Mountain Man's Valentine: A Small Town Romance Novel (Mountain Men of Liberty Book Series) - Perfect for Valentine's Day Gifts & Cozy Winter Reading

The sins of a father do sometimes seem to be delivered on his children. For the Callaghan siblings of Sunville, Utah, growing up was not easy, basically because of dad. With many mouths to feed and a husband who was not dependable—flitting in and out of his family’s life without reason or explanation for his comings and goings—the Callaghan mom did the best that she could to corral her brood, and to keep them clothed and fed. Money was always short, and the children soon learned that if they wanted something extra, it would be on them to earn the money through odd jobs in the community.And so, the siblings learned that hard work was rewarded as they carefully hoarded their monies garnered from the jobs they could pick up in the town of Sunville. And, with a mostly sympathetic community who knew that the Callaghan mom was doing all she could to support her brood, odd jobs were discovered for the Callaghan children. So, while the flighty father, Bill, came and went, only occasionally providing money, his children developed into dependable workers. And, when dad was home, more likely than not, he sniffed out the places where his children would hide their hard-earned personal funds, and literally, take their money and run. And when the children’s beloved mother died, her children ranged in age from the eldest Boone, 18 to the youngest Levi, 12. But, while dad Bill was MIA, the family was not torn apart by Child Services. Eldest brother Boone was available and willing to care for his siblings. He even became the means of providing for the family’s financial stability when he founded Callaghan Campers, a rental agency for campers and camping supplies. With the family’s property located close to the Grey Peak National Park, it was good business for the family to utilize their proximity to the park to establish a business that would provide services that the park visitors would value—like camping paraphernalia.Clay and his twin, Irene, as the next in age to Boone, did their part to help the family stay together, but unfortunately, Clay had developed a less than stellar reputation when he got caught up in his dad’s fiscal needs during one of dad’s infrequent visits home. Father Bill, offering to “coach” his son’s driving, had tricked Clay, only possessing a learner’s permit, into driving dad to a local gas station. And, when Bill took the opportunity to attempt to rob a gas station, Clay was unwittingly the “getaway driver”. And while the town’s sheriff, Pete Longlodge had arrested Clay and charged him as an accessory to a crime, the judge who heard the case has been more understanding and had “sentenced” the young boy who was still dealing with being “used” by his dad to visit Ms. Betsy Marlo, a resident of Sunville’s old folks’ home. And to the present day, those previously court ordered visits, had become a much-valued time that adult Clay continued to make every week, where the now friends play chess and talk about life—past and present.Perhaps the most hurtful outcome from Dad Bill’s “driving lesson” was the impact of Sheriff Pete Longlodge. The sheriff was determined to see Clay charged and prosecuted as a criminal, even though Clay was an unwitting participant in his dad’s attempted robbery. And while the judge sentenced Clay to community service instead of a more impactful sentence, Sheriff Longlodge was not pleased with the judge’s apparent coddling of criminal in the making. And if the judge had spoken to Betsy Marlo, he would have learned that there was bad blood between sheriff and the Callaghan family that was generational. The most current information that might have influenced the Sheriff was that the gas station that Bill attempted to rob was owned by his cousin, but more significant was that the sheriff’s daughter, Robin, was being courted by Clay, and Robin was very interested in Clay. The sheriff had bigger and better dreams for his daughter and the grandchildren that she would present to him someday than to be fathered by a Callaghan.Now, as adult Robin has returned to Sunville after years of college culminating with a degree in criminology and experience in NYC law enforcement to begin the position as the newly elected sheriff, replacing her dad who is forced into retirement because of hip replacement. And while the retired sheriff is pleased to see his daughter, he is not happy about her relocation back to Sunville or being replace by her. He had bigger and better plans for her, and the return to Sunville as his replacement is not one of them. His dreams for Robin included being wife to Derek, her NYU fellow criminology classmate and later boyfriend, who has left the police department upon completing his law degree. Derek is the type of man to father Pete’s future grandchildren, certainly not a member of the Callaghan clan. So, almost immediately on her return to her hometown, no longer the obedient daughter, tensions begin with dad who doesn’t like that daughter is in his old position of sheriff. Dad doesn’t like that she has ended a relationship with Derek. Dad is also irritated that his daughter has agreed to foster a young girl, Teagan. And, dad certainly isn’t happy that Robin and Clay are spending time in each other’s company. But even more stressful to all is Bill’s return to Sunville needing money, help, protection, medical attention, and most of all, family. The gadfly dad has been run to ground by his loan shark, Vic and his goons, who will be more than happy to release Bill from his clutches if one of his children—Clay—fulfills dad’s almost indentured state by working off dad’s debt.KC Crowne is a writer for the individual seeking a reading experience that engages the heart and head with jolts of adrenalin produced by the twists and turns of the plot. She delivers engaging characters experiencing life’s challenges. A tenderly passionate romance, the story is structured with a strong and realistic storyline woven with emotional tension. And, most powerfully expressed are themes of love, family, sacrifice and the ability of the heart to love without bounds.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review ARCS, but I enjoyed the reading experience so much that I bought a copy for my "read-again" titles.