amyma's review
5.0
Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas by Soraya M. Lane (River Ranch, #3) kept me coming back for more. It was not a long book, but a fun story that I had trouble putting it down once I started. I haven't read the first two books in this series, but had no issue with understanding what was going on and felt the author did a good job of making this a standalone novel or something to read as part of the series. The story flowed nicely and drew me in from the first page with the story of Cody reuniting after many years with his first love, Lexi. I would recommend this romance novel for those looking for a sexy Christmas story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this novel, all opinions expressed in this review are mine and freely given.
xakyr's review
2.0
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH ONE OF A VARIETY OF SOURCES. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
Once again, this book was a disappointment for me! I hated Cody's motivations, felt like he was cocky, selfish, and manipulative, and not at all honorable. Lexi was too focused on the past, to the point where I had to wonder if she believed that she could be happy in a relationship at all! The plot was a bit unfocused and felt like the author left some plot threads hanging unfinished. I really had to struggle to read this one! Suffice it to say, this is one author I will avoid in the future!
Once again, this book was a disappointment for me! I hated Cody's motivations, felt like he was cocky, selfish, and manipulative, and not at all honorable. Lexi was too focused on the past, to the point where I had to wonder if she believed that she could be happy in a relationship at all! The plot was a bit unfocused and felt like the author left some plot threads hanging unfinished. I really had to struggle to read this one! Suffice it to say, this is one author I will avoid in the future!
allingoodtime's review
3.0
There was a moment in the first half of this story that I was afraid it was going to go down a path I didn’t like. I had just read another story where a character lied, and kept lying, to her love interest and I realized I really dislike that trope. While Cody was withholding some very important information from Lexi, the author was kind enough to not drag it on through the whole book. Let me tell you, the tension I was starting to feel (not in a good way) was relieved as soon as I realized the focus of the story wasn’t going to have a huge veil of deceit over it the whole time.
I found the trajectory of Cody’s and Lexi’s relationship to be very interesting. Especially once I started to understand why Cody did the things he did and how he ended up leaving everyone and everything behind. He’s lucky Lexi even gave him the time of day, but at the same time it was obvious that they had unfinished business.
While I did feel a connection between these characters, I never really felt the spark. I’m not sure why that was since I found them to be great for one another. I enjoyed that Cody fell into a comfortable patter with Lexi’s son almost immediately. It didn’t feel forced or fake and was actually very sweet. Yet I still never got the warm-fuzzies with these two.
That being said, I enjoyed this story and appreciate that the author didn’t make Cody out to be a jerk who was being a jerk just because he could be a jerk. Cody had some deep-seated issues that needed to be dealt with, and even he saw how skewed his thinking was once he started dealing with his real life. Not just in regards to Lexi, but also his siblings and his father.
When it was all said and done, I enjoyed this storyline and the characters. I just didn’t feel the emotions I would have liked to feel the way I normally would. I enjoy this series and adore this author’s historical fiction so I’ll be reading more for sure.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.
I found the trajectory of Cody’s and Lexi’s relationship to be very interesting. Especially once I started to understand why Cody did the things he did and how he ended up leaving everyone and everything behind. He’s lucky Lexi even gave him the time of day, but at the same time it was obvious that they had unfinished business.
While I did feel a connection between these characters, I never really felt the spark. I’m not sure why that was since I found them to be great for one another. I enjoyed that Cody fell into a comfortable patter with Lexi’s son almost immediately. It didn’t feel forced or fake and was actually very sweet. Yet I still never got the warm-fuzzies with these two.
That being said, I enjoyed this story and appreciate that the author didn’t make Cody out to be a jerk who was being a jerk just because he could be a jerk. Cody had some deep-seated issues that needed to be dealt with, and even he saw how skewed his thinking was once he started dealing with his real life. Not just in regards to Lexi, but also his siblings and his father.
When it was all said and done, I enjoyed this storyline and the characters. I just didn’t feel the emotions I would have liked to feel the way I normally would. I enjoy this series and adore this author’s historical fiction so I’ll be reading more for sure.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.
angelareadsbooks's review
4.0
Do you like romance?
Do you like Christmas?
How about billionaires?
Or perhaps billionaire cowboys?
I do, and I loved Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas by Soraya Lane!!!
Cody Ford fled Texas when his mother became ill, and he has been living in NYC ever since. He returns home for Christmas to visit his father, as his health declines. Surprise of all surprises, his teenage sweetheart Lexi Murphy is his dad's live-in nurse! This was such a sweet second chance romance with a slow build and plenty of steam! And plenty of Christmas cheer and Christmas Cowboys! I love when a romance has a little bit of conflict and a good backstory.
Probably my favorite part of this book was the well rounded cast of characters. I fell in love with the Ford family. There was a warmth between them, while at the same time being so real. I am going to have to go back and read the first two books in the River Ranch Series. And I can't wait for book 4 coming out March of 2020.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Do you like Christmas?
How about billionaires?
Or perhaps billionaire cowboys?
I do, and I loved Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas by Soraya Lane!!!
Cody Ford fled Texas when his mother became ill, and he has been living in NYC ever since. He returns home for Christmas to visit his father, as his health declines. Surprise of all surprises, his teenage sweetheart Lexi Murphy is his dad's live-in nurse! This was such a sweet second chance romance with a slow build and plenty of steam! And plenty of Christmas cheer and Christmas Cowboys! I love when a romance has a little bit of conflict and a good backstory.
Probably my favorite part of this book was the well rounded cast of characters. I fell in love with the Ford family. There was a warmth between them, while at the same time being so real. I am going to have to go back and read the first two books in the River Ranch Series. And I can't wait for book 4 coming out March of 2020.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
annarella's review
4.0
A sweet and well written story that made me smile and root for the characters.
It's the first novel I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
I appreciated the well written cast of characters, the setting and the plot.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's the first novel I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
I appreciated the well written cast of characters, the setting and the plot.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
Cody comes back for Christmas and see the woman he left 15 years ago. And does not recognize her, ok so that I could not believe. They had been a couple and he does not recognize her.
Back to the story. She is his dad's nurse. She needs this job. He is in love with his job, and he obviously never processed the death of his mum.
They meet again, they fall in lust. Then there is some drama that I can not mention, but let's just say he sees dollar signs and not humans. I did want to kick him there. What an asshat.
But they will work it out and live happily ever after
It was a good story. And what they had to overcome was themselves
I like the narration. She did well with different voices and, and emotions.
Back to the story. She is his dad's nurse. She needs this job. He is in love with his job, and he obviously never processed the death of his mum.
They meet again, they fall in lust. Then there is some drama that I can not mention, but let's just say he sees dollar signs and not humans. I did want to kick him there. What an asshat.
But they will work it out and live happily ever after
It was a good story. And what they had to overcome was themselves
I like the narration. She did well with different voices and, and emotions.
chymerra's review
3.0
I would have liked Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas more if Lexi had been written to be more likable. I understood why she was mad but to hold onto that anger for years and years? Not healthy. She also was a shrew the entire book. The things she did (like leaking Cody's name to the press). Plus, she wasn't a very good nurse once Cody turned up. She was too focused on Cody and her anger to pay attention to her patient.
Not that Cody was any better. But at least he realized he was being a jerk and tried to fix things. He got help. He tried to make things right. He faced the memories that kept him away (which made Lexi out to be a bigger witch than ever).
Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas is currently available for purchase.
Not that Cody was any better. But at least he realized he was being a jerk and tried to fix things. He got help. He tried to make things right. He faced the memories that kept him away (which made Lexi out to be a bigger witch than ever).
Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas is currently available for purchase.
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