W.o.W: My One and Only Cowboy by A.J. Pine

Title: My One and Only Cowboy

Author: A.J. Pine

Publisher: Forever

Release Date:

Series:  Meadow Valley  #1

 

Delaney Harper thought she'd seen the last of Meadow Valley two years ago after she divorced her lying, cheating, gambler of a husband who left her broken-hearted and, well, just flat broke. But news that her ex sold their property---without legally removing her from the deed---means heading back to claim her share of the land---and possibly her dream.

 

Sam Callahan, co-owner of the Meadow Valley guest ranch, is barely keeping his head above water. He bought the land for a steal, but keeping a new business afloat is another story. When a gorgeous blonde barges onto his property on a quiet Friday afternoon insisting he bought the place in a fraudulent sale---and that she's there to prove she still owns half the land---Sam realizes he's got much more to worry about. He could lose everything---including his heart.

 

Why this is my WoW: I’ve devoured just about every book that A.J. Pine has released so I’m eager to see what transpires between Delaney and Sam!

Selkies Are a Girl's Best Friend by Molly Harper

Sonja Fong isn’t afraid of a little chaos. As director of the League’s research center in Mystic Bayou, a tiny town in Louisiana that’s home to supernatural creatures and humans alike, she’s responsible for making sure things run smoothly. It’s not an easy task when her daily memos include lines like “new equipment is needed because the old equipment was destroyed by a temper tantrum involving dragonfire.”

Her job puts her in the path of Dr. Will Carmody, a mysterious shifter who’s returned to Mystic Bayou after a long absence only to find that he’s now considered an outsider. To make matters worse, the rift - a tear in the fabric of the universe that is leaking supernatural energy into the bayou - is unraveling at an alarming rate. Now Sonja and Will must team up to fix the rift and save Mystic Bayou from certain disaster, all while their own romance is heating up. Can they have a future together while the whole world is falling apart?

 Series: Mystic Bayou #3 | Publisher: Audible  | Narrators: Amanda Ronconi, Jonathan Davis | Length: 6 hours 33 mins | Genre: Paranormal Romance | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 4.5 Cups

Challenges Read For:  -  Literary Pickers : Lock Picks

 

Molly Harper is one of my go-to feel good authors. No matter the genre—or the format—I know I will finish the book with a smile on my face.

 

Here’s what’s going on in her latest Mystic Bayou series. Sonja Fong has always been efficient about getting results, which is one of the reasons she’s the director of the League’s research center. She’s always been super focused on the job at hand until she’s tasked with aiding the town’s new doctor, Will Carmody. There’s just something about Will that’s drawing her to him.

 

Returning to his hometown, Will wasn’t expecting to be treated as an outsider but he’s been assured that Sonja will aid him as he sets up the town’s new clinic. Although he wasn’t counting on the indescribable attraction he feels towards Sonja. Even more surprising, it seems she shares these feelings. Yet Will’s seen what happens to his kind once someone is attracted to them so he’s struggling to trust that Sonja’s attraction is real. With the rift threating the town’s residents, can Will figure out how to trust Sonja before it’s too late?

 

After just finishing the short story Even Tree Nymphs Gets the Blues (book 2.5), I was needing a bigger dose of Mystic Bayou and that is exactly what I got with this book.

 

Sonja’s always been a favorite secondary character, so I’m glad she finally got her own book. She’s just the type of person that you’d want as a friend. She’s resourceful and loyal plus her parents are spies, so that’s always interesting.

 

Will was just as lovable as the pervious heroes in the series were. He’s been away from his hometown for a while, so he’s readjusting to the town and the town’s is readjusting to him.  There’s a bit for him to figure out both personally and professionally.

 

There was a bit of a clash between Will and Sonja at the start so that made their relationship an interesting one. They had few things to work out. Due to his selkie nature, Will’s a bit guarded so that fact that Sonja’s inquisitive about everything had him a bit suspicious. And, of course, there was a bit of a blowup but, given Will’s past, it made sense he would feel a certain way.

