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Wrangler's Creek #6
The Last Rodeo
The most important two words for this Wrangler’s Creek rodeo cowboy?
I do...
Lucian Granger isn’t winning any Mr. Cowboy Congeniality awards. Known in his small Texas town as “Lucifer” thanks to his surly nature and knack for scaring people away from getting too close, the handsome rancher has no trouble ignoring the gossip. But when he’s in danger of losing the land he’s put his blood, sweat and tears into maintaining, Lucian sets out to prove he’s a changed man—by claiming he’s about to settle down with his invaluable assistant, Karlee O’Malley.
Their pending nuptials may be just for show, but from the moment they kiss, the proverbial fireworks start going off in his head—and in his heart. Before long, the man who’s usually as emotional as a brick wall is tired of pretending and wants to share a real future with Karlee. With his world suddenly turned upside down, Lucian will risk losing the business and the ranch if it means holding on to the one woman worth becoming a better man for.
Lucian Granger isn’t winning any Mr. Cowboy Congeniality awards. Known in his small Texas town as “Lucifer” thanks to his surly nature and knack for scaring people away from getting too close, the handsome rancher has no trouble ignoring the gossip. But when he’s in danger of losing the land he’s put his blood, sweat and tears into maintaining, Lucian sets out to prove he’s a changed man—by claiming he’s about to settle down with his invaluable assistant, Karlee O’Malley.
Their pending nuptials may be just for show, but from the moment they kiss, the proverbial fireworks start going off in his head—and in his heart. Before long, the man who’s usually as emotional as a brick wall is tired of pretending and wants to share a real future with Karlee. With his world suddenly turned upside down, Lucian will risk losing the business and the ranch if it means holding on to the one woman worth becoming a better man for.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
194 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Delores Fossen
637 books815 followersThank you for finding me on Goodreads!
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 5, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
Witchcraft might have been involved. He was having a hard time believing that mere motherhood and social connections could allow Regina to completely dismantle and rearrange his life in two weeks…
Alice May wasn’t a smiler. In fact, Lucian always thought her face looked like an apricot right before it went bad. Wrinkled but still round.
Her eyes narrowed some when she turned back to Lucian. “There’d be a lot of folks plenty upset if you hurt her. Just remember that.” It seemed like a threat, and coming from a longtime garden guild member, it seemed like a threat with some teeth. The woman knew how to use a hoe and shovel.
FYI, if you need to take a leak in the powder room off the foyer, then you’ll have to stand in the corner and aim because Regina’s marked off the area by the john as belonging to Dylan and her.
Technology paled when it came to the speed of communications by folks hell-bent on gossip.
Candy was wearing super -skinny jeans and a red top with enough sparkles and sequins to trigger a seizure. Her five-inch heels had “sprained ankle” and “I don’t belong here” written all over them.
My Review:
Delores Fossen’s sly humor and clever wit kept me smirking throughout this highly amusing and engaging tale. I nearly bounced in my chair with gleeful anticipation whenever a new character or visitor was introduced as Ms. Fossen’s colorful descriptions of their appearance and unique personality traits never failed to bring a sharp and humorous visual. The eldest son Lucian, AKA Lucifer, was the focus of this installment, and both of his hands were full of troubles financial, personal, and familial when his ne’er-do-well and often-married father returned with news he was taking over the family enterprise. The Granger family was definitely not short on quirky characters, which fit just as well with the eccentric and petty inhabitants of the small community of Wrangler’s Creek. I always enjoy spending time there, although as Regina had contentiously marked off ownership boundaries within each room with masking tape, it would have been a bit of a challenge to visit their ranch.
Witchcraft might have been involved. He was having a hard time believing that mere motherhood and social connections could allow Regina to completely dismantle and rearrange his life in two weeks…
Alice May wasn’t a smiler. In fact, Lucian always thought her face looked like an apricot right before it went bad. Wrinkled but still round.
Her eyes narrowed some when she turned back to Lucian. “There’d be a lot of folks plenty upset if you hurt her. Just remember that.” It seemed like a threat, and coming from a longtime garden guild member, it seemed like a threat with some teeth. The woman knew how to use a hoe and shovel.
FYI, if you need to take a leak in the powder room off the foyer, then you’ll have to stand in the corner and aim because Regina’s marked off the area by the john as belonging to Dylan and her.
Technology paled when it came to the speed of communications by folks hell-bent on gossip.
Candy was wearing super -skinny jeans and a red top with enough sparkles and sequins to trigger a seizure. Her five-inch heels had “sprained ankle” and “I don’t belong here” written all over them.
My Review:
Delores Fossen’s sly humor and clever wit kept me smirking throughout this highly amusing and engaging tale. I nearly bounced in my chair with gleeful anticipation whenever a new character or visitor was introduced as Ms. Fossen’s colorful descriptions of their appearance and unique personality traits never failed to bring a sharp and humorous visual. The eldest son Lucian, AKA Lucifer, was the focus of this installment, and both of his hands were full of troubles financial, personal, and familial when his ne’er-do-well and often-married father returned with news he was taking over the family enterprise. The Granger family was definitely not short on quirky characters, which fit just as well with the eccentric and petty inhabitants of the small community of Wrangler’s Creek. I always enjoy spending time there, although as Regina had contentiously marked off ownership boundaries within each room with masking tape, it would have been a bit of a challenge to visit their ranch.
June 22, 2018
Like most fans of the Wrangler’s Creek series, I’ve been more than anxious for Lucian’s story. There’s just something about the Granger family that appeals to my heart. They’re a family I can’t help but love and laugh at while being thankful they aren’t mine. I can’t help but break out in a grin before I open a Delores Fossen book, knowing I’m in for a heck of a fun time. She has such a talent for peppering a moving love story with humor and heart. And The Last Rodeo is about as perfectly hilarious and heartwarming as a book can get.
Lucian Granger was the big brother and boss of Granger Enterprises. He’d taken over the ranch and company at the age of 18. His father, before running out on his family, had nearly run the ranch into the ground. But Lucian had made the company the success it was now. His no nonsense approach to business may have gotten him the name Lucifer from the people of Wrangler’s Creek, but if that’s what it took to succeed, so be it. Because anything other than success was a sign of weakness.
Karlee O’Malley was Lucian’s assistant and girl Friday. She handled everything, thinking of what Lucian needed even before he did. She’d worked for Lucian for 10 years but she’d been hung up on him since she was a kid. He’d only seen her as his assistant but he’d been much more to her. She’d managed to corral her attraction for years but now she knew it was time to move on. Being around Lucian day in and day out wasn’t helping her get over her feelings. It was time to venture out with her own business.
But both Lucian’s and Karlee’s plans get put on hold when Lucian’s demanding ways get the town in an uproar. And Jerry, Lucian’s father, shows up wanting to step back in as CEO of Granger Enterprises. With the town holding a small percentage of shares in the company, Lucian needs all the support he can get to keep his father from destroying the company Lucian devoted his life to. And mom Regina has the perfect plan to change Lucian’s image with the townsfolk of Wrangler’s Creek. Get engaged to Karlee. Then everyone would no longer see him as Lucifer, but as a soon to be family man. Short of locking up his dad and throwing away the key, Lucian and Karlee don’t have any other ideas. They could play the lovebirds for a few months and call off the engagement when things returned to normal. But everyone knows there’s nothing normal about the things that happen in Wrangler’s Creek.
To make it all look real and to avoid Jerry, Lucian and Karlee take up residence in the guest house. But that guesthouse was small. And with most of the space piling up with wedding gifts, they couldn’t help but constantly bump into one another. And living in such close proximity with all that bumping was starting to give Lucian “bad ideas”. Karlee had always fantasized what it would be like to be with Lucian. Even one of his usual one month long relationships. This engagement was all a lie but living in that guesthouse with him felt real. She was starting to have second thoughts about pulling this ruse off. Lucian was having second thoughts too. He knew the engagement wasn’t real but the kick he got when he kissed Karlee was very real. And now he couldn’t seem to temper down the thoughts he was having. Thoughts he shouldn’t be having about the girl who’d been his employee and, more importantly, his friend for years.
