To Maxwell Cooper’s great pleasure, his horses of quality Quarab stock have been well received by American buyers. His goal of selling to the Arab royal family would give his breeding business international credibility and prove that he wasn’t the bad apple everyone had assumed. After missing his opportunity at auction two years in a row, he’s been invited to back to back VIP sales and word on … the street is that the royal family is going to be in attendance. And nothing will stop him from keeping his eye on the prize this time.
Lena Fudge had been traveling the circuit as a newbie horse trader, but found herself fired after she passed along a hot tip while having hot sex with Maxwell Cooper. Now disgraced, she finds herself back in her family’s home in the middle of nowhere horse country. Learning she’s pregnant adds insult to injury, and despite her best efforts she’s fulfilling her family’s curse of living at home. She knows she has to tell Maxwell about the baby, but she refuses to ask for his help till she has her ducks in a row. That is until she runs into Maxwell at the auction stables after being rejected from a last ditch attempt to get her old job back.
Maxwell has been dreaming of Lena since their night of passion four months ago. One look at her, and being pretty sure he was the one to pop her cherry, he realizes he’s the father. But Maxwell knows Lena’s pride would not allow him to take care of her, so he asks her to work with him as a horse trader. It’s not charity. As it turns out, Lena is the full package. She’s a dream in the stables, amazing with buyers, and not adverse to a roll in the hay. But when things begin to go deeper than just a sale or sex, they’ll find them find themselves racing toward a bidding war that will either have them living a life of love or losing it all.
more
Lena is a new horse trader and five months pregnant. When she accidentally gives away a hot tip, she gets fired. Maxwell owns Cooper’s Ranch and is wanting to sell to the Arabians. He hires Lena because she’s good at her job and it’s his baby she’s carrying. Maxwell has this notion that the sell must be made by him. When the Arabians don’t want Lena working on the deal, he leaves her out of it. But when a better deal comes through, because of Lena, he turns it down. Will he lose her and the baby to his own stupid actions?
Stubborn cowboy. Sex. And a surprise pregnancy. I know this is part two of this series but there was no mention of the other Cooper brothers. Lena is sweet and Maxwell is just slightly self centered.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
The Rancher’s Unexpected Baby by Leslie North is a romantic tale of Maxwell and Lena. When one night brings an unexpected surprise for Maxwell and Lena will they both be able to figure out how they feel about each other. Maxwell is all about his horse breeding but try’s his hardest with Lena but when everything doesn’t work Maxwell will have to figure what is more important to him.
A very pleasant and successful sequel to the first book in the series and I look forward to the next book. Maxwell Cooper has been expanding his horse stock in the hopes of making a sale to Arab princes who have shown an interest in his herd. This would add to his reputation in the field. Months ago, he spent an amazing night with Lena Fudge who has been learning the horse-trading business. Due to an unfortunate incident, Lena now finds herself without a job…and pregnant after her amazing night with Maxwell. Lena is a sassy and forthright young woman who has no plans to trap Maxwell, but when they run in to each other, Maxwell realizes that Lena is carrying his child and accepts full responsibility for her and the baby. Now this might sound like just another “he got her pregnant” romance, but there is so much more to the story as Lena plans to become a viable partner in his business as well as convince Maxwell that he doesn’t need business from the princes to cement his reputation as a champion breeder. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
3.5 Stars
This is book 2 in The Brothers of Cooper Ranch and it features Maxwell and Lena. The story picks up four months after their one night stand and she’s pregnant. He tries so hard when it comes to getting her to live with him and work with him. There’s an attraction between them that they didn’t explore four months ago for whatever reason and it’s burning like a wildfire now. There is a HUGE turning point that leaves you questioning Maxwell in a BIG way. WHAT WAS HE THINKING! I wish there were more interaction with all the buyers, especially the Irish. I would have liked more information on his business and the ranch hands.
Just like in book one, the story needed a little more filler story. We need to know what happens between the main points of the story. The story line and the characters were great. Looking forward to the next book.
