Viper Spaulding
Surviving scandal in a small, gossipy town Matt is back in Last Ride not because he particularly wants to return to his grandfather's ranch, but his ex-wife has moved there with their son as she rekindles a high-school romance and he's not going to be any farther from his son than he has to be. Settling into his new role as the sheriff, he runs into his junior-high crush, Emory, who has been selected by the historical society to do a biographical report on Matt's late mother, Candy Lynn, who by all accounts lived to create scandal whenever and wherever she could. Emory, a wedding dress designer, is a wonderful character, full of heart and compassion as she delves into matters that everyone would prefer to keep buried. She's careful to not make assumptions and tries to be as objective as possible. Turns out Candy Lynn kept a diary, and more than one of her acquaintances wants to make sure the diary never sees the light of day. There's a bit of suspense and intrigue here, as folks from all over Last Ride turn out to be mentioned in Candy Lynn's history and more than a few secrets are unearthed in both Matt's and Emory's families. Matt and Emory have a gentle, heartwarming romance that sweeps them together despite their own past romantic failures that have made them each a little gun-shy about trusting in forever again. I loved the way they connected, and how they met the challenges brought by living in such a small town. I thought the way Emory handled the official report was brilliant. I loved the simple yet beautiful HEA, especially Matt's offer to make sure her wedding dress was as lucky as all the others she has made. I highly recommend this sweet and tender romance, and look forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.