Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

My review:

A very nice feel good book. I was smiling all the way through!

Synopsis:
Emma Smith hadn't been straight with her new boss, but he hadn't given her much of a chance to explain. Trapped in her own lies and uncertainties Emma was running in fear of losing her baby. Deke Travers, oldest son on the 4 Bar None Ranch, needed one thing to make his life more peaceful, his brothers to settle down and get with the business of ranching. There was only one solution, marry them off to country girls. And Emma will be the first bride on the 4 Bar None Ranch.

At 24 years old, Emma Smith finds herself in a tough predicament. Her cousin, Kate, has died and left custody of her baby girl to Emma. The baby's father is gone, and Emma's father and boyfriend are not supportive of her being a single young mother. When the father's parents show interest in the baby, Emma is afraid they will try to take her away and decides the only way to save the baby is to run away and seek legal counsel. She ends up working as a cook in a diner in a small West Texas community. Then she meets Deke Tavers, who offers her a job at his ranch as housekeeper and cook for his 3 brothers and ranch hands. At the ranch, Emma and her baby find a home and family. There's just one problem: Emma's falling for her boss, and he show more doesn't know anything about her past.

This is okay for a light romantic read. Emma is typically "good." She's small, lovely, humble, and selfless. In a lot of ways, she's the classically good heroine. Meanwhile, Deke is just as stereotypically strong, manly, handsome, and protective. Be prepared for an instant spark. Deke and Emma are instantly attracted to each other, but they're both hesitant for different reasons. He doesn't trust women, and he wants Emma to marry one of his brothers so they'll settle down. Emma's so busy trying to adjust to being a mother that she has no interest in a man right now. Predictably, they fall for each other and it ends with a HEA. All loose ends are tied, and things turn out more perfectly than is realistic.

There are quite a few errors in the Kindle edition, which adds to the frustration. The writing is fine, but the overall story is very formulaic and predictable. There's great potential here, but its lack of originality makes it seem like a mediocre version of romance at best. show less

The first thing that annoyed me was that everybody seemed to have the same conversation twice. I also wondered whether these characters were supposed to be caricatures. Deke and his brothers certainly aren't hero material in my eyes, far from it.
Deke accuses Emma of deception when he was the one who silenced her time and again when she wanted to tell him something. When he wonders whether she can still cook, just because she is a mother, it became a dnf for me.
Very, very glad this was free.

I liked Chief Cook and Bottle washer its a quick simple romance story.
Deke Travers is the oldest brother and in charge of the family ranch, taking care of his dad and trying to get two youngest to stay out of trouble and help. Deke decides he needs to get his brothers married.
Emma is working at the cafe in town but is about to loose her job hires her to become housekeeper and cook on his ranch. Thinks she would be perfect for youngest brother.
Emma shows up at ranch with a baby SammyJo. The guys all take to Sammyjo especially Deke's Dad. Emma does not tell them that she has her cousins baby when she died and is scared the grandparents want the baby.

BookInfo:
Emma Smith hadn't been straight with her new boss, but he hadn't given her much of a chance to explain. Trapped in her own lies and uncertainties, Emma was running in fear of losing her baby. Deke Travers, oldest son on the 4 Bar None Ranch, needed one thing to make his life more peaceful, his brothers to settle down and get with the business of ranching. There was only one solution, marry them off to a country gal! Then Emma Smith crashed into Deke's life and Deke had found the answer to his problems--he thought! Emma was sweet and beautiful, and when she looked at him with those whiskey brown eyes he was a goner. Deke could tolerate almost anything but a liar! And The Chief Cook and Bottle Washer was lying!