Crooked Tree Ranch

Title:  Crooked Tree Ranch (Montana: Book 1)

Author:  RJ Scott

Publisher:  Love Lane Books

Length:  193 pages

Rating:  B+

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  When a cowboy, meets the guy from the city, he can’t know how much things will change.

On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.

With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.

Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill.

His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.

Please note, that this title is a re-release. It features a new chapter, new cover art and has been re-edited.

Review:  Crooked Tree Ranch is adorable. There is so much sweetness and love in this story. Family and home is the driving force for the people here. Nate and his two brothers want to keep their family business afloat. Jay and his sister and her two children need a new home and future. If they can all find a way to work together, trust each other, and follow their hearts they have a chance at creating something beautiful.

While this story is full of sweetness and love I don’t want you to think that there aren’t problems for these people. There are some serious issues that Jay’s family is dealing with, they’ve been badly hurt and they desperately need the peace and acceptance they find on the ranch. Nate’s family hasn’t had it easy either and they’ve been their own little family since they were kids. There is a tragic and suspicious event in the past that lays the groundwork for the next story in the series. I’m looking forward to learning more about that in The Rancher’s Son soon.

There is romance and sweetness, sexual tension and lots of flirting, beautiful horses and sexy cowboys, delicious desserts and an ambitious marketing campaign. Above all there is love and family. These people realize that family comes first and it is made from love and with your heart. None of the people here have a traditional family, but they do have an abundance of love.

A fun and romantic read that had me smiling and chuckling a few times. I loved the quirky way the characters talked in their heads. I appreciated the sensitive way that RJ Scott handled a difficult subject without going too deep or being depressing. There was always hope and a natural transition into something better.

*****Trigger Warning That Contains Spoilers – There is past domestic violence in this story. None occurs on page, but it is referred to several times and explained in somewhat vague detail. Nothing is graphic or ongoing. I felt the author was sensitive with her handling of it. *****

Reviewed by Nina