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Once Upon a Time in Texas #2
Cowboy Come Home
Welcome to Big Verde, Texas, where a love-'em-and-leave-'em cowboy faces his greatest challenge yet---the woman he left behind. Perfect for fans of New York Times bestselling authors Lori Wilde and Carolyn Brown.
Some cowboys aren't cut out to be Prince Charming---and Claire Kowalski knows that better than anyone. She gave her heart to Ford Jarvis two years ago, yet that didn't keep him from disappearing into the sunset. Now that he's back in Big Verde, Texas, she's determined not to make the same mistake twice. But the ruggedly sexy cowboy still knows how to push all her buttons, and avoiding him is nearly impossible when she needs his help.
Ford didn't plan on returning home---ever---but when he hears that the Kowalski ranch is in trouble, he hightails it back to town. He's not eager to be reminded of the life he can never have, but his time in Big Verde is only temporary. He'll stay long enough to get the ranch up and running, then hit the road again. But when Ford finds out the new foreman he's training is Claire, still as stubborn and beautiful as ever, this cowboy is going to have to decide what matters most---repeating the mistakes of the past or fighting for a future with the only woman he's ever loved..
Includes Rocky Mountain Cowboy, a novella by Sara Richardson
Some cowboys aren't cut out to be Prince Charming---and Claire Kowalski knows that better than anyone. She gave her heart to Ford Jarvis two years ago, yet that didn't keep him from disappearing into the sunset. Now that he's back in Big Verde, Texas, she's determined not to make the same mistake twice. But the ruggedly sexy cowboy still knows how to push all her buttons, and avoiding him is nearly impossible when she needs his help.
Ford didn't plan on returning home---ever---but when he hears that the Kowalski ranch is in trouble, he hightails it back to town. He's not eager to be reminded of the life he can never have, but his time in Big Verde is only temporary. He'll stay long enough to get the ranch up and running, then hit the road again. But when Ford finds out the new foreman he's training is Claire, still as stubborn and beautiful as ever, this cowboy is going to have to decide what matters most---repeating the mistakes of the past or fighting for a future with the only woman he's ever loved..
Includes Rocky Mountain Cowboy, a novella by Sara Richardson
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 31, 2020
103 people are currently reading
1323 people want to read
About the author
Carly Bloom
8 books287 followersCarly Bloom began her writing career as a family humor columnist and blogger, a pursuit she abandoned when her children grew old enough to literally die from embarrassment. To save their delicate lives, Carly turned to penning steamy, contemporary romance. The kind with bare chests on the covers.
Carly and her husband raise their mortified brood of offspring on a cattle ranch in South Texas. Also? Carly is a vegan. The cows love her.
Carly and her husband raise their mortified brood of offspring on a cattle ranch in South Texas. Also? Carly is a vegan. The cows love her.
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February 16, 2020
Cowboy Come Home is book two in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series by Carly Bloom. I have adored this series so far and have been so looking forward to Claire and Ford’s story.
Claire Kowalski is twenty nine years old. She is the only child of Gerome and Lilly Kowalski and sole heir to the Rancho Canada Verde ranch in Texas. Claire loves the ranch. It runs in her veins. But she also has other ideas, dreams. Dreams which included finding her own Prince Charming. She has about given up, though. She thought she found him two years ago when Ford came to work on their ranch. She fell in love. But in the end, he left and broke her heart.
Ford Jarvis moves from ranch to ranch, never staying long, never putting down roots, never getting attached. Except for when he was at Rancho Canada Verde and fell for Claire. But he knew she deserved more. Because all the men in his family were cursed. Jarvis men didn’t fall in love and stay that way. So he left. But now Gerome needs his help. The ranch is struggling and he needs a foreman. So Ford will help them for as long as he can stay. It’s thousands of acres. He can avoid Claire, right?!
No matter where Ford and Claire were, the pull between them was too strong, too much to ignore. It was more than just chemistry, though. They talked, they worked together, they laughed together. Feelings once again bloom. Ford wants to forget about the curse. He wants to be the man Claire deserves. Claire knows that Ford will leave again and that once again he’ll be taking her heart with him. Truth be told, he’s always had it. Can she just enjoy the time they have together now and not worry about the future?
“What if she set aside happily ever after to enjoy being happy for now?”
This was such a good book. I think what I loved the most was this whole group of people. We get plenty of Maggie and Travis from the first book. But not only that, it’s the whole group of friends and how they look out for each other. They have history. They’re like an extended family to each other. This whole concept confounds Ford because he’s never had that. He wants it so badly, the question is, can he stick around long enough to have it?
It’s no secret that I love cowboy romance and this series is definitely one I recommend. I can’t wait to see what Carly Bloom does next.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Estelle at Forever Publishing for sending me the copy in exchange for an honest review
"Who needed oxygen when this man's lips were made of everything she needed to survive?"
Steamy, sweet, and heartwarming, this book was an absolutely amazing addition to the Once Upon a Time in Texas series!
So, what's this book about?
Some cowboys aren't cut out to be Prince Charming and Claire Kowalski knows that better than anyone. She gave her heart to Ford Jarvis two years ago, yet that didn't keep him from disappearing into the sunset. Now that he's back in Big Verde, Texas, she's determined not to make the same mistake twice. But the ruggedly sexy cowboy still knows how to push all her buttons, and avoiding him is nearly impossible when she needs his help.
Ford didn't plan on returning home—ever—but when he hears that the Kowalski ranch is in trouble, he hightails it back to town. He's not eager to be reminded of the life he can never have, but his time in Big Verde is only temporary. He'll stay long enough to get the ranch up and running, then hit the road again. But when Ford finds out the new foreman he's training is Claire, still as stubborn and beautiful as ever, this cowboy is going to have to decide what matters most---repeating the mistakes of the past or fighting for a future with the only woman he's ever loved...
I have so many thoughts right now, mostly positive and a few critical and I'm not quite sure where to start... How about the characters?
Claire - To be completely honest, she was a smidge bit annoying. I think she was meant to be headstrong and independent but I ended up finding her to be kind of bratty.
Ford - Swoon! Although Ford's character flaw felt a bit cliche and overused, I still loved Ford.
Maggie & Travis - OMG! It was absolutely amazing seeing more of Maggie and Travis and how their relationship (now, marriage! EEEEEEEE!!!!) was going. Honestly, I would be totally happy if Carly just decided to write a whole series on the life of Travis and Maggie. And Henry! Oh my gosh, they are all just the cutest family ever.
The best part of this book was its humor. I bookmarked all the scenes that made me laugh and there were a lot of them.
"'I bet you got through the book super quick then,' Claire said. 'There were a lot of racy scenes. Like the one at the inn where he tied her to the bed-'
'That was at the castle,' Miss Mills said. 'The inn is where they had that sinful food orgy. That is not what the good Lord intended butter for.'"
I could go on and on. This entire review could just be me typing up whole pages of hilarious scenes. The bar scene, for instance. In spite of its slightly heavy themes, it made me giggle so many different times!
I also, as always, loved the steamy scenes. They were hot which I loved. Beyond that, they were also so heartfelt and genuine. The raw passion and emotion was just...
Overall, this book was emotional, sexy, and hilarious! Highly recommended!!
Bottom Line:
4.5 stars
Age Rating - [ R ]
Content Screening -
Positive Messages (4/5) - [Kindness, Bravery, Commitment]
Violence (3/5) - [Bar fight, Punches, Minor injuries]
Sex (4/5) - [Detailed sex scenes, Sexual themes and terms]
Language (3/5) - [F**k, D*mn, Sh*t, Cl*t]
Trigger and Content Warning - Loss of a loved one, Cancer, Violence, Floods, Near-death experience
NOTE: This is an adult book with detailed sex scenes and isn't intended for younger readers
Publication Date: March 31st, 2020
Publisher: Forever (an imprint of Grand Central Pub (an imprint of Hachette Book Group))
Genre: Contemporary/Romance
------------------
4.5 stars! YES! YES! YES!
review to come
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March 5, 2020
Five wrangled, roped and tied stars for this amazing read!
Two years ago, Ford left Claire after making her think they had a future. Now he’s back to once more help on the ranch and she’s determined not to let her heart get her into trouble again. But when life takes a detour, she finds herself relying on him to help her do what needs to be done, even if it means giving up her dream.
Claire is quite the heroine. She’s tough and sassy, but soft and sweet. Rancho Canada Verde runs in her blood and her loyalty and dedication to it shines through, highlighting her character throughout the book.
I loved Ford, despite his back and forth ways in regards to Claire. He has ample reason to not trust what his heart is telling him and watching him battle against the “curse” was heart wrenching. There were certainly times I wanted to knock him upside the head, but generally I wanted him to relax and trust the tug. Getting to the point he could do so was quite the journey!
’Ford shifted nervously from foot to foot and fiddled with the brim of his hat. “I lose my mind when I’m around you.”
“Clearly”
“So, I don’t think I should be around you. On account of how I, you know, need my mind.”’
This couple were absolutely adorable together. They knew how to work together, have fun, and when it came to something more, they certainly knew how to do that. The chemistry between Claire and Ford could be felt from the very beginning and I loved watching them as they grew to a place of trust.
This is a fun, witty story with lots of sharp dialogue and interesting characters that had me smiling pretty much throughout the book. As a backdrop, the ranch and cattle business did not consume the story but added a richness that could only be shared by someone who has experienced it. All the superstitions had me laughing and shaking my head, even as I realized I had heard most of them before and they brought back my own memories.
I absolutely adored everything about this story, the hero and heroine, the secondary characters and the most perfect epilogue. I have a strong suspicion of who the next heroine will be and I can’t wait!
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Two years ago, Ford left Claire after making her think they had a future. Now he’s back to once more help on the ranch and she’s determined not to let her heart get her into trouble again. But when life takes a detour, she finds herself relying on him to help her do what needs to be done, even if it means giving up her dream.
Claire is quite the heroine. She’s tough and sassy, but soft and sweet. Rancho Canada Verde runs in her blood and her loyalty and dedication to it shines through, highlighting her character throughout the book.
I loved Ford, despite his back and forth ways in regards to Claire. He has ample reason to not trust what his heart is telling him and watching him battle against the “curse” was heart wrenching. There were certainly times I wanted to knock him upside the head, but generally I wanted him to relax and trust the tug. Getting to the point he could do so was quite the journey!
’Ford shifted nervously from foot to foot and fiddled with the brim of his hat. “I lose my mind when I’m around you.”
“Clearly”
“So, I don’t think I should be around you. On account of how I, you know, need my mind.”’
This couple were absolutely adorable together. They knew how to work together, have fun, and when it came to something more, they certainly knew how to do that. The chemistry between Claire and Ford could be felt from the very beginning and I loved watching them as they grew to a place of trust.
This is a fun, witty story with lots of sharp dialogue and interesting characters that had me smiling pretty much throughout the book. As a backdrop, the ranch and cattle business did not consume the story but added a richness that could only be shared by someone who has experienced it. All the superstitions had me laughing and shaking my head, even as I realized I had heard most of them before and they brought back my own memories.
I absolutely adored everything about this story, the hero and heroine, the secondary characters and the most perfect epilogue. I have a strong suspicion of who the next heroine will be and I can’t wait!
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
May 18, 2020
4.5 Stars
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance! The thought of two people who should’ve been together getting another go at HEA just makes me happy, and Claire and Ford’s story was a standout in a sea of romances.
Two years ago Ford and Claire couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Ford worked at Claire’s family ranch, but he made it clear that their romance was temporary. They fell hard for each other and Claire asked him to stay, and even though Ford wanted to stay he left anyways, believing himself to be cursed and doomed to fail in romance. Now he’s back at the ranch as foreman and determined to keep his distance from Claire, but resistance is futile! Claire doesn’t want to get her heart broken all over again either, but these two are like magnets unable to fight that pull, and what a delicious pull it was!
Ford was a good man, not a guy who didn’t want to commit because he wanted to play the field, but because he believed any woman he attached himself would end up with a broken heart because of a curse. When he sees the happiness of the other couples in town, he yearns to have what they do. I had no idea cowboys were so superstitious, but I was happy when Ford started to realize that life is what you make of it, and not dictated by a ridiculous curse.
This story was more than a romance, it was about family and friends coming together in difficult times. I loved the way both Claire and Ford stepped up when they were needed. Claire putting her big girl panties on and taking on a role that wasn’t her dream because her family needed her. I loved the little community of Big Verde and how they banded together when disaster struck.
I just loved Cowboy Come Home so much! It was well-written, funny with just the right amount of sizzle! Omg! I was laughing out loud so many times: Oscar the cat, Bubba and Trista, the book club meeting were all kinds of funny!! I loved this quirky set of secondary characters! I immediately requested the first book when I finished because I loved the Ford and Claire’s story so much. A definite recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance! The thought of two people who should’ve been together getting another go at HEA just makes me happy, and Claire and Ford’s story was a standout in a sea of romances.
Two years ago Ford and Claire couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Ford worked at Claire’s family ranch, but he made it clear that their romance was temporary. They fell hard for each other and Claire asked him to stay, and even though Ford wanted to stay he left anyways, believing himself to be cursed and doomed to fail in romance. Now he’s back at the ranch as foreman and determined to keep his distance from Claire, but resistance is futile! Claire doesn’t want to get her heart broken all over again either, but these two are like magnets unable to fight that pull, and what a delicious pull it was!
Ford was a good man, not a guy who didn’t want to commit because he wanted to play the field, but because he believed any woman he attached himself would end up with a broken heart because of a curse. When he sees the happiness of the other couples in town, he yearns to have what they do. I had no idea cowboys were so superstitious, but I was happy when Ford started to realize that life is what you make of it, and not dictated by a ridiculous curse.
This story was more than a romance, it was about family and friends coming together in difficult times. I loved the way both Claire and Ford stepped up when they were needed. Claire putting her big girl panties on and taking on a role that wasn’t her dream because her family needed her. I loved the little community of Big Verde and how they banded together when disaster struck.
I just loved Cowboy Come Home so much! It was well-written, funny with just the right amount of sizzle! Omg! I was laughing out loud so many times: Oscar the cat, Bubba and Trista, the book club meeting were all kinds of funny!! I loved this quirky set of secondary characters! I immediately requested the first book when I finished because I loved the Ford and Claire’s story so much. A definite recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2020
Cowboy come home is the story of Claire and Ford. It is a second chance love story between the ranch manager who believes he can’t put down roots due to a family curse, and the ranch owner's daughter. When he is talked into coming back to the ranch temporarily the old sparks rekindle….
My thoughts:
I really love cowboy romances. This book was a solid read. Cute, funny, and enjoyable. I really liked the heroine. She was feisty, sassy, smart, and independent. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie and banter of Claire’s friends. There were some laugh out loud moments with the secondary characters. The romance was ok...the chemistry between the two was a little off (it just seemed like the spark was missing), and there were a couple of parts at the end that were just too cheesy.
Overall a good read, and I will be checking out the rest of the books in the Once upon a time in Texas series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Carly Bloom, and the publisher for this opportunity
check out my blog for more book fun @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
My thoughts:
I really love cowboy romances. This book was a solid read. Cute, funny, and enjoyable. I really liked the heroine. She was feisty, sassy, smart, and independent. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie and banter of Claire’s friends. There were some laugh out loud moments with the secondary characters. The romance was ok...the chemistry between the two was a little off (it just seemed like the spark was missing), and there were a couple of parts at the end that were just too cheesy.
Overall a good read, and I will be checking out the rest of the books in the Once upon a time in Texas series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Carly Bloom, and the publisher for this opportunity
check out my blog for more book fun @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
March 11, 2021
Two years earlier, Ford Jarvis and Claire Kowalski were an item. They were the hot ticket of Big Verde. Ford captured Claire’s heart, and Claire thought Ford was her knight in shining armor. Her Prince Charming. But as sudden as their romance started, Ford suddenly leaves for “greener” pastures.
Devastated by the loss of her love, Claire seeks out distractions to occupy her time. Only to find disappointment at every corner. Then, one day, she spots him. Ford Jarvis is back on her ranch! How could her father, Gerome Kowalski, allow the man that crushed her heart back to Rancho Cañada Verde? Yet, Claire’s heart still tugs at the sight of him, and she still might have a little love left. If only Ford could love her back…
Cowboy Come Home is a steamy western romance novel set in the Texas High Country where you either go big or go home. And on a twelve thousand acre ranch, it sure went big. With a picturesque backdrop and engaging characters, Cowboy Come Home is a novel that will warm and touch your heart in more ways than one. Five heartwarming stars.
I received a digital copy of the novel from Forever through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Devastated by the loss of her love, Claire seeks out distractions to occupy her time. Only to find disappointment at every corner. Then, one day, she spots him. Ford Jarvis is back on her ranch! How could her father, Gerome Kowalski, allow the man that crushed her heart back to Rancho Cañada Verde? Yet, Claire’s heart still tugs at the sight of him, and she still might have a little love left. If only Ford could love her back…
Cowboy Come Home is a steamy western romance novel set in the Texas High Country where you either go big or go home. And on a twelve thousand acre ranch, it sure went big. With a picturesque backdrop and engaging characters, Cowboy Come Home is a novel that will warm and touch your heart in more ways than one. Five heartwarming stars.
I received a digital copy of the novel from Forever through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 9, 2020
Being from Texas made me realize that I enjoy the cowboy romances despite some of the cheesy covers. I have been reading so many second-chance romances lately. Maybe it is because of the strange and troubling times we are living in right now so I've needed a lighter, uplifting HEA. I've been enjoying this series so far and couldn't wait to read this one. Carly Bloom is a new author to me and I've really been enjoying her true to Texas-style that gives the overall feeling of the great Lone Star State.
Welcome back to Big Verde, Texas ... where two years ago, Ford Jarvis left Claire Kowalski after making her think they had a future together. Now he is back to once more help out on her family's large cattle ranch and shes determined not to let her heart get her into trouble again. But when real life takes a turn for the worst, she finds herself relying on him to help her do what needs to be done. The tension between Ford and Claire delicious and I couldn't wait for these two to finally give in to what they both wanted. Each other and a future together. The characters from the first two books play big parts in this book and it was nice to visit all the relationships again. It was also fun the read about all the cowboy/rodeo superstitions. Many I knew already and several were new to me. Family, best friends, secrets, Texas flash floods, family curses, humor, and love is all packed in this really well written book.
While all books set in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series can be read as a standalone, but I encourage you to start from the beginning. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series, "Once Upon a Time in Texas #3: Must Love Cowboys" -- coming in Spring of 2021.
Welcome back to Big Verde, Texas ... where two years ago, Ford Jarvis left Claire Kowalski after making her think they had a future together. Now he is back to once more help out on her family's large cattle ranch and shes determined not to let her heart get her into trouble again. But when real life takes a turn for the worst, she finds herself relying on him to help her do what needs to be done. The tension between Ford and Claire delicious and I couldn't wait for these two to finally give in to what they both wanted. Each other and a future together. The characters from the first two books play big parts in this book and it was nice to visit all the relationships again. It was also fun the read about all the cowboy/rodeo superstitions. Many I knew already and several were new to me. Family, best friends, secrets, Texas flash floods, family curses, humor, and love is all packed in this really well written book.
While all books set in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series can be read as a standalone, but I encourage you to start from the beginning. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series, "Once Upon a Time in Texas #3: Must Love Cowboys" -- coming in Spring of 2021.
March 31, 2020
Big Bad Cowboy made me realize that I like cowboy romances and Cowboy Come Home made me realize that I actually LOVE them. I seriously never would’ve thought this sub genre would be my thing, but I’m telling you guys that if you like contemporary romance the Big Verde series are must reads. They have everything I look for in a romance and more, they’re super funny with tons of fantastic banter, a setting that makes me feel more relaxed by just reading about it, secondary characters that are a mix of wacky and endearing and an overall sense of community that warms my heart. Oh and steamy sex scenes 🔥 💋 🤠 Must read y’all
January 27, 2020
I contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Thank you Read Forever for my gifted review copy.
After reading, loving & talking nonstop about Big Bad Cowboy for the last several months, I have high expectations for Cowboy Come Home by Carly Bloom. As soon as the ARC from Read Forever arrived, I took a deep breath & went in for more Big Verde romance.
Two days later & it's safe to say that I loved every page.
What I Love About This Book
First, Cowboy Come Home takes place in Texas. Being from Texas, I read books set in my home state with a critical eye. To put it simply, Carly nails it. The landscape, the people & just that overall feeling of the Lone Star State has me wanting to pick up all my things and move back. Washing lawn chairs with a hose, coming together when your friend & neighbors need you & having that sense of community. Big Verde is a town with big relationships that all feel like family. Bloom makes sure readers feel this with each & every character.
While all books set in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series can be read as a standalone, I encourage you to start from the beginning. These books are such addictive & quick reads you'll devour them. Readers get to catch up and get tidbits of other characters as we turn the pages. This just adds to the sense of family & community in Big Verde. Honestly, you'll never want to leave this place. Big Verde is a town with sweeping landscapes, handsome cowboys, tough female leads & people who have your back.
Vulnerability Among Cowboys
Another thing I really love about Cowboy Come Home by Carly Bloom is the constant communication between the characters. We're talking tough, closed-off & damaged cowboys here. Yet, when it comes to conversations, characters of all genders are open, vulnerable & trusting in their communications with one another. We see these types of conversations between siblings, neighbors, bosses & amongst generations of characters. I just can't get enough of it.
The more romance I read, the more I realize the ability to have an open & honest conversation is the thing that can truly make or break a book for me. From the very first page, Carly has her characters talking, laughing & helping each other. This helps know Big Verde is a wonderful community. Big Verde is a forgiving, loving & generous place. In a town like this, you can be free to be your true self. With characters that are open & vulnerable, readers can easily relate to their struggles & it is easier to root for the relationships.
THE VERDICT
In case you didn't realize, I am Really Into This book! Cowboy Come Home is a tender & meaningful open door romance. While the open door romance is preset from the first few pages of Big, Bad Cowboy, this one takes it time. What we have here is a tender, sweet & believable second chance romance set in the great state of Texas. I love every page of this book & hope you do too.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Thank you Read Forever for my gifted review copy.
After reading, loving & talking nonstop about Big Bad Cowboy for the last several months, I have high expectations for Cowboy Come Home by Carly Bloom. As soon as the ARC from Read Forever arrived, I took a deep breath & went in for more Big Verde romance.
Two days later & it's safe to say that I loved every page.
What I Love About This Book
First, Cowboy Come Home takes place in Texas. Being from Texas, I read books set in my home state with a critical eye. To put it simply, Carly nails it. The landscape, the people & just that overall feeling of the Lone Star State has me wanting to pick up all my things and move back. Washing lawn chairs with a hose, coming together when your friend & neighbors need you & having that sense of community. Big Verde is a town with big relationships that all feel like family. Bloom makes sure readers feel this with each & every character.
While all books set in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series can be read as a standalone, I encourage you to start from the beginning. These books are such addictive & quick reads you'll devour them. Readers get to catch up and get tidbits of other characters as we turn the pages. This just adds to the sense of family & community in Big Verde. Honestly, you'll never want to leave this place. Big Verde is a town with sweeping landscapes, handsome cowboys, tough female leads & people who have your back.
Vulnerability Among Cowboys
Another thing I really love about Cowboy Come Home by Carly Bloom is the constant communication between the characters. We're talking tough, closed-off & damaged cowboys here. Yet, when it comes to conversations, characters of all genders are open, vulnerable & trusting in their communications with one another. We see these types of conversations between siblings, neighbors, bosses & amongst generations of characters. I just can't get enough of it.
The more romance I read, the more I realize the ability to have an open & honest conversation is the thing that can truly make or break a book for me. From the very first page, Carly has her characters talking, laughing & helping each other. This helps know Big Verde is a wonderful community. Big Verde is a forgiving, loving & generous place. In a town like this, you can be free to be your true self. With characters that are open & vulnerable, readers can easily relate to their struggles & it is easier to root for the relationships.
THE VERDICT
In case you didn't realize, I am Really Into This book! Cowboy Come Home is a tender & meaningful open door romance. While the open door romance is preset from the first few pages of Big, Bad Cowboy, this one takes it time. What we have here is a tender, sweet & believable second chance romance set in the great state of Texas. I love every page of this book & hope you do too.
March 15, 2020
CW: cancer, flash flood
3.5 stars. Carly Bloom’s debut Big Bad Cowboy was one of my favorite romances of 2018 because of the way she subverted the cowboy trope and it was so great to return to Big Verde. This is a second chance romance with big feelings, cowboy superstitions, and a town recovering from a natural disaster. Regarding that last point, the synopsis isn’t wrong but to me this story was really about the ways a flood can devastate a community and how they recover.
Ford broke Claire’s heart two years ago and now he’s back in town to act as foreman at Claire’s family ranch for a couple of months. They plan on avoiding each other as much as possible, only things don’t go as planned. First, Claire has to abandon her stalled car during a flash flood and Ford rescues her. Second, Claire’s dad is diagnosed with throat cancer and is thinking about selling the ranch, thereby prompting Claire to decide to learn how to be the foreman. Even if that means working with Ford.
Ford has always heard the men in his family are cursed when it comes to love. He says he doesn’t believe in the curse but he is a superstitious cowboy and he certainly hasn’t dealt with his past. The flood brings up Ford’s memories of losing his sister many years prior and the plot forces him to grapple with that loss, as well as how he could have almost lost Claire. At the same time, he looks for excuses to get out of the relationship. It was hard to watch Claire settle for whatever she could get from him and to see Ford sabotage himself. I was really rooting for them to figure things out.
Then there’s Big Verde, reeling from a natural disaster and trying to pick back up the pieces. We see the short-term concerns: how to get to safety, what to do when you can’t access the road to your home. Then there’s the long-term effects: fencing that has to be replaced, cattle that has to be retrieved, businesses that have to completely rebuild, lost income, and so on. The community has to band together, whether looking for missing people or hosting a fundraiser so the library can be rebuilt. I haven’t seen this explored much in fiction and thought it added a great dimension to the story.
For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this. There were, however, a few things that gave me pause. The most important of which was the inclusion of homophobic incident, which will understandably be a dealbreaker for some readers. In the first book, side character JD came out and began dating Gabriel. The town accepted him and while there were some stereotypes about gay men, it was largely a positive portrayal, at least to this cis-het woman. That's why I was thrown off by what happened here. While the group of friends are celebrating at a bar, one of the ranch hands Kit says something homophobic to JD while he and Gabriel are waiting to order drinks. We aren’t told what he said, as we get this scene from Ford’s POV and he’s sitting across the room. We see JD respond to Kit and then pushes him and the whole thing devolves into a bar fight with Bubba, Travis, and Ford joining in. Ford even fires Kit on the spot. The bar owners break up the fight and kick everyone out. Tony’s eyes “soften” but he tells JD, “There are going to be assholes everywhere, JD. You’d better get a handle on that temper.” The incident is largely dropped and never comes up again.
