Daisy Lucero wanted to be a cowgirl ever since she’d seen the Pasadena parade where one of the attractions featured riders from a ‘dude ranch’. One cowgirl grabbed her attention making her dream of joining this rider taking tourists into the backcountry of the High Sierra worth quitting her job and trying her hand at being a ‘cowgirl’. To say she had no idea what she was getting herself into and even though she’d never even rode a horse she still wanted to try. She didn’t mind the hard work and continued to improve though the one ‘cowgirl’ she wanted to notice her only did when it was to give Daisy a hard time.
Jo Harding loved her job as a ‘packer’ leading tourist into the mountains that she loved so much. Hard, dangerous work that required staying alert looking after the people and just as importantly the animals needed to do the job. Jo had no time nor was she willing to give her time trying to lead someone so ill suited for the work, so she decided to take what time she did have proving she was right when it came to Daisy. Daisy did not belong in the mountains.
When I started I didn’t know if I would get past the first few chapters. One of the characters ‘Daisy’ in my opinion came across as a dummy making it a hard read at first but as I got into the book the author started making her come across as someone with a brain. Jo’s character started out being a jerk and even by the end she stayed that way but as we learned her story she was much easier to take. That being said I still enjoyed reading Ms Villeneuve’s book. Actually I’ve liked her work for a while now and after a few chapters into this book I was happy to see she in reality didn’t leave behind the writing that has made her a star author when it comes to lesfic. All in all a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books

I finished this book several week ago, but got really busy and am just writing my review. This was the final book that I wanted to read before I started graduate school and teaching. I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from Bella books and NetGalley.

This was a semi nice romance novel. What I liked was all of the scenes that took place in the backcountry where the author painted such a wonderful picture of the scenery and that is where this book excelled. The author writes well and that is what ultimately kept me coming back, the story though was flat. It was about Jo and Daisy. JO who has been doing backcountry tours for years, and Daisy who saw Jo on tv and decided that she wanted to work with her. It felt a little creepy, but hey if that's the story I can suspend belief for a minute. What I didn't like was how emotionally and verbally abusive Jo was to Daisy and how everyone at the ranch let job get away with it. It was a lot, I was happy when Daisy decided to leave, but felt sad when she and jo got back together. I just felt like they should not have been together and they didn't really have any chemistry. Overall not my favorite book, but it was okay of you can get over the issues of the book.

For sure this is a enemies to lovers read. I was not familiar with this author but I enjoyed the western story of living and working in the back country. If you enjoy not just the outdoors but the back country, this is the read for you. Also, if you like mules, horses, cooking outdoors, and a cool dog, this is the read for you. Jo Harding presents herself as focused and palms facing out. Daisy Lucero presents herself as motivated and ready to learn the "ropes of the trade" from the experienced and seasoned Jo. Although Jo treats Daisy poorly, she works hard and learns quickly.

This read is full of information about what it takes to perform various jobs working for an organization that takes people on back country adventures. Being good at what you do as well as taking pride in what you do is not only important but necessary and to a larger extent...the difference between life and death.

The ending is sappy and leaves you thinking there could be a follow-up because Daisy and Jo as well as the secondary characters are just that interesting.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
Yes, there were horses and a dog, and that's always a big draw for me. I thought Jo's prickly demeanour would turn me off, but as we grew to understand what went on in her head, I connected better with her. It's easier to appreciate a person if we realize their motivations, and Jo's made sense to me. I could also fully appreciate Jo's infatuation with Jo, and how that fueled her desire to do well in her job. The development of their relationship made total sense and was completely natural. I also want to say that I enjoyed how well developed the secondary characters were as well.
After a while, I could see the meadows and mountains, and smell the horses and mules. I can well imagine how it must have felt for Daisy to run back to the city.

All-in-all, I'm glad I read this book, and I think anyone else who enjoys WLW books with animals and the great outdoors will too.

