I believe I've read the first book in this Love Inspired series (either that or another author has used a plot very similar to it).

I can understand Lauren's trust issues. She dated a guy for 4 years (and his reluctance to commit should have been a red flag), got engaged to him and planned a business with him, only to have him dump her and take all the money they'd put aside for the business. Despite putting in long hours for her boss, he fired her. And her relationship with her father wasn't a great one. Plus she's got her friend Amy feeding her all the feminist ideas about men. I can understand her not trusting her own judgement. I can understand her wanting to do something for herself for once in her life.

Yet, at the same time, though she's good with numbers, I could tell that accounting wasn't her passion. She seemed more passionate about the flower garden than about her business opportunity.

I knew someone like Alex once. More interested in his phone than in what was going on around him. And, at the time, I too made excuses for him--though at times I wanted to text him to say, "Hey, I'm the person sitting in front of you who drove a few hours to visit you. How about talking to me?" (Another red flag) though Alex wasn't interested in Lauren romantically as best I could tell--just the land.

Vic had a gentleman's agreement with Lauren's father to purchase the ranch. He thinks he's doing it for his brother--I'm not sure if that's true. Dean doesn't show much interest in ranching other than the one time he tries to get on a horse. (I suspect there will be a book with Erin and Dean as the romantic couple--maybe they'll live in the little cabin mentioned in this book.) And Vic seems to be the one with all the plans for how to run the ranch. So does that mean Dean would take over the part closer to their mom's home? That isn't explained. ( )