HOW THE COWBOY WAS WON BY LORI WILDE - ARC REVIEW

Return to New York Times Bestselling Author Lori Wilde’s beloved town of Cupid, Texas, where wedding fever is in the air . . . and two best friends discover that sometimes the perfect match is standing right in front of you . . .

Ember Alzate is a fantastic matchmaker with one big problem: she can’t find the perfect mate for herself! Alzate family legend says that when she kisses “the One” she’ll hear a mysterious humming in her head. Well, Ember’s kissed a lot of guys and she’s never heard a thing. Now, instead of searching for herself, she vows to find her best friend, Ranger Lockhart, a bride. It’s clear this smart, sexy man just needs to meet the right gal.

Ranger’s returned home to Cupid with marriage on his mind, but he’s not interested in the parade of women Ember pushes under his nose. His thoughts keep returning to his best friend—with her combustible combination of curves and sass. No one compares to Ember, but what’s it going to take to convince her she’s the woman for him?

This was a slow burn friends to lovers romance.

Ember and Ranger have been friends for years, and they both feel the attraction to one another, but don't want to do anything to mess up the relationship they already have, as they each feel they can talk to (and connect with) one another.

So, the only reasonable response for Ember is to try her hand at matchmaking and finding someone else for Ranger to fall in love with.

There were shades of Jane Austen to this story, and there were points where I was not sure I believed that the characters thought they were perfect for one another.  Yes, the attraction was built up well, but the shift from friends to lovers, and the eventual conclusion, seemed a little too quick for me to believe it fully.  It wasn't enough to ruin the story, but it did make me struggle with the romance aspect of it a little.

I do recommend this title, and I did enjoy it overall.

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MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY BY LORI WILDE-REVIEW TOUR

A heartwarming story of a cowboy who comes home to the 
family ranch for a wedding filled with surprises…

MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY

Cupid, Texas #5

Lori Wilde

Releasing March 28, 2017

Avon Books

New York Times Bestselling Author Lori Wilde returns to Cupid, Texas with a heartwarming story of a cowboy who comes home to the family ranch for a wedding filled with surprises…

The illegitimate son of a Texas ranching dynasty, Ridge Lockhart left home ten years ago with one goal: to become more successful than the father who never accepted him.

Mission accomplished, but now he’s back at the Silver Feather Ranch for a wedding—three days of best man duty until he can hightail it out. Then he spies Kaia Alzate, and suddenly leaving isn’t quite so appealing.

Kaia Alzate grew up the daughter of the ranch foreman, servants to the mighty Lockharts in the mansion. Back then, she followed Ridge around like a puppy. Now, she’s fighting the attraction she feels for this sexy CEO. She’s determined not to make a big mistake—but when Ridge takes her in his arms she’s stunned…could he be the man she’s waited for all along?

I enjoy books by Lori Wilde, so when I saw this one, I was interested.  And it didn't disappoint.  Ridge and Kaia were interesting, and their initial meeting was funny, the idea that he was attracted to her and didn't know who she was made it interesting and gave the feeling that while it was a friends to lovers, it was also a story about how much someone can change in 10 years.

The story arc was reasonable, the pacing strong and the characters were mostly believable.  There were a couple of things that I am not sure would happen in real life, that seemed to possibly be more realistic in the setting of a romance novel that has to end with the expected HEA.

the 10 years, however, made it tough for me to believe he would make the decisions that he does at the end.  And spoilers make it impossible for me to discuss them fully.  It wasn't enough to, obviously, ruin the whole thing for me, but it did make the ending a little less satisfying that it would have been otherwise.

That said, I do recommend this book.  It is enjoyable, I liked the characters and getting to know them.

Lori Wilde is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 70 works of romantic fiction. She is a two-time RITA award nominee, a four time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee and has won numerous other awards. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and holds a certificate in nursing forensics. An animal lover, Lori is owned by several pets, and lives in Texas with her husband, Bill.

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