Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates (Copper Ridge #1)
Released: March 31, 2015
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin

Reviewed by Mandi

I adored this book! A grumpy hero, a heroine who knew he was grumpy and gave him a hard time about it, and the book made me laugh out loud a few times. I read it pretty much in one sitting and I’m going to recommend it to you all.

Sadie had some rebellious times as a teenager, and was even arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct when she was seventeen. After graduating high school, she fled her small hometown and traveled all over the United States, becoming a therapist and eventually landing in San Diego. But Sadie is ready to really settle down, and when she finds a property that is perfect to open a bed and breakfast back in her hometown of Copper Ridge, she jumps at the chance. But her return to Copper Ridge is  not welcomed by all.

Eli is the deputy sheriff of Copper Ridge, he is also the man who ten years ago arrested Sadie on that drunken night. When she comes back to town, he immediately starts to give her a hard time.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“No. Why would you make me nervous?”

“Criminals do seem to get nervous around the badge. =”

She frowned. “I am not a criminal. I am a licensed therapist in eight…no, nine states.”

“With a criminal record.”

“I was a minor.”

“No arrests since then?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then…I’m free to go.”

“Except that you’re out of gas,” he pointed out. Again.

“Well, you’re free to go, then.”

He remembers her flippant attitude and the chaos she would leave behind at parties. Eli is not only the deputy sheriff, but also works on his family ranch, along with his brother Connor and sister Kate. (reference the title, “Part Time Cowboy.”) Eli is very uptight – he likes things proper, done a specific way and everything in his place. His brother’s beloved wife died in a car accident not too long ago, so Eli has to deal with a grief-stricken and very depressed brother all the time. He also has to keep an eye on his twenty-one year old sister – let’s just say, Eli has a lot on his plate. When he discovers his brother has leased the bed and breakfast property to Sadie for five years, he almost explodes. The chaotic Sadie is not only returning to Copper Ridge, but plopping herself down on his ranch property, and making changes left and right, which is almost too much for him to bear. There is also that pesky lust feeling that grows between them.

Eli and Sadie are such a great match. I remember looking down at my kindle and seeing I was about 15% in and thinking that they already have great chemistry together and nothing had even really happened yet. That is the sigh on an excellent romance. Eli is uptight, grumpy, growly and serious. Sadie had matured quite a bit from her crazy teenage years, but she has a wicked sense of humor and immediately knows how to get under Eli’s skin. She comes to the bed and breakfast property with a very solid plan, and although it’s a lot for a single person to accomplish, she forges ahead and starts to make changes which upsets Eli quite a bit. But he grudgingly starts to help her and although he really doesn’t want to fall for Sadie, he can’t help it – and isnt’ that the most fun kind of romance?

“You have to stop sneaking up on me. I’ve been in town less than twenty-four hours and I think you’ve scared a grand total of twenty-five minutes off my life.”

“Somehow I think you’ll be fine without them.”

“Says you. That’s an entire sitcom’s worth of life you just cost me. Now my plans of watching one final episode of Friends before I go to meet my maker are completely dashed.”

“Do you need help?” he asked patiently.

“Do you ever laugh, because that was funny.”

“Rarely. NOt as rarely as my brother. But rarely.”

Sadie starts to realize there is much more to Eli than an uptight cop who likes to bring up the fact he arrested her time and time again. He is actually a man – a real man – under that uniform.

He had dirt on his chest. His hairy, masculine, muscular chest.

He’d looked so clean in that uniform of his. Like he ironed it directly onto his body so that it would form straight to his physique and never wrinkle. And he looked good in it.

But never had she imagined that there was something so raw and manly underneath it all. He was downright…rough and uncivilized beneath all that law and order.

They start a “sex only” relationship – and let me tell you – for as uptight Eli is during the day – get him in the bedroom and whoa baby. Eli likes to be in charge and in control and Sadie is just fine with that.

The supporting characters are also really wonderful. Connor is dealing with losing his wife and his grief and annoyance at everyone and everything is done really well. Kate is a sweet girl who gets annoyed with having two older brothers – but her and Sadie bond fast

This book made me laugh out loud more than once. I love a book that is super sexy, and also makes me laugh.

Great chemistry and a great romance. Really fun to read. Dying for Connor’s book.

Grade: A

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