Series: Copper Creek Cowboys (Book 1)
First love always burns hotter . . .
Ash MacKenzie broke his share of hearts when he left Copper Creek all those years ago and struck out on his own. Tall, tough, and proud. That's how Brenna always remembered him, and from the looks of things, he hasn't changed much. Once, she thought he could save her-whisk her away from her rough childhood home and start fresh together. Now she knows better . . .
Ash isn't planning to stick around town long. As soon as he uncovers the truth about his father's death and makes sure the family ranch is safe, he'll be back out on his own. And then he runs into Brenna Crane. It broke his heart to leave her once-a herd of stampeding horses couldn't make him do it again. But Brenna has made a new life for herself, one that doesn't include him. Now he just has to convince her to give their first love a second chance.
Terrific start to the new series and great second chance story. Ash is the oldest son of Bear MacKenzie. The story opens when he is nineteen years old, and shows a young man trying his best to earn his father's respect and approval. Unfortunately, he seems to be fighting a losing battle, and the latest confrontation is the final straw. Ash leaves home after a blowup with his father, determined to make his own way in the world. The story then picks up a decade later. Ash has his own ranch in Wyoming, and though he is struggling, he is proud of what he has accomplished. Then he gets word that his father has been murdered and immediately makes plans to go home. The first person he sees when he arrives is Brenna, his former best friend and the girl he'd loved and left behind.
Brenna had grown up with an abusive drunk for a father, living on the ranch next door to the MacKenzies. She met Ash when she was eight years old, and he became the most important thing in her life. She was heartbroken when he left without a word and worked hard to move on with her life. Her father deserted the family when she was young, leaving just her and her mother to keep the ranch going. Her mother died when Brenna was sixteen, leaving her alone to keep the ranch going. Brenna is also a talented sculptor who is slowly making a name for herself. She has recently become engaged to a "city fella."
When Ash is informed of his father's death, he is in shock. He always thought that he had time to reconcile with Bear and show him what he had done with his life. He immediately goes home to be with his family. I loved seeing his realization of how much he had truly missed his family and his home. Though his initial intention is to stay as long as he is needed then return to his own ranch, he begins to realize that his heart belongs in Copper Creek. I loved his reactions to how much things have changed since he's been gone. He's almost shocked that Whit is no longer the kid he left behind, but a grown man. Like the rest of the family, he's stunned by the news that Bear had another son that no one knew about. His reactions are understandable. He also carries a lot of guilt for staying away so long and allowing his pride to keep him from staying in touch with his family. As the days go on, Ash is determined to make amends with them.
I loved seeing the renewal of Ash and Brenna's relationship. He had thought of her often, expecting that she was probably married and had children by now. He's stunned to find out that she's still single (though engaged). I loved their first meeting as he first saves her puppy, then saves her from being hit by a speeding truck. Both of them experience a flare of their old attraction. Knowing that she's engaged to someone else, Ash tries to resist it. Brenna is not happy about the resurgence of her feelings, because of her engagement and because she wouldn't want to risk getting her heart broken again. When they experience another near miss, Ash's protectiveness kicks in, and he is determined to keep her safe. I enjoyed seeing them first renew their friendship as they shared memories from their past and caught up on each other's lives. Brenna has some issues with her fiancé, whose jealousy is pretty blatant. He exhibits some uncomfortably controlling behavior, and a confrontation with him makes Brenna realize the truth about her relationship with him. I loved seeing the differences between her fiancé and Ash and adored Ash for his support of her. I loved seeing them grow closer as they work together to discover who is after her and why. I loved Ash's big moment at the end as he makes a huge decision about his future. His awkwardness and vulnerability show just how much Brenna means to him. The epilogue was sweet and romantic.
The suspense of the story was really good. There were two mysteries going on. The first involves the murder of Bear MacKenzie. There are no witnesses and no clues, leaving his family searching for answers. Is it someone from his past with a grudge against him? Could it be one of their friends and neighbors or someone further back in Bear's past? Then there is the problem of the attacks on Brenna. She isn't the type of person to have enemies, so who could it be and why? Does it have something to do with her father, who recently contacted her, claiming to want a reconciliation? I loved Brenna's compassion for her father and her desire not to hold onto the past. There are several possible suspects, and there are good reasons to suspect each of them. I had an idea of who it was, and I turned out to be right, but the story behind it was unexpected. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was resolved. I loved seeing how everyone pulled together to make it happen.
A theme that ran throughout the book was the importance of family. The family is stunned to discover the existence of another son, and Ash and Whit's reactions are completely understandable. Bear's wife Willow seems to arrive at acceptance much faster than her sons, thanks to some discussion with her father-in-law. Griff's arrival at the ranch is especially shocking when they see his resemblance to Bear but also makes it easier for them to accept him. I ached for Griff and his feelings of loss and confusion. I really enjoyed seeing the family come together. There are some pretty fun scenes of the three sons together as the work out their relationships. The bar scene was fantastic as they stood together against outsiders. I also loved seeing the way that Brenna had become part of the family since the first time Ash brought her home when they were kids. The MacKenzies were so different from her own experience. I loved the way that they all came together to help Brenna after the attack at her ranch. I also loved how Ash and Griff and the rest learned more about Bear and the person he was and how it changed their perceptions of him.
Though I read the books out of order, it made no difference to my enjoyment of each story. Though I knew the identity of the killer by the time I read this book, I was still able to get involved in the search for the truth.
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