A wounded soldier. A woman with a secret. One sizzling summer that will change them both forever…
Mason Callahan’s plans didn’t include an IED or a permanent limp. He got both—along with a medical discharge from the Army. Now he’s back at the family ranch and nothing’s the same. For starters, there’s new hire, Grace. She’s cautious, quiet and when startled in the kitchen, wields a knife like she’s willing to use it. Figuring out what she’s hiding is essential to keeping his family safe—and has nothing to do with his attraction to her. And maybe if he tells himself enough, he’ll eventually believe it.
Grace’s new job at the Triple C Ranch is the perfect opportunity to plan her next move and make some much-needed cash. At least until the far-too-attractive Mason arrives home. He’s broody, intriguing, and a distraction she can’t afford. The smart thing would be to cut and run, but the ranch is the first place she’s felt safe in forever. She just needs to ignore the way her pulse pounds—and her panties melt—when Mason’s around, and everything’ll be fine.
***This book touches on issues and themes that may be difficult for some readers. Please see the Content page on my website for more details.
I can’t say I loved the book and I can’t say I disliked it. The premise of the story was good, the two main characters were … sweet, nice - I didn’t really connect with them though. My gripe was the length of the book mainly because around 80% (if not more) was internal dialogue, not an awful lot of conversation. For instance, a question would be asked or a statement made and only three, four, five pages later (after a lot of internal thought process) would there be a response, and very often the conversations were one-liners. The book could have been at least half the length had there not been constant repetitions.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was a mixed-bag for me. I really wanted to like it as I have such respect for returned servicemen and servicewomen and appreciate any literature that highlights the challenges they face.
From the beginning of this book we know that Grace, the Main FC, has secrets. She's nervous around strangers and looking over her shoulder all the time. She's got a predilection for healing the injured and is drawn to Mason immediately. Mason is kind of grumpy but he can be forgiven his surly behaviour - he's an injured hero after all! And he has lovely dog called Tank (insert heart eyes here).
The attraction between these two, given their individual issues, seems a little too instant. The story, by comparison, moves a little slowly. the relationship takes a bit of a back seat while Mason deals with the challenges of integrating back into his family lives after being away for so long.
Once Grace's past starts to reveal itself, things pick up and then everything wraps up pretty quickly in the end.
While I was interested in what happened in the story-line, I found the romance lacking in chemistry and the characters, especially Grace, didn't draw me in as much as I wanted to be.
That being said, the story was fairly realistic and the premise was sound. The writing is good and mostly flows well.
I was enjoying it but there is a scene in the middle that just threw me out of the story. He’s driving and they are making out to the point of orgasms while he is doing so! It’s a complete accident waiting to happen. I was so mad that they didn’t pull over and stop the truck first, that afterwards I just hated them both for the reckless endangerment. Too stupid to live, seriously!!! I had to bail at 51% read.
After being away from home for many years, Mason decides to come home and learns that a young woman named Grace has been staying with his family. Mason is struggling with PTSD and long-term injuries from war. Grace is fighting her own internal battles and a relationship unfolds between them. What kept this from being a 5-star read from me is that I felt there were some aspects of the book that could have benefited from further explanation, such as Grace's past (other than what is revealed towards the end of the book) and why Mason's relationship with his brother and his father was so significantly impacted for many years. There is a reason provided but perhaps could have been expanded on more to support the significant breakdown in the relationship. Lastly, I felt like the author was trying to develop a lot of secondary characters (siblings to the main character) but the establishment of these characters was not strong enough in my view and I felt confused as to who was who. Overall, I enjoyed this read and would read subsequent books by this author! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A brand new author for my read, Erin Parisien, (courtesy Book Sirens) has been a reasonably author to read, “His Saving Grace”.
Medically discharged, cowboy Mason Callahan returns to his home, Triple C Ranch, to figure out his future and as well as reconnect with his family. And unearth the new secrets of the new hire Grace, his mother’s assistant.
Grace is flying under the radar, biding her time to make sure that she can build as many walls as possible to keep the dangers of her past getting to her. Working at Triple C Ranch gives her some security and time to plan her next move, but that plan never included the return of the prodigal Callahan son.
Erin Parisien, writes a good plot and narrates a reasonable story line and “His Saving Grace” is a decent read. But her characters do need more development or I should say a chemistry that would bleed out of her writing. They do lack that aura of intensity between them that would have made this book memorable.
Received an ARC from Book Sirens for an honest review.
3.5 I like Mason and Grace. They are each strong and yet wounded characters. Their stories are interesting ones and affect their behaviour. The secondary characters, Jake in particular added spice to the story. I very much enjoyed the family interactions – especially between the brothers. I wanted more of it. The premise is really good.
I wanted more – of the dog, of the matriarch of their backgrounds. Their histories are such important parts of who these characters are and their romance that I would have liked more than what we were given. The ending felt off to me, a little rushed, given how much of the story was spent on the build up of their romance and not a lot on the issues each had to deal with in order to get their HEA.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5/5 This book is like a typical protector romance i would read, although I feel like it had potential for more information within it.
Grace is fleeing a past she wishes to ignore while Mason is struggling to cope with life after a traumatic injury puts him on discharge from the military. With nowhere that calls home he finds himself back on the family ranch where he hopes to rekindle his family connections.. and maybe another new one while he’s at it.
Together can they help each other cope through their struggles ? Or will their pasts be enough to rip them apart.
This book kept me up at night turning pages and that's always worth 4 star for me!
His Saving Grace is book 1 in the Northern California Cowboys series: 5 brothers, one mother, a ranch. Get me the popcorn!
Mason Callahan is back from military service with a medical discharge: he has no clue what he will do next and goes back home to give himself sometime to figure it all out. Grace is astray: Mason's mum offered her a job in the ranch, no questions asked and guest house offered. Finally something nice and safe to pick up her pieces, before moving on to rebuild her life elsewhere.
Mason is suspicious, but learns to appreciate Grace's vigilant quietness: there is definitely a secret there, he just needs to give her time and build her trust, until she will eventually tell him her story. And in the process, they get unseparably closer, of course.
I really enjoyed the chemistry and how events unfolded: it was the perfect balance between a lot going on without becoming too messy. Grace's hints of her past hooked me, wanting to put together the pieces of the puzzle. It was nothing too unpredictable after all, but it built up nicely, without crazy plot twists just for the sake of surprising the reader.
I hated Mason's "I'm sorry", just as much as I loved his "please": I will call it even, though couldn't Mason work on his attitude a bit quicker to spare us some of the apologies? He was annoying at times, though definitely fitting the character.
I loved the brothers and grown intrigued by their backstories: the next books in the series might be just as appealing as His Saving Grace. I liked the mother, I wished I had read more of her: 5 boys under one roof, I would have loved to see her in action more often!
I was a bit disappointed in the ending: I thought it wrapped up too quickly given the build up of the mystery and Mason irritated me again. Really? Is that a normal reaction in that situation? And I was puzzled by Grace's job: it has been nice of Mason's mum to offer her one, but I would have liked to know more about the two of them and what she was actually doing. The ranch angle felt more like a scenery than an exhausting farming endeavour. Maybe we will find out more in the next books.
All in all, I am really happy about the feeling of longing: you know when you cannot put down the book and, when you do, you wish it could be now the next time you will be able to pick it up again? I love to be carried away.
Brava Erin Parisien. Thank you.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from BookSirens for free, in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Erin Parisien but after how much I loved it, I’ll make sure it isn’t the last one. I loved both of these characters and their development and the storyline kept me pulled in from start to finish. I absolutely loved how determined Mason was. Not only to find out what Grace’s story was but to protect her as well. Along with his determination to pull through all of the things he experienced in the military. It clearly weighs heavily on him and my heart went out to him so many times. Grace has been through her own battles, though they are very different from Mason’s and I could just feel her desperation to just want to be somewhere truly safe. It was heartbreaking. And yet, the way she feels finally safe with Mason is absolutely beautiful.
Besides the incredible romance and the absolutely smoking chemistry between Mason and Grace, there is enough action, drama, and intrigue in this novel to have you wanting to read faster just to see what happens next. It felt like there was so much going on and yet it didn’t read in a chaotic manner. Everything flowed perfectly and the book gripped me from the beginning and kept me there until the very last page. It has me more than a little interested in what Erin’s next book is going to look like because this is one that I consider to be top notch and I strongly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mason and Grace pussyfooted around for most of the story. It started out pretty well, although it took a while for the suspense to happen. And that was frustrating. Okay, hIs PTSD is pretty recent and she has a mysterious secret so I gave them some leeway.
