I found myself liking this story right from the start.
Donna Alward does a splendid job of making her characters
walk off the page and into our hearts. In THE COWBOY'S
VALENTINE, Lacey Duggan is distressed to be coming home to
Crooked Valley ranch in Montana. Lacey was a career CPA in
a government office, and budget cutbacks mean she's out
the
door. Not long before, she'd had health issues and a
divorce in quick succession, so she's now time rich and
cash poor. The ranch she would prefer to sell is a
fallback
home for her, but it's just temporary, right?
Lacey's brother Duke, recently married, is a veteran who
intends to make the ranch life a success and hopes to get
Lacey to accept her third share of the spread. The ranch
foreman, Quinn Solomon, is caught in the middle, trying to
ignore the Duggan family issues and get on with the work.
Quinn knows about life's hard knocks. His treasured wife
died and left him to raise their young daughter Amber.
He's
devoted to the ranching life and Lacey's attitude worries
him, for his job depends on family solidarity. The quicker
he can help her find another income stream, the better.
I enjoyed how little girl Amber is a pleasant distraction
for Lacey. She's cheerful, and her chatter is a diversion
from being told positions are already filled. Lacey enjoys
cooking but doesn't see herself as a home-maker. She has
to
start considering part-time book-keeping for stores in
town. Women and men all over the world are having to come
to terms with a changed economy, which under-utilises
their
skills and experience. Resentful some may be, but that
doesn't help anyone. Lacey's feelings are well portrayed
and her changing attitudes can help us all to learn. St.
Valentine's Day may start her on a happier pathway. Quinn
has to learn not to make immediate judgements about
people,
and not to make barriers of his bad fortune. Is a future
for the two on the cards - or will their hearts remain in
different places?
Packed with grit, outdoor life and admirable people in the
Montana community, THE COWBOY'S VALENTINE is well worth a
read. If Valentine's Day does make some people act out
their romantic wishes, we should celebrate it, because
everyone needs a little romance to brighten their life.
Donna Alward has hit just the right note with this
wonderful, heart-warming story.
HEART OF A COWBOY Coming home is hard enough without ranch manager Quinn Solomon making Lacey Duggan feel like an unwanted guest. She's only here until she figures out what to do with her one-third ownership of Crooked Valley. But Quinn's irresistible daughter is giving Lacey ideas about being part of a family. And though they don't even like each other, Lacey's having crazier notions about the widowed single dad. Does Lacey think she can waltz in and turn Quinn's life upside down…only to leave again? The pretty accountant knows nothing about running a ranch, yet she's making the Montana homestead feel like a home. Quinn isn't looking for love again. Until a woman who's all heart and a determined little girl help one lovestruck cowboy see the light.
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