"beauty is only skin deep"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted November 24, 2012
Romance Contemporary
The protagonist in THE RANCHER is a rather large red rooster
named Pumpkin. Only Diana Palmer can open her story with
the heroine of the book facing down a big personal problem
involving a rooster. Immediately you are taken with her
innate sense of humor and likeability of her characters,
true Palmer fashion. Haven't met a Palmer book I didn't
like and THE RANCHER is no exception. Prepare to be thoroughly
entertained.
Okay, so Maddie Lane is in a bit of a quandary. Her newest
rooster is causing havoc with not only her ranch and ranch
hands but has become a kind of wanderer going onto the
neighboring ranch and unfortunately her exceptionally
handsome cowboy of a neighbor is just not finding any humor
in these visits. In fact Cort Brannt is already threatening
a lawsuit if this menace isn't taken care of. Maddie has
had her share of run ins with Pumpkin but her soft hearted
nature just can't face getting rid of him. Her right hand
man has offered to make a soup with Pumpkin as the main
ingredient but Maddie is pretty adamant that she can find a
better more humane solution.
But Pumpkin isn't going to remain Maddie's biggest problem.
There's no hiding her long time attraction to her good
looking neighbor but Cort's been after another neighbor's
daughter Odalie for just as long. Cort's not having any
better luck with Odalie than Maddie's having with her
unrequited love for Cort. To rub salt in the wound, Cort is
nothing if not blunt in letting Maddie know in no uncertain
terms that he is not at all attracted to her. In fact he
doesn't mince words when in anger over Pumpkin's latest
escapade tells Maddie that in his eyes Maddie is no beauty.
The only person who can hurt you to your bones is someone
you love. Maddie's pride and self confidence take still
another shot, badly wounded by the hurtful words of Cort.
I got the feeling that if you looked up insensitive male
you'd see a picture of Cort. Cort's not a bad guy just
frustrated in his own love problems. He just doesn't
understand why he lets Maddie get under his skin like that.
He isn't mean so why does he do and say such nasty things
to the gentle hardworking woman. As it turns out he has a
lot to learn about his neighbor and his mother is opening
his eyes. Bad enough when a woman is plagued with her own
doubts of her image but beyond imaginable when her
shortcomings are used as a weapon.
Cort's relationship with Maddie undertakes a
dramatic shift when plagued with guilt over the damage done
in a disastrous accident. Faced with the physical
challenges Maddie will have due to his negligence Cort has
to take stock of some feelings rising to the surface.
Feelings that he would never have acknowledged and due to
his past flagrant disregard for Maddie he is going to have
to do some real soul searching and perhaps begging to get
her to accept his change of heart.
There are more than enough apologies to be handed out but
sometimes they just might not be enough to undo some life
altering damage. Maddie doesn't need any more apologies,
she needs care and love. At the end of the day these are
the qualities that will make the difference in Maddie and
Cort's relationship.
I must admit there were several times I just wanted to smack
the male lead in this story on his hard delusional head.
Palmer is insistent on giving this insensitive guy a
chance. For me I was rooting for the rooster. But at the
end of the day Palmer does her magic and changes a
conceited nincompoop into the stuff that dreams are made
of. Quite a herculean task but worth the adventure.
SUMMARY
Days are hot on Skylance Ranch, and the nights even hotter! New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer brings her readers back to Branntville, Texas, with Cort Brannt's story. The heir to the Skylance Ranch empire has women gallop into his life, but the handsome lone wolf sends them just as quickly on their way?until a pretty, vivacious neighbor appears on the range. Has the most eligible bachelor in Branntville met his match?
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