As if the tension between the two of them wasn’t enough, they both get the rug pulled out from under them when everyone from their past starts showing up. Soon there’s enough old baggage at Granger Ranch to fill the lost and found at LAX. Lucian was the fixer. The one everyone relied on. But he wasn’t sure he could fix the mess his family was finding themselves in. And his confusing feelings for Karlee only added another level of complication. Could he work it all out before he lost the business, the ranch, and the woman he was starting to realize he needed more than anything else?
Though everyone but Lucian saw it, he and Karlee were the perfect match. Karlee was so good at working her magic to smooth things over when Lucian’s personality ticked people off. I don’t think he would have been the success he was without Karlee by his side. Once his mother mentioned how Karlee “lights up” when he was around, he started to notice her. He’d always found her attractive but didn’t want to ruin their relationship so he’d just ignored the attraction. Holding on to the pain of their childhoods also got in the way of moving forward. They both needed to realize that who they were had nothing to do with the mistakes of their parents. Once they experienced closure in that regard, I think they were better able to focus on the future they wanted.
The secondary characters in this series add so much to the story. I loved getting to visit again with all the Granger siblings and cousins. Even Vita showed up, which always makes my day. Candy, the Hoo Poo heiress, was hysterical and so outrageous I couldn’t help but like her. Regina is my idol! I was in tears when she masked off the entire house dividing it based on Granger shares. Meeting Jerry and Glenda really helped me understand Karlee and the Grangers better. Glenda and Jerry had both made choices that had cost them their families. As much as I hated them for the heartache they’d left in their wake, I kind of felt sorry for them because they realized what a mistake their actions had been. The townsfolk really had me chuckling. Delores Fossen uses such perfectly hilarious imagery to paint her characters. Who knew you could describe people so well with fruit analogies? And I had to google to see if Hairy Corn Salad was real. It is!
Ms. Fossen has such a unique voice in her writing and it really shines through in this series. No one can turn a phrase quite like her. The witty banter and embarrassingly hilarious situations are laugh out loud funny and are paired perfectly with a great romantic slow burn. Nothing about this story was predictable. I was just as anxious as the rest of the family wondering what could possibly happen next. Just because a book is labeled romantic comedy doesn’t mean it lacks seriousness. The Last Rodeo may have you laughing but it will still pull at your heart strings with the romantic tension and heartache. Now that Lucian has found his match, I hope this isn’t the end of this series. I will always be ready for a return visit to Wrangler’s Creek. A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
Lucian Granger was the big brother and boss of Granger Enterprises. He’d taken over the ranch and company at the age of 18. His father, before running out on his family, had nearly run the ranch into the ground. But Lucian had made the company the success it was now. His no nonsense approach to business may have gotten him the name Lucifer from the people of Wrangler’s Creek, but if that’s what it took to succeed, so be it. Because anything other than success was a sign of weakness.
Karlee O’Malley was Lucian’s assistant and girl Friday. She handled everything, thinking of what Lucian needed even before he did. She’d worked for Lucian for 10 years but she’d been hung up on him since she was a kid. He’d only seen her as his assistant but he’d been much more to her. She’d managed to corral her attraction for years but now she knew it was time to move on. Being around Lucian day in and day out wasn’t helping her get over her feelings. It was time to venture out with her own business.
But both Lucian’s and Karlee’s plans get put on hold when Lucian’s demanding ways get the town in an uproar. And Jerry, Lucian’s father, shows up wanting to step back in as CEO of Granger Enterprises. With the town holding a small percentage of shares in the company, Lucian needs all the support he can get to keep his father from destroying the company Lucian devoted his life to. And mom Regina has the perfect plan to change Lucian’s image with the townsfolk of Wrangler’s Creek. Get engaged to Karlee. Then everyone would no longer see him as Lucifer, but as a soon to be family man. Short of locking up his dad and throwing away the key, Lucian and Karlee don’t have any other ideas. They could play the lovebirds for a few months and call off the engagement when things returned to normal. But everyone knows there’s nothing normal about the things that happen in Wrangler’s Creek.
To make it all look real and to avoid Jerry, Lucian and Karlee take up residence in the guest house. But that guesthouse was small. And with most of the space piling up with wedding gifts, they couldn’t help but constantly bump into one another. And living in such close proximity with all that bumping was starting to give Lucian “bad ideas”. Karlee had always fantasized what it would be like to be with Lucian. Even one of his usual one month long relationships. This engagement was all a lie but living in that guesthouse with him felt real. She was starting to have second thoughts about pulling this ruse off. Lucian was having second thoughts too. He knew the engagement wasn’t real but the kick he got when he kissed Karlee was very real. And now he couldn’t seem to temper down the thoughts he was having. Thoughts he shouldn’t be having about the girl who’d been his employee and, more importantly, his friend for years.
As if the tension between the two of them wasn’t enough, they both get the rug pulled out from under them when everyone from their past starts showing up. Soon there’s enough old baggage at Granger Ranch to fill the lost and found at LAX. Lucian was the fixer. The one everyone relied on. But he wasn’t sure he could fix the mess his family was finding themselves in. And his confusing feelings for Karlee only added another level of complication. Could he work it all out before he lost the business, the ranch, and the woman he was starting to realize he needed more than anything else?
Though everyone but Lucian saw it, he and Karlee were the perfect match. Karlee was so good at working her magic to smooth things over when Lucian’s personality ticked people off. I don’t think he would have been the success he was without Karlee by his side. Once his mother mentioned how Karlee “lights up” when he was around, he started to notice her. He’d always found her attractive but didn’t want to ruin their relationship so he’d just ignored the attraction. Holding on to the pain of their childhoods also got in the way of moving forward. They both needed to realize that who they were had nothing to do with the mistakes of their parents. Once they experienced closure in that regard, I think they were better able to focus on the future they wanted.
The secondary characters in this series add so much to the story. I loved getting to visit again with all the Granger siblings and cousins. Even Vita showed up, which always makes my day. Candy, the Hoo Poo heiress, was hysterical and so outrageous I couldn’t help but like her. Regina is my idol! I was in tears when she masked off the entire house dividing it based on Granger shares. Meeting Jerry and Glenda really helped me understand Karlee and the Grangers better. Glenda and Jerry had both made choices that had cost them their families. As much as I hated them for the heartache they’d left in their wake, I kind of felt sorry for them because they realized what a mistake their actions had been. The townsfolk really had me chuckling. Delores Fossen uses such perfectly hilarious imagery to paint her characters. Who knew you could describe people so well with fruit analogies? And I had to google to see if Hairy Corn Salad was real. It is!
Ms. Fossen has such a unique voice in her writing and it really shines through in this series. No one can turn a phrase quite like her. The witty banter and embarrassingly hilarious situations are laugh out loud funny and are paired perfectly with a great romantic slow burn. Nothing about this story was predictable. I was just as anxious as the rest of the family wondering what could possibly happen next. Just because a book is labeled romantic comedy doesn’t mean it lacks seriousness. The Last Rodeo may have you laughing but it will still pull at your heart strings with the romantic tension and heartache. Now that Lucian has found his match, I hope this isn’t the end of this series. I will always be ready for a return visit to Wrangler’s Creek. A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection.
May 22, 2018
Unfortunately this book wasn't really for me. It wasn't terrible, it's just not what I look for in a romance. There was no heat or tension between the main characters, which is pretty much the most important thing for me. If I don't really care if they get together at the end then why am I even reading it. And the fake relationship trope advertised in the novel's description is actually only a very small part of the story; if that's the kind of romance you're looking for you won't find it here.
The book was also heavy on the uninteresting (to me) plot and I wasn't a fan of the writing style. It's not uncommon for me to read a romance novel in one sitting but I struggled to finish this one.
I will mention that I haven't read any of the rest of this series, so assuming that these are characters who have been previously introduced, their story will probably appeal more to people who are already familiar with them. There are also a lot of side characters who I'm sure will be fun cameos for readers of Delores Fossen's other books. As a stand alone novel however, it didn't really work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The book was also heavy on the uninteresting (to me) plot and I wasn't a fan of the writing style. It's not uncommon for me to read a romance novel in one sitting but I struggled to finish this one.
I will mention that I haven't read any of the rest of this series, so assuming that these are characters who have been previously introduced, their story will probably appeal more to people who are already familiar with them. There are also a lot of side characters who I'm sure will be fun cameos for readers of Delores Fossen's other books. As a stand alone novel however, it didn't really work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2018
Good conclusion to the Wrangler's Creek series. Lucian, aka Lucifer, is the last of the unmarried Grangers. No one is surprised by this because Lucian can be a real SOB, in and out of the business world. He's well known for his short relationships - thirty-four days is the record. Women take second place to work and he has no intention of changing that. That is until his life begins to implode.
Karlee is Lucian's assistant and has been for ten years. She keeps his life and business organized, often knowing what he needs before he does. She has also been in love with him for years, though he is quite oblivious to it. Karlee has finally realized that nothing will come of it and has decided to move on with her life, giving Lucian her notice and getting ready to start her own business.
I liked both Lucian and Karlee. Though Lucian has been something of an ass in the previous books, it was always because he thinks he's doing what is best for the family. Lucian took over the business, the ranch, and caring for the family at the age of eighteen when his father deserted them. It was his hard work that turned it around from the debt-ridden mess that Jerry left to a multi-million dollar success. Karlee has done the same for her family, ever since her mother ran off with Lucian's father. She took over care of the home and her younger brothers while her father sank into an alcoholic mess. She had to step up even more when he killed himself when she was seventeen.
Lucian's hard-nosed business ways have put him at odds with the town. That becomes a huge problem when Jerry comes back to town and takes back control of the family business. Jerry's actions put the financial future of the businesses and the family in jeopardy, all because of his own bad decisions. Lucian needs help to stop his father from destroying everything he's worked for, and that means he needs to change his reputation. Regina comes up with the idea of Lucian showing that he's a new man by becoming engaged to Karlee, whom everyone likes.
I liked the development of the relationship between Lucian and Karlee. They have been friends for a long time. Lucian has also felt the sparks of attraction for Karlee but has kept them well buried, not wanting to screw up an excellent working relationship and friendship. He has also been oblivious to Karlee's feelings for him. But the fake engagement has opened the door and now he doesn't know how to cope. I loved seeing how he can't keep Karlee out of his mind, which freaks him out quite a bit. He's kept himself away from any long-term relationships because of one failed one when he was younger - a relationship that still has a hold on him. Karlee has tried to protect her heart, but the "engagement" activities remind her of all the things that she wants to be real. One of the things that she wants is the chance to experience what all his other women have enjoyed - time in Lucian's bed. But just when things look like it could happen, Lucian's ex comes back to town. Lucian's emotions are in a turmoil as nothing feels the way he thought it would. I loved seeing Karlee stand up for herself and tell Lucian that he has to figure out his feelings first, then he could find her. Even with that obstacle, the connection between Lucian and Karlee is unmistakable. I loved how well each of them understood the other. I loved Lucian's protectiveness when it came to her new business and his understanding about her father. It took time for him to sort through his feelings, especially with everything else that was going on. I loved his big moment at the end, as he opened himself up in a scene that was both emotional and funny.
A large part of the story is the family drama that takes place with Jerry's return. He has wrenched back control of the family business for reasons of his own, which takes some time for Lucian to uncover. In the meantime, Jerry's ongoing feud with his ex-wife (Regina) creates some ridiculously funny moments (the taping off of the house into his and hers is hysterically described). There are also some very emotional scenes, as Karlee's mom returns, knowing that it was the affair between her and Jerry that caused so much trouble. I ached for Lucian as he watched everything he had worked so hard for fall apart under his father. An abundance of twists and turns makes the business troubles a convoluted problem to solve. I loved the solution that Lucian came up with, as once again, he is the one the family relies on when there's trouble.
The secondary characters were great, too. Jerry was the biggest presence. Mostly, he was the one I loved to hate for what he did, but there were a couple of times I felt a little sorry for him. Regina was a trip with her snarky comments to Jerry and his fiancée Candy. Candy was a bit of a surprise. She definitely gave off the clueless bimbo vibes for a good part of the story but showed herself to be a little more savvy than expected at the end. Karlee's mom, Glenda's return was unexpectedly complex. I liked her acceptance of the harm she did to her kids, and that she didn't try to give any excuses for it. Her other reasons for returning were quite a surprise. One of my favorite characters was the family cook, Abe. I was intrigued by his mysterious paper bag deliveries to Lucian and truly moved when Lucian told Karlee about them.
Karlee is Lucian's assistant and has been for ten years. She keeps his life and business organized, often knowing what he needs before he does. She has also been in love with him for years, though he is quite oblivious to it. Karlee has finally realized that nothing will come of it and has decided to move on with her life, giving Lucian her notice and getting ready to start her own business.
I liked both Lucian and Karlee. Though Lucian has been something of an ass in the previous books, it was always because he thinks he's doing what is best for the family. Lucian took over the business, the ranch, and caring for the family at the age of eighteen when his father deserted them. It was his hard work that turned it around from the debt-ridden mess that Jerry left to a multi-million dollar success. Karlee has done the same for her family, ever since her mother ran off with Lucian's father. She took over care of the home and her younger brothers while her father sank into an alcoholic mess. She had to step up even more when he killed himself when she was seventeen.
Lucian's hard-nosed business ways have put him at odds with the town. That becomes a huge problem when Jerry comes back to town and takes back control of the family business. Jerry's actions put the financial future of the businesses and the family in jeopardy, all because of his own bad decisions. Lucian needs help to stop his father from destroying everything he's worked for, and that means he needs to change his reputation. Regina comes up with the idea of Lucian showing that he's a new man by becoming engaged to Karlee, whom everyone likes.
I liked the development of the relationship between Lucian and Karlee. They have been friends for a long time. Lucian has also felt the sparks of attraction for Karlee but has kept them well buried, not wanting to screw up an excellent working relationship and friendship. He has also been oblivious to Karlee's feelings for him. But the fake engagement has opened the door and now he doesn't know how to cope. I loved seeing how he can't keep Karlee out of his mind, which freaks him out quite a bit. He's kept himself away from any long-term relationships because of one failed one when he was younger - a relationship that still has a hold on him. Karlee has tried to protect her heart, but the "engagement" activities remind her of all the things that she wants to be real. One of the things that she wants is the chance to experience what all his other women have enjoyed - time in Lucian's bed. But just when things look like it could happen, Lucian's ex comes back to town. Lucian's emotions are in a turmoil as nothing feels the way he thought it would. I loved seeing Karlee stand up for herself and tell Lucian that he has to figure out his feelings first, then he could find her. Even with that obstacle, the connection between Lucian and Karlee is unmistakable. I loved how well each of them understood the other. I loved Lucian's protectiveness when it came to her new business and his understanding about her father. It took time for him to sort through his feelings, especially with everything else that was going on. I loved his big moment at the end, as he opened himself up in a scene that was both emotional and funny.
A large part of the story is the family drama that takes place with Jerry's return. He has wrenched back control of the family business for reasons of his own, which takes some time for Lucian to uncover. In the meantime, Jerry's ongoing feud with his ex-wife (Regina) creates some ridiculously funny moments (the taping off of the house into his and hers is hysterically described). There are also some very emotional scenes, as Karlee's mom returns, knowing that it was the affair between her and Jerry that caused so much trouble. I ached for Lucian as he watched everything he had worked so hard for fall apart under his father. An abundance of twists and turns makes the business troubles a convoluted problem to solve. I loved the solution that Lucian came up with, as once again, he is the one the family relies on when there's trouble.
The secondary characters were great, too. Jerry was the biggest presence. Mostly, he was the one I loved to hate for what he did, but there were a couple of times I felt a little sorry for him. Regina was a trip with her snarky comments to Jerry and his fiancée Candy. Candy was a bit of a surprise. She definitely gave off the clueless bimbo vibes for a good part of the story but showed herself to be a little more savvy than expected at the end. Karlee's mom, Glenda's return was unexpectedly complex. I liked her acceptance of the harm she did to her kids, and that she didn't try to give any excuses for it. Her other reasons for returning were quite a surprise. One of my favorite characters was the family cook, Abe. I was intrigued by his mysterious paper bag deliveries to Lucian and truly moved when Lucian told Karlee about them.
September 14, 2018
I've been following and enjoying the Wrangler's Creek series by Delores Fossen, and have been eagerly awaiting Lucian's story, but for several reasons, which I'll explain, this sixth book in the series was my least favorite so far, and I can only give it a 2.5-star rating.
First, a warning to readers new to this series, start at the beginning of this series. There are so many characters and so many twists and turns in the relationships between them in this novel, that you might need a scorecard to keep track of them all--wives, ex-wives, an ex-husband, an on-and-off former girlfriend/booty call, brothers galore, a crusty family cook who can't cook, in-laws, lawyers, loan sharks, other ranchers, and pretty much the entire town of Wrangler's Creek. How these are all inter-related takes up a good portion of the book, and I wish that the author had spent more time on developing the main characters, Lucian Granger, and his office assistant/fake fiancee who wants to be his real fiancee, Karlee O'Malley.
Years earlier Lucian's father ran off with Karlee's mother, pretty much wrecking both families, although Lucian's family was wealthy and could recover but 18-year-old Karlee was left in charge of her younger brothers, and had no wealth to cushion the blow or to help her care for her siblings, who, for a time, ended up in foster care. When Lucian's long-absent, cheating father, his fathers' current wealthy bimbo (or is she?) fiance, Lucian's mother, and eventually, Karlee's long-absent cheating mother, all show up at the ranch, let the complications and power games begin. Lucian's father is deeply in debt to loan sharks, and since he owns half the ranch and half of Granger Enterprises, both of which he ran into the ground before he ran off with Karlee's mother more than a decade ago, he fires Lucian, who's been running both, and wants to sell it all off to get the loan sharks off his back.
As if that wasn't complicated enough, Lucian doesn't own the other 50% of the ranch or Granger Enterprises, his mother owns some shares, the town historical society owns one share, and on and on. No one in town likes Lucian, who has never been in a serious relationship, although his on-again, off-again relationship with a woman named Amelia has kept the town rumor mill busy for years. While he's grappling to improve his image in hopes of getting the shares he doesn't own, his mother comes up with the fake engagement plot to make Lucian seem to be less of a love 'em and leave 'em guy and more of a responsible man in a committed relationship. Karlee, who's secretly loved him for years (something everyone seems to know but Lucian), knows she's going to end up hurt, but since she sees this as her one chance to be with Lucian, she agrees to the plan.
The problem I had with all the comings and goings, manipulations, plots, subplots, secrets and lies in this novel is that I kept wondering what happened to the romance, because it just wasn't there. Lucian and Karlee never so much as go on a date. Once the fake engagement was agreed to, there was sex and plenty of it, but Lucian was as dense as a brick about Karlee's feelings for him, and I found the way he treated her (and his other bed-partners) appalling, and even more appalling was that Karlee was willing to settle for the few crumbs he threw her way. Frankly, we weren't given much reason to like Lucian, or to root for Karlee to get him in the end for the HEA ending all romance readers expect. Personally, I felt she deserved a better man than Lucian.
Karlee eventually grows a spine near the end of the novel, but for this reader, I couldn't see the HEA ending between Karlee and Lucian lasting forever, since we really aren't given much reason to like or have faith in Lucian's ability to remain faithful, or to consider anyone else's needs before his own. Karlee was the most well-drawn character in this novel, and I couldn't help but think that her HEA with Lucian was eventually going to leave her heartbroken again. What might have saved this novel is if the author had spent a little less time on the extremely complicated, confusing, and far-fetched plot and spent more time giving Lucian's character some depth, some reason for the reader to like or understand him, and it was what I kept hoping was coming but it never did. Even when we got to the HEA ending, it seemed both shallow and too abrupt. I hoped for an epilogue showing the happy couple at some future time, but again, it wasn't there.
I've loved many of Ms. Fossen's novels, and I'm sorry to say, that of all the novels of hers that I've read so far, this one was the most convoluted, unnecessarily complicated, emotionally distant and disappointing so far. I know that she's a far better writer than is displayed in this novel, and I suppose every writer in entitled to a miss among the hits, and for this reader, this novel was a miss.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
First, a warning to readers new to this series, start at the beginning of this series. There are so many characters and so many twists and turns in the relationships between them in this novel, that you might need a scorecard to keep track of them all--wives, ex-wives, an ex-husband, an on-and-off former girlfriend/booty call, brothers galore, a crusty family cook who can't cook, in-laws, lawyers, loan sharks, other ranchers, and pretty much the entire town of Wrangler's Creek. How these are all inter-related takes up a good portion of the book, and I wish that the author had spent more time on developing the main characters, Lucian Granger, and his office assistant/fake fiancee who wants to be his real fiancee, Karlee O'Malley.
Years earlier Lucian's father ran off with Karlee's mother, pretty much wrecking both families, although Lucian's family was wealthy and could recover but 18-year-old Karlee was left in charge of her younger brothers, and had no wealth to cushion the blow or to help her care for her siblings, who, for a time, ended up in foster care. When Lucian's long-absent, cheating father, his fathers' current wealthy bimbo (or is she?) fiance, Lucian's mother, and eventually, Karlee's long-absent cheating mother, all show up at the ranch, let the complications and power games begin. Lucian's father is deeply in debt to loan sharks, and since he owns half the ranch and half of Granger Enterprises, both of which he ran into the ground before he ran off with Karlee's mother more than a decade ago, he fires Lucian, who's been running both, and wants to sell it all off to get the loan sharks off his back.
As if that wasn't complicated enough, Lucian doesn't own the other 50% of the ranch or Granger Enterprises, his mother owns some shares, the town historical society owns one share, and on and on. No one in town likes Lucian, who has never been in a serious relationship, although his on-again, off-again relationship with a woman named Amelia has kept the town rumor mill busy for years. While he's grappling to improve his image in hopes of getting the shares he doesn't own, his mother comes up with the fake engagement plot to make Lucian seem to be less of a love 'em and leave 'em guy and more of a responsible man in a committed relationship. Karlee, who's secretly loved him for years (something everyone seems to know but Lucian), knows she's going to end up hurt, but since she sees this as her one chance to be with Lucian, she agrees to the plan.
The problem I had with all the comings and goings, manipulations, plots, subplots, secrets and lies in this novel is that I kept wondering what happened to the romance, because it just wasn't there. Lucian and Karlee never so much as go on a date. Once the fake engagement was agreed to, there was sex and plenty of it, but Lucian was as dense as a brick about Karlee's feelings for him, and I found the way he treated her (and his other bed-partners) appalling, and even more appalling was that Karlee was willing to settle for the few crumbs he threw her way. Frankly, we weren't given much reason to like Lucian, or to root for Karlee to get him in the end for the HEA ending all romance readers expect. Personally, I felt she deserved a better man than Lucian.
Karlee eventually grows a spine near the end of the novel, but for this reader, I couldn't see the HEA ending between Karlee and Lucian lasting forever, since we really aren't given much reason to like or have faith in Lucian's ability to remain faithful, or to consider anyone else's needs before his own. Karlee was the most well-drawn character in this novel, and I couldn't help but think that her HEA with Lucian was eventually going to leave her heartbroken again. What might have saved this novel is if the author had spent a little less time on the extremely complicated, confusing, and far-fetched plot and spent more time giving Lucian's character some depth, some reason for the reader to like or understand him, and it was what I kept hoping was coming but it never did. Even when we got to the HEA ending, it seemed both shallow and too abrupt. I hoped for an epilogue showing the happy couple at some future time, but again, it wasn't there.
I've loved many of Ms. Fossen's novels, and I'm sorry to say, that of all the novels of hers that I've read so far, this one was the most convoluted, unnecessarily complicated, emotionally distant and disappointing so far. I know that she's a far better writer than is displayed in this novel, and I suppose every writer in entitled to a miss among the hits, and for this reader, this novel was a miss.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 1, 2018
So I will admit it kinda went over my head why the nuptials had to take place. I remember why but not sure why this was the route that was taken but then again that's just the way the story went. I loved the drama and the constant crap these people had to go through. If it wasn't one thing it was another and I will say there is never a dull moment when it comes to this book. I loved seeing the connection between Karlee and Lucian and getting their dual point of view. I loved seeing how the family worked together and supported one another. I thought it was interesting getting to know their life and just how everything played out in the book it was a pretty interesting and enjoyable book.
July 7, 2018
I've read a few of the Wrangler's Creek series, but not all of them, so though it's part of a series these are all stand alone titles.
In this book we have Lucian, who is running the family ranch and Granger Enterprises until his dad strolls in and takes over since he has the majority share holding. Knowing that his dad will likely bankrupt the company to save his own ass, Lucian and his mom come up with a cockeyed plan that feels wonky on sight. The plan is for him to become fake engaged to his assistant (and the woman who has been in love with him since her teens), Karlee in the hopes that it would make him a more likeable person and therefore; the town would throw their support behind Lucian instead of his father so that Lucian can take the company over again. That only ends up being a small part of the story because the larger part of this is the company and how to save it.
Of course Karlee knows she's going to end up hurt but she also wants Lucian to retain his company so she's willing to do what it takes. She doesn't expect sex with Lucian but once that happens it seems her heartbreak is inevitable.
The story itself feels so far fetched and almost like the author bit off more than she can chew. There were so many moving parts to this that I had a hard time keeping up but also staying interested. And honestly, the ending felt kind of rushed and it didn't end up being the happy ending I wanted. I still felt bad for Karlee and I wonder if she'll ever get what she really wants out of Lucian? It's hard to say and I can't remember a time when I still felt bad for a main character at the end.
Overall I'm giving this one a 3 star review. It was good, there was some heat, but Lucian is a hard character to like and it didn't have quite the ending I had hoped for.
In this book we have Lucian, who is running the family ranch and Granger Enterprises until his dad strolls in and takes over since he has the majority share holding. Knowing that his dad will likely bankrupt the company to save his own ass, Lucian and his mom come up with a cockeyed plan that feels wonky on sight. The plan is for him to become fake engaged to his assistant (and the woman who has been in love with him since her teens), Karlee in the hopes that it would make him a more likeable person and therefore; the town would throw their support behind Lucian instead of his father so that Lucian can take the company over again. That only ends up being a small part of the story because the larger part of this is the company and how to save it.
Of course Karlee knows she's going to end up hurt but she also wants Lucian to retain his company so she's willing to do what it takes. She doesn't expect sex with Lucian but once that happens it seems her heartbreak is inevitable.
The story itself feels so far fetched and almost like the author bit off more than she can chew. There were so many moving parts to this that I had a hard time keeping up but also staying interested. And honestly, the ending felt kind of rushed and it didn't end up being the happy ending I wanted. I still felt bad for Karlee and I wonder if she'll ever get what she really wants out of Lucian? It's hard to say and I can't remember a time when I still felt bad for a main character at the end.
Overall I'm giving this one a 3 star review. It was good, there was some heat, but Lucian is a hard character to like and it didn't have quite the ending I had hoped for.
June 6, 2018
Nope. This is not a romance and should not be listed under this category as there was zilch romance here. Sorry...not sorry.
July 24, 2018
So... If you've read any, and I do mean any, books in this series you know that Wrangler's Creek isn't your typical small town. It's about as atypical as a fictitious small town can get. The craziness and weirdness that was firmly established in Those Texas Nights (because I didn't read the novella before it, Lone Star Cowboy) carries on into Lucian's story.
The sudden return of his bed-hopping, how-many-times-have-you-been-married-again? dad pushes Lucian into declaring that his lovely assistant Karlee has agreed to become his wife. That plus the fact that he managed to cause an unholy uproar in town. Because, well, he's not exactly a nice person. He's demanding, unyielding, arrogant, and, God love a damn duck, persistent. His bad qualities made for some eyebrow-raising moments but it also had me anticipating how much would he actually change?
See, Wrangler's Creek holds a small percentage of the company's shares. If he wants their support for him to remain head of the company and not his dad, he's going to have to change. For the better.
That was fun to watch. *grins*
Unbeknownst to Lucian, Karlee has nursed a crush on him since childhood but he's never seen her as more. Time hasn't changed that and she's tired of waiting. But just as she's ready to move on and out, he pulls the carpet out from under her and she finds herself where she's always wanted to be--at his side, in his arms, on the receiving end of his touches and kisses--except it's only for a time.
Fake engagement is a tried and true trope, with almost always the same ending: all of the fake becomes real with love and incomparable happiness is waiting just around the corner if they're willing to take a chance. It wasn't easy realizing that when their pasts decided to show up and fill what little empty corners of their lives remained. With everything in an upheaval, it came down to sorting through the mess created by others without losing one another. More specifically, Lucian losing Karlee. She was more than his assistant, more than arm candy, more than his liaison. She was everything, his perfect match in every way.
The characters of Wrangler's Creek are nothing if not amusing and colorful. They mean well, they really do, and they'll go to great lengths to ensure that they are taken seriously even if their antics make the reader chuckle. This story is more than laughter and smiles. There is an undertone of regret from Lucian's parents for the havoc they've caused, the damage they've done. There is a need for closure for both Lucian and Karlee from the pasts that they've allowed to shadow them for too long. But there is an overwhelming sense of belonging, of family, of community that makes Wrangler's Creek the perfect place for the Grangers to come together and begin again.
Ms. Fossen's unique style of writing plus her well-placed and side-of-the-mouth humor made Lucian and Karlee's story a perfect addition to this series. It's beautiful to see the healing that has come to this family and the progress they have made personally and professionally. But I hope Ms. Fossen has plans to bring her readers back to Wrangler's Creek. It doesn't seem like the good townsfolk are ready to wave goodbye to us just yet.
Received from publisher for an honest review
The sudden return of his bed-hopping, how-many-times-have-you-been-married-again? dad pushes Lucian into declaring that his lovely assistant Karlee has agreed to become his wife. That plus the fact that he managed to cause an unholy uproar in town. Because, well, he's not exactly a nice person. He's demanding, unyielding, arrogant, and, God love a damn duck, persistent. His bad qualities made for some eyebrow-raising moments but it also had me anticipating how much would he actually change?
See, Wrangler's Creek holds a small percentage of the company's shares. If he wants their support for him to remain head of the company and not his dad, he's going to have to change. For the better.
That was fun to watch. *grins*
Unbeknownst to Lucian, Karlee has nursed a crush on him since childhood but he's never seen her as more. Time hasn't changed that and she's tired of waiting. But just as she's ready to move on and out, he pulls the carpet out from under her and she finds herself where she's always wanted to be--at his side, in his arms, on the receiving end of his touches and kisses--except it's only for a time.
Fake engagement is a tried and true trope, with almost always the same ending: all of the fake becomes real with love and incomparable happiness is waiting just around the corner if they're willing to take a chance. It wasn't easy realizing that when their pasts decided to show up and fill what little empty corners of their lives remained. With everything in an upheaval, it came down to sorting through the mess created by others without losing one another. More specifically, Lucian losing Karlee. She was more than his assistant, more than arm candy, more than his liaison. She was everything, his perfect match in every way.
The characters of Wrangler's Creek are nothing if not amusing and colorful. They mean well, they really do, and they'll go to great lengths to ensure that they are taken seriously even if their antics make the reader chuckle. This story is more than laughter and smiles. There is an undertone of regret from Lucian's parents for the havoc they've caused, the damage they've done. There is a need for closure for both Lucian and Karlee from the pasts that they've allowed to shadow them for too long. But there is an overwhelming sense of belonging, of family, of community that makes Wrangler's Creek the perfect place for the Grangers to come together and begin again.
Ms. Fossen's unique style of writing plus her well-placed and side-of-the-mouth humor made Lucian and Karlee's story a perfect addition to this series. It's beautiful to see the healing that has come to this family and the progress they have made personally and professionally. But I hope Ms. Fossen has plans to bring her readers back to Wrangler's Creek. It doesn't seem like the good townsfolk are ready to wave goodbye to us just yet.
Received from publisher for an honest review
July 11, 2018
With vivid images, quirky characters with their splendid uniqueness, playing with the words in a way that only a few do as well as Delores Fossen, words packed humor and endearment, the story of family drama, business troubles, and unrequited love unravels.
It is always a pleasure to visit Wrangle's Creek. The Granger family with their ongoing drama has been an entertaining saga to follow, filled with life with its messes, turbulent emotions, and more than their share of disorder and strain in the families.
Lucian has been the unknown factor in the family, the one in charge of the family company, yet avoiding all kinds of personal relationships, except with his longtime assistant, Karlee O’Malley, who seems to be the only one to understand him and cheering for him.
I knew there was more to Lucian, aka Lucifer, than the family let us know while following the series. He has been the fixer and caretaker of the family ever since his father walked away from his family. He has a tough responsibility on his shoulders, but he loves what he does, and it keeps him busy, his life and mind occupied, keeping his heart from more heartache and disappointments, making it easy to hide the stiff exterior of 'Lucifer'.
Karlee has had a similar role as a fixer in her own family. The mess that Karlee's mom and Lucian's father left behind was not easy to prepare, but Karlee and Lucien have always done everything they could to help their families while keeping feeling at the bay, to protect their hearts.
There are more twists in the tale that I could count, keeping the family, and the reader, on their toes, inhaling the tale to find out what will happen next. Each scene of the story is packed with intense feels, interruptions, drama, trouble, and instant reactions. It is a non-stop roll-a-coaster of emotions, shady business dealings, relationship messes, from farce and melodrama from the parental units to joy and passion, confusion and hard choices in Lucien and Karlee's lives.
Lucien and Karlee have an unrivaled connection, they get each other in a way few does because of the years working together, learning to anticipate the next move the other will make. Add that the attraction, the growing need for each other, and the confusion Lucien's ex with her demands of attention creates, and the emotions are gurning all over the place.
The Wrangler's Creek series is made of intriguing and entertaining stories, filled with high emotions, townfolks whom will take part of each and every twist of the tale, families that hold tight together despite the differences, drama, and constant trouble they create for each other.
Life is rarely smooth going or problem free, the Granger family having more than its share of the hitches of life, but they wither the storms together, coming through even strong than before.
An amazing, breathtaking, vastly entertaining family saga, filled with twists and unexpected turns, cowboy fiction at its best
~ Five Spoons
It is always a pleasure to visit Wrangle's Creek. The Granger family with their ongoing drama has been an entertaining saga to follow, filled with life with its messes, turbulent emotions, and more than their share of disorder and strain in the families.
Lucian has been the unknown factor in the family, the one in charge of the family company, yet avoiding all kinds of personal relationships, except with his longtime assistant, Karlee O’Malley, who seems to be the only one to understand him and cheering for him.
I knew there was more to Lucian, aka Lucifer, than the family let us know while following the series. He has been the fixer and caretaker of the family ever since his father walked away from his family. He has a tough responsibility on his shoulders, but he loves what he does, and it keeps him busy, his life and mind occupied, keeping his heart from more heartache and disappointments, making it easy to hide the stiff exterior of 'Lucifer'.
Karlee has had a similar role as a fixer in her own family. The mess that Karlee's mom and Lucian's father left behind was not easy to prepare, but Karlee and Lucien have always done everything they could to help their families while keeping feeling at the bay, to protect their hearts.
There are more twists in the tale that I could count, keeping the family, and the reader, on their toes, inhaling the tale to find out what will happen next. Each scene of the story is packed with intense feels, interruptions, drama, trouble, and instant reactions. It is a non-stop roll-a-coaster of emotions, shady business dealings, relationship messes, from farce and melodrama from the parental units to joy and passion, confusion and hard choices in Lucien and Karlee's lives.
Lucien and Karlee have an unrivaled connection, they get each other in a way few does because of the years working together, learning to anticipate the next move the other will make. Add that the attraction, the growing need for each other, and the confusion Lucien's ex with her demands of attention creates, and the emotions are gurning all over the place.
The Wrangler's Creek series is made of intriguing and entertaining stories, filled with high emotions, townfolks whom will take part of each and every twist of the tale, families that hold tight together despite the differences, drama, and constant trouble they create for each other.
Life is rarely smooth going or problem free, the Granger family having more than its share of the hitches of life, but they wither the storms together, coming through even strong than before.
An amazing, breathtaking, vastly entertaining family saga, filled with twists and unexpected turns, cowboy fiction at its best
~ Five Spoons
July 10, 2018
As a new Fossen reader, I have no idea what her particular style is but I feel like I should give a few warnings for other newbies. There isn’t a TON of romance here, so if that’s your main focus you may be disappointed (I’ve seen a few of those on Goodreads). Instead, Fossen delivers an interesting mix of a couple coming to terms with their feelings, a oh-so-dysfunctional family, and some business shenanigans. It melded together really well for me, but may not work for others.
Lucian is the one that stepped in when his dad stepped out and he’s done amazing things to make the family business a success. Unfortunately, his dad is now back in the picture and threatening everything that Lucian has worked so hard for. The big question is why and that plays out through a decent part of the book. It also leads Lucian to making a few realizations – about himself, his life, and his heart.
Karlee has been there by Lucian’s side for years, loving him silently, but she’s finally reached the point where her heart can’t take any more. She’s starting to move on when the bad dad drama hits and her feelings means that she can’t abandon Lucian or his family. But being in a fake relationship with him means that some things come to light that she hadn’t planned on.
Fossen has a fun, quirky style – filling her story with humor, hijinxs, and hilarious secondary characters. And because she writes with dual POV, we are there with Lucian while his blinders are taken away and he has to face not only Karlee’s feelings but his own. We also get to see the toll that everything has on her. And my heart went out to her all the way to the end.
While I found the love story to be satisfying, it also doesn’t play center stage. Those looking for a pure romance may be a little thrown by the family and business drama. It’s important for the characters and does help lead to the HEA, leading to growth and helping to put some old ghosts to bed, but it does make up a decent part of the plot causing the relationship portion to be downplayed a little. Not a bad thing, in my opinion as I enjoyed seeing how everything worked out, but also not everyone’s cup of tea :)
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Lucian is the one that stepped in when his dad stepped out and he’s done amazing things to make the family business a success. Unfortunately, his dad is now back in the picture and threatening everything that Lucian has worked so hard for. The big question is why and that plays out through a decent part of the book. It also leads Lucian to making a few realizations – about himself, his life, and his heart.
Karlee has been there by Lucian’s side for years, loving him silently, but she’s finally reached the point where her heart can’t take any more. She’s starting to move on when the bad dad drama hits and her feelings means that she can’t abandon Lucian or his family. But being in a fake relationship with him means that some things come to light that she hadn’t planned on.
Fossen has a fun, quirky style – filling her story with humor, hijinxs, and hilarious secondary characters. And because she writes with dual POV, we are there with Lucian while his blinders are taken away and he has to face not only Karlee’s feelings but his own. We also get to see the toll that everything has on her. And my heart went out to her all the way to the end.
While I found the love story to be satisfying, it also doesn’t play center stage. Those looking for a pure romance may be a little thrown by the family and business drama. It’s important for the characters and does help lead to the HEA, leading to growth and helping to put some old ghosts to bed, but it does make up a decent part of the plot causing the relationship portion to be downplayed a little. Not a bad thing, in my opinion as I enjoyed seeing how everything worked out, but also not everyone’s cup of tea :)
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
August 7, 2018
Once I started, I couldn't stop finding more things to love, such as our leading lady, Kaylee, such a strong female character, but with a soft spot for her rough and tumble boss. She's not the kind to let a potential love affair get in the way of her business relationship, but come on...have you see, or rather read Lucien's description? Yeah...I can see the distraction and totally respect her all the more for managing it so well...but when the spotlight fell on these two and the opportunity more than knocked at their door for a chance to experience "what if" at a somewhat safe distance....I totally saw the BADNESS of the idea, and yet the OH SO GOOD outcome that may just be waiting at the bridal walk's end! Was it smooth sailing? No...it was pretty much as rough as a ride on a bucking bronco with a heavy dose of a-hole-ness thrown in by dear (not) old dad...but nothing ever worth having was easy now was it?
