Lucky Break: Clean Slate Ranch, Book 4

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 282 ratings

Price: 21.25

Last update: 12-10-2024


About this item

Welcome to Clean Slate Ranch: Home of tight jeans, cowboy boots and rough trails. For some men, it’s a fantasy come true.

Shawn Matthews never imagined he’d be living out of his car, trying to make ends meet, but life doesn’t always go your way - he knows that better than most. When an accident leaves the Clean Slate Ranch shorthanded, Shawn is enlisted to help cook and finds himself bunked next to the sexiest cowboy he’s ever laid eyes on.

The first time Robin Butler spots the new chef, he thinks he’s seeing an actual ghost. Shawn is the spitting image of his late husband, and it spooks the hell out of him. The former rodeo-star-turned-ranch-hand does his best to avoid the soft-spoken cook - except it’s kind of tough when the man makes the best damn grub this side of the Mississippi and has a boy-next-door charm that’s impossible to resist.

Even though the tension between them practically sizzles, Shawn doesn’t do hookups and Robin isn’t ready for a new relationship. Besides, Robin can tell Shawn’s been hurt and deserves a partner who isn’t saddled with a tragic past. But chemistry doesn’t lie. Maybe finding each other - and a second chance at love - is the lucky break they both need.

Clean Slate Ranch:

Book 1: Wild Trail
Book 2: Roped In
Book 3: Saddle Up
Book 4: Lucky Break
Book 5: Hard Ride
Book 6: Right Move


Top reviews from the United States

Sakura
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022
This book kept me turning pages. With so much secrets and stuff to discover it made for an interesting read. Highly recommend this book and the series that I have read all of so far.
Bo
4.0 out of 5 stars Talk to Each Other
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2020
I've loved this series and the situations and characters which led to a wholesome extended family which is predominately, but not exclusively, gay. Each of the books has well drawn and deeply conflicted characters, and this one adds an element which drives me up the wall when it comes to gay men seriously attracted, but afraid of commitment, to each other.

In this case Shawn, an early 20s sous chef at the ranch and Robin, an early 30s ex-rodeo star now serving as a hand at the ranch, both have serious issues of trust to get over. That it takes them so long to do that through the simple act of communication was carried a step too far for my tastes.

There are so many misunderstandings that spring from their mutual distrusts and jealousies, and it takes the intervention of others to get things settled. Once they started talking to each other, the romance flourishes and our couple becomes very established.

I am a bit hesitant to go onto the next one because the outline of the characters and plot indicates a level of selfishness I could do without, but I probably will give it a try because I like this "family" very much.
Barbara M. Alfano
5.0 out of 5 stars Lucky Break (Clean Slate Ranch)
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2020
Absolutely wonderful, could not put it down! Definitely a must read, excitement galore, secrets revealed, lots and lots of drama, exciting moments and memories. Loved it, so many thanks, Honey Bee ????????????????????????????
Tom Michaels
5.0 out of 5 stars Clean Slate Ranch
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2020
I wish I could live with all the living wonderful people at the Ranch. We all need a second chance - or third or fourth. Wonderful stories. Great story telling. Please let there be more Clean Slate Ranch books. Thank you A. M. Arthur.
Misanthropic
3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to par
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2019
Among the plethora of this authors books I have enjoyed, this is one of the few I had a hard time enjoying and sticking with. I hate that the rating system considers 3 stars as negative. For me it just means I liked it okay, simply didn’t enjoy it to the level I prefer. Shawn and Robin are the right sort of characters for the ranch turned gay haven, with troubled histories impacting their ability to seek romantic connections. They do manage to get together, follow a slow path to intimacy and ultimately reach an HEA. The writing is good overall as I expect from Ms. Arthur and the storyline follows her style but when I say slow, I mean glacially slow and the entire reading experience felt like waiting for something to move forward. The narrative is burdened with exposition, following a nearly day by day depiction of mundane activities, with long, repetitive internal monologues from both men. It takes for-freaking-ever, more than half of the book, before the pace picks up and some conflicts build to add spice and stir more interest.

Unfortunately that turns into long stretches of non-communication between the couple as they talk with friends instead of each other. That means relevant details of their past comes out mostly when forced by circumstance, not as ordinary exchanges between lovers learning about each other. I didn’t feel much UST, so so had little anticipation for intimate scenes that I skimmed and skipped over them. The author notes that this was originally planned as a trilogy, so this is a sort of transitional volume, bringing in more secondary characters destined to become subjects of future books. It’s technically well written and the latter half was more engaging. I do anticipate the next installment because of the introduction of the interesting new group of players. I’d recommend reading this for that reason alone, also because you may have an entirely different impression of events than mine.

*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review* #NetGalley #LuckyBreak
Ann Alaskan
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great new series for me!
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2019
I loved the story and the Characters! Flowing plot & a no rush romance that develops over the entire book. Now looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Don't miss this book!
Lisa Perez
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow-burn healing love
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022
This low-angst book focuses on growing comfort, peace, and finally love. Shawn is a cook for Clean Slate Ranch. No one knows that he's been living in his car for two years or that he has some home-town secrets that are still affecting his ability to have relationships with others. Robin is a ranch cowboy who works with guests and the horses. Although friendly on the outside, few know the depths of his pain, guilt, and grief. When Shawn and Robin realize that they are attracted to each other, they agree to take things slow and that seems to include talking with each other about their uncomfortable pasts. Taking things one day at a time, they slowly begin to open up. Can they work through issues to foster a long-term love? This book is feel-good, slow-burn, and it feels authentic to what two previously hurt people might go through to heal with each other. Good reading!
BookloverIAM
5.0 out of 5 stars Revisit Clean Slate Ranch
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
Loved revisiting the ranch, catching up on the couples from the 3 previous books and getting to enjoy the latest couple (Robin and Shawn) come together. Readvhow they meet, get to know each other, help each other deal with their pasts and make a future together. A beautiful HEA.

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