Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch: A Valentine Valley Novel

Written by Emma Cane

Narrated by Hillary Huber

Emma Cane's Valentine Valley series returns, as a teacher and her cowboy crush kindle sparks—and something more—in the town that lives up to its name . . .

The only thing hotter than a cowboy . . .

Math teacher Lyndsay De Luca never surprised anyone—least of all herself—until this summer. First, she secretly published her debut romance novel. Then, she started dating Will Sweet, the cowboy of her dreams. And now, Lyndsay's scrambling to hide the juiciest tidbit of all: that the hazel-eyed hero of her steamy fiction is the same guy whose kisses have become her mind-blowing reality.

. . . Is a cowboy in love.

Ever since Will's high-school sweetheart died in a tragic accident, he hasn't been able to commit to a long-term relationship. Lyndsay is the first woman in years who's been able to catch—and keep—his attention. When they team up to teach Valentine's teens about ranch life, Will discovers it's not just her sexy-as-hell smile that has him hooked. Will she be the one to finally break down the walls around his guarded heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Apr 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062404657

Emma Cane

Emma Cane grew up reading, and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine, Colorado, a small town of her own creation nestled in the Rocky Mountains. Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband, Jim, and two rambunctious dogs, Apollo and Uma. Emma also writes USA Today bestselling novels under the name Gayle Callen.

Reviews for Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch

[addictofromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

SummaryLynsay De Luca, is a math teacher, but she has a secret that she has kept from everyone, for eight years she has been a writer and she has a romance novel that will be getting published in just a few weeks. But as a teacher she has a certain reputation to maintain and wants to wait to tell her family until school is out. But the hero of her book, is based on a real man, a man she has had a crush on since high school. A man who is a bit of a flirt, a regular Kirk, going from one woman after another. She knows that they are very opposite from each other, and even though they practically grew up together, she has always been attracted to him. So she makes a decision to go after him and ask him out. What Lynsay doesn’t realize is that Will is just as drawn to her as she is to him, and thus begins a sensual affaire, of hiding in the barn, having picnics and stealing kisses. But Will hasn’t let anyone get close to him since he lost his high school sweetheart, will Lynsay be able to break down the walls of his heart?The HeroWill Sweet, helps run the Sweetheart Ranch, flies helicopters, and adores his family. He loves his life in Valentine Valley, but there is one thing that haunts him. When he was in high school, he fell in love, with a girl he planned to marry and have a family with. But then she died in a tragic accident, and he blamed himself for it, and ever since it has followed him and he has never been able to make an emotional attachment since. What a hero is Will Sweet….whew….wish I could snatch this cowboy up. He is handsome, great with kids, plays baseball, makes mud ditches a romantic date, kisses with such expertise that you might just explode from sensation, and has that sensual aura to him to make any woman swoon. What’s not to love. He is tormented but he also has such a strong personality and goes after what he wants.The HeroineLynsay De Luca, is a math teacher, but her secret love is science and writing. She loves helping her kids, embraced the college life, but came back to Valentine Valley, to her home. She has a love for writing and she finally has a book to be published and another on the way. Lynsay loves her family and has a secret that she has kept from everyone…she adores Will Sweet but she knows he can be a player. But she is tired of waiting for him to notice her and takes action. Lynsay was a sweet heroine, and I loved her character. She really made the story come alive for me. I had such an easy time relating with her, and it was quite fun seeing a more personal side to Lynsay (having read previous books), seeing the close ties she has and she has this calm intelligent and views life in a upbeat way that you are drawn to her.Plot and Story LineEver After at Sweetheart Ranch is a charming and sweet addition to this series. Unfortunately this is the last installment of the series…oh how have I adored this series. Its been quite a blast with the different families that are connected to each other, and the charming “widows” that are so outrageous at times but gives the reader giggles and snorts. This book is Will and Lynsay’s story. Now I have seen both of them in previous books, so it was quite a blast seeing them come together. Emma Cane has such a talent in creating a sweet love story your heart just breaks…and this holds true for this title. I couldn’t put this down, kept me up from going to bed because I just was having such a fun time with this story. And what a great love story this turned out to be. If you have yet to read this author…and you like sweet western romances, with that small town feel…this is a must to read author for you. What I liked most about this story was the way the romance developed between the two characters here. What we have is two people who have been friends for years, which turns into something stronger and more intense. The side characters played a part too, with charming interactions and sharp wits that keeps you engaged. The plot is steady and the focus is the love story, but we also see development especially in Will’s character. Lynsay stays true to who she is and goes after the man she wants, but soon realizes that the road ahead may be rougher than she would like, since Will is still hasn’t let go of the past. The bond that forms between them is strong and vibrant and I had such a fun time seeing that bond develop and seeing them draw closer both physically and emotionally. We see how they adore each other despite what is keeping them from fully embracing their relationship. This just might be my favorite installment of the series…Emma Cane just keeps getting better…can’t wait to see what she has planned for us in her newest series coming out next year.The CoverThis cover is so sweet and romantic…the whole country setting, with the picnic by the river and the mountain backdrop….definitely is a perfect match for the story.Overall ViewEver After At Sweetheart Ranch is a delectable romance that will have you bursting out with giggles, and have you in tears the next moment, with a charming country setting, heartwarming characters, intense emotion, a steamy passion, and a tale brimmed with laughter and an alluring story to captivate!! A SPLENDID ROMANCE!

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good friends to lovers in a small town book. Lyndsay and Will have known each other all their lives. She had a crush on him in high school, but he was dating her friend Brittany. She died in an accident and Will never developed a serious relationship with anyone else. Lyndsay is now a math teacher at the middle school, with a secret life as a romance writer. Her first book is about to hit the shelves and she's horrified to realize that she has based her hero on the man she's never been able to forget. Though she knows that he's not the settling down kind, and she really wants a husband and family of her own, she decides that a period of dating Will is just what she needs to get him out of her system.Will is content with his life as a rancher and his reputation as a playboy. He holds himself responsible for his girlfriend's death, and feels that he doesn't deserve the kind of life he would have had with her. So he dates for a short time and breaks things off before anyone has a chance to get serious. He's kept his relationship with Lyndsay as friends for two reasons: first, he's best friends with her brother and was warned off Lyndsay years ago, and second, he doesn't want to wreck the friendship they have. But lately, those reasons are fading behind the attraction he's starting to feel for her. They start to date when Lyndsay asks him out, though he tries to make it clear that there is no future in it. Lyndsay appears to accept that, and their times together are lighthearted and fun with a side of steamy. She also begins to realize that, instead of getting him out of her system, her feelings for Will have actually gotten stronger. She also knows she's going to have to tell him about his part in her book, but she's afraid of his reaction. She also realizes that no matter what she does, he's never going to give up his guilt and move on, so she breaks things off with him.Will's feelings for Lyndsay are changing and that scares the life out of him. He doesn't want to open himself up to that kind of pain again. But when a conversation with his mother and then a crisis involving Lyndsay force him to face his past, he realizes he's going to have to let go if he's going to get the life he really wants. I loved his big moment at the end, when he shows the whole town how he feels about her book. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and their stories. The widows and their nemesis, Will's grandmother, have moved their feud into the Preservation society election, and their campaign moves create some more conflict. The widows also decide that it is their duty to help promote Lyndsay's book, and their actions there add some more excitement to her life. I also liked catching up with the characters from some of the previous stories.