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Jackson Hole #5
The Wrangler
After Wall Street collapses, investment banker Griff McPherson trades in his suits and ties for Stetsons and cowboy boots. He returns to the Wyoming ranch he co-owns with his brother, but it's not exactly a happy homecoming. So to prove to everyone, including himself, that that he belongs back in Jackson Hole, he takes a post as a wrangler on another ranch.
Air force lieutenant Val Hunter has just returned to the Bar H ranch to help her ailing grandmother run the property. While it is full of unhappy memories, Val is determined to do right by her home. Her new hire is easy on the eyes and a tough wrangler to boot, yet her instincts make it hard for her to trust him. When a nefarious neighbor endangers her land, Val is forced to accept Griff's help—but will she finally be able to open her heart?
Air force lieutenant Val Hunter has just returned to the Bar H ranch to help her ailing grandmother run the property. While it is full of unhappy memories, Val is determined to do right by her home. Her new hire is easy on the eyes and a tough wrangler to boot, yet her instincts make it hard for her to trust him. When a nefarious neighbor endangers her land, Val is forced to accept Griff's help—but will she finally be able to open her heart?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
102 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay McKenna
359 books2,496 followersI've lived six lives in one and it all shows up in the books I write, one way or another.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 6, 2012
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book, but in reality I just really didn't like it. I couldn't get past the writing style. The dialog seemed very unnatural to me and it didn't flow well at all. Most of the time I kept saying to myself, people just don't talk like that. Then there was the fact that it was very repetitive. I guess the author was trying to get her points across, but I got so tired of hearing the same exact lines over and over. I also found it strange that Gus's story about Val's childhood changed while talking to Griff. She said one thing to Val and then a different story to Griff. The story also didn't end well at all. There was no conclusion to all the problems that had been happening, just a lot of action and then it just stopped and everyone lived happily ever after. It was very strange to me that Val and Griff went to barely being able to touch each other to suddenly having sex and deciding to get married. It's like the story changed just so it could end. I really wish I could have liked this book, since it really intrigued me when I first picked it up, but it totally let me down.
November 16, 2012
I liked this book. There were good characters, values/morals presented and a great warm feeling from the old school respectful type of man. They really are rare and great. I liked the light suspense (even if I kept waiting for something to happen when it didn't). This is good for a (not completely) light read. Guess I'm for more suspense and action. I still enjoyed reading this and I would like to read about the other characters that were present. Slade, Reagan, and the divorcee would be good. I liked the emotions that were felt and the family-belonging feeling and roots that were emphasized. That's the kinda life that should be and not a rare great find. Enjoy.
February 8, 2023
not even worth a review
November 26, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, but I could tell right away I was going to have a problem with the writer's pacing and style. Or maybe those were editorial decisions. On top of that, Val and Griff's love story took a backseat to the author's own with Wyoming and ranch-life. You got to know there backstories a bit, but their growth was told to us more than it was showed on the page. I couldn't become invested in them, because I didn't really get to know them, other than Val was abused and Griff worked on Wall Street. We'd get insight into their feelings, but they always seemed to be throw-away sentences at the end of another paragraph-long description of the beautiful Wyoming countryside.
And let me just say, I've lived in NYC for the past 3 months, and no its not for everyone, but it isn't the God-awful place this book makes it out to be. Central Park is actually very, very lovely, especially this time of year. And people here can be really nice, I've found.
As far as pacing, right off the bat, the conversation between Val and Gus was dragged out way too long. That seemed to be the case throughout the book. And there was so much repetition as well. We got back story every time a character was on the page, as if we were being introduced to them all over again. Same thing with Val and Griff's descriptions/impressions of each other's face, hair, eyes, etc. Besides that, I was 3/4 of the way through the book and nothing had really happened to move the story along. Even the love scene dragged. nevermind it came at the very end of the book.
Style-wise, this was just a distraction. Have you ever noticed how many times Jack and Rose say each other's name in Titanic? That's what happened with this book. I wanted some pronoun usage. If Val and Griff are the only 2 characters on the page, we don't need to see their names every time one of them mentions or addresses or even thinks about the other. Sentence structure was an issue for me as well. Nearly every one followed a simple 'subject-verb-object' format. It made it choppy. And yes, the dialogue was unnatural as a result, in addition to sounding forced. Too much of it was used for exposition as well.
There were some continuity issues. For instance, the bad blood between Slade and Griff was at first Griff denying his brother money. Then later on, it was Griff not having the money to help. The aunt and uncle in NYC at first valued hard-work, but then they valued material things; and they came for family visits, but then they didn't value family. Griff and Slade's parents died when they were 6, but at one point it mentioned they were separated at birth. I was confused. And how was Augusta's last name Hunter if she was Val's mother's mother, not her father's?
And what happened with that throw-away scene b/t Curt Downing and Reagan Mason? Unless its coming back in a sequel, it was a waste of word count that could've been better used on developing the 2 main characters. If it was there to illustrate Curt Downing as the villain, it just didn't work. We got so many other instances of him being a bastard anyway.
I just couldn't get into this one. And I'm thinking its more an editorial issue than the writer.
And let me just say, I've lived in NYC for the past 3 months, and no its not for everyone, but it isn't the God-awful place this book makes it out to be. Central Park is actually very, very lovely, especially this time of year. And people here can be really nice, I've found.
As far as pacing, right off the bat, the conversation between Val and Gus was dragged out way too long. That seemed to be the case throughout the book. And there was so much repetition as well. We got back story every time a character was on the page, as if we were being introduced to them all over again. Same thing with Val and Griff's descriptions/impressions of each other's face, hair, eyes, etc. Besides that, I was 3/4 of the way through the book and nothing had really happened to move the story along. Even the love scene dragged. nevermind it came at the very end of the book.
Style-wise, this was just a distraction. Have you ever noticed how many times Jack and Rose say each other's name in Titanic? That's what happened with this book. I wanted some pronoun usage. If Val and Griff are the only 2 characters on the page, we don't need to see their names every time one of them mentions or addresses or even thinks about the other. Sentence structure was an issue for me as well. Nearly every one followed a simple 'subject-verb-object' format. It made it choppy. And yes, the dialogue was unnatural as a result, in addition to sounding forced. Too much of it was used for exposition as well.
There were some continuity issues. For instance, the bad blood between Slade and Griff was at first Griff denying his brother money. Then later on, it was Griff not having the money to help. The aunt and uncle in NYC at first valued hard-work, but then they valued material things; and they came for family visits, but then they didn't value family. Griff and Slade's parents died when they were 6, but at one point it mentioned they were separated at birth. I was confused. And how was Augusta's last name Hunter if she was Val's mother's mother, not her father's?
