Texas in 1895 is the setting for a warm-hearted story of
children in need of adoption and a rancher who hadn't
expected to be a father just yet. The STAND-IN RANCHER
DADDY is CJ Thorn, uncle of twin girls, who has no option
but to assume responsibility. The girls' mother died and
their depressed, frustrated father abdicated by riding off
on CJ's best horse after a few months.
Luckily for CJ, a young widowed woman who is a friend of
the family has been coming to see to the girls each day.
Molly Langley is as practical as she is caring, and the
little girls adore her. With five hundred head of cattle,
the ranch won't run itself, and CJ needs his neighbour's
help. The town of Little Horn is small but growing, only
founded two years previously, and it doesn't have a church
yet. Sunday services are held in a large tent. When the
four of them attend, they look like a family - but they are
not, and Molly never intends to wed again. Not to mention,
CJ is worried that he may carry the tendency to drink like
his father and brother. Maybe he wouldn't make any lady a
good husband.
This historical romance tale is evocative of a time when
people depended upon horses and wagon wheels, when a ranch
meant isolation and a town meant wagging tongues. Stolen
cattle are a huge issue because margins are tight, and a
man's honour is a real measure of his worth. Of course,
people find ways to enjoy themselves too. What would a town
festival be without a sack race, a picnic basket auction
and a pie-eating contest? Is that enough, though, to turn
the loose group of townsfolks and ranchers into a real
community? Time will tell.
Like any Western this is a story with drama and strong
characters. I did find the romance outcome foreseeable, but
it's suitable for any age of reader from teens up, and
poses interesting dilemmas. Renee Ryan is herself a twin
so she says she enjoyed writing about the childhood of twin
girls, while a single father trying to do the right thing
wins sympathies. Molly is perhaps too hung up on her own
concerns but can be a woman of action when needed. STAND-IN
RANCHER DADDY is great for readers who want a sweet romance
about a frontier family. This is part of Harlequin's series
by various authors called 'Lone Star Cowboy League: The
Founding Years' so there will be more such tales for you to
enjoy.
Suddenly a Father Rancher CJ Thorn isn't ready to graduate from uncle to brand-new daddy—but he has no choice. After his widowed brother runs off, a pair of adorable twins have no one but CJ…and lovely neighbor Molly Langley. She's helped with the girls for so long that she's almost part of the family. Almost. CJ knows his family isn't good enough for her. Not when his brother's actions have disgraced the Thorn name yet again. Watching CJ become a devoted father would soften any woman's heart. Yet Molly must remain immune. CJ deserves more than a woman who can't have children. Held back by fear, it'll take a disaster forcing the community together before they're ready to risk a chance on happiness.
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