Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Jack Watson is the youngest of the Watson brothers and the third to find his love in the latest book of The Wyoming Cowboy series. When Jack and his brothers moved from Alaska to help their uncle on the farm for the summer, none of them thought they would stay longer than calving season. But now that his older brothers have settled down and don’t plan on moving back to Alaska, Jack needs to figure out his own life in Painted Barrel. Before this though, he needs to help his sister-in-law, Becca, with the charity auction on Valentine’s Day. The auction is to help raise money for the local animal shelter and with Becca being part of the committee, Jack has no choice but to help her out.

Layla is the local accountant, she’s geeky, nerdy, loves games and crafts, and prefers weekends to herself. She is done trying to find a boyfriend and getting set up with blind dates by her mom. Layla is enjoying her life at Painted Barrel going out with her friends, her hobbies and taking care of her clients taxes, but when her friend Becca asks for help with the charity event, Layla can’t believe Becca wants her to bid on handsome Jack Watson. Not knowing what to expect, Layla takes her crochet to pass the time.

Once at the auction, things aren’t going so well. Not many people show up and they are short on funds. At Jack’s turn, bids aren’t enough, and when Layla’s mom shows up bidding on him, Layla steps up and bids the amount needed to reach the goal. Jack is amazed and Layla surprised by what she just did. Now, Jack has an official date with Layla, exactly like he wanted.

I have to confess this is my favorite book of the Watson brothers. Jack’s chemistry with Layla is so cute! Layla is such a relatable character with girls nowadays that like sci-fi movies and games. She’s also happy the way she is and has friends that appreciate her friendship. Her relationship with her mom is very toxic, but she learns to confront her with the help of those that really care for Layla. I also loved that Layla liked feeling comfy with herself and what she wears, but knows when to be cute or sexy. Her dates with Jack were experiences every girl goes through when they’re nervous.

Jack is a good brother and person. He felt attracted to Layla even though she avoided him. He let her know he liked her for who she was and not for appearances. It is also interesting to see someone like Jack who looks like he can do it all, feel hesitant about taking big steps in life, such as starting his own cattle business. But it was nice that Layla believed in him and offered financial advice as an accountant because she knew he could do it, unlike her mom.

Fans of the series can also catch glimpses of previous characters and what they have been up to. My favorite part was definitely the auction. It was hilarious and quite fun to read, especially with Cora and her coin purse. This book has it all, it’s fun and a good read. There’s no better modern couple than Layla and Jack.

Favorite Quotes:

“For all that the town was bigger than most of the ones he’d been in over in Alaska, there didn’t seem to be a ton of single women. They all seemed to be married or ancient.”

“Nerds didn’t run in packs. Nerds were lone wolves. Thus, Layla had been lone-wolfing it around Painted Barrel for far too long.”

“I can’t believe you brought your crochet to the auction.”

“Believe it, sister. Mrs. Kilpatrick brought hers.”

“She’s ninety.”

“I’ve had years and years of therapy to learn how to handle it. In fact, I should schedule my next appointment right now.“

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/01/28/the-bachelor-christmas-cowboy-by-jessica-clare/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I like the small town characters in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/271465-the-wyoming-cowboy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Wyoming Cowboy</strong></em></a> series.   We didn't get too many updates on characters / couples from other books.  We did see the Jack's brothers and their women briefly.  Thankfully, we did not see Greg, unless he was the unnamed realtor. I read these books mostly out of order and I think any of them could be read as standalone.

Jack was not at all like I expected.  He is the last of the three brothers from Alaska to be single.  Since they are all staying in Wyoming, he has decided he will also.  He has plans to buy his own land and make his own ranch someday.   What happens when he starts looking for land is completely predictable.

Layla is a great character; I could really connect to her. She has insecurity over a few extra pounds and an accounting degree.  I love her sense of humor though,  and she is quite brave in many ways.  It's just rough to see her letting her mother drag her down.  Cora was a nice supporting role to give her more friends.

The romance is a little fast. Jack has always kind of liked her and falls really fast.  Layla is naturally skeptical of a really hot guy being interested in her.  He does work hard to make it clear he wants to date her.  When they hit their big "problem,"  I was quite impressed with how they both handled it.  They were honest with each other and the solution they made was a great one.

I finished this book late last night and absolutely adored Jack and Layla’s story.

Layla was such a relatable character. I loved her sense of humor and the fact that she was “weird” but not in a shy way, just a keep to herself/do what she loves kind of way. Jack, with his charming realness, was her perfect match. Their relationship was built over a short amount of time but was also a slow-burn that made for some great tension and banter.

This was a great addition to The Wyoming Cowboy series that has quickly become a favorite of mine!!

*I received an ARC from Netgalley for voluntary review

I've been absolutely in love with this series since I first read The Cowboy and His Baby—the second book in the series—and my love affair continues here with Jack and Layla.

This book is ripe with sass, flirtatiousness, and fun as the titular bachelor cowboy goes head to head with the accountant who "buys" him at auction. Their story is heavy on the sweet and steamy, with lots of funny and cute moments that make it an absolute joy to read, but it also comes down to the wire as Layla keeps her secret from Jack.

I'll admit, I wasn't 100% sold on the secret aspect of The Bachelor Cowboy. It's not my favorite type of conflict, but it was necessary and it was well-written and well-handled, and in the end, I enjoyed every last page of this book, and only regret that it had to end.

I'm not sure where the series goes from here—if it goes at all—and I'm more than a little sorry to think that it might be over. But I've read several of Jessica Clare's books and will be on the lookout for more...even if they aren't my beloved Wyoming Cowboys.

4.5 Stars - Top Pick

Jack Watson, along with his two brothers, moved to Painted Barrel, Wyoming to help his Uncle with his ranch. Although they had planned to return to Alaska, his two brothers fell in love with local women and decided to permanently relocate. Jack is happy for his brothers, but he feels unsettled. He loves Alaska, but as a people person going back alone holds no appeal. If he chooses to say he is uncertain of whether he can follow his dream to start his own ranch.

Layla Schmidt moved to the small town of Painted Barrel several years ago, straight out of college. As an accountant she was drawn to working in a state with no state income tax which provides less paperwork and hassle. She also liked the idea of moving away from Kentucky and her over-bearing, narcissistic mother. Unfortunately, her mother soon followed her out west.

When a small bachelor auction is planned to help fund a new animal shelter, Jack’s sister-in-law convinces him to be auctioned off. How could he say no to family??? Layla’s friends, who are running the auction, recruit her to lend emotional support by attending. Of course, if she could also bid on Jack that would be nice, too.

This is the story of a young women, who has deep insecurities due to her mother’s behavior and abandonment by her father at an early age, and a young man, who is looking for someplace and someone to settle down with. Layla characterizes herself as a messy nerd who loves to crochet, knit, cross-stitch, and play board games. She sees Jack as all rugged masculinity, so she does not think she is his type at all. Jack knows he is attractive and never had a difficult time meeting women. He thinks of Layla as being cute and easygoing, a combination he finds very attractive. They seem like an unlikely pair but have immediate chemistry at the auction. They quickly develop a deep relationship. No sooner do they find themselves realizing they are in love when a huge problem crops up. To fix the problem, Layla must figure out if she can move past her insecurities or resign herself to walk away from love.

I really enjoyed this story. Jessica Clare has an easy writing style. She brings the characters to life with relatable traits I found very appealing. Her side characters are adorable, and she writes some pretty funny scenes. I also love that these characters handle each other, and difficult situations, by using real world solutions.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. I will be seeking out the other books in this series and probably return to these books from time to time. And even though Layla is a virgin, the love scenes are scorching hot.

~ Andrea

Just as I expected, this book was an absolute joy to read. I had no idea I was a fan of cowboy themed books until I started reading this series, completely out of order! The characters are emotional and well thought out and the development of our heroine in this tale is chef's kiss delicious!

I reviewed this on Book+Main, the link is included below.

Layla enjoys her quiet life… As a CPA who owns her own business, she can set her own hours, take on as much (or as little) work as she wants, help out friends who need some accounting advice, and get in some crocheting and needlepoint during her downtime. She knows this makes her sound nerdy and much older than her 20-something years, but she’s happy. Albeit a little lonely. So when her friends Amy and Bella convince her to bid on the hot-as-all-get-out cowboy Jack (and an adorable but aggressively skittish little dachshund) at their bachelor auction to help build an animal shelter in their small town. While Layla wins him fair and square, Jack’s more than ready to give her more than the one required date. Before long, they’re head over heels for each other. Jack loves Layla’s sense of humor, her work ethic, and her quirkiness, while Layla falls for Jack’s charm and his kind heart. But when Layla’s quiet life is upended with small-town gossip (she did kinda buy a boyfriend) and a mother who is vindictive as all get out, Layla will need to decide if Jack’s worth giving up the quiet life in order to stand up for herself and the man she wants for her future.

Thoughts: I adored Layla! Not only is she relatable (not every romantic female lead needs to have a flat stomach, TYVM!) and down-to-earth (probably can’t get less glamorous than an accountant - no offense!), she is also very self-conscious and feels like Jack is way out of her league, which I for one have felt about myself in a handful of relationships. It’s heartbreaking every time she gives Jack an “out” to let him off the hook for the date she technically bought. But rest assured, reader, your heart will be glued right back together by Jack’s utter sweetness and charm as he repeatedly tries to get Layla to see just how much he really likes her. This was a really sweet story with a dramatic but not that dramatic conflict that helps drive the story while also not diminishing any of the budding relationship between these two adorable characters. The perfect amount of sweet for a Valentine’s Day read!

The Bachelor Cowboy is the sixth book in The Wyoming Cowboy series by Jessica Clare. A delightful romance with steamy buildup, delicious descriptions that will pull you in and leave you wanting more. This is the third book I have read in the series. I have read the other two books and loved them both. The Wyoming Cowboy series gets better with each book.

This was a cute steamy read that I really enjoyed!
I’m a sucker for the nerdy girl with a gruff cowboy and this delivered!
I know there’s another book in the series I definitely will be checking out!

THE BACHELOR COWBOY – Jessica Clare
Wyoming Cowboys, Book 6
Jove
ISBN: 9780593102022
January 26, 2021
Contemporary Romance

Painted Barrel, Wyoming – Present Day

Cowboy Jack Watson is roped into volunteering in a charity bachelor auction. The plan is for a woman to bid and win him, and all he has to do is show her a good time. Jack fully expects one of the older ladies to win the bid. To his surprise, sweet, shy Layla Schmidt bids the highest. She is friends with his brothers’ girlfriends, so he is familiar with her. Their first date consists of Jack introducing Layla to ranch life. The two soon get to know one another and connect—and more dates follow. Jack is originally from Alaska but has no reason to return there. In fact, Jack is thinking of buying land around Painted Barrel, and Layla would be a good excuse to stay in town.

Like Jack, Layla was pressured into attending the auction. Her best friends convinced her that no one would bid on Jack because many of the men would have girlfriends to bid on them, so she should help poor Jack out of his misery. It is for charity after all! Layla is well aware of who Jack is and is secretly attracted to him. During the auction, her narcissistic mother arrives and is soon bidding on Jack—outbidding her own daughter! Layla finally finagles the final bid and wins Jack. Her mother, who has spent most of her life putting down Layla, informs him that her daughter is a virgin. How embarrassing! But Jack is nice—and sweet. They soon click and Layla decides she wants to spend more time with him. Their relationship builds slowly, but the sparks are flying as their mutual attraction grows. But, just as things are looking up in their relationship, it is threatened.

In THE BACHELOR COWBOY by Jessica Clare, we meet Jack Watson. He’s a handsome, affable cowboy who is trying to decide whether to stay in Painted Barrel since his two brothers have settled here. The town is small, and everyone pretty much knows what is going on. While he initially didn’t want to do the auction, it is for a good cause. The question is which old lady would win him? With Layla being the winner, Jack feels like he is the one who won. He is aware of her mother’s words about Layla being a virgin, and he suspects it’s true. Therefore, he proceeds slowly with Layla. Meanwhile, he’s looking for land.

Layla’s mother is one step short of being a crook. Her mother owns some property that is prone to flooding and she wants to sell it—without disclosing the flood plain issue. Layla, who is an accountant, is trying to steer her mother into being honest. She has lived for years with her mother’s insults, and unfortunately, Layla believes the lies that she isn’t good enough to land a man like Jack. However, there is a romance building between them. Will she finally give in to the desire that simmers between them? Will her mother come between them?

THE BACHELOR COWBOY is an entertaining tale that will tickle your fancy. Layla lacks confidence in herself when it comes to men—no thanks to her mother. Jack soon gives her what she needs to realize that she is as beautiful and sensual as any woman. Readers will smile—and root for them—as they slowly fall in love. There’s plenty of passion and a whole lot of finding love between our couple. Don’t miss THE BACHELOR COWBOY.

Patti Fischer

Review will also appear on Romance Reviews Today website at http://romrevtoday.com/

3.5 stars -- It has been a while since I've read a small town contemporary, and this gave me the cozy vibes I was looking for! I personally really loved that this was kind of slow burn-y and that the conflict was focused on the heroine overcoming the confidence issues her narcissistic mother had imparted to her. I think for some people, this will be perceived as the heroine being wishy-washy... to me, this felt like an accurate reflection of a person's journey to grow from a habit their trying to break. All in all, this was really sweet & fun while still being pretty spicy when called for

This is the third book I have read in the series. I have read the other two brothers books and loved them both and this one was even better than those books. This easily stands alone and this series is writtend about three single brothers from Alaska who move to yoming to help their uncle when he gets injured. They end up staying and finding love,
This is the baby brother, Jack's story and he is the hottie with the biggest flirting skills and all the ladies love him. That is except for Layla who is a nerdy accountant who is shy and while she notices Jack she thinks she is not his type and so ignores him.

That is until one day when she i roped into bididng and winning him in a date auction and thats when this book gets so fun. I loved how Jack and Layla are together. They were pure flirting fun. She does have the worst mother ever so get ready for her to annoy you as she annoys Layla. But I loved how Layla and Jack are and this was a really fun story.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from NETGALLERY prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Saddle up for a new cowboy romance out on January 26th! Jessica Clare’s newest book, The Bachelor Cowboy, shows just what happens when you buy a date with a cowboy.

Did I realize that this was the 6th book in a series? Nope! Am I now going to go and read the rest of the books in this series? Yep! Even though I unintentionally started reading this series backwards, this book definitely works as a standalone novel. While I would've liked to have more background information on some of the side characters (which I probably would've had if I had read the books in order), I didn’t feel too out of the loop or confused while reading this book.

It was funny, steamy, and if you love a “cowboy falls for nerdy girl” then you’ll love this book! Layla is a classic nerdy gal who doesn’t really care what people think of her and Jack is your stereotypical cowboy (complete with a cowboy hat and big belt buckle). However, the two of them are such lovable characters! Throw in a meddling old lady, a spotlight-stealing mother, and a dachshund puppy who wants to be carried around everywhere, this novel just screams cute rom-com!

While there wasn’t anything super profound or moving, I still had such a fun time reading this and I was hooked from the first chapter! If you’re looking for a bingeable and quick romance that's pretty linear, then this is a great choice!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion.

Layla Schmidt is shy, innocent (still has her V card) and considers herself a nerd. After all aren't all accountants considered to be nerds? Now her two best friends, Becca and Amy have talked her into attending the bachelor auction their group is sponsoring as a fundraiser for converting the back of City Hall into an animal shelter. Becca is married to Hank Watson and Amy is Caleb Watson's girlfriend. Becca talked the youngest Watson Brother, Jack into being one of the bachelors being auctioned off. Becca and Amy want Layla there to bid on Jack in case no one else does. Like no one would be bidding on handsome, sexy Jack! So here she is doing her friends a favor and helping herself out at the same time by using her appearance at the auction as an excuse to avoid her narcissist mother's attempt to set her up with a blind date. Her mother is the worst! Oh no! Now here comes her mother into the bachelor auction room. And she has the nerve to bid on Jack Watson. Nope. Not happening. Layla will win Jack. So there! After all she has been attracted to Jack since she first met him but was too shy to even meet his gaze when they ran into each other. Layla Schmidt, you are the winner of Jack Watson. YES!

Jack is the youngest of the three Watson brothers and considered to be quite the ladies man. He was not happy about it but he couldn't tell his sister-in-law Becca "no" when she asked him to participate in her group's bachelor auction fundraiser. He could do this. It's for a worthy cause. Jack couldn't believe it when Layla Schmidt placed the winning bid for him. He has been attracted to her from the first time he met her. What a lucky break! Now he just has to convince Layla that he really likes her and wants to spend more time with her even after their auction date.

The Bachelor Cowboy by Jessica Clare is the sixth book in her Wyoming Cowboys series. I enjoyed the other books in the series but this one is my favorite. I loved the two main characters Layla Schmidt and Jack Watson. Their teasing banter back and forth made this a really fun read. These two just seemed to be made for each other. The conflict in the story really could have been a deal breaker for Jack but he was so wonderful and very supportive of Layla. Jack is just the sweetest guy. I definitely want him to be my new book boyfriend. I also really liked how Layla and Jack shared "custody" of the rescue dog Oscar and how they shared him with Cora at the Pine Grove Assisted Living Facility. This was a really delightful read.

Really love the story. Really wanted an epilogue.
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Who doesn’t love a hunky cowboy with a heart of gold? This one is a dreamboat and such a flirt!

Clare hit it out of the park with the sweet and total crush, Jack. I just love this guy! And to think his perfect match is a nerdy virgin with a psycho mother? Yeah, I never would have thought it!

But somehow this author made it work and work well. Their personalities meshed beautifully together and balanced off each other just right. Their sweet flirting was adorable.

Maybe that is what bugged me about this one. It took forever for them to finally connect and seal the deal. Heck, I was frustrated with them! LOL! This virgin story had a great build-up but it took an act of congress to move things along. I also really wanted an epilogue. I miss that in many stories!

The author added several trials to hurdle over and they did so wonderfully with the sense of loving care evident throughout. Great connections with others and a wonderful supporting cast that is enjoyable and fun.

Overall, a delightful story with steamy buildup, delicious descriptions that will wind you up, and a HEA that is so worth it all! Plus, I just love her covers! I hope there are more books to come in the series! I can't wait for the next one!

I love this series.
Jack and Layla are a great match. She takes his sass and gives it right back.
Her mother is horrid. But Layla handles her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a cute series. The characters are quirky but sweet. Jack and Layla are perfect for each other. He's a sweet talking cowboy who is easy on the eyes. He set his sights on Layla but she's had her head in her job and although she noticed him, she thought he was out of her grasp.
There is a little drama with her mother but it was handled smartly. I like the stand that Layla took. She knew who and what she wanted.
This couple is a sweet as the others in the series.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a really sweet, hot, funny enjoyable read! If love to read the rest of the books in the series but I guess I'll have to see cuz they are pricey! Lol it's definitely worth reading but I'm not sure at that price lol thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Sweet, quick read follows along with the Wyoming Cowboy series. This time we get Jack, the one whose appearance and reputation turns out to be misleading. Cute story and a nice read.

The heroine has a difficult mother who seems to drag her into all kinds of trouble; however, thankfully she perseveres and gets the man (and the dog). A small town accountant, the heroine gets invited by her best friend to a charity auction for the local animal shelter. The mother causes a few uncomfortable moments yet this does cause growth and helps the heroine figure out what she wants and values. This is a fun book to read and the relationship between the heroine and her cowboy does develop nicely.