GRR Reviews Destiny Ranch (Destiny Bay Romances - T by Helen Conrad

Destiny Ranch is about finding family secrets, babysitter turned permanent love interest, as well as city girl on a country ranch (Western version of "fish out of water"). The family secrets were revealed bit by bit like a mystery novel and the twists were excellent and well laid out so they were telegraphed properly if you noticed the clues. The romance is quite entertaining as well, esp. when the kids play interference.

Carly Stevens ran from her life as a congressional aide (and fiancee) because she needed answers about her father and her memories of having lived in this town in her younger years. She came back into town and only aunt Doris was able to give her a little help... By setting her up to take care of Joe Carrington's two kids, reputed to be so difficult that no caretaker lasted more than a few weeks. And Joe... didn't really want her around, as she reminded him of the wife that walked out on him, and the kids, and divorced by remote. But Carly surprisingly managed to adapd to his family, which was very different from her wine-and-dine days in the city. Carly also came to know Millie, a single mother in town whose kid was also looking for his father. The more Carly dug the more uncomfortable some folks become, as there are some shameful secrets that if revealed, can cause only more shame... Carly's persistence and love of Joe's children started to melt Joe's heart. But where can this love go, should Carly complete her quest and head back to the city?

Carly's quest for her early life and family was definitely very interesting, and so was the kids and how Carly managed to handle them. The relationship between Joe and Carly developed naturally, and the plot wrapped up cleanly as well. Overall, very satisfying read about self-discovery and moving on from past wounds.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Woman traveled to her hometown for her past, ended up as nanny to brooding cowboy and his two kids, and fell in love

Tropes: parent /nanny, fling to a thing, fish out of water, ranch, small town

Overall Rating:  5/5