A Cowboy of Her Own - Marin Thomas (HAR #1529 - Jan 2015)

Series: Cash Brothers (Book 6)

He wasn't looking for love

Fun-loving Arizona rodeo cowboy Porter Cash has always been more interested in having a good time than a steady paycheck. But to realize his dream of owning his own ranch, Porter needs this new job delivering roughstock to rodeos. What he doesn't need is a too-serious, too-smart and too-sexy-for-her-own-good copilot on the trip.

When savvy insurance adjuster Wendy Chin joins Porter for the haul, she is all work and no play. But soon, business turns to pleasure and Wendy is conflicted. Her heart wants Porter, but her strict Chinese-American parents will never support the match. Can Porter find a way to prove to Wendy that, when it comes to love, he's not fooling around?

Fantastic conclusion to the Cash Brothers series. I'm sad to see it end, but so happy to see all six brothers find their true loves. Porter is the last Cash brother left unmarried. He's always been the one least likely to settle down. He likes the ladies and has been known to move from  job to job as he gets tired of them. But he's been dissatisfied with life lately. He sees how happy his brothers are and is a bit envious. He's got a dream of his own to have his own ranch to raise bucking horses for rodeos. To do that, he needs a steady job to earn the money for the land he has his eye on. He's gotten a job transporting rodeo animals, but wonders if that job is in jeopardy when insurance adjuster Wendy Chin joins him on his latest trip.

Wendy is a hardworking woman whose life is centered on her work and her family. She's been raised by strict, traditional Chinese parents but she longs for a life with a little more fun in it. She's aware of Porter's reputation, since she's been friends with his sister for a long time. When he dares her to let loose and have a little fun she can't resist the challenge. She doesn't expect the attraction that comes along with the fun. She's not happy about it because there's no way it can go anywhere. She knows that there's no way her parents would ever accept him. The more time they spend together, the deeper her feelings grow for him.

I loved seeing Porter and Wendy together. They are a terrific balance for each other, though both have some issues they have to overcome. Porter feels somewhat self-conscious around Wendy because he never went to college and doesn't exactly have a successful career going on. He also has some trust issues, stemming from a relationship a few years earlier, when the woman had used him to make another man jealous. He has the occasional worry that Wendy is using him for her job. But his feelings for her overpower most of his doubts. I loved seeing him introduce her to darts and karaoke. I really liked the way that he was determined to prove himself to her parents and show them that he was worthy of Wendy. I got really frustrated with his brothers and sister when they were ragging on him about his many jobs and women without noticing that he had changed.

I really felt bad for Wendy with the situation she was in. She's a modern American woman with a great job, who is smart and pretty and longs for a chance to have a normal life. But she was raised to respect her parents, their values and traditions. After a disastrous relationship in college, she doesn't trust her own judgment so has been going along with her parents' choices for her dates. The problem is that none of those nice, successful Chinese men have done a thing for her, Porter is the one her heart has chosen. She really wants to respect her parents' wishes, but the idea of giving up her happiness to do so is breaking her heart. I was really rooting for her to stand up to them.

I enjoyed the secondary story of the investigation into why Porter's boss had had several of his bulls disappear while being transported. It added a little bit of suspense and action to the story. There was also an interesting twist involving the identity of Porter's father that made a great addition to the book.

The ending was sweet and funny as Wendy's parents were treated to a parade of people pleading Porter's case. I loved Wendy's reaction and what she did afterward. The epilogue was a very satisfying wrap up.

True Blue Cowboy - Marin Thomas (HAR #1509 - Aug 2014)

Series: Cash Brothers (Book 5)

He Never Expected To See Her Again!

When Mack Cash's mysterious one-night stand shows up at the dude ranch where he works, he is stunned. And just as he suspected during their night together, Beth Richards is no buckle bunny, despite the getup she was wearing. Instead, she's just the kind of woman he's looking for -- sexy, sure, but also down-home and whip-smart.

Mack's obvious attraction is just the boost Beth was looking for after a hurtful divorce. She loves the way he looks at her -- and sees her. Except for one thing. He wants a family, and Beth can only disappoint him. She's already failed at love once and she can't go through it again. That's why she has to let Mack go….

Loved it! Mack and Beth meet at a bar one night. He is there playing with his band and she has come in to "celebrate" her divorce. They are drawn to each other immediately. Beth is only looking for one night of forgetfulness and to feel desirable again, and leaves in the morning before he wakes up. They don't expect to see each other again. When she shows up at the ranch where he works, Mack is thrilled to see her again and have a chance to get to know her.

Mack was great. After years of playing in his band and enjoying the ladies, he has begun to tire of it. He's almost thirty and has seen four brothers and his sister settle down, and he would like to have what they do. Though Beth gave the impression she was just another buckle bunny that night, he now realizes that she's just the woman he was looking for. He wants to see where their attraction might go. I loved his closeness to his family and the way that they all support each other. Mack wants that same kind of life with Beth. He tried so hard to show her what they could have together. I ached for him as she continued to resist. 

Beth had gone with him that night because she needed to feel like an attractive woman again. Her husband had betrayed her by sleeping with her boss and getting her pregnant. This was a double blow to Beth because of her inability to have children. Mack's attention makes her feel wonderful, but she can't give him what he wants - a family of his own. Even after he tells her of his love and that they can adopt, Beth is afraid to trust that those feelings will last. It takes a special little girl to show her that Mack has the kind of love that will last forever. Though there were times I wanted to shake Beth because of her lack of faith in herself and Mack, I could feel her pain and her fears. I couldn't stop reading until she finally opened up her heart and saw the possibilities for their future.

I loved the ending and seeing how Mack and Beth were able to make the family they both wanted. I can't wait to see them pop up in Porter's book, as I am sure they will. One of the greatest things about family series like these is being able to see the characters as their lives unfold. I really enjoyed seeing the rest of the family and how they are all doing. 

The Cowboy's Destiny - Marin Thomas (HAR #1498 - May 2014)

Series: Cash Brothers (Book 4)

IT WAS FATE…

Destiny Saunders is tough, but being left at the altar makes even the toughest gals do some strange things. When she stumbles upon a stranded cowboy -- Buck Owens Cash, the best thing to arrive in Lizard Gulch, Arizona, in a long time -- she arranges things so they can have a little fun before he rides off into the sunset. The sexy, shapely auto mechanic is just one surprise after another, so Buck plays along to see what will happen.

What happens is love…the kind that makes a man want to prove himself. Then Buck discovers Destiny's secret -- one that will tie her to another man for the rest of her life. Betrayed, he returns to the rodeo circuit determined to forget Destiny…but fate has other plans!

Another Cash brother bites the dust!  This is another fantastic entry into the the saga of the Cash Brothers.  Buck had done what his brother Will (Her Secret Cowboy) had said to do - left town.  After keeping the existence of Will's son a secret, Buck's guilty feelings have kept him on the road.  Then his truck breaks down and he's rescued by a woman wearing a bridal veil and riding a Harley.  After being left at the altar, Destiny is feeling a little reckless, so she tells Buck that it will be a few days until his truck is repaired, giving her a chance to have a bit of fun with him before he moves on.

I loved both Buck and Destiny.  Buck had done what he thought was right at the time, but it came back to bite him and put him at odds with his brother.  He's been feeling a bit restless anyway, working as a mechanic for someone else, so he decides to take the time to try to decide what he wants to do with his life.  Destiny is different than any other woman he'd ever been with and she soon has him tied up in knots.  I loved how he knew she was trying to keep him in town but played along.  He was quite happy to spend more time with her.  I loved seeing him get to know all the different facets of her personality and fall for each one of them.  He also saw her looking out for all the people of the town and wanted to be the one to look out for her.  It was great to see him recognize his love fairly early, then have to deal with his feelings after he discovered her secret.  I loved the part his brothers played in helping him.  One of the things I love most about Buck and the whole Cash family is how important family is to them.  I really liked the fact that Buck recognized that the people of Lizard Gulch were Destiny's family and how he tried to help them.  

Destiny had spent her life with a mother who was always on the move and as a result has been looking for a place to put down some roots of her own.  Lizard Gulch is a tiny town full of old people but she has come to love them like family.  She wasn't heartbroken when her groom stood her up, and when she came upon Buck on the side of the road she was immediately attracted to him.  As the town mechanic she was the one to look at his truck and she took the opportunity to stretch the truth about the repairs to keep him around for a few days.  She felt a little guilty about not telling him her secret, but since he wouldn't be staying she figured it didn't really matter.  She didn't expect to start to have feelings for him almost immediately, and then for him to find a reason to stick around a little longer.  She starts dreaming about having a future with Buck, but feels that her background makes it impossible for her to expect anything permanent with him.  She only seems to see the downside of her life and not the strong, independent and intelligent person she has become.  I loved seeing one of her old timers talk some sense into her.  I loved the scene at Buck's rodeo at the end.

The people of Lizard Gulch were wonderful and added such a wonderful dimension to the story.  Each one had a unique personality and place.  I really enjoyed the secondary story of the developer trying to take over the town and how the people were fighting back.  There were quite a few places that had me laughing and wondering what was going to happen next.  I loved the way that Destiny's other job as mayor showed her people skills and how quick thinking she was.  It also showed yet another aspect of how much love she had to give.  The love that the people had for her was obvious too, and seeing them all chase Buck down at the end was hilarious.  I can't wait for the next book!

Her Secret Cowboy - Marin Thomas (HAR #1486 - Feb 2014)

Series: Cash Brothers (Book 3)

The Cowboy And The Preacher's Daughter

Years ago, Will Cash wasn't interested in being a dad. So Marsha Bugler left town to raise her baby alone. But when her father's health begins to fail, she realizes she needs to return to Arizona--and introduce Will to his boy. Marsha is nervous to face Will not only because she lied, but because she's never stopped thinking about her cowboy crush.

Will is shocked to discover he has a son. And he can hardly believe the changes in Marsha. She's strong, sexy and a Ph.D. while Will's still a part-time cowboy living in a bunkhouse with his brothers. What does he have to offer her and his teenage son? Will has a lot to prove if he's going to get what he wants--the family he never knew he had.  

This is my favorite Cash Brothers book so far - they just keep getting better.  There is so much going on, most of it dealing with expectations met and unmet.  Marsha had had a huge crush on Will when they were in high school.  But as the preacher's daughter, going out with one of the wild Cash brothers was not possible, until she talked Will's brother into convincing him to take her to the prom.  That night she put the moves on him and ended up getting pregnant.  But Will wasn't ready to be a father so she left Stagecoach to go to college, not telling him that she planned to keep the baby.  When she needs to return to Stagecoach because of her father's health, she knows she has to tell Will the truth.  To say that he's shocked is putting it mildly.  When he compares his life to hers he's not too sure that he has anything to give them, but he wants to try.

I felt so bad for Will.  He had never forgotten Marsha and was stunned to get her letter telling him about Ryan and that they were going to be in Stagecoach for the summer.  He is determined to get to know his son and try to be a father to him.  He remembers the terrible feeling of being rejected by his own father and never wants his son to feel that way.  His initial meeting with her just emphasizes their differences and he feels terribly inadequate.  Meeting his son only makes it worse.  Ryan is incredibly smart and is a bookworm.  Will was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade and barely graduated from high school.  He has learned to adapt the way he does things but fears that Ryan will be ashamed of him.  Meanwhile, Ryan thinks that Will doesn't like him because Ryan doesn't like rodeos and building things.  Will also has to deal with Marsha's dad's disapproval of him making it even harder for him.  I loved the way that Marsha stepped in and sent Ryan to spend a weekend with Will without his ereader, expecting that they would have to find a way to communicate.  It was great to see them start to bond over a shared interest in the way things work.  It was even more moving to see the way that Ryan deduced Will's reading problems and how much he wanted to help his father.  Will also found that his feelings for Marsha were growing as they began to get reacquainted.  The attraction was still there but he discovered that he wanted more than that.  His problem was trying to get past the feeling that he wasn't good enough for her.  Just when he thought that he might be making some progress she would pull back because of her father's attitude.  This left him feeling worse than ever.  I really liked the advice that Johnny gave him and that Will was willing to follow it.  The ending was spectacular.

Marsha had been a good girl all through school, fully aware of what was expected of her as the preacher's daughter.  Her one rebellion was the crush she had on Will.  I loved the way she got Buck to set up their prom date and then went after what she wanted from him.  It was just her luck that she ended up pregnant.  She told Will, but wasn't really surprised by his reaction.  She didn't tell her parents before she left for college, determined that she would keep the baby and prove to them that she could handle it all.  She didn't tell them until after Ryan was born, and didn't tell them who the father was.  Over the next fourteen years she didn't forget Will, but was very careful that he didn't find out about Ryan.  When her dad got cancer she took Ryan and went back to Stagecoach, determined to finally tell Will about Ryan so they could get to know each other.  She also had to confess to her parents about who Ryan's father was.  I have to say that for a preacher who was supposed to be all about God's love, her dad was horribly judgmental, especially considering he didn't really know Will at all.  It also bothered me that Marsha didn't do more standing up to him in defense of Will.  She spent an awful lot of time putting her dad's feelings first.  I did like the way that she was determined that Will and Ryan would spend time together.  She was really frustrated by the way that Ryan behaved around Will.  I loved the way that she forced him into it at first and then made it easy for them to spend time together once they had connected.  Marsha also had her own feelings that she had to come to terms with.  Now that she had done it, she felt very guilty for not telling Will sooner that she had kept Ryan.  She also knew that she was falling for him all over again.  She really wanted to be with Will, but she kept letting her father's attitude come between them.  I ended up with more respect for her father when she had it out with him and he pointed out some things to her that she hadn't considered.

One of the best things about this series is how the importance of family is so clear.  Whatever else happens, they are always there for each other.  That makes the trouble between Will and Buck that much worse.  I'm looking forward to the next book, hoping that they are able to make peace with each other.