In Brenda Minton’s The Rancher’s Secret Wife, Reese Cooper meets Cheyenne Jones while he is in Las Vegas, just before he is due to deploy to the Middle East.  Cheyenne is pregnant, alone, and desperate.  Not knowing if he will return from combat, Reese proposes a deal – the two marry, which will give Cheyenne insurance for her pregnancy now and life insurance if something happens to him.  The two develop a friendship through letters while he is away and when he returns injured by an IED explosion, Cheyenne feels compelled to make sure he is fine.  The two discover that their friendship might have turned into something more, but they don’t know if they can trust in those feelings or in themselves.

 

I liked this story – the characters are interesting and believable, with understandable personal issues.  Reese has to deal with not only being the lone survivor of the attack but he has gone from being an independent adult to being dependent on those around him because he’s blind.  Plus he still has a touch of PTSD.  He handles it well, with a positive attitude, faith and the support of family and friends.  He’s an asset no matter the situation, even with his disabilities, although he isn’t sure of his own value.

 

Cheyenne has an issue with feeling wanted.  She was adopted to a family unable to conceive, only to have them have a baby of their own shortly after. Then she gets married, but then finds out it is a sham when she gets pregnant.  This is when Reese enters her life.  He’s an amazing man, willing to do much for those around him.  But due to her past experiences, Cheyenne finds it hard to believe that any feelings they have are real.

 

I really wished I could give this story a 3.5, instead of a 3.  I don’t think it warrants a 3 but I also don’t feel it deserves a 4.  It’s a lovely book, full of heart, with two kind souls who discover a lot about themselves and each other.  However I spent most of my time yelling at them to just sit down and have an honest conversation.  They are good people who deserve their happy ending but they let their fears and insecurities drag them down.  And unfortunately they take readers on the ride with them as they circle around the issue.  After a while you want to smack them for being so stubborn in not talking about how they feel.

 

If you can handle that though, the book is worth it.  It is a very sweet story and you’ll find yourself rooting for them … when you aren’t frustrated with them.