James Cade has one priority: keep the family ranch running smoothly in the wake of his younger brother's death.
With Jesse's ex, Sofia Gallardo, and her young son, Javi, stranded at Cade Ranch over Christmas, this task just got a lot harder. The longer Sofia and Javi stay, the harder it is to imagine the ranch without them. James couldn't save his brother from his inner demons, but he can give his nephew a secure future. Maybe more—if he can figure out how to trust Sofia, and stop feeling like he's betraying Jesse. Because trying to stop thinking about beautiful, determined Sofia is impossible. 
An emotional and heartfelt story about family, addiction, learning to accept yourself, and allowing yourself to be happy.
I love the author's voice. Her style of writing is so smooth, the story has a lovely, natural flow that pulls you in. The rich and variable plot holds the interest throughout, and I found the book hard to put down, as I was invested in the characters and their lives. Sofia Gallardo has had a rough life but she is a survivor, and I admired her toughness, her ability to beat her addiction and hold herself clean while being a single mom working in a low-income, constantly changing jobs. The vulnerability, the past hurt, the raw and realistic emotions running through Sofia's mind went straight to my heart. I can't say I could relate to her or should I say know where she has been and understands her pain and situation, but the author paints a picture that shows the challenges clearly, points out the obstacles she has overcome and celebrates the victories she has achieved. I really loved Sofia, and her son, and the kind of mom she was. The love between those two was palpable, I wanted to reach out and make everything better for them. And I understand that this was the goal James Cade also had, but oh, I struggled with James. He is a bit too controlling, too adamant, too stubborn, too rude, too unforgiving, he was just too much for me. And I kept reading, hoping there would be redemption for him, that he would overcome his problems with control, and he would see the error of his ways. And yes, he is not completely blind to his overpowering ways to control and command everyone around him, but is it enough and was it too late?! A story that smoothly blends together the sweetness and magic of Christmas, a family trying to hold it together after a tragedy, the raw and real struggles of addiction, and the Wonderwoman state of survival many single moms perform daily. A story that will touch your heart and makes you appreciate your blessings ~ Four Spoons
Award-winning author Karen Rock is both sweet and spicy—at least when it comes to her writing! The author of both YA and adult contemporary books writes red-hot novels for Harlequin Blaze and small-town romances for Harlequin Heartwarming. A strong believer in Happily-Ever-After, Karen loves creating unforgettable stories that leave her readers with a smile. When she’s not writing, Karen is an avid reader who’s typically immersed in three different books at a time, all in different genres. She also loves cooking her grandmother’s Italian recipes, baking, Christmas (no need to specify—she loves every bit of it), and having the Adirondack Park wilderness as her backyard, where she lives with her husband, daughter, dog and cat who keep her life interesting and complete. Learn more about her at her website.
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1 Comment
16/11/2017 17:36:30
Thanks so much for reviewing Christmas at Cade Ranch and hosting me today on Books and Spoons :-) Leave a Reply. |
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