Category Archives: Carolyn Brown

Review: Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown

Title: Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown
Happy, Texas Book One
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The Spark of an Old Flame

Last time Lila Harris was in Happy, Texas, she was actively earning her reputation as the resident wild child. Now, a little older and wiser, she’s back to run her mother’s café for the summer. Except something about this town has her itching to get a little reckless and rowdy, especially when she sees her old partner-in-crime, Brody Dawson. Their chemistry is just as hot as ever. But he’s still the town’s golden boy-and she’s still the wrong kind of girl.

Brody hasn’t had much time lately for anything other than ranching. Running the biggest spread in the county and taking care of his family more than keeps him busy. All that responsibility has him longing for the carefree days of high school-and Lila. She may have grown up, but he still sees that spark of mischief in her eyes. Now he’s dreaming about late-night skinny dipping and wondering how he can possibly resist the one woman he can never forget…

Review:

The first book in Carolyn Brown’s Happy, Texas series, Toughest Cowboy in Texas is an entertaining second chance at love romance.

Twelve years ago, Lila Harris left Happy, Texas with a broken heart courtesy of her secret boyfriend Brody Dawson.  Now a well-respected school teacher, Lila returns to Happy to sell her mama’s cafe but she cannot escape the town’s long memory.  Considered the town’s “wild child” because of her fun-loving, spirited antics, the townspeople still refer to her by her former nickname and she is the object of an awful lot of mean-spirited gossip. And woo whee!  Two of the Lila’s biggest detractors are Brody’s mama and Grandma and they are hoping he stays far away from her while she is in town.

Brody’s life changed direction dramatically due to circumstances beyond his control and he now has his hands full running the family ranch with his brother Jace.  He harbors quite a few regrets for the way he treated Lila while they were dating and as an adult, he is quick to apologize for his mistakes. Brody is also ready and willing to fight for her once he realizes he is still attracted to her.

The sparks fly between Brody and Lila once they are reunited but there is plenty of internal and external conflict to prevent them from acting on their attraction. With the townspeople convinced she is nothing but trouble, Lila cannot wait to leave Happy again. She is also rather reluctant to trust that Brody will not break her heart again. Brody knows that Lila is the woman for him, but his mama and grandma are dead set against them becoming a couple. Will Brody fight for Lila no matter what his family thinks? And will Lila be able to work through her reservations about living permanently in a town where she is nothing but fodder for  gossip?

Although Brody and Lila are likable characters, their relationship has a bit of an insta-love feel to it. The townspeople are rather judgmental and quick to think the worst of Lila despite the fact that they really do not know her.  It is also rather frustrating that both Lila and Brody’s families are dead set against them seeing another. The reasons are ridiculously overblown and have absolutely nothing to do with either Brody and Lila.

Toughest Cowboy in Texas  is a sweet yet steamy small town romance with a cast of eclectic but likable characters. While there are a few frustrations with some elements of the storyline, this first installment in the Happy, Texas series is an enjoyable read that I recommend to old and new fans of Carolyn Brown.

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Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Forever, Happy Texas Series, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Toughest Cowboy in Texas

Review: Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown

Title: Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown
Lucky Penny Ranch Series Book Two
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

LET’S GIVE ‘EM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT . . .
If gossip is the lifeblood of a small town, then Lizzy Logan has been its beating heart. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, she could have decided to crawl under a rock. But no, she’d rather really set tongues wagging by “moving on” with one of the hottest cowboys in Texas, who happens to live next door at the Lucky Penny Ranch. Those busybodies don’t have to know it’s actually all pretend. And just because Lizzy has no aim to tame her wild, blue-eyed neighbor doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy the ride of her life.

Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy’s pretend boyfriend? They’ll put on a show for a few weeks and be done. Yet the more he gets to know Lizzy-really know her-the harder it is for him to keep his hands off of her in private. Soon this rough-and-ready cowboy is hoping to heal Lizzy’s bruised heart and turn their fake affair into a true romance . . .

Also in the Lucky Penny Ranch series:

Wild Cowboy Ways

Merry Cowboy Christmas

Wicked Cowboy Charm

Review:

Hot Cowboy Nights is a fun, flirty addition to Carolyn Brown’s wonderful Lucky Penny Ranch series.  In this latest installment, Lizzy Logan is paired up with Toby Dawson and the resulting romance is sweet yet sizzling hot.

Lizzy might have recently had her heart broken, but the break up is just the catalyst she needs to make some changes in her life.  No longer the meek submissive woman she was during her engagement, she now speaks her mind and she will not let anyone tell her what to do.  Lizzy is still sweet but she is also quite feisty and sassy.  When some of the older ladies in town voice their disapproval over some of her recent decisions and begin meddling in her love life, Lizzy politely but firmly lets them know she is old enough to decide who she wants to date.

Toby oozes sex appeal and quite a few of the single ladies would like nothing better than to rope the sexy cowboy.  He has a reputation as a player but he has no interest in settling down any time soon especially now he is focused on the ranch he co-owns with his brother Blake. Not everyone is happy about their recent purchase but Toby and Blake ignore the gossip and negative attitudes as they continue their hard work to get the Lucky Penny up and running.

With the single ladies hot on Toby’s heels and Lizzy’s ex-fiancé planning to return to town, a pretend relationship seems to be the answer to their prayers.  Sounds simple enough but there are plenty of sparks between Toby and Lizzy and neither of them expect the backlash from some of the older residents.  Despite these unexpected complications, Toby and Lizzy enjoy their “dates” but fighting their attraction is much harder than they thought it would be.  As the weeks pass, their fake romance begins to feel like a real relationship, but is either Toby or Lizzy ready to make their arrangement permanent?

With a cast of colorful characters and plenty of down home charm, Hot Cowboy Nights is another entertaining installment in the Lucky Penny Ranch series. Fans of western romances are sure to love this latest offering from Carolyn Brown.

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Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Forever, Hot Cowboy Nights, Lucky Penny Ranch Series, Rated B, Review

Review: One Texas Cowboy Too Many by Carolyn Brown

Title: One Texas Cowboy Too Many by Carolyn Brown
Burnt Boot, Texas Series Book Three
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Carolyn Brown’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling cowboys prove that love is bigger in Burnt Boot, Texas

She’s got too many cowboys on her hands
Leah Brennan has always been the good girl of the Brennan family, groomed to become the matriarch of the clan. When a dark-eyed, tattooed, ponytailed bad boy saunters into her life, Leah knows he’s off-limits-but his mesmerizing gaze makes her forget everything she used to think was important. As town-wide tension rises, Leah wonders if love really can conquer all…

And the whole town’s taking sides
When Rhett O’Donnell roars into Burnt Boot on a hot July evening, the first thing he sees is a beautiful blonde. She puts a little extra giddy-up in his heartbeat, but when Rhett’s desire throws him into the middle of a love triangle and a hundred-year-old feud, he realizes that winning his cowgirl’s heart will be a lot more complicated than he thought.

Review:

One Texas Cowboy Too Many is another zany installment in Carolyn Brown’s Burnt Boot, Texas series. In this third outing, good girl Leah Brennan falls for tattooed biker/cowboy Rhett O’Donnell, but will her Granny Mavis’s objections ruin their chance at happiness?

Growing up in the midst of the infamous Brennan/Gallagher feud, Leah never even considered acting on her longtime crush on Tanner Gallagher. Still quietly pining after the handsome cowboy, she is surprised by her unexpected attraction to Rhett, but she is even more astonished by her Granny’s reaction to the long haired cowboy. Knowing the time has come to break free from both the tension of the longstanding feud and her strong-willed, controlling grandmother, Leah takes the first of many steps to gain some long overdue independence.

Despite his outward appearance, Rhett is a kind-hearted man who is very loyal to his family. Wandering smack dab in the middle of the feud, he refuses to take sides and although he is falling for Leah, he encourages her to do what is best for her and her family. Although he is fully aware of Mavis’s dislike of him, Rhett is always a gentleman around her and he is always unfailingly polite whenever their paths cross. He is supportive of Leah without being overbearing and he pretty much takes all of the Brennan/Gallagher families’ scheming in stride.

Despite the Gallagher/Brennan family shenanigans, the relationship between Rhett and Leah is quite laid back and conflict free. While there is plenty of sexual tension between them, they take the time to get to know each other before giving in to their passion. Although Rhett and Leah fall in love in a very short amount of time, there is never any doubt that the emotion between them is genuine.

As with the first two books in the Burnt Boot, Texas series, the longstanding Brennan/Gallagher feud takes center stage, often overshadowing the budding romance between Rhett and Leah. The warring family’s antics are over the top and so outrageous that it becomes more tiresome than humorous. Equally frustrating are the matriarchs efforts to outdo one another and keep the war going instead of letting bygones be bygones. The younger generations are ready to leave the dispute behind but fear of enraging and/or disappointing their relatives leads them giving up (or sometimes hiding) friendships or romantic relationships.

With a cast of quirky but likable characters, plenty of folksy charm and a sweet, yet sensual romance, One Texas Cowboy Too Many is a wonderful addition to the Burnt Boot, Texas series. Old and new fans of Carolyn Brown are sure to enjoy this newest adventure starring the Gallagher/Brennan families.

