Cowboy Take Me Away (Rainbow Valley)
*Starred Review* The son of an alcoholic, abusive father, Luke Dawson has earned himself the title of town bad boy. Now that his father has died, Luke has returned to Rainbow Valley, Texas, to settle what little of the estate is left. A fall through some rotten boards in the decrepit family home puts Luke’s career as a champion bull rider in jeopardy and forces him to recuperate in the town he swore he’d never see again. Shannon North left Rainbow Valley to pursue a lucrative career in the big city. Although at the top of her game, she longs for a quieter, simpler life and returns to her hometown, taking over the low-paying position as director of the no-kill animal shelter. With no one willing to fill the shelter’s vacant caretaker position, Shannon does the work of two people. Then Luke applies for the job, and the flame they’ve tried so hard to forget is rekindled. Graves, a nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, writes captivating, emotion-filled stories that sparkle with delightfully humorous moments. This charming tale is the first in Graves’ new Rainbow Valley series. --Shelley Mosley