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The McGregor Brothers of Grand, Montana #2
The Rancher's Secret Love
Could home be 'on the range'?
After teaching at a prestigious university, Luke McGregor is headed home to his family's ranch in Grand, Montana, to help his brothers raise their baby niece and nephews and to help save the struggling ranch. His long-time girlfriend wants no part of playing cowgirl and dumps him fast. Luke commits himself to being home for at least a year and throws himself into family and ranch life. A chance meeting with a beautiful and free-spirited woman and a promising first date makes him wonder if his place is necessarily in a big city.
Plucky Mara Ramos has lived much of her life on the road as a performer, but a dance injury, that permanently sidelines her professional career and ends her fling with a famous pop star, strands her in the middle of Montana. She likes the friendly small town and soon opens a dance studio intent on building a new life for herself. She enjoys inspiring her young students, but she can’t help but feel she needs more. A casual date with an enigmatic, flirty stranger, who is so much more than a cowboy, teases Mara with the possibility of putting down roots and finding a happy every after.
When Luke’s former girlfriend announces she’s pregnant, he's faced with the decision of a lifetime. If he's all about family, can he make a decision that will keep Mara in his life?
After teaching at a prestigious university, Luke McGregor is headed home to his family's ranch in Grand, Montana, to help his brothers raise their baby niece and nephews and to help save the struggling ranch. His long-time girlfriend wants no part of playing cowgirl and dumps him fast. Luke commits himself to being home for at least a year and throws himself into family and ranch life. A chance meeting with a beautiful and free-spirited woman and a promising first date makes him wonder if his place is necessarily in a big city.
Plucky Mara Ramos has lived much of her life on the road as a performer, but a dance injury, that permanently sidelines her professional career and ends her fling with a famous pop star, strands her in the middle of Montana. She likes the friendly small town and soon opens a dance studio intent on building a new life for herself. She enjoys inspiring her young students, but she can’t help but feel she needs more. A casual date with an enigmatic, flirty stranger, who is so much more than a cowboy, teases Mara with the possibility of putting down roots and finding a happy every after.
When Luke’s former girlfriend announces she’s pregnant, he's faced with the decision of a lifetime. If he's all about family, can he make a decision that will keep Mara in his life?
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2019
827 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Paula Altenburg
31 books171 followersPaula Altenburg grew up in rural Nova Scotia knowing that at some point in her life she was likely to be a fiction writer. Swapping Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey books with her father guaranteed she wasn’t going to be the next Jane Austen, much to the dismay of her English teacher mother.
A degree in Social Anthropology from the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, again meant writing was the logical (meaning only) career path for her, although it did confirm her belief that learning is a life-long experience. She’s taken business courses, writing courses, and physiology of aquatic animals courses, all at the university level and all for fun.
She has worked in the Aerospace industry, although now makes writing her full-time career. Happily married, with two terrific sons, she continues to live in rural Nova Scotia but makes a point of traveling as much as she can.
She reads in all genres, but fantasy and contemporary romance are her writing loves.
A degree in Social Anthropology from the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, again meant writing was the logical (meaning only) career path for her, although it did confirm her belief that learning is a life-long experience. She’s taken business courses, writing courses, and physiology of aquatic animals courses, all at the university level and all for fun.
She has worked in the Aerospace industry, although now makes writing her full-time career. Happily married, with two terrific sons, she continues to live in rural Nova Scotia but makes a point of traveling as much as she can.
She reads in all genres, but fantasy and contemporary romance are her writing loves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 22, 2019
Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more in this series!
Luke McGregor was always the quiet, studious brother - something of a nerd, he's continued his studies and is now teaching at University. However, the tragic death of his sister and her husband means the surviving brothers, including him, are now responsible for bringing up their nephew and niece. He returns home to help, planning to stay for at least a year, but his long-term girlfriend definitely doesn't see her future on the family ranch and the two split up with her heading home again. He's definitely not looking for another girlfriend or commitment but fate is going to intervene!
Mara Ramos was seriously injured whilst skiing, putting an end to both her professional dance career and her relationship with a famous pop star. She's moved to this small town to set up a dance studio out of the glare of publicity and loves working with her students - though she wishes there were more of them! When she and Luke meet, their attraction is mutual but will they resist temptation?
This is a lovely, heartwarming contemporary romance with great characters and a real twist! It is about learning to trust, healing your heart and trusting love. The children included in the story are delightfully portrayed, I could easily imagine them and their antics. The dilemma that could force this couple apart is horrendous and heart wrenching, leaving you on tenterhooks about just how everything can be resolved.
I have no hesitation in highly recommending this story to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances with family at its heart. It is another fantastic story by this highly talented author.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more in this series!
Luke McGregor was always the quiet, studious brother - something of a nerd, he's continued his studies and is now teaching at University. However, the tragic death of his sister and her husband means the surviving brothers, including him, are now responsible for bringing up their nephew and niece. He returns home to help, planning to stay for at least a year, but his long-term girlfriend definitely doesn't see her future on the family ranch and the two split up with her heading home again. He's definitely not looking for another girlfriend or commitment but fate is going to intervene!
Mara Ramos was seriously injured whilst skiing, putting an end to both her professional dance career and her relationship with a famous pop star. She's moved to this small town to set up a dance studio out of the glare of publicity and loves working with her students - though she wishes there were more of them! When she and Luke meet, their attraction is mutual but will they resist temptation?
This is a lovely, heartwarming contemporary romance with great characters and a real twist! It is about learning to trust, healing your heart and trusting love. The children included in the story are delightfully portrayed, I could easily imagine them and their antics. The dilemma that could force this couple apart is horrendous and heart wrenching, leaving you on tenterhooks about just how everything can be resolved.
I have no hesitation in highly recommending this story to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances with family at its heart. It is another fantastic story by this highly talented author.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
April 15, 2019
My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest opinion.
Luke McGregor is forced to return to the family ranch in Montana when his parents and his sister die in a plane crash, leaving behind his sister's three orphaned children. He and the remaining McGregor brothers decide to band together to help run the family ranch and raise their sister's children. Luke had only recently earned his Ph.D and was teaching in Seattle, but he realizes he can't return to Seattle and work as a professor now that he has returned to his beloved home.
Mara Ramos is the local dance instructor in the town of Grand. Her promising dance career was ended by a freak skiing accident. Both Luke and Mara have recently been burned by relationships gone bad, so at first they resist the instant attraction that springs up between them, but despite their misgivings, they soon embark on a no strings attached relationship. It doesn't take long for Luke to become sure that Mara is the woman he has been waiting for all of his life. Unfortunately, his former fiancee, Denise announces that she is pregnant with his child.
This is not a badly written story, but I was disappointed in how all the usual tropes were scattered about in between the usual steamy scenes. This novel needed more dialogue and less dictated narrative. The author is actually pretty good at dialogue - it would have injected some reality and life into this story. The conflict resolution and the happy families ending were just too pat for me.
his story had its sweet moments, but the author should have let the characters tell more of the story through dialogue as opposed to supplying the reader with endless narrative: it often felt like I was reading a summary or outline of a longer story. I give this a 3.25 out of 5.
Luke McGregor is forced to return to the family ranch in Montana when his parents and his sister die in a plane crash, leaving behind his sister's three orphaned children. He and the remaining McGregor brothers decide to band together to help run the family ranch and raise their sister's children. Luke had only recently earned his Ph.D and was teaching in Seattle, but he realizes he can't return to Seattle and work as a professor now that he has returned to his beloved home.
Mara Ramos is the local dance instructor in the town of Grand. Her promising dance career was ended by a freak skiing accident. Both Luke and Mara have recently been burned by relationships gone bad, so at first they resist the instant attraction that springs up between them, but despite their misgivings, they soon embark on a no strings attached relationship. It doesn't take long for Luke to become sure that Mara is the woman he has been waiting for all of his life. Unfortunately, his former fiancee, Denise announces that she is pregnant with his child.
This is not a badly written story, but I was disappointed in how all the usual tropes were scattered about in between the usual steamy scenes. This novel needed more dialogue and less dictated narrative. The author is actually pretty good at dialogue - it would have injected some reality and life into this story. The conflict resolution and the happy families ending were just too pat for me.
his story had its sweet moments, but the author should have let the characters tell more of the story through dialogue as opposed to supplying the reader with endless narrative: it often felt like I was reading a summary or outline of a longer story. I give this a 3.25 out of 5.
April 23, 2021
The Rancher’s Secret Love is the second book in Paula Altenburg’s Montana McGregor Brothers series. The story takes place at the same time as the first book, The Rancher Takes a Family. As a result, this can be read separately.
After his younger sister, her husband, and both his parents are killed in a plane crash, Luke McGregor takes a leave of absence from his college teaching job. His older brother Jake has been given custody of their nephews and niece, as well as the family farm. Luke returns to Grand, Montana to temporarily help out. In choosing to be with his family, his girlfriend chooses to end their relationship. Mara Ramos is the best friend of Lacey Anderson who eventually becomes Luke’s sister-in-law. Mara is a former dancer, who now teaches dance and owns a dance studio in Grand. They initially start to spend time together when Luke takes one of his nephews to her studio.
As the two start to spend more and more time together, their relationship grows. Things progress but hit a snag when Luke’s ex shows up and announces she’s pregnant. From this point, things with this story get interesting. It seems there is absolutely no way there’s going to be a happy ending for anyone. Paula has written good characters and a plot twist I don’t think anyone will see coming. She made Luke and Mara work to be together. Fortunately, that work really paid off.
**Received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily reviewed.**
After his younger sister, her husband, and both his parents are killed in a plane crash, Luke McGregor takes a leave of absence from his college teaching job. His older brother Jake has been given custody of their nephews and niece, as well as the family farm. Luke returns to Grand, Montana to temporarily help out. In choosing to be with his family, his girlfriend chooses to end their relationship. Mara Ramos is the best friend of Lacey Anderson who eventually becomes Luke’s sister-in-law. Mara is a former dancer, who now teaches dance and owns a dance studio in Grand. They initially start to spend time together when Luke takes one of his nephews to her studio.
As the two start to spend more and more time together, their relationship grows. Things progress but hit a snag when Luke’s ex shows up and announces she’s pregnant. From this point, things with this story get interesting. It seems there is absolutely no way there’s going to be a happy ending for anyone. Paula has written good characters and a plot twist I don’t think anyone will see coming. She made Luke and Mara work to be together. Fortunately, that work really paid off.
**Received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily reviewed.**
May 23, 2019
Luke has returned home to help raise his nephews and niece. Luke is a professor at a university, where he thought he was happy with his girlfriend, until he asked her to move to the family ranch.
Mara has arrived to Grand, Montana to open a dance studio for young kids after a debilitating injury ending her professional dance career.
Neither are looking for a relationship but they can’t deny the chemistry between them. Will it last after, Luke has a surprise from his ex-girlfriend.
Loved this book. The banter between Luke and Mara was so much fun. This story is all about the importance of family.
This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. Can’t wait to read the next book!!
Mara has arrived to Grand, Montana to open a dance studio for young kids after a debilitating injury ending her professional dance career.
Neither are looking for a relationship but they can’t deny the chemistry between them. Will it last after, Luke has a surprise from his ex-girlfriend.
Loved this book. The banter between Luke and Mara was so much fun. This story is all about the importance of family.
This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. Can’t wait to read the next book!!
May 21, 2019
The Rancher’s Secret Love by Paula Altenburg
Could home be ‘on the range’?
After teaching at a prestigious university, Luke McGregor is headed home to his family’s ranch in Grand, Montana, to help his brothers raise their baby niece and nephews and to help save the struggling ranch. His long-time girlfriend wants no part of playing cowgirl and dumps him fast. Luke commits himself to being home for at least a year and throws himself into family and ranch life. A chance meeting with a beautiful and free-spirited woman and a promising first date makes him wonder if his place is necessarily in a big city.
Plucky Mara Ramos has lived much of her life on the road as a performer, but a dance injury, that permanently sidelines her professional career and ends her fling with a famous pop star, strands her in the middle of Montana. She likes the friendly small town and soon opens a dance studio intent on building a new life for herself. She enjoys inspiring her young students, but she can’t help but feel she needs more. A casual date with an enigmatic, flirty stranger, who is so much more than a cowboy, teases Mara with the possibility of putting down roots and finding a happy every after.
When Luke’s former girlfriend announces she’s pregnant, he’s faced with the decision of a lifetime. If he’s all about family, can he make a decision that will keep Mara in his life?
This is Mara Ramos and Luke McGregor's story.
Mara Ramos spotted the newcomer the minute he walked through the automatic sliding glass doors.
He was so very pretty, no one could miss him.
She’d traveled the world for many of her twenty-six years, and spent almost two of them as a dancer for one of the hottest new names in pop music—the bastard—so she was no stranger to good-looking men.
His mother had converted the former nursery into a sewing room twenty-five years ago, after the youngest McGregor graduated to a big boy bedroom. Now her sons were converting it back.
Fat pink blobs of paint speckled the drop cloth Luke and his brother Zack, the big boy in question, had spread to protect the honey-colored hardwood floor. The sewing machine, plus their mother’s sewing supplies—the reams of fabric, the hundreds of buttons, the dozens of spools of thread—had been boxed up and donated to the local ladies’ auxiliary.
Luke swallowed around the lump in his throat. Cleaning out this room was the hardest thing he’d ever done. It really drove home the fact that she wasn’t coming back.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
The Rancher’s Secret Love by Paula Altenburg is a 4 star book.
Paula's Books with Tule:
Her Sweetheart Brand
A Sweetheart Brand
Starrs of Sweetheart, Montana
Branded with a Kiss
A Sweetheart Brand
Branded by Firelight
A Sweetheart Brand
The Rancher Takes a Family
The Montana McGregor Brothers
The Rancher’s Secret Love
The Montana McGregor Brothers
Could home be ‘on the range’?
After teaching at a prestigious university, Luke McGregor is headed home to his family’s ranch in Grand, Montana, to help his brothers raise their baby niece and nephews and to help save the struggling ranch. His long-time girlfriend wants no part of playing cowgirl and dumps him fast. Luke commits himself to being home for at least a year and throws himself into family and ranch life. A chance meeting with a beautiful and free-spirited woman and a promising first date makes him wonder if his place is necessarily in a big city.
Plucky Mara Ramos has lived much of her life on the road as a performer, but a dance injury, that permanently sidelines her professional career and ends her fling with a famous pop star, strands her in the middle of Montana. She likes the friendly small town and soon opens a dance studio intent on building a new life for herself. She enjoys inspiring her young students, but she can’t help but feel she needs more. A casual date with an enigmatic, flirty stranger, who is so much more than a cowboy, teases Mara with the possibility of putting down roots and finding a happy every after.
When Luke’s former girlfriend announces she’s pregnant, he’s faced with the decision of a lifetime. If he’s all about family, can he make a decision that will keep Mara in his life?
This is Mara Ramos and Luke McGregor's story.
Mara Ramos spotted the newcomer the minute he walked through the automatic sliding glass doors.
He was so very pretty, no one could miss him.
She’d traveled the world for many of her twenty-six years, and spent almost two of them as a dancer for one of the hottest new names in pop music—the bastard—so she was no stranger to good-looking men.
His mother had converted the former nursery into a sewing room twenty-five years ago, after the youngest McGregor graduated to a big boy bedroom. Now her sons were converting it back.
Fat pink blobs of paint speckled the drop cloth Luke and his brother Zack, the big boy in question, had spread to protect the honey-colored hardwood floor. The sewing machine, plus their mother’s sewing supplies—the reams of fabric, the hundreds of buttons, the dozens of spools of thread—had been boxed up and donated to the local ladies’ auxiliary.
Luke swallowed around the lump in his throat. Cleaning out this room was the hardest thing he’d ever done. It really drove home the fact that she wasn’t coming back.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
The Rancher’s Secret Love by Paula Altenburg is a 4 star book.
Paula's Books with Tule:
Her Sweetheart Brand
A Sweetheart Brand
Starrs of Sweetheart, Montana
Branded with a Kiss
A Sweetheart Brand
Branded by Firelight
A Sweetheart Brand
The Rancher Takes a Family
The Montana McGregor Brothers
The Rancher’s Secret Love
The Montana McGregor Brothers
April 12, 2019
Loved this book! Luke is the nerdy college professor and who, along with his two brothers, inherited the family ranch. He committed to spend a year on the ranch to help sort through things and help with raising his niece and nephews, who were orphaned in the same accident that claimed the lives of Luke's parents. The three brothers are woefully unprepared to raise three young children, but are willing to give it their best efforts.
When Luke has a chance meeting with Mara, a local dance instructor, his year and the ranch suddenly looks a bit brighter. Neither Luke or Mara are interested in a relationship and are only looking to have fun....until it's not. A complication from Luke's past threatens to tear them apart, they are both forced to make some difficult choices.
I really loved Luke's character and how he was constantly struggling to do the right thing, even when all the options are bad. Mara was also a likeable character with a difficult backstory that gave her depth. I found myself totally immersed in their story and wishing for them to get their HEA ending. I'm already looking forward to the last brother's story.
