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Rustlers Creek #1
The Cowboy Says Yes
Welcome to Rustlers Creek, where you’ll meet the cowboys whose hearts are as big as the Montana sky and the women who can’t help but fall in love with them.
Hadley Wayne is known all over America as The Cowgirl Gourmet. A beloved star on The Cooking Network, the success of her show has turned her sleepy Montana ranching community into a Hollywood backlot and everyone knows all about her perfect life with her perfect rancher husband—but it’s not real.
Zack Wayne has never felt further apart from his wife, even while they play up an ideal marriage for the cameras. They’re living separate lives in separate bedrooms. The love he has for Hadley is still there, underneath mountains of resentment, but he doesn’t know if their marriage can last for much longer. He can’t keep up with the façade anymore, for the cameras or Hadley.
When their work forces them to take a break from the constant schedule of the set, they begin to rediscover who they are and why they fell in love all those years ago. If they can mend the hurts that brought them here, will they still want to say goodbye to their life together? Or will the cowboy discover he can only say yes to their future?
Hadley Wayne is known all over America as The Cowgirl Gourmet. A beloved star on The Cooking Network, the success of her show has turned her sleepy Montana ranching community into a Hollywood backlot and everyone knows all about her perfect life with her perfect rancher husband—but it’s not real.
Zack Wayne has never felt further apart from his wife, even while they play up an ideal marriage for the cameras. They’re living separate lives in separate bedrooms. The love he has for Hadley is still there, underneath mountains of resentment, but he doesn’t know if their marriage can last for much longer. He can’t keep up with the façade anymore, for the cameras or Hadley.
When their work forces them to take a break from the constant schedule of the set, they begin to rediscover who they are and why they fell in love all those years ago. If they can mend the hurts that brought them here, will they still want to say goodbye to their life together? Or will the cowboy discover he can only say yes to their future?
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2022
9 people are currently reading
2820 people want to read
About the author
Addison Fox
143 books373 followersAddison Fox can’t remember a time when words weren’t a part of her life. In addition to being an avid reader, she loves writing novels about strong-willed and exciting heroes and heroines – individuals who are meant for each other and who deserve their happy ever after. After she makes them work for it, of course!
First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky - but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.
Addison lives in New York. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor) and Twitter (@addisonfox).
The House of Steele series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense launches in July with THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT.
And two new stories in the Alaskan Nights series will be out - FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Penguin eNovella, July) and JUST IN TIME (Aug).
Addison lives in Dallas. She loves to get email from readers.
First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky - but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.
Addison lives in New York. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor) and Twitter (@addisonfox).
The House of Steele series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense launches in July with THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT.
And two new stories in the Alaskan Nights series will be out - FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Penguin eNovella, July) and JUST IN TIME (Aug).
Addison lives in Dallas. She loves to get email from readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 23, 2022
The Cowboy Says Yes by Addison Fox
1st book in the Rustlers Creek series. Contemporary romance.
Hadley’s cooking show has become very popular, but the onscreen pressure and filming on the ranch has put her relationship with her husband on a rocky path. They have been living separate lives and in separate bedrooms. Zack still loves Hadley and wants a real relationship again.
Family decisions and communication are so important. This story has a bit of angst and undisclosed wants and dreams. Second chance on their marriage? A secondary couple follows along a path with their own story and issues.
I enjoyed it by the end but the lack of communication is a troupe that is not a favorite. I liked the flow enough that I will read the next in the series.
3.5
1st book in the Rustlers Creek series. Contemporary romance.
Hadley’s cooking show has become very popular, but the onscreen pressure and filming on the ranch has put her relationship with her husband on a rocky path. They have been living separate lives and in separate bedrooms. Zack still loves Hadley and wants a real relationship again.
Family decisions and communication are so important. This story has a bit of angst and undisclosed wants and dreams. Second chance on their marriage? A secondary couple follows along a path with their own story and issues.
I enjoyed it by the end but the lack of communication is a troupe that is not a favorite. I liked the flow enough that I will read the next in the series.
3.5
May 16, 2022
I received this book as an ARC and while Cowboy romances aren't generally my thing I thought I would give it a try.
Turns out I couldn't find it in me to care about literally any character in this book. They all created these overly dramatic scenarios because they were unwilling to talk to one another.
I wish the main characters would just have gone to couples counseling so they could learn how to communicate effectively and the story would have been much more efficient.
This book felt like romance porn for women in loveless marriages who wish their husbands still appreciated their cooking and their bodies.
Turns out I couldn't find it in me to care about literally any character in this book. They all created these overly dramatic scenarios because they were unwilling to talk to one another.
I wish the main characters would just have gone to couples counseling so they could learn how to communicate effectively and the story would have been much more efficient.
This book felt like romance porn for women in loveless marriages who wish their husbands still appreciated their cooking and their bodies.
March 29, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
The Cowboys Says Yes is the first book in the Rustlers Creek series and I have had this on my kindle for quite a while. I always get nervous when trying out new authors but I was also curious about this one and it was definitely not what i expected. But I did find it to be an enjoyable read even if it was a bit different than I thought it would be here. It’s always a new experience to enter a story that throws you for a loop and I will be honest that I didn’t even glance at the blurb. This is definitely not me at all, but I was so intrigued to see what Addison Fox would deliver with this one. I do love a marriage reconciliation type of romance, and yes it wasn’t quite what I was expecting it to be honest. I was relieved that the level of angst was actually pretty low. And we have a unique setup with a primary romance and a side story romance. I really found the dynamics interesting.
Our primary pairing is with Zack and Hadley. They are a married couple and haven’t been close in a long while. They suffered a loss of a child and with the focus of the cooking show that is featured in their home, they have let their career focuses lead them away from each other. But both Zack and Hadley have had enough of distance and fighting, and desire to repair their marriage and what they once had. We don’t see much angst, and that is not the norm in these types of scenarios so I was fascinated to see how this author would handle this and it really threw me for a loop to see this heroine be a star of a cooking show. I haven’t read this type of setup in a western and it kept me on my toes. The author definitely had me interested all the way through to see how their relationship would play out and if they would find any common ground like what they once had. There is a conflict of sorts, but it doesn’t really happen until the end of the story. It does surprise you though because you won’t see it coming but it also adds more depth to their relationship and seeing the various facets that are built throughout the story was a unique mix. I did love seeing the depths of emotion and connection that Zack and Hadley have for each other though. I will be honest in that this story was super challenging to rate and much of that is that I have mixed feelings on this one and what it delivered. I was intrigued all the way through by the romance, but I wasn’t automatically pulled into the story. I wanted to be more into this story but it didn’t quite get there for me even though I found the story to be interesting for this reader.
Overall I found The Cowboy Says Yes to be a warm and open romance that delves into matters of the heart in a unique way. It’s a story of healing, reconciliation, recovery, and embracing a changed relationship that is founded in life.
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
The Cowboys Says Yes is the first book in the Rustlers Creek series and I have had this on my kindle for quite a while. I always get nervous when trying out new authors but I was also curious about this one and it was definitely not what i expected. But I did find it to be an enjoyable read even if it was a bit different than I thought it would be here. It’s always a new experience to enter a story that throws you for a loop and I will be honest that I didn’t even glance at the blurb. This is definitely not me at all, but I was so intrigued to see what Addison Fox would deliver with this one. I do love a marriage reconciliation type of romance, and yes it wasn’t quite what I was expecting it to be honest. I was relieved that the level of angst was actually pretty low. And we have a unique setup with a primary romance and a side story romance. I really found the dynamics interesting.
Our primary pairing is with Zack and Hadley. They are a married couple and haven’t been close in a long while. They suffered a loss of a child and with the focus of the cooking show that is featured in their home, they have let their career focuses lead them away from each other. But both Zack and Hadley have had enough of distance and fighting, and desire to repair their marriage and what they once had. We don’t see much angst, and that is not the norm in these types of scenarios so I was fascinated to see how this author would handle this and it really threw me for a loop to see this heroine be a star of a cooking show. I haven’t read this type of setup in a western and it kept me on my toes. The author definitely had me interested all the way through to see how their relationship would play out and if they would find any common ground like what they once had. There is a conflict of sorts, but it doesn’t really happen until the end of the story. It does surprise you though because you won’t see it coming but it also adds more depth to their relationship and seeing the various facets that are built throughout the story was a unique mix. I did love seeing the depths of emotion and connection that Zack and Hadley have for each other though. I will be honest in that this story was super challenging to rate and much of that is that I have mixed feelings on this one and what it delivered. I was intrigued all the way through by the romance, but I wasn’t automatically pulled into the story. I wanted to be more into this story but it didn’t quite get there for me even though I found the story to be interesting for this reader.
Overall I found The Cowboy Says Yes to be a warm and open romance that delves into matters of the heart in a unique way. It’s a story of healing, reconciliation, recovery, and embracing a changed relationship that is founded in life.
January 24, 2022
I received this ARC and throughout had mixed reviews. I think it was well written with a few redundant phrases. I liked the story but felt it was a little dragged out.
I loved that the story revolves around what real marriages and relationships can be and not just a fairytale romance. I started losing interest about 250 pages in and forced myself to finish and was a little disappointed the ending was not as well developed.
I loved that the story revolves around what real marriages and relationships can be and not just a fairytale romance. I started losing interest about 250 pages in and forced myself to finish and was a little disappointed the ending was not as well developed.
June 1, 2022
The Cowboy Says Yes was a delightful second chance romance between a cooking star and her cowboy husband.
To America Hadley Wayne is known as The Cowgirl Gourmet, a beloved cooking star on The Cooking Network. The success of her show has turned the Montana ranch she shares with her husband into a Hollywood studio for months at a time. The entire world is invested in her perfect life with her perfect cowboy husband, but the world doesn't see that she and her husband have been living in separate bedrooms for months. Zack Wayne still loves his wife, but sometimes he has trouble finding that feeling under all the resentment he feels for the way their life is now. Zack isn't sure how much longer he can do this and if he and Hadley don't sit down and talk about their issues, he isn't sure how much longer their marriage will last.
After suffering a late term miscarriage two years ago, Hadley needed something to distract her from the pain of losing her daughter. She threw herself into her work which eventually led to the creation of The Cowgirl Gourmet. I loved the choice to have the heroine be the star of a cooking show as the content in this show is exactly the type of thing I'd watch. While Hadley leaned into cooking, Zack threw himself into the ranch. With his father now too old to work the land, but not too old to complain about being pushed out, Zack has had to take on a lot of responsibility.
Second chance romances are some of my favorites when done well and I felt that was the case here. Hadley and Zack have been drifting apart for the last two years and neither of them knows how to fix it. Their lack of communication and intimacy has been slowly killing their marriage during that time. Through their work, they end up on work trips to the same place at the same time which forces them to confront the issues in their marriage. Even after they start to open up, there are still a lot of communication problems which I felt dragged on just a bit too long. Eventually a big secret Hadley has been keeping comes to light and it causes a lot of issues for them both personally and professionally. It takes a lot of hard work for the couple to work through this and in the end I was happy with the way they resolved everything.
Overall The Cowboy Says Yes was a fantastic read and I will definitely be continuing on with the series when Forget Me Not Cowboy releases later this year.
