The last thing rancher
Rory Kendrick expects to find when he’s searching for his missing
cattle is a genuine damsel in distress. After rushing to help, he
can’t help wanting to do anything he can for this lovely but
damaged woman. But even his kind deed won’t get Sadie to tell him
who’s responsible for hurting her.
Sadie is trying to hold
onto her family, and her life. With an ill father who’s refusing
treatment and a younger brother who has fallen in with a dangerous
crowd, she’s beginning to feel like she can’t save anyone, least
of all herself. When her brother owes money to the wrong people,
Sadie tries to pay off his debts, but she doesn’t have the cash.
The one person who might be able to help her out is the last person
she wants to involve in her family drama, but Rory won’t take no
for an answer.
Rory is all about
family, but sometimes you’ve got to let go. If you can’t save
them, save yourself. Sadie’s been dealt a bad hand she refuses to
fold. Because he loves her, he’ll do anything to keep her safe and
give her the happy life she deserves, even betray her trust to take
down her brother.
My Thoughts:
This story had me hooked from the very beginning. When searching for his stolen cattle, Rory finds Sadie, the girl he's been watching from afar for years, with her life literally hanging in the balance. It spurs him to grab on and protect the woman he wants for his own from a seriously dangerous situation. The first several chapters had me holding my breathe, waiting to see what would happen and as Rory and Sadie got closer and closer, and danger loomed in the shadows, I just couldn't put the book down.
For a heroine dealing with so much sadness and violence, Sadie is both strong-willed and kindhearted. She remembers the sweet boy her younger brother used to be before drugs warped his mind and wants to help set him back on the right path despite his consistently making the same mistakes. She isn't hopelessly idealistic. She sees him for the junkie that he is and is well aware of all that helping him has cost her, but family is so important to her that she can't just toss him aside, or be the instrument of his downfall.
One thing I really loved about Sadie is that when she sees Rory withdrawing or becoming quiet she goes right up to him, pokes him in the chest, and tells him to stop it. She's direct and loving, and makes sure they're both accountable and open about their feelings. I love that they talk about their issues and face them head on. God save us from the overused trope of needless misunderstandings caused by heroes and heroines not talking about things.
If you love the silent, broody type with an honorable, kind heart and the kind of muscular frame you just want to climb, then Rory is the cowboy of your dreams. He's big, protective, family-oriented and his rare smiles completely light up his face. It also doesn't hurt that he's great with his hands and picks Sadie up like she's as light as a feather. #BookBoyfriendGoals
This series is just so wonderful and every time I read the next book I'm reminded of how supremely satisfying Jennifer Ryan's work is. There's just so much excitement, genuine emotion and fantastic pacing that you can't put her books down. Plus, she sure knows how to turn the heat up. I love how wonderfully developed her characters are and the little world she's building with this series. I'm so excited to discover more of her Montana men and get Colt's story. I honestly can't say enough good things about STONE COLD COWBOY and the series as a whole. Just go read it! If you like suspense and sexy, protective cowboys you'll be in heaven.
Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.
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Jennifer Ryan is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted Series and The McBrides Series. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances featuring strong men and equally resilient women. Her stories are filled with love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn't writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn't writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Great review! I really enjoyed this book myself. Thank you for hosting today!
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