Blog Tour Review: The Lost and Found Girl by Maisey Yates

 

The Lost and Found Girl by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: July 26th 2022 by HQN Books

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Books-A-Million | Powell's | Harlequin

Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The McKee sisters are marked by finding baby Ruby on the bridge twenty-two years ago. Now in the present all four McKee women face challenges and a secret that needs to come out. This is part women’s fiction, part mystery and part romance, and wow! Didn’t see that twist coming at all!

Ruby McKee is the “miracle” baby of Pear Blossom, Oregon. A baby found bundled up on a cold December evening twenty-two years ago, a year after another girl went missing, casting a shadow on the idyllic town. Her rescue brought light and hope back to their little town and made her their symbol for all that’s good.

Ruby’s back home after going to school abroad taking a dream job as an archivist. Ready to do something good for the town. Because it was a miracle she was found that night and so she must be destined to have survived for something great, right? Those are some big shoes to fill, and finally Ruby is coming to the realization it’s not fair to put that on her.

Then there’s:

Marianne: The oldest McKee sister, with a seemingly perfect family, home, and business, and yet has visions of it all crashing down. She’s at odds with her fifteen-year-old daughter, and the perfect marriage she thought she had may not be so perfect.

Lydia: The second to the oldest, who just lost her husband, and is dealing with his best friend, Chase insisting to help on the farm. She’s grieving, but not in the way most assume.

Dahlia: The closest in age to Ruby, just four when they found her. Dahlia was the baby of the family until Ruby. She’s always been a bit of an outsider, the edgy girl dressed in black, always speaking her mind. She’s now writing on the town paper and discovering old secrets that may throw a wrench into what everyone thought was truth.

                                  

The Lost and Found Girl focused on all four women. Their loves, losses, and troubles, and it all felt real-to-life and relatable.  Then there’s mystery of the missing girl, Caitlin and of Ruby’s abandonment. The story was so good, and riveting and oh my, that ending! I didn’t see it coming! Such a great twist and I love how everything came together!

 4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The small Oregon town of Pear Blossom welcomes the return of its prodigal daughter Ruby McKee. Found abandoned as a baby by the McKee family, Ruby is the unofficial town mascot, but when she and her adoptive sisters start investigating the true circumstances around her discovery, it soon becomes clear that this small town is hiding the biggest, and darkest, of secrets. A raw, powerful exploration of the lengths people go to protect their loved ones, for fans of Lori Wilde and Carolyn Brown.

Ruby McKee is a miracle.

It’s a miracle she survived, abandoned as a newborn baby. A miracle that she was found by the McKee sisters. Her discovery allowed the community of Pear Blossom, Oregon, broken by a devastating crime, to heal. Since then, Ruby has lived a charmed life. But she can’t let go of the need to know why she was abandoned, and she’s tired of not having answers.

Dahlia McKee knows it’s not right to resent Ruby for being special. But uncovering the truth about sister Ruby’s origins could allow Dahlia to carve her own place in Pear Blossom history… if she’s brave enough to follow her heart.

Widowed sister Lydia McKee doesn’t have time for Ruby’s what if’s – when Lydia’s right now is so, so hard. Her husband’s best friend Chase might be offering to share some of the load, but can Lydia ever trust her instincts around him?

Marianne Martin is glad that her youngest sister is back in town, but balancing Ruby’s crusade with the way her own life is imploding is turning into a bigger chore than she imagined. Especially when Ruby starts overturning secrets about the past that Marianne has spent a lifetime trying to pretend don’t exist.

And when the truth about Ruby’s miraculous origins, and the crime from long ago, turn out to be connected in ways no one could have expected, will the McKee sisters band together, or fall apart?

About the author:

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.

Connect with Maisey Yates:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Harlequin Glamorous Tour Review & Excerpt: Rancher's Forgotten Rival by Maisey Yates

 

Rancher's Forgotten Rival by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: January 25th 2022 by Harlequin Desire

Pages: 224

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Chance Carson and Juniper Sohappy are born enemies due to a longtime land dispute between their families. The Carson’s are what the Sohappy’s feel are entitled, so-called cowboy royalty, partly because they won Sohappy land in an infamous bet between their grandfathers. The Sohappy’s are still sore about the deal and this animosity spilled over into Chance and Juniper’s relationship.

