Books & Spoons Review TRUSTING THE COWBOY by Carolyne Aarsen

Falling for the Rancher 

When Lauren McCauley returns to the Circle M Ranch after her father's death, she's focused on selling the spread and getting a fresh start somewhere else.
But she's unprepared for the jolt her heart feels when she meets Vic Moore.

The handsome, broad-shouldered cowboy may have a legitimate claim to the Circle M, and he makes it clear he'd like to lasso Lauren, as well. Terrified of another heartbreak, Lauren vows to cash in and ship out.
​But the strong and steady rancher is not about to give up on his dreams of a home…and a family to go with it.

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When your life is built on helping others, and doing everything you can, to make other's lives easier, and then your trust is broken in a harsh, and hurtful way, by more than one man, in a different circumstances, it is no wonder that Lauren is having a hard time trusting anyone. Not to mention the handsome cowboy, who claim to have the first right to buy the family ranch, and in doing so, take all the control out of her life. 
Lauren is at a crossroads, in more ways than one. Her engagement was broken a week before the wedding was to take place, her father died in an accident, she lost her job, she is trying to build a new possibility for herself, and only for herself this time, but everything is a chaos around her, with no trace of an order or a smooth ride. 
Her stubborn nature is pushing her through, even though everything seems to go against her plan. Her faith in God is feeble, she doesn't want to let the control go, and let Him in charge. 
Vic is like Lauren, always taking care of everyone else. But the guilt from his brother's accident is eating him inside out, and he needs the ranch, to make it better again, for his brother. 
I liked how Vic and Lauren danced around each other, slowly getting to know each other, slowly giving each other more time and space in their lives. 
Trusting each other isn't easy for either one of them, and they have to work on their guilt, the need for control, need to take care of everything, independence.. 
The inner struggle they have is real, they have to learn to forgive themselves, as well as to those whom has wronged them. The road to learning to trust again, and forgiving, and forgetting, moving on, is filled with rocks that they fumble on, but they have the desire to learn, the desire to trust in the Lord, and each other, and they have the will to put the other first, to build a lasting relationship. 
I loved how their difficult journey was told, how they learned to put their faith, hope, and reliance into Lord and His almighty hands. The built up took a little time, but once the story took wings, it was flying beautifully. 
The attraction between them seemed so fragile, but the will to build upon it was strong. 
A lesson in love, trust, family, and the gospel truth
~ Four Spoons

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