Thank you in advance to the author, Cari Lynn Webb, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Here we are – back again in Eagle Springs for another month to check in on Denny’s branch of the Blackwell family.
This time it is the family’s favorite jailbird – Adele Blackwell Kane and Sheriff Grady McMillan’s story.
Like the previous three books, this book, and series is connected to the RETURN OF THE BLACKWELL BROTHERS and the THE BLACKWELL SISTERS, and is written the same way – with four other authors – Amy Vastine, Anna J. Steward, Melinda Curtis, and Cari Lynn Webb. Though, in this installment, the only main returning character from the two previous series is Big E – Elias Blackwell. Though, towards the end, the family is mentioned.
Ross’ Montana Match (The Blackwell Sisters #4) was my first introduction to the family, and this definitely holds up the same as that one in terms of continuity and flow.
Unlike some series books that are standalones, the fourth book of this series is better enjoyed after reading the first three – Wyoming Promise (book #1), A Wyoming Secret Proposal (book #2), and Wyoming Rodeo Rescue (book #3) since the MAIN story – saving the ranch and town, begins with with book #1.
While the main romance of each book is mostly concluded at the end of the respective books, the main story continues with small cliffhangers that are carried over into the next book.
Readers will soon find out how deep this grudge runs, and surprise – he is related to the family.
Most of the major characters from the first four books return, even if briefly (or are mentioned):
👒 Corliss – one of the five Blackwell siblings living on and working The Flying Spur
🥘 Mason – Corliss’ 13/14-yar old son (rarely seen, but mentioned)
🚒 Ryder – Eagle Springs’ new fire chief
🐎 Olivia – Ryder’s 8-year-old daughter (not seen as much)
🤠 Wyatt – youngest Blackwell sibling
🤠 Levi – Blackwell sibling, former rodeo star, injured
👒 Adele – widowed, mother of twin girls, Blackwell sibling; tends to get arrested on a regular basis
🚓 Sheriff Grady McMillan – usually arresting Adele on a regular basis
🤠 Nash – Blackwell sibling, divorced, has a son
🤠 Big E (Elias) – Denny’s older brother; lives in Montana
📱 Harper Hayes – social media influencer, accidentally married Wyatt
👒 Gran (Denny) – Matriarch of the Eagle Springs Blackwell family, owner of The Flying Spur Ranch
🐎 Isla Blackwell – Levi’s 10-year-old daughter, a bit obsessed with Summer; part of a riding club
🐎 Summer Davies – professional equestrian
Those connected with Summer in book #3 do not return, nor are they mentioned.
Readers also meet Grady’s father, Joe, who sits on the council and his “bidding” is swayed by his son’s decisions to stay or leave. And, they meet Adele’s mother-in-law, Theresa. Theresa is a doll.
Like book #3, this one begins differently from the first two as there is NO DATE listed, but it takes place October to Thanksgiving, which is right after book #3. There is a SLIGHT typo, Denny is referred to being in the hospital in September, that was actually in Wyoming Promise (Stewart), which was over the fourth of July weekend.
Moving on …
The cover is just TOO adorable with Grady and the twins. There is something about twins that is adorable!
The Green Twins (Edmond and Eleanor) clearly have it in for Adele. And, this begins with her being arrested for failure to appear on a court summons. Due to the judge’s cataract surgery, the date gets moved up. Of course, to avoid debt collectors, Adele didn’t take calls – and the court one got caught in the middle.
Of course, I was wondering why no one mailed a notice. That should say everything about the “plot” against Denny and her family right there.
What’s worse is the Green twins want poor Adele handcuffed, in front of her kids. Seriously? Someone should’ve told them that is dependent upon the sheriff’s procedures. So, y’all know right away this is personal.
Adele happens to be Grady’s favorite felon, but he isn’t planning on sticking around Eagle Springs after his term is up. Still, he does look out for the family and has an issue with what is going on. Of course, readers by now should know that Adele and Grady seem to have something going on, but both are hung up on their past. Still, Grady wonders what it would be like to be taken care of by Adele. And, she makes him consider his plans.
The judge doesn’t take Adele’s violations too seriously and lets her go with pies and fines.
That gives Big E and Denny an idea – get Adele to “woo” Grady. Their thinking? He can’t arrest his own girlfriend. They also know something is up with Grady’s father, Joe.
They also want to convince him to vote against the sale of the fairgrounds, and it is apparent Joe is into something with Xavier Howard and Frank Wesson (Cal’s brother and Denny’s former “intended”).
Adele plans to re-open the auction house to come up with her share of the loan money. This idea does become problematic when Grady is called out to arrest her for looking at some “stock”.
Most everyone is trying to convince him to stay and calls Adele a gem. And, he ends up coming to her rescue on many occasions, one is when she finds herself driving in a snowstorm – the same type that her husband died in.
Despite the two hiccups, Adele is well on her way to making the auction work. And, she’s also well on her way to seeing past the loss of Brent when Grady is around. She finally confesses to Brady that the marriage wasn’t doing well at the time of Brent’s accident. Grady confesses that while he and his ex-wife met at the right time, they married for the wrong reasons.
Though, the mastermind behind the Blackwells isn’t done, and Adele ends up facing serious charges. Though, this time it seems it could put a HUGE wedge between Adele and Grady. Or does it?
As usual, the ends on a cliffhanger as there is no conclusion to who seems to have it in for Adele. And, the readers also see Frank’s next move.
Other than the issue with the timing of Denny’s hospitalization, Webb writes in unison with the other three authors and continues the story without much deviation. Like the other books in the series, it is difficult to tell who is writing what. Webb does tend to use short chapters which keeps the story moving and doesn’t linger. The continuity is effortless on Webb’s part and she captures the characters as they were originally written.
This tends to focus more on Adele’s efforts with the auction and her relationship with Grady than the main problem of Xavier Howard.
I truly adored Adele who sounds like someone I’d want as a friend. She truly is a sweet person, but also real in that she sees what being nice has done. Though her “change” doesn’t last too long.
Those who’ve already read the first two series will probably want to check this series out. Those who have read the first three books, I suggest grabbing this one for the “bigger” story as well.
I currently have an early copy of the fifth and final book of this series – Melinda Curtis’ Wyoming Christmas Reunion, which is Nash and Helen’s reunion story. And, it is the conclusion of the main story as well. Readers should mark that as “pre-order” to see the series through, which I hope will answer some questions. That book releases in November.
I also have the complete Return of the Blackwell Brothers series to read … someday, and I also have books #1-#3 in the second series, The Blackwell Sisters. None of the characters from the first two series appear in this one except Big E.
Fans of the author are sure to enjoy this book. In addition to the Blackwell books (this one and Montana Wedding), I’ve read the last three books of her City by the Bay series in addition to three of her Three Springs, Texas series. This fits right with her books, and I’ll definitely be reading other books of hers in the future.
And, if there are more Blackwell stories … heads up … they’re on the TBR stack already! (Y’all count me in as a reader).