Second Chance Cowboy: A Clean Romance

Claire McEwen

Mar 2021 · Heroes of Shelter Creek Book 5 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

He was her first love…
But some things she can’t forget

Busy small-town veterinarian Emily Fielding is finally ready to take on some help. The best man for the job, however, is Wes Marlow—who broke her heart in high school. Though Wes has a way with horses and a way of melting her resolve, Emily needs to keep things purely professional. Wes left her once—will he do it again? Because she can’t lose her heart a second time…

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Heroes of Shelter Creek

Book 1: Reunited with the Cowboy
Book 2: After the Rodeo
Book 3: Her Surprise Cowboy
Book 4: Rescuing the Rancher
Book 5: Second Chance Cowboy

Ratings and reviews

4.5 *s! I remember reading the first book in this series and greatly enjoyed it, looking forward to the next installments. And as is my curse, I read so much that sometimes I miss some other books in series until one crosses my path again. I'm so glad that this one did! I absolutely loved it. And I will say that it definitely works as a standalone. Wes hurt Emily when he disappeared all of those years ago, but he had his reasons for doing it. Neither one of them forgot the other. And when they get back together, the chemistry between them simply leaps off of the pages. They're cautious, but still their connection to each other quickly falls back into place. You just cannot replace your best friend and your soulmate so easily. I absolutely loved reading about them and experiencing their relationship. And I think it is better that the two of them had a chance to grow before coming back together again. I don't know that Emily would have ended up so strong and confident in her own abilities, nor that Wes would have ever realized his own true worth without those years apart. It's making this second attempt even stronger than ever, and that's what we all want and need in our life partner. A bonus for me in this book was all of the animals that Wes and Emily have to take care of. I felt like I learned a lot about the care of horses. It's been so long since I've had the opportunity to work with them, and now I want to again. I know this series is not over, yet. I'm going to fill in the blank spots I have missed and keep a closer eye out for even more. Thank you to the author and to Prism Book Tours for a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it. While this is a part of a series and some of the prior characters make multiple appearances, you don’t have to read them to fully enjoy this story. Wes was a foster boy that came and stayed with Emily and her parents for 4 years. Wes and Emily loved to tag behind her father, who was the local veterinarian. The two made plans to both become vets and take over the practice. During their senior year in high school, they went from being friends who helped each other to being in love. That was why Wes’ adrupt departure in the middle of the night right before prom, crushed Emily. In the fifteen years since Wes has been gone, there has not been any word from Wes. Emily did take over her father’s practice but she is working herself to the bone and is exhausted. When Wes shows back up in Shelter Creek can he explain why he left? Why didn’t he contact the family since leaving? Can Emily forgive him? This book is written in my favorite dual POV format. I love that as it gives me that glimpse into the characters’ thoughts. I can more fully understand the characters and their actions during a scene that way. This is a sweet, clean story. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a second chance with a first love.

Emily put up a lot of walls and Wes's sudden departure without any follow up contact in the fifteen years since started the process. Emily eventually accepts his reasons why, but still holds him at arm's length afraid to get her heart broken again. She seems to have a chip on her shoulder much of the book, thinking that too many of her clients aren't happy that her father left his veterinary practice to a woman. She is overworked and struggling to find another vet to lighten her load when she agrees to let Wes work for her on a temporary basis. I loved his escape artist dog Rex who enjoys watching animals on TV. The messy bald eagle rescue made he laugh out loud. The horse Fancy made me cry over what she endured. It was great to catch up with the people of Shelter Creek, their meddling, romances, and expanding families.

About the author

Claire McEwen is an award-winning author whose strong heroes and heroines take emotional journeys to find their happily-ever-afters. She loves writing stories set in quirky small towns and romantic western settings. Claire lives by the ocean in Northern California with her family and a scruffy, mischievous terrier. When not dreaming up new stories, she enjoys gardening, hiking and wandering on the beach. A life-long bookworm, she always has her kindle close by!