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Roped & Wrangled #1
Taking The Reins
Peyton Muldoon needs a man bad. No, not that way. What she needs is a trainer for her struggling stud ranch. And only a true life horse whisperer will do, a man with the right touch and real know how.
Redford Callahan’s on a hot streak. Not in the sack. But with the ranch owners who hire him to gentle their animals without breaking their spirit. He can pick and choose his next gig, so he’ll be damned if he’s going to waste his time on a mismanaged operation like the M-Star. Not until Peyton sashays into his motel room one night to make him a deal he can’t refuse. Now Red’s days as a loner are numbered and he’s starting to wonder if there’s one spitfire he won’t be able to tame…
Redford Callahan’s on a hot streak. Not in the sack. But with the ranch owners who hire him to gentle their animals without breaking their spirit. He can pick and choose his next gig, so he’ll be damned if he’s going to waste his time on a mismanaged operation like the M-Star. Not until Peyton sashays into his motel room one night to make him a deal he can’t refuse. Now Red’s days as a loner are numbered and he’s starting to wonder if there’s one spitfire he won’t be able to tame…
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First published December 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 14, 2013
Taking the Reins is a Kensington publication. This book was published in Dec. 2012. This is a contemporary western romance written by Kat Murray. I received a copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley.
Peyton is the middle child. Her older brother, Trace is a rodeo star, and her younger sister, Bea is an actress living in California. That means that Peyton has been running the ranch and trying to keep the place profitable. This life is in her blood and she loves it, but when her mother had no head for business and has let the ranch run down. When Sylvia dies in an accident, Peyton learns the true extent of the damage her mother did and not only that, but her father is the only one that left a will. The ranch would be split three ways amongst the children. The ranch really belongs to Peyton and everyone knows it, but she has to contact her siblings and work out the details.
Meanwhile her horse trainer is fired and Peyton desperately needs help.
Red is the best trainer around. He has lots of offers and can pick and choose. But, when Peyton approaches him with a job offer, he is stunned. The two don't exactly get along so well.
Trace comes home and brings along a child and is mum about the details. He won't discuss the situation about the mother with anyone, but does the best he can to help Peyton and be a good parent.
Bea on the other hand come back and doesn't appear to have matured much over the years. But, she's also at loose ends and she and Peyton start to repair their relationship.
Peyton has to live down her mother's reputation and get the ranch back on it's feet. But, her attraction to Red is distracting. She is afraid of getting involved with him for several reasons, but the two just can't seem to keep away from each other.
This was a fast, light romance. Nothing too dark or heavy. Red is easy to like and Peyton learns to bite back her pride and to live a little. Trace and Bea will most likely be featured in future books. Both of them remain a bit of a mystery in this book though.
Entertaining and enjoyable. Over all a B.
Peyton is the middle child. Her older brother, Trace is a rodeo star, and her younger sister, Bea is an actress living in California. That means that Peyton has been running the ranch and trying to keep the place profitable. This life is in her blood and she loves it, but when her mother had no head for business and has let the ranch run down. When Sylvia dies in an accident, Peyton learns the true extent of the damage her mother did and not only that, but her father is the only one that left a will. The ranch would be split three ways amongst the children. The ranch really belongs to Peyton and everyone knows it, but she has to contact her siblings and work out the details.
Meanwhile her horse trainer is fired and Peyton desperately needs help.
Red is the best trainer around. He has lots of offers and can pick and choose. But, when Peyton approaches him with a job offer, he is stunned. The two don't exactly get along so well.
Trace comes home and brings along a child and is mum about the details. He won't discuss the situation about the mother with anyone, but does the best he can to help Peyton and be a good parent.
Bea on the other hand come back and doesn't appear to have matured much over the years. But, she's also at loose ends and she and Peyton start to repair their relationship.
Peyton has to live down her mother's reputation and get the ranch back on it's feet. But, her attraction to Red is distracting. She is afraid of getting involved with him for several reasons, but the two just can't seem to keep away from each other.
This was a fast, light romance. Nothing too dark or heavy. Red is easy to like and Peyton learns to bite back her pride and to live a little. Trace and Bea will most likely be featured in future books. Both of them remain a bit of a mystery in this book though.
