What do you think?
Daddy Dude Ranch #2
Home to Wyoming
It's Never Too Late
Wounded in love and war, ex-marine Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him. He finds peace working at the Teton Valley Dude Ranch, a special place for families of fallen soldiers. Maybe one day, he'll have a family of his own—right now he can't afford to indulge in dreams.
Alexis Wilson is no dream. Tasked with overseeing Alex and her young ward during their visit to the ranch, Buck finds himself falling for both the woman and the little girl. Like Buck, Alex has had more than her share of heartache. But maybe between them, they can build a future that's still full of possibilities.
Wounded in love and war, ex-marine Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him. He finds peace working at the Teton Valley Dude Ranch, a special place for families of fallen soldiers. Maybe one day, he'll have a family of his own—right now he can't afford to indulge in dreams.
Alexis Wilson is no dream. Tasked with overseeing Alex and her young ward during their visit to the ranch, Buck finds himself falling for both the woman and the little girl. Like Buck, Alex has had more than her share of heartache. But maybe between them, they can build a future that's still full of possibilities.
- GenresRomance
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
Rebecca Winters
1,164 books206 followersaka Rebecca Brown Burton, Rebecca Burton
Rebecca Winters, born Rebecca Brown Burton, was the author of over 175 romance novels published with Harlequin, delighting readers worldwide for more than 35 years. Her stories, translated into many languages, have sold nearly thirty million copies. A French teacher turned novelist, she combined her love of language, family, and storytelling into a remarkable literary legacy.
Rebecca Winters, born Rebecca Brown Burton, was the author of over 175 romance novels published with Harlequin, delighting readers worldwide for more than 35 years. Her stories, translated into many languages, have sold nearly thirty million copies. A French teacher turned novelist, she combined her love of language, family, and storytelling into a remarkable literary legacy.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 10, 2015
Tears gushed down Alex's cheeks. pg. 78
The main problem in this book is the writing, which is horrendous. Not UNREADABLE like something by Tina Leonard or C.C. Coburn whose work I just CANNOT finish. It's too atrocious. Winters I can get through, but it's a chore because of how stupid this book is.
PREMISE
Carson, Buck, and Ross open up Daddy Dude Ranch after they survive Afghanistan but are left with a chronic pulmonary conditions. They want to honor those who died in Iraq and Afganistan, so they offer free stays at the ranch for combinations of war widows with their offspring.
This time it's actually 41-year-old Alexis and her granddaughter, Jenny. Alexis's son-in-law was killed overseas and her daughter died of leukemia. She is raising Jenny.
She is also engaged to a 55-year-old named Frank. That might bother some people who are worried about cheating in books.
ANALYSIS
What can I say that is positive?
It is refreshing to see a romance heroine in her forties. It is even more shocking to realize Winters has made her a grandmother. I can't remember ever reading a romance with a grandmother heroine before. Interesting.
Everything else I have to say is negative, unfortunately.
One, the writing is dumb. Open any page and you can see how dumb this book is.
Two, Alex is five years older than Buck. Not really a huge deal, but she has SUCH low self-esteem about it.
It had to have been the photographs.
They were a graphic reminder that she'd been a mother and was now a grandmother. Buck was a red-blooded, virile bachelor who last night in the dark had succumbed to the novelty of indulging himself with an older woman until Ross had interrupted them. pg. 169
This is literally what she thinks. She is selling both herself and Buck short. I guess since she is 41 and a grandmother she thinks she is a dry husk no man could ever be interested in. And I guess since Buck is a bachelor she thinks... I don't know. He's screwing a different 20-year-old every single night? Or something? It's weird.
She didn't know how to act around Buck. It sickened her to think she was giving off needy vibes that he'd picked up on without her realizing it. The way she'd clung to him last night must've made her seem desperate. pg. 173
She's far from desperate. She's fucking engaged to another fucking man for at least half of this book. JFC. But she has such low self-esteem.
Which brings me to another point.
Winters expects us to believe that Alexis has had intercourse one time in her entire life. Not one sexual partner, one single time having sex.
While technically this could happen, I find it a little difficult to believe. Her single sex incident was consensual, not a rape. She is supposed to be very attractive. She's not a born-again Christian as far as I know. What gives?
Now she was here again twenty-four years later, in danger of making the same mistake again with a man who only had to touch her to turn her insides to liquid. Was this to be the pattern of her life? Make love with a man once every quarter of a century? pg. 181
I mean, technically it is possible. There are even scenarios in which I would buy this narrative. This isn't one of them, however.
Which leads me to another problem. Buck knows Alex hasn't had sex in 24 years. He knows she has only had one, single, lone sexual experience in her entire life. But yet he can't quite act patient and comforting and solid for her. He runs hot and cold, he jerks her around. He gets cold with her randomly for no apparent reason. I couldn't tolerate this shit. If I were Alexis, I would cut my losses and get the fuck out.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
No sex. This is a 'clean' romance. Alex is engaged to Frank for two years and doesn't allow him to have sex with her. Sex of any kind. They just kiss. She doesn't believe in sex outside of marriage, regretting that she got pregnant out of wedlock at age 17.
Not sure I'd want to read about her and Buck having sex anyway.
Once he'd shut the door, he turned to her and crushed her in his arms. He was so strong, he didn't know he was nearly suffocating her, but she didn't mind. This was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life. pg. 206
Sounds like in bed he would just do whatever and she would just lie there and be grateful she has a husband. Even though he's hurting her or not pleasing her. :(
This is how Buck talks about dating / sex / women:
"The bachelor life. I never thought it fair that the powers that be set it up so the guy had to be the one to make things happen."
His lips twitched in reaction. "It's not all joy. The female can choose not to cooperate."
"I don't imagine you or Ross have run into that experience often." pg. 150
Or how about this?
"I'd rather do something you'd like. What's YOUR idea of a good time, Buck?"
"That depends on the female." pg. 146
Is it just me or does he sound completely deranged?!? Who talks like this?!
This discussion between him and his friends didn't help:
"And Alex doesn't have a ring on her finger yet."
"So that makes her fair game?"
"You know it does!" pg. 122
This baffles me. She is LITERALLY engaged to another man. I don't understand - she isn't married yet so it is okay to hit on her and try and 'steal' her from her fiancé? Is this how people think now? No relationship is valid or worth respecting unless marriage vows have been said?
Even though this is not LABELED as a Christian romance, it pretty much is. This 'sex' section illustrates that perfectly. I see what you are doing, Winters. I see you.
TL;DR These characters drink instant coffee every day like people who hate themselves. :( I was cringing every time they put a mug in the microwave. Learn to love yourself and make some actual coffee that is good, damn it. If you can't even rouse yourself to drink good coffee - you could even have someone else make it FOR you if you are very lazy, they are on a full-service ranch - then there is no help for you. I feel sad.
This kind of bleeds over into how I feel about the characters in general. Alex can't be bothered to make a real cup/pot of coffee or ask someone / pay someone to do it. She would also just lay there and let Buck fuck her in a painful or uncomfortable way, and just not say anything and be grateful she even has a man. Like, you don't have to settle for this shit. Please love yourself. You have to power to change things. You are not helpless.
Imagine voluntarily going 24 years without sex for no real reason. If Winters had told me Alex had been raped, was very religious, or... I don't know. Technically I could believe it, but since she was very beautiful and seemed to have a regular life it baffled me that she had never been in a single sexual relationship since age 17. Seemed strange to me, IDK.
The writing is also very dumb.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Military Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine - she's had sex exactly one time.
He's a Rancher and a Veteran; She's a Loan Officer
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
The main problem in this book is the writing, which is horrendous. Not UNREADABLE like something by Tina Leonard or C.C. Coburn whose work I just CANNOT finish. It's too atrocious. Winters I can get through, but it's a chore because of how stupid this book is.
PREMISE
Carson, Buck, and Ross open up Daddy Dude Ranch after they survive Afghanistan but are left with a chronic pulmonary conditions. They want to honor those who died in Iraq and Afganistan, so they offer free stays at the ranch for combinations of war widows with their offspring.
This time it's actually 41-year-old Alexis and her granddaughter, Jenny. Alexis's son-in-law was killed overseas and her daughter died of leukemia. She is raising Jenny.
She is also engaged to a 55-year-old named Frank. That might bother some people who are worried about cheating in books.
ANALYSIS
What can I say that is positive?
It is refreshing to see a romance heroine in her forties. It is even more shocking to realize Winters has made her a grandmother. I can't remember ever reading a romance with a grandmother heroine before. Interesting.
Everything else I have to say is negative, unfortunately.
One, the writing is dumb. Open any page and you can see how dumb this book is.
Two, Alex is five years older than Buck. Not really a huge deal, but she has SUCH low self-esteem about it.
It had to have been the photographs.
They were a graphic reminder that she'd been a mother and was now a grandmother. Buck was a red-blooded, virile bachelor who last night in the dark had succumbed to the novelty of indulging himself with an older woman until Ross had interrupted them. pg. 169
This is literally what she thinks. She is selling both herself and Buck short. I guess since she is 41 and a grandmother she thinks she is a dry husk no man could ever be interested in. And I guess since Buck is a bachelor she thinks... I don't know. He's screwing a different 20-year-old every single night? Or something? It's weird.
She didn't know how to act around Buck. It sickened her to think she was giving off needy vibes that he'd picked up on without her realizing it. The way she'd clung to him last night must've made her seem desperate. pg. 173
She's far from desperate. She's fucking engaged to another fucking man for at least half of this book. JFC. But she has such low self-esteem.
Which brings me to another point.
Winters expects us to believe that Alexis has had intercourse one time in her entire life. Not one sexual partner, one single time having sex.
While technically this could happen, I find it a little difficult to believe. Her single sex incident was consensual, not a rape. She is supposed to be very attractive. She's not a born-again Christian as far as I know. What gives?
Now she was here again twenty-four years later, in danger of making the same mistake again with a man who only had to touch her to turn her insides to liquid. Was this to be the pattern of her life? Make love with a man once every quarter of a century? pg. 181
I mean, technically it is possible. There are even scenarios in which I would buy this narrative. This isn't one of them, however.
Which leads me to another problem. Buck knows Alex hasn't had sex in 24 years. He knows she has only had one, single, lone sexual experience in her entire life. But yet he can't quite act patient and comforting and solid for her. He runs hot and cold, he jerks her around. He gets cold with her randomly for no apparent reason. I couldn't tolerate this shit. If I were Alexis, I would cut my losses and get the fuck out.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
No sex. This is a 'clean' romance. Alex is engaged to Frank for two years and doesn't allow him to have sex with her. Sex of any kind. They just kiss. She doesn't believe in sex outside of marriage, regretting that she got pregnant out of wedlock at age 17.
Not sure I'd want to read about her and Buck having sex anyway.
Once he'd shut the door, he turned to her and crushed her in his arms. He was so strong, he didn't know he was nearly suffocating her, but she didn't mind. This was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life. pg. 206
Sounds like in bed he would just do whatever and she would just lie there and be grateful she has a husband. Even though he's hurting her or not pleasing her. :(
This is how Buck talks about dating / sex / women:
"The bachelor life. I never thought it fair that the powers that be set it up so the guy had to be the one to make things happen."
His lips twitched in reaction. "It's not all joy. The female can choose not to cooperate."
"I don't imagine you or Ross have run into that experience often." pg. 150
Or how about this?
"I'd rather do something you'd like. What's YOUR idea of a good time, Buck?"
"That depends on the female." pg. 146
Is it just me or does he sound completely deranged?!? Who talks like this?!
This discussion between him and his friends didn't help:
"And Alex doesn't have a ring on her finger yet."
"So that makes her fair game?"
"You know it does!" pg. 122
This baffles me. She is LITERALLY engaged to another man. I don't understand - she isn't married yet so it is okay to hit on her and try and 'steal' her from her fiancé? Is this how people think now? No relationship is valid or worth respecting unless marriage vows have been said?
Even though this is not LABELED as a Christian romance, it pretty much is. This 'sex' section illustrates that perfectly. I see what you are doing, Winters. I see you.
TL;DR These characters drink instant coffee every day like people who hate themselves. :( I was cringing every time they put a mug in the microwave. Learn to love yourself and make some actual coffee that is good, damn it. If you can't even rouse yourself to drink good coffee - you could even have someone else make it FOR you if you are very lazy, they are on a full-service ranch - then there is no help for you. I feel sad.
This kind of bleeds over into how I feel about the characters in general. Alex can't be bothered to make a real cup/pot of coffee or ask someone / pay someone to do it. She would also just lay there and let Buck fuck her in a painful or uncomfortable way, and just not say anything and be grateful she even has a man. Like, you don't have to settle for this shit. Please love yourself. You have to power to change things. You are not helpless.
