HARVEST AT MUSTANG RIDGE by Jesse Hayworth

Publisher:  Signet

Published:  August 5, 2014

ISBN:  978-0451419163

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Format:  Ebook
Obtained via:  Publisher  via Netgalley

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

THREE HEARTS

Once upon a time Krista Skye had her life pretty much planned out.  At a certain age she’d marry, have children and a happily ever after.  When she met Wyatt Webb and the twosome began to date and she, to fall in love, there was no doubt in her mind he was her happy ever after.  So on graduation night, with a meet the family dinner and celebration planned Krista’s world fell apart.  Leaving only a farewell note Wyatt took off to parts unknown.  From that moment on Krista closed off her heart and changed her lifetime plans.  Now, a dozen or so years later she runs the family business at Mustang Ridge, hosting a variety of theme weeks featuring horseback riding and round ups.  When the town of Three Ridges stages its Harvest Fair Mustang Makeover Krista heads to town with her twin, Jenny to bid on a mustang to “makeover” she comes face to face with her past.  Before she can outrun, or outride that past, however, head wrangler Foster ends up in the hospital.  Faced with a summer without a head wrangler or dealing with Wyatt Krista reluctantly offers him the job.  Agreeing that the job will be for the summer only and that Wyatt will then return to his parts unknown, the twosome begin an awkward arrangement.  However, despite how much their heads tell them this is all wrong, their hearts begin to say otherwise. 

I really, really, really enjoyed the first two books in Jesse Hayworth’s Mustang Ridge series.  She tells a wonderful story of family, friendships and the bonds that bring them together.  She deals with life changing issues in an open and matter of fact way yet with compassion that helps the reader to understand what someone going through those experiences endures.  Book 3, HARVEST AT MUSTANG RIDGE takes readers into yet different life experiences—resolving an old relationship and how aging can change a family.  As with the first two books, both issues are dealt with with compassion and an open mind.  Kudos to Hayworth for tackling events that can affect the full life spectrum not in a gratuitously emotional or sensationalist way. 

I would have liked to read more about Marshmallow and what was going on with the other horses.  I would have liked to have a bit more of Lucky’s backstory—what happened between him almost dying at birth in book 1 to where he is in book 2.  And while I liked the way she brought out the realizations of how Krista and Wyatt got to where they are today, I never really related to either character.  I had no vested interest in whether they made it as a couple or not.  While a good read I just wasn’t as emotionally invested in this story as the others. 

That said, I am looking forward to the next book in the series—I haven’t seen any word that one is coming but I’m really hoping for the series to continue.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.