Texas Hope: A Sweetgrass Springs Story

Jean Brashear

Sep 2015 · Jean Brashear

About this ebook

SECRETS DIVIDE A FAMILY...

For Michael Cavanaugh’s entire life, his mother has kept a shocking secret: that she was married once before she married his father, and she gave birth to that man’s child. Stunned that the mother who’d loved him so would abandon a child and furious with his mother’s deceit, he sets out to find the older brother he has always wanted.

Ian McLaren, the favorite son of Sweetgrass Springs, has a full plate: a wife he adores, a baby on the way, a ranch to run and a town that depends on him. When a stranger arrives in town with the staggering news that he and Ian share a mother—the woman he’ll never forgive for abandoning him and his dad—his world tilts off its axis. 

Gordon McLaren has had years to regret the path he chose that parted him from the only woman he’s ever loved. Now he is torn between his longing to see her again and the anguish doing so would cause the son he’s worked so hard to protect all these years.

Walking away from the child she cherished and the man she loved was far from easy for Sophia Bancroft McLaren Cavanaugh. Facing them again would be the single most terrifying step she’s undertaken since the day she left to save her sanity—and Gordon forbade her to return.

CAN LOVE REUNITE THEM?

Secrets divide the four of them, and the anguish of the past makes it impossible to hope they could ever overcome the years of heartache--

Until the threat of an even more unbearable loss gives them one last chance to unite. 

"Jean Brashear's distinctive storytelling voice instantly draws in the reader. She writes with warmth and emotional truth. The depth of her understanding of human nature marks her as a writer to watch, a writer to read and a writer to enjoy."~#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber 

Ratings and reviews

***UPDATE - Includes Audiobook review**** I both read and listened to this book. The narrator only enhances all the emotions you feel. It was a really good story, and Eric G. Dove makes you forget that HE is all of Sweetgrass Springs. The book was great, but the narration took me on a journey. I will add my review of the book to this review. I voluntarily listened to and reviewed the Audiobook provided by the author. ****Ebook review**** Wow! There was a lot going on in this story. It can be read as a standalone because the writer gives you a bit of background on each character and relationship. If you have read the Book Babes Trilogy, that will help even more. This book takes you back to Sweetgrass Springs and you get to revisit most of the characters in town. There are so many secrets, hurt feelings, and pain for Michael, Ian, Sophia, Gordon, and Laken. I liked the way Michael and Ian are portrayed as strong, independent, loving , and forgiving men. I guess you can put Ian's father Gordon in that same category. The way the writer described Sophia's struggle with the decision she made was well done. Even if a person could never personally understand walking away from a child, what was going through Sophia's head clarified what SHE was going through and what SHE thought was best. The sad thing was that she didn't think much of herself. Laken's struggle with who she was and what she wanted made an abrupt turn once she hit Sweetgrass Springs. She and Michael had great chemistry. They also had some rather harsh conversations. Actually, there were a number of very direct, difficult conversations in this book. But, overwhelmingly, there was the strong sense of love, loyalty, friendship and support that is in every Sweetgrass Springs book. Let's not forget the funny moments or the steamy moments either. There was so much more that happened, you really need to read this one yourself.

The gang is back and better than ever. Over the years we have come to know and love the Sweetgrass Springs family and now Ian's half brother has shown up. After years on not hearing anything from the mother that left him Ian is surprised when Michael show up and announces that he is the brother Ian never knew he had and how does he tell his dad Gordon who lost the love of his life when Ian's mom walked away. Michael only found out he had a brother when his father passed away, now as a traveling veterinarian he has the ability to relocate his life to be closer to his brother and get to know him. Michael also is in love with a woman who is a high powered attorney who may never fit into his life and he is hoping to change her mind. Laken's career is heading exactly where she wants it to go. She is building a name for herself in her field, but she Michael even though the man is all wrong for her, and her puppy that he took with him when her left. When she decides to go after them things get interesting. I love this story, it if full of twists and turns that will tear at the heart and make you want to be a part of this town. Michael and Laken have a connection that will have you rooting for them and cheering them on and at the same time wanting to shake some sense into them. Ian and Scarlett and Gordon and Sophia play a big part in this story and you won't want to miss all the action and the wonderful story that Ms. Brashear weaves in this wonderful book

I loved this latest installment of the Texas Heroes series. It's always fun to read a new book in this series and catch up on all the characters from the past books as well as meet the new characters coming to town. There is so much going on in this story it's hard to summarize but one thing is for sure. Sweetgrass Springs, Texas and the residents seem to have a way of soothing batter souls and helping people who are a bit lost find a home. That's exactly what it does for Michael and Laken. When Michael shows up in Sweetgrass to meet the brother he never knew he had, he knows for certain he's found home. Getting past the hurts and pains of the past might prove to be too much to let him stay though. I highly recommend this one!

About the author

New York Times and USAToday bestselling Texas romance author of over 40 novels, including the popular TEXAS HEROES series, a five-time RITA finalist and RT BOOKReviews Career Achievement Award winner, Jean Brashear knows a lot about taking crazy chances. A lifelong avid reader, at the age of forty-five with no experience and no training, she decided to see if she could write a book. It was a wild leap that turned her whole life upside down, but she would tell you that though she’s never been more terrified, she’s never felt more exhilarated or more alive. She’s an ardent proponent of not putting off your dreams until that elusive ‘someday’—take that leap now.