#SaturdaysAreBookish and Heartwarming has a NEW Western imprint! | “Trusting the Rancher with Christmas” (Three Springs, Texas, Book Two) by Cari Lynn Webb

Posted Saturday, 6 November, 2021 by jorielov , , , , , 0 Comments

#SaturdaysAreBookish banner created by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Book By: I’ve been hosting for Prism Book Tours since September of 2017 – having noticed the badge on Tressa’s blog (Wishful Endings) as we would partake in the same blog tours and/or book blogosphere memes. As I enquired about hosting for Prism, I found I liked the niche of authors and stories they were featuring regularly. Oft-times you’ll find Prism Book Tours alighting on my blog through the series of guest features and spotlights with notes I’ll be hosting on behalf of their authors when I’m not showcasing book reviews on behalf of Harlequin Heartwarming which has become my second favourite imprint of Harlequin next to my beloved #LoveINSPIRED Suspense. I am also keenly happy PRISM hosts a variety of Indie Authors and INSPY Fiction novelists. Whenever I host for Prism, I know I am in for an uplifting read and a journey into the stories which give me a lot of joy to find in my readerly queue of #nextreads. It is an honour to be a part of their team of book bloggers.

I received a complimentary copy of “Trusting the Rancher with Christmas” direct from the author Cari Lynn Webb in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Did you notice Heartwarming has a lovely new imprint?:

I admit, I’m a bit behind on bookish news these past few seasons of 2021 – returning to work in February proved to be its own learning curve and this Autumn, starting the last fortnight of October, I took-on a secondary job working three nights which are now expanding into four nights a week this November. Some years bring more change than others and this year definitely has been a New Year of changes for myself and my family. I’ve missed out on noticing which authors I love reading have release new books – something I hope to remedy in 2022 and in this instance, I missed the announcement about how Heartwarming was seeking Westerns!

As I previously mentioned, Western Romances are part of my cosy comfort reads. They always have been and I believe they always shall be – as I find great joy in reading stories set on ranches and farms and which occupy that part of America which can only be lived in the West. I might have grown up in a metropolis with the bursting chaos of city life but there is a part of me which appreciates the slower pace of small townes and getting back into a lifestyle closer to the natural world whilst loving the large expanse of space only rural and country living can give you. Not to mention the fact its been a life long dream to get back into horse-back riding and purse different Equestrian sports.

Finding out Harlequin Heartwarming is now shifting the Three Springs, Texas series by Ms Webb into their new Western imprint is wicked brilliant. As it turns out, most of my top favourite series by Heartwarming *are!* Western Romances and series!! Isn’t that interesting?! I now wonder if all of those series are going to shift into this imprint and if Heartwarming itself will go between having Contemporaries with Non-Western themes on the main imprint and then, all the lovely joys of Westerns kept separate? Of course, sometimes Harlequin does mini-runs of imprints, too. Either way, I’m game to take-on the adventure and see which new authors will be publishing under this imprint in 2022-beyond whilst continuing to celebrate the authors I already love reading who are publishing under it now!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

On why I love reading Harlequin Heartwarming and Romances
(outside of this imprint) overall:

I have a lot of joy in finding writers who love to celebrate and champion family and friendships – it is the backbone of why I love reading relationship-based romances, as you get to tuck close to the characters, peer into their personal lives and take up residence in their shoes for the hours you’re reading their stories.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Three Springs, Texas likes to let you find out about the towne as you progress through the story, as it is the backdrop of the series but it is also one of those kinds of sleepier townes where it takes a bit to see the sights and understand the rhythm of how the community functions. On the surface, you might blink and miss the towne itself but it has more to it than what can be perceived. Tess, the barely knows her cousin relation of Abby is a clever character in her own right. Relocated to a towne on a whim and hope of starting over with their grandfather’s store and without knowing how it might all turn out in the end. That’s the kind of second chance you want to bet on and see come to fruition because of the courage it takes to re-write your own destiny. I was hoping a bit of that spunk and spark might inspire Abby a bit too. Even if she doesn’t think Tess is as strong as Tess actually is and that of course was an observation which made me smirk. People sometimes misconstrue others and misunderstand their own strength.

The General store Tess inherited from their grandparents is a bit of a work-in-progress – whereas what was once a thriving store front is now a bit of a build yourself a new inventory kind of store! It has the bare bones of a thriving business but the heart and substance it once held in its shelves is long since gone. I thought it was quite clever Tess was taking custom orders, which seemed to be more of the antique and hard to source variety than the kinds of items you’d think ranchers might want to seek out to purchase on the regular. I had a feeling the General store might have a new identity dawning for itself. Of course, for two women trying to make amends for their insurrected pasts and try to find new ground in this new community in which to reset their lives, I felt a project like this one might be the best medicine they could each mutually have found.