Entertaining and enjoyable. Over all a B.
December 16, 2012
Peyton Muldoon is trying to resurrect for family’s horse farm. Although Peyton has been the only family member that has stayed to care for the ranch, she discovers that the ranch was left to her and her two siblings. Fighting to rebuild the ranch’s reputation, Peyton realize that she must ask for help from a famous trainer, Redford (Red) Callahan.
Red Callahan is one of the most sought after horse trainers in the business, giving him an unlimited amount of job offers. When this tom-boy with attitude shows up requesting his help at the M-Star, he is instantly interested in more than training horses. He knows he should run the other way but something is pulling him toward M-Star and Peyton Muldoon.
This is a sweet story about family, trust and finding love. The characters are strong, courageous and although they have lots of family issues...they genuinely love each other. In the end, Taking the Reins was a quick read, with a great heartwarming story and just the right amount of steamy romantic encounters. I do look forward to Peyton’s siblings Bea’s and Trace’s stories. 4 stars!
This ARC copy of Taking the Reins was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date December 24, 2012.
Red Callahan is one of the most sought after horse trainers in the business, giving him an unlimited amount of job offers. When this tom-boy with attitude shows up requesting his help at the M-Star, he is instantly interested in more than training horses. He knows he should run the other way but something is pulling him toward M-Star and Peyton Muldoon.
This is a sweet story about family, trust and finding love. The characters are strong, courageous and although they have lots of family issues...they genuinely love each other. In the end, Taking the Reins was a quick read, with a great heartwarming story and just the right amount of steamy romantic encounters. I do look forward to Peyton’s siblings Bea’s and Trace’s stories. 4 stars!
This ARC copy of Taking the Reins was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date December 24, 2012.
January 23, 2013
Taking the Reins by Kat Murray in a contemporary romance set in a ranch with a feisty heroine and a loner for a hero. This is my kind of romance.
Peyton Muldoon has been working the M-Star all her life. She inherits when her mother dies only to find out that her long absentee siblings Trace and Bea each co-own one-third of the ranch. She must get in touch with them to make big decisions but needs a horse trainer now. Redford Callahan is that man.
Red's reputation with ranch owners as a horse trainer is impeccable and now that he is free to accept a new contract he can pick and choose. His head tells him that accepting a job at the badly mismanaged M-Star is a mistake and shouldn't even consider it, not with the beautiful Peyton as its manager, but when Peyton personally offer him the job, his gut tells him otherwise. Red accepts, but knows he is in for a bumpy ride.
Peyton is one of those feisty heroines with a stubborn streak a mile long. She carries lots of personal baggage caused by neglect from a mother with a reputation too busy sleeping around with anything wearing pants and no knowledge of how to run a ranch, and a loving father who died too soon. To Peyton the ranch and family always come first and her needs come last, if that. She is attracted to Red big time! And slowly that attraction turns to lust and need. But she's not willing to trust or better yet place her reputation and that of the M-Star on the line for whatever it is that is going on between them. The ranch comes first.
Red on the other hand can't help but admire Peyton's hard work and business sense as well as her beauty. He lusts after her, yes, but everything about Peyton seems just perfect to him, even her feisty and sometimes over the top pride and stubbornness. Red falls in love with Peyton. He is a sweet and sexy man memorable for his patience and heartwarming nature -- because believe me, Red had to be patient with Peyton! The thing is that while working the ranch Peyton is the boss who rules (sometimes she's a bit too insecure about this point), but in bed Red and Peyton together are hot! I like how by the end this relationship slowly balances itself out in and out of bed.
Murray's conflict in this romance is mostly internal between the two protagonists, but aided in part by external circumstances. The internal conflict is excellent, creating the necessary push and pull or tension that makes the happy ending worth it at the end of a romance. The external conflict although used as a device to advance the storyline seemed weaker throughout with a predictable resolution.
Murray creates great atmosphere in this story by providing the necessary ranching details that place the reader right there on that barn with the horses. I really enjoyed that aspect of this novel. The secondary characters are also a contributing factor, although they do not take the focus away from the main couple. The ranch hands become more than just characters as do some of the townspeople, and Peyton's siblings Trace and Bea are key figures in this story that stay enough of a mystery in preparation for their own upcoming romances.
