Friday, June 12, 2015

Review + Giveaway: Brokedown Cowboy

BROKEDOWN COWBOY
Copper Ridge #2
Maisey Yates
Contemporary Romance
368 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
There are lines best friends shouldn't cross, but in Copper Ridge, Oregon, the temptation might be too much…

If practice makes perfect, Connor Garrett should be world champion of being alone. Since losing his wife he's concentrated exclusively on his family's ranch. Until his dear friend Felicity Foster needs a place to stay and Connor invites her to move in temporarily. That's what friends do—and Liss is his rock. What friends don't do? Suddenly start fantasizing about each other in their underwear. Or out of it…

Since high school, Liss has kept her raging crush in check. Another few weeks should be a breeze. But helping Connor rebuild his life only reinforces how much she longs to be a part of it. One explosive encounter, and she'll discover that getting what you always wanted can feel better than you ever dreamed…


MY THOUGHTS
Brokedown Cowboy is a romance fraught with the kind of tension that can only exist between longtime friends as they navigate the potentially treacherous waters of a shifting relationship, keeping us on edge throughout despite knowing a happily every after is awaiting us at the end. What makes this friends-to-lovers romance so successful is leading lady Liss, a woman who ensures the channels of communication between her and Connor are wide open even as she holds the full depth of her feelings back as a means of self-preservation. Where there could have been miscommunications and unnecessarily hurt feelings we find instead a woman who knows when to push Connor and when to take a step back, and we can't help but want her to have her fairytale ending with every fiber of our being.

Liss is upfront with Connor from the get-go, letting honesty serve as the foundation for their relationship and sparing us all the drama that accompanies silence or misdirection, but while she doesn't allow either of them to get away with hiding, she's unable to keep herself from throwing her heart in Connor's direction and hoping he catches it. She's careful as she can be though, as honest with herself as she is with Connor about what their relationship is and what it isn't, until she reaches the point where her careful honesty turns blunt and she starts fighting for all that she deserves. 


Connor, while not quite as strong a character as Liss, is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic hero, lost and adrift after his wife's death three years prior until Liss steps into his field of vision and blithely rips away his Jack Daniels-soaked blinders. Both Connor and Liss have a well-developed sense of humor that works its way into their everyday banter, able to laugh at the inevitable awkwardness that accompanies the change from friendship to intimacy while keeping intact what made them best friends in the first place.

The only minor drawback is the speed with which the damage caused by Connor's resistance to admit there's anything serious between is repaired, Liss granting forgiveness and exhibiting a willingness to jump back into them as a couple with an ease that's a tiny bit surprising given how careful she'd been all along. That being said though, when the man you've loved for years with no real hope of him ever being yours is standing in front of you professing his love in return, it's hard to do anything other than grab hold of what's being offered and never let go. Overall, Brokedown Cowboy is the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, with just a kiss of heartache to ensure we're emotionally invested in our couple's happiness. Ms. Yates also does a beautiful job of setting up our next romantic pair, and I can't wait to see how things unfold for Connor's younger sister Kate and his womanizing best friend Jack.

Rating: 4/5



Get Brokedown Cowboy:


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MAISEY YATES


USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances  set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.


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TOUR & GIVEAWAY


Up for grabs today are 5 paperback copies of Part Time Cowboy (book one!). To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more tour details and the full list of participating blogs, visit CBB Book Promotions.

15 comments:

  1. Oh it's always so nice to find a good romance like that, it's been a while since I have read one. I'm quite curious about this one now. thanks

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  2. This has to be my most favorite trope to read about Jenny so I'm already sold on it!
    Wonderful review!

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  3. This one sounds like a fantastic romance and a book that I'd love to read but not right now, it'd only make me cry. So I think I'll add it to the wish list for later on life!

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  4. I adore the sound of Liss's honestly and the way she deals with the problems in her relationship maturely. Definitely refreshing to hear about after reading lots of dramatic romances in YA! Lovely review Jenny.

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  5. The romantic tension in this sounds like something I would really enjoy. Sweet and sexy, with a kiss of heartache makes for a great
    Summer romance.
    Lovely review, Jenny :)

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  6. YES, Jenny! I loved this one as well, especially for Liss. I loved that she fought so hard for Connor. And while I wanted to smack Connor a few times for being so blind, I also wanted to hug him! I think the next book is going to be my favorite.
    Lovely review, Jenny.

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  7. Oh dear, Jenny! You know how much I love my best friend romances. ;) I love the sound of Liss--it isn't always that the girl *admits* to her feelings freely, let alone *fights* for them. <3 Also, BANTER. Hell yes I'm in! <3

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  8. I like a romance in which the female character is the stronger party :) Sweet and sexy is a great combination.

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  9. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for hosting a tour stop and sharing your thoughts!

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  10. Oh even though she forgave him too easily I still like the sound of Liss. I hate it when you just want to yell at them to be honest with the other. Makes me want to read it for that reason alone. :)

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  11. Friends to lovers is a fun trope. I have read this author before and enjoyed her. LOL, I often want to lock couples like this up in the broom closet until they communicate.

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  12. Liss sounds like a great character - one I would love. And the Friends-to lovers ... yep, love that.

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  13. I love friends to lovers stories, and Liss sounds like such a great character! I hadn't heard of this but I'm definitely intrigued and want to give it a read. Lovely review!

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  14. I would love to read this one since it sounds like a great romance, but not right now it would only make me cry.

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