What a wonderful story. Not just about life on the ranch but moreso about second chances: for humans and animals alike! People and animals who society has labeled as misfits and unwanted fine new life at Longhorn Canyon Ranch. It is in this place that Retta and Cade discover a new meaning to their lives while enriching those around them. Beautiful story beautifully done!

Cade runs a ranch and a ranch camp for city kids at risk. Every year they take a group of pre-teens in and let them experience some ranch life. This year Cade needs to hire someone to watch over the girls and he decides on Retta.

Retta is looking to restart her life. After quitting her effluent city job to come home and take care of her ailing father, she’s looking for something to do over the summer now that her father has past and she is moving back to the city, Dallas, to follow her career dreams .

Sparks fly between Cade and Retta but Cade is coming off being left at the alter and Retta is looking forward to following her dreams. Not to forget the 8 at risk children under their care.

When you laugh and cry and cheer fictional characters on, you know that you’ve found just what you were looking for a novel.

Utterly sweet and endearing, with that wholesome family feel that just touches your heart.

I received this ARC copy of Cowboy Bold from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). This is my honest and voluntary review. Cowboy Bold is set for publication May 29, 2018.

My rating: 4.5 stars
Written by: Carolyn Brown
Series: Longhorn Canyon
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
ISBN-10: 1538744864
ISBN-13: 978-1538744864
Genre: Western Contemporary Romance

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So COWBOY BOLD is actually the first book in a new series by one of my go to authors Carolyn Brown. And it is an excellent introduction to a fascinating storyline about a family owned ranch that developed a program that reaches out to the community and does a remarkable good deed. The brothers Maguire that own the Longhorn Canyon Ranch open their doors and hearts to young teens that are in questionable situations. What these kids have in common is a need for some normalcy, love, respect and fair rules.

Cade Maguire and his brothers consider themselves quite fortunate. They love their lives on the ranch. They have good people that work for them. They have a loving close family and extended family. The Maguire brothers and the folk on the Longhorn Canyon Ranch have joined forces to help give a group of young boys and girls time on their ranch.

Retta Palmer is at the moment at odds at where she should be in her life. Retta has just left behind all her youthful memories with the death of her father and sale of their family ranch. The ranch went to pay for her father’s medical expenses and so Retta had to pack up and leave her past life behind her.

Retta is on her way to Dallas returning to a bank position she had left to care for her dad. So now she just needs a place to be for the summer and the job as a bunk mother for four girls fits the bill. As Retta points out their job for the three weeks is to teach these kids – her girls and the additional bunk of four boys – to like the smell of dirt and hard work. Many of these kids they are wards. Some have family that take care of them but for the most part they are cared for under the auspices of a social worker.

Retta is not at all what Cade envisioned from her resume but then again you should never judge a book by its cover. And Cade is going to find out that there is a lot to learn about Retta. She totally fits in. She is a natural with the kids. And for the first time in a very long time Cade’s personal life may just be back in business.

But it take two to tango and neither Retta nor Cade are in the position for a relationship. Retta is looking forward to moving back to the city to the career she was trained for. No doubt she loves ranch life but she needs to follow her plan. Cade isn’t any more anxious to open his heart or life. Pretty much got his crushed by his fiancé. Not looking to go there again any time soon.

So now we are looking at spending three weeks at the Maguire ranch with eight great kids – who admittedly didn’t start out that way. But in time these kids will grow on you – much as they do to everyone at the ranch. That seems to be the usual outcome of this program. The kids come with a chip on their shoulder and the ranch is just the right place to knock that chip off.

The cast of characters in COWBOY BOLD do Carolyn Brown proud. In her preface she talks about the inspiration for the story and some of the characters. But those of us diehard fans know Carolyn Brown has a deep storage of characters and situations in her heart and soul. And once again we get a peek at what she ferrets out. There are many memorable moments in COWBOY BOLD. And those kids are definitely scene stealers along with a large group of strange pets. It appears that the Maguire’s have an infinity for helping people and living things. Good people doing good work. Makes for a great story and series.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own. I absolutely loved this book! This was the first time reading from this author and Carolyn Brown left me wanting to read more of her work. It had just enough romance that is wasn't racy and it was just an all around sweet story. Retta has lost her dad, her farm, and has agreed to being a summer camp counselor. Cade is broken from being stood up at his wedding and now must deal with Retta having strikingly similar looks as his ex. Enter 8 troubled kids, some nosey family, and some stray animals and the scene is set. Retta and Cade had a great connection and I loved how they worked with the kids. In the end Cade learns that he can't change what Retta wants but must learn to let go and hope she sticks around. At the end of the book was a sneak peek of Carolyn Brown's next book. Let me just say that I can't wait fill fall of 2018 for her next book in the series!

Honestly, I wasn't really sure about this book. First time reading the author. The blurb attracted me, as did that hot cover, so I thought-give it a whirl and I'm so glad I did. What a great story, I loved the characters, the plot, the kids, the ranch, the animals the list is endless.
I loved Cade and Retta. Retta struggling after losing her father and her family farm and everything on it. This was a summer job to hold her over until she got her old job back in Dallas in the banking business. The girl was raised on a farm and since it was just her and her Dad, could handle anything that came her way. Including the city kids that came to Longhorn for summer camp.
When Cade's usual girl's bunkhouse helper begs off to go help her own daughter, he needs someone fast and Retta, is just perfect. The sparks fly from the moment they meet, Cade hires her, she drives home to pick up her feet meager belongings and returns to the ranch to settle in. Retta's still grieving hard for her father. Cade's still "getting over" a relationship that went south 3 years ago. He just doesn't let go. Other than the one off now and then at the local bar in town his life is the ranch.
They don't have a lot of time to prepare Retta for the 4 girls and 4 boys coming from the city for the summer but it flows seamlessly as does their relationship. Cade is kind and loving and so good with the kids and Retta is a natural. The kids love her, although she commands respect and expects them to respect each other. What a great story to watch unfold with these kids who are just full of sass and fire, learn to help each other and work together. Love and discipline go a long way and same goes for Cade and Retta.
There's not one thing not to like in this book. It's character driven, loaded with dialogue and interaction between the multiple characters but I loved it. I look forward to the next book in the series. Suffice to say, I'm hooked.
4.5 stars

**arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

Great contemporary western romance from Carolyn Brown. She's a favorite of mine and this title was as good as I expected. Highly recommended, she's a favorite at my library.

➳A cowboy needing to find his way to fixing his broken heart, a girl trying to find herself and what she truly needs, two characters that did not seem to spark for me at all...

➳I am keeping this one very short since I don't really want to say too many bad things about the author. I'll just leave it to the rating of the novel. When it comes down to cowboy romance stories, I am a goner. Meaning, I love them all for sure. This novel... not so much.

➳Cade and Retta are the main characters, and they are met under the circumstances of working together on the same ranch. "Sparks" apparently fly between them, but I just couldn't really... feel it? The fact that Cade is still not over the heart broken relationship his previous girlfriend left him with is something that triggers me and the one thing that I utterly did not like about Cade. There is a lot of family drama as well that I don't really like to read in a romance story, therefore making this novel not worth my time re-reading ever again.

I couldn't get into the story. I wasn't a fan of Retta and Cade and everyone else in the story kept comparing Retta to Cade's ex-fiancee.. I did like Cade though. I may try reading the story again at a later date. I definitely think the book has an audience, it just wasn't the one for me.

Heartwarming romance full of folksy charm! As someone from Oklahoma, Carolyn Brown nailed the one-going argument of Sooners vs Longhorns. She also nailed the background of a Bible Belt setting. The story is fairly clean with few curse words and non-graphic sex taking place far into the story.

Another great start to another great series by Carolyn Brown. Loved the characters ... loved the story ... A feel good romance about love, family, hope and giving back to your community. I can't wait for Justin and Levi's stories.

Thank you #NetGalley and #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing for granting my "wish" of this eARC. This is my honest review.

Cade just has too much sexiness, "he cupped her chin in his and planted a kiss so full of tenderness and passion mixed that it made her head swim. “No, darlin’ Retta, I did not start that fight but I think I did a fine job of finishing it.” Cade makes sense at times, “better have some food first, sweetheart. We got to have fuel for round two and three.” I liked this book, I really loved Cade.

Cowboy Bold by Carolyn Brown was a great book. It is a romance story, but it shares a strong message concerning love, hope, and family. A well written and highly enjoyable story. I recommend this one! Another good story from Carolyn Brown.

Carolyn Brown wrote a wonderful story of love and family. This is my new favorite title of Brown's.

Another fantastic western themed book from Carolyn Brown! The ranch hosts a group of foster kids for the summer, teaching them ranching and general life skills. A title that will definitely be popular with my library patrons!

A steamy romantic read that is full of family, love, hope, and friendship.