A First Love Second Chance Small Town Standalone Romance I had her once. She was mine. But we fell apart, and went our separate ways. Now Ava Marie is back, a changed woman. But some things never change. And it’s about time someone took that girl down a peg or two.She’s as beautiful as ever. Headstrong and reckless. She’ll find herself over my knee. In my bed. But this time? We do things on my … terms. I’ll tame that wild city girl. Rein her in. Make her mine. Publisher’s Note: Tamed by Her Cowboy is a rough handed love story for naughty girls. If this is your brand of western romance, hop in the saddle.
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Shanna Handel has become one of my one-click authors and this book is a great example as to why. Her world-building in this book takes place in a modern-day medieval village, the castle on the hill and all. The town was originally built by her grandfather after he learned the hard lesson that money did not bring happiness. Think of an Amish community only with modern dress and transportation. That’s where both Buck and Ava Marie are from. They were long time friends, then they became lovers. Buck was taking things to heart and even bought an engagement ring, intending to ask Ava Marie to marry him. The very night he planned to surprise her Ava Marie, thinking Buck already knew, reminds him she can’t wait until she turned 21 so she could collect her trust fund and leave their small town, ultimately breaking Buck’s heart. After two years, Fate, Mother Nature, and Shanna Handel have conspired to bring about a freak snowstorm in the fall that had predictions of ten feet of snow. What plays out from there pulled at my heartstrings emotionally and the scenes of Domestic discipline were physically hot as can be. This was a fantastic storyline and I’m really hoping that Ms. Handel turns this into a series and we get to read Ava Marie’s friend Jules’ story next.
Buck thought he was going to marry his teenage sweetheart. Ava Marie had other plans – to leave their small town for the big city. Two years later she’s back home. Is this their second chance? This story has Dom/sub elements and spankings for bad behavior. It is well-written with descriptive details and interesting characters filled with longing, regret and love. Good blend of emotion and passion. I liked Buck’s discipline, control and continuity of character. Ava Marie developed somewhat beyond her selfishness. It was a bit uncomfortable that her best friend didn’t tell her that she was in touch with Buck regularly. But maybe he asked her to keep it to herself. This romance will definitely give you the feels, especially considering Buck’s devotion for his wild child. Satisfying entertainment!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava is a spoiled rich girl used to getting her way but Buck is here to prove to her that she will not get her way in Cedar Creek. Ava and Buck once had a relationship and he was in love with her but she wanted out of this small town controlled by elders but returned because of a snow storm. I enjoyed reading this book about Ava and Buck and the changes she made after he showed her she could not always get her way.
Fantastic story! Characters that will steal your heart. A storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat and glued to your kindle! For me it was a love- hate deal as the characters face their demons. You will feel their emotions and struggles. A definite must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
All the Jones brothers are hot Alphas. Ava Marie is all for taking advantage of the hotness in Buck, but when her trust fund comes she’s out of there.. She feels stifled and just wants to leave to live in the City. Do whatever, whenever she wants. Now she’s going back home to their closed in community for a short time and there’s Buck. The attraction still burns bright, but does she really want to be in a no technology town getting her bottom spanked by a rugged alpha cowboy wheneve she’ does something he doesn’t like? Maybe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At its foundation, this book is a second chance romance with elements of domestic discipline. Ava Marie’s best friend Jules, was no less dominant in their relationship than her ex boyfriend Buck. There was just no element of domestic discipline with them.
Three things stood out to me. One was that Jules was in pretty constant communication with Buck and his brothers, and she NEVER discussed that with her BEST FRIEND.
Two: I initially thought this town was like Corbin’s Bend (Corbin Bend’s series), or Haven, Texas (the series by Laylah Roberts), both being domestic discipline focused communities. The focus on this town was more that it was a self sustaining gated community. It seems like the residents could live and work outside of the community but would be called home when things of high importance occurred, for example, the impending blizzard. It sounded a bit cultish, but it was an interesting twist.
Three: Ava Marie was an unlikable character for me. Even after learning about the reasoning behind her behavior, it didn’t make her any more likable for me.
I found the most interesting part of this book to be the description of the community in which they lived. The rest of the book was Ok.
Sweet second chance romance with elements of domestic discipline
The story was kind of sweet with themes of young adults coming of age. That said, I felt some of the plot points to be exaggeratedly contrived.
