Not Crushing on the Cowboy: A Coming of Age Romance

by Mary Karlik

Three weeks after her longtime boyfriend dumps her, high school Senior and Queen Bee, Penny Wilson, declares she is over him and done with dating. But life without her ex is more difficult than simply repeating a few affirmations. A queen bee needs a king or she wobbles dangerously close to the edge of the popularity ladder. To make matters worse, Penny's dad announces he's hired Wrangler-wearing calf roper, Ty Jackson, to work on their English horse farm. Nevermind his curly blond hair and six-pack abs—he's a rodeo team bottom runger, and no way is Penny going to admit she knows him, let alone allow him into her social circle.Then Ty convinces her he can teach her to connect more deeply with her horse and settle her nerves in the show arena. And as they work together, Penny discovers that while she might be riding better, being around Ty does nothing to settle her nerves.Will a hush-hush relationship with Ty make matters worse with her dad? And what if her friends at school discover Ty is more than just a farmhand? Because between her show ambitions and her social status, Penny is walking a fine line—and the price is everything that matters to her most.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult Romance

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2023

About the author

Mary Karlik (also writing as Mary J. Wilson) combines her Texas roots with her Scottish heritage to write happily-ever-afters from Texas to Scotland. When she is not writing or reading, Mary can usually be found hanging out with family and friends, or hill walking in Scotland.
Mary has five indie-published contemporary young adult romance novels and two indie-published fantasy novels.
Mary earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, has a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University, and is currently studying Scottish Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye, Scotland. She is also a certified, professional ski instructor and a Registered Nurse.
Mary is an active member of Contemporary Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Dallas Area Romance Authors. Married to a Scott, Mary lives in both and Scotland and Texas.

Reviews

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
“i was me again. for better or worse” ok so. this book wasn’t bad. just wasn’t great. After losing her mom, Penny starts to lose herself too. Her riding isn’t the same as it was, her popularity is going down, and to top it off her hotshot boyfriend cheated on her. Penny is determined to not let the breakup affect her social life but her dad has other plans when he decides to hire her ex best friend (and hot cowboy) as their new farm hand. can Penny keep her new feelings for Ty at bay while also staying queen bee?
This book felt cheap :( like there was no heart in it. Penny was NOT a girls girl and that made me so angry, also she’s a brat. coming of age story? maybe don’t make the main character 18 and she acts 5. Like literally til the end of the book she didn’t act her age. Now was the story predictable? sure. did i enjoy it non the less? also sure. i think i liked that it was easy to read and i didn’t have to use brain power to read it. Also Ty is annoying. like i wanted him to be glen powell level cowboy and i got to walmart knock off version >:( it just felt like he didn’t know what he wanted either and was playing games. I wish we would’ve gotten more of Ty and Penny’s childhood but wtv. all in all not terrible but not something im dying to go read again.
song i thought of while reading:
lose you again by avery anna (ft. parmalee)

[Elvalie Vigil · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, love the characters, except penny can get on my nerves sometimes! Had a blast reading this book!

[Emma Boucher · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 5% FMC got on my nerves and I couldn’t make it past chapter 3

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute read!

[mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't understand the hate that this book is getting😭 i loved it, i literally read it in 2 hours. that never happens.

[Tori {🩷LovesReadingRomance🩷} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Honestly Ty and Penny did get on my nerves a few times but all in all I really enjoyed it.

[Alaina Kroska · Rating 5 out of 5]

YEEHAW 🤠

[Elise Healey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️