I really wanted to like the story, but it fell flat and boring... The hero were interesting, but the heroine was sort of meh and boring.

Reading a Stacy Finz book is always a pleasure and "Cowboy Up" is no exception. One of the few authors I always read all the books.

Book one in her new series Dry Creek Ranch, takes us up close and personal with Cash Dalton and Aubrey McAlister, as well as the family dynamics of the Dalton cousins coming in future books.

Appealing characters, good plot with enough suspense and romance makes this a sexy read!

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

So I wanted to read this series when I saw the blurb for Cowboy Tough, but realized I probably would be better off if I started it from the beginning. I’m here to say, “Thank goodness, I did.” I would have missed an awesome story and a lot of back story of the three cousins and Dry Creek Ranch. This place sounds heavenly, but the men are dreamy and to die for. Nothing like a little law enforcement professional to help a girl out.

Stacy picks the right name for this one because Cash needs to Cowboy Up from page 1. He’s sitting around feeling sorry for himself because he lost his job with the FBI, for being a standup guy, and finds out he has a 12 year old daughter he didn’t know about. Well buddy, sometimes life hands you some curveballs and you just have to suck it up and go for it. Stacy makes him do that around 1/3 of the way in. Cash accepts his 12 year old daughter with open arms and discovers he loves being a father to her, even if it is overprotective. He doesn’t Cowboy Up about his job until much later in the book, but he eventually does that. He also Cowboy’s Up about accepting his grandfather’s death and the fact his cousins don’t want to sell the ranch they all inherited, even though he does. Again, she shows us that sometimes you get lemons when you don’t want them, but you can still make lemonade in the middle of winter and enjoy it.

Aubrey on the other hand has to Cowgirl Up on several issues of her own. The fiancee she wasn’t in love with, her career in the toilet because of ex-fiancee, her reputation in tatters because of gossip mongers. She does these throughout the story but not until after she realizes how much it is going to hurt her best friend, Cash’s cousin. It seems like she’s letting others take over control of her life including her career because she won’t stand up for herself. She finally gets her single legs under her and pushes forward with making the rumors stop. Cash helps a little bit when he manages to help expose the ex-fiancee in a cattle rustling-property short sale scheme. This gives Aubrey her control back over her life and takes it out of the hands of the gossip queens in town.

For small town life, there sure is a lot of stuff happening and the Dalton brothers seem to be in the middle of it all the time. Cash finally take a cattle rustling investigator position in the end, so I can really see him playing further roles in the next two books. Can’t wait to read and review those also. This book went much deeper emotionally than previous ones I’ve read by Stacy which was a little surprising. I thought it was going to be a sweet romance and it was a bit gritty. I loved it anyway. The emotions from Cash, Aubrey, and Ellie are well done and deep down I think that is how I’d feel put in the same situation. Stacy also gives Ellie her own voice in this one which I thought was very good and gave the story even more depth than if it were just Cash and Aubrey. I’m giving this a 4.5 of 5 and hope the next two are just as good.

After a crisis of faith a former FBI agent returns to his Grandfather’s farm to figure out where his life goes from here while he works the land with his two cousins. First he has to deal with a sexy and stubborn woman who’s also living on the property in another cabin near his. Then he becomes a father overnight when an ex lover dies of cancer making him the guardian of a young teenage girl he’s never met. Cash tries his best to make a home for Ellie on the ranch but she’s a city girl from Boston who is grieving the loss of her mother, missing her friends and wants nothing to do with the turn her life has taken. This is a lovely coming-of-age story that played with my emotions from start to finish as Cash and Ellie haltingly take one step forward and two steps back on the way to discovering that home is wherever your people are and families come in all shapes and sizes. I read a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

I always have a love/hate relationship with Cowboy Romances, but I'm glad to say Cowboy Up was the awesome start to a new series by Stacy Finz. Lots of witty banter and interesting well-written characters. Though, sometimes the best part is the side characters. Dry Creek Ranch Series is one I will be sure to be looking for in the future. Another thing that caught my attention with this novel is it's not just a Cowboy Romance, it's also a Family Drama. I honestly think that is what has put it on into my top five.

Dry Creek Ranch #1, New series I'm so happy. This was a good read, just like so any other Finz stories you have witty banter, complex characters with enough baggage in their past and present to make them interesting, quirky side characters, and hunky cowboys. This is a great start to the series with wonderful character introductions and vague background on the other two cousins who live on Dry Creek Ranch.

Jace, Sawyer, and Cash are cousins who inherited the ranch from their grandfather, the Ranch was already starting to go belly up when they got it now they are arguing about keeping it or selling the main bulk of the land off. Jace and Sawyer are against it Cash on the other hand is being realistic about the three of them running the ranch. Jace who is also Sheriff with two boys, Sawyer who is also a writer, and Cash former FBI and just recently moved to one of the cabin on the property. He needs to fix up the cabin to liveable conditions because he just found out he has a daughter, Ellie, from a one night stand 12 years ago.

