The past and the present converge for two yearning hearts in "Rescuing Harmony Ranch: A feel-good romance from Hallmark Publishing". Author Jennie Marts infuses this sweet second-chance contemporary romance with interesting glimpses of life in the Old West at the transition from the 19th century to the 20th century. Years ago, after a disagreement between Jocelyn Stone's mother and grandmother, her mother had left Colorado with Jocelyn in tow and moved to New York. Jocelyn had eventually successfully pursued a marketing career, but now she was being called back home to help out her grandmother, Molly, who had been injured in a car accident. Putting her promotion goals on hold for a two-week leave, she reruns home to Harmony Ranch, a living history museum and working ranch. Visitors to the ranch saw staff dressed in period costumes demonstrating what life was like for homesteaders in the early 1900's. The first person Jocelyn runs into at the ranch is Mack Talbot, her childhood friend who had become her young sweetheart and, later, the boy who broke her heart. Mack was now living on the ranch as the blacksmith and caretaker. Seeing each other again is a shock to the system for them both, bringing a rush of feelings and memories both bitter and sweet. Jocelyn learns that Harmony Ranch is in financial trouble, and Molly needs the upcoming Spring Festival to be the biggest one yet in order to keep the property in the family. Using her marketing skills, and with the the help of Mack and others, Jocelyn works to help her grandmother hold on to her dream. Jocelyn wasn't the only one whose heart had been battered years ago when she and Mack went their separate ways--he still cared deeply for her and hoped she would remain in Colorado. When the festival is over, will Jocelyn return to New York, or can he convince her to stay with him and share a future together? Jocelyn's feelings for Mack have never stopped, but can she take a big leap of faith and follow her heart? "Rescuing Harmony Ranch" is a touching and heartwarming reunion romance that will make you smile--and make you crave peanut butter pie.

Book Copy Gratis Hallmark Publishing ( )

This was a fun book from Hallmark Publishing and included the elements I’ve come to expect in a Hallmark book: a spunky heroine, a hunky hero, a good reason to keep them apart, but a fun time watching them fall in love and figure out a way to be together anyway.

Jocelyn and Mack were childhood sweethearts in Colorado, until her mother moved her to New York City. Their love story ended, although neither forgot the other. It’s been a decade, and when Jocelyn’s grandmother needs her help, Jocelyn drops everything to fly back to the ranch. After finding out the ranch is in trouble, Joss and Mack are forced to work together to save it. And they find out they still have feelings for each other. But how can they make a relationship work when her life is in New York and his in Colorado?

I enjoyed this entry in the Country and Cowboys series from Hallmark Publishing. I’ve read at least one other in the series, too. This was well written, and Jocelyn and Mack are both strong characters. There’s one cliched plot element I saw from the beginning and wished hadn’t been used, but I guess the author and her brainstorming team couldn’t find a way to keep the couple apart without using it.

Overall, I liked this one a lot and I recommend it!

I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher, but it did not induce me to review it, favorably or not. ( )