He will tear down every single wall she had built around her heart and finally find the love they have been searching for.

Book one in the Tangled Up in Texas series a well written story that kept me turning pages. Dallas Granger returns to his family's Last Stand, Texas, ranch and he meets single mom Ashley Anderson and her sixteen year old daughter Brittany. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Texas ranch ,country, and family all enhance this excellent tale with Dallas and Ashley's journey to romance. Good first book.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own words.

He’d never mixed business with pleasure…until now When Dallas Granger left his family's Last Stand, Texas, ranch, he hadn't planned on returning. But when a medical emergency calls him home and a legal matter affects his business, suddenly his family isn't the only thing in need of a re-build. Unfortunately his new project involves building a house for a woman who not only awakens his desires, but also his fears. But if he wants to claim her as his own, he'll have to tear down the walls he's built around his heart. Single mom Ashley Anderson knows all about juggling. Between an assortment of part-time jobs and raising her sixteen-year old daughter, she doesn't need a hunky construction worker with an attitude as a distraction. Even one who steps in to help her when she needs it most. But life has taught Ashley that when the going gets tough, she's on her own. It's going to take a man with a Texas-sized heart to show her that this cowboy isn't going anywhere.
This was an ok book.I didn’t really care for Dallas throughout the book. I think part of it is more my past as a struggling single parent rather than the author’s writing though. I did like Ashley though which put me on the fence about the entire story.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I enjoyed this heartwarming romance, It took me awhile to get into it but the second half of the book kept me reading. Great love scenes and I look forward to future books in this series

Cowboy Up is the first novel in Michelle Beattie's Tangled Up in Texas series, and it's the second novel of hers I've read, the first one being an historical romance. It's a well-written novel, with an interesting cast of characters but there were a few things that kept it from being a great read, and so I'm giving it 3 stars

Dallas Granger, the hero, is the oldest among his three brothers, who live and work on the family ranch, but ranching wasn't what Dallas wanted--his dream was to own and operate a construction company, but, while still in his teens, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and as her illness progressed, their father simply checked out emotionally, working himself to death to avoid seeing his dying wife, and leaving Dallas to not only care for his dying mother but also leaving him to act as a father to his younger brothers--something they deeply resented, and more than a dozen years later, the brothers are still holding grudges. Eventually Dallas built his company from the ground up and is successful, but a phone call from home brings him back to the family ranch. His father has had a stroke/heart attack, was rushed to the hospital and is in a coma. Dallas needs to devote some time to the ranch, and once again face his resentful brothers.

As if that wasn't enough, Dallas discovers that one of his employees, while running an errand to the hardware store, stole a nail gun from a nearby truck. He immediately fires the man, and is en route to the police station to return the stolen item to the police, when his truck is pulled over and he's accused of stealing the nail gun. Even though he explains the situation to the officer, he's charged with possession of stolen property and the judge orders him to pay a large fine and do 60 hours of community service. Since he's a builder, he's told to spend his 60 hours working at Houses for Hope, something akin to Habitat for Humanity, but a bit more upscale, and he objects because he doesn't support the cause, automatically assuming that these are houses that will be given away to people who are too poor and too lazy to work. Judgmental much?

The heroine, Ashley Anderson is a single mom, working at least 3 jobs, 6 days a week just to keep a roof over her and her 16-year-old daughter's head and food on the table. When Ashley became pregnant at 16, her parents disowned her, the father of her child wanted nothing to do with her, but did agree to pay some child support and has never even seen his daughter. In addition to all her jobs, she also volunteers what little free time she has to working at Houses for Hope, because one of the houses they're building will be hers--she'll have a mortgage payment every month, but she'll finally have a place that belongs to her.

As soon as Dallas first arrives to begin his community service, he spots and is attracted to pretty, blonde Ashley, and she's equally impressed by tall, handsome, sexy Dallas, that is until he finds out the the house they're building will be hers, and judgmental Dallas does an about-face on his attraction to her. When Ashley sees a homeless man picking up construction trash and putting it in the dumpster, she tries to talk to him and when she needs a bit of help, she asks him and her boss if he can volunteer--it's quite clear he knows how to use a hammer and nails, and, of course, judgmental Dallas automatically assumes he's just scoping out items to see after the workday ends.

Once Dallas gets to see Ashley's work ethic and learn more about her, his attraction grows, but once again, he finds a list of his pros and cons that Ashley's friend started writing when Ashley first mentioned Dallas to her, and in the pros column he notices dollar signs. Once again, he decides that Ashley ai a gold-digger, just like his former fiance, who he discovered only wanted him for his money. When she explains to him that she didn't even write the list, he apologizes but his doubt is still there.

By the time I got this far into the novel, I truly disliked Dallas, and no matter how apologetic he was, he never really changed his negative opinion of anyone, nor did he learn the error of his ways. Yes, he was attracted to Ashley and impressed with her beauty, her kindness and her work ethic, but when Dallas' 8-month's pregnant office manager has to suddenly be taken to the hospital, Ashley, who was there dropping off a gift for Dallas, agrees to close up, as Dallas suggests when she calls him for instructions. At the last minute, a client rushes in with his final payment for a job Dallas did for him. Not wanting to leave an envelope full of cash lying around in an office she can't lock up, she puts the envelope full of cash into her purse and heads off to her next job.

If you're thinking that Dallas is going to accuse her of stealing the money as soon as he hears from his client who tells him he left the payment with Dallas' pretty new secretary, and then sees her in a new pair of jeans and new boots, you're right, he does just that. Ashley tells him that she locked the money in the glove compartment of his truck for safekeeping, and leaves him, their planned weekend alone in cinders and Ashley in tears, hurt by his accusations and his mistrust and brokenhearted over the fact that when she finally finds a man she can love, he thinks so little of her.

Of course, the breakup isn't the end of this novel, it's a romance after all, so there's a rather quickly arrived at HEA ending awaiting you, but quite honestly, Dallas isn't a man I'd easily forgive if I could forgive him at all. Sure, these two characters have great sexual chemistry, and we see plenty of that, but although Dallas professes his love for Ashley and his regret at accusing her of stealing from him, I would not have forgiven him or taken him back, no mater how apologetic he professed to be, since I truly believe that leopards don't change their spots.

Cowboy Up is not a bad read, as I said at the outset, it's well-written, the characters are well-developed, and I liked the fact that this novel was written with alternating narration, but my dislike of hero truly affected my ability to forgive or trust him, and my desire to see the heroine find a better man than Dallas, no matter how sexy and handsome he was. Finally, the title of this novel, Cowboy Up, made no sense to this reader.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Michelle Beattie it giving us a book where Dallas Granger truly has to Cowboy up to get things in life in order. From his employees, his family and his harsh unfair judgement of the woman receiving a home is court order to work on. Ashley works several jobs to be able to make ends meet and qualify for the house for her and her 16 year old daughter Brittany. She works a multitude a jobs and doesn't take kindly when the handsome stranger judges her when doesn't even know her.
will the relationship between these help mend some fences in the direction on Dallas and brothers only time will tell..
Excellent read.

I love discovering new to me authors. Michelle Beattie offers a solid romance to kick off her new series. I found the main couple in Cowboy Up to be engaging, their conversations were interesting and their journey to happily ever after entertaining. I especially appreciated the sharpness of the dialogue, it fit both character and situation. I understood that the book would be a little out of balance because of the need to introduce the series, and at times I wished for a bit more of the romance. I look forward to novels featuring the other brothers, and to the solution of a mystery that I believe will flow through the series.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

The story is cliche with a common formula of a romance novel.
However I still would like to read the next in the series because I'm interested to know the back story of the male lead character.

Thank you netgalley for the arc

Dallas and Ashley have both had troubled pasts. Can they overcome their distrust and find happiness?

