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Rugged Mountain Protectors #2

Protected by the Cowboy

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Can an older cowboy help this curvy woman on a fake date?

Austin
When I’m out on the range, everything’s simple.
It’s just a herd in front, and the sun at your back.
It’s served me well for decades,
Until I met Dolly.
She's wound tighter than a rattlesnake under a bucket.
When she comes looking for a date to her mom's wedding,
I know I should keep moving.
Trouble is, Dolly's sweet charms have me doing things I've never done,
And now there's no letting her go.

Dolly
My ex is trash.
Everyone knows it, including my mom.
Yet, she insists on marrying his rich father.
I should take a vacation and ignore the wedding all together,
but showing up with a super hot cowboy sounds better.
Unfortunately… I might have bitten off more than I can chew.
Austin is all cowboy... big, inked, rough, wild, and free.
He doesn't care who knows it.
This may be fake now, but if he keeps giving me that look…
there's no telling what kind of trouble we'll get into.

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2024

241 people are currently reading
79 people want to read

About the author

Khloe Summers

192 books343 followers

Best-Selling Author Khloe Summers writes short, steamy romance about small town love and mountain men.

Married to her own heart of gold alpha for over twenty years, Khloe is a firm believer in the magic of Happily Ever After.

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5 stars
337 (47%)
4 stars
194 (27%)
3 stars
137 (19%)
2 stars
34 (4%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,848 reviews370 followers
April 28, 2024
3.5 smut-scale stars!

Protected by the Cowboy was one of those short novellas you read when you just need some smut and you've got less than an hour.

67 pages of smutty ridiculousness. But hey...last night I was here for it.

"He’s the bull, I’m the cowgirl, and there’s no way in hell I’m ever leaving this rodeo.

Profile Image for Oriana Reads.
4,300 reviews37 followers
June 17, 2024
Dolly and Austin meet for a blind date and it is kind of strained. Dolly needs a date for her mother's wedding, where she marries Her exes dad. Austin is a hot older rodeo champion that is really really smitten with Dolly, so he agrees. But he doesn't know just how toxic Dolly's mother really is. Instalove, age gap, OTT, J/P obsessed alpha male, anxious sweet woman, romantic, steamy and safe with an awesome HEA 😍😍😍😍😍
Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,109 reviews628 followers
June 22, 2024
“Protected by the Cowboy” is the story of Dolly and Austin.

Fake date for wedding, May December romance with some drama and HEA.

It was very quick read

Safe
2/5
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,283 reviews89 followers
April 6, 2024
Dolly (h@23) is dealing with the stress of her mother's impending wedding, and not wanting to attend alone, and a friend sets her up to meet with, Austin (H46). Despite the initial arrangement being purely transactional, things quickly evolve into something more personal when Austin's protective instincts are triggered when Dolly reveals her anxieties and her complicated relationship with her mother and the groom’s son, Dolly's ex. As the wedding weekend progresses, Dolly and Austin find themselves navigating through a series of comedic and romantic escapades that highlight their deepening relationship, all while the possibility of the origins of their relationship coming to light. Austin's straightforward and protective side is the perfect match for Dolly's more anxious and thoughtful demeanor, as they both have to consider what they want from life and each other. Sweet and steamy curvy girl, protective cowboy, age gap romance with a side of humor and angst, and a lovely furry friend, Jolene.
Profile Image for casvec.
7,458 reviews75 followers
April 19, 2024
This was a fast read that was a great afternoon escape. An older grumpy cowboy who sets your heart on fire was what I needed. Dolly is sweet and is perfect for Austin. Their story has a few twists and turns but together the burn hot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Brittany (Brit.tea.reads).
1,473 reviews434 followers
May 7, 2024
It's always a good time to read one of Khloe's books. Her stories are fun, quick, steamy reads, and she always brings the laughs. 

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕?

Dolly finds herself in a difficult situation and doesn't know what to do. She needs help, so a friend has set her up with Austin. She asks Austin, an older cowboy she sees around town, to be her fake date for her mother's wedding because she's running out of time.

𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆.

Austin picks up on her anxiousness about her mother and learns really quickly that her mother is a piece of work.
Austin is attracted to Dolly. He likes that she speaks her mind and plays hard to get.

𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 🍆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍.

With this arrangement, Dolly is blurring the lines between what's real and what's fake, and she doesn't mind it at all.

Austin is the whole package. Despite the age difference, he brings out the best in Dolly, and I love his dirty mouth. He doesn't want this to be fake anymore. Austin is ready to claim Dolly and put a baby in her belly.

I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading the other books in the Rugged Mountain Protectors Series.
Profile Image for Lisa H.
764 reviews5 followers
April 7, 2024
I say it everytime, and everytime I mean it. Khloe is a fantastic writer. She takes you on the sexy, dirty, scoring vibes story that makes you wanna look over your shoulder so no one is watching, but tell all your friends about!

Dolly is finding herself a place she doesn't like...desperate. She needs a date to her moms wedding she really doesn't even want to attend. She gets a friend to set her up with Austin. The rugged older cowboy she can't help but take pics and see him around town. She figures even if she has to buy him for the weekend for a fake date it will help.

Dolly hasn't exactly had the best motherly example,and feels she can't take another disappointment to her mother, or his douche of a ex boyfriend. Austin finds Dolly young, unconventional, mouthy, but drawn to her. Austin can't imagine why she was so intent on focusing on her, but she can't exactly look away either. She's confused with they start blurring the lines of fake and real, but she isn't 100% complaining!!

These two come together fast and hard, but it comes from a real genuine place, and just what they both need. Dolly gives him hope of a life Austin never really dreamed about. Austin offers Dolly the chance to see what it's like to have someone stand up for her, and show her he means what he says. and he isn't letting ANYONE make her feel bad for herself.

You will NOT regret reading this. We can't be held responsible for you wanting to go buy a tight pair of levis, a stetson and a puppy!
Profile Image for T Nelson.
1,879 reviews28 followers
June 12, 2024
HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters
Age-gap, Fake Dating
Rugged Mountain Protectors
Rugged Mountain Ink universe

*over 18 readers only *

Trigger/ Content warnings
Alludes to DV
High anxiety issues
Mother that makes insults sound like compliments
Mild violence

Dolly
Austin

Dolly needs a date to her mother's wedding and fast. It's in just a couple of days. Austin agrees and tries to help where he can. He's just an ol'cowboy, and this is a very fancy gathering. Can Dolly get out of her head long enough to really see the connection between her and Austin?

At first, I thought the book was chaotic. But reading more, I realized the author was channeling the mfc's anxiety very well.
Like almost all books in this universe, the mfc is an innocent falling in love with a much older man. There will be issues, but love conquers all. Each book will also introduce the characters of the next book in a way that makes you curious to find out what happens to them. Just wait until you read the rodeo wedding scene.
11.6k reviews49 followers
April 17, 2024
Life is a lot like a rodeo

Protected by the Cowboy is the second book in the Rugged Mountain Protectors series. This time it is Dolly who finds she needs someone to help her out when she has to attend her mother's wedding and the son of the groom is Dolly's abusive ex-boyfriend. So Dolly decides she will try and hire a man she has crushed on for awhile, Austin. Austin is a rodeo cowboy who also owns a ranch on the mountain that he works. He has done more than notice Dolly since he first spotted her, but with their age difference he never intended to act on those feelings. But when Dolly asks him to be her date for the weekend he will not let this opportunity pass him bye, even if it becomes like riding a bucking bronco.
So this was a good story but it did not hit the mark for me fully. Not sure exactly what it was and other readers may not have the same feeling. It was still nice addition to the Rugged Mountain world and the ending was sweet and loving.
2,451 reviews15 followers
April 14, 2024
The second novella in Khloe Summers' Rugged Mountain Protectors series is the fabulously steamy and spicy fake relationship / age-gap romance Protected by the Cowboy. With her mother about to marry her ex's father, Dolly is in need of a date and allows her BFF to set her up with older cowboy Austin. Austin's seen the beautiful and curvy Dolly around town but never approached her due to the age-gap between them, but when she asks for his help - to be her fake boyfriend - he readily agrees. However, it doesn't take long for fake to turn real. Will this protective cowboy win the heart of the sweet and sassy Dolly? An entertaining instalove full of wonderful banter and steam, Protected by the Cowboy is another must-read by Ms Summers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenny Harris.
4,400 reviews33 followers
April 7, 2024
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.

In this book we meet Dolly & Austin. Dolly had no desire to go to her mother's wedding especially after the way she had dismissed what had happened to her. So her only solution is to hire someone to be her fake date. Austin is the one she wants but doing this she wonders if it will bring them closer or break them. Austin isn't looking for a meek woman. He wants one that talks back and challenges him. When he meets Dolly he knows he had found that woman if only he can keep her. Can these two find a HEA or will there always be something standing in their way?

Another amazing hit by this author. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Profile Image for Curvy Girl Book Nerd   (Jen S).
4,595 reviews62 followers
April 15, 2024
Protected by the Cowboy is a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, age-gap, curvy girl gets her cowboy romance. Dolly is a young and sassy curvy virgin with anxiety. Austin is a 46 year old, hunky, inked, rodeo riding cowboy. When Dolly needs a date to her mother's wedding, she asks Austin to be her fake date, and he agrees. The two are attracted to each other, but Dolly has anxiety fueled by her prior abusive ex, who happens to be her future stepbrother. This couple had amazing chemistry, and I loved the snarky banter. Her family is a nightmare, but I loved how Austin was there for her and really saw her. We got a great HEA. This was a great short and spicy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,187 reviews27 followers
April 6, 2024
I loved Protected by the Cowboy A Fake Boyfriend, Age Gap Romance. Austin’s a grumpy cowboy and Dolly wants him to be her date. Her mom is getting married and she needs a date for the weekend so she can avoid her abusive ex. She’s not used to someone showing up for her and putting her first. Suddenly their fake date isn’t fake any longer. A shirt and sweet story, a little drama and lots of spicy scenes. I loved the storyline and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenifer.
2,769 reviews6 followers
March 5, 2025
A quick read with a quick to wed romance. I loved the clergyman's lines about how marriage is like a rodeo.

The officiant says, “We are gathered here today to celebrate the love of two people in a very unconventional way. However, if you think about it, the rodeo ring might be the most poetic place to start a marriage. Here in this ring, you learn to hold on when the ride gets tough, to look for the positive in a run, and you learn you’ve got five minutes to be upset before that bull is ready again.”
Profile Image for Merry Jelks-Emmanuel.
13.3k reviews156 followers
April 5, 2024
Dolly is just getting over a bad relationship only to have her mother marry the man's father. As the wedding day approaches Dolly needs a date. She connects with Austin through friends and sparks ignite. He is half her age but sees her as the angelic woman that her mother and ex doesn't see. Will their connection lead them along the path to a happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5,026 reviews27 followers
April 7, 2024
Dolly's mother is about to get married. She needs a date as her mother is marrying her ex's father, so he will be there. Showing up with Austin may just be what she needs. At first Austin seems to not be interested but there he is taking about it being so much more.

