ARC REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: All the King's Horses by Lauren Gallagher

All the King's Horses

by Lauren Gallagher

4.5 HEARTS

From Goodreads

Sometimes your last nerve is the strongest link to forever.

Amy Dover’s dream to become a professional horse trainer hasn’t come without a price. Career pressure, combined with a difficult marriage to an oppressive husband, has sucked away every last bit of joy the horses used to bring her.

At her husband’s untimely death, she packs her truck, heads over the Cascade Mountains, and takes a job as a farmhand. Yet even in the presence of the creatures she loves the most, her emotional wounds are too deep and wide to recapture what she’s lost.

Dustin King senses there’s something off about his new farmhand. She’s undeniably attractive, but for someone who knows her way around a barn, she’s unnervingly indifferent toward horses. Especially the pair of Tennessee Walkers he’s just rescued. Instinct tells him that no matter how hard she tries not to care, the horses and the woman need each other.

As Amy and Dustin bond with the traumatized horses, something unexpected happens. The sparks between them ignite into a night of stormy passion. As Amy’s soul comes back to life, though, she feels the pull to return to her old life. She just hadn’t planned on having someone to leave behind.

Product Warnings:
Contains two people who set the sheets on fire every chance they get… well, except when they don’t get anywhere near a bed. Which is more often than not, because, hey, when you want it, you want it. Book also contains a lot of lost souls, four-legged and two-legged alike, who made the author cry a few times, and seriously, she doesn’t do that. Like, ever. You’ve been warned.

Have you ever had one of those days where life has just gotten to be too much and all you want to do is get in your car and drive as far away as you possibly can? Well that is exactly what Amy Dover does the day of her husband Sam's funeral. To numb to deal with anything her truck doesn't head to the church like it should but instead heads right out of town across the mountains and into the driveway of King's Ranch. There she quietly takes on a job as a farmhand instead of the accomplished horse trainer she actually is in hopes of rediscovering herself again, much to the dismay of her worried family.

Justin King has no idea that the ad for a farmhand had been answered until he pulls into the ranch with his two newest rescue horses. The trip has been stressful for this handsome rancher with a giving heart but one look at the dark haired beauty that his father has hired gives his spirits an immediate lift. Unfortunately that lift is temporary when Justin's radar sends up a red flag after seeing Amy's indifference to the horses he loves so much. So his guards go up and any glimmer of hope he sees in her is quickly diminished.

What a wonderful story! I do have to admit I spent the first part of All the King's Horses not sure how to feel about Amy and her callous behavior toward Justin and the horses. But after we get glimpses into the abusive and controlling relationship Amy had with Sam and the guilt she carried around about the way he died I was finally able to understand her better and why she kept her heart so locked up. And Justin was just the key to fit that lock. His soft heart was a beacon for injured animals and women. So when Amy showed up of course all he wanted to do was help her and love her. But Justin has been hurt in the past as well so I just wanted Amy to forget all her problems, stay at King's Ranch and love Justin the way he deserved to be loved. And let me tell you when they got down to the lovin' it was hot for sure. I never thought a trip to Walmart could be that fun! But things aren't always that easy and as they say you can't be happy with somebody else until you are happy with yourself. Surprisingly it is a four legged friend whose heart needs healing as well that ends up helping to bring them all full circle.

All the King's Horses is a beautifully written story filled with love, loss, healing, hope, redemption and forgiveness. Lauren Gallagher and her alter ego of L.A. Witt continually put out stories that I can't seem to put down filled with great writing, solid story lines, sizzling sex scenes and amazing characters. These authors are at the top of my "must read" list and should be on yours as well!

**This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair review**

Hotness Rating

4 out of 5

I loved All the King's Horses so much that I am personally giving away digital copies to two lucky Riverina Romantics followers! All you have to do to be eligible for this international giveaway is enter the rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway