I want to thank A. M. Arthur and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I read the first two Clean Slate Ranch books and loved them. So, when I saw this on the NetGalley site I jumped at the chance to read it.

Getting to read about characters I loved like Mac, Wes, Colt and Avery was such a treat. These are wonderful books and beautifully written. Now I have Shawn and Robin to add to the mix. I’m looking forward to the next book which will be about Derrick. Just keep them coming please.

I enjoyed this book, as I usually do with AM Arthur's writing. I always like the dual-POV, and this was no exception. I will admit that I didn't find Robin as sympathetic as I did Shawn, and I got more frustrated with Robin's secrets and his continued hanging onto the past. BUT the resolution was pretty good, and Shawn's openness and willingness to start anew despite all the challenges he faced made the story a solid four stars for me. The romance between the two was nice, though again, I often got frustrated with Robin's hangups with the past. Still, I'd recommend it, especially to those who enjoy 'cowboys' and a dude ranch lifestyle.

Lucky Break is part of the Clean Slate Ranch series, and while past characters are in this one, it can stand on its own. That said, this book drove me crazy. The pacing is incredibly slow, like moves as a snail's pace slow for about two-thirds of the way through. In fact, I set this one aside several times and even thought about giving it up more than once. I felt like I was just meandering along waiting for something to happen. I did like Robin's patience with Shawn, and both guys had their own issues to work through, but the many what-ifs began to grow tedious long before anything substantial happened between this pair. Even after they decide to explore their attraction, the doubt continues, and it continues some more. Yes, I completely get that Shawn had plenty of reason to be insecure, but his inner monologue of doubt about the relationship was repetitive and after a while, annoying. But here's the thing - these guys talk about a ton of stuff, they talk about their feelings, about their experience or lack of in Shawn's case, about family, and so on. They talk about everything except the important stuff, and when that stuff is all revealed, none of it is anything that would break them up. In fact, anyone who would leave someone over the things these guys are dealing with wouldn't be worth the time or trouble. So, in the end, I just didn't get it. This one could've easily been cut in half, and we still would've gotten the meat of the story, and the angst level would've been significantly lower. I have no problem with angsty romances, but this felt like angst just for the sake of angst. I read the last book in this series and liked it enough to continue with this one, but I think this may be the end of the Clean Slate Ranch series as far as I'm concerned.

Enjoyable read.
I haven't read this author before, and I'm keen to go back and start from the beginning, find out more about this world.

I have a real soft spot for M/M romances, I have read a fair few of them but I hate to say I was a bit lost with this one, I was in two frames of mind about it. On one hand, I enjoyed the will they won’t they subplot between Robin and Shawn, and on the other I was frustrated and irritated by them. Yes, they have issues and skeleton’s in the closet but what got me was just how slowly it took for them to actually communicate and face their past, but once they did start to move forward with their relationship the tone of the book changed and I started to enjoy the journey the characters were taking me on.
I know that this is the fourth book in the Clean Slate Ranch series but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was missing out on something within the series. Character's from the previous books popped up every verse end which made following the story a little confusing as I didn’t know who was who. I think that because I haven’t read the previous books or any of the authors work before that I don’t quite get the excitement of this book like I should, there is no denying that the author is a highly-skilled, I really liked her writing and the way she put emotional depth into the story and I will seek out more of her work as I don’t believe in judging an author by just one book.
Overall, this is a tenderly written love story about two emotionally scarred individuals, those who love the slower burn romances will love this, it’s very easy to read and actually would be perfect for those just starting in the M/M genre.

This is the forth book in the Clean Slate Ranch series, it is a MM cowboy romance. I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and the pace was spot on. The characters in this story have not lead easy lives and the author did a great job with the details so that I could understand what they were going through even though I have never been in their situation. I feel this book can be read as a stand-alone book.

Another great addition to the Clean Slate Ranch series from A.M. Arthur. I love that Shawn has been given his own story after getting to know him a bit in the previous book in the series.
Shawn has a distressing story in his past which has led, in part to him living out of his car whilst working at the Ghost Town. He's very self reliant, extremely reluctant to rely on others and slow to trust anyone. Circumstances lead to him becoming the cook at the ranch whilst their cook recovers form a broken arm and ending up with his own cabin. Next to him is Robin, a widower who has been recovering from his own heartache with the loss of his husband and having to leave his work and family behind.
There's a spark between the two men that is quick to ignite but Robin becomes his own worst enemy and Shawn takes a step back, needing the time to trust and become comfortable around the older man. This is a wonderful slow burning romance. It's great reading Shawn become a part of the Ranch family, making friends and settling into the community. There is a fair amount of lack of and miscommunication leading to troubles in the relationship between the MC's but even when the men don't help themselves, their friends rally round giving support and advice where needed. . There are a great group of characters on the Ranch and we also have some new arrivals that Robin has been missing for several years.
Definitely a great story for fans of this series and contemporary romance. Highly recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and am happily giving a review.

touching.. angsty..loving... broken men who need healing... amazing horses.. sexy cowboys.. so many amazing things and i loved it so much

I loved this new addition to the series.

