The Cowboy Next Door by Roxanne Snopek

When single mother Leda Plett - who’s doing just fine on her own, thank you very much – goes next door to retrieve her wandering pooch, she doesn’t expect to find the neighbor’s handsome brother lounging about like he owns the place. She certainly doesn’t expect him to go after the deadbeat who abandoned her. She’s not looking for a know-it-all white knight with long, lean muscles and a sexy smile. He’s hot, but she’s already been burned.

 

Rodeo-star turned agent Eric Anders is used to managing people, especially irresponsible males, and he can’t stand it that some jerk has left Leda high and dry. Clearly, the boots-and-sundress wearing mouthy mama needs someone on her side. He could change her life, if only she would let him! And it has nothing to do with the fact that her sparkly exterior hides a spirit that is as sweet as it is strong – and irresistible.

 

In fact, Leda is more mature than her years. She feels the weight of her mistakes, and wants only to make sure her daughter doesn’t suffer for them. Eric’s hot gaze makes her weak in the knees but Leda’s track record with men is as bad as it is short. Can she trust the cowboy next door?

 

When Eric’s well-intentioned actions inadvertently reveal a shameful secret from Leda’s past, he realizes she never needed him at all. As he watches her rise above the humiliation, he knows he must find a way to make it up to her, or risk losing the one girl he now can’t live without.

 

Series: This Old House #3 | Publisher: Montana Born Books, an imprint of Tule | Genre: Contemporary Romance | Source:  Publisher| Rating: DNF

Challenges Read For: Blogger Shame

So, I picked this one because I’ve really enjoyed a few of Roxanne Snopek’s book plus Leda and Eric seemed like they would be fun characters.

 

Sadly, this one ended up as a DNF. I tried numerous times to get back into the story, but I couldn’t get past chapter five. Leda was just too in your face and Eric just seemed overly nosey. And the developing relationship between felt too forced. Then there was the dialogue, I roll my eyes every time I think about the odd dialogue. I think the author was trying overly hard to make the characters sound southern and it ended up coming off as annoying and awkward.