5.0 out of 5 stars  Great Western Romance!

I’ll be the first to confess that contemporary romance isn’t my usual go-to read, let alone western contemporary romance, but On Common Ground was well worth the journey outside my reading box. Ketra (don’t you just love that name?) has sequestered herself on her uncle’s isolated ranch while dealing with the results of a personal tragedy that very nearly ruined her life. She’s focused on training horses while attempting to heal, no man required, thank you very much. But when Trevor shows up as the new head ranch hand and invades her space, her safety net falls out from beneath her feet. Trevor, on the other hand, has his own reasons for being at the ranch, and locking horns with a contentious woman is the last complication he needs. Then again, maybe it’s exactly what they both need. There were times I wanted to smack both Trevor and Ketra (sometimes simultaneously) and yet their reactions to each other were completely understandable considering their individual wounds. The romance is a rollercoaster with lots of steamy moments, there are a couple twists I did NOT see coming, and I loved the ranch life details. There were more than a few moments that the scenery completely immersed me into the story and I had no problem imagining myself beneath the endless sky at sunset, listening to the Arizona desert. A great first book from Jansen Schmidt, and if you’re in the mood for a hot, protective cowboy who is just the remedy for a horsewoman who has a deep distrust of men, On Common Ground is the perfect read!

On Common Ground – Readers’ Favorite review. (5 stars)

Author's new book receives a warm literary welcome. 

"Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite 

On Common Ground is the first book in the Grounded Series by Jansen Schmidt, a romance with characters that are brilliantly developed, deeply human, and believable. Trevor Donaldson and Ketra Weston are two characters that are deeply wounded, and each is seeking a way to forget a painful past. Each has developed a deep sense of mistrust of the opposite sex -- Trevor feels betrayed by a failed marriage that still leaves him with regrets while Ketra is still suffering from a brutal attack from someone she least expected could hurt her. These two characters meet at the Diamond D Ranch in Arizona where they seek a space to heal. Can the sanctuary they seek be found in each other?  

Jansen Schmidt knows how to awaken powerful emotions in readers. But that's not all: the author knows how to feed those emotions. The characters are real and sophisticated, each well fleshed out with their backstory. The complexity in the personalities of the key characters makes them characters that readers will want to follow. Trevor is filled with regrets; he gunned down the man who shot his partner and he can't get over the thoughts of his failed marriage. The reader learns to penetrate the depths of his emotions slowly, and the encounter with Ketra arouses the reader's curiosity.  

On Common Ground is suspenseful, emotionally rich, and featuring strong psychological hints. The prose is beautiful and I enjoyed the way the author unveils the hearts of the characters. The internal conflict is skillfully developed and its intensity is perceived in the streams of consciousness and the way the characters relate to each other. This is a story that will entertain and inspire readers." 

You can learn more about Jansen Schmidt and "On Common Ground" at readersfavorite.com/book-review/on-common-ground/1 where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. 

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5.0 out of 5 stars

WESTERN: After a nasty divorce and then a fatal shooting, Trevor returns to the Diamond D Ranch to help out the owner, Rocky Dillinger. He plans to get his head on straight, avoid the press, and most importantly stay away from women. After being physically attacked, Ketra has spent the last two years secluded at her uncle’s ranch where she trains horses while keeping her distance from men. As fate would have it, there is an instant antagonistic attraction between the two of them when Trevor arrives at the ranch. While trying to mend their self-esteem and protect their broken hearts, the two of them begin an undeniable spark-filled two step romance that fulfills a love connection destined for their two families.

Ms. Schmidt does a great job capturing the frustration of two people who don’t want to get entangled but cannot deny the pull of their attraction to one another. Readers will enjoy characters who are relatable, feisty, sexy, conflicted, and compelling. The descriptions of ranch life feel so real they will make one’s muscles twang and noses twitch. The Arizona landscape is depicted in such enchanting in-depth detail one feels as if they are actually there. The story has just the right amount of mystery and humor to keep one turning the pages. Readers who enjoy westerns and romance will be taken on a slightly suspenseful ride filled with snappy dialogue, inner turmoil, beautiful scenery, and enough sexual tension to make a frosty bottle of beer a must!

Tonya Mathenia