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Cowboy Cocktail #1
Cowboy Valentine
Forget chocolate and flowers. This homegrown honey is all the sweetness he craves.
Small-town life is nothing but a waiting room for eighteen-year-old honor student Corazón Gomez. Work and school leave little time for love, but with a full-ride Ivy League scholarship and a one-way ticket out of the boondocks, who needs it?
The answer appears on Valentine’s Day when her old cowboy crush ambles into the ice cream parlor where she works, inviting her to go on a late-night ride in his truck. For the first time she wavers between staying on the straight and narrow, and going off-road with the handsome heartbreaker.
After four years working on ranches all over the country, Caleb MacKinnon is back on the family farm helping out his mom and brothers while his father fights cancer. The one bright spot: smart, funny, and wickedly sexy Cora.
From the start, they both know this blazing-hot love affair can’t last. But when autumn comes and Cora has to leave for the East Coast, Caleb must find a solution to keep himself—and his heart—from falling apart.
Warning: Contains hard, cherry-poppin’ sex in a pickup truck and a cowboy charmer who talks dirty in two languages.
Small-town life is nothing but a waiting room for eighteen-year-old honor student Corazón Gomez. Work and school leave little time for love, but with a full-ride Ivy League scholarship and a one-way ticket out of the boondocks, who needs it?
The answer appears on Valentine’s Day when her old cowboy crush ambles into the ice cream parlor where she works, inviting her to go on a late-night ride in his truck. For the first time she wavers between staying on the straight and narrow, and going off-road with the handsome heartbreaker.
After four years working on ranches all over the country, Caleb MacKinnon is back on the family farm helping out his mom and brothers while his father fights cancer. The one bright spot: smart, funny, and wickedly sexy Cora.
From the start, they both know this blazing-hot love affair can’t last. But when autumn comes and Cora has to leave for the East Coast, Caleb must find a solution to keep himself—and his heart—from falling apart.
Warning: Contains hard, cherry-poppin’ sex in a pickup truck and a cowboy charmer who talks dirty in two languages.
150 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2013
About the author
Mia Hopkins
34 books572 followersMia Hopkins writes lush romances starring fun, sexy characters who love to get down and dirty. Her award-winning books have been featured by many publications including The Washington Post, USA Today and Entertainment Weekly. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
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May 15, 2016
RATING 4.5 STARS
Cowboy Valentine is book one in the Cowboy Cocktail series by Mia Hopkins. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley, Barclay Publicity, and by the author.
This is my first book by Mia Hopkins and holy hotness, it was a good one. It’s no secret that I love my cowboys and it was the cover that first drew me to this one. Cora Gomez is eighteen years old. Cora has done nothing so far but work hard on her grades, winning herself a scholarship to the prestigious Brown University. It’s Valentine’s Day and she is at the only other place she spends her time besides school or at home with her Grandmother, at work at the ice cream parlor. On this night she might have been feeling a little lonely has she watches couples come and go celebrating the day together. It’s closing time when the object of a school girl crush comes in, the oh so sexy cowboy, Caleb MacKinnon.
Caleb remembers Cora from school but this is a much different Cora. This one is all grown up and he can’t keep his eyes off her. He offers her a ride in his truck after she closes up the shop. That night began a six month steamy relationship between Caleb and Cora. But they were careful never to voice their feelings, knowing the whole time that this time together had an expiration date. In August, Cora was leaving for college. But they managed to make the best use of their time together as possible, every day, everywhere possible.
Caleb knows he doesn’t want to let her go, but he has to. He knew all along he would have to. But it doesn’t make it any easier. What will happen when Cora makes new friends at college? Will she meet a college guy that will take his place? Will she forget all about him?
This was a short, oh so sexy book about finding someone special at the worst time possible. Caleb knew it was best for Cora to let her go. He knew he could never ask her to stay. I felt so bad for Caleb. He was dealing with a very sick father and his developing feelings for Cora. I’m so glad I read this and definitely want to continue with the series with book two, Cowboy Resurrection, which is already out. I do hope that future books will keep us updated on Caleb and Cora. If this was a longer book, I would have loved an epilogue as to how things are going with them so perhaps the author will let us know in the future. My fingers are crossed.
Cowboy Valentine is book one in the Cowboy Cocktail series by Mia Hopkins. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley, Barclay Publicity, and by the author.
This is my first book by Mia Hopkins and holy hotness, it was a good one. It’s no secret that I love my cowboys and it was the cover that first drew me to this one. Cora Gomez is eighteen years old. Cora has done nothing so far but work hard on her grades, winning herself a scholarship to the prestigious Brown University. It’s Valentine’s Day and she is at the only other place she spends her time besides school or at home with her Grandmother, at work at the ice cream parlor. On this night she might have been feeling a little lonely has she watches couples come and go celebrating the day together. It’s closing time when the object of a school girl crush comes in, the oh so sexy cowboy, Caleb MacKinnon.
Caleb remembers Cora from school but this is a much different Cora. This one is all grown up and he can’t keep his eyes off her. He offers her a ride in his truck after she closes up the shop. That night began a six month steamy relationship between Caleb and Cora. But they were careful never to voice their feelings, knowing the whole time that this time together had an expiration date. In August, Cora was leaving for college. But they managed to make the best use of their time together as possible, every day, everywhere possible.
Caleb knows he doesn’t want to let her go, but he has to. He knew all along he would have to. But it doesn’t make it any easier. What will happen when Cora makes new friends at college? Will she meet a college guy that will take his place? Will she forget all about him?
This was a short, oh so sexy book about finding someone special at the worst time possible. Caleb knew it was best for Cora to let her go. He knew he could never ask her to stay. I felt so bad for Caleb. He was dealing with a very sick father and his developing feelings for Cora. I’m so glad I read this and definitely want to continue with the series with book two, Cowboy Resurrection, which is already out. I do hope that future books will keep us updated on Caleb and Cora. If this was a longer book, I would have loved an epilogue as to how things are going with them so perhaps the author will let us know in the future. My fingers are crossed.
May 15, 2016
4 - "You wanna go for a ride with me?" Stars!
There are times when as a reader, I just want a quick easy read that’s sexy from the get go, with a dirty sweet hero, and a strong sassy heroine, not too much drama, and plenty of sex to keep things moving along nicely.
Mia Hopkins fulfilled all of those requirements for me, with Cowboy Valentine, and really well.
This is an A-Z kind of read, in that you can pretty much see each and every point of the story coming before you reach it. Nothing wrong with that when you are reading a novella, let’s face it no-one is expecting to get something of Pulitzer standards over 85 odd pages.
"Aint nothing like riding a cowboy... all night long."
