galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cadiva's review
4.0
3.5*
While I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I was going to, I found myself incredibly frustrated at times by events in the narrative.
There's also a couple of inconsistencies which, while they don't affect the outcomes of the story, do take away slightly from it (involving what occurred to Michael's mother which I won't spoiler).
I loved Michael's dad Elmer, and was happy to see him be more a focus in the narrative having been a secondary character in book one of this series. He's a grumpy but kind-hearted man and I was very happy he and Michael managed to resolve their decades old falling out.
Josiah frustrated me immensely and I think a lot of that is simply to do with ALL the traumas the man has had to live though. I know the aim was to draw the reader's sympathy, but instead it just make him seem pathetic a lot of the time.
That's a harsh criticism to lay down, I know, and I don't want to make it sound like I'm victim blaming because I'm not, but there were times when a different direction could have been taken in the narrative and it seemed like the most dramatic and trauma-inducing one was chosen each time to try and make him appear more vulnerable but instead it made him weaker as a character.
Still, he does begin to grow in his own confidence and self-worth once he's at Elmer's farm, helping him after his stroke, and I eventually did start rooting for he and Michael to move from friendship into a romance.
However, overall this is an incredibly slow burn romance, which makes sense given Josiah's background (although again, here there was just so much trauma related events that I became a bit numb to them all in the end) with two characters who do work well as a pairing.
But I found the sexual element of the story was another area where I would have liked to have seen more interactions between them once they did turn their relationship physical, especially given that Michael makes himself vulnerable for Josiah and that whole scene is beautifully done. I wanted more of that.
There's guest appearances from the guys at Woods Ranch and it was great to catch up with Hugo and Brand again and I'm pretty sure that the author is lining up a redemption arc for the Sheriff which I'm in two minds about whether or not I want to read it, as well as possibly a story for fellow ranch hand Jackson.
I really liked the Clean Slate Ranch series, which this is a spin-off from, but so far neither of the two books in the Woods Ranch series have been as strong for me as they were. However, A.M. Arthur is an author I usually enjoy reading and the Clean Slate books got better as the series progresses, so I'm hoping it will be the same here.
There's a very strong sense of place, which this author is so good at, and the small town vibe is well presented, there's good secondary characters and overall the last quarter of the book pulled up my enjoyment significantly and I was very happy with where the relationship is left at the end.
Note the trigger warnings for the book, it includes references to off page sexual assault, homelessness, references to a past street life including sexual exchanges in return for accommodation and a toxic relationship on page, plus an on page act of violence.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
While I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I was going to, I found myself incredibly frustrated at times by events in the narrative.
There's also a couple of inconsistencies which, while they don't affect the outcomes of the story, do take away slightly from it (involving what occurred to Michael's mother which I won't spoiler).
I loved Michael's dad Elmer, and was happy to see him be more a focus in the narrative having been a secondary character in book one of this series. He's a grumpy but kind-hearted man and I was very happy he and Michael managed to resolve their decades old falling out.
Josiah frustrated me immensely and I think a lot of that is simply to do with ALL the traumas the man has had to live though. I know the aim was to draw the reader's sympathy, but instead it just make him seem pathetic a lot of the time.
That's a harsh criticism to lay down, I know, and I don't want to make it sound like I'm victim blaming because I'm not, but there were times when a different direction could have been taken in the narrative and it seemed like the most dramatic and trauma-inducing one was chosen each time to try and make him appear more vulnerable but instead it made him weaker as a character.
Still, he does begin to grow in his own confidence and self-worth once he's at Elmer's farm, helping him after his stroke, and I eventually did start rooting for he and Michael to move from friendship into a romance.
However, overall this is an incredibly slow burn romance, which makes sense given Josiah's background (although again, here there was just so much trauma related events that I became a bit numb to them all in the end) with two characters who do work well as a pairing.
But I found the sexual element of the story was another area where I would have liked to have seen more interactions between them once they did turn their relationship physical, especially given that Michael makes himself vulnerable for Josiah and that whole scene is beautifully done. I wanted more of that.
There's guest appearances from the guys at Woods Ranch and it was great to catch up with Hugo and Brand again and I'm pretty sure that the author is lining up a redemption arc for the Sheriff which I'm in two minds about whether or not I want to read it, as well as possibly a story for fellow ranch hand Jackson.
I really liked the Clean Slate Ranch series, which this is a spin-off from, but so far neither of the two books in the Woods Ranch series have been as strong for me as they were. However, A.M. Arthur is an author I usually enjoy reading and the Clean Slate books got better as the series progresses, so I'm hoping it will be the same here.
There's a very strong sense of place, which this author is so good at, and the small town vibe is well presented, there's good secondary characters and overall the last quarter of the book pulled up my enjoyment significantly and I was very happy with where the relationship is left at the end.
Note the trigger warnings for the book, it includes references to off page sexual assault, homelessness, references to a past street life including sexual exchanges in return for accommodation and a toxic relationship on page, plus an on page act of violence.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
ekateclark's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
_isabel_'s review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I've read a few of A.M. Arthur's book, and I've always encountered the same issues with her books: I really adore the first half of it, but then, I start skimming because I suddenly get a bit bored.
"His Reluctant Cowboy" has a gorgeoursly angsty and sweetly lovely beginning: the story, the writing, the characters, were all fantastic and I was pleasantly surprised by how angsty it was. Nothing gets me going more than a good ol' hurt/comfort romance, featuring an even better "who hurt you" moment. I really adored the first half of the book, but then... I got bored. And a tiny bit annoyed.
A.M. Arthur is a really good writer, but I think her characters here lacked a bit of spark. Don't get me wrong, the leads were fantastic and the side characters even better, but I felt like something was missing, something, like snark or emotional depth or anything really, that made them stand out clearly. I also got a bit annoyed at how the sheriff was kinda turned into a "misunderstood and broken character that deserves sympathy", when in reality he's an abusive, horrific person who deserves jail time. I don't know if that was the author's intention, but I got that distinct feeling and it made me very uncomfortable.
On the other hand, the romance between the two leads was fantastic and sweet and lovely, and I also adored the setting: it was vividly described and I could clearly picture it in my head.
All in all, this WAS, regardless of my issues with it, an enjoyable read and I'm curious to see if there will be a third book, and who it will be about.
TW: domestic abuse.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"His Reluctant Cowboy" has a gorgeoursly angsty and sweetly lovely beginning: the story, the writing, the characters, were all fantastic and I was pleasantly surprised by how angsty it was. Nothing gets me going more than a good ol' hurt/comfort romance, featuring an even better "who hurt you" moment. I really adored the first half of the book, but then... I got bored. And a tiny bit annoyed.
A.M. Arthur is a really good writer, but I think her characters here lacked a bit of spark. Don't get me wrong, the leads were fantastic and the side characters even better, but I felt like something was missing, something, like snark or emotional depth or anything really, that made them stand out clearly. I also got a bit annoyed at how the sheriff was kinda turned into a "misunderstood and broken character that deserves sympathy", when in reality he's an abusive, horrific person who deserves jail time. I don't know if that was the author's intention, but I got that distinct feeling and it made me very uncomfortable.
On the other hand, the romance between the two leads was fantastic and sweet and lovely, and I also adored the setting: it was vividly described and I could clearly picture it in my head.
All in all, this WAS, regardless of my issues with it, an enjoyable read and I'm curious to see if there will be a third book, and who it will be about.
TW: domestic abuse.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
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