Every town needs a bad boy, and Wrangler’s Creek’s has been gone far too long… Getting his high school girlfriend pregnant was just one square in Roman Granger’s checkered past, but it changed him forever. When his son’s mother skipped town after the birth, Roman decided to do the same, baby Tate in tow, hoping for a fresh start. Now Roman fears his teenage son is following in his wayward … following in his wayward footsteps, so he returns home to Wrangler’s Creek, aiming to set him straight. It’s there he encounters Tate’s cousin Mila Banchini, the good-girl opposite of Roman who’s had a crush on him since childhood. The old spark between them undeniably never died, though Roman worries it’ll only lead to heartache. But if falling for Mila is such a bad idea, why does everything about holding her feel so right?
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Loved it, highly recommend it!
Favorite Quotes:
… her eyes narrowed, and she jerked on her clothes as if she’d declared war on them.
Ian Busby. He was in his early twenties, as skinny as a zipper, and his pinched, flushed face reminded her of a rooster. He also had horny written all over him. Literally. Well, it was printed on his T-shirt, anyway. Me So Horny was emblazoned above a picture of a rhino… The Busby brothers’ claims to fame were cow-tipping, peeing on electric fences and wearing T-shirts with horny written on them.
When it came to her mother, most people wanted to be anywhere else. Vita was the ultimate person repellant… Vita wasn’t your ordinary mother. Nope. She had her freaky flag flying with her Bohemian clothes — a long brown shirt, peasant blouse and dozens of cheap bead necklaces and bracelets. When she walked, she sounded like a chained Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol.
It’s a rubber, and it’ll stop you from getting knocked up. You put it on the man’s secret place when he’s decided not to keep it secret from you any longer.”
The moment he stepped into the house at the ranch, he felt as if he’d gotten sucked into a circle of hell that Dante had forgotten to mention.
My Review:
Delores Fossen tells clever and funny stories about cowboys, and she throws in some family drama, sexy love scenes, and a few intriguing mysteries to solve along the way. Her writing has never failed to leave me with a smirk and a book hangover as they are so sharply amusing and entertaining, I find them hard to put down. Her characters are quirky, flawed, and simultaneously obnoxious and endearing. I adore her colorful descriptions, highly amusing visuals, and ironic humor and doubt I could ever tire of her crafty tales.
I try not to get all fangirl and start gushing out about Branded As Trouble but I can’t guarantee it will not happen. I loved the story, absolutely every brilliant word of it. Delores Fossen’s writing is something else. She can capture into one sentence so many emotions and layers of meaning it is delightful to just read the books, not to mention enjoy the stories. There can be so much tragedy and sadness in the meaning of the words and in the story yet it is said and expressed in such a way I could not help but chuckle as I was reading.
The bad boy Roman Granger is used to keep people at the arm’s length to avoid emotions. Except for his son and Mila Banchini. Yet his son would rather keep his dad away from his business, and Mila, she has had a crush on him since they were teens.
Both Roman and Mila are complex characters, there is much more to them than you might catch on the first look. Their emotions run deep, they love fiercely, they fight for and protect those they care for, and they both adore Roman’s son, Tate.
I loved the connection between Roman and Mila. There was raw honesty, openness, and deep-rooted emotions. They said what they meant, they did what they wanted, no smoke and mirrors between them. Yet there was passion, humor, and adoration that was striking.
There is so much more going on in the story than just romance like there always is at Wrangler’s Creek. There are family drama and trouble, there are issues with parenting both teens and toddlers, there is an undercurrent theme with teenage angst and relationship with their parents. All this is well twined into the tale of Roman and Mila finding their way to each other. There is chaos, mayhem, and turbulence in town, in families, and in relationships just like there is in life in general. Yet it is all told with an enjoyable sarcasm and humor, with emotions that captivate and touch your heart, presented by characters that allure and charm you completely, and you end up wishing the story would not end, enchanted by the world they live in. Yes, I absolutely loved it!
~ Five Spoons!
Enjoyed this tory. Author makes me laugh out loud by myself. I’ll read anything Delores Flossen writes.
OK book. Dialogue was a bit stilted at times. Had its funny moments.
This is one of my favorite authors. She never disappoints me.Looking forward to her next book.
Very complexed story of the family and their individual relationships. A little too drawn out for avid reading. Story scope was too wide to enjoy the actual story plot.
Love this series. Each book is really a stand alone but the family’s characters are so well written that you really want to know their story. Dolores Fossen is an excellent author and I highly recommend her books.