🐎💍❤️ "How to Marry A Cowboy" (Wishing Well Springs #2) (2021) ❤️💍🐎 - Book Review

 

MY REVIEW 

 

 

Series: Wishing Well Springs (Book #2)
Paperback: 384 pages 
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming (April 13, 2021) 
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335179828
ISBN-13: 978-1335179821
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

“Coming home means…
 
 Confronting her former crush
 
 Trick rider Kenna Hewitt can’t avoid the company of Channing Pearce—not when the handsome cowboy needs Kenna’s help saving his family’s rodeo arena. Working together, and being in a wedding together, soon has old feelings resurfacing. But as a gal who does stunts for a living, trusting in a possible future with the cowboy of her dreams is still the most dangerous task she’s ever faced…”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Cathy McDavid, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not requested or required, and all words are my own.

While this was the third book I read by the author – the first being Her Cowboy Sweetheart (The Sweetheart Ranch #4); this is the second Wishing Well Springs book I read, the first being The Cowboy’s Holiday Bride (TCHB).

 

A word of note here: since this does follow TCHB, there are a few issues I want to address in this book.

 

The main issue is the continuity.

 

There is a typo that mentions Laurel is Channing’s sister, where she is really Cash’s. It is corrected a bit, but the bigger issue is a story line from the first book.

 

TCHB centered on Cash Montgomery and Phoebe Kellerman. If you haven’t read the end of that book – slight spoiler – the ending of that book doesn’t coincide with events in this book. If you have read that book, then don’t be surprised at what happens in the first 50+ pages of this book.

 

At the end of TCHB, Cash and Phoebe were 24 hours from their wedding. In this book, they’re only “dating”. Phoebe doesn’t even “appear” in this book whereas Cash does.

 

Another plot issue from TCHB, and a spoiler from this book, involved Cash talking to Channing about building an office in the Western town for his architectural firm. On pages 376/377 of TCHB, Cash already had built it.

 

Continuity issues like these are a rarity among books in a series, and that was a major sticking point with me. I was wondering when it was going to get corrected. It didn’t. So, I am looking forward to book #3 to see where the author takes this series and that relationship, along with clarifying some of the issues pointed out.

 

With that said …

 

While the cover and title seem to indicate this is more about romancing the cowboy, it should’ve been How to Marry a Stubborn Cowgirl. It looks like Channing (obviously the cover model) seemed to be contemplating something.

 

Speaking of characters, while this was seemingly billed more for Channing and Kenna; Kenna’s mother, Gracie, seemed to be far more prominent in this. Gracie, 20 years older than fiancé Beau, is tying the knot for the umpteenth time. This causes a lot of problems between Gracie and her daughter Kenna.

 

Right off I liked Channing and found him to be the strongest character of the book. I admired how Gracie jumped right in to care for Beau’s baby, the sweet little Skye. Although seeing Kenna’s initial interactions with Skye, I wasn’t sure I was going to like Kenna at all.

 

I felt truly sorry for Gracie, who seemed like she’d had a bad time finding love after losing Kenna’s father.

 

There might be people take will take issue with the older woman/younger man relationship. McDavid definitely went out of the box on this and she wrote it in a way that definitely seemed sympathetic to both Gracie and Beau. Though to be honest, I couldn’t marry a younger man at all.

 

The readers get a 2-for-1 romance: Kenna/Channing and Gracie/Beau.

 

Another issue I had – and, this is NOT McDavid’s fault at all – a lot of writers treat 40+ women like they’re OLD, ready for grandkids, and ready for retirement. I’m in the 40+ range and definitely don’t identify with some of those characters or stereotypes.

 

Despite the issues, this book was one that once I got into it; I didn’t want to stop reading. I had to see where this was going, and was more invested in Gracie and Beau as opposed to Kenna and Channing. Though, it was interesting to see where they were going. Though, I do admit that when they were on the same side, Channing and Kenna were a pretty great couple.

 

Her problem, due to losing her father, was that Kenna relied far too much on guarantees which seemed in direct conflict of her profession. It was a bit painful to see how put-out Kenna seemed at having to help take care of Skye.

 

Because of her mother’s multiple marriages, I did sympathize with Kenna, but felt she needed to let some stuff go. Her past seemed to jade her when it came to dealing with Channing as well as Beau’s baby.

 

There were times I began to love the sweet moments between much older and soon-to-be baby sister.

 

There is a heart-breaking moment involving Beau, Kenna, and Skye which definitely highlighted the dynamics of all those involved in an OLDER woman and YOUNGER man romance.

 

The author, as well as a character points out the history that makes it far more acceptable for older men and younger women to be together as opposed to the other way around.

 

Another side story involved Channing who was helping with his family’s arena after his father had a health issue. It was interesting to see Channing step up and have good ideas.

 

McDavid touches on this issue with a lot of introspective dialogue. It is harder for people like Channing’s father to change as they see good ideas as reflecting poorly on them. Letting Channing takeover would be admitting that you messed up and the kid had to take care of it. Also, retirement is a huge adjustment. (Know this personally because of my mom).

 

As Kenna begins to invest in her mom’s wedding, she begins to analyze her life. Right now, she knows the realities centering around her and Channing. Though Kenna does wonder if she’s really been happy the past 10 years, or was it an illusion?

 

Kenna does realize she is afraid of commitment – given her mother’s history, it is understandable.

 

But, as her mother offers – “we’re all products of our experiences”. Sometimes, even in a romance novel, there are pearls of wisdom.

 

This is one of the clean reads of Harlequin’s line so there is no foul language or intimate scenes beyond kissing.

 

There are a lot of riding and equestrian terms used in this book. Potential readers unfamiliar with them might want to look up trick riders for reference.

 

Fans of the author, heartwarming line, and those who read the first book in this series are sure to enjoy this read.

 

 

RATING:

 

4 /⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

Other Books in the Series:

 

Series: Wishing Well Springs (Book #1)

Paperback: 384 pages 
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming (November 20, 2020) 
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335889949
ISBN-13: 978-1335889942
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Changing his heart…

Would be a Christmas miracle!

Cash Montgomery creates Western-themed weddings and knows all about happily-ever-after. In theory. He’s been hurt too many times to think that he could ever be a marrying man. His business partner Phoebe Kellerman doesn’t agree with him—on anything! At Christmas, Cash is visited by three of his past girlfriends…and he begins to see the error of his ways. Will it be before he loses Phoebe, the woman he’s falling for?”

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Since 2006, New York Times BESTSELLING AUTHOR Cathy McDavid has been happily penning contemporary Westerns for Harlequin. Every day, she gets to write about handsome cowboys riding the range or busting a bronc. It’s tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice. Cathy shares her Arizona home with her own real-life sweetheart and trio or odd pets. Her grown twins have left to embark on lives of their own, and she couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.  

 

 

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathymcdavidbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathymcdavidwriter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CathyMcDavid

Website: http://cathymcdavid.com/

 

 

* This post contains affiliate links