The more Abby and Wes were placed onto each others’ paths, the more you could see how both of them ached for more connection. Not necessarily from each other, though that is the underthread of interest throughout the story, but just from someone who would understand them. They’re both a bit untethered at the beginning, as their both seeking elsewhere to find their roots. They want to find a way to recharge their lives, which is why Abby selected Three Springs as a potential root making option for herself as Tess was already anchoured here. For Wes, it was further complicated by what had previously happened before his arrival in Three Springs; both on a personal and professional front. For him, life couldn’t rebegin until he was certain he had a foundation on which to build. For Abby, she was a bit more daring and decided to take her chances as she found them rather than wait for a better moment to begin. They both had their strengths and they both had their own share of reservations, which were understandable given the circumstances.

What truly anchours you into this story though is the unconditional love this community has for each other – it is even evident in the letter by Abby’s grandmother, which she wrote to Abby to encourage her on her new path towards finding out if Three Springs is the right fit for her as it had been for her grandparents. Sometimes life leads you in different places than your expecting to find yourself but those places are the right place to find your life. This is why I loved seeing this story develop and endeavour to paint the larger portrait of the towne of Three Springs. There are so many lovely characters here to draw your eye towards them and to have a piece of your heart left behind in a community who truly feels its more one extended family than a community of neighbours. These people care about each other, about welcoming in new visitors and residents alike and in finding common ground in which to build a solid future. All of us would be blessed to find the same in our world, too.

-quoted from my review of The Texas SEAL’s Surprise

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

In case you missed it, during my 8th Blogoversary this March,
I re-celebrated why I love reading Harlequin Heartwarming stories as I had during my 6th!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

#SaturdaysAreBookish and Heartwarming has a NEW Western imprint! | “Trusting the Rancher with Christmas” (Three Springs, Texas, Book Two) by Cari Lynn WebbTrusting the Rancher with Christmas
Subtitle: Three Springs Texas
by Cari Lynn Webb
Source: Author via Prism Book Tours

A visit for the holidays

Brings love for a lifetime

Cattle rancher Evan Bishop is desperate for Paige Palmer’s help. The veterinarian is in Three Springs for the holidays, but the single dad hopes she has time to save his ailing livestock. Paige is up for the challenge, though not quite up to resisting the cowboy’s rugged charm and his darling devotion to his little girl. Can Paige learn to trust the rancher before the countdown to Christmas ends?

Genres: Contemporary (Modern) Fiction (post 1945), Western Fiction, Ranches & Cowboys, Western Romance, Contemporary Romance



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781335426499

Also by this author: The Rancher's Rescue, Single Dad to the Rescue, In Love by Christmas, Her Surprise Engagement, Three Makes A Family, The Texas SEAL's Surprise

Published by Harlequin Heartwarming

on 26th October, 2021

Format: Larger Print (Mass Market Paperback)

Pages: 377

Published by: Harlequin Heartwarming (@HarlequinBooks) | imprint of Harlequin

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Three Springs, Texas series:

The Texas SEAL's Surprise by Cari Lynn WebbTrusting the Rancher with Christams by Cari Lynn Webb

The Texas SEAL’s Surprise (Book One) : Abby & Wes’s story

Trusting the Rancher with Christmas (Book Two) : Evan & Paige’s story

Her Cowboy Wedding Date (Book Three) :

forthcoming release June, 2022!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Converse via: #Contemporary #Romance or #WesternRomance

#HarlequinWestern and #HarlequinHeartwarming & #ThreeSpringsTexas

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

About Cari Lynn Webb

Cari Lynn Webb

Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's 70 year marriage and her parent's marriage of over 50 years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect, it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers. Visit her at her website.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

my review of trusting the rancher with christmas:

It was a breath of fresh air finding Abby greeting Paige – as I love whenever I can resume a series which delightfully places you back inside the characters’ lives you’ve just visited. Paige was an interesting character from the start as she’s lost the connection she once had with a season most of us love most: Christmas. You can understand why she doesn’t enjoy celebrating it anymore but the hard bit of course is how Christmas has a way of haunting those who find the season dearly arduous to get through like Paige finds herself. I had a good chuckle over how she reacted to the cowboy she met on the highway – as there is one thing you cannot rush in life – a herd of cows who need to cross the road! Actually more to the point, you can’t rush a cow for any reason as cows have their own sense of time and their pace is set to their own speed. There is a beauty in that as well but for someone like Paige, I had feeling the bigger picture in that moment was lost.

Life definitely has a way of surprising you! I loved how Paige was dead set against doing anything whilst she was visiting her sister and cousin Abby but then soon found herself roped into helping a rancher with his cattle! From her perspective, I understood her concerns – especially about being in a different state and not being licensed to practice whilst she also felt out of her depth with addressing the needs of cows as they weren’t the kinds of patients she was used to treating. Young Riley was a breath of fresh air and it was lovely to see Paige starting to think about something other than how her life in the MidWest wasn’t quite working out the way she had planned. I had a feeling it was those plans of hers which needed a bit of editing as I felt she wasn’t quite as happy as she was trying to project to her family but most of all, to herself.

I liked how Webb broached the topic of parents being more openly honest with their children when animals are ill and not rebounding as quickly as they might prefer as it shows how sometimes the more we try to hide from our children the more we hurt them in the end. I also agreed with Webb for showing that children are more resilient than sometimes adults feel they are but more to the point, you cannot shield them from life – which is full of love, loss and disappointments. It is better to go through a difficult situation together with children than to feel that you need to cover up the situation to where they do not understand it at all.

Seeing Paige and Evan interact with each other was a bit sombering because they both were in a place in their lives where they couldn’t see past themselves. Evan was full of grit and determination to prove himself and his ranch whilst Paige was on the fringes of trying to prove her own worth in her field. They both were meeting each other right at a point in their lives where everything was on the line and where they each felt they couldn’t take-on anything else. You can respect that of course, but it was how Webb was showing them bit by bit that sometimes life doesn’t let you wait for the things you want but rather opens a lot of doors and windows to give you multiple chances to see if what is in front of you is what you truly need.

Seeing Tess again reminded me of how much I was hoping she might have her own story to share in this series. Her emotions and her passion for her work are a bit intertwined and have been since the series first began. The trickier bit is though is how Webb was showing how sometimes sisters can nurse a fractured relationship without actually making progress to re-bridge the gaps they’ve experienced in their lives as sisters. I felt there was a large gap between Tess and Paige which needed to be resolved as they didn’t connect together as you would think sisters would and that just proved how distant they had both become over the years. I don’t even think it was intentional – but sometimes, life has a way of distancing us from those we care about most. I also want to see Tess succeed as she has such a strong and cleverly brilliant business plan – it is a joy to continue to hear how she’s progressing towards being full open and a part of the Three Springs community.

Sam and Boone are absolute delights of joy in the story – their older gentleman who have been helping Tess in the store and who are determined to find the missing pieces of a historical artifact their keen on having re-discovered. They bring a bit of an energised spirit to the story and give you a lot of joy to read about as well. I was so thankful to see them again and of course, the ways in which they insert themselves into Tess’s life the more I hoped Paige might feel the connections Three Springs was trying to influence on others who might feel cast aside in life.

I love whenever I’m reading a Romance and the two lead characters are trying to convince themselves their romantically disinclined to form an attachment to someone. It is ridiculously self-telling as well because usually those are the characters who are a bit shy to pursue a relationship or don’t want to place themselves in a state of vulnerability which I feel is more to the point than anything else. When you enter into a relationship you have to become vulnerable to the other person and allow yourself to take a risk with your heart. Sometimes people don’t want to take that risk because their afraid of the results of that pursuit. The sad bit of course is that without the risk at all, one would never know the beauty of true love which is noted by how Webb let Paige and Evan speak openly and frankly about this subject.

Riley is such a cute and inquisitive child – she’s the daughter of Evan and she has taken a shine to Paige. Paige has had a love/hate relationship with Christmas for a long time now and what was interesting in the story is how the enthused Riley was slowly changing Paige’s mind about both the season of Christmas and how the traditions of Christmas could be viewed differently than she had felt about them previously. Even Evan himself was committed to changing her opinions about it but what I loved most were those tender sweet moments the three of them were sharing whilst in pursuit of a non-traditional Christmas spent with people who care about each other.

There is a lot of healing happening in Trusting the Rancher with Christmas – from hearts to cows, this Western Romance is about finding what makes you happy even if your not entirely sure what that might look like when you first start to pursue it. I enjoyed being tucked back into Three Springs, Texas and learning more about the people who call this place their home. It has an ease about it which is comforting and people care about each other which is an uplift of joy to find as well. I felt Webb did a great job at presenting the veterinary side of small towne life whilst showing how sometimes the career you felt you wanted might need to be looked at from a new angle in order to gain the best future you deserve. This is definitely the case for Paige – of whom, I felt benefited from being close to Abby (her cousin) and Tess (her sister) in ways that even surprised her in the end.

on the western & romantic styling of ms webb:

Webb happily created a lovely segue back into the Three Springs, Texas series – which of course, happily alighted us back into Abby’s life by way of her cousin Paige! What could be better!? And, similar to Abby, Paige was at a transitional point in her life where she needed to either pivot or sort out the path she truly wanted to live. I had a feeling Paige and Abby would share one critical thing in common with each other – change wasn’t something either of them easily warmed too.

