Jackson and Daisy bring out the best in each other

Jackson has returned home after the death of his father, and has some complicated issues to work out with his brother. Daisy left Silicon Valley behind, for the most part, but she's still got a secret that she isn't ready to share with her family. In order to have an alibi for this project, she turns Jackson's request for a date into a fake-dating arrangement that he reluctantly agrees to.

Jackson starts off being a little flighty, almost shallow, but we quickly learn that this is a persona he's developed as a defense mechanism. I loved his steadfast devotion, even when it was costing him so much.

Daisy's character goes through her own personal growth arc, too, as she comes to terms with a tragedy in her past and figures out just what risks are worth taking.

We also get a lot of interaction with the Morgan and Miller families, including characters from previous books by this author as well as introductions to new folks who will probably be featured in future books. We're given quite a birds-eye view of the entire community as they work together to find the balance between the advantages of progress and the charms of their small-town life.

This is the third book I've read in this fictional world, and it's every bit as wonderful as the others. The writing style makes it easy to feel right at home with these memorable characters. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Jackson and Daisy are both likeable characters. They both come with a lot of baggage they definitely need to work thru. An offer of a fake boyfriend starts feeling more and more real for both of them. But, of course, they don’t want to admit it. The reason for Daisy’s double life and Jackson’s past keep them from getting too close.
While I have read and loved all the books related to Morganville, I felt a little less connected to this one. Maybe I felt at one point or another Jackson or Daisy didn’t react a certain way or that they seemed to give up too easily. The storyline maybe felt a little jumbled towards the end.
I still gave it 4 stars and would recommend it as a good read overall!!

The Second Chance Rancher by Kate Pearce
The Millers of Morgantown #1

Returning to Morgantown was a delightful way to spend the afternoon and although Jackson Lymond did seem a bit clueless at times he eventually managed to get the HEA he was looking for. Who does he end up with? Not the woman he started out thinking he wanted...nope...he realized rather quickly that he really wanted florist Daisy Miller instead of Nancy the bartender. Why? Well, she was more suited to him and...Nancy wasn’t interested. As an introduction to the Miller family we realize that with five brothers to marry off there are a number of books to look forward to – hooray! In this book there is a bit of the fake relationship to hide a secret one of them is keeping and they cut it close enough that their HEA might not have happened had the two not realized that they really did belong together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

The Second Chance Rancher by Kate Pearce is the first book in The Millers of Morgan Valley Series. This is the story of Daisy Miller and Jackson Lymond.
Daisy is back in her home town where she runs a flower shop but she also has a secret job that she doesn't want her family to know about. Jackson too is back in town after being gone for about 10 years in the Air Force. Jackson is helping his brother on his ranch. Jackson and Daisy enter into a pretend relationship so that Daisy can have extra hours to work on her secret job. But the more time they spend together start to make them both to want something more.
Enjoyed their story...great start to a series.

Jackson's character was really interesting. I couldn't put my finger on why he seemed a little off, maybe quirky is a better word. He had that special way of saying whatever was on his mind.

Daisy was strange in her own right. it just seemed to me like she had some anger issues that she needed to deal with because she was always getting upset at the slightest question Jackson asked her. She as definitely prickly.

I'm not quite sure why Jackson wanted her. I was never sure Daisy was ever going to tell Jackson that she really interested in him. That she wanted more than a casual relationship with him. They seemed to think they balanced each other out, so I guess that is all that matters.

This was a nice small-town romance that was okay. I wouldn't really say it had a lot of angst in it, but theirs was a relationship that didn't flow smoothly. It did end in a HEA. I would give it 3.5 stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy.

Tech meets cowboy (former military). The duo are a fun couple. I skipped over the sex parts. The family stories were engaging. I see that this is book 1 and I do look forward to reading book 2. I have to find out why the mother left her family. Wonder whose romance will be featured in that one.