This was a fun romantic read. I enjoyed the characters and the depth of their lives that was shared. They are flawed characters and very relatable. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

Set in and around San Antonio, Texas Cowboy Up has been a light and thoroughly entertaining read but with a serious heart that lifts it from just a quick beach read into something a little bit more intense.
Dallas is a strong hero, an honourable man who has tried to do right by his family and his community no matter the personal cost, yet he has a skewed view of life and carries some prejudices which chip into the perfect facade he presents to the world.
Ashley is also strong. She’s struggled to make a life for herself and her daughter since discovering she was pregnant at the age of sixteen and being thrown out of her family home as a result. She’s not afraid of hard work and she knows all about sacrifice. I like that her work ethic and her ability to judge people makes Dallas question his own beliefs. Ashley is a woman to admire and respect.
With his father sick in hospital and communication with his brothers at an all time low, Dallas has a lot to handle emotionally while also struggling to fit in time to run his business, help on the ranch and work on building Ashley’s house. I couldn’t help but feel for him.
I loved this book, loved the story, and loved the people that populated it. A perfect weekend read!

I really enjoyed Dallas and Ashley’s story. I thought this was a really nice way to kick off a new series. Ashley is such an inspirational character. She depicts the determination, dedication and sacrifice of a single mother to make a great life for their children. Dallas is such a great guy it was interesting to watch his transformation through out the book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Enjoyed it
Back to Last Stand, Texas.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Tangled Up in Texas
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I like the writing in this story and the character building but what I like most is the strength that shines through in Ashley. I like Dallas, and I like his brothers and I feel for the losses in their past, but the standout in this story for me is Ashley. This is a very good book.

Cowboy Up is the first of the brand new contemporary series, Tangled Up in Texas by Michelle Beattie. I know this author mainly as a historical romance writer specially as the author of the Frontier Marietta Series. I enjoyed this switch up in time with the new series.

It is titled Cowboy Up but Dallas now runs his own construction firm in San Antonia, Texas. Before the story has gone too far he needs to return to Last Stand, Texas. His brothers and he fit the name of the town to a T. It seems that they are often at each other’s throat with the desire to be the last brother standing when the fighting is over. Proud, stubborn men which makes them chips off the old block, there is still hope for each one. Dallas is oldest, has preconceived notions, and is stubborn to a fault. On the plus side he is a hard worker and loves his family though not one of them knows how to show it to each other.

Single mom Ashley Anderson is hard working, never gives up and is the best thing to ever happen to Dallas. Of course, Dallas does not think this when he is assigned to her housing project. Still I like a man who is teachable, able to admit when he is wrong and good at heart. Gives us hope for the proud stubborn men in the world.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

COWBOY UP begins Michelle Beattie’s Tangled Up in Texas series, one of the many individual series set in Last Stand Texas. It’s also her step into the Contemporary Romance genre, and as I’ve loved her Historical Romances (especially those about early Marietta, Montana) finding COWBOY UP was a particular delight for me.

If there was ever a character I almost immediately wanted to give a smack upside the head Gibbs style, give a very stern talking to and a comforting hug in one fell swoop it was Dallas. Man does this guy have trust issues. And assumptions out the kazoo. And we all know what is said about “assume”, yeah, it did that, too. I understood why, for the most part, but I was certainly waiting for him to grow up and take control of his attitude that had no place in this situation at all.

Ashley hasn’t been handed an easy life. Yet she does not let that stop her from doing her best for her daughter, juggling several jobs, barely keeping it together and find time to work on the house that she hopes will soon be their new home. Her first impression of Dallas was – awkward. Handsome as sin on a stick with attitude beyond belief. How could she possibly be attracted to this jerk?

COWBOY UP kept me on my toes as both Ashley and Dallas have serious issues that need to be dealt with before they find their happy ending. Dallas will show his true colors, his heart, in his actions. It will be up to Ashley to believe in them, and in him.

You’ll find some interesting secondary characters around Last Stand, Texas. Brothers who also have their own tales to be told and issues to come to terms with eventually. This is a good beginning to a series that already has me fascinated and wanting more. I’d recommend Dallas and Ashley’s story to any reader who loves second chances, a change of attitude, and a couple to hope for their happy future.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

COWBOY UP (Tangles Up in Texas Book One) by Michelle Beattie is a contemporary cowboy romance that is the start of a new series by a new-to-me author. This first book focuses on the oldest of five brothers and the single mom he meets working on a Houses of Hope (similar to Habitat for Humanity) project.

