When a seat-of-the-pants cowboy is attracted to a gorgeous control freak rule maker, he knows he needs to stay as far away from her as possible… but he can’t.

Brooke Holt has her act together. She’s on top of everything. At least that’s what she keeps telling herself and everyone else. But now, her attempts to bring environmental awareness to Rocky Ridge have made her a target. More stress she doesn’t need.

Finn Stevens goes where he likes, when he likes, swapping ranches and jobs at a moment’s notice. The freedom and variety of ranch life suit him perfectly.

These two are the most opposite imaginable. She’s a burr under his saddle, and he’s unwilling to listen to anything she has to say. She wants to win him over. He’s just got to ignore the temptation that is Brooke Holt.

Titles in the Returning to Rocky Ridge series include — One Last Chance —♥— Two Cowboy Promises —♥— Three Times Charmed —♥—

This is a romance that includes no swearing, no violence, and no sexual content (beyond a few light kisses).

Booksprout ARC

Title:  Three Times Charmed
Series:  Returning to Rocky Ridge #3
Author:  April Murdock
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 5, 2023
Publisher:
My Rating:  4.5

Of the triplet sisters returning home to Rocky Ridge, Brooke is the one who truly walks to a different drum.  Brooke needs control in every avenue of her life; there are reasons for this, ones we’ll learn as her story unfolds.  But when Finn arrives in town looking for work on any ranch in the area he only learns about how the sisters have taken over the ranch once operated by people known to the community.

The townsfolk have no idea of the reality behind their ownership of the ranch, of how they inherited it, of the trauma that their aunt put them through, or of how their cousin left the area because he couldn’t stay in a place where his mother had caused such harm.  No, all Finn hears are rumors and half-truths, and it sets him on edge with a predetermined opinion of those on the ranch where he will soon be working.  Especially annoying to him is Brooke with her environmentally sound ideas, her lifestyle as an influencer, and her vegan choices in the middle of steak country.  Finn hates a controlling person for very good reasons, yet he accepts the opinion of others long before he gives any of the sisters a chance to show him the reality vs the rumors.

When Finn is assigned to help Brooke with the event the ranch is holding to showcase the ranch, the changes made there, and the opportunity for those in the community to see up close the vision of the sisters he’s certainly not happy about it… and it shows.  Brooke doesn’t help that opinion with her need for control, to take on responsibilities for things far beyond her abilities, or the growing threats that she believed were nothing more than internet trolls but are turning into something far more dangerous.  Watching them slowly begin to see the other person for who they truly are, setting aside rumors for reality, and bare their souls about events in their pasts that forged them into who they are today is so emotional and heartbreaking.  Falling in love wasn’t easy for this couple, but once committed the bond between them was amazing to watch unfold.

Three Times Charmed seems to bring the Returning to Rocky Ridge series to a close.  Finn and Brooke are believable in their differences, a couple you’ll want to see get past the troubles they each bring to the relationship and wish for a lifetime of love, the kind they both deserve.  Although looking back, I should have seen who the person was behind all of Brooke’s troubles but when it was revealed it made perfect sense.  I enjoy those twists that I don’t see coming; they make the story more believable for me.  If you love a well-written, realistic romance between two totally opposite personalities with a touch of danger tossed in then you’ll want to pick up Brooke and Finn’s story soon.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

Available for the Kindle as this title and series are currently in KU