Can a seasoned traveller from the city thaw the
numb heart of a reclusive Texas widower?
Book Description:
Jack Armstrong lives like a
recluse on his Texas ranch. In the difficult years after his wife’s death, he
goes through the motions of life and wants to be left alone.
Caroline Tate, a widowed
ecology professor, arrives at the ranch for a much-needed break and to take
nature photos for her sabbatical project. But relaxing is a challenge when she
finds herself at odds with the curmudgeonly cowboy who owns the place.
Jack generally steers clear
of the guests, but this time, it’s not so easy. Vivacious Caroline doesn’t fade
into the background. This city gal comes with pearls around her neck, a big red
flower on her floppy hat, and way too many questions. Her self-assured,
adventurous spirit gets under Jack’s skin, and she soon stirs feelings long
dormant inside him.
My Review:
So many romance novels involve couples that are fairly young and new to relationships and love. Even characters who have been hurt in the past are generally in their 30s at their very oldest. Sunset Ledge is a little different, it tells the story of Jack and Caroline, both of whom have been happily married for many years, but then lost their partners and have been left as widow and widower respectively. Now, alone, but not looking for love, something slowly develops between them when they meet.
I enjoyed this later-in-life romance. I loved seeing Jack slowly almost come back to life as Caroline woke him up to the possibilities of life after losing your long-term love.
I loved reading about the setting for this book too. I've always known that ranches in Texas were both big and potentially dangerous, but I think this story brought that to life. The idea that you might have to drive between different buildings on the ranch (the house, the cabins and the barn) rather than just walk surprised me.
There is, as is often the case in this genre of book, a point of conflict that nearly drives this couple apart. I don't want to spoil what it is, or how the characters dealt with it here. I'm not sure that I would have been able to accept it.
It was such a refreshing change having characters who were that bit older and had lived more of life than you often see. I'm all for later-in-life romances if they are like this one, although I think you might have to go quite a long way to find one that comes close. A highly recommended read.
Book Excerpt:
Jack
spotted the car first. But as the road curved around the creek, he saw the
woman. He watched as she set up a tripod then pulled a bag from her car. No
equipment, huh?
She
tossed off the hat she’d worn the day they’d met and moved up to the camera,
hair blowing around her.
He
signaled Charlie, his trusted Appaloosa, to move forward. As far as Jack could
tell, she was taking pictures of rocks. He didn’t much care what she was doing,
but he wanted her to know he saw her and all the stuff she had strewn about.
As
they approached, she turned, shading her eyes with her hand.
Jack
tipped his hat. “Afternoon, ma’am. I understood you weren’t bringing
equipment.”
“Good
afternoon, Jack. It’s Caroline. Do you mean the tripod?”
What else would he mean? He nodded toward
her set-up.
“I
understood you didn’t want a crew of people and video equipment. All I have is
a single tripod for a single camera used by a single person. It helps steady my
hand.” She held up a hand and added with a light laugh, “I prefer my pictures
to be in focus.” She gestured toward the rock. “These little guys move so
fast.”
Jack
squinted. “What guys?”
“I’ve
got three or four lizards running around here.”
“Ah.”
Jack adjusted on the horse, feeling a bit foolish. Probably best to move on and
leave her to it.
“I
got a great shot of a rattler a while ago.”
Alarm
pulsed through him. “You did? A rattlesnake here on the ranch?”
“Yes.
It was amazing, but a little…rattling. Pun intended.”
She let out that soft chuckle again.
“I
admit it gave me a scare for a minute, but after a short standoff, we gave each
other our space and went our separate ways. Want to see?”
She
fiddled with the camera a moment, and Jack was compelled to swing down from the
horse. He did want to see.
When
she held it toward him, he peered into the back of her camera, and found the
cold-blooded face of a rattlesnake staring at him at close range. His heart
bounced. He turned his gaze back to the woman beside him—and wondered if the
ranch had adequate insurance to keep her on the property.
She’d
captured one hell of a shot. The snake, obviously alerted to her presence, sat
tensed, partially hidden beneath a rock, but its rattle erect and sending the
telltale warning to the intruder.
“What
do you think?” Caroline asked.
Jack
shook his head. He couldn’t say what he really thought in the presence of a
lady. He blew out his breath. “Caroline, we try to keep our guests out of
harm’s way on the ranch and would appreciate it if you’d help us out in that
regard by not doing something foolish. How close were you?”
The
hand she placed on his arm sent unexpected—and unwelcome—jolts of heat through
Jack.
“Don’t
worry. It’s a long lens. I wasn’t as close as it might seem. Also, if it gives
you any comfort, I carry a snake kit in my backpack.”
Disbelief
rolled through Jack. That sounded like a line of bull to him. He stared hard.
He’d better make sure they had a fresh supply of the kits just in case. It’d
been a while since he’d seen a rattlesnake around.
“Remember?”
Caroline prompted. “I’m a biologist. I’ve taught college-level biology and
ecology for twenty-five years. Technically, I’m ‘Dr.’ Tate.”
She
added a saucy smile that crinkled around her warm eyes.
Caught
off guard, Jack cleared his throat. “No, I don’t think you mentioned that.” The
information explained the hint of arrogance in her attitude. Well, fine. No
need for him to worry about her then. “Very good. I should let you get back to
your picture taking.”
He
put his left foot into the stirrup and swung his right leg over Charlie’s back.
“Hey,
Jack.”
He
would’ve moved along had she not called to him. Instead, he turned back. She
didn’t seem to have any trouble with his first name. In fact, it rolled from
her lips as if they were old friends. He squirmed in the saddle. “Yes?”
She
dusted her hands against her jeans before meeting his eyes. “I understand
you’re all alone in the big house. Would you have dinner with me tonight? I’d
love to learn more about the ranch.”
A
hot flush crept to Jack’s collar. She had to be kidding. Who had she been
talking to? And why would he want to have dinner with her? Sweat rolled down
the back of his neck. Because he could use the company? And she was an
attractive, interesting woman?
She
glanced at her watch. “I’m ready to wrap up here. It’s been a full day, for
sure. Want to say around six-thirty?”
He
hadn’t said yes.
Author Bio:
Darlene Deluca
writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction that explores relationships –
what brings people together or keeps them apart.
Her intent is to bring to
life interesting characters that readers can relate to in real-life situations
that combine a little fun, plenty of drama (with perhaps a tear or two), and
big helpings of friendship, love, and self-discovery, and will leave readers
either cheering or sighing with a satisfied smile as they turn the final page.
The Kansas City author enjoys
getting lost in a good story with a glass of tea, a bit of dark chocolate and a
warm, sunny beach.
Buy links:
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https://books.apple.com/us/book/sunset-ledge/id6497954022
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