Ever have one of those days that go so badly you want to crawl back into bed and start over?
You'd think running into a famous movie star in our small Texas town would make it a good day. Yeah... not when I do it.
You see, in Matt's case, I don't just run into him. I knock him to the ground and fall on top of him and smash his lungs. All that, before I even recognize him.
Yeah, I may do dumb things, but at least I do it in a spectacular way. Just one more reason I'll never find true love!
Avoiding him seems like the logical choice, but life has other plans. Turns out, I'm supposed to play matchmaker for him and my Gramma's client. So, here I am, stuck on a ranch for the entire summer while they film a movie.
Oh, and did I mention I'm also babysitting Matt's adorable four-year-old son? Yeah, I see Matt every day.
He's a hot, celebrity superstar, and I'm a small-town high school English teacher. He's so far out of my league he's in a different solar system. I mean, he'd never be interested in someone like me—unless he's secretly harboring a death wish.
Falling for him would be the dumbest thing I ever did. A sure way to get my heart broken.
But you know me, I have a habit of doing dumb things.
GeeBee and Gramma are at it again! You'll love this single dad, celebrity, forced proximity, cowboy romance from USA Today bestselling author, Tamie Dearen.
USA Today bestselling author Tamie Dearen has published more than twenty books, including The Best Girls Series and the Limitless Clean Billionaire Romance Series. Tamie believes real life is already full of enough heartache, so she gives her book-characters happily-ever-afters, no matter how difficult their paths.
Tamie Dearen lives in Texas with her incredibly romantic husband and two dogs. She hates dusting and exercising and loves anything musical or artistic. When she's not writing books, you might find her playing with her grandkids or drilling on someone's tooth.
This book was super adorable and was a quick easy read. The characters quickly drew me in and wanted me to continue reading so I could find out how the story developed and what was going to happen. The main characters Joy and Matt(hew) both had their fair share of heartaches in the past, and the author did a great job of weaving these past experiences into their stories throughout the book. Joy immediately took to Matt's son Milo in the book, and Milo was a showstopper. How could you not just love the kid? I love that Joy and Milo created a great bond that continued throughout the story. The Underground Granny network was working on their matchmaking again (two times!) in this book. It's a must read!
I had already read book one in the series, but not books two and three; this book could easily be read as a stand alone book.
I got an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The matchmaking grannies are at it again, this time on the set of a cowboy movie with a swoony, single-dad movie star who is not looking for love and a quirky, sunshine FMC, coming together for a fun & sweet read.
This is the second book I’ve read in the Underground Granny Matchmakers series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters, the romance, and the storyline made for a really fun and entertaining read!
Joy is a school teacher and is working on a ranch during her summer break. She meets Hollywood actor and single dad Matthew when they literally collide in town. There’s an instant attraction between them but they don’t expect to see each other again, and they go their separate ways.
They’re both surprised to see each other again at the ranch, where Matthew is filming his new movie and Joy discovers his true identity. That strong attraction flairs again, but Matthew still grieves for his wife and his first priority is his son, so he’s sworn off having any romantic relationships.
Joy is certain that a famous Hollywood actor would never want a relationship with just an “ordinary’ schoolteacher. With her sweet, sunny, and caring personality, Matthew is very aware that she’s anything but ordinary. His resolve to just stay friends gets tested again and again.
Adding to the fun is the meddling yet lovable and sassy grannies, who bring humor and warmth into the story. And Matthew’s adorable little boy, Jack, made the story extra sweet. I loved him!
If you like fun and lighthearted romcoms with little angst but lots of laughs and swoony moments, I think you’ll really enjoy this story.
The underground granny matchmakers are at it again, this time on the movie set for Looking for a Cowboy. Joy’s Gramma won’t tell her who her match is, only that he’ll be there on location with her for the summer. Joy does fall in love, with four year old Milo, she might even like his dad, Matthew Lawrence, but he’s meant for someone else. What’s a girl to do? Little Milo stole the show! I loved every scene he was in, and his insistence that he was getting a little brother named Olso. I loved Joy and Matt together. They were cute and awkward, and had some adorable moments together.
