Crooked Tree Ranch by R.J. Scott
Montana Series 01
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Nate discovers the ranch he part owns isn't doing as well as he thought, so on the advice of his partners he agrees to get a marketing expert in to turn the ranch around, but he isn't prepared for the hot city guy who turns up with his family in tow. Jay snatches the chance of a new beginning for himself and his family when he loses his job and his sister's violent ex turns up, but he never accounted for his sexy new cowboy boss. Settling his family comes first for Jay but he can't ignore his longing for Nate, Nate has ideas of his own, but will Jay be willing to stay at Crooked Tree Ranch and will Nate tell Jay how he really feels?
R.J. Scott has done it again, she has produced another series with fabulous characters, incredible settings and with the added bonus of family drama. Both Nate and Jay are introduced in their own settings, Nate on the ranch with the hidden problems coming to light and Jay in the city office as his world crumbles around him. We then see both of them finding solutions to their problems and their first meeting isn't exactly sunshine and roses. We discover a lot about the characters of both men, in their past and continued actions and they are both men that are honorable and family orientated, but are both tough and determined in their own ways.
The relationship between Nate and Jay is a slow evolving one but the attraction and sparks between them let you know it will be an incredible one. There's plenty of background stories playing out involving both Nate's two brother's and Jay's sister and niece, as well as cute little sweet Josh (Jay's nephew) settling easily into his new life. Along with the normal tension and worries of moving to a new State and the horrible tension of an abuser refusing to let go, it has the hopes and fears of a new relationship and the hotness of sexy men taking a chance on love. There is also a mystery lurking in the background involving the disappearance of two young boys and the ongoing relations between the three partners of the ranch.
I loved this story, it had just the right amount of everything to keep me turning the pages and having me scouring the internet for hints about future books, it had me secretly grinning that it had sexy cowboys and I'd snatched the book right out from under Cat's nose *raspberry*. It got my mind flying off wondering what happened to the young teenagers who had disappeared... *R.J. I want to know... NOW*, it had me sighing over family and the changes that security and a fresh start can bring. It's a very fulfilling story that doesn't have a miss, it hits the spot from every aspect and I am really hoping that R.J. coughs up the next in the series pretty quickly.
I recommend this story if you love cowboys, city guys, sexy men, family drama, a lingering mystery, some hot sex, a great story, brilliant characters and some brilliant writing. Oh and if you can read! LOL, R.J. I am expecting you to write like the wind and have sore fingers in the near future :-)