And what happened with that throw-away scene b/t Curt Downing and Reagan Mason? Unless its coming back in a sequel, it was a waste of word count that could've been better used on developing the 2 main characters. If it was there to illustrate Curt Downing as the villain, it just didn't work. We got so many other instances of him being a bastard anyway.
I just couldn't get into this one. And I'm thinking its more an editorial issue than the writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2012
I picked up this book because I read the author's previous book and loved it. This book however came out lacking for me. My main problem is that the conversation between characters are so theatrical, cheesy, and forced that they failed to draw me into the story. At least to me they sounded what they are - a CRAFTED, MADE-UP - conversation.
The heroine is a generic character - sweet, loyal, conflicted - and her only distinguishing marks is her constant gripe about her abusive past. Which to me is a discredit to a promising character. I would have liked her better if her 'poor me' musings were tone down and her strengths - her career or her work ethics or something showing her in a positive light were more emphasized.
The hero, though strong in his own way, came out more emotional than the heroine. He initiate the bromance between his brother and with his constant desire to reconnect with his family he ended up like a lost puppy to me - which conflicted me because it is cute but also un-wrangler like or not your normal men mentality.
Other than those mentioned, I think the story would be a good read to most cowboy readers who would not mind what I mentioned above. The villain is, for once, is as clever as he is despicable. Although I wish the author could be creative to find other villain and would not bring him again and again.
Overall, it was an ok read.
The heroine is a generic character - sweet, loyal, conflicted - and her only distinguishing marks is her constant gripe about her abusive past. Which to me is a discredit to a promising character. I would have liked her better if her 'poor me' musings were tone down and her strengths - her career or her work ethics or something showing her in a positive light were more emphasized.
The hero, though strong in his own way, came out more emotional than the heroine. He initiate the bromance between his brother and with his constant desire to reconnect with his family he ended up like a lost puppy to me - which conflicted me because it is cute but also un-wrangler like or not your normal men mentality.
Other than those mentioned, I think the story would be a good read to most cowboy readers who would not mind what I mentioned above. The villain is, for once, is as clever as he is despicable. Although I wish the author could be creative to find other villain and would not bring him again and again.
Overall, it was an ok read.
March 12, 2015
Not having read the first four books in the series wasn't a problem since a lot of history and background was given. But I do want to read the first four books so I can get more details to relationships and actions. I was pleased to see on the author's website that there are 9 books in total so I really have 8 books to read which is nice since there seemed to be more story to tell.
There was a happily ever after and some closure but an epilogue would have been great. Knowing there are four more books to the series after this one means that a lot of loose ends will get tied up. There were family and friends, ranches, cowboys, hard workers but also a mystery to be solved involving drugs and unsavory characters. There was some romance and loving but appropriate to the storyline and the way both Griff and Val led their lives. Loved Grandma Gus. She could outsmart everyone and did it over and over again surprising them in the process.
All in all a good read and I look forward to returning to Jackson Hole many more times but also will be adding McKenna and her books to my always growing TBR pile!
There was a happily ever after and some closure but an epilogue would have been great. Knowing there are four more books to the series after this one means that a lot of loose ends will get tied up. There were family and friends, ranches, cowboys, hard workers but also a mystery to be solved involving drugs and unsavory characters. There was some romance and loving but appropriate to the storyline and the way both Griff and Val led their lives. Loved Grandma Gus. She could outsmart everyone and did it over and over again surprising them in the process.
All in all a good read and I look forward to returning to Jackson Hole many more times but also will be adding McKenna and her books to my always growing TBR pile!
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: The Wyoming Series
Category: Contemporary Romance
"With a beautiful Wyoming setting and memorable characters - including a hero who's reinventing himself and a heroine who's learning to trust - McKenna skillfully shows that it's all about the romance and not only the sex. After all, hard work, honesty and trust is what western romance is all about." RT Book Review, rated 4 stars
Category: Contemporary Romance
"With a beautiful Wyoming setting and memorable characters - including a hero who's reinventing himself and a heroine who's learning to trust - McKenna skillfully shows that it's all about the romance and not only the sex. After all, hard work, honesty and trust is what western romance is all about." RT Book Review, rated 4 stars
May 30, 2012
My review is up and would love to hear what people think of it (the review not the book as it is not out yet). Cheers
http://www.nocturnereads.com/2012/05/...
http://www.nocturnereads.com/2012/05/...
December 27, 2014
A good plot shot to hell by bad writing. What a shame.
July 13, 2025
Setelah orang tuanya meninggal diusia 5 tahun. Griff McPherson diasuh pamannya di New York, sedangkan saudara kembarnya tetap tinggal di ranch bersama pamannya yang lain.
Tahun pun berlalu. Ketika Wall Street ambruk, Griff yang sudah menginjak usia hampir 30 tahun, memutuskan kembali ke tanah kelahirannya - Wyoming, dan berhenti jadi bankir investasi.
Tentunya kepindahan Griff tidak disambut dengan baik oleh saudara kembarnya, Slade. Rasanya tidak adil ia bersusah payah membesarkan ranch sejak remaja, lalu Griff, yang anak kota ujug-ujug nongol, ikutan jadi koboi untuk turut serta mengurus ranch keluarga.
Griff yang tahu diri akhirnya mencari pengalaman di ranch sekitar. Kebetulan ada ranch Bar H yang membutuhkan koboi. Ranch tersebut dikelola oleh nenek Gus dan cucunya yang cantik, Val.
Mengikuti kisah seorang pria yang terjun jadi koboi dari nol tentu menarik untuk disimak. Ternyata tidak mudah. Jam 6 pagi sudah mulai bekerja dan selesai jam 9 malam, mengurus puluhan ternak sapi, kuda, dan kerbau. Kebayang capeknya melakukan ini setiap hari.
Apalagi untuk Grifft yang terbiasa bekerja kantoran. Namun ia tetap semangat untuk membuktikan pada saudara kembarnya dan diri sendiri bahwa ia mampu menjadi seorang koboi.
Latar belakang Grifft juga bermanfaat bagi ranch Bar H. Bersama Val seusai makan malam mereka berdua memeriksa keuangan ranch. Kedekatan mereka berdua lama-lama menimbulkan percikan asmara.