When Juniper stumbles upon Chance unconscious and injured on her land she immediately goes to his aid, but when Chance wakes up with amnesia Juniper takes the opportunity get him back a bit by telling him he’s her ranch hand.

This setup wouldn’t have worked for me had the deception gone on for a while, but it was short-lived. Also, it gave Chance and Juniper a chance to spend time together not as lifelong enemies, but just as man and woman, getting to know each other without the past spoiling things. Juniper soon realizes that Chance isn’t the entitled, arrogant man she’s thought him to be, and Chance admires Juniper as the strong, passionate woman she is. They’re able to acknowledge the long-time simmering attraction that had been brewing for years. The spark was finally allowed to ignite and flame, and it was hot!

In the aftermath, Chance and Juniper really examine the grudge between their families and realize they don’t have to continue it. They could change and do better. I loved that with a different mindset and determination to mend fences these families could bury a decades long feud and get along.

The gorgeous Oregon countryside is brought to life in vivid detail, and I could totally understand how both Juniper and Chance had such a passion for their land. Oregon is such a beautiful State!

At 224 pages, Rancher’s Forgotten Rival was a fast, fun, sizzling romance, one I breezed through in one day!

 Excerpt:

Book Description:

Will amnesia turn these enemies into lovers? It's a hero in distress, with a more than capable damsel on hand to save to him. Find out more about the book in this book #1 miniseries, Carsons of Lone Rock, by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates. Welcome to Lone Rock, Oregon’s Wild West. Chance Carson is the one man in Lone Rock who gets Juniper all riled up. His family is ranching royalty. He’s arrogant, insufferable and obnoxiously charming—she’ll keep her distance, thanks. But when Juniper finds Chance Carson on her property, injured and without his memory, she saves his life…and sort of lets him believe he’s her ranch hand. Making the entitled rancher work a little is one thing…but actually liking the man is another. Falling for him? No way. And yet the passion between them is as undeniable as it is unexpected. Will it survive the truth?

About the author:

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.

Connect with Maisey Yates:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Holly Jolly Holiday Tour & Spotlight: Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch by Maisey Yates

I love Maisey Yates' romances so I'm excited to share details Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch!

 

Rodeo Christmas at Evergreen Ranch (Gold Valley #13) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: October 26th 2021 by HQN Books

Pages: 394

Links: BookShoporg |Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | Books-A-Million | Powell's

Book Summary:

Gold Valley’s rodeo champion is facing the toughest challenge of his life – a Christmas wedding!

Legendary bull-rider Jake Daniels has only one plan this holiday season – to ignore the pain it always brings. Until his best friend Callie Carson shows up on his ranch with a marriage proposal! Jake has lived so close to the edge it’s a miracle he’s still alive – he knows all about risk. But marrying the woman he craves more than anything feels like the biggest risk of all.

Callie Carson might be rodeo royalty, but to fulfil her dreams of riding saddle bronc, she needs her inheritance. And to access that, she needs a husband. But Jake the husband is deliciously different from Jake the friend, especially after the wild heat of their wedding night! He was only supposed to be her cowboy for Christmas, but Jake’s every heart-stopping touch has Callie questioning how she’ll ever be able to walk away…

Excerpt:

About the author:

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon.

Connect with Maisey Yates:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Review: Rancher's Christmas Storm by Maisey Yates

 

Rancher's Christmas Storm by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: September 28th 2021 by Harlequin Desire

Pages: 224

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

Honey Cooper has had a crush on Jericho forever, but he’s never treated her like anything but a bratty younger sister. He’s frustrating and arrogant and they do nothing but lock horns. Now Jericho’s gone and bought the family winery out from her.  Honey’s angry and hurt with both her father and Jericho. Her father didn’t even consult her and that smarts, so she’s moving on with a new job and in her personal life. She’s packed and ready to go, but a snowstorm throws a wrench into her plans, stranding her with Jericho in an off-the-grid cabin. Let the fun begin!

Jericho has always noticed Honey, but she’s off limits being the little sister of his best friends and her father, a man who’s treated him like a son. They took him in as family when his mother died. Although, he’s never had brotherly feelings for Honey. It’s a shock that she’s leaving and has plans to carry on with another man. It brings out a strong jealous, possessive streak and the sparks fly!

I just love a forced proximity situation! Being snowed in a winter wonderland sounded dreamy to me. It’s especially useful when a character is being pig-headed and won’t acknowledge what’s right in front of him. Thankfully, Jericho’s stupidity didn’t last for long. Being stuck with Honey brought all his feelings for her to the surface, impossible to ignore. Rancher’s Christmas Storm was a fun combination of unrequited love, enemies-to-lovers, nudged along by a stuck-together-snowed-in situation, and I enjoyed every minute!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Trapped together by a holiday blizzard, a rancher and his rival give in to the heat…in this Gold Valley Vineyards novel by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.

All he wants for Christmas is the one woman he can’t touch…

Rancher Jericho Smith has known Honey Cooper since they were kids—and she’s always been under his skin in ways he doesn’t want to acknowledge. She’s his best friends’ sister…and there’s the not-so-small matter of the inheritance he bought out from under her. Keeping his hands to himself is the smart thing to do.

But then a snowstorm traps them in a rustic mountain retreat with nothing but a fire and each other to keep warm. Now the storm inside has only just begun!

Review: The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass by Maisey Yates

 

The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass (Gold Valley #12) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: June 29th 2021 by HQN

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Iris Daniels has long felt like she was second best. Not as vibrant as her sisters and mostly valued because of her usefulness to the family. Iris was the oldest sister when they lost their parents, and at fourteen she stepped in as sort of the mother while her older brother, Ryder assumed the role of guardian at the young age of eighteen. But who was there to comfort and mother Iris? Seeing all her siblings find love and happiness Iris is determined to take her life out of pause and do something just for herself. She knows she’s good at cooking and baking and has the perfect place in town to set up shop. Trouble is the rent the new owner is charging is prohibitive.

Iris finds out that the new owner is a hermit living up at a remote mountain cabin and decides to strike up a deal with him. She figures this guy is an old curmudgeon, but is shocked to find a much younger, grumpy man. His big, burly, bearded, but underneath that gruff appearance he’s the most handsome man she’s laid eyes on, and she wants!

Griffin bought his mountain property to get away from all the prying and pity and to wallow in his grief. Iris throws a wrench in works when she shows up with her cookies and determination. Theirs was a passionate romance, electricity sparking between them from that very first meeting!

I’ve long been a fan of Maisey Yates’ romances. The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass was heartfelt and emotional. Iris understands grief and so recognizes it clearly in Griffin, and my heart broke for everything they had endured.  They shared a bond and struck up a friendship even though he’s pretty grumpy at first. Hard not soften up when being plied with delicious food and treats!  I was hungry just reading!

I fell hard for Griffin, because once Iris showed up it was like he woke up from the five years he’d just been existing, and he was all in.  I could tell Iris was going to give some trouble, but luckily, she had a lot of good advice from her close-knit, loving family.

The Heartbreaker of Echo Pass is the twelfth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone in a pinch. However, you’ll miss some of Iris’ history and the sibling’s romances.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Can Gold Valley’s wallflower heal a damaged cowboy’s broken heart? Find out in this enthralling romance by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.

Shy Iris Daniels is on a mission to shake up her life. She’s sick of being underestimated, and she’s got a new business plan to prove it. The one thing she didn’t factor in is her new landlord, Griffin Chance. The gruff mountain man isn’t what she expected, but Iris recognizes the pain in his eyes. Yet the attraction he ignites is much more unfamiliar…and might be the perfect chance for Iris to embrace the adventure she yearns for.

Griffin Chance knows firsthand how senseless the cards dealt in life can be. He wouldn’t have isolated himself on a remote mountain ridge if he didn’t. Innocent Iris craves excitement, and he’s a man who thought he’d forgotten how to feel. But when their connection grows deeper than either of them anticipated, Griffin has to decide if he can put down the pain of his past and step into a love he never believed possible.

Blog Tour Review: Claiming the Rancher's Heir by Maisey Yates

 

Claiming the Rancher's Heir (Gold Valley Vineyards #2) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: November 10th 2020 by Harlequin Desire

Pages: 224

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Walmart

My Thoughts:

Wren Maxfield and Creed Cooper each work at their family’s winery, rivals in business. They push each other’s buttons, jabs and sparring just about every time they meet. However, whenever Wren and Creed are in a room together sparks fly! They can say it’s all about irritation and how much they dislike each other, but deep down if they’re being honest there’s a wild, magnetic attraction that’s becoming more and more irresistible. Especially, now that they’re working together on a joint project to attract tourism to the wineries in Gold Valley.

This is very much an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I find them so much fun! The push and pull (as long as it doesn’t get too mean) really amps up the sexual tension! Creed and Wren were smoking hot together, and I loved how the dislike faded into the background once they acknowledged their mutual attraction. The pregnancy-forces-us-together troupe is also a favorite of mine and I loved how determined Creed was to be there for his child no matter what.

These two have to sort through some past personal hurts, mostly Creed, to get to the point where they realize the deep feelings they have for each other. They were desperate for each other even before they found out about the pregnancy.

 Claiming the Rancher’s Heir was a thoroughly captivating, quick read. I immediately liked Creed and Wren and was invested in their HEA! Can’t wait for Cricket and Jackson’s story next!

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances  set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Connect with Maisey Yates:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book description:

Arrogant, infuriating, insufferable… And the sexiest man she’s ever met.

Wren Maxfield hates Creed Cooper, but now she’s working with the wealthy rancher over the holidays! Those strong feelings hide undeniable chemistry…and one wild night results in pregnancy. Now Creed vows to claim his heir. That means proposing a marriage in name only. But as desire takes over, is that a deal they can keep?

Includes Rancher’s Wild Secret, a bonus story!

Emerson Maxfield is a sheltered beauty who never steps out of line. Now she must marry her family’s enemy before desire spells downfall for them all…

Review: The Hero of Hope Springs by Maisey Yates

The Hero of Hope Springs (Gold Valley #10) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: July 21st 2020 by HQN

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo 

About the book:

Will Gold Valley’s most honorable cowboy finally claim the woman he’s always wanted?

For as long as brooding cowboy Ryder Daniels has known Sammy Marshall, she has been his sunshine. Her free spirit and bright smile saved him after the devastating loss of his parents and gave him the strength to care for his orphaned family. Only Ryder knows how vulnerable Sammy is, so he’s kept his attraction for his best friend under wraps for years. But what Sammy’s asking for now might be a step too far…

Something has been missing from Sammy’s life, and she thinks she knows what it is. Deciding she wants a baby is easy; realizing she wants her best friend to be the father is…complicated. Especially when a new heat between them sparks to life! When Sammy discovers she’s pregnant, Ryder makes it clear he wants it all. But having suffered the fallout of her parents’ disastrous relationship, Sammy is wary of letting Ryder too close. This cowboy will have to prove he’s proposing out of more than just honor…

My Thoughts:

Ryder has loved Samantha since she showed up on his property not long after his parents’ death and suddenly became responsible for all his younger siblings. Dealing with the grief and having to abandon his dream plans was made bearable by Sammy’s presence. Her beauty inside and out was like sunshine in his life, but he always held back from anything but a platonic relationship, because Sammy came from her own terrible situation. Ryder realized she needed a protector and friend, and that was more important than his desires.

Now that Sammy wants a baby and throws it out there that she’d like him to be the father, he can’t hold back any longer. Once this barrier comes down, Ryder is all in and not just about co-parenting. He’s not just some nice guy to hold her hand, he’s a real flesh and blood male who’s been longing for her for years. Loved Ryder!

Sammy has led people to think she’s a free spirit, casual about love and hookups, but in truth she needs control. Any of her romantic partners have been casual because that’s the way she protects herself. Not letting anyone in too close. Sammy’s seen the affects of an all-consuming “love” with her parents, volatile and abusive, and she wants nothing to do with that. However, Sammy would love the chance to have a baby and give it all the love her big heart has to offer. When Ryder unexpectedly agrees to her request, she doesn’t bargain on everything that includes: passion and commitment and it scares her.

I just love a good unrequited love romance. Ryder finally getting the girl he’s wanted after so many years was a pleasure to watch. I love seeing him let go of his reserve and let me tell you these two were hot together! Sammy never let anyone that close, so she finally gets to experience a whole other facet of romance, one where she can trust the person she’s with and let go. She feels wanton and needy for Ryder and I just loved it!

As usual, the small ranching town of Gold Valley is vividly described, making it come to life so I can almost smell the pines, and feel the breeze. Maisey Yates writes the most delicious cowboys, but more than that she writes beautifully emotional stories that make you care for each and every character. The Hero of Hope Springs is part of a series, but each book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

4 Suns

Review: Secrets From a Happy Marriage by Maisey Yates

Secrets From a Happy Marriage by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: May 12th 2020 by HQN

Pages: 384

Audio Length: 11 hrs 28 min by Harlequin Audio

Narrator: Samantha Cook

Source: Publisher & Purchased Audio Book
Rating: ★★★★½
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

About the book:

New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates’s new novel introduces the women of the Lighthouse Inn B&B. They might not have it all together, but this summer they’ll discover that together, they might still have it all…

Rachel Henderson’s family is falling apart. Becoming a widow—especially at this age—is heartbreaking. With her teenage daughter, Emma, leaving soon for college, Rachel needs a friend—but local diner owner Adam is the last person she ever thought she’d lean on.

From the outside, her little sister, Anna, has a picture-perfect marriage. But the weight of it is suffocating her. The only way for her to breathe again comes at a high price, one she’s not so sure she can pay.

After raising two daughters on her own, their mother, Wendy, knows just how hard life can be. She’s done things she’s not proud of, things she desperately wants to keep from her girls—until keeping quiet is no longer an option.

As long-held secrets bubble up and their old lives unravel, this family will need all their strength to start again and open their hearts up to the possibility of more. But most of all, they’ll need each other…

My Thoughts:

Secrets From a Happy Marriage is a multigenerational story: Wendy the single mom who took her two daughters to the coast of Oregon after winning a bid to run a bed and breakfast at a historic lighthouse property. Now years later her daughters are grown and married, and mostly they’ve had a wonderful life, but things are changing. Rachel, Wendy’s oldest, is coping with the loss of her husband, a widow at just thirty-eight years old, Anna, Wendy’s younger daughter, is stuck in a loveless marriage, and Emma, Rachel’s daughter is feeling guilty leaving her grieving mother to go away to college. Plus, Wendy the “blameless” matriarch has some secrets of her own.

I felt for each of these women, was struck by each of their stories, and could really relate to one! Living in a small town their actions are scrutinized, and judged by some, and even by each other. At first, Rachel is so judgy with Anna, having grown apart over the years the sisters only see the surface and not really what each are struggling with. Rachel, realizing on an unconscious level she was jealous of Anna having a healthy husband. Anna for her part envied the real love and obvious connection Rachel had with her husband.  I enjoyed seeing them open up, understand and become close. Each providing solace and support instead of judgment. Each had their own romantic story, but I really loved Rachel’s.

Emma, Rachel’s daughter is very much finding her own way. After living with her father’s illness for several years, and now finally losing him she feels like was grieving for a long time, even before his death. Emma’s feels moving across the country, leaving her mother to cope with the loss when she receives an acceptance to her dream college to study marine biology. Then there’s also Luke, her longtime crush from afar who finally notices her.

Wendy’s story was a bit of a twist, upsetting her daughters view of her and the life they’ve had. Wendy had to come to terms with her past and forgive herself. I also enjoyed her romance.

I love lighthouses! My husband and I took a three-week road trip a couple of years ago and visited lighthouses all along the Pacific Northwest.  We were able to stay at one in Oregon: Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast and when I started reading this story, I was struck by how familiar the setting sounded. Come to find out Ms. Yates stayed there and based Cape Hope Lighthouse B & B after it! The place was gorgeous and magical, and I was so excited to find out it was featured in such a lovely story! It felt more personal to me. I included a few pictures below.

Secrets From a Happy Marriage was a heartfelt story about being yourself, accepting past mistakes, forgiving yourself and moving on; trying not to be hindered by what others think of you, and ignoring those determined to pass judgment. But it was also about supporting family and drawing strength from their love.  I loved every minute of it!

I alternately listened and read Secrets From a Happy Marriage. Samantha Cook does a wonderful job performing both male and female voices, and I listened at 1.3x-1.5x normal speed.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

The B & B

Lighthouse & B & B

Mini Review: The Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch by Maisey Yates

The Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch (Gold Valley #9) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: June 23rd 2020 by HQN

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

This rebel cowboy is looking for a fresh start—will he find more than he’s ever hoped for in Gold Valley?
Police officer Pansy Daniels is the poster girl for responsible behavior. Orphaned as a child, she has dedicated her life to safeguarding her local community. The last thing she needs is a hot-headed cowboy with attitude cruising into town. He may be her new landlord, but that’s no excuse for provoking her…or sending her heart into overdrive.
West Caldwell has come to Redemption Ranch to put his past behind him. Flirting with a pint-size police officer who thinks he’s bad news is definitely not part of the plan, but it’s deliciously easy to get under Pansy’s skin. Then West discovers the vulnerability Pansy keeps so well hidden, and suddenly this renegade cowboy is in over his head. In her arms, West feels like the man he always wanted to be—but can he become the man Pansy deserves?

My Thoughts:

I’ve enjoyed the Gold Valley Ranch series. Pansy and West’s romance was steamy and thankfully low on angst. West was such a sweetheart, patient with Pansy as she worked out her feelings, and I loved that he took in Emmett without hesitation. The small-town setting of Gold Valley described so beautifully it makes me want to pull up stakes and move to Oregon.

I love Maisey Yates’ writing, she brings her characters to life with emotion and relatable feelings. However, there was a lot of repeated internal dialogue that I feel could’ve been edited down. Still, the story was captivating, enjoyable, easy Summer reading. I look forward to Ryder and Sammy’s romance in The Hero of Hope Springs next!

3.5 Suns

Review: Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates

Cowboy Christmas Redemption (Gold Valley #8) by Maisey Yates

Publication Date: September 24th 2019 by HQN Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links:

Harlequin | Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Books-A-Million

Target | Walmart | Google | iBooks | Kobo

About the book:

As snowflakes fall in Gold Valley, Oregon, will this rugged cowboy finally win the woman of his dreams?

Cowboy Caleb Dalton has loved single mom Ellie Bell, and her little daughter, Amelia, for years. But since Ellie is his best friend's widow, Caleb's head knows Ellie will always be strictly off-limits. If only his heart got the memo. So when Caleb discovers that Ellie has a Christmas wish list--and hopes for a kiss under the mistletoe--he's throwing his cowboy hat into the ring. If anyone's going to be kissing Ellie and sharing this magical time with her and her daughter, it's him.

Ellie has dreaded the holidays since losing her husband. But this year, she's finally ready to make some changes. She never expects the biggest change to be the heart-stopping kiss she shares with Caleb. For almost five years, Caleb has been her best friend, her rock, her salvation. This Christmas, can Caleb prove he's also the missing puzzle piece of Ellie's and Amelia's hearts?

My Thoughts:

It’s easy to see how Caleb would feel too guilty to make a move on Clint’s widow even though he’s been dead for over four years, since he had feelings for Ellie while Clint was alive, and they were married. He never acted on them, but he did pine for Ellie.  Even before Ellie, Caleb held a mixture of conflicting emotions towards Clint.  He loved Clint like a brother but was also jealous of him over the way his father would compare the two and find Caleb lacking.

After Clint’s death Caleb made it his mission to be there for Ellie and her daughter Amelia, he was even there for her birth, and all these years he’s held himself back from showing his true feelings of desire and love towards Ellie because he never thought she’d see him as anything other than a friend and she’s never even shown interest in any man at all.  But when Ellie makes it clear she wants to move on with her life romantically, Caleb can’t bear for it to be any other man but him. He held himself back because it was Clint, but he’ll be damned if he steps aside for any other man.

Ellie wants lightness, and fun back in her life after grieving for Clint so long it’s not fair for her or her daughter to live with a cloud of sadness hanging over them so she makes a Christmas list to help them move on and put more joy into their lives. Part of the list is only for Ellie, though: going out dancing with a man, kissing by the fire, and yes, sex, but as she sets out to accomplish the items on her list, it becomes apparent that not just any cowboy will do. Caleb Dalton becomes integral to fulfilling her needs and desires, and it scares her to feel this intense, almost obsessive kind of want that bubbles up inside her. 

I loved how Ellie and Caleb essentially already loved each other, but when Ellie decided to live for the present and future instead of mourning the past, it changed the way she looked at him. Once the veil of “just friends” was taken down it awakened a powerful desire!  Ellie always thought Caleb was incredibly handsome, but never let her brain venture further, but once the roadblocks were taken away, their attraction was electric! Caleb always kept his passion for Ellie leashed, but once she made it clear she wanted more, all bets were off, he was through being her “safe, easy friend”, and oh, the results were hot!

Unrequited love is one of my favorite romance tropes, so I’ve been looking forward to Caleb and Ellie’s story for quite some time! It wasn’t without some bumps along the way, but anyone with eyes knew these two belonged together!  I think they both got their Christmas wishes and then some by the end!

*I just checked and Cowboy Christmas Redemption is a Cyber Monday Deal at Amazon for $1.99!

4 Suns

Author Bio: New York Times Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. 

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