This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Holiday Romance
Released on September 24, 2019
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
The Delight
The middle of a series did’t turn out too bad, but the story was too predictable with a side of way to silly sweet to make it enjoyable. The story line just didn’t grab me and it felt off rather than exciting and romantic.
Review
Zach Garrett is returning home for several tours, suffering from PTSD. His mother sold the ranch while he was gone and all he wanted was to turn to his own ranch to build a life. Instead he heads to his uncles ranch, his cousins and the town he grew up. This isn’t his ranch though and he feels a little left out and on edge, but the family won’t let that stand. They don’t address it all right on, but through subtle acts to let him know they are his family and will be there for him through thick and thin.
Stephanie Gale is a firefighter and EMT with special skills. When she is the first to respond to a call, she finds two kids who witnessed their mother’s death by the hands of their stepfather. Bondig with the kids, she so wants to adopt them and become a mom. But her risky job and apartment along with her single status, makes it next to impossible for this to happen.
When Zack and Stephanie meet, they both feel sparks, but take it incredibility slow ….so slow. But with anything, the bad guy escapes a jail transport and now she lives in fear as little things start to happen that make her aware she is in the cross – hairs of the stepfather. Now all she wants to do is protect the kids and thinks she is invincible.
The story suffers from predictability with a side does of the couple never really having a conflict moment to make it seem like they would never get together. It just was your beautiful here, your wonderful there and all the gooey words that after awhile become boring.
It all works out happily ever after, but I feel let down in a western story that brushes a lot under the rug and makes people seem so perfect. Perfect is boring.
Challenges Met
Review Writing Challenge #53
Literary Pickers #39 – Rifle
New Release Challenge #20
Try Something New Challenge #23
Preview
Shari
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Oh dear… boring is the deathnell. 🙂 Sounds like it has a good suspense storyline if it could be a little unpredictable. 🙂
The suspense part was ok, but still the romance felt way off and to goodie goodie for me.
Oh dear! What might have been a contender for this year’s Christmas Spirit challenge but given your review perhaps not.
It might be good for others, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
YOu’re right, perfect is sometimes not what we want
Funny because my number one strength on a test I took recently says I strive for harmony.
Hate when they get too silly.
Me too!
I would have to agree that perfect is also kind of boring. Good in real life but not books. Sorry this one wasn’t what you hoped it would be.
I wish so as well. I really wanted a hot cowboy for Christmas. This is the second Christmas story I have read this year and both were about coming home with PTSD.
I’ll say the cover and title make me interested but slow & sweet is not something I can do. I need some suspense, action, or/and conflict to make it more for me. Thank’s for the honest review.
There was some suspense, but it just fell flat for me.
Well damn, that was sounding like it would be exciting. Too bad it ended up being a bit boring.
I skimmed to the end when it just went so slow.
I really struggle with stories that have those “too perfect” characters, predictability is okay to deal with but you need to relate with the characters. Sounds pretty disappointing.
She is a hero, does a great job, wants to adopt orphans, helps everyone in town….she just came across as too good to be true. He came back with PTSD, but that all seems to clear up real quick.