The Cowboy's Rebellious Bride

The McCall Brothers #1

by Laurie LeClair

Best friends for life. That was their pact. Feisty, spitfire Hannah Prescott yearns to get the bulls she raises to the top rodeo circuit finals. Being a woman in a male-dominated career means she fights harder for what she wants, and romance plays no part in her goals. But when everything's on the line and her best friend asks her to play pretend, what's a girl to do? Sexy, life of the party cowboy Cody McCall is determined to save the legacy of his family’s ranch and give his beloved, widowed grandfather something to live for again. Options are limited until he hits on the perfect plan–pretending to marry the girl who’s been his confidante and friend all these years. After stealing sweet kisses with Hannah, Cody starts to dream of something more permanent...if he can only convince Hannah to agree that the move from friendship to marriage is worth the fight. He wants a forever bride, but there's only one cowgirl he desires.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Ebooks, Amazon

248 pages, Paperback

Published June 29, 2017

About the author

Bestselling author Laurie LeClair writes romantic comedies, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. Laurie has a not-so-secret love for characters who make her laugh, cry, and who linger in her mind long after the story ends. Laurie’s habit of daydreaming has gotten her into a few scrapes and launched her to take up her dream of writing. Finally, she can put all those stories in her head to rest as she brings them to life on the page.

Laurie loves to write, read, bake, travel, and discover new adventures. She considers herself a New Texan (New England born and raised and now living in Texas). She lives in Central Texas with her husband, Jim. Laurie loves to hear from her readers.

You can contact her at
http://www.laurieleclair.com
http://www.twitter.com/LeClairbooks http://www.facebook.com/laurieleclair.75

Check out Laurie’s website contests and sign up for her newsletter to get insider information and to be automatically entered in her newsletter giveaways at http://www.laurieleclair.com


Books by Laurie LeClair:

Once Upon A Romance Series (romantic comedy)
If The Shoe Fits - Book 1
Waking Sleeping Beauty - Book 2
Taming McGruff - Book 3
The Reluctant Beauty - Book 4
Awakened By A Kiss - Book 5
Tangled At First Sight - Book 6
Finding Mr. Just Right - Book 7
Making A Splash - Book 8

The Heart Romance Series(contemporary romance/smalltown romance)
Secrets Of The Heart - Book 1
Crimes Of The Heart - Book 2
Lies Of The Heart - Book 3


The Bounty Hunter Series (romantic suspense)
Murphy’s Law - Book 1
Riley’s Rules - Book 2

Wanted: Fairy Godmother (romantic comedy)

The Sweet Spot Series (romantic comedy)
The Dating Dilemma - Book 1

Runaway Wife (romance, women's fiction)

The Long Journey Home (romance, women’s fiction)

Sweet Summertime (romance, women's fiction, second chances, reunions)

The Heart Remembers (holiday romance, contemporary romance)

Reviews

[SuperWendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my thing. Friends-to-lovers enter into a fake engagement to save the heroine from getting evicted by her spinster landladies and keep the charade going because the engagement puts a spring in the hero's grandfather's step. I pretty much tapped out mentally when the spinster landladies insert themselves as chaperones making me question if I was reading a romance featuring adults and not, say, 13-year-olds. There's also a grand gesture by the heroine at the end that didn't work for me at all. She sacrifices A LOT - and makes the decision independently (the hero knows nothing about it until after the thing is done) but I'm not in the head space right now for heroine's falling on their sword.

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad book. But it wasn’t a good book either. It was just, on average, a meh book.

The plot was a bit of a disaster. People thrown in here and there for the sake of drama without it really making sense for the story. Like Tabitha, Cody’s ex, suddenly showing up out of nowhere, HOURS after a run-in with another ex. And all out of town. What really are the chances of that happening??? Characters also behaved in strange ways, like Hannah’s weird leap of logic towards the end. The plot didn’t flow, and there’s no way around that.

The book also seemed really preachy. The most bizarre characters, the Fruit Spinsters (they’re called Clementine and Peach), tried to protect Hannah’s honour by not letting her see Cody alone before the wedding (um, I’m sure Hannah wasn’t a virgin given her previous forays). Then there was the whole “I’m saving myself for marriage” bit, even though, again, I don’t think Hannah was a virgin.

Plus, I know the book is trying to be feminist with the whole “I’m a rare female bull breeder and I need to make it on my own” theme, but this is cancelled out by Hannah saying she doesn’t want to get married and have kids, but then Cody being all “I can’t wait to make her my wife and have her pop out a dozen”. I get that maybe Hannah might change her mind, that maybe she’s scared, but it didn’t feel like Cody actually respected that she might /not/ want kids. I know a romance is all about the happily-ever-after, but this felt like more than that; as if it was prescribing the only kind of happiness allowed: man gaining woman and impregnating her.

I straight up hated the ending. SHE GIVES UP HER FUCKING CAREER FOR HIM. Well, almost. She sells the bulls she’s been raising to save his family’s ranch. I guess it’s all about family, but jeez, did she have to sell all of them?

Despite all of this, the short length and actually pretty decent chemistry did compel me to finish the book. I did feel the connection between Cody and Hannah, and it was mighty disappointing to not get any more than kissing.

So yeah, maybe quick cowboy romances are your thing. Especially if you like fake relationships and friends-to-more tropes. But don’t expect the moon with this one. It’s more of an easy read.

PS – PLEASE get a proofreader. There were more than an acceptable number of typos in this book.

See more of my romance reviews on Love in a time of Feminism!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie LeClair has been a favorite of mine from the time I fell into her Once Upon a Romance Series. Her stories are sweeter than any greeting card, smoother than silk and as addictive as a chocolate cake. The Cowboy's Rebellious Bride highlights the best of Ms. Leclair. She simplifies what humanity tends to complicate. To understand what love is, we have to first find it within ourselves. That message shines brightly with every character she writes. Her tales open up the heart and that is what I love most about them.

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Rebellious Bride (The McCall Brothers 1) - PG13
Violence: none
Language: fewer than 45
Sex: descriptive kissing, disrobing but no details.

There is definite attraction between the two mains, but there are no details.
I think there are more books in this series, but I am tapping out now. I don't really care for the H or h as people. The both do have redeeming characteristics, and I am glad they matured and got their HEA.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cody used to be in the rodeo but he came home because his family needed him too. He always seemed to be the one everyone could count on. His Grams got sick and he came home and helped with her. When she passed away he stayed because Gramps needed him. He had a strong sense of honor, being there when he was needed and doing right by his family.

His best friend as far back as he could remember is Hannah. Hannah and Cody were always getting themselves in to messes when they were younger and it looks like nothing has changed. They were out drinking and partying one night and Hannah was staying at the boarding house run by Miss Peaches and Miss Clementine. Two sisters who were extremely old fashioned.

This book made me laugh at times and was an easy read. I really enjoyed reading Cody and Hannah's story.

[Cogito_ergo_sum · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ chapter 2. (Currently free on Amazon.)
I can’t comment on the plot or the characters, but having forced myself to finish chapter 1, all I can say is that the writing is bland and this author needs an editor, as she has no sense in tension and pacing. There is too much filler and no hook to keep me interested. Chapter 1 can be deleted because the story doesn’t even begin there. The author needs to make chapter 1 the part where the story actually starts and slowly feed us backstory AFTER we’ve been hooked.

If this was the author’s skill level at chapter one, as I’ve waited several pages of chances, I cringe at the thought of enduring this amateur storytelling for the entire book. No thank you.

[Fredrika · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. I had to encourage myself to keep reading it so I didn't have to put it on my DNF shelf, and I was constantly looking at how many pages were left.

I'm trying to figure out what is was about the book that I didn't like and I can't think of one cohesive reason. The primary one is probably that the story was super dry. I didn't think the main characters, Cody and Hannah, had any chemistry, which is disappointing seeing as they have been friends since they were young. I'm normally a huge fan of fake relationships and friends-to-lovers but they felt like strangers the whole time.

I also felt like I jumped into the middle of a series. Cody's grandparents' relationship and Hannah's parents relationship was briefly given detail but were such a huge part of Hannah and Cody's characters that I felt like I needed more. They were almost written like a sequel to previous generations' storylines and I was kind of lost.

I'm disappointed in this book, especially because there are so many good reviews. I guess I can't really complain though, since I downloaded this book for free. Sadly, it just felt like a waste of time and I feel like I have to read an AWESOME book now to make up for it.

[Marci · Rating 1 out of 5]

So ridiculously lame. I couldn’t get past the first few pages of cheesy lines.

[Cindy Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww! A sexy cowboy and his best friend, both with severe relationship hangups, yet neither wants to loose the other, nor do they want to take the next step! Both Cody and Hannah have lost their parents in traumatic accidents, but Cody has always had his two brothers and of course his Gramps and Grams, until her recent passing that is. Seeing his Gramps basically giving up on life is one of the toughest things he will ever have to witness, and only one thing would bring him out of his funk. But they're on the verge of loosing the ranch, and Cody is feeling the crunch. Hannah watched her mother crumble every time her father left for another, not only once, but numerous times. Having her mom confess to her at the ripe old age of eight sure hasn't done her any favors either, only succeeding in giving her a relationship phobia, and while she was in college, on their way to be remarried again for the third time, did they meet their fate in a car accident. With no other family, she found herself on her own, except for Cody, her best friend. The only good thing in her life, at least until he tries to get them out of a tight spot and announces that they're getting married. What was he thinking? Oh! The trouble they always seem to find themselves in!
Most definitely a great read that will have your heart beating a bit quicker and the tears quietly slipping down your cheeks, as this pair find their way to true love. Absolutely loved it!

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soaring Up High

This is such a sweet friends to lovers romance! I loved the entire westerner setting. It made the entire book even more charming. I also loved Cody and Hannah. Both of them of been friends since childhood. They have had each others backs since they knew each other. A series of circumstances make them cross the line from friends to lovers. And boy, it is super adorable.

This entire novel had me hooked on the first word. Despite it being a super short novel and quick read, I did not want it to end. Hannah is such an amazing character. She is spunky and has her own backbone. Yes, she does have her own demons and mistrusting about men. However, she isn't a pushover and rude about it. Cody is super patient with her and that made me swoon more about him. Cody is such a sweet heart. His determination to keep his family's ranch and care for Hannah made him one of my favorite cowboy characters. And, the entire family dynamic to novel just added more charm to this novel. Cody's family, Hannah's neighbors, and the entire McCall clan made this book extremely funny and fun to read.

In summary, this is an extremely sweet friends to lovers romance. I had so much fun with the characters. I will definitely be reading more books by this author to get over reading slumps and care for some sweet sugary romance.

[Timothy Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. This book is proof that it is possible to write a very good story without resorting the use of profanity. Also, the book was very clear about the relationship the two main characters of the book, Cody and Hannah is. Over and over there are times when the book talks about their attraction of Cody and Hannah to one another including sexually without having to resort to using sexually explicit dialog. I think this shows what a good Author Laurie LeClair is. She is a very good storyteller. I thought all of the characters were very well developed. There were others in this story besides Cody and Hannah that make this book so good. There McCall's Grandfather and Brothers. There are the two sisters at the boarding house where Hannah lives. Hannah also has friends that obviously care about her. One of my favorite characters in the story is the little miniature horse that is Gramps' pet. I think he adds depth to the story. Also, I enjoyed the pace of the story. I thought there were some twists and turns that were unexpected that I enjoyed as well. I also thought the story came to a satisfactory conclusion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is struggling with the haunting past mistakes of her mother and her father. She want to be someone but doesnt want to let anyone in in fear of being hurt again. She has a best friend and her bulls what more could she ask for?
Cody has loved Hannah as his best friend for their whole lives. She's been there for the good, the bad, and the ugly but when faced with loosing his family farm he wants her by his side. But when life throws a curve ball he wonders if unconditional love is enough for both of them and his family.
Wow oh wow I just loved this book, its a good clean romance no swear words not adults scenes. I loved that struggles between the main characters, I super enjoyed the stubbornness and pigheadedness of the main characters. I enjoyed the more important message of family. Family is so important and that is made clear through out this book. I can't wait to read more about the McCalls and their fighting spirits. Seriously you can't go wrong with this book.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, light hearted HEA with laughter, love, and bringing family together to create an endearing story. This is a wonderful start to the series of the McCall brothers in Honor, Texas. Throughout the story there are plenty of times were you'll be laughing one moment and the sighing the next. The author's writing perfectly executed the feeling of innocence in small town living.

