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Martin's Crossing #3
The Rancher's Second Chance
Reunited with the Cowboy
Pregnant and running scared, Grace Thomas turns to the one man she knows she can count on: rancher Brody Martin. The charismatic Texan promises to protect her, but she knows he'll never forgive her for breaking his heart and taking up with his former best friend. Given Brody's own unsettled past, Grace understands that the guarded cowboy needs time to trust her again. Yet as he helps her prepare for the baby's arrival, Grace knows she's found the perfect father for her child. But can she dare to dream of a second chance with the man she's never stopped loving?
Pregnant and running scared, Grace Thomas turns to the one man she knows she can count on: rancher Brody Martin. The charismatic Texan promises to protect her, but she knows he'll never forgive her for breaking his heart and taking up with his former best friend. Given Brody's own unsettled past, Grace understands that the guarded cowboy needs time to trust her again. Yet as he helps her prepare for the baby's arrival, Grace knows she's found the perfect father for her child. But can she dare to dream of a second chance with the man she's never stopped loving?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 18, 2015
39 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Minton
116 books213 followersBrenda Minton lives, procrastinates, writes, drinks coffee, raises her kids and is wife to her husband, in the Ozarks.
Okay, now to first person because a third person bio sounds like someone else wrote it about me, and is just license to create flowery prose about myself.
I grew up on a farm in the Ozarks. It was long ago and far away, in a land before cable TV, video games and the internet. To pass the time we read books, watched (gasp) network TV that rarely came in clear, and had friends over on weekends to play music on the front porch, or card games in the dining room.
The result of growing up 'country' was an active imagination. For fun I wrote stories to entertain myself and I dreamed of being an author. Oh, but first, before writing, I wanted to be a jockey.
Writing won out over being a jockey. In the spring of 2006 I got the call that made those dreams come true: the call that welcomed me into the Steeple Hill family of authors.
The moral of this story, never stop dreaming.
Okay, now to first person because a third person bio sounds like someone else wrote it about me, and is just license to create flowery prose about myself.
I grew up on a farm in the Ozarks. It was long ago and far away, in a land before cable TV, video games and the internet. To pass the time we read books, watched (gasp) network TV that rarely came in clear, and had friends over on weekends to play music on the front porch, or card games in the dining room.
The result of growing up 'country' was an active imagination. For fun I wrote stories to entertain myself and I dreamed of being an author. Oh, but first, before writing, I wanted to be a jockey.
Writing won out over being a jockey. In the spring of 2006 I got the call that made those dreams come true: the call that welcomed me into the Steeple Hill family of authors.
The moral of this story, never stop dreaming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 13, 2018
3.5 Stars.
This is a sweet, charming, second-chance romance about life, love, self discovery, compassion, friendship, and faith.
This is a sweet, charming, second-chance romance about life, love, self discovery, compassion, friendship, and faith.
November 25, 2019
I love this series and I loved Brody's story. He had suffered so much and it was nice to see him get a happy ending. I adore Brenda Minton's work. She is a great author. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2015
True, there are no guarantees in life. Yet, what I have found to be true is when I open up a book by BRENDA MINTON, it won’t take long to complete it. Her books, under 250 pages, are not a quick and easy read due to the page numbers, but to the fact that they are so well written, and amazing stories.
Grace Thomas, scared and nowhere to go, finds her way to Martin’s Crossing. A small Texas town, though it isn’t the quaint community that brought here there.
When Brody Martin answers the knock on his door, the last person he expects to be standing on the other side is, Grace Thomas. Why was she here, and what did she want? She was the one who walked away from him, from his hopes and dreams.
Having read every single book by MS MINTON that I can get my hands on, I feel as though I repeat myself in reviewing her books. That alone says a lot when what I write is all positive. Again, MS MINTON has pulled off another amazing story. I have to say, THE RANCHER’S SECOND CHANCE has to be one of the best beginnings I’ve encountered. I could have read it a dozen times, and still want to read it again.
As typically of MS MINTON, her characters are fully developed and three dimensional, jumping off the pages and right into your heart. Her plot is complete and purposeful. She has many great lines that will have you rereading them, because they are that good. After having read countless LI Books, I am in awe of the original lines she never fails to create.
It’s no surprise that I am well aware MS MINTON has another book coming out this month, A REUNION FOR THE RANCHER (Lone Star Cowboy League). It equally comes as no surprised that I am anxiously anticipating the day I can snatch it off the shelf at the store and begin reading it.
Grace Thomas, scared and nowhere to go, finds her way to Martin’s Crossing. A small Texas town, though it isn’t the quaint community that brought here there.
When Brody Martin answers the knock on his door, the last person he expects to be standing on the other side is, Grace Thomas. Why was she here, and what did she want? She was the one who walked away from him, from his hopes and dreams.
Having read every single book by MS MINTON that I can get my hands on, I feel as though I repeat myself in reviewing her books. That alone says a lot when what I write is all positive. Again, MS MINTON has pulled off another amazing story. I have to say, THE RANCHER’S SECOND CHANCE has to be one of the best beginnings I’ve encountered. I could have read it a dozen times, and still want to read it again.
As typically of MS MINTON, her characters are fully developed and three dimensional, jumping off the pages and right into your heart. Her plot is complete and purposeful. She has many great lines that will have you rereading them, because they are that good. After having read countless LI Books, I am in awe of the original lines she never fails to create.
It’s no surprise that I am well aware MS MINTON has another book coming out this month, A REUNION FOR THE RANCHER (Lone Star Cowboy League). It equally comes as no surprised that I am anxiously anticipating the day I can snatch it off the shelf at the store and begin reading it.
August 21, 2015
About the Book:
Reunited with the Cowboy
Pregnant and running scared, Grace Thomas turns to the one man she knows she can count on: rancher Brody Martin. The charismatic Texan promises to protect her, but she knows he'll never forgive her for breaking his heart and taking up with his former best friend. Given Brody's own unsettled past, Grace understands that the guarded cowboy needs time to trust her again. Yet as he helps her prepare for the baby's arrival, Grace knows she's found the perfect father for her child. But can she dare to dream of a second chance with the man she's never stopped loving?
My Review:
Rancher Brody Martin lost the girl of his dreams to his former best friend Lincoln. And after that day he decided he would dedicate his life to ranching and that's it. Or so he thought. One rainy morning, Brody does his best to sleep in, but a constant knocking and finally a cry for help, draw him out of bed and to his front door. There he finds his ex-girlfriend, Grace Thomas, shivering and crying. Bringing her in and feeding her, he learns that Lincoln hasn't been the best boyfriend in the world. Having been hit multiple times by him and also pregnant, Brody knows he must help her and he must also keep his temper under control. But the more she tells him the more he cant wait till Lincoln shows up on his door step.
The Rancher's Second Chance is book three in the Martin's Crossing series. This book was absolutely a wonderful read. I loved every chapter of this book. I can not wait till I can get another of this author's books.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
Reunited with the Cowboy
Pregnant and running scared, Grace Thomas turns to the one man she knows she can count on: rancher Brody Martin. The charismatic Texan promises to protect her, but she knows he'll never forgive her for breaking his heart and taking up with his former best friend. Given Brody's own unsettled past, Grace understands that the guarded cowboy needs time to trust her again. Yet as he helps her prepare for the baby's arrival, Grace knows she's found the perfect father for her child. But can she dare to dream of a second chance with the man she's never stopped loving?
My Review:
Rancher Brody Martin lost the girl of his dreams to his former best friend Lincoln. And after that day he decided he would dedicate his life to ranching and that's it. Or so he thought. One rainy morning, Brody does his best to sleep in, but a constant knocking and finally a cry for help, draw him out of bed and to his front door. There he finds his ex-girlfriend, Grace Thomas, shivering and crying. Bringing her in and feeding her, he learns that Lincoln hasn't been the best boyfriend in the world. Having been hit multiple times by him and also pregnant, Brody knows he must help her and he must also keep his temper under control. But the more she tells him the more he cant wait till Lincoln shows up on his door step.
The Rancher's Second Chance is book three in the Martin's Crossing series. This book was absolutely a wonderful read. I loved every chapter of this book. I can not wait till I can get another of this author's books.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
February 23, 2016
This was a sweet second chance story. A year ago Brody Martin was in love with Grace Thomas. He had a ring, and was about to ask her to be his wife. Grace was not ready to settle down. She left town with Lincoln, Brody's best friend, at the time. Grace got pregnant by Lincoln. When she told him, he demanded that she abort the baby. When she refused, He beat her. Grace ran to the only place she felt safe, Martin's Crossing and into Brody's strong and protective arms.
Brody had been a bull rider. Now the way he had lived has caught up to him. He has arthritis. He doesn't know if a broken down cowboy would ever have anything to offer Grace. All Grace wants is his friendship, and love. I don't want to spoil the book, but this is a sweet story.