English teacher Joy is such a…joy! She’s grudgingly helping the Underground Granny Matchmaker’s find matches for everyone, even though she doesn’t feel like she herself deserves love, and has done such a great job of matching all her friends up with her exes. Is it finally her turn?
This small Texas town is full of such fun and interesting characters and her literal run in and meet cute with celebrity Matt had me laughing so hard. If you know me, you’ll know that I adore a celebrity and a “normal person” romance and with the added bonus of Milo, Matt’s son, I was hooked.
The laughs and swoon are plentiful and the swoon is awkward and sparky, which makes it perfectly enjoyable. It was sweet to watch the widower Matt moved on years after his wife’s passing and to observe the blossoming connection.
This is such a fun, quirky, charming romcom and now I want to read the others in the series.
Content/TW: kissing; talk of death of spouse from the past
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
This was my first book I've read from Tamie Dearen and it was so sweet!
I love that it was about a single parent who truly was a wonderful dad just trying his best with the cards life had dealt him. I loved his little boy Milo and the cute things he said and did. As a mom to a four year old Tamie wrote him perfectly!
I also loved that Joy was able to find herself through the book and finally see her worth. I love that we got to see the granny matchmakers in action and see two people find their other half.
I also loved that this book showed Matt's journey with his grief from losing his first wife and Milo's mother Rachel. It was handled so well and it showed that grief isn't a simple thing. I love that it also showed that there can be hope and love once again when someone is ready to move forward in their journey.
Overall if you are looking for a romance that is a wonderful slow burn with heart warming moments definitely give this one a go!
What a wonderfully sweet romance. Joy and Matt have quite the first meeting, and have many issues to overcome to get their happily ever after. There are a few characters that cause more issues. John and Clover made my blood boil, but managed to redeem themselves in the end. This is quite a read, you will thoroughly enjoy this one! Highly recommended.
A book you’re sure to enjoy If you haven’t read any of the Underground Granny Matchmakers series you are in for a treat. Although this is the fourth in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, all of them are well worth the read. In this book we meet Joy, a granddaughter of one of the grannies. She has dated but inevitably ends up pairing her date with a friend that leads them to marriage, while she is a bridesmaid. She would like to marry but it just doesn’t seem like it will happen. An accident introduces her to Matt and his sweet preschool son Milo. Knowing they would never see each other again they have a friendly lunch then go on their separate ways. Little did they know they were headed to the same place, a ranch where a movie was being filmed and they would be isolated from the outside world. Matt was there for the filming. Joy was there to help her matchmaking gramma find a match for Clover the female lead. When Clover announces that she wants Matt everything becomes more complex with Matt and Joy’s attraction in the way. Add to that Joy’s gramma hinting that Joy might find her perfect match at the ranch, an ex-boyfriend of sorts resurrecting embarrassing moments, and accidents a plenty for a fun read that will have you laughing out loud. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
My goodness, but I had a fantastic time reading this latest story in Tamie’s UGM (Underground Granny Matchmakers) series. Not only were the characters so wonderfully crafted but the story flowed along in the most lovely way. From the disastrous Meet-Cute to the daily life on the ranch turned movie set, Matt and Joy are just the cutest couple to watch fall for each other. Neither of them wants to admit feelings and it makes for assumptions and miscommunication galore, though in the best ways. Plus there’s Milo, the adorable-est little cowboy ever and his delight in life every day. Add in some too-friendly co-stars, white-haired matchmakers with a mission to complete and some absolutely swoony kisses and you’ll get this sweetheart of a story that romance readers just HAVE TO READ!! Definitely recommend you snag a copy of this book and the rest of the series so you can enjoy them too❤️
I received a complimentary copy of this ARC from the author. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Looking for a Cowboy will keep you laughing! Another great in series book! I loved Joy’s exuberance and nervous quirks. She and Matt had a great meet cute where I totally fell in love with Milo, the adorable 4 year old son. Chemistry sparks everywhere between Matt and Joy. Joy doesn’t trust herself to not make a mess of relationships. It was a great story of both matchmaking scheming and matchmaking avoidance. I love the characters and hope John can have his HEA too! Oh the shenanigans! You know a book by this author always has to have some ridiculously funny scenes. She keeps you on the edge of your chair waiting for the HEA to finally happen, but when it does it’s perfect.. I am a huge Underground Granny Matchmakers fan! They are hilariously hip and they didn’t disappoint in this book either. Rating: G, sweet clean romcom. Triggers: widower several years later moving on after death of wife.
This is book four in the underground matchmaking granny series. The story starts with quite a bang with the meet cute. I have to say I think this was the perfect way for the characters to meet. Especially when you start to learn more of their past.
What I’ve loved in each book of the series is the meddling sassy granny’s. Along with them in this book you get movie stars, a adorable little boy, and the main characters constantly fighting their feelings for each other.
I know anytime I pick up one of Tamie Dearens books it’s gonna be a fun read and this was no exception. I don’t know what else the matchmaking grannies have up their sleeve, but I can’t wait to find out.
👨🏻 Single Dad 👦🏻 Adorable 4 year olds 👩🏻 Clumsy, lovable female MC 🤠 Cowboys ❤️ Instalove 🚪 Closed door romance 👵🏼 Meddling grannies 🎥 Movie set
Although this is book 4 of the Underground Granny Matchmakers series, don’t let that deter you. This is the first book I’ve read of the series and it read great as a stand-alone. It was such a cute story, perfect for if you’re in the mood for a feel good romance!
WHAT IT'S ABOUT Ever have one of those days that go so badly you want to crawl back into bed and start over?
You'd think running into a famous movie star in our small Texas town would make it a good day. Yeah... not when I do it. You see, in Matt's case, I don't just run into him. I knock him to the ground and fall on top of him and smash his lungs. All that, before I even recognize him. Yeah, I may do dumb things, but at least I do it in a spectacular way. Just one more reason I'll never find true love!
Avoiding him seems like the logical choice, but life has other plans. Turns out, I'm supposed to play matchmaker for him and my Gramma's client. So, here I am, stuck on a ranch for the entire summer while they film a movie. Oh, and did I mention I'm also babysitting Matt's adorable four-year-old son? Yeah, I see Matt every day. He's a hot, celebrity superstar, and I'm a small-town high school English teacher. He's so far out of my league he's in a different solar system. I mean, he'd never be interested in someone like me—unless he's secretly harboring a death wish.
Falling for him would be the dumbest thing I ever did. A sure way to get my heart broken. But you know me, I have a habit of doing dumb things. GeeBee and Gramma are at it again!
MY TAKE This was such a fun book! Joy is a sweet person, who has a history of dating guys who then marry her friends. >.< Like seven times or something. In fact, her Gramma and GeeBee have hinted that one day Joy could join them with their matchmaking efforts. Beginning with this summer job! And Joy might as well, since she firmly believes she's destined to never find love for herself. Except they want her to help them help the female love interest in the movie (Clover) to find her match.
Matt.
He's a great guy and not full of himself for being so well known. He's super protective of his son. Having been a widow with young children, I totally understand that. Matt is all little Milo has. But Matt is also still grieving for his late wife and figures he'll never love again. Sound familiar?
There's obvious chemistry between Matt and Joy but they both keep coming for for excuses not to move ahead. And, as with all the books in this series, the swoony story is full of heart, humor, and some fun twists. I loved it!
Celebrity and widowed Matt Lawrence adores his only son and only takes on projects that let him take his son on location. When his sister goes on bed rest with her pregnancy, it leaves Matt with no one to watch little Milo on his newest film, Looking For a Cowboy. This leaves Matt asking Joy, a woman who collided into him his first day in Texas and who coincidentally will be working on the ranch where the movie is to be filmed over the summer.
Milo adores Joy and Matt, who has sworn off relationships, can’t help but notice her too…
This story was so darn cute yet had so many serious emotions attached to it. The characters were portrayed with multifaceted emotions and insecurities… it really tugged at the heartstrings, especially as Matt is a widow who lost his first love to childbirth. He’s kept so much hurt and fear inside but begins to process it with Joy. 😭 He’s still reluctant to love again but we see him coming out of his denial as he rises to protect Joy from someone who hurt her. We also see Joy’s hesitation when it comes to finding love for herself and she is able to make amends with a traumatic dating experience in her past.
