Buck Cowboys

Buck Cowboys #1

by Elle Thorpe, Stella Hunter (Narrator), J.F. Harding (Narrator)

Hallie knows how to lose your best friend in one easy step.

Offer him your virginity, then watch him reject you.

But that was four years ago, and now she knows better. Working at Hunt’s Bull Riding School, there’s no shortage of hot young cowboys to keep her entertained. There’s no need to think about Nate Mathews, especially since he’s off on the pro bull riding tour.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Until Nate walks back into her life, four years older, four years hotter, and with four years of regrets behind the blue eyes she once fell in love with.

But on his first night back in their sleepy hometown, Nate’s plans to apologize are lost in the wail of sirens. In the devastating aftermath, Nate leans on the woman who once knew him better than anyone.

But this time, it’s more than friendship he wants from her. No amount of teenage history, bad-tempered bulls, or babies who hate his guts will stop him from getting his second chance.

This second chance, friends-to-lovers romance brings the steam against a backdrop of professional bull riding, rodeo, and small-town cowboys. This is a complete romance with a happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Westerns, Second Chance, Cowboy Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

First published November 14, 2020

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Elle Thorpe is the author of over thirty romance titles, including Amazon top ten books, Start a War and Locked Up Liars. She is best known for her dark reverse harems, and sexy small town romances.

When she's not writing, she's probably out on her family's alpaca farm in rural Australia.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellethorpebooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellethorpebooks
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellethorpebooks

Reviews

[annotated by Noi (in & out)]

I picked this up because it's short and the cover was cute. Sadly, it fell short in more ways than one. With some editing, and maybe like 100 pages more, it has the potential to be solid. It's not revolutionary by any means, but it had some cute moments.

[M]

3.5 stars

This was a sweet second chance read. It was pretty short and right about the time I was really enjoying these two it was over. I wanted more of them.

Nate was the perfect guy for this read. Umm, I have been missing out on these hot cowboys in romance books! I need to find me some more. I felt like I got enough to start falling for Nate. He was charming, romantic and his dirty talk was something.

Hallie held her own and didn't cave too early when it came to pursuing anything with Nate. She had placed her trust in him and it had backfire in an epic way. She was leary and needed to make sure he was all in.

If you're looking for a new adult, second chance read about a bull rider and the one that got away - this one is for you!

[Darlene I read WAY to many books]

This one was pretty hard for me to like. Hallie was my problem; she tried so hard to be a pick-me girl. I just got tired and didn't care anymore.

Hallie and Nate are second chance since he's home for a bit visiting his sister, and she has not forgiven him for what happened when they were teens. He embarrassed her and rejected her. Now he's trying to make it up to her. Thinking it would be easy nope. She made it so hard it felt like pulling teeth. She was so back and forth.
But beside that his sister and brother in law got into a car crash making him caregiver to there daughter his niece who doesn't like him for a 7 month baby. It was shall we shall we not since I'm be leaving 🤡

no ow/om drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy times. no virgins

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶

Slow burn
Push away from both more FMC
Praise kink
Separation few years
HEA
Epilogue

[Elisa ♡]

a second chance, friends to lovers cowboy
if you're looking for something sweet (but steamy) and short, read this.
also the next couple...I'm excited.

[Ali]

3.5* A cute, spicy, cowboy novella with second chance/friends to lovers tropes. I listened to the audio, which was well done and in duet narration!

The first few chapters of this had me SHOOK (literally driving with a hand over my mouth to contain the gasp) but unfortunately the story didn't hold - I feel like Thorpe could've used that first big shock to drop all this responsibility on Nate and give him some pretty big reasons to stay, but obviously being a novella things wrapped up a bit quicker and didn't hit all the feels I think it could have. I also felt like Hallie forgave Nate WAYYY too quickly, but again, that's the downside to a novella.
The epilogue also had me gasping - Thorpe really knows how to deliver a shock - and I'm definitely keen to continue the series!

[Minnie]

4⭐|2🌶️|21%🌶️frequency

This is a quick read, but a great start in this new series. Nate and Hallie are so cute.
Even though it's a short book, there is a lot happening. Especially because of the car accident of Nate's sister and brother-in-law. My heart definitely stopped beating at that moment 😱

I'm now even more excited to read the other books in this series. I love second-generation books, and the next books will be about Kai and Addie's kids 😍


Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...

[Melissa]

3.25/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

[Proserpine]

3.5🌟

gasping wheezing screaming throwing up

Whoa. This surprisingly enjoyable even if I've got a view complaint. My first Elle Thorpe book and definitely not my last. Her writing is not that bad tho.

A sweet second-chance romance with charming cowboy energy, this one had potential but felt too short to fully deliver. Nate was swoony, romantic (his dirty talk? whew), and totally the kind of MMC I could fall for. Hallie held her ground after a major trust fallout. Their banter was sharp and flirty, and their chemistry genuinely fun to watch unfold. The push and pull in the middle tested my patience a bit, and the ending came so fast I was grinning like wait WHAT just happened?!?! But honestly, it worked. 🐎❤️

I really enjoyed this one since it has short pages and some sweet moments. Not groundbreaking, but it had its cute moments.

And don’t even get me started on that epilogue. Summer and Dominic’s first encounter sparked instant chaos. Their banter promises explosions, emotional damage, and feral energy, and I’m so very ready for the. Hell yes, I'm already racing straight into Buck You like it’s a personal mission. 💥🏃🏻‍♀️

[cait ʚ♡⃛ɞ]

What a quick, fun read this was! This is the fourth book I’ve read from Elle Thorpe, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

It’s a short story, I’d say more of a novella, although I couldn’t actually find anywhere that confirms that. It’s about 178 pages on Kindle, and I absolutely had a ball reading it.

It’s a small-town, cowboy, second-chance romance with open-door spice (very open-door 👀), which was exactly what I needed after finishing House of Sky and Breath.

It took me less than a day to read. The characters were really likeable, and it’s naturally fast-paced because of the shorter length- something I’m not used to. I did have to remind myself that the whole point is for it to move quickly.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised with how much history and yearning Elle managed to fit into it.

It wasn’t my favourite. I definitely enjoyed her Saint View High series more - but I’ll absolutely be continuing on with this one. The characters for Book 2 - Buck You! already have me hooked.

[nanda]

Parecia ser interessante... não gosto de plot de segunda chance, mas parecia promissor. E ficou só no parecia mesmo. A irmã e o cunhado sofrem um acidente, e o cara só pensando na mocinha, quase transam, enquanto eles estão no hospital, e a mocinha só sabe falar do que aconteceu na formatura e que não podia se envolver com ele porque pipipopo, mas era toda hora abrindo as pernas, aí no final o mocinho quase indo embora, o treinador dele é babaca e ele "hmmmmm acho que não quero mais”, e pronto. Desenvolvimento horrível, o sexo é horrível, o casal é horrível.

[Mik B]

3.5 ⭐️ 3🌶️
Easy to read, quick little novella to get you ready for the series.
- Second chance
- friends to lovers
- small town cowboys

I have read the Dirty Cowboy series about the parents in this book and I really liked it. I didn't realise this was linked until I read Kai's name and I was like 🤔

None the less, loved it. Am so ready for Summer to dump Austin's ass. Ugh what a d***.

[✨ Just Another Bookwyrm ✨]

3.75 ✨

[Charliegirl1]

Cocky Jerk

Another cocky, jerky "hero".


Spoiler Alert:

He rejects her in front of his friends when they're eighteen; okay, I get that he's young, dumb, and blindsided. But he comes back four years later with his internal dialogue all about how sorry he is and how he wants a second chance, but when he gets her alone in the barn, he teases her and walks away again. And last but not least, even after being together, he's willing to leave her and put bull riding first again. I get that it's supposed to be dramatic and romantic that he stops the bus and comes back, but if the jerky WBRA boss hadn't wanted to cash in on his family's tragedy, would he have changed his mind? This girl deserved someone who shows her that he would choose her first.

[Bonnie G.]

A sweet and pretty steamy novella. It had the problem I often have with romance novellas: I wanted more story, but this was a good second-chance tale. A 3.5.

[Jessica {Litnoob}]

4.5 intense stars

What a wild ride!!! I’m so happy to be back in this world with these amazing intense complicated but ultimately loving country boys and the ladies to tame them.

As per usual Elle delivered in the best way and you guys... I’m so happy. Ok actually it was painful and made my heart ache and my stomach clench but the pay off was so worth it.

Nate as a lead was lovable and charming with a little spice and Hallie was sweet and down to earth and you couldn’t help but to root for her.

My only wish was that this was longer as I always feel like I’m being taken away from these cowboys too soon.

[A HEA]

It had been a while since I had read some Cowboy romance a Buck Cowboys was a great quick way to dive back in. The author dives us right in, within the first few pages and then hits us with a tragic bang which shapes the foundation of the story.

Nate and Hallie had been friends for years at the end of high school before Nate headed off to join the rodeo circuit Hallie offers herself to Nate which inevitably leads to a wedge forming between the pair. Years go by and now Nate is back and visiting family. With a sudden shift in circumstances, the pair are thrown together which allows their feelings from the past to be rekindled. I really enjoyed this country romance.

[Amanda]

Audiobook. Library. 3.5 rounded down. Not bad but felt like a carbon copy of other popular cowboy romances except a fraction of the length. Probably would have done 4 stars if it was longer/more fleshed out. (Second chance also is never my favorite trope)

[Jennifer Rodriguez]

Elle Thorpe just has a way with writting characters you fall in love with. Hallie and Nate are just the best first love second chance. my heart was going through all the emotions with them. This one wasnt too long but it packed a punch. Then chapter 2 gut wretched but the ending had me gasping.

[Lily Spannier]

Short but loved it lowkey

[Cassandra ☀️🌊☕️📚]

I think 100 more pages was needed for this story. A lot going on for 176 page book. Nate kind of bugged me a little bit. Looking forward to reading the next book about Summer and Dominic.

[Amanda]

4.5/5⭐

I've been patiently waiting for Elle Thorpe to release a new cowboy romance and OMG she did not disappoint with Buck Cowboys!! This second chance romance is packed with emotions and I devoured it in one sitting.

"Losing her had made me see what I'd taken for granted. I wouldn't do it again."

Where do I start... this was a wonderful second chance romance. I'm usually not a huge second chance fan but this was done perfectly and didn't have a ton of flashbacks (cough cough I hate those lol) . She told their love story without having to constantly revisit the past. Yes Nate and Hallie were best friends growing up and had something embarrassing tear them apart but Buck Cowboys is about them as the people they are now still feeling an undeniable connection between them. Nate was handsome, rugged, confident and a gentleman, he was just swoon worthy and I loved everything about him . Same with Hallie, she was strong, caring and passionate. Together they just worked and the intimacy and steam between them was off the charts 🔥🔥🔥

"There was no one else. There never would be. It was me and him. And if I couldn't have him, then that was all there was for me."

I didn't realize this was a spin off of her Dirty Cowboy series and that was a fantastic surprise. She's best friend with my favorite cowboys daughter so it was wonderful to see his name on the page. Besides him there is a great supporting cast of characters that I look forward to seeing more of in future books.

The prologue leaves us with a whooper of a cliffhanger for the next books couple . Why must you okay with my emotions Elle WHY! Anyways if you couldn't tell from my review I loved Buck Cowboys and need the next book immediately. If you love second chance or just hot sexy cowboy romances then #oneclick this one!

[Danielle Hibbard]

I enjoy Elle’s books, not because she’s some great writer, but because they’re easy reads. I find sometimes the continuity of her books isn’t great but it’s something i look over for easy cute reads. this book was no different. Hallie and Nate are cute but i feel the book ended as i was starting to really like them. i also don’t love the “i wont speak to him bc he embarrassed me” but then turns around and falls at his feet after one look.. i’ll read the others but it wasn’t my favorite.

[Charli Mae]

Well, I normally don't even like cowboy romance but this was cute enough I'm going to continue the series. So, Nate is a pro bull rider. He comes home for a visit after years away. Hallie was his bestfriend all through high-school and when he left it broke her heart. When his family is in a car crash and she helps him take care of his baby niece Mollie the still smoldering crush becomes an inferno.

[Alice]

2⭐️3🌶️

Too much insta-love for me, but that’s to be expected from such a short book. I was more interested in the brother & sister-in-law of the MMC, so I think I will still try the others in the series eventually. Just found the main characters in this one a bit flat. Definitely needed to be longer to give the characters more time to grow and to make their relationship more believable.

[Caitlin]

The twist in the beginning certainly caught my attention, but it really mellowed out after that.

Also, I really struggle with people obsessing over someone as an adult that they knew in high school. As I get older, I see how pitiful we all really were in high school and not at all mature, so I think that kind of trope turns me off most of the time.

[K.M. Lowe]

This is the first book I've read by this author, but I can't wait for the next book in this series. I really enjoyed it. The push and pull between he characters just kept the suspense up. Will they wont they get a happy ever after?

[Krystalynn]

1.5. Cute but nothing special. I didn’t like the ending, it was so rushed and there was no relationship. It was just them having sex and having a past, nothing more. Also a main plot point was just done with once Hallie and Nate got together.

[Lucca Powers Bates]

This was a pretty decent novella. I needed something fun and fast which this definitely was. The audiobook was also good. My issue was just that it lacked nuance which I guess is to be expected to a certain level with novellas.

[Hilary Litz]

Cute second gen book.

This was a cute second chance friends to lovers romance. I enjoyed reading this and will definitely be reading the rest of series since I love Elle's cowboy books!!

[Carmen Beeton]

I have a July TBR so I don’t know how I ended up here but what an emotional rollercoaster this book was. It had me crying for Nate’s sister and her husband at the beginning of the book already. This book was cute and very easy to get through.