Grand-Prize Cowboy - Heatherly Bell (HSE #2864 - Oct 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 4)

Has he found a match made in denim and diamonds?
 
Rancher Boone Dalton has felt on the outs with Bronco Heights society since his family moved to town. Everyone sees them as rough gamblers instead of as the wealthy ranchers they are! So when a family prank lands him a makeover with Sofia Sanchez, he's determined to say “Hell no!” Until one look at the sexy stylist has him wanting to say “I do!” Sofia has designs on a career outside of Bronco, and she's not looking for a forever cowboy. But what if her heart is telling her Boone might just be The One?
 
Good book. The book opens as Boone admits that he envies his two brothers, who have found love. He's ready for a wife and family of his own but finding the right woman has been difficult. He and his family have only been in town a couple of years. His father bought their ranch after winning big at gambling. Unfortunately, the established "money" ranchers seem to look down on the newcomers, making Boone feel like he's on the outside looking in. When his younger brothers put his name in for a makeover with a local stylist as a prank, he's furious and determined to decline the offer.
 
Sofia works for a local boutique that will soon carry a menswear line, and the owner comes up with the idea for a makeover to advertise it. As Sofia reads over the entry letters, she's visited by local psychic Winona, who pulls a random letter from the stack and tells her that's the one she should pick. After reading it, Sofia agrees. That cowboy sounds like the perfect candidate for a confidence-boosting intervention.
 
I had to laugh when Boone went into the boutique to turn down the makeover in no uncertain terms. Instead, Sofia's beauty bowled him over, and he decided to go along with it so he could get to know her better. Sofia is equally entranced with Boone, who showed up in his work clothes, straight from working with his horses. She sees a somewhat scruffy, slightly shy man who she knows she can help. She has no idea that he's one of "those" Daltons.
 
I liked watching Boone and Sofia get to know each other. There are some sweet scenes between them before Boone's guilty feelings force him to confess the truth. Sofia's anger and hurt are pretty intense at first, but Boone eventually wins her over. Their feelings for each other grow, but there are obstacles. Sofia has dreams of a career in fashion design and has plans to go to New York. She's honest about those plans and that marriage is not in her immediate future. But Boone made up his mind that she was the one for him and proposed anyway. I felt as frustrated as Sofia did with the way he didn't listen to her. Then when he tries to make it up to her, he digs himself deeper into the hole of her frustration with him.
 
Sofia has some baggage of her own that makes her resist her feelings for Boone. She is convinced that there is no way she can combine her career and a family of her own. Like Boone, she didn't truly listen to his point of view. It took an eye-opening conversation for her to realize the power of compromise. Boone also received a reminder that setting the right priorities makes a world of difference. I loved the ending and seeing both give a little to find a way forward together. 

 

The Most Eligible Cowboy - Melissa Senate (HSE #2857 - Sept 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 3)

If Brandon Taylor wanted to be married, he would be.
 
But the oh-so-desirable, oh-so-wealthy rancher has zero interest in tying the knot -- until his unexpected fling with ex-girlfriend Cassidy Ware. Now she's pregnant -- and he proposes. Cassidy, however, is not jumping at his practical proposal. She remembers their high school romance all too well, and she won't wed without proof that Brandon 2.0 can be the real husband and co-parent she longs for.
 
Terrific enemies to lovers story. Brandon and Cassidy have a history together. They dated for a while in high school when she was a freshman, and he was a senior. They broke up over a misunderstanding on her part, but Brandon was a jerk about it, so they've avoided each other ever since. Then they ran into each other at his brother's wedding while avoiding all of the people talking about why neither was married yet. Too much champagne and high school reminiscing led to a quick roll in the hay, and now Cassidy is pregnant.
 
Brandon and Cassidy's outlook on love couldn't be more different. Thanks to watching his thrice-married father, Brandon doesn't believe that love lasts. He's very careful to date only women who understand his position. Being wealthy and good-looking, Brandon never has trouble finding female companionship and certainly has never had to work for it.
 