I wanted a quick smutty read, and that’s what I got. College focused virgin, meets a sexy hot young cowboy on Valentines night, while working in the local Ice Cream parlour, he has been stood up, and she offers him more than just the cherry that goes on the top of his Sundae.
Caleb was down and dirty in the sack, truck bed, barn etc, but also absolutely adorable with it, Cora was the one with no interest in commitment, it made for a nice mix and a really enjoyable couple of hours reading. A great start to the Cowboy Cocktail series, I cannot wait too read more from the McKinnon brothers in future books.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.
There are times when as a reader, I just want a quick easy read that’s sexy from the get go, with a dirty sweet hero, and a strong sassy heroine, not too much drama, and plenty of sex to keep things moving along nicely.
Mia Hopkins fulfilled all of those requirements for me, with Cowboy Valentine, and really well.
This is an A-Z kind of read, in that you can pretty much see each and every point of the story coming before you reach it. Nothing wrong with that when you are reading a novella, let’s face it no-one is expecting to get something of Pulitzer standards over 85 odd pages.
"Aint nothing like riding a cowboy... all night long."
I wanted a quick smutty read, and that’s what I got. College focused virgin, meets a sexy hot young cowboy on Valentines night, while working in the local Ice Cream parlour, he has been stood up, and she offers him more than just the cherry that goes on the top of his Sundae.
Caleb was down and dirty in the sack, truck bed, barn etc, but also absolutely adorable with it, Cora was the one with no interest in commitment, it made for a nice mix and a really enjoyable couple of hours reading. A great start to the Cowboy Cocktail series, I cannot wait too read more from the McKinnon brothers in future books.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.
May 16, 2016
Super HOT story! It is tender, loving, funny, sad, happy and everything you could ever imagine in a great love story. Caleb is a sexy, hard-working cowboy, with a dirty mouth and a heart of gold. When he meets eighteen year old beautiful, of Mexican origin, Cora, he is immediately struck by her beauty, intelligence, and charm. The story has a large number of sizzling hot sex scenes where these two can't leave each other alone. The interesting aspect of this story is the emotional conflict between the two main characters as they figure out that they need to be pretty honest with each other about their true feelings in order to have a future together. Can a long-distance relationship between them really work? Seeing them fall in love and trust one another made the story so lovable.
This was a quick read full of pure steaminess. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author.
Complimentary copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read full of pure steaminess. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author.
Complimentary copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2016
3.5 A Blaze of Glory Stars
* * * 1/2
Let's see.... smart gal getting ready to broaden her horizons via a full scholarship to a Top Notch Ivy League school. She is focused and knows what she wants. Enter the crush she has had forever... but was just a figment of her imagination...
But here he is ... right before her very eyes...
Can she resist the temptation of experiencing everything she has dreamed of...
I Think Not!
This is hot, human, hits the spot and a shorty.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2
Let's see.... smart gal getting ready to broaden her horizons via a full scholarship to a Top Notch Ivy League school. She is focused and knows what she wants. Enter the crush she has had forever... but was just a figment of her imagination...
But here he is ... right before her very eyes...
Can she resist the temptation of experiencing everything she has dreamed of...
I Think Not!
This is hot, human, hits the spot and a shorty.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 15, 2016
Cora Gomez was counting the days until she could escape the small town she was from and head off to college. On Valentine's Day she was working at the local ice cream parlor when a handsome cowboy, Caleb MacKinnon, walked in at closing wanting to be served. Cora having had a crush on Caleb can't bring herself to send him away.
Hearing that Caleb had been stood up on Valentine's Day Cora agrees to go for a ride with the sexy cowboy. For the first time in her life Cora decides to take a chance with Caleb and the two begin a steamy affair. But Cora still has her sights set on leaving and does not want to give away her heart.
Cowboy Valentine is a fairly short novella that unfortunately while the down and dirty parts were off the charts for this steamy couple the story really lacked any kind of true build up or explanation of the rushed relationship.
Cora is a studious high school senior and also a virgin. Having a crush on Caleb really didn't explain why she would so willingly jump into his truck and immediately have sex with him when she had spent her life planning her escape to college. It just really all seemed rather rushed with no build up to them being together.
Overall, if you are looking for a steamy erotic read you'd probably enjoy this one as that is the main focus but for me I was a bit disappointed in the lack of any fleshing out of the relationship.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Hearing that Caleb had been stood up on Valentine's Day Cora agrees to go for a ride with the sexy cowboy. For the first time in her life Cora decides to take a chance with Caleb and the two begin a steamy affair. But Cora still has her sights set on leaving and does not want to give away her heart.
Cowboy Valentine is a fairly short novella that unfortunately while the down and dirty parts were off the charts for this steamy couple the story really lacked any kind of true build up or explanation of the rushed relationship.
Cora is a studious high school senior and also a virgin. Having a crush on Caleb really didn't explain why she would so willingly jump into his truck and immediately have sex with him when she had spent her life planning her escape to college. It just really all seemed rather rushed with no build up to them being together.
Overall, if you are looking for a steamy erotic read you'd probably enjoy this one as that is the main focus but for me I was a bit disappointed in the lack of any fleshing out of the relationship.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 18, 2016
I did not like this book. Can those who saw my statuses tell I didn't like this book? Because I didn't. I read this because I wanted to read the second one, so I thought a quick novella would be nbd, but since I didn't like this, I definitely won't be reading the next.
Right from the beginning I was a little apprehensive about it. They meet in the beginning when Cora's closing up shop for the night after all the customers have left. Were this any other genre, I'd be screaming Run bitch, RUN! because Caleb insists on being served despite being told they're closed, to which she eventually relents. While there, he tells her about how he'd asked another woman out on a date for that night, but he got stood up. So now he's here with the heroine. When they're both getting ready to leave, he asks if she wants to go for a drive with him. When she asks “where,” he gives her the non-answer “Anywhere. Back roads. I do it all the time.”
And of course, Cora is a never-been-kissed virgin. (And because she's not "pure" enough, she even goes all "what the hell" when he takes off his pants because apparently, in this contemporary novel, she's never heard of porn on the internet before. She has read books and seen Greek statues before, though.) He, on the other hand, is anything but a virgin. He's a manwhore. I was hoping he wouldn't be, but it was confirmed when Cora joked about being "grossed out" about his experience, to which he responds: “Must be all the practice it’s had that makes you come so hard.”
So, anyway. On this night that he was meant to go on a date with another woman he'd had a mad crush on for a while but got stood up, the hero and heroine think it'd be great for her to lose her virginity. The scene itself was awful. He talks about how "tiny" and "tight" and "small" she is (something he does throughout the book, btw, and not just in this scene).
