Candy Kisses

Romance on the Ranch #4

by Verna Clay

Romance on the Ranch Series: Dream Kisses, Honey Kisses, Baby Kisses, Candy Kisses, Christmas Kisses, Rock Star Kisses, Forever Kisses, Forgotten Kisses, Angel Kisses, The Last Kiss

Dirk Branigan's latest bull riding competition has left him flat on his back with a busted leg. After meeting his new "domestic help," he's decided that Sage Tanner and Miles Brightman, close friends that talked him into hiring the woman because she's destitute and pregnant, are going to owe him big time. His new employee is spoiled, temperamental, frustrating, and yes, occasionally, endearing. Thankfully, his daughter Tessa takes to her immediately. As for Dirk, his heart urges him to discover the woman behind the facade.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, Western Romance, M F Romance

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2013

About the author

I love a book that makes me forget everything except what I'm reading. As a preteen, I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys' Mysteries. When I reached my teens, romance novels became my favorite genre. Many years later, I decided to try my hand at writing and I've been doing so with a passion ever since. I have released over twenty-five romance novels, including a contemporary western series titled "Romance on the Ranch." The initial story, "Dream Kisses," started out as a single novella, but turned into an ongoing saga when secondary characters cried out for their own stories. The series was completed with book 10 and its one of my proudest accomplishments. As for historical romance, I ventured into that genre with a four book series titled "Unconventional," and enjoyed it so much that I wrote another collection titled "Finding Home." After that I returned to contemporary romance with the unlikely setting of a trailer park in the Arizona Desert, and, believe it or not, romance abounds at Desert Princess Trailer and RV Park in the middle of nowhere. There are three books in the "Oasis" series. Of course, I couldn't overlook writing in the paranormal/fantasy genre and released "The Shapeling Trilogy" about shapeshifters. In that series, my shifters travel the world, solve mysteries, and fall in love.

Using the pen name of Colleen Clay, I published a YA novel titled, "Fragile Hearts."

Now that I've been writing for so many years, I can't imagine doing anything else.

Reviews

[Donna Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this shorter story and I really enjoyed Monica, Dirk, and Tessa. They were great in this romantic tale. A very good read

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, a romance with a strong community feel. Short enough to keep me interested but long enough to satisfy.

[Adrienne Patenaude · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boss to lover romance with a trigger warning for a miscarriage. Southern charm always win.

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contemporary pregnant and down on her luck housekeeper/nanny who comes to the wilderness to help out a widower and his young daughter. Rodeo star, Dirk Branigan has a broken leg with a daughter and lives outside of town so he needs help in the house because he is tired of eating frozen meals. So his friends, Sage Tanner and Miles Brightman find a lady that is broke and pregnant from New York who was a wealthy interior designer, but got tricked into a ponzi investment scheme with her money and then lost her job/apt so she is trying to figure out what she is doing with her life. So Monica agrees to work for Dirk for three months. Monica gets along really well with the daughter, Tessa which endears her to Dirk. They fall for each other little by little (which can happen fast when you're in co-habitation and someone is in a wheel chair). So there is some sad events (I won't spoil you but it is a game changer in the relationship possibilities). So Monica decides to go back to NYC for a new Interior designer job but surprise (not really) Dirk goes out to find his lady and bring her home.
Just a regular romance with nothing spicy or original, but well written with real damaged characters, but cute kids.
127 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candy Kisses is a sweet story of a NYC Interior designer down on her luck. She's pregnant, has lost her penthouse and her job. She takes a temporary position as housekeeper to Dirk Branigan and his young daugther. As they get to know each other, desire flames. All is starting to look up until Monica loses the baby.

Can Dirk convince Monica they are a perfect, opposites attract couple, or will she throw their love away and return to her old life?

At first I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book. Monica's character had been a bitch in Tooty and Miles story, but Ms. Clay does an excellent job turning her into an endearing character. By the end of the book I loved her and wanted her to find happiness with Dirk.

Dirk is a great character, a loving father who mourns the wife lost three years before. He's a well known bull rider who has to deal with an injury, a child who needs a mother and now a housekeeper who is pregnant and lost. I loved the care and concern he shows Monica.

I enjoyed Candy Kisses and now I'm on to the next book in this delightful series. Happy reading!

[SandyL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica is a down-on-her-luck designer from Manhattan, who ends up in (what she calls) Cowpokeville, CO working as a housekeeper/babysitter for an injured rodeo star. Dirk Branigan broke his leg and needs someone to help him and his 10-year-old daugther, Tessa, while he recuperates. He agrees to take in Monica, and ex-girlfriend of one is his friends. Monica had a great job, a great boyfriend and a baby on the way when her boyfriend scammed her and left her with nothing - no money, no job and no where to go - oh, but she's still three months pregnant. I have to say she was a total b*tch when she arrives in Paxtonville, but the friendly town quickly breaks down some of her barriers. And she sees something of her young self in Tessa, as well. This was a quick read but enjoyable and heartbreaking as well.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought that Miles wife Tooty could be so understanding when Mile's ex calls him looking for a job or at the least a lead for a job after what Monica pulled on Tooty. (Must read in one of the book before in this series) You see Monica not only lost her job, she was dumped by her boyfriend, evicted, & is pregnant. Since Tooty knows what it is to be alone and pregnant she makes it her mission to help Monica. This is where Dirk & Tessa come in Dirk is injured in the rodeo(he's famous not a hick like she thinks everyone is since they aren't from NY) so she is hired as housekeeper & sitter for his daughter & cook. Fun book I know you will enjoy. I got to read this on a free day from Amazon.

[Janey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so sweet and the characters are so lovely even the bad guys have a good side to them. the main character Monica was kinda the bad guy from "baby kisses", but she gets her own book which I thought was original. Monica is pregnant, been laid off, needs a job, ends up working for the injured rodeo rider Dirk Brannigan as housekeeper to him and his daughter Tessa. Sweet story with loads of appearances from previous characters, everyone is so nice I want to go and meet them all, this isn't an angsty read or filled with drama, just sweeps you along and takes you in. It's light on the steamy stuff but there's no loss without it. Lovely little series this so definately have a go if you want something light.

[LadyCalico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had some charms but I was unable to really get into the story or characters--just too many hokey implausibilities for my taste, making what would otherwise have been a worthwhile and engrossing read into something shallow and silly.

[Yasmin Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

Ok I loved this book, I'm so glad Monica who was a total witch in book 3 turned out to be misunderstood. I so loved how we got to see another side to her. I love that she finally found a man that wanted her.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a great book to read

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this one first, by mistake. i am glad i read it before i read #3 as i think i wouldn't have had an open mind when it comes to the main character... she was such a bitch in #3!!

[Nicki Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little relaxing, weekend read. Well written and true to the romance genre! I will be looking for more form this author.

[Poonam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story. Loved all the characters in this story. Loved the cool cowboy Dirk. I was hooked right from start to finish . Loved the sweet ending.

[Cici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. This has some great depth. Chemistry good

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

this is a love story that brings you close to the women and how she comes to love a mother less little girl.the happen ending is great.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. I'm a huge fan of HEA's, and I definitely got that with this read. I would very much like to read more by this author.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, want to read the others in the series. Good story about love and mistakes.

[JAX R.V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed it.