Across the creek from Cash's cabin is another cabin which is occupied by one of Jace's best friends, Aubrey, who walked out on her fiance two weeks before the wedding. Aubrey is now the town pariah, apparently her ex-fiancee is covered in teflon because shit don't stick to him it's all her fault and now rumors are going around that her and Jace had an affair and that's why she left. Aubrey isn't telling the truth about what really happened because she doesn't want to hurt a very dear friend who came back from his military service without his legs, the truth that his wife was the one cheating with Aubrey's fiance and she caught them. Aubrey is having to deal with snide remarks, vandalism, and clients canceling jobs.

Aubrey and Cash don't start off on the right foot but soon he has her coming over to help decorate his daughter's new room to make her feel more at home in her new home. While Aubrey and Cash do this slow seduction friends to lovers thing Cash is also trying to build a relationship with a preteen Ellie who thinks he never wanted her in the first place and keeps thinking that she will be going back to Boston. There is also some funny business going on around town that has pulled in Cash to help investigate.

Overall, another great story from Stacy Finz. I liked the romance between Cash and Aubrey and the building of a relationship between father and daughter. I look forward to the other books in the series.

I am a total sucker for a Cowboy Romance and this definitely did not disappoint.

This is my first Stacy Finz book but I am hoping to read some others (especially if this series is continued).

From the first chapter, the banter between Cash and Aubrey sucked me in. And my love for them continued to grow as the story progressed. This is a great book with complex characters - I found that I was quickly turning pages and couldn't put this down!

A new series by Stacy Finz. I have read other books of hers and looked forward to this story! She delivered a great story. I love contemporary cowboy romances and that includes this book. Cash and Aubrey were well written characters. I loved reading how each handled instances of when life gives you lemons. I will be reading more books by Stacy and hope you will too!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review.

I loved this family drama cowboy romance. Aubrey and Cash are new neighbors and their first few encounters go not very well. But there is something that shimmers between them. Will they explore that spark or will Aubreys drama and Cash past prevent them to be together. A great read in which we see how Aubrey come to the realization what should the real love be. And Cash to forget his past move forward and find his new meaning in life. Well written, funny summer romance that I enjoyed to read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Stacey Finz is one of my go to authors! I can always depend on a wonderful story from her with wit and romance. Her books always make me chuckle and sigh at the same time. I always anticipate her books and are never disappointed!

I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't feel like it was the first in a series. Instead it felt like the second or third book in a series. I kept thinking that we should have known the brother's history from other books, but when I looked it up on here it was the first book in the series. So that brought it down to a 3 star for me. I think too much time was spent on on the siblings.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

Stacy Finz knows how to write small-town romances with lots of heart. With her new series, she gives us three sexy cowboy cousins who share Dry Creek Ranch.
You've got to love Jack. He's a great guy that just found out that he is the father of a 12 year girl named Ellie. He tries so hard to help his uprooted child who just lost her mother.
With the help of Aubrey, who is renting the cottage next door, the stubborn Jack finally begins to live again.
Aubrey is dealing with her own crud right now, dealing with the garbage gossip in a very small-minded and hypocritical town after "dumping" her jerk of an ex-fiance. People would be lucky to have a golden hearted friend as the tough as nails Aubrey. Together, she helps Jack and his daughter bond as well as finding a way to trust in love again.
I can't wait for the next story.
I received a reader copy thru NetGalley for my honest opinion

This is the first book in a new series by author Stacy Finz. Set at Dry Creek Ranch in northern California, this is Cash and Aubrey’s story. Cash is an ex-FBI agent living on the family ranch. He just found out he has a twelve-year-old daughter. Lots of funny situations, angsty situations, and heartwarming situations here. Aubrey lives in the cabin next door. Cash and Aubrey have chemistry, even though they don’t want the complications a relationship would bring. Throw in Aubrey’s ex, a runaway, and some cattle rustling, and this story brings out the emotions.

Cowboy Up by Stacy Finz is the first in a new series: Dry Creek Ranch. Cowboy Up focuses on Cash Dalton, a former FBI agent who is still haunted by the victim of a serial killer who he was too late to save. He lost his job over the fiasco and has been sitting, drinking, on the porch of a cabin on the ranch he and his three cousins inherited recently from their grandfather. A few weeks ago he discovered he had a daughter from a one-night stand twelve years ago. Last week her mother died and left him with custody of twelve-year-old Ellie. Now his neighbor is yelling at him for holding target practice (sober) at dawn. Could life get better? Aubrey McAllister is the neighbor. She is renting an identical cabin from his cousin, Jace, the local sheriff. She has just broken off a 10-year long relationship and is letting the town think that the reason is Jace. It's not.