This is a sweet and steamy read, this cowboy has his girl's back at this shindig.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
310 reviews3 followers
April 7, 2024
I absolutely LOVED it!! Austin and Dolly are true soulmates! I swooned so many times while reading this! I related to Dolly so much when it came to her anxiety so I felt all the feels while reading this! The smexy times were panty meltingly delicious and so steamy🔥🥵 So obsessed with this book!!! Can’t wait for the next one already!!! Highly highly recommend this wonderful book 🩷.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
10.7k reviews28 followers
April 15, 2024
Dolly needs a date for her mother's wedding so she hires Austin a sexy cowboy. I loved their journey of love and how what started as a fake relationship turned into real love. This is a short and sweet age gap romance with family drama, humor, steam, and a happily ever after. A great storyline and likable characters make this a great addition to the Rugged Mountain Protectors series. I look forward to reading the rest of this fun and steamy series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
8,829 reviews63 followers
April 5, 2024
Dolly needs a date to her mum's wedding to her exs father, and finds herself asking her crush Austin. Austin is cowboy, rugged, older and knows what he wants, when Dolly asks him for help he can't say no, he's drawn to her but will her anxiety to see that what Austin feels is real get in the way? Well written steamy age gap fake to real, quick steamy romance, a great addition to the series
1,604 reviews5 followers
April 6, 2024
Age is really just a number. When you find that that one person who completes you, who loves you the way you are, who stands up for you and protects you, does the age gap really matter.
Dolly was at one time all over the place in her mind, the negative thoughts taking over. But Austin never gave up on her. He already knew she was special to him
Profile Image for Brandi-Lynn Weiser.
2,169 reviews77 followers
April 7, 2024
Loved it! Dolly and Austin were great. I loved the steamy scenes, and the funny scenes were great too! I loved seeing Austin stand up for Dolly to Alec, and not let her mom get to him. But the best was when Dolly stood up to her mom and walked away.
This was another excellent short romance by Khloe. I can’t wait for James and Kenzie’s story next!
2,459 reviews12 followers
April 8, 2024
A wonderful story as Dolly seeks a date for her mother's wedding. She had seen Austin around town, and she thought he would make the perfect date. They try to make plans to go together, but things go wrong. He shows up anyway. What a day. A not to be missed read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Donna McEachran.
1,600 reviews34 followers
April 18, 2024
Age gap instalove cowboy fake romance...how many tropes can you get in one little book?! Dolly needs a date to her revolting mother's wedding and asks Austin, a rodeo cowboy much much older than Dolly. Not much to this story really but it was an ok read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Maranda Prigmore.
1,106 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2024
Giddy up

Austin is a rodeo star and Dolly has wrangled him into fake dating for her mom's wedding. The wedding she can't stand. Austin is all sexy and cowboy. He agrees to be a fake date but secretly its not to him. Dolly just needs to survive her moms wedding. She loves Austin. When her ex makes a scene. Austin shows her how much she deserves a happy ending.
Profile Image for Robin Ann.
1,400 reviews3 followers
April 23, 2024
Protect ted by the Cowboy (A Fake Boyfriend Romance)

What a cute, sweet and romantic story. An arranged meeting leading to dinner and a runaway. Everything gets better for het when he shows up at the pre-wedding brunch. I loved the way her mother caught them in the janitors closet. I also loved the wedding in the rodeo ring. A wonderful ending.
Profile Image for Mandy Reads Indie.
1,988 reviews91 followers
May 26, 2024
Quickie review: I loved Austin and Dolly’s story. There was chemistry on top of chemistry between these two. But the best part was the wedding. I love when a man stands up for his woman. Especially with family that doesn’t treat her well. This little series has been amazing and I am only 2 books in so far! Keep these quick, instalove romances coming!! 5 stars!
Profile Image for Mary.
1 review
April 7, 2024
5 stars

Khole is one of my go to authors when I need a sweet romance with a little bit of spice. She never fails to make my heart skip a beat with her over the top alpha men. Can’t wait for the next book!
799 reviews11 followers
April 9, 2024
So very good!

Dolly and Austin!!
Love me some insta love!
Such a great book and awesome character's!
Love their connection and how Austin is protective. He brings Dolly out of her shell. These two together are perfect!
1,149 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2024
Austin and Dolly

A cute fast paced story about two outdated individuals that happily find each other. Austin and Dolly are wonderful together and they do need and complete each other. The ending is perfect for them!
Profile Image for Sharon.
873 reviews10 followers
June 25, 2024
Yeah, definitely not my kind of books.

It all seems so random and for some reason it just doesn't make sense. I'm all here for the OTT vibes, but the plot isn't plotting unfortunately. At least for me.
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