Books & Spoons Review for SECOND-CHANCE COWBOY by Carolyne Aarsen

18/5/2017

Rancher Daddy

Morgan Walsh will do just about anything to connect with the son who continues to keep him at arm's length. Even ask a favor of ex-fiancee Tabitha Rennie. And what young Nathan desperately wants is for Tabitha to train his late mother's horse.

But Tabitha is also determined to keep her distance.

As soon as she's paid off her father's debts, she'll leave town and the painful memories of the real reason she abruptly left Morgan all those years ago. Yet spending time with Morgan and his son is sparking dreams she can't deny: of family, fresh starts and first loves that last a lifetime.

A beautiful story about forgiveness, self-worth, and new chances in life and love.
I enjoy this author's way to tell the story, how she incorporates the character's faith in God into their daily lives and the decisions they make. From every turn in the plot, it comes clear what faith means to the protagonists, and how it shapes their lives and choices they make.
The characters are by no means perfect or without faults. The ones they take responsibility of, the ones given to them by others, or something they are born with. They stumble and even fall, but always keep going, and that I admired about them immensely.
Tabitha Rennie had faced many adversities during her relatively young life.Her father's sins were held against her, her disability hindered her education and career choices, her self-worth was low from being beaten down too many times, yet each time she got up and tried again.
Morgan Walsh had faced his own troubles in life. Finally getting the custody of his son, but only after his estranged wife died, he came home to be close to his family. He knew he would run into Tabitha, the girl that broke his young heart, but he was not prepared for her to be a part of his everyday life.
Morgan and Tabitha has a lot of issues, from the past as well from the present, that they had to work through. Some of their family issues were intertwined and holding them apart, but the past hurt and the still open questions, and wounds, were grinding their way as well.
I really enjoyed the story and I had difficulty putting it down until the end. I wanted to know what will happen, I wanted to know if and how Morgan and Tabitha solve their issues, I wanted to know how Morgan would react when some truths from the past were revealed, and how and what they would have to do to get that second chance to build something lasting between them. I was emotionally connected and invested in the outcome of the journey they were on.
A thought-provoking, intriguing, and uplifting story that not only was an enjoyment and entertained me but made me think and ponder the issues brought up, as well.
~ Four Spoons