I’m just not sure what we’re supposed to take away from this. My guess is we’re supposed to see friends supporting each other in a tangible way, standing up for JD and Gabriel. But it felt like queer pain was being used as a plot device. While I think it was depicted sensitively enough, if such a thing is possible—we don’t know what exactly Kit said, no one rationalizes his remarks, JD and Gabriel’s friends immediately stand up for them—homophobia is no light matter. Do I think everyone in Big Verde is LGBTQ+ affirming? No. But who and what does it serve to show a homophobic incident involving side characters? Especially one that doesn’t appear to have any further ramifications than a minor character, who was already known as being bad at his job, being fired. What is especially troubling is that this scene started off as a joyous celebration for the friends—I won’t spoil the big news but I was genuinely happy for everyone—and it got hijacked by a bigot.
Along with this, Bubba frequently makes ignorant comments about LGBTQ+ people and how sexuality works. It felt like his comments were being played to laughs or that we’re supposed to laugh at him, neither of which I wanted to do. If he’s that ignorant, why would JD or any of them, for that matter, be friends with him? Additionally, characters like Anna and Miss Mills were more like caricatures. I didn’t understand why Claire and Maggie would voluntarily interact with them, much less continue to include them in their gatherings. I really hope Bloom can course correct with the next novel, as these elements could and should easily be omitted.
Finally, the ending wasn’t at satisfying as I wanted it to be. I didn't like that Claire wasn't consulted about anything that happened, each of which had huge implications for her future It made for a more dramatic ending, I suppose, but it also robbed her of her agency. It also didn’t prove that Ford has really changed. Claire’s father basically told him what to do and then set him up for success, without even knowing if that’s what Claire wanted. I wouldn’t be very happy with my dad for doing that, that’s for sure. Contrast this with how Maggie laid out the stakes to Ford and didn’t let him off easy. That's how it had to be if he had any hope of making things work with Claire. Claire and Ford are good together but he really needed to do the work and show her, through his own initiative, that he was in it for the long haul.
The ending was way too short, even with the epilogue. Ford was confronting his decades-long grief over the death of his sister that he’s been blaming himself for, on top of trying to win Claire back. I really needed to see more emotional growth from him, given how easily he latched onto excuses to leave Claire both times. Given that, I’m sure they’ll be very happy together but I didn’t have that same confident satisfaction that I had for Maggie and Travis.
To end on a positive note, I loved Ford’s cat with whom he has a love-hate relationship. He loves that cat, even if he’s too stubborn of a cowboy to admit it for far too long, and I love men who love cats. I’ll be interested to see which side character gets a book next.
CW: past death of sibling (age 10, drowned in a flash flood), flash flood, search for missing teenager, heroine’s father diagnosed with throat cancer, cancer surgery and chemotherapy, pregnant side character, hero’s mother is in remission from breast cancer, homophobia, perceived infidelity (side character), side characters planning to adopt a baby
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Forever in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. Carly Bloom’s debut Big Bad Cowboy was one of my favorite romances of 2018 because of the way she subverted the cowboy trope and it was so great to return to Big Verde. This is a second chance romance with big feelings, cowboy superstitions, and a town recovering from a natural disaster. Regarding that last point, the synopsis isn’t wrong but to me this story was really about the ways a flood can devastate a community and how they recover.
Ford broke Claire’s heart two years ago and now he’s back in town to act as foreman at Claire’s family ranch for a couple of months. They plan on avoiding each other as much as possible, only things don’t go as planned. First, Claire has to abandon her stalled car during a flash flood and Ford rescues her. Second, Claire’s dad is diagnosed with throat cancer and is thinking about selling the ranch, thereby prompting Claire to decide to learn how to be the foreman. Even if that means working with Ford.
Ford has always heard the men in his family are cursed when it comes to love. He says he doesn’t believe in the curse but he is a superstitious cowboy and he certainly hasn’t dealt with his past. The flood brings up Ford’s memories of losing his sister many years prior and the plot forces him to grapple with that loss, as well as how he could have almost lost Claire. At the same time, he looks for excuses to get out of the relationship. It was hard to watch Claire settle for whatever she could get from him and to see Ford sabotage himself. I was really rooting for them to figure things out.
Then there’s Big Verde, reeling from a natural disaster and trying to pick back up the pieces. We see the short-term concerns: how to get to safety, what to do when you can’t access the road to your home. Then there’s the long-term effects: fencing that has to be replaced, cattle that has to be retrieved, businesses that have to completely rebuild, lost income, and so on. The community has to band together, whether looking for missing people or hosting a fundraiser so the library can be rebuilt. I haven’t seen this explored much in fiction and thought it added a great dimension to the story.
For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this. There were, however, a few things that gave me pause. The most important of which was the inclusion of homophobic incident, which will understandably be a dealbreaker for some readers. In the first book, side character JD came out and began dating Gabriel. The town accepted him and while there were some stereotypes about gay men, it was largely a positive portrayal, at least to this cis-het woman. That's why I was thrown off by what happened here. While the group of friends are celebrating at a bar, one of the ranch hands Kit says something homophobic to JD while he and Gabriel are waiting to order drinks. We aren’t told what he said, as we get this scene from Ford’s POV and he’s sitting across the room. We see JD respond to Kit and then pushes him and the whole thing devolves into a bar fight with Bubba, Travis, and Ford joining in. Ford even fires Kit on the spot. The bar owners break up the fight and kick everyone out. Tony’s eyes “soften” but he tells JD, “There are going to be assholes everywhere, JD. You’d better get a handle on that temper.” The incident is largely dropped and never comes up again.
I’m just not sure what we’re supposed to take away from this. My guess is we’re supposed to see friends supporting each other in a tangible way, standing up for JD and Gabriel. But it felt like queer pain was being used as a plot device. While I think it was depicted sensitively enough, if such a thing is possible—we don’t know what exactly Kit said, no one rationalizes his remarks, JD and Gabriel’s friends immediately stand up for them—homophobia is no light matter. Do I think everyone in Big Verde is LGBTQ+ affirming? No. But who and what does it serve to show a homophobic incident involving side characters? Especially one that doesn’t appear to have any further ramifications than a minor character, who was already known as being bad at his job, being fired. What is especially troubling is that this scene started off as a joyous celebration for the friends—I won’t spoil the big news but I was genuinely happy for everyone—and it got hijacked by a bigot.
Along with this, Bubba frequently makes ignorant comments about LGBTQ+ people and how sexuality works. It felt like his comments were being played to laughs or that we’re supposed to laugh at him, neither of which I wanted to do. If he’s that ignorant, why would JD or any of them, for that matter, be friends with him? Additionally, characters like Anna and Miss Mills were more like caricatures. I didn’t understand why Claire and Maggie would voluntarily interact with them, much less continue to include them in their gatherings. I really hope Bloom can course correct with the next novel, as these elements could and should easily be omitted.
Finally, the ending wasn’t at satisfying as I wanted it to be. I didn't like that Claire wasn't consulted about anything that happened, each of which had huge implications for her future It made for a more dramatic ending, I suppose, but it also robbed her of her agency. It also didn’t prove that Ford has really changed. Claire’s father basically told him what to do and then set him up for success, without even knowing if that’s what Claire wanted. I wouldn’t be very happy with my dad for doing that, that’s for sure. Contrast this with how Maggie laid out the stakes to Ford and didn’t let him off easy. That's how it had to be if he had any hope of making things work with Claire. Claire and Ford are good together but he really needed to do the work and show her, through his own initiative, that he was in it for the long haul.
The ending was way too short, even with the epilogue. Ford was confronting his decades-long grief over the death of his sister that he’s been blaming himself for, on top of trying to win Claire back. I really needed to see more emotional growth from him, given how easily he latched onto excuses to leave Claire both times. Given that, I’m sure they’ll be very happy together but I didn’t have that same confident satisfaction that I had for Maggie and Travis.
To end on a positive note, I loved Ford’s cat with whom he has a love-hate relationship. He loves that cat, even if he’s too stubborn of a cowboy to admit it for far too long, and I love men who love cats. I’ll be interested to see which side character gets a book next.
CW: past death of sibling (age 10, drowned in a flash flood), flash flood, search for missing teenager, heroine’s father diagnosed with throat cancer, cancer surgery and chemotherapy, pregnant side character, hero’s mother is in remission from breast cancer, homophobia, perceived infidelity (side character), side characters planning to adopt a baby
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Forever in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2020
Sweet, sassy, and adorably romantic!
Cowboy Come Home takes us back to Big Verde, Texas and into the life of the kind, vivacious Claire Kowalski as she once again finds herself relying on the one man who stole her heart two years ago, the supposedly cursed in love, stubborn ranch hand Ford Jarvis.
The writing is light and humorous. The characters are genuine, charming, and easygoing. And the plot is a delightful mix of family, friendship, adversity, touching moments, heartache, attraction, chemistry, comical situations, and sexy times.
Overall, Cowboy Come Home is the third title in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series, and if you ask me it just keeps getting better and better. It’s steamy, witty, highly entertaining and has everything you look for in a western, contemporary romance and more.
Thank you to Forever & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cowboy Come Home takes us back to Big Verde, Texas and into the life of the kind, vivacious Claire Kowalski as she once again finds herself relying on the one man who stole her heart two years ago, the supposedly cursed in love, stubborn ranch hand Ford Jarvis.
The writing is light and humorous. The characters are genuine, charming, and easygoing. And the plot is a delightful mix of family, friendship, adversity, touching moments, heartache, attraction, chemistry, comical situations, and sexy times.
Overall, Cowboy Come Home is the third title in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series, and if you ask me it just keeps getting better and better. It’s steamy, witty, highly entertaining and has everything you look for in a western, contemporary romance and more.
Thank you to Forever & Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2020
There's just something about second chance romances that make my heart sing. Yes, the separation and angst is often painful, but the reward is so worth it in the end. Cowboy Come Home hit all the right notes and had me rooting for Claire and Ford right from the start. The book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but previous characters do appear and it would be most appreciated if read in order.
I really loved Claire. She was intelligent, strong, independent, kind, and had so much fortitude. She was unstoppable when she put her mind to something and was willing to put her own happiness aside for those that she loves. She had fantastic chemistry with Ford and I really enjoyed seeing them verbally spar and banter back and forth. The build up was delicious and I couldn't wait for these two to lower their walls and finally give in to what they both wanted. I would never have thought that a scene in a little Airstream trailer could be both so insanely hot and laugh out loud hilarious. Yes, there's the inevitable push away (I was really shaking my head at that one), but I was so happy to see that the characters just didn't fall back into step with each other. They had to earn that forgiveness and really make an effort to prove that they were in it for the long haul.
The more serious moments (TW: ) were balanced well with humor (Bubba was great comic relief) and the writing was wonderful. Catching up with all the previous characters was so fun and I loved getting a little more of their stories and glimpses into their futures. There were a few nods to Cinderella in the story, but I found the book to be overall less of a fairy tale retelling than Big Bad Cowboy. The epilogue of Cowboy Come Home was absolutely adorable though and I couldn't contain my giggle and smile after reading the final line. Readers are sure to fall in love with this story as well.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
I really loved Claire. She was intelligent, strong, independent, kind, and had so much fortitude. She was unstoppable when she put her mind to something and was willing to put her own happiness aside for those that she loves. She had fantastic chemistry with Ford and I really enjoyed seeing them verbally spar and banter back and forth. The build up was delicious and I couldn't wait for these two to lower their walls and finally give in to what they both wanted. I would never have thought that a scene in a little Airstream trailer could be both so insanely hot and laugh out loud hilarious. Yes, there's the inevitable push away (I was really shaking my head at that one), but I was so happy to see that the characters just didn't fall back into step with each other. They had to earn that forgiveness and really make an effort to prove that they were in it for the long haul.
The more serious moments (TW: ) were balanced well with humor (Bubba was great comic relief) and the writing was wonderful. Catching up with all the previous characters was so fun and I loved getting a little more of their stories and glimpses into their futures. There were a few nods to Cinderella in the story, but I found the book to be overall less of a fairy tale retelling than Big Bad Cowboy. The epilogue of Cowboy Come Home was absolutely adorable though and I couldn't contain my giggle and smile after reading the final line. Readers are sure to fall in love with this story as well.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
July 2, 2020
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Un chasquito. La historia tenía pintaza, Ford me gustaba y a este libro le tenía muchas ganas, ya que el anterior me encantó. Al final ha sido un pequeño bluff que se ha ido desmoronando poco a poco.
Un chasquito. La historia tenía pintaza, Ford me gustaba y a este libro le tenía muchas ganas, ya que el anterior me encantó. Al final ha sido un pequeño bluff que se ha ido desmoronando poco a poco.
March 26, 2020
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: http://www.romancingthereaders.com/20...
I don't know why but it seems I've been reading so many second chance romances. It's not my favorite but I'm getting used to them. I've been enjoying this series so far and couldn't wait to read Cowboy Come Home. Carly Bloom is a new to me author and one that I've really been enjoying.
Usually, in the books I read, I'm more in the hero's favor than the heroines. I can't say that with this one. I really liked Claire and thought she was a wonderful person. Her family ranch is really in need of help and that comes in the form of Ford. He's there to help her for a while but that's as far as it's going to go.
Claire's plan is to stay as far away from him as she can. Ha! When has that ever happened?
I do understand why Ford feels he needs to stay away from love. Or I should say I understand his thinking. I got why he left the first time and that he felt it was for the best for both of them but...
I do like how much these two talked. They don't even realize that they talk like a couple. I like these two together and think they make for a good match. If Ford can get over what his head tells him and let his heart lead he will be a happy man.
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ARC received for an honest review
I don't know why but it seems I've been reading so many second chance romances. It's not my favorite but I'm getting used to them. I've been enjoying this series so far and couldn't wait to read Cowboy Come Home. Carly Bloom is a new to me author and one that I've really been enjoying.
Usually, in the books I read, I'm more in the hero's favor than the heroines. I can't say that with this one. I really liked Claire and thought she was a wonderful person. Her family ranch is really in need of help and that comes in the form of Ford. He's there to help her for a while but that's as far as it's going to go.
Claire's plan is to stay as far away from him as she can. Ha! When has that ever happened?
I do understand why Ford feels he needs to stay away from love. Or I should say I understand his thinking. I got why he left the first time and that he felt it was for the best for both of them but...
I do like how much these two talked. They don't even realize that they talk like a couple. I like these two together and think they make for a good match. If Ford can get over what his head tells him and let his heart lead he will be a happy man.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for an honest review
June 24, 2020
3.5 stars
I liked this but in the end the heroine forgave the hero way too easily for again running.
I liked this but in the end the heroine forgave the hero way too easily for again running.
May 24, 2020
Love loved returning back to the town of Big Verde, Texas! Carly Bloom captures small town life so well and I ADORED this second chance romance between Claire and Ford. Per usual it was hilarious with all the quirky characters and small town antics while also involving some real issues like Claire’s father’s health and Ford with his internal battle of is it possible for him to break the cycle so many men in his family have failed to do. Loved it!
March 31, 2020
Claire Kowalski is the only child of Gerome and Lilly Kowalski she also at twenty is wanting to have what her friends have marriage and starting a family. Her problem is that there is no one on her horizon. The one guy she hoped would stick around would be Ford, but that was not to be.
Ford is back on the ranch as the foreman for six weeks and wouldn’t you know it, he knows that because it is raining that she will get stuck trying to cross the stream. The problem becomes the stream is a river and flash floods are being called and he found her by the river not in her car which was down the river.
Ford loves Claire but he feels he is cursed and that all of the men in his family are. When he finds out along with Claire that her father is thinking about selling the ranch Ford decides to help her with how to be a foreman. She also is looking for other ways to help the ranch she came up with different ways. Her biggest problem was that Ford did not come back when he said he was going to and she has been running herself ragged.
When Ford finally does show up back in town he is not welcomed with open arms. He is though given a salute with a nerf gun. He is let back into the group again without having to work for it. This was a good story with very good characters and a lot of unique and different situations. One book that I think many people will enjoy. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Ford is back on the ranch as the foreman for six weeks and wouldn’t you know it, he knows that because it is raining that she will get stuck trying to cross the stream. The problem becomes the stream is a river and flash floods are being called and he found her by the river not in her car which was down the river.
Ford loves Claire but he feels he is cursed and that all of the men in his family are. When he finds out along with Claire that her father is thinking about selling the ranch Ford decides to help her with how to be a foreman. She also is looking for other ways to help the ranch she came up with different ways. Her biggest problem was that Ford did not come back when he said he was going to and she has been running herself ragged.
When Ford finally does show up back in town he is not welcomed with open arms. He is though given a salute with a nerf gun. He is let back into the group again without having to work for it. This was a good story with very good characters and a lot of unique and different situations. One book that I think many people will enjoy. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 9, 2020
This has probably been my least favorite book of the series, but for the most part, the entire series is wonderful and definitely one of my favorite cowboy romance series. My biggest issue wasn't the writing, which is always great. But I really disliked Ford and it wasn't until the very end that I began to like him. I wasn't exactly rushing back to the book to finish reading since I really had my doubts at Ford redeeming himself.
We met him in previous books and knew that he was a wondering cowboy who went ranch-to-ranch and never stayed in one place for long. Claire was 'dating' him in a previous book and everyone kept warning her to not get attached or fall in love since it was inevitable that Ford would leave again. Well, she did just that and Ford did leave...for 2 years. Now he's back in Big Verde working as temporary foreman of Rancho Canada Verde while Claire's dad, Gerome, tries to find a replacement. He has plans of leaving in 6 weeks to work at another ranch in West Texas. Ford and his family all believe in the family curse, that they will never fall in love and stay that way - every other man has a string of jilted women and children left behind. So Ford avoids falling for Claire and it's this constant running and pushing Claire away that really makes me mad. He lets a lot of people down when he decides to run and it was just so frustrating to keep seeing him do it time and time again. At least Gerome Kowalski managed to talk some sense into him.
Claire is well-educated, well-to-do, living on her parents land in a cute Airstream trailer, and trying to make something of her life that is her own while also trying to find her Prince Charming. She has big dreams of owning Petal Pushers now that it's closing and turning it into a shop that sells high-end products featuring the ranch's brand. It's all quite impressive and I really admired her determination. When things happen in the family that are unexpected, she finds herself trying to learn all about running a ranch in order to save the family legacy. Even though she came off as the 'princess' of the bunch of friends, she really was tough and could hang with the guys on the ranch pretty well. She and Ford worked very well together as she shadowed him, much to my surprise. She did have one 'you big idiot' moment in the beginning of the book, but hey, something good came of it in that she was forced to spend time with Ford.
