True Love at Silver Creek Ranch (Valentine Valley Series #2)

by Emma Cane

Overview

Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens . . .

Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows' Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam's arms, she's shocked to discover she may just want more.

Adam knows it's crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?

Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062102294
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	12/26/2012
Series:	Valentine Valley , #2
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	318,675
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Emma Cane grew up reading, and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine, Colorado, a small town of her own creation nestled in the Rocky Mountains. Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband, Jim, and two rambunctious dogs, Apollo and Uma. Emma also writes USA Today bestselling novels under the name Gayle Callen.

Editorial Reviews

When a barn fire brings rancher Brooke Thalberg racing in from the hills to rescue her horses, she is amazed to find that the stranger who helps her is someone she knows—bad boy high school football star Adam Desantis, back from Afghanistan and as attractive as ever. In town to check on his grandmother and still dealing with his experience of the war, Adam is at loose ends. When Brooke's father offers him a job on the ranch, Adam accepts. But he doesn't count on the growing attraction between himself and Brooke, which is too hard to resist. VERDICT An emotionally wounded war veteran dealing with guilt and a practical, caring cowgirl find love most unexpectedly—with the meddling help of the Widows' Boardinghouse inhabitants and the town's inherent magic. This touching family- and community-centered romance addresses some serious issues and is a lovely, uplifting addition to Cane's ongoing series. Cane (A Town Called Valentine) writes historical romance as Gayle Callen; she lives in Liverpool, NY.

Library Journal

Hometown hero and wanderer Adam Desantis is back in Valentine Valley, concerned about his grandma; he doesn't intend to stay in the town that he never fit into, and he definitely knows better than to get involved with Brooke Thalberg, daughter of the richest rancher in the valley--no matter what his heart says. Brooke remembers troublemaker Adam Desantis from their high school days, but maybe it's his haunted eyes or his respectful manners that convince her he's not the same boy who left. He's all man, and from the second he appears from nowhere to help her save her beloved horses from a burning barn, she's aware of him in a way she's never been before--with anyone. Sexual attraction sizzles between them, but when her father hires Adam to work on the ranch, she knows she'll have to keep her hands to herself; she'll be his boss, after all. Easier said than done, though, and Adam and Brooke enter into a hot, secret affair. Working with him all day gives her insight into the smart, honorable man he's become, and there's no question he sets her senses on fire. But Adam's only in town to check on his grandmother, and Mrs. Palmer's as healthy as a horse. Falling in love would be a risky move, given his determination to leave and his wariness toward getting involved with a Thalberg. Cane's second Valentine Valley book is sweet, passionate and engaging. A compelling romance between primary characters with connected-though-not-shared childhoods, the story offers an intriguing arc of overcoming past misconceptions and assumptions, while Adam and Brooke each face major crossroads that are complicated by their relationship. Secondary characters add amusing and grounding details, fortifying the worldbuilding and enhancing the backdrop of the small town that helps the book succeed. A textured, satisfying romance with a cast of characters you care about and a community that draws you in.

Kirkus Reviews