Branded

What a way to start a tale. Ashley Sullivan, daughter of the foreman Ken Sullivan, had been Jake Crenshaw's shadow all of her short life. His parents, Joe and Gail Crenshaw love to have a barbaque party for any good occasion. They threw a party for Ashley's sixteenth birthday. She wanted Jake, a young man of 24 years, to notice her as a woman? She's gotta be kidding. She wanted a birthday kiss and got a bit enthuseastic and Jake's body really embarressed him. How could he feel this way about a kid? Then followed an nine year separation. Jake took over running the large ranch and Crenshaw holdings. And Ashley went to college and became a veterinarian. Now we find 33 year old Jake playing poker when his cousin Jordan came looking for him. Jordan Crenshaw runs a horse breeding operation on the Crenshaw ranch until he can get his barn built. Oh boy, Jordan interrupts Jake's game to tell him that his ex-wife, Tiffany has shown up at the ranch. For Jake and his brothers, Jared, Jude and Jason being gorgeous blue eyed blonds the covers don't depict it. Anyway, Tiffany finally gets around to informing Jake that he is a father of a little three year old daughter, Heather. She is a little doll. Tiffany found out that she was pregnant after the divorce. Jake needs help, he doesn't know what to do with a little girl. So he calls on his one-time friend Ashley for help. Oops! she finds the attraction still there at 25. She had thought that she had put the attraction behind her. [finally someone who hasn't slept around]. She falls for Heather, and finds she is still in love with Jake - and the misunderstandings just keep coming. You will love the Crenshaw family, their relationships to one another, and Ashley finally learning to understand Jake. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- M - great family tale.

Here's the story. Ashley sullivan tagged after her 'hero' Jake Crenshaw for yrs. Years later Jake got married (to another woman of course), divorced & became a 'surprised' overnight daddy! Asked Ashley for help with his daughter and one look at Ashley realised that his little shadow has finally grown up. I don't understand why he rejected her at the first place (reasons given not good enough/believable in my opinion) but I loved reading the book anyway. It's enjoyable & worth the money spent (as good as the 2nd book, Caught In The Crossfire).