Review: Gotta love a cowboy!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 5, 2014
Erich and Aubrey have a past...and twelve years later, it's still not over.  I do love First Love, Second Chances themed romances.Erich knows Aubrey so well (at least he did, before she left home to fight crime in Houston), it's evident she's hiding something and that something is very wrong.  Not only does she show up at home with two weeks to spare before Christmas (previous trips home had been super quick, a day or two at most), but she's drinking.  Heavily.I loved how Erich reached out to help her.  Not just offering support, but FINDING her the help she needed, in the form of his friend Deke.  Deke has been through the same kind of nightmare Aubrey's battling, and that kinship was a wonderful part of this story.  It showed how very much Erich still loves Aubrey.I was caught off guard that the BIGGEST part of the suspense story didn't even present itself until more than halfway through the novella.  What?  There's still a threat?  The suspense would've ratcheted up about 100% more if I'd known there was a CURRENT threat, not just the nightmare Aubrey was trying to wade through.  Perhaps it was implied....given the horror she'd endured.  I just missed it--needed it spelled out.The romance of these two reconnecting after so many years, after other short-term/long-term relationships had petered out was very rewarding.  It was good to see Aubrey's parents (secondary characters for the most part) play a key role in the resolution.  All in all, a satisfying read.