Loved this premis!! Boy meets girl, girl sets her cap on him and says I'm gonna marry you. All while they are a whopping five years old, lol. Only Tate, said boy, was a bit slow on the uptake. Liz decides to move on and EVERYTHING goes sideways when she dates a sick sumbitch unknowingly.
All this was serious, frightening and a bit too long. The mind speak slowed it all down for me, so I skipped some pages, and stayed in the story right up to that glorious wedding HEA. Lizard's Love indeed. If you read the book, you'll know what I mean.
Friends to Lovers, a deep and pure love comes out through tragedy, and moves along stronger than ever. All the feels in here

I loved this amazing friends to lovers story and I'm excited it's the beginning of a new series. It's a nice sexy romance with a touch of suspense and action to keep things really interesting. Liz and Tate have great chemistry and you can't help but want them to get their HEA. This is a book for the must read list. I highly recommend it.

This story opens with two young kids in kindergarten sharing lunch and Liz Scott telling Tate McGrath that when they grow up, she is going to marry him, he says Nah Hua. Now growing up together and being there for each other she is tired of pining over the guy that does not see her. When he does not bring her to his brother's wedding as his plus one, she decides it is time to move on especially now when he has been gone for weeks and has not contacted her about what is going on with him in his life.
He has come back to town after being away for about three weeks and he is shocked when his friend lizard is with someone else and that someone does not want her talking to him and though she speaks to him briefly he leaves the bar not touching his beer. His brother tries to explain to him that Liz wants a marriage, family a future and that is not what you want so you need to be the friend you say you are and back away for her and let her have her time.
This is when everything begins to crash around him and he decides to go to her and explain things to her. This though takes a few days. She is in the beginnings of breaking up with her boyfriend Clint but he does not want her or them to be apart. This becomes the second part of the story, Clint taking a mind control game to her and the other women he has dated in the past. Even after Tate and Liz start to date Clint really becomes an evil person and probably was all along.
The story is really good, the characters are really good and the way Clint acts might set off some people if they have gone through similar situations. Those that described I know go on and I do hope women find a way to leave. Overall a very good book.

Friends for a lifetime Liz and Tate have hit a rocky place. Liz wanted more than Tate was willing to give - Tate needing a come to Jesus moment to realize his true feelings for her.
Jennifer Ryan his the very real tones of abusive, stalker, possessive relationships in this book so kudos to her! You won't be able to put this book down.

3.5 stars

I've read a couple of books by this author, so when I saw there was a new series starting with a BFF to more plot line, I was in.

I really liked Liz and Tate. They have loads of history and I liked that this story started with Liz trying to get some distance. I loved the dynamic between Tate and his siblings and how Liz fit right in with them.

Plot wise, it was good. The synopsis definitely downplays how dangerous the new boyfriend is and doesn't really convey how much of the book is Liz and Tate dealing with Clint's obsession. Yes, it is a romance about the two of them finding love; however, the majority of the story is their reactions to what Clint does. And we even get a couple of chapters of Clint's POV.

Overall, I didn't find it as suspenseful as other reviewers did, but I really enjoyed this cast of characters and I'm eager to read the next book in the series.

FYI: stalking, revenge porn, verbal threats, forceful grabbing, talks of physical violence against women

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

Waiting on a Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan is a compelling cowboy romance with a thriller included for free. The far-reaching plot goes beyond simple abuse to include criminal stalking and even murder. Ryan does a terrific job of portraying the terror and hopelessness of the victim in a crime like this, as well as they people who care for her. The inability to fight back appropriately ends up in frustration, every time. Sadly, the mental illness portrayed is painful and probably was painful for the instigator as well. Waiting on a Cowboy tells a story too often told, and not always with a satisfactory conclusion.