While they're having sex, her experience is anything but pleasant.
And of course it eventually does and she has a WONDERFUL time.
(I actually found none of the sex sexy in this book. He's always going on about how he "slammed" and "pounded" and "reamed" her so...yeah. I ended up skimming most of them.)
Her virginity makes no sense, btw. If she'd met Caleb in college, I could understand it, but she meets him months before graduation. The two reasons for not having had a boyfriend (or losing her virginity) are that she didn't want to get pregnant (like her mother did, and thus get stuck in her small town) and that she was too busy with her studies.
Other than the nerdy-virgin trope annoying me, the studying reason doesn't make sense anyway because, after Caleb and Cora sleep together, they continue to do so daily ("They’d made love every day—sometimes twice a day—since February.") for the next six months. She's happy to have gotten her acceptance to university, so I guess she thinks she's chillin? Unless Brown university's got some different policy, early acceptances are conditional offers based off of mid-term marks. If you keeping your grades up, your offer won't be revoked. If she's going to school, then immediately meeting up with Caleb for sex (because he picks her up from school), and then going to work (because he drops her off at work)...when in the hell is she studying?? Still, she manages to get As in her finals. So if she's able to keep her grades up despite seeming to have no time dedicated to school work, why was this ever an issue for her before Caleb?
The possible pregnancy? PROTECTION. She uses it with Caleb and their once-sometimes-twice daily fucking sessions.
So, I don't get it. Why couldn't she not have been a virgin...? Is it because then he wouldn't have been able to go on about her "virgin pussy" and her "fresh little cunt"...?
Anyway. The conflict was dumb, too. She gets upset later in the story when she finally meets Andie, the woman who'd stood Caleb up.
This makes absolutely NO SENSE. Before they kissed, before they had sex, before ANYTHING, he TOLD HER THIS STORY. She asked and he told her the entire story about how he'd gotten stood up by the "foreman's daughter." Why is she acting like this is some brand new information? He told her he got stood up and she slept with him knowing this information. Why is this even an issue?
I didn't like this book. The only positive I have is that they both remained celibate during the 6-month separation. (But if either of them had moved on, I would've though they were huge douches because they texted and talked every single day.)
Right from the beginning I was a little apprehensive about it. They meet in the beginning when Cora's closing up shop for the night after all the customers have left. Were this any other genre, I'd be screaming Run bitch, RUN! because Caleb insists on being served despite being told they're closed, to which she eventually relents. While there, he tells her about how he'd asked another woman out on a date for that night, but he got stood up. So now he's here with the heroine. When they're both getting ready to leave, he asks if she wants to go for a drive with him. When she asks “where,” he gives her the non-answer “Anywhere. Back roads. I do it all the time.”
And of course, Cora is a never-been-kissed virgin. (And because she's not "pure" enough, she even goes all "what the hell" when he takes off his pants because apparently, in this contemporary novel, she's never heard of porn on the internet before. She has read books and seen Greek statues before, though.) He, on the other hand, is anything but a virgin. He's a manwhore. I was hoping he wouldn't be, but it was confirmed when Cora joked about being "grossed out" about his experience, to which he responds: “Must be all the practice it’s had that makes you come so hard.”
So, anyway. On this night that he was meant to go on a date with another woman he'd had a mad crush on for a while but got stood up, the hero and heroine think it'd be great for her to lose her virginity. The scene itself was awful. He talks about how "tiny" and "tight" and "small" she is (something he does throughout the book, btw, and not just in this scene).
“You want this cock?” he whispered. “You want this cock in that virgin pussy? You want me to fuck your beautiful, fresh little cunt, Cora? Is that what you want, sweetheart?”
While they're having sex, her experience is anything but pleasant.
Eyes closed tight again, Caleb supported himself on his big arms, then began to fuck her as though she weren’t a virgin, as though her pussy wasn’t stretched raw around his cock. He thrust back and forth, his sinuous body undulating above her, beads of perspiration bleeding into a thin sheen on his torso.
When she twisted under him with the pain, he shifted his weight and put a hand behind her knee, pinning her to the bed of his truck while he took his pleasure. The smell of hot rubber and the earthy tang of blood filled her nose and she breathed deep, trying to will the pain away.
And of course it eventually does and she has a WONDERFUL time.
(I actually found none of the sex sexy in this book. He's always going on about how he "slammed" and "pounded" and "reamed" her so...yeah. I ended up skimming most of them.)
Her virginity makes no sense, btw. If she'd met Caleb in college, I could understand it, but she meets him months before graduation. The two reasons for not having had a boyfriend (or losing her virginity) are that she didn't want to get pregnant (like her mother did, and thus get stuck in her small town) and that she was too busy with her studies.
Other than the nerdy-virgin trope annoying me, the studying reason doesn't make sense anyway because, after Caleb and Cora sleep together, they continue to do so daily ("They’d made love every day—sometimes twice a day—since February.") for the next six months. She's happy to have gotten her acceptance to university, so I guess she thinks she's chillin? Unless Brown university's got some different policy, early acceptances are conditional offers based off of mid-term marks. If you keeping your grades up, your offer won't be revoked. If she's going to school, then immediately meeting up with Caleb for sex (because he picks her up from school), and then going to work (because he drops her off at work)...when in the hell is she studying?? Still, she manages to get As in her finals. So if she's able to keep her grades up despite seeming to have no time dedicated to school work, why was this ever an issue for her before Caleb?
The possible pregnancy? PROTECTION. She uses it with Caleb and their once-sometimes-twice daily fucking sessions.
So, I don't get it. Why couldn't she not have been a virgin...? Is it because then he wouldn't have been able to go on about her "virgin pussy" and her "fresh little cunt"...?
Anyway. The conflict was dumb, too. She gets upset later in the story when she finally meets Andie, the woman who'd stood Caleb up.
This makes absolutely NO SENSE. Before they kissed, before they had sex, before ANYTHING, he TOLD HER THIS STORY. She asked and he told her the entire story about how he'd gotten stood up by the "foreman's daughter." Why is she acting like this is some brand new information? He told her he got stood up and she slept with him knowing this information. Why is this even an issue?
I didn't like this book. The only positive I have is that they both remained celibate during the 6-month separation. (But if either of them had moved on, I would've though they were huge douches because they texted and talked every single day.)
June 23, 2017
3 Stars!
Looking for a hot cowboy quickie this ones for you. But don't expect anything else. Haha!
Looking for a hot cowboy quickie this ones for you. But don't expect anything else. Haha!
April 18, 2016
Steamy romance set in a small town between a guy who is kind of lost and biding his time working at his family’s ranch and a very focused, single-minded young woman determined to get a higher education and make something of herself. It was refreshing to see, for once, a heroine who was putting herself first, and making the painful decision to separate from her love because she knew she could not blow the opportunity to better herself. And to see a man who really manned up and found a solution to their dilemma. The definition of “if he wanted to, he would.”
June 26, 2016
This is a very steamy read with a very basic plot. Although it is Valentine’s Day, hard working, honour student, eighteen year old Corazón Gomez (aka Cora) is working when her childhood friend and crush walks in oozing sex appeal as far as she’s concerned. The attraction is mutual and so starts a very hot, secret affair with a pre-set time limit - she’s leaving town, escaping to college. What happens when anyone finds out? What happens when she leaves to go to college? You’ll have to read it yourself to find out!
Personally, some of this just felt wrong. He’s a real cad. He’s been stood up so goes into the ice cream parlour and demands Cora serves him even though she’s closing up. He tells her he’s been ditched then suggests they go for a ride in his truck. An eighteen year old who is determined to leave her small hometown behind her, working so hard to get to college and keeping her virginity, in fact she’s never even been kissed, just doesn’t seem likely to go off with someone she’s not seen for four years to have sex with him in his truck - and that wasn't a joyous union, he totally ignored/didn't notice her pain or discomfort, seeking only his own release! I also didn’t like her being a smoker - as I typed, some of it just felt wrong! The ending resolves it somewhat and earned the story the two stars I've given it!
If you enjoy novellas which are packed with erotica, you may well enjoy this. There were just too many things in it that seemed inappropriate for me to appreciate it and I prefer more character development and plot - but that’s just me. Hope others enjoy it, just not a good read for me, sorry!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review.
Personally, some of this just felt wrong. He’s a real cad. He’s been stood up so goes into the ice cream parlour and demands Cora serves him even though she’s closing up. He tells her he’s been ditched then suggests they go for a ride in his truck. An eighteen year old who is determined to leave her small hometown behind her, working so hard to get to college and keeping her virginity, in fact she’s never even been kissed, just doesn’t seem likely to go off with someone she’s not seen for four years to have sex with him in his truck - and that wasn't a joyous union, he totally ignored/didn't notice her pain or discomfort, seeking only his own release! I also didn’t like her being a smoker - as I typed, some of it just felt wrong! The ending resolves it somewhat and earned the story the two stars I've given it!
If you enjoy novellas which are packed with erotica, you may well enjoy this. There were just too many things in it that seemed inappropriate for me to appreciate it and I prefer more character development and plot - but that’s just me. Hope others enjoy it, just not a good read for me, sorry!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2015
This was a short, sexy read and it will appeal to readers who enjoy the NA genre.
Cora is an intelligent, driven young women with a defined career path in mind. To date, she's had no time for boys, but all that changes when her old high-school crush, Caleb, walks back into her life. Cue lots of fun, sexy times, and then inevitable heartbreak.
I didn't realize that this was a novella-length story because, in most cases, I find stand-alone books of this size too short to feel a real emotional connection with the characters. I love novellas and shorts when they are part of a series as they usually add an extra dimension or much-needed back-story.
While I definitely enjoyed reading Cowboy Valentine, and it's very well written, it lacked substance and depth. We don't get to see Cora and Caleb's relationship develop as we skip from first meeting to six months later and then six months after that. We never got to see them go out on dates, it's just all about the sex. I would have liked more 'story' to the story.
I would have liked to see the cultural differences sub-plot adding some conflict to the development of their relationship. This was hinted at, but no more. Personally, I believe this to be a missed opportunity.
That said, I did like both main characters even if I couldn't fully understand what drew them to each other. And I love this author's writing style; her prose is beautiful, and I can definitely see myself checking out her future work. I'm wondering if Caleb's brothers will feature in future books?
If you are looking for a fun, quick read then I would recommend Cowboy Valentine, and it easily holds its own against other similar sized NA titles.
Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Inkslinger PR in exchange for my honest review. This review will be posted on my blog on August 27th.http://myyanabookobsession.com
Cora is an intelligent, driven young women with a defined career path in mind. To date, she's had no time for boys, but all that changes when her old high-school crush, Caleb, walks back into her life. Cue lots of fun, sexy times, and then inevitable heartbreak.
I didn't realize that this was a novella-length story because, in most cases, I find stand-alone books of this size too short to feel a real emotional connection with the characters. I love novellas and shorts when they are part of a series as they usually add an extra dimension or much-needed back-story.
While I definitely enjoyed reading Cowboy Valentine, and it's very well written, it lacked substance and depth. We don't get to see Cora and Caleb's relationship develop as we skip from first meeting to six months later and then six months after that. We never got to see them go out on dates, it's just all about the sex. I would have liked more 'story' to the story.
I would have liked to see the cultural differences sub-plot adding some conflict to the development of their relationship. This was hinted at, but no more. Personally, I believe this to be a missed opportunity.
That said, I did like both main characters even if I couldn't fully understand what drew them to each other. And I love this author's writing style; her prose is beautiful, and I can definitely see myself checking out her future work. I'm wondering if Caleb's brothers will feature in future books?
If you are looking for a fun, quick read then I would recommend Cowboy Valentine, and it easily holds its own against other similar sized NA titles.
Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Inkslinger PR in exchange for my honest review. This review will be posted on my blog on August 27th.http://myyanabookobsession.com
September 4, 2015
This is a yummy erotic romance. Cora is almost finished with high school, and eager to bust loose of her dusty Cali central valley life. For her, that comes as a hard-won scholarship to Brown University. She's working on Valentine's Day when Caleb arrives as she's closing the doors at the ice cream parlor. Having had a crush on him since her freshman year, he hardly takes any convincing for him to get a heartbreak-fixing sundae.
Caleb is four years older, and a heck of a lot wiser than when he last saw Cora, and he's certainly interested--if she is. They share a hot night together, and many, many more over the rest of the school year until Cora moves to Rhode Island. As close as they become, Caleb's tied to his family's land--and not in a great way. He's the youngest brother and destined to become a glorified ranch hand. Well, maybe...
You can expect some really erotic scenes and a fast moving plot in this steaming novella. I liked how the end turned out--so proud of Caleb for reaching for his dreams. And it was so cool that Cora inspired them. They are a sexy, sassy couple that was fun to experience. I think I'd have liked a bit more cowboy-iness, as Caleb is not what I'd consider a regular cowboy. Some sexytime moonlight rides, perhaps? Maybe next time!!
Caleb is four years older, and a heck of a lot wiser than when he last saw Cora, and he's certainly interested--if she is. They share a hot night together, and many, many more over the rest of the school year until Cora moves to Rhode Island. As close as they become, Caleb's tied to his family's land--and not in a great way. He's the youngest brother and destined to become a glorified ranch hand. Well, maybe...
