A NEW BEGINNING
Naomi Jones is ready to shake things up. The widowed single mom and her kids need a big change, so she drives across the country to start her new life. But starting over doesn't mean getting involved with her handsome boss, Jaxton Stone. Though Naomi enjoys teasing a smile from the gruff rancher's lips, she's not sure her broken heart can ever love again.
As an ex-soldier, Jax lives by precise, regimented order…until Naomi arrives at the Dark Horse Ranch and complicates everything. Along with the chaos, the feisty redhead and her children bring fun back to Jax's life. She may be his total opposite, but Jax can't stay away from the woman who makes his ranch feel like home.
Good book. Naomi has packed up her kids and her dog and moved them from Georgia to California, looking for a new start to her life, and to get away from the memories of her husband that confront her wherever she goes. A friend recommended her for the job of housekeeper and event planner for Jaxton Stone. She's nervous but determined to make it work. She doesn't count on the attraction she feels for Jax from the moment they met.
Jaxton is a former special ops soldier who owns his own international security company. He has also built a state-of-the-art equine therapy ranch to help military members get back on their feet. He is something of a workaholic whose strengths lie in his attention to order and detail. From the moment she arrives, Naomi upends his well-ordered world.
I enjoyed the development of Jax and Naomi's relationship. It got off to a slightly rocky start when Naomi set off the alarm almost as soon as she arrived. Jax didn't seem very approachable at first, with his to-do list and then dumping a quick turnaround event on her. Things got a little tense when Naomi refused to follow Jax's orders regarding a stray dog. I loved the way that she stood up to him, and Jax's surprise that he let her get away with it. I felt that there was great hope for him the next day when the dog was back and Naomi insisted on catching him. The dog bath scene was hilarious and made Naomi realize that there was more to Jax than she had realized. I loved the way that Naomi would tease Jax, especially when he seemed to get too wrapped up in his work. At the same time, she appreciated his commitment to the people who worked for him.
It was interesting to see both of them fight their attraction. Naomi is still grieving for her husband, plus she doesn't think that she'd ever be ready to love another man. She does her best to keep Jax at a distance. Jax doesn't deny his attraction to Naomi, but he realizes that she might never be ready to move on. He is frustrated by his inability to keep her out of his mind and takes the drastic step of leaving on a business trip. He hopes distance will do the trick, but of course, it doesn't. I loved seeing how they were drawn back together as soon as he arrived for the big party. I loved how it was Naomi that put the moves on Jax, and how great they were together. I ached for Jax though, as the intensity freaked out Naomi and she pushed him away again. I was so impressed with his kindness and sensitivity toward her when her house sold, and what he did for her was sweet. I wanted to shake her when she let her fears get the better of her. I liked the support that Jax got from his friends and how he tried to follow their advice, even when it didn't work out the way he wanted it to. Naomi was miserable without him, which I thought served her right. I loved the advice she got from two totally unexpected sources, who pointed out that she was letting fear rob her of happiness. I loved her big moment at the end as she put her heart on the line. The epilogue was great.
I also liked Naomi's two kids, TJ and Samantha. Part of Naomi's reasoning for moving was to try to help them. TJ was bullied at school and she hoped that a fresh start would make things better. I loved his enthusiasm for the ranch, his curiosity, and his quick bond with Jax. Samantha was a little harder to like. At thirteen she had all of the teenage attitude that drove Naomi up the wall. It wasn't too hard, though, to see her fear that Naomi would forget about Sam's dad if she fell for Jax. There were times I wanted to smack her, but I also wanted to hug her. I loved both kids' parts in the epilogue and how it showed the changes in their lives.
I also loved the two dogs. Janus, who had been Naomi's husband's military working dog was awesome in his protectiveness toward the kids. He had a huge part in His Rodeo Sweetheart, and I loved seeing how far he has come. The stray dog, who Naomi named Tramp, was a trip. It was heartbreaking to see him at the beginning - dirty, starved, and nervous. I loved the way that Naomi stood up for him and kept him out of the shelter. I really enjoyed seeing how he wiggled his way into Jax's heart, showing the softer side that Jax kept hidden.
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