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hayleypayley85's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
My Favorite Cowboy (Heart of Texas, Book 3) by Donna Grant was just what I needed after reading a few serious books in a row. The story involves a mystery, but mostly just the two main characters (Caleb & Audrey) being hot for each other and not knowing how to commit beyond a one-night (sizzling) encounter. They both frustrated me with their stubbornness, but it just made the journey more interesting while anticipating what would happen between the two. Not having read the first two books in this series did not affect my understanding or enjoyment of this story. Thank you to St. Martin's Paperbacks and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
mags_louise's review against another edition
4.0
4.25⭐
My Favourite Cowboy was a very enjoyable story. That had really likable characters and an engaging and at times gripping storyline. Not to mention a great mix of romance and mystery. And I would happily recommend it to others.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review**
My Favourite Cowboy was a very enjoyable story. That had really likable characters and an engaging and at times gripping storyline. Not to mention a great mix of romance and mystery. And I would happily recommend it to others.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review**
gothai's review against another edition
3.0
This is book 3 in Heart of Texas series. It is about Caleb. Brice and Caleb own a ranch and train horses. Audrey Martinez is an equine veterinarian whose services are services are highly sought after. When some horses get poisoned and it becomes clear that someone is trying to frame Audrey for it, a little mystery is thrown into the story. It was a slow read, but all the issues related to their parents and the mystery got resolved quickly.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
kristy_k's review against another edition
2.0
I think I can officially say modern day cowboy romances are not for me. This is my third (?) one and I've generally had the same feeling as with all of the others: a lot of eye-rolling over the insta-love and wishing for something more.
I found the mystery surrounding this one intriguing and I was genuinely interested in finding out who was harming the horses. But. The randomly inserted POV of the hired criminal to commit those acts missed the mark in my opinion. He was more of a caricature of a villain than an actual bad guy.
There was also weird transitions at times between POVs. One paragraph it was one character and the next it was another, sometimes of someone who wasn’t even in the same area as the previous character. (There was no page break or new chapter, just end sentence, next line, indented first sentence.) It caused confusion. I read an advanced copy so I can only hope this gets fixed in order to save other readers from this.
Lastly, while I like Audrey and Caleb as characters, two to three days is not enough time to decide you are willing to completely change your lifestyle and ideals (from not ever wanting to be married to all of the sudden being at ease with the thought of it). If this story could have been spread over months or even weeks I would have found this more believable. I just have a very hard time with insta-love and it normally has an adverse effect on me and I spend my time thinking of the implausibility of it all instead of focusing on the story.
I found the mystery surrounding this one intriguing and I was genuinely interested in finding out who was harming the horses. But. The randomly inserted POV of the hired criminal to commit those acts missed the mark in my opinion. He was more of a caricature of a villain than an actual bad guy.
There was also weird transitions at times between POVs. One paragraph it was one character and the next it was another, sometimes of someone who wasn’t even in the same area as the previous character. (There was no page break or new chapter, just end sentence, next line, indented first sentence.) It caused confusion. I read an advanced copy so I can only hope this gets fixed in order to save other readers from this.
Lastly, while I like Audrey and Caleb as characters, two to three days is not enough time to decide you are willing to completely change your lifestyle and ideals (from not ever wanting to be married to all of the sudden being at ease with the thought of it). If this story could have been spread over months or even weeks I would have found this more believable. I just have a very hard time with insta-love and it normally has an adverse effect on me and I spend my time thinking of the implausibility of it all instead of focusing on the story.
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
3.0
My Favorite Cowboy is a combination of romance and suspense, and I have to say that I enjoyed the suspense more than the instalove cowboy romance - at least until the rather rushed conclusion and caricature-like villain. Instalove aside, the romance isn't bad, it's just that there's really nothing new here. It runs the typical cowboy romance formula with no real surprises. I will add that I feel like I would've enjoyed it more had the relationship developed more naturally instead of moving at such a rapid-fire pace. So, for me, the story wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either, leaving me somewhere in the middle of road. This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
kle105's review against another edition
4.0
While this is the third book in the series, this can be read as a stand alone book. This book has a lot of mystery. From the horses that haven fallen ill, to the attack on the doctor trying to help them. Audrey, is just trying to help a family friend, David, and gets involved in this mystery. David also gets help from close friends, and ranch owners. Caleb offers to help fix the security cameras, and gets pulled in after meeting Audrey.