You can expect some really erotic scenes and a fast moving plot in this steaming novella. I liked how the end turned out--so proud of Caleb for reaching for his dreams. And it was so cool that Cora inspired them. They are a sexy, sassy couple that was fun to experience. I think I'd have liked a bit more cowboy-iness, as Caleb is not what I'd consider a regular cowboy. Some sexytime moonlight rides, perhaps? Maybe next time!!
September 13, 2015
A quick, captivating, high heat read. I loved the way Caleb and Cora got together and became closer, and I like the way the last 20% happened...don't want to share spoilers but I thought the heroine's independence and drive was fab. I also thought it was interesting that she was a smoker. You don't see that a lot in contemporary romances and props to the author for making it work with Cora's character.
September 12, 2015
Great characters, super hot sex and realistic touches make this story shine. Corazon Gomez is spending the summer before college working at an ice cream shop. Caleb is a ranch hand who picks her up one night and gets very lucky. They continue to meet up for sex, but she doesn't want a relationship. When she goes away to school, it's over. Or is it?
This is an erotic romance with young characters (18 & 21) and rough, plentiful, enthusiastic sex. He's big and she's tiny-tight and normally that combo makes me think ugh or ouch instead of yay but here the author really made it work. Probably because Cora reads like a strong, smart woman who knows what she wants, not a passive innocent. Caleb is never mean or forceful. They both just like hard ridin'. And who doesn't?!
By the end I believed these two were in love and I even got a little choked up. I loved the working-class California-cowboy details (Carhartt jacket!), the nods to Cora's Mexican heritage, the writing and pretty much everything about this. 5/5
This is an erotic romance with young characters (18 & 21) and rough, plentiful, enthusiastic sex. He's big and she's tiny-tight and normally that combo makes me think ugh or ouch instead of yay but here the author really made it work. Probably because Cora reads like a strong, smart woman who knows what she wants, not a passive innocent. Caleb is never mean or forceful. They both just like hard ridin'. And who doesn't?!
By the end I believed these two were in love and I even got a little choked up. I loved the working-class California-cowboy details (Carhartt jacket!), the nods to Cora's Mexican heritage, the writing and pretty much everything about this. 5/5
January 27, 2024
A full story with a full range of emotions/intimacy all packed into novella with real and raw characters. Felt like a complete story that made perfect sense, basically only short cause Hopkins didn’t use a lot of the crutches many authors use to lengthen books like miscommunications, circling/wallowing on the same issue over and over again etc. A lot happens and nothing feels rushed or short changed. Butterflies were going and I was rooting for them to come to the exact ending they did. Loved it!
I also love how Mia Hopkins writes such realistic internal monologues that match the characters she’s built and their behaviour so well. She often has her male leads think vulnerable things, get uncomfortable and blurt something crass/humorous out as a defence mechanism and it’s such a great little detail I always enjoy seeing because it is so subtle but so realistic. Its a great writing technique for angst that many authors miff. It feels realistic and doesn’t have you banging your head on the wall wondering why they are saying something that doesn’t match their own thoughts/character for the sake of story conflict/angst, she weaves why their dumb comments don’t match their own thoughts right into the scene and it matches their character perfectly and prolongs the angst beautifully! Very thoughtfully done and realistic and never over done. It’s very subtle!
I also love how Mia Hopkins writes such realistic internal monologues that match the characters she’s built and their behaviour so well. She often has her male leads think vulnerable things, get uncomfortable and blurt something crass/humorous out as a defence mechanism and it’s such a great little detail I always enjoy seeing because it is so subtle but so realistic. Its a great writing technique for angst that many authors miff. It feels realistic and doesn’t have you banging your head on the wall wondering why they are saying something that doesn’t match their own thoughts/character for the sake of story conflict/angst, she weaves why their dumb comments don’t match their own thoughts right into the scene and it matches their character perfectly and prolongs the angst beautifully! Very thoughtfully done and realistic and never over done. It’s very subtle!
December 31, 2018
ok so I would have definitely enjoyed this more if it wasn't for the iffy first sex scene. The heroine is said to be in pain (we're in her POV) and homeboy is out here plowing away not having a care in the world, knowing she's a virgin. It just didn't sit right with me at all and like OK Caleb we get it she's *so* tiny and tight >.> seriously. and come on, you could at least check in to see if she's ok. Caleb came off as pretty selfish and not giving a shit about Cora's pleasure only his own.
The rest of scenes were sexy without being uncomfortable but idk are we just supposed to gloss over that first one? nope.
Also there was a bit of conflict that made zero sense. Cora meets Andie (who she already knew about cuz Caleb mentioned way in the beginning that Andie stood him up) so it just didnt make sense that Cora was acting jealous of Andie and as if she'd never heard this story? Caleb even tells her again that Andie stood him up that night. I don't know what was the point here but it just wasnt necessary.
i'm intrigued enough by the other characters to see how i like the rest of the series but whew i wished their first time together had set a different tone.
The rest of scenes were sexy without being uncomfortable but idk are we just supposed to gloss over that first one? nope.
Also there was a bit of conflict that made zero sense. Cora meets Andie (who she already knew about cuz Caleb mentioned way in the beginning that Andie stood him up) so it just didnt make sense that Cora was acting jealous of Andie and as if she'd never heard this story? Caleb even tells her again that Andie stood him up that night. I don't know what was the point here but it just wasnt necessary.
i'm intrigued enough by the other characters to see how i like the rest of the series but whew i wished their first time together had set a different tone.
November 13, 2021
1/5 stars, almost dnf’d it. I was kinda bored by the 25-30% mark so I skimmed through the last 70-ish% of the book. I thought the book was kinda cute at some points but not enough for me to bump up my rating. And then we have that scene with them in the bed of his truck that was simply ✨𝒟ℐ𝒮𝒢𝒰𝒮𝒯ℐ𝒩𝒢✨ bc he didn’t give a shit about the fact that he could’ve hurt her by being so rough. And I still don’t get how nor why they ended up falling in love when he literally told her he only went to he ice cream shop she worked at that day because he got stood up by his date, and they both knew that she was just a consolation price for the girl he actually wanted to date. SO SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE TWO OF THEM ENDED UP “being in love” by the end of that. Like what the actual fuck did I just read?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2017
My first time reading this author.. I LOVED the book. I won it from a facebook party..I love anything to do with cowboys and this book didn't disappoint...Some very hot sex going on in the book...Enjoyed thoroughly. I also loved the characters Cora and Caleb..they both were so good for each other..it is a book you can read in one setting as you do not want to put it down!
