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Estes Park #2
Bet on a Cowboy
Commitment phobic Colorado cowboy Griffin McAlister has it all figured out. Do the reality dating show, get the money his family desperately needs and go on with his life. Actually falling in love was never part of the deal…least of all falling in love with the show's spunky director.Maggie Sullivan knows she's found a star the minute she meets Griffin. But as she gets to know the man behind the dimples, she realizes she might have found something more. It doesn't matter, though; she has a job to do. Besides, how could he ever notice her while he's busy wooing ten gorgeous women?Now Griffin has a choice to stick with the plan and lose Maggie forever, or risk everything for a chance to win her heart!
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 5, 2012
For this review and more visit my blog
*The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.*
Bet On A Cowboy is exactly what you would expect from this kind of book. It is sweet but predictable, dramatic but unrealistic and mostly cute fun. We know to expect these things when we read these books so it wasn’t a problem.
Although we have seen plots like this a hundred times before I still like it. Cowboy bachelor falls in love with plain Jane whilst being surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women who want to get in his pants. It gets me every time; I am a sucker for this type of romance.
I quite liked the characters, both Maggie and Griffin had nice and humorous personalities but they both had the tendency to be a bit self-pitying. Neither could let go off the past and it was bought up a lot. I couldn’t help but be annoyed by it occasionally.
The main issue with this book is the romance. Most of it is perfectly fine but they go from friends to lovers very suddenly with no warning. The intimate scenes felt very detached to the point where I just wasn’t sure why these people were having sex in the first place. There was not spark, no passion and no emotional connection. Thankfully the romance does pick up after that.
Bet On A Cowboy is by no means perfect but it was an entertaining enough read.
*The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.*
Bet On A Cowboy is exactly what you would expect from this kind of book. It is sweet but predictable, dramatic but unrealistic and mostly cute fun. We know to expect these things when we read these books so it wasn’t a problem.
Although we have seen plots like this a hundred times before I still like it. Cowboy bachelor falls in love with plain Jane whilst being surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women who want to get in his pants. It gets me every time; I am a sucker for this type of romance.
I quite liked the characters, both Maggie and Griffin had nice and humorous personalities but they both had the tendency to be a bit self-pitying. Neither could let go off the past and it was bought up a lot. I couldn’t help but be annoyed by it occasionally.
The main issue with this book is the romance. Most of it is perfectly fine but they go from friends to lovers very suddenly with no warning. The intimate scenes felt very detached to the point where I just wasn’t sure why these people were having sex in the first place. There was not spark, no passion and no emotional connection. Thankfully the romance does pick up after that.
Bet On A Cowboy is by no means perfect but it was an entertaining enough read.
June 6, 2012
My Blog: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews
A great book! It has been a while since I read a cowboy themed romance and this book was a great way to break into it again.
This story revolved around a ‘Bachelor’ themed reality show called “ Finding Mrs. Right” with Griffin McAlister being the Bachelor and Maggie Sullivan the shows director.
Griffin's character was charm personified and Maggie’s was full of Sass. I loved the banter and the ribbing between the two main characters.
‘Bet on a Cowboy’ is a well written romance, funny and entertaining minus the angst factor.
Julie Benson is definitely an author on my reading list now and I look forward to reading the other McAlister siblings stories.
A great book! It has been a while since I read a cowboy themed romance and this book was a great way to break into it again.
This story revolved around a ‘Bachelor’ themed reality show called “ Finding Mrs. Right” with Griffin McAlister being the Bachelor and Maggie Sullivan the shows director.
Griffin's character was charm personified and Maggie’s was full of Sass. I loved the banter and the ribbing between the two main characters.
‘Bet on a Cowboy’ is a well written romance, funny and entertaining minus the angst factor.
Julie Benson is definitely an author on my reading list now and I look forward to reading the other McAlister siblings stories.
October 18, 2017
Una novela rosa. Mucho amor, una heroina que me puso de nervios con sus celos injustificados, reluctancia a abrirse y prejuiciosa. La relación entre los personajes no me pareció bien desarrollada. No sentí ninguna conexión, y las interacciones forzadas. Aún así, la historia tiene mérito y pasas un día agradable leyéndola. Incluso si es sólo para poner los ojos en blanco con la heroina.