Throughout mysterious things keep happening, leading them on the hunt for who could want to harm the horses. Caleb hasn't had an easy life and doesn't ever want to get involved with a woman, but he can't help his attraction to Audrey.
Lots of mystery, family surrounding each other willing to help, a wild horses. I'm hoping this series will continue with many more books to come!
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Throughout mysterious things keep happening, leading them on the hunt for who could want to harm the horses. Caleb hasn't had an easy life and doesn't ever want to get involved with a woman, but he can't help his attraction to Audrey.
Lots of mystery, family surrounding each other willing to help, a wild horses. I'm hoping this series will continue with many more books to come!
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
loverofromance's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Favorite Cowboy by Donna Grant is my FIRST contemporary romance that I have read from Donna Grant and I haven't read her in quite a while. But when I was offered the ARC of this book, I just knew I had to grab it up because one its Donna Grant and she is writing cowboys, so how could I ever resist? Because I never can resist a sexy cowboy in a stetson and boots. So I was really impressed with this book and I swept through the story very quickly...much faster than I even expected from myself. This is a mix of a military hero, some suspense/mystery elements, a vet as our heroine and some hot cowboy lovin'....so much goodness is contained in this book and I gobbled it up like it was chocolate.
Our story begins with our heroine, who is a veterinarian with a specific field in expertise in horses. She loves everything about horses and devotes everything to their protection and care. She works with two main ranches and is well-known as one of the best in the area. She has the expertise but she also has a deep love for horses and that makes her someone who is highly coveted in the area. When a family friend, calls her in for help who runs an auction house for horseflesh and he has four horses that are getting sick with no reason why. She is devastated and determined why and she starts to realize that they are being poisoned on purpose but she has to be careful in giving them the right medication or it could kill them or worse. And this is where she runs into Caleb who is Texas true and tough. He is a military hero and also runs his own ranch in training horses and has a gift with them. When he and his family reaches out to Audrey to help discover who is behind the poisoning and why someone is targeting Audrey, sparks fly between them and true love is about to rear its head on them both.
I have to say that I was very impressed with how My Favorite Cowboy was written here. Now there is no doubt that Donna Grant is a talented author, I have been everything from her historical's to her paranormal and now her contemporary. I love how well versed she is in the various genres and there is something for everyone to enjoy. What I really enjoy about Donna Grant is her talent for story telling. She is the type of author that will always deliver a superb story and My Favorite Cowboy is no different. This is the first time I have read a contemporary romance from Donna Grant. However, this book was fantastic. I really loved the focus being around horses and solving a mystery. I love a good mystery in a romance and I just don't see it enough and what a well told mystery this one was. There are levels of suspense so it does keep you on the edge at times, but I really enjoyed how the story evolves from beginning to end.
We see in this story though some complexities that I wasn't even expecting. Both the hero and the heroine have a deep reverence for horses and you see how much horses matter to them. I really liked seeing how these two work together in the end. Our hero is a bit of a bad boy at times though. He did serve in the military and still suffers the affect of PTSD at times. We see what a great bond that he has with his siblings and how much they stick together and help each other no matter the situation. Caleb likes his women though, he always has flings and never has been serious with anyone until Audrey. He looks at Audrey very differently than any other women he has had interest in the past. He has some issues with women though since his mother abandoned her children when they were little. But he trusts Audrey and doesn't even understand why he looks at her differently but he senses that there is something more to Audrey. Audrey is a very strong and capable heroine but she isn't one to have casual affairs at all. She is looking for the real thing and willing to wait for it. I love how determined and intelligent she is and how passionate she is about life but most especially about her work with horses. She isn't one to trust easily but I enjoyed seeing her allow Caleb and his family into her tight circle.
The romance that builds between Caleb and Audrey is sexy and sweet like you would expect from a western romance. Now I love me some hot cowboy lovin', but this had so much more emotion and intimacy that I have grown to admire about this author. I loved the level of chemistry that builds between these two, but there is also a firm emotional bond that grows with the level of affection and trust and seeing this growth is fundamental to the story. I truly adored seeing Caleb and Audrey come together, they were such an endearing pair and you gravitate toward these two.
There is a focus on the plot and the mystery and danger aspects that had some intensity to the story. I really enjoyed this part and yeah I will admit that I didn't suspect the villain for quite some time. You see the villain enter the story, but you don't see that this person is the one responbile for the horses being poisoned more like an added conflict to the story so I was really surprised when everything is revealed in the end and what a fabulous ending to savor!!
My Favorite Cowboy by Donna Grant is my FIRST contemporary romance that I have read from Donna Grant and I haven't read her in quite a while. But when I was offered the ARC of this book, I just knew I had to grab it up because one its Donna Grant and she is writing cowboys, so how could I ever resist? Because I never can resist a sexy cowboy in a stetson and boots. So I was really impressed with this book and I swept through the story very quickly...much faster than I even expected from myself. This is a mix of a military hero, some suspense/mystery elements, a vet as our heroine and some hot cowboy lovin'....so much goodness is contained in this book and I gobbled it up like it was chocolate.
Our story begins with our heroine, who is a veterinarian with a specific field in expertise in horses. She loves everything about horses and devotes everything to their protection and care. She works with two main ranches and is well-known as one of the best in the area. She has the expertise but she also has a deep love for horses and that makes her someone who is highly coveted in the area. When a family friend, calls her in for help who runs an auction house for horseflesh and he has four horses that are getting sick with no reason why. She is devastated and determined why and she starts to realize that they are being poisoned on purpose but she has to be careful in giving them the right medication or it could kill them or worse. And this is where she runs into Caleb who is Texas true and tough. He is a military hero and also runs his own ranch in training horses and has a gift with them. When he and his family reaches out to Audrey to help discover who is behind the poisoning and why someone is targeting Audrey, sparks fly between them and true love is about to rear its head on them both.
I have to say that I was very impressed with how My Favorite Cowboy was written here. Now there is no doubt that Donna Grant is a talented author, I have been everything from her historical's to her paranormal and now her contemporary. I love how well versed she is in the various genres and there is something for everyone to enjoy. What I really enjoy about Donna Grant is her talent for story telling. She is the type of author that will always deliver a superb story and My Favorite Cowboy is no different. This is the first time I have read a contemporary romance from Donna Grant. However, this book was fantastic. I really loved the focus being around horses and solving a mystery. I love a good mystery in a romance and I just don't see it enough and what a well told mystery this one was. There are levels of suspense so it does keep you on the edge at times, but I really enjoyed how the story evolves from beginning to end.
We see in this story though some complexities that I wasn't even expecting. Both the hero and the heroine have a deep reverence for horses and you see how much horses matter to them. I really liked seeing how these two work together in the end. Our hero is a bit of a bad boy at times though. He did serve in the military and still suffers the affect of PTSD at times. We see what a great bond that he has with his siblings and how much they stick together and help each other no matter the situation. Caleb likes his women though, he always has flings and never has been serious with anyone until Audrey. He looks at Audrey very differently than any other women he has had interest in the past. He has some issues with women though since his mother abandoned her children when they were little. But he trusts Audrey and doesn't even understand why he looks at her differently but he senses that there is something more to Audrey. Audrey is a very strong and capable heroine but she isn't one to have casual affairs at all. She is looking for the real thing and willing to wait for it. I love how determined and intelligent she is and how passionate she is about life but most especially about her work with horses. She isn't one to trust easily but I enjoyed seeing her allow Caleb and his family into her tight circle.
The romance that builds between Caleb and Audrey is sexy and sweet like you would expect from a western romance. Now I love me some hot cowboy lovin', but this had so much more emotion and intimacy that I have grown to admire about this author. I loved the level of chemistry that builds between these two, but there is also a firm emotional bond that grows with the level of affection and trust and seeing this growth is fundamental to the story. I truly adored seeing Caleb and Audrey come together, they were such an endearing pair and you gravitate toward these two.
There is a focus on the plot and the mystery and danger aspects that had some intensity to the story. I really enjoyed this part and yeah I will admit that I didn't suspect the villain for quite some time. You see the villain enter the story, but you don't see that this person is the one responbile for the horses being poisoned more like an added conflict to the story so I was really surprised when everything is revealed in the end and what a fabulous ending to savor!!
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Audrey Martinez is a veterinarian with a lot of work ahead of her. When she hears that more than one horse is sick Audrey is devastated. She cannot bear to see a horse suffering. It almost breaks her and she makes it her aim to discover the cause. The sick horses are part of a ranch that Caleb Harper and his family own. Sadly, more than one horse falls ill, so Caleb and Audrey work together to discover what is going on.
Caleb is certainly not new to the adversity facing him at the ranch. When he was a young boy his mother abandoned him and his brother Brice and sister Abby. He had a very good upbringing despite this, but is still very much affected by the abandonment he experienced.
It has been several years, and Caleb even spent time in the Army and now is a rodeo star as well as a rancher. Audrey hardly has time to help Caleb. She works for two ranches and they are quite strict about any moonlighting. However, she feels compelled to help, even when it becomes more than dangerous for her to do so.
During the years that have passed, Caleb's sister Abby married the owner of the East Ranch, Clayton East. More recently, his brother Brice married. Abby was instrumental in his life while growing up, and is no less important to Caleb now. As a matter of fact, despite all three of them being so adversely affected by what his mother did, Caleb seems to be hit the hardest.
This affects what is happening with him and Audrey. He cannot help but being drawn to her, but he is really carrying a lot of baggage. It was so touching to see their relationship bloom while his trust grew. Audrey is rather a unique individual. She enjoyed men, but never knew how to open her heart. Her time with Caleb changes that. A real opportunity for growth is open to the both of them.
My Favorite Cowboy is the third book in the Heart of Texas series, and is actually my favorite of the three. While each story can serve well as a standalone, the series is truly compelling and would do well to be read in order. The history of Caleb and his siblings is touched on in this story, but their deepest trauma is explored across all three books. The previous two books were The Christmas Cowboy Hero and Cowboy, Cross my Heart. I have enjoyed my time spent reading these books and am looking forward to continuing with this series. The following book is A Cowboy Like You, slated for release in August.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Caleb is certainly not new to the adversity facing him at the ranch. When he was a young boy his mother abandoned him and his brother Brice and sister Abby. He had a very good upbringing despite this, but is still very much affected by the abandonment he experienced.
It has been several years, and Caleb even spent time in the Army and now is a rodeo star as well as a rancher. Audrey hardly has time to help Caleb. She works for two ranches and they are quite strict about any moonlighting. However, she feels compelled to help, even when it becomes more than dangerous for her to do so.
During the years that have passed, Caleb's sister Abby married the owner of the East Ranch, Clayton East. More recently, his brother Brice married. Abby was instrumental in his life while growing up, and is no less important to Caleb now. As a matter of fact, despite all three of them being so adversely affected by what his mother did, Caleb seems to be hit the hardest.
This affects what is happening with him and Audrey. He cannot help but being drawn to her, but he is really carrying a lot of baggage. It was so touching to see their relationship bloom while his trust grew. Audrey is rather a unique individual. She enjoyed men, but never knew how to open her heart. Her time with Caleb changes that. A real opportunity for growth is open to the both of them.
My Favorite Cowboy is the third book in the Heart of Texas series, and is actually my favorite of the three. While each story can serve well as a standalone, the series is truly compelling and would do well to be read in order. The history of Caleb and his siblings is touched on in this story, but their deepest trauma is explored across all three books. The previous two books were The Christmas Cowboy Hero and Cowboy, Cross my Heart. I have enjoyed my time spent reading these books and am looking forward to continuing with this series. The following book is A Cowboy Like You, slated for release in August.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.