As Webb wrote Paige’s story, she also included portions of Paige’s past through the thoughts and remarks of her family as those sentiments co-related to what she was doing in the present. I loved the ways in which those thoughts and feelings re-attached themselves into Paige’s life now in Three Springs and in many respects, allowed her to find a way to re-examine the truths her family had originally shared with her but in a more practical way of seeing how those thoughts cross-related to her life right now. Paige was cautiously hopeful about her life but she was far more reserved and locked into her plans when she first arrived in Three Springs. Throughout her journey she was becoming less reserved and more open to what Three Springs could give her as a second look at how life could be lived.

I also felt Webb handled the issues with Riley’s Mum very well – especially as it reminded me of the gentleness of Because of Winn-Dixie in how to showcase a young girl and the questions she has about her mother whilst their fathers are sometimes reluctant about how to talk to their daughters about their Mums. This was deftly handled by Webb and it was a wonderful snapshot of a single father who felt blessed by being a Dad even if he didn’t get the fuller blessing of having a family in the way he thought he might have had originally. Not a lot of Contemporary Romances focus on single fathers and I loved finding this story in the series as Webb truly put a wonderful light on single Dads and their joy in being parents.

I am enjoying the interconnections of Three Springs – how Tess whose been retrofitting the General Store into a specialty shop is actually Paige’s sister and how Abby is the cousin of both of them. I believe I knew of these connections previously but I had forgotten about them until I read this lovely sequel. Webb re-anchoured us into this series in quite a beautiful way – the sequencing and the continuity were brilliant too. You don’t feel as if you’ve missed a beat with her characters and part of the joy for me was watching their growth as the series proceeds forward. In that regard, I am hoping the third novel (or fourth!) might focus on Tess!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

This blog tour is courtesy of: Prism Book Tours

Prism Book Tours

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Trusting the Rancher with Christmas banner provided by Prism Book Tours and is used with permission.

By clicking this banner you can find out about the giveaway associated with the tour;
my particular tour stop doesn’t host the giveaway as I’m a review stop, however,
you’ll find many other bloggers who are hosting the information!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

I look forward to reading your thoughts & commentary!
Especially if you read the book or were thinking you might be inclined to read it.
I appreciate hearing different points of view especially amongst
readers who gravitate towards the same stories to read.
Bookish conversations are always welcome!
Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

LibraryThing banner provided by librarything.com and used with permission.

This review is cross-posted to LibraryThing.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

{SOURCES: Cover art of “The Texas SEAL’s Surprise” and “Trusting the Rancher with Christmas”, the author photo of Cari Lynn Webb and her biography; and the Prism Book Tours badges were all provided by Prism Book Tours and used with permission. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets embedded by codes provided by Twitter. LibraryThing banner provided by librarything.com and used with permission. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #SaturdaysAreBookish banner and the Comment Box Banner.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2021.

I am a social reader | I tweet my reading life:

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

read more >> | Visit my Story Vault of Book Reviews | Policies & Review Requests | Contact Jorie

Divider

Posted Saturday, 6 November, 2021 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Christmas Romance &/or Holiday Story, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary Western Fiction, Cowboys & Ranches, Farm and Ranching on the Frontier, Indie Author, Prism Book Tours, Romance Fiction, Single Fathers, Small Towne Fiction, Western Fiction, Western Romance




All posts on my blog are open to new comments & commentary!
I try to visit your blog in return as I believe in ‘Bloggers Commenting Back
(which originated as a community via Readers Wonderland).


Comments are moderated. Once your comment is approved for the first time, your comments thereafter will be recognised and automatically approved. All comments are reviewed and continue to be moderated after automated approval. By using the comment form you are consenting with the storage and handling of your personal data by this website.

Once you use the comment form, if your comment receives a reply (this only applies to those who leave comments by email), there is a courtesy notification set to send you a reply ticket. It is at your discretion if you want to return to re-respond and/or to continue the conversation established. This is a courtesy for commenters to know when their comments have been replied by either the blog's owner or a visitor to the blog who wanted to add to the conversation. Your email address is hidden and never shared. Read my Privacy Policy.

Leave a Reply

(Enter your URL then click here to include a link to one of your blog posts.)