Cowboy On My Mind by RC Ryan (Review & More)
Cowboy On My Mind by R.C. Ryan
BOOK REVIEW
R.C. RYAN
Cowboy On My Mind
4.5 Stars
With themes of family, finding a home, love, redemption, and renewal, Cowboy On My Mind by R.C. Ryan proves to be an entertaining and heartwarming second chance love story. One that will appeal to both western and reunion romance lovers.
Rancher and newly appointed sheriff’s deputy Ben Monroe is intrigued by the news that the one who got away, Rebecca Henderson, is back in Haller Creek, Montana. As a teenager, Ben was the bad boy in town—a fact that Rebecca’s father has never let him forget, or outgrow. The eldest of three difficult boys, Ben spent his youth getting into trouble even as he did his best to protect his two younger brothers and any others who needed it. He grew up to value the lessons he learned from Mac, the man who took him and his brother’s in as kids, even choosing law enforcement as his career path. While he’s not the same troublemaker he used to be, he isn’t quite certain he’s the man he needs to be for a woman like Becca or for the town.
Becca is home to build a new life for herself and part of that includes reconnecting with the sexy Ben. She’s always admired his strong personality and his determination to be his own man, even when her own father didn’t approve. Yet when danger finds her, there’s nobody she’d rather have protecting her than Ben Monroe.
Amidst danger, disapproval, and doubt, Ben and Becca forge a strong connection that bridges the gap between old and new. The obstacles these two face deepen the feelings they have for each other while testing the strength of their growing love. This make for a beautiful second chance romance read and fans of R.C. Ryan are sure to love it.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A heartwarming western romance about a cowboy who gets a second chance with the first love he couldn’t forget in the rugged beauty of the Montana mountains. . .
COWBOY ON MY MIND
Author: R.C. Ryan
Series: Montana Strong #1
Genre: Romance | Contemporary | Western
Publisher: Grand Central
Imprint: Forever Romance
Pages: 496
Publisher: June 26, 2018
Purchase: Amazon | B & N | Kobo
Once a bad boy…
Ben Monroe was the ultimate bad boy-and everyone in Haller Creek knew it. But now as a sheriff’s deputy, Ben spends his time breaking up bar fights rather than starting them, and staying away from trouble…until Becca Henderson comes back into town. She’s just as beautiful as Ben remembers-and just as far out of his reach.
Coming home is exactly what Becca Henderson needed. A place of her own, a successful new business, and a chance to reconnect with the sexy cowboy she had a crush on in school. Ben has always blazed his own path and never let anyone stand in his way. It excites-and scares-her. But when an unexpected threat surfaces, Becca will see just how far Ben will go to protect the woman he loves-and fight for their chance at forever.
Don’t miss this special 2-in-1 edition that includes a bonus western romance novella by Sara Richardson!
Add to Goodreads | Goodreads Series Page
Okie Dreams Readers…Be sure to read to the bottom of this post, because Forever Romance is giving three lucky U.S./Canada readers a full set of The Malloys of Montana series by R.C. Ryan. Each set includes print copies of Luke, Matt, and Reed, the three titles—and Cowboy heroes!—in The Malloys of Montana series. And trust me when I tell you, that’s a set you want to own!
BOOK EXCERPT
From COWBOY ON MY MIND:
“What do you want to do?”
Becca gave a weary shake of her head. “Honestly? I’d like to crawl into my old bed and hide under the covers, and let my parents fuss over me until this nightmare is resolved. But I can’t.” She pulled her hand free of his touch, but not before Ben felt the quick, jittery pulse.
She started to pace, arms folded over her chest. “I’ve always been a coward, Ben. Afraid of everything. Breaking any of my father’s rules.” She paused. Looked over at him. “Don’t you see? I stayed away until I thought I could come home on my own terms. And now, weeks into my noble decision, it’s all falling apart.” She took in a deep, shuddering breath. “You can’t imagine how tempted I am to move home and hide. But I know if I do, I’ll never find the courage to be my own person. And this means so much to me.”
Ben got to his feet and crossed to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. “First of all, look at how you reacted when you were shot at, in the dark, by an unknown assailant. You didn’t cry, or run to your parents’ house. You phoned the dispatcher, reported the incident, and stood your ground. That’s not the behavior of a coward.”
When she opened her mouth to protest, he touched a finger to her lips. Feeling the rush of heat, he quickly removed his hand and lowered it to his side, clenching it into a fist.
“Thank you, Ben. I’m so glad you stopped by.” Becca looked close to tears.