When Luke has a chance meeting with Mara, a local dance instructor, his year and the ranch suddenly looks a bit brighter. Neither Luke or Mara are interested in a relationship and are only looking to have fun....until it's not. A complication from Luke's past threatens to tear them apart, they are both forced to make some difficult choices.
I really loved Luke's character and how he was constantly struggling to do the right thing, even when all the options are bad. Mara was also a likeable character with a difficult backstory that gave her depth. I found myself totally immersed in their story and wishing for them to get their HEA ending. I'm already looking forward to the last brother's story.
July 8, 2019
This is the second book in a series but it can be read as a stand alone.
That said, I've now read both books in the series. The only thing I didn't care for is that both books seemed to happen at the same time. Because of that there were some repeated information (the accident, the children, the ranch, etc). I skimmed over those parts.
I really enjoyed this unique story and I will say the end surprised me. I wasn't thrilled with the ex with a baby story plot and couldn't see how it was going to work out. But then it did! Loved it!
** ARC received from Netgalley **
That said, I've now read both books in the series. The only thing I didn't care for is that both books seemed to happen at the same time. Because of that there were some repeated information (the accident, the children, the ranch, etc). I skimmed over those parts.
I really enjoyed this unique story and I will say the end surprised me. I wasn't thrilled with the ex with a baby story plot and couldn't see how it was going to work out. But then it did! Loved it!
** ARC received from Netgalley **
Want to read
May 19, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/19/2020)! 🎁
June 10, 2021
Loved it
Loved book 2 in the series. Loved how the author shows her character's strengths and weaknesses. Love to hear more about all the brothers and their families. Please write more. Off to read book 3.
Loved book 2 in the series. Loved how the author shows her character's strengths and weaknesses. Love to hear more about all the brothers and their families. Please write more. Off to read book 3.
August 14, 2019
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
THE RANCHER’S SECRET LOVE is the second story in The Montana McGregor Brothers series. While it could be read on its own, I believe that you’ll get a better overall feel for this series, and Luke and Mara’s romance, if you read THE RANCHER TAKES A FAMILY first. That’s completely my own opinion, both are excellent stories.
Luke has returned to the family ranch leaving behind his teaching position, a job that he loved and fought to get. Yet, with the recent deaths in the family, the ranch needing so much work, and his nephews and niece now the responsibility of their uncles – well, it was time to come home but he’s only committed himself to be there for one year. Unfortunately, the woman he saw himself marrying someday had very different ideas about ranch life and broke off their relationship.
Mara knows full well how life happens in a split second. One career-ending accident was enough to prove that to her. Now she’s settled down in the small ranching town of Grand, Montana with her dance studio and new plans for her life ahead of her. Romance has no part in that life. She’s been burned badly and has no intention of getting near that particular flame any time soon. But life has other plans for Mara and Luke, plans that include a happy ending after some very rough ground to be dealt with – together.
I enjoyed Mara and Luke’s romance very much. Life tosses curve balls at us all the time, it’s how we deal with those sudden changes that can end or begin a long relationship. They may have both been burned on romance, but that didn’t stop the sparks from flying between them. Luke and Mara are not going to have an easy romance, life happens, and watching how it all plays out is an emotional, at times tense experience. But so worth it.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
THE RANCHER’S SECRET LOVE is the second story in The Montana McGregor Brothers series. While it could be read on its own, I believe that you’ll get a better overall feel for this series, and Luke and Mara’s romance, if you read THE RANCHER TAKES A FAMILY first. That’s completely my own opinion, both are excellent stories.
Luke has returned to the family ranch leaving behind his teaching position, a job that he loved and fought to get. Yet, with the recent deaths in the family, the ranch needing so much work, and his nephews and niece now the responsibility of their uncles – well, it was time to come home but he’s only committed himself to be there for one year. Unfortunately, the woman he saw himself marrying someday had very different ideas about ranch life and broke off their relationship.
Mara knows full well how life happens in a split second. One career-ending accident was enough to prove that to her. Now she’s settled down in the small ranching town of Grand, Montana with her dance studio and new plans for her life ahead of her. Romance has no part in that life. She’s been burned badly and has no intention of getting near that particular flame any time soon. But life has other plans for Mara and Luke, plans that include a happy ending after some very rough ground to be dealt with – together.
