Book Two in the Meier Ranch Brothers, is very different from Book One. Yes Wes Meir comes home to the Meier Ranch after his recent Military Tour, but he doesn't take up ranching, he finds solace in restoring his grandfather's Ford flathead V8 in the barn, one of the only things to take his mind off the Military and his best buddy Daniel who Wes blames himself for his death.

Olive (Livie) Blake is an Artist and Daniel's half-sister. When she arrives in Close Call, Texas, and runs into Wes Meier, she knows she has found the person who will inspire her for the commission of the military memorial. Litle did she know that she would fall for him or for the wonderful town of Close Call.

At their first meeting Livie wondered if she could stick it out here for six months, recalling how Daniel regaled her with stories of the place he loved when he visited and now that she had met Wes, also Daniel's love for the person Wes was.

A beautiful story from page one. Thoroughly enjoyed it and the story woven of Wes and Livie and the time they shared together in Close Call. Looking forward to reading Chase's story in Claiming the Cowboy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

At the end of his last military tour, Wes Meier returns home to his family's Texas ranch. He is attempting to retreat from his memories of the war and the friends he lost. When he meets artist Livie Blake, she brings out the emotions that he is attempting to escape.

Livie Blake is in Close Call to sculpt a memorial to local veterans. She is looking for a model for her hero and Wes is a perfect choice. Wes does not want to be immortalized as a hero, especially since it means he would have to spend more time with Livie. One of the reasons Livie is in Close Call is because she is attempting to connect with her brother who died in the war. Wes was one of her brother's best friends.

Can Wes and Livie open their hearts to love?

This book was amazing. The plot was a lot more intense than some of Leslie North's other books due to the subject. Livie and Wes were amazing characters. I loved their connection. This was a book that I didn't want to put down once I started reading.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

After tragically losing his best friend in battle, Wes returns home to settle back into life on the ranch. He’s not the least bit happy to find out that the mayor has volunteered his barn as a staging/work area for a newly-commissioned statue for the downtown square. Nor is he happy to find that the artist who has been hired to create this masterpiece is the distractingly beautiful sister of the friend he still mourns.

Livie wanted to take this assignment because it was located in the small town that her brother never stopped talking about after he spent one summer there. But she refuses to open her heart to the possibility of anything permanent, knowing that love is for suckers who don’t realize that it always ends in heartbreak. But as Wes rebuilds his grandfather’s pickup on the other side of the barn where she crafts her vision for the town, she starts to see in him the qualities that made him her brother’s best friend.

This writing in this story is achingly beautiful, bringing the reader right into the heart of the artist’s expression and reminding us all why art is so very important to the human soul. The healing power of art, the experiential nature of its true meaning, the infinite interpretive possibilities – all work together to soothe Wes’s troubled heart and help him find a way through to the other side of grief.

The final sculpture was breathtaking in its simplicity and yet so emotionally fulfilling on every level. I honestly wished it truly existed so I could see it in person, but the writer did an exemplary job of describing it for the mind’s eye. This entire story is itself a dynamic work of art. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first book in the series. You felt like rooting for Wes as he dealt with his return to civilian life after leaving the service. He struggled with sleep walking and memories of losing a friend.

Olive had her own struggles as she grew up with a pair of parents that were constantly fighting and she then didn't see her brother for years. The only thing that felt true to her was art and she didn't think that love could last.

I was so glad that she wasn't the one turning her back on love. I was a little annoyed with Wes when he broke one of her very strict rules and way overreacted and was gone for months.

The only part of the story that I did not like was what was Wes going to do after he got back home if Olive was not there? There was no mention of his plans and if he was going to try and get Olive back.

The ending was great with her success from the sculpture that was such a tribute to the sad story of the two girls mixed with the soldier . It was also great that the town benefited and Wes had a great idea for veterans - loved the HEA!

3.5 Stars The second book in the Meier Ranch series, Redeeming the Rancher brings us a tortured hero and heart broken artist. I liked this story and look forward to reading Claiming the Cowboy book 3.

Ghosts of the past continues to haunt him. After returning home he struggled to reclaim the person he was before his deployments. Lost of his best friend returns as he meets his sister. Both share memories of one man who may possibly bring the ones he loves together. Olive wants to experience the magic of the small town she heard about and Wes needs to heal and know living his life to the fullest is something his friend would have wanted. Great continuation of the series and relating how to embrace life.

5 Star Review

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was really incredible - the storyline is of a more serious nature than some of Leslie North’s other work - loved it !!

Wes Meier has returned home to the Meier Ranch after several tours in Afghanistan trying to find his peace ... he suffers from flash backs of losing his best friend - in his mind I think he feels he will never be at peace again with himself ...

Olive (aka Livie ) has come to Close Call as she has been commissioned to sculpt a memorial - the theme is war/peace & segregation ...

When Olive meets Wes there is an instant connection - when he realizes she is the stepsister of his friend who was killed - this plays with his mind that he initially can’t see past Olive as other than the talented artist she is & not the someone he has instant off the charts chemistry with ...

Unlike some of Leslie North’s book the tone is serious - you feel for these character one having lost a brother - the other a best friend- there is a feeling of whether they should take their relationship any further or let things play out until Olive leaves town ...

It’s almost as if the reader knows Wes needs to learn what he needs to do to heal himself & that will only come from accepting what it means to Love & need Olive for the person she is & not because of any other reason ..,

This story has humor - passion - a serious subject matter that culminates in a HEA that just pulls at your heartstrings - no one deserves to be together more than these two ❤️❤️❤️

Great read !!!

How a person handles grief is personal to them, private. In this novel Ms North twines a tale of romance through the emotional trauma of war and family. A wonderfully emotive tale of love and romance, with the emotional battle of being alone versus supporting each other and others. Well written and thoroughly enjoyable this book continues the story of Meier bothers in this the 2nd book of the trilogy.

This well written, heartbreaking, sweet romance was filled with love, acceptance, forgiveness and redemption. I loved Wes and appreciated the way Leslie North portrayed him and all that he was going through, been through and how he comes out the other side. Livie was also portrayed beautifully too with how she didn’t let Wes keep her awhile from him and how determined she was to fight for Wes and her military memorial at the same time. Once again Leslie North has written a story that just pulls at your heartstrings and I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all book lovers out there especially ones who love Leslie and who love a story like this one.

Another good story in the series. Wes is back from the service and has alot of guilt over most of the men in his troup getting killed. Livie comes to town to built a statue and happens to be the sister of one of the men who died in the ambush. There is lots of drama and emotions that Wes cannot handle. It's a very good story and I look forward to the next book in the series. I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review

I received an arc from Netgalley. This book was full of hope and healing. Olive an artist commissioned to create a piece for a small town. She meets the man her brother had served with in the army and both Olive and Wes are unprepared for the attraction between them.

Everyone has a different view of what makes a hero. Much like beauty, heroism is often in the eye and heart of the one looking at the action. And Wes Meir sees no hero in the mirror’s reflection. He sees a man who wasn’t able to bring his friend, Daniel, home to his family. To him, that’s not the action of a hero… and he really wishes people would stop using that word around him. Wes has returned to the family ranch, it’s here that he might gain some relief from the overpowering guilt in the quiet solitude of the range, the ranch and the chores. Yet, on the horizon is one spitfire of a woman who does view him as the ultimate hero and wants to use him as the heart of her newest sculpture. Oh, she knows exactly who he is and she will bring more than memories into his world. If he lets her, she just might bring hope – something Wes has lost sight of recently.

Grief is a very personal emotion, and we all express that grief in far different ways. While it’s obvious that Wes has turned his grief inwards, Livie transforms her grief into her art, into the pieces that express her views on life. She sees light, she sees beauty and Livie will not take Wes’ denial to work with her as an answer. He’s perfect for the sculpture she has in mind – and maybe they’re perfect for each other once grief steps aside to allow the living to do exactly that… live.

Redeeming the Rancher is an emotional journey, I don’t see how that can be avoided. Survivor’s guilt is a very real thing. And even if it makes no sense to you or me, it exists for those who feel they don’t have the right to be alive when a loved one or friend has died. I enjoyed watching Livie and Wes dance around each other, avoiding the obvious and dealing with their grief in their own way. Their journey to a happy ending is a rocky road, but one that will be worth it in the end. I enjoyed my time in this world once again, and I’d definitely recommend this story and series to any Romance reader who enjoys believable characters, interesting situations, getting emotionally involved in the story and secondary characters that make this world come alive.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

3 1/2 Star Review.....

Redeeming the Rancher is the second instalment in Leslie North’s brand new Meier Ranch Brothers series and was an enjoyable read.

Wes and Livie’s characters both have heartache in their past, and I sometimes felt that the chemistry was lacking and didn’t come naturally as expected. I did like Livie’s spunk and sass, which added some much needed depth to the story.

Overall, this was an OK read, but the next book needs more punch!

I'm liking this series so far. Wes and Olive had plenty of darkness to wade through, but the snark coming from Livie was a good contrast. I wish the chemistry had been a little more pronounced, but I enjoyed their story, and the artist view.

Wes has so much guilt that it could ruin everything. Olive is good for him, but some things have to be fought alone. Redeeming the Rancher, is a great addition to the series.