Once A Rancher Book Review

I was excited to get to Once a Rancher (The Carsons of Mustang Creek) by Linda Lael Miller. It is the first book in the series.  I was ready to get back to the beginning because I actually started with the middle of this three book series.  I was excited when the library opened so that I could find out what happened in the rest of the series.

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 filmmaker by trade, but he's still 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 he shares with his two younger brothers. And since Ryder's guardian is the gorgeous new Mustang Creek 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 into 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 an unexpected threat emerges, she'll discover just how far Slater will go to protect what matters most—and that love is always worth fighting for.

Back to the first book in the series which of course since I read the second book, I knew how it would end but I was ready to see how the book went and I was super surprised.  Slater is the filmmaker and he is finishing up one project and starting the next one so he is home.  He decides that he is going to help Ryder with a job on the ranch to make him have responsibility after Ryder gets into trouble for stealing something off his set.  Grace Emery is the person taking care of Ryder because his father is deployed and his grandmother couldn't handle the trouble anymore.  Grace is his ex-step-mother but she loves him and wants what is best for him.  She is working to try to make sure that he knows that he has people that care about him.  Although it is very tough until he gets the structure of working at the ranch.  It is great to see the relationship between Grace and Ryder develop and the relationship between Slater and Grace.  I know that you will enjoy watching them become a family.  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series.  I am sure that you will enjoy them as much as I have.  Stay tuned for the third book in the series review posting soon.