Welcome back to Carolyn Brown’s Longhorn Series. The fourth installment in this delightful – full of fun and sass and of course cowboys is COWBOY REBEL. Carolyn Brown does not suffer fools and in COWBOY REBEL she is brilliantly taking on the chore of rehabilitating a cowboy whose reputation precedes him. Needless to say Carolyn Brown does it with her signature wit and country music as the background for a wondrous addition to one of my favorite series.
To be completely candid I have never met/read a book by Carolyn Brown that hasn’t left me totally entertained and smiling and COWBOY REBEL is no exception. We even get to revisit with the Fab Five senior citizens that have been an excellent supporting cast throughout much of the Longhorn series.
But this is Tag and Nikki’s story. Tag is the cowboy rebel and Nikki is an RN with a big heart and an untrusting soul. Nikki is best friends with Tag’s sister Emily and so that is going to be a major hurdle for Tag in his attempt to start a relationship with Nikki. Truthfully Tag isn’t all that positive that he is looking for a relationship but he fully acknowledges that Nikki is not a one night stand. And if he isn’t careful he stands to lose more than gain in pursuing her.
Tag seems to be finally exhibiting some maturing in his new role as partner in the ranch he now owns with his twin Hud. That surprises everyone – Tag included. But his past is trying to wedge into his new life and that is going to cause some problems for everyone.
Everyone has a past but Tag’s was a lesson in immaturity and carelessness. Family is tough but Tag is lucky to have his twin Hud and older sister Emily in his corner. As Emily warns him in his battle between the old Tag and new one, the one you feed will win something that reminds him of his granny’s wisdom.
Nikki also has some rather mysterious troubles to handle, not the lease of it her extremely odd mother. Just wait till you meet her. Nikki is afraid to move forward in any relationship. Her fears of being like her mother are substantial and real. Secondly she is honest with herself that one introduction to her mother is very likely going to shut doors. And yet Nikki is realizing that Tag doesn’t seem ready to throw in the towel.
Carolyn Brown often references country music titles and lyrics in her stories which is sure to bring a smile to your face and often leaves you humming. Tag mantra is Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw. This song seems to outline his plan for life. That is until Nikki becomes so important to him.
So if you are looking for some real country fun and looking to meet amazing characters COWBOY REBEL by Carolyn Brown should be on top of your must read list. Thoughtfully written with some of Carolyn Brown’s signature hometown dialog that is guaranteed to warm your heart, have you humming country in your head and bring a smile to your day.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

THe book was sweet and sexy. I really like how this was a build up of attraction and emotion. That they didn’t go directly into instalove even though it seems that way. They met at other functions and it built over time. With Taggart flirting and Nikki rebuking until she really saw the man he was. Then she realized he is a man with a past that has shaped him. He has learned from his mistakes and is trying to turn the page. He has guilt over a loss in the past and is trying to live life to its fullest and doesn’t really realize the affect that it has on others until he is the one in the seat waiting and hoping. That is when he realizes what his family and friends go through each time he is hurt.

Our book begins with Taggart being the good guy he is and being hurt for his help. Bringin into Nikki’s world at the hospital. Where she sees him as the rebel he is o so she thinks. Nikki is friends with Tag’s sister so she does get to see a different side to him as well. She feels he is too much of a risk taker but does have a chemistry with him that she has a hard time ignoring.

Over time we see Nikki trust him more and see that he is a great guy. Hard working and loyal. Family oriented and trying to get over a loss and learn from his mistakes in the past. He even stands up to his past at one point. By then him and Nikki are exploring their feelings. Nikki is dealing with her loss in the past and her mom. She is even learning to stand up to her. We see both characters lean on one another for support and trust one another with everything. They believe in each other and have faith in the other. We watch as Tag goes after Nikki when in trouble and how he feels guilt and she helps him see that he shouldn’t. How this brings them closer and over time this becomes more. How these two work together to bring closure to their pasts and how Tag is there for Nikki when she confronts her fears and past and gains so much from it.

These two are great for one another and grow so much. Nikki learns to trust and let go while gaining strength to face her pain. Tag learns to let go and let love in. They both find someone to love and find support and respect with. They have chemsitry up the wazoo and explore this as they first explore friendship and then become more..It isn’t instant but a slow burn and this helps keep the drama and angst from happening for they learn about one another and how to be together and trust one another first before acting on their attraction. It is about love, family and letting go. A wonderful story that has your heart smile for these two characters grab you from the beginning and so do their friends.

Carolyn Brown does it again! I loved this cowboy romance. It was well written, had well defined characters, and was an enjoyable story. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys romance as she is one of my favorite authors. Well done!

Good book. Loved the story. Fantastic charcters. Very romantic. Great setting. Loved the ranch and the horses.

What a great read! Fun and flirty with great characters yet there were deeper things going on but was beautifully told to blend together in this entertaining read! Both Tag and Nikki have seen difficult times, each handling it in different ways, Tag following a song and Nikki powering through. A little flirtation at his sister's wedding opened his eyes to the sparks between Tag and Nikki., but Nikki's not going to just fall at this sexy cowboy's feet--he's got work to do and she's not sure she wants a rebel. Great chemistry, hilarious characters and an action packed story line really makes this a read you don't want to miss!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of this authors work. I highly recommend this author to friends and family alike.

I was very moved by the story line in this book. I have read all the books in the series, but this one for me has had the most depth of a good story line. It moved me that two people from such different upbringings could be so well matched as life partners. 5 Stars all the way.

Tag was the rebel cowboy, who lives wild in the saddle and on the seat of a motorcycle. But a when he meets Nikki and gets to more about her, the Live Like you were Dying attitude began to change for him. Nikki had to grow up and work hard to get where she is with her career as an RN. Her life was not the care free one that Tag lived. Their life was about to change when Tag’s and Nikki’s past comes back to haunt them. Tag’s not in a good way ,and Nikki as a complete surprise. The attraction between them began to grow and mature into a life they both knew they wanted. She is drawn to that ‘little twinkle’ in his baby blues and he is drawn to her warmth and caring heart. Two hearts that did not understand love and lasting relationships were on the path to forever.
We have input from the Fab5 which gives laughter and warmth to the story along with many of Tag and Nikki’s family and friends to give more life to the story. Carolyn Brown knows how to draw her readers in by creating characters who we want to be friends with and of course fall in love with a cowboy and live HEA.

Thank you to the publisher and Negalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Book Info

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: May 28th 2019 by Forever

ISBN 1538748711 (ISBN13: 9781538748718)
Edition Language English
Series Longhorn Canyon #4
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


The next heartwarming romance in this USA Today bestselling series proves it's tough to resist a sexy cowboy with a Texas drawl and heart of gold! Includes a bonus novella by Annie Rains!

A WILD COWBOY WITH A BIG HEART
Ever since losing his best friend in a motorcycle accident, Taggart Baker wants to make every moment count. No dare is too dangerous, no adventure too crazy for this cowboy. But after one bad brush with the law, he realizes it's time to ditch his hooligan friends and grow up. Now he's running his own ranch next to the Longhorn Canyon spread in Texas. Still, no one would ever call him tame.


Nikki Grady has worked too hard for her RN license just to throw it away for some reckless cowboy who shows up in her emergency room after a barroom brawl. But she can't help being drawn to Tag's sense of humor and those crystal blue eyes. The more time they spend together, the more she sees his good heart. But just as Tag seems ready to settle down for good, his troubled past comes calling-and this time he won't be able to walk away so easily.

Includes the bonus novella A Wedding on Lavender Hill by Annie Rains: When an event planner is asked to create the perfect wedding in just three days, she must turn to the last person she wants to ask for help -- the infuriating owner of the house on the hilltop.
My Thoughts


This being the 4th book in a series means there is a full cast of characters from previous 3 and back stories that I have not read, nor did I really miss out on doing so.

