Tag: cowboy

Synopsis:

Fans of Carolyn Brown, Maisey Yates, and Jennifer Ryan will fall head over cowboy boots for this second-chance romance from USA Today bestseller Jennie Marts.

Single mom Jillian Bennett barely has a moment to herself between raising her ten-year old son, volunteering at the horse rescue ranch, and working her new job as head librarian of Creedence, Colorado. She doesn't have time for romance either, even though she and the cute deputy, Ethan Rayburn, have been doing a lot of flirting the last few weeks. But when he also forms a bond with her son, Milo, Jillian falls hard, and Ethan soon realizes he would do anything for the feisty librarian who's won his heart.

Review:

Never Enough Cowboy was heartwarming, touching, and an instant favorite!  This book had me constantly laughing and I loved being back in this world.  It truly felt like coming home.  But keep those tissues nearby, because this one pulled on my heart more times than I can count.  If you love small town romances, or country romances, definitely make for sure this book is on your tbr!

“It’s okay for you to fall,” he said, his voice a husky whisper. “I promise I’ll catch you.”

Jillian Bennett was new to town, a librarian, and a single mom.  She was quirky and I loved her for it, especially her ridiculous underwear lol!  Through mutual acquaintances, Jillian found herself running into Ethan Rayburn time and again.  He was a deputy and was completely smitten by Jillian.  Yet, Jillian was focused and had a lot on her plate.  She didn’t feel as though she had time to date, even if Ethan clicked so easily with her son, Milo.  Ethan was determined to knock down Jillian’s walls and find a way into her heart.  And his path to that was beyond adorable and steamy too!

Tilting her face up to his, she looked into his gorgeous blue eyes and saw such tenderness there, it hurt her chest. Emotion burned the back of her throat, and she feared she might start crying again. “I could really fall for you, you know?”
His lips curved into a roguish grin. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

I absolutely loved Ethan!  I loved that he knew what he wanted in life and went after it.  From the first moment he met Jillian, he just knew she was for him.  And that man did not have a subtle bone in his body about wanting Jillian lol!  Ethan was kind, patient, sexy, romantic, hilarious and so sweet.  Yet he could also be tough as nails and a force to be reckoned with.  So I loved his softer moments with Jillian and her son.  He was so thoughtful and I loved the lengths he went to, to try and win Jillian over.  But I was so nervous for him.  Would Jillian open up and let him in?

“I’ll just look around then, maybe check out a book or two, while I wait.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice further. “Got any recommendations for books about romance? I’m kind of interested in this woman, and I feel like I need to up my game with her.”
She pressed her lips together to keep a giggle from escaping.

Jillian and Ethan had such an emotional path.  Their old fears and pasts crept in.  Mistakes were made.  And there were scenes that pulled at my heart and made me cry all the tears.  Not only for Jillian and Ethan, but for the animals too as we watched them work towards their HEAs also.  But don’t worry because there was lots of joy, and I had so many happy tears too!  So many of our favorites are back, humans and animals.  I loved Otis the goat and Aunt Sassy and her meddling.  I laughed so hard, I don’t even know how many times, that I had tears streaming down my face and was gasping for breath!   And watching Ethan and Jillian’s son Milo together made my heart burst with joy!  Ohh plus this book had a surprise that I’m not saying a word about other then I LOVED how it affected the story!

“Darlin’, haven’t you figured out by now that it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing my hat, your superhero undies, a down parka, or nothing at all, I am completely at your mercy.”

Why is this series not a tv show?!?!  I would binge it again and again, just like I still do with Friends! Never Enough Cowboy was fun, flirty and heartwarming! With friendship and love, this story was so much fun! I was completely swept away and I think romance lovers will feel the same way too! And now I’m dying to know, are Knox and Carly the next book? *fingers crossed!*

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Synopsis:

Scarred and battered loner Zane Taylor has a gift with animals, particularly horses, but he's at a total loss when it comes to knowing how to handle women. Even though he's sworn off love, he can't seem to stay away from Bryn Callahan. He's known for being a horse whisperer, but can't seem to find his voice at all where Bryn is concerned.

Bryn Callahan has a heart for strays, but she is through trying to save damaged men. She vows to only date nice guys, which is a category that does not include Zane Taylor. Too bad he's the only one who sets her pulse racing every time she's around him.

Starting a horse rescue ranch wasn't in Bryn's plan, but try telling that to the assembly of abandoned animals that have found their way to her doorstep. And when a chance encounter with a horse headed for slaughter brings Zane and Bryn together, they find themselves given a chance to save not just the horse, but maybe each other...

Review:

With small town charm, characters that were easy to love and a story line that melted my heart, A Cowboy State of Mind had it all!  I laughed, cried and swooned hard.  So if you love cowboys and romance, then you definitely need to look at adding this one to your tbr!

“It was nothing.”
It hadn’t been nothing to her. It had been everything.

I had already fallen hard for Zane Taylor in Wish Upon a Cowboy.  He was quiet and loyal.  And I loved that he stepped up and helped when needed.  He was such a good person.  Plus I adored his border collie, that he claimed wasn’t his, but he still let her sleep in his bed at night ha!  But my heart bled for Zane.  Other judged him by his scar.  And his upbringing and current situation with his dad made my heart hurt for him.  Thankfully, there was lots of brightness in his life.  Especially anytime he was around Bryn.

She was done saving others. She wanted security and stability. Safety. And when it came to being around Zane Taylor, her heart was anything but safe.

Zane was already head over heels in lust with Bryn, and I couldn’t blame him.  I adored her too!    Bryn Callahan was a kind hearted, quirky, lovable woman who I instantly connected with.  She truly had the biggest heart ever and took in strays without a second thought.  When she saved a horse’s life, that brought Zane back into her life.  And while you could tell that they both liked each other, Bryn tried her best not to get attached.  Zane was supposed to leave the state for work.  But the heart wants what the heart wants.

He didn’t know what to say, how to put into words what her words meant to him. All he could do was show her. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her with everything in him.

Their love of animals brought Zane and Bryn together again and again.  And I loved that we got to hear both of their thoughts!  Their romance was sweet and slow, but the sexier moments were oh so hot!  But they had a lot of obstacles in their way, besides Zane leaving town.  Like Bryn’s past, her family to Zane not having the best faith in himself.  I just wanted to take all of the distractions away and push them together.  Because anytime they were around the other, it was fabulous!

“That’s the thing about love. We don’t ask for it, but sometimes we get it anyway.”

A Cowboy State of Mind should have easily been a 4.5/5 Star rating for me.  But I struggled with this book.  I’m overly sensitive to animals being in dangerous situations or hurt.  And don’t worry, spoiler alert, all the animals ended up perfectly fine.  But my little girl dog had been sick for months.  So I struggled greatly reading about hurt animals while she was snuggled up next to me extremely sick.  I truly couldn’t handle the animal parts at all, and would put this book down for days to even weeks at a time.  Many, many times.  I’m sure I’m an anomaly, but I wanted to explain why my heart couldn’t fully be in this story.

He brushed her hair back from her forehead, his gaze intense and deep as he stared into her eyes. “The fallin’ is easy, darlin ’. It’s the jumpin’ that takes the strength of will.”
She swallowed, emotion suddenly thickening her throat, as if her body knew that he wasn’t just talking about the ledge. She was already falling, and falling hard, for Zane Taylor, but was she really ready to jump headlong into this thing with him?
He dipped his head and kissed the side of her neck, the scruff of his whiskered chin scraping the delicate skin. She tipped her head back and sighed as she fell.

A Cowboy State of Mind had a happy ending for all, four and three legged animals included.  And I adored Zane and Bryn.  If you love romances that have sexy cowboys in them, heartwarming characters and animals and a story line that will make you root for HEAs, then definitely check this one out.  Jennie Marts is always a huge hit for me, I was just too sensitive with the topic of this book, to make this one a favorite.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Reading Order & Links:

Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***

A Cowboy State of Mind #1 Reviews: Jen

When a Cowboy Loves a Woman #2 Reviews: Jen

How to Cowboy #3 Reviews: Jen