When you can’t shake your old rep…

Cowboys! *ahem* I am exited about this new cowboy series set in small town Texas. This author knows her cowboys so I know it will be good… This is the first book in a series set in Happy Texas. Of course, I immediately thought not everything can be sunshine and happy in such a named place and I turned out to be right… and wrong as well.

Lila was back home for the summer, a stopgap between changing cities and jobs. She is not looking to stay very long as, even though she is older, educated and mature, she can’t shake the wild child reputation she earned before she left. She may have been wild but she was never mean-spirited, just looking to squeeze every inch of joy from life she could. I loved her attitude and refusal to cave in to the gossip that refused to die… Even when it affected her relationship with Brody…

Of course, Brody knew her then and liked her. Loved her, even if his family didn’t agree with their friendship. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much to persuade them otherwise back then. Maybe he had a second chance…

“Person comes back here, they turn into the same person who left.”

Cowboys and a second chance? Oh yes, it was that with all the feels and sheer fun of reconnecting and rediscovering an old love that was now new. There were still obstacles, nothing had changed in that regard. Things were more complicated, really, but watching love break down the walls made for a sweet and sexy ride that had me cheering them along each step!

I really enjoyed Toughest Cowboy in Texas. I was hooked right away and couldn't get enough of the interesting characters and story line. Love any thing by Carolyn Brown. She can do no wrong. Cant wait for more.

I'm new to Brown and already fangirling over her! This story flowed and kept me interested. Who doesn't love a cowboy? Add in the laughs and small town living and you are in for one hell of a sweet romance! I couldn't put this one down and can't wait for the next one!

4.5 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story flowed well and I was kept interested. The story has laughs, small town people, and sweet romance.

This is Lila and Brody’s story. Lila used to be a wild child. Now years later she is back in town to help run her mother’s café for the summer. When she was younger her and her friend Brody got into lots of trouble but he is still the town’s golden boy. Now the chemistry is still as hot as ever but she thinks she is still not good enough for him. Brody is always busy working his ranch and taking care of his family. But when he sees Lila he knows he is in trouble. The pull is just too much to resist. All he has to do is get her to believe that he is all she will ever need.

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next story in this series.

I've read a number of Carolyn Brown's books, I like second-chance novels, and I usually enjoy both, so I'm surprised to find myself giving this novel a 2-star rating, but I certainly have my reasons.

First, the title, which had absolutely nothing to do with Brody, the male interest in this novel. There's nothing tough about him. Okay, so he gets on the back of a rank bull once, for a few seconds, but that's about it. Mostly what he does is his ranch work and more than decade before this tale begins, he stands up a girl he likes, Lila, because she's leaving town with her mother the next day and he doesn't want to see her cry. What a man! Instead he breaks her heart, and shows up the next morning to apologize but she won't even open the car window to hear him explain his absence. Does he try to contact her after she's gone? No.

Second is Lila, she's back in Happy, Texas, during her summer break as a teacher in Florida, where people refer to her as Dee. She seems to have a split personality disorder--she's a wild child only in Texas, but a straitlaced, goody two-shoes in Florida. She's hasn't been back to Happy, Texas in more than a decade and she is working as a waitress in the local diner for the summer. Everyone in town still calls her "the wild child, " and since the place is gossip central, I expected to hear about her wild ways, but do get that information from the busybody patrons? No. It doesn't take long for Lila and Brody to get back together, but you'd think that since both of them are now 30 years old, they'd act like adults, and you'd be wrong.

Lila and Brody have no problem getting back into having sex whenever and wherever possible, but neither character seems to have aged past their teens, and neither of them ever admits their love for the other. Instead, they're meeting in secret, having sex, and hiding their relationship from their mothers. And while we're at the mothers, neither of them seem to have matured since high school either. Lilah's mother, Daisy, flirted with the man who eventually married Brody's mother, when both women were still in high school, and 30 years later Brody's mom is still holding a grudge, and both mothers try to discourage and end any sort of relationship between Brody and Lilah. Really? Is this the way mature, 50+ year-old women would behave? It's just so petty and ridiculous.

