4.5
Have you ever heard of a runaway bridesmaid ?
Meet Olivia Belle, an event coordinator who just fled her fiancé sister's wedding after he proposed. She run away to Oak Bluff, her grandmother's hometown, because she heard romantic stories about it.
Sheriff Cash Hawkins is about to eat his lunch, peaceful in his car with his dog, Dixie, when he spot a Yellow Bug speeding, driven by a pretty brunette in a ball gown.
Not the welcome committee Olivia expected. Certainly didn't think she would spend her first day in Oak Bluff in handcuffs.
"Oh God. Am I going to have a mug shot?"
So things doesn't get off to a good start for Cash and Olivia, but it won't stay that way for too long. He's got a great sense of humor, even if it's not the first impression he give. But it's clear for him he'll never have a relationship with a woman who's not from town because his life is here in Oak Bluff and he doesn't want to leave.
She have commitment issues. Why, you ask ? Well, doesn't it always begin with the parents ?
"My dad married my mom. They had me. Years later they decided they hated each other, so they divorced and are still living hatefully ever after to this day."
Olivia doesn't really know what she wants in life, she just know that she doesn't want what was proposed to her. She wonder what it would be like to throw caution to the wind, and there could never be a more perfect man for testing it than the first man to make her heart go pitty patter.
"The Everetts let me ride every now and then-whenever I get to missing it."
"Are you missing it right now ?", she asked, already knowing the answer.
"I am." The wistful look in his eyes softened the hard lines of his face.
She sighed. "Why does hearing you talk about horseback riding like that make me want to kiss you?"
This novella was included in an other book I purchased and it was the first time I read something by A.J. Pine. I absolutely loved this story and these characters, you can be sure I'm going to look for the rest of the series ! In fact, what a great way for the author to make us want to read the next book coming at the end of August ! Two intriguing scenes with the next MC :)
Yeah I know the falling in love happened really fast, especially for two people who had a hard time opening their heart to love, but it didn't make me doubt their feelings for each other.
I was charmed by the writing style. It's no secret I'm a big fan of witty lines, nicknames fitting with the context and sweet romance. It was all I want to find when I'm reading a romance.
Lately, Forever/Grand Central Publishing has done that often (at least, in their cowboy romance) : including novellas with an other book and it's a pretty great marketing strategy. It made me happy and made me click to buy the rest of the Crossroads Ranch series.