MUST LOVE COWBOYS is the third book in Carly Bloom’s “Once Upon a Time in Texas” series. Years ago, Alice Martin used to babysit Beau Montgomery and his twin Bryce. The Montgomery boys were adorable little hellions. What Alice didn’t know is that, as he got older, Beau had an evolving crush on her. What Beau didn’t know is that Alice was insecure and assumed his flirting attempts were cruel teasing. Fast forward years later and they’re both living in the same town and they never really talked and worked out their misunderstanding. Fate throws them together and fireworks happen.
I totally get Alice. There’s something suspicious about a guy who seems to try too hard to work his charm. Beau is actually a nice guy, but he plays up his flirtatious rogue persona. Because he’s always working it, it can be hard to take him too seriously. Thankfully this story is told from alternating perspectives so that readers get everything the main characters are slow to reveal. Beau projects such confidence but having to keep his dyslexia secret from everybody but his twin is something that wears on him and makes him doubt himself at times. Big Verde is a small town and Carly Bloom does a good job of showing the good and the bad that comes with small town life. A bargain is struck where Alice helps Beau with his dyslexia, and he acts as her date to a wedding. Fun! When nosy neighbors draw conclusions about why Alice and Beau are spending so much time together, Alice keeps Beau’s secret, and they play like they’re a real couple. I love the pretend relationship trope. This contrived situation gives these characters an opportunity to get to know each other and expand their horizons as well. They are surprised to find how much chemistry they have. Carly Bloom draws the sexual tension out before the characters finally give in to their growing feelings for each other.
MUST LOVE COWBOYS is a fun story with multifaceted characters and a sweet yet sexy unlikely romance. You can’t help but root for these characters throughout this story. The supporting characters in MUST LOVE COWBOYS add texture to the story. I’m happy that the expected blowup at the end of the book didn’t separate the main characters for too long. Although this is the first book I’ve read by Carly Bloom, I look forward to reading her next book.
Return to Big Verde, where "Bloom has invented a place we want to hang up our hat and kick up our spurs any time she's got a story to tell" (Entertainment Weekly). Beau Montgomery is living his best life . . . until he's left in charge of Rancho Cañada Verde. With his dyslexia, he'd choose a saddle over spreadsheets any day. His best hope is to ask the town librarian for tutoring. Only he's had a crush on the book-loving beauty since his junior high days—and despite being a smooth talker, he can't help getting tongue-tied every time they meet.
Alice Martin doesn't regret putting her career above personal relationships—but when Beau comes to her for help, Alice decides to see what she's been missing. She'll improve Beau's reading skills if the handsome cowboy teaches her how to flirt and agrees to be her date to an upcoming wedding. But when the town's gossip mill gets going, they're forced into a fake romance to keep their deal a secret. Soon Alice is seeing Beau in a whole new way . . . can she turn their imaginary story into a real-life happy-ever-after?
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