Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: Lucky Break
SERIES: Clean Slate Ranch #4
AUTHOR: A.M. Arthur
PUBLISHER: Carina Press
LENGTH: 400 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2019
BLURB:
Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch: home of tight jeans, cowboy boots and rough trails. For some men, it’s a fantasy come true.
Shawn Matthews never imagined he’d be living out of his car, trying to make ends meet, but life doesn’t always go your way—he knows that better than most. When an accident leaves the Clean Slate Ranch shorthanded, Shawn is enlisted to help cook and finds himself bunked next to the sexiest cowboy he’s ever laid eyes on.
The first time Robin Butler spots the new chef, he thinks he’s seeing an actual ghost. Shawn is the spitting image of his late husband, and it spooks the hell out of him. The former rodeo-star-turned-ranch-hand does his best to avoid the soft-spoken cook—except it’s kind of tough when the man makes the best damn grub this side of the Mississippi and has a boy-next-door charm that’s impossible to resist.
Even though the tension between them practically sizzles, Shawn doesn’t do hookups and Robin isn’t ready for a new relationship. Besides, Robin can tell Shawn’s been hurt and deserves a partner who isn’t saddled with a tragic past. But chemistry doesn’t lie. Maybe finding each other—and a second chance at love—is the lucky break they both need.
REVIEW:
A.M. Arthur’s contemporary Western “Clean Slate Ranch” series has been my comfort series for the last couple of years. It’s easy to get lost in the warm little getaway ranch where everyone works together to keep food on the table, guests booked, and animals tended—and, of course, the complex men falling in love left and right don’t hurt, either.
This book focuses on Robin, a grieving former rodeo star, and Shawn, a quiet cook who is secretly living out of his car. I admit I don’t remember either character from previous books, but they still fit in nicely with the established characters, who all make appearances (Mack and Wes, Colt and Avery, and Miles and Reyes). At first, Shawn thinks Robin is standoffish, but he soon realizes he reminds the man of someone from his past, and they become close friends despite a rocky start. There are a lot of secrets between them and a lot of emotional baggage, but both men are in it for the long haul.
My favorite part of this series so far is the setting, and this book does a good job of fleshing it out even more and making us feel at home along with the characters. Clean Slate Ranch lives up to its name—people like Robin and Shawn, who both have tragic pasts, can find solace in an understanding found family who takes care of their own. It’s a cozy community where everyone might know a little too much about their neighbor, but they’d never use that information against them. And with every character introduction—in this case, Hugo and Levi—we know there are more stories to be told in the series.
More than any of the previous books, this story does spin its wheels a bit in the middle. We can see that Robin and Shawn are in a healthy relationship and can communicate effectively, so the little tiffs and dramas feel too low-stakes to be that interesting. They have interesting backstories, however, and I admit I shed a tear at the climax. They also have good sexual chemistry, with tons of communication and trust (and if you like virginal characters, you’ll love Shawn). This series serves a purpose—giving us “damaged” men who find each other in the great outdoors—but there still needs to be a wrench in the works once in a while.
Even though the series can be a little formulaic, Arthur is so good at writing likable characters and smooth romantic arcs that it’s still a perfectly enjoyable read. I recommend this book and this series as a whole, and I will certainly keep reading future installments.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: