ARC REVIEW Born to be a Cowboy by R.C. Ryan

Montana Strong #3, We are back one last time with the Monroes. It can be read as a standalone but I enjoyed the series as a whole. Finn Monroe a small town lawyer part time cowboy wasn't alway lucky to have this family, after the death of both parents the brothers were split up in foster care where they each had a hard time making each of the boys foulmouthed troublemakers. When they ran away they lucked out and found Mac Monroe's ranch. Mac knew how they felt he gave them a home and taught them what it was like to have a loving home environment. It was also the influence of Zachariah that Finn grew up to be a lawyer.

When Jessica walks into Finns office he knows better than to believe what she says right off the back. Her Aunt, the woman who raised her, is missing. The last she heard from her she had ran off and got married and was going on her honeymoon. That isn't like her Aunt at all for as long as she been with her Aunt she's has been married to her ranch. Then when the  PI she hired, a former FBI agent died in an accident right after calling her to tell he he found something she knew her suspicions were right but nobody believed her. Finn wants to believe her something about her story rings true but it isn't until after he does some checking on his own that he fully believes her especially after the motel she was staying at and her rental car catch on fire after talking to Finn. Finn brings her home to the ranch at least there there will be someone with her at all times. But this goes deeper than just Jessica's aunt and Finn stirs up a whole lot of trouble.

I loved the relationship between Fin and Jessica. Finn has a strong work ethic and initially didn't want to get involved with a client but something about Jessica wants him to bend his own rules for once. Jessica feels guilty over what happened to her aunt thinking it never would have happened if she had still been living on the ranch, and now she's willing to risk her own happiness to make sure her aunt is never vulnerable again. Overall, it was a great read. I love R.C. Ryan's attention to detail and her descriptions for me, someone who has never been to Montana, it makes me want to visit all the same time feel like I'm already there while I read it. I love the familial relationship this whole family is wonderful.

ARC REVIEW The Cowboy Next Door by R.C. Ryan

 Montana Strong #2, can be read as a standalone. All things are quiet on the Monroe Ranch but it's about to get shaken up when Mac Monroe does a favor for a very dear friend. Mac hires Penny Cash on at the ranch to help out with cooking and cleaning when her teaching job at Haller Creek falls through. When Mac adopted Sam and his brothers over sixteen years ago he turned the three foul-mouthed troublemakers into ranchers. Sam Monroe took to ranching like it was something he was meant to do. Sam was in no hurry to settle down he was content to go out drink beers, hustle a little at pool, and sleep around that was until he walked into the house after three weeks out with the cattle and found Penny in his kitchen.

Penny was used to being in a household of all men, she practically raised her three brothers all by herself after their parents death, so she was prepared for what to expect when she started on at the Monroe Ranch. What she wasn't prepared for was how strongly attracted she was to Sam. A slow burn romance that builds their relationship before anything else. Both are hard workers who know the value of a hard days work but where Sam knows how to kick back and relax Penny doesn't. Penny has worked hard her whole life when she wasn't taking care of her brothers or her elderly aunt she was studying to be a teacher, it's been her dream for as long as she can remember. Penny discovers that her youngest brother is working on a ranch outside Haller Creek, she also finds out he's been betting and losing money playing pool and when trouble follows him Penny gets caught in the middle. Sam just found happiness with Penny and now he's will to put his life on the line to save her.

Overall, it's a contemporary western with a splash of suspense, just the way I like it. R.C. Ryan hits the spot with this heartwarming family relationship, sexy and smart cowboys, a picturesque setting, and a romance that burns slow but hot. Sam and Penny have a lot in common but just enough to keep it interesting. Finn said the dreaded famous last words of a single man, "I guess it's up to me to stay strong and resist whatever love virus is going around." *maniacal laugh* I can't wait for his book.   

GREAT SUMMER READING with Debbie Mason and R.C. Ryan

Two of my favorite summer reads this year so far are Debbie Mason's Sandpiper Shore and R.C. Ryan's Cowboy on my Mind. What I mean of course they are summer books that are perfect for that beach read, sitting by the pool, or even just your favorite outdoor reading spot.

Harmony Harbor #6, I found the blurb on this one a little off, Jenna is a matchmaker, she owns a successful business with her stepmother until recently, she's engaged to the perfect guy until he walks in into her stepsisters dress shop and tells her the weddings off. The next thing Jenna knows she's jobless, broke, her stepsisters hate her and the only one really on her side, besides her best friend, is Logan Gallagher who has recently saved her from her ex and from herself more than once all in the span of a half a day. Protecting people is what Logan does, he's in the Secret Service, but when he meets Jenna her damsel in distress vibe is strong and he finds he can't help himself and keeps coming to her aid. After that horrible day they maintain a nice friendship. He even helps her get the job as a fill in wedding planner at Greystone Manor. But then Logan's job calls him away and then there's a car accident and when Logan comes back he not only can't remember the last few weeks of his life including everything that happened with Jenna he's engaged. To top it all off Jenna now has to plan Logan's wedding...to a princess.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. Jenna's poor life spirals out of control and nothing seems to be going right and just when she thinks things are finally going her way she gets thrown a curveball or two. This is a great Cinderella story, complete with mean stepsisters and a horrible stepmother and all Jenna ever wanted was for them to be a family. I loved the characters, especially Logan, the writing is so funny and heartwarming and with a little bit of intrigue to make it really interesting. I love Debbie Mason's Harmony Harbor series.

