ARC review: Rocky Mountain Forever (Six Pack Ranch #12)

Rocky Mountain Forever (Six Pack Ranch #12)

by Vivian Arend

Blurb:

It’s never too late for love.

Years ago, Mark Coleman made the only possible choice and left Rocky Mountain House before he tore his family apart. When he hears the four clans—Six Pack, Whiskey Creek, Moonshine and Angel—are working together to create a memory book, Mark also discovers the one detail that finally triggers his return.

Because he’s not just coming back to the family. Now that Dana is free and ready to move on, Mark plans to give the only woman he’s ever loved all the devotion and happiness she deserves, no matter how much sweet-talking, or dirty talk, it takes.

Meanwhile, when a shocking truth is shared with the oldest of the Six Pack sons, Blake Coleman begins a journey of assessment. Can he really fill his father’s boots and be the leader his generation turns to for guidance?

With lots of visits with all your favourite Colemans, this is a celebration of love and the lessons learned along the way.

Themes:  Contemporary, Epic Epilogue

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The end has finally come for our favorite rancher dynasty and we get a glimpse of all the Colemans that have found love and happiness in past stories as Vivian Arend gives us the greatest love story of a generation. For long-time fans of this series—like myself—this story is truly one that brings the entire series full circle and lets us have our full Coleman Clan HEA.  While it is true that most romance novels generally focus on one (maybe two) couples finding love and the expression of their love, we instead are reminded in this story that love comes in all shapes and sizes and each one makes our lives richer and deeper. Each of the many couples in the series have settled into their lives, living, loving, and making babies, but they remind one another each and every day that they are the most important person to one another and that their love is what binds them and keeps their lives together. This story is based on the family coming back together to build a memory book and in doing so we get a glimpse into each of the couples and the way their lives and loves are progressing.  We also get the great love story of one of the previous generation of the Colemans, Uncle Mark, who is the brother of the parents of the Colemans that have previously found love.  He is just coming back into the fold of his family after almost thirty years of estrangement and that change is causing a lot of ripples. I loved every second of this entire series, but this finale story filled my heart with love, longing, loss, and happiness to the point I feared it would burst. I am sad to see the series end, but I know that whatever Arend gives us next will be just as amazing and wonderful to get lost in for years to come.

Mark Coleman ran from his family almost thirty years ago when the woman he loved fell for his older brother, unable to handle seeing her move on with him and raise a family with him.  He has slowly been working his way back into the family, but when he learns of the Coleman family memory book project he decides the time has finally comes to return and take a chance on getting back the woman he never stopped loving.  Dana has mourned the loss of her husband, and is ready to move on with her life now, looking forward to a future of independence. When Mark storms back into her world, expressing all he has hidden for decades and his intentions she is speechless and unsure, but intrigued.  As Mark begins to dig his boots back into the family dirt, making his place in his family again, Dana wonders if she can move forward with Mark and find love again with a man who respects and loves her for the strong and independent woman she is.

Mark was a sexy silver-fox for sure, though he was a bit overbearing and arrogant when he arrived back home, but he slowly began to learn and find his way.  He assumed he would be able to swoop in and find the same woman he left 30 years ago, not taking into account the fact that people change in all that time, especially with life circumstances. Once he settled into the family, we see how great of a man he is and that he fits right in with the Coleman men and will be perfect for Dana.  He is sexy, sweet, loving, and determined to make a life with the woman that he has missed all his life.  While his life has led him into different directions, and he has had interesting and varied life experiences, he never forget where he belonged and slips right back into the fold.  Dana has not had an easy life, but she has children she loves and a growing brood of grandchildren that adore her so she is pretty happy with the direction her life is headed.  Mark exploding back into her world and turning it upside down, confessing his love and determination to have her as his, throws a serious wrench into the works.  After she stews about her feelings, handling having the man constantly around at family events and ranch time, she begins to develop feelings for him as well (again?).  I loved seeing Dana get a second chance at love, a chance to continue her life and have a happy life with a man who would respect and care for her like she always should have been.  She is a strong, passionate, and sensual woman in the prime of her life and despite some fears refuses to let her age hold her back.  She is also charming, graceful, and tempting to a man like Mark that has loved her forever and there is no way he can resist her once she gives him an opening to her heart and body.

This story really was the ultimate epilogue for so many of these couples and seeing all the changes in their lives was extraordinary.  I loved every moment, the babies, the changes in the ranch, the family connections and how they have evolved and become so much stronger with each new addition to the Clan. Mark and Dana’s story gave us a love for the ages, one that reminds us that we are never too old to find our HEA and everlasting passion.  Mark getting to return to his family, being enfolded back into his clan with love and acceptance brought tears to my eyes several times, and seeing how he was missed made a big difference to him as well I think.  He was sensual, sexy, alpha and strong, just what you’d expect from any Coleman hottie, but he knew he had his work cut out for him as he claimed the woman he never gave up loving.  Dana had a lot of to get over as she found a way to accept the changes coming at her as she found love again and a path to a new future with a man that has stolen her heart. The passion between Dana and Mark was slow to hit the flash point, but the burn was worth the wait and I enjoyed getting singed right along with them as they experienced it.  I am so happy that these two got their second chance at love and a future, building a new life and making their mark together on the Colemans at large.  I  will continue to hold out hope in my heart that we might see a return of these great characters in a sequel series, maybe of the next generation, sometime down the line, but for now, I look forward to the amazing adventure that Vivian always seems to send us on.  Thank you for so much love and laughter as you let us experience these amazing people along with you, Ms. Arend, it truly was a pleasure.   Long live and love the entire Coleman Clan- Six Pack, Whiskey Creek, Moonshine, Angel, AND Wild Rose all together at long last!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.