April 24, 2019
Sweet little novella. I wasn't fully on board with how their first time went down, in terms of how Caleb handled the pain Cora was in, but then I remembered how young they both were and figured that's probably pretty realistic. He made up for it.
November 7, 2019
There wasn’t enough pining, and there were so many great moments in this story that I wanted more!
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June 14, 2026
Short and hot, with just the right ending. Definitely an early Hopkins, as there wasn’t as much depth as I usually see in her characters.
November 21, 2016
3.75*
Review to come!
Review to come!
June 5, 2015
This story is about a very smart American-Mexican, (18), young lady by the name of Corazon (Cora) Gomez. She was smart enough to know that she wanted out of the boondock down so she studied and applied herself. Enough to get her a full ride to Brown and Ivy League school. Yet, she never learned how to kiss or date.
What she kept in focus was that her mother had her at 16, left her with her grandmother, and bailed out of town as fast as she could. So she studied hard and worked hard to save. She needed to get out and stay out of town. Only to visit her grandmother on occasion.
On Valentine’s Day of all days a man she crushed on for years moved 4 years ago. Looks like he has now come home again. Who you ask… Caleb Mac Kennon was in fact the man she dreamed about for years. So when he asked if she wanted to go for a ride she said yes right after she closed the ice cream shop she was working at. Before he left town he stopped at the liquor store to get alcohol and who knows what else.
She told him once they got to the overlook of their town that she had never been on a date, had a kiss, or had sex. Then she ask him to show her before she leaves off to college in 6 weeks. He asks her during each step being loving caring.
Once he breaks through her virginity he is rough and hard. It becomes all about him not one thing about her joy and comfort. He becomes almost possessed. When he goes to drop her off he ask when she leaves she says Aug. he says wow Feb. to Aug. She says we shouldn’t get involved I don’t need a boyfriend since I’m leaving. He says well either do I.
He asks her what time she gets off work. She says we shouldn’t see each other again. He repeats more forcefully, “What time?” So she tells him. When she sees on his arm, “Heartbreaker” at that moment in the day light she saw the danger in his eyes. She didn’t need to fall in love that’s for sure. Really though he got that tattoo that matches his dad Dale’s. He got it one night when he was drunk after he found out his dad’s cancer was back. As much as he loved his family he was now drunk on Cora.
That first night didn’t shake her. If anything she became more outspoken and into her own. Almost empowered. Caleb may have been her teacher but Cora had control of his heart. And he was a goner but oh so willing.
See how these two make this non-relationship work. How they both have to learn how to give and take in and out of the truck??? Hahaha! Cora’s time in Oleander is limited so Caleb feels as if the clock ticking. This is an erotica with a love story. I give this 4 stars. Provided by Net Galley.
Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com
What she kept in focus was that her mother had her at 16, left her with her grandmother, and bailed out of town as fast as she could. So she studied hard and worked hard to save. She needed to get out and stay out of town. Only to visit her grandmother on occasion.
On Valentine’s Day of all days a man she crushed on for years moved 4 years ago. Looks like he has now come home again. Who you ask… Caleb Mac Kennon was in fact the man she dreamed about for years. So when he asked if she wanted to go for a ride she said yes right after she closed the ice cream shop she was working at. Before he left town he stopped at the liquor store to get alcohol and who knows what else.
She told him once they got to the overlook of their town that she had never been on a date, had a kiss, or had sex. Then she ask him to show her before she leaves off to college in 6 weeks. He asks her during each step being loving caring.
Once he breaks through her virginity he is rough and hard. It becomes all about him not one thing about her joy and comfort. He becomes almost possessed. When he goes to drop her off he ask when she leaves she says Aug. he says wow Feb. to Aug. She says we shouldn’t get involved I don’t need a boyfriend since I’m leaving. He says well either do I.
He asks her what time she gets off work. She says we shouldn’t see each other again. He repeats more forcefully, “What time?” So she tells him. When she sees on his arm, “Heartbreaker” at that moment in the day light she saw the danger in his eyes. She didn’t need to fall in love that’s for sure. Really though he got that tattoo that matches his dad Dale’s. He got it one night when he was drunk after he found out his dad’s cancer was back. As much as he loved his family he was now drunk on Cora.
That first night didn’t shake her. If anything she became more outspoken and into her own. Almost empowered. Caleb may have been her teacher but Cora had control of his heart. And he was a goner but oh so willing.
See how these two make this non-relationship work. How they both have to learn how to give and take in and out of the truck??? Hahaha! Cora’s time in Oleander is limited so Caleb feels as if the clock ticking. This is an erotica with a love story. I give this 4 stars. Provided by Net Galley.
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May 16, 2016
Even though I enjoyed the second book in this series (Cowboy Resurrection) the story felt a little incomplete for me, having a really strong beginning and end but no middle, so I was interested to see if the first book suffered from the same thing. Good news! It definitely has a middle. Sadly, that’s about the only good thing I can say.
This isn’t a romance, it’s a story of sex. Essentially this book is three extended scenes about pivotal sex moments in Cora and Caleb’s relationship. There’s their first night together, the last few weeks of their summer, then when they meet up again. Each scene/chapter is set six months on from the last, and there is nothing in between. In fact there’s not a lot of anything beyond sex in this book. I had no idea what Cora was studying until right at the end, and her only goal seems to be to get out of Oleander. These two don’t talk, they know nothing about each other, except that they like rough sex, but apparently despite neither of them having any plans for a future or life or anything other than more sex, this is enough for love. Hm.
About that sex. There’s a lot of it in this book, which isn’t always a bad thing, except I found it all really unsexy. Not just because the first scene has unpleasantly rapey overtones either, though yeah, that really wasn’t fun to read as Caleb completely misses how much pain she's in and that she’s crying as he flips her over. But it’s all fine, because suddenly she enjoys it! Eh. It’s all really crude and focuses on fluids a lot and his dirty talk was just… not sexy at all (or in two languages – I have no idea where the blurb got that from). There’s no intimacy and they’re all pretty quick encounters – until the last one which is a marathon that just keeps going as they try and tick off as many positions as possible (yawn). Yeah, it did nothing for me, and since that is all this book has it left me feeling let down by the whole thing.
If this hadn’t been so short, I definitely wouldn’t have finished it, and on the strength of this book alone I wouldn’t read any more in the series. As it is, I liked the second one but I’ll be thinking hard before reading the next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
This isn’t a romance, it’s a story of sex. Essentially this book is three extended scenes about pivotal sex moments in Cora and Caleb’s relationship. There’s their first night together, the last few weeks of their summer, then when they meet up again. Each scene/chapter is set six months on from the last, and there is nothing in between. In fact there’s not a lot of anything beyond sex in this book. I had no idea what Cora was studying until right at the end, and her only goal seems to be to get out of Oleander. These two don’t talk, they know nothing about each other, except that they like rough sex, but apparently despite neither of them having any plans for a future or life or anything other than more sex, this is enough for love. Hm.
