Once a Rancher - Review

Once a Rancher (The Carsons of Mustang Creek) by Linda Lael Miller
Rating: Good
Source: Publisher
Description:  The Carsons of Mustang Creek: three men who embody the West and define what it means to be a rancher, a cowboy, and a hero in this brand-new series from the queen of Western romance.  Slater Carson might be a businessman by trade, but he's a cowboy at heart - and he knows the value of a hard day's work under the hot Wyoming sun.  So when he sees troubled teen Ryder heading down a dangerous path, he offers the boy a job on the ranch the shares with his two younger brothers.  And since Ryder's temporary guardian is the gorgeous new resort manager, Grace Emery, Slater figures it can't hurt to keep a closer eye on her as well...
Grace Emery doesn't have time for romance.  Between settling in to her new job and caring for her ex-husband's rebellious son, her attraction to larger than life Slater is a distraction she can't afford.  But when her past catches up to her in Mustang Creek, she'll discover just how far Slater will go to protect what matters most - and that love is always worth fighting for (from Goodreads)

Genre: Romance

Why I Picked This Book:

My Impression:   This is the first book by Linda Lael Miller I've read.  I read a novella around Christmas time and enjoyed it but was looking forward to seeing what she could do with a full length novel.

I enjoyed the characters in this one.  I liked that Grace's background was in law enforcement which is unusual and gave her a certain awareness in an ongoing conflict throughout the book.  I also loved her relationship with Ryder.  As a stepmother myself I tend to cringe when a step relationship is portrayed in fiction.  I felt like Miller not only portrayed the stepmother role realistically even though the situation is highly unusual but also pretty accurately portrayed a teenage boy.  I loved the Carson family!  The interaction between Slater and his brothers was so funny and I loved all the betting that went on within the family.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Grace and Slater develop.  Slater  is definitely Alpha but he is thinking about how she would feel and what she want.  The fact that he is so aware and considerate balances his tendency to take over situations. The timeline seemed very short - especially for a contemporary - and that threw me a little bit.  There was also one incident that happened towards the end that felt a little premature.  I think because of the short line with everything that was happening on the book I never fully connected with Grace or Slater.  I liked them and was rooting for their HEA but they didn't leap off at the page at me.  

This was a really enjoyable read and I liked watching the relationship develop and getting the behind the scenes of their work.  Slater's work with documentaries was especially interesting and I would have liked to see more of it.  I really loved the setup for the rest of the trilogy and can't wait to see more of the Carsons!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes!  I definitely want to see the other Carson brothers' stories.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes if you like love at first sight or Western romances or have enjoyed Linda Lael Miller's books in the past I think you'd really like this one.