What a terrific read this was! This is my introduction to Finz' work and what a happy one, at that. Both are complex characters and the most complex is Ellie, who Finz has made typical for all parents in the world. Granted the kid has just lost her mother and discovered a father she knew nothing about, but she had attitude to high heaven and Finz portrays it perfectly. Fine one minute, snarky the next. The cell phone in her hand constantly. The crying. The hunger strike; trying to eat when no one notices instead . All perfect. Cash takes a while to work through his stuff but does it and helps Aubrey and Jace AND Ellie. Loved it. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Cowboy Up. All opinions expressed herein are solely my own. #netgalley #cowboyup

A stormy full on read. Both the main and supporting characters were intriguing, the author slowly builds their relationship from indifference to unstoppable, and it was lovely to read. I found the treatment of Aubrey and Jace horrendous and could never imagine being treated that way by the people who are supposed to care for you!
The introduction of Cash's daughter was perfect, it showed the tremendous efforts he goes to to make this little girl feel loved in such difficult circumstances. His protective nature really shines through with both Ellie and Aubrey.
This is a lovely story, and I can't wait to read more from the Dalton's.

I was so excited when I learned that Stacy Finz was starting a new series. Not that I don't love her other ones but I couldn't wait to see what she was going to come up with next.

I'm happy to say that she hit it out of the park for me. I just loved Cowboy Up. It gave us a new set of characters to love and a slightly different setting.

In Cowboy Up we meet the Cash and his cousins. I just love them. They are great, funny guys who protect their own. Cash's story is first and it's so good. I totally loved how he reacted to finding out he has a daughter. Not only does he find out about Ellie he's left with taking care of her without prior knowledge of her.

I think that's some of the best parts of this book. I enjoyed how Cash learned to be a father. Which Ellie didn't make easy. I got why she didn't, she's at the age of wanting to be independent but is way to young yet. Even with her resisting him he kept trying to make her feel safe even when she didn't feel that way.

Aubrey was so wonderful. Of course, how the town treated her is f*cked up. I mean, they knew her just as long as the a**hole so they should have known how they both were. It will take me a while to forgive them if ever. I have a long memory.

Now together Cash and Aubrey are wonderful. Yes, Cash is an idiot and doesn't see it right away but he gets a clue. Sometimes people have to be hit over the head to understand what they have. I liked how these two worked out their issues and how Cash always stood with her against the town.

It might have taken these two a bit to figure out what they wanted but I'm happy to say in the end it was love. What more can any of us ask for!

If you love a small-town romance with all the craziness, all the townsfolk knowing each other’s business, one nasty piece of work to loathe, one life-changing surprise, and two people who connect on levels they never expected — then you’re going to love COWBOY UP. Add to that lineup should you enjoy getting in on the beginning of a series then you’ve hit gold with this one.

Aubrey and Cash have chemistry right from the start, it shows in their bantering and maybe even in their annoyances with each other. Cash has been away from home long enough to not know all the talk of the town, so he’s not really sure why Aubrey is championing him or the situation he’s found himself in. When the rumors start flying, and the talk begins to have an effect on his family he’ll learn why – and return the favor Aubrey’s done for him.

It’s not easy to face down rumors, talking behind backs or outright lies, but both Aubrey and Cash need to do just that in order to find their way to each other. There is a villain who you will loathe and then some. An innocent young girl who has had her life turned upside down in a heartbeat. A man who has lost his direction only to find it in two females who will mean the world to him. And one brave woman who did what was the right thing fell in love with a man and his daughter and will fight tooth and nail to make them all a family full of love and hope for the future. Sure, there’s sizzle, some danger, but at the core, COWBOY UP is the heartwrenching tale of two people who life has thrown some nasty crap in their direction, yet who are finding their way to something, someone better than they ever expected.

I was easily caught up in the lives of Aubrey, Cash, and Ellie – and I’m definitely waiting to return to Dry Creek Ranch for more adventures with Jace and Sawyer. Love a good romance with intriguing characters and a love that nothing can stop? Then you’ll want to check out COWBOY UP for yourself. I’d not hesitate to recommend this one to any reader who simply loves a good love story.

*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.*

Cowboys, Small Town Life, and a Mystery - Stacy Finz gives it all to you in Cowboy Up,
Cash Dalton's life was up in the air when he came back home to Dry Creek Ranch. Aubrey McAllister's life was up in the air when her friend Jace let her move into a cabin on the Ranch. What happens with Cash and Aubrey will make you keep turning page after page.

Finz brings fans of western contemporary romance something to get excited about with Cowboy Up, the first in the new Dry Creek Ranch series.

Readers will love the well rounded, complex characters who move the story along with entertaining dialogue. Cash and Aubrey give the small town something to talk about besides her recent breakup with the town's golden boy. Cash also learns he has a preteen daughter he never knew about. Can they find a home and their place in the world on Dry Creek Ranch?

I'm already excited about more from Dry Creek Ranch. I highly recommend this book to fans of the small town contemporary romance genre.

I read and reviewed a complementary copy of this book.