A COWBOY’S SWEETHEART (Rodeo Academy #1) by Crista McHugh-a review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 5, 2018

Pampered New York Socialite and dressage rider, Kensington Pope, has been exiled by her jet-setting parents to her aunt’s Rodeo Academy in Wyoming. She wants nothing to do with the rough and tumble students there, especially one particularly handsome cowboy, Javier. But she won’t be there for long. She has a plan in place to break out after her next international competition.

Javier Cruz takes one look at the spoiled city girl and instantly dismisses her. The school of tough knocks has already educated him on what the important things in life are, and he has bigger things on his plate. He’s counting down the days until his eighteenth birthday when he can pull his younger siblings from the foster care program and reunite his family. But as he gets to know Kensi, he sees a kindred spirit and discovers there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Kensi begins to question her desire to flee the ranch as her relationship to Javier deepens and she learns the importance of family. But when he discovers her escape plan, will he be able to trust her again? And when tragedy comes to the ranch, will Kensi be able to step up and take her place in the family?

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REVIEW: A Cowboy’s Sweetheart begins with Kensington Pope (Kensi) headed to her aunt and uncle’s ranch in Wyoming, out in the middle of nowhere. It’s worlds away from her home in New York city. However, she went one step too far and her parents decided to reign her in by sending her to the ranch to teach her a lesson. Kensi has an upcoming international dressage even coming up, so all she is concentrating on is practicing and getting the heck out of Dodge, or Wyoming, as it were.

Unfortunately, at least for Kensi, her uncle doesn’t seem any happier about her being there than she is. But, her aunt and cousin couldn’t be happier. When Kensi takes her beloved horse to the barn, she tries to hand his care off to a ‘ranch hand’, who just laughs at her and walks away. One thing she knows is that if she can survive the cliquey world that is her life in New York City, she can surely survive on a ranch in Wyoming. She did NOT even consider the fact that would be forced to *gulp* fend for herself and do actual manual labor though, but, she’s used to taking care of herself. Even if it is metaphorically.

Javier Cruz doesn’t have the time, nor the inclination, to engage in anything to do with a spoiled little rich girl who will be gone in a few weeks. He has his own issues he’s dealing with. The most important being bringing the family he has left back together under one roof. Not long after Kensi’s arrival, he sees her rehearsing in the arena and hears her coach (via FaceTime) berating her every single move. It doesn’t take him long to see that there is something underneath that tough façade that she’s desperately trying to hide.

As Kensi and Javier embark on a somewhat uneasy friendship, walls come down and discoveries are made. Kensi grows closer to her family on the ranch as well, which really throws her for a loop when she finds herself wondering what if…………what if she stayed? What if she has actually found a place where she feels loved? And, ultimately, what if she could build a life worthy of the people in Wyoming who have opened their home, and their hearts, to her?

A Cowboy’s Sweetheart is a wonderfully written young adult story. The world that McHugh has built draws you in at the very beginning, which is a mainstay for this author. The characters are believable and relatable. Kensi was a surprise. I tend to have issues with ‘poor little rich girl’ types, but Kensi grabbed me very early on. Her independence and determination get your attention, but it is that underlying vulnerability that grabs your heart. Javier’s backstory is heartbreaking. However, his determination to right the wrongs dealt his family will endear him to everyone. The secondary characters, Kensi’s ranch family namely, are very well written as well. You’ll also want to slap her parents more than once. The absence of the obligatory teen love triangle only made this one that much better. I say it in just about every review of McHugh’s works, if you’re not reading her, you are missing out on a phenomenal author. Well done, Crista McHugh. Very, very well done!!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie