Home on the Range

November 1, 2016

Single father Nick Stafford faces many challenges raising his two daughters alone on the family ranch in central Washington State. In light of her mother's abandonment, Cheyenne is struggling in school. Enter Elsa Andreas, a former child psychologist whose sister is the school principal. Although there is an initial attraction between Nick and Elsa, who is also nursing her own wounds, their focus is on making sure his children feel loved and secure. Just as the two begin to make progress, Whitney, Nick's ex-wife, waltzes into their lives once again. VERDICT In the follow-up to Back in the Saddle, Herne's technique of building an authentic slow glow of attraction between the lead protagonists rather than having them plunge into a quick and unrealistic relationship adds to her romance's appeal. Exquisite prose and lush descriptions of the Western setting in this character-driven novel are impeccably wrought.

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