This is my second visit to Blackwell Ranch to meet the family and find out how and if they are going to save the ranch. This is Ethan's story. When Ethan returns to Falcon Creek to attend Sarah Ashley's wedding, who just happens to be his ex, he has an encounter with Grace, her sister. Unbeknownst to him, Grace is now pregnant. He comes back to the ranch at the request of his brother Jon and when he and Grace meet up, their attraction to one another bubbles to the surface. Can these two make a go of a relationship? Will they admit their feelings to one another?

This series has five books and each are written by a different author. The first two fit together so well, you would never know they were not written by the same person. Cari Lynn Webb's characters are so realistic. They are believable and I found myself talking to them as I read this book. This book is a heartwarming story with just the right amount of angst and worries. I was cheering for both Ethan and Grace knowing that they would be perfect together if only they could overcome their hurdles. There is a lot going on in this story with some side lines that were woven together very well. I enjoyed the fact that the characters from the first book made appearances and were like old friends. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. If you like a romance with fun, worries, a few hurdles and a happy ever after, you need to pick up this book, in fact start with the first one as you won't want to miss reading about any of the Blackwell brothers. I requested this book from the author and was fortunate that my request was granted. The rating, opinions and ideas shared are my own. ( )

Acquired Book By: I received a complimentary copy of “The Rancher's Rescue” direct from the author Cari Lynn Webb in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

After concluding The Rancher's Twins, a bit more was revealled about Big E - the grandfather giving all kinds of strife to his grandsons and giving the impression he was no longer interested in running the family's ranch. The shambles this man left things was wicked awful and yet, at the end of the last installment, not everything we were perceiving as readers was exactly the way we felt we were being lead to believe - as there was a bit of a unique cliffhanger right at the very end of the novel! That particular dose of insight gave me a newfound respect for the Blackwell Brothers series as it added a hidden layer of depth to the evolving story-lines - one I hadn't foreseen coming and one which it would appear is still becoming hinted about in The Rancher's Rescue. At least, I hope it is will continue to thread into the background of the stories - as Big E is one grandfather no one will soon forget!

Meanwhile, whilst we re-focus off Big E (as we had previously) and re-focus on the son who returnt home at the request of his brother - we find Ethan less than enthused to be home! He cares about his work and his career as a Equestrian Vet but beyond that, he has no inclination of staying longer than necessary; something I had a feeling was going to change, as how often does life go according to our plans? It was good folly finding Ethan and Jonathan at odds with each other - they didn't quite agree on their plan of attack to sort out the ranch's crises but they respected each other enough not to let that draw a wedge between them too.

I truly like Grace - the accountant who works at the store where the Blackwells purchase everything they need for their ranches. She has a winning personality but she also doesn't put herself first - she tries to find the middle ground, work with people and still find time for herself. What was interesting I thought is how she was hiding she was in her first trimester - as when she first came on scene in front of Ethan and her parents, I was half expecting Grace to be far enough along to be 'showing' and thereby, raised eyebrows would have been on Ethan. Mostly as they had been separated for awhile now and he would be instantly surprised by her condition. Though, this isn't how it came about and as she isn't showing outright, the baby was as secreted in her heart as it had been at conception!

There isn't anything quite like a small towne where everyone knows what is happening before it actually happens! Such is the case as we cheekily get a purview of the kind of life Ethan would have if he wanted to stake a claim to come back home, live in his hometown and actually find that these neighbours of his wouldn't mind what his finances said, they only wanted to support a Vet they could personally rally behind to do a job they felt was being left undone by their current in-towne Vet. For Ethan, it was a bit of a wake-up call to how many food centered invitations you could accept in a small space of time and still feel as if you were accomplishing something you never set out to do once you were home. I had a good chuckle of a laugh over how no one who called him cared if he was licensed and only wanted to have a conversation with him 'friend to friend'.

The prickly personality of Katie threw me off slightly - only because I remembered she was spunky round the edges but not to the point of not getting along with people. Whenever she was seen round Ethan you could say the two were 'fire and ice' and could melt ponds! She seemed to be a bit miffed whenever he was nearby, almost as if she didn't have patience for his reactions and his sense of priorities. I am sure the pressures of a failing ranch whose owner was missing had something to do with her mood(s) but evenso, half the things that seemed to set her off didn't seem to be that dire to me.

My favourite 'new' character is Coconut - the angora rabbit who has a re-settlement issue and has to be isolated at first to see if she will come down! I truly loved how this rabbit was introduced but also how kind Ethan was to recognise what was wrong with her immediately and make her feel comfortable as soon as he could! He might feel exasperated by his situations in life right now but at least being a Vet has a calming affect on his moods! I think I would have felt as overwhelmed as Ethan does when he realised how many animals on the ranch needed his care and how no one else seemed to be making their welfare a top of the list priority.

When it comes to relationships Grace and Ethan have some work to do! Both of them are all but cringing being in close quarters with each other and yet, they both have secrets to spill but are holding back for reasons which only make sense to them! I had to smile - how they both hedge their bets against each other, trying to defer what they really wish to talk about and drag out the inevitable a bit more in the process! The sad bit though is that due to each of their hesitations, they never truly get round to the subject(s) they want to discuss nor of settling the silence which as transferred between them. It is a good lesson in how anxiety and fear can go unchecked and fester into a bit of a nightmare to overcome.