Bonus: if you love epilogues as I do you not only get one but TWO epilogues with this story and they are oh, so SWEET!
This book is part of a series but you can read as a standalone. Of course, I enjoyed it so much I now have to go and read them all. 😉 The Matchmaking Grannies have an ingenious business (The Underground Matchmakers or UGM) featured in the book which in all reality is a brilliant idea- I wonder if this is a real thing anywhere?! 🧐
Special thanks to @tamiedearenauthor for a gifted copy of the book. 💛
Content: kisses only, loss of a spouse remembered, no language
Such a fun and sweet read! What’s not to love when you have 88-year-old grannies playing matchmaker?
Joy is a 30-year-old English teacher in Texas who plans to spend the summer helping her grandmother make a secret celebrity match while on set of a new movie called “Looking for a Cowboy”. Filming is set to take place on a ranch…no cell phones allowed! *gasps*
Just before Joy heads out of town, she experiences a NOT so meet-cute as she crashes into a handsome stranger…literally. She winds up on top of him - bleeding head wounds at all. Thankfully, the man (Matt) is ok. Cue the ADORABLE 4-year-old Milo, Matt’s son. Despite injuries and embarrassment, the incident leads to a shared meal and sweet conversation.
Joy never expected to see Matt again, but boy did she get the surprise of her life when she arrives at the ranch and realizes he’s mega-celebrity Matthew Lawrence. Now she must prepare to spend the entire summer with him. It’s going to be hard to keep emotions in check when Matt asks Joy to take on the role of Milo’s babysitter during filming. Although Matt is a single father, his heart still grieves the loss of his wife. If you love a strong single dad MMC, this one is outstanding!
This story is complete with self-absorbed movie stars, charismatic directors and chaos. The concept of being on a movie set was a lot of fun. A great read and I’ll definitely be looking into the other books in the underground granny matchmakers series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram at: aliciasbooksanctuary
Looking for a Cowboy is an adorable rom-com bound to bring a smile to your face! I loved every minute of this book! I can’t resist the ordinary girl meets super hot, seemingly out of her league guy story. The setting and story line gives plenty of laugh out loud moments, swoony heart touching scenes (hello porch swing conversation) and sizzling kisses, making this an entertaining read.
I loved Joy, she is a ray of sunshine making everything and everyone around her better because she is there. She is spectacular, and thanks to some spectacularly embarrassing moments her flaw is she sees herself as anything but extraordinary. Then there is Matt who still grieves his late wife and is a devoted dad. He isnt looking for love, but his heart starts skipping beats when he is around Joy and despite his best efforts starts imagining life with her by his side. Meanwhile we have the Grannies working the movie set like they are setting up for The Bachelorette but with a better success rate 😉. I loved that it was written in dual POV so I could immerse myself in both Matt and Joy’s journey.
This was my first time reading/listening to Tamie Dearen’s Underground Granny Matchmakers book. Even though this is book four in the series, I had no problem just picking this story up. I do want to read the others in the series now though. The audio narration was fantastic. Lorana Hoopes does excellent bringing the Texas drawl to the story and making you feel like you are right in the story.
🐓 💛 Thank you so much for the audiobook and physical copy of the book for me to read/listen to @tamiedearenauthor All thoughts are mine.
This book was so fun! I loved it! So many funny moments and such an excellent build-up of romantic tension. Joy, working out at a ranch while a movie was filming there, was enlisted by the Underground Granny Matchmakers to help with their latest matchmaking, and keep her eyes out for her own potential match too. Things got tricky when she took on the childcare for Matt, the movie’s male lead, a widower and single dad. Not to mention the complications of other people’s romantic interests. Both Joy and Matt had hang-ups from their pasts, but Matt especially was closed off to love. “My fear of love didn’t stop it from happening it only blinded me to the truth.” There was plenty of misunderstanding, but the resolution was funny and sweet. “‘It’s not about making a match. It’s about building a relationship based on unconditional love. A love that holds strong while you walk together over life’s bumpy roads and forgive each other when you make mistakes. A love that can grow and last a lifetime.’” The epilogues are sweet and lovely, especially the second one. This book is part of a series and there is some carryover but it reads very well as a standalone. This is a closed door romance with mild innuendo and no harsh language.