Cassidy is an intelligent and independent woman. Raised by a single mother, she has worked for everything she has. She owns the very popular and successful Java and Juice coffee shop and is finally ready to expand her business to a second location. Though she's had several unsuccessful relationships, she hasn't given up on love and finding The One.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Brandon and Cassidy. Their encounter in the stable went beyond anything either expected. Cassidy felt a little hope in her heart until Brandon talked about being together for as long as it lasted. Disappointed and a little hurt, she turned him down flat, surprising Brandon. Over the next couple of weeks, Brandon couldn't get her off his mind, so he was pleased when he got a text from her to come to see her. Pleasure turned to shock when she told him she was pregnant.
 
I was pleasantly surprised by Brandon's reaction. Instead of denial or insisting it wasn't his, he stepped right up and took responsibility. But then he went a step further with a business-like proposal of marriage. Of course, Cassidy turned him down, letting him know she wouldn't marry without love. Cassidy won't give in on that subject no matter how hard he tries. They do agree to get to know each other better to be good co-parents. I loved watching Brandon demonstrate that he has all the right instincts. There are sweet scenes of his efforts to take care of Cassidy, from food to a coat she'd been dreaming of. I loved their trip to the parenting class.
 
Cassidy fought hard against falling in love with him when he obviously cared. The evening they babysit for a friend was tough because Brandon was a natural with little Maeve. Her biggest problem with him, besides his anti-love stance, was his tendency to take control. The purchase of the coat was bad enough, but when he interfered in her request for a bank loan for her business, she hit the roof. Her confrontation with Brandon was hard enough, but when his dad overheard and stuck in his opinion, she'd had it. When she attended a family dinner a few days later, I loved watching her tear into Cornelius. Unfortunately, Brandon froze when she faced him with what she really wanted.
 
The ending was terrific as Brandon finally realized the truth of his feelings. I loved seeing his emotional declaration to Cassidy and her belief in what he said. I hope they pop up in later books so I can catch up with their lives.
 
I also enjoyed the part that Winona Cobb played in their relationship. Her "readings" and comments are always enigmatic until her subjects look back and see what she meant. Her statements to Brandon and Cassidy are no different.

For His Daughter's Sake - Stella Bagwell (HSE #2851 - Aug 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 2)

The Cowboy's Second Chance
 
Single dad Tyler Abernathy has vowed to devote himself completely to his little girl, Maeve. The widowed rancher's belief that he wasn't a present-enough father or husband pushes him to turn down the locals' well-meaning attempts to fix him up. But when he meets Callie Sheldrick, she disarms him in ways he can't explain…or ignore. Walking away would be the right thing to do. Yet doing the "right" thing might end up breaking all three of their hearts…
 
Good book. Tyler is the single father of a nine-month-old little girl who is the center of his life. After his wife's death six months earlier, it seemed as though everyone in town had someone they think would make the perfect wife/mother. Tyler isn't interested until he meets Callie, who appeals to him in ways he doesn't understand and can't resist.
 
Callie works as the admin assistant for Bronco Ghost Tours. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, and while at a bridal shower for a friend, contemplates her singleness. She wants the same sort of love she sees her friends finding and wonders if it will ever happen. Town mystic Winona gives Callie some unexpected and mysterious advice, leaving her puzzled about what it means. Callie is drawn to Tyler but gets tongue-tied around him.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Tyler and Callie. Drawn to each other from the beginning, issues from their pasts make them wary of risking their hearts. Riddled with guilty feelings about his marriage, Tyler believes that he doesn't deserve to be happy. I ached for him because he couldn't see that his late wife was a selfish woman who brought many of her problems on herself. Tyler made some mistakes, but I felt he was driven to them by his wife's attitude. I loved how hands-on he was with Maeve, but because of his belief that he was a terrible father, he went a little overboard. He frequently felt overwhelmed between his ranch work and caring for Maeve because he accepted only the bare minimum of help.
 
Callie couldn't resist Tyler when he asked her out. She's interested but wary. Having never spent much time with babies, Callie feels inept initially, especially when Maeve cried the first time she saw Callie. She's also cautious about risking her heart because previous boyfriends walked away so easily.
 
When Tyler decided he wanted to get to know Callie better, he went all in. I loved the sweet scenes of their time together, both with and without Maeve along. Seeing the differences between Callie and his late wife opened Tyler's eyes to the truth about his marriage. He still fought against admitting his feelings for Callie, preferring to believe they are casual. Meanwhile, Callie falls hard for Tyler but thinks he's still in love with his wife. When Tyler accidentally learns how Callie feels about him, he panics and runs away, claiming things are moving too fast. I ached for Callie, who was blindsided by Tyler's actions. I felt that Tyler earned every bit of his misery. Even after some excellent advice from his mom, Tyler still can't let go of his guilt. I loved how his brother Dean's words to Callie sent her to confront Tyler. I loved his emotional confession and its effect on Callie.
 
I laughed at the ending scene and Winona's comments to Callie and Tyler. Mystic or not, she certainly saw something back at the beginning that told her they belonged together.

The Rancher's Summer Secret - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2846 - July 2021)

Series: Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights (Book 1)

"Your secret is safe with me."
 
Science teacher Vanessa Cruise is spending her summer working in Bronco. Rekindling her short-term fling with the hottest rancher in town? Not on her to-do list -- especially since commitment is her number one don't. But Jameson John promises to keep their relationship hidden from the town gossips, then finds himself longing for more than just a summer affair. Convincing Vanessa he's worth the risk might be the hardest thing he's ever had to do…
 
Terrific start to the new Montana Mavericks series. Vanessa was born and raised in Bronco. She went to college in Billings and moved there after graduation, vowing that she would never live in Bronco again. After her high school boyfriend betrayed her twice, and the school mean girls made her life miserable, Van looked forward to happier times far from those memories. Unfortunately, her love life didn't improve, leaving her gun-shy when it came to relationships. On New Year's Eve, while in Bronco visiting her family, she indulged in a one-night-stand with Jameson, with the understanding it would never be repeated or spoken of again.
 
Jameson was also born and raised in Bronco. He and his family have a successful ranch, and he has no plans to leave Bronco. One of the popular kids during high school and after, Jameson had a reputation as a player for a long time. After a failed marriage, Jameson put his player days behind him. On New Year's Eve, he felt a little lonely with no one to kiss the New Year in with. Then he met Vanessa, and the night improved immensely. Though he accepted her conditions, he came to regret it because he couldn't forget her.
 
Fast forward to the summer. Van finds herself back in Bronco, teaching science to young teens at a summer program. She spends a lot of time looking over her shoulder, worrying about seeing Jameson again. When she does, he makes it clear that he'd like to see her again. Van shuts him down hard because she refuses to risk her heart on anyone again. Finally, after thinking about it, she agrees to a summer fling, IF and ONLY IF they keep it secret. Van doesn't want to deal with her family getting their hopes up about marrying a local boy and moving home. Initially reluctant to accept her conditions, Jameson eventually agrees, hoping to use the time to convince her that he's worth the risk.
 
I liked both Jameson and Vanessa. Jameson is an all-around nice guy who gave up his player ways long ago. He has a great relationship with his family, especially with his little sister, Charity, and hers with him. I loved that Vanessa was an unusual heroine for a romance. She is a glasses-wearing, curvy, slightly geeky science teacher. Van has a fantastic relationship with her Young Adventurers, and their love and respect for her are evident. I loved how she encouraged them to work for changes in the Miss Bronco contest and how they repaid her by secretly writing her in as a contestant. Her shock when she was named the winner was hilarious. Her issues made her feel that she wasn't up to the task, but the support she received from Jameson and Charity proved otherwise.
 
I loved seeing the relationship develop between Jameson and Vanessa. Jameson was all in from the beginning. He wanted to see where the attraction between them would go because he felt she was special. Van thoroughly enjoyed their time together but flat-out refused to consider taking it public or continuing past the end of summer. Van frustrated me on several occasions because she allowed the events from high school to run her life a decade later. I felt that Jameson showed extraordinary patience as he tried to show Van that she could trust him not to hurt her. Van panicked when she realized she was falling for him anyway and pulled away, desperate to protect herself. I ached for both of them, as Jameson saw his hope for the future disappear and Van want what she was too scared to reach for. I loved seeing Jameson go to Winona for advice. Meanwhile, Van's friend Callie has some advice for her that opens Van's eyes. I loved the ending, with Van stepping way out of her comfort zone to show Jameson how she feels.