Sign in with FacebookJennifer Estep's Reviews > Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love (Crooked Creek Ranch, #1)
by Molly O'Keefe (Goodreads Author)
by Molly O'Keefe (Goodreads Author)
Book: Can’t Buy Me Love
Author: Molly O’Keefe
Series: Crooked Creek #1
Genre: Contemporary romance
Summary: When Lyle Baker, her elderly rancher boss, asks her to be his pretend fiance in order to lure his estranged children back to the Crooked Creek family ranch, Tara Jean Sweet goes along with it. But when Lyle dies and his will states that his son has to remain on the ranch for several months, Tara Jean is stuck with his grown children, including hockey player Luc Baker. Luc is dealing with the possible end of his hockey career due to injury, and he doesn’t need the added aggravation of having Tara Jean around. Luc thinks of Tara Jean as a gold digger, but he finds himself attracted to her all the same. Tara Jean realizes that there is more to Luc than the entitled athlete she initially thinks he is, but she’s worried that her shady past will catch up to her — and Luc …
First line: This was not how Tara Jean Sweet imagined her engagement.
Cover thoughts: An okay cover, although the fun, flirty pose doesn’t match the dark story inside.
What I liked: I thought the premise was interesting, although from the cover and the back cover copy, I was expecting a much lighter book –and this is definitely not a light, fun book. I also enjoyed the Texas setting, and O’Keefe had some interesting dialogue.
What I didn’t like: The characters. Everyone has a lot of emotional baggage in this book. Tara Jean regrets the things she did in the past, while Luc is struggling with his injuries and the potential end of his hockey career. The secondary characters have issues as well, like Luc’s sister, Victoria, who is desperate to get her inheritance after her swindler husband’s death. None of the characters came off as very likable, and I just didn’t really connect with any of them. More often than not, they just seemed to lash out and be cruel to each other. It didn’t make for an enjoyable read for me.
Overall: This one didn’t work for me, but it may appeal to those in search of a more serious contemporary romance read.
Would I read this author again: Yes. Even though this book didn’t work for me, but I’d be interested in reading more by O’Keefe.
My grade: D
Author: Molly O’Keefe
Series: Crooked Creek #1
Genre: Contemporary romance
Summary: When Lyle Baker, her elderly rancher boss, asks her to be his pretend fiance in order to lure his estranged children back to the Crooked Creek family ranch, Tara Jean Sweet goes along with it. But when Lyle dies and his will states that his son has to remain on the ranch for several months, Tara Jean is stuck with his grown children, including hockey player Luc Baker. Luc is dealing with the possible end of his hockey career due to injury, and he doesn’t need the added aggravation of having Tara Jean around. Luc thinks of Tara Jean as a gold digger, but he finds himself attracted to her all the same. Tara Jean realizes that there is more to Luc than the entitled athlete she initially thinks he is, but she’s worried that her shady past will catch up to her — and Luc …
First line: This was not how Tara Jean Sweet imagined her engagement.
Cover thoughts: An okay cover, although the fun, flirty pose doesn’t match the dark story inside.
What I liked: I thought the premise was interesting, although from the cover and the back cover copy, I was expecting a much lighter book –and this is definitely not a light, fun book. I also enjoyed the Texas setting, and O’Keefe had some interesting dialogue.
What I didn’t like: The characters. Everyone has a lot of emotional baggage in this book. Tara Jean regrets the things she did in the past, while Luc is struggling with his injuries and the potential end of his hockey career. The secondary characters have issues as well, like Luc’s sister, Victoria, who is desperate to get her inheritance after her swindler husband’s death. None of the characters came off as very likable, and I just didn’t really connect with any of them. More often than not, they just seemed to lash out and be cruel to each other. It didn’t make for an enjoyable read for me.
Overall: This one didn’t work for me, but it may appeal to those in search of a more serious contemporary romance read.
Would I read this author again: Yes. Even though this book didn’t work for me, but I’d be interested in reading more by O’Keefe.
My grade: D
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