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Copper Ridge #1
Part Time Cowboy
New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates welcomes you to Copper Ridge, where a onetime bad girl comes home to small-town Oregon and reconnects with a cowboy from her past...
Sadie Miller isn’t expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straitlaced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her as if she’s the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a bed-and-breakfast. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…
Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she’s so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?
Previously published.
Sadie Miller isn’t expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straitlaced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her as if she’s the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a bed-and-breakfast. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…
Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she’s so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?
Previously published.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
298 people are currently reading
2966 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,169 books2,990 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
March 31, 2015
3/31/15: Now Available!
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
4 Stars!
I really had a lot of fun reading this book. I had hoped to find a nice little romance when I picked up this book and I ended up getting so much more. This book was full of complex and compelling characters that I really liked a lot. This book was actually good enough that I found myself reading part of it while waiting for a show to start at Disney World and while I realize that I may not win any mother of the year awards for that move, I just had to know what happened next in the little town of Copper Ridge.
I loved the characters in this story. Sadie has a lot of spunk and she is tough. She has been through a lot in her life and has learned to cope of moving and starting over anytime things get difficult. When she decides she wants to quit running, she makes plans to move back to the last place that felt like home, Copper Ridge. She signs a 5 year lease to run a Bread and Breakfast on the same land owned by the Garrett Family.
Eli has also been through a lot during his life but has handled the stress in a very different manner than Sadie. Eli likes order and he is the one his family counts on to take care of things. He is also the same man that arrested Sadie the last time she was in town. He is not happy about the idea of Sadie running a Bread and Breakfast on the same land he calls home.
I loved the chemistry between Eli and Sadie. It was simply incredible. I liked the fact that both Eli and Sadie approached relationships in an unusual manner and both tried really hard to keep their feelings from getting involved. The pair were honest with each other throughout the story and their banter has me laughing a few times. I really liked the pair as a couple.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was actually the first book by Maisey Yates that I have had a chance to read but I definitely plan to read more in the future. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the wonderful new series.
I received a copy of this book from Harlequin via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
4 Stars!
I really had a lot of fun reading this book. I had hoped to find a nice little romance when I picked up this book and I ended up getting so much more. This book was full of complex and compelling characters that I really liked a lot. This book was actually good enough that I found myself reading part of it while waiting for a show to start at Disney World and while I realize that I may not win any mother of the year awards for that move, I just had to know what happened next in the little town of Copper Ridge.
I loved the characters in this story. Sadie has a lot of spunk and she is tough. She has been through a lot in her life and has learned to cope of moving and starting over anytime things get difficult. When she decides she wants to quit running, she makes plans to move back to the last place that felt like home, Copper Ridge. She signs a 5 year lease to run a Bread and Breakfast on the same land owned by the Garrett Family.
Eli has also been through a lot during his life but has handled the stress in a very different manner than Sadie. Eli likes order and he is the one his family counts on to take care of things. He is also the same man that arrested Sadie the last time she was in town. He is not happy about the idea of Sadie running a Bread and Breakfast on the same land he calls home.
I loved the chemistry between Eli and Sadie. It was simply incredible. I liked the fact that both Eli and Sadie approached relationships in an unusual manner and both tried really hard to keep their feelings from getting involved. The pair were honest with each other throughout the story and their banter has me laughing a few times. I really liked the pair as a couple.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was actually the first book by Maisey Yates that I have had a chance to read but I definitely plan to read more in the future. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the wonderful new series.
I received a copy of this book from Harlequin via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
March 18, 2015
4 Maybe you Can Go Home Again Stars * * * *
We all do stuff growing up...that is how we learn...for good or bad. Sometimes the lessons are not what they should be...but we experience them anyway. We start to realize maybe we need to stop doing knee jerk reactions and living up to how we have been classified from those past lessons...see who we really are for ourselves. That, I think, is the challenge and part of everyone's life at one time of the other.
In this engaging tale, we have the perfect two...one who was deemed wild, carefree and trouble... and the other who decided to have her young actions looked upon negatively by arresting her. Both have history now set in stone...and not complimentary.
Sadie Miller has decided to stop the running in her head and life. It has been quite some time; she has finally decided she will return to the "scene of the Crime" and come home. There is a purpose, though....she aims to establish a B and B. Make it fresh, not dowdy... and plant her roots for good. This was her home... and it will be again.
Eli Garrett has never left Cooper Mountain for good...He had to take up responsibilities way before his time making him into a very practical, purposeful, focused man. He runs his ranch and also has continued to be the lawman. He is set to handle a campaign, has no time for anything to get in his way and feelings or complications be damn.
We have the perfect confrontation for these two...Sadie's B and B is on Eli's land. Delicious. We are flies on the wall to both humor, banter, frustration, compassion, hurt and then a coming together. Both of these two have to take the time to work it all out... to breakdown the patterns and assumptions of who they think the other person is... and let their true selves come through. This gives the reader a slow burn and lots of escalating steam. Again, Delicious.
In this story we have a woman who is a strong character and easily liked. She stands tall, no matter what. Eli... is a little more distant but when he finally figures out what is important and what he needs to feel... it all comes together.
This is the first installment and the upcoming books look to be winners if the same heart and care are there...I have no doubt they will be.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
We all do stuff growing up...that is how we learn...for good or bad. Sometimes the lessons are not what they should be...but we experience them anyway. We start to realize maybe we need to stop doing knee jerk reactions and living up to how we have been classified from those past lessons...see who we really are for ourselves. That, I think, is the challenge and part of everyone's life at one time of the other.
In this engaging tale, we have the perfect two...one who was deemed wild, carefree and trouble... and the other who decided to have her young actions looked upon negatively by arresting her. Both have history now set in stone...and not complimentary.
Sadie Miller has decided to stop the running in her head and life. It has been quite some time; she has finally decided she will return to the "scene of the Crime" and come home. There is a purpose, though....she aims to establish a B and B. Make it fresh, not dowdy... and plant her roots for good. This was her home... and it will be again.
Eli Garrett has never left Cooper Mountain for good...He had to take up responsibilities way before his time making him into a very practical, purposeful, focused man. He runs his ranch and also has continued to be the lawman. He is set to handle a campaign, has no time for anything to get in his way and feelings or complications be damn.
We have the perfect confrontation for these two...Sadie's B and B is on Eli's land. Delicious. We are flies on the wall to both humor, banter, frustration, compassion, hurt and then a coming together. Both of these two have to take the time to work it all out... to breakdown the patterns and assumptions of who they think the other person is... and let their true selves come through. This gives the reader a slow burn and lots of escalating steam. Again, Delicious.
In this story we have a woman who is a strong character and easily liked. She stands tall, no matter what. Eli... is a little more distant but when he finally figures out what is important and what he needs to feel... it all comes together.
This is the first installment and the upcoming books look to be winners if the same heart and care are there...I have no doubt they will be.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
March 18, 2015
To say this book took me by surprise is an understatement. I thought from the blurb it would be a cute read, but I had no idea it would turn out to be one of the best books I've read this year. It had everything that makes a book great for me. Sadie and Eli's story was the perfect mix of sweet, sexy, undeniable chemistry and laugh-out-loud moments.
When things get tough, Sadie runs. And that's just what she did ten years ago, after being arrested. She fled the small town of Copper Ridge and never looked back. Since then, she's bounced around from place to place, never really feeling settled.
She finds herself back in Copper Ridge after ten years, looking to put down roots in the only place she really ever called home for an extended period of time. She's signed a 5 year lease to run a bed and breakfast on the Garrett's property, which is a huge commitment for her.
The only problem, the younger Garrett brother, Eli has no idea about the deal his older brother worked out with Sadie. So imagine his surprise when she shows up in town. She was his first . . . arrest.
5/5 Fangs
Mrs Leif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
When things get tough, Sadie runs. And that's just what she did ten years ago, after being arrested. She fled the small town of Copper Ridge and never looked back. Since then, she's bounced around from place to place, never really feeling settled.
She finds herself back in Copper Ridge after ten years, looking to put down roots in the only place she really ever called home for an extended period of time. She's signed a 5 year lease to run a bed and breakfast on the Garrett's property, which is a huge commitment for her.
The only problem, the younger Garrett brother, Eli has no idea about the deal his older brother worked out with Sadie. So imagine his surprise when she shows up in town. She was his first . . . arrest.
"You never forget the first woman you put in handcuffs."Eli is the Deputy Sheriff of Copper Ridge and he's in the midst of planning his campaign for Sheriff. He is the epitome of control. He likes everything to be in order and it makes him come off as uptight and stiff. The complete opposite of Sadie.
"Are we flirting?"Let me tell you, these two together were hilarious! Their "arguments" were laced with innuendos and their banter was perfect. They were so good at pushing each other's buttons and building up the sexual tension. It was a lot of fun to watch. I haven't laughed that hard reading a book in a long time.
"So how did you sleep?" he asked. "Real answer this time."But, it wasn't all laughter. These characters really had depth and such tender and unexpected moments between them. What started off as just sex, morphed into so much more for both of them. Eli was such a bad-ass and even though he isn't a cat person, he totally melted my heart when he offered to give Toby his own room.
"Like a baby."
"So you woke up every few hours crying?"
"Meh," she said, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Or maybe just . . . wet and aching and wishing it was my hand between your legs instead of your own."
