Review: Stone Cold Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan (Montana Men #4)
Note: This ARC was provided by Avon Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Goodness, but it's been a fantastic week as far as book series are concerned, whether they be a series starter or the newest addition to a series that I've already become addicted to. The latest case in point is the fourth full-length novel in the Montana Men series from bestselling author Jennifer Ryan, and the first one to feature a new set of brothers, the Kendricks--Stone Cold Cowboy. Rory Kendrick has always taken the responsibility of being the oldest to heart, putting in more than his fair share of making sure the family-owned ranch, his grandfather, and his two younger brothers were doing well. When he discovers a rising number of cattle disappearing from their land, the last thing he expected to find while following horse tracks was Sadie Higgins hanging from a tree nearly naked with barbed wire binding her and wounds bleeding out. Rory's protective instincts kick in and he wants nothing more than to find the men who hurt the Sadie. There's a strong connection between them, and soon they're feelings become so much more, but will Rory even be able to consider a future with Sadie when one of the people he needs to keep her safe from happens to be the younger brother whose numerous mistakes she's been paying for for many years.
That first chapter had me at the edge of my seat and it set the tone in as far as the suspense thriller aspect of the story was concerned. Sadie's predicament is an easy one to sympathize with, what with a drug-addicted brother who appears to have to devolved from a mere user to an actually producer of illegal drugs. She wants to protect him, an instinct that's been a part of who she is, but even I was dumbstruck with what he did--or didn't do--in chapter one. And just like Sadie, I kept wishing that Connor would come to his senses. She's had no one to rely on ever since she took on the responsibility of caring for her father, her brother, and their household--which included their ranch--so when Rory comes along, it's as if she still needs to give herself permission to lean on him. It seems as if they grow to care about and love each other in such a short span of time, but both Rory and Sadie appear to have been found one another at the perfect point in their lives. And I can't say enough good things about Rory. He came off as silent and brooding, but there was so much more behind his standoffish demeanor and Sadie was the right person to see beyond what everyone else saw. Rory and Sadie have become my favorite Montana Men couple so far.
Aside from Rory and Sadie, the other Kendricks men captured my attention as well, and yes, that includes Grandpa Sammy, who was sweet and wanted his grandsons to find happiness and contentment. The youngest Kendricks brother, Colt, was featured a bit more than middle brother Ford, especially since it's pretty clear he's going to be paired up with Luna, Sadie's best friend and someone he appears to have somewhat of a past with. Then there are the Cooke brothers, Caden and Beck, and while I know that Caden is going to have a novella thanks to my interview with Jennifer Ryan, which you can check out via my book and author spotlight, I'm more curious about Beck, who made more of an impression as far as I was concerned. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that he'll get his own story told sooner or later. The Montana Men series has made a fan out of me and the author's earlier series, The McBrides and Hunted, are already on my to-be-read list, plus I'm looking forward to reading Colt's and Ford's stories later this year and next year. While Stone Cold Cowboy is part of an on-going series, it can be read separately from the four books that came before it, although the Bowden brothers have good stories to tell too. Five stars. ♥
Goodness, but it's been a fantastic week as far as book series are concerned, whether they be a series starter or the newest addition to a series that I've already become addicted to. The latest case in point is the fourth full-length novel in the Montana Men series from bestselling author Jennifer Ryan, and the first one to feature a new set of brothers, the Kendricks--Stone Cold Cowboy. Rory Kendrick has always taken the responsibility of being the oldest to heart, putting in more than his fair share of making sure the family-owned ranch, his grandfather, and his two younger brothers were doing well. When he discovers a rising number of cattle disappearing from their land, the last thing he expected to find while following horse tracks was Sadie Higgins hanging from a tree nearly naked with barbed wire binding her and wounds bleeding out. Rory's protective instincts kick in and he wants nothing more than to find the men who hurt the Sadie. There's a strong connection between them, and soon they're feelings become so much more, but will Rory even be able to consider a future with Sadie when one of the people he needs to keep her safe from happens to be the younger brother whose numerous mistakes she's been paying for for many years.
That first chapter had me at the edge of my seat and it set the tone in as far as the suspense thriller aspect of the story was concerned. Sadie's predicament is an easy one to sympathize with, what with a drug-addicted brother who appears to have to devolved from a mere user to an actually producer of illegal drugs. She wants to protect him, an instinct that's been a part of who she is, but even I was dumbstruck with what he did--or didn't do--in chapter one. And just like Sadie, I kept wishing that Connor would come to his senses. She's had no one to rely on ever since she took on the responsibility of caring for her father, her brother, and their household--which included their ranch--so when Rory comes along, it's as if she still needs to give herself permission to lean on him. It seems as if they grow to care about and love each other in such a short span of time, but both Rory and Sadie appear to have been found one another at the perfect point in their lives. And I can't say enough good things about Rory. He came off as silent and brooding, but there was so much more behind his standoffish demeanor and Sadie was the right person to see beyond what everyone else saw. Rory and Sadie have become my favorite Montana Men couple so far.
Aside from Rory and Sadie, the other Kendricks men captured my attention as well, and yes, that includes Grandpa Sammy, who was sweet and wanted his grandsons to find happiness and contentment. The youngest Kendricks brother, Colt, was featured a bit more than middle brother Ford, especially since it's pretty clear he's going to be paired up with Luna, Sadie's best friend and someone he appears to have somewhat of a past with. Then there are the Cooke brothers, Caden and Beck, and while I know that Caden is going to have a novella thanks to my interview with Jennifer Ryan, which you can check out via my book and author spotlight, I'm more curious about Beck, who made more of an impression as far as I was concerned. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that he'll get his own story told sooner or later. The Montana Men series has made a fan out of me and the author's earlier series, The McBrides and Hunted, are already on my to-be-read list, plus I'm looking forward to reading Colt's and Ford's stories later this year and next year. While Stone Cold Cowboy is part of an on-going series, it can be read separately from the four books that came before it, although the Bowden brothers have good stories to tell too. Five stars. ♥
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Read my reviews of the Montana Men series:
Can't Wait (prequel novella) - four stars - My Review
At Wolf Ranch (book one) - 4.5 stars - My Review
When It's Right (book two) - four stars - My Review
Her Lucky Cowboy (book three) - 4.5 stars - My Review
Stone Cold Cowboy (book four) - five stars - My Review (posted above)
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At Wolf Ranch (book one) - 4.5 stars - My Review
When It's Right (book two) - four stars - My Review
Her Lucky Cowboy (book three) - 4.5 stars - My Review
Stone Cold Cowboy (book four) - five stars - My Review (posted above)
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Release Date: 23 February 2016
Date Read: 17 February 2016
Learn more about Jennifer Ryan.
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