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A review by murrayviolet
A Rancher's Heart by Vivian Arend
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Score: 2/5
At the Silver Stone ranch in Heart Falls, Alberta, Caleb Stone juggles roles as a cowboy, father, and head of his family since losing his parents over a decade ago. He desperately needs help, so he searches for a full-time and live-in nanny for his two daughters. The position is filled by Tamara Coleman, who is seeking a new beginning after losing her job. Despite her resolve to avoid impulsiveness, Tamara finds Caleb's gruff and sexy demeanor irresistible, leading to mutual attraction. However, both are wary of the risks: Tamara fears jeopardizing her job, while Caleb hesitates to open his heart again.
Although romance novels are my passion, Western romance has not traditionally piqued my interest. When my Kobo recommended this book, curiosity got the better of me. The fact that it was available for free encouraged me to read it. Plus, the intriguing blurb convinced me to dive right in.
This book gave me mixed feelings. On a positive note, I appreciated the lack of dramatic clichés, such as the potential for an ex-wife's return, which never happened. However, the narrative's slow pace occasionally made my reading experience somewhat tedious, which led to a loss of interest. The relationship between Tamara and Caleb lacked the spark I was looking for. That’s why I found value in the moments they spent apart because these scenes allowed for a better exploration of their individual characters. My main critique of the book is its emphasis on steamy scenes, particularly towards the end of the book. The writer literally dedicated one chapter of the book to their sexual relationship. I skipped those parts in search of the story's foundation, which seemed overshadowed by then.
When looking at the supporting cast, Caleb's kids stood out for their genuine representation of the rebellious and sometimes unreasonable temperament of young ones. The inclusion of Caleb’s four siblings, though briefly touched upon, hinted at their potential for more in-depth exploration in future stories. This brief introduction to the siblings, alongside a cast of additional characters, made me wonder how many characters there were overall in the narrative.
Overall, I didn't feel as drawn to this book as I had hoped. While there were elements I appreciated, unfortunately, the aspects I found less appealing significantly outweighed them. The story didn't deliver the sense of fulfillment or warmth I wanted in my reading experiences, ultimately feeling like a brief connection that didn't leave a lasting impression.
At the Silver Stone ranch in Heart Falls, Alberta, Caleb Stone juggles roles as a cowboy, father, and head of his family since losing his parents over a decade ago. He desperately needs help, so he searches for a full-time and live-in nanny for his two daughters. The position is filled by Tamara Coleman, who is seeking a new beginning after losing her job. Despite her resolve to avoid impulsiveness, Tamara finds Caleb's gruff and sexy demeanor irresistible, leading to mutual attraction. However, both are wary of the risks: Tamara fears jeopardizing her job, while Caleb hesitates to open his heart again.
Although romance novels are my passion, Western romance has not traditionally piqued my interest. When my Kobo recommended this book, curiosity got the better of me. The fact that it was available for free encouraged me to read it. Plus, the intriguing blurb convinced me to dive right in.
This book gave me mixed feelings. On a positive note, I appreciated the lack of dramatic clichés, such as the potential for an ex-wife's return, which never happened. However, the narrative's slow pace occasionally made my reading experience somewhat tedious, which led to a loss of interest. The relationship between Tamara and Caleb lacked the spark I was looking for. That’s why I found value in the moments they spent apart because these scenes allowed for a better exploration of their individual characters. My main critique of the book is its emphasis on steamy scenes, particularly towards the end of the book. The writer literally dedicated one chapter of the book to their sexual relationship. I skipped those parts in search of the story's foundation, which seemed overshadowed by then.
When looking at the supporting cast, Caleb's kids stood out for their genuine representation of the rebellious and sometimes unreasonable temperament of young ones. The inclusion of Caleb’s four siblings, though briefly touched upon, hinted at their potential for more in-depth exploration in future stories. This brief introduction to the siblings, alongside a cast of additional characters, made me wonder how many characters there were overall in the narrative.
Overall, I didn't feel as drawn to this book as I had hoped. While there were elements I appreciated, unfortunately, the aspects I found less appealing significantly outweighed them. The story didn't deliver the sense of fulfillment or warmth I wanted in my reading experiences, ultimately feeling like a brief connection that didn't leave a lasting impression.