Brody had been a bull rider. Now the way he had lived has caught up to him. He has arthritis. He doesn't know if a broken down cowboy would ever have anything to offer Grace. All Grace wants is his friendship, and love. I don't want to spoil the book, but this is a sweet story.
October 28, 2015
It took me a while (waay too long actually) to finish this book. I kept putting it down, forgetting where I put it, and then picking it back up again. I guess I just could not get engaged enough in the story line or the characters. I read another book in the MARTIN'S CROSSING series and enjoyed it more than this one, so it was a little disappointing that I could not immerse myself in the book and just read it straight through. Unfortunately, this is a story that will soon be forgotten from my memory and never revisited again.
A LOVE INSPIRED book club read.
A LOVE INSPIRED book club read.
Read
January 12, 2016"This continues the Martin’s Crossing series. Grace demonstrates that abusive relationships can happen to anyone, regardless of upbringing and education. Brody is an honorable man trying to do the right thing. Both show how it is possible to learn from past mistakes" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Martin's Crossing
Miniseries: Martin's Crossing
August 5, 2021
Great book...love this author, Highly recommended
July 2, 2018
Enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something with more kindness than angst.
Not ready for a serious relationship, Grace broke things off with Brody just before he was set to propose and she moved on with his best friend. A year later, Grace shows up on Brody’s doorstep, black and blue and pregnant with his former best friend’s baby.
So the plot sounds like it should be overflowing with angst, and maybe in real life someone in Brody’s position should have and would have held more of a grudge towards Grace for ditching him the way she did, but I was glad for the sake of not having a story full of slammed doors, stomping boots and shouting that the author had him take the high road and show Grace more compassion than anything else, for that matter, I liked that the small town wasn’t particularly small-minded about Grace being unmarried and pregnant, either. It felt like a book full of grown-ups which is always nice.
I also liked that Brody struggled with a medical condition throughout the book, it added to his vulnerability and I do very much like a vulnerable hero, and also one who’s dealing with something that you don’t generally see a young romance hero stricken by, anything that makes a category romance stand out from the crowd is much appreciated.
What really made this book work is the pacing, months pass, the story takes its time and it needed to, as kind and caring as Brody is, it would be absurd if he instantly got over that the baby isn’t his or if hesitate over whether he’d still be the strong capable partner he wants to be after his medical diagnosis. Same goes for Grace, she needed time, if she just went from one guy to the next, if she didn’t work on her own self, on what her ambitions are apart from marriage, she would have been a less satisfying, less modern heroine.
Not ready for a serious relationship, Grace broke things off with Brody just before he was set to propose and she moved on with his best friend. A year later, Grace shows up on Brody’s doorstep, black and blue and pregnant with his former best friend’s baby.
So the plot sounds like it should be overflowing with angst, and maybe in real life someone in Brody’s position should have and would have held more of a grudge towards Grace for ditching him the way she did, but I was glad for the sake of not having a story full of slammed doors, stomping boots and shouting that the author had him take the high road and show Grace more compassion than anything else, for that matter, I liked that the small town wasn’t particularly small-minded about Grace being unmarried and pregnant, either. It felt like a book full of grown-ups which is always nice.
I also liked that Brody struggled with a medical condition throughout the book, it added to his vulnerability and I do very much like a vulnerable hero, and also one who’s dealing with something that you don’t generally see a young romance hero stricken by, anything that makes a category romance stand out from the crowd is much appreciated.
What really made this book work is the pacing, months pass, the story takes its time and it needed to, as kind and caring as Brody is, it would be absurd if he instantly got over that the baby isn’t his or if hesitate over whether he’d still be the strong capable partner he wants to be after his medical diagnosis. Same goes for Grace, she needed time, if she just went from one guy to the next, if she didn’t work on her own self, on what her ambitions are apart from marriage, she would have been a less satisfying, less modern heroine.
June 13, 2018
This is my first read by Minton and it did not disappoint me. Her writing is fluid and easy to read. The conflicts she writes are true to real life experiences.
Grace is pregnant and on the run from an abusive man. So, what does she do? She runs to Brody, the man she left before meeting the abusive Lincoln. But she’d broke his heart and while he didn’t want to help her or get close to her again.
This is a happily ever after story with faith in the writing. It’s refreshing and clean. I will definitely read more by Minton.
Grace is pregnant and on the run from an abusive man. So, what does she do? She runs to Brody, the man she left before meeting the abusive Lincoln. But she’d broke his heart and while he didn’t want to help her or get close to her again.
