She's got her eyes on the prize...

Gemma O'Donnell wasn't the first woman to win the ProRodeo buckle for bronc riding, but she was damn well going to be the second. What she didn't count on was her main competition sweeping her off her feet.

He'll do whatever it takes to win...

Trace Coleman isn't really after a title - he needs the cash prize to buy his dream ranch. But one sexy, determined cowgirl keeps getting in his way. In his effort to take her out of the running, he risks losing both the title - and his heart.

They're both in for a little surprise...

Everybody's world is turned upside down when a pint-size bundle of joy gets dropped right into Trace's lap...and suddenly all the stakes are higher.

Loved Gemma and Trace's story. Once again Carolyn Brown does not disappoint. Will recommend to others.

This story is based on the rodeo circuit. The main characters Gemma and Trace face off in these events. But what they didn’t expect was attraction between them to escalate. However with the new addition that is forced upon them, they need to decide on how all this will pan out, especially with a final result in the rodeo event.

I am giving an honest review for this book which I received from NetGalley.

EXCERPT: His name was Smokin' Joe and he was a rodeo legend. Cowboys said that he could see right into the soul of a rider and could feel the fear he struck in their hearts. Well, Gemma wasn't afraid of Smokin'-damn-Joe. He wasn't a bit meaner than the bronc out on Rye's ranch that she'd trained on, and she'd shown him who was boss. Smokin' Joe was just the next bronc in a long line, so he could take his evil glare and suck it up. Tonight she was the boss. She didn't care if the other riders had made bets about how quickly into the ride he'd throw her off into the dust. She'd show them all, cowboys and bronc alike, that a cowgirl had come to town.

ABOUT 'JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY': Gemma O'Donnell was incensed when she wasn't the first woman to win the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Championship Association) buckle for bronc riding. This year, she heads out on the PRCA ProRodeo Tour burning to be the second.

First stop is Cody, Wyoming where her stiffest competition is Trace Coleman, who already has a jump on her. A tall, dark-haired cowboy with a sexy grin and a swagger, he doesn't really give a damn about the trophy belt buckle—he wants the purse to buy a ranch he has his eye on. He damn sure doesn't have time for a sassy bit of Irish baggage who can evidently ride anything with four legs and make anything with two legs want to take her to bed.

Gemma wins a few; Trace wins a few. In the end they both qualify for the final cut in Las Vegas. But when it comes down to the wire, only one can win the bronc-riding competition and take home one helluva prize. But in this competition, it just might be loser takes all...

MY THOUGHTS: I just love Carolyn Brown books. I think it is because she is such an honest writer. Her characters are all down-to-earth people who are easy to relate to, her plots pleasurable. You might know from the outset where the book is going to wind up, but it's an exciting journey to get there and there's always a surprise or two along the way.

Her books are always family orientated, and Just a Cowboy and His Baby is no exception. I love the sense of family she portrays and often wish I could step right into one!

Just a Cowboy and His Baby is a rivals to lovers romance; one that sizzles and sparks but without any open-door bedroom scenes.

I loved both Gemma and Trace and their competitiveness. I used to love going to rodeos when they were more common than they are now, and with Carolyn Brown's writing, I could once again smell the dust, the scent of the animals, and taste the food. I do love a good hamburger!

I would give Carolyn Brown five stars for the ending alone - it had me tearing up and grinning. It's just beautiful! She sure accomplished what she set out to do with this read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#JustaCowboyandHisBaby #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks, Casablanca via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Great cowboy romance by Carolyn Brown. Great writing. Strong female character, bull rider. Surprise baby, prize money on the line. Great, fun read

What happens when two stubborn people who happens to be competing against each other? A bronco busting ride of a story! I enjoyed the characters of Trace and Gemma, both after the same goal…..to win the PBR in Vegas. A fast paced story that can be read as a standalone, my favorite so far.
Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #JustaCowboyandhisBaby #Spikes&Spurs

Give me a Carolyn Brown book and I will read it. Just a Cowboy and His Baby was her latest book. Just from the title alone, I knew it was going to be a winner and I was right!

ust a Cowboy and His Baby was first published in 2012 and is just now being published again in 2024. That was lucky for me, as first time round I wasn't aware of it. This book by Carolyn Brown is a thoroughly heart warming read.

The characters are wonderful - Gemma and Trace are both good people, very competitive yet highly respectful. And there is a sizzle between them. There larger community/family are fun and really added to the story. And just wait till you meet Holly.l

The plot moved along very well, I found no dull patches, where I'd want to yawn and wonder what else I could read. There was always something happening. I liked the rodeo competition and very much liked that there was no artificial break up of the couple towards the end.  And of course there was that I wonder who will win the competition. 

All I love about romance was within the covers of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

Just a Cowboy and His Baby is a re-release of one of my favorite author's books. Actually one I had not read before. This was a sweet story and one that I really enjoyed, I loved the chemistry between Gemma and Trace. At times I laughed and at times I had a couple tears. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Trace and Gemma are rodeo competitors aiming for the Las Vegas finals, with Gemma being the only woman in the competition. Their immediate attraction is tested as they navigate their relationship over several months. The author contrasts their different backgrounds, showcasing their similarities and developing their bond. A surprise pregnancy adds forced proximity, deepening their connection. The story addresses Trace’s strained relationship with his parents with nuance, making them more relatable. Gemma is strong and well-developed, while Trace, an orphan with a complicated family dynamic, is equally stubborn. The plot incorporates the challenges of rodeo life but remains a fulfilling and pleasant romance, showcasing a journey from not seeking a relationship to finding true love.

In this Brown novel it's Gemma who gets her shot at love. She is a bronc rider and is competing for the grand prize. She is tough as nails and wont anyone walk over her, in this manly world. But she is also kind, and yes sassy.

In comes hunky Trace, of course she has checked him out and he her. But he is her most fierce competition so no chance of anything happening. But who am I kidding, of course something will happen. These two will spend months travelling the same roads, going to the same places. Fate is pushing them together.

There is a baby in the title, and something is shown a bit into the book so that one is easy to figure out.

The book was cute, filled with Texas charm and a book that you easily read in one day. You just sit down and the pages fly by.

Trace and Gemma are both on the rodeo circuit trying to get to the finals in Vegas. She is the only woman in the competition. Their attraction is immediate but can riding bucking broncs lead to a forever love?

The author created two characters with the same basic goal but with different backgrounds. I love how the author did a juxtaposition of their worlds but also showed how similar they are in so many ways. The characters have an instant spark but get the chance to know each other over a period of months. By the end of the story I was confident that they had found a perfect match! There is a surprise pregnancy/baby plot in the story. It is part of the reason Trace and Gemma end up in forced proximity. I like the addition of tension between Trace and his parents and how the author handled it. It would have been easier to make readers just hate them instead of taking time to make them human. All of the side characters add to the story, even the little dog.

If you are looking for a family centered, rodeo, instant attraction love story, give this a chance. It is written in classic Carolyn Brown style. I would start reading and then realize I had finished 5 more chapters! I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown is an unashamedly cowboy romance between two bronc riders: Gemma O’Donnell and Trace Coleman. The two were competing for first place and the big money. Trace wanted to buy his uncle’s ranch in Texas and Gemma wanted a place of her own just a few hundred miles away. It was hard fought, back and forth. And in the meantime they discovered one another. It was a decent romance as romances go and all was going well until there was a blast from the past. Was this going to derail everything?

Gemma was a good character: strong, stubborn, and well written. The reader got to know her. We also got to know Trace who was just as stubborn. Gemma had a loving family. Trace was an orphan with a couple of brothers and an uncle who wanted to give him the ranch, but Trace wanted to buy it. There were injuries, as there always are in rodeoing, and lots of nights spent in a trailer. It was a fulfilling and pleasant plot, filled with minor twists and turns on this journey of two people who weren’t interested in relationships to two people who were. It was fun to read, as Brown’s books always are and a bit too good to be true, but isn’t that why we are romance readers? Terrific book. I recommend it.

I was invited to read Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Sourcebooks Casablanca. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #SourcebooksCasablanca #CarolynBrown #JustACowboyAndHisBaby

I loved this book! It was a great read and I could not put it down! The Romance was very well written. Would highly recommend!

JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY was originally issued in 2012.

Saddle bronco riding definitely a man’s contest but Gemma O’Donnell was no shrinking violet or tender gentile female. She had important goals – one to be the second woman to win this contest and second to have the prize money to buy her own spread. She was determined to remain focused on the job at hand which meant avoiding distractions. Gemma was also somewhat superstitious – probably like a lot of the circuit riders. She had an entire routine which she followed religiously and so far it seemed to be working for her.

The entire ride was eight seconds with no room for errors.

So when Trace Coleman insinuated himself into Gemma’s on the road life she had many reasons to avoid this sexy cowboy. He was rumored to collect rodeo groupies and Gemma wasn’t interest in joining that collection. For this six month series of events Trace was probably going to be one of her major competitors. After just a few events they were basically neck to neck. But even more disturbing was the more time spent on this circuit together the stronger their mutual attraction grew.

Even the toughest cowboy or cowgirl can’t fight an amazing chemistry that simmers to a full boil with very little work. Gemma and Trace make an amazing hot couple but beneath their budding, dare we say, relationship is a gnawing shared fear of vulnerability and commitment. They were in it to win it. Both had their eye on the prize.

But at some point the contest takes a major detour with much more at stake than the bronco riding prize money. Enter a real surprise – a baby Trace hadn’t known existed and the dynamics change. Now the real fun begins.

Love it. Carolyn Brown’s cowboys always jump off the page and are beyond yummy, sexy and daring. She developed an equally yummy, sexy and daring cowgirl in this story and even though they are quite equally talented and self-confident in their riding ability – they were equally shaky in their personal lives.

Best intentions are no match for hot sex and nobody writes steamy scenes better than Brown. Her stories just get better and better winning new fans with each one. This is a delightful read with something for everyone. I love my cowboys and there are none better than Carolyn Brown’s.

Gemma and Trace meet whilst competing on the rodeo circuit. They are both bronc riders and grew up on ranches 100 miles apart. I liked how their shared values and experiences made them gravitate towards each other and understand each other’s needs and family backgrounds. Gemma is ready to start a family so readily accepts Trace’s baby daughter when is given up by her mother. There is a lot of interesting detail about ranch life / the rodeo circuit and although it’s very much a behind closed doors romance, there is plenty of chemistry between Gemma and Trace.

This book gave a little “the longest ride” vibes but it had a totally different plot. it was cute, sweet, and emotional at times. This book is filled with tension, love, and competition. I’d classify this as enemies to lovers. The writing style isn’t YA enough for me, but it was a solid read.

What a great book!!! I was so caught into this from the beginning and could not stop reading until I didn't want the last chapter to end. Such a great book!

Just A Cowboy and His Baby is a reissue from the 2012 publication of a delightful romance filled with witty dialogue and sexy situations that will bring smiles to readers’ faces. Trace Coleman wants to win the bronc busting competition so he’ll have the money to buy a ranch. Gemma O’Donnell just wants the glory of being the second woman to win in what basically is a male sport. A lustful relationship develops as they travel from event to event, a relationship that certainly might be tested when a newborn baby is dropped into his lap. This reader loved the country music references and that while the relationship has heat, there are no erotic descriptions to offend readers. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend

Just a Cowboy and His Baby is part of the Spikes & Spurs Series by Carolyn Brown. I did not realize this until I started reading it. It sounded so familiar so I looked the book up. It was previously published in 2012 with a different cover. I probably read it around ten years ago so I cannot say for sure if this version b has been updated or simply re-released.

The story line is solid with two characters wanting the same winning title but also very attracted to each other. At the same time this is a field that has almost no female competitors in it. This is one of Ms. Brown’s earlier books that have less sass and more romance in them. Those are books that sold me on this author back this. A fun read the second time around just like it was the first time.

If you are looking for a light romance book this one is it. The book was previously published in 2012, but I hadn’t read it then and enjoyed it now. The book is part of a series but easily stands on its own. Thank you to net galley for a copy of this book.