Sitting on a secret is never easy - keeping one from the prying eyes and heart of your sister is another matter entirely! As I observed Grace and Sarah Ashley volleying back and forth to see who would break their silence first about the secrets they were keeping from each other, it reminded me of the sisters I used to know back in high school. The ones who thought they were being super clever and not revealling more than they wanted at any given point in time only to realise sadly not long after that they weren't the best at keeping secrets at all! Not from each other and not from anyone else who had perceptive eyes! I kept wondering what was holding Sarah Ashley back from confiding in Grace? It made better sense why Grace wanted to keep a bit of distance on her secret from her sister, their parents and the community - but in Sarah's case!? It felt like she was going to put enough pressure on herself to solve her problems if it broke her spirit in the process which felt terribly sad to me.

I personally love how Ethan keeps going on 'house calls' and how he keeps debating with himself about the logistics of those actions! He isn't one to mince words nor the realities of his life - from the ranch falling into a slow-burning state of ruin and his career as a Vet being placed in jeopardy due to his actions helping his former neighbours - you truly started to feel for Ethan. He was at a cross-roads in his life and he wasn't entirely sure which way he should go. It was compounded by the fact Grace was facing her own situation she hadn't expected to find herself - giving us a lot to consider and chew on as we're reading The Rancher's Rescue. Mostly as if you consider the title itself - there is definitely a reason for consideration about the word 'rescue'.

As we shift through this installment - we gather more questions than answers about Big E - he's this elusive character threading in the background of the series, even though I realised in the first story he's the catalyst of the changes in the Blackwell brothers lives, the hardest part is finding rationalisation. I had a sneaking feeling Grace's parents were going to be understanding when it came time for her and Ethan to finally have their heart-to-heart conversation. The way she is herself you can tell a bit about how she was raised and the kind of parents she had. It would have felt much more awkward if this had been written in a very stereotypical way; I was so thankful Webb took this route instead!

OOh and just as I had hoped - we get more insight into Big E himself right at the ending of the novel - I am always full of big smiles from reading this series! The ways in which the characters are drawing closer together, re-affirming their own life goals and dreams whilst the balance of one family's future is still slipping in and out of the safety zone - there is an overwhelming uplift to read the Blackwell Brothers series! You come for the heartache, the family drama and the budding relationships but what stays with you the most is the enduring nature of the characters who populate the series! This is there story - where each new installment is a delightful new piece of the puzzle which knits out their legacies!

// This is a quotation of my full review originally shared via jorielovesastory.com

Ethan Blackwell has a plan for his life and when he’s done straightening out his grandfather’s financial mess, he’s going to get back to it. When Grace Brewster tells him that he’s going to be a father, his need to get his own financial situation and career stabilized.

Cari Lynn Webb takes some of the people introduced in the first book in this series (The Rancher’s Twins by Carol Ross) and builds on them flawlessly. Readers get to meet most of the Brewster clan and Lydia, John, and the twins also make an appearance. And oh boy, Ethan with his nieces is going to melt your heart a little bit!

While Ethan and Grace never deny their attraction for each other, there are plenty of obstacles for them to overcome. It will take some tough love, soul searching, and a little bit of a miracle for Ethan to let go of his plan and follow his heart—even if it does take him long enough.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )

What would you do if you were saddled with debt and jobless even though you are a licensed veterinarian but not in the state where you just found out that your ex-girlfriend’s sister was having your baby and you know she would never consider leaving the state where you’re not licensed to practice even though you vowed you’d never return to said state unless it was to sit through the reading of your grandfather’s Will but meanwhile you’ve been called back there because your beloved brother needs your help to try to save your grandfather’s ranch that you grew up on but that your grandfather has run off and abandoned leaving behind mounting debts that you’re not in a position to shore up and the only person who can help you to access some of your grandfather’s assets to temporarily save the ranch is one of his ex-wives who is a judge that grandpa was married to for five days who you believe still hates you for blowing out her truck’s tires when you were a kid and who refers to you as “Day Two” but who you need help from desperately because you don’t want to let your brother down in his time of need?

Are you still with me? Welcome to Ethan Blackwell’s life. He’s got a lot going on, but he’s not willing to stay in Falcon Creek longer than what’s necessary to help his brother. But what about Grace Gardner and his baby dilemma? Someone has to be willing to compromise, but neither seems likely to budge on their convictions. Will Ethan “stop running” and find that what he’s looking for is right in front of him? And will Grace recognize Ethan’s true feelings and get to fulfill her dreams in the only place she’s destined to call home?

I loved this book!! The fully fleshed-out characters endear you to this series. I liked the build up to Ethan’s finding out he was going to be a father, along with the suspense of learning how Grace’s sister, Sarah Ashley, would react to the news that her sister is carrying her ex-boyfriend’s baby. I didn’t know what to expect but the way the author tidies up all of these seemingly impossible scenarios was truly impressive. And again, those characters!! Judge Myrna Edwards was one of my favorites. The way the scene played out between her and Ethan put a smile on my face. I can’t provide any more details because I don’t want to give too much away. And that epilogue! 😂

All I can say is I am enjoying this series to the point that I’ve thrust aside a couple of other reading commitments to squeeze this one in because I can’t wait to see what happens next. ( )

THE RANCHER'S RESCUE is book 2 in the Return of the Blackwell Brothers series. I have to say that each of these books can be read as a stand alone but work better when read in order. I loved all these characters, getting to meet them through each book is so awesome. This is the second story in the series and we get to know Ethan. Ethan is such a well written and realistic character that by the time you finish this story you'll want to meet him in person. I loved watching Ethan deal with the past and what he wants out of the future, and dealing with Grace and all that she reveals. Fans of the Heartwarming line are sure to adore this new story from author Cari Lynn Webb. Fans of great stories with well developed engaging characters and a story-line that leaves you eager for more are going to want to grab this story NOW. I highly recommend THE RANCHER'S RESCUE to one and all. I can't wait to read more from author Cari Lynn Webb! ( )