Meet New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s McGraths: a family as untamed as the land they call home.
Tate McGrath just didn’t get it. Why was Liz Scott, his best friend—and the person he relied on and trusted most—suddenly avoiding him! When he finally tracks her down, he finds her with a man he knows nothing about and she’s been dating for weeks. Suddenly, he can’t make himself … for weeks. Suddenly, he can’t make himself ignore her tempting curves and deep green eyes, and all he wants to do is keep her all to himself. What was going on? Could he possibly be…jealous?
Liz had made the decision: stop carrying a torch for Tate and find a guy who wants to be her everything. Tate had always seen her as honest, dependable, smart, kind…Best friend, not girlfriend! And she needed to give up the dream of marrying the man she’d loved since preschool and move on.
But when Liz’s boyfriend turns dangerous, Tate steps up to help and soon realizes he’s the cowboy hero she’s been waiting for him to be all along.
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This is such a good friends to lovers story. I like Tate and Liz so much and totally understand why she tried to move on. Friends since childhood, it seems like Tate was stuck in the friends area of the friends to lovers but Liz wanted more and he just didn’t see it. In fact he was quite clueless. Once she moves on it opens his eyes though. unfortunately her choice of who to move on with, Clint, turns out to be a real bad one! Tate adores Liz and can’t stand by and watch her taking what this tool Clint is dishing out. She deserves so much better. His protective nature kicks in and that’s when the change in feelings starts to become apparent, I loved their journey despite some of the dangerous turns it takes and was very happy with the wonderful HEA.
Waiting for a Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan is a compelling cowboy romance with a thriller included for free. The far-reaching plot goes beyond simple abuse to include criminal stalking and even murder. Ryan does a terrific job of portraying the terror and hopelessness of the victim in a crime like this, as well as they people who care for her. The inability to fight back appropriately ends up in frustration, every time. Sadly, the mental illness portrayed is painful and probably was painful for the instigator as well. Waiting for a Cowboy tells a story too often told, and not always with a satisfactory conclusion.
Tate and Liz (nickname Lizard) had been best friends since Kindergarten. Liz adored him and had been his best friend forever. It had not always been easy as he fell in and out of lust, but she hung in until one day it became obvious to her that he would never love her the way she loved him. The kicker was that he didn’t even notice she had backed out of his life for SIX WEEKS! But she had and it was working out OK. She had found Clint. He was thoughtful and caring. She maybe could fall in love with him and have the life she craved . . . home, kids. She wanted it all. Then came the night that Tate and his brother, Drake, came into the bar and set off the whole mess . . . Clint was jealous, unjustly. Everything started going downhill and Clint started getting rough, then violent, then crazy. All of it portrayed in such a way as to make your heart bleed. Tate comes around and all is well, but it takes awhile. It is a terrific read. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Waiting for a Cowboy by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #waitingforacowboy
A wonderful best friends to lovers book – Liz has decided to move on and happens to pick a really bad guy to do so with and Tate will have to come to her rescue and so enjoy the ride on the road to their HEA! I read a netgalley copy and freely leave my review!
I’m always happy when I’m starting a new series by Jennifer Ryan. I really enjoy her books and they always grab me from beginning to end. We already met this family in the Wild Rose Ranch series so we got a feel for them.
The first book in the series is about Tate and Liz. You’ve really got to love them. From a very young age, they set their sights on each other but just didn’t really see it, or at least Tate didn’t. I kinda don’t blame him, he didn’t want to lose that one person that meant the most to him.
But Liz knew what she wanted and hoped that someday she got it or should I say, him.
It wasn’t easy at first, they did have to go from straight friendship to lovers but as they worked on it they because even closer. I think what made them even stronger was dealing with Liz’s ex-boyfriend who turned out to be a stalker.
Tate and Liz had a few blips in their romance but most of that was due to a new relationship and the ex. Once they both realized that this is what they wanted they both went in headfirst and stood with each other.
Even though at times this story wasn’t lighthearted what with the stalker and all there are some very humorous parts. I liked the way the family all acted like it was about time that they got together, even her family felt the same way.
This is a fun romance that takes you on a great ride. I’m looking forward to more of this family.
Liz Scott finally realizes that her best friend since pre-school will never see her as anything more than a best friend. She has loved him forever, but it is time to find someone special just for her. When Tate McGrath notices that his best friend Liz has pulled away from their closeness, he begins to analyze his feelings for her. He doesn’t want to lose the friendship they have, but he also doesn’t want to lose her, especially to the man she is currently dating. Can Tate finally accept that without Liz there is no one else for him? Will he be too late when he notices that Liz’s date has become too possessive and possibly dangerous? A story that shows how some women can get caught up in an abusive situation and the need to protect and remove oneself from the relationship. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I was excited to request and receive an advance reader copy of the first novel in the new McGrath series by Jennifer Ryan, since she pretty much had me at “Cowboy,” since I’m an admitted fan of contemporary cowboy romances, as well as the friends-to-lovers trope. While I found Waiting on a Cowboy a fairly enjoyable and somewhat suspenseful read, there were a few issues that I found bothersome, and for those reasons, which I’ll explain, I can only give it a 3.5 star rating.
The hero and heroine in this novel are Tate McGrath and Liz Scott, who’ve been best friends since kindergarten but never allowed themselves to move beyond the friend zone, although it’s quite clear from the outset that Liz has always wanted more from Tate, who, my issue number one, seems both clueless and oblivious to the fact that although everyone in his family, her family, and their friends and relations could see that Liz was in love with him, it was as if Tate was wearing blinders when it came to his best and closest friend and her feelings for him.
I also had a problem with Liz. She’s tired of waiting around for Tate, and so has had several less than thrilling experiences with other men over the years. She’s currently dating a man named Clint, and when Tate spots her at the local bar, he confronts her and wants to know why he hasn’t heard from Liz in 6 weeks, since they’ve been in constant touch with one another through the years, Liz wanted to know why it took him 6 weeks to notice that she’d absented him from her life, and was fairly certain she’d made it really clear that to Tate that she was moving on, tired of waiting for him to see her as more than a friend, and when the new man in her life, Clint, gets between Tate and Liz, Tate doesn’t like seeing her in another man’s arms, is struck by jealousy, but does he do anything about it? Nope.
Liz has been dating Clint for a couple of months and has enjoyed his company, his wining and dining her, and she’s even had sex with him, but lately she’s been aware that not only doesn’t he appreciate her lifelong friendship with Tate, he actively urges her to end their friendship. She’s also noticed and been annoyed by Clint’s attempts to isolate and control her–he always has to know her whereabouts, who she is with and why, and and has even tried to separate her from girlfriends and co-workers, all of which are huge red flags, yet rather than dump him, she makes excuses for his behavior until he manhandles her, leaves bruises, and she tells him they’re over. To say that Clint doesn’t take rejection well is putting it mildly, and he once again tries to charm his way back into her life, but when he’s thwarted, when Tate finally begins to realize that his feelings for Liz are more than just friendship, Clint begins to stalk her. Yet through all of this, Liz hasn’t reported him and his bizarre and creepy behavior to the police, although after hearing a loud argument between Clint and Liz, her neighbor, Ava, has the good sense to call 911, and Clint’s stalking takes on an even more sinister dimension when one of his former girlfriends sees them at lunch, and after Clint leaves, gets up and warns Liz to keep him out of her life because of his controlling nature and the domestic abuse she suffered at his hands.
It seems that lately I’ve been reading a number of novels dealing with the issue of controlling and abusive men, and I usually have great empathy for the abuse victims, but I found myself growing annoyed when Liz allowed herself to keep being charmed by Clint, ready to forgive his odd behavior, white at the same time, not fully realizing the danger she was in, or noticing the fact that Tate was finally beginning to realize that his romantic feelings for Liz had deepened, even though it took confrontations with his siblings to make him see that what he’d felt for her for years had moved out of the friend zone long ago. As her relationship with Tate deepens, so too to the threats that Clint issues to Liz, but it takes an apparent murder for Liz to finally wake up to the true danger she’s in.
While I eventually grew to like both Liz and Tate, and enjoyed watching their friendship heat up into love, I had a tough time dealing with how clueless both of them seemed to be about their feelings for one another, and the danger posed to both of them by Clint. Clint sends Liz flowers and she’s all ready to forgive him and forget his controlling and abusive behavior, and there was simply too much waffling on her part for me to really like or understand her reasoning. Tate was equally clueless about his feelings for Liz for far too long, and his family had to keep reminding him that he obviously loved her and had for decades, but he didn’t seem to be doing much about it for the longest time.
Yes, the tension and mounting suspense and danger in this novel heat up and so does the relationship between Liz and Tate, and although Clint’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous, for this reader, it just seemed to be much too little and far too late for Liz, Tate, and his family to really deal with the deadly threat Clint posed not only to Liz, but to the entire McGrath family. It also pointed out how slow and ineffective law enforcement has been and is in dealing with domestic abuse situations, stalking, and cyber-bullying, and the desperate need for legislators to do more to protect the victims of abuse. Since I know more than a few victims of domestic abuse personally, I will warn them of the triggers contained in this novel. It’s a subject that desperately needs to be improved, and I’m glad to finally be seeing it addressed in romance novels, so kudos to Ms. Ryan for bringing attention to this subject matter.
Of course, there’s the expected HEA ending in your future, since this is, after all, a romance novel, and a relatively enjoyable and well-written read, but I found that it just had a few too many missed opportunities for me to actually love it.
As stated at the outset, I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Wow! Just Wow! Hold on to your hats as you are about to start on a thrill ride to beat all thrill rides when you read this story.
Liz Scott has loved Tate McGrath since they were little kids. In kindergarten she told him that she was going to marry him. They are best friends for life. But that isn’t enough for Liz anymore. Yes, she still wants to be friends with Tate but she has decided it’s time to find someone who falls “in love” with her and she with him. That’s why she started dating Clint Mayhew. Clint was so sweet and doting until the night in the bar when Tate confronted her and asked her why she hadn’t replied to his texts and calls. Somehow that threw Clint into possessive mode and things went downhill from there: he started ordering her around and he hurt her when he grabbed her. He just wouldn’t accept that she was friends with Tate. Time to call it quits with Clint. But Clint wasn’t letting her go and kept texting her and leaving her voicemail messages which started to feel threatening. She told him she didn’t want anything to do with him and never wanted to see him again. That didn’t stop him and he started stalking her. The situation greatly escalated…
Tate McGrath knows he cares for Liz Scott. They’d been best friends since childhood. Liz loves him. He knows that. It took the crazy situation going on now with Clint stalking Liz to finally wake up and realize he loves Liz. As in”fall in love” loves Liz. When her ex-boyfriend started stalking Liz Tate knew he had to do all he could to keep her safe.He couldn’t lose her now. Neither he nor Liz guessed how dangerous Clint could be.
Waiting on a Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan is the first book in her McGrath series. First off, when I read the blurb for this book I never expected the story to be as suspenseful as it is. This story is definitely fingernail-biting, edge-of-your-set reading. I could not put this book down. I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. The plot is complex yet allows the reader to follow along easily. Ms. Ryan’s characters are very realistic and their personalities just about explode off the pages. I loved this story! I’m sure anyone who picks up this book will enjoy it.
The next book in the series is Tate’s brother Declan’s story in Love of a Cowboy due to release on March 30. 2021.
Wow what a page turner. This book doesn’t let go until the end. I expected a love story with a little trouble thrown in. Boy was I wrong. The love story is there but also there is a dark side. I highly recommend this book.
What a wonderful story. Long time love, suspense, and a beautiful ending.
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We women know sometimes guys are a little clueless. Sometimes you have to do something drastic to make them see what’s right in front of their face.
That’s with the story is based on. Best friends who are trying to figure out how to be something more in the face of everything else surrounding them.
Liz has serious man issues. Totally in love with Tate but yet had to make a clean break. Her new guy is a serious jerk, however.
The author blends in so many different obvious control triggers and issues that women see while dating. Fyi – This book does contain stalking and several other major issues of a complete controlling jerk.
But through all of the stress and suspense, we also get the beacon of light of the best friend connection and a possible growing romance. Tate is seriously sweet and absolutely adores his best friend. This author did a great job balancing the protective nature Tate has with the serious situations she is finding herself in.
With action, suspense, some creepy factors, and some amazing heated connections, I just fell for Tate myself and seriously loved this book! And if you love a hot cowboy story, you got to grab this one!!
WAITING ON A COWBOY is a fun easy read. The characters are well written and realistic. The setting in one that leaves you wanting to visit in real life. The story is a friends to not friends to lovers type of story. Liz and Tate are great characters. Liz knows what she wants but it finally ready to move on since she can’t have that. Tate, her best friend, is finally ready to risk it all even losing his best friend. But is it too late? That question is probably the biggest theme to me of the story. When is it too late? When do you finally move on? I felt for Liz and her struggles and for Tate and his concerns. Watching these two find their way and dealing with the dangers now facing Liz…..well it was fun. It was a page-turning can’t put down read. You want to know what comes next but at the same time you don’t want the story to end. I am eager to connect with these characters again. I highly recommend WAITING ON A COWBOY to anyone who enjoys small town romances, cowboys, friends to lovers stories, and stories that will leave you smiling. I can’t wait to read whatever Jennifer Ryan releases next. This is part of a series,The McGraths, this is book one. However, it is connected to another series, Wild Rose Ranch, by way of characters from that series being in WAITING ON A COWBOY. You will want to read Wild Rose Ranch series but you don’t have to read it. You aren’t lost if you haven’t read it. I will warn once you read Jennifer Ryan you’ll add her to your auto-buy list and want to read everything she’s written. Highly Recommended!!!
Intriguing friends-to-lovers with a chilling twist!
What a terrific, manipulative, complex story! Liz and Tate have been best friends since preschool, but Tate has never seen Liz anything more. Liz, knowing that Tate will never be the one, is trying to make things work with Clint, a handsome, attentive guy she’s been dating for a while. Until Tate sees them together an all of a sudden is realizing what he’s been missing out on.
The author makes excellent use of multiple POVs to tell this story, building suspense and an emotional connection with all the principle players. Liz is smart and capable, but even she’s subject to doubting herself and questioning whether she can trust her gut about someone else’s feelings.
I loved how the families came behind our young couple to support and encourage them, knowing that they’d eventually see what everyone else has known for years. It was refreshing to see that once Tate made up his mind, there was no ambivalence or hesitation.
The story’s nail-biting conclusion was everything I’d hoped for, leading to a very sweet and satisfying HEA. Ann Landers has been quoted as saying, “Love is friendship that has caught fire” and that’s the perfect description for this romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
So we meet Tate and Liz who are besti’es since young children, yet Liz in love with Tate and would like more and even although Tate may feel the same he will stay in the friend zone. Liz realizes it is time to move on and finds Clint a nice guy, or is he? Unexpectedly Clint turns into an abusive jerk an Tate is going to protect Liz while finally realize that he loves Liz. Clint goes nuts, he is a stalker, violent, and doesn’t understand when woman say no.
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author…(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
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