My Spirited Texan

The Bradford Brothers of Honky Tonk, Texas #6

by Dakota Lacoy, Jason Clarke (Narrator)

MY SPIRITED TEXAN: Delightful. Fiesty. Romantic.

He’d married her once before. On the playground in third grade.

There'd been many women in Ben's life since. But when she confesses her internal clock is ticking, he admits he's ready to settle down, too.

So, they make a wager. If Ben finds Mrs. Right first, Kizzy pays for his rehearsal dinner. If she finds Mr. Right first, he pays for her wedding dress. Only they didn't establish any rules.

This short, fun, friends-to-lovers, childhood-promise romantic comedy features Ben Bradford and is the perfect antidote after a long day at work.

THE BRADFORD BROTHERS OF HONKY TONK, TEXAS

This seven-book stand-alone series features cowboys who have swapped out ranching for small-town living. And not just any small town, but one with a colorful background and storefronts such as Pump & Grind Coffee Shop, Get the Hair Outta Here, Junk & Disorderly, and The Family Jewels.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers, Westerns

4 pages, Audible Audio

Published June 17, 2024

About the author

I love reading quick pick-me-up romances during my lunch hour or before I go to bed. Problem is, I can't find enough to feed my habit. So now, I write them.

And there's nothing I'd rather write (and read) about than cowboys. Their love of horses, the ladies and wide open spaces. Their tight denim jeans, snakeskin boots and tall rangy bodies. Their colorful vernacular, old-school manners and alpha male ways.

So if you enjoy reading 'em and I enjoy writing 'em, then I'd say that's a match.

I'm Dakota Lacoy. Creator of Just For Fun books.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Spirited Texan by Dakota Lacoy
The Bradford Brothers of Honky Tonk, Texas series #6. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Ben Bradford has never been ready to settle down. He’s popular with the women around town but has always made it clear he’s temporary. One night he meets a childhood friend at the local bar where she admits she wants a baby and is actively looking for a permanent relationship. Her announcement surprises Ben and he realizes he is ready as well. They make a wager to see who will get to the alter first. Games ensue when they realize they need to take their search out of town and maybe there are feelings between the two of them after all.

A bit of humor with the family and dating situations. Ben gets jealous but his love and leave ‘em habits are coming back to bite him. Thank goodness for frank speaking brothers.
It’s an hea but Ben never actually won me over.

🎧 the audiobook is narrated by Jason Clarke who does the full series. His performance is fantastic. Warm and sexy sounding. While female voices are not realistic, the variations and emotional moments through the story make it a compelling listen.
As usual, I sped this up to 1.5 to more closely match reading and conversation standards.

3 for the book, 4 for the narration.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

My introduction to this series was a free novella (My Smooth-Talking Texan) that I got by signing up for Dakota Lacoy's website. After listening to the fantastic Jason Clarke perform that story I couldn't wait to begin listening to My Bold Texan and then I binged listened to the entire series – in less than 2 days.

I think it's best to take these stories for the not-always-serious fun and flirty stories they are. They are filled with naughty puns and a little over-the-top alpha male that always end up falling deeply in love with the woman they may or may not have always wanted.

My Spirited Texan: Ben and Kizzy are so good for each other but their HEA didn't come easy. They have been friends since childhood but have never dated. Kizzie is ready to settle down and when they get to talking Ben realizes that he's tired of his love 'em and leave 'em lifestyle. They go through some tense moments when Kizzy goes out with another guy (which really gets Ben fired up) but they finally get on the same page and get their HEA.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute series. Ben is ready to settle down, but he has slept with most of the women in town. Kizzy also wants to settle down, but doesn't see a lot of options in Honky Tonk. The two end up on a blind date which turns into a bet. As they spend more time together, they start to develop feelings.

I enjoyed most of the book, but I was not happy how Ben handled a situation at the end.

Jason Clarke does an amazing job narrating the book.

[Kristy Botts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun short read.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to give this audiobook a try because of the narrator. Jason Clarke never disappoints. This was my first book from this author and it will probably be the last. This book was a contradiction-for the amount of sex discussed in this book-none of it was on the page.

Initially I liked the characters, the premise of the book, and the fun banter. But the H is a manwhore who has slept with many of the women in their small town. He expects the h to believe that he has changed because he has been celibate for a few months. The h has been very clear that she wants a husband and baby.

She chooses the man who has been dating her over the manwhore who hasn’t taken her out on a real date. The h tells him she is going to be exclusive with the other man, the H has been calling and messaging the h (still no real dates?). The H breaks down into tears, talks to one of his married brothers, and decides to make some changes to show the h he has changed.

The h sleeps with the OM, realizes she made a mistake, breaks it off, and goes to the H. When the H finds out she had sex with the OM- who she has been dating most of the book -the H freaks out and leaves.

More crying and discussions and the H and h get together and have sex. Time warp-get married. Epilogue- get pregnant.

[Cathy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book! I could not put it down and stayed up way too late finishing it! Ben and Kizzy have been best friends forever. They still haven’t found their Mr. and Mrs. Right so they make a friendly wager on who can find their forever person first. This wager causes them to spend a lot of time together where feelings besides “just friends” come into play.

