Tabs’ review of A Rancher’s Heart (Heart Falls, Book 1) by Vivian Arend
Contemporary Romance published by Vivian Arend 16 Nov 17
Vivian Arend’s new series spins off from the long-running Six Pack Ranch Series and sets up a passel of ranching brothers who are about to find love, whether they’re looking for it or not. Caleb Stone is finding it difficult to juggle being the head of his family, running their ranching operation, and raising his young daughters. He’s hoping that bringing a full-time nanny on will relieve some of the pressure. It’s too bad the undeniable sparks between himself and strong-willed Tamara Coleman threaten to upset his peaceful world.
Tamara comes to Heart Falls needing a fresh start. With her nursing career in tatters and caregiving in her nature, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to take on a nanny position for her new cousin’s nieces. Tamara and Caleb are both really great with Caleb’s young girls. Tamara is a bit of a nanny whisperer and she’s able to form a bond quickly with the girls by being firm but also by listening to what they need and treating them with care.
This is a slow-burn nanny-employer romance with a couple in their thirties who pretty much fall in love before going on a single date. Tamara is feisty and stubborn and she likes to get a rise out of stoic Caleb. Caleb is somewhat reserved and repressed and he struggles with emotional confrontation. He’s also still reeling a bit from his dreadful first marriage. Caleb and Tamara’s relationship is all about finding a balance between her tendency to meddle and his tendency to dig his heels in. They’re good balances for each other.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and and I’m always excited to see more sexy contemporary westerns. I’ll admit that I got a bit behind on the Six Pack Ranch series once it started spinning off into romances for the Coleman cousins, but this new series is easy to hop into. I’m not sure that I’m super interested in the plot of the next book, but I am positive that I’m interested in a whole bunch of other romances set up here. More sexy cowboys, please!
Grade: B+
Summary:
This cowboy has given up on love, but the new nanny might just make him change his mind. The first in a brand-new series from New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.
Caleb Stone is wearing too many hats and it’s making him crankier than usual. He’s a cowboy, a father, and the head of his large family—and has been since tragedy claimed his parents over ten years ago. The ranch is struggling, but it’s the title of single dad that’s got him tangled up in knots. He needs a full-time, live-in nanny at the Silver Stone homestead in Heart Falls, Alberta, to help with his two little girls, but the woman about to arrive on his doorstep? Tantalizing, tempting, and trouble with capital T’s.
Tamara Coleman doesn’t regret the choices that led to losing her job, but she definitely needs a fresh start. When a friend recommends her for a nanny position in a new town, she swears this time it’ll be different. No more acting on impulse—except sexy, gruff Caleb is exactly the kind of man who pushes all her buttons. And what’s more, it’s so much fun to push his in return. Sparks fly between Tamara and her gorgeous boss, but she can’t risk her position, and he doesn’t dare risk his heart.
With two people fighting their true natures, something’s going to give. Luckily, there’s more than one way to capture a rancher’s heart.