About that sex. There’s a lot of it in this book, which isn’t always a bad thing, except I found it all really unsexy. Not just because the first scene has unpleasantly rapey overtones either, though yeah, that really wasn’t fun to read as Caleb completely misses how much pain she's in and that she’s crying as he flips her over. But it’s all fine, because suddenly she enjoys it! Eh. It’s all really crude and focuses on fluids a lot and his dirty talk was just… not sexy at all (or in two languages – I have no idea where the blurb got that from). There’s no intimacy and they’re all pretty quick encounters – until the last one which is a marathon that just keeps going as they try and tick off as many positions as possible (yawn). Yeah, it did nothing for me, and since that is all this book has it left me feeling let down by the whole thing.
If this hadn’t been so short, I definitely wouldn’t have finished it, and on the strength of this book alone I wouldn’t read any more in the series. As it is, I liked the second one but I’ll be thinking hard before reading the next.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
October 31, 2016
There’s romance stories and then there are erotic romance stories, and oh, boy, does Cowboy Valentine fit in that second category. This is one of the hottest novellas I’ve ever read, and if you follow my reviews you know I’ve read a good number of them.
This is the first book in the series about the sexy MacKinnon brothers, and we start with the youngest, Caleb. Caleb, currently an itinerant ranch hand, has been called home because he’s needed on the family ranch when his father is taken ill. What he doesn’t realize is that local beauty Cora has had a crush on him for years.
Cora is working in the local ice cream parlor the summer before she leaves for a prestigious college on a full scholarship. She is the ultimate combination of beauty and brains. She is also a virgin, but not for long since Caleb, in the kindest way possible, initiates Cora into the mechanics and emotions of sex. It doesn’t take long before both of them are falling in love with one another, while fighting that connection for various reasons. And then Cora leaves California’s almond growing area for college in Rhode Island.
This is a great steamy novella but the ending is an HFN rather than an HEA, so if that’s a deal breaker for you just keep in mind that there are several other novellas in the series and we might catch up with the couple later.
Apparently I jumped in with book #2 in the series a while ago so now I’m getting caught up by finally reading the first book. I love Mia Hopkins’ style of writing and this novella in particular.
This is the first book in the series about the sexy MacKinnon brothers, and we start with the youngest, Caleb. Caleb, currently an itinerant ranch hand, has been called home because he’s needed on the family ranch when his father is taken ill. What he doesn’t realize is that local beauty Cora has had a crush on him for years.
Cora is working in the local ice cream parlor the summer before she leaves for a prestigious college on a full scholarship. She is the ultimate combination of beauty and brains. She is also a virgin, but not for long since Caleb, in the kindest way possible, initiates Cora into the mechanics and emotions of sex. It doesn’t take long before both of them are falling in love with one another, while fighting that connection for various reasons. And then Cora leaves California’s almond growing area for college in Rhode Island.
This is a great steamy novella but the ending is an HFN rather than an HEA, so if that’s a deal breaker for you just keep in mind that there are several other novellas in the series and we might catch up with the couple later.
Apparently I jumped in with book #2 in the series a while ago so now I’m getting caught up by finally reading the first book. I love Mia Hopkins’ style of writing and this novella in particular.
November 11, 2016
Corazon Gomez is working on Valentine’s Day at a local ice cream shop thinking about starting her new life in six months getting a full ride scholarship to Harvard. Sitting waiting for the bus up drives Caleb MacKinnon who she has not seen in four years. He has been traveling working at different ranches in the west, now home because his father is sick. Talking to Cora he is amazed that she does not have a date for valentines and tells her that she is pretty. When she tells him that he does not remember her it starts to come back to him and he describes her from when she was a freshman in one of the classes they had together. She decides to go for a ride with him that night and later in his truck she asks him to teach her about sex. She is still a virgin but does not want to still be one when she leaves for Harvard in autumn. What they have is more than sex it is a relationship filled with hopes, fears, wants, desire, but with the understanding they cannot be together when she leaves. She gives him the % of long distance relationships that don’t last. She meets his parents and he meets her grandmother and even learned a little Spanish to talk to her which I thought was a nice touch to the story. Caleb though continues to call and text her after she has left and the more she tells him to go out with other women he doesn’t, he wants her. The end of the story is the next year on Valentine’s Day and it is perfect. A great book, and fantastic characters. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 5 Stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 2, 2016
MIA HAS A WONDERFUL VALENTINE STORY I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW ........... OVER 18 READING
Coraz'on Gomez (Cora 18) has a full Ivy League scholarship and a one way ticket out of this small town boondocks where all she has done is study hard and work, no time for love. As she closes the ice cream parlor alone on Valentines Day, a guy she used to know come to the ice cream parlor. Caleb MacKinnon ( back after 4 years working on ranch around the country) is back in town, his father is ill (cancer ) so his mom ask him to come help out. Valentines night he pulls into the ice cream parlor but Cora tells him she's closing, he talks her into letting him have an ice cream and then into a truck ride. As he finds he's having strong feeling for her he has to remember she leaves in the autumn or school on the east coast, leaving him alone. He loves her so much but can't ask her to stay and give up her dreams that she as worked for all her life. Each hurt in their own ways, neither finding someone new and both thinking the other moved on with someone new. Can either ever decide to ask the other? Can they find a way that both can have their dreams and find a way back to each other ? This is a very interesting story of love , friends , and real faith in each other.
Coraz'on Gomez (Cora 18) has a full Ivy League scholarship and a one way ticket out of this small town boondocks where all she has done is study hard and work, no time for love. As she closes the ice cream parlor alone on Valentines Day, a guy she used to know come to the ice cream parlor. Caleb MacKinnon ( back after 4 years working on ranch around the country) is back in town, his father is ill (cancer ) so his mom ask him to come help out. Valentines night he pulls into the ice cream parlor but Cora tells him she's closing, he talks her into letting him have an ice cream and then into a truck ride. As he finds he's having strong feeling for her he has to remember she leaves in the autumn or school on the east coast, leaving him alone. He loves her so much but can't ask her to stay and give up her dreams that she as worked for all her life. Each hurt in their own ways, neither finding someone new and both thinking the other moved on with someone new. Can either ever decide to ask the other? Can they find a way that both can have their dreams and find a way back to each other ? This is a very interesting story of love , friends , and real faith in each other.
May 24, 2016
This is a short story in length but actually takes place over 1 year in time. It is smouldering hot and intense passion and at turns sweet and sad also.
Caleb has returned to town due to his dad's ill-health. He has been working on various ranches and is quite glad to be home. When he rocks up to the cafe on Valentines night, he doesn't expect to see the sweet but Sexy Cora.
Cora is smart and determined to get out of her hometown. She lusted after Caleb in school, but he barely noticed her as she was the smart freshman in his Senior classes. But he definitely sees her now. They decide to make this a night to remember and they sneak off to a makeout spot and he literally rocks her world.
She's off to college in a few months and whilst she won't miss small town life too much, she may just regret Caleb walking into her life when they only have a short time together.
I loved that although they are both young, they are very sure of what they want and where their priorities lie. They make their long distance love work to a certain extent by not making too much of it to begin with, poor Cora even tries to let him off the hook but Caleb is not going anywhere. I loved the way the couple finally managed to make a plan and get what they both wanted, without anyone losing out on what they wanted/needed. Great read!
Caleb has returned to town due to his dad's ill-health. He has been working on various ranches and is quite glad to be home. When he rocks up to the cafe on Valentines night, he doesn't expect to see the sweet but Sexy Cora.
Cora is smart and determined to get out of her hometown. She lusted after Caleb in school, but he barely noticed her as she was the smart freshman in his Senior classes. But he definitely sees her now. They decide to make this a night to remember and they sneak off to a makeout spot and he literally rocks her world.
She's off to college in a few months and whilst she won't miss small town life too much, she may just regret Caleb walking into her life when they only have a short time together.
I loved that although they are both young, they are very sure of what they want and where their priorities lie. They make their long distance love work to a certain extent by not making too much of it to begin with, poor Cora even tries to let him off the hook but Caleb is not going anywhere. I loved the way the couple finally managed to make a plan and get what they both wanted, without anyone losing out on what they wanted/needed. Great read!
September 5, 2015
I received an ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.
Cowboy Valentine was an scrumptious little treat filled with sizzling chemistry, hot sex, and just enough sweetness to leave me wanting more. After reading two of Mia's works (this novella and her short story in the Cowboy Heat anthology), she is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. Cowboy Valentine was fabulous. I loved that despite the short length of the novella, both Cora and Caleb were well developed. There is a strong sense of where they came from and what their future could be. The quick pacing and time jumps gives the reader glimpses into the different stages in their relationship. There's the beginning when their attraction is so strong that neither one has control. Then, of course, as the novella progresses, we get to watch them move into a relationship that neither one was expecting. And those sex scenes... Holy hotness, Mia!
I had the pleasure of meeting Mia back in April. Now that I've fallen under her spell with Cowboy Valentine and her short story in the Cowboy Heat anthology, I am looking forward to reading a full length book. Hopefully that'll come soon...
Cowboy Valentine was an scrumptious little treat filled with sizzling chemistry, hot sex, and just enough sweetness to leave me wanting more. After reading two of Mia's works (this novella and her short story in the Cowboy Heat anthology), she is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. Cowboy Valentine was fabulous. I loved that despite the short length of the novella, both Cora and Caleb were well developed. There is a strong sense of where they came from and what their future could be. The quick pacing and time jumps gives the reader glimpses into the different stages in their relationship. There's the beginning when their attraction is so strong that neither one has control. Then, of course, as the novella progresses, we get to watch them move into a relationship that neither one was expecting. And those sex scenes... Holy hotness, Mia!
I had the pleasure of meeting Mia back in April. Now that I've fallen under her spell with Cowboy Valentine and her short story in the Cowboy Heat anthology, I am looking forward to reading a full length book. Hopefully that'll come soon...
June 30, 2016
This is the first in the Cowboy Cocktail series of erotic novellas featuring the MacKinnon brothers. This first book is Caleb’s story, the youngest of the brothers.
Caleb meets Cora at the ice cream parlour where she works. He offers to take her for a ride and as it turns out that ride was more than just a truck kind!
This was a short and extremely erotic tale of a young girl’s first experience of sex and lust and the young man eager to play his part.
Although there was plenty of steam and sex there wasn’t much substance to the story for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters or understand their emotive state. It maybe that they were a young couple and I prefer my romance to be just above the new adult threshold. Cora was a late teenager and Caleb a few years older but not much more so they didn’t express any life experience to aid me to understand their journey.
However if you are looking for a quick spurt of smutty stuff then there was plenty in this short story. For me though it was just a three star at a push. I have read the third book about the older brother Clark which was much more my kind of hot and lush read.
*Copy kindly provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Caleb meets Cora at the ice cream parlour where she works. He offers to take her for a ride and as it turns out that ride was more than just a truck kind!
This was a short and extremely erotic tale of a young girl’s first experience of sex and lust and the young man eager to play his part.
Although there was plenty of steam and sex there wasn’t much substance to the story for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters or understand their emotive state. It maybe that they were a young couple and I prefer my romance to be just above the new adult threshold. Cora was a late teenager and Caleb a few years older but not much more so they didn’t express any life experience to aid me to understand their journey.
However if you are looking for a quick spurt of smutty stuff then there was plenty in this short story. For me though it was just a three star at a push. I have read the third book about the older brother Clark which was much more my kind of hot and lush read.
*Copy kindly provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2016
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
⭐ ⭐ Provided by Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review ⭐ ⭐
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
Split-image cover, bold color on title font, Strong font for author. Good choices. Synopsis was enough to draw me in.
Looking Deeper:
Third-person POV.
She's the studious virgin senior. He's the cowboy she had a crush on when he was a senior four years ago. After graduation, he took off and she hadn't seen him since until he pulls into the lot of the ice cream shop she works at closing time on Valentine's night.
For a novella that had more sex than actual plot content, somehow Mia Thompson managed to tell a story - not a strong one, but a fairly complete one at least. There were several sizable time jumps and more sex than not, which left little room for a deeper character or plot development. There was a defined beginning, a middle with conflict and an ending with implied HEA. The characters were fun and likable.
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.9 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ Provided by Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review ⭐ ⭐
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
Split-image cover, bold color on title font, Strong font for author. Good choices. Synopsis was enough to draw me in.
Looking Deeper:
Third-person POV.
She's the studious virgin senior. He's the cowboy she had a crush on when he was a senior four years ago. After graduation, he took off and she hadn't seen him since until he pulls into the lot of the ice cream shop she works at closing time on Valentine's night.
For a novella that had more sex than actual plot content, somehow Mia Thompson managed to tell a story - not a strong one, but a fairly complete one at least. There were several sizable time jumps and more sex than not, which left little room for a deeper character or plot development. There was a defined beginning, a middle with conflict and an ending with implied HEA. The characters were fun and likable.
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.9 ~ Stars: 4
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