The Book: Roping in the Cowgirl by Judy Duarte
The Particulars: Harlequin Special Edition #2505, 2016, book 1 in series, out of print, available in digital.
Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: Duarte is a local author for me. I have an autographed copy which means I picked this up at a conference - likely RWA 2016 (San Diego) given the publication date.
The Review:
CW: domestic violence
There is magic in a well-executed category romance, which makes them ideal comfort reading for me. After a so-fast-your-head-will-spin DNF on my first choice, I randomly picked up this book which, conveniently enough, is the first book in a series. It wasn't perfect, but I read this in one sitting.
Blake Darnell is a workaholic who has made partner at a prestigious Beverly Hills law firm and he's just gotten a letter from his Uncle Sam firing him as overseer of the family trust. After his wife died, Sam fell into a tail-spin, nearly dying himself - until he landed in a retirement home catering to retired cowboys and ranchers. It's also a working ranch and Sam was named foreman. He's thriving and has found love again with a younger woman. Blake is concerned and frankly, projecting. He recently got burned by a gold-digger ex, so naturally given his "firing" he suspects that's what's going on with Uncle Sam. So he has his assistant clear his calendar and buy him a one-way ticket to Texas to sort it all out.
Things get off on the wrong foot when he arrives and meets the temporary head nurse, Shannon Cramer - who just so happens to be the niece of the woman Sam has fallen in love with. Joy (who is 60) and Sam (who is 80) are genuinely happy and in love. Shannon thinks anybody with eyeballs should be able to see that, but Blake - with his slick city polish and pessimism thinks shenanigans are afoot. Naturally sparks fly between Blake and Shannon and even after Blake comes around on the old folks' relationship, his attraction to Shannon remains complicated. Shannon is country girl through and through, with no desire to leave Texas - and Blake's life is in California.
I loved the concept of this book, a retirement home for cowboys, and there's several secondary characters who liven up the proceedings. The romance between Sam and Joy and Blake and Shannon are also nice. That said....
Both Sam and Blake are pretty dense at times. Blake assumes the worst in everybody and of course one gold-digger ex has shaded his opinion of Joy before having even met her. But Sam is no better. He's pissed at Blake mainly because he's a workaholic who has neglected his Texas family. Um, HE'S TRYING TO MAKE PARTNER IN A BEVERLY HILLS LAW FIRM! Should Blake get a free pass for being unable to balance his work life with everything else? No. But I did think the old coot could have cut his nephew a little slack.
This isn't perfect, but it's a largely pleasant read until an unexpected Very Dark Moment comes in out of left field towards the end. I'm going to spoil it because I think it's worth spoiling. Towards the end a severely battered, and pregnant, woman shows up at the ranch looking for one of the ranch hands. She ends up delivering her baby prematurely and slips into a coma - not expected to live. She doesn't die on page - but she will die, because this is all set-up for the second book in the series (I looked it up). It's upsetting, with absolutely no foreshadowing. I had the reaction of "wow, this came out of left field...." - I can only imagine how jarring it would be for a reader who 1) wasn't expecting it and 2) has a history with domestic violence. I normally do my best to avoid spoilers in my reviews - but I'm making an exception here.
The romance turns out right as rain in the end, and while the men annoyed me from time to time, I did largely enjoy this story. I also really liked the world and will likely continue on with the series. Out of nowhere domestic violence aside, it was a pleasant read.
Final Grade = B-