I struggled with this book. I found the relationship between the ranch owners and the ranch staff a bit awkward/problematic and that broke the spell for me. It is well-written and might suit a different reader.

This was a great book about how you can’t always judge a book by its cover. Just because Raney has money doesn’t mean she isn’t hard working and just because Dalton has been to jail doesn’t mean he is a common criminal. The love that Dalton is willing to offer to others is beautiful. I appreciate there wasn’t much in the way of sex scenes but more about pure love.

I’m always happy to get in at the start of a series so I didn’t hesitate to read Rough Creek – book one in Kaki Warner’s Brides of Rough Creek series. It’s a contemporary series about a Texas family who own a ranch that specializes in breeding horses. 60 year-old matriarch Coralee Whitcomb decides its time to travel and see the world. Daughter Raney is in charge of running the ranch but before Coralee leaves for a cruise she hires a new horse trainer, Dalton Cardwell. Dalton is fresh out of prison after serving eighteen months for a crime he didn’t commit but chose not to challenge when charged. Raney is appalled at her mom’s decision to hire him but decides to give him a chance. Both Raney and Dalton notice an attraction almost from the start so it was amusing to watch that situation play out as Raney tried to deny it. Dalton was easy to cheer on – such an honorable man. And Raney was just as honorable if a bit more stubborn. I enjoyed their story and the setting. There’s a lot of horse competition detail so readers who love horses will find that aspect interesting. I’ll be on the watch for book two!

-- This review, and others, are on my blog www.hookedbythatbook.com –

Dalton Cardwell came home after spending 18 months in prison for confessing to a crime he didn’t commit, only to find that his parents have sold their farm and they are moving away. But he quickly finds his feet when he gets a job as a horse trainer on the Whitcomb Four Star Ranch. Raney has taken over as manager after her father’s death, and she was not very happy with her mother’s decision to hire an ex-convict. She reluctantly allows him to stay on and prove his worth.

Raney was very skittish about starting a relationship with Dalton. She was hurt before, and had no desire to repeat the experience, but Dalton slowly broke through all her defenses. This is a very slow burn, and it was fun to see Raney and Dalton navigate their feelings for each other. Turns out it was Raney who had the bigger chip on her shoulder, despite the fact that Dalton has a notorious past to overcome.

It was interesting to read about the world of their ranch and the horses and training them. There was a competition at the end that Dalton and their prize horse, Roscoe, were to compete in. But it took a long time before we got to that competition, and in the meanwhile it was mentioned a lot and how important it was to the horse, the trainer, and the ranch.

This was a lovely read, with interesting characters and I liked the writing.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Warner serves up cowboy romance family style, with lots of heart and humor. This first novel in her Brides of Rough Creek Texas series introduces the Whitcomb Four Star Ranch, so named for the four daughters of Coralee Whitcomb: Lennox (the stay-at-home mom, and oldest of the four sisters), Raney (the workaholic ranch manager), Josslyn (the flighty musician), and Katherine Dianne (KD for short, the West Point graduate). True to form, this one’s got it all, hat and cattle.

This book isn't really my type of read but I have to say I really enjoyed reading this one! This is the first book in the bride's of rough creek Texas series! I really enjoyed the work the main male character did he is a horse whisperer lol he wrangled cows with a horse for show! The author really hot into that a few times and although I know absolutely nothing about it I really did enjoy reading about it! This book had everything! A lot of heartache and definitely heartbreak, it had some steam to it and it was just an all around great read! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!