Cowgirl by Nance Sparks Wow this book was amazing right from the start there was drama and misunderstanding in this brilliantly wrote novel. I was hooked from the very first chapter of this romance novel. I kept on trying to work out what would happen next but there was always a twist in fate. It was full to the brim with twists and turns and unexpected events happened. I loved the sense of atmosphere creating wounder images in my mind. This book needs to be made into a film! I loved the ending. It was one of my favourite ending in a long while. Its a book that will stay with you throughout time. I highly praise this book. Thank you to the author and publishing team for creating this stunning novel. I will certainly be looking out for future book by this talented author.

This romance is about Aren Jacobs and Carol Matthews. Carol Matthews is fresh out of college staying with her uncle and aunt until she finds a job. She lost her parents in an accident years ago and this is the only family she has left. Aren Jacobs is the town outcast. Rumors have been spread about her and honestly no one knows what is true and what is false. Carol is curious about Aren and soon finds herself staying with her another another accident that leaves her without a home.

I can't say this was my favorite romance of the year but I enjoyed reading this story. The fact that Carol has been told that Aren can't be trusted and that she is dangerous, but she still takes a leap of faith to trust Aren to help her. Aren does her own set of issues as a results of events that happens in the past. As you read this story the mystery around what has happened to Aren keeps you guessing and wanting to read. There are moments of angst, there is chemistry (though not overwhelmingly so), kindness, building trust and eventually love. The biggest surprise is the sense of community that happens when the community had been so against Aren.

4 stars.

This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

This book wouldn't be one of my favorite of late. It was just too dramatic for my personal taste in certain stages of the book. I was drawn to the story which had me keen to know what had happened to Aren and why the town had turned on her. So for me I did find myself keen to see what happened but at times I struggled to stay connected to the characters.

Carol is living out of her suitcase after graduating college. She had always thought she would head home after finishing school, but her parents are no longer around. So she is staying with extended family while she figures out what she wants to do with her life.

Aren lives on a farm just across the way from the family Carol is staying with. Aren has a bad reputation around town that is a result of issues from the foster family she was raised with.

A violent storm brings Carol and Aren together under tragic circumstances.

This was just an OK read for me. On paper, this book checks all the boxes for me. Drama, severe weather, trauma, angst, etc. But I could never click with the writing or the characters. Even though these characters were younger, the writing and dialogue gave me the impression that they were in their 50s/60s. It is going to sound picky, but I was also really bothered by the overuse of "percolating" coffee.

And the romance was strange to me. I think it again had to do with the dialogue. These ladies were overly mature in the way they discussed a potential relationship. There was no spontaneity. Everything was discussed and thought about. Very business-like decision making on whether or not to take friendship to another level.

The overall plot of this story was good. I liked Aren and her quirky ways. If you like romance where the couples talk and there is no miscommunication, than this is for you. I admittedly like more drama, angst, and conflict.

I was very surprised by how much i.liked this book..I had no.idea going in that it was a lesbian romance. The events that bring them together may be tragic, but never dims their spirit. It was a very moving story of healing, becoming vulnerable with each other and learning how to rise above the trauma to find a very special relationship on the other side. It was a sweet, enjoyable read.

I got an ARC of this book.

Another gay cowboy romance for me to devour! Not that I needed another gay cowboy romance. This was different though, it wasn’t two very much gay and everyone knew they were gay men. Instead it was queer women! I got really excited.

I was so excited for this. I rarely see female cowboys, but then to have queer female cowboys wow. Then I started reading. It was super basic. There was a lot of stuff that was told and not shown. There was even more than was neither told nor shown. There was one point where the characters admitted to each other they knew the other was gay because of a scene that never made it into the book and was never hinted at. There was no reason for me to believe things wouldn’t work out since they would just be fixed after is the feeling that that scene gave me. Which of course turned out to be true. There were little plot holes like that through the whole book. The biggest being that the vet that has not practiced in multiple years after being attacked has tons of medicine in her fridge (mind you she was using a minifridge for these couple of years so there would not have been room for food, milk, and medicine).

The romance started out of nowhere. There was no reason that they ended up living together. There was no reason that they fell for each other. There were so few interactions that weren’t just tragic backstory rehashing that I couldn’t tell them apart. I made it through the whole book before I was able to remember that Carol was actually a MC and not just a side character that was mentioned.

The book was neither fluffy enough nor angsty enough to really rate high on my gay cowboy romance scale. There was not enough giggling and excitement for a breezy read. It wasn’t dark and intense enough for the tragic backstory that was being told. It fell sort of flat. I wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t get that far with it. It was bad per say, but it wasn’t amazing.

In the end, this ranked near the bottom of my gay cowboy romance scale. It needs some work, but I can see myself enjoying reading Sparks’ future books.

Fun, scenic, and beautifully developed through and through. I greatly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish.

Very good debut novel. The author did a great job tackling some very serious issues. The sheer amount of abuse Aren suffered at the hands of people who were supposed to love her was very heartbreaking and at times a little difficult to read. She had a lot of walls rightfully built, but Carols insistence on her opening up really broke them down. The were perfect for each other with each helping the other heal.

There wasn’t as much interaction with the town people as I expected. I would have liked to see just a little more of those dynamics. Unfortunately tragedy changed the way everyone saw and treated Aren, but better late than never.

All in all, it was a good read.

3.75 stars. A solid debut. I liked the setting of this book and it is written in an easy manner that makes it comfortable to read (even though some of the topics are not comfortable at all). It’s not perfect, but I had a good time reading it.

Carol has just finished her masters and comes live with her aunt and uncle for a while so she can figure out her next steps in life, but a bad storm uproots her stay and she finds refuge at her neighbor’s place. Aren, the neighbor, is a recluse, but not by choice, some bad experiences from her past haunt her and she has to endure gossip and bullying in the small town.

This is an age gap romance, as Aren is 35 and Carol somewhere mid 20’s and it is very slow burn. Even simply getting to know each other takes a while as Aren is extremely closed off and Carol is weary about Aren. Carol seems pretty young, even though she has plenty of life experience, but she has a curious, open and friendly demeanor and she’s easy to like.

They live the slow life of Aren, who lives more or less self-sustainable at her farm, and I always enjoy a good outdoor atmosphere, a simple life with hard work, a bit of farming, some farm animals and basically taking life as it comes. Another thing I like is slowly getting to know what happened in the past, piece by piece. Both Aren and Carol have had their share of hardship in the past, but Aren’s tale is truly heartbreaking and you wonder if/how anybody can have such a shitty life. Obviously, this is not a light read, but the level of angst strangely did not feel very high to me. A beautiful atmosphere is created that shifts between sadness and serenity.

This was not always the most believable story though. First of all, Aren’s backstory is a lot and top that of with her being the most genuine and sweet personality despite everything and you’ve got a character that’s too good to be true. I also didn’t quite understand the behavior of the town people, they are super harsh and a reason is given, but I still didn’t quite get why this was all directed at Aren and their collective behavior towards the end of the book made my head spin. I can sometimes get really annoyed by these types of things, but strangely it didn’t really bother me in this book, I can’t really say why not, but it didn’t.

In the end, this was a good emotional romance and I’ll keep an eye out for future books by this author.

A mystery shrouded the woman living alone in a farm across Carol Matthew’s relatives’ home. Although Carol has never met her, the tales of what happened in that property made her wary and Aren Jacobs was the last person she expected to come to her aid in her distress.

After a storm took Carol’s last living relatives and their home, she was offered a place by her rescurer while she nursed her broken leg. During rucuperation, she found Aren deeply layered and frustrating but far from the person the people in town painted.

Aren enjoys her solitude and the company of her trusted animals compared to the judgments and gossips of her townsfolks. She has suffered great losses but never found a reason to clear her name; choosing to deal with her griefs and guilt alone.

4.5 stars. While reading, I couldn't wait to get to the history of Aren and the farm largely due to the obnoxious behaviours and deeds directed at Aren. Isolated and pinned under judgmental eyes, Aren cut a lonely figure who was not understood. The storm brought the pair together, one was stuck in her memories of a home she came back to, the other found a home when she could be anywhere. The book was fuflifiing in the way where for every Aren, you have a Carol, someone who sees beyond appearances and exteriors and Aren found her.

