Review and Giveaway: Harvest at Mustang Ridge

Harvest at Mustang Ridge (Mustang Ridge - Book 3) by Jesse Hayworth

Publication Date: 08/05/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0451419162
ISBN-13: 978-0451419163

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Jesse Hayworth (aka. Jessica Andersen) on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Mustang Ridge

1. Summer at Mustang Ridge
2. Winter at Mustang Ridge
3. Harvest at Mustang Ridge

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Harvest at Mustang Ridge, courtesy of the author's website

Synopsis:

When former lovers reunite at Mustang Ridge, old feelings run wild….
 
With guest season about to start at the ranch, Krista Skye needs to track down a new head wrangler fast. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the last person Krista wants to see—Wyatt Webb, the college sweetheart who left her behind. Wyatt has major reservations about working with Krista as well, but he has his own reasons for wanting to stay in town.
 
Although Krista and Wyatt are all business at first, sparks fly as they work side by side, preparing for an upcoming country fair. Even though rekindling their relationship brings up painful memories, they’re not the same people they used to be—and neither can deny that there’s still something special between them. They have one last opportunity to save a good thing before it’s too late, but one of them will have to find the courage to take a chance on love....

Thoughts:

Readers return to Mustang Ridge with Jesse Hayworth in her third book in the series, Harvest at Mustang Ridge. This is a heartwarming story of two people taking a second chance at love. Hayworth has a knack for writing not only the human characters in her stories, but the animal characters as well. Readers looking for a book that is about friendship, family and the ties that bind will love this one!

What I liked:

Jesse Hayworth knows how to write a book that will tug at your heartstrings. Often readers know from the onset that the main couple will eventually have a happy ending with Hayworth's books, but it's the journey that makes all the difference. The Mustang Ridge series has introduced readers to a family that loves the land, the people and the animals that make up their home. The Skye family is close knit, determined and they have each others back. Readers will not be able to find any faults with this bunch. They are realistic and lovable at the same time. I loved getting to know Krista who actually runs the ranch in Harvest at Mustang Ridge. She was a great character who deserved a great story and Hayworth certainly gives it to her.

Krista and Wyatt have known each other for a long time and I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other. Hayworth gives readers a couple who probably shouldn't like each other given their past and shows that time does heal wounds and that second chances are possible. I felt like these two characters had so much depth to them. Krista is determined to make the ranch a success and even bites back her pride to ask Wyatt for help. Wyatt is an artist, a metal sculptor. I loved the idea of his career and that he felt he real inspiration came from being home. These characters were just right for each other and that came across in the writing so well.

Another thing I appreciate about Hayworth's writing is her ability to write the animals in her books. She has a way of understanding how these creatures view the world. I've been around a horse or two in my day and this author knows horses. Right down to how a wild mustang might be feeling as it is introduced to life on the ranch. I loved Klepto the dog, he was a great character as well. I once had a dog that would grab things right out of your hand if you weren't quick enough to stop her. LOL! I loved that aspect of this book. The animals were as real as the humans!

My favorite part of this series and especially this book is the interaction of the Skye family. The main characters Krista and Wyatt see the majority of the time in this book, as it should be, but the secondary characters include the rest of Krista's family. The Skye's are something else. They are so realistic. They aren't the perfect family where everything works out just the way you think is should. They have real emotions and real struggles and like a family should, they pull together when they need to. I loved that about this book.

What I didn't like:

Not much to add here, this was a great book and a welcome addition to the series!

Bottom Line:

If you like books about family, friendship and cowboys, this is a good choice for you. Hayworth has a knack for writing both human and animal characters and the family dynamic of the Skye family is extremely enjoyable to read. The romance was heartwarming and ended perfectly and readers will love all of the things that make Mustang Ridge a great place to read about.

Harvest at Mustang Ridge is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Jesse Hayworth is a farm girl from way back, complete with tractors and livestock. Now farmless and driving a Subaru named Roo, Jesse lives on the East Coast with a cranky tabby she rescued from an auto shop and a beloved husband, who rescued her from Match.com. Her past books include Summer at Mustang Ridge and Winter at Mustang Ridge. She loves writing about wide-open spaces, animals, and true love, and she hopes you’ll come along for the ride!

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Harvest at Mustang Ridge by Jesse Hayworth.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 15th.

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