great book from Amy Lassiter Widower Finn Baylor helps troubled horses, not troubled people, When Lily Jacobs shows up with her damaged horse in tow, something in her eyes tells him this woman is the latter, and his first instinct is to tell her to get gone.
Still trying to piece himself together, the last thing he needs in his life is a woman who won't take no for an answer.
Reeling from the accident that nearly claimed her life and her horse's, Lily is desperate to make things normal again.
The horse has become unpredictable and dangerous, and Lily is terrified but she's not giving up,
Out of options, Lily's last hope for her horse is the brooding Finn, And though he's done his best to close himself off, Lily's determined spirit means she might be the last hope for Finn's heart.
When I first began this series, one thing that struck me was how classically romantic the books were.
This series isn't just a story about couples falling in love they are stories about family and struggles and how love fits in and enhances our everyday lives, how allencompassing a lasting relationship is.
From the very first book, I wanted to know more about Finn Baylor, I just found his situation heartbreaking, having lost his wife to cancer at a very young age.
I'm a sucker for good characters who need TLC because I just want to see them happy again.
Five years into his widowhood, Lily Jacobs comes pulling onto the Baylor Ranch with a wounded heart and horse.
She and Finn have an immediate, unacknowledged attraction and while Lily is slightly more open to her feelings, Finn is not at all.
He still wears his wedding band, traces of his late wife are strewn about his home he hasn't let go of the love he had.
But while working with Encore, Lily's traumatized horse, both Finn and Lily come to learn things about themselves and each other and their relationship begins to grow and change.
We are treated to time with former book characters and fellow Baylor family members, which is great.
I feel like Lassiter's writing is really strong in this book, the characters seem whole and wellrounded, as does their evolution in the story, and the details and descriptions of ranching life are vivid and clear.
Loved it!!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review Arc copy of "Secondhand Heart" received from author for an honest review.
Thank you Ms Lassiter, I have loved this whole series, How can one not Each book has been a beautiful love story with a wonderful warm family of characters in a classic small town America!
From the very first book I new that Finn's story would be worth the wait and Ms Lassiter did not dissapoint.
Finn Baylor, horse whisperer extrodanaire and a man stuck in his past, held their by his love and devotion to his deceased wife and his fear of moving on, of maybe having to feel the pain of loss again.
So when his sister in law Emma brings Lily Jacobs to the family farm with her horse Encore in tow,he wants nothing to do with the sweet beautiful strong girl , he just wants to fix her horse
and send her on her way.
Finn is not use to having to deal with the owners, Worse yet this troubled women with her broken horse arouses a feeling in his heart he has not felt since his wife Sunny was alive.
Finn Baylor has been widowed for five years loosing his beloved Sunny, his wife,his high school sweetheart to cancer all too soon, before they could start a family of their own since then Finn has dedicated himself to his work and her pet project of working with children in foster care, helping them put smiles on their face with getting them on the back of horses.
Lily Jacobs unwittingly challenges Finn's boundaries , first by insisting that she stay while he works with her horse Encore , but then by making him start to feel after so many years.
Finn comes off as a grouch at first , but the attraction is more than evident between the two, one that Finn will eventually give into.
However in a sell town such as three rivers trying to keep anything a secret is a challenge , never mind his mother.
The Baylor family however wants nothing but what's best for Finn and after so many years they feel it is time for Hume to give love another try and they believe Lily is perfectly try again with!
If you like a true romance , with some sexy times and a wonderful family connections I can not recommend " Secondhand Heart" and the whole Hearts of Three River series enough! Another satisfying book from the Hearts of Three Rivers series.
It was nothing to blow me away, but it's hard not to love a nice cowboy, a stubborn woman, a tightknit family, ranch life, and a few good horses.
I appreciate that the author knew a thing or seventeen about horses and riding, And I will say, this book had a tear or two falling out of these eyes towards the end.
I wish that we would have gotten a little bit more about Encore in the epilogue, . . but, hey. That's fine. A solid read that left me feeling some warmfuzzies, Lily has survived an incredible trauma, right along with her horse Encore, however the scars remain, Finn Baylor becomes her last hope to heal Encore's spirit now that his overcome the injuries from the accident.
Will healing Encore allow Lily to heal herself Finn is challenged by Encore and Lily, He has his own scars that he carries after the death of his wife Sunny, Will Lily be able to break down his walls and open his heart again Can these two broken spirits find solace and healing with each other This is a truly magical journey of romance, redemption and hope with a sexy cowboy thrown in to keep you on your toes.
Okay this book is my favourite so far, Really enjoyable read with two beautiful characters that carried a lot of baggage, .