But then Mason reverted to a teenage imbecile!!! Grace is shot during a storm, and the road is washed out, and there's no phone service - and what does he do? He leaves her with his veterinarian brother Simon, saying, "Don't let her die." WHAT??? And goes to chase down the bad guy in the storm, almost getting killed himself!!! WHAT??? What true alpha does that? None.
And it doesn't end there, oh no. Then he leaves her alone at the hospital after confessing their love for each other, and they know she's going to recover. Can anyone say immature coward? It was all about what he was feeling and to hell with anyone else!
Like I said in Book 1's review, I feel like I'm reading one of my old Harlequins with all the stupid tropes that I hate. Grace was the one in trouble, and she and his family just kept letting him get away with his awful nasty behavior. I'm done with this series and author! Too bad because the premise for the next one sounded interesting. But, nope. Bye!
PS- Oh, and there's mention of the male lead from the first book, and how he's part Native American, and then we never see him again! Like the author just forgot to put it in the first book? Weird.
Received as an ARC and leaving my honest review. Oh this book pulled me in from the beginning and had my heart pounding, both for the sizzling chemistry and steam between Mason and Grace, as well as the intrigue and suspense surrounding Grace. That had me guessing a bit so kept me on the edge wanting to know what's going to happen. This is not a fluff romance and reading about what Mason went through in Afghanistan and the guilt and regret he feels because of choices he made in his past, was heartbreaking. Similarly with what Grace has gone through was no walk in the park too and I could feel her fear and pain. With all that they had gone through and overcome, you can't help but root for their HEA.
The plot and the reveal of things was well paced and the characters both the main leads and the other Callahan brothers were well developed and likeabke, and you could feel the bond and love they have for each other, despite what had happened in the past. This is the first book I've read from the author but it definitely won't be my last. I'm intrigued to find out about Jake's predicament!
Major Mason Callahan was returning home, but not the way he planned. His father is gone and he nearly died on his last mission, leaving him with permanent injuries and nightmares. He arrived to find Grace Smith working for his mother, but who is she? The more he doesn’t learn about her, the stronger his concern. That doesn’t keep him from feeling and wanting things from her that he shouldn’t; but why her? Grace has fallen in love with the Callahan family, mother Eloise and her sons Owen, Declan, Simon and Jake. Eloise saved her life when she gave her this job, but she reminds herself daily that they are not her family…don’t get too close. That doesn’t seem to stop the feelings that she has for Mason who makes her want to get very close, but what will happen when she gets too close? When her past catches up with her she must leave, but this time it might be too late. I really look forward to the next book in this series. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
After fifteen years in the military, Mason returns home a broken man. In addition to the emotional and physical healing ahead of him, he also has to contend with the enigmatic young woman his mother has hired as her assistant. Grace is hiding from a dangerous past, but she can't hide her attraction to her boss's eldest son.
I loved the characters in this story, especially the depiction of the five brothers. There's an underlying honesty and authenticity in this family's interactions, especially when confronting each other over the difficult subjects. I was drawn to this new author by the very familiar location (Shasta County, California) and I was impressed with how well it was written.
There's a wonderfully climactic action sequence that is followed up by both a very sweet HEA and an introduction to the premise of the next book, focusing on one of Mason's brothers. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Mason is broody and intriguing, and has recently been medically discharged from the army, and has returned home to his family’s ranch. Grace is quiet and a new hire at the ranch, and she is continually looking over her shoulder, which intrigues Mason, and he is determined to delve into h=getting to know her. There is an instant attraction between these two, but will Grace reveal her hidden secrets before her past comes back to haunt her? This is a good story which has realistic characters, and is filled with secrets, family, and love. The only downside in my opinion only, is that I struggled to connect with the characters. Be aware there may be trigger for some readers due to the sensitive content! I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
TW: PTSD, abuse.
Would've read this book in one sitting if work hadn't gotten in the way! While I enjoyed Grace as a character, I loved Mason even more. Wounded soldier come home, stubborn and full of pride but mature enough to feel and own up to his mistakes. Grace is kind and strong and although she has moments where she can frustrate the reader, she grows throughout the book and learns to hold her own. The steam was just the right amount. The plot line was intriguing and it trickled out enough that I'm looking forward to reading the other Callahan stories when available.
At the start Grace was in the right place to initiate the healing process in Mason, but at the end I think he was the one to begin the saving of Grace. The Callahan clan were there, despite their own inner conflict, to read situations and jump in to help and support each other. No matter how many times I was forced to stop and continue with life, I was like an eager child to unwrap the next scene. This author had me spellbound from page one to know what came next, what was the secret, were my suspicions correct, would they be safe? So many questions that only the next page, or perhaps the next could give a hint. Although I bought this book, I was drawn to it through BookSirens and as soon as I finished reading, I immediately joined the author's newsletter and investigated more books from her.
This is the first book by this author that I have read. The book focuses on the romance between Mason and Grace. Mason has recently been discharged from the Army and returns to his family ranch home to find that his mother has hired Grace to be her assistant. Both Mason and Grace have complicated backgrounds, but both struggle with how to communicate details of their past to one another. Much of the book relates to their romance, the rest of the plot doesn't happen until the latter chapters of the book. If considering this book the reader should be made aware of triggers involving abusive relationships, military combat situations, and PTSD. I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grace - hired by the matriarch of the Callahan family, at a time when she needs a friend who doesn't ask many questions. Mason - home to the family ranch after a medical discharge from the military, he's going to get to the bottom of Grace's secret. They're not falling in love. Until they do. Their story grabbed me from the very beginning, with the characters seeming real and relatable. Eloise Callahan is a force unto herself - amazing, strong, compassionate, and she doesn't take any crap from her sons. I'm a recent convert to this author, having read four of her books within the past month. I received an advance copy of the book, and this is my honest review.
This is my first book by this author and definitely won’t be my last. Mason has returned home after being medically discharged from the army. Grace is working at his family home and is hiding a secret. The attraction between them is instant, they try to fight it because both think they aren’t good for the other. It was lovely to read their journey and I didn’t want to put the book down. It’s a good mixture of sweetness and heat. I received a copy from Booksirens and leave my review voluntarily.
This was my first time reading a book from this author. I really liked it and will be looking for more from her. I was drawn in and needed to know what was going to happen next with Mason, Grace and the whole Callahan family.
There were some minor grammar issues and a couple missing words that did distract me from an otherwise really good book.
Great start to a new series. Can't wait for Book 2!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grace met Eloise at the diner, and she offered her a job as her assistant at their ranch. Mason left when he was young to join the forces, fifteen years later he's back with a limp and a chip on his shoulder! He knows Grace is hiding something, she jumps at loud noises, or if surprised. He's determined to find out what it is. Meanwhile he's attracted to her as she is to him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Loved this story! Mason is my favorite type of H in a story. Strong, tortured but sweet at the heart of it all. Of course it doesn't hurt that he is hot as heck and full of passion!
I enjoyed that there was a bit of intrigue and mystery surrounding Grace but it didn't take away from the Small town Cowboy feel of the story.
I'm looking forward to meeting more characters in the town and getting to know the family more.
His Saving Grace is a stunning, twisted, beautiful love story with complex main characters and interesting supporting characters, Mason and Grace each are working through their own traumas, and the chemistry between the two of them is off the charts. As they navigate their journey, they show sides of themselves to us and each other that are both heartbreaking and endearing. This is a sweet romance with some great action and quite a few laughs as well.
I liked the main characters in this book. I also like that the author is introducing the other characters in the series and the family history and differences of the brothers makes me interested in reading the series.
The story was a bit slow with lots of hints about the characters histories. I think it was a good take on PTSD among other topics.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book is a good and enjoyable western romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story does have some triggers that you should be aware of that involve military combat situations abusive relationship, and PTSD. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my very first read from this author. I really enjoyed the character development and the time spent telling their story. The storytelling is a nice mix of sweet and heat- I highly recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens , and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Mason returns home after being injured by an IED he meets his mothers new assistant Grace. But the more he gets to know her the more he is sure she is hiding something. This is a really great story that I enjoyed greatly. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting read that kept me wondering about Grace’s past up until close to the end. I would have appreciated even more details about her past since it seemed to skim over it pretty quickly but overall it was a good book. I look forward to the next in the series.
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
A well written plot line and the characters were intresting to read. The story line was refreshing and there no dragging of the plot.The romance, struggle drama shown by the characters connected with me.
It's a standalone read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Romance, suspense, super alpha hero and smart and beautiful heroine! What's not to love? Erin knocks it out of the Park with this one! What a ride! Get comfy, grab a drink and some snacks cause once you start reading this you're not going anywhere until you turn the last page!