I have read all of the previous books in this series and loved them all. This one is just so fun and cute. I didn’t get the sassy grandmas as much as I did in the previous stories but they were still in it and a fun part.
I loved Joy. She was such a spitfire, and yes, kind of clumsy but adorable because of it. Matt was such a stand up guy. So fun, and such a great dad.
This story wasn’t as much of a cowboy story as I was expecting. But that was okay! I really enjoyed the “movie” aspect of it and while there was some drama because it was a movie set I kind of understood the misunderstandings that went on. This book is sweet and if you are just looking for something lighthearted, fun, and a quick read to get you out of a slump this one is for you.
I absolutely loved all of Joy’s quirky sayings. One quote I really liked was:
“Jumping junipers! I am staring at his body. Which is why I just stumbled over the uneven sidewalk and barely kept my footing.” This is a sweet and clean romance
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. I adored this story.
This was my first book by Tamie Dearen. It definitely won't be my last. I LOVED everything about this one. The characters are so great. The plot and setting are fun. And it made me laugh out loud so many times!
I loved Joy. She's been tasked by her Gramma to help the Underground Granny Matchmakers in their quest to matchmake everyone around them. But she really doesn't want to. And she doesn't feel worthy of love herself. Honestly, Joy is one of the most selfless characters, she's set up so many of her friends with her exes, and they are happily married.
Joy meets Matt by running into him, literally. That part made me laugh so hard. But running into Matt was the best thing for both Matt and his son, Milo. I loved watching Joy with Milo and how she grew to love him. Well before developing feelings for his dad. But it didn't seem as though anything would work out for Matt and Joy.
You'll just have to read it to see if they did. I hope to get to read the rest of this series so soon!
I was sent an e-copy of Looking for a Cowboy by the author. All opinions are my own.
To say you ran into someone is one thing, but to actually have that happen is another thing. This book starts out with this meet cute as Joy and Matthew are “introduced” to one another. Milo, Matt’s preschool son is quick to smooth any awkwardness between them as he invites her to eat breakfast with them. I couldn’t help but be charmed by the little guy as he freely shares his hugs and laughter with Joy.
As Joy and Matt navigate their way through misconceptions and misgivings, you are sure to want to see how this is all going to work out for them. I enjoyed this fourth book in the Underground Granny Matchmakers series. This is the first book I read in the series, so it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t think it detracted from the story in any way, but I am curious about the other matches the grandmas made in the previous books.
Read for: Grumpy/sunshine Single dad Romantic comedy Texas towns Clean romance Movie stars Protective sister Matchmaking
I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required.
Looking for a Cowboy was the best!! The chemistry between Joy and Matt was the best, and that kiss was definitely worth the wait! Yes, there were moments I wanted to shake or slap them up the head, but that just shows how real they felt and how great of an author Tamie is! Of course, there's plenty of humor rolling around, and I loved that it was placed in a filming set since that added an interesting angle to the story. And it's always nice getting to hang out with actors. 😊 I also loved Matt and Joy's meet-cute, and how well she understood him and was just what he needed (though at the same time, our dude and the story requires lots of patience, lol). Milo, Matt's son, was the cutest and most fun, and I loved his interactions with Joy. Seriously, the characters were the best, and I found it so refreshing that there was more to them than what we saw at surface value (yes, especially with Clover and John). Oh, and Elvis's appearances definitely added a surprising touch. All in all, it's a fantastic addition to this series! ~ 5 stars
This was the first book I’ve read by Tamie Dearen but what a fun read. This was a quick, easy read. Super cute with lots of LOL moments.
Joy is a school teacher working at a farm for summer. On the side she’s helping a group of grannies’ matchmaking schemes. Matthew is a movie star and single dad, trying to do what was best for his son. Joy is unaware the matchmaking grannies have their eyes set on her. They’ve both suffered in the past. As they get to know each other and learn about each other, sparks start to fly.