This is a happily ever after story with faith in the writing. It’s refreshing and clean. I will definitely read more by Minton.
June 26, 2018
Very good, Pregnant and running scared, Grace Thomas turns to the one man she knows she can count on: rancher Brody Martin. The charismatic Texan promises to protect her, but she knows he'll never forgive her for breaking his heart and taking up with his former best friend. Given Brody's own unsettled past, Grace understands that the guarded cowboy needs time to trust her again. Yet as he helps her prepare for the baby's arrival, Grace knows she's found the perfect father for her child. But can she dare to dream of a second chance with the man she's never stopped loving?
September 25, 2018
Grace Thomas had no place to turn when her husband beat her. Her family are out of town or out of the country so she runs to the only person she trusts. Brody Martin is not quick to forgive her leaving him those years ago but will help anyone in trouble. Grace is pregnant with his best friends child and now she's come to him for help. He will help her but can he ever forgive the pain she put him through? With the help of his brothers and faith, he will keep her safe.
September 27, 2018
This was a really sweet book and a fun read. I love clean romance ... and I love how the author built up and used the tension between the two main characters - it wasn't just an "today I'm seeing you for the first time, falling madly in love with you, and going straight to bed with you" kind of book. This was a slow build with a satisfying (yes, happy) ending. I even found myself laughing occasionally (for the right reason - there's some humor in here). I highly recommend this book.
June 16, 2018
This book proves that good Christian people can certainly have their share of problems. Grace Thomas was in an abusive relationship. Pregnant, she looks up her former love. Brody Martin was hurt by his mom and Grace. Working on their friendship renewal, can these two find a way to bring back the love they once shared?
June 18, 2018
This is the first book I have read by Brenda Minton. It was a very sweet, heartwarming story about getting a second chance at a special love. This is evidently a book from a series but is definitely a stand alone book. I enjoyed the characters, the story and that religion played a part in the characters lives.
June 18, 2018
This was a nice book about healing and finding forgiveness. Giving love and friendship to a partner from a past relationship that wasn't right at that time, is the adult thing to do, even though it is difficult for both of them.
In time, after the healing, they find love again and are open to it after praying and finding the strength they need.
In time, after the healing, they find love again and are open to it after praying and finding the strength they need.
October 4, 2018
The story is good. I do like second chances. However, I'm not a spiritual as the characters in the book so, that was a bit to get used to because it is all about God's will and timing. Besides that, I did not particularly care for Grace. She is a selfish person who treats Brody carelessly and takes advantage of his gentleman ways.
August 28, 2024
This was a short book that held the reader's attention and didn't require a lot of thinking. The story was fast paced, the character's were ok and the book served it's purpose. I wish there was a bit more to it, that the character's were a little better developed and that the book was longer so there was more time f0r the reader to become invested in it. Overall an ok read - not a favorite.
June 20, 2018
The Rancher's Second Chance is my first read of this series: Martin's Crossing. Loved this story on second chances and would like to read the other books in the series. Was drawn in right from the beginning to the end and such a heartwarming adventure.
September 6, 2018
This was an enjoyable story. A reminder that we all could use A second chance and forgiveness sometimes. The characters portrayed how you do not need to let your past define you and you can still find happiness and help others.
August 7, 2019
A sweet entertaining read. The story is full of romance, second chances, friendship, love. A overall good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 1, 2022
Something sweet to finish my reading challenge. Brody is a great beta heroe. Grace got a bit under my skin saying over and over again she was sorry. Eventually she got it and decided to get her life in order. Might read the other books in the series. I am really curious about Kayla.
June 14, 2018
Enjoyed this book. Look forward to reading more of the Martin's Crossing series.
July 10, 2018
While this is a nice story it didn't grab me and keep me interested in it like some do so it was a bit difficult to finish but overall a nice story
August 11, 2018
This story was so good. I did not want to put this book down. Love, love, love it!
December 10, 2018
Very good solid read. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of this series and Brenda’s other books!!
April 28, 2020
Another great story...love this series so much.
February 16, 2024
This book was so sweet! When I picked it up for free at a local coffee shop I didn’t expect that I would finish it the same way but I was so drawn in!
October 8, 2024
great
Another great story with a great storyline and great characters. This is the third in this series now I’m on to the next story in the series. I know it’s will be great.
Another great story with a great storyline and great characters. This is the third in this series now I’m on to the next story in the series. I know it’s will be great.
March 7, 2017
Nice little read to get you out of reality. A clean lil romance with grounded characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews