Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 4/23/2024 + 2597 more book reviews

I loved this second book in a series about a family of ranchers who also serve their country. In this book, Blue Donnelly is an Air Force test pilot. Flying is all he ever wanted to do. As this book opens, Blue is in the hospital after crash-landing his jet. He is badly injured and feels guilty about the injuries received by some of the people on the ground. He's feeling pretty sorry for himself when he gets a surprise visitor.

Marin and her six-year-old ward were spectators at the air show. Young Leo is an avid fan of Blue and believes that Blue is his father. Marin needs Blue's help to show Leo the truth without hurting him.

I enjoyed Marin and Blue's first meeting. His good looks and rogueish charm stirred Marin up. Blue was blown away by Marin's beauty and stunned by the news she brought. Although Blue is not Leo's dad, I liked that he wanted to help the little boy. Marin works with abused horses, and the Donnellys had just rescued several from a neighbor, so they hired her to work with them on their ranch. This gives Marin steady work, Leo a safe and exciting place to live, and Blue needs distractions as he recovers from his injuries.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Blue and Marin. Neither was looking for anything. Marin has trust issues with men, and Blue will return to his base as soon as he is fit. As the story developed and I got to know the characters, it was easy to see how right Marin and Blue are for each other, even though the obstacles seem insurmountable. Complicating matters, Leo's real dad shows up, threatening to take Leo away from Marin. I could feel Marin's fear over what Brian would do, and I loved the support she got from Blue and the rest of the Donnellys.

The more time Marin and Blue spent together, the stronger the sparks between them grew. Each knew giving in to them was a bad idea, but neither had the strength or resolve to resist. Besides his growing feelings for Marin, Blue must also face uncertainty about his future. If his injuries don't heal enough to allow him to return to the life he loves, can he be happy doing anything else? I ached for Blue and the range of emotions he experienced as he faced a possibly life-changing decision. The ending was terrific.

I also enjoyed the Donnely family dynamics. The siblings are all stand-up characters with a deep-rooted sense of honor and family. Combining military careers with ranching is difficult, but they make it work. I liked seeing more of Egan (Heart Like a Cowboy) and his lady, Alanna. Blue's other brother, Cal, and his sister, Remi, appear in this book as their military duties allow. We also get to catch up with the elder Donnelly, who is recovering from a heart attack, and his wife, Audrey, an Air Force general. A twist involving them in the latter part of the book throws the entire family for a loop. I loved young Leo, whose hero worship of Blue was sweet. I enjoyed seeing him wiggle his way into everyone's hearts.

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