My favorite parts of this book were the grannies and Milo! Milow was such a sweetheart and the grannies were so scheming, it was hilarious to read. Joy and Matthew were super cute together. There were some awkwardly funny moments between the two. This was a sweet, clean romcom with lots of funny moments. Loved reading this book.
Thank you to the author for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story was adorable! It's my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more. I enjoyed the characters, both the MCs, Miles, and the matchmaking grandmothers. The story was cute and romantic while also having some depth to both MCs backstories and current circumstances. I liked the celebrity romance aspects and Joy's sunshine attitude. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. The story gets a 5-star review from me, but the audiobook was more like a 4. I actually really liked the female narrator and thought she did a great job with Joy and the dialogue, but I struggled to differentiate which POV the story was in when it switched between Joy and Matt because it sounded too much the same. I think it would have benefited from having dual narrators. The narrator is good and I did like listening to her, I just had a hard time following the POV changes.
Joy is on a mission for the Underground Granny Matchmakers. Since she’ll be working at the ranch during the filming of a new movie anyway, they want her to help the leading lady find her perfect match. She wants her own romance but she is a bad luck klutz when it comes to men. Just her luck – she literally runs into a hot guy but later finds out he is a movie star in the film at the ranch. He would never be interested in a high school English teacher!
This is the first book I have read in this series and now I want to read all the ones I missed. The story has a clean romance, a single dad with an adorable son, and a happily ever with a good plot. It is well-written and I enjoyed reading it.
This is the best of the best in RomCom universe! There was laughter, tears, and swoon worthy moments that pulled you in and kept you there.
Matt may be a movie star but when it comes to women he’s a bit clueless and scared of commitment after losing his wife. His son Milo steals the show and his insistence that he’s getting a brother named Oslo had a smile glued to my face.
Joy was the cutest mess you’ve ever seen. Accidents seem to follow wherever she goes, and when she’s nervous the words pour out in an overload which was hilarious. She has a core of strength and love that made her a perfect match for Matt and Milo.
I stayed up and tried to read in one sitting. I loved everything about this book.
Looking for a Cowboy is an absolute delight to read! If you think you've had a bad date, just wait until you read about Joy's date in college. Since that disaster, Joy is uncomfortable around guys that she could actually fall for and also around famous people. Her summer job on a movie set may be a challenge for this high school English teacher. I dare you not to fall for Milo, the son of movie star Matthew Lawrence, or for that matter not to fall for Matt. Author Tamie Dearen has written another romantic comedy that sure to tickle your funny bone and give you all the feels of a swoony romance. I would definitely read more of the Underground Granny Matchmakers and more of this author's other works. I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of this well-written romcom.
4.5 stars! This book was really cute. The matchmaking grannies are so funny. This book is book 4 in a series but can easily be read as a standalone. The filming scene was a really fun plot for this story. Mathew and his son Milo head to Texas to film, but are knocked off their guard (quite literally 😉) when Joy runs into them. Imagine their surprise when they are both on the set, and find themselves falling for one another. This book has lots of wonderful side characters that really help bring the story together. And you not just one, but two matches in this story. 😉 I listened to the Audio for this, and it was so well done. I really enjoyed the narrator and it was super easy to listen to. Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy- all opinions are my own.
I had good old reading fun listening to this audiobook. Every moment was enjoyable, every twist inviting and the building romance throughout absolutely charming.
From the very start with the meet cute, to the grand gestures at the end, Joy and Matt’s story sucked me in. I loved watching them discover that love is meant for them. The small town Texas charm with the movie set as well as the twists and turns add to the romance that builds. And the matchmaking grandmas. They are delightful. As are so many other characters in this story.
Completely enjoyed myself with this audiobook and I look forward to more Tamie Dearen books.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.
Looking for a Cowboy: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Underground Granny Matchmakers, Book 4) by Tamie Dearen Oh, so much fun to read !! A truly fun sweet clean contemporary romance with plenty of ‘comedic scenes’ and heart, to keep you turning those pages. The big question, Will they ever get to find out what the other folks already know? In case you haven’t figured it out, I really loved my time in this story. Oh, although this is book 4 of the series; it can be read as a stand-alone story. Happy reading ! ! Note: This review expresses my honest opinion. I received and ARC of this story from the author via Bookfunnel.