Cowboy For Hire

by Isabelle Drake

Anxious for adventure and the chance to prove she’s not the spoiled socialite her friends and family believe her to be, Victoria Moore buys The Circle Cat ranch, rolls up her sleeves, and begins the repairs that will turn the ramshackle place into the best dude ranch in Arizona. One thing she didn’t plan on was a dark, down-on-his-luck cowboy smashing into her barn. But when he does, she turns the problem into an opportunity. Armed with limited experience, but a lot of determination, Victoria sets out to get what she wants from the wandering cowboy.


The last thing Lang Thompson wants is to get tangled up with a woman. Especially one who’s used to getting what she wants when she wants it. He knows what rich girls like her expect and he isn’t interested in playing games. But he’s no match for Victoria’s hardworking determination and sexy brand of innocence.

Genres: Romance

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2008

About the author

Isabelle Drake is the fiction alias of Melissa Ford Lucken. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lasell University and an MA in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. She teaches creative writing and composition and is the fiction and creative non-fiction editor of the Washington Square Review.

Reviews

[Whitley Birks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a rich girl/poor boy story, and throw in cowboys and I couldn't resist this one. As far as things go, it's not a terrible example of the trope, but I can't say I was really engaged in it, either. I think I was mostly distracted by the utterly nonsense business plan that was going on. Then again, that's the kind of thing I care about way more than most average readers, so probably won't be a factor for others. (But seriously, utter nonsense. How you going to open your dude ranch IN A WEEK? Have you done ANY promotion? And if you did promote your business, why give yourself such an impossible deadline? I'M SO CONFUSED.)

Other than my own personal hangups, the two characters were alright. They had a good set up for antagonism at the start, and it was sweet after they worked through it. It's a short story that delivers on it's promises.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an easy read all things considered. Both characters were interesting. A cowboy on the rebound from a divorce and loss of his ranch to an ex-wife , so a bit bitter about women and makes his mind up the minute h hears Victoria's surname. Lang is convinced that she has no idea what she is doing buying and starting a business as a dud ranch holder.

Victoria on the other hand knows that she doesn't want to be like her sister and is convinced this ranch will be what she needs, until Lang drives into her barn that is. Will he stay or will he disappear as he's planning to do.

I enjoyed this and there was a little added spice to keep us entertained.

[Delacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice cute romance. It did however take me a while to finish as I found it very easy to put down- I just wasn't engaged in the story and the characters. I was thrown off a little as the blurb from the author stated it was a "sweet" story (vs the erotica she now writes), but I do want to clarify that it isn't a "clean" story as there is some on screen intimate time as well as descriptive thoughts and some graphic language. Overall, a quick decent cowboy novel. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Miriam Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This was a quick fun read but I was a bit confused after reading the blurb about the book being a clean read then finding it was not the clean type after all. While it was not explicit as some, it is not a book that I would recommend to my mother!

I loved, Victoria because she did not come off as a spoiled rich girl, and was a hardworking "regular" woman that had a dream she wanted to make a reality.

On the other hand, Lang annoyed me as he thought that he was "helping" Victoria by trying to sabotage things on the ranch. It was great that even though he tried to cause her to fail, she kept going and his plan failed.

There was a HEA but it was kind of quick and not drawn out.

[Louise Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! This is Victoria and Cole’s story. Victoria had to prove she could make her dream (owning and operating a guest ranch) come true. She did it, but did she lose Cole in the process?
Cole was looking for a ranch to buy when he slammed into the old barn. He wasn’t looking to fall in love.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet cowboy romance.

Victoria is from a rich family and wants to prove she has what it takes to run a ranch. She’s a great character and role model for work hard and you can achieve your dreams.

Lang is the hot cowboy, with a soured view on life thanks to a bitter divorce. He wants what Victoria has and works to get it. But will he?

[Mary Mccormack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story and the characters. The only part I didn’t like was it seemed a little choppy and just as it gets rolling it jumps around again. Overall good story and characters.

[Brooke Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cowboy for hire is a very quick, easy read. One little warning: the blurb implies this is a sweet, clean romance--and while it is a romance, there is definitely some steamy stuff happening here, both in pretty vivid imaginings by both main characters and in a couple actual love scenes. Just don't want anyone who avoids such things to be surprised.

I wanted to love this one, but it didn't engage me as much as I'd hoped. I liked the basic premise--strong, independent socialite surprises everyone when she buys a ranch and actually does the work to fix it up...Rugged, handsome, down on his luck cowboy with a chip on his shoulder assumes there's no way she'll stick it out, but he'll watch her fail...but while there were some really nice moments, I spent too much time annoyed with both of these characters to really enjoy this story.

Both characters spent a lot of time in their own heads--frequently thinking about having sex with the other person. Victoria was quite embarrassingly silly about it, especially in the beginning. She came across as immature and difficult, which didn't really go with all the strength she was showing with following her dream and building her business...it was contradictory and pulled me out of the story too often. Lang ended up acting like a 12 year old boy pulling pranks on his sister, and those actions seemed way out of character...but his character was already a bit uneven for me.

This is a standalone story with a HEA, and there are some really strong moments in the story that make it worth reading--I just feel like it had a lot of potential and it didn't quite get there for me personally.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

One caveat before starting my review. This book is listed as a sweetand clean romance, but readers should be aware that there is some steamy stuff both in fantasy and reality that occurs between the main characters. Just don't want a reader to be surprised. Victoria and Lang seem to be at odds from the get go. He was expecting to buy this ranch with his cousin after his former wife swindled him out of his ranch and horses in the divorce, only to find Victoria has bought it and plans to renovate herself and open a dude ranch. He literally runs in to the side of her barn and stays to perform the repairs as he's broke. While he moves in to the bunkhouse and is provided meals in exchange for the repairs, he thinks of Victoria as a spoiled Princess might retreat from her plan because she's the daughter of a wealthy man. He figures if he makes little things happen to thwart her plans she'll sell him the ranch and go running back to daddy. However, you can't judge a book by it's cover and he comes to realize she's dedicated, hard-working, and that first impressions can be wrong. I wasn't a fan of the adversarial relationship as they both seem to have feelings for each other but, based on Lang's past and Victoria's future dreams come to realize over time that they can work together for the success of the ranch. Although I received a free ebook link from Net Galley, this review is my honest opinion.

[Karen Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy for Hire was a fun, exciting and passionate read that easily keeps the reader interested till the end. The storyline is well developed, and the characters are strong willed, independent and determined. The story flowed seamlessly, and the banter between Victoria and Lang definitely added an extra element to the overall enjoyment of tis book.

While this was my first read by Isabelle Drake, it certainly won’t be my last. So grab a cuppa, get comfy, and settle in for a quick, wonderful, and feel good read.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great fun read the emotion between these two id great but the thing that makes this book extra special is the banter between the two of them. Both Victoria trying to prove that she was more than a wealthy socialite and Lang not wanting to be tangled with any woman have plenty to prove to one another but they didn't count on the attraction that is flaring between them This is a well written that flows beautifully it was a pleasure to read and once you start you don't want to put it down

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lang is bitter after his divorce so he is headed south but he will make the last stop on a ranch, who is now owned by rich Victoria. Victoria is determined to make something from her life and not just be rich socialites so she is working her ass off to make The Circle Cat ranch the best dude ranch. But she is running out of working hand and when Lang crash in her barns she think that she got lucky. So they make a deal but Lang has his own agenda behind his actions. A romantic story with great characters and an entertaining story.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

[January Apted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the love hate relationship between the two of them was fun to read. The fact that they both had something to prove to themselves and the people around them, to fall in love with each other was what made it a great story! I recommend this book to someone looking for a quick cowboy love story!

[NhaughtyV says Damn the Zon Save the Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Cowboy for Hire is a story of a woman determined to make her own way in the world, and a man looking for a second chance at life. This romance is an enjoyable quick read by Isabella Drake that I’d recommend to fans of this genre.

*Received copy via NetGalley for honest review*

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this Author that I have read. I found it to be well written with a very good storyline. Victoria Moore buys The Circle Cat Ranch and gets cowboy Lang Thompson when he smashing into her barn. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A.J. Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Lang and Victoria were good characters trying to figure out what they actually wanted and needed from each other. It was a nice, sweet read and who doesn't like a happily ever after?

[sbtbkb · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book seemed to jump all over the place. it just seemed a bit too paint by numbers romance. as someone who has worked at dude ranches, i was excited for the plot but there was absolutely no sense of reality to it so that drew me out of the story.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable romance that keeps you engaged throughout and leaves you cheering a well deserved HEA. Victoria and Lang are a couple who I found truly enjoyable.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

[Tracie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboy For Hire is the first book I have read by Isabelle Drake and I am glad I did. A well rounded read with strong, wonderful characters and a impressive, passionate, cute storyline. I will definitely be recommending and looking to read more by this author

[Diana Duell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was a typical girl meets boy story. Victoria is looking for independence, Lang is running from his past. The chemistry between them is too much to ignore. Several twists and turns, some unexpected, along the way.

[Seara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful like always I finished it in one sitting. I loved it. Author did a great job. I can't wait to read more. I wouldn't change a thing about this book. I love a good romance book.