This is one of those books where after I finish, it's so clear that this couple has absolutely no chance of staying together nor should they. We have Jo, a cowgirl who acts and speaks like a middle aged Yosemite Sam (her choice words and phrases include: daggum, hoo haw, and poop on a stick (!?)) though is apparently only 29, and Daisy, a recent (high school? all her friends seem to be in college and she's debating going herself, so maybe 20?) grad looking for her calling in the mountains at a...ranch? I honestly have no idea where this story even took place or what was these characters were doing most of the time. They seem to work at some facility, which take guests on either single day trips or week-long journeys by horse into the mountains--but guests don't appear to actually stay AT the facility itself. Aside from that, none of the terminology particular to this line of work is ever really defined. My extent of ranch/horse knowledge comes from Hey, Dude! so there was quite a bit of head scratching.
Anyhow, Jo is essentially the lesbian equivalent of Kristoff from Frozen, without any of the charm, but her obsession is mules and horses rather than reindeer. She frequently expounds upon why mules are better than people and has no problem telling people this to their face after telling them off for not being a "real" cowboy/girl. People still seem to like her and respect her for some reason, despite being a complete dick. No one more so than Daisy, who receives that same dressing down treatment yet apparently likes being verbally abused and disrespected because she keeps pursuing the woman. Aside from never knowing the proper setting, I just could never understand why these characters were behaving the way they were, which most of the time ended up being incredibly juvenile (temper tantrums, refusing to do their assigned job, stomping off in a huff, etc) through the entire course of the book.
These just were my kind of cowgirls, I suppose.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I was glad I picked the book up. It was a sweet story of city woman meets country woman.

Daisy is trying to figure out what she wants to do in life and one day she sees a mountain guide in a parade and thinks maybe this is what she has been looking for (both the work and the woman). Jo is a part-time horseback wilderness guide and blacksmith, who doesn't not like the city life or the city people. When city meets country you can guess the sparks will fly-well not so much sparks but Jo is not smitten at all with Daisy when she shows up in the guide camp ready to learn how to be a guide.

The story is a bit slow at first, but there is some background to cover and it does setup the feel of what it is like to work and live in a wilderness camp. From the About the Author page, the story is based somewhat on experience of taking part in a trip with a wilderness outfit, so I really do feel the authenticity of the story, it was written with great detail of the area.

The love story that slowly builds with the main characters is wonderful, I like that it was not rushed, and some of the sub-characters just filled out the whole story. They only negative I would give is some of the dialog from Jo is a bit old western for me, but this is only a slight negative. Great summer read, I finished it in one day (ok and into the night), I'll be looking for more books by this author.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-enjoyable read

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

Sweet story of city girl following her fantasy fueled dream to a pack ranch in search of her Cowgirl.

The cowgirl is a loaner and is impatient of inexperienced people - along the way to mutual respect, there are. Misunderstandings, misconceptions, stereotypes to be shattered and of course, love.

The only negative- for me - was the cowboy appropriate swearing. Dadgumbit is just distracting. Otherwise, this is a sweet weekend read.

The first time for me to read a book by Laine Villenuve., and I don't think it will be the last time.
This book start off a bit slow but it is worth sticking with it from about a 3rd in it really gets going and the result is a great story.

Jo and Daisy are both good characters that you'll like straight away, then connection between them is not instant, as you continue to read you hope they get to work things out.

Would I recommend: Yes a nice book to read

This is a gorgeous book. Everything about it is gorgeous, from the setting to the writing style. Personally I dislike everything about camping, so the entire time I read this I was worried about how dirty they must be. But I certainly understand the appeal of horses and nature, and Laina Villeneuve is an expert on these subjects. Her writing is so readable, so beautiful and lyrical, that it makes the story flow even better.

The first half was very slow for me, but I knew that this was a deliberate choice. We needed all that background, all that time to pass, to understand how Daisy and Jo would fit together. This is a clear case of opposites attract and enemies to lovers, and those tropes work beautifully here.

I loved the ending with its 80s/90s music video vibe. Pick this book up and give it a chance through the slower first half. You'll be rewarded with a gorgeous love story.

This cover has such a nineties vibe I hesitated a bit to read this one, luckily the story is much better than the cover!

Daisy saw a lone cowgirl at the Rose Day parade, she made such an impression on her that she just had to find out what she does and where she does it. Inspired by this cowgirl Daisy applies for a job at the cafe of a ranch, but she dreams of heading out on horseback to explore the country. Daisy is an eager student, but cowgirl Jo isn't easily impressed by anyone if anything she is more annoyed by a hoo-haw city girl pretending to belong. Daisy is a real quick study and earns the trust and respect of many of the other employees, but Jo doesn't see it or doesn't want to see it. As an absolute slow burn, it takes Jo a very long time to give into Daisy and even then it might not be enough to have a relationship.

The setting of this book is amazing. With the absence of mountains and cowgirls and -boys in my country I felt transported to a completely different place. Yes, the story had some difficulties. There is a disagreement with some major overreacting, it was just too much. And there is so much communication missing between the leading ladies, even just reading body language seems to be too hard for them from time to time. Which is strange when you are just falling in love. And can I just say Daisy basically stalking Jo is a bit of a wrong start for me. She isn't really stalking per se, but following someone based on their look is a bit stalkerish as is trying to do everything to please them. I do like the very sappy ending, it's super cute and sweet.

Jo Harding is the ultimate cowgirl, quiet, brooding and with attitude, she loves nothing more than being on the backcountry trails with her dog and her mules. During the summer she spends her time taking tourists on trail horse rides. Daisy Lucero has been employed as a waitress in the cafe at the start of the trails. Her ulterior motive is to learn everything she can about horse riding and the trails so she can spend her time exploring the backcountry and getting to know the cowgirl with the attitude.
If you like your romances to burn slowly then this is the book for you. The chemistry between Jo and Daisy takes a while to develop but when it does it sizzles. I really enjoyed the very different personalities of both characters and was pleased to see that when it came down to it, Daisy stood her ground. The added bonus to this story was the description of the backcountry which made you feel like you wanted to be there.
An enjoyable read.

Daisy has a dream to learn how to ride horses and explore the wilderness on horseback. She's begins working at the cafe servicing a horseback ride guide outfit to bring her in close proximity to her goal. The learning curve is steep and its not made any easier by the prickly cowgirl Jo. Jo is happy to spend the days with her dog and her mules rather than people, carrying supplies for the guests. She's not a fan of the cheerful Daisy who has no experience around horses. But Daisy surprises her at every turn with her determination to learn, and as the two break down the barriers between them their attraction grows. Will Daisy find her place in the wilderness and with Jo or is her dream truly out of her reach?

I've always loved Villeneuve's books but this one was a struggle for me to get into. For much of the first half of the book the two main characters didn't have much interaction and most of their conversations were imagined in their heads about what they might say to each other if they actually were to interact. Eventually they were thrown together and then the story picked up and the tension from the first half of the book turned into some really great chemistry. Jo's character was very unlikable and it was hard to see redeeming elements in it even knowing there was a backstory coming. Daisy was a sweet and strong character and I loved her attitude towards life. I love the setting and I loved seeing some characters from Take Only Pictures so as things picked up towards the end of the book I did enjoy the read. Looking forward as always to what comes next from this author.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In general, I quite enjoy cowgirl stories. They are strong characters, with a sense of responsibility and respect for nature and people. But this story seemed somewhat strange to me, I really did not understand much the meaning of the attitude of the two protagonists until well into the book. And once I have understood something about why their behaviors, especially Jo's, have not seemed sufficiently justifiable for their actions.

Jo has been a character that in addition to being strange has ended up being even unpleasant. And Daisy is not a completely logical character in her actions either.

And besides, this story has a lot of language related to the activity of horseback riding in the mountains, perhaps too much for my liking.

And the ending is a bit cheesy, which can be good at times, but it wasn't for me in this case.

So a story in which I had more expectations ended up being just ok.

If you are sometimes dream of being able to head into the mountains on a horse and live the cowgirl life, then this is the book for you. Set in the Sierra mountains we follow Daisy, a first time guide with a company that does backcountry trips, and Jo, an experienced packer more at ease with her mules and the silence of nature all around her.
The background and setting of this story are lovely, I was seriously thinking about going on a trip like that myself. As for the romance; it was okay. I felt both ladies were overly sensitive and the conflict came across as stupid to me. Weird how you can apparently be so in love, but when you are not able to talk about anything...where is the love coming from? It meant that I couldn't care either way if they end up together...I just kept reading because of the mountains and the outdoor life.

