I just love it at the Morgan ranch and this story is about Blue coming home from the marines and deciding to stay and make the ranch profitable.
Jenna is a veterinarian helping her cousin Dave out with the practice now that his dad would rather play golf. It is only temporary till his sister comes back but Jenna really loves it and the Morgan ranch too.
Blue has a plan that doesn't include a relationship and Jenna knows this but the more they are together the more Blue isn't so sure he wants to stick with the plan. Something happens to alter Blue's plans and it also effects the family and Jenna has her own family to deal with which could be a deal breaker. I love how easy going life on the ranch is and how the author tells the story from both sides without making it obvious. Also Blue, Chase and the family are still trying to find out where their mother and little sister went. The story is told just right and I also love the recipe at the end. Can't wait to read the next one even though you can read it as a standalone.

Wow, did I fall in love with Blue, swoon!

This is #2 in Kate's Morgantown Ranch series and I just love these guys. We start out as Blue is dis-entangling himself from the Marines. It's not simple and he gets hurt on his last training mission. He goes home to the ranch to heal and settle himself into civilian life. He again meets Jenna McDonald, one of the veterinarians in the McDonald family. She's a cousin filling in while her cousin is finishing up her vet degree and comes back to the family practice. I love the sense of family in these stories, the love, belonging and support for each other. Jenna's problem is she's got baggage from being adopted. She was 12 when she was adopted into an over-achiever family and feels never good enough and afraid of being rejected once again. Blue's baggage is his black and white thinking and the pain from his mother and sisters disappearance combined with his dad's alcoholism. Kate weaves the story so each has to face and grow through their hurts and want to be a committed partner in this growing relationship. I love how Blue lets Jenna make her choices and doesn't pressure her into them. He encourages, he tells her where he stands and lets her choose growth and love.

As a fun FYI, Kate has a gift for dialogue. The 3 best friends are so great together: Jenna, Yvonne and January. Their get togethers are fabulous and funny on occasion.

Fielding swung out on his rope jerking his instructor up to meet him. Blue basically had time to brace himself before slamming into the other mant then Blue passed out. Mel was his fellow instructor asked Ginny if Blue was okay. Blue opened his eyes and then passed out again. Blue only had six months left in the Marines. Blue ended up with a concussion, whiplash, two broken ribs, and a black eye. Blue has to stay overnight in the hospital as they want to watch his concussion. Blue liked his life the way it was . He was in control and no one was ever going to take that away from him. Twelve years in the Marines Twelve years in the Marines made Blue a man to reckon with. Now Blue’s purpose was to save Morgan Ranch and make it profitable again. Jenna loved her mom but sometimes it was like trying to stop a river in flood, not that her father was any better. Jenna’s uncle has an unusual practice as he had an afternoon clinic Meg was one of the veterinarian techs who had been with the practice for years and had saved Jenna on several occasions.. The clinic Jenna now worked in the only clinic in forty miles and they handled everything. Blue found working with his hands soothing. Blue let it be known he has no time for a relationship. Blue is trying to get used to civilian life. Blue is very attracted to Jenna even though he is trying to fight it. She is also attracted to Blue. Then a ten year old little girl shows up at the ranch and says she is Blue’s daughter and her mother had passed away.
I liked this story a lot. It was a good romance but there was a lot of other things going on. I liked the twists and turns . I didn’t like Jenna’s parents or sister very much. This story did have a good plot and was well written. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

This is the second book in the series. You have Blue Morgan leaving the Marines and going back to the family ranch. There is where he meets Jenna McDonald who checks on the animals for the ranch. They end up working together and this puts them together more, and more. They both must deal with feelings that neither one is ready to at times. Blue has many different issues to work out with his father, leaving the Marines, back at the ranch, and then a surprise 10 year old girl shows up named Maria and she changes the ball of whacks and together with Jenna the man who needs to have a plan for his life now has been thrown for a loop. Now he must come to grips with falling for Jenna, and also finding out if Maria is his daughter. Jenna helps with Maria since her past of being adopted and when she looked for her birth parents and found them she was rejected again, so she is understanding what Maria is feeling. I really connected to Jenna’s story, but the entire book was very good and the story was very good. All of the characters were ones you could see in your mind and help you connect to the book. Overall a very good book. My one complaint is the cover the person does not look like the character from the story a former Marine 6’2” and a hard body that would be my only complaint.

This is the second novel in the Morgan Ranch series and I was eager to return to the ranch and it's cast of characters, having so much enjoyed the first novel in the series, The Reluctant Cowboy. While this was also a very good read, I found it marginally less engaging and less successful and can only give it a 4-star rating.

This novel is the story of Blue Morgan, younger brother to Chase, who was featured in the first novel, and Blue's relationship with Jenna McDonald, the newest veterinarian in town. As the novel opens, Blue, a non-commissioned officer, is leaving the Marine Corps after 12 years and returning to the family ranch, helping to turn it into a profitable historical guest ranch. Jenna, who was given up for adoption by her birth parents and adopted by the overachieving McDonald family in L.A. is trying to fit into the veterinary practice in Morgantown, and dealing with some of the old-timers not liking the idea of a female vet as well as having her own issues of low self-esteem, and always feeling like an outsider.

Chase and his fiance January are still planning their wedding, and Blue or "BB" and Chase are still searching for some clue as to the whereabouts of their mother who disappeared one night 20 years ago along with their baby sister. Looking ahead, I'm guessing we won't learn their whereabouts until the conclusion of the series. Blue's main focus in this novel is attempting to find safe, healthy, well-trained horses for the guest ranch, which puts him in close proximity to Jenna, who he met at the end of the last book. The two are clearly attracted to one another, but their relationship is rocky at best. Blue sees things as only black or white, while Jenna, after years of therapy, sees all the shades in-between, and neither of these two characters is terribly forthright about their feelings, leading to chain of misunderstandings.

Add into an already confusing situation, the sudden appearance of 10-year-old Maria, who shows up at the ranch after being discarded by the man she thought was her father and who has been put on a bus, sent to Morgantown and told that Blue is her real father, a child he never knew anything about--and all of this following close on the heels of the death of Maria's mother, who was a one-night stand a decade earlier when Blue first joined the Marines. An added complication is that Maria seems to almost immediately bond with Blue's recently returned father, Billy, who had disappeared into a bottle 20 years ago after his own wife left him and only reappeared at the end of the last novel. Blue and Billy still haven't fully made peace with one another.

As I learned in her previous novel, Ms. Pearce's novels are multi-layered, with many threads of future stories involving many of the characters being interwoven, and while I love that aspect of her style, some characters drew me in, as did January in the first novel, but while Jenna is likable enough and able to speak her mind to Blue, her inability to speak up for herself to her parents was something I found irritating and it just didn't seem to fit her character. I did warm up to her eventually, and liked the way Blue changed and matured with his sudden thrust into fatherhood, and I'm eager to see this relationship develop in upcoming installments.

Finally, the one thing that threw me for a loop was the abruptness of the ending. I won't go into details because I hate spoilers, but turning the page to what I thought would be an epilogue, I was shocked when I instead found a cake recipe, which is the last thing I was expecting. I'll continue to follow this series because it's so well-written, and the characters interest me, but I do hope Ms. Pearce won't end any subsequent novels in such a fashion. I would also suggest to readers that although this novel can be read as a standalone, the relationships between these characters and the family history are so complex that it would make a great deal more sense to you if you read them in the order in which they were written.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this novel.

Kate Pearce is a wonderful author. This book fell a little short for me, I'm not sure why. I couldn't stay interested in it like I did with Chase and January. Its a really good book and Id read it again. It just took a little longer than the others but I wasn't disappointed at all!

This book is pretty good. I loved the first book in the series and this one was almost as good. Blue is a hardworking, straight shooting type of guy. Jenna has pressure from her high falutin family to come home and give up her vet job. Blue need Jenna to get his horse business going. They rub each other the wrong way from the start but it isn't long before they put the animosity aside and the sparks really fly then. Add in the mystery surrounding his mothers disappearance when he was a child and the father who went away for a crime he didn't commit and you have a full package read. I can't wait to read the rest of series.

Blue Morgan had left home at eighteen and joined the Marines. Now he has decided it is time to return home to his family ranch in California at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. While he was away, he missed this place but when he was 18, he could only think of how wonderful it would be to leave this place behind. Now that he is back he wants to stay and help make this ranch a success.

Jenna is a new vet working at her uncle's practice in town. She is hired to help Blue select and care for horses to be used as part of the ranch's expansion into dude/guest ranching. There is an immediate attraction between Blue and Jenna but they are both resistant and aren't interested in a relationship. But, they just can't seem to resist the magnetic pull.

This story is about forgiveness and healing as much as it is about love. I enjoyed reading the story very much but would have enjoyed it more without the sex scenes. There were not as descriptive as some but I prefer to not have the details and let the chemistry fuel the imagination.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome!!
Blue and Jenna's story is intriguing and definitely heart warming.
While Blue and Jenna are struggling to define their relationship, a surprise shows up in Morgantown. And you get another piece of the puzzle of the Morgan boys' missing mother and sister. I'm on pins and needles, waiting for the conclusion of that little side story.
The sneak peak of Ry's story assures you that you won't want to miss reading the next chapter of Morgan Ranch! 5 stars!

Blue Morgan has returned home to work on their family ranch in hopes of settling his restless energy. He's finding it difficult to concentrate and focus because his mind keeps wandering to the new veterinarian.

Even though there is chemistry between Jenna McDonald and Blue. she can't risk her job and her family obligations to pursue it. Jenna is tired of being told what she can’t have—and ready to reach for what she wants .

Second in the Morgan Ranch series, this is Blue and Jenna's story.

It was interesting to get a glimpse of a post-service Marine trying to figure out who he is/where he fits into the world and his family. All of the characters are likeable and believable. Sometimes the stereotypical age gap as shown here is irksome, but in this story as it's part of the character/relationship development, it actually made sense.

Not as much steam as Pearce is known for in other series, but still plenty of sexual tension and some sexy time.

3.5 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

"The Maverick Cowboy" was a warm and touching story of life for Blue on his childhood ranch after leaving the marines. A story of past family hurts and heartbreaks, Blue must deal with the past to get the future he wants. Jenna, the sexy veterinarian, having family issues herself, finds that she is falling in love with the sexy cowboy. When a child he never knew about shows up, Blue must first put his priorities in order. Both the H and the h seemed to be working separately to put Maria, Blue's surprise daughter first, but were tip-toeing around each other. There is a real insecurity in Jenna, and Blue is almost overwhelmed with both his past and dealing with his future that he hopes will include his daughter and Jenna. It is always great to read a wonderful story of love, forgiveness and just plain sexiness with a HEA, as was the case for Blue, Jenna and Maria. Overall, I enjoyed this story greatly and look forward to reading more of the Morgan family. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington/Zebra for gifting me with "The Maverick Cowboy" and asking for my honest opinion. This is mine. Recommended Read 4.25 Stars!

The Maverick Cowboy by Kate Pearce is the second book in the Morgan Ranch series. Blue Morgan returns to the ranch after his enlistment in the Marines ends. His personality has some definite issues but he is working out his issues within himself and with his family as he returns to the ranch and back into civilian life. He again meets Jenna McDonald, a vet who is filling in for her cousin. She too has a lot of personal issues that she is trying to work through in her life. When these two meet of course there are problems and issues. The chemistry they share helps them to work through their issues and it develops into a lasting relationship.
The interactions and stories with the other characters is strong. I love how well Kate Pearce writes the story and how well it flows together. I am really enjoying this series and love the Morgan family with all its colorful members. I recommend this series and look forward to the next book.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored book two of the Morgan Brothers series as much as the first book. The Maverick Cowboy by Kate Pearce brings Blue Morgan back to the California ranch. This book is true cowboy romance with a bit of military (former) thrown in for good measure.

These Morgan brothers are simply to fall in love with, no matter the issues of the past that come with them. In this case, Jenna has a few issues of her own. I enjoyed the development of these characters who have strong personalities but with a maturity too.

Wonderfully written in a clear but descriptive way that held my interest throughout the book. There are a few twists and surprises that kept me reading as much as the romance between Jenna and Blue. Fans of cowboy romance, like me, will love this book.

The Maverick Cowboy Morgan Ranch #2 Kate Pearce

This is a brand new author to me and I'm so glad I found her.
Morgan Ranch is a successful working ranch that the owners have hopes to make a destination Dude Ranch. The Morgan son's left the ranch years ago with no intention of coming back, but the oldest, Chase, has reconciled with his father and come home. Chase has made millions running his own company and wants to save the ranch with his earnings.

BB (Blue) Morgan is returning after twelve years in the military. When he was young, all he wanted to do was get away......he's has been through a lot, and now wants to come back home. Working the ranch is his happy place. His grandmother Ruth, and his recovering alcoholic father welcome him with open arms. Blue and Chase are working to restore their relationship.

Jenna McDonald is working in her uncle's veterinary office, recently graduated and enjoying the work, despite a number of patients that think she is too young and inexperienced. Her cousin Dave also a Vet, suggests she take care of the Marshall horses and various pets and animals, which could turn into a full time job. Jenna's only concern is Blue......tall dark and handsome alpha vet/cowboy. There is an instant attraction that Blue and Jenna try to fight, neither willing to commit. Jenna was a foster child adopted by wealthy parents who tried to give her everything. But she never seemed to live up to their ideals. Now she is on her own and in charge of her life, she's just not ready to give it all up for a very sexy cowboy.

The romance sizzles, and secrets from their pasts bring them closer. This is not a cliff hanger at all, but there is one mystery that is not quite solved. This novel can be read as a stand alone, but I enjoyed the writing so well I'm adding book one to my TBR.

I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce

Maverick Cowboy is the second book in the Morgan Ranch series written by author Kate Pearce. This book is even better than the first. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance copy.

Great read! Blue is just out of the Marines and trying to find his way as a civilian and Jenna is the new vet and trying to get the ranchers to accept her. I loved both Blue and Jenna, their chemistry and how strong they are. This story had me hooked from beginning to end. I loved it.

Enjoyable Read
The second book in a series but can be read as a standalone. Blue Morgan is a Marine Gunnery Sergeant planning to leave the Service and work on his family's cattle ranch and Jenna McDonald is the town vet. Both of them have problems (no spoilers as to what they are) which have to be resolved before they can be together. A well written story with interesting and likeable characters with an underlying mystery which I assume will not be resolved until the last book in the series. Recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Blue Morgan might be my favorite Kate Pearce hero, but I really hate to choose - they are all amazing. Maverick Cowboy is the second book in her Morgan Ranch series, and it is another great addition to a wonderful series.

Blue has been a Marine for 12 years of service and has now decided to return his family's to help run it. When he meets veterinarian Jenna McDonald, he’s unsure whether she is up to the task, because her uncle has always been the ranch’s doctor and Jenna is young.

His standoff-ish way ruffles Jenna’s feather, especially because she is attracted to him. As she begins to to impress him with her work ethic and abilities, he begins to thaw towards her and discovers he’s very attracted to her as well. He doesn’t want a relationship right now, but neither can deny the incredible chemistry they share.

The Morgan family is such a delight and grandmother Ruth forms the heart of the series. Blue and Jenna get their happily ever after while dealing with some heavy family issues. Maverick Cowboy is a very enjoyable read.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.