If you're looking for a plot, there really isn't much of one. The conflicts are minor, there's really no drama, and as the book progressed, I became more and more irritated by the fact that neither Brody nor Lilah could stop endlessly waffling back and forth about their relationship and their feelings for one another. If I'd not agreed to voluntarily read and review the advanced reader copy of this novel, I'd never have read it through to the HEA ending, and that ending was just as waffle-heavy practically down to the last page. I actually wished I could shake them both and tell them to grow up already.

As I said at the outset, I generally enjoy Ms. Brown's novels, she's a good and capable writer, but I'm sorry to say that this one was a total failure for this reader.

Lila and her mother left Happy, Texas when she was a teenager. Even though she’d been known as the resident wild child, her heart had been shattered into a million pieces. Now she’s matured and back in town for the Summer to run her mother’s restaurant. What she didn’t expect was her heart to still be beating for the man that shattered it long ago. Ever since his father and his grandfather died in the same Summer years ago, Brody has been consumed with running the family ranch. When he hears Lila’s back, he’s already drawn back towards her. The question is whether or not he can convince her that he will place her before his family’s haughtiness.
I’m not too much into second chance romances, but I thought I’d give this a try. I wasn’t disappointed. Watching these two find their way to each other as Lila also has to battle the town’s opinion of her and her family was something I really enjoyed. I also liked all of the secondary characters that were in the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this new series. I recommend.

Lila Harris is back in town that is Happy Texas to run her mother’s cafe. Known to the town as the wild child she does not disappoint by ridding in on a black hog. The one person she is trying not to see is Brody Dawson, the golden hair boy and could do no wrong. He was also her partner her crime that is until he broke her heart the night her and her mother were leaving town and he failed to show up. Now all of these years later and neither one of them with anyone can they work through the past in order to have a future. It is possible once the older people stay out of their lives and let them see for each other if it can turn into something. He believes it can when he leaves to after her, but will she come back to Texas? Read this good story about family and small towns, and people in everyone’s business. I like it when she rides her Harley to church wearing a dress this really fits the character. There are many good characters in this book, and a good story.

The first of a new series by Carolyn Brown, Happy Texas is a spin off of her Lucky Penny Ranch series which is a spin off of another series, Lucky. It's a typical Carolyn Brown western romance, funny and loveable characters with a heartwarming story and a steamy romance.

Happy, Texas isn't the place where you go to let the past die it's quite the opposite for Lila Harris. When Lila lived in Happy she was known as the wild child, there isn't anything she wouldn't do. She was also secretly dating Brody Dawson; it had to be done in secret because it was very obvious that his mother and grandmother didn't approve of her. It never mattered to them they were young, dumb, and in love until Brody broke her heart. Lila left Happy heart broken and changed she became studious and worked hard to leave the wild child reputation far away from her but Lila goes back to help her mother sell the diner and as soon as she crosses the city limit sign she itching to do something crazy as long as it has nothing to do with Brody.

Brody never left Happy like he was supposed to, he was all set up to go to college but both his father and grandfather died and Brody was left to take care of the ranch and keep the family afloat. Life went on and Brody stayed the same just older and wiser and a lot more cautious. Twelve years down the line Brody is still at the ranch and Lila has come back into town for the summer or less if the diner gets sold sooner. They try to avoid it but all the unresolved things left between them, the sexual charge, and all the people telling them to stay away from each other just pulls them together. The romance is rekindled but Lila still plans on leaving and Brody wouldn't be happy any other place than his ranch can they survive another short lived romance or will they finally burn out the young love or let it grow into something so much more.

Overall, it's another fun and good read from Carolyn Brown. I can't wait for the other books. Brody has a sister with a brood of kids who lost the love of her life overseas and a younger brother and they need HEAs of their own.

The Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown is book number one in the Happy, Texas series. This is Lila Harris and Brody Dawson's story.

I love Carolyn Brown's stories. You feel as if you are there. Many years ago I lived near Happy, Texas. It was like taking a trip back to Texas. Put Brody, hot cowboy, and wild child Lila together then you get a hot and steamy romance.

Brody's mom and grandmother have always felt that Lila isn't good enough for him. It's been years since they graduated from high but Brody still feels guilty for not standing up for Lila. Would Lila give him a second chance? Does he have time for a relationship with his responsibilities to the ranch?

Reading Carolyn Brown's book make me smile. They are a great blend of humor, sexy romance, and small towns in Texas. A great start to the Happy, Texas series.

FYI, contains mature content. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Toughest Cowboy in Texas: A Western Romance (Happy, Texas) is a sweet, second chance romance. Brody broke Lila's heart years ago, and he wished he had never done that. She was his best friend and they were secretly dating. The night before Lila and her mother were to leave town, Brody and Lila were supposed to go on a date. He got cold feet and blew her off to go out with his friends. He tried to talk to her before she left, but she would hear non of it. Lila was the wild child of the town, and Brody's family did not think she was good enough for him. Coming back to town makes her want to go back to her wild child ways. She is only in town for a short time to try to sell the restaurant, and she will leave and never return. Being in the same town with Brody is bringing all the feelings she has felt for him, and she tries to resist, but they are just too strong to resist. Will they have their second chance on love or will they throw it away again. I love Carolyn Brown's writing! I never miss a book by her. I recommend this book to everyone. I give TOUGHEST COWBOY IN TEXAS 5/5 STARS.

This was everything I have come to expect from a Carolyn Brown novel - down home eating, country lyrics and song references, lots of visits to the honky tonk, and some fun romance. Brody and Lila's moms both irritated the snot out of me for different reasons, but Brody and Lila were a perfect match from the beginning.

This book is a sweet romance but it isn't the best I have read.
The story is decent but it got me a little frustrated in some part of the storyline.

I might read the next book in the series.

I give this 3 out of 5.

Lila Harris and Brody Dawson were teenagers in love, albeit quietly and secretly. But the night he stood her up and she left town was then end of their romance and friendship. Twelve years later, Lila returns to Happy, Texas, to help sell the cafe her mother once ran and still owns. When Brody shows up, they realize their chemistry hasn’t faded after all this time, but can broken hearts be mended?

Toughest Cowboy in Texas is a sweet cowboy romance, but not necessarily right for me. Although I’m not a “cowboy romance” fan, I’ve read and enjoyed other books about cowboys (Lorelei James), working on a ranch (Jill Shalvis) and farmers (Alice Clayton). Yet Ms. Brown’s storytelling and subject matter just didn’t gel with me. First, she relies heavily on country music references, and since I absolutely do not like country music, this not only annoyed me, but left me confused as I didn’t understand the references. She used songs and lyrics to help set the mood or explain feelings, all which was lost to me.

Second, there were references to events, like one of the town’s folk disappearing years before, which were written in a way that confused me - wondering if it was something from another book/series - and why it was even part of the story since it seemed to have little impact. There was another scene that featured Lila’s former boyfriend, who is her boss, that also felt contrived and unnecessary. Finally, I didn’t care for some of the side characters - like both “mamas,” who feuded with one another and disapproved of Lila and Brody’s relationship. I felt their reactions and snide remarks were over the top.

With that, I did enjoy Brody and Lila together. I loved that they were able to look beyond the their pasts, right the wrongs, and work on a relationship like the adults they are now. Both had matured a lot, yet kept their youthful joy. Brody’s work on the ranch gives him responsibility for his actions - something he knows now he messed up in the past. And Lila had to learn to stand up for herself, that she’s normal and not some messed up, crazy teenager.

In the end, Toughest Cowboy in Texas will probably hit all the right notes for many. It’s a sweet story about forgiveness and second chances. The main characters are likable, strong, and generous. It’s just the country and western emphasis, along with the side characters and unnecessary scenes that bogged the book down for me.

My Rating: C, Finished It - Liked some, didn't like some

The Toughest Cowboy in Texas A Happy Texas Novel Carolyn Brown

This is a sweet southern ( Happy, Texas) romance with lots of family, some very irritating, and a second chance romance. It has lots of "Southernism's " and cowboy charm.

