Jamie Westmoreland is the surgical charge nurse in a mid-sized Texas town, where she arrived after a spell in a Dallas hospital with all its pandemonium. Faris feels a lot quieter, and most injuries are received from farm work, not car crashes or violence. Like the handsome cowboy with cracked ribs and a damaged foot, Thomas Tremayne, currently recovering in the surgical ward. CAPTURING THE TEXAS RANCHER’S HEART starts with a lively kid, Andy, asking Jamie if he can visit his dad.

Jamie enjoys the view of her rugged patient, but keeps him at arm’s length and stays professional. She’s full of consternation when the hospital authority decides to send her home with Thomas for a few weeks on discharge, against Thomas’s own wishes. Turns out the man is a lone parent, and his aunt and sister are both away. A full-sized invalid is more than a grandfather can cope with, and the ‘Tremaynes of Texas’ family have been donors to the hospital in the past, so the staff should return the favour unasked.

I like a lot of aspects of this emotionally intelligent romance. Jamie has a strong background distrust of men, which we don’t learn in detail until later. Suffice to say she’s never been involved with anyone. Thomas has no interest in a romance as he’s still smarting from being taken for a ride by Andy’s selfish mom. So if the two were not just right for each other, the story could easily have ended with Jamie’s coming back to work after a few weeks.  Andy is a social boon, providing a reason to talk, a great companion and a thoughtful young host. Jamie approves of the way he’s being raised, which tells her a great deal about the boy’s father and wider family.

In this first adventure with the Tremaynes, we also get to meet Thomas’s sister Tori, who produces bucking bulls that awe everyone, and learn a little about rodeos and ranch life, with helpful horses to start Jamie riding. In fact it’s a splendid introduction to this series about a plucky Texas community and a ranch family that weathered the economic storm. I read them out of order but Texas author Debra Holt has taken care that each romance is a standalone. While you can certainly enjoy them separately, you will probably want to pick up any you missed. CAPTURING THE TEXAS RANCHER’S HEART brings a competent, caring heroine into the midst of a family who soon start to appreciate her. Enjoy!