The Mermaid and The Cowboy: A Second Chance Romance (The Demon Duchess Series Book 3)

Lorelei Northrup comes from wealth, but she’s not intent on flaunting it. In fact, she’s the one of her friends who’s down to earth and doesn’t need to impress. As a 17-year-old, Lorelei has a crush on a champion bronco buster, Jebediah Jackson. She saw his picture on her father’s desk and set her sights on meeting him. She was seventeen, a virgin and she wanted Jeb to take care of that for her. She slips past security and makes it to his dressing room, but he tells her to come back in 8 years, when she’s old enough. Now, eight years later, Lorelei is newly divorced, high on Xanax and desperate to get to Jeb’s door in the mountains of Montana. She didn’t know who else to turn to in order to get past the heartbreak of her husband’s infidelity. He has no idea who she is at first, when she pounds so hard on his door that she could wake the dead. He can see that she’s a beauty and there’s something about her, but he wants nothing to do with a relationship. His last relationship ended in heartbreak when his girlfriend, Sophie, was killed in a tragic car accident. He simply can’t risk a repeat of the devastation it brought to him and his brother, John. He thinks Lorelei is a fancy society lady, the farthest thing from a woman who belongs on a ranch, until one night when she assists in the birth of a baby lamb. It’s a joyful experience for her and she’s amazed and excited at the miracle of birth. But Jeb sticks to his guns and makes every excuse in the world that they can’t be together. He doesn’t do relationships, remember? After his “physical therapist” arrives to give him his massage, she’s not sure he values her enough and packs to leave. Jeb put up just a little bit of a fight, thinking this was what Lor truly wanted so it’s the right decision. He’s miserable and realizes that he made a mistake by letting her go and needs her in his life. What if she’s moved on…what if she no longer needs him like he needs her. The ending is sweet and the epilogue is just perfect. The reappearance of his brother, John, his sister-in-law Abigail and his niece, Daphne (Ducky) is a treat!
I listened to the audiobook and Virginia Ferguson does another magnificent job. She has a dynamic voice that gives each character not only a voice, but a personality as well. My favorite will always be Ducky!

I was so excited that Jeb. I fell in love with him as John’s brother in The Demon Duchess. I wanted a happy ending for him. His mistakes caused him to be miserable but everyone deserves a second chance. In this story we meet Loraleigh. Jeb and her meet when she is too young but determined. He is at the high of his rodeo career and in love. He turns her away. Little did he know his world would change shortly after. Years later she shows up at his door after her divorce and under the influence. He cares for her like the gentleman he is. He starts to see her for the woman she is. She tries not to fall for him. But there was a reason she wanted him all those years ago. In true Tessa Bowen fashion, we have a stubborn romance. I loved it! It was a shorter read/listen than her other books but totally as enjoyable, if not more. Virginia Ferguson is a great voice for this series.