365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #284

Cowboy with a Secret - Pamela Browning
Harlequin American Romance
Harlequin, 2001
ISBN: 9780373168743
Reissue - Harlequin Special Releases, 2011
eISBN: 9781459282711








My rating

From the back cover:

"Bethany Burke was intrigued by her new ranch hand—a man she'd ordered from a catalog! Strong, quiet Colt McClure had a way with animals and a past he never spoke of. The mystery only deepened when a baby girl arrived on the ranch doorstep—addressed to Colt! 
Colt's lovely boss made him want to reveal his secret past—especially because Bethany thought he was the baby's father! True, the cowboy had a few closely guarded secrets, but being somebody's daddy wasn't one of them. The wrangler was desperate to reveal the truth—but baring his soul could mean losing his heart."


This is an older American Romance book that has recently been reissued as an ebook.

The heroine Bethany has been struggling to keep her ranch afloat, her new ranch hand Colt, the hero, arrives not a moment too soon. Although she recognises that Colt is a hard worker as well as a genuinely nice man, she also realises that he is keeping secrets. Colt begins to treasure the new life he has built for himself at Bethany's ranch, and he also feels an intense attraction towards Bethany. But after spending the last few years in prison, he is reluctant to open his heart or let his past out. However, the peace he has found on the ranch and with Bethany is shattered when an old friend leaves her baby Alyssa on Bethany's doorstep asking Colt to care for her. Bethany thinks Alyssa is Colt's baby and this upsets her as she was beginning to fall for him. But rather than tearing them apart, caring for the baby together brings Colt and Bethany closer and closer. Only Colt's secrets and past stand in the way of their happiness, and he doesn't know what Bethany's reaction will be.

I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down. There is a really nice spirit to this book, a sort of family feel. The secondary characters are great and they help rather than hinder the progression of the story. Both the hero and heroine are well developed, complex, interesting, and flawed characters. They fit together perfectly and are able to grow as the story progresses. The plot itself is very compelling and beautifully written, the pace is flawless.

A great book.

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