Tate and Liz (nickname Lizard) had been best friends since Kindergarten. Liz adored him and had been his best friend forever. It had not always been easy as he fell in and out of lust, but she hung in until one day it became obvious to her that he would never love her the way she loved him. The kicker was that he didn't even notice she had backed out of his life for SIX WEEKS! But she had and it was working out OK. She had found Clint. He was thoughtful and caring. She maybe could fall in love with him and have the life she craved . . . home, kids. She wanted it all. Then came the night that Tate and his brother, Drake, came into the bar and set off the whole mess . . . Clint was jealous, unjustly. Everything started going downhill and Clint started getting rough, then violent, then crazy. All of it portrayed in such a way as to make your heart bleed. Tate comes around and all is well, but it takes awhile. It is a terrific read. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Waiting on a Cowboy by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #waitingforacowboy

A wonderful best friends to lovers book - Liz has decided to move on and happens to pick a really bad guy to do so with and Tate will have to come to her rescue and so enjoy the ride on the road to their HEA!

Liz Scott finally realizes that her best friend since pre-school will never see her as anything more than a best friend. She has loved him forever, but it is time to find someone special just for her. When Tate McGrath notices that his best friend Liz has pulled away from their closeness, he begins to analyze his feelings for her. He doesn’t want to lose the friendship they have, but he also doesn’t want to lose her, especially to the man she is currently dating. Can Tate finally accept that without Liz there is no one else for him? Will he be too late when he notices that Liz’s date has become too possessive and possibly dangerous? A story that shows how some women can get caught up in an abusive situation and the need to protect and remove oneself from the relationship. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Liz has been in love with Tate for as long as she can remember. When another man comes into her life, Tate begins having feelings that are more then best friends. When that man becomes a threat can Tate and Liz get through it and find what they have been searching for all their lives.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Did you see the 1990's Julia Roberts movie "Sleeping With the Enemy"? If so, would you call it a Romance? No? Well, WAITING ON A COWBOY is the book form of Sleeping With the Enemy. And it sure as hell isn't a Romance.

This is a book about a woman who is dates a man who becomes abusive. When she breaks up with him he begins stalking her and they eventually have a climactic showdown. As a very small side story is the fact that she is in love with her best friend, Tate, and they start dating.

80% of this book is her abusive relationship/stalking. A mere 20% is the romance with the best friend from her youth. If you like a suspense thriller then you might really enjoy this book, but selling it as a romance is completely absurd.

I was excited to request and receive an advance reader copy of the first novel in the new McGrath series by Jennifer Ryan, since she pretty much had me at "Cowboy," since I'm an admitted fan of contemporary cowboy romances, as well as the friends-to-lovers trope. While I found Waiting on a Cowboy a fairly enjoyable and somewhat suspenseful read, there were a few issues that I found bothersome, and for those reasons, which I'll explain, I can only give it a 3.5 star rating.

The hero and heroine in this novel are Tate McGrath and Liz Scott, who've been best friends since kindergarten but never allowed themselves to move beyond the friend zone, although it's quite clear from the outset that Liz has always wanted more from Tate, who, my issue number one, seems both clueless and oblivious to the fact that although everyone in his family, her family, and their friends and relations could see that Liz was in love with him, it was as if Tate was wearing blinders when it came to his best and closest friend and her feelings for him.

I also had a problem with Liz. She's tired of waiting around for Tate, and so has had several less than thrilling experiences with other men over the years. She's currently dating a man named Clint, and when Tate spots her at the local bar, he confronts her and wants to know why he hasn't heard from Liz in 6 weeks, since they've been in constant touch with one another through the years, Liz wanted to know why it took him 6 weeks to notice that she'd absented him from her life, and was fairly certain she'd made it really clear that to Tate that she was moving on, tired of waiting for him to see her as more than a friend, and when the new man in her life, Clint, gets between Tate and Liz, Tate doesn't like seeing her in another man's arms, is struck by jealousy, but does he do anything about it? Nope.