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Filed under Burnt Boot Texas Series, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, One Texas Cowboy Too Many, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebook Casablanca

Review: The Trouble with Texas Cowboys by Carolyn Brown

texas cowboysTitle: The Trouble with Texas Cowboys by Carolyn Brown
Burnt Boot, Texas Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can a girl ever have too many cowboys?
No sooner does pint-sized spitfire Jill Cleary set foot on Fiddle Creek Ranch than she finds herself in the middle of a hundred-year-old feud. Quaid Brennan and Tyrell Gallagher are both tall, handsome, and rich…and both are courting Jill to within an inch of her life. She’s doing her best to give these feuding ranchers equal time-too bad it’s dark-eyed Sawyer O’Donnell who makes her blood boil and her hormones hum…

The Review:

The Trouble with Texas Cowboys, the second installment in Carolyn Brown’s Burnt Boot, Texas series, is another sweet and fun-filled romance. After their inauspicious first meeting, Sawyer O’Donnell and Jill Cleary team up to avoid getting caught in the middle of a longstanding feud between the Gallaghers and the Brennans.

Jill and Sawyer have not had time to settle into their new home or jobs on Fiddle Creek Ranch before disaster strikes. Jill’s aunt is injured and in addition to their ranching duties, Jill and Sawyer are also busy manning the local bar and town store.  They easily handle their workload but keeping out of the clutches of the rival families? More work than all three of their jobs combined, but Jill and Sawyer quickly devise a plan to steer clear of the determined families. The feud promptly heats up but so does an unanticipated romance between Jill and Sawyer.

Jill and Sawyer are both fairly laidback and their relationship begins with an easygoing friendship. After they each attend one dinner with the rival families, they both know that they do not want to take sides in the feud. The Brennans and Gallaghers are pretty relentless in trying to convince them otherwise but Jill and Sawyer successfully avoid being alone with any of them. Constantly thrown together, Jill and Sawyer are both surprised by their unexpected attraction, but instead of fighting it, they agree to see where it leads them. Their resulting romance is slow growing but very sweet and steamy.

The Gallagher/Brennan feud is instrumental in bringing Jill and Sawyer together and it is a big part of the storyline. The various family members are involved in some pretty crazy and over the top schemes that keep everyone plenty stirred up. There are also plenty of cat fights between the women and fistfights and brawls erupt between the men. The feud is a unique device to keep Jill and Sawyer united in their efforts to stay neutral, but their romance is sometimes eclipsed by all of the fighting and scheming of the Gallaghers and Brennans.

The Trouble with Texas Cowboys is a light-hearted addition to the Burnt Boot, Texas series. Jill and Sawyer are engaging, likable characters and their romance is delightfully angst free. An overall witty and charming love story with just a touch of drama, this latest offering from Carolyn Brown is sure to be a hit with anyone who enjoys contemporary Western romances.

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Filed under Burnt Boot Texas Series, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Trouble with Texas Cowboys

Review: Daisies in the Canyon by Carolyn Brown

daisiesTitle: Daisies in the Canyon by Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 274 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She’s here to claim her birthright…

Ex-army sergeant Abby Malloy feels no loss after the father she never knew passes away. Still, part of Ezra Malloy’s ranch belongs to her, and if the stubborn blonde has to live there for a year with two half-sisters who are strangers to her, so be it. Nothing could stand in the way of her inheritance…except a local sheriff wrapped in snug blue jeans and a sexy grin.

He’s here to claim her heart…

Cooper Wilson, the local sheriff and rancher next door, is having his world turned upside down. Abby is all straight talk and sweet, lush curves—the kind of woman who gets under his skin in just the right way. Whereas Cooper has roots in Palo Duro Canyon, Abby’s got wings. But he knows she belongs here. If she can stop running from her past, he’ll happily lead her to a brighter future, one hot cowboy kiss at a time.

The Review:

Daisies in the Canyon by Carolyn Brown is an exceptionally well-written, engaging and heartwarming romance. This wonderful novel set in the Palo Duro Canyon is a beautiful love story between Abby Malloy and Cooper Wilson. It is also a healing story about making peace with the past and embracing the unexpected as Abby and her newfound half-sisters, Shiloh and Bonnie, begin a new life on the ranch left to them by the father they never met.

Fresh out of the Army, Abby has lived a transient life for so long that the thought of putting down roots is a foreign concept. But to inherit the ranch left to her by her absentee father Ezra, she has to stay on the ranch for one year. Abby is reluctant to commit to the entire year, so she decides to stay until spring, then she will re-evaluate whether or not it is time to move on. But when she begins to fall for Sheriff and neighbor Cooper Wilson, Abby must decide if she is ready to risk her heart despite not knowing what the future holds.

Abby is a strong, capable woman and she is more than up to the task of learning the ins and outs of ranching. Although she had a stable, happy childhood, Ezra’s abandonment left its mark and she has struggled with commitment issues and a sense of not belonging for most of her life. Her time on the ranch provides the opportunity for Abby to gain a better understanding of herself and some of the choices she has made. But it is not until Abby begins to fall for Cooper that she realizes how deeply Ezra’s rejection has affected her.

