Review: The tricky business of blending families
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2014
Msg Watters has crafted an engaging romance that takes place about three years after book two.  Sam is alone now, son Ricky is resentful and rebellious, and Dancing Moon Ranch needs help.  Jayne (Rebecca) Hamilton appears to be the answer to Sam's prayers on several levels.  But as all good stories do, this one quickly moves from hopeful to complicated, dragging Sam and Jayne into an emotional and relational quagmire.  Some reviewers have criticized this series so its high moral tone.  My take is that the thoughts and feelings represent somewhat the moral context of that family and the community in which these characters have lived their entire lives.  It also seems that the choices these characters make are, in large part a response to hurtful choices from the past which they themselves feel are promiscuous.  In any event, this book does deal with the effects that can wound, and often those wounds are inflicted on our children.  So it was for Jayne and in some respects for Ricky as well.  This is a very emotional novel and it reflects considerable writing skill on the author's part.  A truly fine read.