*** An ARC was provided in exchange for a honest review. ***

I really enjoyed Cowgirl 101 by Laina Villeneuve. The cover first caught my eye along with the title and then the blurb. Covers really are very important. I’ve always been attracted to westerns, both historical and modern, so you can see how I would be interested in this novel.

This book has all the elements of an exceptional modern western romance with two unique and individual main characters. Jo Harding is the typical loner, stand-offish type. She is an expert in handling mules, horses, and all the skills needed for leading backpackers and campers up into the beautiful High Sierras Mountains. She has few real friends and wants nothing to do with people like Daisy Lucero, a total greenhorn who doesn’t belong in this job or this place. Daisy is brand new to the job. She doesn’t even know how to ride a horse, but she wants more than anything to learn all she needs to know so she too can go into the High Sierra wilderness. She also has a huge but secret crush on Jo, which makes for a lot of conflict and angst in the tale.

The setting, of course, is gorgeous. The story begins a bit slow, but once you get into the tale, the pacing is good. The romance is kind of an enemies-to-lovers tale and definitely a slow-burn romance, but sweet and satisfying.
This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I’m definitely going to be looking for more of her work. If you love modern day western romance with distinctive and engaging characters set in a stunningly beautiful land, then I can recommend this novel for you.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Enjoyable cowgirl/city-girl summer romance.

Daisy Lucero's life is changed forever after being inexplicably drawn to the sight-mood-regalness of a mule-wrangler during the Rose Bowl Parade in her hometown of Pasadena. Beset with the need to explore her new-found draw to the High Sierra back country, Daisy signs on for the summer season at the backwoods outfitter. While quickly overwhelmed by all the things she doesn't know (you know... everything) about horses, mules, outfitters and tours, Daisy is determined to make her way. It would be much easier if the attractive mule-wrangler would give her the time of day and help her learn the ropes. But Jo Harding doesn't have time for Daisy, or for any new-comer who can't pull their weight... or for people in general.

Eventually, Daisy's hard work and determination begin to wear down Jo's walls. But a summer may not be long enough to change Jo's whole demeanor and make her willing and able to accept Daisy's attentions.

Jo Harding is a loner who works at a ranch and takes people on trips in the High Sierra wilderness. Her best friends are her dog, Cody, and her mules. She keeps people at a distance.

Daisy Lucero is a student who is hired to work at the ranch café for the summer. She actually saw Jo on TV during the Rose Parade prior to ever arriving at the ranch and was struck by the look in Jo's eyes. From that television appearance Daisy knew that she was attracted to Jo.

Cowgirl 101 details how Daisy meets Jo at the ranch and Jo's negative first impressions of Daisy. Basically Jo doesn't hold much hope for Daisy remaining with the outfitter through the summer. The book describes how Daisy's knowledge grows as well as Jo and Daisy's relationship.

On several occasions throughout the book I felt bad for Daisy since she was trying so hard to learn about the different roles of the outfitter, the wilderness, and the animals, but wasn't receiving any positive reinforcement from Jo. Luckily, that eventually turned around and helped with the evolution of their relationship.

I will say that when I initially started reading the book I was thrown a bit by some of the ranching terms that I was unfamiliar with, but I learned more as the chapters continued.

Overall I would rate the book at 3.5 stars.

I have received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was ok read.

Jo loves summer what she loves most about it that she doesn’t have to spend time with other people. Although she has friends who thinks she should have a life she find with her animals and don’t mind being a loner.

Daisy dreams of exploring wilderness on horseback. She gets her chance to achieve that dream but when Jo the woman who inspired her thinks she can’t take the work decides to prove her wrong.

As Jo tries to escape her attraction to Daisy, Daisy tries to get Jo to open up both women will be tested and will a romance happen or will they walk away. The side characters were funny as they tries to push them together.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.