Cowboy Bold – book review

Cowboy Bold
by Carolyn Brown
Release Date:  May 29, 2018
Publisher:  Forever
Book #1 in the Longhorn Canyon series
Number of pages:  336
Kindle Edition
Source:  ARC from Net Galley
Contemporary Romance/Western M/F
Rating: R
Read 5/20/18 to 5/21/18

Another great start to a series by Carolyn Brown. (I’m still waiting on books 2 & 3 from her Happy, Texas series from my library after reading the wonderful Toughest Cowboy in Texas a couple of months ago.)  As much as I enjoy a long series that builds and builds its character base, I’ve found a really like how this author keeps her series from getting too out of control.  We really get to know the characters and there’s not the danger of forgetting who is with who.

Let’s talk about this particular book, though.  Do yourself a favor and read the “Dear Reader” that Ms. Brown included at the beginning.  I think the way the interaction she writes about became this story is interesting.  This is a super engaging book.  Although this is a romance novel with some steamy interactions, it’s really quite a wholesome story.  Having a bunch of very impressionable tweens running about keeps Cade and Retta from getting too touchy/feely.  I think that adds to the chemistry they have.  The fact that they have to really keep a distance from each other makes the pull that much stronger.

All the people who live and work on the ranch regularly were a joy to meet.  There’s already a story for Levi slated for this fall and I’m sure there will be a Justin story not too far behind.  These guys work hard and love even harder.  While it seems they have all had their fun and carefree times (and possibly still do), none of them seem like the typical man-whores as these types of characters are often portrayed.

Now, I really liked Retta in a lot of ways.  She was great with the kids and animals alike.  She is super kind and generous.  But I was ready to wallop that girl upside the head every time she would reject her own feelings because of some “plan” that didn’t even seem very well thought out.  (Seriously, she planned on waiting until she was in her 40’s to even try having kids?)  I really got a kick out of her “talking” to her parents though.  That’s what kept her in the column of a likable character even when I was frustrated with her.  Those talks she had showed me she, on some level, realized she was being a bit ridiculous about things.

While I’m anxiously awaiting Levi’s story, at least I still have plenty of books by this author I have yet to read.  I still can’t believe the first book I ever read by this author almost kept me from seeking any further books by her.  You can’t always go by your first impressions!

4 stars

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**