Sayangnya saya tidak bergitu tertarik dengan drama cinta khas buku Harlequin, saya malah lebih tertarik dengan kegiatan keseharian mereka di ranch. Walhasil tiap bab percintaan, saya skimming.
Mengelola ranch yang cukup besar tidak cuma ada masalah intern, namun juga ada masalah dari pihak luar.
Tetangga pemilik ranch sebelah berupaya memperluas lahan dengan menawar sebagian lahan Bar H di sekitar danau yang berbatasan dengan hutan. Nenek Gus dan Val selalu menolak, bahkan sempat heran mengapa yang diincar lahan sekitar danau.
Sampai akhirnya Griff menyadari bahwa ada hari-hari dimana setiap pukul 3 pagi terdengar suara helicopter. Bersama Val, mereka berdua menyelidiki dan melihat pengiriman narkoba di lahan ranch Bar H dengan helikopter.
Berdua mereka membuktikan bahwa tetangga yang ngotot membeli lahannya itulah pelaku penyebaran narkoba didaerahnya.
*
Diluar drama romancenya, kehidupan ranch ternyata sangat menarik. Akhirnya saya hunting seri Jackson Hole lainnya. Kebetulan yang saya beli ini buku ke 5. Dari 10 buku, saya mendapatkan 8 buku yang dicetak dan diterjemahkan oleh Gramedia.
8 buku tersebut sudah saya baca tuntas. Cuma saya pikir untuk Goodreads, satu ajalah yang dimasukkan. Saya malas mereview semua bukunya, intinya oke banget buat dibaca saat sedang ingin bacaan ringan dan happy ending.
Tahun pun berlalu. Ketika Wall Street ambruk, Griff yang sudah menginjak usia hampir 30 tahun, memutuskan kembali ke tanah kelahirannya - Wyoming, dan berhenti jadi bankir investasi.
Tentunya kepindahan Griff tidak disambut dengan baik oleh saudara kembarnya, Slade. Rasanya tidak adil ia bersusah payah membesarkan ranch sejak remaja, lalu Griff, yang anak kota ujug-ujug nongol, ikutan jadi koboi untuk turut serta mengurus ranch keluarga.
Griff yang tahu diri akhirnya mencari pengalaman di ranch sekitar. Kebetulan ada ranch Bar H yang membutuhkan koboi. Ranch tersebut dikelola oleh nenek Gus dan cucunya yang cantik, Val.
Mengikuti kisah seorang pria yang terjun jadi koboi dari nol tentu menarik untuk disimak. Ternyata tidak mudah. Jam 6 pagi sudah mulai bekerja dan selesai jam 9 malam, mengurus puluhan ternak sapi, kuda, dan kerbau. Kebayang capeknya melakukan ini setiap hari.
Apalagi untuk Grifft yang terbiasa bekerja kantoran. Namun ia tetap semangat untuk membuktikan pada saudara kembarnya dan diri sendiri bahwa ia mampu menjadi seorang koboi.
Latar belakang Grifft juga bermanfaat bagi ranch Bar H. Bersama Val seusai makan malam mereka berdua memeriksa keuangan ranch. Kedekatan mereka berdua lama-lama menimbulkan percikan asmara.
Sayangnya saya tidak bergitu tertarik dengan drama cinta khas buku Harlequin, saya malah lebih tertarik dengan kegiatan keseharian mereka di ranch. Walhasil tiap bab percintaan, saya skimming.
Mengelola ranch yang cukup besar tidak cuma ada masalah intern, namun juga ada masalah dari pihak luar.
Tetangga pemilik ranch sebelah berupaya memperluas lahan dengan menawar sebagian lahan Bar H di sekitar danau yang berbatasan dengan hutan. Nenek Gus dan Val selalu menolak, bahkan sempat heran mengapa yang diincar lahan sekitar danau.
Sampai akhirnya Griff menyadari bahwa ada hari-hari dimana setiap pukul 3 pagi terdengar suara helicopter. Bersama Val, mereka berdua menyelidiki dan melihat pengiriman narkoba di lahan ranch Bar H dengan helikopter.
Berdua mereka membuktikan bahwa tetangga yang ngotot membeli lahannya itulah pelaku penyebaran narkoba didaerahnya.
*
Diluar drama romancenya, kehidupan ranch ternyata sangat menarik. Akhirnya saya hunting seri Jackson Hole lainnya. Kebetulan yang saya beli ini buku ke 5. Dari 10 buku, saya mendapatkan 8 buku yang dicetak dan diterjemahkan oleh Gramedia.
8 buku tersebut sudah saya baca tuntas. Cuma saya pikir untuk Goodreads, satu ajalah yang dimasukkan. Saya malas mereview semua bukunya, intinya oke banget buat dibaca saat sedang ingin bacaan ringan dan happy ending.
February 22, 2018
Considering this is the first in the series that I've read, I did enjoy the story. It worked fine as a stand alone. Though I was mildly curious about the previous characters, it didn't distract from the two characters here, Griff and Val. Both characters brought their own complexity to the story, and their love story was a slow burn in a good way, especially due to Val's abusive past.
It was just.... well 'just' is a good start. Just good. Just a story.
I think what held it for me and got me to finish was the characters. I liked their stories; felt for Val's struggle; held a mild attraction to Griff, esp as he was so refreshingly modest. I liked that he came back home after the Wall Street crash and took up the reins as a wrangler. I liked that he accepted his position and role easily and didn't chaff at going from the millionaire power financer to a lowly greenhorn. So there was that.
Val, I definitely sympathized with her struggle in coming home and dealing with all the emotional trauma of being in her childhood home with all it's ghosts, nightmares and painful history. I also really liked Val's grandmother Gus. She was a tough old bird, but so very well matched to help Val re-acclimate as well as manage the ranch the way she did. Her confrontation with Curt was entertaining and fun!
Again, it was just okay. I didn't devour this book the way I do the top ones. That's how I can tell how many stars to give it. I struggled with this one. It took me some time to get into it and it didn't flow as well as some I've read. Still a good story and I'm interested in reading a few more in the series, but nothing I have to read right now.
It was just.... well 'just' is a good start. Just good. Just a story.
I think what held it for me and got me to finish was the characters. I liked their stories; felt for Val's struggle; held a mild attraction to Griff, esp as he was so refreshingly modest. I liked that he came back home after the Wall Street crash and took up the reins as a wrangler. I liked that he accepted his position and role easily and didn't chaff at going from the millionaire power financer to a lowly greenhorn. So there was that.