This story is about Lena and Maxwell and both are stubborn. This is the second book in this series and had me wanting to scream at the characters for their foolishness. Will Lena and Maxwell put love and family first or will their pride get in the way?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is entertaining, romantic and dramatic. Maxwell is determined, stubborn, insecure and sweet. Lena is strong, determined, bold and caring. Maxwell is shocked when the woman he had a one night stand with five months earlier, and can’t stop thinking about, suddenly standing in front of him, and pregnant. He hires her to help him sell a horse, moves her into his apartment and plans their victory. Only he caves to the buyers demand that she not have anything to do with the sale. All because of an article that was written about him being unable to be successful on his own. What he does doesn’t make him a great guy, but he isn’t really a jerk, he’s just oversensitive and insecure. It’s a sweet story anyway.
I liked this book. Strong characters. Medium chemistry not sizzling , but alright non the less. Overall good read.
(Review with spoilers)
Second book in the series. I loved it.
I loved Maxwell. He is serious, quiet, he finds it hard to find words when he has to say something. It’s easier for him to tell Lena things with gestures than with words.
He feels insecure. He doesn’t think he’s doing things right. He has a good business, but he thinks he should do everything himself. His pride is his downfall. I liked that he initially defended Lena, but not that he didn’t do it later.
I loved Lena. She also has a hard time talking to Maxwell, telling him everything she feels. She was afraid to talk to him. She thought he would reject her when he found out she was pregnant, like her mother and grandmother suffered before her, and it was easier not to say anything to him. That way she would have a good memory of him, not tarnished by his abandonment.
She is good at her job, has a special bond with horses, but no one has trusted her in the last few months, only him. That’s why it hurts that he sets her aside, that he doesn’t take her opinions into account. She wants him to see her for what she is and, by ignoring her, he doesn’t do it.
I loved them together. They want to be together, they don’t want to separate. They want to form their little family and losing the other would be painful.
I loved Lena’s grandmother. I liked the advice she gives Maxwell. He has to talk to her, not decide for her. He has a hard time doing it. I also loved Maxwell’s mother, and Bill.
I recommend it.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
What a precious ending.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Lena and Maxwell regardless of how chaotic they seemed at times. I enjoyed reading their stor and look forward to reading about the next Cooper brother.
I would recommend.
Happy reading!
Rating 4 stars
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maxwell has built up a nice horse breeding ranch and he is happy. But a magazine article makes him feel insecure and he feels that he needs to proof his capabilities. One day he has to choose to either go with a fantastic sale brokered by his girl friend or try to push a sale at a lesser price that he will make himself. He is between a rock and a hard place when he has to decide to choose either the woman he loves or his pride.
An intriguing set-up that keeps the suspense for quite a while.
Well-written and entertaining
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dan Henderson’s open hostility bothered Maxwell Cooper and he wanted to find out why he was being treated that way. As he approached the closed door, he heard Dan shouting at someone about a tip that cost him a lost sale. And Maxwell recognized the answering voice as belonging to Lena Fudge. Apparently Dan was referring to the tip Lena had given him after they were in each other’s arms! She had inadvertently told him about high-roller Arabs who were looking for a pleasure horse, and he had just the one they would want. After their brief love affair, Lena had disappeared without a word. So now Lena had returned and was trying to get her job back from Dan with no success. Before he could walk away, the door opened and Lena was standing in front of him – very definitely pregnant!
Independent and stubborn, Lena had not planned on telling Maxwell about the baby. But now she had to do so. He jumped right in to help her, driving her crazy in the process! When Lena’s Grandma talked to him about a man’s role in a pregnancy, and how he was holding her back from things so tightly that she was more likely to run from him, he decided on a different approach. He told Grandma he was going to give her the one thing she wants – a job!
As their relationship starts to rebuild again, the two of them need to trust each other’s handling of clients in managing the business. Working together can be difficult, and even more so when hormones are raging! There is so much to learn about each other along the way. Can they make this work? Will they be able to come together again and be a real family?
I enjoyed this book and loved the humor of Maxwell trying to help with the pregnancy. He was trying so hard to be there for her and let her know he could be depended on always. Grab your copy and see if they can work this out before he drives her completely crazy – or vice versa!
These characters need to learn more about communication between one another, but he’s getting a lesson in pregnancy hormones as they go along. He’s just as much of a control freak as his brother, wanting to be the one to make the sale, but when she gets things worked out better than he expected, he reacts badly. She’s afraid that she’ll be a single mom like everyone else in her family and pushes herself to stay distant which hurts them in the long run.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maxwell wants nothing more than to make his name in selling the top horses. Lena’s life has taken some drastic hits recently. She had no intention to ever see Maxwell again but then there he was. Now he is offering he everything she needs. We he offer his heart?
This is book 2 in the series and can be read as a stand alone. I was disappointed to find that the book does not bring the family members together and tie the series. I did like the writing and the story line. I read the book in one sitting and was drawn in to the interactions. I am hoping for a bit more interactions of the family and tie in of the series out of book 3, I am looking forward to reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was wonderfully heartwarming. It was an enticing read in the best ways. LOVED IT! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book in exchange for a free copy.
Terrific story about the importance of trust.
This story picks up four months after Maxwell and Lena had a steamy one-night-stand, when Maxwell sees her again and realizes that the baby she’s carrying must be his. He never understood why she ghosted him, but now that he’s found her again he’s going to make sure he doesn’t lose her this time. Offering her a job at his family ranch seems like the perfect solution for both of them.
As they rekindle their romance, they have to learn to work together and trust each other as they deal with potential buyers for the ranch’s horses. There’s a lot they each have to learn about each other and about how to work within a relationship, and the story held my interest throughout as they navigated misunderstandings and missed opportunities. I wish that there had been a prologue of some sort so we could have understood what drew them together in the first place, but other than that the love story is heartfelt and captivating. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Solid 3.5 star
Maxwell is determined to do things on his own and show he can do it and this is his downfall, After hooking up with Lena who worked at another Ranch she let slip a tip that not only lost her her job but she also finds out she is pregnant. Maxwell doesn’t know she is pregnant until running into her and decides to offer her a job, they dance around how they really feel about it other and while Lena thinks she is doing something great to help Maxwell sell his best horse in order to branch out internationally but his sights are squarely on one seller only and causes Lena to question whether she should be working for Maxwell or with him. There is some good angst, sexual tension and frustrations at both Lena and Maxwell that keep you turning the page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maxwell gets the suprise of his life when he runs into Lena after 5 months of radio silence. Maxwell needs recognition for his work with breeding and he might just loose the one thing that was his greatest accomplishment. The characters are very well rounded and love how Lena objectifies Maxwell to bring in his biggest buyer, a sixpack definately has its uses. The story is great and kept me interested to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The second book in this series is just as good as the first one, this is Maxwell and Lena’s story. A well written story that held my interest throughout. I know I want to read the next book.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked both Lena and Maxwell as both a couple and individually. I liked that Maxwell was very supportive of Lena being pregnant. I also liked Maxwell trying to protect Lena but Lena standing on her own. I was also glad that Maxwell was able to admit his mistake and in the end help Lena have her dreams.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily writing this review for this book I received through Booksprouts arc.
Maxwell Cooper wondered why Dan Henderson was mad at him and he was going to ask him. On the way to his office he heard Dan yelling and a women begging for her job back. Maxwell knew that voice and then she opened the door and Maxwell saw lovely Lena standing there with her huge belly. Maxwell started to think of their time together he was her first and then realized that he was going to be a dad. Lena was at her mothers home and they are arguing on the porch Lena needed to get inside the house and her excuse was to bake a cake. Lena’s grandmother gave Maxwell a little bit of advise and then he tells her that he was going to give her a job. Lena had sold a horse but it was good that Maxwell check the paperwork as she was selling the wrong horse. But, she was still working around the stable until she faints. Lena finds out the sex of their baby and when she called to tell Maxwell it was like he wasn’t even interested. At that point she gets in the car and she wounds up where her grandmother was staying. She makes a decision that she was moving out of Maxwells house. When she gets home she tells him that she was moving out. The Arab Prince was looking to buy some horses and they were looking at one horse in particular. Except they would not buy the horse as long as Bella was around. Meanwhile Lena is at the bar and orders a sundae and a nonalcoholic apple martini. A guy sits down and starts talking to her about horses since he has seen her before. Lena makes a pitch to the guys from Ireland and they seem interested. They make an offer on the horse and they were prepared to buy immediately. Lena told him that he had to run it by Maxwell first. Maxwell is furious he wanted to make that sale to the Arab Prince so he tells her he is not interested. Lena was really hopeful she could have used the commission to get a little house for her and the baby. She had it with Maxwell and she leaves him to stay at her grandmother not telling him where she was going. Maxwell finds her but will she take him back?
I