Three cousins become cowboys when an unexpected inheritance leaves them with a ranch—and a future as wide open as the California sky . . . Sawyer Dalton may be an investigative journalist, but he has no interest in the story of the sexy stranger who has invaded his barn’s loft apartment on Dry Creek Ranch. After months on the road, he just wants to settle in. But according to his mother, … publicist for the beautiful celebrity chef sleeping in Sawyer’s bed, Gina DeRose needs a place to hide out until a scandal dies down. And Sawyer can never say no to his mother . . . Gina is devastated that her hard-won career is about to collapse. Someone is stirring up sabotage. And when a hoaxter blows up the internet with incriminating photos, even brooding—gorgeous—Sawyer is convinced she needs his help. Once they join forces, there’s no escaping each other—and with the heat simmering between them, soon neither wants to try . . . “Stacy Finz delivers a fantastic tale of cowboys, cattle rustling and the power of love and family in the California gold country.” –Kate Pearce, New York Times bestselling author on Cowboy Up
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Love these Daltons, they’re all hot, hunky, and honorable. This, the 3rd book, features Sawyer, a Dalton cousin, who grew up in L.A., but always felt a deep connection to the Dry Creek Ranch where he spent summers with his granddad and his cousins while growing up.
He’s a freelance journalist, travels often, but now calls Dry Creek Ranch home. He has a beautiful converted barn to house he lives in and is pretty content. Until he comes back from a trip finds a strange car in HIS garage, and his very own Goldilocks. Oh this was good!
Gina, bless her heart, is the victim of the Hollywood blather at the moment and needs a place to hide out. Sawyer doesn’t want anything to do with her or her recipe for drama, but, dang can she cook, she’s also smoking hot, down to earth, and not at all what he first thought.
They need to clear her name, and it’s quite an entertaining read!
They also need to keep the ranch running in the black.
The Dry Creek Ranch series rather depicts real life, real ranches with the real problems of trying to stay afloat by adapting however they must.
I enjoyed this read a lot, a few tiny spots got predictable, but still worth reading.
When Gina De Rose’s life fell apart, Dry Creek Ranch became her refuge. Returning home from an overseas assignment, Sawyer Dalton arrives to find a strange woman living in his apartment. His mother Wendy, a public relations expert, sent Gina to stay in his apartment believing that he was still overseas. Gina’s culinary show and multi-million business may be over as she has been accused of having an affair and ruining a friend’s marriage. Sawyer has no liking for Gina, but as he gets to know her, he admires the way she is trying to regain control of her life and career. An enjoyable contemporary western romance as Gina and Sawyer, along with his cousins Jace and Cash continue searching for Sawyer’s missing sister Angie. Is there a chance that this city girl can learn to love life on the ranch? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Book #3 in the Dry Creek Ranch series does not disappoint. Stacy Finz always creates hunky heroes that save the day. Her female characters are strong and independent but welcome a little help from a handsome cowboy. Beautifully crafted story full of mystery and romance with just a touch of sizzle.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a book that was offered to me from the publisher – I had originally heard about the book from the author’s newsletter. I took a chance on a new author and I wasn’t disappointed!
I enjoyed the book and the plot. Gina and Sawyer were perfect together. I really think I’d like to go back and read the previous two books about the other cousins.
Cowboys, drama, the strength of family and friends, culinary delights, chemistry, a touch of mystery – wrap these together and we have a captivating visit to Dry Creek Ranch. This book is filled with tension and passion, a few laughs, a few tears, it’s heartwarming, and is a compelling read. I loved it!
This is the third in the Dry Creek Ranch and Dalton cousin’s series, and it is Sawyer Dalton’s story.
Sawyer, an investigative journalist and cowboy comes head to head with chef and TV personality Gena DeRose. The two lock horns to start with, but they don’t say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach for nothing. Let the fun times begin.
As we watch the relationship between Sawyer and Gina develop, those of us that are totally invested in the Dalton cousins, also get to follow their stories, and what’s happening to save the ranch.
It was a hard to put down book from the first page, and I inhaled it way too fast. I just hope there’s one more book in the series, that gives us Angie’s story.
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. This is a series you want to get behind and it is a standalone read so you can pick up anyone of the three out and start reading. This one about Sawyer and Gina and what they go through. A book that keeps your interest.
