Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates

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…

Title: Brokedown Cowboy | Series: Copper Ridge #2| Author: Maisey Yates | Publisher: HQN | Release Date: May 26, 2015 | Genre: Contemporary Romance | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4.5

 

So, I think I’m officially becoming addicted to Maisey Yates and her Copper Ridge Series. Brokedown Cowboy was funny, poignant, and simply brilliant.

 

Connor Garrett has been through hell. His wife died, his barn burnt down, and he’s been content to spend the last three years of his life in a bottle of Jack Daniels. He’s thrown everything he has left in to running his family’s ranch and he’s been living his life as a hermit until his best friend Liss needs a place to stay.

 

All Liss wants is for Connor to rebuild his life and she’s more than willing to help. Although living this close to the man she’s been in love with since she was a kid hasn’t been easy. It’s reawakened the feelings she tucked deep below the surface. And it seems her presents in Connor’s home has reawakened his life as well. While he’s more than willing to act on his urges, Connor’s not willing to admit his heart is also starting to reawaken.

 

I felt so bad for Connor. He’s a broken man and his fear of losing what he loves—what he cares about—has made it easy for him to throw in the towel and stop living. Yet he has this amazing friendship with Liss and it’s obvious to see that he loves her but he’s not willing to admit it to himself.

 

Connor could have been an easy character not to like. He’s grumpy, and broody, and occasionally comes off as caring about nothing and nobody. Although I found him highly likable and I wanted him to be able to give up the past the haunting him and move on. I truly enjoyed watching Connor get his life back on track.

 

I have to commend Liss for the patience she showed Connor. I was expecting her to tell him to get his arse up and enter the land of the living, and in a sense, she did, but she did it in a gentle way as one would when approaching a spooked horse. Liss hasn’t had the easiest of lives. Growing up she’s had to cater to other people and it’s made her believe her self-worth depends on her ability to help others.  

 

I really liked Liss. She knew she wanted Connor and she knew she was going to have to fight—and I mean really fight for him. Although she knew there a time when she would have to walk away and while it hurt, she wasn’t going to let Connor continue using her when she knew he had more to offer than what he was giving her.

 

This novel was so easy to fall into and I loved the way it continued from the first book without having a massive time gap between the two. I also loved the way all of the characters were present without taking away from Connor and Liss’s story.

Overall, Brokedown Cowboy was another great read in this brilliant series. Once again, Maisey Yates has created brilliant dialogue and realistically flawed characters that were very easy to fall in love with.

 

Brokedown Cowboy is the second book in the Copper Ridge series. While it would read as a standalone, I highly suggest that you read book one (Part Time Cowboy).

The Copper Ridge Series

.5 Shoulda Been A Cowboy: A Copper Ridge Novella

1 Part Time Cowboy

2 Brokedown Cowboy

3 Bad News Cowboy (out July 28)