Ben didn’t know what he’d do if she cried.
Yes, he did. If she broke down crying, he’d have to comfort her. And if he did, he might never stop until . . .
Very deliberately he started toward the front door. “I’m glad, too. I hope you know you can call me any time you need a friend.”
She moved past him and opened the door. “I may take you up on that.”
“Good. Good night, Becca.”
He almost made it out the door. Would have, if he hadn’t looked down to see her struggling to smile, despite the glint of tears on her lashes.
He reached out a hand to her. “Rebecca, don’t cry . . .”
Ashamed, she turned her head to hide her anguish.
He swore softly before gathering her into his arms. “Hey, now. It’s going to be all right.”
“Oh, Ben . . . ”
His entire body was engulfed in heat.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to frame her face with his hands and run soft butterfly kisses from her temple to her cheek and lower, to her mouth, while murmuring words of comfort. “You’re safe now. You’ll get through this.”
“I know.” With a soft sigh she returned his kiss with a sort of desperation that had him forgetting all his promises to himself.
The rush of heat became a raging inferno. His hands were in her hair, though he couldn’t recall how they got there. His mouth moved over hers, taking the kiss deep.
She moaned softly.
Her hungry response had him throwing all caution to the wind. How could he resist when the need was so great?
She stood clinging fiercely, returning his kisses with a hunger that caught him off guard.
Her body fit perfectly against his, like the missing piece of a puzzle.
The smell of her perfume, faintly floral, went straight to his head.
With each kiss, she tasted like sin.
He took all she offered, devouring them both until alarm bells went off in his brain.
With a fierce oath, he lifted his head, breaking contact.
God in heaven. His heartbeat was thundering. His breathing ragged. He was surprised at how difficult it was to speak. “I can’t . . . do this. I’m supposed to be professional . . . ” He tried again. “I . . . have a job to do.”
“I know.” She stepped back, refusing to look at him. Instead she stared at the floor, color flooding her cheeks. “I have no right”—she spread her hands, still studying a spot on the floor—“to bother you with my personal problems, Ben.”
He put a hand under her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. The mere touch of her sent another series of tremors through his overcharged system.
Almost reverently he framed her face with his big hands. His tone was low with passion. “You know you can tell me anything.”
He was rewarded by the slightest nod of her head. “I guess that’s why I do it. You’re so easy to talk to, Ben.” She stood on tiptoe to brush a kiss over his cheek.
His hands were shaking, and he had to lower them to his side to keep from dragging her close. “I’ll check on you whenever I can. Call me if you need me.”
“I will, Ben. Good night.”
He strode out the door, refusing to look back. If he did, he’d never make it to his car.
Once inside he turned the key in the ignition and noted idly that his hands were still trembling.
Right now, more than ever, he wanted to run back and lock himself inside with Rebecca. The only trouble was, she’d be in even more danger than she was now.
He wanted her. Dear God, he wanted her. And always had.
In the years they’d been apart, nothing had changed.
Yet, in a way, everything had.
She’d come back to Haller Creek determined to make her own way, despite her father’s efforts to take charge.
Rebecca may be winning the conflict with her father, but if she got to really know the darker side of Ben, with all its rough edges, she’d be shocked to her core.
Ben swore. And wasn’t he the biggest fool in the world right now? Even knowing how right her father was . . . even knowing how wrong they were for one another, he wanted her. And would until the day he died.
Purchase: Amazon | B & N | Kobo
Don’t forget to read our exclusive All About Cowboys interview with R.C. Ryan and enter the giveaway to win a set of print books for The Malloys of Montana series!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
For U.S. and Canada residents only!
Enter to win one of three print sets of The Malloys of Montana series by R.C. Ryan—Luke, Matt, and Reed. Winners will be chosen at random from all entries received. Make sure we have your name and a reachable email address so we can contact you should you win.
* This giveaway is sponsored by Forever Romance *
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan has written more than ninety novels, both contemporary and historical. Quite an accomplishment for someone who, after her fifth child started school, gave herself the gift of an hour a day to follow her dream to become a writer.
In a career spanning more than twenty years, Ms. Ryan has given dozens of radio, television, and print interviews across the country and Canada, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as the Wall Street Journal and Cosmopolitan. She has also appeared on CNN News, and Good Morning America.
R.C. Ryan is a pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ryan Langan.
You can learn more about R. C. Ryan and her alter ego Ruth Ryan Langan at:
RyanLangan.com as well as follow her on Twitter and Facebook
