Review - - True Blue Cowboy

TRUE BLUE COWBOY

By Sara Richardson

Publisher: Forever  

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Reviewed by Hellie

Sara Richardson’s dedication page is to Carolyn Brown, who taught her everything she needed to know about cowboys. This is a very fitting tribute because this story feels like you’ve fallen into a world much like Ms. Brown’s cowboy heaven, one of the books in Richardson’s series about Colorado bronc riders. Stock full of swoon-worthy leading heroes, kind but gritty heroines, and the kind of beautiful setting that includes a manifest of small-town community characters, including some near-and-dear ones featured in other books. If you want the short review, this book hits all the marks that a Ms. Brown--and a Ms. Richardson--story would do, most importantly leaving you very content and believing in a happily ever after for a pair of ordinary people who have an extraordinary love for each other.

Everly Brooks is living the dream (including my dream): she is a small farmer who produces quality food in a field-to-table movement within her new community in Colorado. Everly originated from California as a lawyer, but a series of events has led her to a life she would never give up. She raises animals, runs a seasonal cafe, teaches cooking classes to the locals, and is constantly working to expand her business and get people communing together and eating great food.

Mateo Torres--a dreamy, steamy bronc rider--is finally setting down some roots and ensuring his future will be provided for. Bronc riding is a very finite business, and he wants to put his winnings to good use to provide for his family, many who still live in Mexico. Mateo grew up in very poor, desperate circumstances; and taking care of his family is his one law. Therefore, he can’t let someone’s little run-down farm get in the way of what could be a very lucrative enterprise to provide for his family. The deal, which involves building many high-end condos, would not want to deal with the eyesore of such a place. Besides if the farmer wanted the land so badly, why didn’t she just buy the place? She had ample opportunity. And we’re just at page 32.

Both are proud, fiercely independent and loyal people. Both have had bad incidents in their past that have made them guarded and influence how they interact with people. For people who grew up in very opposite circumstances, Everly and Mateo have more in common than not--and Ms. Richardson does a fabulous job of making sure those similarities don’t all just happen in the bedroom.

Mateo is probably my favorite of all the cowboys I’ve read in this series--and Ms. Brown’s. His story is heartbreaking, but he is not bitter and he’s willing to learn. Everly and Mateo are great at being adults who call each other out on their bullshit and not letting misunderstandings guide their conflict. This was just a very readable book for me. I’m very happy with this series and can’t wait to see what Ms. Richardson has next for us to consume. I have my hopes pinned on a certain deputy for Charity--and possibly a recipe for those cinnamon rolls she kept talking about in this book. Does she have a good recipe for that? They sounded amazing!

Review - - Renegade Cowboy

Renegade Cowboy
By Sara Richardson
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: December 19, 2017 
Reviewed by Hellie

If you like Colorado...and cowboys...and riveting, fully-developed characters in the vein of Maisey Yates, then this is your series. Right now, it's my series. I'm brand-spanking new to the Sara Richardson club, but halfway through this book, I ordered the first two books in this series and pre-ordered the fourth, which isn't even out until this summer. I want to read a story about every one of the characters I met; and falling in love with Levi Cortez, the book's hero, was like falling off  a log. He. Is. DARLING. The heroine, Cassidy Greer, is the type of heroine I'd want to be BFFs with, with the kind of problems and strength of overcoming them that I could relate to. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Colorado series - and especially cannot wait to see who Matteo Torres falls for. But that will clearly be another book. 

In RENEGADE COWBOY, Cassidy Greer has a plan - and her plan does not include good looking cowboys like Levi Cortez, regardless if he's offering a long or short affair, her choice. She needs to make sure her mother will be fine as Cassidy goes to Denver for a residency as a pediatric nurse. It's all she's wanted; she's been waiting six years to do this - and she does not have time to be seduced by Levi, even if he is the hottest thing since ghost peppers.

Unfortunately, her mother may ruin her plans, with or without the interference of Levi. When Cassidy's brother Cash died six years ago, her mother never got over it. Her mother lost her son, her husband, and now is slowly losing her mind as she drinks to forget. Cassidy can't leave her alcoholic mother alone; and there is no one else to take care of her. As much as she wants the residency, she fears she'll never be able to leave Topaz Falls.

Of course, her mother, Lulu, doesn't want Cassidy to give up her dreams because of her drinking problem; and Lulu struggles to overcome her alcoholism, but fails repeatedly. Cassidy is supported by her best friends, Jessa and Naomi, as well as their husbands Lance and Lucas, Levi's older brothers, but she doesn't want to lean on them or Levi too heavily. Loss is a funny, difficult think, and asking for help isn't something Cassidy does well. Still, Levi perseveres and eventually it all works out in a happily ever after.

Some critics (and cynics) may point out that Levi is too good to be true, and yes, but isn't that why we read romance novels? And when you find the person you love with all your heart, don't you too pull out all the stops to show it? Maybe it's not entirely fictional. And the critics and cynics may also point out that Lulu's alcoholism and the issues that entails cannot be fixed as easily as a romance may resolve, but again, Richardson did deal with the treatment in a way in which Lulu didn't just give up cold turkey and never touch it again - which would have been more unrealistic. The story ends on more of a happily ever after for now - and Richardson's core story seems to be about living and loving in the present because the future is never promised. To me, that felt more real than the average romance. And, as I said in the beginning, I can't wait to read the others in this series. This was a total Top Dish for me. 

Release Day Blitz Review - - Comeback Cowboy

Comeback Cowboy

By Sara Richardson
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: June 27, 2017

Reviewed by Maria Lokken

 

In “Comeback Cowboy,” author, Sara Richardson has written a rich second chance love story giving the reader a satisfying look at what it means to forgive and move forward. Set in the picturesque town of Topaz Falls, this is the second book in the Rocky Mountain Riders series.

Lucas Cortez and Naomi Sullivan’s high school romance was more than a first love, it was a forever love. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. His incarceration, and subsequent release left hurt and doubt.  In virtually every scene Ms. Richardson advances the theme of second chances between the central characters and with the family and friends that surround them.   From a father who yearns to reconnect with a child he’s abandoned, to a town who cannot lay down their suspicions.

“Comeback Cowboy” is about one man’s search for happiness against prejudice and fixed ideas, and his honor and integrity to win back the woman he should have always had. It’s about a woman who knows how to take care of herself and doesn’t surrender independence even as she gives her heart to the man she’s always loved.  It also highlights what it means to be a family, whether related by blood, or choice. All these elements bring this story to life, giving it a pulse that will keep you turning the pages. 

This book gives you characters to root for and creates friendships you would count yourself lucky to have. Ultimately, it’s a romance where all things end happily ever after – but for this reader, it’s about how you get there that counts. And this journey is one that gives you just enough ups and downs to make it an exciting read all the way to the last page.

Why do second chance love stories capture our hearts?  Maybe it’s because you get a ‘do-over’ - and I find that very appealing. What’s your do-over wish?

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Credit:Jenn Honeycutt Photography

Sara Richardson grew up chasing adventure in Colorado's rugged mountains. She's climbed to the top of a 14,000 foot peak at midnight, swum through Class IV rapids, completed her wilderness first-aid certification, and spent seven days at a time tromping through the wilderness with a thirty-pound backpack strapped to her shoulders.

Eventually Sara did the responsible thing and got an education in writing and journalism. After a brief stint in the corporate writing world, she stopped ignoring the voices in her head and started writing fiction. Now she uses her experience as a mountain adventure guide to write stories that incorporate adventure with romance. Still indulging her adventurous spirit, Sara lives and plays in Colorado with her saint of a husband and two young sons.

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Review - - Hometown Cowboy

Hometown Cowboy

By Sara Richardson

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: February 28, 2017

Reviewed by Maria Lokken

    

If you’ve been dumped one time too many, you would probably be a bit apprehensive about jumping into another relationship. For Jessa May Love that means, no more men. Ever. Romance is off the table. But when ladies’ man Lance Cortez, the tall, dark and handsome bull-riding champion needs her help – well then, she’s got a problem.

Jessa runs the animal shelter in Topaz Falls, but the shelter is in need of money to continue its good works, and Lance needs help with his father Luis who is getting on in years. Jessa moves onto the ranch to help with Luis and that puts her within arms distance of Lance as he prepares for the World Rodeo Championship. And you guessed it – these two are destined to be in and out of love faster than a bull can throw his rider.

Jessa’s one desire in life is “to love someone wholly and truly, and to have them love her back.” That’s a tall order, especially for a cowboy who’s not sure he even knows how to love. Each comes to the on again, off again, hot steamy relationship with enough baggage to throw a wheel off a cart, and that dynamic is what makes Hometown Cowboy an interesting read.

This is a story of love lost and lessons learned and about the journey both Jessa and Lance go through to get to a place where love is what matters. The author creates a wonderful cast of secondary characters who help Jessa and Lance find their way to each other. For Jessa, it is the women from her book club. Each one is different from the next, but when her romance goes off the rails they are united in their support.

Lance has his father and two brothers, Levi and Lucas. And… well, what can I say, each one is tall, handsome and sexy - and that’s in addition to being brothers Lance can confide in and count on.

Every character in this book has a history, and that makes for good conflict that eventually gets resolved into a happily-ever-after. The journey on this one was fun.

My one major quibble with this story was the author’s description of the hero’s father. Luis Cortez, is a 67-year-old bull riding champion. While his glory days are long gone, he’s a well-known figure in the community. The author describes him as an old man. And while he has a situation, that I won’t give away, I’d like to point out that in the year 2017, 67-years-old is NOT OLD. A large majority of people are living well into their 90’s, and 100’s and many are still vital. Let’s face it, they invented Viagra for a reason. You’re not dead at 67. Whenever I read a book that describes people in their 50’s and 60’s as old, it throws me out of the story a bit, because in my opinion, 60 is the new 40.

In any event, I believe you’ll enjoy this contemporary romance, the women are smart, the men rugged, and there’s plenty of sigh worthy moments. This is the first in the Rocky Mountain Riders series. Each one will feature a different brother, and Lucas’ story is next.

What’s your cut off age for a hero and heroine in a romance?