Imagine voluntarily going 24 years without sex for no real reason. If Winters had told me Alex had been raped, was very religious, or... I don't know. Technically I could believe it, but since she was very beautiful and seemed to have a regular life it baffled me that she had never been in a single sexual relationship since age 17. Seemed strange to me, IDK.
The writing is also very dumb.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Military Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine - she's had sex exactly one time.
He's a Rancher and a Veteran; She's a Loan Officer
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
September 3, 2013
Very good book. When Buck and his friends Carson and Ross left the Marines each was suffering from lung disease from the war and a need to give back after surviving the war when so many hadn't. They began a Dude Ranch which also invites the families of the fallen for a special vacation. This month's visitors are assigned to Buck for their week. Buck is enchanted by seven year old Jenny and completely smitten by her oh-so-young grandmother. But Alex is already committed to a man back home and Buck won't go after another man's girl. He can't help but dream a little of a future with both of them.
I loved Buck. He noticed Alex even before he knew who they were, and once he did he was thrilled to be able to spend time with them. Thanks to having nieces and nephews he was already good with kids, but Jenny was something special. He had a hard time believing that Alex was Jenny's grandmother with as young as she looked. That didn't really matter to him but finding out she was committed to another man caused him to step back. A long time ago his girlfriend left him for another man - his own brother. Since that time he hadn't had a real relationship with another woman, only light ones. I loved seeing Buck with the kids and how good he was with them. In spite of his health issues he was pretty spontaneous and fun loving. He was also calm in a crisis which helped when Jenny got hurt. Buck has a hard time thinking he's good enough for Alex when he thinks of what she is used to in her current life. When Buck was given a second chance with Alex he had to decide if he was willing to risk his heart.
Alex was pretty terrific. She had had a baby at seventeen but managed to get her education and make a good life her her and her daughter. When her daughter also started young, Alex became a very young grandmother. She was Jenny's only family now, since her daughter had died and her son-in-law had been killed in Afghanistan. She was engaged to a very nice man who was older than she was, and with whom she'd been friends with for a long time. Jenny wasn't adjusting well to the engagement and when the invitation to the ranch came Alex thought it would be a great distraction. She was immediately impressed with Buck's rapport with Jenny and how he was able to calm her through the storm. She was amazed by how quickly Jenny became attached to Buck. She also found herself noticing Buck in a way she hadn't noticed a man in many years, but tried to ignore it because of their age difference. She was later surprised to find that it was only five years. I loved the way that she so quickly came to like the area and how it began to change her. Buck had told her that the Tetons had a way of changing a person's perspective and she found that to be true. I loved the way that she and Jenny came back to the ranch and how she and Buck had a chance to talk some. I loved the way she went to support him with his family and how they finally got everything straight between them. I loved the epilogue and can't wait for the next book.
I loved the two kids, Jenny and Johnny. I thought both were portrayed pretty accurately for their ages. I loved Jenny's immediate connection with Buck and what a difference it seemed to make in his life. It really showed, too, what a terrific father he'd make.
The only problem I had with the book was with Harlequin's continuing inability to accept that the word Marine is ALWAYS capitalized. Every time I saw marine or ex-marine, it pulled me out of the story.
I loved Buck. He noticed Alex even before he knew who they were, and once he did he was thrilled to be able to spend time with them. Thanks to having nieces and nephews he was already good with kids, but Jenny was something special. He had a hard time believing that Alex was Jenny's grandmother with as young as she looked. That didn't really matter to him but finding out she was committed to another man caused him to step back. A long time ago his girlfriend left him for another man - his own brother. Since that time he hadn't had a real relationship with another woman, only light ones. I loved seeing Buck with the kids and how good he was with them. In spite of his health issues he was pretty spontaneous and fun loving. He was also calm in a crisis which helped when Jenny got hurt. Buck has a hard time thinking he's good enough for Alex when he thinks of what she is used to in her current life. When Buck was given a second chance with Alex he had to decide if he was willing to risk his heart.
Alex was pretty terrific. She had had a baby at seventeen but managed to get her education and make a good life her her and her daughter. When her daughter also started young, Alex became a very young grandmother. She was Jenny's only family now, since her daughter had died and her son-in-law had been killed in Afghanistan. She was engaged to a very nice man who was older than she was, and with whom she'd been friends with for a long time. Jenny wasn't adjusting well to the engagement and when the invitation to the ranch came Alex thought it would be a great distraction. She was immediately impressed with Buck's rapport with Jenny and how he was able to calm her through the storm. She was amazed by how quickly Jenny became attached to Buck. She also found herself noticing Buck in a way she hadn't noticed a man in many years, but tried to ignore it because of their age difference. She was later surprised to find that it was only five years. I loved the way that she so quickly came to like the area and how it began to change her. Buck had told her that the Tetons had a way of changing a person's perspective and she found that to be true. I loved the way that she and Jenny came back to the ranch and how she and Buck had a chance to talk some. I loved the way she went to support him with his family and how they finally got everything straight between them. I loved the epilogue and can't wait for the next book.
I loved the two kids, Jenny and Johnny. I thought both were portrayed pretty accurately for their ages. I loved Jenny's immediate connection with Buck and what a difference it seemed to make in his life. It really showed, too, what a terrific father he'd make.
The only problem I had with the book was with Harlequin's continuing inability to accept that the word Marine is ALWAYS capitalized. Every time I saw marine or ex-marine, it pulled me out of the story.
August 11, 2018
I absolutely love this book. The children and it will absolutely have you smiling from page 1 till the end. And the characters just are amazing and any book that talks about those who truly fought for our country and ended up having a disease as a result makes you really stop and think about how wonderful we are fortunate enough to live in a country where freedom is still alive. You really may want to check this book out if you love books about ranches and Cowboys and children.
August 12, 2018
Loved this book it made me sad happy and I even cried some great book can't wait to read more books by this author
April 20, 2018
This has come out in the series Home on the Ranch. Love the new cover. I like this author. I like this story for its unique. In it you meet Alexis Wilson who is a grandmother raising her grandchild. In today's society that is a common practice that is happening alot. In this situation she is a young grandmother for she had a child at 17. Her daughter had married a vet who had past away. Then sickness struck her daughter Christy. Then we meet Buck Summerhayes. This is such a neat story of love of a younger man but so special. Its about connection between a child and a man as well as the parent. I love the way she weaves the story for she shows the conflict felt by both parties. She also shows how Buck feels unworthy at times because he doesn't have alot to offer. This is important to people. To be able to do things for the people they care about. She does a great job of bringing things together including the kids. Its such a neat story and worth a read. You will fall in love with Jenny and Johnny the youngest of the characters. You will laugh over their antics that is for sure.
July 5, 2019
Look forward to reading more about the Daddy Dude ranch.
October 24, 2013
4.5 Stars
In Home to Wyoming by Rebecca Winters, Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him, especially everything that happened in Afghanistan during the war but he cannot go back to the family construction business, so he goes into a partnership with two of his friends Carson and Ross from the military hospital to open a dude ranch in Teton Valley, and honor a fallen soldier by inviting his widow and children to stay for a weeklong stay with all expenses paid.
This is the second family to be invited to the ranch and it’s Buck’s turn to take care of them. But Buck is stuck in the airport waiting to fly back from a brief visit to his family. As he is waiting he admires the sexy woman with her sleeping daughter sitting next to him. Too bad that his cough starts acting up and wakes up the little girl. To his chagrin the mother asks the little girl to go to the restroom before their flight is called, and he believes that it’s only to get away from him. Read More...
In Home to Wyoming by Rebecca Winters, Buck Summerhayes wants to put the past behind him, especially everything that happened in Afghanistan during the war but he cannot go back to the family construction business, so he goes into a partnership with two of his friends Carson and Ross from the military hospital to open a dude ranch in Teton Valley, and honor a fallen soldier by inviting his widow and children to stay for a weeklong stay with all expenses paid.
This is the second family to be invited to the ranch and it’s Buck’s turn to take care of them. But Buck is stuck in the airport waiting to fly back from a brief visit to his family. As he is waiting he admires the sexy woman with her sleeping daughter sitting next to him. Too bad that his cough starts acting up and wakes up the little girl. To his chagrin the mother asks the little girl to go to the restroom before their flight is called, and he believes that it’s only to get away from him. Read More...
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September 1, 2013Received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Daddy Dude Ranch
Category: Home and Family
Miniseries: Daddy Dude Ranch
Category: Home and Family
November 6, 2015
Loved all three books in this trilogy! 'To die for' heroes!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews