First impression are the stuff jokes are made of, after all
just how much can you derive from a first little glimpse of
a person. That old expression of not judging a book by its
cover is all over the latest book in the Montana
Strong series by R.C. Ryan THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR.
R.C. Ryan's new book brings us back to the Monroe Ranch
which is a very special place. Mac Monroe and his wife and
son started this ranch. When his wife and son died in a
tragic accident, Mac was left sad and questioning his life.
Luckily his wife Rachel had invited some very wonderful men
to join their ranch and family. And then three troubled boys
wound up in Mac's barn looking for a respite from an
uncertain future. It was with these three men and boys,
undeniably a ragtag group - that Mac was able to kick start
his life. And now in THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR we are looking at
how Sam, the rebellious son, has turned out.
Sam is still the rebel. He is taking on challenges and risks
without care. Or at least that's how it appears to most
people. There is nothing Sam likes more than ranching with
the exception of gambling and pool hustling that is. So when
Penny Cash turns up at the Monroe Ranch the Sam that she
meets looks like an itinerate cowboy. Sam is equally put off
by this petite little woman who is as bossy as heck.
Neither Sam nor Penny had expected their lives to turn out
the way it had. Penny had a teaching degree and was in
Haller Creek for an opening that unfortunately was no longer
available. She had no alternative plan but luckily met up
with Mary Pat who brought her to the Monroe Ranch for a job
cooking and cleaning for the Monroe men. Penny had lots of
experience with taking care of men since she practically
raised her three younger brothers. This was to be a
temporary setback, at detour to her dream job teaching. Well
back to dreams and plans. Penny and Sam are both going to
find themselves with very new experiences. Expectations are
going to fly out the window with a new reality that finds
them equally attracted to each other although they are
practically opposites. Sam is a gambler; Penny abhors that
with good personal reasons. Sam is a tease; Penny is as
straight-laced as they come.
Viva la difference. And in THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR R.C. Ryan
reminds us that life sometimes has surprises in store for us
all. We either take advantage of those surprises or take the
chance of letting something really remarkable pass us by.
As a wise man in THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR says to Penny, life
has a funny way of happening while we are busy making plans.
No one but R.C. Ryan can take a disjointed group of
characters, mesh them into a family and truly bring them to
life. As in all her books R.C. Ryan paints a glorious
picture of scenery which is so much a part of the story. THE
COWBOY NEXT DOOR is a work of art. R.C. Ryan has the tools
for the imagery. I can't wait for the next story about
these amazing characters.
The one woman this cowboy can't resist is the only one
who isn't falling for his charms...
After weeks on the trail, Sam Monroe is looking forward to a
hot bath, a home-cooked meal, and a real bed. In that order.
But he's greeted by something even better when he opens the
door to his family's ranch house. Seems the new housekeeper
is a gorgeous young woman who cooks like an angel and
wrangles his family like a pro. If only she didn't dislike
him so much...
Penny Cash is down on her luck, and the last thing she needs
is a flirtation with a wild, carefree cowboy. Sure, he's
funny and sexy, but they're as different as whiskey and tea.
And she'll be leaving town as soon as she finds a full-time
teaching position. But when trouble comes calling, Penny
will find out how serious Sam can be when it comes to
protecting the woman he loves...
Also includes the bonus novella Saved by the Cowboy
by A.J. Pine!
Olivia Belle has always believed in fairy tales...until the
moment her boyfriend dropped to one knee. When Olivia speeds
into Cash Hawkins' town like a modern-day Cinderella in a
ball gown and glass slippers, Cash's careful existence is
thrown for a loop. Olivia could be his happily ever after .
. . if this runaway bridesmaid doesn't run off with his heart.