Challenging the Cowboy

Men of the Marvell Ranch #3

by Jeannie Watt

Zach Marvell’s word is law on the ranch — or it was until she showed up.

Zach Marvell's been running the family Marvell Ranch without interference since he was fifteen, but when Finley James arrives for her sister’s wedding and proceeds to ask questions, give advice and tell him a few unpleasant facts about himself, he’s annoyed. And then intrigued.

Horse trainer Finley James has been perfectly happy floating from job to job until her parents sell the family ranch in Nevada and she no longer has a safety net. She’s not worried as she’s landed a job at a top horse training facility, but that lasts less than a week when Finley, who’s never held back her opinions, tells a wealthy client a truth he doesn’t want to hear. Hat in hand she returns to Marvel Ranch hoping Zach will give her a short term job until she can figure out her next move. Finley knows promising to not interfere or makes waves will be tough. Who knew keeping her hands and her heart to herself would be her biggest challenge?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Cowboy Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2019

About the author

Jeannie Watt lives on a small cattle ranch and hay farm in southwest Montana. When she's not writing, she enjoys making mosaic mirrors, sewing, and pretending that the house is neat and tidy.

Jeannie loves to hear from readers. Please contact her via her website www.jeanniewatt.com.

Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Two Stubborns Don't Make a Right Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Oh how perfect the set up is...
Picture a Manly Man Cowboy vs a What You See is What You Get Gal...Both have been working with horses and know they are excellent in their jobs and confident in their abilities. He has run his ranch with an iron fist and likes routine and control. She has been training horses around the country and never let a thought stay in her head when she thought it should be said out loud.

They meet at the wedding of friends and family. She tells him a thing or two about his horses and what would work better. He tells her she better cool it with the fast mouth at her new la de da training gig with the rich and famous. Neither of them mention the sparks that fly when they were sparing.

How the mighty fall...

She couldn't stop herself from telling the truth to one of the wealthy clients at the new job. This was exactly what she had been warned not to do...Clients like these do not want to be contradicted so she was sh!t out of her new position in just a week.

What now...Why suck it up and beg for a temp trainer position with Mr. Manly Man Cowboy. He doesn't know why he decides to say yes...and she knows it will be a huge challenge to keep her ideas to herself...but they both agree and it is a done deal.

This story was fun, smart in its banter and crafted well. The name of the game was what each of these characters could learn from each other. I had read Jeannie Watt one time before with Austin https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and enjoyed her style then and do now.


A gifted copy was provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zach Marvell has been running the family ranch since he was 15 years old. In the last 21 years he may have become a bit autocratic, convinced he's always right, fond of laying down the law. When his younger brother decides to get married he runs into his brother's sister-in-law to-be, Finley James. She's the oil to his water, a horse trainer who has never settled down, she goes as the whim takes her. She wouldn't say she's fond of laying down the law, but she has no trouble telling people the raw truth and she won't hold back. It's a match made in heaven (not).

Zach and Finley clash at their siblings' wedding, she tries to teach him about training one of his horses, he tries to warn her to keep her opinions to herself at her new job. A few weeks later Finley has been fired for telling off one of the rich clients and has nowhere to go, her only hope is that Zach is still looking for a horse trainer. Suddenly her much vaunted freedom and lack of ties seems to be a castle built on sand.

As circumstances throw them together maybe they can find something in common?

I liked this, it was a variation on the traditional romance where the wandering cowboy settles down with the homebody. In this case Zach is the homebody and Finley is the wanderer. As they are forced to work together their mutual attraction overrides their mutual antipathy.

I liked Jeannie Watt's books. If you like gruff farmers who can cook (and clean), horses, stables, lots of hot sweaty farm work and snarkiness then I'm sure you'll love this.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

FREE today (July 20, 2020) on Amazon.




- Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review -
“Challenging the Cowboy”, is a very enjoyable and entertaining read. I was immediately absorbed by this story and how brilliantly Jeannie Watt writes about the initial stages of physical awareness, attraction, flirtation and falling in love.
Zach and Finley are engaging, intense characters. Zach is serious, bossy, confident, guarded, likes to be in control; Finley seems his polar opposite, she’s adventurous, vibrant and compassionate.
Their battle of wills is delicious to watch and their romance charming and with some realistic internal obstacles along the way.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Put together a cowboy who believes he’s always right, takes no sass from anyone and has a very high opinion of his own abilities and decisions, bring in a horse trainer who refuses to settle down, is not afraid or willing to keep her opinions to herself in spite of the consequences… and something is going to boil over real fast. Meet Zach Marvell and Finley James, two stubborn, opinionated people who believe it’s their way or the highway until the sparks between them prove to be much more than simply temper and needing to be right. CHALLENGING THE COWBOY brings Zach and Finley into close contact beyond their in-law status as his brother is married to her sister… and the race is on to see who can out-stubborn the other first.

