The Rancher's Secret Son by Barbara DunlopMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Three and a half stars.
Oddly the second secret baby/ second chance romance I have read in two days, albeit the previous novel was an historical.
I first came across Barbara Dunlop when reading the American Extreme Bull Riders series so when I saw her name on NetGalley I requested the book, even though I am a bit ambivalent about cowboy romances - the Extreme Bull Riders made me change my mind.
Eli Merrick is the older brother of Maddie, heroine of Chase. The Merrick siblings have reluctantly realised they can't afford to save their family farm/ home and so they are packing up and moving to a much cheaper farm in Marietta, Montana. When Eli and his brothers arrive at the old family home to finish packing, 24 hours than they had originally planned, Eli is astonished to see a young teenage boy helping with the packing, a boy who bears a striking resemblance to him and his brothers. When it is revealed that the boy, Tristen, is the son of Piper Beauregard, Eli's brother Lucas' childhood girlfriend Eli realises that old secrets have come back to haunt him.
Eli had always had a crush on Piper, even before she started dating Lucas, so when he saw her walking home crying he stopped to help her, one thing led to another and they spent a passionate night together. But never in a million years did he expect to have a teenage son. Incensed by Piper keeping their son a secret from him Eli decides to take Tristen with him to Montana.
While Eli tries to connect with his son he fights his ongoing attraction to Piper, especially since there seem to be unresolved feelings between Piper and Lucas but as family dramas engulf them can he and Piper admit their true feelings - even to themselves?
I really liked the story, I'm a sucker for a big family home/ business. I liked Piper and Tristen and I liked the other members of the family. The person I liked least (not hated, just had reservations) was Eli. Eli was a big alpha male and he was too fond of laying down the law and ho boy did he hold onto a grudge.
Nevertheless, Eli endeared himself to me in the end. I am definitely looking out for the next book in the series? Which brother is next? Wyatt? Lucas? Or the youngest, Kane?
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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