Dallas Granger loves building beautiful things. From cabinets to houses, he started his own construction company when he left the family ranch. As he is trying to take care of a problem one of his employees caused, he gets tangled up with the law. Then his brother calls to tell him his father is in the hospital and he is going to need help with the ranch. He does not know how he will find the time to deal with everything.

When Dallas is assigned to volunteer for Houses of Hope, he is not happy. He believes the people who receive the homes get them for free (not true), but he feels he worked to build his company from scratch and everyone else should work for what they have, too. When he gets to the work-site he is instantly attracted to the blonde helping with construction. When he finds out the home is for her, he is surprised and not very gracious.

Ashley Anderson juggles a number of part-time jobs to support herself and her sixteen-year-old daughter. She pinches every penny and the last thing she needs to deal with is a cowboy with an attitude problem. She has worked her whole life to stand on her own since she was a teen mom and does not need the judgement.
But as Dallas and Ashley get to know each other, they find they cannot stop their attraction. Dallas has a lot of family baggage to deal with and a broken engagement has left his heart closed off. Will he break Ashley’s heart or will he prove he can open his own?

This is a good start to the series, but there is a lot going on which somewhat detracts from adding more depth to the hero and heroine. I could relate to Ashley and her life, but Dallas really had trust issues that I thought were over blown. That said, they were a good couple and I loved when they talked out their issues and Dallas was a romantic. The sex scenes were realistic and romantic. I also, enjoyed Ashley and her daughter, Brittany’s relationship. It was nice to not have to read about a stereotypical problem teen.

I will be looking forward to reading the other brothers’ stories and having the family secret revealed.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be reading more. It is awesome to get a book and it’s the beginning of a series and I can’t wait to see how this series progresses. The only downfall that I see to this story is she focused entirely too much on the secondary characters in Ashley in Dallas‘s story, their romance, was like an afterthought. I know the premise was to set up for books later in the series but I would’ve liked it if she concentrated more on Ashley in Dallas because after all it was their book. Overall it was a great story and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

4.5 stars

Michelle Beattie is a new-to-me author and I’m happy I gave her a chance. This was a great story. From the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book, I gather this is her first foray into the contemporary romance genre. Looking at her Goodreads page it seems she’s done different sub-genres of historical romance in the past, from pirates to cowboys. I’ll definitely be looking into reading more of her work. I don’t know that I’ve ever really read a pirate story.

Although this story starts off putting Dallas in a good light, it would be very easy to write him off as an entitled jerk by the time his first meeting with Ashley is over. But, surprisingly, Dallas is a man who can and will admit when he’s wrong. That bodes well for him and any hope he has of a meaningful relationship in the future.

I’ll be honest and tell you that there are a few times that Ashley’s story makes me cry. I’m often an overly emotional person, though. Ashley is the personification of strong-willed. She had her child while she was still a child herself and has never had much help getting by. She has her moments, but in the long run she doesn’t let that get her down. She does what needs to be done in order to pay her bills and give her daughter a few extras (very few) along the way. She’s working her butt off to provide a better future for her daughter. The problem is, she’s been doing it on her own and her own way for so long that sometimes she doesn’t realize just how impenetrable her walls have become.

Ashley and Dallas have instant chemistry. I truly love finding a new-to-me author that can give me the warm-fuzzies right off the bat. Even through the animosity they feel toward each other in the beginning, there is no denying the attraction.

On top of this being a wonderful story about Dallas and Ashley learning to trust each other and let their walls down, it’s also a story of brothers. Dallas has four brothers who he doesn’t speak to but a couple times a year. But a medical emergency with their father has forced him to spend more time with them and for the group of them to finally start airing their grievances…something that is long overdue. While there is a resolution to the Dallas/Ashley story, Dallas and his brothers still have a long road to travel. I’m hoping to be able to enjoy the journey with them and learn more about each brother along the way.

Kudo’s to Michelle Beattie. This is an amazing read, it is all about trust and trusting in love. This is book one in the series and it is Ashley and Dallas’s story. A reluctant “having to volunteer project “ turned into a forever romance!