This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Published by St. Martin's Publishing
Released on October 7, 2014
Pages: 91
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
I thought the premise sounded good and once in a while I am in the mood for something short and to the point. And that is exactly what I got with this first in a series about three billionaire brothers who make the big bucks in their chosen professions with this being about the oldest Blackwell who is a successful rancher.
Ryder Blackwell can have anything he wants these days and is a far cry from his family’s humble beginnings, but other than his ranch, the one thing he wants isn’t all that easy in acquiring. Veterinarian Lara Montgomery has bewitched him and turned him inside out since the first day he met her when she ripped him a new one about a calf that got caught in the fence. Since then, he has asked her out several times and shown his interest, but she shoots him down or ignores him. But that is about to change because now he has something she wants.
Lara isn’t oblivious to the attractive rancher who can and has had every woman he wants according to the local gossip, but she refuses to be one of the many notches on his bedpost. She is starting over and trying to repair her family’s reputation and she won’t let it get tarnished by being seen with a player like Ryder Blackwell. Unfortunately, he outbid her at the auction for the pedigreed thoroughbred mare she has been saving for that will be the first step toward her dream of a reputable stable like her granddad had. He makes an unusual offer that she can’t refuse as she is determined that she will not let him get to her while she fulfills her side of the bargain to acquire the mare.
As I said, this was shorter one with not a lot of development, but just an unapologetic passionate weekend encounter that manages to break down the barriers toward a nice resolve. It provided an engaging plot with two people who had an ongoing attraction from before the beginning of the story. The hero’s ploy brought them close together so they could act on their mutual attraction though also learn that was a lot more to a person than their public reputations. I enjoyed all, but Lara’s quick to judge attitude and catty jealousy that made her seem mean until she paid attention to what she was seeing from Ryder himself. Ryder saw her as a breath of fresh air because she wasn’t interested in his money which is very true and he had no long lasting plans at first so she was right to sense that about him. In the end, they both got more than they bargained for as they scorched things up around the ranch.
This takes place around Christmas time and is put out there as a holiday read, but I didn’t see more than a nod toward a Christmas theme. I would suggest this would appeal to those who are looking for a fast, sassy and hot contemporary cowboy romance.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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You and your cowboys!
You know I’m not into them but I do like the idea of having prime cut meat available to me 24/7 a la The Pioneer Woman LOL
I know. My Westerner roots show themselves once in a while. Can’t be helped. 😉
smh what are we gonna do with her Sophia?! Not liking cowboys *hangs head* 😉
And apologetically passionate? Gah. Yep might have to give this quickie a try.
Haha! Yeah, I figure she just leaves more for the rest of us. Yummo!
Oh yes, there was a bit of resistance emotionally on her part, but she was as ‘giddyup cowboy’ as he was with her passion.
LOL I will gladly help you take over her cast off cowboys. *nods* heh
I’m good with a little emotional hold back now and again. Makes it worth it in the end 🙂 This might have to be my Christmas treat 😀
Indulge away! 😉 I confess this was the first of my holiday reads I grabbed off the pile.
I started going at my Christmas ones back in like September. It was so…so weird. lol I think I have only one left now. O.o That’s crazy.
I got mine then too, but I just couldn’t work up the interest until a few weeks ago. I really got in the mood last year right around Thanksgiving. At the moment, I’m just reading a few at a time. I do have one Thanksgiving review book that I’m reading next. I was happy to find it b/c I don’t come across many of those. That being said, I had to go looking for the November holiday recommendations post we wanted to do. The funny part is that even though its my recommendation post; I probably added a half dozen… Read more »
Oh how funny. I don’t think I’ve read too many. I only remember one that was very Thanksgiving-y and that was a little one by Janet Evanovich. I’ve read a couple that had some thanksgiving in them but not as a big focus. Interesting.
It’s probably the same Janet Evanovich I put on the list. Haha!