GRR Reviews Luke by Leigh Duncan

Luke is a cattleman fighting to preserve his fourth generation ranch. He tried to sponsor two troubled kids for Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for his dead buddy AJ, who could have been twins with him. The plan backfired when the kids are delinquents who smoked, almost burned the barn down, among other mischiefs... And they lied to the rep, Sarah, who believed the kids, and Luke walked out in anger. // Sarah was overworked just before Christmas, being the last person left at DCFS, when a 5-year old child was brought in... and Luke was named as the father. Luke suddenly learned he has a son... by a wife who left him. Luke was certain the boy was not his, but the kid loved the horses and cowboy stuff. Sarah was angry at Luke's rejection, but with no foster family available around Christmas, and Luke offered to take the kid on a cattle drive, Sarah had to come along... and learned a lot about Luke, and the kid. Then the DNA test results came in... and the final truth was realized...

Now that's the proper way to bury a twist, yet leave enough clues to satisfy the readers. Long character arcs for both MMC and FMC, and the kid's cute too.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Overall Rating: 5/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.