New Release Review and Giveaway! WILD HORSE SPRINGS by Jodi Thomas (Ransom Canyon #5)

Synopsis:

In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect

Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he’s proud of what he’s achieved: he’s a respected lawman, and he’s raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs.

After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she’s fine being a drifter until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option.

College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren’s homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?

Review:

So much going on in this book! Ms. Thomas weaves a number of characters’ stories into this one–Dan and Brandi, Lauren and Lucas, Cole and Tess, Thatcher and Hailey (that last one is not a romance–Thatcher’s 18 and Hailey’s 5!) –along with a strong thread of suspense running throughout. It could have easily all been too much, or too confusing, but I’m happy to say it wasn’t. One couple doesn’t get to an HEA (yet–fingers crossed that they will at eventually!) but everyone else reaches a highly satisfying point by the end of the book.

I loved that the main couple, Dan and Brandi, are older than the usual romance hero and heroine (actually, come to think of it, Cole and Tess are slightly older too). The romance universe absolutely needs more main characters finding romance when they’re past their 20s. The way that Dan and Brandi started out too was adorable–finding her blue sparkly cowboy boot on the side of the road made their meet cute one with a Cinderella flair.

This book, though it’s billed as fifth in the series, worked just fine as a standalone. It’s my first book from Ms. Thomas, actually–and it definitely won’t be my last!

Rating: 4 stars  / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

About the author:

I’m a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, wife, mother, in-law, grandmother, sister, friend, and owner of one fat cat.

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