Dust Storm (The Griffith Brothers) Paperback – March 1, 2024

I'm rounding up my rating, because I liked it, and I binged it, and I'm definitely coming back for more. The things that bugged me were pretty minor, and this is the closest I've found to something that gives me Elsie Silver vibes and backs it up with a solid story. The best part for me was the hero, this gruff caveman of a cowboy who was incredibly mature emotionally. He's a single dad who has been raising his girls on his own for the last ten years, and he is all about therapy and empowerment and making sure his girls know that they're loved. Just... absolute swoon. He's a big teddy bear of a man (dad bod and all), and I loved how easily he learns how to handle the prickly heroine. She's a definite fish out of water and won't be to every reader's tastes, but I liked the combination of her blunt honesty and his easy acceptance of it all. It made for a very solid series starter and a great introduction to this new-to-me author's work, so I'm bumping up my rating.The story follows Cassandra, a PR rep who needs to get out of the public eye for a while. After she takes the blame for something she didn't do, her boss/fiancé requires her to take a consulting job at an isolated ranch - the last place this city girl would ever want to be. The situation makes Cassandra re-evaluate her relationship, especially when she gets to know the loving, close-knit family living on the ranch. Christian may be a bit of a caveman around her, but he's nothing but gentle with his daughters. The two have instant friction that feels like it might be attraction, but there are a few problems with that. Number one, Cass is engaged to another man. Number two, she hates kids. And number three, she has no intention of sticking around. But being welcomed into Christian's family feels better than Cass could've expected, and that complicates things.I started reading this after a few failed attempts to get out of a book hangover, and it was the first book that held my attention - with ease. The writing is exceedingly easy to binge, and I loved the vibes. Cassandra and Christian have chemistry right away, even when they were bickering. I loved Christian more and more as I got to know him better, and it was so refreshing to read about a rugged cowboy who is so in tune with his emotions and so good with his daughters. He lost his wife over a decade ago, and he's worked through those feelings to the point that he's come out stronger because of it. I kinda loved that, and it also made him understand Cassandra so quickly. There's the forbidden aspect, since she's engaged, but her fiancé was clearly a jerk from page one and he was out of the picture soon enough. The only reason I was torn between four and five stars is because there were a few little things that took me out of the story. For example, Christian's family was making bets on how quickly he'd start hooking up with Cass, even when she was engaged. He was perhaps a little too cavemanish in some of his physicality, and seemed to jump from "it's just a fling" to "she's mine" very quickly. But none of those things were major roadblocks, and I'm already excited about the next Griffith Brothers book, so I can't call this anything other than a success.

"My world ended the day a cop pulled down the long dirt drive, stirring up a dust storm with his tires."I'm a sucker for tying the book title directly into the storyline, and this quote did it for me. At first, I wasn't quite certain that this story was going to really resonate with me, but I fell in love with this family in stages. Immediately I fell for Bree and Gracie. I warmed up to Christian as I saw what a good father he was. The rest of the family drew me in through witnessing bits and pieces of their love and personalities. Honestly, Cassandra took me a bit to warm up to.Cassandra did a great job of keeping up her facade, even when it started to crack. Honestly, I wasn't sure she would actually let her heart wake up enough to latch on to the love that began surrounding her. I knew it was breaking through around the time she marches into Bree's school and completely HANDLES the administration for a supposed dress code violation. That was the moment I knew that she was absolutely in.Overall, this story was fab. I love, love, love great world-building and a slew of side characters that truly add to the main characters' lives. This world is one that I will jump into with no hesitation going forward and will most likely cry when I have to leave it.

Christian’s and Cassandra’s “romance” reads more like a boxing fight at time. The spicy between these two is top notch. I loved that Cassandra stayed true to herself the whole time and I loved that Christian had the guts to push back every single time.As an MMC Christian should be perfect! He is chivalrous, handsome, good with kids, and knows when and how to take control of any situation. However, the whole book I felt like something was missing. Chemistry? Romance? I don’t know, there was just an element missing from their story. I also really struggled with the timeline. Did they fall in love in days, weeks, months? I have no clue! It’s a good read, there is just something missing.

I enjoyed this storyline so much. It was funny, sweet, and SHE was such a grump in the “grumpy-sunshine” trope.I was hesitant to continue reading this story when I realized she was engaged. I don’t like when people fall in love while their “fiancé” is back home (feels unfaithful to me). But her engagement doesn’t last long in the story and we don’t ever see him again. So it didn’t give me that “ick” factor.I loved the family and cannot wait to continue to series.

EASY READ! I came about reading this book after reading a sexy cowboy story and I fell in love with how easy the writing was to read. Told a story from beginning to the end that I felt was perfect to get lost in! Christian, single dad, to two great little girls. We love kids in books and the single dad’s protectiveness and sex appeal never goes unnoticed here! But Cassandra was like nothing I’ve ever read before!!!! She was not a kid person, not a lot of maternal characteristics but the attitude she gave the daughters was hilarious and they loved her more for it! Christian didn’t like how she was with his daughters but when he thought about how he was looking for his partner, not necessarily a mother for his kids, mine and his perspective changed. And then the school scene happened and omg I haven’t laughed so hard that was so epic! The dress code scene where Casa tells his daughter to shut the eff up. SO GREAT!

Okay, so originally I thought I was going to DNF this story. I had been lured in by Dounpour and just wasn't vibing with Cassandra at the beginning, but holy cow am I glad I read this. Gates writes her love stories so fun, heartfelt, and poetic. Everybody always talks about a strong heroine, and sometimes I get so bored with how they are typically portrayed. Cass's strength is how she stands up for the people she cares about. It's brave and badass and smart. I honestly wish I could be that confrontational. I bow to the Queen lol.

Basicly this is a Hallmark movie book. It's sweet and loving and adorable. Don't expect any twists or turns but it's a piece of sunshine.

Apart from a few spelling mistakes, a few random descriptions where suddenly a character is not doing what they were doing a sentence ago without context, its a sweet book. Loved that theres no out of nowhere bs to ruin the flow of the story, rly liked the author's writing style and especially the way she is able to really make the characters different from one another, plot was nothing out of the ordinary but rly well done in my humble opinion, dont like cowboys yet i was sucked in the storyline and characters nonetheless, will read the second of the series, cuz i did get attatched to the characters!

I read this in one day, was hooked from the start a good combination of romance and real life. It both is and isn’t a fairytale storyline will definitely be reading again. Loved cass as a lead strong willed and the contrast of city girl with Christian’s rustic cowboy charm really worked could not recommend more. Going to go buy the real book to have at home now, thank you Maggie

While most authors stick to a strict beginning middle and end, I loved the extended conflict and the fact there was no big scene abt a third act breakup. It all comes together beautifully.

I'm very much in my cowboy romance era and this delicious book gave me all of my favourite tropes 🤠 A rugged rancher with a high EQ and Dad bod meets the sassy, independant and incredibly talented publicist to the stars who is hiding out after a media scandal. Throw them all in one house and sparks fly 😍 I enjoyed this book so much that I'm through the authors backlist and starting where it all began, with older brother Nate's book 'The Stars Above Us'.

This new-to-me author thrilled my romantic little heart with this beautifully written story. Christian Griffith has knocked every other cowboy clear out of my heart. The last chapter had all my little hairs standing up on end. Thank you for an excellent read that felt like a warm hug.