Annie Hennessey views the charred ruins of her family's inn, destroyed by a wildfire which raged through Sweetheart, Nevada. Luckily she's since been able to find work with the Division of Forestry. Sam Wyler surprises Annie by arriving back in town after living in California, a widower with a daughter, intending to buy a local ranch and start a hospitality business. They'd once been close, but she had thought she'd seen the last of him. And if Annie had the money, she'd have bought the Gold Nugget ranch herself.

THE RANCHER'S HOMECOMING is not all plain sailing as there are no horses, the house is long abandoned and Sam's daughter Lyndsey insists on adopting two abandoned baby possums. But with many in the town needing work since the fire, pretty soon Sam's bought up a livery stable's stock and hired a hand, and a local lady is thrilled with the job of housekeeper. Annie meanwhile is coping with insurance forms, a remarried ex-husband who wants to take custody of their daughter, a depressed mother and a grandmother whose wits are wandering from the stress of losing her home. Since her ex runs the general store, she can't escape the situation and Sam's offer of friendship has to be met with caution because of the plentiful town gossips.

Animals wander in and out of this tale, from goats and ponies to an injured goshawk, adding to the realism and liveliness. The ranch used to be the setting for a Western TV show long ago and again this adds depth to the location. The slowed economy means construction firms charge less and workers are keen, so the reconstruction that occurs around Sweetheart is believable and very positive. Annie's dilemmas give her yet more to handle while she is trying to hold down a job, be a good mother and restore her family's business, making her a diversely capable woman and an example to us all.

Cathy McDavid has written a straightforward modern western with very human dilemmas and while the romance is foreseeable she keeps enough tension to make it interesting. THE RANCHER'S HOMECOMING is a good summer read and an inspiration to all of us in trying to restart the economy.