Cody and Hannah went from best friends to husband and wife...with family and friends to help them save their dreams. I'm hoping that we'll see more of the couple in the subsequent stories in the series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily provided my honest review.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming, light hearted HEA with laughter, love, and bringing family together to create an endearing story. This is a wonderful start to the series of the McCall brothers in Honor, Texas. Throughout the story there are plenty of times were you'll be laughing one moment and the sighing the next. The author's writing perfectly executed the feeling of innocence in small town living.

Cody and Hannah went from best friends to husband and wife...with family and friends to help them save their dreams. I'm hoping that we'll see more of the couple in the subsequent stories in the series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily provided my honest review.

[Lynsey Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit.... meh for me. It wasn't awful but it didn't make me want to read the rest of the series either.

There were few things I didn't really see the point of to be honest but no point in mentioning them all.

The main issue for me was the Sisters and their obsession with Hannah's reputation being intact before her wedding. This seemed a little old fashioned for the timeline of the story. Overbearing substitute family members whose sole purpose in the story was to make sure there was a wedding? Just seemed at odds with the plot. If there was one, I'm still looking for it truthfully.

[Shelagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cowboy's Rebellious Bride is a sweet western romance set in Texas. It's the first in a new series by Laurie Leclair and will appeal if you like your romance clean. I struggled a bit with getting into the story though I enjoyed it overall. The pace was a bit slow for my liking and I couldn't get my head around the nickname "Cods", short for Cody. In Australia that's slang for a rather tender part of the male anatomy.

[Will Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is so sweet it'll give you a tooth ache, in a good way. Great character development combined with a romantic story that carries on beyond the marriage makes this romance stand out from the norm. The editing needs work-too many instances of misused words (probably typos) that they began to distract from the story. But a great story it was, nonetheless. I look forward to continuing this new series by LeClair.

[Tressia Avellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends find themselves perfect marriage material!

I enjoyed the book, I did it a bit slow starting out as there seemed to be so much going on and too many characters being introduced at once. But its a great story, and a good read. I found myself laughing at the shenanigans the two characters got themselves into, and tried to get OUT of.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong family story

I enjoyed this fun story of lifelong friends finding something more. It took a lot for Hannah to realize she could love Cody without fearing she would lose herself along the way. Strong family values and support along with the pet miniature horse added to the enjoyment.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends to Lovers is one of my favourite tropes and I thought the story premise was good. However it didn’t flow for me, I found the writing style rather choppy and uneven and the heroine’s mindset at the end of the book illogical. This is the second book I have read by this author and I don’t think I will be trying any more.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cody and Hannah are caught in a compromising position and say that they are engaged. However the news spreads like wildfire and they can’t back out. Cody’s grandfather improves so much that he can’t cry off and Hannah’s landlady are overjoyed to be planning a wedding. The problem is they hadn’t planned to marry. Now what?

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with a lot of promise but the dialog jumped around, and did not flow well. It almost felt like I had to read the character's mind. It was frustrating that the author takes the reader to the character showing her bull, but doesn't tell you what the outcome was. Also, there were a lot of typos and wrong word usage, such as there instead of their.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah and Cody start out as friends and both have to decide if they have something to build a future on. The first book in the McCalls . Looking forward to the next book.

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok

This was an ok book but nothing really special. It was clean but really nothing of note for me. Since it was free I guess that I cannot complain. I will not add to my read again list.

[Pat Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Ebook, part of a series

He’s the grandson that left the rodeo to save the ranch. She’s his best friend and now he realizes he loves her. Getting her on the same page isn’t easy and saving the ranch and his grandfather too

[Michele Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

True love prevails

Unexpected everlasting love finds a way to bind lovers together, unconditionally. Slow moving and sometimes unrealistic, yet keeps you hoping they find happiness with each other.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cody and Hannah

Found this relaxing, funny at times and enjoyable. The interaction between best friends is special. However, the closeness between besties is can they grow beyond their closeness.

[JOYCE HUGGINS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

This little story hooked me in the first few pages. Unlike so many books as soon as a couple funds love the story is over. This one continues into the problems that can happen after marriage, they problems until they reach a conclusion. Fun book to read!

[Cherie Caviness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the right amount of twists and turns

The story had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep it interesting. In the end, and I had to decide whether not to give up on love.

[Lenore Zulauf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a little "too sappy" for me. There seemed to be a lot of repetition - characters didn't grab me and the story line not very strong and a little unbelievable. But that's me and others might enjoy.