The Maverick's Return - Marie Ferrarella (HSE #2577 - Oct 2017)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Great Family Roundup (Book 4)

Congratulations…it's a girl!

Rust Creek Ramblings

Talk about mending fences -- have you heard that rugged rancher Daniel Stockton is back in town? It's been ten years since Dan left Rust Creek Falls with Anne Lattimore's heart in tow. She soon married someone else and had a child, but their marriage didn't last. We here at the Gazette think we know why. It has something to do with Anne's beautiful daughter, Janie…

Now that Dan has returned, will Anne find the courage to forgive him -- and tell him that sweet Janie is really his? Will Dan find the courage to ask for a second chance? Stay tuned, you hopeful romantics, to see if love really can conquer all!

Good second chance story. I ached for Dan from the very beginning. The book opens with him getting to his cabin after a long day dealing with "dudes" at the dude ranch where he works. He's exhausted, down in the dumps, and just plain lonely. So lonely that he turns on the television just for the illusion of having someone with him. As he's getting ready to find some food a familiar voice comes from the television, hurtling him into the past - the voice of his youngest brother. The next thing we see is Dan standing on the porch of Jamie's house, trying to get up the nerve to knock. I could feel his nervousness, his fear that his brother wouldn't want to see him, and I found myself holding my breath until that door opened. I loved Jamie's reaction and the obvious love he still has for his brother. I loved seeing Dan's happiness at being part of his family again. It was also pretty sweet to see Jamie immediately start playing matchmaker and push Dan into going to see Anne right away.

Anne has never forgotten Dan or the love she had for him. She was devastated when he left town without saying goodbye. It was even worse when she discovered she was pregnant and no one knew where he was or how to reach him. She was at the end of her rope when she met Hank, who offered to marry her and raise the baby as his own. He was a good man, who adored Janie and loved Anne. He spent years hoping that she would come to love him, too, but finally gave up and divorced her. But he's still involved in Janie's life as the father she adores. Anne is shocked when she opens her door and finds Dan standing there. All she can see is the upheaval his presence could cause in her life. She knows she should tell him about Janie, but what sort of pain could that cause for both Janie and Hank? And what kind of risk to her own heart and peace of mind is possible?

I enjoyed seeing Anne and Dan get to know each other again. Their love for each other is still strong, but both of them have fears that have to be dealt with before they can think about a future together. One of the things I really liked about Dan is that he owned up to his mistakes. He knew he had been wrong to leave the way he did and freely admitted it and apologized. I liked watching his tentative yet charming overtures to Anne. But he's also carrying a secret guilt that contributed to his departure and long absence, something that still haunts him. As they spent time together, I liked how Anne saw glimpses of the boy she knew in the man he was now. This helped her to see the pain he was in and want to help him. As Anne's feelings for Dan grew stronger, she worried that he would disappear again, devastating her all over.

I also liked that she didn't wait too long to tell Dan about Janie. Once he got over the shock, I loved how happy Dan was to be a father. He was smart enough to know that they couldn't just blurt out the truth to Janie. It was so sweet to see him spend time with her and get to know her. I loved the whole bit with her superhero show and how surprised she was that he actually listened to her. It was great to see the friendship that grew between them. The Halloween scene was great, showing the family-like feelings that were developing. I ached for Anne, as Janie's attempts at some independence made her heart hurt. Dan was understanding and supportive of both, which couldn't have been easy. I hurt for all of them when they finally broke the news to Janie, and she didn't react well.

I liked seeing that both Anne and Dan did some growing up at this point. Anne realized that she didn't want to hide from her feelings any longer. I loved seeing her decide that she was going to fight for a future with Dan. I hurt for Dan who was so unhappy with the way things had turned out with Janie. He was hiding out at his brother's, trying to lose himself in work. I loved seeing Jamie give Dan the kick in the pants that he needed to try to make amends with Janie. That was such a heartwarming scene, with Dan treating her like an adult and being honest about his feelings. I loved the unexpected pep talk that followed and led to Dan's big moment with Anne. The epilogue gave a tantalizing look at the future. I hope to see more of them in later books.