Never Fall in Love with a Cowboy Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot–will not–fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, … glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty.
Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father–Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance’s dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that’s easier said than done . . .
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Sweet, sexy, funny, swoony … all of my favs wrapped up into one entertaining read 🙂
Very enjoyable!
This was my first look at Sara Richardson and the Rocky Mountain Riders series. I really enjoyed the story of Jessa and Lance. I cannot wait to read about the rest of the Cortez brothers and Topaz Falls!!
*I found this story because it was included with Carolyn Brown’s “Luckiest Cowboy of All”.*
4.5 stars
I almost didn’t read this story. Really, I was so tempted to skip it. It often seems the books I’ve been waiting on from the library (both online and brick and mortar) all become ready at the same time. I just have so much I have to get through that I don’t want to end up back on the waiting list for any of them after waiting so long. This story was actually attached to another story I read. For some reason, the copy I got of Luckiest Cowboy of All included both that one and this one. Sara Richardson is a new-to-me author and, although the blurb about this story piqued my interest, I just have too much on my docket. But I’m also bad at leaving books unfinished. So, although I finished the story I intended to read in this book, I couldn’t leave this story unread since it was included in the same book. To sum up this long paragraph, I wasn’t going to read this story but I’m awfully glad I did.
Jessa has such a huge heart. You could even say her heart is a bit gullible. She’s a full-on romantic so tends to romanticize everything around her. Not just in her own life, but also in the lives of those around her. The author wrote her in such a way that she never teetered over into the realm of ditzy and unrealistic though. She is just a very kind and generous person who wants to see everyone around her happy.
Lance has a lot of baggage that he’s never really tried (or cared to) work through. As far as he’s concerned, he has all he needs. Bulls to ride and his family ranch he shares with his father. Why open his heart up only to be disappointed down the road? When he has an itch to scratch there are plenty of buckle bunnies ready and willing to help him out. Although, he doesn’t even care about that so much anymore.
Even though these characters have known each other for years, it’s been in a peripheral way. Their fathers were best friends, but Jessa only spent summers in town while growing up and she is a bit younger than Lance. For his part, Lance was never one to while away his time hanging out with his brothers or their younger friends. In his mind, his past dictated that he take care of business so he pretty much kept everyone around him at arm’s length.
Once these two are thrown into each other’s orbits the sparks fly. Their first real conversation is pretty hilarious, even while being completely embarrassing for Jessa. But the chemistry cannot be denied, even when they both try so hard to ignore the fire.
Lance tends to lash out with his words and he’s beyond lucky that Jessa is, for the most part, pretty understanding and forgiving. Not to say she’s a pushover, because she’s not…even when she wants to give in sometimes. And that’s not to say Jessa doesn’t overstep a time or two, but her intentions are always coming from a place of love and caring. There are so many times there could have been a misunderstanding that one character held against the other. I like that the author didn’t use that crutch and actually had the characters at least try to understand each other on a deeper level.
I will definitely be looking at reading more by this author. Sometimes my very structured tendencies help me to find gems I would have otherwise passed up. This was one of those times. An author that can make me laugh and cry and feel all the feels is my favorite kind of writer.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/hometown-cowboy-book-review/
After watching his mother walk away years ago Lance Cortez developed a bone deep resistance to love, he just doesn’t see the point in it plain and simple, you risk putting yourself out there only to have that person pack up and leave town when things get too tough. So, he’s always put off an unavailable vibe when woman start to get ideas and think he might be interested in them for more than just a night or two. But for the first time in his life he’s met a woman who found a way to sneak under the radar, problem is she has no idea that she’s done it, nor does she seem interested in him at all. The minute he sees Jessa Mae Love in a whole new light he starts to crave her, wants to spend time with her, but she seems to be completely unaware of the vibes he is sending her way…so now he’s forced to get a little creative in order to lure her in!!
Jessa Mae Love is tired of getting her hopes up, thinking her happily ever after is about to happen, and then having the man in her life walk away. Her recent break-up is the last straw, she is done with men, dating, relationships…all of it! She has decided to just focus on her work for now, and take a little break from love, but continue to hold out hope that it will someday find her. But her little “no men” plan takes a hit when sexy bull rider Lance Cortez lures her into his world…
Nobody does small town romances quite like Ms. Richardson, she has a knack for creating these heartfelt stories that pull you in completely from the first chapter, have you instantly taken with her endearing characters by the second, and not ever wanting to leave them by the third! I loved everything about Jessa and Lance’s story, it had moments that touched my heart, moments that left me smiling, and of course a few toe curling moments that had me swooning. I am a sucker for a good small town romance story, especially one with a hot cowboy at the helm, and I have to say this one definitely hit the mark… and then some!!