Lucky Break

He never imagined he’d be living out his car trying to make ends meet, but life doesn’t always go your way and Shawn Matthews knows that better than most. An accident has Shawn bunking next to the sexiest cowboy he’s ever laid eyes on. Shawn is the spitting image of Robin Butler’s late husband, so he does his best to avoid the soft-spoken cook. The tension between them practically sizzles and maybe finding each other – and a second chance at love- is the lucky break they both need.

An emotionally gripping romance where both heroes have traumatic pasts that while of different types, has left emotional scarring that overwhelming impacts their present and readers can’t help but become caught up in the angst that flows from the pages and Shawn and Robin strive to overcome those issues and open up their hearts to each other. Lots of sizzling chemistry and attraction singes the pages throughout this heartfelt romance igniting passions and hope.

The plot is steady pace with lots of tension and suspense that keeps readers glued to the pages. And when a heartbreaking event turns things around for this couple, readers can’t help but emotionally impacted as well as they shed a few tears. This romance also gives readers a sense of family and loyalty as the cowboys that make this ranch home strive to make their lives better which warms the heart and along with some chuckle worthy dialogue between those cowboys adds cheer, hope and laughter, making it easy for readers to want to visit the Clean Slate Ranch again and again.

This is the forth book in the Clean Slate Ranch series, it is a MM cowboy romance. I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and the pace was spot on. The characters in this story have not lead easy lives and the author did a great job with the details so that I could understand what they were going through even though I have never been in their situation. I feel this book can be read as a stand-alone book.

Now we are talking. Cowboys on a ranch and do good home cooking in a true romance read. Yep I am a happy reader. When I say true romance this one has all the points. Both Shawn and Robin have a painful dark past that they need to overcome. It’s got a slow burn feel that leads to an epic ending. Thank you LesCourt for letting me read and review this amazing book. And if you haven’t read the others in the series I strongly recommend it.

I loved this new addition to the series.

Wow, it’s been awhile since I’ve visited the Clean Slate Ranch, just over a year since the last book was released. This is a series that I have really loved and enjoyed and Lucky Break didn’t change that one bit.

This was a pretty emotional story and I shed tears several times while reading it. Lucky Break is book 4 in the Clean Slate Ranch series but can be read as a standalone. For full enjoyment of the characters, though, I recommend reading at least book three, Saddle Up because it introduced Shawn, one of the two MCs (main characters) in Lucky Break.

Shawn loves his job as sous chef at the saloon in Bentley Ghost Town. When the town shuts down for the holidays, he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. No one knows that he’s been living out of his car for the past two years. And no one knows the other secret he’s kept about why he left his home with his grandparents.

Robin’s life was literally saved by the owner of Clean Slate Ranch and he will be forever grateful. When he first sees Shawn on a horse Deja vu hits him and he thinks he’s seen the ghost of his dead husband. We don’t find out all of what happened to his husband until quite late in the book.

So, both of these men are keeping secrets from each other, and from their friends. As the story goes along the secrets are revealed to readers bit by bit. As I said above, this story contains a lot of information that brought on the tears but I didn’t feel like it was unbearably angsty.

Lucky Break is more of a slow-burn romance than the other books in this series. For most of the story the heat level is fairly mild but the love between Robin and Shawn comes through. They both have insecurities to work through that impact their relationship but they do get resolved.

Lucky Break is ultimately a great romance. It’s “part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!”

When I got to the end of the book, I was happy to learn that there will be at least one more book in this series, Hard Ride, coming in early 2020. As I said in my review of book three, I wouldn’t mind visiting Clean Slate Ranch again, and again, and again.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

3.5 stars.

I’ve read and really loved every book in this series.

A.M. Arthur does a wonderful job of giving us three-dimensional characters who have open, honest conversations as they are trying to come to terms with their pasts. Clean Slate Ranch is a place to heal and re-connect, and I just love it. You can expect the same treatment with Shawn and Robin’s story in Lucky Break.

The communication and consent and exploration that was here was my favorite part of their story. Robin is bi and a widower, while Shawn hasn’t really had time to explore his own sexuality, especially in a safe place. Shawn also has been living in his car, trying to make ends meet. They were so sweet together!

I will say Robin kind of irked me, though. He was a little oblivious for a guy that Shawn likes to brag has “experience.” BUT they talked it through and confronted the moments where I was all: “What the hell, Robin?!” so… I forgive you, Robin. 🙂

They connect quickly, but with how genuine and really open they are with each other it kept the story moving and really rounded out their relationship in a way that kept it low-angst and allowed a deeper connection. That said, it’s definitely a slow burn, too, so it kept me on the edge. It was a little too drawn out in the latter half which is why the 3.5 stars.

With all of these books so far, though, I love how the atmosphere of the ranch and the friendships come together and build this loving community. Side note: I really LOVE seeing all these characters together, especially all in their healthy and happy relationships.

This book brings the communication and consent, and the emotional wallop will keep you coming back for more.

CW: child sexual abuse (mentioned, not on page)

This is a great series full of second, and sometimes third, chances. Clean Slate Ranch is a sanctuary; not only for rescued horses, but for hurt, broken, and healing men (and the occasional lady).

Shawn is a proud young man in his early 20s. He left his family behind due to a scandal, but he is still fighting for his chance at having a good life. He has worked as Miles’s sous chef at the ghost town, but now it’s the off season, and he doesn’t know what to do. His living conditions are a far cry from ideal, but they have allowed him to send money home to help his granddad and nana keep their forever home. A chance accident at the ranch, and an unexpected situation with the sheriff, give Shawn the chance he needs to turn things around for the better. Maybe this place is going to bring him good luck.

Robin is a horseman on the ranch in his early 30s. He is slowly trying to put the shattered pieces of his heart and life back together. When he sees Shawn for the first time, it triggers a flashback of sorts, and he acts like a horse’s a$$. Eventually, he starts to get to know Shawn for who he is; not what he resembles. Robin has been a player for the past couple years, so dating the very innocent Shawn allows him to really know the man, rather than a hot and heavy tumble that could fizzle out quickly.

Both men have big secrets they hold very tightly hidden, but due to this and their mutual respect, neither one is willing to push for the answers to questions that plague their minds. As they grow closer, Shawn becomes more adventurous in private, and they begin sharing little parts of their stories. When tragedy strikes in Shawn’s life, Robin is the perfect boyfriend. But the eventual outcome in both their lives puts doubt where it doesn’t belong.

As the opening day of the ghost town approaches, Robin’s chosen family and he have reunited; not only for personal reasons, but also as entertainment for Mack’s big day. Rehearsal has been going well, but an innocent act causes Robin to lose his cool; again, due to a flashback. Shawn is scared and hurt, but eventually he begins to think about the why behind Robin’s irrational and embarrassing behavior.

When Robin comes to apologize, he finally reveals the whole truth behind his fears and torment. While the story is horrible and devastating, Shawn finally understands fully Robin’s actions over the past couple of months. But now there are no more burdens to bear alone, and together they have found a way to a new future together.

There is an interesting little closing scene, and it kind of brings the series back full circle. It ends with plans being made for our MC’s happily ever after.

Happy reading!

* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *

A wonderful addition to A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series, Lucky Break is just as unique as each of the previous stories in this series. While all the Clean Slate books could be read as standalones, the friendships build as the story progresses and I think you’d enjoy them better when read in order.

Opposites attract with a bit of an age gap, Lucky Break is a romantic, slow burn romance. The chemistry between the men is clear from the start, but both of the main characters have some serious issues in their pasts which they’re having trouble moving past. As their relationship progresses and the men strive to find more physical intimacy, they start to open up and disclose some of their secrets.

It takes the entire novel for these two to finally come completely clean with each other over all of their past troubles, but A.M. Arthur throws in some great curve balls, and the story flows beautifully. Trust me, once you pick up Lucky Break, you won’t be putting it down.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan –
Lucky Break is the fourth book in the Clean Slate Ranch series. You don’t have to read the books in order to understand each individual couple, but it does make for a better read to have read the past books. This book concentrates on the relationship between Shawn and Robin.

Robin, the horseman on the ranch, has had a painful past. His husband died three years ago leaving Robin in a terrible place in his life. That’s how he found himself living and working on the ranch. He isn’t interested in a relationship especially one with someone that resembles his husband so much.

Shawn loves being in the kitchen and the routine it brings. He isn’t a fan of big crowds or a lot of people, so working in the kitchen is perfect for him. When he first meets the handsome cowboy, he doesn’t understand the standoffish attitude Robin gives him. Shawn has his own past issues and doesn’t push too hard when it comes to Robin, especially when Robin calls him the wrong name after an amazing kiss.

I loved watching the relationship between Robin and Shawn grow. Shawn grew into himself and the family he now has. Robin was sweet and gentle with Shawn each step of the way. I love getting back to the Clean Slate Ranch and seeing how past and present characters are doing. Such a fun-loving series.

Angie –
This was a slow-burn romance, I usually don’t like those but it worked for me this time. I loved how patient Robin was with Shawn and went slow with him. The age gap is only eight years but each man had things in his past that made the wait worth it this time. There were a few times I wanted to jump in the book and shake both Robin and Shawn because if you just talk about your hurts and get things off your chest, it helps with communication. I loved seeing the other couples from the previous books, the guys are so wonderful at the ranch. I think this might be in my top two for this series so far.

Ruthie –
This is the fourth book in the series, and I have a great fondness for the inhabitants of the Clean Slate Ranch. I would recommend that you read them in order, as the story is ongoing, but this would be a good read to entice you into the ranch too.

As regular readers will know, the people who work at the ranch have often had a difficult past, and Clean Slate Ranch (CSR) has given them a place to recover and grow. Robin is one such man, and when he meets Shawn and thinks he sees a ghost, all his recovery is called into question as he suffers from the feelings he had been holding in. As the story progresses, we get to learn about his past, but also to see that there could be brightness in his future.

Shawn becomes a new soul to find solace at the ranch. He is known to them all as he works at the Bentley Ghost Town, but they had no idea that he had been living in his car the whole time. It was a salutary reminder of not making assumptions about people’s circumstances. As he is brought into the CSR family, he too starts to recover his confidence, his trust, and his hope. But it only comes in baby steps and can easily be knocked back – which to an extent the caring Robin gets, giving him a chance to take things slowly. To find lasting happiness they will have to overcome quite a few issues, but along with the CSR family, readers are sure to also be willing them on.

Another good installment to the series, thank you, A.M. Arthur.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Well. I think it’s important to mention that this wasn’t a bad read at all. It was enjoyable in many moments. I just didn’t love it. And that’s solely my own opinion and sensitivities declaring that, not because the quality of the book. Well, not completely anyway. There were some things about the writing, the characters, and the story itself that weren’t as good as they could have been, but the way I feel is only a little influenced by that and mainly because I just didn’t connect as I’d hoped I would.

The pacing was slow with far too many details for my taste. In the last half of the story I found I didn’t mind that so much, especially because we were finally getting answers to all the hints dropped constantly, but it took considerably longer to read this story than it would have taken me to read most any other book of the same length. Romantically, however, I appreciated the slower build because they both had quite a lot of insecurities, fears, and/or reservations that they needed to be on their way to conquering before they could ever hope to have something secure and lasting between them.

With so many non-communications near the end I found my patience waning very quickly. It’s more frustrating with these men because they literally say before all this stuff goes down that they need to talk things out to avoid the issue. While I get that reality means that there is sometimes a delay in notifying partners of plans, feelings, or problems, it just felt like the author was trying to manufacture even more conflict than was already present. It was just too much for me.

And here’s the big problem for me that is really just a me thing, I think. I have a hard time with what’s considered acceptable and/or expected of the “gay scene”. While I’m no prude and definitely don’t judge consensual acts between adults, I’d never be okay with gratuitous flirting, grinding, wandering hands, and any other vaguely or overtly sexual displays between my partner and others, whether they be strangers or friends…and especially not an ex of any kind. That’s just not me. So when Shawn was feeling what he was when watching Robin at the club and then Colt and Robin both downplay the display with justifying the “but I/he wouldn’t go home with anyone but you” thing, I have issues. Shawn not being used to that is not the same as Shawn not being okay with it. I think it was more the latter in this instance, but his aversion to the scene is being attributed to his naivete and his anxiety. I find that inexcusable and disappointing.

But what the story does have going for it is the tender sentiments they express, their understanding of one another, their sensitivity to one another’s traumas, and the notions of family. Those are all very powerful things and they’re written well. I am drawn to quite a few characters in this world and will likely look for opportunities to return here. So while this isn’t a glowing review, it is one that recognizes the positives as well as the personal grievances. With two men that truly need one another and a whole lot of healing and love to go around, this is a family that I’d willingly revisit.

I love this series! I love how the author is able to come up with awesome characters and equip them with baggage that leaves you reeling. And the n takes you on an amazing journey of healing. Amazing writing skill!