REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY by LORI WILDE

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Million Dollar Cowboy
Cupid, Texas #5

By: Lori Wilde

Releasing March 28, 2017
Avon

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In Million Dollar Cowboy (Cupid, Texas #5) by Lori Wilde, Ridge Lockhart wouldn't return to Cupid, Texas without a good reason, especially after what his ex and father did to him. But with his best friend getting married, there's no way he'd miss out on the celebration. However, Ridge didn't expect his best friend's younger sister to be all grown up and gorgeous. Can he forgive those that wronged him in the past to have a chance at a future with Kaia Alzate, or will his need to prove he's more successful than the man that's always made him feel like an outsider in his family keep them apart?

 

Ms. Wilde always writes fantastic stories and this book was no different. From start to finish, this story was enthralling, fast-paced and I found it hard to put this book down because this story encompasses the brother's best friend; a trope that I absolutely love, because I know the hero is going to struggle to resist temptation, as he sees a relationship with his best friend's sister as forbidden. The way this story started had me feeling sorry for the hero. He doesn't get along with his father after what his old man did, and I could understand why it's hard for him to be back in Cupid, even if it's only for a short time. 

 

The dialogue was well-written and compelling due to the main characters back stories and the animosity between Ridge and his father. Will Ridge ever be able to forgive his old man? However, there were also some really good light-hearted moments between the hero and heroine that I absolutely loved. After everything Kaia's been through, I could understand why she's very live-in-the-moment, don't regret anything mindset. Certainly, she's a fighter and I'm glad that she speaks her mind when she engages with Ridge. She doesn't want him to regret not being able to forgive his father, especially with what happens to his old man. Except it's hard to forgive when his father is a stubborn man that knows how to push Ridge's buttons until the hero can't help but give up on dealing with the man. Who would want to subject themselves to the painful words the man dishes out? Who could blame Ridge for continuing to stay away from Cupid?

 

Kaia is strong, brave and I liked how she was determined to fight her attraction to Ridge since he's not going to be in town long, and yet, it's so hard to resist him. Her crush long ago when she was younger is still there, and with the story about soul mates that her grandmother tells, how could she not be honest with him. However, in saying that, I found the story about soul mates a little far-fetched, even though it was definitely so romantic. Also, I liked how kind, caring and welcoming she was of her brother's fiancée. It shows how close the Alzates are as a family and I could understand why she wants the same for Ridge. He shouldn't hold onto his anger and hurt forever, otherwise he'll never be completely happy. 

 

While Ridge, it's understandable that he ran from his troubles, instead of facing them head on when things went sour in his relationships with his father and his ex. His father wasn't the best dad growing up, but to do what the old man did was wrong. Also, I could fathom why he decided to be so competitive with his father, as Ridge feels he was never good enough to be a part of the family with being the oldest and a child out of wedlock. Can he finally find the acceptance he wants? Moreover, I liked the decisions he made towards the end when it came to his work, Kaia and his family. He couldn't live without Kaia, which meant needing to let go of the past by finding forgiveness for those that wronged him. The question is: can Ridge do it?

 

Overall, this book was a wonderful addition to the Cupid, Texas series by Ms. Wilde where the romance was strong, nicely-detailed and made me think that Kaia is a lucky woman to have Ridge in his life, especially once he realizes what he wants most for his future. The way this story ended took me by surprise, because I didn't think Ridge's dad had it in him to do what he did. He's such a stubborn man. Certainly, the saying, like father like son applies to these two when it comes to how stubborn they both are. However, I liked how things worked out between Kaia and Ridge. He certainly knows how to make the heroine feel needed with his words and actions. I would recommend Million Dollar Cowboy by Lori Wilde, if you enjoy second chance romances or books by authors Carolyn Brown, Kate Pearce or Linda Lael Miller. 

 

OVERALL RATING: 

    

 

 

BLURB:

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?

 

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At this distance, with the width of the landing strip between them, he hadn’t gotten a clear view of her face, but his initial impression was that she was more pretty than beautiful, while her body language exuded a come-sit-by-me friendliness that drew him. She was curvy enough to let him know that she enjoyed a good splurge meal now and again, but she was also healthy and fit. Her skin was tan and supple, her eyes soft and bright, her teeth straight and white. She took good care of herself.

