Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10). By Lorelei James.

Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10). By Lorelei James. 2019. Berkley Books (ARC eBook).

Cattle rancher Streeter Hale is a widower raising his 5-year-old girl, Olivia, on his own. He only has time for two things: Olivia, who has recently run through six babysitters in the past 18 months, and ranching, which is divided between the Split Rock guest ranch and his startup, All Hale Ranch, with his younger brother Tobin. But all that begins to change when tough Army Sgt. Bailey Masterson moves in next door on the Split Rock while on leave and begins a summer boot camp for kids.

I’ve read James before but this is the first I’ve read in the Blacktop Cowboys and it was a treat. The chemistry between Streeter and Bailey is great and the two, with their broken hearts and struggles, are very good for each other. Spun Out will have you rooting for Streeter, Bailey and Olivia as they grow stronger and heal.

448 pages

Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4). By Jennie Marts.

Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4). By Jennie Marts. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

With the Christmas holiday around the corner, the local youth hockey team to coach, and a financial mistake looming over his head, Logan Rivers hasn’t a moment to spare away from his ranching duties. But his couple of attempts at hiring a housekeeper have backfire, with the women making plays for his affections instead of preparing meals.

Enter new arrival to the small town of Creedence, Colorado, Harper Evans. She’s a down-on-her-luck widow and single mom who has come to retrieve her son, Floyd, from the boy’s grandmother. But she needs to earn some money before she can afford to take Floyd back home to Kansas by Christmas. Harper’s hard work, delicious peach cobbler and endless supply of snark charm the boots right off Logan, and his generous nature and cheesy one-liners do the same for Harper. But they agreed on a professional relationship and Harper’s plan to soon leave. Surely they can resist a little while longer.

This was my first time reading anything by Jennie Marts. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter, friendship and oh boy, the heat. "Holy hot hunk of cowboy" indeed. But Marts also delivered a story that tugs on the heartstrings and celebrates the gift of Christmas wishes. I plan to read more of this series.

384 pages

The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5). By Jaci Burton.

The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5). By Jaci Burton. 2019. InterMix/Berkely Publishing Group (ARC eBook).

Alice Weatherford is a L.A.-based matchmaker who loves her job and believes strongly in her approach, which doesn’t put much stock in chemistry being an important precursor for a lasting-commitment. Acting as Maid of Honor for her best friend, Alice arrives at the Bellini’s Red Moss Winery in Oklahoma one week ahead of the wedding in order to help oversee the final preparations. What she hadn’t planned on however was the blizzard that strands her with the Bellini family and their sexy neighbor, Clay Henry.

Needing a project to keep her occupied she decides to put her professional skills to use and find the perfect woman for the single rancher. She just has to ignore the chemistry sparking between her and her new client. Clay, however, is more interested in seeing where the chemistry take him and Alice and sets out to win her heart.

A fun, engaging novella with a charming hero and a promising start to a new series by Burton.

154 pages

My One and Only Cowboy (Meadow Valley #1). By A.J. Pine.

My One and Only Cowboy (Meadow Valley #1). By A.J. Pine. 2019. Forever. ISBN-13: 978-1-5387-4980-7 ( ARC ebook).

Two years ago, Vegas veterinary technician Delaney Harper’s con artist ex-husband emptied out their joint bank accounts, putting her dream of running an animal rescue on hold. But now she is determined to take back the California land he illegally sold without her consent. This brings her to a guest ranch in Meadow Valley, California, facing off against rancher Sam Callahan. Sam, his brother, and his best friend have been working hard for almost two years to bring their dream of running a guest ranch to fruition and now it’s finally happening. But getting a new business off the ground isn’t easy and the stranger claiming his property is hers isn’t helping matters.

Fortunately for Sam, the small town of Meadow Valley has shut down their businesses, including the mechanic and local government offices, for a whole week for their upcoming festival; and Delaney’s car is broken down. Providing her room and food in exchange for helping out at the ranch, Sam hopes he can persuade Delaney to forgo her plans of taking control of half of the land. He never imagined he’d be fighting her for control of his heart too.

