Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific second chance love story. Vic and Aubrey were high school and college sweethearts whose relationship ended with a bang ten years ago due to their differing outlooks on their future together. They have barely spoken in the decade since then. In the fourth book of the series, On Opposite Sides, we see Vic as Chelsea's brother and rival for their family ranch. As the only boy in the family, he has been the designated heir since birth. In that book, Vic comes across as rich, entitled, arrogant, selfish, and very unlikeable. I was waiting for someone to come along and adjust his attitude. As this book opens, Vic is thinking about his contentious relationship with Chelsea when a blast from the past appears.
Aubrey went on to get her teaching degree and become a high school teacher. As Teacher of the Year, she was given a year's membership in the Texas Cattleman's Club, where she knows she'll regularly see Vic. After ten years of giving him the cold shoulder, she's realized that it doesn't help her move past what happened. When she runs into him at The Silver Saddle, she decides it's time to call a truce and accepts his invitation for a drink. That drink turns into a one-off, get you out of my system night together.
Two days later, Aubrey wakes in the hospital after an accident at the TCC results in a head injury. Partial amnesia caused her to forget that she and Vic are no longer together, and she thinks they are still a couple. Her doctor worries that forcing Aubrey to remember could cause a relapse, so she suggests that Vic play along. Though he suspects the decision could come back to bite him, Vic agrees. He hopes to use the time to rekindle their relationship and earn a second chance with her.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Vic and Aubrey develop. Without the memory of their breakup and what caused it, Aubrey's love for Vic is clear to see. She is determined to spend as much time as possible with him while she recovers. Vic is more than happy to do so but also cautious. Because she doesn't remember their past, he is reluctant to take anything too far, but Aubrey's advances are hard to resist. I loved their time together as they got to know each other. I especially liked Aubrey's influence on Vic regarding his relationship with his sisters.
But as Vic and Aubrey's relationship deepens, he feels more guilt about the deception. His love for her has grown, but he won't do anything about it until she knows the truth. The revelation was as painful as he expected, and he fears Aubrey will never get over her feelings of betrayal. I ached for Vic as he gave her the time to process what she had learned, and I loved that he refused to give up. The depth of emotion at the end, with Vic's confession and Aubrey's realization that they had both changed and grown, was the perfect ending.
There is a little progress on the series arc involving the Thurston family's oil rights claim against the Grandin and Lattimore ranches. The stresses on both families are evident, but there is hope that new information will resolve the issue.
Aubrey went on to get her teaching degree and become a high school teacher. As Teacher of the Year, she was given a year's membership in the Texas Cattleman's Club, where she knows she'll regularly see Vic. After ten years of giving him the cold shoulder, she's realized that it doesn't help her move past what happened. When she runs into him at The Silver Saddle, she decides it's time to call a truce and accepts his invitation for a drink. That drink turns into a one-off, get you out of my system night together.
Two days later, Aubrey wakes in the hospital after an accident at the TCC results in a head injury. Partial amnesia caused her to forget that she and Vic are no longer together, and she thinks they are still a couple. Her doctor worries that forcing Aubrey to remember could cause a relapse, so she suggests that Vic play along. Though he suspects the decision could come back to bite him, Vic agrees. He hopes to use the time to rekindle their relationship and earn a second chance with her.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Vic and Aubrey develop. Without the memory of their breakup and what caused it, Aubrey's love for Vic is clear to see. She is determined to spend as much time as possible with him while she recovers. Vic is more than happy to do so but also cautious. Because she doesn't remember their past, he is reluctant to take anything too far, but Aubrey's advances are hard to resist. I loved their time together as they got to know each other. I especially liked Aubrey's influence on Vic regarding his relationship with his sisters.
But as Vic and Aubrey's relationship deepens, he feels more guilt about the deception. His love for her has grown, but he won't do anything about it until she knows the truth. The revelation was as painful as he expected, and he fears Aubrey will never get over her feelings of betrayal. I ached for Vic as he gave her the time to process what she had learned, and I loved that he refused to give up. The depth of emotion at the end, with Vic's confession and Aubrey's realization that they had both changed and grown, was the perfect ending.
There is a little progress on the series arc involving the Thurston family's oil rights claim against the Grandin and Lattimore ranches. The stresses on both families are evident, but there is hope that new information will resolve the issue.
