Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good story about two emotionally wounded people. Grant finds McKenna sleeping in an abandoned cabin on the family property. Both he and McKenna have had rough pasts that have affected the way they deal with other people.
Grant is a bit of a loner, even in his own family. He lost his mother when he was young and dealt with the pain by taking it out on other people. He was an obnoxious bully until he met Lindsay, who was assigned to tutor him. Her belief in him helped him change. They fell in love and married right out of high school, even though Lindsay's cancer had returned. For years, Grant was a caregiver rather than a husband. Eight years after her death, he is still grieving, but also frustrated. Everyone in town, including the women, always treats him as "that poor widower," and Grant is sick of the pitying looks, but he doesn't know how to move on either. When he meets McKenna, something about her gets to him, but he isn't sure what to do about it.
McKenna has had a rough life. Her mother gave her up when she was two, and she ended up in the foster system. She moved from home to home, never connecting with anyone. All she wants is a family of her own. When she left the system at the age of eighteen, one of the things she received was her birth certificate. Several years later, she tracked down her birth father and has arrived in Gold Valley to see him. Thanks to a run of bad luck, McKenna ends up homeless and finds herself sleeping in an abandoned cabin on a local ranch.
The first meeting between Grant and McKenna isn't very pleasant. He's not happy to find a squatter on the property, but he's not going to kick her out either. There's something about her that draws him, so he takes her to his brother and sister-in-law, who give her a job and a place to live. Grant is assigned to show her the ropes around the ranch. There are sparks of attraction between them from the start. Because she doesn't know about his past, McKenna treats Grant like the hot cowboy he is, and he isn't quite sure how to deal with that. Grant has a surprising secret that affects how he handles his attraction to McKenna. Eventually, those sparks that fly between them burst into flame. Neither Grant nor McKenna claims to be interested in a relationship, so no-strings sex is their agreed-upon solution.
Of course, that doesn't last. I liked seeing the way that they were able to share their pasts, hard though it was. Grant held out the longest because he liked that McKenna didn't know. She didn't give him those pitying looks, just the ones that said she wanted him. However, he can't deny that she reaches him in a way that no one else does. I liked how he supported her when it came to her desire to connect with her family. McKenna is upfront about her life and what she wants from it. Even though she has no confidence that it will happen, she still allows herself to hope. I liked watching her with Grant. She constantly reminds him that life isn't fair and that you do the best you can. I liked that she finally dared to tell him her feelings, and ached at the way he pulled away. One of my favorite things about McKenna is that she stands up for her own needs and wants. She lets him know that she deserves more and won't settle for less. It took a while for what she told him to sink in, plus additional input from his brother, Wyatt, but eventually, Grant saw the light. I like their big moment at the end, especially Grant's exposure of his vulnerability. I loved McKenna's reaction and seeing them come together as they are. The epilogue was terrific.
I also ached for McKenna in her search for family. All she wanted was someone that would love her. I liked her conversation with her brother, Gabe, and the hope that it gave her. Her first visit with her father was emotional. Both McKenna and I had high hopes, and I felt her pain at the way the visit ended. I loved how she stood up to him. Fortunately, he did redeem himself in the end.
Grant is a bit of a loner, even in his own family. He lost his mother when he was young and dealt with the pain by taking it out on other people. He was an obnoxious bully until he met Lindsay, who was assigned to tutor him. Her belief in him helped him change. They fell in love and married right out of high school, even though Lindsay's cancer had returned. For years, Grant was a caregiver rather than a husband. Eight years after her death, he is still grieving, but also frustrated. Everyone in town, including the women, always treats him as "that poor widower," and Grant is sick of the pitying looks, but he doesn't know how to move on either. When he meets McKenna, something about her gets to him, but he isn't sure what to do about it.
McKenna has had a rough life. Her mother gave her up when she was two, and she ended up in the foster system. She moved from home to home, never connecting with anyone. All she wants is a family of her own. When she left the system at the age of eighteen, one of the things she received was her birth certificate. Several years later, she tracked down her birth father and has arrived in Gold Valley to see him. Thanks to a run of bad luck, McKenna ends up homeless and finds herself sleeping in an abandoned cabin on a local ranch.
The first meeting between Grant and McKenna isn't very pleasant. He's not happy to find a squatter on the property, but he's not going to kick her out either. There's something about her that draws him, so he takes her to his brother and sister-in-law, who give her a job and a place to live. Grant is assigned to show her the ropes around the ranch. There are sparks of attraction between them from the start. Because she doesn't know about his past, McKenna treats Grant like the hot cowboy he is, and he isn't quite sure how to deal with that. Grant has a surprising secret that affects how he handles his attraction to McKenna. Eventually, those sparks that fly between them burst into flame. Neither Grant nor McKenna claims to be interested in a relationship, so no-strings sex is their agreed-upon solution.
Of course, that doesn't last. I liked seeing the way that they were able to share their pasts, hard though it was. Grant held out the longest because he liked that McKenna didn't know. She didn't give him those pitying looks, just the ones that said she wanted him. However, he can't deny that she reaches him in a way that no one else does. I liked how he supported her when it came to her desire to connect with her family. McKenna is upfront about her life and what she wants from it. Even though she has no confidence that it will happen, she still allows herself to hope. I liked watching her with Grant. She constantly reminds him that life isn't fair and that you do the best you can. I liked that she finally dared to tell him her feelings, and ached at the way he pulled away. One of my favorite things about McKenna is that she stands up for her own needs and wants. She lets him know that she deserves more and won't settle for less. It took a while for what she told him to sink in, plus additional input from his brother, Wyatt, but eventually, Grant saw the light. I like their big moment at the end, especially Grant's exposure of his vulnerability. I loved McKenna's reaction and seeing them come together as they are. The epilogue was terrific.
I also ached for McKenna in her search for family. All she wanted was someone that would love her. I liked her conversation with her brother, Gabe, and the hope that it gave her. Her first visit with her father was emotional. Both McKenna and I had high hopes, and I felt her pain at the way the visit ended. I loved how she stood up to him. Fortunately, he did redeem himself in the end.
Lisa R. (alterlisa) -
Though this is listed as a Gold Valley series book, it takes place in the same community that the Copper Ridge books do so you may "see" familiar faces. I've just started on my Christmas reads and this has been one of my favorites so far.
Grant is a member of the walking wounded and it's fascinating watching him gradually come back to life while helping homeless McKenna adjust to life in what has become one of my favorite areas, Copper Ridge. As always with Yates books, the underlying story is family and this one will tug at your heartstrings on multiple levels.
Grant is a member of the walking wounded and it's fascinating watching him gradually come back to life while helping homeless McKenna adjust to life in what has become one of my favorite areas, Copper Ridge. As always with Yates books, the underlying story is family and this one will tug at your heartstrings on multiple levels.
