Wicked Cowboy Wolf (Seven Range Shifters #3). By Kait Ballenger.

Wicked Cowboy Wolf (Seven Range Shifters #3). By Kait Ballenger. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC ebook).

Years ago a young Jared Black was cast from the Grey Wolf pack for a crime he took the fall for. Surviving the years that followed shaped the boy into a hardened criminal. As the leader of misfit wolves, he is known only as Rogue, and he is now offering a solution to the oncoming vampire threat to Maeve Gray, the sister of the Grey Wolf pack's alpha. All she has to do is ally herself with the mysterious wolf with as many scars on his soul as his body.

A new author and series for me, Ballenger delivers a story full of banter, misfits, secrets, chemistry and an ornery pet pig. I will be picking up more books in this series. Fans of paranormal romance and shifters will enjoy the protective alpha hero and feisty heroine in Wicked Cowboy Wolf.

While I think this romance can be read as a standalone, it is important to note that it is the third book in the series and involves an overall threat and story arc to the series’ plot.

352 pages

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

The Pioneer Woman : Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

Summary: "I'll never forget that night. It was like a romance novel, an old Broadway musical, and a John Wayne western rolled into one. Out for a quick drink with friends, I wasn't looking to meet anyone, let alone a tall, rugged cowboy who lived on a cattle ranch miles away from my cultured, corporate hometown. But before I knew it, I'd been struck with a lightning bolt . . . and I was completely powerless to stop it. Read along as I recount the rip-roaring details of my unlikely romance with a chaps-wearing cowboy, from the early days of our courtship (complete with cows, horses, prairie fire, and passion) all the way through the first year of our marriage, which would be filled with more challenge and strife---and manure---than I ever could have expected. This isn't just my love story; it's a universal tale of passion, romance, and all-encompassing love that sweeps us off our feet.
It's the story of a cowboy.
And Wranglers.
And chaps.
And the girl who fell in love with them."

My cousin introduced me to the recipes of the "Pioneer Woman," aka Ree Drummond. My cousin showed me one of The Pioneer Woman's cookbooks, and I enjoyed reading the delicious recipes within. However, I was more intrigued by the beautiful pictures of Ree's ranch in Oklahoma and her lovely family, along with her witty captions under each picture. Which led me to finding Ree's published love story of how she, a city girl, met and fell in love with her cowboy husband. It is a wonderful real-life story of romance and true love, and I absolutely love Ree's fresh voice and funny story-telling. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down (even though I know how it all ends!). I absolutely loved it; it made me laugh and it made my cry. I would recommend reading it or at least visiting her website: http://thepioneerwoman.com/, where you can read through many of her adventures. 

341 pages

"Reckless for Cowboy" by Daire St. Denis

Stampede week is ending in Calgary and so is Brooke's waitress job at Cattleman's Saloon.  She will soon be starting work at a law firm for a few months before beginning law school.  She knows better than to flirt too much with the cowboys who are temporarily in town, but she'd never counted on meeting Cooper Hays, a handsome saddle bronc rider.  This was a cute story told from Brooke's point of view, but it seemed to me that they got involved with each other way too quickly.  117 pages (Kindle edition).