I love that the characters we loved in previous books were part of this book. It's wonderful how intwined they all are in Big Verde and how they all come together. I also liked the introduction of some new characters, including Worth, Ford's brother. The ending is really sweet and I loved that part most of all. I wish I could say I loved the entire book and while I did love Claire the entire time, I really had a hard time getting over Ford's 'fight or flight' character.
We met him in previous books and knew that he was a wondering cowboy who went ranch-to-ranch and never stayed in one place for long. Claire was 'dating' him in a previous book and everyone kept warning her to not get attached or fall in love since it was inevitable that Ford would leave again. Well, she did just that and Ford did leave...for 2 years. Now he's back in Big Verde working as temporary foreman of Rancho Canada Verde while Claire's dad, Gerome, tries to find a replacement. He has plans of leaving in 6 weeks to work at another ranch in West Texas. Ford and his family all believe in the family curse, that they will never fall in love and stay that way - every other man has a string of jilted women and children left behind. So Ford avoids falling for Claire and it's this constant running and pushing Claire away that really makes me mad. He lets a lot of people down when he decides to run and it was just so frustrating to keep seeing him do it time and time again. At least Gerome Kowalski managed to talk some sense into him.
Claire is well-educated, well-to-do, living on her parents land in a cute Airstream trailer, and trying to make something of her life that is her own while also trying to find her Prince Charming. She has big dreams of owning Petal Pushers now that it's closing and turning it into a shop that sells high-end products featuring the ranch's brand. It's all quite impressive and I really admired her determination. When things happen in the family that are unexpected, she finds herself trying to learn all about running a ranch in order to save the family legacy. Even though she came off as the 'princess' of the bunch of friends, she really was tough and could hang with the guys on the ranch pretty well. She and Ford worked very well together as she shadowed him, much to my surprise. She did have one 'you big idiot' moment in the beginning of the book, but hey, something good came of it in that she was forced to spend time with Ford.
I love that the characters we loved in previous books were part of this book. It's wonderful how intwined they all are in Big Verde and how they all come together. I also liked the introduction of some new characters, including Worth, Ford's brother. The ending is really sweet and I loved that part most of all. I wish I could say I loved the entire book and while I did love Claire the entire time, I really had a hard time getting over Ford's 'fight or flight' character.
April 16, 2022
Una contemporánea del Oeste sobre segundas oportunidades, en un ambiente de pueblo pequeño.
Claire Kowalski y Ford Jarvis se enamoraron hace un par de años, pero Ford es un culo inquieto y piensa que nunca podría ser fiel a una sola mujer, así que puso tierra de por medio. Volverá cuando el padre de Claire le pide ayuda. Lo de Claire y Ford es pasión y amor, sí. Es una delicia verlos interactuar a lo largo de las páginas de este libro. No resulta tan sexi como la primera novela de la serie ni tampoco hay demasiada tensión romántica, ya que andan enamoriscados desde el principio.
Pero vamos, en general es muy agradable de leer, por su tono más bien desenfadado, muy desenvuelto. No llega a ser comedia romántica, pero se le parece.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Claire Kowalski y Ford Jarvis se enamoraron hace un par de años, pero Ford es un culo inquieto y piensa que nunca podría ser fiel a una sola mujer, así que puso tierra de por medio. Volverá cuando el padre de Claire le pide ayuda. Lo de Claire y Ford es pasión y amor, sí. Es una delicia verlos interactuar a lo largo de las páginas de este libro. No resulta tan sexi como la primera novela de la serie ni tampoco hay demasiada tensión romántica, ya que andan enamoriscados desde el principio.
Pero vamos, en general es muy agradable de leer, por su tono más bien desenfadado, muy desenvuelto. No llega a ser comedia romántica, pero se le parece.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
May 13, 2021
This is the second book I've read by Carly Bloom. I love her humor. Miss Mills cracks me up every time. But Ford? He's mine! I don't know if there's a claiming list for Bloom books, but if there is, MINE! The fairy tale theme woven throughout her books is genius. Love her!
March 26, 2020
This was so fantastic! Cowboy Come Home had a wonderful mix of wit, emotion, and passion and was so entertaining to read. This story filled me up, thrilled me, and made me ridiculously happy!
I loved Claire, she was a strong and giving woman who loved with her whole heart. Ford was incredibly sexy and mysterious and I was immediately drawn to him. I loved learning about them and their history. I loved that inner fight they had as they try to stay away from each other. Their chemistry was electric! Ford is fighting such a battle within himself and I felt for him, understood him, and couldn't wait for him to get to that moment of clarity where he figures it all out. Claire was going through a lot too, my heart hurt for her. I love how she carries on, fighting to make things work. I loved the drama, the passion, the verbal sparring, and the heat. Together they had so many ups and downs as they worked through their issues but I loved them coming together and I was filled with so much anticipation.
I love the cast of characters involved, they are so likable and are just a fun group I want to hang out with. Any scene involving Bubba was a winner! There were so many entertaining things happening with all their friends and family, the couples, the book club, I was laughing so much, it was awesome. I loved Claire's dad, he was such a good guy with a big heart. I'm very happy with his outcome.
This story was a blast to read. It had all these humorous moments with excellent dialogue. There's a nice bit of heat happening too though this one had a bit of a slow burn feel to me. Mixed in, there’s a nice amount of emotion taking place and I got choked up several times. The writing was fantastic. I was so drawn into the scenes and could picture the ranch thanks to the great details. I loved the healing and love, openness, and heart. It was a wonderful read!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
I loved Claire, she was a strong and giving woman who loved with her whole heart. Ford was incredibly sexy and mysterious and I was immediately drawn to him. I loved learning about them and their history. I loved that inner fight they had as they try to stay away from each other. Their chemistry was electric! Ford is fighting such a battle within himself and I felt for him, understood him, and couldn't wait for him to get to that moment of clarity where he figures it all out. Claire was going through a lot too, my heart hurt for her. I love how she carries on, fighting to make things work. I loved the drama, the passion, the verbal sparring, and the heat. Together they had so many ups and downs as they worked through their issues but I loved them coming together and I was filled with so much anticipation.
I love the cast of characters involved, they are so likable and are just a fun group I want to hang out with. Any scene involving Bubba was a winner! There were so many entertaining things happening with all their friends and family, the couples, the book club, I was laughing so much, it was awesome. I loved Claire's dad, he was such a good guy with a big heart. I'm very happy with his outcome.
This story was a blast to read. It had all these humorous moments with excellent dialogue. There's a nice bit of heat happening too though this one had a bit of a slow burn feel to me. Mixed in, there’s a nice amount of emotion taking place and I got choked up several times. The writing was fantastic. I was so drawn into the scenes and could picture the ranch thanks to the great details. I loved the healing and love, openness, and heart. It was a wonderful read!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
December 18, 2020
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaways
This is novel #2 in the "Once Upon a Time in Texas" series by Carly Bloom. I was ready for a happy book that I didn't have to think too hard about while reading. "Cowboy Come Home" was a happily ever after novel but it broke some ground that I find so exciting! This is the first western romance novel I've ever read that featured a gay couple in the cast of characters. All of the characters in this novel are more believable than the norm for me. So while there was the central story of Claire and Ford, there were also the stories of other families from Big Verde. Texas. All stories that would inspire me to pick up the next novel to keep reading about the community! Authors like Carly Bloom are opening up the genre to be more richly inclusive of all people.
This is novel #2 in the "Once Upon a Time in Texas" series by Carly Bloom. I was ready for a happy book that I didn't have to think too hard about while reading. "Cowboy Come Home" was a happily ever after novel but it broke some ground that I find so exciting! This is the first western romance novel I've ever read that featured a gay couple in the cast of characters. All of the characters in this novel are more believable than the norm for me. So while there was the central story of Claire and Ford, there were also the stories of other families from Big Verde. Texas. All stories that would inspire me to pick up the next novel to keep reading about the community! Authors like Carly Bloom are opening up the genre to be more richly inclusive of all people.
February 24, 2020
Cowboy Come Home was so good for me for so many reasons. I love a love story. I really loved Claire's determination to succeed and help her friends and family. I loved how strong she is and how she wasn't scared of taking a second chance at love with Ford. I really loved how Carly Bloom was so real about the struggles and joys of farm/ranch life. There are so few books out there that depict this accurately. Farm life was drizzled in so lightly but in such an honest way that as a reader, you don't realize that you're getting such a good picture of what that life is like. The sacrifices and work that Claire and her family had to make are so real. I can't wait to share this with my farm wife friends!
July 23, 2020
Carly Bloom’s Big Bad Cowboy was one of my top 2018 reads, so my expectations for Cowboy Come Home were sky-high. The result? Big Bad Cowboy remains perfection from start to finish; Cowboy Come Home is better in parts than sum.
It held tropish-goodness-potential because reunited lovers, second-chance-at-love romance! Heroine Claire Kowalski loves stilettos, marketing, and her parents’ ranch, Rancho Canada Verde. Two years ago, she also loved ranch manager, Ford Jarvis, who loved and left her. Ford’s back, at her father’s behest, and the town of Big Verde has yet to witness a confrontation such as Claire and Ford’s. Claire is rightly in a rage and Ford is humbly contrite. Bloom’s ethos, however, is comic and her writing penchant is for nice people. Claire fumes and glares, but she’s a good-hearted soul who is still in love with Ford. Ford still loves Claire, but possesses internal obstacles to being with her, then and now. Add oodles of funny friends, neighbours, siblings, and parents who recognize how Claire and Ford “really” feel about each other and their reunion and eventual commitment is head-on, like a bull following the cape.
Bloom’s series continues to have great strengths: her ability to convey the Texas Hill Country setting; humour; and, a twisting of conventional “cowboy” tropes, feminist, vulnerable touches that surprise and delight. Cowboy Come Home possesses these as much as Big Bad Cowboy did. Where it weakens is pacing and that leaks into characterization like a noxious fluid in a clean culvert.
Claire’s rodeo-queen beauty and daddy’s princess upbringing should make her an unlikeable heroine. Au contraire, her humour, work ethic, and kindness work against stereotype. She easily forgives Ford his abandonment, but only after a hilarious scene in a flash flood and another involving an ornery cat and Ford in his birthday suit: mild embarrassment are enough to melt her heart and a generous heart it is too. Ford as personality is equally likeable: generous, caring, wounded. The memory of his sister’s loss make him vulnerable in ways one wouldn’t expect. His emotional reasons for running away from Claire make sense; the reason he tells himself, however, is puerile and silly and takes away from making the romance convincing. Hilarious scenes and great banter make up for the sluggishness of the road to the HEA. It takes forever for Claire and Ford to get together. The narrative stumbles along as if Bloom drove it like a start-stall car. I can’t say I loved Cowboy Come Home as much as I did Big Bad Cowboy, but I still adore Bloom’s humour and ethos and anticipate the next volume.With Miss Austen, we’d say Cowboy Come Home is “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.
Carly Bloom’s Cowboy Come Home is published by Forever. It was released in March and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received a copy from Forever.
It held tropish-goodness-potential because reunited lovers, second-chance-at-love romance! Heroine Claire Kowalski loves stilettos, marketing, and her parents’ ranch, Rancho Canada Verde. Two years ago, she also loved ranch manager, Ford Jarvis, who loved and left her. Ford’s back, at her father’s behest, and the town of Big Verde has yet to witness a confrontation such as Claire and Ford’s. Claire is rightly in a rage and Ford is humbly contrite. Bloom’s ethos, however, is comic and her writing penchant is for nice people. Claire fumes and glares, but she’s a good-hearted soul who is still in love with Ford. Ford still loves Claire, but possesses internal obstacles to being with her, then and now. Add oodles of funny friends, neighbours, siblings, and parents who recognize how Claire and Ford “really” feel about each other and their reunion and eventual commitment is head-on, like a bull following the cape.
Bloom’s series continues to have great strengths: her ability to convey the Texas Hill Country setting; humour; and, a twisting of conventional “cowboy” tropes, feminist, vulnerable touches that surprise and delight. Cowboy Come Home possesses these as much as Big Bad Cowboy did. Where it weakens is pacing and that leaks into characterization like a noxious fluid in a clean culvert.
Claire’s rodeo-queen beauty and daddy’s princess upbringing should make her an unlikeable heroine. Au contraire, her humour, work ethic, and kindness work against stereotype. She easily forgives Ford his abandonment, but only after a hilarious scene in a flash flood and another involving an ornery cat and Ford in his birthday suit: mild embarrassment are enough to melt her heart and a generous heart it is too. Ford as personality is equally likeable: generous, caring, wounded. The memory of his sister’s loss make him vulnerable in ways one wouldn’t expect. His emotional reasons for running away from Claire make sense; the reason he tells himself, however, is puerile and silly and takes away from making the romance convincing. Hilarious scenes and great banter make up for the sluggishness of the road to the HEA. It takes forever for Claire and Ford to get together. The narrative stumbles along as if Bloom drove it like a start-stall car. I can’t say I loved Cowboy Come Home as much as I did Big Bad Cowboy, but I still adore Bloom’s humour and ethos and anticipate the next volume.With Miss Austen, we’d say Cowboy Come Home is “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.
Carly Bloom’s Cowboy Come Home is published by Forever. It was released in March and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received a copy from Forever.
March 31, 2020
4 1/2 "Follow the Smoke Home" Stars....
Oh how I truly enjoyed Cowboy Come Home! I hopped into this series and instantly fell in love with the characters. Obviously, my favorites were the main characters, Claire and Ford. They are both incredibly stubborn in different ways but that have big hearts that are drawn to one another whether they like it or not.
Claire has dreams and aspirations, but she also knows that the ranch she has grown up on is part of her blood and she plans to take it over one day. To accomplish this, she's going to need help and would also like a dependable man by her side. She'd like to think that man could be Ford, but he has yet to prove himself to be dependable. As a matter of fact, he always seems to be just the opposite when it comes down to committing to something for the long-term.
Ford believes he's cursed to never be able to stay in one place and commit to one woman simply because none of the men in his family have been able to accomplish it. Therefore, he attributes it to the curse they are all supposedly under. What he doesn't realize is that he's leaning on the curse "like a crutch" to protect himself from risking his heart.
Cowboy Come Home was such a great second chance romance. I loved seeing Ford gain confidence and figure out how to overcome his fears. He and Claire had such great chemistry that you knew they needed to be together. The secondary characters were strong as well and added to the richness of this story.
This isn't the first book in the series, but you don't need to read the others first. I didn't and was able to jump right in. However, I do plan to go back and read them when time frees up because I really enjoy Ms. Bloom's writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh how I truly enjoyed Cowboy Come Home! I hopped into this series and instantly fell in love with the characters. Obviously, my favorites were the main characters, Claire and Ford. They are both incredibly stubborn in different ways but that have big hearts that are drawn to one another whether they like it or not.
Claire has dreams and aspirations, but she also knows that the ranch she has grown up on is part of her blood and she plans to take it over one day. To accomplish this, she's going to need help and would also like a dependable man by her side. She'd like to think that man could be Ford, but he has yet to prove himself to be dependable. As a matter of fact, he always seems to be just the opposite when it comes down to committing to something for the long-term.
Ford believes he's cursed to never be able to stay in one place and commit to one woman simply because none of the men in his family have been able to accomplish it. Therefore, he attributes it to the curse they are all supposedly under. What he doesn't realize is that he's leaning on the curse "like a crutch" to protect himself from risking his heart.
Cowboy Come Home was such a great second chance romance. I loved seeing Ford gain confidence and figure out how to overcome his fears. He and Claire had such great chemistry that you knew they needed to be together. The secondary characters were strong as well and added to the richness of this story.
This isn't the first book in the series, but you don't need to read the others first. I didn't and was able to jump right in. However, I do plan to go back and read them when time frees up because I really enjoy Ms. Bloom's writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
Claire and Ford and their relationship are briefly introduced in Big Bad Cowboy. This book starts two years after the close of the previous book and they are no longer together. Ford is a loner cowboy who thinks he is cursed and can never be in a long term relationship (insert eye roll).
(CW: for grief, discussion of deceased sibling, flood/natural disaster, ailing parent with cancer )
Claire’s family owns a large ranch and Ford has come back to town to manage the ranch. Ford helps Claire when a heavy rain storm washes her car away. This is the book that had me tweeting last week that romance novels need more hugging in them. Claire is rain drenched and her car is being washed away by a flash flood. Ford helps her to safety. He is overcome by emotion. She is too. But instead of a missed kiss, she could have used a HUG. I was mad at Ford. lol
Back to the story, I enjoyed seeing their story evolve and watch as truly fall in love with each other. Claire is juggling her own struggles and challenges with her career and her parents ranch. Ford acts like a big old dumbass about this “curse”. I was annoyed with him, especially when he did a big dumb thing. But this is romance, so you can be assured that he made it better.
The nature of their relationship was different so this book wasn’t quite as steamy, sexy as the first book but it was still sexy. I enjoy this town and its inhabitants. I look forward to reading more in this series.
(CW: for grief, discussion of deceased sibling, flood/natural disaster, ailing parent with cancer )
Claire’s family owns a large ranch and Ford has come back to town to manage the ranch. Ford helps Claire when a heavy rain storm washes her car away. This is the book that had me tweeting last week that romance novels need more hugging in them. Claire is rain drenched and her car is being washed away by a flash flood. Ford helps her to safety. He is overcome by emotion. She is too. But instead of a missed kiss, she could have used a HUG. I was mad at Ford. lol
Back to the story, I enjoyed seeing their story evolve and watch as truly fall in love with each other. Claire is juggling her own struggles and challenges with her career and her parents ranch. Ford acts like a big old dumbass about this “curse”. I was annoyed with him, especially when he did a big dumb thing. But this is romance, so you can be assured that he made it better.
The nature of their relationship was different so this book wasn’t quite as steamy, sexy as the first book but it was still sexy. I enjoy this town and its inhabitants. I look forward to reading more in this series.
March 27, 2020
Dally Up!
Oh my heart! This cowboy romance will give you all the feels! I love the way Author Carly Bloom wrote this second book in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series! Cowboy come Home is a heartwarming book that features family, love, heartbreak, curses, and second chances.
When the flood of the century hits Big Verde, Texas, it is just the beginning of what flows through town and Ford Jarvis’ life. Claire Kowalski knows her one time Prince Charming is in town for just a few weeks, but she is determined to not make the mistake of falling for him again…even if her father, Gerome Kowalski, has requested him to be there at the Rancho Canada Verde ranch. His health and life is uncertain, and he believes Ford is capable of providing the help he needs to get through these tough moments.
“What Claire had learned from the flood and her dad’s cancer – and all that had happened since – was that life was unpredictable. It didn’t follow some kind of storybook outline. You didn’t know what chapter you were in, and nobody was guaranteed a happily-ever-after at the end.”
This can be read as a stand-alone, but if you read Big Bad Cowboy (book 1), then you meet all of the characters and have a basic understanding of the town and the dynamics of the series…plus…it is very enjoyable! This series is wonderful! Author Carly Bloom’s writing technique and style is fantastic and smooth flowing. She wraps everything up nicely in the end, and you fall in love with the characters! 5 ropin’ stars!
Oh my heart! This cowboy romance will give you all the feels! I love the way Author Carly Bloom wrote this second book in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series! Cowboy come Home is a heartwarming book that features family, love, heartbreak, curses, and second chances.
When the flood of the century hits Big Verde, Texas, it is just the beginning of what flows through town and Ford Jarvis’ life. Claire Kowalski knows her one time Prince Charming is in town for just a few weeks, but she is determined to not make the mistake of falling for him again…even if her father, Gerome Kowalski, has requested him to be there at the Rancho Canada Verde ranch. His health and life is uncertain, and he believes Ford is capable of providing the help he needs to get through these tough moments.
“What Claire had learned from the flood and her dad’s cancer – and all that had happened since – was that life was unpredictable. It didn’t follow some kind of storybook outline. You didn’t know what chapter you were in, and nobody was guaranteed a happily-ever-after at the end.”
This can be read as a stand-alone, but if you read Big Bad Cowboy (book 1), then you meet all of the characters and have a basic understanding of the town and the dynamics of the series…plus…it is very enjoyable! This series is wonderful! Author Carly Bloom’s writing technique and style is fantastic and smooth flowing. She wraps everything up nicely in the end, and you fall in love with the characters! 5 ropin’ stars!
July 19, 2020
Claire loves the sexiest cowbow ever, but he's cursed!!
Several years ago Claire fell in love with Ford when he was working on her father's ranch in Texas, but Ford is cursed and rather than hurt Claire long term he took off before either of them could get too attached.
Now though, Gerome, Claire's Daddy, needs something important from Ford and Ford promises to help Claire and not run off again. Can Claire trust Ford this time, or is she going to need more than a Nerf Gun this time??
I LOVE Carly Bloom's writing, she writes some of the best, snarkiest, smartest, wittiest, and warmest women that have been known to hold a book club while convincing another (not so smart) woman to orchestrate a gala and raffle to save a library, all while simultaneously letting the local church lady why feminism is necessary to save their daughters!
Claire and Ford, his brother Worth, and her friends, Maggie mad Alice, make this Sweet, Contemporary Western Romance, nice and steamy, a definite 4☆ for me!!
Several years ago Claire fell in love with Ford when he was working on her father's ranch in Texas, but Ford is cursed and rather than hurt Claire long term he took off before either of them could get too attached.
Now though, Gerome, Claire's Daddy, needs something important from Ford and Ford promises to help Claire and not run off again. Can Claire trust Ford this time, or is she going to need more than a Nerf Gun this time??
I LOVE Carly Bloom's writing, she writes some of the best, snarkiest, smartest, wittiest, and warmest women that have been known to hold a book club while convincing another (not so smart) woman to orchestrate a gala and raffle to save a library, all while simultaneously letting the local church lady why feminism is necessary to save their daughters!
Claire and Ford, his brother Worth, and her friends, Maggie mad Alice, make this Sweet, Contemporary Western Romance, nice and steamy, a definite 4☆ for me!!
June 5, 2021
Told from two perspectives, we have a ranch in trouble, a broken heart, a ton of cattle, plenty of superstitions and a cowboy back on the scene and believing himself cursed when it comes to matters of love. And if that’s not enough to get you intrigued, we can add in friends and family, a tough yet sweet heroine with guts and determination to burn and chemistry that steams up the pages.
Claire is twenty-nine, an only child, and the sole heir to the family ranch. But the ranch is in trouble and while Claire holds the ranch dear, she’s not quite experienced enough to be the boss in charge, and her father is aging. Enter (or re-enter) Ford. The cowboy who broke her heart years ago, brought in by her father because he’s the man for the job. And, hopefully this time he’ll stick around for more than a bit.
Ford loves Claire to death, but he’s convinced that he’s no good for her – in fact, he’s not cut out for love and romance of any kind. That’s why he left her years ago and took work, hopping from job to job and place to place, never allowing himself to get too involved. But, he never forgot Claire, and never let go of his belief that he’s cursed.
When you add in the ‘second chance’ elements here – pulled by their chemistry, and the perspectives of both of the characters, with Claire’s near frenetic determination to save her family’s ranch – the two must work together. But she’s constantly denying the pull, he’s determined to avoid her whenever possible, and when the two do meet – the sparks, and the dialogue is witty, sharp and pointed. Slowly but surely, they start to trust one another on a personal level, and the flames burn hot and fast. But with Ford struggling with his own issues while seeing the supportive friendships, camaraderie and love from friends and Claire’s family – it makes him want. Not just Claire, but the whole picture. If he can only trust in himself, even half as much as Claire seems to trust him – things would be better than good – they'd be explosive and for keeps.
A lovely story full of superstitions surrounding ranching and cattle, the business, friendship, family, examining loyalties and taking chances – as a couple that was meant to be shows passion, commitment and plenty of hope as they move forward.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Claire is twenty-nine, an only child, and the sole heir to the family ranch. But the ranch is in trouble and while Claire holds the ranch dear, she’s not quite experienced enough to be the boss in charge, and her father is aging. Enter (or re-enter) Ford. The cowboy who broke her heart years ago, brought in by her father because he’s the man for the job. And, hopefully this time he’ll stick around for more than a bit.
Ford loves Claire to death, but he’s convinced that he’s no good for her – in fact, he’s not cut out for love and romance of any kind. That’s why he left her years ago and took work, hopping from job to job and place to place, never allowing himself to get too involved. But, he never forgot Claire, and never let go of his belief that he’s cursed.
When you add in the ‘second chance’ elements here – pulled by their chemistry, and the perspectives of both of the characters, with Claire’s near frenetic determination to save her family’s ranch – the two must work together. But she’s constantly denying the pull, he’s determined to avoid her whenever possible, and when the two do meet – the sparks, and the dialogue is witty, sharp and pointed. Slowly but surely, they start to trust one another on a personal level, and the flames burn hot and fast. But with Ford struggling with his own issues while seeing the supportive friendships, camaraderie and love from friends and Claire’s family – it makes him want. Not just Claire, but the whole picture. If he can only trust in himself, even half as much as Claire seems to trust him – things would be better than good – they'd be explosive and for keeps.
A lovely story full of superstitions surrounding ranching and cattle, the business, friendship, family, examining loyalties and taking chances – as a couple that was meant to be shows passion, commitment and plenty of hope as they move forward.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
March 27, 2020
Thanks to Forever for the free copy for honest review!
After reading Big Bad Cowboy last month, I was eagerly anticipating Cowboy Come Home. Add in that romance is basically all I want to read right now (don't we all want happy endings at this time?), and I was extremely happy to pick this one up last week. I love the tiny fairy tale nods Carly Bloom is weaving into this series, and coming back to Big Verde was a great escape. Claire Kowalski gets her own story in this one, and her one-time flame Ford Jarvis is back in town helping her father with their ranch, and still just as attractive as he was before. This book also still has the Fictional Book Club I'd Most Like to Join, and Claire's dad, Gerome, who was one of my favorite side characters in Big Bad Cowboy, gets to have an even bigger role in this one. This was spicy, it was sassy, and I'm already craving the next one! I'm newer to Carly Bloom but I'm definitely a fan. Releasing 3/31.
After reading Big Bad Cowboy last month, I was eagerly anticipating Cowboy Come Home. Add in that romance is basically all I want to read right now (don't we all want happy endings at this time?), and I was extremely happy to pick this one up last week. I love the tiny fairy tale nods Carly Bloom is weaving into this series, and coming back to Big Verde was a great escape. Claire Kowalski gets her own story in this one, and her one-time flame Ford Jarvis is back in town helping her father with their ranch, and still just as attractive as he was before. This book also still has the Fictional Book Club I'd Most Like to Join, and Claire's dad, Gerome, who was one of my favorite side characters in Big Bad Cowboy, gets to have an even bigger role in this one. This was spicy, it was sassy, and I'm already craving the next one! I'm newer to Carly Bloom but I'm definitely a fan. Releasing 3/31.
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