REVIEW: Nothing Like a Cowboy by Donna Alward
C+ ReviewsAmerica / Contemporary / cowboy / divorcee / Montana / novella / ranchComments Off on REVIEW: Nothing Like a Cowboy by Donna Alward
NOTE – This may be bought separately or as part of the NotMy1stRodeo Anthology.
Brett Harrison tried marriage once and isn’t anxious for another round. So
when his meddling twin sister sets him up on a dating site, he seriously considers strangling her and cancelling. Luckily for him, he’s too much of a gentleman to act on those impulses, and when he meets Melly Walker, he wonders if it’s time to get back in the saddle.Melly knows exactly where her previous marriage went wrong. She was dazzled by her ex’s big-city charm and strayed too far from her roots. This time, she’s going with tried and true—a dyed-in-the-wool cowboy. Her first few dates net her more duds than studs, but when she meets Brett, she’s ready to get more than just her feet wet.
The principles of trust and compromise are great in theory, but when Melly
discovers Brett has his eye on more than just her curves, she questions her judgment and his motives. Is Brett ready to drop his dreams for something as unreliable as love?
Dear Ms. Alward,
You’ve been recommended to me to read so many times that I’m almost embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to try one of your books. I like the second chance trope and cowboys so this seemed a good fit to start out with.
Unfortunately the book starts with another trope I don’t care for – the meddling relative intent on getting someone back in the dating scene. But Brett’s mother raised him with manners so he decides to go to the coffee date and ultimately gets his profile password from his sister and then changes it. Good for Brett.
The initial date is a safe one – a quick cup of coffee in public and both Brett and Melly cautiously size each other up. After an awkward start and a quick kiss to check their chemistry, they decide on a second date and all systems are go. Then conflict external to their dating relationship pops up and sends their hot sexy times into a tailspin.
I can understand Melly’s quick and angry reaction to how she thinks she might have been smooth sexed into something. Brett’s anger at the insult to his integrity also makes sense as well as the week long cooling off period. Still, once they meet up again to talk things out, Melly’s second go ’round of a similar reaction as the first annoys me just a tad. Brett calls her on it and his parting words give her food for thought.
If the relationship had then rushed straight to a HEA, I really would have been upset. As it was, Melly has some time to sort through her emotions. The premise of the dating site – people with past failed relationships still looking for a second chance – leads to people with more experience and maturity but also the possibility of old hurts and cynicisms clouding their view point. So I can kind of understand where Melly is coming from though I hope now that she and Brett have said their “ILYs,” she’s not going to flare up again. C+
~Jayne
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