What do you think?
Cowgirl Up
When the new ranch hand, Coal Bryan, arrives at the MC2, the last thing she’s looking for is love. Her co-workers are surprised when Coal turns out to be female. Coal, used to the reaction, quickly earns the respect of the crew with her work ethic and skill with horses. Coal uses the strenuous work and friendship of the ranch hands to try and forget her broken past. Melissa Conway, owner of MC2, offers Coal a place to live in her home. They both are shocked to find they are linked in a way neither of them imagined. Mary Leah, Melissa’s sister, arrives at the ranch to recover from a recent tragedy. The attraction between Mary Leah and Coal is instant and mutual. Can the three women survive their personal dilemmas? The love and friendship they develop certainly helps but will it be enough to bring them together. Ride along with the MC2, for boot scootin’, butt kickin’, dirt eatin’, rodeo adventures, with a love story thrown into the mix.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2014
About the author
Ali Spooner
76 books126 followersI am a native Floridian who is temporarily (I hope) displaced in Memphis, TN. for work purposes, however I hope to make it home to a partner of 17 years and our family as quickly as I can. I enjoy photography as a hobby along with spinning a good tale.
I am American by birth and Southern by the Grace of God. LOL I enjoy writing about the south and creating characters and events that I hope my readers enjoy as much as I have in creating them.
I am American by birth and Southern by the Grace of God. LOL I enjoy writing about the south and creating characters and events that I hope my readers enjoy as much as I have in creating them.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 13, 2016
Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I found it way too boring. It could have easily 150 less pages and would have been much better. I don't mind happy stories where there is not much angst or action, a story just about characters falling in love. But this didn't have the richness in the romance, the sparks, the chemistry. And when nothing else happens in this book, whats the point?
Also, I have never read a book that is so much about food. They get up, make breakfast, discuss whats for lunch, make egg salad sandwiches, then go to work on the ranch. Stop working, eat the egg salad sandwiches, discuss what to have for dinner, then go back to work. Works ends then they make what they discussed earlier for dinner, some meat or chicken. Discuss dessert, make dessert than they eat dinner while again discussing what they are eating, then have dessert. They go home, go to bed, and discuss what the should buy for dinner the next day. I am not joking, this was all day and every day.
That was another problem with this book, too many unneeded details. For example, She wakes up, rolls out of bed, stretches, walks down the hall to the bathroom. She goes in the bathroom, walks to the toilet, and sits down. She gets off the toilet, walks to the sink and turns on the water. I'm going to stop here cause I think you can get the point. Sometimes you can just say that a character woke up and used the bathroom, it doesn't need every single step.
As you can see this just did not work for me. I haven't given up on Spooner yet. Hopefully this was an anomaly and her other books are better.
Also, I have never read a book that is so much about food. They get up, make breakfast, discuss whats for lunch, make egg salad sandwiches, then go to work on the ranch. Stop working, eat the egg salad sandwiches, discuss what to have for dinner, then go back to work. Works ends then they make what they discussed earlier for dinner, some meat or chicken. Discuss dessert, make dessert than they eat dinner while again discussing what they are eating, then have dessert. They go home, go to bed, and discuss what the should buy for dinner the next day. I am not joking, this was all day and every day.
That was another problem with this book, too many unneeded details. For example, She wakes up, rolls out of bed, stretches, walks down the hall to the bathroom. She goes in the bathroom, walks to the toilet, and sits down. She gets off the toilet, walks to the sink and turns on the water. I'm going to stop here cause I think you can get the point. Sometimes you can just say that a character woke up and used the bathroom, it doesn't need every single step.
As you can see this just did not work for me. I haven't given up on Spooner yet. Hopefully this was an anomaly and her other books are better.
August 24, 2026
Cowgirl Up
The fact that story was not just about a couple, but their family on the MC2 ranch was everything. It was sweet, it was wholesome, and it made you want more at the end of the book.
Confession: I peaked at the reviews of book 2 and I'm a little worried about starting it. I'm not ready to mess with the joy that book 1 gave me ... so I might wait a while. Maybe when book 3 comes out - which is soon!
The fact that story was not just about a couple, but their family on the MC2 ranch was everything. It was sweet, it was wholesome, and it made you want more at the end of the book.
Confession: I peaked at the reviews of book 2 and I'm a little worried about starting it. I'm not ready to mess with the joy that book 1 gave me ... so I might wait a while. Maybe when book 3 comes out - which is soon!
June 1, 2017
2.5 rounded to 3. This book isn't great nor is it horrible. It's just meh. I've read books by Spooner that are much better.
July 16, 2023
This is the story about Coal, a cowgirl and her new life on MC2 ranch. It follows how her hard work is rewarded by her fellow cowboys. She's also an Army Ranger, and knows how to not only defend herself, but her "family " too! It also follows her relationship with Mary. Her boss's sister. This is a compelling story! 5 stars
July 9, 2018
I felt like I just kept waiting for something to happen and it never really did. Very detailed about specific things where it didn’t need to be. The relationships could have explored more but they weren’t and while everyone was really nice and supportive of and with each other I didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry it was almost as if you were reading a daily list of every single thing they did that day and then they woke up and they made that checklist again.
October 13, 2017
Fun read
I really enjoyed this book and I loved reading how the characters evolved and changed over time but still stayed true to themselves.
I really enjoyed this book and I loved reading how the characters evolved and changed over time but still stayed true to themselves.
August 4, 2016
This book started out so boring and looking at the reviews is unlikely to get any better. The dialogues especially are almost painful to read with the excruciating detail of everything that has happened. And everything is so slow -- it takes almost 70 pages to get from mentioning the psychiatrist to actually going to see her. The exceptions are the parts that that come out of nowhere and then are resolved immediately -- such as the revelation about the murder totally pointlessly pointed at coal for approximately 2 seconds before the real killer confesses. The love story is really very predictable though I was gratified that coal didn't get together with the owner. The second love story seemed unnecessary and just as annoying as the first
March 1, 2015
I loved this book! It was well written and I'm definitely looking forward to reading some of Ali Spooner's other books.
June 22, 2021
Cowgirl give new meaning to what a ranch hand is like!
The one thing I always experience at the end of an Ali Spooner story is "It ended to soon". This story is no exception and cowgirl are my new favorite. The characters are are strong women and though life has brought so harse realities, they thrive. Coal is an incredible woman whose life as a Army Ranger ended with a terrible explosion. She had to start all over again. The MC2 ranch seems like a good place. Of course they were expecting a man but Coal wins the owner and the ranch hands very quickly. The cast of characters in this story are just part of its fun. Daily life on a ranch is no picnic. The author shares the ups and downs of ranch life as we learn about Coal. They way they grow as a family and deal with each other issue just makes for good reading. The owner, Melissa, has a sister who come to recover from her life and find a romance she didn't expect. As the book closed I felt like I was leaving some good fiends and was so glad when I saw a book 2. So I will say I so enjoyed the ranch life and it's complicated moments as I head off to read Back In The Saddle.
The one thing I always experience at the end of an Ali Spooner story is "It ended to soon". This story is no exception and cowgirl are my new favorite. The characters are are strong women and though life has brought so harse realities, they thrive. Coal is an incredible woman whose life as a Army Ranger ended with a terrible explosion. She had to start all over again. The MC2 ranch seems like a good place. Of course they were expecting a man but Coal wins the owner and the ranch hands very quickly. The cast of characters in this story are just part of its fun. Daily life on a ranch is no picnic. The author shares the ups and downs of ranch life as we learn about Coal. They way they grow as a family and deal with each other issue just makes for good reading. The owner, Melissa, has a sister who come to recover from her life and find a romance she didn't expect. As the book closed I felt like I was leaving some good fiends and was so glad when I saw a book 2. So I will say I so enjoyed the ranch life and it's complicated moments as I head off to read Back In The Saddle.
October 17, 2017
Sweet story
This was a good story, it had a few story flaws, there's a part of the story where Cole meets Melissia sister. And it starts off good but then their instant attraction turns to love kinda fast. When they get together for the first time, it was rushed and what could of been an emotional build up was lost when they scene blacked out to fast. Then all of a sudden it's two years later their living together and in love. This is a flaw, where was the meat of the story .. there wasn't much development. So the Author come back and redeems herself with a good old Cowgirl rodeo . Where she introduced Stormy and Del. Who become partners with in a few chapters.
So my suggestion is read the book and see how you feel about it. I think I was disappointed when the time line jumped all of a sudden. The flow was broke.
But for Ali, this was not her best like Bee Charmer where I was so engaged I didn't want it to finish.
Again I found it to be a good story just not much depth to it.
This was a good story, it had a few story flaws, there's a part of the story where Cole meets Melissia sister. And it starts off good but then their instant attraction turns to love kinda fast. When they get together for the first time, it was rushed and what could of been an emotional build up was lost when they scene blacked out to fast. Then all of a sudden it's two years later their living together and in love. This is a flaw, where was the meat of the story .. there wasn't much development. So the Author come back and redeems herself with a good old Cowgirl rodeo . Where she introduced Stormy and Del. Who become partners with in a few chapters.
So my suggestion is read the book and see how you feel about it. I think I was disappointed when the time line jumped all of a sudden. The flow was broke.
But for Ali, this was not her best like Bee Charmer where I was so engaged I didn't want it to finish.
Again I found it to be a good story just not much depth to it.
February 16, 2020
It doesn't pull you to the front of your seat, but it is a wonderfully gentle, well written tale of two battered souls, who find solace in each other's arms.
Horses, Rodeos, BarBQ's and farmwork are the backdropin front of which Melissa, the owner of the ranch worls her motherly magic for her sister and her growing "family" of cow-girls and boys.
Afghanistan Veteran Cole, who surprises everyone by being female, struggles with her PTSD after she gets reminded of her past upon arrival at the Ranch, but finds herself being well received and quickly accepted.
Her new lover, who has quite a big bag of luggage herself and her best friend from college days as well as the lovely athmosphere at the ranch see to a happy and for two new lesbian couples.
Well worth the read, if you ask me.
Horses, Rodeos, BarBQ's and farmwork are the backdropin front of which Melissa, the owner of the ranch worls her motherly magic for her sister and her growing "family" of cow-girls and boys.
Afghanistan Veteran Cole, who surprises everyone by being female, struggles with her PTSD after she gets reminded of her past upon arrival at the Ranch, but finds herself being well received and quickly accepted.
Her new lover, who has quite a big bag of luggage herself and her best friend from college days as well as the lovely athmosphere at the ranch see to a happy and for two new lesbian couples.
Well worth the read, if you ask me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2019
More of a saga than a love story, the tale of a farm and it's wonderful owner and magnificient employees - a bubble of goodness and love in a wicked world. Feels very like book 1 in a series...?? Worth a read.
January 8, 2021
Kept me interested
September 5, 2023
audiobook
December 7, 2014
Awesome
This by far is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down. Ali had a couple of messages in the book that just seemed to speak to me. One being hard work does pay off even though we don't think so sometimes, and the second message being that sometimes we don't have to look very far for true love. It can be right in front of us. Thank you for a great read. Ill be looking for more of these books.
This by far is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down. Ali had a couple of messages in the book that just seemed to speak to me. One being hard work does pay off even though we don't think so sometimes, and the second message being that sometimes we don't have to look very far for true love. It can be right in front of us. Thank you for a great read. Ill be looking for more of these books.
January 20, 2023
Loved it! I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book by Ali Spooner that I haven’t enjoyed.
When Coal Bryan shows up at the MC2 ranch to work, they’re expecting a man, not a female. But she shows them in short time just what she’s made of.
I gotta say this: when I need to chill out or relax my mind… I open up an Ali Spooner book. They’re good stories that are well thought out and very well written. You can’t go wrong with this series!
When Coal Bryan shows up at the MC2 ranch to work, they’re expecting a man, not a female. But she shows them in short time just what she’s made of.
I gotta say this: when I need to chill out or relax my mind… I open up an Ali Spooner book. They’re good stories that are well thought out and very well written. You can’t go wrong with this series!
December 24, 2015
Like able characters, story weak
The characters are likeable but are too perfect. The story's concept is good but too much mundanity & the 'challenges' are 1-dimensional and easily disposed of. The protagonists have no real flaws & the 'villains' are just momentary interruptions. The author has potential but it's all very 2-dimensional in this book.
The characters are likeable but are too perfect. The story's concept is good but too much mundanity & the 'challenges' are 1-dimensional and easily disposed of. The protagonists have no real flaws & the 'villains' are just momentary interruptions. The author has potential but it's all very 2-dimensional in this book.
January 11, 2015
I found it to be a very nice story, almost seems like a fantasy world, if one only read the media's account of the world. :) It was a refreshing from the know it all villain and the bumbling clueless hero, who still manages to save the world.
December 7, 2014
Cowgirl ride well
Kept me interested and made characters interesting with few words
Women can do it all and don't have to be perfect.
Kept me interested and made characters interesting with few words
Women can do it all and don't have to be perfect.
December 15, 2014
Cowgirls, rodeos, and romance what's not to like? No major twist, but a nice feel good story. A little side story of PTSD, but not a focal point.
January 14, 2015
Cowgirls do it in the dirt
My first Ali Spooner read. I love a good cowgirl story. Good story, and those cowgirls sure eat good. I look forward to more of Spooners books.
My first Ali Spooner read. I love a good cowgirl story. Good story, and those cowgirls sure eat good. I look forward to more of Spooners books.
January 11, 2016
It was a fun read but I have not read the follow up stories.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews