Maisey Yates
Harlequin
June 19, 2018
Blurb: In Gold Valley, Oregon, love might be hiding in plain sight…
Some things are too perfect to mess with. Bennett Dodge’s relationship with Kaylee Capshaw is one of them. They work together at their veterinary clinic and have been best friends for years. When Bennett’s world is rocked by the appearance of a son he didn’t know he had, he needs Kaylee more than ever. And he doesn’t want anything else to change. But then Kaylee kisses him, and nothing will ever be the same…
Kaylee’s done her best to keep her feelings for the man she’s loved since high school hidden away, but one unguarded moment changes everything, and now there’s no more denying the chemistry that burns between them. But the explosion of desire changes all the rules, and what’s left could destroy their bond—or bring them to a love that’s deeper than she ever imagined…
SASCHA DARLINGTON’S REVIEW
After coming off of the high of Maisey Yates’ Smooth Talking Cowboy (you can read the review here), I was so ready for Untamed Cowboy. Unfortunately everything that made Smooth Talking Cowboy work seemed to be lacking in Untamed Cowboy.
First off, it’s really rare that I don’t like heroes in romance novels. I mean, they’re the ultimate reason we read romances, right? However, Bennett goes from being wishy-washy and bland to a jerk in 0-60. Even at the end, I don’t feel he ever redeemed himself in my eyes. I also didn’t get over his attitude, as a veterinarian, that there was a hierarchy of animals which should be saved and those which should not. In fact, his attitude about becoming a vet stymied me because it seemed that the reason he went into it rather than being a people doctor was because he couldn’t deal with people dying rather than to help the animals.
Kaylee is a decent heroine. I wanted so much more for her than Bennett. With description of Bennett’s older brother, I thought, he’d be a much better choice for Kaylee, except we already know that he’s going to end up with Lindy because they hate each other.
My favorite couple in the book had little to do with romance. It was Bennett’s newly revealed secret son, Dallas, and the horse, Lucy. Now this was where my heartstrings were pulled as Lucy becomes ill, and Dallas shows just how attached he’s become.
Untamed Cowboy (not sure how they came up with that title because Bennett is pretty tame) goes on for too long and has a great deal of repetition, which gets really monotonous after a while. If there were the slightest spark between Kaylee and Bennett, or, if, they actually had some fun scenes together, I’m sure I wouldn’t have minded all of the exposition.
This is the second book I’ve read by Maisey Yates and the second book in the Gold Valley series. I will read other books by her counting on the fact that Untamed Cowboy may be the fluke and Smooth Talking Cowboy the real deal.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 
3 out of 5 butterflies
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I’d do the same. read another book by an author that wowed me the previous book. would you say that characters need to be based at least a little on real life people to be indentifiable? I feel when that doesn’t happen its hard to connect, they seem hollow somehow. I enjoyed your review. I dont read romance much these days so was interested what’s current.
I think you’re right that characters have to be based a little on real life people. However, I think that there are some people that would be too boring to read about so they need to be enhanced, which may have been what happened here. I guess one needs to be careful with the enhancements that you don’t someone boring a jerk. 🙂
If you think you might want to give a romance a try, look at my review from yesterday, Mischief and Mayhem. It’s part of a fun series.
yes agree on the over enhancements they can become too overwhelming and makes me want to skip over their parts.
i will check out the review you mentioned, thank you.
Good to know.