April 29, 2022
A crazy idea led to the love of a life time. Griff and Maggie fit each other perfectly (of course). This is quite a journey for the Griff character, because he seems....adrift or even lost in his life. The Maggie character seems put together, but has given up on males in favor of a lab. I like the normal working girl got the HEA.
September 14, 2017
I enjoyed it.
August 13, 2018
Not too bad. My kind of love story.
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
October 6, 2012
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review via NetGalley.
Bet On A Cowboy is a nice love story that puts a cowboy out of his comfort zone. Typically a cowboy will end up falling in love on his ranch, to a woman that is somehow involved with ranches or horses herself. But that’s not the case in this book, as he is knee deep in a reality TV show in Vegas at the time.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Griffin McAlister was a one time bull rider on the rodeo circuit who had to put his dreams on hold due to injury and now works on his families ranch. He’s a hard worker, knows how to charm a lady and has great looks. Desperate to make money to help pay for his mothers cancer treatments he agrees, though somewhat hesitantly, to be a part of a bachelor TV show called Finding Mrs. Right. Maggie Sullivan is the shows director, she’s a bit of a plain Jane, and doesn’t take no for an answer. I find it incredibly refreshing to find a main female character in a romance novel who isn’t drop dead gorgeous, perfect curves, lovely hair. Maggie is smart, does her job well and while she does have a decently curved body she hides it under baggy clothing, though I’m not sure I can see a director of a reality TV show running around dressed like that.
The humor along the way is a great addition along with the banter between Maggie and Griffin at certain points. He’s used to flashing women a smile and having them fall at his feet, but Maggie isn’t so easily swayed and challenges Griffin at nearly every turn. And it’s this challenging side of her that appeals to him. Nice to see a guy fall in love with a normal looking woman while being surrounded by gorgeous women all grabbing for his attention and his pants.
Though their relationship is a bit slow to grow, for obvious reasons – he’s on a reality show trying to find a wife in order to get money for his mothers cancer treatment and she is the show director – when it did finally get to the point where they knew they were falling for each others it got better. When they suddenly make the move from friends to lovers it seemed a bit weird, obviously they each have feelings for the other though they have no admitted it yet, though more annoying to me is how Griffin almost instantly assumes she will end up pregnant. Sure it can happen, but that’s his first thought and the first thing he says to her.
Throughout the story there is the strong presence of family and it’s importance. Griffin is doing this to help his mother and ease the financial burden of her cancer treatments, Maggie wants to be able to pay for IVF treatment since she wants to be a mother and Griffin’s family also makes an appearance at the beginning and more so at the end of the book when the show is set to film at the family ranch.
I have to say I really enjoyed the ending of the book, even if it felt a bit rushed, as Maggie and Griffin put everything on the line for love. It’s not entirely what I had expected to happen but was happy with it. I would certainly recommend this book to those who enjoy western romances and will look for more books written by Julie Benson in the future.
Bet On A Cowboy is a nice love story that puts a cowboy out of his comfort zone. Typically a cowboy will end up falling in love on his ranch, to a woman that is somehow involved with ranches or horses herself. But that’s not the case in this book, as he is knee deep in a reality TV show in Vegas at the time.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Griffin McAlister was a one time bull rider on the rodeo circuit who had to put his dreams on hold due to injury and now works on his families ranch. He’s a hard worker, knows how to charm a lady and has great looks. Desperate to make money to help pay for his mothers cancer treatments he agrees, though somewhat hesitantly, to be a part of a bachelor TV show called Finding Mrs. Right. Maggie Sullivan is the shows director, she’s a bit of a plain Jane, and doesn’t take no for an answer. I find it incredibly refreshing to find a main female character in a romance novel who isn’t drop dead gorgeous, perfect curves, lovely hair. Maggie is smart, does her job well and while she does have a decently curved body she hides it under baggy clothing, though I’m not sure I can see a director of a reality TV show running around dressed like that.
The humor along the way is a great addition along with the banter between Maggie and Griffin at certain points. He’s used to flashing women a smile and having them fall at his feet, but Maggie isn’t so easily swayed and challenges Griffin at nearly every turn. And it’s this challenging side of her that appeals to him. Nice to see a guy fall in love with a normal looking woman while being surrounded by gorgeous women all grabbing for his attention and his pants.
Though their relationship is a bit slow to grow, for obvious reasons – he’s on a reality show trying to find a wife in order to get money for his mothers cancer treatment and she is the show director – when it did finally get to the point where they knew they were falling for each others it got better. When they suddenly make the move from friends to lovers it seemed a bit weird, obviously they each have feelings for the other though they have no admitted it yet, though more annoying to me is how Griffin almost instantly assumes she will end up pregnant. Sure it can happen, but that’s his first thought and the first thing he says to her.
Throughout the story there is the strong presence of family and it’s importance. Griffin is doing this to help his mother and ease the financial burden of her cancer treatments, Maggie wants to be able to pay for IVF treatment since she wants to be a mother and Griffin’s family also makes an appearance at the beginning and more so at the end of the book when the show is set to film at the family ranch.
I have to say I really enjoyed the ending of the book, even if it felt a bit rushed, as Maggie and Griffin put everything on the line for love. It’s not entirely what I had expected to happen but was happy with it. I would certainly recommend this book to those who enjoy western romances and will look for more books written by Julie Benson in the future.
July 8, 2012
“I hear women like grand romantic gestures,” he continued, and flashed her a to-die-for smile.
The happy couple....
Maggie Sullivan is a lonely, overworked TV producer who’s resorted to a sperm bank because she’ll forever be a spinster. Griffin McAlister is former rodeo star sidelined by injury who is desperate to earn money for his mother’s cancer treatments.
The setting....
You’ve seen it on TV! Network-furnished Bachelor and Bimbo mansions in Las Vegas, with an on-location jaunt to the ailing matriarch’s ranch for the finale.
The storytelling....
Nothing about the writing really impressed me. The TV-inspired premise meant the plot pretty much wrote itself, and every type of stock character was represented.
Our hero describes his sister-in-law (heroine of a previous book) as “a little dynamo in a knockout package.” He also says stuff like “Why would I order the same meal every day when I haven’t sampled the whole menu?” Wondering what he looks like? He has ocean-blue eyes, a crooked smile, bulging biceps and rock-hard abs. Puh-leeze.
The romance....
The much-loved “frumpy career girl learns her true beauty through the love of a sexy cowboy” trope. I was being sarcastic about the “much-loved” thing.
Griffin wasn’t an asshole, and Maggie wasn’t a doormat, but I got soooo sick of being hit over the head with all the incessant references to her “angular features” and “severe ponytail” and “baggy cardigans.”
The one thing redeeming this romance was the predictable-yet-satisfying Declaration of Love, and it had some SERIOUS work to do to overcome a LOT of female-bashing crap – much of it coming from THE HEROINE.
“I can’t believe she gave you her phone number. That’s so tacky. Every dating book I’ve read says women need to be careful not to be too aggressive.”
Um...she lives in Los Angeles and works in the entertainment industry, and she’s appalled by a female making the first move? Really?
Her brothers always chided her for expecting life to be like a romance novel, where the hero swept into a woman’s life, recognized her for how wonderful she was on the inside, and declared he couldn’t live without her.
Um...isn’t that EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOOK IS? But wait, there’s one that tops that:
If Griffin decided to go into politics he’d win by a landslide on the women’s votes alone, and he wouldn’t have to say a word.
Gee, thanks. I love it when a romance novel heroine demeans all women as brainless, slobbering idiots.
The recommendation....
So after all the eye-rolling and ranting, I probably should have given this a D, but I went with a C- because I did like the slow-but-steady relationship building and the behind-the-camera look inside a dating show. And yeah, the HEA was good. But I have a low tolerance for predictability and clichés, and I’m overly sensitive to the misogyny stuff, so this book was not a good fit for me.
