Series:
Cowboy Brothers in Arms (Book 2)
Even a real-life hero needs a little healing sometimes…
Air Force test pilot Blue Donnelly has the greatest job
in the world…until his F-22 crashes during a demonstration flight, leaving him
with a busted body and a ton of guilt. Then horse whisperer Marin Galloway
walks into his hospital room, snapping him out of self-pity with a shock of
desire and some surprising news: her six-year-old ward thinks Blue is his
daddy.
Leo isn't really Blue's son, much as the little boy
wishes it. Still, he needs a father figure, and Blue is willing to help…at
least until it's time to report for duty. The longer Blue spends getting closer
and closer to Marin and to Leo on his family's sprawling Texas ranch, the more
he questions his need to return to the sky. But when a secret is revealed,
leaving his entire future uncertain, Blue must decide who he is outside the
cockpit -- and whether his new dream is big enough for two co-pilots.
I loved this second book in a series about a family of
ranchers who also serve their country. In this book, Blue Donnelly is an Air
Force test pilot. Flying is all he ever wanted to do. As this book opens, Blue
is in the hospital after crash-landing his jet. He is badly injured and feels
guilty about the injuries received by some of the people on the ground. He's
feeling pretty sorry for himself when he gets a surprise visitor.
Marin and her six-year-old ward were spectators at the
air show. Young Leo is an avid fan of Blue and believes that Blue is his
father. Marin needs Blue's help to show Leo the truth without hurting him.
I enjoyed Marin and Blue's first meeting. His good looks
and rogueish charm stirred Marin up. Blue was blown away by Marin's beauty and
stunned by the news she brought. Although Blue is not Leo's dad, I liked that he
wanted to help the little boy. Marin works with abused horses, and the
Donnellys had just rescued several from a neighbor, so they hired her to work
with them on their ranch. This gives Marin steady work, Leo a safe and exciting
place to live, and Blue needs distractions as he recovers from his injuries.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Blue
and Marin. Neither was looking for anything. Marin has trust issues with men,
and Blue will return to his base as soon as he is fit. As the story developed
and I got to know the characters, it was easy to see how right Marin and Blue
are for each other, even though the obstacles seem insurmountable. Complicating
matters, Leo's real dad shows up, threatening to take Leo away from Marin. I
could feel Marin's fear over what Brian would do, and I loved the support she
got from Blue and the rest of the Donnellys.
The more time Marin and Blue spent together, the stronger
the sparks between them grew. Each knew giving in to them was a bad idea, but
neither had the strength or resolve to resist. Besides his growing feelings for
Marin, Blue must also face uncertainty about his future. If his injuries don't
heal enough to allow him to return to the life he loves, can he be happy doing
anything else? I ached for Blue and the range of emotions he experienced as he
faced a possibly life-changing decision. The ending was terrific.
I also enjoyed the Donnely family dynamics. The siblings
are all stand-up characters with a deep-rooted sense of honor and family. Combining
military careers with ranching is difficult, but they make it work. I liked
seeing more of Egan (Heart Like a Cowboy) and his lady, Alanna. Blue's other
brother, Cal, and his sister, Remi, appear in this book as their military
duties allow. We also get to catch up with the elder Donnelly, who is
recovering from a heart attack, and his wife, Audrey, an Air Force general. A
twist involving them in the latter part of the book throws the entire family
for a loop. I loved young Leo, whose hero worship of Blue was sweet. I enjoyed seeing him wiggle his way into
everyone's hearts.
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