Summer at Mustang Ridge by Jesse Hayworth – a Review

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Description:
A single visit to Mustang Ridge can change a person’s life in the most unexpected ways….
 
Recovering from a difficult divorce and having problems with her daughter, Shelby accepts a summer job cooking at a family-run dude ranch. She hopes the animals will be just what her daughter, Lizzie, needs. Little does she know that ranch life will work some healing magic on her too.
 
When Shelby meets the head wrangler, Foster, she is put off by his brusque nature, but Lizzie takes an instant liking to the cowboy and his horses. While both Foster and Shelby have been scarred by love, it’s not long before Shelby is drawn to the rugged cowboy and his thoughtful ways.
 
But with summer nights in short supply and Foster wary of falling for a city girl, a simple summer romance soon grows complicated. As the days dwindle, Shelby will have to decide not only what is best for her daughter, but also where her future—and her happiness—will be found

Review:

Summer at Mustang Ridge by Jesse Hayworth is the first book in her Mustang Ridge series.  There actually is a novella released last month that opened this series. The Mustang Ridge series is Contemporary Romance, and I totally fell in love with the characters at Mustang Ridge. 

Summer at Mustang Ridge heroes are Shelby and Foster.  We meet Shelby immediately as she is driving with her daughter heading for Mustang Ridge Ranch for the summer.  She is going to work as a chef; but mostly Shelby is using this trip in hope that the animals on the ranch will be just the thing to help her daughter, Lizzie, overcome her issues of not communicating. 

Foster is the head man with the horses, not to mention a hunk.  But Foster is not interested in any kind of relationship, even with the ladies fawning over him.  When he meets Shelby, especially after seeing Lizzie with her, he feels some attraction. In a short period, both Shelby and Foster will become an item, but both having had bad experiences previously, agree this is just a summer fling.

Though the romance is a big part of this story, and it is a very nice romance, with two couples you love, and want them to end up together; but there are other stories that make this book a step above most romance books.  There is no mystery or suspense here; just simply a book that is a joy to read.  Lizzie’s problem, which everyone at Mustang Ridge, tries to help, is a major part of the story.  Then we meet some of the characters at Mustang Ridge that I totally adored.  Hayworth does a wonderful job creating realistic and great characters. I loved Gran, who does all the cooking and Shelby works with her.   The granddaughter, Krista, who helps run the ranch, was another wonderful character.  Then we had a couple of ranch hands, such as Stace, who worked with Foster to help Lizzie.

Shelby was a wonderful heroine, working hard and almost becoming a member of the family, as well as her love for her daughter, and her reactions for each step she takes.  She finds herself falling for Foster, even though they promised no strings attached. I loved Foster, as he was a great hero, who showed so much compassion for Lizzie, and was so hot with Shelby.  It was great to see their relationship grow, and sad when the obstacles were in the way.

I will not give any spoilers, just say that this was a wonderful book to read.  I did not want this to end.  I am happy that Jesse Hayworth will continue this series with some of the characters we have met and learned to love at Mustang Ridge.  If you are looking for a fun, and wonderful romance, look no further then Summer at Mustang Ridge.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher