Cowboy on My Mind

Montana Strong #1

by R.C. Ryan

A heartwarming western romance about a cowboy who gets a second chance with the first love he couldn't forget in the rugged beauty of the Montana mountains. . .
Don't miss this special 2-in-1 edition that includes a bonus western romance novella by Sara Richardson!
Once a bad boy...
Ben Monroe was the ultimate bad boy-and everyone in Haller Creek knew it. But now as a sheriff's deputy, Ben spends his time breaking up bar fights rather than starting them, and staying away from trouble...until Becca Henderson comes back into town. She's just as beautiful as Ben remembers-and just as far out of his reach.
Coming home is exactly what Becca Henderson needed. A place of her own, a successful new business, and a chance to reconnect with the sexy cowboy she had a crush on in school. Ben has always blazed his own path and never let anyone stand in his way. It excites-and scares-her. But when an unexpected threat surfaces, Becca will see just how far Ben will go to protect the woman he loves-and fight for their chance at forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Second Chance

333 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 26, 2018

About the author

New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan has written more than ninety fiction novels, both contemporary and historical. Quite an accomplishment for someone who, after her fifth child started school, gave herself the gift of an hour a day to follow her dream to become a writer.

The Lost, an anthology of stories by J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Patricia Gaffney, and R.C. Ryan writing as Ruth Ryan Langan was published in Fall 2009. Ms. Ryan’s story, “The Legacy,” is an exciting tale of intrigue and other-worldly adventure.

In a career spanning more than twenty years, Ms. Ryan has given dozens of radio, television, and print interviews across the country and Canada, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as the Wall Street Journal and Cosmopolitan. She has also appeared on CNN News, as well as Good Morning America.

Also publishes under Ruth Ryan Langan

Reviews

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll make this quick! When I read the blurb for Cowboy on my mind I was really looking forward to reading a new author who writes about hot cowboys. Unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me - I expected so much more.

I loved the idea of a broken man building a patchwork family without blood ties. Mac was a wonderful dad and I loved how he adored every single member of his family which had grown so naturally. While I loved the family dynamics, the main characters fell a little flat for me. I found both Ben and Becca bland. The person with the most distinctive profile had Becca's annoying dad. I also would have liked to see Becca stand up against her dad - the way it was she was weak and her dad a nagging jerk and shrew.

Additionally, the storytelling was written in third person which isn't a problem for me per se. The author jumped from one POV to the next without real separation. In the Same chapter you could read the main character's thoughts as well as the side characters'. I found this to be a little confusing.

While I expected more it wasn't a total loss. On the plus side there was a little suspense that I appreciated.  I also enjoyed the banter between the family members and the obvious love between them. Will I read another book by RC Ryan? Probably not. This might be just a case of it's me and not the book. What didn't work for me might totally tick your boxes so please, as always, the reminder to read other reviews and then decide if this might be for you.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I liked this story even if I didn't fall in love with it. I decided to give this book a try since it was the start of a new series and an author that is new to me. I really liked the sound of the book and found it to be an enjoyable read overall. This was a fairly quick read that I am glad I took a chance on.

This book started out really strong for me. I loved that the book started with Ben was just a boy and first crossed paths with Mac who would eventually become his family. Ben's brothers, Mac, and the other men on the ranch were definitely high points of the story for me and I was pleased that they played a large role in the story. Ben's past is important to this story because it really shaped his view of the world and how others perceive him.

Becca has just moved back to town after finishing college. Becca's parents would like her to stay with them in town but she decides to get her own place instead. Her father really would like to control most of the aspects of Becca's life and does his best to do just that. Her father does not like Ben at all and makes no secret of it.

I liked Ben and Becca. They were both really nice with each other and I did like how Ben wanted to protect Becca. These two do some pretty big obstacles to deal with between the shooter that seems to be following Becca and Becca's father. The romance definitely had a sweeter feel to it but I think that it worked well for this story even though I have to admit that I would have liked to see just a bit more chemistry between the characters.

I would recommend this book to others. It was a nice romance with enough mystery to keep things really interesting. I am looking forward to watching Ben's brothers find their happily ever after in future books.

I received a review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing).

Initial Thoughts
I thought that this story was okay. I liked Ben and Becca but I didn't really feel any chemistry between them. Ben's family was great and I liked his backstory a lot. Becca's father was a bit over the top for me. I found parts of the story to be somewhat predictable but I still found this to be a rather pleasant read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben is a reformed bad boy, now sheriff deputy of Haller Creek.

Becca left Haller Creek but has returned home to find a peace she’s been missing in her life.

Becca was Ben’s high school fantasy come to life. Ben was Becca’s high school crush. Now they have a second chance.

When danger rears its ugly head, Becca will discover what lengths Ben will go to keep her safe.

Cowboy on My Mind is a sweet home-coming romance. It is refreshing to read a slow building friendship to love story with lovable characters, believable life issues and heart felt emotions.

Definitely a series I will continue reading.

I received this ARC copy of Cowboy on My Mind from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This is my honest and voluntary review. Cowboy on My Mind is set for publication June 26, 2018.

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Words like beautiful. Sweet. Surprising. Soul mate. You're all those things I never thought could be mine. For the past half hour, I've been looking at the most beautiful woman in the world and wondering how I managed to sweet-talk myself into her bed."

I need more cowboy romance!
I didn't know what to expect coming into this what, but it gave me flutters.
It was such a simple, straightforward plotline, and I love that the dynamic focus of love wasn't just about Ben and Rebecca but the Monroe family.

Trigger warning on suicidal thoughts, death, grief, domestic violence, abuse, trauma and stalking.

It started deep, which was unexpected, but the relationship between Mac and his three boys was so sweet. It gave us an excellent perspective to see these males in what they went through, their emotional journey and how their family relationships grew. I want to hear more of it.

Ben is such a sweetheart.
His appearance might give you a bad boy vibe, but his personality, heart and the way he treats everyone deserve an award.
I love following Rebecca's plotline on how she is trying to grow out of her shell. Her relationship with her father is rocky as he is old school, and she wants to be brave.

I cannot wait to read about the others now!


"His chest was heaving. His hands were shaking. His world was rocking. And he wanted, more than anything, to go back right now and kiss her until they were both breathless."

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When three young brothers run away from different foster home to be together again and stop at a stranger's ranch to steal food, they don't know they just saved this man's life. Mackenzie Monroe took in the troubled boys who became his adopted sons.

Ever since he was a child, Ben's will to protect has always been strong. Despite a not so great start in life and a reputation not deserved as a hell-raiser, Ben just got a temporary job as the sherrif's deputy. His long-time but secret crush is also back in town.

Rebecca missed the small town so she returned to her hometown. But she wants thing to be different this time. She doesn't want to let her overbearing, stubborn and too set on his ways father decide and dictate how she should live her life anymore. His opinion of Ben as a wild card and hostile attitude towards the young man made trouble for them before, but she won't let him ruin the chance for romance this time. And when danger seem to follow her everywhere, Ben's work and temperament makes him the perfect guy for Becca.

"Heart's desire. I love hearing you say that. And you're mine, Ben. My lifelong secret heart's desire."


I've read an other series by this author before and I enjoyed it. I came upon this book on one of my favorite author's (Carolyn Brown) Facebook who proposed a cute test : Who's your Cowboy Book Boyfriend ? (the nominees being heroes from books by CB's publisher). I got Ben Monroe so of course I wanted to read the book to see if he would indeed be a BB. I can see why I've been matched with him. He's kind, protective (but not in a controlling way), comforting, the kind of guy who will always be there for you, whether you're a sibling, a friend or a lover.

There's something I've come to find in every books I read by this author and it's the strong sense of family, the gathering around the table, the ribbing, whether the characters are blood-related or not.
I must say I've never guessed the truth about the threats, so well done.