Montana Strong #1, This series starts off strong with a great introduction to characters. Montana rancher, Mac, a recent widower who not only lost his wife lost his son as well. With nothing else to live for he's on the verge of taking his own life when three young brothers who ran away from their individual foster homes break into his house in the middle of a blizzard. Seeing those boys so desperate to stay together and willing to work hard gives Mac a reason to keep going. Years later each of the three trouble makers has made something of themselves the eldest Ben is now helping out the Sheriff acting as a deputy at least temporarily until the sheriff can get back on his feet after an injury. Becca left Haller Creek the first chance she got and at first she never wanted to come back but after being gone for so long she realized how much she missed home. Becca is determined to keep her independence from her controlling and old fashioned parents and she wants to prove herself a good business woman to her Dad. Becca is not the only one back in Haller Creek, Will is back from seminary school and Becca's parents keep pushing to get her and Will to get into a relationship, but everytime her and Will are alone together someone takes a shot at them. Each shot is a miss so they are a crappy shot or they are just trying to scare them either way Ben is determined to protect Becca at all costs. Becca always had a crush on Ben, from the very first day and he's always protected her no matter what. Ben has always had a crush on Becca but was hesitant to act on it since her Dad hates Ben, but now Becca is a grown woman and she finally has the courage to act on her feelings and what she wants almost as much as she wants a successful business is Ben. It's not going to be an easy road to their HEA.

Overall, this was a great read. I love the relationship between Mac and the boys and how all three of the brothers are so different but their bond is strong and Becca fit in perfectly with their family dynamic. It was a nice tease for the other two brothers and I can't wait for their stories. Becca and Ben is a nice romance they are older and wiser and they are not going to let this second chance pass them by and dealing with Becca's dad is a handful but all in all I loved every aspect of this book.       

      

ARC REVIEW Reed by R.C. Ryan

Reed is book three of the Malloys of Montana series by R.C. Ryan. Reed is the youngest of the three brothers and even though he has the playboy image he takes one thing very seriously, his cattle. He is trying to raise a herd of free range organic cattle that has been a money pit, until now. This latest herd is doing surprisingly well and if he can get them to market he has a buyer who will pay very well for them. Ally Shaw and her son Kyle needed a do over. Kyle's father was a military man who died overseas. After it happened a coworker of Ally's started acting weird, and possessive. Ally wanted to get away from him and everything else. She moved to Glacier Ridge and into her uncle's home. Uncle Archer reluctantly let them stay until Ally could get the apartment upstairs from her new business liveable. Archer had some strict rules for them to follow and half the time it was difficult for a four year old Kyle to remember them. It was the wrong time for them to meet, Ally needed to worry about her store and her son and Reed needed to concentrate on his keeping his livestock healthy until roundup. But once Reed saw Ally, no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he knew there would be no other woman for him.

Trouble followed Ally to Montana, it started as little things but the closer she got to Reed the worse things got. Even her relationship with her Uncle which was precarious already got worse. But she had lots of good things going on that outweighed the bad, her business was successful the towns people loved her, and she even acquired a new assistant a young girl with a knack and passion for vintage clothes. She also had the love and support of the entire Malloy family especially Reed. The only thing bringing her down was the crazy stalker and her temperamental Uncle.

Ally is, of course, hesitant to start anything with Reed, after what happened with Kyle's father she was worried about a relationship with any man. I loved the slow but constant seduction Reed goes through with Ally, the not so subtle reminders that he is there for her, and willing to wait until she's comfortable but not letting her forget how much he wants her. Reed is great with Kyle and with dealing with all the crap that followed her Ally can't resist the charm and the attraction.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I like R.C. Ryan her style of writing is smooth and easy well balanced between the suspense, emotional and the romance. OHHHHHH and the continuing story arc is finally concluded! I really enjoy reading R.C. Ryan western romance and I can't wait for more.    

ARC REVIEW Luke by R.C. Ryan

First time reader of R.C. Ryan and even though this is the second book of the series it can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this book I loved the characters the plot was enjoyable and very well done. Luke is a knight-errant in a Stenson, if you are looking for an adventurous, daredevil cowboy who isn't going to turn away someone he cares about this is the cowboy you are looking for. Ingrid is a headstrong rancher determined not to lose her family's legacy. Unfortunately her father's untimely death left her mother with the property and left Ingrid and her little sister with the cattle. Ingrid just needs to make it until the spring when she can sell off the herd and buy her birthright from her horrible mother.

Strange things have been happening around Ingrid's property like a fire, someone poisoning her dog; Ingrid is stretched to her limit on keeping things together and her mother's money grubbing hands are not helping. When Luke is photographing a wild herd of mustangs a rifle shot spooks the horses and knocks him off his horse and bangs his head. Ingrid finds him and even though she thinks he's the one who took the shot she takes him back home to tend to his wounds. It's a couple of days before Luke is up and moving around again but one thing he knows for sure is that he can not leave Ingrid alone with her sister and an older, should be retired by now, ranch hand to deal with a pushy neighbor and suspicious activities. Ingrid is suspicious of Luke she doesn't know his motives and assumes her mother's "honky tonk angel" ways will seduce Luke just like every other man around. Luke only has eyes for Ingrid and he's going to work hard to prove to her that he's not going anywhere as long as she needs him. The suspicious activities start to escalate and the sexual tension between Luke and Ingrid intensifies until Ingrid finally gives in and soon realizes she loves him.      

I love the fact that right off the bat the prologue establishes just how far Luke is willing to go to help those he loves. I loved that the harder Ingrid wanted to hate Luke the more she loved him. I loved Gracie "Lil'bit" The end was really good a nice climatic ending. Overall a great read.