 Trevor Morgan
🐎 Lucas Morgan
🍪 Bess Lowder (housekeeper and cook)
👩🏻💻 Sadie Morgan (mentioned)
🎀 Mae Anne Franklin-Morgan (mentioned)
🥗 Olivia “Liv” Moretti
And, we get to meet:
🐎 Anthony Moretti (Liv’s father)
🍲 Loretta Moretti (“Chef Moretti” and Liv’s Aunt)
📚Eleanor Pickett (bookstore owner, woman Anthony seems sweet on)
👗 Mindy Ellwood (owner of Glitz & Glam, eye on Sam)
No matter how clean or “Christian” some stories are, there can be some problematic content that certain readers can be upset by – either the mention or experience. This book didn’t have too many things that stood out to me, except the tornado at the beginning of the book. If you’ve been through one – one thing stands out – it can look post-apocalyptic after.
Those who’ve read the first book were introduced to Olivia “Liv”. She was in and out of town under the radar; but had initially arrived for her father’s 60th birthday. She was also helping her aunt’s catering business and cooking classes.
In this book, we learn she’s not only there to open a restaurant and store, but because her father’s health is failing. He still wants her to get married and take over the M&M ranch. However, she believed her mother gave up her dreams to become a wife and mother – that’s why Olivia ran from Sam. Her restaurant and store are her dream. She’s also hoping to move her aunt’s cooking classes to the restaurant.
Sam returns from a trip to Las Vegas (poor guy 🤣) to learn his grandfather not only rented out part of a building, but both spaces – and to Olivia, his ex-fiancée. He doesn’t mind the Farm-to-Table restaurant, but Sam only wanted to rent out part of the space as he wanted the other for his crafted goods.
Seeing that there is no legal way to cancel it, he opts to talk Olivia into perhaps giving it up. No chance there. She, upon learning why he wants it, offers to consign his items. Not something he wants to do, especially with Olivia – the woman who broke his heart. She told him in a letter but he burned it and thre her ring in the lake [ouch!].
However – he has a bargain – he is willing to see who is more successful and gives it from Memorial Day to Fourth of July to see who has higher sales. Then, whoever does – keeps the store (or rather “stays” in town). Confident in her offerings, Olivia agrees. He wants to remain anonymous as a craftsman to keep things fair; just keeping a tally of sales from the goods to keep track.
Being the landlord, Sam wants to make sure everything is taken care of. Yet, a tornado almost derails both of their plans.
Between him, his family, and some ranch workers – they easily get things patched up and ready to go.
As they work together, Olivia realizes she’s come to enjoy Sam’s wit and his company. She eventually tells him what was in the letter. He’s forgiven her, just not going to let her back in to hurt him again. But, her father is intent on getting her and Sam back together.
Despite the success Olivia is having, she realizes that isn’t all she wants – she of course wants more. That’s evident when Sam is there for her during an emergency.
And, while Sam cares for Olivia – he doesn’t want to make another mistake. Yet, even those around them see what the two don’t want to see – they’re better together. [Isn’t that how it works?]
Of course, the Liv/Sam “romance” isn’t the only one in the book – there’s another one was well. One that is and isn’t a surprise either – proving it’s NEVER too late for second chances or falling in love … again.
This is a second chance/forced proximity kind of romance that is subtle, yet readers just KNOW how it’s going to end. But, the real joy is seeing how they’re going to get “there”, and learn what happened to keep the couple from getting there the “first” time around. In this we see how misunderstanding her mom’s sacrifice caused Liv to push back from what she thought was her dreams being taken from her.
And, I had to really laugh at the ending. Without spoiling it really was what should’ve been in the beginning had Liv been more receptive.
In the beginning, during the tornado – while it is NEVER funny – the green cloud was something I didn’t know about; and can’t say whether or not it exists or is true. I was taught – you hear the warning go off, or you see the funnel cloud coming, you hide and get small. But, I had to smile about Gus telling Sam to look for the green clouds since that meant “the wind sucked up the frogs and a tornado is on the way”.
Like the first book, this didn’t lag, nor did it rush along either. Radcliffe, like a lot of my favorite authors, has a way of pacing a book that doesn’t leave you wishing it’d “hurry up” or wanting to say “hey, slow the ponies down”. It’s a smooth and even pacing that keeps one ready, but they also don’t mind putting it down for a few moments either.
There are elements of humor that follow the natural story and aren’t out of place or inappropriate.
I had to laugh at Lucas’ “word-of-the-day” – loquacious (he was really going all out). Back about 10 years ago, I did the same thing with my mom – I had a slight version of “word-of-the-day”. Not only did it keep my vocabulary up, but I had a LOT of fun using new or interesting words. As a child, language expression and comprehension were some of my best studies. In a California test in second grade (2.7), my scores for language expression and comprehension were scored at 8th grade (grade 8.9). The .7 was of course the 7th month of the school year, so .9 was the ninth (9th) month of the school year.
Another was how Sam thought his grandfather verbal lost control after too much Dr. Pepper. I have to admit, as a Texan – I consider Dr. Pepper our official state drink. Any reason I adore this octogenarian (he’s 82 in this book)? He’s the grandfather I didn’t have and one that these boys need.
Like the first book, while from the Christian oriented line, this only has slight faith themes which are subtle in tone. It doesn’t come off like a sermon; but more like gentle guidance from trusted friends who are faithful, yet are sensitive to the faith and needs of others around them.
And, for those who don’t know the origins of the books or series …
It evolved from a note card with a picture of the silhouette of six cowboys facing a corral. I’m fascinated by the picture as well – what is its story, what were they thinking, what were they doing. As an aspiring writer, I find it interesting how a simple thing, in this case a photo, can develop into a series of stories waiting to be told.
Fans of the author should have already read this book, and those who haven’t? If you love a good “cowboy-but-more-kind” of guy – this is the book for y’all!
I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book(s) in this series (there’s Lucas’ story and an unnamed cowboy as well). The third book, The Cowboy’s Secret Past, is set for release in February, and is on my list! As of note, I LOVE how the art department matched the door to Trevor’s shirt! You can see a preview picture here on Goodreads. Unlike the first book leading into this one; this does not give the readers a glimpse into book #3.
But, some things should stay a mystery … for now 😉