Lucas Cortez left ten years ago quite abruptly after getting a jail sentence for his supposed role in setting a fire. After spending three years in prison Lucas decided not to return to his family ranch and instead wound up learning and growing as a rancher in his new role of ranch hand. Lucas needed to be away from accusing eyes of the town folk, away from the deeply ingrained hurt and disappointment of the girl he left behind and separate from his brothers who were better off without a felon on their ranch and in their lives.

Talk about carrying a ton of angst, anger, and regrets. Lucas had it in spades.

But life makes choices for us and Lucas is now needed at home once his father Luis starts having health problems. It would only be a temporary leave from his job and for the Cortez men family comes first. Of course, returning home is going to reopen many wounds -- some just starting to heal after all these years.

Naomi Sullivan has plans of her own -- purchase a vintage house and open a bed and breakfast. Life has been good and somewhat settled working and living at the Cortez ranch but it was time for Naomi and daughter Gracie to move on. And a force behind that decision was Lucas' return to the ranch. Distance -- Naomi needed distance even if his return was temporary.

Naomi and Lucas were high school sweethearts devoted to each other with plans for their future until the night of the fire. Their plans went up in flames along with those barns. But family came first -- Lucas' obligation no matter how foolhardy was to protect his family -- at a very high personal cost. They say time heals wounds but scandals live on forever.

Lucas is having difficulty living down his reputation and the felon label hanging over his head is a real albatross that some folks in town keep alive. Certainly no welcome mat with the possible exception of his family and Gracie. Everyone seems to have something to hide but secrets in a small town are practically impossible to keep.

Naomi has a secret and she is doing everything humanly possible for it to remain hidden. Lucas' return was sure to cause Naomi some discomfort. She was the girl left behind when Lucas went to prison. She had married, had a child and divorced in the time he was away. There was no need to reopen this case, it was done and closed ten years ago.

So in COMEBACK COWBOY, Sara Richardson treats us to the next chapter of the Cortez brothers. We are immersed in a tale of love and loss, bad decisions and family dynamics. Friendships abound in most Sara Richardson books and none more than in COMEBACK COWBOY. For people with limited or, no family friends are the support system they rely on. Sara Richardson introduces us to a wondrous tale about friends and in COMEBACK COWBOY they are just the best characters you will meet in any book.

Book Summary