Coming back after a ten-year absence hit Greer Bell harder than she expected. While she had vowed never to return to Homestead, Texas, the lure of free land and a guest ranch couldn't be turned down. How else could she, a single mom, ever afford to be her own boss? Greer only wants the best for Shelby, her lively and smart nine-year-old daughter who she loved her more than anything. It would take more than hurt pride and threatening letters to stop her from making this opportunity work!

Initially dismayed by how isolated and broken down things looked at the uninhabited Dragging F Ranch, Greer was thrilled to see her mom and, for Shelby, her grandmother for the first time. Despite this initial welcome, Greer finds out her dad won't come, bringing back her own angry feelings about how her own parents, along with Father Kelley from St. Marks, insisted she go to Colorado and put her baby up for adoption.

Greer is also none too pleased to hear her neighbour is none other than Father Noah Kelley, an Episcopalian priest temporarily filling for his ailing father - her old nemesis! Despite these set-backs, she sets to work as she set an aggressive deadline in order to pay the bills.

Working late the first night, the insomniac Greer is startled by terrifying screams outside. Rising above her fear, she sets out to help and bumps into Noah near the river. He says he is also investigating the noise. With fear turning to anger, she can't help but wonder if his friendliness is disguising a foe.

As time passes, her tall and attractive neighbour quickly bonds with Shelby over dogs and horses. He is relentless with his constant offers of help, badly needed if she is to make her dream of Sunrise Ranch a reality; yet, she is concerned as more suspicious and dangerous events continue to happen. Greer is drawn to Noah, but how can they connect when she vowed she would never go into his church again and many in Homestead would be up in arms over the relationship?

You too will find yourself caught up in events in Homestead. Roz Denny Fox is superb in developing the main characters and folks in town without resorting to stereotypes. Her development of the evolving relationships between Noah, Greer and Shelby is particularly deft, especially when her non-stop chatter spills the beans. A real page turner!

Book Summary

After a decade away, Greer Bell is returning to Loveless County, hoping for a reconciliation with her family — one that includes their acceptance of her nine-year-old daughter, Shelby. Thanks to the local land-grant program, Greer's also the new owner of a dilapidated property she's turning into a guest ranch. She's risking her financial future on it.

But she's risking far more than that on Noah Kelley, the man who wants to marry her despite the town's disapproval and all her efforts to discourage him. Shelby, however, is definitely in favor of having Noah as her dad — and sometimes kids know best.

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