Review: Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen

Title: Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen
The McCord Brothers Series Book Two
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

No strings attached is pretty much Lucky McCord’s calling card in Spring Hill, Texas, but when family is on the line, this cowboy’s honor and heart are about to get lassoed, tied and branded

Every family needs its black sheep, and Austin “Lucky” McCord is happy to oblige. The bad-boy bull rider lives fast and loose, until his business partner leaves him an unexpected bequest. Suddenly Lucky is sharing custody of two children with Cassie Weatherall, one of the few homegrown women he hasn’t bedded. And not from lack of trying…

Cassie fled her messy past to become a celebrity therapist in LA. So why does it feel so right to come back and share parenting duties—and chrome-melting kisses—with a man she’s striven to avoid? Loving Lucky always seemed like a sure bet for heartache. But for this perfectly imperfect family, Cassie might just gamble with everything she’s got.

Review:

Lone Star Nights is an absolutely heartwarming addition to Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series.

Following the death of his close friend and business partner Dixie Mae, bull rider Lucky McCord is stunned to discover that he is sharing guardian duties with her granddaughter, Cassie Weatherall.  Although Lucky is immediately charmed by four year old Mia Compton, he is disconcerted by the similarities between himself and her thirteen year old sister Mackenzie.  While Cassie and Lucky try to track down the girls’ relatives, they move into Lucky’s childhood home on the family ranch.  Complications quickly ensue as both Cassie and Lucky try to avoid the ghosts of their pasts and their sizzling attraction to one another.

Despite his partnership with Dixie Mae, Lucky lives a pretty footloose and fancy free life.  He does not want to become involved with the family business and his visits home are short lived. The death of his parents continues to haunt him and Lucky feels guilty over his perceived role in the car accident that took their lives.  He is very charming and well-liked by the ladies, but he is always upfront that he is not looking for a relationship.  Although Lucky hopes to find a relative to take Mia and Mackenzie, he is surprised by his reaction when it appears the girls won’t remain with him and Cassie on a permanent basis.

Cassie is the middle of personal crisis when she gets the news about her grandmother.  A celebrity therapist who appears on numerous talk shows, she is plagued with panic attacks when she is under stress. Cassie is also having trouble extricating herself from her last relationship.  Instead of standing up to her ex when he unexpectedly shows up at the ranch, she continues to let him make decisions for her.  However she does find her backbone when it comes to dealing with her father and it is extremely gratifying watching him get exactly what he deserves!  Cassie is also surprisingly honest with Lucky and although she risks getting her heart broken, she does not let him take the easy way out when it comes to their future.

Although it is wonderful watching Cassie and Lucky fall in love, Mia and Mackenzie are the heart and soul of Lone Star Nights.  Mackenzie is surly and hides her heartbreak behind heavy make-up and a perpetual bad attitude.  Mia is absolutely darling and she charms everyone she meets.  Initially, Mackenzie tries to hold everyone at arm’s length but she slowly but surely begins letting down her guard.  She still remains prickly and standoffish but little glimpses of affection give both Cassie and Lucky hope that she will eventually trust them.

With a multi-faceted cast of lovable characters and an entertaining storyline, Lone Star Nights is a sensual romance that is poignant yet humorous. Heartfelt and engaging, this captivating novel is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of Delores Fossen’s The McCord Brothers series.