Did however not feel as connected with Tag and Nikki being a serious couple until really late in the story, at which point embraced them together wholeheartedly and with very little reservations.

To tell the truth for me this presented no real problem as Cowboy Rebel is all about the relationship that develops with Tag Baker and Nikki Grady, with friends and family members helping flesh out the book along the way.

As with every one of this particular authors offerings the small town feel, the family and friends relationships and the general bad boy/good girl pairing feel right and made the read enjoyable as well as easy to relate to.

The only drawback in this case however was the “drama” which was used to prove to Tag his former devil-may-care days are definitely behind him and Nikki was his future instead.

Annie Rains novella, "A Wedding On Lavender Hill", was too short but a nice story despite that and it could not stand on it's own unless in an anthology so it was nice to be an addition at the end of the first read.

I have never read anything by this particular author and found myself captured by the premise, the characters and the actual story execution as it unfolded.

For me this was a very simple, easy to follow romance that gave the reader a reason to smile and laugh throughout and ended on a beautiful positive note as well.

Again too short but very well set up and played out for me.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Taggert Baker is a cowboy with a past and would like said past to stay there. When a bar fight lands him in the ER, he knows the only woman her wants to see is Nikki Grady. As a ER nurse, Nikki isn't surprised to see the man of her dreams waiting to be stitched up in the ER. As these two grow close both of their pasts are bearing down on them and its time to confront them. This book was amazing. Carolyn Brown is one if my favorite authors and I absolutely love her books.

“Rebel Cowboy” by Carolyn Brown

I got a copy of this book from my friends at Net Galley in order to review this novel in advance. I will say that I have never read a book by Carolyn Brown, but have read my fair share of Western Contemporary Romance.

The story is set in Texas where Taggart Baker and his twin brother, Hudson have returned to their home town after purchasing a ranch. They purchased a ranch adjacent to their newly married sister - Emily-who plays a significant role in this book. Tag has a history of being wild and getting himself in trouble and in the first chapter we see him get into some trouble of his own at a bar, which lands him in the ER. Where local nurse, Nikki Grady runs into him. Nikki is Emily’s best friend and has been the only woman to turn down Tag’s advances, claiming that his wild ways were too much for her to handle.

The pair had a fun and flirtatious banter throughout the novel. Both are struggling with their own issues of their past. Tag struggles to put behind his bad boy ways and cope with the loss of his friend, Duke, in a motorcycle accident. Eventually, Tag’s past comes back to bite him in the arse and throws Nikki into the middle of chaos.

Nikki also has her own struggles and we are exposed to her mother Wilma throughout the course of the novel. Nikki is a complex character and I believe that the numerous traumas she has faced added to the story and kept my attention throughout the course of the book. At time, I felt like she should just put her mother behind her because the relationship was toxic for her. But I got a clear understanding of her thoughts about her relationship with her mother. For both Nikki and Tag, grief and loss is a common theme that binds them at pivotal points throughout the book.

I have to say, the reference to all the country songs in the book wasn’t really my cup of tea and I thought it to be a bit immature. I will admit there were times where I physically rolled my eyes. However, there was definitely some juxtaposition between the immature banter and the serious topics that Tag and Nikki faced.

Overall, the plot and characters were well developed and there was definite leeway for more books in this series. I would continue on with the series as there are several other characters, such as Hud and the Callan boys that I would like to see more of. It was a well written book and an entertaining read.

An outstanding book depicting that family can be more than blood. Taggart Baker was a wild one and coveted that until he met and started pursuing his sister's friend Nikki Grady. She was the first woman that ever told him no! When his past comes back to harm Nikki he realizes that he isn't good enough for her. Wondering if they will ever get over the mental hurdles they each have to even make a relationship work.
Such an emotional and enjoyable read.

A charming country boy tale high on romance and low on steam. A nurse and a cowboy get together after some wooing with the formulaic conflict that eventually brings them closer. Peppered with country song references adds a pleasing soundtrack to the story. Will the cowboy continue his quest to live like he was dying as the Tim McGraw song references or will he settle down?

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Cowboy Rebel is an interesting story with many twists and turns. There are cowboys, rodeo, bad boy, romance, family, love, danger, suspense and medicine. Something for everyone. I liked the characters, most of which were easy to like, with a few that were just plain mean, others had various issues. The story is not what I would describe as a page turner, but was some what predictable. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange my honest review. Thank you.

Tag worries about his woman, “not worth a damn. Kept waking up and worrying about you. You could let me stay at your place or you could stay in the cabin, just to help me out,” I liked this book, I loved Tag.

Cowboy Rebel – Carolyn Brown
Fourth in the Longhorn Canyon Series
Cowboy Rebel...it fits gorgeous, sexy Taggart Baker once upon a time, but as he got older, he didn't look for trouble as much as it found him.
Tag and his brother Hud bought a ranch next to their sister Emily and her new hubby Justin Maguire, bringing two cousins to help make it profitable.
This sweet western romance combines alpha Tag with sweet practical nurse Nikki..When a mistake from his past endangers her, nothing will stop him from getting to her side.
This tale has sweetness, steam and humor, and ended long before I wanted it to end.
A Wedding On Lavender Hill – Annie Rains
Party planner Claire Donovan is building her business and an important wedding she's working on will help build her reputation, but the bride and groom skipped out on the planning session due to premature labor, and she has to deal with the groom's son. They spent a night together after a wedding, no sex, but she thought their was a connection...til he left town. Now they have to put it all aside to make the wedding happen.
During the planning the feelings he tried to deny push to the surface and she eventually gives him a second chance. Sweet contemporary romance
I received a NetGalley Arc to my delight.

A thoroughly engrossing story to totally loose yourself in...being swept away to the hot Texas desert along with a tall sexy cowboy and kickass heroine, who also share palpable chemistry, is not a bad way to while away some time. With a bit of mystery, a tension filled and harrowing kidnapping, and several heartbreaking moments this is one of this author’s finest stories. Definitely one that’ll stay with me long after the story has ended.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Longhorn Canyon series. I'm really enjoying this series and this book. I'm a big fan of small town romance, and this one is great. Very enjoyable and engaging. Highly recommended!

Cowboy Rebel continues the author’s Longhorn Canyon series, this time focusing on bad boy Tag Baker and nurse Nikki Grady. Tag’s motto has always been incorporated in Tim McGraw’s song, “Live Like You Were Dying.” The two who had met earlier in the year at a wedding see each other again when Tag ends up in ER after a bar altercation. Both are dealing with past hurts, the loss of loved ones, and neither is particularly trusting, but fate might have other plans. Tag is trying to reform his life since he and twin, Hudson bought their ranch, but the group he formerly ran with isn’t ready to let him go, setting the scene for an exciting read. Carolyn Brown always is a must buy author who’s vivid imagination and excellent writing creates characters you feel an instant affinity to...especially if you are familiar with small country towns. Her stories are about friendship, family, church, shared meals and country music. I love that she always finds a way to relate the lyrics of selected songs to whatever is transpiring in her stories. “Live Like You Were Dying” references spending 8 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu, and that certainly is on Tag’s bucket list! A Wedding On Lavender Hill by Annie Rains is attached at the end of Cowboy Rebel as a bonus. It is a sweet second chance novella about an event planner and the son of the groom whose wedding she has been given three days to organize. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.

COWBOY REBEL by Carolyn Brown is a sweet small town romance. Tag is a long time ladies man, with no previous long term relationship experience. Nikki is his sister's best friend and the only woman to say 'no'. Molly's been living in her own since eighteen years old. She's put herself through school and is a RN at the hospital. Tag is a cowboy and rodeo man, ready for making some changes in his life. Nikki and Tag are drawn to each other. They both need some closure with their past before they can fully commit to each other.