Cowboy Tough By Joanne Kennedy

Title: Cowboy Tough

Series: Freestanding

Author: Joanne kennedy

Genre: Western

When Cat Crandall ditches her career in advertising to take a job teaching painting workshops in exotic locations, she’s hoping to be sent to Tuscany, or maybe France. Instead, she’s assigned to lead a group of aspiring artists through the backcountry of the isolated Boyd Dude Ranch in Wyoming.

He’s looking for a way out.

Mack Boyd is in the middle of the best bronc-riding season of his life when his mother asks him to help lead an artists’ retreat at the ranch. Mack might be able to ride a wild stallion to a standstill, but he can’t say no to his family.

Together, they just might find what they both need.

It doesn’t take long for Mack to figure out that artists are a lot harder to herd than cattle—especially when they’re led by a spitfire of a city girl who doesn’t like to be bossed around. Cat Crandall is nothing but trouble—so why is he so drawn to her?

Cowboy Tough is a fantastic read. The City girl goes to the country has been done over and over again, Joanne still kept me engaged and the storyline was fresh and new.

I felt bad for Cat when she arrives to find the accommodations for herself and her students less than she had anticipated. They are to stay in the “Heifer House”. As if that’s not bad enough she gets a motley crew of students, from an elderly couple to a man claiming to be in the fashion industry.

Through the story you learn more about Cat like how she’s trying to help her niece get past her mother’s death but everything she does to help seems to backfire. Cat tries to hide her attraction to Mack,  it’s a bit understandable why the usually in-control woman is thrown off by her intense attraction to Mack.

Mack Boyd would rather be on the rodeo circuit than helping his mother run a dude ranch. But circumstances make it impossible for him not to assist her. This cowboy is sexy and has a great way about him. I liked the character and could actually feel his frustrations when he is faced with situations out of his control.

This story keeps you with descriptions of the beautiful sights of Wyoming, the sexual tension between the protagonists and the colorful secondary characters. When everyone is faced with a dangerous situation, you will applaud the responses of this interesting group of people.

Cowboy Tough is funny, touching and and it’s a story you’ll want to keep reading.

Grade A