REVIEW: The Cowboy’s Valentine by Donna Alward

The Cowboy’s Valentine by Donna Alward: When Lacey loses her job, her only option is to stay with her brother on the ranch that they co-own with their brother. She’s hoping to stay long enough to make some plans and get a new job. But Lacey isn’t looking forward to running into Quinn, the ranch manager, again.

Quinn loves working at Crooked Valley and doesn’t understand why Lacey is so willing to sell the ranch. Quinn is still reeling from losing his wife unexpectedly and trying to raise their 4-year-old daughter, Amber. Quinn is a great father, but he feels like he can’t do many things as well as his wife did.

Quinn and Lacey bicker and fight over just about anything, no matter how big or small, since they’ve met. They tend to push each other’s buttons, even when they are trying to be nice to each other.

“I just thought that since cooking for one is a real pain, maybe I could send some food home with you. It’s stupid. I make a recipe and then end up either freezing or throwing out half because it’s more than I can eat.”
“Didn’t you cook for one before?”
She did, but it was different. “To be honest? I froze some, and I often gave some to a neighbor. She was elderly and alone and struggled to cook for herself and eat enough.”
Quinn’s eyes snapped at her. “So what, Amber and I look like we need charity, is that it?”
“No!” She twisted her fingers together. “I didn’t mean that.”
“We get along just fine, thanks.” His lips set, and Lacey dropped the subject. She hadn’t meant to insult him or imply he was, well, lacking in any area.

Lacey shows her nurturing side when Quinn and Amber are forced to move in with her. The relationship between Lacey and Amber is really sweet and heartwarming. Quinn and Lacey recognize the attraction, but they are reluctant to act on it. While it seems like Lacey is a perfect fit for Quinn (and Amber), he doesn’t know how to move on from the memory of his wife.

“I’ll have you know I’ve been working on this ranch for over ten years-”
“And that’s great,” she interrupted. “But heaven forbid you rely on anyone else, right? Or accept that someone might know more than you. Particularly someone you don’t respect.”
Her chest was rising and falling quickly, the sound of her breath audible in the silence that fell.
“You want to waltz in here and turn things upside down and then leave again. Excuse me if I don’t get all excited about that possibility of having to clean up your messes.”
“I don’t want to turn things upside down at all! What are you talking about? I’m trying to help!”

The Cowboy’s Valentine is an engaging romance of two people, in forced proximity, who are wary of moving on and taking a chance on love again. Donna Alward created two interesting characters who have experienced and bonded over their hardships. Ms. Alward also provided some great secondary characters, especially the very adorable Amber.

Book Info:

Publication: February 3rd 2015 by Harlequin American Romance Series #1535

HEART OF A COWBOY

Coming home is hard enough without ranch manager Quinn Solomon making Lacey Duggan feel like an unwanted guest. She’s only here until she figures out what to do with her one-third ownership of Crooked Valley. But Quinn’s irresistible daughter is giving Lacey ideas about being part of a family. And though they don’t even like each other, Lacey’s having crazier notions about the widowed single dad.

Does Lacey think she can waltz in and turn Quinn’s life upside down only to leave again? The pretty accountant knows nothing about running a ranch, yet she’s making the Montana homestead feel like a home. Quinn isn’t looking for love again. Until a woman who’s all heart and a determined little girl help one lovestruck cowboy see the light.