Trust a Cowboy

Lazy L Ranch #2

by Judy Christenberry

"How Do You Feel About Marrying a Cowboy?"

When Pete Ledbetter's granddad decided to find Pete a wife, the bachelor had no choice but to find a decoy bride-to-be. For help with his scheme, he looked no further than the chef at his family's Colorado dude ranch. After a summer romance, he knew he was compatible with Mary Jo Michaels. But after the way they had broken up, he knew convincing her to help him would be nearly impossible….

Mary Jo loved the Lazy L; it was Pete she wasn't so sure about. He'd hurt her once, and she couldn't be sure he wouldn't again. Although the way he was acting around her—the way he looked at her—had her thinking the cowboy had changed his ways. Could she trust Pete enough to turn their pretend engagement into a real marriage?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Westerns

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Judy Russell Christenberry was born in Dallas, Texas, USA, where she raised in a family of four children with a stay-at-home mom who was a terrific cook and an excellent teacher, where family tradition was concerned. As a child, Judy was surrounded by animals. Her father raised a few head of cattle to keep meat on the table. At one time or another, there were sheep, Thanksgiving turkeys, ducks and dogs, and there were always chickens.

Judy learned the importance of family at an early age. But, Judith's marriage ended in divorce. Yet, with support from her mother and siblings, she and her two daughters discovered their own definition of family. The family comes in all shapes and flavors. What's important isn't the two parents and the 2.5 children, it's love and support. She raised her children, taught during the day, wrote at night, and pursued her dream.

Judy, hasn't always been a writer, but she's always been a dreamer. As a child, for entertainment while doing chores, she told herself stories-she was always the heroine. However, she didn't start writing until she turned thirty-eight, just one year after her father's unexpected death. After this, she realized life promised no guarantees about how much time you have. Why wait to pursue your dreams? She had begun reading Harlequin Romance novels about ten years earlier, so romance writing came naturally. She signs her novels as Judy Christenberry, Judith Christenberry and Judith Stafford.

Over time, Judy realized two central themes dominating her writing: family and small town/country life. Many of her books have cowboy heroes, partly because she read all Zane Grey's romantic versions of the Old West as a teenager, and partly because her parents grew up on farms. The last element that frequently appears in Judy's stories is a dash of humor, just enough to bring a smile to your face. She believes laughter is good medicine and it definitely makes a six-foot hunk even more attractive!

Now, with her daughters pursuing their own dreams, Judy writes full-time and is wrapped up in her storytelling. She lives each new adventure with the vigor of a young girl, still dreaming up tales while washing dishes. She hopes to entertain her readers as much as she entertains herself!

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Cowboy Second Chance Romance, and this is the second book in the Lazy L Ranch series. I liked this book, but there was parts of this book I did not loved. I feel some parts was so slow moving. Overall, I just found this book ok.

[Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read,its a simple case of "You realize the importance/worth of that person when you lose them" Pete-Mary Jo their relation or say few days of knowing ending really badly.They met,sparks flew,they were really attracted to each other and slept with each other9they hardly talked all they did was sleep together) Mary Jo fell in love with Pete but then Pete sleeps with another woman(house guest),Mary Jo is humiliated and hurt and stops talking to him.

Now its been a year,Pete has realized he screwed up badly but wants another chance with Mary Jo this time he wants to know Mary Jo better for that he wants to take her out,talk with her and understand her likes/disliked and the person she is but she keeps her distance.Then one day they find two puppies(just born abandoned in snow) they take them in,start looking after them,this is the ice breaker between them,from there on Pete-Mary Jo start spending time together,get to know each other and fall in love with each other but cause of the past Mary Jo is confused and does'nt trust him.Pete confesses his feelings which further scares her.

There's a minor misunderstanding but it is soon cleared and Pete-Mary Jo do manage to get their HEA.Liked all secondary characters.The story progressed well.Overall a good read.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story weak

[shms · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about half of it before I starting skim reading it. It had all the maturity of a 12 year old writing it. Never knew an h to spend so much time avoiding the H by hiding in her bedroom, and the H seemed to think a few kind gestures and words and some stalkerish tendencies was enough of a apology. Come to think it, so did the h. No depth in the characters or the story.
While the premise in the blurb promised an interesting tale, I'm afraid that started and ended in the blurb.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book can't wait to read more books by this author I cried during some of it

[Eliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old reads

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

silly

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Christenberry’s romance novel, Pete Ledbetter is forced to seek out his own bride once his grandfather decides to find a wife for him. Pete doesn’t have to look very far for help than his own staff. After a brief romance, he was more than positive he was compatible with chef Mary Jo Michaels. Unfortunately, their breakup wasn’t easy and he knew he would need to be very convincing to get her to play decoy for him.

Mary Jo loved the Lazy L. Since her failed romance with Pete, she was hurt and tender and uncertain she could trust him again.

A good Cowboy at Heart love story.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Lazy L Ranch series.It was a nice read.Light.Love books about ranchers.

If you would like to read this book or others like it please check out booksfreeswap.com.This book is ready for swap!

[angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice little romance novel, not very in-depth and detailed but still written well enough to pull in the reader and keep you wanting more even after the last page.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Cowboy at Heart
Category: Contemporary Romance

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I began this book it felt like it began in the middle. You know, the big misunderstanding has just happened and the heroin is upset so now the wooing and the explanations begin from the H. I wish there had been some flashbacks to when there relationship began. It just sounded like they met, they had sex once and then he had sex with someone else a couple of days later. Thats all you get to know. Another thing that irked me was that we didn't get to know the age of the h, just the H (29 btw). She comes of as quite young.
Maybe you have to read the first book in the series.
It was sweet though, how the H kept at her and tricked her in to an engagement.