Val, I definitely sympathized with her struggle in coming home and dealing with all the emotional trauma of being in her childhood home with all it's ghosts, nightmares and painful history. I also really liked Val's grandmother Gus. She was a tough old bird, but so very well matched to help Val re-acclimate as well as manage the ranch the way she did. Her confrontation with Curt was entertaining and fun!
Again, it was just okay. I didn't devour this book the way I do the top ones. That's how I can tell how many stars to give it. I struggled with this one. It took me some time to get into it and it didn't flow as well as some I've read. Still a good story and I'm interested in reading a few more in the series, but nothing I have to read right now.
September 16, 2020
This may be the worst romance novel I've ever read. The editor apparently gave up on page one. Why is the grandma's last name the same as her son-in-law's??? Why doesn't the author know how to use quotation marks??? Why did we relearn every character's backstory and hair color every time they came into a room??? Why did I read this???
June 3, 2017
Endingnya agak kurang sreg ya, Curt sama sekali tidak ditangkap.
August 3, 2018
Awesome
I was hooked on this story .i wished the idiot got his true desert abuse sucks and I wish it would stop all together this author ...rocks...
I was hooked on this story .i wished the idiot got his true desert abuse sucks and I wish it would stop all together this author ...rocks...
April 13, 2020
Kinda cheesy.
September 10, 2020
DNF. Or, CNF. Could Not Finish. Life is too short to read badly written books...
November 19, 2020
Ready for the next
September 19, 2021
Bagian endingnya terlalu singkat untuk cerita yang sudah mendebarkan dibagian tengah cerita
March 24, 2023
Of the 5 books I read in this series I enjoyed this one the best!
February 5, 2024
This author is one of my favorites. I have not picked up a book of hers that I did not like. And this is another one of them. Great storyline
June 8, 2024
Sweet yet rushed.
I would like to read a more developed story with a better plot wrap up. Maybe it is still to come
I would like to read a more developed story with a better plot wrap up. Maybe it is still to come
June 12, 2025
It was ok
June 17, 2012
For this review and others visit my blog: my blog
*The publisher provided me with this book for review, via Netgalley*
I really, really wanted to like The Wrangler. I liked the premise and I like cowboys. Western ranch romances tend to get under my skin, there is just something about them I love. So you can imagine how excited I was to be given a copy of this book to read and review. I was over the moon. But I am afraid the excitement was for nothing and I ended up coming away disappointed.
I felt like the story started too quickly, you were instantly thrown very matter of factly into Val’s bleak history. I know you have to get to these points in books I just wasn’t expecting it quite so quickly. It would have helped if the information was delivered in an interesting and engaging way, but it wasn’t. Instead I got a bland and very structured conversation that felt unnatural, something that happens a lot in this book. The way the conversation is put together says a lot about the writing to be found here. Technically it is fine, it is understandable it flows…but there is just nothing to it. Everything felt a little sparse, a little empty. There is a lot of unnecessary talking, a lot of long winded conversations that were not needed. The characters tell us how they are feeling by the way they act and by their thoughts, we do not need them to then talk about their feelings with one another. All of this leads (partially) to there being a lot of repetition. The characters seem to say the same things a lot, not only that but there it a lot of repetition of phrases as well.
I felt like there was a good story here. If everything was scaled back a bit and focused more on the romance between Griff and Val then this review would be totally different. Instead, there are a lot of subplots involving drugs, FBI agents and feuding brothers that were not totally needed. The brothers were a nice touch, and ties into another book in the series which is fine. But the other sub plots were not interesting enough and were not tied up at the end. The romance takes a back seat to a lot of this and only really kicks off around the 80% mark. It was as though the writer couldn’t make up her mind what kind of book she wanted to write and so tried to do both. This lead to everything feeling half-done which, in turn, made a boring book. I hate it when I see unused potential and this had it in spades, I just wish more was made of it.
The best thing about this book is the characters. For the most part they are strong in their roles. Gus is a great grandmother she is a complete cheese ball. Honestly, the things this old lady says! But she gets away with it because she is sweet and has the most amazingly strong backbone. Another good character was Curt. He was awful and filled the villain role perfectly. He really was a snivelling weasel and there was nothing likeable about him at all.
Unfortunately, the weakest character was the main one. Val is really quite bizarre. I liked that she started off standoffish and untrusting but then grew to love and live again, her journey was great but it was the way she thought about things that bothered me. Firstly she acts as though Griff being attractive is a real inconvenience and problem. Sure a good looking guy can be a distraction but a burden? Never! Also Val feels like she cannot trust Gus or any other man because her dad used to beat her, I get it, I have no problem with that. Apart from the fact that she used to be engaged and in love with a guy who was lovely to her and never hurt her. She was happy with him and trusted him…so why does she find it nearly impossible with other men especially one that treats her as well as Griff does.
The main selling point of this book is Griff. He is not just attractive he is also charming, kind and sweet. Sure, he is strong and big and manly but he also has a shyness about him that is endearing and a softness that is refreshing. He is not pushy; or broody instead he is head and heart smart. He is just a genuinely good guy.
At the end of the day the biggest problem with The Wrangler is that I feel like I have read it a million times before, there are hundreds of books out there just like this one and unfortunately for The Wrangler some of them are better. The romance in this is lacking, getting to it is like pulling teeth and in the end I lost my patience. I like a slow burner but I also like a story to move forward, at times this felt so slow it almost stopped.
This book had a lot of potential but unfortunately I found it lacking.
*The publisher provided me with this book for review, via Netgalley*
I really, really wanted to like The Wrangler. I liked the premise and I like cowboys. Western ranch romances tend to get under my skin, there is just something about them I love. So you can imagine how excited I was to be given a copy of this book to read and review. I was over the moon. But I am afraid the excitement was for nothing and I ended up coming away disappointed.
I felt like the story started too quickly, you were instantly thrown very matter of factly into Val’s bleak history. I know you have to get to these points in books I just wasn’t expecting it quite so quickly. It would have helped if the information was delivered in an interesting and engaging way, but it wasn’t. Instead I got a bland and very structured conversation that felt unnatural, something that happens a lot in this book. The way the conversation is put together says a lot about the writing to be found here. Technically it is fine, it is understandable it flows…but there is just nothing to it. Everything felt a little sparse, a little empty. There is a lot of unnecessary talking, a lot of long winded conversations that were not needed. The characters tell us how they are feeling by the way they act and by their thoughts, we do not need them to then talk about their feelings with one another. All of this leads (partially) to there being a lot of repetition. The characters seem to say the same things a lot, not only that but there it a lot of repetition of phrases as well.