"I'm sorry, are you ordering me around? Do you honestly think I'm going to obey like a lapdog? I, sir, am a cat person, and I'll probably just bite your hand."I really liked all of the secondary characters in this book too. I'm super excited that Connor and Kate will be getting their own books, but I hope Lydia's gets a book too. Her friendship towards Sadie was so unexpected and it makes me think she would be a kick-ass heroine. I also want to know what happens with Alison. There was no real closure for her story line. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
5/5 Fangs
Mrs Leif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
March 25, 2015
I LOVED this book. To me, it was the perfect contemporary. Really uptight, grumpy hero and a heroine finding her way in life, with lots of passion and energy. Really great chemistry and sexual tension.
I giggled a lot too.
Review coming.
I giggled a lot too.
Review coming.
July 15, 2021
Part-Time Cowboy was not my favorite book. In fact, I was having a difficult time finishing it. Initially, I thought this was due to problems with the book. Then, I thought it was more a me-problem. After finally finishing this book, I realized it was both.
Book Problems
1. This book is cowboy-lite. Eli wrangled a cow, fixed a fence and wore a cowboy hat to a bbq. That’s the entirety of his cowboy-ing ways in this book. So instead of Part-time Cowboy, it should have been called PRN Cowboy. Either way, I wanted way more cowboy times.
2. There were a lot of witty lines in this book….. TOOOOOO MANY if you ask me. The banter was laid on SO thick that it was both distracting and annoying. Practically every other line Sadie had was something ‘funny’ or ‘witty’ and it got old real quick. Sadie’s character wasn’t the only guilty party. Sarcasm and wit ran wild in this book. Usually, I enjoy clever banter but when it’s constant, it just became redundant and made the story drag.
3. I felt like there wasn’t enough plot to make the relationship progress between Sadie and Eli. I got that they hated each other, then lusted after each other and then loved each other but I didn’t really buy into any of it.
4. I found Sadie incredibly annoying.
Me-Problems
1. I don’t really think I’m a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories. Or at least, this one. When both parties claim to actively dislike the other so much, I couldn’t really understand why they lusted so hard for each other, much less developed real feelings.
2. I am not a fan of stories where a couple agrees to a strictly physical relationship because it is just so damn predictable. It goes well at first, then *surprise* (but not really) they both catch feelings, then *surprise again* (but not really) the relationship blows up but then one (or both) of them realize they can’t live without the other and then TA-DA.... HEA.
ME, that’s who, and every other reader out there because that storyline is SO overdone.
So, overall, 2 stars. I take some of the blame as to why I am not rating this book higher, because the tropes in it didn’t work for me, but I’m not taking all the blame because some of it was just the book’s fault.
Book Problems
1. This book is cowboy-lite. Eli wrangled a cow, fixed a fence and wore a cowboy hat to a bbq. That’s the entirety of his cowboy-ing ways in this book. So instead of Part-time Cowboy, it should have been called PRN Cowboy. Either way, I wanted way more cowboy times.
2. There were a lot of witty lines in this book….. TOOOOOO MANY if you ask me. The banter was laid on SO thick that it was both distracting and annoying. Practically every other line Sadie had was something ‘funny’ or ‘witty’ and it got old real quick. Sadie’s character wasn’t the only guilty party. Sarcasm and wit ran wild in this book. Usually, I enjoy clever banter but when it’s constant, it just became redundant and made the story drag.
3. I felt like there wasn’t enough plot to make the relationship progress between Sadie and Eli. I got that they hated each other, then lusted after each other and then loved each other but I didn’t really buy into any of it.
4. I found Sadie incredibly annoying.
Me-Problems
1. I don’t really think I’m a fan of enemies-to-lovers stories. Or at least, this one. When both parties claim to actively dislike the other so much, I couldn’t really understand why they lusted so hard for each other, much less developed real feelings.
2. I am not a fan of stories where a couple agrees to a strictly physical relationship because it is just so damn predictable. It goes well at first, then *surprise* (but not really) they both catch feelings, then *surprise again* (but not really) the relationship blows up but then one (or both) of them realize they can’t live without the other and then TA-DA.... HEA.
ME, that’s who, and every other reader out there because that storyline is SO overdone.
So, overall, 2 stars. I take some of the blame as to why I am not rating this book higher, because the tropes in it didn’t work for me, but I’m not taking all the blame because some of it was just the book’s fault.
April 9, 2015
This is not my typical read at all, but I loved it. I really liked the characters, their story, and the small town. I can't get over how much I liked this book.
Thanks to the girls from Twitter who told me about a frowny and grumpy hero.
You know who you are;)
And Yates, the feels man, the feels.
Full review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
The other day on twitter, a friend kept tweeting about the grumpy and frowny hero she was reading about. Frowny caught my ear. And a couple other of us. We joined in on a quick conversation that by the end, had all of us reading this book.
Frowny is the perfect word. Eli is frowny. And his heroine Sadie is the exact opposite of frowny. I’ve read Maisey Yates before, and I think one of the best things about her writing, is that each heroine is different. That might sound silly, but I’ve just read 3 of her books in a row, and not one of the heroines seemed similar. Each has a distinct and likeable personality. Each has a fun sense of humor, and each feels fresh.
Sadie was fun, and light and even a bit goofy at times. But she is exactly what our frowny hero Eli needs. Eli is running for county sheriff. But at the same time, he’s also trying to keep up with his brother and sister around the family ranch.
Meanwhile, Sadie breezes into his life and his orderly and boring world is upended without his approval. His brother Connor has leased out a house on their property so Sadie can turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. This is huge for Sadie who left town at 18 and has been running ever since. The idea of staying somewhere permanently, let alone her hometown which isn’t exactly full of warm fuzzies for her, is terrifying. But being home, she’s able to lay some demons to rest, and start looking forward, instead of letting her past run her life.
I was surprised by how much emotion this book held. I was thinking it would be a fun, light read, but this hit me right in the feels.
I really was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, since I’m not usually a fan of small-town cowboy romance, but this one was fantastic. Thank you Harlequin for auto-approving me so I could read Connor’s book Brokedown Cowboy as soon as I finished this one.
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin HQN
Thanks to the girls from Twitter who told me about a frowny and grumpy hero.
You know who you are;)
And Yates, the feels man, the feels.
Full review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
The other day on twitter, a friend kept tweeting about the grumpy and frowny hero she was reading about. Frowny caught my ear. And a couple other of us. We joined in on a quick conversation that by the end, had all of us reading this book.
Frowny is the perfect word. Eli is frowny. And his heroine Sadie is the exact opposite of frowny. I’ve read Maisey Yates before, and I think one of the best things about her writing, is that each heroine is different. That might sound silly, but I’ve just read 3 of her books in a row, and not one of the heroines seemed similar. Each has a distinct and likeable personality. Each has a fun sense of humor, and each feels fresh.
Sadie was fun, and light and even a bit goofy at times. But she is exactly what our frowny hero Eli needs. Eli is running for county sheriff. But at the same time, he’s also trying to keep up with his brother and sister around the family ranch.
Meanwhile, Sadie breezes into his life and his orderly and boring world is upended without his approval. His brother Connor has leased out a house on their property so Sadie can turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. This is huge for Sadie who left town at 18 and has been running ever since. The idea of staying somewhere permanently, let alone her hometown which isn’t exactly full of warm fuzzies for her, is terrifying. But being home, she’s able to lay some demons to rest, and start looking forward, instead of letting her past run her life.
I was surprised by how much emotion this book held. I was thinking it would be a fun, light read, but this hit me right in the feels.
I really was surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, since I’m not usually a fan of small-town cowboy romance, but this one was fantastic. Thank you Harlequin for auto-approving me so I could read Connor’s book Brokedown Cowboy as soon as I finished this one.
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin HQN
November 7, 2016
4.5 stars
After reading a particularly disappointing book or DNF'ing one, the next halfway decent book always feels a little like a revelation and sometimes gets a better rating than it would under normal circumstances. Well, that's what I thought was happening when I started reading Part Time Cowboy. Only when I was halfway through, I realised that I would have loved this book regardless.
Hello, Maisey Yates, you're a new to me author, but this will not be the last book of yours I'm going to read.
An enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract story, Part Time Cowboy describes the journey of Sadie Miller and Eli Garrett. It's low on angst, full of self-irony and lots of chemistry, that had me hooked from the beginning.
Sadie and Eli share a tiny bit of history. But Sadie was lucky to receive a good education, became a crisis councillor and moved through the country for the next ten years, never staying longer than necessary, always on the move. Well, until she's tired of constantly running away from anything that could hold her back, and decides to open a B&B in her hometown Copper Ridge. She leases a house that sits on Garrett land which inevitably leads to Sadie and Eli to cross paths...and bicker.
And by bickering, I mean bickering. Every conversation turns into a semi-argument, but not of the nasty sort; it's rather two very different concepts of living clashing. Where Eli, Deputy Sheriff and part time Cowboy, is all about living on the straight and narrow, taking on responsibility after responsibility, Sadie's choice of happy-go-lucky lifestyle rubs him the wrong way.
Sadie can be a little chaotic but she's also bit of a force of nature with her optimism. That she achieves this by compartmentalising her inner demons, is something that Eli will find out eventually. Until then, he's this strong, silent type who is irritated not only by Sadie herself but by his attraction to her as well.
And oh, how the sparks fly between these two; Sadie's snarky remarks filled with sexual innuendo that he doesn't get, the chemistry palpable. As I said, though, it's never nasty. They both feel the attraction, but actually don't want it at all because it is a distraction that neither of them needs. The writing is superb here. It could have easily become tiresome to watch two people constantly hacking away at each other, but Ms Yates pours the right amount of self-irony into her characters that perfectly conveys the growing feelings they develop. Every clash brings them closer.
Sadie can't help herself when it comes to the uptight Eli Garrett. Ever since his mother ran off when he was 13, he and his older brother, Connor, had to take over looking after the ranch, their father, who slowly slipped into alcoholism, and their 2-year-old sister, Kate. Now, almost twenty years later, he's running for Sheriff, still works on the ranch part time, looks after his sister and his brother who lost his beloved wife in a car accident three years ago. Especially his brother's situation worries him and their interactions are full of brotherly affection and a good dose of humour.
Eli is not a control freak per se, but he needs his life to be controlled and predictable to shoulder the responsibilities. This is where Eli shows similar behavioural patterns, just like Sadie does, by compartmentalising his feelings. That includes women as well, of course. He's no player, but oh my, his uprightness is so, so hot. I felt like:
And I do love me a stuck-up hero who's being brought to his knees, and Sadie is just what he needs. He grounds her; she gives him much needed lightness.
I really appreciated that Sadie and Eli were normal people, with normal needs and emotional baggage which doesn't result in unnecessary drama. They're both grown-ups, and yeah, sometimes unexpected feelings lead to overreactions, but I was with them all the way through. Their relationship felt natural and real.
I already mentioned how good the writing was. That also includes the secondary characters. Many first books in a series suffer from having too many secondary characters being set up which takes the focus away from the main characters. Not so in Part Time Cowboy. They're introduced and we are given short back stories, but they're integrated so nicely into Eli's and Sadie's story that they complemented the main characters, rather than distract from them.
And I'm already looking forward to Connor's story which, I suspect, will be a little angstier.
After reading a particularly disappointing book or DNF'ing one, the next halfway decent book always feels a little like a revelation and sometimes gets a better rating than it would under normal circumstances. Well, that's what I thought was happening when I started reading Part Time Cowboy. Only when I was halfway through, I realised that I would have loved this book regardless.
Hello, Maisey Yates, you're a new to me author, but this will not be the last book of yours I'm going to read.
An enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract story, Part Time Cowboy describes the journey of Sadie Miller and Eli Garrett. It's low on angst, full of self-irony and lots of chemistry, that had me hooked from the beginning.
Sadie and Eli share a tiny bit of history. But Sadie was lucky to receive a good education, became a crisis councillor and moved through the country for the next ten years, never staying longer than necessary, always on the move. Well, until she's tired of constantly running away from anything that could hold her back, and decides to open a B&B in her hometown Copper Ridge. She leases a house that sits on Garrett land which inevitably leads to Sadie and Eli to cross paths...and bicker.
And by bickering, I mean bickering. Every conversation turns into a semi-argument, but not of the nasty sort; it's rather two very different concepts of living clashing. Where Eli, Deputy Sheriff and part time Cowboy, is all about living on the straight and narrow, taking on responsibility after responsibility, Sadie's choice of happy-go-lucky lifestyle rubs him the wrong way.
Sadie can be a little chaotic but she's also bit of a force of nature with her optimism. That she achieves this by compartmentalising her inner demons, is something that Eli will find out eventually. Until then, he's this strong, silent type who is irritated not only by Sadie herself but by his attraction to her as well.
And oh, how the sparks fly between these two; Sadie's snarky remarks filled with sexual innuendo that he doesn't get, the chemistry palpable. As I said, though, it's never nasty. They both feel the attraction, but actually don't want it at all because it is a distraction that neither of them needs. The writing is superb here. It could have easily become tiresome to watch two people constantly hacking away at each other, but Ms Yates pours the right amount of self-irony into her characters that perfectly conveys the growing feelings they develop. Every clash brings them closer.
Sadie can't help herself when it comes to the uptight Eli Garrett. Ever since his mother ran off when he was 13, he and his older brother, Connor, had to take over looking after the ranch, their father, who slowly slipped into alcoholism, and their 2-year-old sister, Kate. Now, almost twenty years later, he's running for Sheriff, still works on the ranch part time, looks after his sister and his brother who lost his beloved wife in a car accident three years ago. Especially his brother's situation worries him and their interactions are full of brotherly affection and a good dose of humour.
Eli is not a control freak per se, but he needs his life to be controlled and predictable to shoulder the responsibilities. This is where Eli shows similar behavioural patterns, just like Sadie does, by compartmentalising his feelings. That includes women as well, of course. He's no player, but oh my, his uprightness is so, so hot. I felt like:
And I do love me a stuck-up hero who's being brought to his knees, and Sadie is just what he needs. He grounds her; she gives him much needed lightness.
I really appreciated that Sadie and Eli were normal people, with normal needs and emotional baggage which doesn't result in unnecessary drama. They're both grown-ups, and yeah, sometimes unexpected feelings lead to overreactions, but I was with them all the way through. Their relationship felt natural and real.
I already mentioned how good the writing was. That also includes the secondary characters. Many first books in a series suffer from having too many secondary characters being set up which takes the focus away from the main characters. Not so in Part Time Cowboy. They're introduced and we are given short back stories, but they're integrated so nicely into Eli's and Sadie's story that they complemented the main characters, rather than distract from them.
And I'm already looking forward to Connor's story which, I suspect, will be a little angstier.
March 16, 2015
~Arc provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for honest review~
3.5 stars
This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
First thing that drew my attention to this book was definitely the super-cute and romantic cover and the 2nd thing was my New Years's resolution to be more open-minded to books with cowboy heroes since everyone seems to love them and I just keep making excuses for not reading them, so this book seemed as the perfect answer. Ok, I cheated a bit, because the male hero isn't a cowboy in its true sense, but more of a modern version of a cowboy, but that counts too, right? ;)
I'm always a bit skeptic when starting a book from authors with whose work I'm not familiar with, but this time there was no need for worries, because the story got me hooked right from the very beginning. A huge part of that is because I felt an instant connection and girl crush on the main female character- Sadie. We meet her at the beginning of the story when she, after years of searching for herself and moving from city to city, is returning back to the place where it all started- her hometown Copper Ridge.
Sadie had a hard childhood and there are lot of bad memories connected to that place, but this time she is more than determined to stick around, start a business and make herself a home there. This time there's no more running. What's admirable about her is that she's been through a lot in her life- having left her home as a young teenager and from then on had to take care of herself and live on her own, but she never gave up fighting- got a scholarship, went to collage and became a therapist.
She is fun, witty, compassionate and she's not afraid to speak her mind. The girl cracked me up with her jokes, snarky remarks and sexual innuendos, especially when dealing with Eli and this was one of the rare stories where I actually liked the heroine more than the hero.
In comparison to her, Eli was one tough cookie to break, but Sadie never backed up from challenges. Just like her, he didn't have an easy life and had to grow up pretty young which affected a lot on the person he became- hard worker, ambitious, perfectionist, closed off to anyone except his siblings and afraid of commitment. A free spirit like Sadie is the last thing he needs, especially while he is running a campaign for the county sheriff, but no matter how hard he tries to fight his new-found feelings, he just can't stay away.
The story was fun, sweet, romantic and emotional with endearing characters. The romance was slow building and high on sexy banter and sexual tension. Plus, it was a hate-to-love type of a relationship, so expect a nice amount of make up sex.
The only "flaws" for me were some unnecessary drama and the "barley-there" conflict which developed and solved in 2-3 pages in the 2nd half of the story. I wish the author had done those parts a bit differently, but it didn't make the story less enjoyable.
All in all- if you're in mood for a fun, lighter on the drama, emotional and steamy romance with modern cowboys take a chance on this series.
3.5 stars
This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
First thing that drew my attention to this book was definitely the super-cute and romantic cover and the 2nd thing was my New Years's resolution to be more open-minded to books with cowboy heroes since everyone seems to love them and I just keep making excuses for not reading them, so this book seemed as the perfect answer. Ok, I cheated a bit, because the male hero isn't a cowboy in its true sense, but more of a modern version of a cowboy, but that counts too, right? ;)
I'm always a bit skeptic when starting a book from authors with whose work I'm not familiar with, but this time there was no need for worries, because the story got me hooked right from the very beginning. A huge part of that is because I felt an instant connection and girl crush on the main female character- Sadie. We meet her at the beginning of the story when she, after years of searching for herself and moving from city to city, is returning back to the place where it all started- her hometown Copper Ridge.
Sadie had a hard childhood and there are lot of bad memories connected to that place, but this time she is more than determined to stick around, start a business and make herself a home there. This time there's no more running. What's admirable about her is that she's been through a lot in her life- having left her home as a young teenager and from then on had to take care of herself and live on her own, but she never gave up fighting- got a scholarship, went to collage and became a therapist.
She is fun, witty, compassionate and she's not afraid to speak her mind. The girl cracked me up with her jokes, snarky remarks and sexual innuendos, especially when dealing with Eli and this was one of the rare stories where I actually liked the heroine more than the hero.
In comparison to her, Eli was one tough cookie to break, but Sadie never backed up from challenges. Just like her, he didn't have an easy life and had to grow up pretty young which affected a lot on the person he became- hard worker, ambitious, perfectionist, closed off to anyone except his siblings and afraid of commitment. A free spirit like Sadie is the last thing he needs, especially while he is running a campaign for the county sheriff, but no matter how hard he tries to fight his new-found feelings, he just can't stay away.
The story was fun, sweet, romantic and emotional with endearing characters. The romance was slow building and high on sexy banter and sexual tension. Plus, it was a hate-to-love type of a relationship, so expect a nice amount of make up sex.
The only "flaws" for me were some unnecessary drama and the "barley-there" conflict which developed and solved in 2-3 pages in the 2nd half of the story. I wish the author had done those parts a bit differently, but it didn't make the story less enjoyable.
All in all- if you're in mood for a fun, lighter on the drama, emotional and steamy romance with modern cowboys take a chance on this series.
February 19, 2016
There were a few elements about this book that shouldn't have worked for me, but Yates does one thing I liked very well and that made all the difference.
The main drawback is that I didn't really like Eli much. He's demanding, impatient, and sometimes a little mean. Which actually gives him more credit than he deserves because he's mostly pretty stock for a cowboy romance. Tough, stoic, protective of his family, he has all the standard attributes and not a ton of differentiation.
The other drawback was the "chemistry" thing. It amounts to instalust when it's all chemistry and "I can't help wanting" blah blah blah. This book has that in spades. Though again, it's the standard fare and felt more like Yates considered it a genre expectation than something she was really selling on her own.
So why four stars you ask? (or I ask on your behalf) Easy. What Yates does right she does really, really, abnormally well. Romance relies on the developing emotional connection of its characters and this is where Yates shines. I felt every nuance, every detail, every yearning, and every fear. And the elated helplessness as two people connect on a deeply fundamental level that enhances both their lives. And yes, this shouldn't have worked in an instalust with a character from central casting. Which just goes to show how very, very good Yates is. I had all the feels and in the best possible way.
Oh, and I really liked Sadie. Nothing stock or flat about her. I loved her from the start and she made a great entre into the setting and setup.
So yeah, I'll pick up the next in the series. I hope it's as good.
A note about Steamy: On my high side, and almost past my tolerance. There are five explicit sex scenes and every one is substantial. I think this is another place where the emotional connection eased me past something that might otherwise have left me wrecked. It helped, of course, that Yates used these scenes to enhance our understanding of their growing emotional connection. None of them are wasted, even if she could have easily done as well with fewer.
The main drawback is that I didn't really like Eli much. He's demanding, impatient, and sometimes a little mean. Which actually gives him more credit than he deserves because he's mostly pretty stock for a cowboy romance. Tough, stoic, protective of his family, he has all the standard attributes and not a ton of differentiation.
The other drawback was the "chemistry" thing. It amounts to instalust when it's all chemistry and "I can't help wanting" blah blah blah. This book has that in spades. Though again, it's the standard fare and felt more like Yates considered it a genre expectation than something she was really selling on her own.
So why four stars you ask? (or I ask on your behalf) Easy. What Yates does right she does really, really, abnormally well. Romance relies on the developing emotional connection of its characters and this is where Yates shines. I felt every nuance, every detail, every yearning, and every fear. And the elated helplessness as two people connect on a deeply fundamental level that enhances both their lives. And yes, this shouldn't have worked in an instalust with a character from central casting. Which just goes to show how very, very good Yates is. I had all the feels and in the best possible way.
Oh, and I really liked Sadie. Nothing stock or flat about her. I loved her from the start and she made a great entre into the setting and setup.
So yeah, I'll pick up the next in the series. I hope it's as good.
A note about Steamy: On my high side, and almost past my tolerance. There are five explicit sex scenes and every one is substantial. I think this is another place where the emotional connection eased me past something that might otherwise have left me wrecked. It helped, of course, that Yates used these scenes to enhance our understanding of their growing emotional connection. None of them are wasted, even if she could have easily done as well with fewer.
April 11, 2015
I admit when I first put this on my Kindle and opened it, I was a little bit apprehensive; I was worried about the 400+ pages length. I know, I know, it shouldn’t be a big problem, right? A good book is a good book. But I think for the past several years, I have become accustomed to shorter romance stories so that nowadays, whenever I see romance that is more than 400 pages, I am worried that it will be long-winded and tedious.
Well, the beginning did feel a little slow. Maybe because this is the first book in this new small-town romance series, so Ms. Yates takes her time introducing the major players and the set-up for the whole three books. However, once the heroine and hero start to connect a little bit more frequently, the intensity and chemistry between the two just made the rest of my reading feel like a breeze.
Eli and Sadie are total opposites in characteristics. Eli likes his life to be controlled and better planned. Eli’s mother walked out on the Garrett siblings, leaving their father drowned in alcohol, and his older brother, Connor, stepping up to take care of their ranch. So the responsibility of taking care of the household and his younger sister, Kate, fell into his shoulder. That is also why Eli entered the law enforcement field; being a deputy sheriff makes Eli feels like he has order in his hands. Not just for his home but for the whole town.
While Sadie? Well, Sadie is the opposite of order. For Eli, Sadie is a disarray. When she was 17 years old, Eli arrested Sadie for a drunk and disorderly conduct – a night that changed Sadie’s life. She left Copper Ridge soon after, and ever since, Sadie never settled down. She travels a lot, while practicing therapy for others, but one thing Sadie doesn’t do is put down roots. Until now… when a patient reminds her of what she has been missing. So Sadie returns to Copper Ridge, makes a 5-year commitment to build and B & B on Garrett’s land … and for Eli, starts to ruin his neat life.
Because of this, Eli and Sadie often clash – and I thought it was deliciously awesome!! Sadie sure could ruffle Eli’s feathers and she has fun doing so. I couldn’t help feeling giddy whenever Eli got frustrated with what Sadie was doing for building the B & B. Eli is such a grump!! *LOL* It doesn’t help that his younger sister, Kate, seems to like having an adult woman around. Their banter was fun and when they finally acknowledge the attraction, it was hot!!!
Ms. Yates also injected quite an emotional moment between the two of them, one that related to that fateful night a decade ago – what happened to Sadie after she was arrested by Eli. It got my heart tied up in knots. Definitely an added layer to the progress of Eli and Sadie’s relationship.
The ending felt a bit of a rushed for me though – I mean, Ms. Yates introduced a late conflict for Eli and Sadie, but it concluded rather quickly.
Seriously, this is definitely a new romance series for me to follow. I’m so happy that all three books will be released this year, meaning I don’t have to wait too long for all Garrett siblings to find their happily ever after. I wish it was May already, so I could read Connor’s story. I mean, he is a grieving widower, and it seems that his love interest will be his best friend. Oh yes, friend-to-lovers trope? I’m all in!
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
Well, the beginning did feel a little slow. Maybe because this is the first book in this new small-town romance series, so Ms. Yates takes her time introducing the major players and the set-up for the whole three books. However, once the heroine and hero start to connect a little bit more frequently, the intensity and chemistry between the two just made the rest of my reading feel like a breeze.
Eli and Sadie are total opposites in characteristics. Eli likes his life to be controlled and better planned. Eli’s mother walked out on the Garrett siblings, leaving their father drowned in alcohol, and his older brother, Connor, stepping up to take care of their ranch. So the responsibility of taking care of the household and his younger sister, Kate, fell into his shoulder. That is also why Eli entered the law enforcement field; being a deputy sheriff makes Eli feels like he has order in his hands. Not just for his home but for the whole town.
While Sadie? Well, Sadie is the opposite of order. For Eli, Sadie is a disarray. When she was 17 years old, Eli arrested Sadie for a drunk and disorderly conduct – a night that changed Sadie’s life. She left Copper Ridge soon after, and ever since, Sadie never settled down. She travels a lot, while practicing therapy for others, but one thing Sadie doesn’t do is put down roots. Until now… when a patient reminds her of what she has been missing. So Sadie returns to Copper Ridge, makes a 5-year commitment to build and B & B on Garrett’s land … and for Eli, starts to ruin his neat life.
Because of this, Eli and Sadie often clash – and I thought it was deliciously awesome!! Sadie sure could ruffle Eli’s feathers and she has fun doing so. I couldn’t help feeling giddy whenever Eli got frustrated with what Sadie was doing for building the B & B. Eli is such a grump!! *LOL* It doesn’t help that his younger sister, Kate, seems to like having an adult woman around. Their banter was fun and when they finally acknowledge the attraction, it was hot!!!
Ms. Yates also injected quite an emotional moment between the two of them, one that related to that fateful night a decade ago – what happened to Sadie after she was arrested by Eli. It got my heart tied up in knots. Definitely an added layer to the progress of Eli and Sadie’s relationship.
The ending felt a bit of a rushed for me though – I mean, Ms. Yates introduced a late conflict for Eli and Sadie, but it concluded rather quickly.
Seriously, this is definitely a new romance series for me to follow. I’m so happy that all three books will be released this year, meaning I don’t have to wait too long for all Garrett siblings to find their happily ever after. I wish it was May already, so I could read Connor’s story. I mean, he is a grieving widower, and it seems that his love interest will be his best friend. Oh yes, friend-to-lovers trope? I’m all in!
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
dnf
August 3, 2016I will always love Copper Ridge and this author's writing and dialogue, but...JFC, Eli, I just cannot.
Eli was supposed to be 'straight-laced' but he was too intense for such a mild moniker. He came off as downright abusive. And I'm saying that from a place of experience. I have lived with an Eli. I have lived with someone who is such a control freak that he was impossible to live with. Eli had all the markers of this real life guy. Eli was, while an extreme example, entirely realistic and it was *fucking scary.* Perhaps not scary in the book, but only because none of the characters reacted right to Eli's bullshittery. Because let me tell you what happens when you live with someone who gets *actual shouting, shaking angry* over the least bit of change in his environment: you live in fear. You tiptoe around because you never know what will set him off. You fold yourself inward, make your presence and your life as small and invisible as possible, because Sir Jackass will lose his fucking mind if you encroach on his space, but also you don't know what he's designated as 'his space.' It's emotional abuse, full stop, and it ruined one life and took a stab at ruining two more.
If Eli had been more like my Sir Jackass *before* he got kicked up to 11, this could have been a cute story. I mean, SJ was pretty lovable back when he merely got grumpy and his controlling nature wasn't 95% of his personality. So I'm sure someone who's particular about keeping his life in order can still make for a good leading hero. But it just doesn't work when it's so extreme, and this is a pervasive problem in a lot of romance books. In an attempt to make conflict and good angst, characters come on far too strong and far too extreme. And I loved Sadie in this, but when Eli went off on her I just wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and carry her far, far away from him. Sadie had enough going on, she didn't need to bear the brunt of Eli's ass-hattery as well.
Eli was supposed to be 'straight-laced' but he was too intense for such a mild moniker. He came off as downright abusive. And I'm saying that from a place of experience. I have lived with an Eli. I have lived with someone who is such a control freak that he was impossible to live with. Eli had all the markers of this real life guy. Eli was, while an extreme example, entirely realistic and it was *fucking scary.* Perhaps not scary in the book, but only because none of the characters reacted right to Eli's bullshittery. Because let me tell you what happens when you live with someone who gets *actual shouting, shaking angry* over the least bit of change in his environment: you live in fear. You tiptoe around because you never know what will set him off. You fold yourself inward, make your presence and your life as small and invisible as possible, because Sir Jackass will lose his fucking mind if you encroach on his space, but also you don't know what he's designated as 'his space.' It's emotional abuse, full stop, and it ruined one life and took a stab at ruining two more.
If Eli had been more like my Sir Jackass *before* he got kicked up to 11, this could have been a cute story. I mean, SJ was pretty lovable back when he merely got grumpy and his controlling nature wasn't 95% of his personality. So I'm sure someone who's particular about keeping his life in order can still make for a good leading hero. But it just doesn't work when it's so extreme, and this is a pervasive problem in a lot of romance books. In an attempt to make conflict and good angst, characters come on far too strong and far too extreme. And I loved Sadie in this, but when Eli went off on her I just wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and carry her far, far away from him. Sadie had enough going on, she didn't need to bear the brunt of Eli's ass-hattery as well.
March 30, 2015
PART-TIME COWBOY is my first book but author Maisey Yates. I was interested in trying her work because I just love small-town romances and was looking for something to read after Lucky Harbor. Yates has the small-town feel down pat with the one-time bad girl heroine returning to her childhood town of Copper Ridge. In the opening scene, she also has the clique “Everything is hopeless” scene where the heroine is driving in and she experiences car trouble. There’s some talking to herself, talking to her cat, which is all swell and cute. Then comes the quintessential grumpy cop hero who finds her and doesn’t offer much but some help.
Sadie and Eli actually know each other well, but since she left town ten years ago, things have been a little strained between them. For me I thought the problem lay in the writing style. I guess the author and I didn’t mesh well. In the first page, there’s a lot of “she did this, she did that” that I noticed immediately and as the story went on, there’s a lot of blabbering. Then I realized it’s because I didn’t get along with the heroine. Her mind was just all over the place and it began to grate on me.
Eli, on the other hand, is a little less intense. He seems more grounded and developed while Sadie is desperately trying to figure out her life. While I think it would’ve been a little more boring if the story was told from Eli’s POV, I just couldn’t find myself connecting with Sadie and her disjointed thoughts.
Yates does a good job with the small-town she has created. With a lot of friendly faces and some good humor, I’m sure this new series will be a hit for many. Unfortunately, I think I’ll pass on the next one.
*ARC provided by publisher
July 6, 2020
Nuestras reseñas del #RitaYates en A la cama con... un lbro
2'5 estrellitas.
Mira, Maisey, que yo he leído con mis mejores intenciones y que se ve que tienes en Copper Ridge una buena mina de historias, pero te las habrás dejado para otro libro.
2'5 estrellitas.
Mira, Maisey, que yo he leído con mis mejores intenciones y que se ve que tienes en Copper Ridge una buena mina de historias, pero te las habrás dejado para otro libro.
May 21, 2015
I know I'm in the minority here on Goodreads, but I really didn't like this book very much. I felt slightly better when I noted that my public library system shows it having 1.5 stars.
What I did like:
The cover is nice and MS Yates writing is solid. I appreciate the characters' back story of how they came from broken and abusive homes and how each has reacted differently to the pain of this. Eli has gone the control and organized route while Sadie has chosen to breeze through life and has avoided roots and connections. This sets these two up for being opposites and that really works.
The going home is a successful plot plan - which is why it is done so much...which means I have read much better versions.
What I didn't like:
Sadie is a therapist who got her education paid for by scholarships (or something) but she's seems more like someone who couldn't have survived two years at a junior college versus well educated. Although she was supposed to come off as spunky with a side of badass, for me she came off as selfish, thoughtless and a bit of an airhead. She leases a home on a working ranch and then sets off to plan events that encompasses the ranch without a care to the fact it's not her ranch. In fact I never could imagine how her Bed and Breakfast really fit into the ranch and it really seemed like a stretch.
The dialogue between the Sadie and Eli seemed really childish and I imagined two grade schoolers until the talk turned sexual and then it was like eww...ick. In fact since he "banged" her against the wall while she had a work crew building a deck outside I was turned off. It didn't show me their combustible attraction, but just skanky immaturity. I don't find any romance in two characters who repeatedly say how much they hate each other, but hey you have a hot bod so let's scratch each other's itch.
There was some redeeming discovery and understanding between the two, but by then I was just pushing to finish because I was avoiding house work.
What I did like:
The cover is nice and MS Yates writing is solid. I appreciate the characters' back story of how they came from broken and abusive homes and how each has reacted differently to the pain of this. Eli has gone the control and organized route while Sadie has chosen to breeze through life and has avoided roots and connections. This sets these two up for being opposites and that really works.
The going home is a successful plot plan - which is why it is done so much...which means I have read much better versions.
What I didn't like:
Sadie is a therapist who got her education paid for by scholarships (or something) but she's seems more like someone who couldn't have survived two years at a junior college versus well educated. Although she was supposed to come off as spunky with a side of badass, for me she came off as selfish, thoughtless and a bit of an airhead. She leases a home on a working ranch and then sets off to plan events that encompasses the ranch without a care to the fact it's not her ranch. In fact I never could imagine how her Bed and Breakfast really fit into the ranch and it really seemed like a stretch.
The dialogue between the Sadie and Eli seemed really childish and I imagined two grade schoolers until the talk turned sexual and then it was like eww...ick. In fact since he "banged" her against the wall while she had a work crew building a deck outside I was turned off. It didn't show me their combustible attraction, but just skanky immaturity. I don't find any romance in two characters who repeatedly say how much they hate each other, but hey you have a hot bod so let's scratch each other's itch.
There was some redeeming discovery and understanding between the two, but by then I was just pushing to finish because I was avoiding house work.
January 6, 2015
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
August 23, 2024
“i am throwing your cat out into the barn with the rest of the rat traps”
i just saw that i wrote this quote down so had to add it 😂
i just saw that i wrote this quote down so had to add it 😂
May 7, 2025
part time cowboy, full time douche😻
April 7, 2015
Originally reviewed at Red Hot Books http://redhotbooks.com/2015/03/review...
I super love Maisey Yates’ Silver Creek contemporary small town series. I was bummed to hear of its ending until the author mentioned on Twitter that she had a similar new series coming out with Harlequin. It’s a lot like the previous series and I was happy to delve back into the rural small town goodness. If you are a fan of the enemies to lovers stories, this is right up your alley!
Sadie Miller doesn’t have any good feelings about her hometown of Copper Ridge. When she left as a teen, she figured it was for good. For the last 10 years, Sadie has flitted from place to place, making friends but never really setting down roots. A yawning emptiness had her searching for the next adventure when an ad for a long term lease in a possible bed & breakfast in Copper Ridge caught her eye. Sadie thinks she may be able to figure out her current discontent by returning to the past. As soon as she crosses the town line, she gets pulled over by the one guy she hoped to never see again – the cop who arrested her just prior to leaving town the first time.
Eli Garrett likes everything in his world to be calm, neat and orderly. He is blindsided and angry when his brother, Connor, informs him that Sadie Miller is opening her B & B on the family ranch. Eli is planning to run for sheriff and doesn’t want a “troublemaker” like Sadie anywhere near his campaign, or his life. Unfortunately, since they all live on the ranch that isn’t possible. Staying away from her is impossible for a control freak like Eli and every time they get close to each other, tempers flare. In all that heat, sparks begin to fly and while Eli and Sadie can’t stand each other during the day, their frustrations get worked out between the sheets at night.
From their very first interactions, Eli and Sadie are explosive and so fun to read. Eli is rough, growly and so controlled. Sadie, as upbeat and hopeful, is the perfect contrast that pushes all of Eli’s buttons happily. Their banter is fast and fun as it ratchets up the tension between the two that inevitably has to break. When it breaks, it’s angry and HOT. After burning off the initial embers, the pair begins to settle into a relationship without either realizing it. The histories of their pasts slowly are uncovered as Sadie and Eli realize their preconceived notions of each other were completely wrong. Their walls fall down quite easily. It is lovely to read two people who desperately need what the other provides. Sadie has a climactic moment confronting her past and my heart just ached for her.
The author has a real talent for writing families. The Garrett siblings squabble, fight, support, chide and love each other. I can’t wait to read Katie’s book to see how she’ll be able to come out from under the shadows of her two overbearing brothers. However, Connor’s book is next. I’m sure he’ll be ripping my heart out as he finally moves past his wife’s death.
I heartily recommend this book for any romance reader who enjoys good enemies to lovers story with banter, angry sex and a heaping of angst.
Grade: A-
*ARC provided by Harlequin
I super love Maisey Yates’ Silver Creek contemporary small town series. I was bummed to hear of its ending until the author mentioned on Twitter that she had a similar new series coming out with Harlequin. It’s a lot like the previous series and I was happy to delve back into the rural small town goodness. If you are a fan of the enemies to lovers stories, this is right up your alley!
