The Rancher's Holiday Hope

Mercy Ranch #4

by Brenda Minton

He returned for his sister’s wedding…
Not a romance of his own.

Back in his hometown to help his family, rancher-turned-businessman Max St. James has no intention of staying beyond the holidays. But the more time he spends with his sister’s wedding planner, Sierra Lawson, the more the small town he left behind feels like home again. Falling for Sierra wasn’t part of his plan, but he’s never wanted anything more for Christmas.

Mercy Ranch

Genres: Love Inspired

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2019

About the author

Brenda Minton lives, procrastinates, writes, drinks coffee, raises her kids and is wife to her husband, in the Ozarks.

Okay, now to first person because a third person bio sounds like someone else wrote it about me, and is just license to create flowery prose about myself.

I grew up on a farm in the Ozarks. It was long ago and far away, in a land before cable TV, video games and the internet. To pass the time we read books, watched (gasp) network TV that rarely came in clear, and had friends over on weekends to play music on the front porch, or card games in the dining room.

The result of growing up 'country' was an active imagination. For fun I wrote stories to entertain myself and I dreamed of being an author. Oh, but first, before writing, I wanted to be a jockey.

Writing won out over being a jockey. In the spring of 2006 I got the call that made those dreams come true: the call that welcomed me into the Steeple Hill family of authors.

The moral of this story, never stop dreaming.

Reviews

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's storyline was okay. I liked the Christian theme in this story. Some parts of this story made me laugh 😂. I liked Sierra's character. I liked Max's character. The ending was okay.

[MSreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cute story. I love how they brought in Arabic undertones with the Assyrian family that the main character is well received by.

The real aspect of PTSD was also appreciated in this book. It’s not often you read books about a main character who really struggles differentiating her reality from her past trauma. Sierra had me feeling very sorry for her but very happy for her. She is a survivor.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Sierra Lawson, the heroine, and Max St. James, the hero. At first, I had trouble connecting with them, but gradually I grew to care about them. As a result, the story was not one I was drawn into right away. It took a little time and patience, but eventually I was hooked and wanted to know how things would turn out.

[Shawnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't typically read sappy romances because I don't believe in them and they tend to piss me off. This one had enough damaged characters that I liked it. I would like to know more about Sierra's past. I love Bub and Buckshot and Linnie.

[Dena Lahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spiritual read.

I loved how everyone pulled together in this little town when someone need them. They considered each other family. Max and Sierra were such a fun loving couple to read about. I hope they are in future stories.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Mercy Ranch

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Mercy Ranch

[Kym McNabney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Great ending.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but I felt like the ending was rushed. There was all this great lead up to various events and then the author tried to cram all the closure into the last 10 pages.

SPOILER: I wanted to know more about Patsy and her family at the end. They took the time to explain the different rooms during remodel but then the great reveal ended just beyond the front door. If HGTV just ended big home makeover reveals at the front door we wouldn't keep watching. I feel like there could have been more. Maybe its being saved for another book. I just would have liked Linnie to see her room. More interaction between Patsy and the townspeople who showed up. The whole thing seemed awkward and rushed. Patsy just shows up doesn't understand what is going on says she can't afford it and boom its over onto carriage. Could have been a more heart warming moment.

SPOILER: Also Max St. James wasn't gone very long. Seemed like he was gone for the weekend. How did they find time to work with the horse to pull a carriage? Or is this some kind of Christmas magic and that is what this impossible to tame horse has always wanted 😜

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Minton takes us back to Mercy Ranch for this installment in the series and it's a wonderful story. Sierra Lawson is a wounded warrior living at the ranch when Max St. James shows up in a helicopter, sending her into a panic mode. He is only at the ranch for the holidays to help plan his sister's wedding, so neither of them plan on a romance. But God has other plans. And His plans are always the best.

I love Minton's writing. She writes with such heart and creates such vivid characters, that you seem to actually know them. I highly recommend this book.

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do LOVE a Brenda Minton book! Sierra, an ex prisoner of war, is at Mercy Ranch as a wedding planner. Max is a successful businessman that bought his folks ranch back for them, and is the brother of Melody, who is having Sierra plan her wedding. Sierra and Max meet, and everything changes.

I might add that I hope Melody gets her own story!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun quick read yes they finally got together

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full, non-spoiler review: https://christianlovingbooks.blogspot...