Grand-Prize Cowboy

Though this book is part of a series, if like me, you haven’t read the previous stories, rest assure it’s a stand alone. Boone Dalton and his family moved to Bronco Heights just a couple of years ago after his father won big in Vegas. Though the family now has money and a big ranch, the wealthy and long time ranchers in the area haven’t really brought them into their group. Add insult to injury, unbeknown to him, his younger brothers put his name in a contest that will give the winner a make-over. To say that Boone was furious, is putting it mildly. But when he meets Sofia Sanchez, the stylist, he is smitten and accepts the challenge. Sofia sees this as an opportunity to show off her talent as a stylist as an opening to leave Bronco for a bigger career and future. What happens when Sofia’s dreams collide with her heart? Will she move away to pursue her career or will she give her heart to Boone and stay home? This was a sweet story about realizing that sometimes one’s dreams can miss the best thing that could happen in one’s life. That being finding love with “the one”. I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expresses are solely my own.

Four and a half stars Grand-Prize Cowboy by Heatherly Bell is the fourth in the Montana Mavericks: The Real Cowboys of Bronco Heights multi-author continuity series from Harlequin Special Edition. Sofia Sanchez is a talented stylist and fledging designer. When horse trainer Boone Dalton’s mischievous brothers enter him in a contest for a makeover, he decides to accept the prize only because it gives him the chance to spend time in Sofia’s company. Sofia and Boone quickly discover they share a mutual attraction that is ready to explode into more given the slightest encouragement. But while Boone is ready to commit, Sofia’s slower to leap on that train, recognizing that she has many plans, not all of which involved the changes inherent in adding someone else to the picture. Heatherly Bell’s characters are well written and bring the gamut of emotions to the page. Boone and Sofia’s headlong fall into love is charming and all too understandable! Looking forward to more by Ms Bell!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it. This is a part of a series but I also noticed that there were other couples in here that aren't in this particular series but another one or two prior. I kinda of felt lost in a couple of places because of it. I feel that I need to go back a couple of series and start there. I did enjoy this book and the characters. I also loved that it was written in a dual POV format. I feel that I connect better to the characters and makes them more "human" that way. There were some really great scenes and some funny ones as well. The ending was more of a HFN rather than a HEA (which I prefer much better.) That could be why it felt off to me. It is something that I just can't put my finger on though for a cause. There were a few sexy scenes but not overly graphic in nature.