Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Four of Hearts Ranch #2

Counting on a Cowboy

 After losing everything dear to her, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy spurs her to wonder if maybe love is worth the risk. Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the homey town of Wishing Springs, Texas, after her favorite advice columnist found love and a home there. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby too . . . if she's brave enough to reach out and take it. Bo Monahan isn't interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become--or the women who might be looking at him like he's their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn't looking for serious romantic commitments. But unexpectedly the young child he never knew about appears on his doorstep and Bo's world is turned upside down. This confirmed bachelor might not need a wife, but he sure needs a woman . . . and newcomer Abby Knightly is definitely a woman. When she comes to his rescue to help him navigate fatherhood, he slowly uncovers her own history. And suddenly Bo's thinking maybe, just maybe, together they can help each other work through the problems of the past to create a future of their own.

Counting on a Cowboy (Four of Hearts Ranch #2) 
 
Published August 11th 2015
 by Thomas Nelson 
5 Stars

Debra Clopton and Thomas Nelson brings us the second installment in A Four of Hearts Ranch series, but for me this was definitely a stand alone book.  It's a wonderful, contemporary romance about loss, grief and dealing with moving on.  The strong, well developed characters will grab you at page one, and the storyline will keep you turning the pages until the end.  
Abby Knightley is a character that grabbed my heart instantly.  She knows all about loss.  2 years ago a wreck claimed the lives of her husband and unborn child.  In the blink of an eye her entire life was changed and so was she.  Her grief has consumed her life since the wreck and I think to some extent survivors guilt also.  She decides in order to move on she must not only change her physical address, but move to a place where no one really knows her history. 
She has picked the small town of Whisperings, Texas.  It's a small rural community and a place she thinks will an easy place to hide and deal with her grief.  Unfortunately her arrival comes with a literal bang when she almost hits a steer in the road and has to swerve into a fence to avoid hitting it.  
Confirmed bachelor, Bo Monahan, likes his life just the way it is, almost.  He lives on the ranch with his two brothers and grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer disease.  Bo is well known for the stirrups he designs and keeps busy with orders for them.  He has moved in with his grandfather due to his declining health.  Needless to say he is a busy man and really doesn't have the time or inclination to date.  '
Bo and Abby meet by chance, but the attraction is instant. 
 The author brings humor, tragedy, and of course romance to this story. 
Abby is sweet and caring, but also afraid to start living again.  Bo is cocky, but confident.  Of course when he sees the pain in Abby's eyes he instantly knows that she's seen heartbreak.  He wants to make her smile again.  
This is a wonderful story that I would recommend to anyone. 
I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for a honest review without bias or outside influence as stated above.  I would like to thank them for this opportunity. 

Author Debra Clopton 
Debra Clopton is an award winning, multi-published novelist. She sold her first book in 2003 and it was published in 2005 THE TROUBLE WITH LACY BROWN was the first book of the fun loving Mule Hollow series~the place readers tell her they wish was real.. 
Debra is proud of the success of her books and gives all the glory to God.
Debra believes her greatest award is first, God’s grace in her life and His gift of salvation. And second, her family and spending time with them. She counts every moment as a gift. Time is so precious…
 Married for 22 blessed years to her high school sweetheart, Wayne Clopton, Debra was widowed in 2003. God’s arms never let go of her or her two sons, Chase and Kris, during those dark months after Wayne’s death. Her first book sold 7 months after Wayne’s death and her mission became showing the love she’d known  in her life, through her characters and shining a light into reader’s darkest hours with love and laughter of her books.
Happily, in 2008, God led a couple of friends to play matchmaker and talk her into a blind date with Chuck Parks—who they also talked into a blind date…sounds like a page out of one of her Mule Hollow books! Instantly hitting it off, Debra and Chuck were married in 2010 and are so thankful that God led them to each other. Debra now has more love to share in her books!
Her sons, her lovely daughter-in-law and beautiful granddaughter have recently moved across country—it’s been a bit of a shock for her to adjust to not having them close. She feels blessed to have a career that enables her to visit them often and her motto is —have computer, will travel!
Along with her writing Debra helps her husband teach the youth at the Cowboy Church of Leon County. When she isn’t writing Debra loves to read, travel and spend time with her family. She is currently working on her 23 book for Love Inspired and also her new Four of Hearts Ranch Series for Thomas Nelson.
 
https://www.facebook.com/debra.clopton.5
 https://twitter.com/debraclopton


2 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this one too, Katrina! :)

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    1. Carrie, I believe you and have the same taste in books. When I read the first in this series I was hooked, so now I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. Thank you for stopping by.

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