Continuing in the vein of things I loved, Lucien. He was definitely more of an anti-hero (in the classic sense), but still, he has charisma, class, and heart...even if it was slow to show sometimes (hey, he IS a guy!). He was so worried about Kaylee doing something she didn't want to, and his reaction to his discovery of her long hidden feelings was adorable...yeah, yeah, the big cowboy was adorable...so sue me. Let's just say that taking care of business with this one by your side is a done deal, and yet you'd still be on equal footing with him because he IS that bada**.
In the end, all's well that ends well, am I right? OH, but you don't know how it ends, now do you? Tough break. Guess you're gonna have to read it, huh? 😉 Seriously though, it was SUCH A GOOD read and I highly recommend it to fans of the series as well as the general Contemporary Romance reading audience. There's so much to love, but with several underlying story lines that dig in a little deeper and are well worth the follow.
**copy received for review
Continuing in the vein of things I loved, Lucien. He was definitely more of an anti-hero (in the classic sense), but still, he has charisma, class, and heart...even if it was slow to show sometimes (hey, he IS a guy!). He was so worried about Kaylee doing something she didn't want to, and his reaction to his discovery of her long hidden feelings was adorable...yeah, yeah, the big cowboy was adorable...so sue me. Let's just say that taking care of business with this one by your side is a done deal, and yet you'd still be on equal footing with him because he IS that bada**.
In the end, all's well that ends well, am I right? OH, but you don't know how it ends, now do you? Tough break. Guess you're gonna have to read it, huh? 😉 Seriously though, it was SUCH A GOOD read and I highly recommend it to fans of the series as well as the general Contemporary Romance reading audience. There's so much to love, but with several underlying story lines that dig in a little deeper and are well worth the follow.
**copy received for review
March 2, 2021
The Last Rodeo is the final installment in the Wrangler’s Creek series. What can I say about Lucian Granger he is a hard man that carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has been the one that took care of his siblings and he is the one that told the truth to his mother about his father. In the end he thought she would be doing something about it but in the end she did nothing and that’s where his resentment started. Now Karlee was a wonderful woman that had been in love with her boss for a very long time and she had her own suffering because of her mother and Lucian’s father. Her family had money but the day that her mother left with Lucian’s father is the day that her family stayed with no money. Her family was the talk of the town and now here she was working for Lucian Granger. She knows nothing is going to happen between Lucian and herself so maybe it’s time to start dating and starting her own business. All that changed when Lucian makes enemies with the officials in town but what is worse his father is about to invade their home. Lucian had just been fired from the family business and now it was time to come up with a plan before his father bankrupts the family business. Karlee is going to have to be a very strong woman and go with the plan that Lucian’s mother has in order for them to get the officials to support Lucian and not vote for Lucian’s father.
January 13, 2019
In this story, Lucian Granger is known around town as Lucifer, because of his temper and that could happen at any moment. The moment now has come up when he hears that his father who no one has seen in years is coming back and waiting to take back the ranch the Lucian has saved. Karley O’Malley has worked for Lucian for ten years and has put out fires and knows what he wants before he knows himself. She also has been in love with him since she was a kid, but now she knows it is time to leave, move on because he does not see her the way she sees him. He plan seems to be in place until before she can quit, Lucian mother comes up with a plan to hold off his father. The plan is to have Lucian and Karley engaged, but they also must live together because the town folk would think something is up if not. Most people know she likes him, but they did not know he liked anyone. Their plan starts off good except for they are in a small guest house on the ranch. This puts them closer together all the time and when they kiss for the first time Lucian now is thinking about changing the agreement from one month to forever he just needs to prove to the one woman that he is truly in love with her. A good story with twist and turns, and many good characters. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
August 7, 2018
Hallelujah! Lucian Granger FINALLY sees what the whole town of Wrangler's Creek has seen for years! His assistant, Karlee O'Malley, does indeed light up in his presence. Delores Fossen did NOT disappoint in this long awaited story of Lucian and Karlee. Strong, stubborn, and all hot cowboy, Lucian has to change his image once and for all to save the family ranch and Granger Enterprises from his waste of a father. Not only does he need to change his image, he has to battle the town's key leaders over some damn plant named Hairy Corn Salad.
Independent, smart, loyal, and beautiful, Karlee has stood by Lucian's side for the past 10 years. Karlee has loved Lucian her whole life but she would never risk their friendship or her job for a ridiculous month long affair, that's all Lucian ever has with his "sweet things". To help Lucian and the family she's adopted as her own, she accepts the proposal on the table that might help save everything he loves.
Emotional, powerful, and nothing short of amazing, Delores Fossen gave us the perfect cowboy happily ever after in 'The Last Rodeo'. ENJOY!
Independent, smart, loyal, and beautiful, Karlee has stood by Lucian's side for the past 10 years. Karlee has loved Lucian her whole life but she would never risk their friendship or her job for a ridiculous month long affair, that's all Lucian ever has with his "sweet things". To help Lucian and the family she's adopted as her own, she accepts the proposal on the table that might help save everything he loves.
Emotional, powerful, and nothing short of amazing, Delores Fossen gave us the perfect cowboy happily ever after in 'The Last Rodeo'. ENJOY!
July 20, 2018
The Last Rodeo is the sixth book in the Wrangler Creek series. This one is Lucian and Karlee's story. For the most part, it held up well as a stand alone as it focuses mainly on Lucian's issues with the fmaily business. There was enough back story to get you caught up.
This one was better than the last one in the series. There was much more humor and it made the mood lighter. There were a lot of "madcap" moments that did have me laughing. I loved the resolution for Lucian and his family business. The romance for me was the weaker part of the book. Lucian and Karlee have worked together for ten years. Karlee has always been in love with Lucian, but he has always been hung up on an ex-girlfriend. While I was rooting for them to get a HEA,the relationship lacked heat. This is one of the things I have felt about most of the romance portions of this series. I just would have liked more.
This one was better than the last one in the series. There was much more humor and it made the mood lighter. There were a lot of "madcap" moments that did have me laughing. I loved the resolution for Lucian and his family business. The romance for me was the weaker part of the book. Lucian and Karlee have worked together for ten years. Karlee has always been in love with Lucian, but he has always been hung up on an ex-girlfriend. While I was rooting for them to get a HEA,the relationship lacked heat. This is one of the things I have felt about most of the romance portions of this series. I just would have liked more.
July 25, 2018
Another story in the Wrangler's Creek series, and I hope not the last. In this tale, Lucian Granger, the grouchy brother, is faced with one disaster after the other that his long-time assistant, Karlee O'Malley, has to help him with. If only she can, when proximity to Lucian makes Karlee want to climb him like a ladder and kiss him until he acknowledges her. She's had a crush on him for years and everyone BUT Lucian knows she "lights up" in his presence, something he's not quite seen. Until now.
When his mother, one of the problems in his life, suggests a fake engagement to get rid of the first problem his no-good father presents, Lucian doubts it will work. And he's right. It doesn't. In fact, just about the time he thinks he out from under losing the business and the ranch, one more disaster occurs and it looks like he's going to lose everything.
How this all works out--surprisingly, actually--is a worthy summer read.
When his mother, one of the problems in his life, suggests a fake engagement to get rid of the first problem his no-good father presents, Lucian doubts it will work. And he's right. It doesn't. In fact, just about the time he thinks he out from under losing the business and the ranch, one more disaster occurs and it looks like he's going to lose everything.
How this all works out--surprisingly, actually--is a worthy summer read.
September 25, 2018
3.5/5
"The Last Rodeo" is the sixth book in the Wrangler Creek series, and is the long awaiting story of Lucian Granger (nicknamed Lucifer by the people in town for his unpleasant business demeanour) and his assistant, Karlee O'Malley. Both characters have been in the background of the past few books in this series, and are at the forefront of this book when Lucian's father, Jerry, returns to Wrangler's Creek and Granger Enterprises. Desperate for Lucian to keep the company that they both worked so hard for, the two decide to fake a relationship and engagement to rally the town's support for Lucian and repair his image.
While this plot was a bit far fetched, I found that it was unbelievable in a fun way and I was able to suspend my disbelief. Unlike the previous two books, I enjoyed both characters despite a crazy plot and found myself also liking all of the subplots of this book (such as Karlee's family history).
Overall, as this feels like the end of the series, this book was a good note to end on and a series that I would overall recommend to fans of this author.
"The Last Rodeo" is the sixth book in the Wrangler Creek series, and is the long awaiting story of Lucian Granger (nicknamed Lucifer by the people in town for his unpleasant business demeanour) and his assistant, Karlee O'Malley. Both characters have been in the background of the past few books in this series, and are at the forefront of this book when Lucian's father, Jerry, returns to Wrangler's Creek and Granger Enterprises. Desperate for Lucian to keep the company that they both worked so hard for, the two decide to fake a relationship and engagement to rally the town's support for Lucian and repair his image.
While this plot was a bit far fetched, I found that it was unbelievable in a fun way and I was able to suspend my disbelief. Unlike the previous two books, I enjoyed both characters despite a crazy plot and found myself also liking all of the subplots of this book (such as Karlee's family history).
Overall, as this feels like the end of the series, this book was a good note to end on and a series that I would overall recommend to fans of this author.
January 22, 2019
Lucian Granger & Karlee O'Malley
This is my first story by this author and I was so pleased and impressed. It had a lot of snark but plenty of substance. Lucian is the eldest and has run the family business for years until his father came back to town to take it over. With him came more people and more carnage. What a mess of a story and that's what made this a good and riveting story. Nothing was easy. dealing with the past, hurts, bad choices, and family. Both Karlee and Lucian both had to deal with his father and her mother's return to the town. When the idea of them pretending to be engaged threw them both together from having a professional relationship to a personal one. I loved the angst that Lucian had to go through to figure out what he really wanted. It was an all around good story. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone story since it is part of a series.
I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her stories and keep an eye out for future stories.
This is my first story by this author and I was so pleased and impressed. It had a lot of snark but plenty of substance. Lucian is the eldest and has run the family business for years until his father came back to town to take it over. With him came more people and more carnage. What a mess of a story and that's what made this a good and riveting story. Nothing was easy. dealing with the past, hurts, bad choices, and family. Both Karlee and Lucian both had to deal with his father and her mother's return to the town. When the idea of them pretending to be engaged threw them both together from having a professional relationship to a personal one. I loved the angst that Lucian had to go through to figure out what he really wanted. It was an all around good story. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone story since it is part of a series.
I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her stories and keep an eye out for future stories.
July 13, 2018
Lucian aka Lucifer as everyone calls him for his attitude is about to have his life turned upside down by his own crappy father..while trying to get ready for the rodeo he gets a call that his dad is firing him. Lucian knows that everything is about to get bad..Oh it does. It goes from bad to worse. His dad is trying to sell off their ranch to get money to pay back the loan sharks. Karlee is Lucian's right hand woman..they have known each other their whole life. She has been in love with him for a long time. Lucian does one month stands with the women in his life. Karlee doesn't want to be one of those..
Along with Lucian's dad coming back so does Karlee's mom...she and Lucian's dad tore two families apart and caused a death!
There are many twists and turns that keeps the pages turning..this was another great book by Delores Fossen and another wonderful story in the series
Along with Lucian's dad coming back so does Karlee's mom...she and Lucian's dad tore two families apart and caused a death!
There are many twists and turns that keeps the pages turning..this was another great book by Delores Fossen and another wonderful story in the series
November 11, 2022
I enjoyed this novel and thought it was better than other books I have read by this author. My only complaint is that the plot is too long. There are several places where the author could have ended the story, but she kept on going with it. I liked Karlee's character, but I felt that Lucian was a little self-centered and weak. The reader is asked to believe Lucian can run a big business but still be emotionally unable to completely break up with his old girlfriend. He's worked with Karlee for ten years and hasn't appreciated her or considered a relationship with her. He's supposed to keep the fake engagement between himself and Karlee a secret; but the first time he talks to his old girlfriend, he tells her the engagement isn't real. There are lots of plot twists in this story too. Nevertheless, Delores Fossen is a good writer and I usually pick up her books when I see them.
July 17, 2018
I tried to find my footing with this book but I just couldn't. After trying three times, I could only get about a third of the way into the book before I put it down. I love a good western and romance read but first I need to feel for the characters. They were talking but I wasn't really listening.
Although, I will give a little credit to Karlee. She was trying. Lucian needed to loosen up. There is no instant love connection between these two. However, I would have liked to see a spark starting to form within the first third of the story. The story had no movement. You could say that I didn't find my cowboy.
Although, I will give a little credit to Karlee. She was trying. Lucian needed to loosen up. There is no instant love connection between these two. However, I would have liked to see a spark starting to form within the first third of the story. The story had no movement. You could say that I didn't find my cowboy.
September 4, 2018
This is really a 2.5. I loved this book. I wanted to give it 4 stars, at least, almost the entire way through. It may just be my favorite of the series. It was great. I think the main characters had great chemistry and while I would have liked a bit more development of their relationship (it was a bit lazy, since they had worked together for so long, not that they were really prominent in other stories), I was ok with how things went. I was expecting so much at the end and got "meh" or even less than that. Like, oh, it's time to end the book so I'll just stop. No epilogue? No follow up? Nothing? WTH!
June 9, 2018
Lucian Granger finally meets his match in more ways than one. Karlee O’Malley is part of that meeting his match. I really loved the interaction between the two even as I wanted to hit Lucian over the head to make him realize what his feeling meant. There is some mystery and some danger as the two work to get the family out of a very bad situation. Great story with a nice ending. Sometimes something you think you want for years turns out to be not that important.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
July 1, 2018
I don't know why I usually love Delores book but this story did not seem complete to me. The hero Lucian could not say I love you and Karlee the heroine was in love with him for years she is also his employee. This story does not go into complete detail why, but his father is a real loser and I could have done without his ex or friend with benefits appearance in this story. The way she came back after she left and she came back once she found out he was engaged and poor Karlee she deserved so much more from Lucian
September 3, 2018
This story has a lot of twists and turns and surprises but I really liked it. Lucian Granger got the nickname Lucifer because of his temperament and he deserved it. If it wasn't for his assistant Karlee O'Malley, no one would even talk to him about business but she kept him calmed. Unfortunately, his father returned to the ranch needing money and since he was a fifty percent owner of the company and ranch, he fired Lucian and took over. The plot to try and save the ranch was quite interesting and a great read.
January 15, 2023
She had worked for the devil himself, for ten years, but she had finally reached the stage she could start her own business. Until all h3ll broke loose, and she just had to help out the family she had grown to love.
He had tried each year to win one of those illustras belt buckles, just to make the grandfather he respected and loved proud, even after the old man's death. That's what his life had been up to his point, keeping the assets that he had been given guardianship off safe and thriving.
Unfortunately, his father's swindling ways was something he had now contend with.
He had tried each year to win one of those illustras belt buckles, just to make the grandfather he respected and loved proud, even after the old man's death. That's what his life had been up to his point, keeping the assets that he had been given guardianship off safe and thriving.
Unfortunately, his father's swindling ways was something he had now contend with.
May 21, 2018
This was a great series, and I wasn't disappointed in Lucian's story at all! Lucian aka Lucifer to his enemies (and assorted family) ended up being a really great guy. He took the long road to find his way to Karlee as more than just a friend/employee. Karlee was so tuned-in to Lucian in a way even his family wasn't. It was great to see. The family dynamics and "intrigue" was fun to read. Glad things worked out in the end.
November 6, 2018
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. A tale where Jerry doesn't have the business sense to run the family business and he gets involved in some bad decisions. Lucian being the oldest has finally built it back up only for Jerry to come and destroy it. Lucian finally finds out Karlee's true feeling for him, and they begin an adventure together.
May 26, 2019
A CEO finds love in the last place he wanted to look for it, his perfect assistant.
His life was imploding, his father had come home to mess with, and probably ruin, the family company, his long time perfect assistant had given notice, his mother was on her way, the shareholders were in an uproar, and there was no end in sight.
His life was imploding, his father had come home to mess with, and probably ruin, the family company, his long time perfect assistant had given notice, his mother was on her way, the shareholders were in an uproar, and there was no end in sight.
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