While this is an enjoyable enough contemporary cowboy romance it took a while to warm up to Delaney, who comes onto the land (now ranch) after two years and confronts Sam without doing any due diligence regarding legal matters beforehand. I also had a problem tracking the time. For me there are times the impression is given that all of the events take place in three or so days, leaving several days unaccounted for. When compared to the Crossroads Ranch series by Pine, I found this first installment of Meadow Valley a bit disjointed and lacking in the level of connection between the main couple. However I am not writing this series off as the men are interesting and I’m curious to see how the guest ranching fares for the Callahan brothers and their friend Colt.

*Does not include the bonus novel The Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown.

239 pages

Christmas on the Range: An Anthology (Long Tall Texans). By Diana Palmer, Narrator: Will Damron.

Christmas on the Range: An Anthology (Long Tall Texans). By Diana Palmer, Narrator: Will Damron. 2015. Harlequin Audio. ISBN: 1504652053 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hours, 42 mins).

“Winter Roses”

Rancher Stuart York’s aversion and sharp tongue has cut Ivy Conley down numerous times in the past. The way he figured, it was for the best; she was just a teenager with a silly crush on him. But now she is 21, finished with school and set up with her business and Stuart finds he no longer wants to push his feelings for his younger sister’s best friend away.

Ivy’s a tough cookie. She’s had to soldier through a lot of turmoil in her home life, but has never let that alter her caring and selfless nature. Stuart takes his sweet time coming around, but once he steps in to be there for Ivy when she is once again confronted with family tragedy, the caring, protective man behind the tough veneer is revealed.

“Cattleman’s Choice”

Rough and reclusive rancher, Carson Wayne, has asked Mandelyn Bush to help him refine his coarse ways. He wants to settle down and be able to court a woman properly; and Mandelyn, he believes, is the right woman for the job. Mandelyn has always been intrigued by prickly Carson and dives right into the assignment. Little does she know that Carson already has his sights set on a classy lady.

Palmer delivers two entertaining stories while Will Damron proves a deft hand at surly Texan cowboys.

432 pages

All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy (The Wyoming Cowboy #1). By Jessica Clare, Narrator: Abby Craden.

All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy (The Wyoming Cowboy #1). By Jessica Clare, Narrator: Abby Craden. 2019. Tantor Audio (Unabridged audiobook, 8 hours, 3 mins).

Leading into the Christmas holiday, Eli Pickett finds only himself at the Wyoming cattle ranch he works at, as the rest of the hired hands have left on vacation. He doesn’t mind though, he’d much rather have the solitude the snow-covered sprawl provides than be a charity case.

Cassandra Horn is a long way from Manhattan, but she needs a respite from her self-involved boss and the boss’s flirty boyfriend. Her parent’s winter cabin in Wyoming should offer the perfect getaway. However, she is caught in a blizzard and crashes her car. Eli, out looking for a surly cow with a penchant for knocking down fence, comes upon an unconscious Cassandra on the verge of hypothermia. When she wakes, she finds she has amnesia and is snowed in with a cute cowboy of the strong, silent variety.

Sometimes forced proximity and amnesia plots are dark in tone, but that has never been Clare’s style. If you want a light and fun tone with your snowed-in holiday romance, this is your book.

 

288 pages

MOBIUS

Landry’s Back in Town (Rocky Ridge Romance #1). By Marjery Scott.

Landry’s Back in Town (Rocky Ridge Romance #1). By Marjery Scott. 2016. Margery Scott. ASIN: B01BNNFEXA (Kindle).

The story of Landry Mitchell and Olivia Harding begins when Landry steps in to thwart an attack on Olivia in a dusty alley of Rocky Ridge, a frontier town in Colorado. The two are instantly drawn to each other, but Landry, who has not been warmly welcomed back by the town’s residents after a three-year stint in prison, is hesitant to approach her. Olivia however, who spends her days taking care of children at the orphanage, sees a man who deserves a second chance. As Landry begins to open up to Olivia and the young orphan Daniel, his bank-robbing brother Tobias re-enters his life….and Tobias does not come to Rocky Ridge alone.

Margery Scott tells a hopeful story about three lonely people building a family and a brother’s love and loyalty bringing redemption. This historical western romance is a short, sweet read.

164 pages