Here's the link of the Cowboy Book Boyfriend test if you want to try it. ;p And feel free to tell me which one you got ;p
https://www.riddle.com/showcase/16036...

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowboy on my Mind by R. C Ryan is the First book in the Montana Strong Series. This is the story of Ben Monroe and Becca Henderson.
Becca had a strong crush on Ben when they were in school but nothing came of it and she moved away. Now she is back looking for that quiet slow life again along with working on her business. But Becca also hopes that this time maybe something will come of her feelings for Ben.
Ben always felt Becca was way out of his reach...just a dream girl. Ben was famous for being the bad boy in town but now instead of causing the ruckus he is stopping it....Ben is now the sheriff of Haller Creek. But one thing that hasn't changed is his feelings for Becca.
So enjoyed 'watching' their story play out!!

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent small town romance. Loved Ben and Becca together. Had a nice suspense element to keep the story interesting. Highly recommend this book.

[Alecia (The Staircase Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, going into Cowboy On My Mind, I had no idea what to expect. With new to me authors such as R.C. Ryan I typically go into things blind. I don't read the synopsis or look up reviews beforehand because I want to go in completely unaware and judgement free. 

Cowboy On My Mind started off on a strong note. I loved the premise of three brothers who escaped and ultimately ran away from foster care in fear of being separated. These boys showed true strength in their fear. I sensed their closeness at the beginning.

Ben Monroe is a reformed bad boy turned Sheriff's Deputy. I feel like in today's world of romance novels the 'reformed bad boy' trope is often underwhelmed. You have to be careful when writing this character's personality. In my opinion this can either make or break a novel. Often sometimes causing the novel to cross the cliché line. I loved Ben's character at the beginning of the novel. He had a strong protective streak and wasn't about to let anyone mess with the people he loved and cared about. I definitely think R.C. Ryan wrote Ben's point of view perfectly. He was easily understood.

As for Becca Henderson, one thing that has really bugged me lately in romance novels is a female protagonist who's wishy-washy. Becca really got on my nerves in the beginning of the novel. I hated how she was missing a back bone when it comes to her father. Ugh, usually I can get past this because I'm a Daddy's Girl myself and I completely understand how overprotective daddy's are towards their little girls. Becca's daddy, however, stepped over the line from protective to obsessive. I couldn't see past the fact. Also, something was missing between Ben and Becca. I couldn't grasp their connection at all.

Overall, the beginning of Cowboy On My Mind was a huge hit for me. I loved the emotion and the bond these brothers shared but somewhere along the way it fell flat. I rated Cowboy On My Mind with a 3 star rating simply for the beginning of the novel, the bond between the brothers and Mac, and because I really did like Ben.



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[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy on My Mind is very sweet introduction to the Monroe boys! I loved their backstory. Loved their family bond--especially because they made their OWN family through friendship and love versus blood.

Ben and Becca were terrific--their love a slow burn, sometimes a skosh too slow for my liking. They were smart, real and so blatantly in love. Even when the cards were sorta stacked against them! I was swept away by their romance, and I can't wait for Sam's comeuppance next! ~ Missy, 4 stars

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy on My Mind is the first book in the Montana Strong series by R.C. Ryan. This book (as well as books two and three of the series) is a story of family, love, trust, growth and future happiness.

Labeled a bad boy after landing in the foster care system is a name Ben Monroe had for years. As a child, he had very little choice but to become as tough as he could get. After all, he not only had to look out for himself, but he also had to look out for his younger brothers Sam and Finn.

The boys had made a pact to run away and they eventually took refuge in the home of Mackenzie Monroe. Instead of turning them over to the authorities, Mac took them in and soon adopted them.

As an adult, Ben still wore the label as bad boy. Nonetheless, out of necessity (and trust), the sheriff in the town of Haller Creek made him a deputy. So no more fighting and rebelliousness for Ben. Instead he became a man of the law and carved a nice path for his future.

Ben's previous reputation stands in the way of him wanting to reacquaint himself with Becca Henderson, the woman from his past who once snagged his heart. Meanwhile, newly back in town, Becca wants a fresh start. Discovering the old feelings she had for Ben are just as intense as ever gives Becca hope. With their past, her father's reluctance to accept Ben, and a current threat all create roadblocks while the pair try and find the joy that comes from being together. It doesn't take Ben and Becca long to realize that they have something worth fighting for.

This book wonderful first start to a great series. I eagerly read the next two books in the series.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great first book in the Montana Strong Trilogy. Love Ben and Becca.. lovely read!

[Terri Tutor · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that R.C. Ryan does so well is to write about families, both families by blood and families by choice. This is the beginning of a series about three brothers and their family by choice and chance. This is about the oldest brother, Ben and his longtime crush, Rebecca or Becca as he calls her. The one thing that I liked about Becca was that even though she had moved away from home, she still had to learn to live her life as she wanted it, not what her parents, especially her father, wanted for her. It’s hard in real life to balance not disappointing your loved ones but to, also, be true to who you are and who you love. It seems that a lot of female leads all have a lot of confidence and are comfortable with their decisions. If you want a story about family and long time love, then this is for you.

[Luv · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read for this author. I liked the book and the author's ability to craft a unique family from unrelated people. The odd thing is it reads as if it were written in the 1950's. A very stylistic manner of old time western romance novels. Storytelling was good. POV was all over the place but the story got told. I'll be interested to see how future books in this series turn out.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received in exchange for a honest review.

The prologue had me crying at the beginning. Between Mac and his grief and Ben, Sam and Finn’s situation and how they ended up where they were it was hard not to have a tear. But that prologue shows us a defining moment for all four of them.

Cut to present and we see the young scared boys set to stay together now Mac’s sons and adults. Sam is light hearted and adorable. Ben is still serious but not defiant and always doing what he feels is right in his heart and making his dad proud. Finn is now a lawyer and he is just as kind hearted as the other two brothers. Together they are so fun and sexy. They are loyal and kind all of them. And they love Mac, Roscoe, Zachariah and Otis like they are their family. Mac took them in and has been their dad and it is him they all try to make proud. Roscoe, Otis and Zachariah are like uncles to them and live on the ranch with them.

Here we get Ben’s story and it was at times nerve wrecking especially at the end with how Ben handled things, sensual, frustrating with Becca’s dad so glad he had an epiphany and realized his stubbornness, but no matter what it was a wonderful story of family,love, loyalty and kindness. It shows us how far Ben came from the angry boy and we see him grow and find someone to stand by his side.

Ben is a great character. He is kind, honest and loyal. Loves his family and is proud of them. He doesn’t feel the need to prove himself only do what is right and he has his dad as his guide. When he decides to help the sheriff, he didn’t expect to have such a wild time of it. And it all surrounded his crush since he was a kid Becca.

Becca was sweet and kind. She was trying to be her own person and also find what she wanted to do with her future. She was having a hard time getting her dad to see her beyond being his little girl. When her life goes a little topsy turvy and scary Ben is there for him.

Their attraction is insane but not acted on right away. We see Ben take care of Becca and make sure she is safe. We see him support and encourage her. And we see her be his friend first and foremost. When the danger in Becca’s life ratchets up is when the heat between them does as well. And when it does we get some steamy moments. But not steamy in description per se just steamy in where the intimacy is more sensual. I think that is one of the wonderful things about the writing here- we know the sensual intimacy is there but we aren’t getting that descriptive writing letting our imagination take over and allow us to have the sensual aspect of the romance be seen but not heard so to speak for it is left to our mind to add the details if you want to.

The story is sweet and intimate. We see family and love be the forefront of the book. The characters are all strong and you fall in love with them even Becca’s stubborn frustrating dad. We see Ben show Becca respect, trust, support and unconditional love even when she didn’t realize it. Becca does the same for him. These two give us a wonderfully sweet romance that has us smile and laugh especially those moments with Ben’s family. Excited to see who is next of the Monroe brothers to fall in love.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think after reading this, it's safe to say that I'm not a fan of this author's writing style, which is weird because I loved her Malloys of Montana series. While it's labeled as a contemporary romance, the author clearly leans more towards the historical romance genre. After the first couple of chapters, I honestly closed the book and checked the spine to see if it said historical romance at the top. That's how confused I was with the vocabulary used and the character personas. I then forced myself to finish and was like a kid in the backseat constantly asking their parents 'are we there yet' but in this case it was 'Am I finished yet?' The author used no curse words, which isn't the biggest deal in the world, but the author did the equivalent of a 'bleep' every time someone was implied to have said a cuss word. After 'bleeping' the cuss words out, she said the H sucked on the h's nipple. How is that appropriate yet a curse word isn't? There are no real descriptive bedroom scenes, just quick paragraphs, rinse and repeat. The book just felt too clean and then the writing style made it seem more like a wanna-be Christian romance set in the 1950s.

I think if I hear 'Oh, Ben' one more time I may have to make a Madea meme. That was probably said 50 times in this book and it was soooo annoying. It was like Becca was a swoony teenager instead of a grown woman. She was strong at times, but the way she meekly fell in line with her dad just rubbed me the wrong way. That man was nothing but a chauvinistic pig and you can't realistically expect me to believe he 'changed' in a matter of months after a lifetime of believing a woman's place is to be the one cooking and cleaning (yes, he said that) and going with what her husband says. Becca's mom wasn't much better given how she was submissive to the point of looking weak, even when her daughter was being hurt by their actions.

I'll say that I really liked Ben. He was a pretty good character who had obviously made something of himself, despite all the trouble he got into as a kid. He was certainly a bigger person than I would have been given all the hate he got from Hank.

The Monroe family was just wonderful. They were a ragtag group of men and I loved how they looked past skin color, status and outward appearances and saw the good in others.

I wasn't too pleased with the rest of the town. The whole 'angry villagers' scene just seemed a bit much and like something I'd expect while watching Beauty and the Beast.

I doubt I'll continue reading this series since the writing just seemed to antiquated for me, despite a supposedly contemporary setting and despite me having read several of her books before. I'm nearly 40, but this book seemed like it was more suited for someone 60+.

[Erika Powers · Rating 1 out of 5]

To anyone reading this, all of my reviews are written for myself, intending to jog my memory when I've forgotten what a book was about. Read on if you want, but consider my context.

I hate this book.

The author must be 90 years old and never went anywhere besides church and the grocery store, in that order. So naive. She must write all of Hallmarks movies 🤮

Pg 2 Stupid! The guy is going to kill himself with whisky and pills. Men don't die by pills; its a woman thing. Research and data backs it up.

Pg 5 ok this book already has something against swear words? '"Our" - he swore, using words Mac rarely heard except from an occasional world-weary wrangler - "caseworkers keep saying they'll find a way for us to be together, but we know its never going to happen."' Whaaaat? World-weary wranglers??? They're the only ones who swear, is old cowboys??? Hahaha who wrote this, Jessica Fletcher?

Pg 6. Four chances where swearing was omitted with phrases like - a string of cuss words. Then the guy told the three swearing boys he wouldn't allow it in his home haaahahahaha omg a preachers wide must have written this for little old blue hairs.

Pg 7, RC Ryan calls the boys hellions, hoodlums, damnable troublemakers, and the best one, trouble with a capital T. Hahahahahaha and the guys "hopes to heaven...". Who reads this? Amish?

She's written 90+ books so apparently a lot of women read the
m! Oh my word, they're 4.5 - 5 stars on amazon. No way.

Whats up with all the coffee drinking in the evenings after supper?

This is a stupid book, "even knowing how wrong they were for each other, he wanted her." So cliche. Plus its obvious they're not wrong for each other! So. Stupid. Why am I still reading. Escape I guess.

Pg 151 "Ben lifted three pallets at a time." Hahahaha clearly the author has never lifted a pallet. Maybe if they were small and rotten, but Walmart pallets and pallets that carry headstones are upto 50 pounds, 48"x48". We used a forklift.

I wish the brothers would quit calling each other bro. No white men I know do that.

The mayor buys a truck load of pumpkins for the kids and teens carving contest - sure.... that happens.

The principal buys a bunch more to decorate classrooms! This is a far fetched as a hybrid sci-fi zombie movie.

Pg 187 "A little thing like you drove that monster piece of equipment?"

I'm tired of this old man syndrome, that women are fucking helpless.

Spose to be a romance book but how can it possibly be when it GOT to be written by a third grade reading level Puritan. "Oh, Ben", said just as creatively as that, 1000 times on repeat, is as romantic as it gets.

I have more reasons for hating this book than liking it. I better quit before the ending disappoints more than the filler.

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Monroe is a reformed bad boy turned town sheriff deputy, he went from being the one breaking the rules to being the one enforcing them and it suits him quite nicely. He enjoys his quiet little life in Haller Creek, has all he needs... well, almost all he needs, some might say he needs the love of a good woman too, but unfortunately for him she just hasn't came along yet. That is until the woman who had a starring role in all of his teenage fantasies blows back into town... seeing Becca again quickly awakens the crush he use to have on her, and this time he plans to make his fantasies a reality!

Becca Henderson is returning home in hopes of finding the quiet, comfortable life she has wanted for so long, and maybe even land the cowboy she has wanted for a long time too! She has harbored a serious crush on Ben Monroe since high school, but back then she never seem to be able to slow him down long enough to catch his eye, he was always to busy sewing his oats and reeking havoc on their little town. This time though she plans on making sure he knows just how she feels, and has high hopes that he feels the same way. Catching his attention this time though might just have become a whole lot easier with the danger that followed her home!

Cowboy on My Mind is a delightful tale of second chances, reuniting with an old friend, and finding forever in a place it's least expected. This heartfelt tale will pull you in, have your emotions swirling, have your pulse rising, and is sure to inspire a serious case of the feels... it was such a joy to read this one! It was impossible not to fall for these wonderful characters, their story came with a relatable feel to it, and with each page I turned the deeper I was pulled into their world, and when that last page came the harder it was for me to leave them! I cannot wait to revisit this wonderful new series from Ms. Ryan, and see what she has in store for these wonderful folks! If you like small town romance that is heavy on the feels, and comes with a touch of suspense then I highly recommend you pick this one up, you will love what you find!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this book. The Prologue was so sad I about cried. It did set the stage for the wonderful story though. How three young boys come to live with Mac Monroe and the other men and become a close-knit family. This was such a heart-felt story that I was enchanted right from the beginning. Ben the brawling protector of his younger brothers becomes the hero at twelve to Rebecca when he saves her from being run over by an ATV. Fifteen years later, he becomes a temporary deputy sheriff to the town (just another progression for the bad boy to hero!!)

Ben and Becca have secretly been in love with each other since they were kids. After Becca returns home after college and living away for several years, these two reconnect. Unfortunately Becca's dad, Hank, has never liked Ben and does anything he can to keep these two away from each. There are some great moments in this story that kept me glued to my e-reader. There are some challenging moments as well (I really wanted to slap Hank.)

I loved that the author wrote in a multiple POV format. Being able to connect to the characters because of reading their thoughts was very easy. I look forward to the rest of this series. This book was a great beginning to a series.

The author just eluded to the "bedroom" scenes and really left the reader with using their imagination. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

[Beth C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In case you haven’t noticed, little bird, you’re flying.”

After reading R.C. Ryan’s latest, I most definitely have a cowboy on MY mind. Three of them, in fact. The Monroe brothers, whose rough beginnings, charming banter, and strong camaraderie won me over almost immediately.

Cowboy on My Mind is a fantastic start to the Montana Strong series—it’s warm and feel good, a touch suspenseful, and builds these familial connections that are sure to be the backbone of the series.

This one is a steamy read with likable characters and, as always in Ms. Ryan’s books, a homegrown, wholesome kind of community. It’s one of the things I like best about her stories—the way she pairs sexiness with good values, small town support, and charm. As evidenced by the way Ben’s family helps his achieve his goal, and Ben supports Becca as she chases hers.

And that’s why I’ll have these cowboys on my mind until the next book comes out—and probably beyond that, too.

“It’s like the last cloud has lifted, and all around is blinding sunlight.” He brushed his thumbs over her mouth, staring deeply into her eyes. “You’re my sunlight, Becca. You’re my everything.”

~ 4.5 STARS ~

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in a new series from R.C. Ryan. Ben Monroe and his two younger brothers tumbled into Mackenzie Monroe's life just when he needed them most. He was at his lowest point and these three boys needed someone and that someone was Mac. It's starts off with a introduction of the characters and how they all came together as a family then moves to years later as adults. Ben is the towns new part time deputy sheriff and Becca Henderson is is old school time crush. Little does he know he was also her crush. A couple of shootings with Becca in the cross hairs pulls them together. Unfortunately Becca's dad has never liked Ben and even still all these years later doesn't and makes it known often. This book worked ok for me but not one of my favorites. I liked the characters but some of the scenes were over the top. Becca's dad was awful and her mom was his enabler. Neither one ever stands up to him. Becca tries a few times but only half heartedly. There is a suspense factor since someone is shooting either at Becca or Will, her friend. All in all it was a enjoyable read but a tad disjointed at times and i became frustrated with the characters. Will i read the next book in the series? Yes. I've enjoyed several of R.C. Ryan's other books and I'm not ready to give up on this series yet.

[Monae Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t a spicy romance. It had a little romance but it was more of a mystery.

This story is about a guy named Ben Monroe who used to be the ultimate bad boy. He lives in a place called Haller Creek. Now he is a sheriff’s deputy. He spends his time breaking up bar fights instead of starting them. Then he meets Becca Henderson who comes back into town. She’s just as beautiful as he remembers. Coming home is what she needs. A place of her own, a successful business and a chance to reconnect with the sexy cowboy she had a crush on. Ben never let anyone stand in his own way. Becca starts getting shot at including a new minister that her father wanted her to get with. Becca’s father is highly judgemental of Ben and his brother’s. Becca’s father is insisting that Becca return home. Becca goes to stay with Ben on the ranch until the mystery is solved. There is some romance between Ben and Becca as they rekindle their feelings for each other.

[Terri Tutor · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that R.C. Ryan does so well is to write about families, both families by blood and families by choice. This is the beginning of a series about three brothers and their family by choice and chance. This is about the oldest brother, Ben and his longtime crush, Rebecca or Becca as he calls her. The one thing that I liked about Becca was that even though she had moved away from home, she still had to learn to live her life as she wanted it, not what her parents, especially her father, wanted for her. It’s hard in real life to balance not disappointing your loved ones but to, also, be true to who you are and who you love. It seems that a lot of female leads all have a lot of confidence and are comfortable with their decisions. If you want a story about family and long time love, then this is for you.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read and while I appreciated the story, I wasn’t blown away by it.
I liked Ben and Rebecca and the mutual attraction they had for each other. The back ground of both and the evolution of their characters was interesting. I even found the intrigue element of the story compelling both as a vehicle to move the plot and the romantic relationship along.
That said, I was a little bored with the book. There were several times when I hoped for more and wanted to see the story go a little deeper. I think what bothered me most, was that this author has a fairly decent sized back list, but this book just didn't feel fleshed out. It was not what I expected from a veteran author. I have mixed feelings about future books in the Montana Strong series. I am both curious to see if Finn and Sam get stories, but also concerned that the future books would fall flat as well.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had it’s up and down’s for me. Becca comes home from college and begins to work with her father but he really does not allow her to change anything and has some really archaic ideas, and ways he still lives by. Ben and his brothers have been adopted and live on a ranch outside of town. Their story is nice. He is now working as a sheriff and is also still pining over Becca who he finds out has always liked him as well. The problem is her father does not like Ben and here really is the book. No matter what he does the father does not seem to come around. Becca’s character and Ben’s along with the men at the ranch and the social worker all add to this story or the book would really suffer. Overall a good book. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading "Cowboy on My Mind." The author really hooked me in the prologue. The novel is about how strong family bonds can be, and how true love with always triumph. The main Characters Ben and Becca have been in love with each other since childhood, but both have kept it from the other, creating the push and pull that comes from not knowing how deep feelings run for each other. There is also a suspenseful aspect to the novel. Ben works for the sheriff and he is investigating why Becca has become involved in multiple drive by shootings. If you love romance novels that are clean and full of strong family bonds and suspense, you will like this novel. I am excited to read about Ben's brothers when they get their story.

***Received ARC in exchange for honest review***

[Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are SO MANY CHARACTER names right off the bat. With most of them just appearing with minimal introduction. Literally, 150 pages in and the list of names is:
• Mackenzie (Mac)
• Rachel
• Robbie
• Otis
• Roscoe
• Zachariah
• Sam
• Finn
• Ben
• Rebecca
• Will
• Mary Pat
• Virgil
• Susan
• Hank
• Lamar
• Lloyd
• Dolly
• Loretta
Also, unless I missed it, there was very poor lead up to the main characters becoming a “couple.” I really just didn’t enjoy this one. Too much filler, strange writing style, too many characters, and no real magic between the main characters. I will not be reading another R.C. Ryan book, it’s actually a mistake that I read this one after leaving a poor review for the second book in the series already.

[Romantic Intentions Quarterly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haller’s Creek, Montana is the adopted home of Ben Monroe, rancher and new-lawman in a town very much grounded in a previous century. Also making her home there is Rebecca Henderson, whose domineering father just will not leave her be, and has her perfect husband all picked out for her. (Hint: it’s not Ben.) But Ben is the cowboy on Becca’s mind from the title, and so the two of them find a way to get together in this snapshot of a life that time seems to have forgotten—near death experiences and all. Ben is pretty great, and his two brothers’ stories yet to come are now definitely on my reading list. – Clara Shipman

This review appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #1.

[Beth Besso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable romance. It started out great, I loved the prologue. It had me hooked and wanted to read more. There was a lot of character building, and I got to know some of the characters through their back stories.

The only thing that bothered me was that you didn't really get to see Hank change his opinion about Ben, or Becca actually stand up to her parents. It seemed to have happened in the background but not written. I would have liked to have seen it.

The book included the novella Rocky Mountain Cowboy by Sara Richardson, I absolutely loved the story. I loved the town of Topaz Falls and everyone in it. I'll want to read more.

[Leanna Hiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becca has moved back to Haller Creek after graduating college and working for several years in Bozeman. When she returns to Haller Creek her father continually attempts to fix her up with Will who has just finished school to become a minister. Becca has her eye on Ben Monroe. She has loved him for years. Ben is disappointed when Becca and Will return to town at the same time and he assumes they are a couple. Goof story, filled with twists. I loved how hard Becca worked to show her dad her independence. I look forward to reading the next books in this series starring Ben’s brothers.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book about the Monroe brothers. The three of them showed up hungry, dirty and ready to fight on a snowy night at Mackenzie Monroe’s house so many years ago not knowing they were just what Mac needed. He had lost his wife and son in a wreck that stole his very sole but Ben, Sam and Finn became his family along with three other lost men that needed a home.

It was this background that made Ben the man he was and he knew early on that Rebecca Henderson would be his only true love but he needed to convince her of that fact. This was a sweet romance .