Ava leaves their sweet little town as soon as she is 21 and have access to her trust fund. Doing so breaks Buck’s heart, who was on the verge of proposing.
Ava is running away from the town her grandfather built, with its wholesome old world charm and unique rules for inhabitants. Does she really compensate enough for her selfishness and breaking Buck’s heart on her return? Enough that the HEA is satisfying.
(*Spoiler alert*)
She is forced to return from the big city to take shelter from a blizzard – suspend some belief at this point. What follows is her coming of age while in service to the town. In a role reversal, she also takes care of Buck when he is very ill and in doing so, realises the depth of his love. I think that the story misses a more satisfying reunion with her father. In my honest opinion, it is his ill health that should have been the trigger for her returning. But still an entertaining enough read that is well written.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ava Marie loved her life in the city, her best friend Jules was here and everything was perfect, until Jules called her to her they had to go home, the storm that was headed their way was going to be a disaster. Going home seeing Buck, could she do it, he wanted to marry her she had run off to the city. Very much a will she won’t she do the grown up thing and acknowledge she still is in love with him. Ava was asking for her punishment and that made it so right when Buck does i devoured this book theres no other way of describing it pure perfection. I voluntarily reviewed this book.
It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of reading a Shanna Handel western, but this book made it worth the wait. First in a new series with all new characters, I really wasn’t sure how I would like Ava Marie. If ever there was a character that deserved better, it was Buck. Fair warning – Ava Marie is very unlikable at the start. However, as the book progressed, so did she. By the end, I think I’d sided with both of them at different times. Well worth the read & looking forward to book 2.
This is a fantastic story. I loved that Buck and Ava Marie were able to get a second chance at love. Buck has always been protective and organized. Ava Marie is a free spirit. She knows that she needs to leave their hometown. He just loves her but won’t stand in her way. When a storm of epic proportions is about to hit, she is called back home. Buck is determined not to fall for her again. Ava Marie has grown in the time she has been away. Will she realize that she is meant to be with him and stay this time?
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
BEWARE OF CHAPTER 1!!! Just had to throw down my disclaimer, I don’t think my heart has ever broken like that…EVER! Well played, Shanna, well played.
Ava and Buck were the couple of their little town of Cedar Creek. That is until Ava tells him that as soon as she turns 21, she’s out of there! A crazy snow storm has forced Ava to go back to her small town after 2 1/2yrs. Being forced to work with Buck has opened Ava’s eyes to what she’s been missing and how she’s been wasting her life.
Buck is a man that every woman wants and every man wants to be. Even though Ava broke his heart, he watches over her right along with their entire town. I adore how he spends so much time with Ava’s Dad too. Now, Ava did rub me the wrong way for a while. She’s the poster child for spoiled brat, even though she once was a true delight in their town. I love how we get to see her come back to her true self.
I cannot wait for more of Cedar Creek!!! This little town is tightknit and just might be full of nothing but Dominant men…YUMMY! I absolutely love Aunt Betty and hope we see lots more of her.
Shanna nailed the second chance romance! Buck, the alpha that he is, has always been Ava’s protector whether it be from the evils of the world or from the worst enemy,herself. Even though she shattered his heart he’s watching out for her no matter the distance and will always love her.
Ava, the town princess, who has spent her whole life dedicated to her town and her elders turns 21 and runs for the city, leaving everything she knew behind, even the love of her life. Although, her story seems plain and simple this gal is complex, and there’s more to her than meets the eye.
What seems like a simple plot of a spoiled trust fund girl, takes twists and turns and leads her home even for just a little while. The emotional rollercoaster and the hot, steamy passion that burns between these two will leave you on the edge of your seat begging for more. Just when you think you’ve figured it out the whole thing changes! Cannot wait for the next adventure in Cedar Creek.
I loved this second chance romance! Ava and Buck are a fun couple to see interact. Ava comes back to her hometown to shelter from a storm. Ava is hard to like at first but she redeemed herself further in the story.
Tamed by her cowboy is such a great second chance romance! I enjoyed the way the author brought Buck and Ava Marie together and then back together. The story held my attention from start to end; I enjoyed seeing how much Buck loved Ava Marie from the start and how much she grew from the beginning to the time she comes back home.
The grass is not always greener, and the time she lost with her dad can’t be replaced! Ava whines about the list of losers she’s dated, but she needs cajoled to visit home after 2 years! WTH! SMH?! She used Buck knowing she was leaving and he had feelings for her!! Ava was a spoiled, selfish, immature biotch. She acted like a recalcitrant child. Ava was so jealous that she thought something was up between Jules and Buck?! Cray cray!!! Then she’s jealous of Jules talking with Buck!! She has that little faith and trust in Buck and Jules!! That’s not a real friend. My heart ached for the way Ava treated Buck’s heart-so callous and cavalier when the mood struck her!!!! Yes. Ava changed, but she can’t have redemption for one good deed after a whole storyline of misdeeds. Sorry, I can’t. Not my idea of a heroine! I loved Buck’s honestly and integrity. He deserved better.
The story of Buck and Ava Marie is both sad and happy. She leaves him and then is forced to return home where they run into each other. The sparks are still there but Buck does not want his heart broken again.
Shanna has done it again! Another must read!
Ava Marie is the granddaughter of the man who founded Cedar Creek, a private, self-sufficient estate with over 300 acres surrounded by a massive stone wall. There they enjoy the simple life. There are no cell phones and only a few landlines and there is no technology which includes television, computers and internet. The elders make the rules and everyone follows them. Ava felt stifled there and planned to leave as soon as she turned 21 and received her trust fund. Buck Jones is a responsible young man who quickly became an elder in their town. He and Ava were involved before she turned 21 and Buck hoped to marry her. But Ava wanted to escape and she did, creating a life outside of Cedar Creek. When a huge snow storm comes, Ava is called home and goes with her best friend Jules. There she faces Buck again and starts to fall in love again. They have a lot to work out, but there is HEA.
If you have read the author’s Bachman series, this is similar in that there is a rich man who creates a separate world for his people to live in, safe from the world. This is set in the country and everyone who lives there contributes to the group. It is idyllic to many. I really enjoyed this book. The story is compelling and the bond between Buck and Ava is strong. I’m hoping that there will be more books for each of the Jones brothers.
When I started reading this one I didn’t like the female character but I came to like each character for different reasons. I am hoping to see this become a series. The secondary characters were wonderful and I would love to see them get their own books. This was an actually well written book. I would encourage you to give this one a chance it is worth your time. By the time I finished this book I was in love with this setting. I hope to see more of this town and the characters.
Tamed by her Cowboy is a small town, cowboy and princess romance with a heavy dose of old fashioned discipline and a lot of love. Ava Marie hasn’t been back to her home town in over two years, but with a sudden and dangerous winter storm coming, her and her best friend head back to town. There she immediately meets Buck, who she used to have a fling with, who can’t seem to stand her anymore. But with her sass and independence getting her into trouble, at the end of the week, will she stay or go back to the city?
This book is filled with second chances, realizing your full potential, and learning to trust in your heart and in love. Ava Marie and Buck are both stubborn and independent, have tempers, but have a huge soft side to taking care of others and supporting those in their community. They could have made a really great team, and did eventually, but I think they both let their pride and selfishness get in their own ways. Their physical connection was strong within these pages and I loved getting to see some of their history as a couple, as well as them navigating their current emotions and situations. I have to admit that this was not my favorite book by Ms. Handel. I had issues with both Ava Marie and Buck and I thought there were a few minor issues with the plot, but I liked her writing and most of the time, I was still able to get sucked into the story. This new world that Ms. Handel has created sounds so cool and I hope that we get more romances out of it!
Ms. Handel has created a new world. It’s a old-fashioned, almost Amish-like, cowboy type community. And in this new community, we have Ava Marie, the ‘first daughter’, and Buck, the sexy cowboy she doesn’t know what to do with. In this book, I love Ava Marie and Buck until they frustrate me out of my everloving mind. Buck has written Ava Marie off, is angry with her, but is still bossy as heck. Ave Marie is a brat, but when you get to know her back story, you understand why. I’m letting her more off the hook. Don’t worry, they both get back on my good side . The chemistry between them is sizzling, per usual in Ms. Handel’s books. I love the community and the characters in it.
I especially, and absolutely, loved Ave Marie and her friend, Jules’ friendship. I am really looking forward to Jules’ story.