Longing for the Alien Lawman by Ursa Dax [Review]

Longing for the Alien Lawman (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #8) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 8, 2026

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman - Paperback | Kindle
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A curvy OBGYN who's all sunshine and sweetness, a stern alien warden who prizes order above all else, and one very opposites-attract roommate situation...
"Do you know any doctors who'd want to work on a prison planet?"

That's the message I get on my comms tablet the same day my personal life falls apart. Well, I'm a doctor - OBGYN, in fact. And while a penal colony isn't my first choice at a fresh start, I take a chance on it anyway. I like to go with the flow. And who knows? Maybe working with a bunch of cowboy convicts and their wives and babies will be fun!

What isn't fun, though? The steely-eyed, hard-jawed warden who rules over the province I'll be working in. The coolly disciplined Warden Hallum makes the icy Zabria Prinar One landscape seem downright cozy by comparison.

We'll have to get along. Big stick up his bum or not, he is my colleague here. Except I soon find out we'll be more than that. The construction of the hospital I'm meant to live at has been delayed by snowy weather. So the stern and starchy warden Hallum won't just be my coworker now...
He'll also be my roommate.

Thoughts on Longing for the Alien Lawman: The very by-the-book (one would almost say "uptight") Warden Hallum is about to get a roommate and Lualhati is glorious, rainbow colored chaos. She's an excellent doctor, but she is not orderly or contained or any of the things Hallum is. Seeing as they're about to share space, this could be a recipe for disaster.

BUT...her chaos doesn't bother Hallum. She creates joyful messes and is so genuinely kind that Hallum is charmed by her. She's also sweetly direct and kind of likes Hallum's stern default expression. That said, he is maybe a little emotionally constipated and doesn't express himself as clearly as he could, so they do have to work through the pangs of figuring one another out.

As for Lualhati, she has a one year contract on Zabria Prinar One. One year to get herself together and plan for the future. This future likely won't be on Zabria Prinar One since her endgame involves having a baby soon-ish. So she'll stay her year and then go somewhere she can build a life (and where she can get knocked up medically) for her potential child. Except...she likes Hallum. She likes the gentle male under the military precision and she likes the men he's been tasked with watching over. Not to mention the babies that are soon to be born and the incredible scenery and the human women who've ended up here.

An unrepentant ex, a hospital behind schedule, a Warden who is instantly smitten, and a woman who absolutely deserves a male who adores her. *thumbs up*

Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner by Ursa Dax [Review]

Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #7) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 28, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner - Paperback | Kindle
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A gentle alien saloon owner. An artist searching for a softer life. And the love that neither of them ever dared to hope for…

Capitalism and chronic illness are not a good mix. When my debilitating migraines get me fired from my factory job, I’m desperate. For a change. A chance. The space to think, rest, and paint like I’ve always wanted. I’ve never managed to make money from my art or secure a patron. So this new mail-order bride program on Zabria Prinar One now feels like the best (and only) way to escape my imploding life.

I sign up as a participant even though marriage is the last thing on my mind.

But then I meet Rivven, the quiet, lonely alien saloon owner who takes care of me when yet another migraine strikes. He’s sweet, strong, and generous beyond belief – offering me his bed to sleep in and his best bucket to barf in.

There are other men, too. Xennet and Dorn. Record snowfall has delayed their arrival at the saloon, but they should be here within a week.

In just a few days, I’ll have to choose which alien cowboy I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. I need to give each of them a fair chance.

Even though I think I might already be smitten by one…

Thoughts on Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner: These Zabrians are all total sweethearts and Rivven is no exception. He's sweet, caring, hardworking, and absolutely WORSHIPS Shiloh pretty much as soon as he meets her. No lie, I'm super excited that we're getting to spend more time with the different cowboys on Zabria Prinar.

So. Shiloh and Rivven. She's a human lady who's enraptured with the sky and landscape of the planet the first time she sees a picture of Zabria Prinar. Applying for the bride program seems like a no-brainer since she's currently out of a job (thanks to the gross foreman) and this planet offers opportunities she wouldn't otherwise have. That said, the fact she'd be marrying one of the men on the planet doesn't really hit Shiloh until she's met Rivven and realizes he's all in on this idea of marriage.

As for Rivven, he's trying not to get his hopes up with the first human woman coming to their zone, but Shiloh calls to him from the moment he sees her. She's suffering from a migraine, is barely aware of what's going on, and he wants nothing more than to comfort and protect her. His constant, gentle presence has her looking at him in a way she didn't expect to and it isn't long before she starts to realize this kind, incredible male might be the best thing that's ever happened to her.

A few adorably awkward moments, a couple of familiar faces (Tenn and Tasha!), a male who wants nothing more than to cherish the incredible woman who lights up his life, and a lady who finds more than a little creative inspiration on this wide-open planet! MAN, I like these sweet, awkward aliens!

The Lone Cyborg by Honey Phillips [Review]

The Lone Cyborg (Cyborgs on Mars #6) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 26, 2025

Cyborgs on Mars
0.5. High Plains Cyborg
1. The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg
2. A Fistful of Cyborg
3. A Few Cyborgs More
4. The Magnificent Cyborg
5. The Outlaw Cyborg
5.5. The Cyborg with No Name
5.6. Cyborg Rider
5.7. The Cyborg Way
6. The Lone Cyborg - Paperback | Kindle
7. High Noon Cyborg

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Dragons on Mars
1. Last Dragon on Mars

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Can a stubborn miner and a gruff cyborg ranger survive the dangers of Mars—and their growing desire?

Mattie is perfectly happy on her isolated mining claim, thank you very much. She and her cybernetic canary Sylvester are doing just fine—no matter what the big, grumpy cyborg responsible for her territory seems to think.

J-418 takes his job as a ranger very seriously. Frequent checks on the stubborn, annoying—and ridiculously adorable—woman living on her own are just part of his job. They certainly aren’t because he actually enjoys his encounters with the prickly little female.

When danger forces the two together, they make a series of startling discoveries, not the least of which is an unexpected passion. But life on Mars is about to change - for everyone!

Thoughts on The Lone Cyborg: We've been getting hints about the future (past?) on Mars and YESSSSS. I'm IN! But before that, our next cyborg ranger gets his chance at a happily ever after.

J-418/Jeb is drawn to Mattie, but he keeps his distance as much as he can. Which just means he only swings by her claim twice as much as the other homesteaders' claims in his territory. Mattie's prickly and independent and he likes how she makes him feel when they interact, as brief as those interactions are.

On Mattie's end, she likes J-418, but she also has some serious abandonment issues. So she gets a little snarly at him when he swings by and does her level best to make sure she doesn't have to rely on anyone, especially the hunky cyborg. Then he shows up with a warning about possible outlaws in the area and suddenly she kind of has to rely on someone other than herself and it's jarring. As it turns out, being around Jeb is not a hardship. AT ALL.

A little danger, an unexpected find in a lava tube, some forced proximity (gotta love those Martian storms!), a ranger who doesn't think love is in the cards for him, and a lady who has to learn to trust her honorable cyborg won't leave her in the lurch. No lie, I am EXCITED about the future on Mars with what happened here. *thumbs up*

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey [Review]

Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe #2) by Tessa Bailey
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 23, 2024

Under the Mistletoe
1. Cruel Winter with You
2. Merry Ever After - Kindle
3. All By My Elf
4. Merriment and Mayhem
5. Only Santas in the Building

Tessa Bailey
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Thoughts on Merry Ever After: A new town, a new baby, a new job, and a handsome cowboy who keeps showing up at the thrift shop looking for jeans. Seeing as how Luke is practically a giant (I might be exaggerating a little), none of the jeans he tries on fit. Fortunately for him, Evie has a knack for repurposing old clothes.

Also fortunately for him, Evie has a bit of a temper and when she misconstrues one of his actions, she gets it in her head that she's going to show him that she has talent even though she's a single mom. So she makes him some jeans and sets out to give them to him. Then she finds out that what she thought wasn't exactly right and soon these two are making eyes at one another.

A little gift giving, some steamy kisses, a little loneliness, a man who is good with kids and animals and is convinced he needs to move slowly so he doesn't scare his special someone off, and a lady who definitely knows a good guy when she meets him. *thumbs up*

Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider by Ursa Dax [Review]

Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #6) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 1, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider - Paperback | Kindle
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When I lose my home and my horse all in the same afternoon, I’m forced to take painful stock of my situation. I’m twenty-three years old. Single. And pregnant. I’ve always been the glass-half-full sort of gal, but things are looking truly dire as I stare down my rapidly approaching due date.

That’s when I hear about Zabria Prinar One. A ranching outpost planet where a bunch of lonely alien cowboys are waiting for brides. I grew up on a ranch – surely I have enough to offer that one of them will want me. Even if my own family doesn’t.

So I book a shuttle and go.

But my pilot abandons me in a random field, leaving me to face down the intimidating elements alone.
Including one very angry alien bull about to charge.
Just before I get gored, a powerful rider with white eyes comes thundering out of the darkness to save me.

His name is Zohro. He’s beautiful and pink – the colour of all my favourite things.
He is also possibly the grumpiest and most impatient male I have ever met.

But I don’t care. There’s a protective streak in him that makes me feel so safe, no matter how fierce his frowns are. Within moments of meeting him, I know that he’s the one I want to marry.

I just have to tell him that I’m pregnant with another man’s child first…

Thoughts on Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider: It's intense, driven Zohro's turn to meet his special someone and HE DOES NOT MAKE IT EASY ON HIMSELF. To be fair, ALL the Zabrians have a rough time of things seeing as they have little to no blueprint on how to get in touch with their emotions (I mean, maybe Fallon has some idea in that regard. And Oaken. But the others? Pretty emotionally constipated.), but Zohro definitely has the brooding, aloof loner thing down.

His lady? Jolene. She bypassed the bride program entirely (in fact, she didn't know there was an application for it or anything) and managed to find someone to take her to a planet no one was supposed to land on. Let's just say the lady is determined when she sets her mind on something. Regardless, she got left on a planet with unknown (to her) dangers while very pregnant and the next thing she knows she's being rescued by an intense alien who looks at her like she's a treasure. Sure, she doesn't realize the treasure part at first, but it's true. Zohro is smitten from their first interaction and he makes a quick 360 about claiming a human wife.

You know, as long as the human wife is Jolene.

Yup, he likes her. A lot. And he's determined to keep her safe. Which means diving into everything he can get his hands on about human anatomy. Which sounds dirty, but isn't. The guys turns himself into an expert in no time because there are no other options and he needs to make sure he can do whatever needs to be done when it's time for the baby to come.

GLORIOUSLY BAD mispronunciations of pajamas (thanks to Warden Tenn), a seriously hilarious group chat, complicated family dynamics, good men put in bad situations, one sweet baby, a doctor turned rancher who gives his all, and a lady who is willing to put it all on the line to find the place (and person) that calls to her. MAN, I like these aliens!

Married to the Alien Mountain Man by Ursa Dax [Review]

Married to the Alien Mountain Man (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #5) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 20, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man - Paperback | Kindle
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

An alien mountain man longing for a wife, the human woman who crashes into his world, and the fake marriage of convenience that feels just a bit too real...

For most of my life, my beloved ship has been my home. So when I’m forced into a rough emergency landing among the mountains of a planet I’ve never heard of, I’m determined to get her up and running again as quickly as possible.

Except “as quickly as possible” turns out to be at least two weeks. And nobody from off-world is allowed to hang around on Zabria Prinar One – a Zabrian penal colony for convicted murderers – for that long. Unless…

Unless you marry one of said convicted murderers.

Just when I think I’m totally screwed, local alien mountain man Oaken gets down on one knee makes me an offer of marriage I can’t refuse.

It’s only temporary, of course. A fake marriage of convenience that we’ll dissolve after the two-week trial period when my ship is fixed. In the meantime, I’ll be Oaken’s relationship coach. When I’m not working on my ship, I devote myself to preparing this earnest alien sweetheart for his future human bride.

Except things get messy, fast. Lessons on human kissing become far too heated, and late-night conversations grow searingly intimate. The longer I spend with my big, green, gentle, and generous fake husband, the harder it is to accept that he’ll marry someone else after I’m gone. And the more headway I make on repairing my ship, the less I actually want to leave. Even if Oaken is nothing but supportive of my plan.

Even if he never once asks me to stay.

But while Oaken looks ahead to his future with another woman, I suddenly find myself wondering if I could give up the life I’ve always loved to stay by his side.

Could I trade my freedom for a chance at forever?
And how will my pathetic human heart survive if the sort of forever Oaken wants…
Doesn’t include me?

Thoughts on Married to the Alien Mountain Man: OH.MY.GOODNESS. Oaken's booooook. The guy is the biggest sweetheart who ever sweethearted and he was so genuinely happy for Garrek and Magnolia even though Magnolia was originally intended as his bride and he's practically pining for a bride of his own and I AM THRILLED TO GET SEE HIM GET HIS HEA.

Okay. Garrek and Magnolia and their nearly-feral ward (whom I ADORE) have settled near Oaken while he gets back on his feet. Literally. His broken ankle is what set up the chain of events that led to him missing out on meeting Magnolia. That all turned out well in the end, though, and now he has his people close by.

Then a damaged ship lands unexpectedly in his mountains and Oaken is INSTANTLY smitten with Jaya. Even after she threw a hammer at him. Or maybe because she threw a hammer at him. Regardless, he's more than willing to offer a fourteen day trial marriage so she can stay on planet while she waits for needed parts to be shipped for repairs. Sure, he knows that if she leaves, he'll have two missed romantic connections and that might look bad to any future potential brides, but he also kinda knows Jaya is the one for him. So he goes all in.

Jaya is a little less gung-ho. She just wants to get her ship fixed and head back out. Sure, the big green cowboy is a hunk and a sweetheart and she might kinda like him a little more than she's comfortable with, but her place is NOT planetside and she has no intention of staying. Probably.

Husband lessons, a sex-ay movie date, Killian and his nearly-feral ways, sweet critters, nasty weather, a male who knows his person when he sees her, and a lady who has to take a long look at what she wants for the future (spoiler: it might just be a sweet, green alien cowboy). *thumbs up*

Wanted by the Alien Warden by Ursa Dax [Review]

Wanted by the Alien Warden (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #4) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 20, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden - Paperback | Kindle
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A rough and tumble alien warden, a curvy human woman who refuses to be cowed, and the temptation that turns both their worlds upside down...

I've worked so hard to establish the human-Zabrian mail-order bride program. I think I've done a pretty good job, too. Until a bombshell gets dropped:
The ranching outpost planet I've sent the human brides to is a penal colony. Their new alien husbands?
Convicted murderers.

In a panic, I rush to Zabria Prinar One to ensure the safety of the three brides. There, I come face-to-face with the arrogant (and astoundingly hot) alien warden. Warden Tenn is the most infuriatingly cocky adversary I ever could have imagined. He's a brash, swaggering male who seems to delight in bending rules...
And breaking down my walls.

He offers to take me into the neighbouring province to meet the other unmarried men. It's an attempt to persuade me to allow the bride program to continue. I don't trust him one bit as our rustic road trip gets underway.

Especially since his eyes grow white and hungry when he looks at me.
Especially since his voice softens to warm smoke when he speaks to me.

And especially since he only brought one tent.

Thoughts on Wanted by the Alien Warden: Yessss. Warden Tenn is up and his special someone is Tasha, the liaison for the bride program. Given that the Zabrian government neglected to inform Tasha that the planet they were contracting brides for was a penal colony, she's a little panicked over the situation the initial group of brides she sent down might now be in. So she heads planet-side to make sure they're a-okay.

As she quickly learns, all the brides are more than thrilled with the men they've married. They're happy. They're thriving. They're as besotted with their husbands as their husbands are with them. But Tasha isn't exactly convinced. So she and Warden Tenn head into a neighboring Warden's territory so Tasha can meet a set of convicts without the bias of the human wives who obviously adore their husbands. Which sounds a little counterintuitive, but it makes sense. I swear. Tenn is...well, he's not thrilled to be heading into another male's territory, but he is thrilled to get to spend more time with Tasha. No lie, when these aliens meet their special someone, they go ALL IN.

Complete aside, but Warden Hallum's men are just as adorable as Tenn's. And I have SUCH a soft spot for the chaotic energy of Xennet (and Killian), so I would be 100% down with seeing Rivven, Dorn, and Xennet (and Hallum???) get matched in the future. Seriously, though, Xennet and Killian and their playbook of facing the unknown with a weapon in their hands (or tails) just slays me. I love it so hard.

A road trip, only one tent (!!), chaos gremlin Zabrians, happy brides, a little danger, a male who is used to being in charge, and a lady who has to recalibrate what she wants out of life before it's too late. *heart eyes*

Resisting the Alien Rider by Ursa Dax [Review]

Resisting the Alien Rider (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #3) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 19, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider - Paperback | Kindle
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A surly alien rider, a mail-order bride meant for someone else, and the family that was never supposed to form…
All I want is to fall in love and get married. But my romantic hopes are dashed when I find out my alien groom, Oaken, is too injured to come meet me. The only way I can get to him in the mountains is if somebody else takes me.

Enter Garrek. The biggest, grumpiest alien rider on the planet. He doesn’t seem to like me much and he’s got a lot on his plate caring for his convict-ward, a young boy named Killian. But he grudgingly agrees to let me tag along as they travel towards the mountains with their herd.

The journey is dangerous and my guide is surly. But the longer I spend with Garrek, the more I uncover the rough tenderness that looms just beneath his hard exterior. He’s ferociously protective of Killian…

And of me.

But while every night of quiet fireside moments and stolen looks draws me closer to Garrek, every day of travel pushes me closer to the man I’m actually supposed to marry.

I have to resist this growing attraction.
Because if I don’t…

I’ll fall hopelessly in love with the wrong rider. And break everyone’s hearts in the process.

Thoughts on Resisting the Alien Rider: I could not stop myself from starting Magnolia and Garrek's book as soon as I finished Darcy and Fallon's. Garrek and his convict-ward absolutely slayed me with the brief glimpse we got of them in book 2. And sweet, sunny Magnolia who was so thrilled to get to meet her new husband only to have mother nature (and a misstep) throw a wrench in her plans. Come to think of it, there were wrenches a plenty when it came to Magnolia's romance.

To start, her intended has broken his ankle and can't make it down from his mountain home to meet her. Okay. This isn't ideal, but Magnolia can wait if she has to. Then the Warden decides that since Garrek and Killian are heading in the general direction of Oaken's ranch, they can escort Magnolia. Okay. Workable. Except Garrek is stretched thin with his spicy ward and hauling a female who knows nothing about how to survive on their planet along is not his idea of a good time. To be fair, Garrek's running a little rough, so NOTHING is his idea of a good time at first. Garrek has his hands full with Killian and he's absolutely trying to ignore the attraction he's feeling toward a woman who's the intended bride of his cousin. Yeah, it's complicated. Let's just say that Garrek isn't the easiest male to get along with and Magnolia gets under his skin in ways he never expected.

As for Magnolia, it doesn't take long before she sees that Garrek is fiercely protective of those he cares about. He's grumbly and growly with everyone and he's tough on Killian because he knows how dangerous this planet can be. A point that's driven home in the worst way for all of them.

Some seriously nasty native fauna, a child-convict who would burn down the world to keep his Magnolia safe, family ties, steamy kisses, close calls, a male who is afraid to hope, and a lady who is determined to be true to herself. *thumbs up* all around.

Wrangled by the Alien Rancher by Ursa Dax [Review]

Wrangled by the Alien Rancher (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #2) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 18, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher - Paperback | Kindle
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A sweet alien rancher, a wary human woman, and the mail-order marriage that changes everything…

I’ve been raised by my wealthy family to be one thing and one thing only: a wife. So when my parent-picked fiancé turns out to be a total creep and my family disowns me for breaking off the engagement, I do the only thing I can. Even if it’s the last thing I want.

I get engaged to someone else.

That someone else turns out to be an alien rancher named Fallon. He’s everything the people I grew up with aren’t. He’s honest, patient, adorably dopey, and for some unfathomable reason, entirely devoted to me.

It’s almost terrifying, how much Fallon loves me. It’s definitely terrifying, the way I want to let him.

But when my past collides with my present, I’m forced to choose:

Do I retreat to the cold safety of my old world?

Or do I stand by the man who’s changing absolutely everything?

Even me?

Thoughts on Wrangled by the Alien Rancher: We're back on Zabria Prinar One with the sweet, marshmallow-y Fallon about to meet his special someone. Much like Cherry, Darcy had her reasons for joining the bride program and she's more resigned to the whole marriage thing than excited. Then she meets Fallon and he's absolutely gaga for her from the first moment. Which throws Darcy. In a big way.

As it turns out, Darcy had been trained by her uptight (and wealthy) family how to be the perfect wife. And having Fallon excited and thrilled and otherwise delighted to have Darcy around is the exact opposite of what she'd seen in her own family. Not only that, Fallon is shockingly self-sufficient. He doesn't need her to clean or cook or any of the things she'd been taught were an integral part of her duties as a wife. In fact, her new husband practically trips over himself to make sure she pampered (or as pampered as she can be on a dusty planet) and cared for. It's sweet and confusing and it doesn't take long before Darcy is having some big feelings for the sweet alien who she married.

A little familial baggage that needs to be dealt with, a *ahem* slight misunderstanding regarding alien anatomy, some hilariously mispronounced words (and more than a little confusion when it comes to human sayings), an adorable golden retriever of a male, and a lady who finds a male who adores her just for being her. MAN, I like these Zabrians. *thumbs up*

Married to the Alien Cowboy by Ursa Dax [Review]

Married to the Alien Cowboy (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides #1) by Ursa Dax
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 10, 2025

Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides
1. Married to the Alien Cowboy - Paperback | Kindle
2. Wrangled by the Alien Rancher
3. Resisting the Alien Rider
4. Wanted by the Alien Warden
5. Married to the Alien Mountain Man
6. Rescued by the Alien Bull Rider
7. Smitten by the Alien Saloon Owner
8. Longing for the Alien Lawman
9. Bound by the Alien Buckaroo

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Holiday Romances of Elora Station
1. Chimera for Christmas

Ursa Dax
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A quiet alien cowboy, a human woman on the run, and one very messy marriage of convenience. What could possibly go wrong?

In debt and on the run from a crime lord whose nose I may or may not have broken, I take the first ticket off-world that comes my way. It's an all-expenses-paid, one-way trip to an isolated ranching outpost.

The only catch?
I have to marry an alien cowboy.

My plan is simple enough. Shack up with my groom Silar and convince him to keep me during the first month of our marriage. As long as he doesn't decide to send me packing after the thirty-day trial period, I'll be safe.

But maybe my plan isn’t so great after all. Silar talks more to his animals than he does to me, seems perplexed by every wifely duty I try to perform for him, and goes to offensively great lengths to avoid touching me.

Other than his eyes glowing bright white every time he looks at me, I have no idea what's going on in my new husband’s head. Meanwhile, he shows me in subtle, wordless ways just how good a man he can be when he thinks that no one's watching.

Yup. My plan officially sucks. Because now, it's not just my life at risk if Silar sends me away after thirty days…

It’s my stupid human heart.

Welcome to the cowboy colony planet, where men outnumber women ten to one and cattle outnumber them all...

Thoughts on Married to the Alien Cowboy: A big, quiet alien whose social skills are nearly as non-existent as his knowledge of humans (or women, for that matter) and a human lady who is looking for a safe place to land after she ends up owing some very persistent individuals money back on her home planet? YES, PLEASE. Silar is a sweetly confused mess when it comes to interacting with others and somehow he ends up being the first of the convicts to get a wife. It's...something. (A good something, don't worry.)

So. Silar has been a convict on the colony since he was a kid. Frankly, while what he did was technically wrong, the circumstances that led to him being in that situation and the fact that the person who turned him in was someone who should have protected him (or at least tried to muster a defense for him) is kind of messed up. However, the point here is that he hasn't had much social interaction other than his fellow convicts and the warden since he was a kid. He's hardworking and his ranch is well-run, but his social skills aren't the greatest. He's used to being alone and his frame of reference on how normal folks interact is low.

Cherry is a revelation to him. She's bright and cheery and she REALLY needs this whole mail-order bride thing to work since she doesn't want to be sent back to her home planet. Because, you know, there are people there who might want to end her. Silar's not great at communicating and he doesn't seem to need her help around the ranch, but she's determined to win him over.

Except...she doesn't have to work too hard, since he's already smitten with her. He just doesn't know how to show it. Or if his desires are normal. Or if she feels the same way. Yeah, once they start communicating, things start moving in the right direction. Which is a good thing because the people after Cherry aren't willing to let her debt slide.

A fresh start, a wide open planet, a little danger, a male who barely knows how to process the things he wants, and a lady who is more than willing to help her new husband figure things out. *thumbs up*

Big Nick Energy by Morgan Elizabeth [Review]

Big Nick Energy (Seasons of Revenge #3.5) by Morgan Elizabeth
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 5, 2024

Seasons of Revenge
1. Tis the Season for Revenge
2. Cruel Summer
3. The Fall of Bradley Reed
3.5. Big Nick Energy - Paperback | Kindle
4. Ick Factor

Morgan Elizabeth
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When Connor Finch insists his one-time Tinder match, Shae, comes to his dad’s house for Thanksgiving with her two daughters, it’s because he refuses to let them be alone on her first-holiday post-divorce.

But when she arrives at the Christmas tree farm and ranch he grew up on, she meets his father—the crazy tall, built, golden retriever cowboy who tells her girls all about the magic of the stupid elf on a shelf.

Of course, when she later corners him and tells him thanks a lot for nothing and that she’s way too overwhelmed to have to deal with yet another responsibility, he feels terrible.

So terrible, he finds himself driving two hours every night just to deliver an elf, move him about, and create some Christmas magic for her girls.

But what happens when he decides meeting her the way he did was some kind of Christmas miracle, and he needs to convince Shae to give him a shot?

Thoughts on Big Nick Energy: Just to be clear: I picked this one up based on the title alone. Because Big Nick Energy makes me laugh. Also, Nick DOES INDEED have Big Nick Energy and I absolutely appreciate that in a character. (As an aside, I read book 1 just so I could meet some of the characters before this book, so maybe I would have read it anyway if it had a different title because I'm reading holiday romances at the moment, but BOY did that title get me.)

Anywho. Nick and Shae. We met Shae (who was Sharon before she reinvented herself after her divorce) when Damien helped her and the girls get out of a bad situation. Although things are definitely better than when she was married, she's struggling with trying to be everything to her girls and prove to the world at large that she's strong enough to do anything that needs to be done. She's exhausted and second-guessing herself as a mother and Connor's invitation to Thanksgiving is both a blessing and a curse.

Then she meets Nick and he's instantly smitten with both the woman and her two girls. Shae? Well, she's a little more cautious. Especially when Nick seemingly puts another thing on her plate in the form of a magical elf when she's already stretched so thin.

Nick, being Nick, does something about it. Since he's the one who caused the issue, he makes sure he's the one who takes care of it. Driving an hour each way to set up a mischievous elf isn't that much of a hardship since he gets to see Shae every night. Honestly, Nick is a total sweetheart. He lets Shae set the pace in their relationship from the start and starts chipping away at her walls. As much as Shae doesn't want to rely on anyone, Nick finds a way to support her and be there for her time after time.

Some holiday (elf-ish) magic, a not-so-great ex, sweet girls who adore Nick as much as he adores their mother, a man who does everything in his power to show his lady they're a team, and a lady who comes to appreciate the man who treats her like a treasure. *thumbs up*

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts [Review]

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 22, 2024

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Nora Roberts
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The Bodine ranch and resort in western Montana is a family business, an idyllic spot for vacationers. A little over thirty thousand acres and home to four generations, it’s kept running by Bodine Longbow with the help of a large staff, including new hire Callen Skinner. There was another member of the family once: Bodine’s aunt, Alice, who ran off before Bodine was born. She never returned, and the Longbows don’t talk about her much. The younger ones, who never met her, quietly presume she’s dead. But she isn’t. She is not far away, part of a new family, one she never chose—and her mind has been shattered…

When a bartender leaves the resort late one night, and Bo and Cal discover her battered body in the snow, it’s the first sign that danger lurks in the mountains that surround them. The police suspect Cal, but Bo finds herself trusting him—and turning to him as another woman is murdered and the Longbows are stunned by Alice’s sudden reappearance. The twisted story she has to tell about the past—and the threat that follows in her wake—will test the bonds of this strong family, and thrust Bodine into a darkness she could never have imagined.

Thoughts on Come Sundown: Hoo-boy. The Bodine/Longbow family are strong, tight-knit, and they live their lives the way they want to live them. Well, except Alice, I guess. But that was absolutely not her fault, she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and that wrong place ground her down until she barely knew herself anymore.

But before we get to Alice's story, we have Bodine and the family back on the ranch. Bodine is smart, sassy, and knows what she wants out of life. When Cal comes back to Montana after years away, Bo sees a lot she still likes about him. Only now it's not just a school girl crush, but something a whole lot deeper. So those two dance around one another to see how well they fit now that they're adults. (And in the background, the other Longbow siblings have their own romances going on which was A LOT of fun to watch.)

Then Alice reappears and she's not the 18 year old who set out with a dream in her heart. Frankly, she's a mess after years of abuse and mental conditioning to be the type of woman her captor wanted her to be. It takes time and the love of her family before glimpses of the person she used to be starts to emerge.

Straight up, Nora Roberts tells wickedly good stories about strong families and the ties that bind them as they face the things life throws in their direction. The Bodine/Longbow clan are stellar both as a family unit and as individuals. *thumbs up*

A Rancher's Christmas Kiss by Vivian Arend [Review]

A Rancher's Christmas Kiss (Heart Falls #13, Holidays in Heart Falls #5) by Vivian Arend
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 20, 2022

Heart Falls
1. A Rancher's Heart
2. A Rancher's Song
3. A Firefighter's Christmas Gift
4. A Rancher's Bride
5. The Cowgirl's Forever Love
6. The Cowgirl's Secret Love
7. The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
8. A Soldier's Christmas Wish
9. Three Weddings and a Baby
10. A Hero's Christmas Hope
11. A Rancher's Love
12. A Cowboy's Christmas List
13. A Rancher's Christmas Kiss - Paperback | Kindle
14. Girls' Night Out
15. Rose's One Night to Forever
16. A Rancher's Vow

Holidays in Heart Falls
1. A Firefighter's Christmas Gift
2. A Soldier's Christmas Wish
3. A Hero's Christmas Hope
4. A Cowboy's Christmas List
5. A Rancher's Christmas Kiss

Vivian Arend
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

This rancher wasn’t looking for love—but she’s been right there the entire time.

In their mid-forties when they first met, widow Sonora Fallen and vows-to-stay-single rancher Ashton Stewart both felt a spark but agreed being friends was more important than becoming lovers. For many years that decision held firm, and other than one time, their grumbly-in-public, friends-in-private arrangement has stuck.

Now sixteen years later, the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future seem determined to change these friends to lovers to…something else? All of Heart Falls is watching, suspicions on the rise as Sonora and Ashton’s secret slips into view.

Can two people used to standing on their own find a way to admit they want more? Or will stubbornness and fear keep them from forever?

Thoughts on A Rancher's Christmas Kiss: Ashton's been around since the beginning and he and Sonora have had a long-term dalliance that wasn't exactly a secret, but also wasn't straight-up acknowledged. And since both Ashton and Sonora seemed happy with their arrangement, things just kept on keeping on.

Until, you know, things changed. Both Ashton and Sonora started wanting more, but didn't quite know how to say it. Well, actually, they did sort of say they wanted more, but that was going from friends to friends with benefits. Both of them kind of shied away from asking for even more than that.

So things got a little messy, but they worked it out in the end. We got to see two sassy, feisty individuals dance around one another while surrounded by those they loved. *thumbs up*

Girls' Night Out by Vivian Arend [Review]

Girls' Night Out (Heart Falls #14, Heart Falls Vignette and Novella Collection #2) by Vivian Arend
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 16, 2022

Heart Falls
1. A Rancher's Heart
2. A Rancher's Song
3. A Firefighter's Christmas Gift
4. A Rancher's Bride
5. The Cowgirl's Forever Love
6. The Cowgirl's Secret Love
7. The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
8. A Soldier's Christmas Wish
9. Three Weddings and a Baby
10. A Hero's Christmas Hope
11. A Rancher's Love
12. A Cowboy's Christmas List
13. A Rancher's Christmas Kiss
14. Girls' Night Out - Paperback | Kindle
15. Rose's One Night to Forever
16. A Rancher's Vow

Heart Falls Vignette and Novella Collection
1. Three Weddings and a Baby
2. Girls' Night Out
3. Rose's One Night to Forever

Vivian Arend
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After the happily-ever-afters, their stories go on.

A collection of short stories in the Heart Falls world by New York Times bestselling Author Vivian Arend.

THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS:
Reading List for Heart Falls AND a family tree/character list

The following girls/guys night out vignettes:
Glamour & Truth
Ashton's Birthday Surprise
Mischief at the Fire Hall
Sharing Secrets

And the short story:
A Forever Family

For the past year, Ivy and Walker Stone have been working to expand their family. They’ve filled out forms until their fingers cramped, had home visits with social workers, and planned for the future. Walker and his brothers have done construction and renovations to his and Ivy’s home in Heart Falls to make room for the coming new additions.
And now the day they’ve waited for is about to arrive.

*Bonus… Tucker and Ginny’s wedding is included in this story!

Thoughts on Girls' Night Out: It's always fun to head back into Heart Falls and see how the various couples are doing. This time around we got some girl time, a nice set-up for Rose, and a sweet little bundle of joy.

AND...Ivy and Walker's story. Or maybe I should say Ivy, Walker, and their budding family's story. And, oh, it's a sweet one. Sweet and a little sad, but just right all the same.

Family, friends, more family, snacks, sweetness, kittens, and a whole lot of love. The Stone family (in all their permutations) sure does know how to have a good time AND how to welcome anyone and everyone into their hearts. *thumbs up*

Jackrabbit Junction Jitters by Ann Charles [Review]

Jackrabbit Junction Jitters (Jackrabbit Junction #2) by Ann Charles
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 14, 2021

Jackrabbit Junction
1. Dance of the Winnebagos
2. Jackrabbit Junction Jitters - Paperback | Kindle
3. The Great Jackalope Stampede
4. The Rowdy Coyote Rumble
4.5. The Wild Turkey Tango
5. In Cahoots with the Prickly Pear Posse

Ann Charles
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Claire is back, raining trouble throughout Jackrabbit Junction in another fast-paced, fun, sexy suspense.

A burglar is on the loose! Claire wastes no time forming suspicions, but she's sidetracked by a treasure hunt.

Even with help from her boyfriend, Claire is swirling in a whirlpool of chaos. Throw her crazy sister into the torrent, along with an angst-ridden teen, a jittery bride, and some randy old men, and Claire struggles just to keep a toehold in the current.

Then her mother arrives ...

Thoughts on Jackrabbit Junction Jitters: Hoo-boy. Let's see where to start with this...Claire is a hot mess. Sometimes a literal hot mess when she's stuck unclogging toilets at the RV park in 100 degree heat. She's also got her commitment-phobic pants on in a BIG way. Her sister is...also kind of a hot mess. Without some of the literal hotness that comes with sweating your way through the day. The figurative hot mess, however, is live and well with Kate.

AND MAMA MORGAN. WOW. That lady is awful. From her viper-ish attitude toward Ruby to the way she attempts to control every aspect of Claire and Kate's lives. Just no. No. She is not a fun person to be around in any way.

A few cryptic clues, people of a questionable nature, a fender bender (or two), a dead body, and a whole lot of suspicion. Claire might be a hot mess of epic proportions (sometimes), but she and Mac make a solid team when it comes to ferreting out hidden things. Of course, those hidden things often come with a heaping dose of danger, but WHAT CAN YOU DO, AMIRITE?!?!

Cowboy by L.B. Dunbar [Review]

Cowboy (The Busy Bean) by L.B. Dunbar
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 4, 2021

The Busy Bean
Sweetheart
Cowboy - Paperback | Kindle
Cakewalk
Friendzoned
Studfinder
Doubletalk
Sidetracked
Fireproof
Footnote
Afterglow

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
True North
1. Bittersweet

L.B. Dunbar
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Pregnant at forty-two? Back the cow up...

Harland Bull Eaton has lost many things—his first wife, his beloved mother, those three women he proposed to . . . Oh, and there was that time he almost lost the family dairy farm due to a scandal. He’s losing faith in just about everything, especially love.

But one night, his friends give him a dare. No commitments. No heartbreak. Just buy that gorgeous redhead a drink. The big-city bombshell he’s set his eyes on swirls him into a tailspin that lands them in bed for a one-night stand he’s pretty sure he’ll never forget. But this time, he swears, he won’t let his heart ride herd on his common sense.

Recently separated and newly unemployed, Scarlett Russell is at a crossroads. With no other plan than visiting a friend in Vermont, the last thing she expects is a hunky, silver fox offering to buy her a drink. Even less expected is when she raises that offer to “take me to bed, cowboy.” She just wants one night to forget everything gone wrong.

Turns out once won’t be nearly enough. Won’t ever be enough, feeling the way she does. But secrets and an unexpected surprise are a lot to handle . . . unless these two can break a trail to an unexpected happily ever after.

Thoughts on Cowboy: Ahh, yessss. A one night stand between two people desperate for a connection turns into something a little more permanent and I AM SO HERE FOR THIS. Bull was a serious sweetheart burdened with some lingering trust issues and Scarlett was trying to find herself again after finding out her soon-to-be ex cheated on her. They were just...sweet together. So sweet. Parenting partners and everything.

Not that everything was easy. These two had a few roadbumps along the way. After his run of bad luck with engagements (and women in general, I guess), Bull is very careful not to put a label on them as a couple. They might be having a baby together, but that doesn't mean they're together. Or there are plans to get married. Because engagements and him don't mix. And guess what?  Not communicating with the lady a person is falling for has the potential for disaster all over it.

On her end, Scarlett is...I guess she's trying to make sure she's not a burden. Moving in with Bull made sense, but she also didn't want to overstay her welcome. And as much as Bull said she wasn't imposing, Scarlett still sort of felt like she was.

Secrets, a misstep or two along the way, sexy times, a baby bump, and sass. *thumbs up*

A Cowboy's Christmas List by Vivian Arend [Review]

A Cowboy's Christmas List (Heart Falls #12, Holidays in Heart Falls #4) by Vivian Arend
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 31, 2021

Heart Falls
1. A Rancher's Heart
2. A Rancher's Song
3. A Firefighter's Christmas Gift
4. A Rancher's Bride
5. The Cowgirl's Forever Love
6. The Cowgirl's Secret Love
7. The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
8. A Soldier's Christmas Wish
9. Three Weddings and a Baby
10. A Hero's Christmas Hope
11. A Rancher's Love
12. A Cowboy's Christmas List - Paperback | Kindle
13. A Rancher's Christmas Kiss
14. Girls' Night Out
15. Rose's One Night to Forever
16. A Rancher's Vow

Holidays in Heart Falls
1. A Firefighter's Christmas Gift
2. A Soldier's Christmas Wish
3. A Hero's Christmas Hope
4. A Cowboy's Christmas List
5. A Rancher's Christmas Kiss

Vivian Arend
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

This cowboy has made a list—checked it twice—and she’s about to find out exactly how right they are for each other.

Cowboy Alex Thorne was a pain in quiet Yvette Wright’s side for years, but when he suddenly left Heart Falls, she missed his smart mouth and sexy smile. Now he’s back with a Christmas gift she can’t resist. A homemade advent calendar fashioned from an antique cabinet, each locked drawer full of teasing reasons why they belong together.

It took far too long for Alex to realize why he’d relentlessly poked and teased his favourite Heart Falls veterinarian, but he’s determined to make up for lost time now that he knows Yvette is the only one for him. He’ll need to convince her that in spite of their differences, they’re not headed into a holiday fling.

Christmas magic will need to be extra shiny and bright this year for these not-quite-enemies to become lovers for a lifetime—and a united force against anyone, or anything, that would tear them apart.

Thoughts on A Cowboy's Christmas List: Holiday fun in Heart Falls! Alex, the cowboy who has been butting heads and pestering the sweet veterinarian for the past two years, is back in town and he's determined to show Yvette a different side of himself. he has his work cut out for him because his teasing wasn't taken as lightly as he meant it thanks to Yvette's parent's treatment of her and the years of baggage they've left her with.

Which isn't to say Alex is waging a losing battle. Yvette is aware of her issues and working on them. It's just that Alex's previous actions (that relentless teasing) has left a bit of a mark. So first, Alex has to convince her to have an open mind about them as a couple. Then he has to work on showing her how well they fit together.

He does all this with an antique desk he's turned into a sweet, 24-days-of-gift-giving present. He uses his 24 days to show Yvette how thoughtful and kind he can be. She takes those 24 days as a chance to shed the weight of the past and really see the man who's planned all this out for her.

A little heat, a lot of steam, friends and family, one grouchy old-timer, and a heaping dose of holiday magic. *thumbs up*

Rocky Mountain Forever by Vivian Arend [Review]

Rocky Mountain Retreat (Six Pack Ranch #12) by Vivian Arend
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 14, 2021

Six Pack Ranch
1. Rocky Mountain Heat
2. Rocky Mountain Haven
3. Rocky Mountain Desire
4. Rocky Mountain Angel
5. Rocky Mountain Rebel
6. Rocky Mountain Freedom
7. Rocky Mountain Romance
8. Rocky Mountain Retreat
9. Rocky Mountain Shelter
10. Rocky Mountain Devil
11. Rocky Mountain Home
12. Rocky Mountain Forever - Kindle

Vivian Arend
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s never too late for love.

Years ago, Mark Coleman made the only possible choice and left Rocky Mountain House before he tore his family apart. When he hears the four clans—Six Pack, Whiskey Creek, Moonshine and Angel—are working together to create a memory book, Mark also discovers the one detail that finally triggers his return.

Because he’s not just coming back to the family. Now that Dana is free and ready to move on, Mark plans to give the only woman he’s ever loved all the devotion and happiness she deserves, no matter how much sweet-talking, or dirty talk, it takes.

Meanwhile, when a shocking truth is shared with the oldest of the Six Pack sons, Blake Coleman begins a journey of assessment. Can he really fill his father’s boots and be the leader his generation turns to for guidance?

With lots of visits with all your favourite Colemans, this is a celebration of love and the lessons learned along the way.

Warning: this book is full of happily-ever-afters. Lots of I love yous, lots of babies, lots of laughter and happy tears. Pretty much, readers familiar with the series have a ton of feel-good hours of reading ahead. If you want angst—this isn’t it.

Thoughts on Rocky Mountain Forever: The Coleman clan is big and boisterous and always willing to lend a helping hand. Did I mention big? Perhaps I should add fertile to that list because the various couples are popping out babies like it's going out of style and I KIND OF LOVE THAT.

For all the Colemans always rally when something needs to be done (or someone needs a helping hand), there's been one Coleman uncle who's always been a bit of a mystery. Mark Coleman. He walked away from the family legacy (for reasons), but he still managed to lend his own helping hand when someone needed it.

Now that circumstances have changed and the stars have aligned (timing is everything, you know!), Mark Coleman is returning to the heart of the clan. He's also returning to try to win the heart of his brother's widow, the woman he's been in love with forever. Which is...not problematic, exactly, but he has his work cut out for him on a lot of fronts. He has to show his worth to the family he walked away from and show the woman he loves that he's not going to walk away again. TBH, Dana's the harder of the two to convince. She has her own trust issues to deal with and she's not quite ready to jump in with both feet when Mark first shows up in town.

But this book is more than just Mark and Dana's reconnection. It's a whole lot of family. A whole lot of loving. AND A WHOLE LOT OF BABIES. A glorious lot of babies. The Colemans live hard and love harder and they're not afraid to show it. I'm always sorry to say goodbye to a beloved series, but DANG this one ended well. *thumbs up*