Rebel Cowboy

Rebel Cowboy (Big Sky Cowboys #1) by Nicole Helm Nicole Helm’s Rebel Cowboy is a genuine story with real-life issues. In order to get money to keep her ranch afloat, Mel Shaw takes on a job helping NHL Star Dan Sharpe getting his Montana ranch up and running. This contemporary western/sports romance is suitable for adult audiences. Rebel Cowboy was a realistic and heartfelt novel. At times, I felt it dragged a bit, but I found it an enjoyable read. The characters are likeable. Mel is doing everything she can to keep her family's ranch running. She is dedicated and hard working. Dan is considering his life after hockey and decides to restore his grandparents' Montana ranch. He is smart. I like that he is not flashy. I like the llama. I also appreciated that he does what he feels is right for him and not what others expect him to do. The two characters have an appealing chemistry. The story has some interesting twists. Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Starting over and trying something new proved to be hard work for Dan. Hockey is all he has focused on most of his life. NOW WHAT? Mel is just the distraction Dan needs. Not afraid of a little hard work Mel needs money to finance her family ranch, Dan needs help getting his running. Who knew that a fresh outlook and a little sacrifice would prove the answer to both their problems. Rebel Cowboy could be anybody's life story. The moral is to never give up trying. Well thought out story.

Although this novel did get off to a bit of a slow start for me, by the end I was quite enjoying it. Once Helm got into the story proper it was quite the enjoyable read. She took the standard boy meets girl & they fall in love & gave it a little bit of a twist. The plot was intriguing and held my attention. Helm’s descriptions definitely brought me to the ranch, making me able to visualise it alongside the characters. I found the main characters to be somewhat unapproachable for the first while until I really got to know them. Although their actions and reactions are understandable based on their pasts and their current paths in life, having two such characters lead up a story made it hard for me to connect with someone for the first while of the tale. Once I got to know them I quite enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom. The dialogue between the main characters was definitely fun, however. Not only was it real (& sassy) but it also gave me a peek into who these two really are beneath it all. But that ends with the vocal dialogue. The perpetual inner dialogue from our heroine started to sound whiny to me after a while and made it hard for me to like her. This was a sweet tale of love found in the most unlikeliest of places. It was an intriguing introduction into this series. Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.