Sadie Miller doesn’t have any good feelings about her hometown of Copper Ridge. When she left as a teen, she figured it was for good. For the last 10 years, Sadie has flitted from place to place, making friends but never really setting down roots. A yawning emptiness had her searching for the next adventure when an ad for a long term lease in a possible bed & breakfast in Copper Ridge caught her eye. Sadie thinks she may be able to figure out her current discontent by returning to the past. As soon as she crosses the town line, she gets pulled over by the one guy she hoped to never see again – the cop who arrested her just prior to leaving town the first time.
Eli Garrett likes everything in his world to be calm, neat and orderly. He is blindsided and angry when his brother, Connor, informs him that Sadie Miller is opening her B & B on the family ranch. Eli is planning to run for sheriff and doesn’t want a “troublemaker” like Sadie anywhere near his campaign, or his life. Unfortunately, since they all live on the ranch that isn’t possible. Staying away from her is impossible for a control freak like Eli and every time they get close to each other, tempers flare. In all that heat, sparks begin to fly and while Eli and Sadie can’t stand each other during the day, their frustrations get worked out between the sheets at night.
From their very first interactions, Eli and Sadie are explosive and so fun to read. Eli is rough, growly and so controlled. Sadie, as upbeat and hopeful, is the perfect contrast that pushes all of Eli’s buttons happily. Their banter is fast and fun as it ratchets up the tension between the two that inevitably has to break. When it breaks, it’s angry and HOT. After burning off the initial embers, the pair begins to settle into a relationship without either realizing it. The histories of their pasts slowly are uncovered as Sadie and Eli realize their preconceived notions of each other were completely wrong. Their walls fall down quite easily. It is lovely to read two people who desperately need what the other provides. Sadie has a climactic moment confronting her past and my heart just ached for her.
The author has a real talent for writing families. The Garrett siblings squabble, fight, support, chide and love each other. I can’t wait to read Katie’s book to see how she’ll be able to come out from under the shadows of her two overbearing brothers. However, Connor’s book is next. I’m sure he’ll be ripping my heart out as he finally moves past his wife’s death.
I heartily recommend this book for any romance reader who enjoys good enemies to lovers story with banter, angry sex and a heaping of angst.
Grade: A-
*ARC provided by Harlequin
January 22, 2016
Loved it!! A story filled with humor and quick witty banter and with characters that grab your attention right from the start. Sadie and Eli both have issues from their past that have formed them into the people they are now but together they seem to make each other believe that their could be more than they are letting themselves believe. Definitely a book I recommend and I can't wait to read Conner's story!!
February 2, 2021
On a whim, I read the Copper Ridge prequel novella a few days ago and decided to move forward with the series. This first full-length story features Eli Garrett, full-time deputy and part-time cowboy, and Sadie Miller, who has recently moved back to town after a very lengthy absence. The two have sort of a negative history, as Eli arrested Sadie back when she was around 18 years old. When she comes back to town, Eli isn't very happy about it, because he is obsessed with organization, order, and good behavior and, well, Sadie does not represent those things to him.
It turns out that Sadie has signed a five-year lease for one of the houses on the Garrett's siblings' ranch, with plans to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast. Eli's brother Connor was the one who agreed to that arrangement, and it makes Eli angry mad that he was not consulted. I love, love, love it when romances feature building renovation, so I enjoyed reading through those parts. Garrett's need to control and organize means that he wants to know what Sadie is up to, and it's fun to watch Sadie's proximity throw Eli's world upside down.
This is a great enemies-to-lovers story with lots of tension leading up to a really nice romance. What I love most about is that there is as much depth (or maybe more?) given to the characters as intimate scenes (which are quite a few!). Both Eli and Sadie are commitment-phobic so watching them tear down each others' walls is really great. Even better, they have a community of friends and family there to lend support and advice.
I'm looking forward to moving through this series. I really like all of the characters that were introduced in this first installment. The next book features Connor Garrett, who lost his wife a few years ago and throws himself into his work at the ranch in order to avoid feeling things.
It turns out that Sadie has signed a five-year lease for one of the houses on the Garrett's siblings' ranch, with plans to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast. Eli's brother Connor was the one who agreed to that arrangement, and it makes Eli angry mad that he was not consulted. I love, love, love it when romances feature building renovation, so I enjoyed reading through those parts. Garrett's need to control and organize means that he wants to know what Sadie is up to, and it's fun to watch Sadie's proximity throw Eli's world upside down.
This is a great enemies-to-lovers story with lots of tension leading up to a really nice romance. What I love most about is that there is as much depth (or maybe more?) given to the characters as intimate scenes (which are quite a few!). Both Eli and Sadie are commitment-phobic so watching them tear down each others' walls is really great. Even better, they have a community of friends and family there to lend support and advice.
I'm looking forward to moving through this series. I really like all of the characters that were introduced in this first installment. The next book features Connor Garrett, who lost his wife a few years ago and throws himself into his work at the ranch in order to avoid feeling things.
April 29, 2016
4.5 star.
This book was pretty darn good. Not that I am surprised after all this is Maisey Yates book. This book was an emotional roller coaster with almost immediate fireworks when Sadie and Eli were reunited after ten years from their last encounter. Immediate tension between them that just set the tone for their relationship, which developed at a nice pace, though the beginning was a tad bit slow, but the nonetheless it was a nice steady burn with lots of tension, emotions, and sexy times. Lots and lots of sexy times. More than I expected but very much appreciated not only for their hotness but to show how Eli and Sadie were getting closer and closer on every single level to create this deep and loving relationship that they had. It was beautiful. Their passion was beyond scorching and was just so fun and entertaining to see it play out. Also their passion ran deep and combine that with their insane chemistry it was so wonder they were steaming up the pages. I loved every passionate scene between them. They were just so good. Thank you Maisey for putting them all in there and when I say all I mean all because they were written really well and each scene had its purpose and never felt gratuitous. They just fit into the story really well.
I adored both Eli and Sadie and enjoyed seeing their growth and journeys that they made both separately and together. They really changed and changed for the better so they could have a happy and healthy relationship in the end. And hence making them better people in the end. Plus they were really entertaining but more so together and had me chuckling a few times. It was them bouncing their own unique personalities off of each other that caused that entertaining bounce off. It was funny and was their version of flirting even though they denied that they were. The whole innuendos that were going on. Hilarious.
I loved how they bounced off each other and it made the book shine because of who Eli and Sadie were. They were unique and felt very real and not just two dimensional characters written on the page. No they were more than that. I loved that. My heart went out to both of them and felt the pain they had experienced over their live time and how they needed each other to heal. It was beautiful.
Plus their attraction felt very real and though it was there from the moment they met, they didn't just jump into a physical relationship right away. It was built over the coarse of the book, which was really good because it created lovely anticipation between them and for me. And it made it more realistic and something that wasn't contrived or forced. I hate that but none of that here, which was good. It made the romance more powerful and meaningful.
My only complaint with the story was it was a bit little slow in the beginning because of setting up this series where it introduced the Garretts and their history. I wanted to get into the Sadie and Eli meat of the story instead focus being taken away with the whole Connor thing, but the story rightened itself shortly thereafter then it was fine and worth it in the end.
Another great story by Maisey Yates. She knows how to create these tender, funny, passionate, sexy reads that take readers on an emotional roller coaster ride right along with the characters and in this case the story of Eli and Sadie. It did not disappoint. It was a wonderful ride that I throughly enjoyed. I was entertained. I laughed. I gasped at points. My heart hurt for Eli and Sadie. I felt joy with them. I felt their hot passion and everything in between. I adored this story. A great beginning for a great new series. Can't wait to read the rest the next one.
This book was pretty darn good. Not that I am surprised after all this is Maisey Yates book. This book was an emotional roller coaster with almost immediate fireworks when Sadie and Eli were reunited after ten years from their last encounter. Immediate tension between them that just set the tone for their relationship, which developed at a nice pace, though the beginning was a tad bit slow, but the nonetheless it was a nice steady burn with lots of tension, emotions, and sexy times. Lots and lots of sexy times. More than I expected but very much appreciated not only for their hotness but to show how Eli and Sadie were getting closer and closer on every single level to create this deep and loving relationship that they had. It was beautiful. Their passion was beyond scorching and was just so fun and entertaining to see it play out. Also their passion ran deep and combine that with their insane chemistry it was so wonder they were steaming up the pages. I loved every passionate scene between them. They were just so good. Thank you Maisey for putting them all in there and when I say all I mean all because they were written really well and each scene had its purpose and never felt gratuitous. They just fit into the story really well.
I adored both Eli and Sadie and enjoyed seeing their growth and journeys that they made both separately and together. They really changed and changed for the better so they could have a happy and healthy relationship in the end. And hence making them better people in the end. Plus they were really entertaining but more so together and had me chuckling a few times. It was them bouncing their own unique personalities off of each other that caused that entertaining bounce off. It was funny and was their version of flirting even though they denied that they were. The whole innuendos that were going on. Hilarious.
I loved how they bounced off each other and it made the book shine because of who Eli and Sadie were. They were unique and felt very real and not just two dimensional characters written on the page. No they were more than that. I loved that. My heart went out to both of them and felt the pain they had experienced over their live time and how they needed each other to heal. It was beautiful.
Plus their attraction felt very real and though it was there from the moment they met, they didn't just jump into a physical relationship right away. It was built over the coarse of the book, which was really good because it created lovely anticipation between them and for me. And it made it more realistic and something that wasn't contrived or forced. I hate that but none of that here, which was good. It made the romance more powerful and meaningful.
My only complaint with the story was it was a bit little slow in the beginning because of setting up this series where it introduced the Garretts and their history. I wanted to get into the Sadie and Eli meat of the story instead focus being taken away with the whole Connor thing, but the story rightened itself shortly thereafter then it was fine and worth it in the end.
Another great story by Maisey Yates. She knows how to create these tender, funny, passionate, sexy reads that take readers on an emotional roller coaster ride right along with the characters and in this case the story of Eli and Sadie. It did not disappoint. It was a wonderful ride that I throughly enjoyed. I was entertained. I laughed. I gasped at points. My heart hurt for Eli and Sadie. I felt joy with them. I felt their hot passion and everything in between. I adored this story. A great beginning for a great new series. Can't wait to read the rest the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2015
Part Time Cowboy is the first installment in Maisey Yates' delightful Copper Ridge series featuring the Garrett siblings. The first novel is a charming and scorching hot antagonist to lovers romance that pairs up straight-laced middle brother Eli with free spirited former bad girl Sadie Miller.
Sadie Miller gladly left the town of Copper Ridge behind ten years earlier, but running away quickly became her go to coping mechanism when life became a little too hard for her. Deciding it is finally time to put down some roots, she returns to Copper Ridge where she plans to establish a B&B. Her past immediately comes crashing back when the first person she runs into is Eli, the one person she would rather avoid. Keeping her distance from the sexy lawman is not as easy as Sadie hopes since her B&B is on the Garrett ranch and their paths frequently cross which leads to some extremely fractious interactions between them. Underlying their clashes is a simmering attraction that both are determined to ignore, but when that proves impossible, they eventually agree to a no strings fling. However, as Eli and Sadie soon discover, keeping their emotions out of their arrangement is easier said than done.
After leaving town, Sadie finally got her life on track after going to college and embarking on a career as a crisis counselor. She has had a few romances along the way, but nothing too serious and she has certainly never been in love. But, as she quickly discovers, Sadie never really left her dysfunctional past behind her and coming to Copper Ridge means facing those painful memories. She has worked very hard to keep her life as positive and upbeat as possible and Sadie uses humor, snark and sarcasm when things become a little too deep and complicated.
Due to his own dysfunctional past, Eli is über responsible and outside of his devotion to his siblings, he shies away from commitment. He is a hard worker and his full time job as a deputy and part time job helping out on the family ranch leaves him little downtime. Eli is very careful to maintain his squeaky clean image and he is always in control of every situation and his emotions.
That need for control is probably one of the main reasons that Sadie gets under his skin. His reaction to her is unpredictable and she definitely keeps him off balance. Their discussions are heated and full of sexual tension that they do their best to ignore. For about the first half of the novel, they clash with one another just about every time they are together but one very steamy kiss becomes a turning point for their relationship. Their first sexual encounter is explosive and exposes an aspect of Eli's personality that is completely unexpected but impossible for Sadie to resist. They agree to a friends with benefits arrangement but can Sadie and Eli keep their affair free from emotional entanglements?
Part Time Cowboy is a fun, sweet, poignant and emotional romance. Eli and Sadie are appealing protagonists, who despite their flaws, are sympathetic and likable. The storyline is engaging and while it is a little angsty, it is perfectly balanced by humor. The glimpses of Eli's siblings are quite intriguing and will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installments in the Copper Ridge series. A marvelous novel from Maisey Yates that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.
Sadie Miller gladly left the town of Copper Ridge behind ten years earlier, but running away quickly became her go to coping mechanism when life became a little too hard for her. Deciding it is finally time to put down some roots, she returns to Copper Ridge where she plans to establish a B&B. Her past immediately comes crashing back when the first person she runs into is Eli, the one person she would rather avoid. Keeping her distance from the sexy lawman is not as easy as Sadie hopes since her B&B is on the Garrett ranch and their paths frequently cross which leads to some extremely fractious interactions between them. Underlying their clashes is a simmering attraction that both are determined to ignore, but when that proves impossible, they eventually agree to a no strings fling. However, as Eli and Sadie soon discover, keeping their emotions out of their arrangement is easier said than done.
After leaving town, Sadie finally got her life on track after going to college and embarking on a career as a crisis counselor. She has had a few romances along the way, but nothing too serious and she has certainly never been in love. But, as she quickly discovers, Sadie never really left her dysfunctional past behind her and coming to Copper Ridge means facing those painful memories. She has worked very hard to keep her life as positive and upbeat as possible and Sadie uses humor, snark and sarcasm when things become a little too deep and complicated.
Due to his own dysfunctional past, Eli is über responsible and outside of his devotion to his siblings, he shies away from commitment. He is a hard worker and his full time job as a deputy and part time job helping out on the family ranch leaves him little downtime. Eli is very careful to maintain his squeaky clean image and he is always in control of every situation and his emotions.
That need for control is probably one of the main reasons that Sadie gets under his skin. His reaction to her is unpredictable and she definitely keeps him off balance. Their discussions are heated and full of sexual tension that they do their best to ignore. For about the first half of the novel, they clash with one another just about every time they are together but one very steamy kiss becomes a turning point for their relationship. Their first sexual encounter is explosive and exposes an aspect of Eli's personality that is completely unexpected but impossible for Sadie to resist. They agree to a friends with benefits arrangement but can Sadie and Eli keep their affair free from emotional entanglements?
Part Time Cowboy is a fun, sweet, poignant and emotional romance. Eli and Sadie are appealing protagonists, who despite their flaws, are sympathetic and likable. The storyline is engaging and while it is a little angsty, it is perfectly balanced by humor. The glimpses of Eli's siblings are quite intriguing and will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installments in the Copper Ridge series. A marvelous novel from Maisey Yates that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.
March 30, 2015
3.5
Well that was different!
Full review to come.Part Time Cowboy has a different flavor to it.
I usually read romance books wherein it's the heroine who has a bigger issue. In this case, I daresay that Eli has issues the size of a bulldozer.
You see, Sadie has always been a runner. She runs when things get to be too much for her or just when she thinks she wants to experience something new. I think she's got a strong character because it takes a lot of strength to just pick up and leave the life that you know presently. However, she knew there's something missing, so she goes back to where it all started. In all fairness to her, she has a very good reason to be the way she is. I don't begrudge her the running and the escaping. I think it's her way of coping. In this book, she faces her demons and meets a guy with a devilish smile. . . . and attitude... at first that is. ;)
Sooo now let me explain why I think Eli has the bigger issue here.
Eli is a fixer. He fixes things and doesn't like it when things are out of order. If you ask me, I think he's a little obsessive compulsive. I know, I know, it's a trait that's seen more in women. However, there's history here so you would really understand why he is the way he is. I'll admit, at first, I truly didn't like Eli's attitude towards Sadie. He has no excuse to be an ass to her, but there were times when he really was. As the story went by, I understood him. He actually kind of makes sense. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for him to snap out of it. And he did, oh boy he sooo did.
He pulled through. They pulled through in spite of their not so wonderful history.
What should you expect here? THE PUSH AND PULL. I swear, I've been reading a lot of books lately with characters who don't really argue... This book sure made me miss it! Haha! It's amazing how two people could go from fighting one second then kissing the next! :) Still gets to me everytime!
This book is all about their journey towards achieving the right balance between change and stability.
I think I could have given this a higher rating, if not for the high amount of internal monologues. Anyway, it still is a good read. I was entertained and I look forward to the next book! It sounds really interesting too!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Well that was different!
Full review to come.Part Time Cowboy has a different flavor to it.
I usually read romance books wherein it's the heroine who has a bigger issue. In this case, I daresay that Eli has issues the size of a bulldozer.
You see, Sadie has always been a runner. She runs when things get to be too much for her or just when she thinks she wants to experience something new. I think she's got a strong character because it takes a lot of strength to just pick up and leave the life that you know presently. However, she knew there's something missing, so she goes back to where it all started. In all fairness to her, she has a very good reason to be the way she is. I don't begrudge her the running and the escaping. I think it's her way of coping. In this book, she faces her demons and meets a guy with a devilish smile. . . . and attitude... at first that is. ;)
Sooo now let me explain why I think Eli has the bigger issue here.
Eli is a fixer. He fixes things and doesn't like it when things are out of order. If you ask me, I think he's a little obsessive compulsive. I know, I know, it's a trait that's seen more in women. However, there's history here so you would really understand why he is the way he is. I'll admit, at first, I truly didn't like Eli's attitude towards Sadie. He has no excuse to be an ass to her, but there were times when he really was. As the story went by, I understood him. He actually kind of makes sense. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for him to snap out of it. And he did, oh boy he sooo did.
He pulled through. They pulled through in spite of their not so wonderful history.
What should you expect here? THE PUSH AND PULL. I swear, I've been reading a lot of books lately with characters who don't really argue... This book sure made me miss it! Haha! It's amazing how two people could go from fighting one second then kissing the next! :) Still gets to me everytime!
This book is all about their journey towards achieving the right balance between change and stability.
I think I could have given this a higher rating, if not for the high amount of internal monologues. Anyway, it still is a good read. I was entertained and I look forward to the next book! It sounds really interesting too!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2015
4.4 Out os 5 stars.
I love Cowboys books and I stumbled upon these by luck (yey me!!!) and had to read it.
This book is supper funny! The interaction and dialogues between the main characters, Eli and Sadie, are hilarious and sweet at the same time. You can also see the evolution in both of them, which I enjoy immensely on a book.
Maisey Yates was a first for me and I have to say her writing is impeccable. I really liked it and felt entertained to a point I couldn't put the book down.
Loved it!
I love Cowboys books and I stumbled upon these by luck (yey me!!!) and had to read it.
This book is supper funny! The interaction and dialogues between the main characters, Eli and Sadie, are hilarious and sweet at the same time. You can also see the evolution in both of them, which I enjoy immensely on a book.
Maisey Yates was a first for me and I have to say her writing is impeccable. I really liked it and felt entertained to a point I couldn't put the book down.
Loved it!
March 16, 2015
Sadie and Eli
Really enjoyed this one. The banter between H/h is great. Full review to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
Really enjoyed this one. The banter between H/h is great. Full review to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
abandoned
March 10, 2018I was not liking Sadie at all. or Eli really. And they really did not seem to like each other. Just not motivated to push through.
March 30, 2019
I don’t love cowboys. I think they’re dirty and smelly and the hat is not cute. But Eli is only a part-time cowboy and a full-time law abiding man full of rules and order and is so cute and I love this book. Scratch that, Eli is ridiculously, adorably grumpy and the UST was over the top and I FLOVE this book. The ANGST gah!!! When they finally had sex it was such a relief I actually cried 😂😭 the relationship, the banter, it’s all so endearing and heartwarming.
March 1, 2015
I love this book so, so, so hard. It's pretty much a perfect mix of romance and humor, with moments of emotional depth that took me by surprise.
Sadie has lived most of her life thus far on the run. She had a very rough childhood and is an expert at not allowing people to get too close to her. When things get a little dicey with her relationships (romantic or otherwise), she takes off. Picks up, leaves, and starts again somewhere new. And the cycle repeats.
Eli is part time cowboy, full time deputy sheriff in Copper Ridge, OR. Once upon a time, as a green deputy, he arrested Sadie. (The charges didn't stick; she was a minor and it was an unintentional incident.) But when Sadie shows back up in Copper Ridge after many years away, Eli is shocked to see her again.
Sadie has come back home to renovate a property that happens to sit on Garrett land. Unbeknownst to Eli, Sadie has signed a contract with Eli's brother, Connor, to run a bed and breakfast on their land for the next five years. At first, Eli is nothing but hostile toward the idea--and toward Sadie in general. To be honest, for the first part of the book, I thought that Eli comes across as a huge jerk. But as he and Sadie spend more time together and get to know each other better, his true nature is revealed.
Eli and Sadie have crazy, insane chemistry. They spend a good part of the book fighting, until finally they give in and come to a mutual agreement. They'll give in to their instincts and have a "no strings attached" fling (even though they claim not to like each other at all). It will be temporary and mutually beneficial and no one will get their feelings hurt. Sounds straightforward, right.
Well, things get complicated pretty quickly.
Here's where the story becomes really intense, unexpectedly.
The more involved that Sadie and Eli get with each other in their physical relationship, the sooner they discover that they have more in common than they previously thought. They're quite different in their personality types, but the things that make them who they are as people are more similar than they ever realized. Pretty soon, it's clear to both of them that their relationship goes beyond the physical. They've fallen for each other, plain and simple.
This book reminded me a lot of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series. I loved the ensemble cast of family members and their friends. The Garrett family members are all a little messed up in their own ways, but down deep, they're really good people.
I've read a few books by Maisey Yates and greatly enjoyed them all. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series and highly recommend this one.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Sadie has lived most of her life thus far on the run. She had a very rough childhood and is an expert at not allowing people to get too close to her. When things get a little dicey with her relationships (romantic or otherwise), she takes off. Picks up, leaves, and starts again somewhere new. And the cycle repeats.
Eli is part time cowboy, full time deputy sheriff in Copper Ridge, OR. Once upon a time, as a green deputy, he arrested Sadie. (The charges didn't stick; she was a minor and it was an unintentional incident.) But when Sadie shows back up in Copper Ridge after many years away, Eli is shocked to see her again.
Sadie has come back home to renovate a property that happens to sit on Garrett land. Unbeknownst to Eli, Sadie has signed a contract with Eli's brother, Connor, to run a bed and breakfast on their land for the next five years. At first, Eli is nothing but hostile toward the idea--and toward Sadie in general. To be honest, for the first part of the book, I thought that Eli comes across as a huge jerk. But as he and Sadie spend more time together and get to know each other better, his true nature is revealed.
Eli and Sadie have crazy, insane chemistry. They spend a good part of the book fighting, until finally they give in and come to a mutual agreement. They'll give in to their instincts and have a "no strings attached" fling (even though they claim not to like each other at all). It will be temporary and mutually beneficial and no one will get their feelings hurt. Sounds straightforward, right.
Well, things get complicated pretty quickly.
Here's where the story becomes really intense, unexpectedly.
The more involved that Sadie and Eli get with each other in their physical relationship, the sooner they discover that they have more in common than they previously thought. They're quite different in their personality types, but the things that make them who they are as people are more similar than they ever realized. Pretty soon, it's clear to both of them that their relationship goes beyond the physical. They've fallen for each other, plain and simple.
This book reminded me a lot of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series. I loved the ensemble cast of family members and their friends. The Garrett family members are all a little messed up in their own ways, but down deep, they're really good people.
I've read a few books by Maisey Yates and greatly enjoyed them all. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series and highly recommend this one.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
March 27, 2015
Part Time Cowboy started out strong but it dragged so much for me that in the end it was just kinda meh.
I absolutely loved Sadie from the get-go. She was fun and spunky and had the best innuendos that I couldn't not love her. Eli on the other hand... At first I hated him, then I kinda tolerated him, then I kinda hated him again, but in the end he definitely grew on me. It was really once he put himself out there that I understood why he acted the way he did and had it not been for that I probably would have kept right on hating him.
But let's get to the story shall we?! Sadie left home when she was a teen and hasn't been back in ten years. She's a runner... She's moved all over the country, never letting anyone get too close, and then she packs up and moves on again when she feels that it's time. At first I was curious what could have possibly been so bad that she always felt the need to run and even after she explained it I didn't really get it... But once we got to the end and felt her reaction to the way Eli acted towards her, I totally got it.
Well after ten years of running, Sadie has decided to move back home to Copper Ridge to open up a B&B. Within the first few minutes of being back in town she runs into Eli Garrett, the cop that arrested her when she was a teen and is essentially the cause for her running all those years ago.
Eli is a man that lives for control and everything about Sadie has that control spinning away from him. His mom left when he was a kid, his dad was a drunk up until he died in a drunk driving accident, he's been taking care of his sister since she was just a baby, and his older brother lost his wife a few years ago so he's been taking care of him too... Basically Eli feels like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders... Which makes him act like a huge jerk to Sadie.
The whole first half of the book is filled with Eli and Sadie hating each other while secretly wanting to rip each others clothes off and while that works to an extent I felt like it just dragged on for way too long. I mean, they're old enough to know that when you want someone that bad there's no use fighting it and quite honestly they both just got on my nerves.
Of course once they gave in and started their no-strings relationship things picked up a bit. The sexy times were smoking and I loved to see Eli lose control. But we all know how no-strings relationships always end up turning into more. Luckily there weren't any huge misunderstandings or one of them admitting they wanted more and the other didn't but Eli did act like a huge jerk at one point and broke poor Sadie's heart. I loved that in the end, though, they both put their hearts on the line and decided to fight for their relationship.
Overall, this was an okay read... Like I said, it started off strong and ended great but I had a hard time really getting into it and never felt fully invested. At this point I'm still up in the air as to whether or not I'll read the next book in the series.
*ARC kindly provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Sadie from the get-go. She was fun and spunky and had the best innuendos that I couldn't not love her. Eli on the other hand... At first I hated him, then I kinda tolerated him, then I kinda hated him again, but in the end he definitely grew on me. It was really once he put himself out there that I understood why he acted the way he did and had it not been for that I probably would have kept right on hating him.
But let's get to the story shall we?! Sadie left home when she was a teen and hasn't been back in ten years. She's a runner... She's moved all over the country, never letting anyone get too close, and then she packs up and moves on again when she feels that it's time. At first I was curious what could have possibly been so bad that she always felt the need to run and even after she explained it I didn't really get it... But once we got to the end and felt her reaction to the way Eli acted towards her, I totally got it.
Well after ten years of running, Sadie has decided to move back home to Copper Ridge to open up a B&B. Within the first few minutes of being back in town she runs into Eli Garrett, the cop that arrested her when she was a teen and is essentially the cause for her running all those years ago.
Eli is a man that lives for control and everything about Sadie has that control spinning away from him. His mom left when he was a kid, his dad was a drunk up until he died in a drunk driving accident, he's been taking care of his sister since she was just a baby, and his older brother lost his wife a few years ago so he's been taking care of him too... Basically Eli feels like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders... Which makes him act like a huge jerk to Sadie.
The whole first half of the book is filled with Eli and Sadie hating each other while secretly wanting to rip each others clothes off and while that works to an extent I felt like it just dragged on for way too long. I mean, they're old enough to know that when you want someone that bad there's no use fighting it and quite honestly they both just got on my nerves.
Of course once they gave in and started their no-strings relationship things picked up a bit. The sexy times were smoking and I loved to see Eli lose control. But we all know how no-strings relationships always end up turning into more. Luckily there weren't any huge misunderstandings or one of them admitting they wanted more and the other didn't but Eli did act like a huge jerk at one point and broke poor Sadie's heart. I loved that in the end, though, they both put their hearts on the line and decided to fight for their relationship.
Overall, this was an okay read... Like I said, it started off strong and ended great but I had a hard time really getting into it and never felt fully invested. At this point I'm still up in the air as to whether or not I'll read the next book in the series.
*ARC kindly provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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