To America Hadley Wayne is known as The Cowgirl Gourmet, a beloved cooking star on The Cooking Network. The success of her show has turned the Montana ranch she shares with her husband into a Hollywood studio for months at a time. The entire world is invested in her perfect life with her perfect cowboy husband, but the world doesn't see that she and her husband have been living in separate bedrooms for months. Zack Wayne still loves his wife, but sometimes he has trouble finding that feeling under all the resentment he feels for the way their life is now. Zack isn't sure how much longer he can do this and if he and Hadley don't sit down and talk about their issues, he isn't sure how much longer their marriage will last.
After suffering a late term miscarriage two years ago, Hadley needed something to distract her from the pain of losing her daughter. She threw herself into her work which eventually led to the creation of The Cowgirl Gourmet. I loved the choice to have the heroine be the star of a cooking show as the content in this show is exactly the type of thing I'd watch. While Hadley leaned into cooking, Zack threw himself into the ranch. With his father now too old to work the land, but not too old to complain about being pushed out, Zack has had to take on a lot of responsibility.
Second chance romances are some of my favorites when done well and I felt that was the case here. Hadley and Zack have been drifting apart for the last two years and neither of them knows how to fix it. Their lack of communication and intimacy has been slowly killing their marriage during that time. Through their work, they end up on work trips to the same place at the same time which forces them to confront the issues in their marriage. Even after they start to open up, there are still a lot of communication problems which I felt dragged on just a bit too long. Eventually a big secret Hadley has been keeping comes to light and it causes a lot of issues for them both personally and professionally. It takes a lot of hard work for the couple to work through this and in the end I was happy with the way they resolved everything.
Overall The Cowboy Says Yes was a fantastic read and I will definitely be continuing on with the series when Forget Me Not Cowboy releases later this year.
Read
May 5, 2022I GIVE UP! I CRY UNCLE!
So I’ve been really digging cowboy romance, small town feels and that whole vibe lately. I saw Publisher’s Weekly had said this was a good read and the waiting list on Libby was months long.
My. God.
This book was some of the most repetitive, naval-gazing prose. Chapter upon chapter of two characters having inner dialogues that boil down to “what happened to our marriage?”
These mfers won’t talk. The whole thing could have been solved years before the story began but because the author stretches this out for nearly 400 pages, we’re treated to endless inner dialogues like this:
“I really love him but all we have is occasional sex.”
“I miss him. I wish we could just talk.”
“What happened to our love?”
“Where did we go wrong?”
Paraphrased, but that’s the gist.
At 60%, during a long detailed conversation with a grocery store rep who’s gonna sell their beef (just…go with it), I said fuck it and threw it to the people who were waiting in line behind me.
The book also occasionally alternates - perhaps because the main storyline is so dull - to two other couples. Only one of their stories is vaguely interesting.
Meh.
I actually love slow, character driven stories that meander through lives and show us the characters as they evolve. But this was just a snooze.
So I’ve been really digging cowboy romance, small town feels and that whole vibe lately. I saw Publisher’s Weekly had said this was a good read and the waiting list on Libby was months long.
My. God.
This book was some of the most repetitive, naval-gazing prose. Chapter upon chapter of two characters having inner dialogues that boil down to “what happened to our marriage?”
These mfers won’t talk. The whole thing could have been solved years before the story began but because the author stretches this out for nearly 400 pages, we’re treated to endless inner dialogues like this:
“I really love him but all we have is occasional sex.”
“I miss him. I wish we could just talk.”
“What happened to our love?”
“Where did we go wrong?”
Paraphrased, but that’s the gist.
At 60%, during a long detailed conversation with a grocery store rep who’s gonna sell their beef (just…go with it), I said fuck it and threw it to the people who were waiting in line behind me.
The book also occasionally alternates - perhaps because the main storyline is so dull - to two other couples. Only one of their stories is vaguely interesting.
Meh.
I actually love slow, character driven stories that meander through lives and show us the characters as they evolve. But this was just a snooze.
March 11, 2022
I tried so hard to get into this book but I just could not I'm not sure if it's just me but this book was very drawn out and I got bored very quickly with it
April 5, 2022
“Love is when you find the heart that will love you at you’re worst and arms that will hold you at you’re weakest.” - Author Unknown
“The Cowboy Says Yes” by Addison Fox is a touching story and starts off her new series, Rustlers Creek, with a bang! This is a story about falling in love, being in love, and fighting to stay in love. It’s a story about relationships and how a change in a relationship doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
“It’s hard. Those moments in a marriage when we forget that it’s two people. Two individuals who make up the whole. Who make up something better as a whole . . . He and Hadley were better together. Nothing would ever convince him otherwise.”
While reading this story I found myself experiencing a wide variety of emotions and I was easily able to connect with the characters. Fox has created a story full of realistic situations and amazing characters fumbling through life one day at a time. I think that is one thing that jumped out at me while reading, NONE of the characters had the “idealistic perfect life” - instead they struggled and worked at finding and keeping their lives happy. There is a lot of angst in this story…I loved every bit!
The MCs are Zack & Hadley an established couple who are going through a hard time in their marriage. I enjoyed having the book begin with the couple already in a relationship it allowed the author to explore a different aspect of love versus a typical romance book.
At the center of any conflict a person has to know what they really want as a solution. It takes Zack & Hadley a while to start communicating and work through their problems, through it all their love doesn’t waiver.
“He wanted her. And he wanted their life together. From the very first, across that expanse of counter in the bakery, he’d seen her. Hadley Allen. And he’d fallen, so hard and so fast he’d never recovered.”
