His family committed a terrible wrong

Ben Blackwell wants to make it right 

The last time Ben saw Rachel Thompson was when her best friend left him at the altar. Now Rachel’s suing the Blackwells over river water rights.

Rachel’s a triple threat–rancher, fellow attorney and single mom–and Ben’s plan to win in court hits a snag when mutual attraction blooms.

If he divulges a long-held secret, will his family forgive him? Will Rachel?

Titles in the multi-author series The Return of the Blackwell Brothers include:  The Rancher’s Twins by Carol Ross – The Rancher’s Rescue by Cari Lynn Webb – The Rancher’s Redemption by Melinda Curtis – The Rancher’s Fake Fiancee by Amy Vastine – The Rancher’s Homecoming by Anna J. Stewart

Title:  The Rancher’s Redemption
Series:  Return of the Blackwell Brothers #3
Author:  Melinda Curtis
Genre:  Modern Western Romance
Published:  October 2, 2018
My Rating::  4.5 stars

The Rancher’s Redemption is full of such raw emotions that you’ll be drawn in from the very first page.  Quite frankly, right now Ben is a mess.  Five years ago he left Falcon Creek and vowed never to return… and until now he’s kept that vow.  There’s just something about being left waiting at the altar while the woman you thought you were about to marry just eloped with your grandfather to encourage a man not to return home.  To make matters even worse, if possible, his brothers knew beforehand and didn’t say a word.  Oh, they had their reasons – they weren’t sure the couple would go through with the elopement, she only wanted Ben for his money, that kind of explanation – the kind Ben didn’t want to hear.  Bottom line, his family was supposed to have his back in all things… and they failed.  To complicate matters, the woman who was brave enough to deliver the news was Rachel, at one time a childhood friend – right up until the Blackwells had won a water rights suit that went against her family ranch.  And she delivered that news with what seemed like vindictive glee.  So Ben followed through on his plan to practice law in the big city – and left his family, friends and memories behind on the Montana ranch lands.  But somethings you just can’t run away from forever…

Rachel is finally in a position to take on the Blackwells over water rights that should belong to her family.  She’s convinced that she has that thieving family over a barrel and she’s guaranteed a win and vindication.  Too bad other parts of her overworked life don’t look so bright with a divorce, custody battle with a no-good jerk, a barely surviving law practice, a ranch that is her responsibility now without the help or funds to keep it going are just a few of the challenges facing Rachel.  The brightest spot is her little baby girl, Poppy.  For that precious bundle Rachel would face down a raging bull… and that just might be truer than she ever imagined once Ben gets back in town.

So, did I mention that there’s a lot of raw emotions going on in The Rancher’s Redemption?  Perhaps that was an understatement.

With each book in the Return of the Blackwell Brothers series we get a little more of the background, the dynamics of the family.  To say that the Blackwells are a complicated bunch is definitely one way to look at them all.  The Rancher’s Redemption “could” stand on its own as an amazing story, but because of the ongoing thread of Big E going AWOL and the additional tidbits about so many members of this family as we move forward I would have to strongly suggest that you follow the entire series, if you can.  And really, it’s no great hardship because these brothers and their ladies make for fascinating reading.  Realistic, believable and the need to know what happens next is what keeps me glued to my Kindle on this one.

Frankly, I hurt for just about everyone involved in Ben being left at the altar… well, not Big E and Zoe, but the brothers suffered as well, in a different way.  Putting all of them back together again isn’t going to be easy, but I’m betting with some very special women in their lives that’s a possibility.

Reliving memories of Ben and Rachel’s childhood friendship, what they meant to each other before Big E’s actions is heartbreaking.  They had been there for each other right until the actions of others changed everything.  Ben’s guilt, Rachel’s determination even when she makes mistakes along the way will drive their story.  Watching them slowly work their way back to each other was emotional, tender, at times fiery but it was the path they needed to take.  Ben with Poppy was beyond beautiful – that’s what a daddy is supposed to be… whether by blood or love, doesn’t matter.

Rachel and Ben will have to face so much before they find that happy ending.  Tagging along on that journey was heartbreaking and heartwarming all rolled up in one amazing romance.  I’d not hesitate to recommend The Rancher’s Redemption or this entire series to any Romance reader who loves a really good story, conflicts to be resolved, love to rekindle even if it is of a different kind, and an adorable little one to steal every single scene she’s in.  Indulge yourself and enjoy.

I own a Kindle edition of this story.

*This review first appeared on my Lovin’ A Cowboy Romance blog.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle