Title: True Love at Silver Creek Ranch by Emma Cane
Valentine Valley Series Book Two
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B
Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .
Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows’ Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam’s arms, she’s shocked to discover she may just want more.
Adam knows it’s crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?
Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!
The Review:
True Love at Silver Creek Ranch, the second installment in Emma Cane’s Valentine Valley series, is a sweet romance with engaging and likeable characters. Strong family ties and a small town setting add to this delightful novel’s appeal.
Brooke Thalberg lives and works on her family’s ranch alongside her father and brothers. She is a strong woman, self-assured and comfortable being in charge. Brooke is beginning to feel like her life is missing something, but she cannot quite figure out what. That is until Adam Desantis comes back to town, shakes up her world and gives her life the purpose she has been looking for.
Adam Desantis’s childhood was far from picture perfect. His parents were indifferent and neglectful and in his attempt to get their attention, he got mixed up with the wrong crowd. His brush with the law turns out to be a blessing in disguise when the football coach gives him a second chance. Following graduation, Adam joined the Marines and left the small town of Valentine Valley far behind. With his service now behind him, Adam returns to his hometown when he becomes concerned about his grandmother’s health. His new job at the Silver Creek Ranch brings him a measure of peace as he comes to terms with both his unhappy childhood and the mental wounds from his recent tour in Afghanistan.
In the beginning, Brooke has a difficult time seeing Adam as the man he is today instead of the teenage boy she remembers. Unexpected insight from her mom and Brooke’s day to day interactions with Adam give her a new perspective on his troubled past.
The relationship between Brooke and Adam is slow-growing and conflict free. As his boss, Brooke is reluctant to make their relationship public. Adam reluctantly agrees with her, but it does not take long for both of them to grow weary of keeping their relationship hidden. And they both soon discover that keeping secrets in a small town is not as easy they think it is.
True Love at Silver Creek Ranch by Emma Cane is a multi-layered novel that is very easy to read. The secondary cast of characters is well-developed and quite charming. The small town atmosphere and close-knit family give the story warmth and added dimension. Brooke and Adam undergo personal changes that make them much more well-rounded, realistic characters. Overall, a wonderfully angst free novel that fans of contemporary romances are sure to enjoy.
Although True Love at Silver Creek Ranch is the second installment in the Valentine Valley series, it can be read as a standalone story.
