She’s been left before, so now she does the leaving. Can he convince her to stay?
Maddie Faulkner can’t seem to find a place to call home, even in her twenties. Getting attached only makes it hurt more when she has to leave. And leaving is inevitable. For now, she’s back on the ranch she loved as a child, and desperate to conceal any connection to the crimes of her parents.
Lucas Harding … parents.
Lucas Harding doesn’t know what to make of the new horse hand at Blackwater Ranch. She’s got walls he can’t seem to charm his way past. But they share a love of horses and a deeper connection he can’t explain.
The last thing Maddie should do is let down her guard. He’ll hate her when he finds out why she left Blackwater Ranch the first time. But when the time comes to say goodbye, her heart might be too attached to leave.
An inspirational story filled with promise and hope.
Charmed by the Cowboy is the second book in the Blackwater Ranch series, but the books can be read in any order.
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Maddie has closed off her heart because of childhood trauma.
Lucas longs to make her feel safe enough to share her burden with him.
As they spend time together, he goes from being attracted to her, to falling in love.
This was a sweet story, a bit angsty, but it’s all internal struggles. I love how the family comes together through all things,
Okay so this was a cute one. I had read Remembering the Cowboy and I found Lucas really enjoyable. I was super excited to see that he had his own book, I knew that I had to read it. Charmed by the Cowboy is the second book in Mandi Blake’s Blackwater Ranch series.
I always like Ms. Blake’s characters, they feel real to me. Maddie Faulkner and Lucas Harding were no different. Maddie had always wanted a place to belong, she just wanted a room that she could rest in. She left Blackwater Ranch years ago, rushed away in secret by her parents but God has brought her back. Lucas Harding hides his true feelings behind his easy going personality. But inside he is lonely and searching for a person who could complete him. He finds horses easier to be around then people, but then he meets Maddie and before he knows it she has broken him in.
Maddie was fearful because of her past but she was also strong. She had self-esteem problems and trust issues because of her parents. She tried so hard to not let people in, but Lucas managed to sneak his way in past her walls. God put her positions where she had to learn to lean on God and others for help. She had to let herself be vulnerable. She found peace in caring for her horse, Daisy but also in working with Lucas. But she will have to work past her fear of letting people in if she wants to build a relationship with Lucas.
I really like the type of guys that Ms. Blake writes. They are kind but not pushovers. Lucas was a sweetheart but he stood up for those he loved. He really enjoyed caring for the horses of the ranch, he just wanted to make his parents proud. At first Maddie intrigued him because she tried to shut him out, but as he spent time with her it grew into love. He wanted to protect Maddie and show her she is worth loving. He had to figure out how to love her on her terms and care for this broken woman who just wanted a home.
Maddie and Lucas needed to rely on God most of all. He was the one to lead and sustain them. I really liked reading about Blackwater Ranch and the characters you get to meet. It is always fun to read about siblings interacting. I loved the warm and friendly way they were portrayed. They seemed like a real family.
Charmed by the Cowboy was a wonderful book! I loved the characters and reading about them falling in love. They felt like real people with real problems. I would totally recommend it! Charmed by the Cowboy is a clean, Christian, contemporary romance.
Maddie and Lucas had as opposite of childhoods as two people could have. Lucas had a happy functional family that loved him but even happy people can have insecurities. Maddie didn’t really have a childhood until she was 10 and went to live with her aunt but even that one didn’t come with a white picket fence and friends. A few years at Blackwater Ranch came the closest to normal for Maddie. Lucas and Maddie had one thing in common, the love of horses. When she comes back to work at Blackwater Ranch it is as if the heavens have opened and told Lucas, this is the one. Now if Maddie just wasn’t too afraid to believe. Mandi Blake has written a fun story with romance, humor and some life lessons. One that spoke to me was when Lucas told Maddie “Jesus didn’t die for you so that you could wonder if you were worthy or good enough.” I look forward to Asher’s time in the spotlight.
This is book 2 in the Blackwater Ranch Series. I loved seeing the characters from the previous book make appearances in this one as well. Those characters were able to help the stars of this book find their Happily Ever After. Through forgiveness and a lot of patience, Lucas and Maddie were able to accept the past and move forward into a great relationship.
I hope I will be able to see these characters again in the next book in the series.
These was a clean, feel-good, Christian romance that is an easy and delightful read. I recommend it to fans of this genre.
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mandi Blake is a wonderful author and I love reading her books.
Charmed by the Cowboy is the 2nd book in the Blackwater Ranch Series but the books can be read as stand alone.
The characters seem so real and you feel their emotions. I recommend this book and Mandi as an author that you must read. Her books are clean Christian romance stories.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author with no expectation to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
A well written, descriptive story of ranch life and learning to trust. A love story of finding out you are just as important to others as you are to God. A childhood of hurt and feeling unimportant from her biological parents has left Maddie reluctant to trust or open her heart and hopes to anyone. By God’s grace, and a return to where she was happiest in her childhood, she finds true worth and love and acceptance.
Loved Maddie and Lucas’s story! Maddie has to learn that God sees her as His child, and as such she is worthy of love and forgiveness, and is NOT responsible for the actions of her parents. Lucas shows her that she is loved and tries to get her to understand she’s not responsible for her parent’s actions, and that though they weren’t proper parents, she’s still ok and others will love her. When she finally realizes that what God, Lucas, and her aunt are telling her, and accepts it, she finds true happiness. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
Maddie takes a job at Blackwater Ranch. Though her parents had worked there when she was young and she knew they had stolen from the family and absconded into the night. The guilt eats at her. Even more so when the entire family welcomes her with open arms. Maddie is hired to take care of the hoses. Lucas’ big love on the ranch are the horses. Lucas and Maddie both have a gift when it comes to horses and it helps them build a bond. Lucas is very taken with Maddie but she is skittish around him. Eventually she learns to trust him and then they begin to fall in love. Sweet Christian love story! Love this family!
Lucas Harding had grown up on his family’s ranch, the Blackwater Ranch. He was a bit of a prankster and had charm that was hard to resist. But, when he met their new employee, Maddie Faulkner, she seemed to have a shell he couldn’t breach with his charm and he was drawn to her.
Maddie had a difficult childhood that had left her scarred and closed off to relationships. Everyone, but her aunt, had left her and she didn’t want to go through the same heartache. Plus, she had history at the Blackwater Ranch. These were people she could love if she could ever let herself do that, but she had a secret that could destroy what could be wonderful. One day it might just blow up for her and she would have to move on.
Lucas was determined to help Maddie see that he could be trusted and he wouldn’t hurt her. He taught her that forgiveness is key to healing. Could Maddie believe what he was saying was true? What if he knew her secret, would that be forgivable or not?
I enjoyed this story and I loved Lucas’ character. He was funny and charming and full of love. He had always known love and he had lots to share if Maddie could ever let him in. There is a slow burn romance with a happy ending. There is also no foul language or “unclean” parts to this story. It isn’t preachy but carries a wonderful message of hope, forgiveness and love. It was a pleasure to read.
I was given arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Maddie has had many homes but none meant as much to the ranch her parents pulled her from when she was a child. She has a chance to go back as an employee and runs into her childhood crush. She is afraid to get close to anyone for fear they will find out about her parents and that she will lose her new job. This is a Christian romance, so no sex or swear words for those that count those things. Discovered that this is book 2 in the Blackwater Ranch series, so I need to go get book 1!
Sweet clean romance with Maddie and Lucas. Growing up has not been easy for Maddie until her aunt took her in but meeting Lucas has her rethinking her future. She never wanted a family because of the heartache in her past but fun loving Lucas is slowly tearing down the walls around her heart. Will Maddie realize that she is worthy of love and Lucas is the man for her?
I thought it was cute that Luke was the the equivalent of the boy that pulls a girl’s pigtails when he and Maddie were young with all his pranks. They share their love of horses and PB&J. I love her funny sayings t-shirts. Luke has such a happy light about him you just can’t help but smile and I could see why he said he’d be a grape. After her awful childhood, Maddie was lucky her eccentric boisterous Aunt Brenda took her, gave her a new life, and helped her heal. This was a sweet and funny Christian romance.
A sweet romance on a ranch with a whole lot of the Harding family and a hurting young lady. I really enjoy the emotional progress she makes during this book and their slow burn relationship.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Enjoyed reading this book. Maddie has a lot of issues to reconcile to allow herself to be open to love. Lucas is a fun loving cowboy that finally meets someone who “gets” him and his connections to horses. Now he just has to convince Maddie he’s here to stay but not scare her away. Maddie has trust in God, but can she trust Lucas?
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
Maddie feels like she has come home. Can an childhood unrequited crush turn a forever love years later? Lucas is such a sweetheart and boy does he feel the pull to Maddie when they “meet”. Of course there is angst and struggles but the ending was amazing. Love this series.
I loved reading Lucas and Mattie’s story. It was well written and held my attention. It’s a sweet clean Christian romance that is full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Maddie shows back up at the Blackwater Ranch that her parents worked at so long ago. She runs into Lucas and of course they hit it off but she has a secret that is tearing her up inside. I love that it is a clean, Christian story with a great message. You don’t find many of those types of stories anymore. Mandi Blake did an amazing job and I will definitely be reading more of her books!