Home for the holidaysA second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch Former navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots–and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled … troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all–love?
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I find it hard to read Christmas books before Labor Day but I’m reviewing this book for the author. The Big Heart Ranch is such a great place and the people there are becoming friends. Reading about Emma losing her husband and raising those two adorable girls virtually by herself was a inspiration. Reading about Zach was mixed emotions. I thought he was courageous for putting his feelings for Emma aside but I hurt for him too. I always love it when the author writes so that makes you experience the story.
“Big Heart Ranch is all about that. This is the place where we let go of our past. New beginnings. Like the birth of our Lord at Christmas.”
Take a bah-humbug Scrooge of a hero, a heroine full of Christmas cheer & twinkles lights, adorable three-year-old twin girls, a ranch readying itself for the annual Holiday Roundup celebration, and you have the third installment of Tina Radcliffe’s Big Heart Ranch series! We meet Emma Maxwell Norman, the youngest sister to Travis and Lucy Maxwell. While she already has her hands full with twin daughters, she also oversees many of the activities in preparation for Christmas around the ranch. You will often find her humming a Christmas song or two, baking her famous chocolate chip muffins, or simply instilling the joy of the season in the hearts of the children who reside at the ranch. In spite of her cheeriness, Zach Norman—brother to her late husband—is immune to all things Christmas, stemming back to his childhood. As you can tell, these two are quite opposite in nature. Which in turn, creates many sparks that even Christmas lights seem dim in comparison! To add to that, Zach has harbored romantic feelings towards Emma well before she married his brother. Can the holiday spirit thaw his heart and at the same time make her see what’s right in front of her?
Break out the hot chocolate, candy canes and Christmas CD’s to listen to as you read how this heartwarming story unfolds! Watch as Emma and Zach try to fight the love wrapping around their hearts like ribbon on a present, but yet can’t it be denied. Just as a child opening their Christmas gift, it comes full force and leaves you satisfied. Well-written, emotionally packed and just the right story to get you in the mood for all things Christmas!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
‘It was time to get comfortable being uncomfortable.’
Tina Radcliffe continues her Big Heart Ranch series with this offering, my favorite! Emma Maxwell Norman, the youngest of the Maxwell siblings, gets her story told here and it’s a wonderful one. Emma is a widow with twin daughters when former Navy SEAL, Zach Norman, her deceased husband’s half-brother comes to the ranch. Zach has ranching in his blood from his youth, but that youth has very painful memories. He is definitely NOT in the Christmas spirit and Emma definitely IS. Zach gets roped into helping on the ranch for the holiday, much of it side by side with Emma. How can let himself feel for this family again when he intends to leave in January? But the greatest gift of all…..love……just might end up being poured out on both their hearts this Christmas.
I loved everything about this book. A strong male lead and a headstrong female lead. Add to that characters from the previous books in the series and layer it with Thanksgiving and Christmas and you’ve got a book that is sure to please! Tina Radcliffe has done a great job with this one. The banter between Zach and Emma was delightful and I felt as if I knew them. When an author causes that to happen with her characters, I can’t bear to put a book down. Don’t miss this one.
*My thanks to the author and publisher for a preview copy of this book. My opinion stated here is entirely my own.