REVIEW: BENEDICTION by KELLY MORAN

Benediction

Cattenach Ranch #2

By Kelly Moran

Releasing August 8th, 2017

Self-Published

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In Benediction (Cattenach Ranch #2) by Kelly Moran, Amy Woods has never known the kind of love she deserves. Certainly, not from her ex-husband or her parents and after what happened in her past, she never expects to achieve the kind of happy ever after her best friend has recently found. However, Nakos Hunt is the one man she's always been able to rely on, and now he's determined to change the dynamics of their friendship. Will Nakos be able to convince Amy that she's the only woman for him, or will Amy's past send her running from the best thing that's ever happened in her life -- love with the right man?

What a wonderfully-written, emotionally-intense, enchanting read Ms. Moran has penned in this second book of her Cattenach Ranch series, which encompasses the friends to lovers trope; incredible characters in both the main and secondary that help each other to deal with their pasts and present by offering sound advice; and the dialogue, which was an incredible combination of intense and playful banter that had me charmed by the main characters back stories and their growing relationship. The way this story started with the prologue had me feeling sorry for the heroine, because of what she's going through. Seriously, how could her husband be so cruel?

As for the main characters, I loved every moment they interacted, because Amy challenges Nakos with her independence, her sassiness, her stubbornness and her belief that she's not good enough for love due to what happened to her in her past. A past that's left her emotionally scarred, vulnerable and accepting a man she thought loved her. Yet, I liked that the hero showed her the difference of what she thought was love with her husband to what true love really is. Certainly, his words and actions prove that Nakos is different than any man she's ever gotten close with before. I also liked how protective Nakos was of the heroine, especially when facing off against those that hurt Amy. No way would allow anyone to hurt her again, not if he could prevent it.

Overall, Ms. Moran has penned another outstanding read in this story where the chemistry between this couple was off-the-charts, the romance scorching and does justice to this couple's intense chemistry, and the ending had me sympathizing with one of the main characters because their past has finally come back to haunt them. Yet, I loved how everything worked out for Nakos and Amy in the end in the way she gets closure against her past and Nakos proves that happy ever after is worth it with the decision he's made. I would recommend Benediction by Kelly Moran, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope or books by authors Donna Kauffman, Stacy Finz, Marina Adair and Erin Nicholas.

BLURB

As a child, Nakos Hunt left behind the familiarity of his Native American Arapaho tribe for time on Cattenach Ranch. Now the foreman, he's happily settled into his life, but the girl who befriended him all those years ago suddenly has him twisted inside out. He craves stability and purpose, and Amy Woods is anything but a calming presence. Though she's unbelievably gorgeous and about the only person who can drag a laugh from him, he's never been able to understand her. Then a moment changes everything, and an urgent need to protect her rises inside him. And doesn't let go. So does an aching desire and a bond he can't seem to control, no matter how hard he fights the need.

She's no one's version of ever-after...

Amy's not a stranger to disappointment. She's spent the majority of her life pulling up her bootstraps and flipping Karma the bird. Once, she may have dreamed of things like happiness and love, but those were for other people. Nakos has never been someone she deserves, yet the attraction between her and the meticulous sexy-as-sin cowboy is undeniable. And too tempting to ignore. Not only is he strong, patient, and respectful, he's showing her a kind of romantic passion she didn't think existed. But the secret she's keeping could shatter their perfect bubble, and when an old nightmare comes crawling back from the past, she realizes losing Nakos will be the one thing she can't recover from. 

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