Liz has been dating Clint for a couple of months and has enjoyed his company, his wining and dining her, and she's even had sex with him, but lately she's been aware that not only doesn't he appreciate her lifelong friendship with Tate, he actively urges her to end their friendship. She's also noticed and been annoyed by Clint's attempts to isolate and control her--he always has to know her whereabouts, who she is with and why, and and has even tried to separate her from girlfriends and co-workers, all of which are huge red flags, yet rather than dump him, she makes excuses for his behavior until he manhandles her, leaves bruises, and she tells him they're over. To say that Clint doesn't take rejection well is putting it mildly, and he once again tries to charm his way back into her life, but when he's thwarted, when Tate finally begins to realize that his feelings for Liz are more than just friendship, Clint begins to stalk her. Yet through all of this, Liz hasn't reported him and his bizarre and creepy behavior to the police, although after hearing a loud argument between Clint and Liz, her neighbor, Ava, has the good sense to call 911, and Clint's stalking takes on an even more sinister dimension when one of his former girlfriends sees them at lunch, and after Clint leaves, gets up and warns Liz to keep him out of her life because of his controlling nature and the domestic abuse she suffered at his hands.

It seems that lately I've been reading a number of novels dealing with the issue of controlling and abusive men, and I usually have great empathy for the abuse victims, but I found myself growing annoyed when Liz allowed herself to keep being charmed by Clint, ready to forgive his odd behavior, white at the same time, not fully realizing the danger she was in, or noticing the fact that Tate was finally beginning to realize that his romantic feelings for Liz had deepened, even though it took confrontations with his siblings to make him see that what he'd felt for her for years had moved out of the friend zone long ago. As her relationship with Tate deepens, so too to the threats that Clint issues to Liz, but it takes an apparent murder for Liz to finally wake up to the true danger she's in.

While I eventually grew to like both Liz and Tate, and enjoyed watching their friendship heat up into love, I had a tough time dealing with how clueless both of them seemed to be about their feelings for one another, and the danger posed to both of them by Clint. Clint sends Liz flowers and she's all ready to forgive him and forget his controlling and abusive behavior, and there was simply too much waffling on her part for me to really like or understand her reasoning. Tate was equally clueless about his feelings for Liz for far too long, and his family had to keep reminding him that he obviously loved her and had for decades, but he didn't seem to be doing much about it for the longest time.

Yes, the tension and mounting suspense and danger in this novel heat up and so does the relationship between Liz and Tate, and although Clint's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous, for this reader, it just seemed to be much too little and far too late for Liz, Tate, and his family to really deal with the deadly threat Clint posed not only to Liz, but to the entire McGrath family. It also pointed out how slow and ineffective law enforcement has been and is in dealing with domestic abuse situations, stalking, and cyber-bullying, and the desperate need for legislators to do more to protect the victims of abuse. Since I know more than a few victims of domestic abuse personally, I will warn them of the triggers contained in this novel. It's a subject that desperately needs to be improved, and I'm glad to finally be seeing it addressed in romance novels, so kudos to Ms. Ryan for bringing attention to this subject matter.

Of course, there's the expected HEA ending in your future, since this is, after all, a romance novel, and a relatively enjoyable and well-written read, but I found that it just had a few too many missed opportunities for me to actually love it.

As stated at the outset, I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Tate McGrath and Liz Scott have been best friends since preschool. Liz finally gives up on waiting for Tate to admit to having feelings for her and finds someone she hopes will give her what she has been looking for. But this new relationship will turn deadly. A full review of this title can be found on FreshFiction.com.

Liz has loved Tate since was a little girl declaring that they were getting married. Nothing romantic ever happened between them, but they stayed friends.

Until, that is, Liz lost hope and started dating another man, one who is dangerously out-of-control and who likes to use force to get his way.

What follows misses “creepy” but hits “tense.” I wanted to know what was happening next as the crackpot carried the story towards the end. This guy kind of stole the show.

Jennifer Ryan is my automatic read of an author and I can be a tad bit biased, Her stories always portray a strong female protagonist inspiring and empowering. Her first series, "Hunted Series", to this day is my absolute favorite followed by her Montana Men Series.

