He told himself he could never be what she needs. But
maybe he's found the only role that really matters…
As a kid, Hayes Dalton took a back seat to his sisters'
reality show, Little Cowgirls, but to deputy Cait Jameson, her childhood crush
was always the main attraction. Now a Hollywood star in his own right, Hayes is
back in Lone Star Ridge to attend his sisters' weddings and, while their
connection is immediate, Cait finds herself struggling to reconcile the boy
from her past with this new celebrity bad boy.
Hayes knows he'll return to LA once the "I dos"
are over, but until then, getting to know Cait again is the best part about
coming home. Being with her is a salve, especially after a personal tragedy
turned his world upside down. Can he convince the small-town cop he's falling
for that he's still the same guy beneath the image -- and willing to do whatever
it takes to see where this no-longer-just-a-fling takes them?
Good conclusion to the series. Though Hayes took a
supporting cast role in his sisters'
Little Cowgirls show when they were kids,
he is now the star of his own show. The part of a motorcycle club bad boy is a
good fit for him and kept him employed for ten years. Now he returned for his
sisters' weddings and spent some time getting himself together after the death
of a good friend. He didn't count on getting mixed up with Cait Jameson.
Cait stayed in Lone Star Ridge and eventually became a
deputy sheriff. She likes her job and the people she protects (most of the
time). She remained friends with the Dalton girls, who are about to become her
sisters as they marry her three brothers. The only hitch in the situation is
keeping her still active crush on Hayes under wraps. That proves to be easier
said than done.
The story starts with a bang as Cait, in the ER, receives
treatment for an injury received during a domestic violence call. She's there
when an injured Hayes arrives after being run off the road on his motorcycle. Add
in a ditzy stalker and swirling rumors about his friend's death, and it's no
wonder Hayes feels a little overwhelmed. He has some ideas on how to deal with
all of it, but it's going to take Cait's help to do it.
I liked seeing the development of the relationship
between Cait and Hayes. Neither one can deny the sparks that light up between
them, but both hesitate to do anything about it. Cait knows Hayes returns to
California after the weddings creating a good chance of a broken heart on her
part. Hayes knows his shortcomings and doesn't want to take a chance on hurting
Cait. But as they work together to deal with family crises, Cait and Hayes
discover that they have more in common than they realized. I loved watching
them grow closer, support each other through family issues, and become each
other's refuge when life gets messy. I loved the scene at the end. Hayes' vulnerability
shows as he goes after what he wants while fearing it isn't possible. Cait's
response was great.
As in the previous books, family dynamics play a
significant part in the story. The Daltons' mother, Sunshine, is up to her old
tricks of trying to cash in on her kids' fame. She wants to film the weddings
and sell it to the tabloids, and Hayes and his sisters want nothing to do with
it. Sunshine uses threats and blackmail to push her demands, putting Hayes in
the difficult position of protecting his sisters or dealing with some personal
fallout. I loved seeing how the Daltons support each other through the crisis,
along with the capable backup of the Jameson clan. On the Jameson side, family
patriarch Marty's irresponsibility comes home to roost again. This time it's a
previously unknown grandson who shows up in need of a place to stay. Cait reads
Marty the riot act, inadvertently revealing the effects of his actions on her.
I finally have some hope for Marty's redemption as some of her complaints hit home.
Not only does he come through for his family at the end, but he also helps
solve the Daltons' problem with Sunshine.
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