REVIEW: When Somebody Loves You by Shirley Jump

When Somebody Loves You by Shirley Jump: Elizabeth is determined to lead a life that provides security after having a childhood where she was constantly uprooted for her mother’s dreams, yet she hates her job. When she’s unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé, she finally takes the leap to follow her own dreams when she’s given the surprising opportunity.

While she knows just about nothing about horses, she’s excited to have the opportunity to write. However, Hunter is not at all enthusiastic to have Elizabeth around and interfering with his work. He just wants to keep the ranch in the black and work on coaxing Dakota, a horse who was injured, to learn to trust him.

“I’m not leaving,” she said. “I’m here to do this interview, and if that means I have to follow you around barefoot, I will.”
A grin played at the corner of his mouth. “Are you normally this much of a pain in the ass?”
She parked her fists on her hips. “Depends. Are you normally this impossible to deal with?”

Hunter has just been existing for a while now, but having the determined Elizabeth around seems to bring out another side of him. He still doesn’t want to be interviewed, but he doesn’t mind so much that she’s hanging around the ranch. While her fancy clothes have no place on a ranch, Hunter feels the stirrings of attraction.

The ranch and town are completely foreign to Elizabeth, but she’s charmed nonetheless. She loves the ranch and horses, but she’s also felt a sense of welcome and companionship with the women in the book club that she doesn’t have in New Jersey. They both know that she’ll have to move on to her next assignment soon, but they’ve found something more than either expected.

“You see a horse who has been hurt and thrown away, and see the spirit still inside her.”
“Some things,” Hunter said quietly, thinking of Dakota, of the woman beside him, “are worth saving, no matter the work involved.”
“Even you?” she said.

When Somebody Loves You is a charming story of two people desperately needing a change in their life. Shirley Jump developed a sense of community on the ranch. Ms. Jump created an endearing cast of characters, especially Hunter’s aunt and the women in the book club. Fans of LuAnn McLane and RaeAnne Thayne will enjoy When Somebody Loves You!
 

Book Info:

Publication: October 6th 2015 | Berkley | The Southern Belle Book Club #1

First in a new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the hugely popular Sweetheart Sisters novels!

At heart, Elizabeth Palmer is a practical Jersey girl. And her life reflects that—until everything suddenly falls apart. In a bid to change her luck, the intrepid reporter accepts a job to write a story on a reclusive quarter horse breeder in Chatham Ridge, Georgia. To her surprise, she finds herself settling into the warm, inviting town—even joining the Southern Belle Book Club—and craving the company of the rancher she’s there to interview….

Hunter McCoy has good reason to keep his distance from the determined reporter. Tragedy has taught him to stick to things that don’t require his heart. But he can’t seem to resist the vulnerability he detects beneath Elizabeth’s tough demeanor.

But when tragedy strikes the ranch again and Hunter shuts her out, Elizabeth will have to prove to Hunter that having somebody love you can heal all wounds…