Wow, it's been awhile since I've visited the Clean Slate Ranch, just over a year since the last book was released. This is a series that I have really loved and enjoyed and Lucky Break didn't change that one bit.

This was a pretty emotional story and I shed tears several times while reading it. Lucky Break is book 4 in the Clean Slate Ranch series but can be read as a standalone. For full enjoyment of the characters, though, I recommend reading at least book three, Saddle Up because it introduced Shawn, one of the two MCs (main characters) in Lucky Break.

Shawn loves his job as sous chef at the saloon in Bentley Ghost Town. When the town shuts down for the holidays, he doesn't know what he's going to do. No one knows that he's been living out of his car for the past two years. And no one knows the other secret he's kept about why he left his home with his grandparents.

Robin's life was literally saved by the owner of Clean Slate Ranch and he will be forever grateful. When he first sees Shawn on a horse Deja vu hits him and he thinks he's seen the ghost of his dead husband. We don't find out all of what happened to his husband until quite late in the book.

So, both of these men are keeping secrets from each other, and from their friends. As the story goes along the secrets are revealed to readers bit by bit. As I said above, this story contains a lot of information that brought on the tears but I didn't feel like it was unbearably angsty.

Lucky Break is more of a slow-burn romance than the other books in this series. For most of the story the heat level is fairly mild but the love between Robin and Shawn comes through. They both have insecurities to work through that impact their relationship but they do get resolved.

Lucky Break is ultimately a great romance. It's "part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!"

When I got to the end of the book, I was happy to learn that there will be at least one more book in this series, Hard Ride, coming in early 2020. As I said in my review of book three, I wouldn't mind visiting Clean Slate Ranch again, and again, and again. 😊

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

Lucky Break is the fourth book in A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series of mlm contemporary romance novels. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because I loved all of the previous books in the series, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next on the ranch.

I usually avoid revealing plot points, but in the interest of content warnings, readers should know that Shawn was sexually molested and then outed as a teen.

Shawn Matthews appeared in a supporting role in Saddle Up, the third book in the series. He has been working as the pastry chef at the ghost town’s restaurant. Shawn has not had an easy life; the restaurant job has been a huge help, but he’s been living in his car to save on expenses.

Robin Butler is one of the cowboys on the ranch. He has also appeared in previous books as a supporting character, and part of the appeal of this book was getting to know these two characters on a deeper level.

Shawn and Robin start off on the wrong foot, so the development of their relationship is a slow burn. Shawn knows that he’s attracted to men, and he’s certainly attracted to Robin, but he’s never been in a relationship before. Robin was so gentle and patient with Shawn, and he always made sure to seek enthusiastic consent, and to keep the physical aspects of their relationship at a pace Shawn was comfortable with. It’s worth noting that Robin takes these steps even though he doesn’t know about Shawn’s past traumas.

A big part of this book is both men coming to terms with their respective pasts, and learning to accept that they are deserving of happiness, so even though they’ve experienced tragedies, they can look forward to the possibility of a future together.

There’s a nice balance between the gravity of more serious matters and lighter moments like the camaraderie between the ranch family. One of my favorite parts was all of the cooking scenes and discussion of food- Shawn is a competent cook, and the opportunity to do more cooking for the ranch helps him gain more confidence in his abilities. Likewise, Robin finds new purpose in his work on the ranch, so their relationship begins at a time when they are both finding new beginnings, so it pairs nicely with the burgeoning relationship.

I would absolutely recommend Lucky Break. It functions well enough as a standalone, but reading the books in order provide a sense of continuity for the longer story arcs. The Clean Slate Ranch series has become my favorite contemporary mlm series, and I’m looking forward to the next book.



I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love the family that Arthur has built around the Clean Slate Ranch. All the couples have progressed from a place of loneliness or pain to one of security and love. It's all very gorgeous.

Plus the building of a business plan that becomes a home.

This pair have been minor characters, existing on the fringes. Robin is a widower, and Arthur fills in his backstory in a realistic way. I am not entirely convinced that Shawn being easily taken for Robin's now deceased husband was the right way to go, but she makes it all seem viable, and it's a fresh way to create animosity and confusion between the potential love birds. After all, there has to be something to keep them apart initially.

I was sometimes a bit teary when hearing about Shawn's trials. HIs secrets go deeper, and have created trauma that he needs to confront. I am glad the way that panned out. It was great to see him acknowledge his hurt and take steps to overcome it.

I love that's there's still potential for more.

Thanks Carina Press and Netgalley for advanced copy. Recommended for readers of this series and of Arthur's other work. Book is due out on October 21.

Who does not like the fantasy of cowboys. Two in love on a dude ranch is even better. Touching story that includes romance, finding oneself, recovering for past hurts and growing into being a better man. Enjoyed seeing the characters coming together and working through things that held them back. Unfortunately the story was marred for me by the repeated reminder that the the main characters were bisexual. Detracted from the the story. Seemed unrelated to the story line and therefore unnecessary- especially repeated multiple times in a page or two. The characters and locale are attractive so I will check out the other books in the series.

A wonderful addition to A.M. Arthur’s Clean Slate Ranch series, Lucky Break is just as unique as each of the previous stories in this series. While all the Clean Slate books could be read as standalones, the friendships build as the story progresses and I think you’d enjoy them better when read in order.

Opposites attract with a bit of an age gap, Lucky Break is a romantic, slow burn romance. The chemistry between the men is clear from the start, but both of the main characters have some serious issues in their pasts which they’re having trouble moving past. As their relationship progresses and the men strive to find more physical intimacy, they start to open up and disclose some of their secrets.

It takes the entire novel for these two to finally come completely clean with each other over all of their past troubles, but A.M. Arthur throws in some great curve balls, and the story flows beautifully. Trust me, once you pick up Lucky Break, you won’t be putting it down.

ALL the feels in this book! All of them! 4.5 stars for me, as the emotion and beauty of the relationship helped offset the sometimes total lack of communication!

I absolutely love this series from AM Arthur - super emotional, a nice blend of city and cowboy, and a great group of characters that are family to each other. This is a sweet, slow-paced-burn romance, where there is a second chance of love for Robin, a chance for Shawn to find true love in all forms, and for both of them to find a home, both with each other and with the rest of the members on the ranch.

At first, I was concerned that I wouldn't warm up to Robin - the way he treated and compared Shawn to his deceased husband very early on, didn't sit well with me. However, Robin's patience and compassion for growing a relationship with Shawn really made me change my mind about him. Robin was sweet, thoughtful, and patient, and I absolutely love that he didn't care about preconceived "norms" in the bedroom. He realized that he'd have a different pace with Shawn than with his previous partner, and he respected the pace that Shawn set.

Shawn has had a rough childhood and early adulthood. He's been homeless for 2 years, had to stay away from the only family he has due to a bad situation when he was a teen, and also deals with anxiety and abandonment issues. He has plenty of doubts, both self-doubts and doubts about his relationship with Robin. I was worried when things were going too well and we were only at the 55% part of the story! LOL. There is definitely some angst and some tears, but I love the steadfastness through it all and how everyone was there to support both Shawn and Robin.

I wish there had maybe been a bit more communication to avoid certain blow-ups - there were things that both of them were refusing to tell the other, until it was really forced out of them, but overall I loved reading about Shawn and Robin falling for each other. Loved seeing all of the couples from the previous books included, and that epilogue!

Can't wait for the next story - think it should be Levi (and Hugh!)!

I received an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great installment in the clean Slate Ranch series. Lucky Break is a very heartwarming love story. Shawn's struggling to stand on his own two feet and make ends meet while searching for his place in the world. Robin's making it day by day after losing his husband in a tragic accident he blames himself for. The way they come together is very sweet and slow. It's not breakneck speed, there's no outside drama or angst. It's just two people healing themselves and coming together to be a support with and for each other. I feel like there's some set up for the next book, and I'll for sure be reading it.

3.5 stars.

I've read and really loved every book in this series.

A.M. Arthur does a wonderful job of giving us three-dimensional characters who have open, honest conversations as they are trying to come to terms with their pasts. Clean Slate Ranch is a place to heal and re-connect, and I just love it. You can expect the same treatment with Shawn and Robin's story in Lucky Break.

The communication and consent and exploration that was here was my favorite part of their story. Robin is bi and a widower, while Shawn hasn't really had time to explore his own sexuality, especially in a safe place. Shawn also has been living in his car, trying to make ends meet. They were so sweet together!

I will say Robin kind of irked me, though. He was a little oblivious for a guy that Shawn likes to brag has "experience." BUT they talked it through and confronted the moments where I was all: "What the hell, Robin?!" so... I forgive you, Robin. :)

They connect quickly, but with how genuine and really open they are with each other it kept the story moving and really rounded out their relationship in a way that kept it low-angst and allowed a deeper connection. That said, it's definitely a slow burn, too, so it kept me on the edge. It was a little too drawn out in the latter half which is why the 3.5 stars.

With all of these books so far, though, I love how the atmosphere of the ranch and the friendships come together and build this loving community. Side note: I really LOVE seeing all these characters together, especially all in their healthy and happy relationships.

This book brings the communication and consent, and the emotional wallop will keep you coming back for more.

CW: child sexual abuse (mentioned, not on page)

Thanks to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy this series. It's fun to read about sexy cowboys falling in love with each other. :) I love being able to see all of the characters from the past few books interacting in this one, building lives with each other and their respective partners.

Overall, these fluffy MM romances with a little bit of realism (tragic events in this one, sadly) usually just make me happy and ease some stress. Though to be fair, there isn't TOO MUCH realism... I mean, really, a whole ranch full of gay and bi men? Also, if that IS a real thing, can someone point me in the right direction? I need to book a week vacation there. :)

Highly recommend this series for those who like MM romance and like to escape a little... especially with cowboys. :)

I loved getting back on the ranch with everyone. We get more of the day to day going on which I really loved. Shawn is homeless having to send most of his money home to help his grandparents. His grandmother has Alzheimer and his grandfather is taking care of her. He is living out of his vehicle and has for several years. He is worried when the Ghost Town is closed down because he won't have a job. But and unfortunate accident happens and he finds himself with work up at the main house. Robin is still trying to get over the guilt of the death of his husband. Even though it was an accident, he really blames himself. This was a very slow burn and it worked for these two. Shawn helps Robin move forward and forgive himself. Robin helps Shawn see that he is cared for and that what he went through is not something to be shamed about.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A lovely addition to the Clean Slate Ranch series, this story features Shawn, the assistant cook at the ghost-town saloon who helped Miles when his abusive ex showed up in Saddle Up, book three. Robin, one of the ranch hands, befriends Shawn after an initial minor hostility due to the fact Shawn looks like Robin’s former husband, Xander, who died in a rodeo accident three years before. But once Robin gets to know him, the resemblance takes a back seat because Shawn is a completely different personality: shy, sweet, virginal, and reclusive. Shawn has kept the fact he lives in his car a secret for two years, but now that it’s out in the open and he’s given the cabin next to Robin’s, the two slowly become friends, and then more.

The story is a good length and focuses on the slow buildup of a relationship with plenty of kissing and not much else through most of the book as each man slowly begins to share pieces of his past with the other. The author allows time for readers to get to know the characters as they get to know each other and that’s something I appreciate. When circumstances occur that bring Shawn back to his hometown where the public shame and humiliation that forced him out of town took place, Robin accompanies him and finally learns Shawn’s truths.

But it’s not until much later, when they are back at the Clean Slate Ranch, that Shawn learns Robin’s truths about how he lost his husband and the guilt he carries over it. Past characters round out the story and new ones are introduced as I suspect the series may continue for some time—at least, I hope so because I want Derrick and Levi and Hugo to all have their own loves.

As with other books in this series, there’s a sense of family, friendship, trust, and support by all the characters at the ranch. Those who love a sweet cowboy romance, with a small age gap (8 years), should enjoy this one. Add slow burn, virgins, smaller tops, and widower to the tags, and you get the picture of how very nice this story is.

3.5 stars

I like this series and excited to see another book. As with the others in the series with men are looking for a place to fit in and feel accepted.
Shawn has had a streak of bad luck and has settled in nicely with he men at Ghost town and the ranch. He still keeps himself guarded and isn't willing to open up, until he meets Robin.
Robin hit rock bottom several years before. He may be recovered but he's still dealing with ghosts from his past.
The two men have a real connection but they identifier past on the fore front of their relationship too long.
Although I enjoyed this book, I was getting tired of the repetitive story line.