 

As with the previous books in the series, they’re still dealing with the rift and it’s amped up a bit. Will and Sonja find themselves in the middle of the danger that’s threatening to spill out into the town. There’s some interesting things that was learned in this one.

 

One of my favorite things about Molly Harper’s books is the sense of community. While this book was focused on Sonja and Will it also told what was going on in the lives of the characters from the previous books and I enjoy that.

 

Once again, Amanda Ronconi and Jonathan Davis did a stellar job narrating the book and injecting the proper amount of snark into the characters.

 

Overall, another great addition to this amazing series and I’m hoping we see more of Will’s brother in the books to come.

Mystic Bayou Series

#1 How to Date Your Dragon

#2 Love and Other Wild Things

#2.5 Even Tree Nymphs Get the Blues 

#3 Selkies are a Girl’s Best Friend

The Rancher’s Proposal by Paula Altenburg

She said she’d never rely on a man again…

Never say never. When meek and mild Posey Davies calls it quits on her toxic marriage, she grabs her two-year-old daughter and runs. Her flight lands her in Grand, Montana, a community happy to take her in and even happier to nose about in her life and her unfortunate past.

The cowboy next door, Zack McGregor, has “good time,” written all over him. He’s only home for a year to help out his older brother, who’s guardian of their sister’s children. Zack is kind, funny and oh-so-easy on the eyes. He’d be perfect, but the practical Posey predicts Zac will disappear as soon as winter sets in.

Zack’s not as laid back and fun loving as he seems. He’s all about family and doing what’s right. When Posey’s deadbeat ex-husband begins making demands, Zack insists on playing protector.

Posey’s never had anyone stand up for her before and soon realizes that perhaps relying on this man and trusting in love is well worth the risk.

 

Series: The Montana McGregor Brothers Series #3 | Publisher: Tule | Release Date: September 12, 2019 | Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating:

Challenges Read For:  - Literary Pickers  - Coffee Table   - 2019 Try Something New: New-to-me Author

 

This was a quick, heartfelt read.

 

Posey Davies is determined to give her and her two-year-old daughter a new start far away from her abusive ex-husband. She’s been content to stay to herself until the handsome cowboy next door comes around. Zack’s back home helping care for his recently orphaned niece and nephews. When his new neighbor and her adorable young daughter catch his eye, he’s determined to bring a bit of sunshine back into their lives. At first, Posey’s resistant—determined to not let another man in—although with her ex-husband threatening her, Zack’s determined not to let another person her loves get hurt. Will Zack be able to win her trust and her heart?

 

Posey’s been through a lot; not only with her abusive ex-husband but with the loss of her mother at a young age, being ignored by father, and the slights her uncle has thrown at her. She’s a bit defeated but she’s not going to give up. While I felt for Posey, I spent much of the book not liking her. She’s too stuck in her own head so whenever Zach did something kind for her or told her he was falling for her, she would come up with these excuses of why he couldn’t like her for her.

 

I really liked Zack. He was just one of those all-around good guys who is willing to give up everything to put family first. He’s suffering the loss of his parents, sister, and brother-in-law and figuring out how to help raise his orphaned niece and nephews but instead of wallowing in his grief, he’s determined to ensure the kids are raised without a black cloud hanging above them. And when he sees that Posey’s hiding and withdrawing, he does everything in his power to make sure she and her daughter are safe and happy.

 

The romance was a little one-sided at times. There’s no doubt that Zack’s all in; he’s head over heels, but Posey’s stuck in the past—and in her head—so she needs some time to figure it out. For me, Posey’s reluctance was starting to get a little old. I mean, I understood where she was coming from, but she could have gave Zack a break sooner.

 

For the most part, I enjoyed the book. It had its heavy moments but it had its fun and charming moments as well giving it a nice balance. The only thing that seemed a bit off was Posey’s actions after the confrontation between Zack and her ex-husband. She was the one who called Zach when her ex said he was coming over then she acted all odd.

 

So, this one is the third book in the series, but it reads brilliantly on its own.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was a quick read and I look forward to reading the previous books in the series.

The Montana McGregor Brothers Series

1-The Rancher Takes a Family

2-The Rancher’s Secret Love

3-The Rancher’s Proposal