Cara Martin and Ryan Langston are best friends. They met over a year ago, when Ryan visited the Boston Library where Cara works as a research librarian. It is easy to recognize this handsome man with a sweet one-sided grin, from the Society Pages. He is mega- rich. When his parents were killed in a plane crash, La TIERRA CONQUISITADA, the huge cattle/oil ranch in West Texas, became his and his oldest brother, Jeth's. Having no desire to be a rancher, he attended Harvard and became a very successful attorney with his own law firm.

Cara is working hard to pay the mountain of debt left when her parents were killed. Forced to abandon Julliard and her dreams of becoming a concert pianist, even her Steinway was taken to pay bills. She has given up on her appearance and shabby clothes are the only ones she can afford. Ryan knows her situation and teases her about her attire. He is the sunshine of her life and she looks forward to their Sundays together. Their lifestyles are as different as the cars they drive. She a shabby, old Volkswagen: He a sleek red Ferrari. Their time together is special. They usually walk the beach gathering oak for a colorful fire in Ryan's fireplace or picking up sea glass. They talk endlessly about their hopes, secrets and dreams.

Eventually the secret Ryan tries so hard to keep from Cara unravels. Despite the knock of death on his door, Ryan loves Cara with every fiber of his being. Together they live out his final days, but it's after his death that Cara's life takes a new turn for the better.

After Ryan passes away, she is told by his Associate, that Ryan left his share of the ranch to her. He then gives her a letter written by Ryan. The letter Ryan describes the promise. Cara is to live at La Tierra for one year and not tell Jeth anything. After a year, Cara will be free to do whatever she wishes to do with her share of the ranch. She doesn't understand why Ryan would do such a thing to his beloved brother, but she knows she will keep the promise, no matter what.

She travels to Texas to meet Jeth in the Texas office of the lawyers representing him. He is the most awesome human being she has ever seen. Tall, very tall, with grey glacial eyes, they are two antagonists and the sparks fly. Jeth is rude, arrogant and treats Cara like a fortune hunter and worse. Arriving at the ranch. she finds no warmth from the staff or from any of the hired ranch hands. When she is ordered to go on a roundup and serve as assistant chef, she works hard, does not lose her courage and slowly but surely earns the respect of the Chef and some of the men. This is the beginning of her journey and a wonderful adventure. Soon she is in love with Texas, the ranch and perhaps her co-owner?

Leila Meacham is a favorite author of mine. Her ROSES, TUMBLEWEEDS, SOMERSET and TITANS sit on my cherished reads bookshelf. When I began to read RYAN'S HAND, I was surprised to see the letter from Ms. Meacham telling that this was her first romance, written over thirty years ago. She was a 9th grade English teacher and one of her associates made her a bet. A steak dinner at the San Francisco Steak House if she succeeded in writing a romantic novel. Not only was RYAN'S HAND published, two others, CROWNING DESIRE and ALY'S HOUSE were also published. Her historical sagas are thrilling and impressive. This lover of love stories fell in love with Cara, Ryan and Jeth. I am still swooning from the dynamite attraction of Cara and Jeth. It sizzled and sparkled and I could not turn the pages fast enough to reach the finale where I cheered. I was truly transported to La Tierra and this master story teller kept me enthralled and i found it difficult to put the book down. RYAN'S HAND is a delicious read that touched my heart. Another winner, I want more!