Delilah (Lila) has returned for the summer to help out at the Happy Cafe while her mom tries to sell it. She lives in Florida now and is a teacher. Lila as a teenager was known as a Wild Child and lived up to the name. In Florida she is known as Dee, the quiet, calm teacher. She was in love with a boy back then, his name was Brody Dawson. He loved her wild and crazy ways and loved her, but turned his back on her and broke her heart when she had to move away. Now she's back and one look at Brody makes it all come back. "Well crap. So much for time, distance, and a broken heart erasing all the old feelings for that cowboy." The biggest problem is that Brody's mom and grandmother don't like her, and her mom doesn't like him. But their 30 years old, able to make their own decisions.

Brody is now owner and manager of his family's ranch called Hope Springs. He loves ranching (most of the time) and except for an ornery old bull named Sundance it's pretty routine. His sister Kelsey recently lost her husband in Afghanistan, and is struggling trying to keep up with three kids. Brody and his brother Jace try and help.
Kacey had always liked Lila so she is definitely in their corner. There is lots of banter and slow build up to the romance, and a few good laughs. Kelsey's kids are adorable. Brody does his best to convince Lila he's serious. Lila has fallen right back under his charms. He question is, can they make. It this time?

This was a enjoyable read, but something just felt missing to me. Fun characters, lots of heat, and an HEA, just can't put it into words. I enjoy reading Carolyn Brown and I'm sure I'll read another.

I received this eBook from the publisher and Netgalley

Carolyn Brown's cowboy novels are so country you can almost taste the grits. Toughest Cowboy In Texas is the first in a new series set in the small town of Happy, Texas, following the three siblings of the Dawson family.

I'm not even American, but Carolyn Brown sets the scene so well I can almost see the big Texas skies, hear the country music on the radio - country songs are sprinkled throughout the book and often used as metaphors to express the characters' emotions, so if you're not a fan of country music a few things might go over your head. I had to look a few songs up to have a listen!

The country theme could feel overdone, with the cowboy boots and hats, bull wrangling and even an actual barn dance (disguised as a 'family reunion') making their appearance in the story, but it doesn't; it feels like a natural part of the story, of the characters' lives. And speaking of the characters...

Lila Harris left Happy, Texas, when she was seventeen years old. She was a wild child back then, and while the phrase 'the wrong side of the tracks' is never used in the book, it is certainly implied. Going back again, even though she has made a success of her life since then, Lila finds out the hard way that in the eyes of the townsfolk, she's still that wild child who was never good enough for Brody Dawson.

Brody comes from a wealthy ranching family, and back when he was seventeen, he didn't have the guts to stand up to his family and publicly lay claim to Lila as his girlfriend. He hurt her in doing so, and when she left down, she took a big piece of his heart with her. Now she's back, he's not going to let anyone stand in between them, not his family or hers. Now, his only problem is winning over Lila herself.

I absolutely loved this book. Lila was spirited, full of sass and not about to let anyone put her down, and Brody was self-aware enough to recognize how badly he let her down the first time around and let her know in every way he could that this time around she could count on him. In turn, Lila realized that Brody was only seventeen back then and under enormous pressure, and she didn't hold that against him. Toughest Cowboy In Texas was a really great story about two people recognizing the mistakes of their past and moving on together.

I also loved Kasey and Jace, Brody's siblings who will get their own stories in the series, and I'll be eagerly looking forward to more books set in Happy, Texas.

Five stars.

Small town Happy, TX is a nice little place for family to settle down, but it's also a place a girl can have a hoedown if she wants to. However, there's a little fussin' between the Harris and Dawson family that makes things a little interesting around there. Wild child Lila Harris was a daredevil, she enjoyed riding her daddy's bike on the open road and causing a little havoc wherever she went. But a misunderstanding sent her packing and away from the man she supposedly loved. Brody Dawson was rowdy and a bit naughty, but it's like magnet which only happened whenever Lila was around.

But it has been years since Lila and Brody had seen each other last, and with a broken heart, Lila isn't all that anxious to see Brody or anyone from the Dawson's family either. However, she have to deal with her past and put the ghost to rest. Maybe this time, she and Brody can resolve what happened in the past and move on with their lives. But as fate has it, Brody realized he was never over Lila once he saw her again. However, now that they're older and wiser, Brody wants a second to make it right - maybe even to put a ring on it.

Toughest Cowboy in Texas is a sweet and light hearted read, it's entertaining and makes your heart thump a little whenever Brody and Lila gets together. It's not like tales as old as time, but definitely like an old cowboy boots - you just don't want to put it down once you get started. I definitely recommend Ms Brown's cowboys because they are sexy as hell with a little tug of the heart, a great addition to an ever expanding bookshelf.

This is a great book; this is the first book in the Happy, Texas series written by Carolyn Brown. Last time Lila Harris was in Happy, Texas, she was actively earning her reputation as the resident wild child. Now, a little older and wiser, she's back to run her mother's café for the summer. Except something about this town has her itching to get a little reckless and rowdy, especially when she sees her old partner-in-crime, Brody Dawson. Their chemistry is just as hot as ever. But he's still the town's golden boy-and she's still the wrong kind of girl. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This s a good small town romance story. You are always in for a good read with this author. This author has a fab way of bringing you fab characters with equal amounts of laughter and tears in each story. This is a fantastic start to this new series. Fantastic characters, you will just fall in love with as you read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

A small Texas town, a bit of feudin' and fussin', a cowboy who fills out his denims well, and what heroine wouldn't go weak at the knees and give him a second chance... well it was a near thing and it was a delight following along as it all went down.

A new series... sigh with happiness over the quirky folks of Happy, TX. This one has loose ties to the series that came before it, The Lucky Penny Ranch when the Dawson family were first introduced. Now that said, this new series can be started without reading the other.

The premise of this one had me a tad uneasy when it got rolling because I'm not one of those who enjoys reading about a person still fussing over something that happened when people were teens and made a youthful mistake and now the trouble is still rumbling years later.
But I really shouldn't have worried because Carolyn Brown wrote a situation where the heroine holding Brody's broken date with her close made sense. She had so much on her plate back then, as did he, and they were so young and they both had mature adults around them feeding them lines and attitudes that pretty much sabotaged the pair.

I loved that this book was about Brody and Lila learning to look back and see the past more clearly, understand where they are at and what they want in the present, and decide whether a future is worth fighting for. The interference is still there and interfering, but they are older and ready to face it.

I do think Lila dinked around longer than necessary near the end trying to wait Brody out for something clearer than his very clear actions and words had already been. I really don't know how 'don't go, I want us together, I want a second chance etc' can be misinterpreted, but I guess it made for a good romantic conflict and build of suspense.

The humor and down home vibe were very present. The surrounding cast of characters were as colorful and quirky as ever. Now I'm eager for more Dawson romance with Brody's sister and brother needing their shots at Happy. Another fun, light, and warm-hearted contemporary cowboy romance I can recommend here.

My thanks to Forever for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brody Dawson and Lila Harris got up to all kinds of shenanigans growing up, having fun and falling in love. But Brody’s mother and grandmother were dead set against him dating Lila the resident “wild child” of Happy, Texas and he never stood up for her. He even took another girl to the prom. When they were going to have their first date, on the night before Lila moved town, Brody stood her up and broke her heart. Lila’s back in Happy, Texas, twelve years later, to help sell her mother’s café, working the summer and living out in the attached apartment, but she’s grown out of her wild child ways. Or has she? Staying away from Brody Dawson is also part of her plan, but that’s not an easy thing to do when he’s determined they should have another chance together.

Brody Dawson regrets that he never stood up for Lila, and when she left town she took his heart right along with her. He’s never gotten over Lila and with her back in town he plans to correct all his mistakes and hold on tight.

Carolyn Brown writes the sweetest cowboys, and Brody was no exception. I loved that he realized where he went wrong and did everything to show Lila how proud he was to have her in his life again. I adored Lila and sympathized with her feelings. Lila’s heart was shattered that night Brody stood her up, but his broke, too, something that she didn’t really know. She couldn’t resist the chemistry they had burning between them all over again, but Lila took a little more convincing about their future.

As usual with Carolyn Brown books there’s a fun secondary cast, snappy lines, and laugh-out-loud moments. Toughest Cowboy in Texas is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! I can’t wait for the next book in the series. My heart broke for Kasey Dawson, Brody’s younger sister, and a widower with three small children. I’m thrilled her romance will be next in Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas.