I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Reunion at Cardwell Ranch
by
B.J. Daniels
It is part of the , , series and is a western romance in eBook edition that was published by Harlequin on December 15, 2015 and has 219 pages.
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Fifth and last in the Cardwell Cousins romantic subseries revolving around four brothers from Texas (Dana’s cousins) and set in Big Sky, Montana and eighth in the overall Cardwell Ranch series. The couple focus is on Sid Forester and Laramie Cardwell.
My Take
I do tend to think of artists as colorful…just never thought they were this colorful!
Daniels drove me nuts with how she led me on Sid’s path of vengeance! And she did it very well. Little dribs and drabs of clues that slowly, slowly, oh-so-slowly let me in on what drove her.
I do have to confess I don’t understand Sid’s logic in this. Oh, I can understand wanting revenge and having the truth come out. But what’s the point in stealing these things?
Pride sure does a good job of tripping a man up.
I love Daniels’ Cardwell Ranch, the warmth and coziness of Daniels’ characters and settings pull me right in. Hmmm, now what does that say about an author who can make cold, snowy Montana seem warm, lol?? No, it doesn’t have any great depth, but that warmth very much makes up for it, and it is an easy read.
The Story
The last of his clan to come home to Big Sky, Montana, Laramie Cardwell wasn’t planning to spend the holidays chasing an elusive cat burglar. Until that stunning kiss, that is.
Now, his best chance at discovering who this mystery woman is, is the stash she dropped.
The Characters
Obsidian “Sid” Forester is an artist bent on revenge. Zander is her older, very careless and selfish half-sister who looks enough like Sid to be her twin and who taught Sid how to break-and-enter. H.F. Powell was their father, an excellent artist who was also an eccentric genius.
Laramie Cardwell is the youngest of five brothers who founded a chain of barbecue restaurants, and he handles all the bookwork. Hayes Cardwell, a private investigator, brought up the idea of opening the first Texas Boys Barbecue in Big Sky; he’s married to McKenzie, a real estate agent (Rescue at Cardwell Ranch, 2). Tag Cardwell married Lily (Christmas at Cardwell Ranch, 1 (Cardwell Ranch, 4)). Austin Cardwell (married to Gillian (Deliverance at Cardwell Ranch, 4)) had been a deputy sheriff and now works for Hayes. Jackson Cardwell is married to Allie (Wedding at Cardwell Ranch, 3). Harlan Cardwell is their father.
The Cardwell family in Montana
Dana Cardwell Savage Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch, 1, is a cousin married to Marshal Hud Savage. (Mary had been the mother whose death set off events in Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch.) Hilde, Dana’s best friend, and her husband, Deputy Marshall Colt Dawson, have a mention (Cardwell Ranch Trespasser, Cardwell Ranch, 3). Tara Kirkwood is a dispatcher. Maisie French, Sid’s friend, works for a security firm.
The Old West Artists Coalition was…
…founded by the drunken Taylor West, Cody Kent, Hank Ramsey, and the desperate, scummy Rock Jackson (Carla is about to be his ex-wife). They refused to invite H.F. Powell — the artist they had all looked up to…and down on; they claimed his character was lacking. That’s a bit rich. Taylor’s dad hated that his son liked to paint. Buzz was Taylor’s older brother. Jade is Taylor’s disillusioned wife. Herbert Darlington is an art dealer.
Theo Nelson is the latest victim of an art thief.
The Cover and Title
The cover is soft with its cold, snowy background on a sloping gold and white hillside and Laramie in his black Stetson and sheepskin jacket, snow softly falling on him.
The title is more about the brothers finally all ending up in Big Sky with that Reunion at Cardwell Ranch.
