Review: Enjoyable
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
The first time they danced together was magical, but she was married and off limits. Now she's widowed and alone, and he's dead set upon being a part of her life.Long before she turned forty-one, homemaker Ann Hackstetter had stopped believing in happily ever after. Her workaholic husband Jerry had had little time for his wife and son. Then, Jerry's unexpected death only brought more sorrows. The gambling addiction her husband had hidden so well cost Ann her home, financial security, any remaining illusions she had about second chances at love.With no job experience and only a couple thousand dollars to her name, Ann was faced with finding work and a new place to live. Being a burden to her newly married son or living on charity from friends was unacceptable. But, friends help friends, and a post as housekeeper at Jackson Martinez' Triple T Ranch was a lifeline that would allow Ann to salvage her life. So, salvaging what little remained was what she'd do, even if accepting the position meant she'd have to try harder than ever to fight the attraction to Jackson, the younger man she'd once shared a magical dance with and who would now be her new boss.Five years was a long time to fight an attraction to an older married woman, but the failure of his parents' marriage meant Jackson didn't do love and, thus, faced no danger to his heart from Ann. He'd avoided love for thirty-one years and he was convinced that allowing the now widowed Ann Hackstetter to oversee the running of his ranch home wouldn't change things.Despite his best efforts to keep things platonic, his Annie's warmth and shyness tugged at his guts, tinkered with his libido, and made his lonely house seem like a home. But, suddenly, Annie began acting strangely withdrawn like a woman with secrets to hide, and Jackson found he was more than willing to do anything for the sake of Annie's happiness, except offer her the elusive love she so desperately needed.Once again, the talented Verna Clay whisks her readers into small town Colorado life amongst good friends and great romance. Honorable and upstanding Jackson Martinez and Ann Hackstetter have long been each other's secret crush but have refused to act on their respective desires. Both are good people of character, but Ann soon finds her values challenged by yet one more of her deceased husband's secrets, and this one is dangerous. Further, innocent pastimes in which Ann engaged in the past come back to hauntingly embroil her in a predicament that jeopardizes her newly found security with Jackson and, ultimately, the heart she so negligently guarded.Fans of Ms. Clay's warm and wonderful Romance on the Ranch series will again thrill to wrap themselves up in the friendships and foibles of the residents of Paxtonville. With a lot of warmth, gentle humor, and just the right amount of sizzle, Ms. Clay is sure to leave fans filled with contentment and looking forward to her next writing project. Don't miss this second installment in a great series.Reviewed by Angie Just Read...for TheRomanceReviews.com