NOTE: I read a digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 18, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012Review: Bet on a Cowboy by Julie Benson
4 STARS Bet on a Cowboy was fun,warm hearted , silly and sad. It was a fun quick read. Thier is some sex scenes that I skipped over. I would read more from Julie in the future. Maggie Sullivan is the director of Finding Mrs. Right. They have to find a new bachelor in just 2 weeks. They decide to try for Rory McAlister but found out he was married but he had a single good looking brother Griffen McAlister. When Maggie called him to offer him the role he hung up on her, in fact twice. Maggie does not give up though so she flew to his ranch to explain he was not interested till she told him that he would be paid 3,000 a episode a total of 30,000 dollars. That got Griffens attention. He was willing to listen to more. Griffen was a rodeo bull rider till a car wreck injury made him quit riding. Since then he only worked on the ranch as a ranch hand. His mother was fighting cancer and Her only hope was a expensive treatment that was expensive and not covered by insurance. For his mom he could go on tv and make a fool of himself to pay part of the expense. Griffen thought that if he picked someone who would turn down his proposal that way he would be able to keep his word and could not be sued. He figured that if one he chooses won't want to live on thier ranch it would work. Griffen was full of charm and got away with lots because women would fall over to help him. Maggie was not going to give into Griffen especially when he would use his charm. Maggie knew she was a plain looking women. She was teased so bad in school she gave up trying to look good. She was thinking of becoming a single mother. She did not trust Griffen's flattery at all. She was starting to like him too much if she was not careful she could be fired and sued. Griffen thought Maggie had beautiful eyes and was enjoying her company more and more. He thought the women who were on the show were all alike. Not too smart even the lawyer asked dumb questions. Late one night Griffen and Maggie slept together and the condom broke. Both new that they could not afford to get caught and that one night was a big mistake. Because Griffen had to propose to one of the ladies or be sued. He had already spent the money. Then things got even worse for them. I was given this ebook to read in return for honest review by Netgalley. 06/01/2012 PUB Harlequin American Romance
4 STARS Bet on a Cowboy was fun,warm hearted , silly and sad. It was a fun quick read. Thier is some sex scenes that I skipped over. I would read more from Julie in the future. Maggie Sullivan is the director of Finding Mrs. Right. They have to find a new bachelor in just 2 weeks. They decide to try for Rory McAlister but found out he was married but he had a single good looking brother Griffen McAlister. When Maggie called him to offer him the role he hung up on her, in fact twice. Maggie does not give up though so she flew to his ranch to explain he was not interested till she told him that he would be paid 3,000 a episode a total of 30,000 dollars. That got Griffens attention. He was willing to listen to more. Griffen was a rodeo bull rider till a car wreck injury made him quit riding. Since then he only worked on the ranch as a ranch hand. His mother was fighting cancer and Her only hope was a expensive treatment that was expensive and not covered by insurance. For his mom he could go on tv and make a fool of himself to pay part of the expense. Griffen thought that if he picked someone who would turn down his proposal that way he would be able to keep his word and could not be sued. He figured that if one he chooses won't want to live on thier ranch it would work. Griffen was full of charm and got away with lots because women would fall over to help him. Maggie was not going to give into Griffen especially when he would use his charm. Maggie knew she was a plain looking women. She was teased so bad in school she gave up trying to look good. She was thinking of becoming a single mother. She did not trust Griffen's flattery at all. She was starting to like him too much if she was not careful she could be fired and sued. Griffen thought Maggie had beautiful eyes and was enjoying her company more and more. He thought the women who were on the show were all alike. Not too smart even the lawyer asked dumb questions. Late one night Griffen and Maggie slept together and the condom broke. Both new that they could not afford to get caught and that one night was a big mistake. Because Griffen had to propose to one of the ladies or be sued. He had already spent the money. Then things got even worse for them. I was given this ebook to read in return for honest review by Netgalley. 06/01/2012 PUB Harlequin American Romance
June 18, 2012
I get a break from school for a week, so I'm getting in as much reading as I can, while I have time. :P I was looking to start with a light, fun read and definitely found it in Bet On a Cowboy.
The plot was not very original, but it was still fun. The main characters are what make this book though. They have great chemistry, leading to great dialogue and witty banter. They didn't fall in love at first sight, though I do think Maggie fell in lust at first sight, but who wouldn't? Griffin is described as tall, charismatic, very good looking and oozing sex appeal. Maggie didn't stand a chance against lust here. Though she does have some self-esteem issues which makes her think Griffin would never look twice at her. And Griffin thought the same too, remarking on how plain Maggie looked, except for gorgeous emerald green eyes. But Maggie is different from the usual girls Griffin dates, and so he doesn't know what hit him until later on in the book.
I felt the story was just the right pace, not too fast and not too slow. I really connected with Maggie and rooted for her and Griffin all the way. It was also great to meet Griffin's family, who are all great characters. Griffin's is the second book in this series. His older brother, Rory, was the main character in the first book. You don't need to read the first one to understand what's happening in this one. I haven't read the first one and didn't feel I missed out on something I needed to know. But I will try to get my hands on it, as I really like Julie's writing style. Also, I think Grffin's sister, Avery, will be getting her own story too. I recommend this book for a light, fun read!
The plot was not very original, but it was still fun. The main characters are what make this book though. They have great chemistry, leading to great dialogue and witty banter. They didn't fall in love at first sight, though I do think Maggie fell in lust at first sight, but who wouldn't? Griffin is described as tall, charismatic, very good looking and oozing sex appeal. Maggie didn't stand a chance against lust here. Though she does have some self-esteem issues which makes her think Griffin would never look twice at her. And Griffin thought the same too, remarking on how plain Maggie looked, except for gorgeous emerald green eyes. But Maggie is different from the usual girls Griffin dates, and so he doesn't know what hit him until later on in the book.
I felt the story was just the right pace, not too fast and not too slow. I really connected with Maggie and rooted for her and Griffin all the way. It was also great to meet Griffin's family, who are all great characters. Griffin's is the second book in this series. His older brother, Rory, was the main character in the first book. You don't need to read the first one to understand what's happening in this one. I haven't read the first one and didn't feel I missed out on something I needed to know. But I will try to get my hands on it, as I really like Julie's writing style. Also, I think Grffin's sister, Avery, will be getting her own story too. I recommend this book for a light, fun read!
May 3, 2012
Good book. I liked Griffin and the way he wanted to do something to help out with the ranch and his mom's medical expenses. I found that his plan to be able to do the show without actually having to marry the winner was pretty creative. Maggie was drawn to Griffin from the beginning, but had a job to do as the producer of the show. I really liked the way that she could see through his carefree attitude to the man and feelings beneath. I thought it was really good the way that she would call him out when he try to get by on just his charm without actually putting some feeling into what he was doing. When she confronted him about the way he would attempt to get by without really trying, it opened his eyes about what he was doing. Maggie had her own issues with self-confidence, and I loved the way that Griffin showed her how much he liked the person that she was. I hope that there will be a story for Avery.
August 4, 2012
It's a setting that has been around the world of TV for decades but somehow it still draws a segment of the viewing public. But this story comes at the current version of this reality show from inside as it deals with the people who are drawn into the show because of their own personal agendas, need for money, or as a stepping stone to future goals. The person who simply wants to do her job, who knows what has to happen and the woman who no one ever sees is the director and a person whose self-esteem can't stand too much more of a beating. The person who is the hardest on her is herself, and this story is really about two people whose joy in living is really non-existent, whose goals are very different, and who just want to move beyond this experience. It is a very well-written story, not really heavy weight, but with a surprising amount of substance and some very thought-provoking dialogue.
August 29, 2012
A good plot with a little slow crescendo and a good insight behind the reality shows.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW
September 12, 2013
I liked the premise of this book, and the information about the reality dating show was interesting. If you like contemporary romance or reality dating shows, you might enjoy this book.
November 21, 2012
I loved this book! A reality show turns into a real life romance..great book!
January 30, 2013
This was a fun twist on the whole reality TV Bachelor show. Loved these characters and I think this author is going places. Looking forward to reading more by her.
February 27, 2014
Impressed. Lots of twists & turns. Fun read. Was difficult to put down.
May 24, 2015
Strangely enough NOT the first Cowboy on a Reality Show themed book I've read and definitely not the worst. lol, still doesn't mean it was great though...
May 8, 2015
This book was good read with plenty of give and take between Griffin and Maggie as they worked their way through the romance to a happy ending.
May 1, 2016
A funny light reading.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews