Cowboy on My Mind by R.C. Ryan is a good fit for those seeking an emotional and heartwarming western romance about second chances and redemption, set against the rugged backdrop of the Montana mountains.

I really enjoy Ryan's books. She has a way of writing about family bonds that touch your heart. I could not put this book down! As usual she has me hooked on the first page!

This book is a keeper, One you will want to read again and again.

If yo haven;t already figured it out I loved this book. I loved how they went from Fighting, brawling orphans to outstanding citizens. I can't wait for the next titles to come out.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Sweet cowboy romance…

The opening pages pinged my heart so hard and set an emotional stage for what was to come. Ben and his brothers had a rough start but where they landed was a fitting reward. Haller Creek was their home and family was everything. When Becca returned after college and a few years away, her feelings for Ben hadn’t changed. And the time was right…

I loved this family-focused, sweet romance! Ben was strong and capable, ready to hold his own on the ranch or behind his shiny, new badge. Becca was strong and independent, determined to break free from her loving, but controlling family. There was no lack of drama or interesting twists as Ben and Becca’s romance ticked along. Ben’s reputation and Becca’s Dad’s stubbornness meant their attraction and courtship was just a tad bumpy. A slow burn, it all came together in a character-driven read with lots of emotion to ping my heart.

Ben’s brothers are just one reason I can’t wait to return to Montana!

Ben Monroe was the ultimate bad boy in Haller Creek and now he's a sheriff's deputy, Ben spends his time breaking up bar fights rather than starting them, and staying away from trouble...until Becca Henderson comes back into town. She's just as beautiful as Ben remembers - and just as far out of his reach.

Back home is exactly where Becca Henderson wants to be. She has a place of her own, a successful new business, and gets a chance to reconnect with the sexy cowboy she had a crush on in school. Ben has always done things his way and never allowed anyone to stand in his way. So when an unexpected threat surfaces, Becca will see just how far Ben will go to protect the woman he loves and fight for their second chance at forever.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Unfortunately, this was one I chose not to finish. My apologies for the late notice. As I don't want my low rating to appear on the site and potentially impact the choices of other readers, I wait until after a title has been published/no longer able to be downloaded.

Inadvertently, I waited much longer than intended to give feedback for this title.

I look forward to the next title through your company!

Thanks,
Laura

This is the appropriate title for this book because this is what was on my mind when I read it. A cowboy who doubles as the town deputy. Wooo hooo!! I loved it. He was charming and a little rough around the edges and boy was he swoon worthy. My eyes just gobbled this book up and it had no regrets. A true page turner with the sweetest and strongest family bond that I have, probably, ever read in a long time. The Papa of the house, Mac, was on the verge of something terrible until 3 lost and hungry boys rolls into his life. He took these boys into his heart and home which in turn, saved himself as well. This book started off with a bang and the emotional turmoil that it caused me was greatly appreciated. Well I guess you know my thoughts on this story already. My plan was to go with the normality of writing a review, but I just could not wait to tell everybody how warm and gooey this book made me feel. This book had three things that I adore: 1. cowboys 2. small town feel 3. cowboys again……


The only issue that I had with this book was Rebecca. Now don't get me wrong, she was a good leading female character, but I just got a little irritated with how she dealt with her parents. While it did annoy me a bit, it did not take me away from the story and the author did balance it by giving Rebecca a big heart and a courageous personality. I enjoyed seeing Rebecca bloom and find her niche in the story. I enjoyed Rebecca and Ben together and they went through so much together until they made it all the way to the end with their love still intact. While I am on the subject on these two love birds, I wish the author would have given me a little more on their relationship as teenagers. These two are supposedly been secretly in love with each other since high school, but neither took the leap. I just could not see why they had such strong feeling for each other as teens. Additionally, I did feel that chemistry as adults and when they meet up for the first time after Rebecca comes back to town is wonderful.!!

I loved this book and I really hope that we get a story on the other two brothers. This is "under the blanket" approved with tea on the side or wine, your choice. This story was sweet, thrilling, and intense with a sexy cowboy deputy to carry you home. As everyone knows who follows my blog, Cowboys do it better". Pick this up!! Go on now!!!

Received in exchange for a honest review.

The prologue had me crying at the beginning. Between Mac and his grief and Ben, Sam and Finn’s situation and how they ended up where they were it was hard not to have a tear. But that prologue shows us a defining moment for all four of them.

Cut to present and we see the young scared boys set to stay together now Mac’s sons and adults. Sam is light hearted and adorable. Ben is still serious but not defiant and always doing what he feels is right in his heart and making his dad proud. Finn is now a lawyer and he is just as kind hearted as the other two brothers. Together they are so fun and sexy. They are loyal and kind all of them. And they love Mac, Roscoe, Zachariah and Otis like they are their family. Mac took them in and has been their dad and it is him they all try to make proud. Roscoe, Otis and Zachariah are like uncles to them and live on the ranch with them.

Here we get Ben’s story and it was at times nerve wrecking especially at the end with how Ben handled things, sensual, frustrating with Becca’s dad so glad he had an epiphany and realized his stubbornness, but no matter what it was a wonderful story of family,love, loyalty and kindness. It shows us how far Ben came from the angry boy and we see him grow and find someone to stand by his side.

Ben is a great character. He is kind, honest and loyal. Loves his family and is proud of them. He doesn’t feel the need to prove himself only do what is right and he has his dad as his guide. When he decides to help the sheriff, he didn’t expect to have such a wild time of it. And it all surrounded his crush since he was a kid Becca.

Becca was sweet and kind. She was trying to be her own person and also find what she wanted to do with her future. She was having a hard time getting her dad to see her beyond being his little girl. When her life goes a little topsy turvy and scary Ben is there for him.

Their attraction is insane but not acted on right away. We see Ben take care of Becca and make sure she is safe. We see him support and encourage her. And we see her be his friend first and foremost. When the danger in Becca’s life ratchets up is when the heat between them does as well. And when it does we get some steamy moments. But not steamy in description per se just steamy in where the intimacy is more sensual. I think that is one of the wonderful things about the writing here- we know the sensual intimacy is there but we aren’t getting that descriptive writing letting our imagination take over and allow us to have the sensual aspect of the romance be seen but not heard so to speak for it is left to our mind to add the details if you want to.

The story is sweet and intimate. We see family and love be the forefront of the book. The characters are all strong and you fall in love with them even Becca’s stubborn frustrating dad. We see Ben show Becca respect, trust, support and unconditional love even when she didn’t realize it. Becca does the same for him. These two give us a wonderfully sweet romance that has us smile and laugh especially those moments with Ben’s family. Excited to see who is next of the Monroe brothers to fall in love.

This story had it’s up and down’s for me. Becca comes home from college and begins to work with her father but he really does not allow her to change anything and has some really archaic ideas, and ways he still lives by. Ben and his brothers have been adopted and live on a ranch outside of town. Their story is nice. He is now working as a sheriff and is also still pining over Becca who he finds out has always liked him as well. The problem is her father does not like Ben and here really is the book. No matter what he does the father does not seem to come around. Becca’s character and Ben’s along with the men at the ranch and the social worker all add to this story or the book would really suffer. Overall a good book.

Ben Monroe is one sexy, sweet cowboy and I couldn't get enough of him. He had me swooning from the start and I loved every single second of it. He and Becca are perfect for each other! I was captivated by their story and couldn't put it down. I loved watching them reconnect and learn each other again.
I can't wait to see what Ryan brings us next with this amazing new series!

First in a new series from R.C. Ryan. Ben Monroe and his two younger brothers tumbled into Mackenzie Monroe's life just when he needed them most. He was at his lowest point and these three boys needed someone and that someone was Mac. It's starts off with a introduction of the characters and how they all came together as a family then moves to years later as adults. Ben is the towns new part time deputy sheriff and Becca Henderson is is old school time crush. Little does he know he was also her crush. A couple of shootings with Becca in the cross hairs pulls them together. Unfortunately Becca's dad has never liked Ben and even still all these years later doesn't and makes it known often. This book worked ok for me but not one of my favorites. I liked the characters but some of the scenes were over the top. Becca's dad was awful and her mom was his enabler. Neither one ever stands up to him. Becca tries a few times but only half heartedly. There is a suspense factor since someone is shooting either at Becca or Will, her friend. All in all it was a enjoyable read but a tad disjointed at times and i became frustrated with the characters. Will i read the next book in the series? Yes. I've enjoyed several of R.C. Ryan's other books and I'm not ready to give up on this series yet.

Find out more about this series and R.C. Ryan here www.ryanlangan.com

Montana Strong #1, This series starts off strong with a great introduction to characters. Montana rancher, Mac, a recent widower who not only lost his wife lost his son as well. With nothing else to live for he's on the verge of taking his own life when three young brothers who ran away from their individual foster homes break into his house in the middle of a blizzard. Seeing those boys so desperate to stay together and willing to work hard gives Mac a reason to keep going. Years later each of the three trouble makers has made something of themselves the eldest Ben is now helping out the Sheriff acting as a deputy at least temporarily until the sheriff can get back on his feet after an injury. Becca left Haller Creek the first chance she got and at first she never wanted to come back but after being gone for so long she realized how much she missed home. Becca is determined to keep her independence from her controlling and old fashioned parents and she wants to prove herself a good business woman to her Dad. Becca is not the only one back in Haller Creek, Will is back from seminary school and Becca's parents keep pushing to get her and Will to get into a relationship, but everytime her and Will are alone together someone takes a shot at them. Each shot is a miss so they are a crappy shot or they are just trying to scare them either way Ben is determined to protect Becca at all costs. Becca always had a crush on Ben, from the very first day and he's always protected her no matter what. Ben has always had a crush on Becca but was hesitant to act on it since her Dad hates Ben, but now Becca is a grown woman and she finally has the courage to act on her feelings and what she wants almost as much as she wants a successful business is Ben. It's not going to be an easy road to their HEA.

Overall, this was a great read. I love the relationship between Mac and the boys and how all three of the brothers are so different but their bond is strong and Becca fit in perfectly with their family dynamic. It was a nice tease for the other two brothers and I can't wait for their stories. Becca and Ben is a nice romance they are older and wiser and they are not going to let this second chance pass them by and dealing with Becca's dad is a handful but all in all I loved every aspect of this book.

Honestly, going into Cowboy On My Mind, I had no idea what to expect. With new to me authors such as R.C. Ryan I typically go into things blind. I don't read the synopsis or look up reviews beforehand because I want to go in completely unaware and judgement free. 

Cowboy On My Mind started off on a strong note. I loved the premise of three brothers who escaped and ultimately ran away from foster care in fear of being separated. These boys showed true strength in their fear. I sensed their closeness at the beginning.

Ben Monroe is a reformed bad boy turned Sheriff's Deputy. I feel like in today's world of romance novels the 'reformed bad boy' trope is often underwhelmed. You have to be careful when writing this character's personality. In my opinion this can either make or break a novel. Often sometimes causing the novel to cross the cliché line. I loved Ben's character at the beginning of the novel. He had a strong protective streak and wasn't about to let anyone mess with the people he loved and cared about. I definitely think R.C. Ryan wrote Ben's point of view perfectly. He was easily understood.

As for Becca Henderson, one thing that has really bugged me lately in romance novels is a female protagonist who's wishy-washy. Becca really got on my nerves in the beginning of the novel. I hated how she was missing a back bone when it comes to her father. Ugh, usually I can get past this because I'm a Daddy's Girl myself and I completely understand how overprotective daddy's are towards their little girls. Becca's daddy, however, stepped over the line from protective to obsessive. I couldn't see past the fact. Also, something was missing between Ben and Becca. I couldn't grasp their connection at all.

Overall, the beginning of Cowboy On My Mind was a huge hit for me. I loved the emotion and the bond these brothers shared but somewhere along the way it fell flat. I rated Cowboy On My Mind with a 3 star rating simply for the beginning of the novel, the bond between the brothers and Mac, and because I really did like Ben.

“In case you haven’t noticed, little bird, you’re flying.”

After reading R.C. Ryan’s latest, I most definitely have a cowboy on MY mind. Three of them, in fact. The Monroe brothers, whose rough beginnings, charming banter, and strong camaraderie won me over almost immediately.

Cowboy on My Mind is a fantastic start to the Montana Strong series—it’s warm and feel good, a touch suspenseful, and builds these familial connections that are sure to be the backbone of the series.

This one is a steamy read with likable characters and, as always in Ms. Ryan’s books, a homegrown, wholesome kind of community. It’s one of the things I like best about her stories—the way she pairs sexiness with good values, small town support, and charm. As evidenced by the way Ben’s family helps his achieve his goal, and Ben supports Becca as she chases hers.

And that’s why I’ll have these cowboys on my mind until the next book comes out—and probably beyond that, too.

“It’s like the last cloud has lifted, and all around is blinding sunlight.” He brushed his thumbs over her mouth, staring deeply into her eyes. “You’re my sunlight, Becca. You’re my everything.”

~ 4.5 STARS ~

2.5 STARS

I'll make this quick! When I read the blurb for Cowboy on my mind I was really looking forward to reading a new author who writes about hot cowboys. Unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me - I expected so much more.

I loved the idea of a broken man building a patchwork family without blood ties. Mac was a wonderful dad and I loved how he adored every single member of his family which had grown so naturally. While I loved the family dynamics, the main characters fell a little flat for me. I found both Ben and Becca bland. The person with the most distinctive profile had Becca's annoying dad. I also would have liked to see Becca stand up against her dad - the way it was she was weak and her dad a nagging jerk and shrew.

Additionally, the storytelling was written in third person which isn't a problem for me per se. The author jumped from one POV to the next without real separation. In the Same chapter you could read the main character's thoughts as well as the side characters'. I found this to be a little confusing.

While I expected more it wasn't a total loss. On the plus side there was a little suspense that I appreciated.  I also enjoyed the banter between the family members and the obvious love between them. Will I read another book by RC Ryan? Probably not. This might be just a case of it's me and not the book. What didn't work for me might totally tick your boxes so please, as always, the reminder to read other reviews and then decide if this might be for you.

*SWOON* Loved Ben and Becca's story. It is heartfelt and heartwarming. Ben and Becca has had their share of obstacles in life. They both come out stronger. They sparks fly when they look at each other. I couldn't put the book down due to the book kept and held my attention. This book is a must read.

<i>Cowboy on My Mind</i> is very sweet introduction to the Monroe boys! I loved their backstory. Loved their family bond--especially because they made their OWN family through friendship and love versus blood.

Ben and Becca were terrific--their love a slow burn, sometimes a skosh too slow for my liking. They were smart, real and so blatantly in love. Even when the cards were sorta stacked against them! I was swept away by their romance, and I can't wait for Sam's comeuppance next!

This was a good read and while I appreciated the story, I wasn’t blown away by it.
I liked Ben and Rebecca and the mutual attraction they had for each other. The back ground of both and the evolution of their characters was interesting. I even found the intrigue element of the story compelling both as a vehicle to move the plot and the romantic relationship along.
That said, I was a little bored with the book. There were several times when I hoped for more and wanted to see the story go a little deeper. I think what bothered me most, was that this author has a fairly decent sized back list, but this book just didn't feel fleshed out. It was not what I expected from a veteran author. I have mixed feelings about future books in the Montana Strong series. I am both curious to see if Finn and Sam get stories, but also concerned that the future books would fall flat as well.

I really wanted to like this book. The story of Ben & his brothers and the family they made with Mac & his friends is awesome. I loved seeing that dynamic play out, as well as the description of the lifestyle lived in the area. The mystery of the shooter was very well done as well.

Unfortunately the flowery dialogue (both internal and external) just didn't work for me. It didn't seem to fit Ben as a character. Also, Becca's outburst about her feelings was a little strange. I could see some hero worship on her part after all he'd done for her but it seemed a little strange for her to be that attached. At least with Ben he looked at it as more of a crush that made itself known to be more after she came back. I also thought that the resolution with her family was a bit abrupt. There was no development between the couple getting together and then having her parents over for dinner. There's a lot of hard feelings and assumptions to get over for someone as stubborn as her dad.

This is the first book that I have read by this author but, it definitely won't be the last. This is a heartwarming story about Becca and Ben finding their way to each other. I can't say enough about this great book. The author pulls you in with her realistic storyline and wonderful in depth characters. Not only did I love Ben and Becca , I loved all the supporting characters. I would love to read a story about all of the wonderful characters in this book and there are many of them. I would definitely love to read a book about Mac finding love again. I would also love to read a book about the father and son furniture makers. They were endearing characters that I would love to read more about. Even if they don't get to have their own story I hope they are around more frequently in future books. I would definitely recommend this book and this author. After one book, I am a fan and looking forward to the next book.