It is not at all difficult to understand why Abby is drawn to Cooper. He is deliciously sexy, dependable and hardworking. Between his Sheriff and ranching duties, he has been too busy for a serious relationship but that does not stop him for pursuing Abby once she catches his eye. For the most part, Cooper is content to patiently wait while she works through her problems, but he does gently nudge her towards staying both in the canyon and with him.

Cooper and Abby’s relationship heats up really fast, but the two quickly step back once they realize they have very different plans for the future. However, their paths cross fairly frequently and they become friends all the while trying to ignore to ignore their simmering desire. Cooper and Abby decide to explore their attraction but a misunderstanding and Abby’s fear of commitment threaten their blossoming romance.

The one area of Abby’s life that is relatively trouble free is the unanticipated bond she finds with Shiloh and Bonnie. There is little animosity between them and although their backgrounds are diverse, the three find common ground as they settle into their new lives. Their individual strengths offset one another’s weaknesses and they are surprised by how compatible they are. When Abby’s fears about the future jeopardize her relationship with Cooper, Shiloh and Bonnie are a welcome source of advice and comfort.

Daisies in the Canyon is a sweet, humorous and sometimes poignant novel that is quite captivating. The cast of characters is beautifully developed, appealing and very easy to root for. Carolyn Brown’s love for the Palo Duro Canyon is always apparent and her descriptive prose brings the picturesque setting vibrantly to life. The storyline is refreshing with very little angst or drama. All of the necessary ingredients for a heartfelt, feel good story that I absolutely loved and highly recommend!

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Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Daisies in the Canyon, Montlake Romance, Rated A, Review, Romance

Review: Cowboy Boots for Christmas by Carolyn Brown

cowboy bootsTitle: Cowboy Boots for Christmas by Carolyn Brown
Burnt Boot, TX Series
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

‘Tis the season for…
Feasting
Frolicking
And…Feuding?

All he wants for Christmas is peace and quiet…
After two tours in Afghanistan, retired Army sniper Finn O’Donnell believes his new ranch outside the sleepy little town of Burnt Boot, Texas, is the perfect place for an undisturbed holiday season. But before he can settle in, an old friend shows up looking for protection and a place where nobody knows her name.

But that’s going to take a miracle…
Callie Brewster must relocate to protect her young nephew, Martin, and the only person she trusts is her old Army friend, Finn. Burnt Boot seems like the perfect place to be anonymous, but it turns out a small town with big drama is no place to hide…

The Review:

Cowboy Boots for Christmas is the wonderfully heartwarming first novel in Carolyn Brown’s newest series, Burnt Boot, TX.  It is another highly entertaining story with plenty of sass, a sighworthy romance and just to keep things interesting, a long running feud that pretty much surpasses the one between the infamous Hatfields and McCoys. Throw in a mess of adorable pets, lovable kids and feisty seniors, and you have an unforgettable tale that will leave you grinning from ear to ear at all of their crazy antics.

Although Finn O’Donnell and Callie Brewster were extremely close during their deployment to Afghanistan, they lost touch after they returned stateside. Two years later, they are reunited at Finn’s isolated ranch outside the small town of Burnt Boot, TX when Callie needs a safe place for her and her nephew Martin to hide for a few weeks. Callie and Finn settle right back into their easy friendship and now they are no longer working together, they are free to explore their smoldering attraction to one another.

Their previous acquaintance is the perfect set up for love to flourish between Callie and Finn. Although they were attracted to each other in Afghanistan, their relationship remained platonic and Finn was momentarily distracted by another woman. Callie is surprised to discover that Finn is still single while Finn is pretty shocked that Callie is now the legal guardian of eight year old Martin. Callie is a little dismayed to discover she is still attracted to Finn but with her aversion to all things cowboy, she is not planning to act on her desire. Meanwhile, Finn is left wondering why he never acted on his long ago attraction to Callie and since he remembers she wants nothing to do with ranch life long term, he does not see any reason to act on his passion either.

The relationship between Callie and Finn is slow growing, and their friendship makes their inevitable transition from friends to lovers believable. Their romance is very sweet with plenty of sexual tension. Their lovemaking is deliciously steamy but the scenes are not very explicit. While their romance is mainly conflict free, Callie has some uncertainties to come to terms with before she can fully commit to a future with Finn.

Cowboy Boots for Christmas is another absolutely charming romance by Carolyn Brown. An eclectic but (mostly) lovable cast of characters brings the story vibrantly to life. This engaging novel has a refreshingly unique plot that is sweet, sexy and just plain fun. With the local feud heating up and the unexpected arrival of Finn’s cousin Sawyer, readers are going to be chomping at the bit for the next installment in the Burnt Boot, TX series.

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Filed under Burnt Boot Texas Series, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Cowboy Boots for Christmas, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca