Books & Spoons Review for BRANDED AS TROUBLE by Delores Fossen

26/6/2017

Every town needs a bad boy, and Wrangler's Creek's has been gone far too long

Getting his high school girlfriend pregnant was just one square in Roman Granger's checkered past, but it changed him forever. When his son's mother skipped town after the birth, Roman decided to do the same, baby Tate in tow, hoping for a fresh start.

Now Roman fears his teenage son is following in his wayward footsteps, so he returns home to Wrangler's Creek, aiming to set him straight. It's there he encounters Tate's aunt, Mila Banchini, the good-girl opposite of Roman who's had a crush on him since childhood. The old spark between them undeniably never died, though Roman worries it'll only lead to heartache. But if falling for Mila is such a bad idea, why does everything about holding her feel so right?

I try not to get all fangirl and start gushing out about Branded As Trouble but I can't guarantee it will not happen. I loved the story, absolutely every brilliant word of it. Delores Fossen's writing is something else. She can capture into one sentence so many emotions and layers of meaning it is delightful to just read the books, not to mention enjoy the stories. There can be so much tragedy and sadness in the meaning of the words and in the story yet it is said and expressed in such a way I could not help but chuckle as I was reading.
The bad boy Roman Granger is used to keep people at the arm's length to avoid emotions. Except for his son and Mila Banchini. Yet his son would rather keep his dad away from his business, and Mila, she has had a crush on him since they were teens.
Both Roman and Mila are complex characters, there is much more to them than you might catch on the first look. Their emotions run deep, they love fiercely, they fight for and protect those they care for, and they both adore Roman's son, Tate.
I loved the connection between Roman and Mila. There was raw honesty, openness, and deep-rooted emotions. They said what they meant, they did what they wanted, no smoke and mirrors between them. Yet there was passion, humor, and adoration that was striking.
There is so much more going on in the story than just romance like there always is at Wrangler's Creek. There are family drama and trouble, there are issues with parenting both teens and toddlers, there is an undercurrent theme with teenage angst and relationship with their parents. All this is well twined into the tale of Roman and Mila finding their way to each other. There is chaos, mayhem, and turbulence in town, in families, and in relationships just like there is in life in general. Yet it is all told with an enjoyable sarcasm and humor, with emotions that captivate and touch your heart, presented by characters that allure and charm you completely, and you end up wishing the story would not end, enchanted by the world they live in. Yes, I absolutely loved it!
~ Five Spoons!