I enjoyed Mara and Luke’s romance very much. Life tosses curve balls at us all the time, it’s how we deal with those sudden changes that can end or begin a long relationship. They may have both been burned on romance, but that didn’t stop the sparks from flying between them. Luke and Mara are not going to have an easy romance, life happens, and watching how it all plays out is an emotional, at times tense experience. But so worth it.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
July 14, 2020
Thoughts: I dont usually cry over romances, but this one had me in tears. It was really good, though I felt like the ending was rushed, sort of just tying up loose ends. The characters were great, especially Mara. Even the kids were good. And Diana was someone you wanted to hate, but really sort of felt sorry for. The plot was a bit different, I think, or maybe not. No, maybe Ms. Altenburg just used it well. Recommended
October 26, 2019
I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion
The Rancher's Secret Love by Paula Altenburg, book two in The Montana McGregor Brothers series. I loved the character development in this book and the family storyline. I look forward to reading more in series and see what the other books bring to us.
The Rancher's Secret Love by Paula Altenburg, book two in The Montana McGregor Brothers series. I loved the character development in this book and the family storyline. I look forward to reading more in series and see what the other books bring to us.
May 25, 2020
Story line is good. It just didn't need page after page of blow by blow description of their sexual encounters. Just a bit too much and distracting to the story line because it didn't seem to really fit.
July 12, 2020
FREE today (May 18, 2020) on Amazon.
May 21, 2019
The Rancher's Secret Love by Paula Altenburg is the second McGregor brother to find love in the mist of tragedy. This book could easily read as a stand-alone but I promise you that is you meet this family of brothers you will want to know all their stories.
I honestly thought when I began reading Luke, the middle brother’s story that it would be a fairly predictable story. It was not. It does start exactly at the same time Jake’s story did but the viewpoint and focus is on Luke. So just when I think I know what will happen it has a major turning point I did not see coming. It really kept me reading this well-developed story to see how this would all work out. I must say it does come to a satisfying conclusion even if it is one that is may run a bit smoother than real life might.
As for the characters, I love “Dr. Pretty” as Mara called Luke but I also love Mara too. These two both had seen dreams changed. Mara is also so compassionate concerning the family loss and the three brothers trying to do what was best for their sister’s children. They deserved to find their HEA. Recommend the series but especially The Rancher's Secret Love.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I honestly thought when I began reading Luke, the middle brother’s story that it would be a fairly predictable story. It was not. It does start exactly at the same time Jake’s story did but the viewpoint and focus is on Luke. So just when I think I know what will happen it has a major turning point I did not see coming. It really kept me reading this well-developed story to see how this would all work out. I must say it does come to a satisfying conclusion even if it is one that is may run a bit smoother than real life might.
As for the characters, I love “Dr. Pretty” as Mara called Luke but I also love Mara too. These two both had seen dreams changed. Mara is also so compassionate concerning the family loss and the three brothers trying to do what was best for their sister’s children. They deserved to find their HEA. Recommend the series but especially The Rancher's Secret Love.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 20, 2019
The first word that comes to mind when I think of this book is brilliant. I absolutely loved this book. I read the first book in this series and I loved it. I was really looking forward to the stories of the other two brothers. I thought that the next story would start off where the first one left off. I was so wrong about that. Paula Altenburg started this story in the exact same time frame the first one started but this one began with Luke's story not Jake's. Reading Luke's story and seeing the same events unfolding but from Luke's story was incredible. It was like going back in time and putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Luke and Mara's story was so romantic. The chemistry between them was hot. Seeing Luke with his niece and nephew's was so sweet and pulled at my heart strings. I honestly cannot wait for Zack's story and I am really hoping that Posey will be part of it. Although this book can be read as a stand alone I would suggest reading the first book first. That way you can get the full affect of how amazing the writing skills of this author are. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2019
This was a sweet , though, at times , heartbreaking story.
After the tragic death of their parents, sister and brother-in-law, three brothers find themselves caring for their baby niece and her two young brothers .
Luke McGregor is the intellectual and a university professor . He leaves it all to help with the children and in turn, the woman who was suppose to be at his side, leaves him and his town.
Mara Ramos is starting over in Grand, Montana after an injury that ended her dance career.
What started out as a casual date gets complicated. But when things seem to be settling , life throws them a curve ball.
Will they just have the memory of a fling, or will the future offer them their HEA?
A well written story that will entertain you with imperfect characters that make the story real.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley , the opinions expressed are solely my own.
After the tragic death of their parents, sister and brother-in-law, three brothers find themselves caring for their baby niece and her two young brothers .
Luke McGregor is the intellectual and a university professor . He leaves it all to help with the children and in turn, the woman who was suppose to be at his side, leaves him and his town.
Mara Ramos is starting over in Grand, Montana after an injury that ended her dance career.
What started out as a casual date gets complicated. But when things seem to be settling , life throws them a curve ball.
Will they just have the memory of a fling, or will the future offer them their HEA?
A well written story that will entertain you with imperfect characters that make the story real.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley , the opinions expressed are solely my own.
May 19, 2019
This book is about how the deaths of Luke’s Parent’s and Sister and Brothers-in-law changed his life. There was three children who needed Luke and his brothers. The right thing to do was move home and help out. The Professor was home to stay. He had broken up with his fiancée Denise, she wasn’t giving up her career and questioned his decisions.
He went to the grocery store looking for fennel and there was Mara!
Mara was new to Grand, she ran a dance studio. A skiing accident ended her career as a professional dancer. Recently burned by romance she wasn’t in the market for a new romance but it found her.
Her and Luke were meant to be together but could there religious survive Luke’s ex being pregnant with his baby?
He went to the grocery store looking for fennel and there was Mara!
Mara was new to Grand, she ran a dance studio. A skiing accident ended her career as a professional dancer. Recently burned by romance she wasn’t in the market for a new romance but it found her.
Her and Luke were meant to be together but could there religious survive Luke’s ex being pregnant with his baby?
September 12, 2019
Luke and Mara have both had life changing situations. Mara, a dancer, whose injury causes her to have to change tracks. This is compounded by her heart being broken by her former love - a famous pop star. Luke deciding to leave behind his college professorship to move home to share the responsibility with his brothers of the family ranch and their sister's children. His choice makes his former girlfriend give up on him.
How these two broken hearts get together, keep resisting each other and then are drawn into a relationship that is tested by another twist in the tale, makes a very good read. I liked both the characters and the choices they made.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.
How these two broken hearts get together, keep resisting each other and then are drawn into a relationship that is tested by another twist in the tale, makes a very good read. I liked both the characters and the choices they made.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 13, 2020
It was way too much circumstances and very little relationship
When you have characters with tragic backstories you can A)explore them in a realistic relationship way B)make the relationship the calm in the storm C)make like your characters are psychics and magically know deepest desires without being told. I prefer choice A. I got B. And Ms. Oldenburg went with the ever Hollywood popular C. Mara may end up being everything Luke needs and vice versa but they really have nothing in common. So, tragedy and misunderstanding could drive them apart instead of forging them together. We don't know because we simply don't know them. We only know what happened to them in a short period of time.
When you have characters with tragic backstories you can A)explore them in a realistic relationship way B)make the relationship the calm in the storm C)make like your characters are psychics and magically know deepest desires without being told. I prefer choice A. I got B. And Ms. Oldenburg went with the ever Hollywood popular C. Mara may end up being everything Luke needs and vice versa but they really have nothing in common. So, tragedy and misunderstanding could drive them apart instead of forging them together. We don't know because we simply don't know them. We only know what happened to them in a short period of time.
June 13, 2019
This is the second book in the MacGregor Brothers series. I think I would have liked to read the first book before this. The character building was pretty much done before. The story played out nicely. I don't think life works out that easily. My opinion is the book came together too easily. Boy and girl break up; boy meets other girl; first girl comes up pregnant; first girl gives baby to boy and second girl. There was no angst; everything was just too simplistic. Even though it was a HEA ending, I didn't feel there was enough meat in the story. This book was gifted to me by the publisher for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
The Rancher’s Secret Love
What a fantastic book! It started off with a bang and went up from there.
Three brothers end up raising their two nephews and one niece after the parents and grandparents die in a plane crash.The kids are about ten,five and almost two so thy really have their hands full not counting the work on the ranch as well. So with all that and more going on,they try to have romance once in awhile too,but it’s really hard to make all things work.But once the local dance teacher sets her heart on one of them,the fun and the frantic how to make it work,begins!
I thought it was really good and hope you too will want to read it.
What a fantastic book! It started off with a bang and went up from there.
Three brothers end up raising their two nephews and one niece after the parents and grandparents die in a plane crash.The kids are about ten,five and almost two so thy really have their hands full not counting the work on the ranch as well. So with all that and more going on,they try to have romance once in awhile too,but it’s really hard to make all things work.But once the local dance teacher sets her heart on one of them,the fun and the frantic how to make it work,begins!
I thought it was really good and hope you too will want to read it.
May 5, 2019
The Rancher's Secret Love is the second book in Paula Altenburg’s Montana McGregor Brothers series and tells a heart-breaking tale of loss, betrayal and rebuilding from the ruins of tragedy.
I thoroughly enjoyed Luke and Mara’s story, with all the angst, turmoil and everything in between that kept me glued to the pages. This is an entertaining story with good world building, interesting and realistic characters and an easy ebb and flow to the writing. I look forward to the next in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Luke and Mara’s story, with all the angst, turmoil and everything in between that kept me glued to the pages. This is an entertaining story with good world building, interesting and realistic characters and an easy ebb and flow to the writing. I look forward to the next in this series.
May 22, 2019
What a sweet emotionally inspiring story. Luke McGregor was back in Montana for his family when his brother Jake took custody of his sisters' children after the plane crash that took her, her husband and their parents. All the brothers were in this together. Luke didn't think that after his fiancee Denise bailed when he told her he wanted them to stay there a year to help, that he would meet someone. That, someone, was Mara Ramos a former dancer who settled in Grand after a career-ending accident.
The book is definitely a page-turner that through in some surprise as well.
The book is definitely a page-turner that through in some surprise as well.
June 3, 2019
Luke returns home to the family ranch to help his brothers raise their niece and nephews and save the struggling ranch. His longtime girlfriend wants nothing to do with it and dumps him. Mara runs the dance studio in town. Once a famous dancer now an injured dance instructor. They hit it off and become serious fairly quickly. They are talking about the future. Then his former girlfriend comes to town to announce that she is pregnant. What choice does Luke have? Family is everything. Great read!
June 1, 2020
Luke returns to the family ranch after his parents and his sister and her husband are killed in a accident. He and his two brothers are to take care of the ranch and more importantly his sisters three children. This is new territory for the three men and they are kind of lost. Luke’s fiancé walks out on him before the funeral telling him he has to come back to Seattle where he belongs. Luke says no and figures that’s it. When he meets Mara they figure sex would be fun, but neither counted on the feelings that hits them both.
April 6, 2023
Love this family!!
The McGregor brothers are now left with the responsibility of raising their niece and two nephews. Tragedy took the children's parents and grandparents and now, it's up to their uncles Jake, Luke, and Zach to take their parents places. Luke agreed to come back to the family ranch for a year to help Jake get the children settled. Unfortunately, his fiance didn't like this idea and walked on him. He told her if she left it was over. The good news is a month later he meets Mara. Instant connection. He just needs to convince her that they can be more.
The McGregor brothers are now left with the responsibility of raising their niece and two nephews. Tragedy took the children's parents and grandparents and now, it's up to their uncles Jake, Luke, and Zach to take their parents places. Luke agreed to come back to the family ranch for a year to help Jake get the children settled. Unfortunately, his fiance didn't like this idea and walked on him. He told her if she left it was over. The good news is a month later he meets Mara. Instant connection. He just needs to convince her that they can be more.
October 13, 2019
Unexpected
Luke and Maya both thought this was something casual, something to enjoy however long it lasted. From the first unexpectedly potent kiss, they both feared it wasn't going to be as casual as they thought. They both have baggage to work through. And then Luke's past throws an unexpected spanner in the works. This has been a n excellent series so far, with engaging characters and plots. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Luke and Maya both thought this was something casual, something to enjoy however long it lasted. From the first unexpectedly potent kiss, they both feared it wasn't going to be as casual as they thought. They both have baggage to work through. And then Luke's past throws an unexpected spanner in the works. This has been a n excellent series so far, with engaging characters and plots. I'm looking forward to the next one.
June 9, 2020
This was a great story. Three McGregor's of the family were left. Sister, Lillian, her husband, and mom and dad McGregor died in a airplane crash. Lillian had three children. The oldest brother was made guardian over the children. They had the McGregor ranch to run and care for the children. This story entails brothers making new relationships and putting the children first and the ranch. You will enjoy this story and how all of this works out.
July 6, 2022
This was a good book but, the way the author repeated events from the first book in the series was annoying. Basically, it was the same “storyline” but focused on a different brother. Then this book ended and brothers lives were a little different from book 2 ending. I liked the story but not the repeating thru 3 books. Makes me wonder if this is normal for this author in her other series.
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