I just reviewed Cowgirl by Nance Sparks. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

3.5 stars. I thought this was a good debut novel with lovable characters, but some aspects of the story fell flat for me. Nance Sparks’ writing flows smoothly and has a cute brand of humor.

Aren Jacobs (35) is a mysterious outcast and is the only surviving resident of her foster parents’ farm. She’s one of my favorite character types, aka the One Who’s Been Through So Much and is Closed-Off at First but Also Selfless Beyond Belief and Deserves the World. She’s soft and blunt at the same time and also has a hilarious prankster side! Carol Matthews (mid-20’s?) has just received her master’s degree in library science and she’s figuring out what to do next. She’s quirky and often childlike and gets excited about small things, which is an entire mood. She’s an open book and always asks Aren exactly what she wants to ask (without ever being unkind). Aren and Carol are a wonderful couple who gain strength from each other. I just wish more of the story had been dedicated to their moments together, considering this is a relatively short book.

My main complaint about this novel, which may have more to do with my expectations than the actual book, is that it was oftentimes extremely heavy. Both main characters have experienced a lot of death in their lives, and every death was described in great detail. There were times when I thought the characters’ backstories couldn’t possibly have any more death, but more death descriptions came anyway. Since this is a romance novel, I was hoping for a bit of a lighter tone. This book is also more atmospheric than plot-heavy, which again isn’t a bad thing, but isn’t my taste either. There are lots of descriptions of Aren and Carol doing chores on the farm, and I would have instead preferred more development of the relationship between them.

Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for an atmospheric, oftentimes heavy romance.

Carol Matthews has just arrived at her aunt and uncle’s house. She was used to spending time here but this time was especially difficult. She lost her parents a few years ago, making her aunt and uncle the only family left. She’s hoping she’ll find a job in the area so she could be close to them. But when their home is destroyed by fire she doesn’t know where to go or what she should do.
Aren Jacobs lives in the old farmhouse across the street from Carol's relatives but she doesn’t know them. Most people give her a wide berth because they think she did the unthinkable but none of the community really know what happened on the farm and Aren didn’t feel the need to tell them her story. Most already knew Aren, along with another young girl, ‘Jennifer’ were placed as foster children on the farm but that was about it.
Now Carol doesn’t have a place to stay but she had no choice because she didn’t know anyone in the local community. All she knew about Aren, at least what her aunt had told her. She said Aren wasn’t to be trusted. But from the first time she’d met Aren all she knew was her desire to know more about the beautiful woman. Pretty good read. Enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

Aren and Carol strike up a friendship after Aren rescues Carol from a storm when a tree falls on her aunt and uncle's house tragically killing them and Carol finds herself homeless. With nowhere to go Aren invites Carol to stay with her. Aren is shunned by the local community after false rumours were spread about her and her foster family but Carol only sees the good in Aren.
This is an ok read.  I felt it the story started to wane in the middle. I quite liked the character of Aren but found Carol a little insipid. The dialogue was only ok and sometimes a little mundane but I think this author has potential and would definitely give her another go.

I really enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would, actually.

While the characters, human, equine and canine alike, all sucked me in, I was quite pleased with their growth. Both as individuals and a couple. It's hard to go into the finer points of this without spoiling it for future readers, but trust me when I tell you if you think you know exactly where this tale is going....wait. I said the same thing and my partner said the same thing, "Just wait. Keep reading."

The writing is better than you might expect from a debut author. Her settings are limited to just a few but they are so deftly written that you can smell the air before the thunderstorm and hear the horse's hooves as they hit the dirt of the trail. (I want a loft, now!) I could easily sit and watch the stars with the main characters, they're presented so realistically.

My one and only quibble with the entire book was a ridiculous one. Aren and Carol are canning via a hot-water bath, and when the job is done, the hot water goes down the drain. When I read this, I immediately turned to my partner and explained how they should have saved the water, being on a well and all. LOL. (Yes, even I rolled my own eyes at myself afterward)

This is a wonderful book, filled with people I'd love to get to know, except maybe the preacher. I'm hopeful we get to see more of the people and town that Nance Sparks has introduced us to. I'd buy her next book in a skinny minute!

I will definitely be reading more from Nance Sparks. The two MC’s are exactly the type of characters that I root for. They were really sweet and down to earth. My only problems with the writing, and they are small problems, is that Aren was like the perfect person. She would be every woman’s dream partner and it’s just unrealistic. Sometimes the writing wasn’t flowing as smoothly as I would like, maybe because it was unrealistic. Sometimes I would think, “who talks like that?” But, overall, a good first book.

A very sweet story about opening up after trauma and finding love!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The setting, particularly the farm the two MCs spend most of their time on was fun to read about and spend time on. With time I was even attached to the animals in the story, which probably isn't really shocking if you know me well! The romance was cute, and involved both of the parties being both vulnerable and a support for each other, which is something I like in my romance.

The dialogue however, didn't feel natural to me. It came across often as what is supposed to be said rather than feeling particular and unique to each character, which led them to feel just a little flat. Carol was an exception to that in general! She felt the most real.

This is also an angsty sapphic read with horses, storms and a surprising amount of violence/death in characters' backstories. Generally, it's a fun, quick read!

This debut book by Nance Sparks is solid enough for me to keep an eye out for her in the future. I liked the setting and plot surrounding the main characters, yet the dialogue didn't flow very well at certain times. Aren was an interesting character but maybe a little bit too perfect and the way she all of a sudden got accepted in the town that was basically harassing her for years was a bit too convenient.

Putting this aside as newbie bumps, what's left is a slow burn romance between 2 characters with a traumatic past in a rural setting. Life is slow on the farm and this comes across in the book giving the couple more than enough time to get to know eachother and form a bond. If you like a slowburn romance without too many things happening this is the book for you, but if you enjoy a more fast paced book I would not necessarily recommend Cowgirl.

***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***

This book was such a great book to read. The plot was so well thought out and the main characters Aren and Carol had so much happen to them in this story, from there growing up years into adulthood, that it was hard to fathom, how they could be such kind,positive people, always willing to help even when others are mean and downright rude to you. Aren seemed like such a kind and gentle soul, and Carole was such a sweetheart that it just made you want to root for them. I loved how there relationship evolved from being acquaintance just getting to know each other to something much deeper, and loving throughout the story, there's so much more to say, but I don't want to give any spoilers. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future.

3.5 stars
This was a sweet story about two lonely individuals with tragic pasts. They somehow, by accident, find each other and slowly grow very fond of each other through the day to day happenings and by each of them opening up about their tragic pasts.
They are very compatible and secretly in awe of each other.
There are some interesting facts about running a farm and tender moments with handling animals.
No angst between the couple at the usual 80% mark but there is an exciting event that proves their worth.
Nice pleasant story.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very strong debut by Nance Sparks.

I'd classify this as a slow burn romance, but not the standard type. Aren and Carol meet each other briefly one night, but Aren's appearance and the rumours surrounding her makes Carol run, literally. Carol is staying with her aunt and uncle across from Aren's place. When lightning strikes a tree and smashes their home Aren goes over there to see if she can help. Aren is able to pull Carol out but that's it. Aren has been living like a bit of a hermit and she only goes into town to sell her veggies or pick up supplies. She does all this on horseback. She lives a very simple life. A simple life that is shaken up when Carol returns. Aren is very helpful and lets Carol stay with her until she can figure out what she needs and wants to do. As Carol puts it, they help each other heal. They acknowledge their attraction at some point, but don't act on it. Both mains have many emotional scars and Aren has her share of physical scars as well. The characters grow together and develop a real connection based on the things they learn about each other.

I really like how we slowly get to know both characters and how you can see their bond growing as well. The emotional journey the author takes you on can be confronting and painful to some. Please be aware this book speaks about past abuse, death and current bullying, or something very similar to it. It's a real rollercoaster of emotions, but done very well, especially for a newbie author. There is no formulaic breakup event, there is some big drama, but it is there to show the journey the characters have been on and how far they have come, it's drama with a positive spin. There are some definite newbie bumps in this book, but I am ok with them, I can look past them and see potential in Sparks as an author. The biggest annoyance was the repetitiveness of some things in the story, Aren being alone/ lonely, afraid of Carol leaving, Carol being a bit flimsy. Overall it's a very solid debut and I'm sure I'll pick up the next book Nance Sparks writes.

3.5 stars