Darling Ranch. It was a family name in this town, a family business and a family way of life.
Over the past year, the place hadn’t felt like family, or home, and I was barely staying in business.
My wife had died from an aneurism while pregnant with our first child. It happened one morning while I was out in the field tending to the animals. The doctors told me it wouldn’t have mattered had I of been by her side, the outcome would have been the same. Still, I beat myself up. My best friend and neighbor, Gabe Bentley knew this. He let me mourn my own way, but now he’s pushing me harder than ever.
“What’s the rush?” I asked him one morning.
“I’m being deployed. I need to know my sister and the farm are taken care of….by the only man I trust in this town…you.”
I’d known the army was recruiting again but I didn’t know he’d been called upon. I also didn’t know Cadence was back in town. I really didn’t know if I could be the man, the friend, the rancher that he needed me to be.
What I did know?
No matter how much it pained me, I’d try to do whatever it took to make sure that I didn’t let Gabe down.
Then I saw Cadence and for the first time since my wife died I actually thought I could heal. She made me feel alive, made the pain go away. So why did I feel so guilty? One minute I was longing to hold her, the next I was pushing her away, until I finally pushed too hard and sent her running.
I didn’t want to fail my best friend, and I didn’t want to fail Cadence. We all needed our Christmas wish and I decided to do whatever it took to make sure we got it.
B&N: My Darling Christmas by S. L. Sterling | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
Kobo: My Darling Christmas eBook by S.L. Sterling - EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States
Bookbub: My Darling Christmas (Willow Valley, #4) by S.L. Sterling - BookBub
Goodreads: My Darling Christmas (Willow Valley #4) by S.L. Sterling | Goodreads
My Review - 4 of 5 stars -
Youthful misunderstandings kept these two apart, but family/friend obligations gave them a second chance. Cadence ran away from Willow Valley after a betrayal and tried to move on. Her loyalty to her brother brought her back. Her heart had never forgotten Connor, but she could not help the pull together. Connor still loved Cadence, though he never knew her true feelings. Grief had him wallowing till his friend and Cadence's brother, Gabe, pushed. I loved how they healed each other and realized their hearts belonged to the other.
I received a copy through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
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I've wanted to read this author for a while now.
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