Good book. Zane came home to Eagle Ridge after his Army Ranger career ended in injury. Along with his brother, Adam, he started an adventure watersports business. He enjoys his bachelor life and sticks to women who don't expect commitment. That all comes to an end when his dog, Gambler, crashes into the new librarian, Harper, and knocks her over. Something tells him that his life will never be the same.

Harper moved to Eagle Ridge from San Francisco, determined to change her life. Naturally shy and introverted, she's been called boring once too often. She has a list of goals, and getting distracted by Zane wasn't in the plan.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zane and Harper grow. Though the chemistry between them runs hot, both have been burned in the past. As a young soldier, Zane fell for a Southern girl who allowed him to woo her, but when he got serious, she called him too big, too clumsy, and too rough around the edges for any woman. Thanks to her, he feels like the proverbial beast and destined to be alone. He often feels like a bull in a china shop, along with his neurotic dog, who really is. Risking his heart again is not in the cards. Zane also has lingering issues over his mother leaving the family after he outgrew his childhood asthma. Harper, too, has been hurt. Engaged to an attorney for two years, he suddenly broke their engagement when she reserved the church for their wedding. Not only did he claim she was too boring, but he cheated on her for six months with one-night-stands. She's not interested in another relationship.

Complicating matters, Zane's brother Adam and his sister Bailey have both recently found love interests. Though he won't admit it, Zane feels a little out-of-sorts. The townspeople say he's moping because he's still single and keep trying to set him up with various women. In a convoluted series of events, Zane claims that he and Harper are an item, forcing them to spend time together. I loved watching them get to know each other - the big, tough guy with a hidden soft spot and the petite librarian with an unexpected adventurous side. I loved seeing Zane's softer side come out as he showed Harper how wrong her ex was about her. I ached for him and his insecurities as his feelings for Harper grew, but he had trouble believing she would want him. I liked seeing Harper blossom under Zane's attention, discovering she's stronger and braver than she knew. There's a terrific scene when her ex shows up in Eagle Ridge expecting to pick up where he left off, and I loved seeing her disabuse him of that notion, aided and abetted by Zane. I loved their "aha" moments when each one realized the depth of their feelings. Zane's big moment was sweet and emotional, and I loved how it happened.

There was a secondary romance between Zane's father, Sam, owner of the local diner, and the diner's manager, Brenda. I especially enjoyed his reaction to her makeover. ( )

This is the first time I have read a book by Christi Ridgeway but it probably won't be the last. In this third entry into the Seven Brides for Seven Soldiers we learn the story of Zane Tucker. Zane had been a sickly kid - growing up with asthma. He finally outgrew it in High School and began to bulk up.
The story is a delightful tale of the big clumsy hunk, Mr One Night Stand falling for the town librarian - a quiet, shy newcomer to town.
The dialogue is great fun - esp between the 7 high school friends who all joined the military and are now coming home to settle down. The woman are all strong enough to stand up to big alpha males. If Eagle Ridge was a real place, I'd want to move there - all the men are handsome hunks looking for love and they each find their own Happily Ever Afters. ( )

How a person views themselves, is not necessarily how others see them. With a touch of humor and an abundance of heart and wisdom, Ms. Ridgway sets about making her presence known in an already mind blowing series. Zane is the jock, always on the lookout for his next adventure. Harper has gotten used to watching from the sidelines, now she's ready to try something different. Less watching, more doing. She's one step away from rethinking her approach when a matchmaking fur ball, takes a little gamble of his own. With an empowering message and an adorable cast of misfits, Christie Ridgway is on her way to stealing the show. ( )

Zane Tucker is a man’s man. Standing at 6’4, he is the strong muscular type. He is all raw power with very little softness inside. He knows what women want…and it is not him at least not in the long term kind of way. Town gossip has it that Zane has been a bit mopey lately. His brother and sister did happen to find their happily ever after, but he was quite content just the way things were. So, maybe he is a little lonely, but not lonely enough that anyone should be taking notice. Zane relished being alone, at least for the most part. he didn’t always have it easy with women. Rejected once before, Zane felt he didn’t deserve to be loved. It doesn’t matter though, he has his dog, Gambler to keep him company and give him affection.

Harper Grace is the town librarian. She is quite shy and looking to reinvent herself in the small town of Eagle Ridge. She is new in town after recently being dumped by her ex-fiance who admitted to cheating on her with other women. According to him, she could not fulfill his needs and well, was boring. Leaving San Francisco for small town life, she wanted to be someone different, to experience new things. While out and about handing out flyers for a library charity event, she was knocked over by Gambler. Gambler wasn’t the only thing she needed to worry about though. It was his owner Zane. He flustered Harper like no man has ever done before.

Can Zane and Harper find their way too each other and have the happily ever after they both deserve?

ZANE is such a sweet romance. You always know when you pick up a book by Christie Ridgway that you are in for a treat. Zane and Harper were so cute together and you know they were meant for each other right from the beginning. This is very much a character driven book where two emotionally scarred people find their way too each other. ZANE is book 3 of the 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers series and can be read as a standalone. Although, I would suggest reading the prior books as it is such a great series. ( )

Review to come ( )