Everyone deserves a second chance at happiness, and in COME HOME, COWBOY Cathy McDavid drives home that point. Bad things happen in life and some drown in their misery. Others rise above their sadness looking for a way to put back meaning in what they perceive as an unlucky life. COME HOME, COWBOY illustrates just how much pain a person can endure, but then Cathy McDavid infuses a large dose of hope and love as the medicine to dull the pain and hopefully cast it away.

You can't delete bad memories. They seem to find a place in our subconscious and establish firm roots. Even so we need to make new good memories to push them to the recesses of our minds. Cara needs to make some of those new memories, but she has been hiding behind the tragedy of losing her little boy. No mother can avoid those moments when they lose sight of their children and they wind up getting hurt. No mother can watch their kids 24/7—it's just not possible. Even knowing that, Cara has been doing a good job of beating herself up since the accidental death of her Javier.

Establishing a sanctuary for rescued Mustangs has given Cara purpose and kept her busy. It is her life. But she is beginning to acknowledge that she needs help. The sanctuary is a financial challenge, and her remaining on Dos Estrellas hinges on the future of the ranch, which is unfortunately suffering its own monetary woes.

So when newcomer Josh Dempsey, an heir to the ranch, offers Cara a mutually beneficial deal she is hardly in a position to turn him down. Josh needs help with his two little children, and he can't think of anyone he would rather turn to. Josh in turn is willing to adopt or sponsor a mustang for his kids which would add to the sanctuary coffers.

But their relationship is fated to go beyond just friends helping each other. Josh is determined to get beyond Cara's wall, and Cara's equally determined to protect herself and those children. Cara doesn't trust herself as a caretaker, and yet that is exactly her role at the sanctuary. Only time will tell whether her deep-seated wounds can be healed. It is going to take a very determined man to get through Cara's insecurities to the loving wonderful woman hidden in sadness and fear. Trust and love are the prescription.

COME HOME, COWBOY is a delightful tale of taking on people and animals with special challenges and needs. Cathy McDavid uses the horses for therapy and teaches us once again their amazing healing power. COME HOME, COWBOY is rich with exceptional characters living ordinary lives filled with moments that challenge their ability to cope.

There is a second little tidbit at the back of this book by the wonderful Debbie Macomber. In MY FUNNY VALENTINE we find Dianne at the end of her ropes. She desperately needs a date for the Valentines community dance so she grabs at what she perceives as her very last chance: her own knight —actually the auto club guy sent to unlock her car. Not Dianne's best moment as she fully explains to Steve the errant knight. In fact the poor guy is learning more about Dianne than she really wants. But as embarrassing as the moment is becoming it doesn't prevent her from perhaps turning it to advantage. Here's a guy who needs money and she needs a date—a two hour date. Sounds good doesn't it, but somehow things just don't turn out the way Dianne plans—and that's when the fun really begins.