🐎🎄💕 “Trusting the Rancher with Christmas” (Three Springs, Texas #2) (2021) 💕🎄🐎 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (October 26, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335426493
ISBN-13: 978-1335426499
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“A visit for the holidays
Brings love for a lifetime
Cattle rancher Evan Bishop is desperate for Paige Palmer’s help. The veterinarian is in Three Springs for the holidays, but the single dad hopes she has time to save his ailing livestock. Paige is up for the challenge, though not quite up to resisting the cowboy’s rugged charm and his darling devotion to his little girl. Can Paige learn to trust the rancher before the countdown to Christmas ends?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Cari Lynn Webb, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.
When it comes to certain Harlequin lines and authors, there are usually certain standouts when it comes to their writing. I hesitate when it comes to saying “favorite”, “go-to author”, “always a delight” because those terms – at least to me – signify that the other authors aren’t as important or their work is inferior.
So, right off – no. I don’t mean that when I single an author out.
Webb is definitely one of my favorite Heartwarming authors. Her stories are light, sweet, and have a slight sense of mystery to them. Definitely a good example of what the line has to offer. Also, the fact that they are very clean reads is a plus.
Anytime I can read one of her books, I absolutely jump at the chance.
Christmas books? Gimme!
This starts right off with a totes adorbs cover. Cowboy and little girl? Awww! I did note this was, while styled as Heartwarming, was listed as WESTERN. Yet, the major release was HEARTWARMING. I also have another WESTERN/HEARTWARMING book I won so I am curious as to what the difference in.
It doesn’t impact anything with regard to the book in any way.
Anyway …
This is the second installment in the Three Springs, Texas series and is completely delightful.
This picks up almost RIGHT AFTER the first book (that ends first part of December, this is about 2 weeks before Christmas), so I definitely suggest grabbing that one first. Those who read the first book will remember the first book will remember the story and legend of the coin that was behind the founding of the town. And, even by the end of the story, the coin is still missing.
Characters returning from the previous book: Abby, Tess, Sam, Boone, and Wes. I have to admit, I was SO glad to see Sam and Boone back. Here we meet rancher Evan who is single dad to sweet, red-haired Riley. This kid stole my heart!! I loved her from the minute I met her. She loves Christmas as much as I do! Yes, I’ve already started playing Christmas music.
Paige Palmer, sister of Tess from the general store, is in Three Springs for a “re-set”. She’s had not only a personal, but professional set back. Unfortunately, she arrives during Christmas which is her cousin Abby’s favorite time of the year – Paige? Not so much.
After an argument with her ex-boyfriend at the vet clinic they work at, she gives the senior partners an ultimatum – she wants to be a full partner; she’s paid in some dues so to speak. Given the scene with Kyle, it is suggested she get away for two weeks.
Her arrival in Three Springs is interesting – cows and rancher Evan Bishop.
Her cousin Abby’s home is a Christmas explosion which is painful to Paige. She and Tess lost their father around Christmas, so Paige doesn’t celebrate it much. I thought that was a shame. I truly understood where Paige was coming from with Christmas and associating it with her father’s death. While heartbreaking, and she showed improvements, I would think celebrating it would be honoring him knowing how much he LOVED the holiday. However, I did love her character growth and development.
On the other hand, Riley (Evan’s daughter) is WILD about Christmas.
Because of Riley, Paige gets involved with the girl’s pet cow Macybelle. It is clear that something is wrong with the cow. But, she isn’t the only one who is affected and won’t be. Although Paige is concerned about “practicing out of state” and how it might affect her chances of becoming a full partner at the clinic back home in Chicago.
Right off Paige makes a mistake in calling Evan “her cowboy”, which he likes. Still, she wants to keep things professional. She’s just there to assess Macybelle.
Paige also wants to repair the fractured relationship with her sister Tess. And, she begins to think that finding the coin might be a step in giving her sister a good Christmas.
It is clear that Evan and Paige are attracted to each other, Sam and Boone think they’re going to need some help. Gotta love those two old guys.
Another item on Riley’s list – her dad being happy.
But, Evan is plagued with more sick cows, and his normal vet suggests using Paige. This works to her advantage – almost. He has a guest house, and wanting to get away from Abby and Christmas – Paige decides to stay there after convincing Evan it would be easier to help the cows.
But, Paige’s efforts to escape Christmas are thwarted when Evan begins decorating as part of giving his daughter the best Christmas ever. Riley has a few other things on that list – wants her hair brown and not red (honestly, I’ve had both – they’re gorgeous) and to see her mother who left her and Evan at the altar when Riley was 5 months old. This broke my heart knowing how her mother, Marla, really felt. And, the red hair is the only thing the little girl got from her mom. Marla is living it up, in all places, Las Vegas.
I sort of understand where Riley was. From the age of 4 to current, my “bio” father hasn’t sent me any birthday or Christmas cards.
Moving on …
Evan asks about Paige’s “allergy” to Christmas – and she tells him. He is torn between not decorating and doing it. Seeing Riley there, Paige gives up that round. Though, it is obvious to Evan, that Paige is really hurting. It isn’t long until Riley is dragging Paige around in almost every Christmas related “firsts” thing.
As Paige and Evan work together with the sick cows, she notices that unlike Kyle, Evan and her work better as a team. Paige does like the idea of getting back into basic animal care. (Spoiler – the cows do get better).
Paige also tells Evan about Kyle, at one point noting that he broke a snow globe she kept out as tribute to her dad’s “keep one thing out all year to remind you of Christmas” tradition. Kyle also didn’t like the handmade items or what was about to her.
Eventually, Paige becomes more comfortable about Christmas. But, she is still heading back to Chicago, which upsets Riley. But, it is clear that Paige needs to take back what is hers.
Evan also has a talk with Riley about her mom which I felt was interesting. I like how he took Paige’s advice. Though some part of it was close to what my mother told me – the other parent “loves you in their own way”.
After Paige finds a letter from her grandfather, she begins to see what she wants is where she is.
Beautifully and emotionally written romance about second chances in more than one way. Webb also continues the mystery about the coin.
Webb definitely had my attention in this book and I cannot wait for the third one in this series. Usually when certain books leave off there is a HINT as to who the next one is about. I’m thinking Tess. One issue in this book was Tess and what was going on with her. There was something about her that seemed off and yet it wasn’t addressed. So, I honestly want to read book #3 to see what Webb has going on.
The chapters are average length for the line (roughly 20+ pages). That didn’t stop me from diving right in and reading 60 pages inside of 30 minutes. If it hadn’t been for my participation in NaNoWriMo, I likely would’ve read this in half the time I did.
Webb’s fans are certain to enjoy this book, and certainly those who read the first one won’t want to miss this. Fans of the heartwarming line won’t want to miss this one as well.
One cute lesson Webb adds: Texans use what they can to get a job done. I’m from Texas and can definitely agree to that.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Other books in the series:
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (August 24, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 133542640X
ISBN-13: 978-1335426406
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“New town…
New set of problems
Suddenly single—and pregnant—Abby James hopes Three Springs, Texas, will give her the fresh start she craves. But five minutes in and she’s already clashed with a former Navy SEAL on horseback. Wes Tanner might be devastatingly handsome, but Abby has no time for romance. Especially with a man intent on leaving town. Abby wants to plant some roots…and falling for the tempting Texan could upend all her plans!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's seventy-year marriage and her parent's marriage of over fifty years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect – it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers.
She can be found on the following social media accounts:
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