Saving Grace by Alexandra Banks is an enjoyable small town romance with all the right elements—forced proximity, a grumpy wounded hero, and an FMC on the run from her past. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d read this story before. The setup is uncannily similar to Downpour by Maggie Gates: a man with a rugged past (this time a soldier instead of a bull rider) is badly injured, his family hires a woman to care for him, she’s escaping an abusive relationship, and despite his initial resistance where he is very grumpy and mean, they fall in love. It was almost too identical.

That being said, I still really enjoyed the book. Grace’s struggle felt real, and I appreciated how she slowly found her strength again, refusing to let her past define her. Mackinlay, while a bit frustrating at times with his gruff, closed off attitude, had solid character growth as he learned to accept help and open his heart again. Their chemistry was definitely there, and the emotional beats hit well, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was reading a reworked version of something I’d already experienced.

If you love this trope and don’t mind a near copy of Downpour, Saving Grace is still a well written, emotionally satisfying read. However, if you’re looking for something fresh in the wounded cowboy/ranch romance genre, you might find this one a bit too predictable.