🏡🐑 “The Rancher’s Wyoming Twins” (Back to Adelaide Creek #1) (2022) 🐑🏡 – Book Tour & Review
Her worst enemy...
Could bring her heart home
Heather Stanhope wants to despise the man who now owns the ranch her family lost. But Matt Burton is raising his late sister’s adorable twins, loves horses, and is known for his loyalty and honesty. Sneaking into Adelaide Creek for her friend’s wedding, Heather hopes to avoid Matt, but fate and family have them crossing paths. Heather knows falling for Matt means risking her heart, but it’s a risk she can’t resist.
Virginia’s books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water—oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you’ll find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she’s always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $25 Amazon e-gift card & a $25 Etsy e-gift card (INT)
Ends May 4, 2022
Thank you in advance to the author, Virginia McCullough, for providing a complimentary review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
I got introduced to McCullough’s writing with the second book (The Christmas Kiss) of her previous series – BACK TO BLUESTONE RIVER through Prism Book Tours. I liked the book (and series), so I purchased A Home for Jason (though I haven’t been able to read that one yet) and was able to “tour” the third book, A Bridge Home through Prism as well.
This is the first book of the BACK TO ADELAIDE CREEK series, and I was anxiously trying to get through other books to read this one.
For recent unexpected reasons, this was a super hard read for me. Nothing against the author, but the theme of the book hit at the wrong time. Like Heather, I too am losing my home to progress (more like townhome to renovation with a price hike). Unlike, Heather, I don’t have a place to go just yet. I didn’t grow up in it – just lived the past 14 years there. In that respect alone, I definitely understand Heather’s feelings about watching another family enjoy the ranch she called home.
No matter what the situation is – it is tough to lose one’s home. Even worse when there is nothing you can do but pack up and drive away.
Anyway …
McCullough definitely infuses reality with a bit of inspiration in this book, which to start off with is a super clean read and definitely fits the “Heartwarming” line. The super cute, absolutely adorable cover drew me to it. Nothing like kids and animals to get the “feels” rolling.
But, the cover isn’t the only thing that will get the “feels” rolling. This will mention and have themes of losing one’s home, line of duty death (Savannah was in the U.S Army), slight issue with bullying, cancer diagnosis, childhood anemia, as well as childhood anxiety. These are very real, and often tough subjects that could cause a reader to walk away from a book.
Often I write trigger warnings for potential readers, I didn’t expect that to happen with this one for myself personally.
That said …
This introduces us to Matt, his twin niece/nephew – Lucy and Nick, his mother Stacey, Heather Stanhope, her friend Bethany Hoover, along with the other residents of Adelaide Creek, Wyoming.
The town is named for the Stanhope ancestor, and for years the Stanhopes were a sheep ranch fixture. Tough times, death, and bad markets forced Heather and her brother to sell leaving behind the poor neglected home, buildings, and land.
Heather, now a pediatric nurse, is in town to serve as her best friend’s maid of honor. But, being back in Adelaide Creek is bittersweet and a “short” stop for Heather who is looking to get back to Minnesota after the wedding.
Staying so close to her family’s former home is definitely not something she really enjoys. She enjoyed her job as a traveling nurse, but eventually feels it is time to put down some roots.
Matt Burton on the other hand is raising his late sister’s twins. Like the kids, he and Savannah were also twins so he understands the bond between Lucy and Nick. They’ve pretty much grown up with him as their mother died when they were 2, and their father (unknown to Matt) was killed in a training accident – thus leaving the twins as orphans. Matt has another complication though. The groom-to-be, Charlie, has asked Matt to be the best man – putting him and Heather together. He’s also worried about Nick – something seems to be wrong with the little guy, but Matt can’t quite make out what it is.
It is at the “Spring Fling” (which I’ve noticed a LOT of books use), that Heather and Matt really meet. At first it is awkward. But, the two develop an understanding, almost a “friendship” of sorts. And, Matt even asks Heather to go for a ride on Savannah’s horse, Pebbles. Heather takes him up on it and finds it a bit of a challenge to be at her old home.
Heather is then told about Steak Fry Saturday which is held at the BURTON Ranch not the STANHOPE Ranch, and is also a “costume” event.
Despite the friendly invite, Heather is a bit peeved about being asked as a guest to a party at HER place – but it isn’t her place anymore, something she is still coming to terms with. And, obviously Matt’s mom Stacey thinks it is a BAD idea to invite Heather.
But, that isn’t the only problem Heather has – it is also Jillian, a former cancer patient, age 10, and seemingly a little too attached to Heather. Heather’s goal is to get through the wedding, then put down roots – staying isn’t an option (isn’t that what they all say).
Matt asks Heather to help with sheepherding due to her experience. Despite her issue with the land, Heather accepts.
The more time Heather and Matt spend together, the two get closer – though the idea of being seriously involved is confined to a kiss. Stacey is quite vocal (only to Matt) about him and Heather – especially because of the history.
Heather and Bethany also talk about their childhood as well as Heather’s family’s legacy. And, even Heather begins to see she’s been looking at the losses through murky lenses, and comes to realize she does have roots there.
She even spends time at Dr. Tom’s clinic and realizes what she’s been missing with “clinic” work, especially when one of the patients, Mags (the 15-year-old on anxiety meds) tells Heather she belongs in Adelaide Creek.
Though, there is a downside at that point. Stacey doesn’t want Heather to know all of what is wrong with Nick because she might “blab” about it. Heather is quick to point out the privacy laws she is bound to. They are very real – HIPAA which is an acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. This is often information patients would be given the first time at a doctor’s office and definitely during EVERY emergency room visit. Heather, without Matt’s consent, could not “blab” about Nick’s health.
But, as usual – before the happy ending comes a crisis – Matt’s, Heather’s as well as one for the twins.
McCullough does a great job in tying it all together as well as wrapping it up by the very end, though leaving the door open for us to revisit Matt and Heather.
While this is the first book, it EASILY acts as a standalone, though, I am VERY eager to read future installments of the series. I want to see how things are going with Bethany and Charlie, Matt and Heather, but I also want to check in on Mags too. I felt she had a LOT of potential.
Even though it was a tough read given the subject, it definitely held my interest and kept me reading with the emotional story, the occasional witty dialogue, and the easy flow pacing. There were a few typos here or there, but not enough to truly detract from the story. This is definitely a thought-provoking, poignant, touching read that might require some tissues.
As stated, this is definitely a “clean” read so there are NO worries about language or intimacy. Fans of the author and the line are sure to enjoy this.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Thanks so much for hosting my book on your tour--and I so appreciate your thoughtful review. I empathize with your housing dilemma and have some familiarity with these problems you're going through. As it happens, another book in the series is due out in December. In time for Christmas, so who knows what could happen? It's been so gratifying that readers enjoy the way Matt and Heather weather their individual storms.
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