Book Review: How to Kiss a Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

Author: Joanne Kennedy

Title: How to Kiss a Cowboy

Series: Cowboys of Decker Ranch #2

Genre: Western Romance, Contemporary

Format: Paperback

Pages: 539

Published: February 3, 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

Between rodeo wins and endorsement deals, Saddle Bronc Champion Brady Caine is living a charmed life. But when he causes an accident that could end a promising barrel racer’s career, he decides that he’s done with loose women and wild rides. All he wants to do is erase his mistake by getting Suze Carlyle back in the saddle.

The last person barrel racer Suze wants to see on her doorstep is the man who ended her rodeo career, but she can’t help admire Brady’s persistence. Sparks fly between them, but when her barn is sabotaged she wonders if he’s really the straight shooter he seems to be…

Review:

I had some issues with book 1 but I was still curious about book 2. I like this family and wanted to see Brady fall in love. 

Here we have Brady and Suze. Both are rodeo populars. After an accident that possibly could end Suze's career, Brady decides that he is done with loos women and wild rides. All he wants to do is help Suze get back in the saddle. Suze doesn't ever want to see Brady again, but there he is.

This had a rocky start for me but I soon could not stop reading. We get to see them hook up and it....lasted forever. I was ready for it to end. After the never-ending scene, things got entertaining. 

Loved Suze but oh.my.goodness was she a stubborn piece of work. I totally understand it once you learn about her parents you get it. Oof. 

Awwwww loved Brady too but I felt so bad for him. He tried so hard but he didn't make some good decisions. Yes, rocky start to their relationship but you can see that they are SO made for each other. It took a lot of work and a lot of talking and some external help. 

This was a complicated relationship but it was worth it. I loved watching them fall from lust, to enemies, to friends, to lovers. This was a book I couldn't put down. 

In the end, the beginning was rough but after a few pages I was able to fully connect and I didn't want to stop reading. I loved this couple even with all their millions of flaws. I'll give this 3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Intense

Book Review: Cowboy Trouble by Joanne Kennedy

Author: Joanne Kennedy

Title: Cowboy Trouble

Series: Acquainted with the Night #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western

Format: Paperback

Pages: 387

Published: March 1, 2010

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used bookstore)

Summary: 

Fleeing her latest love-life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown's transition to rural living isn't going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a farm-but without the constant help of her charming, sexy cowboy neighbor, she'd never make it through her first Wyoming season.

Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl, but he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch. He's ready for love, and he wants to go the distance. When the two get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story, Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible...

Review:

I got his a while back from my local Used Bookstore. I've read a couple by this author so I figured why not?

Here we have Libby and Luke. Libby is fleeing her latest love-life disaster. She is tired of the big city and is finally carrying out her plan to live the country life. But without the aid of her cowboy neighbor, she would never survive. Like is a rancher and was immediately impressed by Libby. The two not only start catching feelings but the two of them get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story. Will they be able to solve the disappearance? Will they fall in love along the way? 

Honestly....I wished this stayed just a mystery. The romance was meh to me. The mystery was really the only thing that kept me going. I HAD to know who did it. This author has a knack for mysteries!

What is it with the men of this town? Are there no women besides old ladies, the bar lady, and Libby? Lord. Pushy and needy!!!! Too much "alpha"-ness. Is it in the water? 

And all the slut-shaming was a bit much. I get it...the town is conservative and etc, but good lord.  

Was I happy that Libby and Luke finally, FINALLY got together? Eh. I feel like Libby is so flaky and Luke just follows her around like a lost puppy. Their marriage will fail. 

Now that mystery!!!??? That was good. I enjoyed it. Lots of red herrings and the big reveal was fantastic. *clap*

Maybe this should've just stayed a mystery. That was the best part. The romance? Eh. I could've done without it. Maybe a subplot would've done the story better. 

I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #7 TBR Pile Reading

Book Review: How to Handle a Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

Author: Joanne Kennedy
Title: How to Handle a Cowboy
(Cowboys of Decker Ranch #1)
Genre: Western, Romance, Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Pages: 411 
Published: January 1st 2014 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Used book store)



Sidelined by a career-ending injury, rodeo cowboy Ridge Cooper is desperate to find an outlet for the energy he devoted to his sport. He decides to teach rodeo skills to the kids at the Phoenix House, a local group home for foster children. Here he falls for a big-city girl who just might make him the perfect wife.

Inner-city social worker Sierra Dunn has been exiled to a last-chance home for foster kids in a remote Wyoming town for blowing the whistle on her boss. Her only goal is to prove herself and move back to the city, but the town's rodeo hero is going after her heart. 



I like this author so when I saw a bunch of hers at the local used book store I grabbed a bunch! This is the first in this series. 

The story follows Ridge Cooper who was sidelined by a career-ending injury. He misses his rodeo days, but he decides to devote his time to teach rodeo skills to the kids at the Phoenix House. Sierra Dunn is from the city, but she is working at the Phoenix House to help the foster kids. Her only goal is to prove herself get back to the city. 

For some reason, I just COULD not connect with these two. The story itself was interesting enough, but I didn't give a lick if they ended up together or not. They were not bad people...but I guess I just didn't feel the chemistry and/or not cared about their chemistry. I was more intrigued at what happened to those poor foster kids. 

It took me forever to finish this. I wanted to give up and DNF, but I pushed forward. I did a LOT of skimming...I will not lie. However, I pushed through and the ending brought a tear to my eye. Too cute! 

I do want to read book 2 even though I had my issues with these guys. I'm hoping our next couple has a more magnetic pull on me.  *fingers crossed*

Overall, not for me, but I stuck it out because I cared for those kids. I want them to be happy! I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):


- #12 on Bingo for Western/Cowboy

Book Review: Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy

Author: Joanne Kennedy
Title: Cowboy Crazy
Genre: Romance & Western
Pages: 371
First Published: June 2012
Where I Got It: My shelf (Won in a giveaway eons ago)

She kicked the country dust off her boots a long time ago…

Sarah Landon’s Ivy League scholarship transformed her from a wide-eyed country girl into a poised professional. Her job at the Carrigan Oil Company has given her the sophisticated life she longed for, but when she meets her boss’s black-sheep brother, she realizes her roots are showing.

But he’s ready to remind her she’s a cowgirl at heart.

Rebellious rodeo cowboy Lane Carrigan is determined to save the Wyoming community of Two Shot from the ravages of energy development, but Sarah’s convinced her old hometown needs a swift kick in the pants from the march of progress.


When a lapsed cowgirl collides with rodeo royalty, it’s bound to be a wild ride—and somebody’s going to end up in the dirt.

This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, so I decided to give a go. I needed a romance, so I felt this would be a good one to get that fix. I was right. It was a romance that had some obstacles for the couple to go through. It was pretty much insta-love for Lane, but alas, Sarah was not having it. Yes, she had insta-lust (he is a cowboy, so duh), but she was not looking and did not WANT love. She had business to take care off! Plus...she does not trust cowboys. One cannot blame her, but they are drool-worthy.

I am glad that the author made it a rough ride to get to that HEA, but man I wanted to slap Sarah. >___> She was annoying and she totally used Lane and then blamed him! Ugh. She had a lot of baggage and she needed to get over it. Seriously. I am glad her sister gave her a slap of reality at one point (even though it barely helped). Meh. 

Honestly, I wish this was shorter. I felt it dragged on and on and on. Especially the middle part...I was pounding my head with the book. Gah. However, the ending was TOTALLY better. I flew by and could hardly put it down at that point.

In the end, this was a good easy romance. There were some obstacles (mainly Sarah and her psychological issues...seriously, get a therapist woman!) before they got their HEA and I like when it takes a while to get there. The middle dragged, but the ending was good. I highly recommend this to cowboy lovers and those that need a romance in their reading. So...out of five stars, I stamp this with 3. More like 2.5, but I rounded. 
Favorite Character(s): Lane
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Gloria (I wanted to punch her!!!!!!!), Suze, and Eric