I liked Zach and Finley individually and definitely together. Two more stubborn always has to be right, won’t back down from an argument on the exact color of the sky at any given moment in time type of people you’d be hard pressed to find. Yet that same personality trait that drives them both crazy is also what draws them to each other. They each have layers that aren’t on display for everyone to see, they both have issues that lay beneath the surface that needs a bit of digging to come to light – being stubborn is the perfect way to keep digging until you get to the core of things. At times, it may seem that these two bring out the worst in each other yet in truth they’re bringing out the best and proving that two stubborn adults can indeed find a happy ending… eventually.

If you’re in the mood for a fun cowboy romance where “rock” meets “hard place” and both win in the end, then you’ll feel right at home on the Marvell Ranch and with CHALLENGING THE COWBOY. I’d not hesitate to recommend this story or the entire series to readers who love a good romance, believable characters, with sparks flying every which way possible. I had a blast and believe you will, too.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Desert Lumens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb read! Absolutely loved it

This was my first time reading a book by this author. I got this book for free during one of those massive romance giveaways authors participate in I guess to get their name/series out there. I sat on this book for a while but today was the day! I decided to read it because I was on a cowboy kick 🤣 so I had to keep them doggies rollin’ sorry for the dad joke 🤦🏽‍♂️ but yeah I decided to pick this book up and I was hooked! It was definitely a slow burn. Two head strong individuals. Heh, more so on her part considering considering Zach was on his ranch and Finely was a visitor. Also Finely is the one that’s constantly putting her boots in her mouth because she doesn’t know when to hold them, or when to fold them…or when to walk away… sorry, I’m here all week folks 🤣🙃. But as the synopsis states she does what she does best and that’s burns bridges and ends up right smack dab back at the Marvell ranch needing a job… but hey, kinda works out for her if ya know what I mean… 🥰😘 they have some out of this world chemistry going and I enjoyed the snarky sparing between the two. It was funny because the mutual attraction started early and I think the moms saw it coming but also knew how their kids were… moms have that spooky intuition I tell ya. This was definitely a top notch book and I enjoyed it very much. It’s a shame this series isn’t offered on KU. If it ever comes up in the KU universe I will be all over this series to finish it up. I’ll have a sneak peek and see if this author has anything available in the KU land. If not it will be a shame because she’s truly a fantastic writer and it would be a great pleasure to read more from her. Check this series out. I think you’ll definitely love it. This 🐻 gives this book 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I had previously read the other 2 books about the Men of Marvell Ranch. This book is the story of the oldest brother, Zach. The book begins with Shane and Ella’s wedding. Both Shane and Ella’s families have arrived. Ella’s sister, Finley is very opinionated and fights Zach on everything. After the wedding Finley heads to an upscale ranch where she’s been hired to be the new horse trainer. Both Zach and her brother know she has trouble not speaking her mind and have warned her to be careful at her new ranch. Unfortunately Finley didn’t need the warning and ended up getting fired her first week. She was devastated as she had no where to go. Her parents had sold the home ranch and her brothers lived in tiny trailers. So she went back to the Marvell Ranch. She was interested in Zach and suspected some interest on his part. She begged him for a job on the ranch as the trainer. He had just filled it two days earlier and told her he didn’t need any other help. She pressured him to hire her as the housekeeper and any other ranch tasks. It was a good move as it ended up being the 2 of them and the newly hired horse trainer to take care of the ranch. Zach and Finley gave into their mutual feelings and slept together, trying to keep it secret. The rest of the family returned home and Finley forced herself to leave and try to set up her own horse training school by where she was from in Nevada. We learn both are miserable without the other. The book becomes very exciting with fires and admitted feelings of love. I give it 5 stars and highly recommend it and the other books in this series.

[Fedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging the Cowboy is the third in Jeannie Watt's The Men of Marvell Ranch series, and is a terrific read. Zach Marvell's the eldest, the reliable one who stepped into his late father's shoes when he was just a teen to keep the ranch going. He's used to being the boss and most people are used to giving way when he speaks up. But his new sister-in-law Finley James isn't most people. She's a horse trainer in between jobs, and clearly used to speaking her mind. She convinces Zach to keep her on temporarily as an extra hand, and the two of them dance around an unexpected attraction.

Jeannie Watt's writing is excellent, and Finley and Zach's conversations come alive as do the inconvenient sparks flying between them. I couldn't put this down, and can't wait to read more of Ms Watt's stories.

[Teresa Christianson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zach and Finley are opposites attract but they are also similar since they both need to be right

Zach likes peace and order on his ranch and when Finley shows up both are grown to the wind. She challenges him on many things and he doesn't like it. When she comes crawling back after her life implodes and she is begging for a job he hires her because she is his brother's sister-in-law. They have had an instant attraction but neither wanted to act on it until one day they do. She is still trying to stand on her own and get back on her feet so she leaves and goes back to Nevada? Both are misery but will either of them do anything about it? What happens when the wild fires are threatening they ranch? Will they get over themselves and and admit how they really feel? Will Finley ever come back to the ranch?

[Sandi Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Marietta and Cowboys! And while this book is not set inside the town of Marietta it is about about one of the Men who grew up on a Ranch there. Zach Marvell has worked the family ranch and raised his siblings since his father passed away when Zach was 15. This made him into the strong authority figure that he is today. Finley James is in town for her sister's wedding to Zach's brother Shane. Finley and Zach are so much fun to watch whether they are in the same room or even close by each other at the corrals...sparks fly like you would not believe. What's so funny is these two don't recognize it for a long time but we the readers get to enjoy the fun as we see them butt heads , pull apart but like magnets life draws them back together again. I think this is my favorite in the Men of Marvell Ranch books.

[Barbara Cuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeannie Watt created real characters, flaws and all, and she did it in a way that let the reader get to know them through their words and actions. Zach is a no-nonsense, in-charge kind of guy. He's had to be that way since the age of 15, when his dad died and he had to more or less take over the running of the ranch. Finley is a strong-willed woman who can't hold her tongue. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the two of them butt heads as the chemistry between them kept burning hotter and hotter. The pace was good, and the action kept my interest throughout. The secondary characters added to the story as well. No doubt about it. This was a winner.

[MooseGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I liked the banter between the two of them where they constantly tried to score points. Both were a little, uh... set in their ways but it did make their connection interesting. I haven't actually read the rest of the series (I picked this one up when it was free) but I didn't feel I missed anything that I couldn't work out quite easily. I would be interested in reading more by this author.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but definitely could have been written better. You don’t recall God even mentioned and sadly I imagine the author never does either. The authors attempt to spice up the story with graphic sex scenes did not improve the book and I assume she was attempting to broaden her reading audience. A really good writer doesn’t have to spice up the story.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Finley was at the ranch for her sister's wedding, her parents decided to sell their ranch and now she feels lost. Zach has been pretty much running the ranch since his dad died when he was 15. They butt heads but in a way that shows that they are strong willed, can they overcome it.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

It was ok book, I never really felt the connection between zack and Finley. I liked zack but Finley was too blunt and idk just different. I couldn't warm up to her. I like the concept of the story but just wasn't my thing.

[Melanie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series

I enjoyed reading Zach Marvell’s story. I liked both him and Finley and how they pushed each other but were also respectful to each other. This was a low angst story which I appreciated.

[Gail G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it

First read for me by this author. I liked it but I’m a horse lover and enjoyed reading about ranch life. The story was realistic and the characters were not shallow. There were some minor words misused or added. I got the book free on sale.

[Clarie Giselle Speights · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where’s the chemistry

This story pretending is about Zach and Finley who are supposedly in love. They are two pig headed individuals who get a thrill from bossing each around. The story about Ella and Shane is way better. Don’t bother with this one.

[Patricia M Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.😊

It started a little slow for me but got much better. I could just picture the stubborn characters and beautiful scenery. The little suspense thrown in towards the end was good too.

[Sherry Vitaniemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her home

Loved how she was wanderer. And he was a home body. Yet they find out They belong together. They took the long way around to find that out. Good book. I would read it again

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot heads

Want a good solid cowboy story well here you go! Embroiled emotions, solid family ethic, a tough romance, and did I say cowboys. This is a story to make you call in love with ranch life again.

[Lore Lipkvich · Rating 3 out of 5]

challenging the cowboy

Writing was ok ,but through 98% of the book, it seemed like the H and h didn’t really like each other and only seemed to fall in love after they separated for a time. There was no romance leading to love, just angry words then bam their in love.

[Faustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well executed. The right amount of sex scenes.
A shame it’s too predictable - surprises are good! A bit less “tell” would have make it better too.
I will read more books by this author when I want to spend a nice relaxing afternoon.

[Dana Kerby]

This was a really good read. I didn't want to put it down. Great characters. It felt like a real story of real people. I didn't want it to end.

[LUAYNE · Rating 1 out of 5]

Language is XXX. It is very difficult to find clean written books. What a sad state of writing.

[judy gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Storytelling

This was an interesting storyline with lots of good characters and romance. I enjoyed how the author developed this storyline and all of the characters.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romance

A sweet and somewhat steamy romance with compelling characters and an engaging story. Set in a picturesque community and part of a lovely series.

[Kathryn Munsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Zach and Finley make for an exciting, interesting and good love story. You’ll enjoy how the story brings their ups and downs to a great end.

[Gail Dew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging the cowboy

I enjoyed the back and forth of the two strong willed alpha characters. That is what made the story enjoyable.

[Mandi Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

Has a very sweet ending. Her personality changes dramatically as it progresses which I totally don’t like. But redeems herself in the end.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read!

Another great story by Jeannie Watt as well as more about the Marvell men. I like stories that have interconnected characters. I will look for more in this series.