Thursday, May 23, 2019

Homecoming for the Cowboy - Nicole Helm (Tule - Mar 2019)

Series: Bad Boys of Last Stand (Book 1)

Will he break a promise or break her heart?

Colt Vance owes everything he is to the Martin family, which is why he's stayed far, far away for years. But now that Fritz Martin has asked him a favor, he's back in Last Stand facing the one temptation he can't ever give into: his mentor's middle daughter.

Sadie Martin doesn't like Colt Vance, or so she's told herself for years. He's far too charming and has her father wrapped around his finger. But Sadie doesn't have a choice except to work with Colt to save her beloved goat farm.

Working together tests Colt's resolve when it comes to his attraction to Sadie, and Sadie comes to realize she doesn't just enjoy Colt's company, she craves it. But Colt can't break the promise he made to Fritz years ago. Can one tenacious farm girl convince this stubborn cowboy love is always the answer to any problem?

Good start to the new series. Colt is one of three boys with troubled childhoods that Fritz Martin and his wife Susannah took into their home and raised along with their three daughters. Colt was grateful for the opportunity and determined to prove his worth. He eventually left the farm and made a name and a fortune for himself in real estate. When Fritz asked Colt to come home and help save the farm, he did so, but with deep reservations. As a teen, Colt promised Fritz he would "stay away from his daughters." That promise became harder to keep, as Colt was drawn to Sadie until he left the farm to avoid the temptation. Now he's back and afraid that he won't be able to keep his long-ago promise.

Sadie is Fritz's middle daughter and the one most like him. She loves the farm and her goats and her father. She is the one that Fritz has depended on to "do the right thing," i.e. follow his lead and instructions. She knows the farm is in trouble, but she can't get a straight answer from her father, and her ideas to help are ignored. Fritz's antiquated ideas on the roles of women and men frustrate her to no end. When Colt suddenly returns to partner with Fritz, Sadie is furious. She and Colt have butted heads since they've known each other and she wants nothing to do with him.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Colt and Sadie. Colt has a head start because he already knows he has feelings for her. Sadie is disturbed by the feelings that Colt's return stirs up in her and initially increases her antagonism toward him. It doesn't take long for her to realize that she's going to have to adjust her attitude to have a successful work relationship with him. Once she lets go of the anger, she discovers that all those roiled up emotions were caused by her attraction to him. There are obstacles to overcome, mainly Colt's belief that he isn't worthy of her and his reluctance to break his promise. I loved Sadie's reaction to that promise and her determination to confront Fritz with their intentions. An unexpected complication arose and caused some more angst on Colt's part. I ached for Colt and his belief that he is at fault and loved Sadie's efforts to break through his walls. Though Fritz eventually sees the light, I'm not entirely convinced that he's changed. I liked the ending though it felt a little anti-climactic after all the problems that came before it.
 



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