I recommend this book to anyone who has had a bump in their relationship or marriage-it will really hit home.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
📚I received a review copy from the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager and chose to leave a review.📚
“The Cowboy Says Yes” by Addison Fox is a touching story and starts off her new series, Rustlers Creek, with a bang! This is a story about falling in love, being in love, and fighting to stay in love. It’s a story about relationships and how a change in a relationship doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
“It’s hard. Those moments in a marriage when we forget that it’s two people. Two individuals who make up the whole. Who make up something better as a whole . . . He and Hadley were better together. Nothing would ever convince him otherwise.”
While reading this story I found myself experiencing a wide variety of emotions and I was easily able to connect with the characters. Fox has created a story full of realistic situations and amazing characters fumbling through life one day at a time. I think that is one thing that jumped out at me while reading, NONE of the characters had the “idealistic perfect life” - instead they struggled and worked at finding and keeping their lives happy. There is a lot of angst in this story…I loved every bit!
The MCs are Zack & Hadley an established couple who are going through a hard time in their marriage. I enjoyed having the book begin with the couple already in a relationship it allowed the author to explore a different aspect of love versus a typical romance book.
At the center of any conflict a person has to know what they really want as a solution. It takes Zack & Hadley a while to start communicating and work through their problems, through it all their love doesn’t waiver.
“He wanted her. And he wanted their life together. From the very first, across that expanse of counter in the bakery, he’d seen her. Hadley Allen. And he’d fallen, so hard and so fast he’d never recovered.”
I recommend this book to anyone who has had a bump in their relationship or marriage-it will really hit home.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
📚I received a review copy from the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager and chose to leave a review.📚
March 2, 2022
Before reading this kissy-faced cowboy love story the closest I’d gotten to a romance novel was to sit through a Christmas-time Hallmark movie with my wife. Now because of Addison Fox I’m confident this will not be my last dalliance with paperback romance. (Though it may be a pastime practiced in anonymity.)
At the home of Hadley and Zack Wayne in Rustlers Creek, MT I was impressed to find not a bare chested Fabio, nor even the cast of Melrose Place. Instead I found something much more relatable and difficult to write about: a married couple in a rut. Beneath the surface of Big Sky imagery Fox captures the touching emotional conflict of a marriage on the rocks.
With a partnership in the balance the author raised the stakes to a level I couldn’t help but be invested in. So busy laughing to myself about spurs and saddles, I hardly realized that I was rooting for them as hard as my sister did once upon a time for another Zack, and his girlfriend Kelly.
At the home of Hadley and Zack Wayne in Rustlers Creek, MT I was impressed to find not a bare chested Fabio, nor even the cast of Melrose Place. Instead I found something much more relatable and difficult to write about: a married couple in a rut. Beneath the surface of Big Sky imagery Fox captures the touching emotional conflict of a marriage on the rocks.
With a partnership in the balance the author raised the stakes to a level I couldn’t help but be invested in. So busy laughing to myself about spurs and saddles, I hardly realized that I was rooting for them as hard as my sister did once upon a time for another Zack, and his girlfriend Kelly.
April 29, 2022
The Cowboy Says Yes by Addison Fox is as unlike any other cowboy romance as one can get. That is not to say that it wasn't excellent. It follows the demise of a marriage. There are, additionally, several other romances going on as well, in different stages. The main one revolves around Zack and Hadley Allen. Zack had inherited the ranch from his father, who was now "retired" and miserable and making everyone else miserable, as well. Especially his wife. All because she had accepted a responsible position in Hadley's new enterprise, just as he was being put out to pasture. He didn't see it. He moved to the bunkhouse, where no one was happy to see him. Hadley had started off with a television program on the food network, then it became so much more: stores, products, cookbooks. The entire crew landed on the ranch for months at a time to film. For the past two years Zack had watched his marriage slowly deteriorate and he was powerless to stop it. It wasn't Hadley's success; he was proud of her. Hadley felt it, too, and knew it was words unsaid; words she couldn't bring herself to say.
They had made it through the loss of Jessica, a late-term miscarriage that broke their hearts. Now she
slept in the guest room and he slept alone in their big bed. There were flashes of what used to be but then something would happen and the flash would dissipate. That made Zack nothing but cranky, which didn't help at all. It was a heart-breaking story of two people in love who couldn't communicate. With all the family pressures and the pressure of keeping the ranch going, it looked like there was no hope for them. It made me want to cry and slap them in frustration. Zack's father was there for him, in a surprising show of emotional intelligence. I normally don't like books so heavy on introspection but Fox made it work. Quite a good book.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Cowboy Says Yes by Harper Collins, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #harpercollins #addisonfox #thecowboysaysyes
They had made it through the loss of Jessica, a late-term miscarriage that broke their hearts. Now she
slept in the guest room and he slept alone in their big bed. There were flashes of what used to be but then something would happen and the flash would dissipate. That made Zack nothing but cranky, which didn't help at all. It was a heart-breaking story of two people in love who couldn't communicate. With all the family pressures and the pressure of keeping the ranch going, it looked like there was no hope for them. It made me want to cry and slap them in frustration. Zack's father was there for him, in a surprising show of emotional intelligence. I normally don't like books so heavy on introspection but Fox made it work. Quite a good book.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Cowboy Says Yes by Harper Collins, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #harpercollins #addisonfox #thecowboysaysyes
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January 26, 2022DNF. Cowboy stuff is really not my thing. But Harper sent me a box of books and this was one of them, so I figured I'd try it. The premise did sound interesting. But y'all. This is just so boring. The two married MCs hate each other for no real reason that I can tell. They need a marriage counselor, not to have a boring book written about them. So, yeah.
June 8, 2022
CW: loss of a pregnancy off page, decision about whether to have children or not, society expectations for women
Hadley is a The Cowgirl Gourmet (like the Pioneer Woman), married to ranch owner Zach. Their marriage is in trouble after 2 years of distance and buildup of resentment. They are trying to work things out, but a social media blowup draws out a big secret Hadley has avoided telling Zach .
2 other couples are featured with their own drama.
I liked this a lot and was holding back tears for 1/3 of it. Hadley and Zach love each other so much and want to be together but can’t quite bring themselves to talk it out and figure things out together.
My only dislike was the end. Zach makes a grand gesture, and then it just ends. I feel like we miss out on the actual conversation where they work out what their future looks like.
Hadley is a The Cowgirl Gourmet (like the Pioneer Woman), married to ranch owner Zach. Their marriage is in trouble after 2 years of distance and buildup of resentment. They are trying to work things out, but a social media blowup draws out a big secret Hadley has avoided telling Zach .
2 other couples are featured with their own drama.
I liked this a lot and was holding back tears for 1/3 of it. Hadley and Zach love each other so much and want to be together but can’t quite bring themselves to talk it out and figure things out together.
My only dislike was the end. Zach makes a grand gesture, and then it just ends. I feel like we miss out on the actual conversation where they work out what their future looks like.
February 5, 2022
*ARC curtesy of Goodreads Giveaways*
Addison Fox paints a vivid picture of married life in the first book of Rustlers Creek. The book not only lets us view the main couple, Zack and Hadley, but also let’s us peak in on the lives of those around them.
After 10 years married and success on both sides the main characters are asking what’s next? Through the course of the novel we get to see what has brought them together and also what has been pulling them apart. This novel took a real look at life, love, and the struggles that come with the commitment of saying yes.
Contemporary romance in a western setting for those looking for something deeper.
Addison Fox paints a vivid picture of married life in the first book of Rustlers Creek. The book not only lets us view the main couple, Zack and Hadley, but also let’s us peak in on the lives of those around them.
After 10 years married and success on both sides the main characters are asking what’s next? Through the course of the novel we get to see what has brought them together and also what has been pulling them apart. This novel took a real look at life, love, and the struggles that come with the commitment of saying yes.
Contemporary romance in a western setting for those looking for something deeper.
February 23, 2022
This romance is a little different than your typical boy meets girl and fall in love story. These two balls of pent up love and resentment are already married. The story revolves around that flat spot we all seem to hit 7 to 10 years into a marriage when the real questions of how did we get here and where are we going now hit hard and linger.
Thank you goodreads and avon books for the ARC. Glad I won this one.
Thank you goodreads and avon books for the ARC. Glad I won this one.
April 21, 2022
This is an ok read. Two people who need to find their way back to each other. Hadley is frustrating, and I did not connect with her, but her character is written well enough for me to have an opinion. While much of the story is real life, marriage takes work, there is some redundancy, and it is a bit drawn out.
Zach is just a cowboy doing his job, and all the Hollywood fussing is getting in the way of his working ranch. Will these two find their way back or deepen the divide?
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Zach is just a cowboy doing his job, and all the Hollywood fussing is getting in the way of his working ranch. Will these two find their way back or deepen the divide?
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
November 8, 2024
I usually enjoy romances that depict a married couple working through their stuff, but this one dragged on so much. It frustrated me, too. The whole book was two successful, grown people who loved each other but had this huge distance between them because they didn't know how to have a conversation. I was more interested in the side characters.
That being said, there was a lot of set up for future books, and I enjoyed the Rustler's Creek setting, so I would probably be willing to try the next one.
I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
That being said, there was a lot of set up for future books, and I enjoyed the Rustler's Creek setting, so I would probably be willing to try the next one.
I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
February 20, 2022
I have an affinity for cowboys and stories about them. Zack and Hadley are estranged. They go through the motions for the sake of propriety and their respective businesses, but they don’t communicate. Halfway through the book I wanted to knock their heads together. Just when I thought they were working out their stuff, then it goes south.
I felt hollowed by the story, not by their major life decision. I just thought it was inane they way they were acting and the reason.
The fact that the book was set in Montana and had cowboys were its saving grace.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy.
I felt hollowed by the story, not by their major life decision. I just thought it was inane they way they were acting and the reason.
The fact that the book was set in Montana and had cowboys were its saving grace.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy.
January 18, 2022
I very rarely give one stars but this book was not for me. I am used to reading pretty clean reads. With this farm and cowboy cover, I mistakenly thought this was one of those type of books. Even so, I can handle a bit of language in an appropriate place but this book had a lot more than I care to read. As a result, I am sorry to say that I am not the person this book is marketed for.
I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
May 16, 2022
Hadley Wayne has it all. Pre-sales of her new cookbook are so outperforming the predictions, the network has begged for a last minute Christmas special just months before Christmas. The banter with her cowboy is better than ever as they film the last episodes of the current season. Soon her storefront will be opening. But Hadley knows that her life you see on TV isn't really the life she is living. It is time she and her cowboy figure things out.
Zack Wayne can't figure out where things went wrong. His dad is living in the bunkhouse. His wife is in the spare bedroom. His brother is hiding out in his cabin. Things haven't been right since he and Hadley lost the baby, but how can they get back to building their life and family when they are consumed in portraying that life on TV.
Verdict: I made the mistake of reading other reviews and ratings. I was a little angry. Then I remembered the #1 rule of reviewing - a book may not be for you, but every book has its reader. A topic that has not often been touched and certainly not in the genre of romance is at center here: can a couple be happy, truly happy, without children? The exploration of this topic, I am sure, is what left some reviewers troubled. But this book was so needed, and spoke directly to me. I hope others who need to can find this book and delight in the love of Zack and Hadley and the decision they must work through.
Zack Wayne can't figure out where things went wrong. His dad is living in the bunkhouse. His wife is in the spare bedroom. His brother is hiding out in his cabin. Things haven't been right since he and Hadley lost the baby, but how can they get back to building their life and family when they are consumed in portraying that life on TV.
Verdict: I made the mistake of reading other reviews and ratings. I was a little angry. Then I remembered the #1 rule of reviewing - a book may not be for you, but every book has its reader. A topic that has not often been touched and certainly not in the genre of romance is at center here: can a couple be happy, truly happy, without children? The exploration of this topic, I am sure, is what left some reviewers troubled. But this book was so needed, and spoke directly to me. I hope others who need to can find this book and delight in the love of Zack and Hadley and the decision they must work through.
February 23, 2022
Let me start by saying this wasn’t a “bad” book, the characters were just unoriginal. I felt like I was reading Ree Drummond’s life (The Pioneer Woman) in a romance novel with a little twist.
The main character, Hadley, has the long red hair, she lives on a huge ranch with her cowboy husband (in Montana instead of Oklahoma) has a cooking show filmed in her home kitchen and has bought an old mercantile in their tiny town and has turned it into a shop. See any similarities?
The main plot line is Hadley has a secret she’s keeping from her husband, Zack, and the wedge that secret and her “empire” is driving between them. Will their marriage survive? Will the cowboy say yes? Get your copy when it releases in April 2022 to find out.
I probably would have rated this higher if it Hadley wasn’t so similar to Ree, who I’m not a fan of.
Thank you to William Morrow Books for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, Hadley, has the long red hair, she lives on a huge ranch with her cowboy husband (in Montana instead of Oklahoma) has a cooking show filmed in her home kitchen and has bought an old mercantile in their tiny town and has turned it into a shop. See any similarities?
The main plot line is Hadley has a secret she’s keeping from her husband, Zack, and the wedge that secret and her “empire” is driving between them. Will their marriage survive? Will the cowboy say yes? Get your copy when it releases in April 2022 to find out.
I probably would have rated this higher if it Hadley wasn’t so similar to Ree, who I’m not a fan of.
Thank you to William Morrow Books for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2022
I got this book as an arc and thought it was an okay read. There were a lot of unnecessary details and I felt like the book could have ended 100 pages earlier than it did. The characters kept bringing up the same information which made for a sluggish read after the halfway point. Overall the plot was alright, but it definitely could have used some more twists to keep me engaged.
January 7, 2022
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
Perhaps the cheesy cover should have tipped me off about the quality of this book. Or I was stupidly expecting a bunch of hot cowboy sex, and there wasn't really any of that, or at least not as much as I had hoped. Hadley, the main character, is kind of a version of The Pioneer Woman, and she has a cooking show that she shoots at her ranch in Montana. Her husband, Zack, is a rancher who runs their estate. That part is all Pioneer Woman, though in this novel, Hadley and Zack are having marital problems, sleeping in separate bedrooms, while on camera they pretend that they're a happy couple. Predictably, there's a chance to rekindle the romance they once had. Predictably, sparks fly again, there's some sex, but the action cuts away before it gets really hot and heavy. And then, again predictably, there are some issues. But, as is probably obvious from the lighthearted cover, the issues are resolved, though this happens very abruptly at the end. The writing felt flat and uninteresting; everyone's feelings and motivations seem to be spelled out, and it's basically just all telling instead of showing. The dialogue seemed stilted and unnatural, oftentimes like soap opera characters talking. There also seemed to be quite a few typos, which were distracting, though I do not know if they will be fixed in the final version. There's some side characters thrown in, but they're not very interesting; there's another relationship with a pregnancy that's going on on the side, but because the characters are so thinly developed, I just wasn't interested in it, and that one also just seemed to be running on autopilot, just sailing over any potential problems. The message seemed to be, quite simply, if two people are on the same page about children and honest with each other, they can make it work. Nothing more nuanced than that. There's an attempt at some character development with a past miscarriage, and siblings and parents realizing their limitations, but these aren't really developed well. The miscarriage seems to just be thrown in to conveniently explain baby issues between Hadley and Zack without going into detail about how that changed things when it actually happened, and the plots involving Zack's brother and father seem to be trying to parallel his own marriage and/or make him realize things about himself, but because I felt like we hardly got to know these family members, they felt hollow. It was a chore to get through to the end.
Perhaps the cheesy cover should have tipped me off about the quality of this book. Or I was stupidly expecting a bunch of hot cowboy sex, and there wasn't really any of that, or at least not as much as I had hoped. Hadley, the main character, is kind of a version of The Pioneer Woman, and she has a cooking show that she shoots at her ranch in Montana. Her husband, Zack, is a rancher who runs their estate. That part is all Pioneer Woman, though in this novel, Hadley and Zack are having marital problems, sleeping in separate bedrooms, while on camera they pretend that they're a happy couple. Predictably, there's a chance to rekindle the romance they once had. Predictably, sparks fly again, there's some sex, but the action cuts away before it gets really hot and heavy. And then, again predictably, there are some issues. But, as is probably obvious from the lighthearted cover, the issues are resolved, though this happens very abruptly at the end. The writing felt flat and uninteresting; everyone's feelings and motivations seem to be spelled out, and it's basically just all telling instead of showing. The dialogue seemed stilted and unnatural, oftentimes like soap opera characters talking. There also seemed to be quite a few typos, which were distracting, though I do not know if they will be fixed in the final version. There's some side characters thrown in, but they're not very interesting; there's another relationship with a pregnancy that's going on on the side, but because the characters are so thinly developed, I just wasn't interested in it, and that one also just seemed to be running on autopilot, just sailing over any potential problems. The message seemed to be, quite simply, if two people are on the same page about children and honest with each other, they can make it work. Nothing more nuanced than that. There's an attempt at some character development with a past miscarriage, and siblings and parents realizing their limitations, but these aren't really developed well. The miscarriage seems to just be thrown in to conveniently explain baby issues between Hadley and Zack without going into detail about how that changed things when it actually happened, and the plots involving Zack's brother and father seem to be trying to parallel his own marriage and/or make him realize things about himself, but because I felt like we hardly got to know these family members, they felt hollow. It was a chore to get through to the end.
October 13, 2022
The first book in the Rustlers Creek series features individuals who live or currently work on a Montana ranch and find themselves repeatedly facing real-life problems. How they respond to these issues is depicted with lots of emotion and numerous instances contain difficult choices that must be made. I came to care about not only the main characters but also those who played a secondary role in the story as it seemed every life was filled with troubles on occasion. Addison Fox came up with an interesting concept for the premise of the book, where a couple in the spotlight must try and work through some personal matters without being judged for their actions.
Although Hadley Wayne and her husband Zack own a very large ranch in Montana, her life is currently centered on a TV cooking show plus an upcoming book release. She also has to constantly prepare a variety of food to be depicted on the show, so there is not much time left for anything else, even her husband. This has put a strain on their marriage, and Hadley as well as Zach feel they are drifting apart because of little in common recently. When a meeting that involves both of their careers has them traveling to Los Angeles at the same time, it gives them to chance to open up and be honest about how they actually feel, yet it could sadly be too late if they are not totally honest with one another.
THE COWBOY SAYS YES is a story which took Hadley and Zach on a journey of discovery, where their innermost desires need to be revealed or both futures are in jeopardy. There are quite a few times where these two just did not talk about what was important in their lives, and though I was sometimes frustrated with them, this does sadly occur much too often in actual relationships. As Zach and Hadley went about their daily lives, thoughts related to what they wanted to happen in the days ahead had me wondering if their hopes would be achieved or more disappointment would once again emerge. The story showed how family members and even friends can play a big part in a marriage, and the interaction that takes place between various individuals was realistically portrayed with a wide range of emotions. The next book in the series will be about people who have already been met, and it has the potential for more compelling developments.
Although Hadley Wayne and her husband Zack own a very large ranch in Montana, her life is currently centered on a TV cooking show plus an upcoming book release. She also has to constantly prepare a variety of food to be depicted on the show, so there is not much time left for anything else, even her husband. This has put a strain on their marriage, and Hadley as well as Zach feel they are drifting apart because of little in common recently. When a meeting that involves both of their careers has them traveling to Los Angeles at the same time, it gives them to chance to open up and be honest about how they actually feel, yet it could sadly be too late if they are not totally honest with one another.
THE COWBOY SAYS YES is a story which took Hadley and Zach on a journey of discovery, where their innermost desires need to be revealed or both futures are in jeopardy. There are quite a few times where these two just did not talk about what was important in their lives, and though I was sometimes frustrated with them, this does sadly occur much too often in actual relationships. As Zach and Hadley went about their daily lives, thoughts related to what they wanted to happen in the days ahead had me wondering if their hopes would be achieved or more disappointment would once again emerge. The story showed how family members and even friends can play a big part in a marriage, and the interaction that takes place between various individuals was realistically portrayed with a wide range of emotions. The next book in the series will be about people who have already been met, and it has the potential for more compelling developments.
September 20, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Modern story about a young couple living on a ranch in Rustler’s Creek, Montana called Wayne and Sons. Charlie Wayne is getting older and his son Zack is taking the reins, so to speak. Zack is married to his high school sweetheart Hadley Allen Wayne.
She is the newest food network sensation with her cooking show called the Cowgirl Gourmet and new line of cookbooks. The show is filmed on the Wayne and Sons ranch, which is a working beef cattle ranch.
Their marriage is in a rough spot after the death of their little girl. They are civil to each other while the cameras are rolling to keep up the image of the American dream, a career and a handsome cowboy husband.
Charlie and his wife Carlene are also experiencing some troubles. Charlie is not handling his declining health and Carlene wants to be more independent and help Hadley with her newest enterprise of opening a Trading Post that will carry her products and cookware.
Some romance between the production crew and the ranch foreman is a cute storyline..
Hadley and her sister Harper were raised by their father, the school principal after their mother’s early death when the girls were still very young. Harper left for the Seattle tech industry after high school.
Communication is the key for all parties involved.
Modern story about a young couple living on a ranch in Rustler’s Creek, Montana called Wayne and Sons. Charlie Wayne is getting older and his son Zack is taking the reins, so to speak. Zack is married to his high school sweetheart Hadley Allen Wayne.
She is the newest food network sensation with her cooking show called the Cowgirl Gourmet and new line of cookbooks. The show is filmed on the Wayne and Sons ranch, which is a working beef cattle ranch.
Their marriage is in a rough spot after the death of their little girl. They are civil to each other while the cameras are rolling to keep up the image of the American dream, a career and a handsome cowboy husband.
Charlie and his wife Carlene are also experiencing some troubles. Charlie is not handling his declining health and Carlene wants to be more independent and help Hadley with her newest enterprise of opening a Trading Post that will carry her products and cookware.
Some romance between the production crew and the ranch foreman is a cute storyline..
Hadley and her sister Harper were raised by their father, the school principal after their mother’s early death when the girls were still very young. Harper left for the Seattle tech industry after high school.
Communication is the key for all parties involved.
February 26, 2023
The Cowboy Says Yes by Addison Fox is a heartbreaking yet charming tale. This contemporary romance shows us readers the hard and saddest parts to a marriage. Some of those included having a baby when you did not plan to, having a miscarriage, and having one's life turned into a circus all because one's wife is extremely successful. Then, there are the rumors that the husband hears that tug on his mind. It feels like he never has his wife to himself. They still have the sparks and romance simmering between them, yet her publicity schedule never allows them much time together. Commitment and communication issues are very real in this book. I loved how the writer portrayed them so well. This is not like a typical western cowboy romance where there is the instant heat and then all hell breaks loose. In this particular novel, it happens in reverse. Overall, I loved the drama, intense atmosphere, and the charming banters between husband and wife.
July 21, 2022
Hadley Wade is the Cowgirl Gourmet. She is the star of the Cooking Network and is a very successful celebrity.
Her hometown in Montana has made the ranch where she lives a filming area.
But her life with her husband has been disrupted to the point where they are having problems and may not stay together.
This is an unusual romance in that it really is more about the heartache of not knowing how to repair their marriage rather than newfound romance like most romance stories.
It also brings up a couple of other couple's stories briefly that are full of things that are realistic situations and problems that can come up in relationships.
I liked that it was realistic and does talk about some of the things that other books don't.
However, that storyline took up the larger portion of the story and it was drawn out for a long time.
Still interesting but unexpected for a romance.
Her hometown in Montana has made the ranch where she lives a filming area.
But her life with her husband has been disrupted to the point where they are having problems and may not stay together.
This is an unusual romance in that it really is more about the heartache of not knowing how to repair their marriage rather than newfound romance like most romance stories.
It also brings up a couple of other couple's stories briefly that are full of things that are realistic situations and problems that can come up in relationships.
I liked that it was realistic and does talk about some of the things that other books don't.
However, that storyline took up the larger portion of the story and it was drawn out for a long time.
Still interesting but unexpected for a romance.
August 8, 2022
Hadley Wayne has it all, a cooking show, cookbooks, and to the world of TV land a good-looking cowboy. Yet when the cameras are off and everyone is gone she feels alone.
Zack Wayne loves his wife to the point of building a cooing studio on the ranch taking time out of the day's duties to not only eat and then to be filmed but to be made to feel like the ranch is nothing his hard work is nothing. Yet as always he has problems saying those things, letting his wife know he still loves her both it feels off, and every time he goes to her to say something she is either busy or she takes it the wrong way.
When a break comes in her schedule they decide to give it one last try and really get back to what they had, hopefully, they can. Read this heartfelt story to see what happens. I received this book from Netgalley.com
Zack Wayne loves his wife to the point of building a cooing studio on the ranch taking time out of the day's duties to not only eat and then to be filmed but to be made to feel like the ranch is nothing his hard work is nothing. Yet as always he has problems saying those things, letting his wife know he still loves her both it feels off, and every time he goes to her to say something she is either busy or she takes it the wrong way.
When a break comes in her schedule they decide to give it one last try and really get back to what they had, hopefully, they can. Read this heartfelt story to see what happens. I received this book from Netgalley.com
February 26, 2022
This first book in the series takes us to Montana where Hadley and her husband Zack Wayne have been married for ten years. But the ride has not been smooth , especially since she’s become tv’s The Cowgirl Gourmet, and she, her husband and their ranch have become tv celebrities. Instead of getting closer, they are growing further apart. What the cameras see, is not reality.
It’s a story about marriage, and how sometimes individuals in the unit drift apart for a variety of reasons. Can the love be rekindled or will the past, the present and resentments cause them to end the union.
I have to confess, it was just ok for me. At times it was a tad slow and I never connected to either character.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley.
It’s a story about marriage, and how sometimes individuals in the unit drift apart for a variety of reasons. Can the love be rekindled or will the past, the present and resentments cause them to end the union.
I have to confess, it was just ok for me. At times it was a tad slow and I never connected to either character.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley.
March 31, 2022
Hadley Wayne is famous for her cooking show, cookbooks and down-home life. Zack Wayne runs the cattle ranch and he and Hadley have been married for a number of years. The last few years have been rocky, and they are hiding it from family and her fans.
I have always loved a good cowboy book; this was not it for me. The story was long in places and seems to really drag. Hadley was not open with Zack about what she wants in life and the future. Zack can't seem to get his act together either. We hear about the problems of Zack's mom and dad; and Bea is the producer of the show and Carter is the ranch manage and I loved their story better than Hadley and Zack.
It seems the author was digging too deep into the whys and why nots of the story.
#TheCowboySaysYes #NetGalley
I have always loved a good cowboy book; this was not it for me. The story was long in places and seems to really drag. Hadley was not open with Zack about what she wants in life and the future. Zack can't seem to get his act together either. We hear about the problems of Zack's mom and dad; and Bea is the producer of the show and Carter is the ranch manage and I loved their story better than Hadley and Zack.
It seems the author was digging too deep into the whys and why nots of the story.
#TheCowboySaysYes #NetGalley
April 1, 2022
I was given the opportunity to read this second chance romance before it is published on April 26, 2022 from #netgalley.
It starts out a little slow and I was a little confused at what the problems in their marriage were but by the end it made sense and was actually very clever writing. Addison Fox wants the reader as confused as the character(s). They love each other but life gets in the way and marriage is hard. This book really made me feel for Hadley and Zach and there were times I wasn't sure if they would be able to make it work. There are great side characters and a wonderful message about the demands of society on women.
CW: miscarriage/loss of child (happens before the story starts but discussed several times)
#TheCowboySaysYes
It starts out a little slow and I was a little confused at what the problems in their marriage were but by the end it made sense and was actually very clever writing. Addison Fox wants the reader as confused as the character(s). They love each other but life gets in the way and marriage is hard. This book really made me feel for Hadley and Zach and there were times I wasn't sure if they would be able to make it work. There are great side characters and a wonderful message about the demands of society on women.
CW: miscarriage/loss of child (happens before the story starts but discussed several times)
#TheCowboySaysYes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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