This is the first book in a new series, however its setting is Morganville & characters from The Morgan Ranch series do feature. That said the book could be read without having read the previous series. We first met Jackson in The Rancher & I loved him then & was thrilled that he had his story.
Jackson Lymond left the Air Force & is trying to start a new life helping his older brother on their northern California ranch, which their drunken father almost ran into the ground.
Daisy Miller doesn’t really expect Jackson to remember her. Back in school she did her best to blend in—and pretend she didn’t have five brothers who’d hogtie any boy who even looked at her. These days though, she and Jackson might have more in common than just their ranching relatives. After all, they both left home only to return. Jackson & Daisy’s relationship gets off on the wrong foot but Daisy has a secret & asks Jackson if he'll act as her fake boyfriend.
The author is a must read for me even though cowboys aren’t my favourite but her books are so well written with very strong characters. I loved the books about the Morgans & I’m so glad that the focus has moved to others in the valley. The pace of the book is good & I was once again drawn in from the start & held until the end. I loved the way the relationship between Jackson & Daisy developed & how her feelings gradually grew. A lovely sart to a new series & as there are five Miller brothers there's lots more to look forward to.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Jackson is former Air Force but after an incident, he returns home to him family ranch. Daisy owns a flower shop and has five older brothers who are very protective of her. She worked in Silicon Valley until she gets burned out. She came back to her family to get her life back together. She is working on a secret project but doesn’t want her family to know. Jackson agrees to be her fake boyfriend to keep her family from finding out what she’s doing. She doesn’t want a commitment or any type of relationship. Jackson falls for her but will he get the girl or not?
Good story. Funny and sexy. Jackson has no filter and says what comes to mind. Daisy is a nerd and introvert but puts Jackson in his place. A little bit of a cliffhanger.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

While not exactly a Morgan Ranch book The Second Chance Rancher does take place for the most part in Morgantown. As far as I am concerned this is the best series, hands down, that Kate Pearce has ever written. Just like the other books this is solidly written with just enough intrigue to keep one curious. The characters are wonderfully developed, flaws and all, with Daisy being the most complicated of all. Jackson Lymond for the most part is an open book unless you are wanting to know why he left the Air Force.

Both characters grew up in Morgantown but left and now have return home. Both are trying to find their place again in Morgantown. Both sort of knew each other in school though one of them has a better memory than the other about that time. Both have things that they don’t necessary wish for others to know. Lot of similarities between them except Jackson is a tell it like it is person, Daisy is a don’t tell if others won’t like it person. That one thing is a big conflict between them. I knew what I wanted to happen but kept reading to see how it all panned out.

I enjoyed seeing community of Morgantown, some characters from previous books and new characters that I hope get their own story. The Second Chance Rancher reads well on its own but I can highly recommend the entire series to contemporary cowboy romance reader. Well to be honest to anyone who just enjoys a great story or who believes that broken dreams can be turned into new better dreams..

I liked Jackson in the last book of the Morgans but was surprised how much I loved him in this start to a spin-off series. He is not exactly the happy-go-lucky guy he wants to portray on the outside. He has very real issues which I think were portrayed very well in this story. The family unit (whether it be by blood or by association) is always present and definitely something I like to read about in books. If only we could bottle up Jackson for everyone. Honestly, I did not think Daisy was worthy of Jackson’s attention or love. She was very hard to like (always about herself). Jackson made the story for me. I look forward to the Millers’ stories.

K are Pearce is a new author for me and I enjoyed the story. A computer nerd/florist and a former military/rancher meet and decide to start a relationship to provide cover for her first back into the tech life in Silicon Valley. First time around she was burned out and retreated to her home town to recuperate. Now she is back in the game but not ready to tell her family of five brothers and dad. Enter Jackson to provide resolution for Daisy.

They begin to rely on each other for support, honesty, and romance. What neither counted on was the fake relationship became reality, and they don't know how to deal with it.

Two strong characters make for a contest of wills. I recommend you read the book to find out how Jackson and Daisy resolve their relationship!

was provided a free ARC eBook from the publisher and Net Galley for my honest review.

Hopefully this is the start of a new series by this very talented author as I loved her characters in this book

Jackson Lymond has returned to his family ranch after been an air force pilot he is carrying guilt over things that happened in his military career he is also the kind of man who doesn't mince words so what he feels comes straight out often leading to foot in mouth disease It was nice that for once the hero wasnt perfect He has decided that he wants to marry and settle down and he has set his sights on Daisy When she asks him to be her fake boyfriend due to her own family dynamics it seems like the perfect opportunity that is until real emotions become involved and guess we she is just as abrupt as him which leads to some hilarious moments

I’m so very torn about this book—and it’s making it downright impossible to review. On the one hand, it was a well-written story with a delightful, charming, and sometimes tactless cowboy hero. But on the other... it was a sometimes-laborious, awkwardly paced romance with a heroine who left a lot to be desired. Honestly, at times I felt like I could be reading two different books.

In the one where all-the-feels abound and it’s easy to invest in the outcome, my heart ached for Jackson and for the array of disappointments and upsets he faced. It made me smile to see him find his footing with his brother, and frustrated me when he misstepped—true to character though it may have been.

In the other version, where the story was slowed by town meetings and venture capitalists, I found myself wondering why Daisy didn’t just simplify her life, why she was so intent on closing herself off. None of the many possible reasons were given enough time, which led to a story that felt equal parts full and incomplete.

But perhaps completion will come with one of Daisy’s many brothers. There’s five of them—in a series setup that’s sure to entice MANY a reader—so I suspect there’s lots more to come. I’m just not sure if I’ll be back for them...

This series is so good. Each story is making the series stronger. Daisy & Jackson are both strong but also vulnerable, they bring out the good in each other. I loved Jackson’s blurt out problem, his mouth got him into trouble often. Daisy’s secret could cause her problems at home but she’s decided to use Jackson as a deflection. Now Jackson & Daisy are navigating feelings that weren’t supposed to happen & one is running away from them, while the other is trying to decide whether to go for it or not. The way author Kate Pearce has built up their story was beautiful, funny & sweet. Definitely recommend.

After 10 years of service in the Air Force, Jackson is back in Morgan town trying to start a new life on the ranch with his brother.
Jackson goes to the local flower shop to buy some flowers to woo the local bartender and instead falls for the shop owner, Daisy.
But Daisy is not looking for a relationship and asks Jackson to be her fake boyfriend to give her some privacy from her family. Soon the fake relationship turns to friends with benefits and real feelings start making the fake part difficult.
I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. It was a lighthearted and fun read. The fun part was a lot because of Jackson and his tendency to put his foot in his mouth. But I just couldn’t feel the connection between Jackson and Daisy, something felt missing.
I have enjoyed reading the Morgan Ranch series by the author and though this book didn’t pull me in as much, I look forward to reading the Miller brother stories.

You just have to love a good cowboy book. I like that the characters weren't rich, that they had to work for their living. Jackson and Daisy had great chemistry

The Second Chance Rancher is the first book in Kate Pearce’s The Millers of Morgan Valley and is set in the world as the Morgan Ranch books. While the story reads as a standalone, I’m sure as the series evolves, that starting here, at the beginning will surely benefit readers in the end.

Jackson Lymond was definitely an had an air of intrigue and mystery about him intrigued me in The Rancher, and I enjoyed getting to know the intricacies of his no holds barred, say it how it is, and blatantly honest persona. Daisy on the other hand was hard to figure out. I found her to be somewhat closed off, boring and on occasion she was done-right bitchy!

Overall this was a well-written story, bringing back characters we have previously met and wanted to know more about, and Jackson was simply adorable and completely honest at all times. I suppose my love of Jackson ultimately coloured my view that he could have done so much better than the likes of Daisy; too bad she wasn’t as interesting as her brothers!

This was a totally unbelievable set-up as regards Daisy Miller, the heroine. She is supposed to be a tech entrepreneur who is burned out when her first business was hurt by an unscrupulous investor. So she left the city and came back to her hometown to work in a floral shop and live with her father and some of her five older brothers. Meanwhile, she’s trying to start up a new tech company while working long-distance, but she wants to keep her side efforts secret from her family for some ill-defined reasons. I just didn’t buy any of that.

The hero, Jackson, has returned home from a stint in the Air Force. We first encounter the two together when he goes to buy flowers from her to try to court an attractive bartender. He gets turned down flat and decides on the rebound to ask Daisy out. Apparently, any woman will do for Jackson. But he decides that he really likes Daisy and soon figures out that he’s in love with her. It’s all pretty hard to believe, but add in that Daisy agrees to a friends-with-benefits relationship that will be a pretend romance to throw her family off the scent of her tech job. So just add more unbelievability on top of all the other plot and the story really falters.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Daisy Miller has returned home to Morgantown, running the florist shop that once belonged to her great aunt. Jackson Lymond has also returned home from his ten-year career in the Air Force as it was time for him to help his brother, Cauy, with their ranch. When Jackson visits the local flower shop, Daisy is sure that he doesn’t remember her from their school years and is surprised when he returns the next day to ask her out. Daisy says no, but then she and Jackson agree to spend time with each other in order for her to have some privacy from her five overprotective brothers. Will they be able to remain just friends? Jackson seemed a little immature for having served ten years in the military while Daisy seemed unable to assert herself to her family. The storyline just did not hold my interest. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)

Slow building romance

I had mixed feelings about Kate Pearce’s The Second Chance Rancher the first book in The Millers of Morgan Valley series. While this is a spin-off of the Morgan Brothers series and we original “met’ Jackson in The Rancher the book reads well as a stand alone.
I liked the idea behind the plot but it just felt like it moved too slowly. I found myself skim reading at times. I guess I never warmed up to Daisy or Jackson.She seemed too prickly and his foot in month reputation felt goofy.
I do usually like how this author writes and would be curious to read the next books in the series.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.