Book Review: The Matchmaker & the Cowboy

I really almost typed 'cowbooty' instead of 'cowboy' and honestly, wouldn't that be something to read, am I right? 

The Matchmaker and the Cowboy - Robin Bielman

Callie Carmichael has a gift for making bridesmaid dresses—some even call them magical. Somehow, every person who’s worn one of her dresses has found love. Real love. And as long as that happily-ever-after is for someone else, Callie is happy. Because she’s fully over getting her heart broken…which is why her new roommate is definitely going to be a problem.

After being overseas for six months, Callie’s only choice is to stay with her best friend’s ridiculously hot brother, Hunter Owens. Cowboy, troublemaker, and right now, the town’s most coveted bachelor. Only, Hunter isn’t quite the player she thought. And if it weren’t for her whole “no more love” thing, their setup could get confusing really fast.

Now, Hunter wants Callie to make him a best man suit—a “lucky for love” kind of suit. But what happens if she makes the suit and he finds true love…and it isn't her?

Who doesn't love a completely awkward, but charming guy? I do, and this one gave me just that. We have Hunter and Callie, who are both helping the other, either by recovering from a fear of falling off of a horse, or from a spider bite, but the chemistry is out of this world. The banter between the two of them is the best, but this is definitely a slow burn romance. When the spark flies, it is definitely there and pretty steamy. 

If you're a fan of a second chance, almost an enemies to lovers (but not really, but kind of) romance, with the banter, this is for you. The entire series is going to be (this is book two, but a complete standalone), because we meet characters throughout the book that I'm pretty sure will come into play with future books. Callie is a strong, independent characters, and you always wonder if she's going to leave but Hunter is clearly a family man, which is obvious from the start, so it feels like there's a forced decision looming, which isn't necessarily my favorite element to a story, but honestly it always seemed obvious what/who Callie would choose.  

If you're a fan of a good, reliable romance I would describe as a steamy Hallmark movie, this one hits it out of the park and then some. I definitely loved this one and I'm looking forward to book 3! Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Entangled Publishing for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. 

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Book Review: The Wedding Crasher & the Cowboy

Hi! I haven't died, I've just been crazy busy but also I haven't felt well at all. I'm starting vestibular therapy or something tomorrow because vertigo sucks, and I've got so many things to update you on. Soon, though! 

The Wedding Crasher & the Cowboy  Robin Bielman

Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée's actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.

Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.

Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life… 

I didn't know I needed this book until I read it and now I want anything Robin Bielman does. I've been in such a reading funk lately and though I've read a few things, and they were good, nothing really hit the spot, you know? Enter in the latest from Robin Bielman and it was all of the things. It was funny, it was sweet, and it was fun. 

It also makes me think maybe I should just crash some weddings and see what happens because I've yet to read a book, or see a movie, where that ends up terribly. Ha! This gave me The Unhoneymooners from Christina Lauren vibes but honestly so much better. I liked that book a lot, but I really loved this one. I'm deciding the enemies to loves trope is probably my absolute favorite and this book completely sealed that for me. I love sassy banter between characters and this nailed it. I love the steamy chemistry so obviously there but everyone is just ignoring it, this has that and more. The book doesn't shy from giving you the feels either, and the fact this book delivers in every way? Maybe in my top five of the year... I loved it that much. 

A huge thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour!! 

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Book Review: Hot Shot

Man. I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I wanted to this weekend, all because I had a couple of pukers here. Whatever the stomach bug is, it appears to hit quickly in the evening hours, you spike a fever, and then you're alright the next day. I mean, you're not eating heavy foods but you aren't puking all day, either. It sucks and its times like this I married a man who is good with bodily fluids because I absolutely am not.

Hot Shot - Robin Bielman

He believes in fate…

Here’s my plan: Crash through the ceiling of my family’s business to become the best hotelier on the West Coast. Nothing rattles me when it comes to a challenge and hard work, but when I spot my almost one-night-stand in my lobby, I’m thrown totally off my game. Alejandra is my dream girl. The one I can’t forget who got away – literally. Which might explain why I blurt out to my meddlesome, matchmaking grandmother that Alejandra is my date for her fast approaching and highly choreographed eightieth birthday party.

She’s been on pause…

Some decisions are harder than others, but agreeing to a date with Drew isn’t one of them. He’s a charming and gorgeous curve ball I didn’t see coming, but the more time we spend together, the harder it is to remember to play it safe. I’ve made a promise, and even though I’m now torn: I have to honor it in order to move on from the past. Drew feels like my future, but I’m about to put everything I want in jeopardy.

Not a very long book, and one that was pretty alright with some definite steamy scenes, it is a stand alone in the American Royalty series. I haven't read any of the other ones but I am assuming these are all similar to a Pretty Woman layout: wealthy man who finds not so wealthy woman, they fall in love, she's hesitant, he isn't, etc.

Things I absolutely loved:

• Drew is really great. I liked him all around, I can't think of anything about him I don't like. He was a perfect match for Alejandra and know if his character were teased in the previous novels, fans would have been waiting for him because he was a really great guy. 
• His grandmother Rosemary- I tell you what, we all  need to be a little like Rosemary as we age. Am I bungee jumping at her age? Probably not but to be the matriarch of the family that she is was pretty good and I really enjoyed her parts in this book. 
• Alejandra was OK for me, not great, but she wasn't the worst either. I liked her level headed approach to things and her commitment to her job and not relying on those around her to keep her afloat. 
• The scenes of them falling in love and being in love were really great and had me rooting for them the whole time. 

Things I didn't love: 

• I felt like maybe the plot got away from the author a couple of times. Some things were mentioned (like her sister's boyfriend essentially being a thief and her sister defending him) and I thought they would end up being a larger part of the plot, especially when we learn about Drew's only other serious relationship and how it ended. I dreaded the end of the book knowing what was likely coming and then.... nothing. It ended up being a bit of a let down. 
• The scene where Alejandra is holding the expensive vase? Yeah, that wasn't brought up at all again and I thought that was weird. I thought Drew and Alejandra would talk about fate more (since it's mentioned on the back cover blurb) and she would mention why she was really holding this vase and no. I don't think the whole fate concept was explored enough and I wish it had been. 
• I wanted more of an "in the future" ending. You guys. A really great epilogue can make or break a book for me. I have to know how things really end up far in the future. I hate trying to connect those dots on my own. I realize this is just me being picky. 
• I will say that although I liked Alejandra, her major conflict here was waiting on her boyfriend of forever to come back to see if they could "re-start" things. Which, I don't know. It felt forced and really kind of sad. You see him in pictures with other girls and you know he's out there living it up and you're just here, hanging with old people and living like a monk? Girl, nobody is attracted to a person who refuses to live life but is content hitting pause and letting time fly by you. Live it up. So that kind of drove me nuts and I felt like Drew deserved more than that. 

I am going to give this one 4 stars because while it didn't go out of the ballpark for me, I did enjoy it and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. I really liked Drew and his family, but I felt like we had a missed opportunity of conflict with Alejandra's twin sister and her boyfriend. If you aren't going to use them, don't mention them. I can see fans of the previous two books absolutely loving this one because the author's voice is really great and the steamy scenes.... they are pretty steamy. Enjoy!

   

A huge thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Robin Bielman for having me on this tour and sending a copy over to me for review! All thoughts are my own, and when you read this, I want to know what you thought about it, too! This post contains affiliate links. Happy reading!