Can’t Resist a Cowboy by Elizabeth Otto – a Review

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Description:
He’s always been her weakness…

Injured and discharged, Marine Levi Haywood has returned to his family’s ranch to heal and start a new life. After all, once a cowboy, always a cowboy. The only problem? Life at the ranch has moved on since he joined the service, and suddenly his role in the family business is much less clear. And things get a lot more confusing when the woman he left behind returns home.

Carrie Lynn Waite has never known a time when she didn’t love Levi. They were childhood sweethearts, but because of her health, she was forced to move to the city, away from the ranching life. Now Carrie’s come home only to learn her family’s ranch is in trouble and Levi is back, along with an undeniable attraction she can’t resist. But some things never change, forcing Carrie to choose the future laid out before her…or the cowboy she could never resist.

Review:

Loved this one, and no not just because it’s got a sexy cowboy in it. However, that was the icing on the cake. 😉  Can’t Resist a Cowboy is book three in Elizabeth Otto’s Paint River Ranch series. Now, I haven’t had the opportunity to have read the previous two books in this series, but it wasn’t a problem for me. This one could be read as a stand alone for anyone not familiar with this series like I was, but let me tell you I’m going back and reading the first two books. I really enjoyed this story and Elizabeth’s writing style and storytelling.

Can’t Resist a Cowboy is a story about love, love lost, a second chance for love again, friendship, and family relationships. In Can’t Resist a Cowboy we get to meet and learn all about who Levi Haywood and Carrie Lynn Waite are. I enjoyed both characters and found them to be perfect for one another. Levi for me was the perfect hero for this story. He’s strong, compassionate, loyal, loving, understanding, patient yet persistent, and sexy as all get out. Even though he came back from the war injured, not sure if he’d ever walk again, he battles through it and knows what it’s like to feel broken and lost. Now he’s moved forward with his life, but is still missing one thing, his ‘Sunshine’, enter Carrie Lynn, his childhood sweetheart. Carrie Lynn for me is the perfect match to our hero Levi. She’s smart, independent, loyal, feisty, loving, compassionate and understanding. Even though Carrie Lynn had to move away from the ranch because of her health, she never stopped loving anything about it. That’s why this time it’s even harder for her to have to leave again when the time comes. Even though she’s loosing her sight and is afraid, she admits she still loves Levi, never stopped, but is afraid to take the chance because of her failing sight and diabetes. Levi, having been where she is, knows what it’s like to feel that way and is the one who figures out her secret about her eyes. Once he finds out he’s determined to make her see they can have everything they’ve ever wanted and she doesn’t have to be afraid of what’s to come. He’ll always been there for her no matter what. The way Levi accepts her for who she is, and how Carrie Lynn accepts Levi for who he is after all that happened to him in the war is just beautiful to watch unfold.

Their story of love, fear of what’s to come and fear of just letting go and taking what they want/need is one of vulnerability and real emotion that just pours off the pages. I absolutely loved the vulnerability and emotion in these two characters, it just made them and the story all the more real to me. There were a couple of times they had me choked up and teary eyed. Carrie Lynn and Levi are well written characters that balance each other out perfectly. Alone they are two separate entities, but together they make up a whole and complete each other the only way they are meant to be. There can never be another for either of them. Theirs is a love meant to be, and when both accept their individual fears, and finally take the leap, their lives fall into place and they’re finally complete.

Can’t Resist a Cowboy is a fast paced but enjoyable read. Even though events move at a good pace, Otto never rushes the love between Carrie Lynn and Levi. Even though they were childhood sweethearts they have been apart for a number of years and things have changed in both their lives. We get to see Carrie Lynn and Levi re-discover their love and realize they never stopped loving each other and that their love is even stronger now. Otto writes a beautiful story about love and love lost, but you always have a second chance at that love if you can face your fears and take that jump no matter how scary things seem. As I said, I’m going back to read the previous two books in this series and am looking forward to more in this series. For anyone who likes a good cowboy story then this one’s for you. 

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher