Good conclusion to the Wrangler's Creek series. Lucian, aka Lucifer, is the last of the unmarried Grangers. No one is surprised by this because Lucian can be a real SOB, in and out of the business world. He's well known for his short relationships - thirty-four days is the record. Women take second place to work and he has no intention of changing that. That is until his life begins to implode.
Karlee is Lucian's assistant and has been for ten years. She keeps his life and business organized, often knowing what he needs before he does. She has also been in love with him for years, though he is quite oblivious to it. Karlee has finally realized that nothing will come of it and has decided to move on with her life, giving Lucian her notice and getting ready to start her own business.
I liked both Lucian and Karlee. Though Lucian has been something of an ass in the previous books, it was always because he thinks he's doing what is best for the family. Lucian took over the business, the ranch, and caring for the family at the age of eighteen when his father deserted them. It was his hard work that turned it around from the debt-ridden mess that Jerry left to a multi-million dollar success. Karlee has done the same for her family, ever since her mother ran off with Lucian's father. She took over care of the home and her younger brothers while her father sank into an alcoholic mess. She had to step up even more when he killed himself when she was seventeen.
Lucian's hard-nosed business ways have put him at odds with the town. That becomes a huge problem when Jerry comes back to town and takes back control of the family business. Jerry's actions put the financial future of the businesses and the family in jeopardy, all because of his own bad decisions. Lucian needs help to stop his father from destroying everything he's worked for, and that means he needs to change his reputation. Regina comes up with the idea of Lucian showing that he's a new man by becoming engaged to Karlee, whom everyone likes.
I liked the development of the relationship between Lucian and Karlee. They have been friends for a long time. Lucian has also felt the sparks of attraction for Karlee but has kept them well buried, not wanting to screw up an excellent working relationship and friendship. He has also been oblivious to Karlee's feelings for him. But the fake engagement has opened the door and now he doesn't know how to cope. I loved seeing how he can't keep Karlee out of his mind, which freaks him out quite a bit. He's kept himself away from any long-term relationships because of one failed one when he was younger - a relationship that still has a hold on him. Karlee has tried to protect her heart, but the "engagement" activities remind her of all the things that she wants to be real. One of the things that she wants is the chance to experience what all his other women have enjoyed - time in Lucian's bed. But just when things look like it could happen, Lucian's ex comes back to town. Lucian's emotions are in a turmoil as nothing feels the way he thought it would. I loved seeing Karlee stand up for herself and tell Lucian that he has to figure out his feelings first, then he could find her. Even with that obstacle, the connection between Lucian and Karlee is unmistakable. I loved how well each of them understood the other. I loved Lucian's protectiveness when it came to her new business and his understanding about her father. It took time for him to sort through his feelings, especially with everything else that was going on. I loved his big moment at the end, as he opened himself up in a scene that was both emotional and funny.
A large part of the story is the family drama that takes place with Jerry's return. He has wrenched back control of the family business for reasons of his own, which takes some time for Lucian to uncover. In the meantime, Jerry's ongoing feud with his ex-wife (Regina) creates some ridiculously funny moments (the taping off of the house into his and hers is hysterically described). There are also some very emotional scenes, as Karlee's mom returns, knowing that it was the affair between her and Jerry that caused so much trouble. I ached for Lucian as he watched everything he had worked so hard for fall apart under his father. An abundance of twists and turns makes the business troubles a convoluted problem to solve. I loved the solution that Lucian came up with, as once again, he is the one the family relies on when there's trouble.
The secondary characters were great, too. Jerry was the biggest presence. Mostly, he was the one I loved to hate for what he did, but there were a couple of times I felt a little sorry for him. Regina was a trip with her snarky comments to Jerry and his fiancée Candy. Candy was a bit of a surprise. She definitely gave off the clueless bimbo vibes for a good part of the story but showed herself to be a little more savvy than expected at the end. Karlee's mom, Glenda's return was unexpectedly complex. I liked her acceptance of the harm she did to her kids, and that she didn't try to give any excuses for it. Her other reasons for returning were quite a surprise. One of my favorite characters was the family cook, Abe. I was intrigued by his mysterious paper bag deliveries to Lucian and truly moved when Lucian told Karlee about them.
Karlee is Lucian's assistant and has been for ten years. She keeps his life and business organized, often knowing what he needs before he does. She has also been in love with him for years, though he is quite oblivious to it. Karlee has finally realized that nothing will come of it and has decided to move on with her life, giving Lucian her notice and getting ready to start her own business.
I liked both Lucian and Karlee. Though Lucian has been something of an ass in the previous books, it was always because he thinks he's doing what is best for the family. Lucian took over the business, the ranch, and caring for the family at the age of eighteen when his father deserted them. It was his hard work that turned it around from the debt-ridden mess that Jerry left to a multi-million dollar success. Karlee has done the same for her family, ever since her mother ran off with Lucian's father. She took over care of the home and her younger brothers while her father sank into an alcoholic mess. She had to step up even more when he killed himself when she was seventeen.
Lucian's hard-nosed business ways have put him at odds with the town. That becomes a huge problem when Jerry comes back to town and takes back control of the family business. Jerry's actions put the financial future of the businesses and the family in jeopardy, all because of his own bad decisions. Lucian needs help to stop his father from destroying everything he's worked for, and that means he needs to change his reputation. Regina comes up with the idea of Lucian showing that he's a new man by becoming engaged to Karlee, whom everyone likes.
I liked the development of the relationship between Lucian and Karlee. They have been friends for a long time. Lucian has also felt the sparks of attraction for Karlee but has kept them well buried, not wanting to screw up an excellent working relationship and friendship. He has also been oblivious to Karlee's feelings for him. But the fake engagement has opened the door and now he doesn't know how to cope. I loved seeing how he can't keep Karlee out of his mind, which freaks him out quite a bit. He's kept himself away from any long-term relationships because of one failed one when he was younger - a relationship that still has a hold on him. Karlee has tried to protect her heart, but the "engagement" activities remind her of all the things that she wants to be real. One of the things that she wants is the chance to experience what all his other women have enjoyed - time in Lucian's bed. But just when things look like it could happen, Lucian's ex comes back to town. Lucian's emotions are in a turmoil as nothing feels the way he thought it would. I loved seeing Karlee stand up for herself and tell Lucian that he has to figure out his feelings first, then he could find her. Even with that obstacle, the connection between Lucian and Karlee is unmistakable. I loved how well each of them understood the other. I loved Lucian's protectiveness when it came to her new business and his understanding about her father. It took time for him to sort through his feelings, especially with everything else that was going on. I loved his big moment at the end, as he opened himself up in a scene that was both emotional and funny.
A large part of the story is the family drama that takes place with Jerry's return. He has wrenched back control of the family business for reasons of his own, which takes some time for Lucian to uncover. In the meantime, Jerry's ongoing feud with his ex-wife (Regina) creates some ridiculously funny moments (the taping off of the house into his and hers is hysterically described). There are also some very emotional scenes, as Karlee's mom returns, knowing that it was the affair between her and Jerry that caused so much trouble. I ached for Lucian as he watched everything he had worked so hard for fall apart under his father. An abundance of twists and turns makes the business troubles a convoluted problem to solve. I loved the solution that Lucian came up with, as once again, he is the one the family relies on when there's trouble.
The secondary characters were great, too. Jerry was the biggest presence. Mostly, he was the one I loved to hate for what he did, but there were a couple of times I felt a little sorry for him. Regina was a trip with her snarky comments to Jerry and his fiancée Candy. Candy was a bit of a surprise. She definitely gave off the clueless bimbo vibes for a good part of the story but showed herself to be a little more savvy than expected at the end. Karlee's mom, Glenda's return was unexpectedly complex. I liked her acceptance of the harm she did to her kids, and that she didn't try to give any excuses for it. Her other reasons for returning were quite a surprise. One of my favorite characters was the family cook, Abe. I was intrigued by his mysterious paper bag deliveries to Lucian and truly moved when Lucian told Karlee about them.
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