Second Chance Season (Grand Valley #2)
Released: June 20, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Pocket Books

Reviewed by Mandi

I really enjoyed this one – maybe it’s because I live a little ways in the country. I like a guy who drives a big truck, that has dirt on his t-shirt, stubble on his face, and is sweaty from a hard day in the fields. My husband is a computer programmer but also part-time goat farmer! I MAY glance at the guy who fills my mini-van with bales of hay for my goats a little too long. (Let’s not talk about the fact that he has to fill my MINIVAN with hay.)

Back to the book, Garrett Strickland is a hot country boy. Growing up farming in rural Colorado, after his father dies of a heart attack, they lose the farm. Garrett doesn’t go back to school. Instead he starts work at the local co-op where he still works today. He lives in a modular trailer on a dirt patch, and is very content. His passions include hunting, hunting, and more hunting. After losing his farm, he hasn’t let himself get too attached to anyone or anything. But then a city girl arrives and his down south part takes notice.

Cara Cavanaugh is ready for something new. After realizing her life was going down the same path as her mother’s – marrying into a future political life – Cara dumps her boyfriend, drops her job at a fancy newspaper and takes a chance at being a freelance writer. Her first assignment is to head to Colorado, to write a piece on the agriculture industry – the ups and downs and to get some personal stories. She has a relative that owns a run down house near the town she will be researching, and decides to live there for the eight weeks she will be interviewing farmers. When Cara gets lost on way into town, Garrett happens to stop to see if she needs help. They hit it off – Country and City – and Garrett helps her make contacts in the town all the while a delicious courtship develops. But Cara is only in town for eight weeks! What will happen when their time runs out?? (is anyone worried? LOL)

I enjoy this author’s voice a lot. Last year I liked First Step Forward, featuring an NFL player and a girl who owned an orchard. They are friends of the hero in this one and make a brief appearance but this is very much a stand alone. Garret doesn’t have much of a filter. He cusses (his best friend cusses even more), he has no objections to telling people what he really thinks. But he isn’t arrogant or a jerk at all. He is a really good guy. Helping out farmer neighbors who need an extra hand. Visiting his mom when he can. When Cara first arrives in town, her place is a little more on the older side and Cara doesn’t know how to fix things. With a trust fund looming in her future, while she has made her own way in life, she also likes the finer things. But she never whines or complains (except when a cow sticks its nose up her butt….)

Shit. I think I wanted her to seem, I don’t know, less polished…fuck, maybe if she were just shorter, that would help.

But nope, not even a little bit. She’s dressed in a pair of loose cargo-style pants with a drawstring waist, the bottoms tucked into a pair of lace-up boots that don’t appear built   for roughing out hard terrain or slogging through mud. A tight long-sleeve top with a deep neckline shows off her tiny waist and the slant of her delicate collarbones. Her hair is pulled back, leaving the long slopes of her neck exposed.

So, basically, she looks awesome. Fucking gorgeous.

Cara’s attraction flares early on as well, and while at first it takes some time for them to get over the fact that they only have eight week together, so should they start something physical? But once they do, Cara is outgoing and tells him exactly what she wants.

“What? Condom’s on. We’re fine.”

“Stand up.”

He freezes in confusion, then drops his head to my collarbone and rocks it there.

“No. Why? Christ, you’re killing me, Cara.”

“I didn’t get to see you naked.”

“Look later. I’ll strut a catwalk for you, if you want. After.”

“Now.”

A growl – half annoyed, half crazed. He puts a hand on either side of my head and pushes up, his overachieving biceps flexing. I stop myself from demanding he complete twenty push-ups over me first.

This author does a great job with setting the scene in this rural town. I could really picture everything so well. Garrett has a best friend that is a total curmudgeon and kinda an asshole – and I loved him and I need him to find love immediately – omg please make this happen.

Super sexy, good banter, cows…what else could you ask for?

Grade: B+

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