This story is part of The Bradford Brothers of Honky Tonk, Texas series. I like that each story can stand alone, but that characters from previous and future books make appearances and play a part in each story. Ben and Kizzy’s characters were so real that I felt like I knew them. Being a Southerner, the town and the way the people interacted were spot on. This book will take you on a journey of emotions… from laughing out loud to tearing up and needing a tissue. I just absolutely loved it! The only thing that was a drawback for me was that it has a bonus epilogue to the story had to be downloaded separately, and something went wrong when I tried it and couldn’t access it. I wish the whole epilogue had been included in the book. Other than that, though, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary romance.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben’s womanizing reputation began innocently enough in third grade when a playground marriage to classmate Kizzie ended before the imaginary ink was dry with the next little filly that caught his constantly roving eye. Ben’s ego knows no bounds and while he’s charming and flirtatious he’s also disillusioned with the realities of small town courtship, while Kizzie longs for a child and contemplates medical intervention to have one. Their story is an interesting mix of camaraderie, attraction, and emotional s vulnerability where both characters wrestle with past decisions and Ben’s sobering reputation which leaves him reeling with the consequences of his sullied reputation. There’s a real talent in writing a shorter length book where every sentence, glance, touch, and emotion is emphasized with an importance that sucks you into the characters’s lives. The heartfelt introspection the author explores shines along with Jason Clarke’s poignant delivery of a story that really resonated with me.

[Ashley Yungbluth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My Spirited Texan is book six in "The Bradford Brothers of Honky Tonk, Texas" series by Dakota Lacoy. This book was a great read and one of my favorites in this series. There is something about Dakota's books that just capture your attention and have you wanting to read it in one sitting. Ben is known as a player in his town and decides after his high-school girlfriend marries his brother he needs to settle down and get out of town. He goes on a blind date only to find out that the woman, Kizzy, is from his town. He can't believe it, and neither can Kizzy. They make a bet that whoever marries first the other has to pay for either the wedding dress or the reception hall for the other. Kizzy believes she has this bet won because she knows how Ben is. It was nice reading about Ben and Kizzy. I definitely want to find the recipe for the Yoohoo Yeehaw drink mentioned in this book.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Spirited Texan is a friends-to-lovers story featuring Bradford brother Ben. He has grown tired of playing the field and is ready to settle down. Hair stylist Kizzy Jane is ready to settle down and have a baby. The two make a wager about who will find their mate first. While hanging out together Ben realizes he is in love with Kizzy Jane but she does not want to commit to someone who has played around as much as he has. Ben does a lot of soul searching and growth during the book. He has to work hard to earn his HEA. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fairly low-heat, low-angst romance.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jason Clarke. I highly recommend this version of the book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! Ben and Kizzy are set up on a blind date by folks that didn’t realize they knew each other! They stay and dine together and come up with a bet – if she finds someone first, Ben will buy her wedding dress and if he finds someone, she’ll pay for the rehearsal dinner. They start checking out restaurants for the dinner and going wedding shop dressing together. Ben realizes he has fallen for her but Kizzy is very hesitant since she would most like have to interact daily with a woman that he has slept with. I was interesting to watch Ben come to realizations about his past and learning from it. A very nice ending.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway and it was my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Since I hadn’t read the other books in the series, it took me a minute to get into the story and keep characters straight, but overall it was easy enough so it worked as a stand alone. It was a great short read but still had enough details to let you fall in love with the characters. First part of the book I was worried it would all feel too rushed but by the end I loved the overall storyline and flow.

[Chris Eck · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Goodreads giveaway book:
This was a cute, quick romance book that works as a stand alone. My only critique is that realistically once a playboy, always a playboy. Once he achieves his conquest, the odds are stacked against Kizzy to keep him at home after they marry.... But that's a story for another 2nd chance sequel. :) I liked the fact that it was steamy but not too crass or pornographic. Definitely not a deep thinking thought provoking novel, but that's not what it's intended to be. Fun small town cowboy romance.

[Christy DuBois · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Goodreads giveaway winner -
This was my first book by this author. I was worried due to the short length the plot would fall short but it didn't. I had to finish it in one sitting because I was invested by the chapter one. It's nice to have a well written short book for when you don't have alot of time to invest in a larger book. I'd definitely recommend this book and I myself will be going back and reading her other books.

[Dakota Lacoy]

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man poor Ben. After year and years he’s finally seeing the world in a new way. But is it too little too late? I love the way their adult friendship grew first. Kizzy also had decisions to make. Great ending and the bonus scene is the best. #CMCon25

[Crystal P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was put through the ringer. Ben was put through it and then some in this book, but I loved how open he was to understanding the position he'd put himself in. I may have cried a bit, but there was the happiest of endings for everyone!!

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, a well known womanizer, wants to settle down. Long time family friend, Kizzy, does too. But his reputation puts her off. This is a fun romance and I think Ben and Kizzy are my favorite characters in this story.

[Ana Elizondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series more than I thought I would! The combination of the author's writing and the narrorator is on point!
Unfortunately, I ran out of borrows this month, so I'll have to resume this series next month.

[Andrea]

I agree w Dakota, Ben is my fav! This was was fabulous! And of course, I downloaded book funnel and got to listen to more!

[Melody Digh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made me laugh and kick my feet a few times but Ben was a little too skanky for me