Taking the Reins by Kat Murray is a solid contemporary romance read. I enjoyed the pacing and writing style, but most of all the atmosphere and characters that Murray creates in this romance. Now I'm really curious to find out how cowboy Trace really ended up as a single father, and why Bea left behind her career as an actress and is now sneaking out on those midnight rides!
Peyton Muldoon has been working the M-Star all her life. She inherits when her mother dies only to find out that her long absentee siblings Trace and Bea each co-own one-third of the ranch. She must get in touch with them to make big decisions but needs a horse trainer now. Redford Callahan is that man.
Red's reputation with ranch owners as a horse trainer is impeccable and now that he is free to accept a new contract he can pick and choose. His head tells him that accepting a job at the badly mismanaged M-Star is a mistake and shouldn't even consider it, not with the beautiful Peyton as its manager, but when Peyton personally offer him the job, his gut tells him otherwise. Red accepts, but knows he is in for a bumpy ride.
Peyton is one of those feisty heroines with a stubborn streak a mile long. She carries lots of personal baggage caused by neglect from a mother with a reputation too busy sleeping around with anything wearing pants and no knowledge of how to run a ranch, and a loving father who died too soon. To Peyton the ranch and family always come first and her needs come last, if that. She is attracted to Red big time! And slowly that attraction turns to lust and need. But she's not willing to trust or better yet place her reputation and that of the M-Star on the line for whatever it is that is going on between them. The ranch comes first.
Red on the other hand can't help but admire Peyton's hard work and business sense as well as her beauty. He lusts after her, yes, but everything about Peyton seems just perfect to him, even her feisty and sometimes over the top pride and stubbornness. Red falls in love with Peyton. He is a sweet and sexy man memorable for his patience and heartwarming nature -- because believe me, Red had to be patient with Peyton! The thing is that while working the ranch Peyton is the boss who rules (sometimes she's a bit too insecure about this point), but in bed Red and Peyton together are hot! I like how by the end this relationship slowly balances itself out in and out of bed.
Murray's conflict in this romance is mostly internal between the two protagonists, but aided in part by external circumstances. The internal conflict is excellent, creating the necessary push and pull or tension that makes the happy ending worth it at the end of a romance. The external conflict although used as a device to advance the storyline seemed weaker throughout with a predictable resolution.
Murray creates great atmosphere in this story by providing the necessary ranching details that place the reader right there on that barn with the horses. I really enjoyed that aspect of this novel. The secondary characters are also a contributing factor, although they do not take the focus away from the main couple. The ranch hands become more than just characters as do some of the townspeople, and Peyton's siblings Trace and Bea are key figures in this story that stay enough of a mystery in preparation for their own upcoming romances.
Taking the Reins by Kat Murray is a solid contemporary romance read. I enjoyed the pacing and writing style, but most of all the atmosphere and characters that Murray creates in this romance. Now I'm really curious to find out how cowboy Trace really ended up as a single father, and why Bea left behind her career as an actress and is now sneaking out on those midnight rides!
February 21, 2013
The opening pages of Taking the Reins promise a high-spirited, high-stakes, heart-scarring ride of a contemporary western romance and Murray handily delivers on that promise. A smooth, snappy writing style and an unpredictable story line energized by a hardheaded duo who share a love of land and horses — and a double dose of mistrust — pull you right into life on a family ranch flirting with ruin.
Red would offer to help, but knowing Peyton, she'd bite him. So he slipped his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, waiting patiently.
"I hate when you do that." She dusted her hands off on the thighs of her jeans and shook her head.
"Do what?"
"Do that patient thing." She waved a hand at his body like that was going to give him any clues. "The whole 'I could stand here all day, I'm fine' thing. Nobody has that much patience."
"I hear it's a virtue, especially working with the stock."
"Well, you're not with animals now. You're with a human." She stepped inside, into the much cooler, shady interior of the barn.
"Yes, I am." Though after spending a good hour in her presence, he was feeling a little animalistic himself.
But horses — and mutual lust — aren't all that Peyton and Red have in common. They each have their share of family troubles, and those troubles endanger not only the ranch, but the lives of everyone on it. Murray provides plenty of surprises that add humor, poignancy and intrigue to the story — I especially enjoyed the twist to the motel scene, and the mystery surrounding the trials and tribulations Peyton's siblings faced while away from the ranch. Down to earth characters, vivid prose, a solid pace and playful but heartfelt sex — Red and Peyton aren't the only ones Roped & Wrangled. I look forward to corralling the rest of this series!
Red would offer to help, but knowing Peyton, she'd bite him. So he slipped his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, waiting patiently.
"I hate when you do that." She dusted her hands off on the thighs of her jeans and shook her head.
"Do what?"
"Do that patient thing." She waved a hand at his body like that was going to give him any clues. "The whole 'I could stand here all day, I'm fine' thing. Nobody has that much patience."
"I hear it's a virtue, especially working with the stock."
"Well, you're not with animals now. You're with a human." She stepped inside, into the much cooler, shady interior of the barn.
"Yes, I am." Though after spending a good hour in her presence, he was feeling a little animalistic himself.
But horses — and mutual lust — aren't all that Peyton and Red have in common. They each have their share of family troubles, and those troubles endanger not only the ranch, but the lives of everyone on it. Murray provides plenty of surprises that add humor, poignancy and intrigue to the story — I especially enjoyed the twist to the motel scene, and the mystery surrounding the trials and tribulations Peyton's siblings faced while away from the ranch. Down to earth characters, vivid prose, a solid pace and playful but heartfelt sex — Red and Peyton aren't the only ones Roped & Wrangled. I look forward to corralling the rest of this series!
October 14, 2013
Another great cowboy romance. This was the first I have read Kat Murray. I enjoyed the book very much. It centers around Peyton. She owns a ranch and needs a trainer for horses. Enter Redford, he is great with horses but he doesn't want a permanent position. He likes to move around and pick and choose his job. He decides to take Peyton's offer, he has always liked her and he thought he would try settling down to one spot. Along the way enter Peyton's brother and sister as well as Red's father. They all add to this story so take the time to read this one. It is a good read
February 7, 2013
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/01/18/...
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
Peyton Muldoon needs a man bad. No, not that way. What she needs is a trainer for her struggling stud ranch. And only a true life horse whisperer will do, a man with the right touch and real know how.
Redford Callahan’s on a hot streak. Not in the sack. But with the ranch owners who hire him to gentle their animals without breaking their spirit. He can pick and choose his next gig, so he’ll be damned if he’s going to waste his time on a mismanaged operation like the M-Star. Not until Peyton sashays into his motel room one night to make him a deal he can’t refuse. Now Red’s days as a loner are numbered and he’s starting to wonder if there’s one spitfire he won’t be able to tame…
This blurb came from the author’s website.
This is my lucky week. I have been able to review two western romances both of which I enjoyed for different reasons. When I was looking at potential books to review and I saw this blurb, the first line really caught my eye. As I continued reading I saw a similar play on words talking about Redford, otherwise known as Red, and I couldn’t resist. The opening scene of Taking the Reins really made me hope. I was formally introduced to the hero when Payton overheard Red discouraging another person from doing business with her. I knew at that early stage that this could either be really good or really bad. Thankfully a few minutes later I settled down to read with a grin on my face.
Peyton did not have an easy life. She was the middle of three siblings. Her older brother left after their father died years ago for the rodeo circuit and her younger sister was out in California working as an actress. Neither had been back for years but Peyton loved her father’s ranch so she stayed home hoping for her chance to turn the M-Star into a top-rated stud ranch. Until her mother’s death two months ago Peyton had not been allowed to do anything regarding the running of the ranch other than watch mismanagement drive the ranch into the ground. She was determined to bring it back so she met with her lawyer to see what advice he could give her. At that meeting she found out that the ranch was divided legally and equally between the surviving Muldoons and that all three had to agree on major decisions regarding the ranch. I really enjoyed how strong and yet how wounded Peyton was at the same time. She grew up rejected by her mother because she was interested in the ranch and horses instead of traditional delicate womanly activities like her sister Bea. Her father taught her everything he knew about horses and ranching but he fully expected Trace as the son to take over the ranch. Peyton also had to deal with living down her mother’s unsavory reputation, which made her really cautious about her image. As a result she worked hard to avoid any possible hint of scandal and was rather prickly when it came to the men she worked with.
Red didn’t have a particularly happy upbringing either. His mother was a rodeo groupie who followed his father from place to place. They were never the best places to begin with and leaving sometimes meant they left because they didn’t have the money to pay their bill. Other times they left when his father was fired for drinking on the job or for running some scam that always failed. Red was a wanderer who moved from place to place on temporary contracts training horses and people into efficient working teams. His reputation brought business and an increased price to any ranch or horse. Unlike Peyton who was dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s life, Red still had to deal with his father’s attempts to guilt money out of him or to use his son’s name and reputation to get jobs. Red tended to be slightly suspicious of people because of his father’s swindling and the fact that his temporary employers always forgot the temporary aspect of his contract and thought they could convince him to stay for the long haul. He certainly had his trigger points but he also had an immense amount of patience and ability to read body language that came in handy dealing with Peyton.
Peyton and Red had a continuous tension. They were both stubborn, thought they knew best and really not trusting of other humans but they shared a love and understanding of horses. Peyton was convinced that she needed to try and hire Red as her new trainer but she decided to give him a deadline for his acceptance unlike any other offer. She also told him up front that she could not offer him the salary or benefits he could get from a larger outfit but that he would be setting the foundation for the future. Despite his common sense Red decided to accept her job offer but he showed up after the deadline. Peyton tried to tell him the job was already filled by her brother Trace, who arrived unexpectedly, but Trace insisted that Red was better at training so Peyton reluctantly hired him. The strength of their tension started igniting sparks that were impossible to ignore.
The supporting characters provided a nice backdrop to Peyton and Red’s relationship. They fleshed out the world while providing some interesting speculation about the other two Muldoon siblings and the ghosts of their past. One of the things I really loved was how their housekeeper and cook, Emma, provided a motherly stabilizing presence to everyone on the ranch without becoming overbearing. I think she was the central repository of a lot more than anyone suspected so it will be interesting to see if her role expands as the series continues.
I did have a few quibbles with Peyton and Red. I thought that after Red had accused Peyton of doing something pretty underhanded that she really wasn’t bothered by his accusation. Given her fierce protection of her reputation, I think her lack of anger was out of character. I was also pretty irritated with Red when he continually found his office/living quarters disturbed but he never told anyone about the issue. His employers deserved to know that they had some sort of security risk instead of being kept ignorant. Red did make me pretty happy when he stepped up and decided to do something about his father’s continual harassment so the promise he showed in the beginning came through.
Overall I enjoyed reading Taking the Reins. The hero and heroine had chemistry and their own set of flaws. The supporting cast was also interesting and provided a nice view of a cross-section of humanity. M-Star Ranch was showing signs of revitalization and it looked like Peyton was going to have a family again. Taking the Reins didn’t have any life or death situations but a lot was still at stake. I am looking forward to seeing what Murray provides for the next installment.
I give Taking the Reins a B+
*I also want to thank Kensington for replacing my review copy when the original version I received was unreadable
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
Peyton Muldoon needs a man bad. No, not that way. What she needs is a trainer for her struggling stud ranch. And only a true life horse whisperer will do, a man with the right touch and real know how.
Redford Callahan’s on a hot streak. Not in the sack. But with the ranch owners who hire him to gentle their animals without breaking their spirit. He can pick and choose his next gig, so he’ll be damned if he’s going to waste his time on a mismanaged operation like the M-Star. Not until Peyton sashays into his motel room one night to make him a deal he can’t refuse. Now Red’s days as a loner are numbered and he’s starting to wonder if there’s one spitfire he won’t be able to tame…
This blurb came from the author’s website.
This is my lucky week. I have been able to review two western romances both of which I enjoyed for different reasons. When I was looking at potential books to review and I saw this blurb, the first line really caught my eye. As I continued reading I saw a similar play on words talking about Redford, otherwise known as Red, and I couldn’t resist. The opening scene of Taking the Reins really made me hope. I was formally introduced to the hero when Payton overheard Red discouraging another person from doing business with her. I knew at that early stage that this could either be really good or really bad. Thankfully a few minutes later I settled down to read with a grin on my face.
Peyton did not have an easy life. She was the middle of three siblings. Her older brother left after their father died years ago for the rodeo circuit and her younger sister was out in California working as an actress. Neither had been back for years but Peyton loved her father’s ranch so she stayed home hoping for her chance to turn the M-Star into a top-rated stud ranch. Until her mother’s death two months ago Peyton had not been allowed to do anything regarding the running of the ranch other than watch mismanagement drive the ranch into the ground. She was determined to bring it back so she met with her lawyer to see what advice he could give her. At that meeting she found out that the ranch was divided legally and equally between the surviving Muldoons and that all three had to agree on major decisions regarding the ranch. I really enjoyed how strong and yet how wounded Peyton was at the same time. She grew up rejected by her mother because she was interested in the ranch and horses instead of traditional delicate womanly activities like her sister Bea. Her father taught her everything he knew about horses and ranching but he fully expected Trace as the son to take over the ranch. Peyton also had to deal with living down her mother’s unsavory reputation, which made her really cautious about her image. As a result she worked hard to avoid any possible hint of scandal and was rather prickly when it came to the men she worked with.
Red didn’t have a particularly happy upbringing either. His mother was a rodeo groupie who followed his father from place to place. They were never the best places to begin with and leaving sometimes meant they left because they didn’t have the money to pay their bill. Other times they left when his father was fired for drinking on the job or for running some scam that always failed. Red was a wanderer who moved from place to place on temporary contracts training horses and people into efficient working teams. His reputation brought business and an increased price to any ranch or horse. Unlike Peyton who was dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s life, Red still had to deal with his father’s attempts to guilt money out of him or to use his son’s name and reputation to get jobs. Red tended to be slightly suspicious of people because of his father’s swindling and the fact that his temporary employers always forgot the temporary aspect of his contract and thought they could convince him to stay for the long haul. He certainly had his trigger points but he also had an immense amount of patience and ability to read body language that came in handy dealing with Peyton.
Peyton and Red had a continuous tension. They were both stubborn, thought they knew best and really not trusting of other humans but they shared a love and understanding of horses. Peyton was convinced that she needed to try and hire Red as her new trainer but she decided to give him a deadline for his acceptance unlike any other offer. She also told him up front that she could not offer him the salary or benefits he could get from a larger outfit but that he would be setting the foundation for the future. Despite his common sense Red decided to accept her job offer but he showed up after the deadline. Peyton tried to tell him the job was already filled by her brother Trace, who arrived unexpectedly, but Trace insisted that Red was better at training so Peyton reluctantly hired him. The strength of their tension started igniting sparks that were impossible to ignore.
The supporting characters provided a nice backdrop to Peyton and Red’s relationship. They fleshed out the world while providing some interesting speculation about the other two Muldoon siblings and the ghosts of their past. One of the things I really loved was how their housekeeper and cook, Emma, provided a motherly stabilizing presence to everyone on the ranch without becoming overbearing. I think she was the central repository of a lot more than anyone suspected so it will be interesting to see if her role expands as the series continues.
I did have a few quibbles with Peyton and Red. I thought that after Red had accused Peyton of doing something pretty underhanded that she really wasn’t bothered by his accusation. Given her fierce protection of her reputation, I think her lack of anger was out of character. I was also pretty irritated with Red when he continually found his office/living quarters disturbed but he never told anyone about the issue. His employers deserved to know that they had some sort of security risk instead of being kept ignorant. Red did make me pretty happy when he stepped up and decided to do something about his father’s continual harassment so the promise he showed in the beginning came through.
Overall I enjoyed reading Taking the Reins. The hero and heroine had chemistry and their own set of flaws. The supporting cast was also interesting and provided a nice view of a cross-section of humanity. M-Star Ranch was showing signs of revitalization and it looked like Peyton was going to have a family again. Taking the Reins didn’t have any life or death situations but a lot was still at stake. I am looking forward to seeing what Murray provides for the next installment.
I give Taking the Reins a B+
*I also want to thank Kensington for replacing my review copy when the original version I received was unreadable
May 20, 2022
2.5 stars. Very underwhelming romance and not really steamy. Red is a hot, good-ole-cowboy... Peyton is his beautiful, “spit-fire” boss.... In the middle of nowhere: He’s hot, she’s hot, but it has to remain a secret? Why? She’s trying to run her horse ranch without sexist comments from her small community and male dominated field tarnishing her reputation. The conflict had a good idea but was poorly implemented in the plot development. Wished Peyton would have had more stick it to the man moments. There also needed to be more focus building cute moments in the romance for me to care more. They were very melodramatic— more than most YAs I’ve read. During Red’s perspective he sometimes used the phrasing “the female/ female kind” or having to “resist his caveman mind” .... what hahaha. Red could have had more complex thoughts and emotions.
December 3, 2017
Peyton is trying to keep the family ranch afloat. Both her parents are gone and while one had determination neither had a head for business or management.
She wants to lure Red to her ranch because his name tied to her ranch may just give her the up she needs.
He brother and sister return home which adds drama to Peyton’s already drama filled life. Her brother Trace off the rodeo circuit heads back to the ranch with a new belonging, a baby. Sister Bea is super secretive and claims to be on a break at her soap opera job.
She wants to lure Red to her ranch because his name tied to her ranch may just give her the up she needs.
He brother and sister return home which adds drama to Peyton’s already drama filled life. Her brother Trace off the rodeo circuit heads back to the ranch with a new belonging, a baby. Sister Bea is super secretive and claims to be on a break at her soap opera job.
Read
June 7, 2020This has been on my TBR shelf for a long time. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this one at all. The pacing was slow, the hero was an alphahole and the enemies to lovers plot was far too heavy on the enemies. DNF.
August 11, 2022
I find anything by this author to be unoriginal and lacking. Much of her original work as Kat Murray is being re-released or published under Jeanette Murray.
April 27, 2013
M-Star Ranch means everything to Peyton Muldoon and has for as long as she can remember. She may not have been born a boy, like Trace, or a little princess, like her sister Bea, but the horses, the business and the ranch life are her heart and soul.
With a reputation for horse training like his, Redford Callahan can afford to be choosy. If he knows in his gut which jobs are right for him, he also knows he loves the freedom of moving on, when the time is right.
With every ounce of blood, sweat and tears she can muster, Peyton will pull M-Star out of its downward spiral. She just needs the right horse trainer to put her on the map. As much as it galls her to ask Red, Peyton cannot fault the man’s skill or reputation. What she does not need, however, is the flush of heat that comes every time she is near him. Trouble should be Peyton’s middle name, yet Red is also unable to ignore his attraction to her, even when his idiot father could cause major problems.
There is nothing romantic or glamorous about a job that kicks your butt from sunup to sundown, until you throw a sassy young ranch owner and one very sexy horse trainer in the mix. Peyton can definitely hold her own in the barn, on a horse or at her desk. She is no shrinking violet when it comes to work. Fortunately for Red, he is also man enough to challenge and support her without trying to take over. There is always that sense of excitement when they go toe to toe, whether they are working or loving, and you can bet M-Star will never be the same.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
With a reputation for horse training like his, Redford Callahan can afford to be choosy. If he knows in his gut which jobs are right for him, he also knows he loves the freedom of moving on, when the time is right.
With every ounce of blood, sweat and tears she can muster, Peyton will pull M-Star out of its downward spiral. She just needs the right horse trainer to put her on the map. As much as it galls her to ask Red, Peyton cannot fault the man’s skill or reputation. What she does not need, however, is the flush of heat that comes every time she is near him. Trouble should be Peyton’s middle name, yet Red is also unable to ignore his attraction to her, even when his idiot father could cause major problems.
There is nothing romantic or glamorous about a job that kicks your butt from sunup to sundown, until you throw a sassy young ranch owner and one very sexy horse trainer in the mix. Peyton can definitely hold her own in the barn, on a horse or at her desk. She is no shrinking violet when it comes to work. Fortunately for Red, he is also man enough to challenge and support her without trying to take over. There is always that sense of excitement when they go toe to toe, whether they are working or loving, and you can bet M-Star will never be the same.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
August 22, 2014
OK, so the cover made me gag. Let's make that clear. But I like romances in general and I thought it would be nice to try a new genre, namely a contemporary 'cowboy romance'. It was okay, but I wasn't wild about it. I liked the setting on a horse stud farm, and the main characters were interesting enough (it's clearly the first book in a series, since the brother and sister of Peyton, the main female character were introduced in such a way that you know they'll be next), but for me there wasn't enough conflict. In a romance, the key question is why two characters don't have their happy ending yet and in this case, there was very little to prevent Peyton and Red from having that a whole lot sooner. I kept skipping whole sections to get to the 'good parts'. Plus the whole storyline with his father and a disgruntled former employee was too obvious to work. I can't be bothered to read the next two installments in the series. Sorry.
June 23, 2013
This is the first book by author Kat Murray. You could tell it was a first in a series as there was a lot going on to set up the next books. There is a mystery included in the story, but it stays on the periphery and is barely noticeable. Regardless, we enjoyed this contemporary western romance (who can resist a cowboy). Red is a horse trainer and Peyton is part owner and manager of a ranch. Peyton struggles with the bias that a woman should not be running a ranch. She hires Red for his reputation and skill with horses. We see the relationship grow between the two as well as Peyton’s reaction to the return of her brother and sister. We rated the book a 7.5 out of 10. We are looking forward to the second book in the series and seeing how Trace’s story plays out.
February 20, 2013
This was a pretty good book. It started out really good. The main character, Peyton, started out not liking Red. They argued all the time and then he started working for her and it seemed they became friends right away. A pretty typical romance book. I was looking for more between the main characters. The brother, Trace, had a son and wouldn't talk about the mom. I guess his story will be the next book. Then there is the youngest sister. The author kept trying to make me believe Peyton was such a bad-ass but her actions really didn't make that so.
December 24, 2012
Taking the Reins by Kat Martin is a heartwarming novel that fans of contemporary romances are sure to enjoy. The characters are quite appealing, and the storyline is delightfully realistic. The sex scenes between Red and Peyton are playful and deliciously steamy. To read my review in its entirety, please click
HERE.
HERE.
February 4, 2013
Great book!! Love books about cowboys!!! Great story and loved the characters. When I finished reading the book it was a good ending for the 2 main characters but left me thinking what happened to the rest of the characters. Wanted more...but just saw there is a book #2 coming out soon!! So hopefully it will pick up where this book left off!!!
April 11, 2013
I hate the cover of this book, because I think it detracts from the author's writing. I enjoyed her characters and story line, and the guy on the cover isn't what Redford Callahan would ever look like. [ I wish these publishers would forget these skinny, no chest hair male models and find men who look like men.]
June 25, 2013
I have really gotten into cowboy romance books recently. This book was a great addition to my list of great reads. The couple had their issues, they had great chemistry, and they had sexy love scenes. The writing flowed well. I didn't find grammatical errors to be present, and the storyline was very believable. So, in my opinion, the writer gave the readers a well rounded romantic package.
June 9, 2016
I'm reading outside of my comfort zone with a co-worker to help with readers' advisory. It's an interesting experiment. This romance was rather bland, and was sorely lacking in external conflict, but was an easy, quick, light read, which I think is part of the appeal for romance fans. I'm going to try and find some more cowboy romances for comparison.
Want to read
December 6, 2012And ANOTHER *SSSSSSSQQQUUUUUEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL* THANK YOU NETGALLEY!!!!
August 7, 2013
I liked this book. I liked the characters and the subject matter. It was a good read.
June 9, 2016
Pretty good. I love to read about cowboys and horses, so this was right up my alley. Loved the characters, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
November 10, 2013
Solid read. Liked the story line and the characters. Looking forward to reading more about the Muldoon family!
February 28, 2015
Loved it! cant wait for more from Kat!
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