Forever a Hero - Linda Lael Miller (HQN - Mar 2017)

Series: Carsons of Mustang Creek (Book 3)

For the youngest Carson brother, finding and fixing trouble seems to be all in a day's work

Mace Carson doesn't consider himself a hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she's in Wyoming on business a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only he's not selling.

Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue. The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she's secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance against both of them.

Very good book. Mace is the youngest of the three Carsons and owns and runs a very successful winery on his family's ranch. The winery is his passion and his focus, besides his work on the ranch with his brothers. Driving home one rainy day, he witnesses a car spin out on the slick highway and rescues the driver from a perilous situation. It turns out that it isn't the first time he's come to the rescue of this person.

Kelly was a freshman in college when she was attacked on her way back to her dorm. Mace witnessed the attack, saved her and held the attacker for the police. He was also instrumental in sending the man to jail. Kelly is now a top executive with a company who wants to buy Mace's winery, and it's her job to make the sale. Kelly is also happy to see Mace again.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between them. Mace is smitten from the start, though unwilling to admit it. Kelly is equally attracted, but has two things arguing against getting involved with him. First is the business relationship. She is there to get Mace to agree to sell his winery to her company. Mixing business and pleasure isn't a good idea. Second, she's wary of relationships now, her divorce wrecking her belief in love and happily ever after. They butt heads a bit at the beginning, first as Mace insists on a doctor after her accident and won't listen to her objections. Then, as she presents her business proposal and he flat out refuses to consider it. Kelly has a lot riding on this deal, and she really wants to convince him, but is pretty sure that he won't sell. I liked how Mace talked Kelly into leaving business behind and introduced her to life in Mustang Creek. When she receives distressing news about her job, it gives her the chance to reevaluate her life. Mace wants to keep Kelly around for a while and explore whatever it is that's happening between them. I loved seeing them get to know each other, exploring their similarities and their differences. There are some pretty sweet scenes as Mustang Creek and the whole Carson family begin to grow on Kelly. It was fun to see Mace dealing with his family's interference and advice as he accepts the truth of his feelings. He knows he has an uphill battle to get past Kelly's fears, but he is definitely up to the challenge. He comes up with the perfect solution for them. His big moment at the end was sweet, romantic, and fun.

There is a bit of suspense toward the end, as the man who attacked her gets out of jail and is bent on revenge. Kelly is worried, not just for herself but for Mace also. When his winery is vandalized, Mace's worry for Kelly increases. I loved seeing the whole family come together to do what is necessary to protect her. The resolution of this particular problem had me laughing out loud.

I loved visiting Mustang Creek and seeing so many familiar faces. The Carson family is wonderful with their obvious love and support for each other. The teasing among the brothers is great fun, but there's no question that they have each other's backs. I also enjoyed seeing Mace be on the receiving end of the same kind of advice he gave in the previous two books. Some of the quirkier members of the town add their own bit of magic to the story.

Always a Cowboy - Linda Lael Miller (HQN - Sept 2016)

Series Carsons of Mustang Creek (Book 2)

He's the middle of the three Carson brothers and is as stubborn as they come -- and he won't thank a beautiful stranger for getting in his way!

Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can't deny the longing -- and the challenge -- she stirs in him.

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals -- and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who's stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything -- for both of them.

Good book. Second in the Carson series, this book is about Drake, the middle brother. Older brother, Slater (Once a Rancher), is the producer of documentaries, and younger brother, Mace, is in charge of the family winery.  Drake runs the family ranch, which is just right for him. The land and its traditions are his life's blood. Not to say there aren't challenges to go along with it. For the past year they have been losing calves to a mountain lion, and there's a herd of wild horses whose stallion has been stealing Drake's mares. As icing on the cake, he finds a beautiful woman trespassing on his land.

Luce is a graduate student working on a paper about how wild horses interact with ranch animals and humans. Drake's mom, an old friend of Luce's mom, has invited Luce to stay at the ranch while she does her research. This puts her into Drake's path far too often for either's comfort, at least at the beginning.

I loved the first meeting between Drake and Luce. He sees that wild stallion close and is determined to catch him and move him away from the ranch and his mares. He doesn't catch him, but he does scare them off, bringing on the wrath of Luce, who has been observing them all day. I loved seeing her stand up to Drake and fuss at him. At the same time, he listened but wasn't overly receptive to her rants. But underneath the confrontation is a different kind of spark, the spark of attraction, which disturbs them both. They go head to head a few times over his resistance to cooperating with his research, and her insistence that she's well able to take care of herself out on the range. They eventually work out a compromise that has them spending time together, time that brings their simmering attraction to a full boil.

I really liked seeing the two of them get to know each other and learn to respect what the other does. Once they get past their initial antagonism, Drake's true personality really begins to shine. He is funny, charming, passionate, and just a bit old-fashioned. He was very protective, especially when the mountain lion got bolder. He pretty quickly realizes what it is he feels for Luce, and is determined in his pursuit of her. Luce knows what she's feeling, too, but she has her life planned out, and staying in rural Wyoming isn't part of it. I enjoyed the realism of seeing two people who loved each other work to figure out how to make things work between them. The wedding scene was sweet, and his honeymoon plans were super romantic.

As always, the secondary characters added extra depth to the story. My favorite was ranch foreman Red. He had some great cowboy sayings, and seems pretty ordinary, until you get to see a bit of his private life. I also loved Drake's mom and her not always subtle attempts to get him and Luce together. I liked seeing more of Slater, Grace and Ryder, and how they are settling in to life together. Ryder has a couple of good scenes with Drake and Luce, too. I enjoyed the teasing that Mace inflicts on his brothers, and that they aren't slow about returning the favor. Though they bicker and snipe, they are always first in line to support each other. I also liked seeing Lettie get involved in their wild horse problem. She is a force to be reckoned with. I'm looking forward to reading Mace's story.