But it was the way she carried herself that totally wrecked him. Confidence mixed with humility. She had an authentic stride full of wholehearted openness. The last person he’d known who’d possessed that special combo was Archer Alzate’s kid sister, Kaia.

 

He hadn’t seen Kaia face-to-face since she was sixteen and she had attended his and Archer’s graduation from the University of Texas. But two years ago, Archer called him to tell him that while working on her doctorate in veterinarian medicine at Texas A&M, Kaia had been in a terrible car accident and fractured her pelvis. Ridge had flown straight to College Station to see her only to discover she was in a medically induced coma.

The waiting room had been packed with her family and friends, and no one noticed him standing in the doorway. After so much time away he’d felt awkward and misplaced, an outsider. Not wanting to turn Kaia’s accident into a stage for his return, he’d slipped quietly away without speaking to the family. But later he texted Archer to meet him in the parking lot to get an update on Kaia’s condition. Archer gave him the rundown, including the fact Kaia had such a high medical deductible he didn’t know how she was ever going to afford to finish her degree.

Once Ridge knew she was stable and going to pull through, he went to the business office, anonymously paid the fifteen-thousand-dollar deductible toward her medical bills, and swore Archer to secrecy.

Later, when she was out of the coma, he sent flowers and a card and he’d gotten back a kind thankyou note, and their correspondence had ended there. Archer kept his word and Kaia never knew Ridge had come to see her or that he was the one who paid her deductible.

Ridge slipped off his sunglasses for a clearer look at the provocative woman. From the back seat of the Tundra, she extracted an oversized present wrapped in gold foil. The package was so big and the backseat so small. How she’d managed to cram it in?

She tossed her head, a triumphant smile on her face, and turned in his direction. Their gazes met across an empty desert.

For a split second, his heart stopped.

Her obsidian eyes arrested him, a mysterious color that suggested hot summer nights and low, deep-throated whispers. Ripples of recognition jolted his nervous system, both shocking and exhilarating. He knew her.

Kaia Alzate.

Freakadilly circus, he’d been lusting after little Kaia Alzate. Hot for the girl he’d once dubbed the Braterminator.

Ridge coolly slipped his sunglasses back down over his eyes. She’d pestered the hell out of him and Archer when they were kids. Tagging along everywhere they went, tattling if they stepped out of line, and generally being a run-of-the-mill pain-in-the-ass. He might have hidden his eyes from her, but he couldn’t hide the goose bumps spreading over his skin, pushing an insistent heat into his bloodstream as he watched her from behind the safety of the polarized lenses of his aviator Ray-Bans.

Her snapping black eyes sparkled with glee, as an enthusiastic grin split her mouth wide. She had recognized him too, and she looked more than happy to see him.

His gut dove the way it did whenever he’d practiced a stall in pilot training, spinning, whirling, and hurtling headlong toward the earth.

Thank God her hands were full because he had the distinct impression that if she’d been empty-handed, she would have come flying across the tarmac to hug the stuffing out of him.

He didn’t mean to do it, told himself he wasn’t going to do it, but damn if he couldn’t help sliding his gaze over her body. After all, she had no idea what his eyes were doing behind the sunglasses.

Thank you, Ray-Bans.

She moved toward him, arms strapped around the oversized present. Stopped. Cast a glance over her shoulder at the main house. Swung her gaze back to him. She wanted to come over, but didn’t seem to know what to do with the package.

He kept his face unreadable, but gave her a respectful nod. I see you, but no need to rush or gush or make a fuss.

Deliberately, he turned away, telling himself it was to chalk the plane’s tires, and it had nothing to do with the fact his chest was tight and his head fuzzy. And a smile he could not stop was pushing across his face.

He was happy to see her too. So happy it freaked him out.

Once the chalks were in place, and he reined in his galloping pulse, Ridge raised his head, ready to dish up a slick greeting.

But she was gone.

Yay. Great. Perfect. He’d avoided her exuberant hug. Good work.

Why then, did he feel so bummed?

 

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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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