And now we have the McGraths! If this waiting cowboy can get his head straight and follow his heart to Liz Scott, then Liz would not have to look elsewhere of her happily ever after. But of course the path of love is never easy, and with Liz's boyfriend turned ex to obsessive to dangerous, gives Tate nightmares.

Another good read from Jennifer Ryan, as Liz Scott's "Waiting On A Cowboy" days are over!

Wow what a page turner. This book doesn't let go until the end. I expected a love story with a little trouble thrown in. Boy was I wrong. The love story is there but also there is a dark side. I highly recommend this book.

The story is full of action as Liz and Tate decide to switch from best friends to lovers. The problem I found was it's quite drawn out. I found myself skimming through the middle of the story describing the antics and attacks from Liz's former boyfriend. It just got to be too much violence and mayhem for me.

The basic story of friends to lovers was still good with an HEA, but there's a lot to wade through to get there.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

In this romantic suspenseful story, Waiting on a Cowboy. Jennifer Ryan introduces us to childhood friends all grown up now. Tate McGrath is a likable if clueless male who has always kept Liz Scott in the best friends only zone. She wants more, it doesn’t come so she walks away. All of this is in the description of this entertaining cowboy romance. What is not in the description is the suspense and dangerous events that befall Liz, then Tate as he tries to help protect her.

While Jennifer Ryan is a newer author for me to read she has an extensive back list that I will be putting on my TBR list. Waiting on a Cowboy is wonderfully written with a prologue that gives insight into the characters. Then as the story continues the characters are real and genuine. Liz is a strong woman not portrayed as a weak just as someone who knew what she wanted. When it didn’t happen she moved on in life. Tate, bless his heart, is smart, loyal and downright dumb in the emotional department. He does wise up though. Then the threatening and menacing situations start. Thrilling as well as enjoyable. The conclusion is also very satisfying, which is a delightful way to end this story.

Fans of Donna Grant’s Heart of or Sons of Texas series would enjoy this new series by Jennifer Ryan. I recommend Waiting on a Cowboy also for anyone who enjoys a little danger in their romance books. The uncertain risk and romance are a perfect blend.

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.

Friends. Lovers. Partners.
A life together.
That sounded pretty damn good.
All he had to do was figure out how to make it happen.
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ETA: Loved it just as much—maybe more?—on the second read. I always feel good after reading one of Jennifer Ryan’s swoony cowboys!
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Original review posted May 31, 2020:
I LOVED Waiting on a Cowboy! It was exactly the kind of suspenseful, romantic, swoony read I needed from Jennifer Ryan, and I am already looking forward to re-reading it. Soon. And more than once, at that.

Tate and Liz were combustible chemistry, their friends-to-lovers story the right blend of fiery passion, hidden heartache, and dawning awareness. And the heart-racing subplot with Liz's boyfriend served its purpose well—to ignite their powder keg, to keep the reader (me!) glued to the pages, and to up the stakes.

I'm absolutely enamored of this series, and cannot wait for the next one. There are two unattached McGrath siblings who need HEAs, while *I* need more of these siblings and Ms. Ryan's writing. Bring on book two!

This book was full of suspense, a deep love connection, and some creepy stuff. I really enjoyed this book and most of the characters. I love a book that can keep you intrigued until the end and this one definitely does.

This is such a good friends to lovers story. I like Tate and Liz so much and totally understand why she tried to move on. Friends since childhood, it seems like Tate was stuck in the friends area of the friends to lovers but Liz wanted more and he just didn't see it. In fact he was quite clueless. Once she moves on it opens his eyes though. unfortunately her choice of who to move on with, Clint, turns out to be a real bad one! Tate adores Liz and can't stand by and watch her taking what this tool Clint is dishing out. She deserves so much better. His protective nature kicks in and that's when the change in feelings starts to become apparent, I loved their journey despite some of the dangerous turns it takes and was very happy with the wonderful HEA.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy of this book.