Paige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After a failed relationship with a former client, Paige swears to keep things strictly professional moving forward. When she discovers a new talent for her boss’s art gallery to represent, she goes to Montana to meet with Mark, the artist, and convince him to sell his work at a show.
Mark, who doesn’t need the money, just wants to stay on his ranch and continue his rescue efforts for old horses that would otherwise be put down. Painting is a hobby and release for him, but he’s not interested in Paige’s offer. The woman, however, he’s intrigued by, despite his own previous heartbreak dealing with an ex-fiancee, whom it turns out was only in it for his money.
Paige feels a connection to Mark, but holds to her vow to keep things professional, at least for some time. The pull for both is strong, but Paige continues to push away, despite convincing Mark to do a show with a guarantee of a large sum of money to help his rescue efforts. She has to fight her personal reservations while staying with him as he completes the paintings, which becomes more difficult with time.
By the time the show comes around, Mark tires of the mixed signals and overhears a conversation that jeapordizes any chance of the two finding a happy ever after.
Only when his rescue horse, the one that he painted and caught Paige’s attention with, falls ill do the two come back together. The question becomes if the pair can overcome their stubbornness and history to finally accept one another and begin a true relationship.
This was an enjoyable read with lovely characters. The author did a nice job of weaving the personalities of the animals into the story, as well.

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