I felt like there was a good story here. If everything was scaled back a bit and focused more on the romance between Griff and Val then this review would be totally different. Instead, there are a lot of subplots involving drugs, FBI agents and feuding brothers that were not totally needed. The brothers were a nice touch, and ties into another book in the series which is fine. But the other sub plots were not interesting enough and were not tied up at the end. The romance takes a back seat to a lot of this and only really kicks off around the 80% mark. It was as though the writer couldn’t make up her mind what kind of book she wanted to write and so tried to do both. This lead to everything feeling half-done which, in turn, made a boring book. I hate it when I see unused potential and this had it in spades, I just wish more was made of it.
The best thing about this book is the characters. For the most part they are strong in their roles. Gus is a great grandmother she is a complete cheese ball. Honestly, the things this old lady says! But she gets away with it because she is sweet and has the most amazingly strong backbone. Another good character was Curt. He was awful and filled the villain role perfectly. He really was a snivelling weasel and there was nothing likeable about him at all.
Unfortunately, the weakest character was the main one. Val is really quite bizarre. I liked that she started off standoffish and untrusting but then grew to love and live again, her journey was great but it was the way she thought about things that bothered me. Firstly she acts as though Griff being attractive is a real inconvenience and problem. Sure a good looking guy can be a distraction but a burden? Never! Also Val feels like she cannot trust Gus or any other man because her dad used to beat her, I get it, I have no problem with that. Apart from the fact that she used to be engaged and in love with a guy who was lovely to her and never hurt her. She was happy with him and trusted him…so why does she find it nearly impossible with other men especially one that treats her as well as Griff does.
The main selling point of this book is Griff. He is not just attractive he is also charming, kind and sweet. Sure, he is strong and big and manly but he also has a shyness about him that is endearing and a softness that is refreshing. He is not pushy; or broody instead he is head and heart smart. He is just a genuinely good guy.
At the end of the day the biggest problem with The Wrangler is that I feel like I have read it a million times before, there are hundreds of books out there just like this one and unfortunately for The Wrangler some of them are better. The romance in this is lacking, getting to it is like pulling teeth and in the end I lost my patience. I like a slow burner but I also like a story to move forward, at times this felt so slow it almost stopped.
This book had a lot of potential but unfortunately I found it lacking.
October 4, 2012
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review via Netgalley.
The Wrangler is the fifth book in Lindsay McKenna’s Jacksone Hole series. However you do not have to read any of the previous books to enjoy the story, though I would suggest at least reading the previous book The Last Cowboy to get a better understanding of Griff’s relationship with his brother Slade, but it is certainly not a requirement. Because I had read The Last Cowboy before stating in on this book I came into it with a relatively large dislike of Griff. After how he treated Slade I doubted he could do much to redeem himself in The Wrangler.
Val Hunter has left her job at the Air Force to return home to help her grandmother, Gus, run the family ranch, a place that has very few happy memories for Val. Having grown up with an abusive father Val has a very difficult time trusting me, refusing to let them get close to her or opening up to them and rightfully so. Her transition from a withdrawn, damaged, standoffish woman to someone who could once again live a happy life filled with love was a great part of this book. It gave Val’s character a lot of development and showed that not everything happens easily or right off the hop. While she is not the strongest main character I have seen she was certainly a nice change from your typical strong female who needs no help and is perfect right from the beginning.
Gus, Val’s grandmother, was a very good addition to this story. She’s an old ranch woman who is tough and stern, doesn’t take crap from nobody and isn’t afraid to put in some sweat equity even with her bad hip. She really is the backbone of Val’s transition, along with Griff. I really enjoyed how she stood up to Curt Downing and put him and his little minion in their place. She also adds that sense of family to the story, after all she’s the only family Val has left.
Griff has changed a lot. After losing his job on Wall street after the markets crashed he has returned home to Jackson Hole. After struggling at first, mainly because his brother Slade refused to accept him back and because Griff is inexperienced at ranch work, he has found his place and works hard at the local feed store. It’s hard work but he loves it, and it shows that he has begun to embrace his heritage as a Wyoming bred ranchers son. Showing that he has a good work ethic, is respectful, kind, a bit shy and willing to put himself in dangerous positions is a major selling point, and goes a long way to redeeming himself from his previous ways.
While all the characters are enjoyable for various reason, I have to say my favorite is probably Curt Downing. Even in the book The Last Cowboy he was the perfect villain and he continues to be so in The Wrangler. He’s rich, he’s rude, very few people like him and he has his dirty hands in just about everything. He is definitely the type of person you love to hate.
There were a great number of small subplots within this book. Between both Griff and Val trying to overcome their pasts and start on their futures, the feud between Griff and Slade, the presence of a drug cartel and FBI investigate of it, along with the romance itself. So while certain things did distract from the romance aspect of the book I don’t think it took away from it all that much. One aspect I liked was the tie in to The Last Cowboy, having Slade present in this book and showing the brother finally putting their past and their feud behind them for good, they still have some work to do on their relationship but it’s gotten better.
The love between Griff and Val is slow to develop, mostly due to Val being so withdrawn and resistant to men, but also because Griff is respectful of her aversion to men. Because of this he doesn’t try to speed things up even though he feels an attraction to her and believes on many occasions that Val may be developing feelings for him. Through working together on fixing up the ranch they slowly go from co-workers, to friends and then at the end falling in love.
Though slow going at points the ending does make up for it, when Griff and Val finally come together and let their passion and love take them to the next step. Of course Gus’ reaction to it made for a great laugh. Leave it to good old Gus to point something obvious out to the pair in her typical manner.
The Wrangler is the fifth book in Lindsay McKenna’s Jacksone Hole series. However you do not have to read any of the previous books to enjoy the story, though I would suggest at least reading the previous book The Last Cowboy to get a better understanding of Griff’s relationship with his brother Slade, but it is certainly not a requirement. Because I had read The Last Cowboy before stating in on this book I came into it with a relatively large dislike of Griff. After how he treated Slade I doubted he could do much to redeem himself in The Wrangler.
Val Hunter has left her job at the Air Force to return home to help her grandmother, Gus, run the family ranch, a place that has very few happy memories for Val. Having grown up with an abusive father Val has a very difficult time trusting me, refusing to let them get close to her or opening up to them and rightfully so. Her transition from a withdrawn, damaged, standoffish woman to someone who could once again live a happy life filled with love was a great part of this book. It gave Val’s character a lot of development and showed that not everything happens easily or right off the hop. While she is not the strongest main character I have seen she was certainly a nice change from your typical strong female who needs no help and is perfect right from the beginning.
Gus, Val’s grandmother, was a very good addition to this story. She’s an old ranch woman who is tough and stern, doesn’t take crap from nobody and isn’t afraid to put in some sweat equity even with her bad hip. She really is the backbone of Val’s transition, along with Griff. I really enjoyed how she stood up to Curt Downing and put him and his little minion in their place. She also adds that sense of family to the story, after all she’s the only family Val has left.
Griff has changed a lot. After losing his job on Wall street after the markets crashed he has returned home to Jackson Hole. After struggling at first, mainly because his brother Slade refused to accept him back and because Griff is inexperienced at ranch work, he has found his place and works hard at the local feed store. It’s hard work but he loves it, and it shows that he has begun to embrace his heritage as a Wyoming bred ranchers son. Showing that he has a good work ethic, is respectful, kind, a bit shy and willing to put himself in dangerous positions is a major selling point, and goes a long way to redeeming himself from his previous ways.
While all the characters are enjoyable for various reason, I have to say my favorite is probably Curt Downing. Even in the book The Last Cowboy he was the perfect villain and he continues to be so in The Wrangler. He’s rich, he’s rude, very few people like him and he has his dirty hands in just about everything. He is definitely the type of person you love to hate.
There were a great number of small subplots within this book. Between both Griff and Val trying to overcome their pasts and start on their futures, the feud between Griff and Slade, the presence of a drug cartel and FBI investigate of it, along with the romance itself. So while certain things did distract from the romance aspect of the book I don’t think it took away from it all that much. One aspect I liked was the tie in to The Last Cowboy, having Slade present in this book and showing the brother finally putting their past and their feud behind them for good, they still have some work to do on their relationship but it’s gotten better.
The love between Griff and Val is slow to develop, mostly due to Val being so withdrawn and resistant to men, but also because Griff is respectful of her aversion to men. Because of this he doesn’t try to speed things up even though he feels an attraction to her and believes on many occasions that Val may be developing feelings for him. Through working together on fixing up the ranch they slowly go from co-workers, to friends and then at the end falling in love.
Though slow going at points the ending does make up for it, when Griff and Val finally come together and let their passion and love take them to the next step. Of course Gus’ reaction to it made for a great laugh. Leave it to good old Gus to point something obvious out to the pair in her typical manner.
June 20, 2012
Can a city boy financier remake himself into a wrangler in Wyoming after losing everything except the shirt on his back? No one tries harder than Griff McPherson to make a simpler, but hardworking, life for himself, and the woman that he hopes will love him. After escaping her abusive childhood, Val Hunter didn't believe she'd ever go back to her hometown in Wyoming. When her grandmother requests that she leave the Air Force and come home to help save the family ranch, Augusta "Gus" Hunter is the one endearing person Val can't refuse. Will Val find a way to overcome her bad memories and make a fresh start?
Griff McPherson lost everything when Wall Street crashed. Going home to Wyoming to the ranch that his twin brother has struggled to hang onto is Griff's only choice. It doesn't take long for him to realize that, brothers or not, there's a lifetime of animosity between them that is impossible to work through while Griff is reliant on his twin's charity. Griff hopes that Gus Hunter, the owner of the Bar H Ranch, sees enough potential in him as a wrangler to give him a chance. Can Griff convince Gus's beautiful granddaughter to trust him, as well as earn his brother's forgiveness?
THE WRANGLER focuses on the relationships in families when pain and loss make it difficult to heal emotionally. Griff and Val both have painful pasts. Can they find a way to heal together and create happy memories for a future in Jackson Hole, Wyoming?
For me, Griff seemed a bit too soft and self-conscious for a wrangler. I'm not sure if Val would have given him a chance if Griff was different, but I prefer a more self confident hero personally. He was very sweet to Val, but I didn't always understand the attraction between them especially with her military background. I also didn't identify with some of Val's anxiety and felt that it conflicted with her career in the Air Force. I enjoyed their story, but there were moments when I questioned if their reactions were true to their life experience as I understood it.
I picked up this book for review without realizing it was book five in a series. THE WRANGLER revisits Slade McPherson and his wife Jordana, as well as contains appearances by other characters you may be familiar with from previous books in the JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING series. Even though this novel was understandable by itself, you may enjoy it more if you read book four, THE LAST COWBOY, Griff's twin's story first.
THE WRANGLER depicts the harsh realities of ranching for a living. It's easy to understand the pride of families struggling to hold onto what has been in their family for generations, hoping to retain the life they love through tough times. Having been to Jackson Hole and understanding the beauty of land unspoiled by commerce, I can appreciate living in a tourist area as a land owner. Progress is great if it helps all residents to prosper, but sometimes making a living produces temptations too hard to resist, or forces the landowner to sell out to someone else's greed. Author Lindsay McKenna explores this conflict while interjecting practical ideas for ranchers to continue the life they love. Isn't that what we all want ‒ a way of life that completes us? Compromise and resourcefulness is a theme well visited by those who love their land and support one another within the pages of this novel.
3.5 Blue Ribbon Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies.
May 16, 2012
Val Hunter has come home to Wyoming. Not that she wanted to, but her grandmother asked for her help and she would do anything her grandmother asks of her. Gus (Augusta Hunter) is a small dynamo that has had a hard time keeping the ranch going since a hip injury. As much as Val hates the Bar H Ranch, she took a hardship discharge from the Air Force to come home. Gus hopes that they will begin to create good memories to overshadow the bad as they work together to save the ranch.
Gus saved Val's life years ago. Val's father was an abusive drunk who beat up on both Val and her mother Cheryl. Cheryl never pressed charges against him, even after sending Cheryl to the hospital in serious condition, therefore her father (Buck) never served time. That was when Gus stepped in, sold her ranch near Cheyenne after her husband died and came home to stay. Buck was afraid of Gus so after Gus moved in Buck never touched either Val or her mother.
Val left home at age eighteen for college and then joined the Air Force, she has been an intelligence officer working in drug enforcement for the last several years. Buck died of a heart attack and the running of the ranch landed on Cheryl who did a poor job. She was never a partner in the ranch, Buck did it all and never shared any of the business responsibilities with her and Cheryl was not a good judge of character so picked wranglers that stole from her and did not work. Therefore the ranch is in trouble and Val needs to hire a wrangler that will work and manager the ranch, someone they can trust. Val visits Andy's Horse Emporium to talk to Andy about a man he recommends for the wrangler position. Val is a little leery because this man grew up in New York and has never been a wrangler before, but she will let Gus make the final decision.
Griff McPherson has also come home. Although he left when he was six, Wyoming still feels like home to him. At age six Griff and his twin brother Slade lost their parents in a car accident and were split between uncles growing up. Griff ended up being a Wall Street banker until the crash and he lost everything. Coming home to the family ranch where Slade worked was the only thing he had left but it was the best thing he could ever do. He stayed with his brother for awhile but there is some unfinished business between them and they need some healing away from each other before they can be the family they should be.
Griff convinces both Val and Gus to take a chance on him for their wrangler position, he moves in the ranch house and finally he feels at home. Gus likes him instantly however Val is wary and does not trust easily so she is distant until he works his way into her heart.
This is a wonderful story of healing, love, trust and coming home. I loved the interaction between Gus, Val and Griff. They were believable and convincing as people who have a lot to overcome before they can move on. There are several obstacles in the way, Griff is helping the FBI with a drug cartel they believe is doing business in their little community, Griff and his brother need to mend their conflict and Val needs to overcome her fear of men and commitment. A compelling read all the way until the end with an opening for the next book to continue with several of the characters. I am looking forward to more.
Gus saved Val's life years ago. Val's father was an abusive drunk who beat up on both Val and her mother Cheryl. Cheryl never pressed charges against him, even after sending Cheryl to the hospital in serious condition, therefore her father (Buck) never served time. That was when Gus stepped in, sold her ranch near Cheyenne after her husband died and came home to stay. Buck was afraid of Gus so after Gus moved in Buck never touched either Val or her mother.
Val left home at age eighteen for college and then joined the Air Force, she has been an intelligence officer working in drug enforcement for the last several years. Buck died of a heart attack and the running of the ranch landed on Cheryl who did a poor job. She was never a partner in the ranch, Buck did it all and never shared any of the business responsibilities with her and Cheryl was not a good judge of character so picked wranglers that stole from her and did not work. Therefore the ranch is in trouble and Val needs to hire a wrangler that will work and manager the ranch, someone they can trust. Val visits Andy's Horse Emporium to talk to Andy about a man he recommends for the wrangler position. Val is a little leery because this man grew up in New York and has never been a wrangler before, but she will let Gus make the final decision.
Griff McPherson has also come home. Although he left when he was six, Wyoming still feels like home to him. At age six Griff and his twin brother Slade lost their parents in a car accident and were split between uncles growing up. Griff ended up being a Wall Street banker until the crash and he lost everything. Coming home to the family ranch where Slade worked was the only thing he had left but it was the best thing he could ever do. He stayed with his brother for awhile but there is some unfinished business between them and they need some healing away from each other before they can be the family they should be.
Griff convinces both Val and Gus to take a chance on him for their wrangler position, he moves in the ranch house and finally he feels at home. Gus likes him instantly however Val is wary and does not trust easily so she is distant until he works his way into her heart.
This is a wonderful story of healing, love, trust and coming home. I loved the interaction between Gus, Val and Griff. They were believable and convincing as people who have a lot to overcome before they can move on. There are several obstacles in the way, Griff is helping the FBI with a drug cartel they believe is doing business in their little community, Griff and his brother need to mend their conflict and Val needs to overcome her fear of men and commitment. A compelling read all the way until the end with an opening for the next book to continue with several of the characters. I am looking forward to more.
January 7, 2016
I'm not sure how I got this book. I found it on my bookshelf the other day and, after a few seconds of surprise, decided to give it a whirl. Romance is not my usual genre but I can try it from time to time.
The Wrangler tells the tale of two Wyoming transplants who are forced to come home where they don't want to be. Val Hunter returns to her childhood home where she had suffered terrible, debilitating abuse from her father and has lingering questions about why her mother hadn't been able to protect her. Her mother has died recently, her father more than a decade earlier, and her grandmother, a feisty matriarch well-known for her crusty nature and sharp wit and called Miss Gus by one and all, has broken her hip and can't possibly manage without Val. So, with some reluctance and trepidation, Val resigns her military commission and returns to put the Bar H ranch back on its feet.
Griff McPherson, at the age of six, was sent east to New York City with an uncle after the death of his parents in a car crash. His upbringing was an absolute contrast to that of his twin who remained in Wyoming with a different uncle. In NYC, Griff experienced a privileged upbringing. With an MBA from Harvard, Griff entered his uncle's investment company and had parlayed his monetary worth into millions. When the Wall Street crash came, he lost everything and was forced to come home and ask his brother, Slade, for a helping hand. He found he wasn't too welcome. When Slade was trying to get his ranch back into the game, Griff hadn't seen it as a good investment.
Miss Gus and Val need a good wrangler and the owner of the local feed store recommends Griff. He's got great work ethics and he's found he doesn't miss smog and crowds at all — he loves Wyoming and he's home to stay. Unbeknownst to anyone, Griff is working under cover for the FBI trying to get evidence of a link between local billionaire Curt Downing and a drug cartel. When Downing demonstrates a willingness to stop at nothing to get the deed to the Bar H ranch, Miss Gus, Val and Griff make a solid front against him and a lot of suspense and drama, as well as some romance.
The plot is quite good. It's an easy-read western with lots of real atmosphere and very believable characters. A prolific writer, Lindsay McKenna grew up in the rural west and is perfectly at home relating the workings of a horse or sheep farm and the work it takes to make things run. It shows in this 5th book of her Wyoming series.
The Wrangler tells the tale of two Wyoming transplants who are forced to come home where they don't want to be. Val Hunter returns to her childhood home where she had suffered terrible, debilitating abuse from her father and has lingering questions about why her mother hadn't been able to protect her. Her mother has died recently, her father more than a decade earlier, and her grandmother, a feisty matriarch well-known for her crusty nature and sharp wit and called Miss Gus by one and all, has broken her hip and can't possibly manage without Val. So, with some reluctance and trepidation, Val resigns her military commission and returns to put the Bar H ranch back on its feet.
Griff McPherson, at the age of six, was sent east to New York City with an uncle after the death of his parents in a car crash. His upbringing was an absolute contrast to that of his twin who remained in Wyoming with a different uncle. In NYC, Griff experienced a privileged upbringing. With an MBA from Harvard, Griff entered his uncle's investment company and had parlayed his monetary worth into millions. When the Wall Street crash came, he lost everything and was forced to come home and ask his brother, Slade, for a helping hand. He found he wasn't too welcome. When Slade was trying to get his ranch back into the game, Griff hadn't seen it as a good investment.
Miss Gus and Val need a good wrangler and the owner of the local feed store recommends Griff. He's got great work ethics and he's found he doesn't miss smog and crowds at all — he loves Wyoming and he's home to stay. Unbeknownst to anyone, Griff is working under cover for the FBI trying to get evidence of a link between local billionaire Curt Downing and a drug cartel. When Downing demonstrates a willingness to stop at nothing to get the deed to the Bar H ranch, Miss Gus, Val and Griff make a solid front against him and a lot of suspense and drama, as well as some romance.
The plot is quite good. It's an easy-read western with lots of real atmosphere and very believable characters. A prolific writer, Lindsay McKenna grew up in the rural west and is perfectly at home relating the workings of a horse or sheep farm and the work it takes to make things run. It shows in this 5th book of her Wyoming series.
October 1, 2013
Sigh...
This was fairly disappointing. I kept waiting for it to get better and at times I really thought it was, but ultimately I was let down.
Ok... well we have a strong, but wounded girl, excuse me I mean woman. I tend to forget because she has a tendancy to act like a 17 girl who just discovered boys. Anyways! She left the Air Force to help her grandma on the family ranch. She didn't want to go anywhere near the place because of the terrible memories of her abusive father. I get that. That's tough. What was obnoxious though was having to be reminded of said memories every few pages!! And what about Grandma Gus. Don't you think she feels enough guilt???? Lay off!
Griff. Ah, honorable and honest Griff. A real heart throb, that one. Hard working and hard muscled. Mmmm, what's not to love? Well, he's a realy gentleman. I mean a real gentlemen. By the end I thought he was too polite! You know, a respectful man is fantastic, but sometimes you just want him to let loose and throw you against the hay bales and have his way with you!!!!!
To add to that menagerie, there was a "suspense" element. I put that in quotes because in the end it was a joke. This whole drug cartel element was the one part that actually kept you reading. It raised my blood pressure and I found myself saying, "No! Don't go in there!!!!". Buuuuuuuut... The police didn't catch the bad guy red-handed and then the bad guy thought to himself that he was going to be good now. And that was the end of that... REALLY????????
Disappointed.
Then they FINALLY have sex and they wake up engaged and then boom. End of the book.
Sigh....
This was fairly disappointing. I kept waiting for it to get better and at times I really thought it was, but ultimately I was let down.
Ok... well we have a strong, but wounded girl, excuse me I mean woman. I tend to forget because she has a tendancy to act like a 17 girl who just discovered boys. Anyways! She left the Air Force to help her grandma on the family ranch. She didn't want to go anywhere near the place because of the terrible memories of her abusive father. I get that. That's tough. What was obnoxious though was having to be reminded of said memories every few pages!! And what about Grandma Gus. Don't you think she feels enough guilt???? Lay off!
Griff. Ah, honorable and honest Griff. A real heart throb, that one. Hard working and hard muscled. Mmmm, what's not to love? Well, he's a realy gentleman. I mean a real gentlemen. By the end I thought he was too polite! You know, a respectful man is fantastic, but sometimes you just want him to let loose and throw you against the hay bales and have his way with you!!!!!
To add to that menagerie, there was a "suspense" element. I put that in quotes because in the end it was a joke. This whole drug cartel element was the one part that actually kept you reading. It raised my blood pressure and I found myself saying, "No! Don't go in there!!!!". Buuuuuuuut... The police didn't catch the bad guy red-handed and then the bad guy thought to himself that he was going to be good now. And that was the end of that... REALLY????????
Disappointed.
Then they FINALLY have sex and they wake up engaged and then boom. End of the book.
Sigh....
August 20, 2014
Ugh! Where should I start?! This book had all of the makings to make a great story. A tough and sexy, Alpha male hero who trades in his Wall Street life to be a Wyoming wrangler. A strong, independent Air Force intelligence officer who hires a new wrangler to try and restore her family's ranch and the greed of a nefarious neighbor that threatens them both. The plot seems to have everything going for it make a great story. But it fell short in every way.
The "Alpha male" cowboy wrangler, Griff, was so unbelievable as a character. You could tell a woman wrote this story because what man would talk like he does?! What man says things like seeing the honesty of these 2 women made me want to bring out the integrity of myself? Or talk about how Wyoming speaks to his soul? It's just not believable.
And the character for Val frustrated me. She's supposed to be tough but the whole story kept undermining her own strength saying she drew strength from being around Griff and she's so traumatized that she can't have any feelings for men but fear. I was disappointed with her character.
The beginning was too forced. The author tried to explain the past but it wasn't natural or believable. Why would the granddaughter tell her grandmother about her whole life story and recall the events of them being together in one sitting? And why would the grandmother then explain to her granddaughter the granddaughter's life story?! Duh! She knows what happened to herself!
And then I feel like the story kept leading up to the ending and it fell through in a major way! Nothing "nefarious" even happens until 300 pages in and *spoil alert* the first sex scene between the main characters is in the last 5 pages if the book! And after all that *another spoiler alert* the bad guy isn't even arrested. They just "know" he'll stop bothering them now.
I was so looking forward to this book but after 4 pages in I wanted to throw in the towel. Unfortunately I have to finish a book once I start. Very disappointing!
The "Alpha male" cowboy wrangler, Griff, was so unbelievable as a character. You could tell a woman wrote this story because what man would talk like he does?! What man says things like seeing the honesty of these 2 women made me want to bring out the integrity of myself? Or talk about how Wyoming speaks to his soul? It's just not believable.
And the character for Val frustrated me. She's supposed to be tough but the whole story kept undermining her own strength saying she drew strength from being around Griff and she's so traumatized that she can't have any feelings for men but fear. I was disappointed with her character.
The beginning was too forced. The author tried to explain the past but it wasn't natural or believable. Why would the granddaughter tell her grandmother about her whole life story and recall the events of them being together in one sitting? And why would the grandmother then explain to her granddaughter the granddaughter's life story?! Duh! She knows what happened to herself!
And then I feel like the story kept leading up to the ending and it fell through in a major way! Nothing "nefarious" even happens until 300 pages in and *spoil alert* the first sex scene between the main characters is in the last 5 pages if the book! And after all that *another spoiler alert* the bad guy isn't even arrested. They just "know" he'll stop bothering them now.
I was so looking forward to this book but after 4 pages in I wanted to throw in the towel. Unfortunately I have to finish a book once I start. Very disappointing!
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