Sawyer so did not expect to see sexy cook in his home after coming home from a business trip. Gina is hiding after scandal on Dry Creek Ranch and trying to save her image and everything she worked for. Although the first few encounters are not positive Gina and Swayer together with the gang start to work together as a team. Deeper emotions start to develop but while they act on them? Another great read from the Dry Creek Ranch.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley
This is my first time reading this author and though I did like the writing per se, my problem with the story begins at the beginning and with the title. “Cowboy Strong” is a good title the problem for me is the way Sawyer treated Gina DeRosa at the beginning. No cowboy by the true meaning or gentleman would have taken her in the middle of the night and left her at a cabin even if it was on their property. One he did not know the condition of the inside of it and two he left her with nothing. I understand it is a story but I just could not get past what he did and yet he wanted to be a cowboy, he wasn’t even a gentleman. Then you have him constantly saying that Gina is spoiled when in my opinion he was the one that was spoiled and arrogant, that was my take.
He immediately believes all of the press about her and thinks she is guilty without really looking at everything. When he finally starts to look at what is being said about her, he begins to believe what she is saying that she is innocent. Of course, by then he is eating the food that she has been making and he is warming up to the idea that she is more than just the person that has a cooking show.
Another part of this story has Sawyer looking for his missing sister and you get a look into that investigation as well. You do find out what happens with Gina, with the ranch and what all of them are going to do with it to make it profitable, what happens to the ranch next to theirs that is for sale who will buy it? Theses questions and a few others will all be answered. Even with my dislike at the beginning, the story improved and so I decided to give it 4 stars instead of three. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Love the story and it was a good read
Left a review on iBooks after reading!!
Ms. Finz has become one of my favorite authors, and I always look forward to her upcoming releases. She is an amazing storyteller and Cowboy Strong continues in that tradition. Although this is the third book from the Dry Creek series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Gina DeRose is a celebrity chef. In addition to hosting a very popular cooking show, she is the spokesperson for a major appliance manufacturer, and markets her own brand flawlessly. Gina’s business acumen is on par with her culinary expertise. Then one day the life she has worked so hard for crumbles, and as a result, she goes into hiding while it all gets sorted out. Gina’s temporary home is on the Dry Creek Ranch.
Sawyer Dalton is a journalist, and he travels all over the world for his work. The topics that he writes about are meaningful, and in high demand by many prestigious publications. In addition, he and his two cousins own the Dry Creek Ranch. Their grandfather left it to them when he passed away. Needless to say, Sawyer has a lot on his plate. He loves ranch life as much as he loves his day job. He and Gina share an instant chemistry, which slowly evolves into much more.
Cowboy Strong is a quick-paced story with well-defined and exciting characters. Gina and Sawyer are easy to get to know, and there was never a moment that I did not want them to be together. The secondary characters and subplots are interesting and add a lot of intricacy to the story. If you are looking for a contemporary romance with a bit of suspense, an engaging plot, and a happily ever after that will leave a smile on your face, read this book.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
This is a smash-up story of the City Girl and the Country Boy, except she is a wealthy tv star and he is a rancher who is also a world traveling journalist. I really enjoyed Gina and Sawyer, their family and friends, and revisiting Dry Creek Ranch (Cowboy Up and Cowboy Tough). The fall of a foodie star, sass, and sabotage make this a book that is hard to put down. There is humor, some steam (in the kitchen – and out), and some interesting twists that make this a fun read.
Cowboy Strong by Stacy Finz
Dry Creek Ranch #3
What an interesting story! Definitely NOT the usual boy meets girl, few ups and downs and then a happily ever after. Nope…this time when two people meet they make split second assumptions that place the other person in a box they clap the lid on tightly thinking that their assumption will NEVER change…well… you know what they say happens when you do that!
What I liked:
* Sawyer: a man who loves his home, job, and family. He is not easily taken in. He is slow to movme but once moved cares deeply. He is also on the hunt for his missing sister.
* Gina DeRose: smart, savvy, rich, and dealing with negative publicity that she would really like to bury. She might be on the cusp of some major changes in her life
* Dry Creek Ranch: a place where cousins have come to keep the family cowboy-ranching legacy alive.
* The Dalton cousins: good men who know right from wrong and when they find their woman…stick tight
* The community: there for one another and a place I would like to live
* That both male and female lead “changed” in positive ways through the book
* The mystery of who leaked the naughty photos and how it all was resolved in the end
* The smiles that I wore from time to time – this story did make me smile 🙂
* Wondering if perhaps there will be more books in the series…even though the three cousins are settled…there might be a way to have another story or two 🙂
What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded of how cutthroat some people can be
* Realizing, again, that some people should not be parents
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley And Kensington Lyrica Shine for the ARC – This is m honest review.
5 Stars
Solid 4.5 star
Ohh how I loved the dynamic between Sawyer and Gina they really did seem to love to hate each other when they first met. You get drawn in as you slowly learn more about them both and see they both have hang ups from when they were younger and see they actually have quiet few things in common and it doesn’t hurt that Sawyer gets free delicious food to eat in exchange for letting her use his kitchen, then the twist of Gina’s scandal and trying to work out is it real and if not who is behind it and why! There are some great laugh out load moments as well as reflective and finally working out what you want parts that have you needing to see them together but not knowing if how different their lives are will make it impossible!!!
Cowboy Strong is the third book in this wonderful series. Sawyer and Gina. were interesting characters that pulled me in and kept my attention until the end. If they could just be open and honest with each other they would be a great couple. I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderful series.
This is my favorite book in this series. It was such fun to be back at Dry Creek Ranch to read about Sawyer’s story. I liked how Sawyer met Gina and how they each riled the other one. Clearly opposites attract because their sparring turned into sparks they both wanted to ignore. I also liked that there were several story lines within the book
It was interesting learning more about Sawyer’s sister, Angie who disappeared five years ago and has not been heard from since. I also liked the intricate story of Gina and her tabloid fiasco. It was fascinating. Gina’s character seemed so real, struggling to believe in herself due to her mother’s dreams and how Gina never felt good enough. Gina seemed tough on the outside but fragile on the inside. I enjoyed watching her acclimate herself to the ranch which she hated, and how she usually got lost driving. It made the story funny at times.
I was so glad characters from the other books in the series were in this one too. I really liked the closeness this family had and how family and the ranch were important to all of them for generations to come. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Dry Creek Ranch in southern California has been in the Dalton family for four generations. But toward the end of their grandfather’s life, it was harder to keep the working cow-calf operation going, especially with the high property taxes. Hot Dalton cousins Sawyer, Jace and Cash inherited the ranch and the debts and have been working through the series to come up with ideas to save their inheritance. Meanwhile, in the first two books, Jace, the town sheriff, and Cash, former FBI and now an investigator for the Bureau of Livestock Identification found their mates. This is Sawyer’s story.
Sawyer is a investigative reporter. He comes home from an assignment to find his home occupied by Gina DeRosa, owner of a culinary empire, and a food show. She has been accused of having an affair with the husband of another food show celebrity and hired Sawyer’s parents’ publicity firm. His mother, thinking he was going to be out of town, had stashed her in his home to lay low and away from the paparazzi. At first the two are like oil and water. Gina has abandonment and Mommy issues and Sawyer has no interest in relationships. But they start to grow on each other and soon Gina becomes friends with Jace and Cash’s women, rediscovers her love of cooking and finds comfort with Sawyer. They make a fun couple with lots of easy banter and chemistry. But can they get over their issues and actually speak to each other honestly? And will the cousins finally find out what happen to Sawyer’s missing sister, Angie? This is a fun read, cooking info included and I recommend the whole series.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Cowboy Strong by Stacy Finz is the third in the Dry Creek Ranch series. The series features the Dalton boys: Sawyer, Jace, and Cash who are struggling to keep the ranch they inherited from their grandfather afloat. Sawyer Dalton is a well-respected journalist who spends much of his time traveling, either researching for a book or for one of his many articles. He has just returned from London on a 14-hour flight to discover that he has a guest in his loft at the ranch. And this guest is messy and kind of obnoxious. It turns out she is a high-profile client of his mother’s who sent her here to hide from the press. Plus, she is persona non grata for cheating with a married man (and getting caught), which is nothing Sawyer can admire.
These books are the stuff romance is made of: hot cowboys hesitant to fall in love; wounded women unwilling to trust; and gorgeous scenery. Sawyer is the best looking of the bunch, hard to accomplish given how good they all look. He is the oldest and most set in his ways, as well. Gina has very low self-esteem, cultivated for many years by her now-deceased mother. They are not a match made in heaven. In fact, when Sawyer realizes he is falling for her, he is mad about it. Their lives don’t seem to mesh at all. Another endearing thing about this series is that there are several subplots that wend their way through all three books, subtle but important. This was a good ending for the series, if not a little too well-arranged. Doesn’t matter. I love this series. I love this book. I guess you figured out: I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of Cowboy Strong from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #cowboystrong
This is Sawyer and Gina’s story and the beginning is so much fun – he comes home from a business trip to find her in his bed and has no idea who she is – wonderful writing makes you feel/see the buildings and surroundings – I received a net galley copy