Dalton (Cowboys and Debutantes Contemporary Book 2) by Vivi Holt
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, I'M IN REAL TROUBLE
The second book in the contemporary Cowboys and Debutantes series will read as a standalone, and these books will read ok out of order. When Grandpa Joe passed away, he had many upstart businesses in various states. He will leave these to various grandchildren, but in the will had a codicil of stipulations. The grandchild or grandchildren must work that business for one full year and make it succeed, or it would revert to Nana Dixie.
Dalton Williams has spent several years on the rodeo circuit bronc riding, and when he has a wonderful eight-second ride, it will change in a blink of the eye with the horse slamming him into the wall, fracturing his leg in two places and end his rodeo career. Just as he is coming to terms with this, he is handed the Cotton Tree Ranch in South Georgia. The ranch has been poorly managed and will take lots of work, but does have horses, a house, barns, and some equipment. Now his new plan is to raise and breed stock horses.
Third chair violinist, Hazel Hildebrand, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, has ended the season and now has some down time. Her best friend and house mate, Jen, is a vet and works on a horse ranch. She has an emergency medical issue and begs Hazel to accompany a horse to a ranch for breeding. Just a quick trip there, overnight stay, and back. Easy-peasy, or maybe not. And that is our set up for this tale.
The plot will have Hazel agreeing reluctantly to accompany a mare, Contessa's Charity, to a breeding ranch and then pretends to be the vet. Dalton Williams is shocked when Hazel arrives dressed inappropriately in designer clothing and Jimmy Choos heels.
The city slicker lady will meet her hayseed cowboy. Two people, just trying to do a job, but brought together in unusual circumstances, find themselves dealing with weather issues, unexpected situations, and developing a physical attraction. A phone call confirms Dalton's suspensions, but he doesn't reveal what he learns. While Hazel never confirms or denies her status, her lack abilities tell the truth.
What happens when life takes a new twist, and Hazel is offered a first chair position? She must decide if she is fulfilling her dream, or is it the one her parents have made for her? Dalton enlist the aid of his two younger brothers with the ranch, and together, the three of them make progress, but what about money? With several months left before the years time frame, will he be able to keep Cotton Tree, or lose it?
This is a clean, contemporary story that has secrets, some deceit, loyal friends, faithful family, lots of horses, and new beginnings. Life doesn't always proceed as we plan, but sometimes, those forks in the road take us on a scenic route that will lead to a new future.
Parker (Cowboys and Debutantes Contemporary Book 5) by Vivi Holt
I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE
The fifth book in the contemporary Cowboys and Debutantes series will read as a stand-alone and is a continuation of this saga of the Williams brothers, Dalton, Eamon, and Parker. The three brothers have pulled together to make the Cotton Tree Ranch prosper as much as they can in the beginning. It seems, just as things are looking up, life happens, and now they must face many uncertainties. Life is all about how you deal with the unexpected, and the Williams family will face those trials.
The story is a clean, contemporary that will have a family pulling together during trials, tragedy, with loyal friends, a faithful family, and some new beginnings. This is Parker’s story.
Parker Williams felt like he lost every male influence in his life at once while he was a teenager. While his mother was very unhappy with his choice, he went into the Army. Now he is discharged but is a haunted man with PTSD from his time with the Army Rangers in Syria. He has pulled together with his two brothers to make the Cotton Tree a surviving ranch with horses and cattle in an area that is mostly peaches and cotton.
When Hazel is diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after she and Dalton married, her best friend and college roommate, Jen Barsby, will pack up her car, resign from her job, and come to the Cotton Tree to be there for Hazel and Dalton as she undergoes surgery. Jen is a veterinarian and is able, with the assistance of Parker, to join with the other local vet in town and work part-time.
The plot of the story will encompass the lives of Hazel and Dalton, and they're coping with her cancer, with Eamon and Emily as they elope and start their married life after her family disapproves of her choice to marry, and Parker and Jen, and new beginnings.
Parker will find friendship and someone he can easily talk to about some of the issues he is dealing with since returning to civilian life. He opens up about seeing a Psychologist and Jen will surprise him that she has visited one during her teen years. She will be a sounding board, but also accompany him to a military ceremony at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Jen is enjoying her time working with the other vet, Will, and has amazing stories to tell about the animals and their owners. She is developing a comradery with the townspeople, and slowly, she and Parker are getting closer. Her family was disappointed that she didn’t come back to work in their family business, but she is happy doing what she chose for herself as a career.
When tragedy strikes the ranch in the form of a freak storm that does damage to the home, it is heartwarming to see how neighbors come together to make repairs. “Lemme see if I can sort somethin’ out. We’re neighbors, Parker, and neighbors take care of each other.”
Once Hazel is recovered from her surgery, what will Jen decide to do? She won’t be going back to Atlanta since no ties are holding her there. The town of Tipton has started to feel like home, and she is making a name in the community as a veterinarian. But what about her family in Birmingham? They still want her to come back and make it her home. What is happening between her and Parker, is it just a friendship, or is it developing into something more serious?
“Well, we both have a chance now to set up the kind of life we want.”
The story does show a family that has faith, prays, and relies on each other.