They've got each other -- and a whole lot of trouble.
Austin Jameson's life is complicated enough. With twin girls he adores and a ranch he's dedicated to, the widower and cowboy is more than busy. But when his former flame arrives in his hometown, his world is thrown off balance.
Former child star McCall Dalton wants to run away -- from her image and the scandal that has engulfed her. Brokenhearted and humiliated, she's come back home to Texas to escape.
Austin doesn't find peace and McCall doesn't get refuge -- instead they rediscover every delicious inch of one another. Before long, their budding romance must face a custody battle with Austin's in-laws and yet another scandal. Determined not to let each other go a second time, they set out to prove that it's true what they say: love really does conquer all.
Good second chance love story, with lots of love, laughter, and family drama. McCall is one of a set of triplets who spent from the age of three to fifteen as one of the stars of a reality show. It all ended when her sister Hadley got in trouble for joy-riding, and the show was canceled. All three sisters, Sunny (Tangled Up in Texas), McCall, and Hadley, as well as their brother, Hayden, were happy to see the end of it. Their parents - not so much, and ended up creating all kinds of trouble for years. McCall, who was known as the good sister, went on to get a degree in counseling and recently started a charitable foundation with her boyfriend.
Though the relationship with Cody ended, they pretended it was still on to protect their latest fundraiser. That comes to a screeching and humiliating end when McCall catches Cody knocking boots with Miss Watermelon during the fundraiser. After making her displeasure known, McCall heads home to Lone Star Ridge to regroup and avoid the media. Not wanting to worry her grandmother, McCall stops at her old friend Austin's ranch for help in calming down before seeing Granny Em.
Austin is the widowed father of three-year-old twins Gracie and Avery. He still struggles with grief over his wife's death two years earlier. His girls are the center of his world. They and his horse ranch keep him hopping, but he wouldn't have it any other way. His biggest problem is his nosy, manipulative mother-in-law, Edith, who regularly threatens to sue for custody of the girls.
The first chapter was a hilarious start to the book. Austin opens his front door (in a pink tutu and tiara) to find a strange man (Cody) demanding to see McCall, who isn't there - yet. Cody's demands and whining steadily increase until McCall makes an appearance. McCall isn't happy to see him and threatens a particularly sensitive portion of his anatomy with her pointy-toed shoes. Matters become more complicated with the arrival of reporters and a cop determined to arrest Cody, bringing Sheriff Leyton Jameson, Austin's brother, into the mix. The icing on the cake is Edith's arrival and blatant disapproval of the whole ruckus.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Austin and McCall. They have a history together. Austin was an extra on the tv show, brought in to play a teenage McCall's crush. That wasn't too hard, as each was unknowingly crushing on the other. McCall's crush continued into high school, where she competed with her friend Zoey for Austin's attention. Dice may have been involved 😉, and Zoey came out the winner and ultimately married him. Years later, proximity brings back the old feelings with added intensity.
Austin quickly realizes he wants to spend more time with McCall. She the first woman to break through his grief, and he likes how he feels around her. McCall feels the same way, but she has some secrets that could make things more difficult for him. There are some wonderful scenes between them as their feelings strengthen, and Austin does his best to convince her to take a chance. There are some sweet scenes with Avery, Gracie, and their "fairy lady" as McCall falls just as hard for the girls as she does for their father.
Meanwhile, McCall's secrets do come out, causing a series of twists and turns and hilarious and emotional situations. I loved Austin's support as McCall faces varying levels of repercussions. It all comes to a head when Edith makes good on her threat, and McCall has to decide whether to run or fight. The ending was great as love finds a way.
The secondary characters were wonderful. Avery and Gracie top the list out of sheer adorableness. I loved their enthusiasm for just about everything they encounter. It was fun to see them playing "cops and bobbers" with their aunt Cait (a deputy) and "nukle" Leyton, and "fairy tale rules" with McCall. I ached for them at the end when "cussody" became an issue. Edith was a piece of work. Her judgmental attitude was uncalled for because Austin was a wonderful dad. McCall's assistant Mo was great. I loved her background, her support for McCall, and her snarky sense of humor. Granny Em was a hoot, and I loved her reverse strip poker games with Mo. Hadley made a brief appearance, and I can't wait to get to her book.
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