What a great start to a series by Kate Pearce. Chase grew up on the Morgan ranch with his grandmother and his younger brothers. Unfortunately due to an incident that happened when he was 12 tore his family apart, Chase shouldered the blame even though he was only a kid. Now his grandmother Ruth asks him to come back after being away for many years to help her out of a financial situation.
When he arrives he meets January who is staying with Ruth while doing her thesis on the Morgan ranch, she wants to preserve it historically and is trying to find a way to keep it running. Chase and January become fast friends and then "friends with benefits". January tries to help Chase with coming to terms with his past and defends him to his brother Blue who still holds a grudge over what happened 20 years ago.
Chase and January begin to realize that they are feeling more than friends with benefits for each other but it takes an incident for Chase to realize that he is in love with her. As pieces of the mystery are revealed of what really happened long ago old hurts are forgiven but a bigger mystery remains. What happened to his mom and sister?
The story flows easily and is written in great detail you can see the ranch and it's surroundings in your head and are easily lost to the book wanting to keep reading and waiting anxiously for the second book.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

Right off the bat, it was obvious Ruth was manipulating the situation. It didn't take away from the storyline because throughout the book, you are getting hints of the details of the family situation.

I did like Chase and January. They had really good chemistry. As with any couple, they had a couple of those verbal communication issues. They also had a hot sexy relationship. I do wish that Chase had put Kevin firmly in his place, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Kevin pop up in another book. The foundation for future Morgan family books has been firmly laid.

This was a good romance with touches of suspense and mystery. I also liked the family dynamic between Chase, Ruth, and Blue.

The book is not a quick read. I got a little more of the Morgan family history than I cared about, but I understood that some of it was necessary. The Reluctant Cowboy is a standalone book, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy.

I have not had a chance to read this book, Once I have gotten a chance to read it I will edit this review to reflect my thoughts and feeling on the book.

The Reluctant Cowboy was a wonderful book. It introduces us to the Morgan family who are attempting to save the family ranch. It involves a romance between two unlikely candidates; introduces us to another Morgan brother and the relationships the siblings had as children. It also has a bit of a mystery to it. It was a great story that kept me involved in the story. It has many different elements (romance, mystery, history and sibling rivalry) to it and is a great story. The characters are well developed with a great back story. I love Kate Pearce’s books, and this did not disappoint. It is a change from her normal books, but I found I loved it. I look forward to the remaining books in the series.

After a turbulent childhood, the Morgan brothers went their separate ways, leaving the family cattle ranch and their cowboy days far behind. But now, one by one, they’re being called back home to California. Have they been summoned to save the land—or to start a new legacy?

Chase Morgan high-tailed it away from ranching life as soon as possible. But running a successful technology company can’t erase the memories, or secrets, of his youth. Coming home to help his Grandma Ruth may finally put some ghosts to rest—if he can just get a certain smart, beautiful houseguest out of his business. But getting her out of his head is proving even more difficult…

Determined to save the Morgan ranch, historian January Mitchell has pinned her hopes on the surprisingly rugged, surprisingly likable, and exasperatingly stubborn Chase. Surely his love of this breathtaking, mysterious land runs deep enough that he’ll once again embrace his inner cowboy. Or maybe, despite both of their skittish hearts, she’ll have to find a way to get him back in the saddle…any which way she can.

“If you love cowboys—and who doesn’t—you’ll love the Morgans!” --Cora Seton, New York Times bestselling author

I have tried to read this book a few times, hoping that it would grab my interest. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. The main two characters I just couldn't get. This could have been a good book. The title was good. The cover was great, but the story itself just fell short.

I received an ARC for an honest review. Kate Pearce is usually on my must read list. This series is a change of pace from her more erotic books, but it does not short change the reader at all. She is a master at developing robust characters while investing you in the pace of the relationship between them. Her characters are real and engaging. In the Reluctant Cowboy, Chase Morgan returns to the family ranch from Silicone Valley to deal with his grandmother and threats to the future of the ranch. While there he struggles with ghosts from his past while fighting his attraction to January, the historian he doesn't want there. Chase is a likeable character and Pearce writes his nerdy stubborn streak well. January is feisty, but compassionate. Some of my favorite scenes were January calling out Chase on the awkwardness in his interpersonal skills. While there were communication issues, there were real and resolved in a way that helped both characters grow. Pearce develops the relationship at a pace that makes sense, dealing with each character's insecurities and baggage. You are definitely sucked into the story and root for Chase to find himself again. I like the fact that while there is an instant attraction, it isn't insta-love. It's a realistic progression given the length of the book. There's definitely some steamy scenes (though not as erotic as her Sinful series) and secondary characters you want to learn more about. There's an intriguing mystery surrounding the Morgan men that will continue in the subsequent books. She sets up the next book in the series well and I can't wait until it's out. I wasn't a huge cowboy series fan, but Kate Pearce has now convinced me otherwise.

CHASE CHASE CHASE CHASE...

Loved the inner turmoil of this character combined with his loyalty to...well everything. He is an obvious control freak who believes the world is black and white when it comes to business decisions. When he arrives at the ranch at the request of his grandmother, his mind is made up that it's time to sell the ranch because from a business stand point it doesn't make sense.

Unlike in some books, his change wasn't immediate and instead was much more realistic. He went from hating the ranch to tolerating the ranch and eventually to calling it home. It was far from an overnight process.

January...I loved her dedication to history and her strong desire to know more. I kept feeling though that we never got the full story of what happened with her and Kevin. The reason for the divorce just didn't match the person that we saw when Kevin visited. I actually expected it to come out that he was physically abusive towards her and that was the real reason of the divorce.

Looking forward to the next book in this series as I desperately want to know what happened the mother and Rachel.

I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ADVANCE READER COPY OF THIS BOOK. Loved the book. The love story between Chase and January was a little slow to begin with but picked up as the book went along. If you are a fan of Kate Pearce, you will not be disappointed with this book. I would definitely recommend the book.

Really enjoyable cowboy love story. It is a story about second chances, redemption, family and love. Made me want to put on my cowboy boots and head west! Great believable characters and a beautiful story setting. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone that likes western romances.

Chase Morgan has avoided the Morgan ranch for years. When his grandmother calls him home though, he can’t turn her down and takes a much needed break from his job, while trying to convince his grandmother to sell the place. January Mitchell is staying at Morgan ranch, helping with the chores while researching it’s history. She and Chase butt heads while she’s determined to help his grandmother turn the ranch around and he just wants to get rid of it.
This was a pretty straight-forward story about a former cowboy-turned business workaholic coming home and dealing with his ghosts. There were some pretty hot scenes between Chase and January. There wasn’t a whole lot of drama, except for trying to change Chase’s stubborn mind. Pretty good read. I recommend.

Chase convinced himself he was happy with his city life and job, until he came home to help his Grandma Ruth. January was determined to help Ruth keep her family ranch. What starts off as a battle of wills between Chase and January soon morphs into a friendship of sorts. January is smart, courageous, and not afraid to try. Chase is rich, stubborn, and determined that he is right. When things from the past surface again, they will need each other to figure it out. This book has it all, love, friendship, family and mystery.

Great book! I always love a good western and this book did not disappoint.

I'm a real sucker for anything by Kate Pearce.

This story checks all the boxes for me: really solid character development, even to the point that both the H and h seem pretty unlikeable/uninteresting in the beginning, yet grow to be pretty three-dimensional, interesting characters by the end. I also like the ranch setting and the fact that it adds to the story, yet doesn't get kitschy-ridiculous like some contemporary cowboy romance novels. I enjoyed a less alpha Hero than Pearce normally writes. I also found it interesting that the H doesn't NEED to come home (he's successful in his own right in his own field), but does so anyway. An interesting take on the coming-come sub-genre.

A note: this is less steamy than Pearce is known for, though there's still plenty of sexual tension and some solid payoff.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Never thought a nerdy cowboy would be my idea of a romantic hero, but Chase Morgan definitely changed my mind! He can sit a horse and organize a spreadsheet, but he can't figure out January Mitchell, raised on a commune and determined to preserve Chase's family ranch for history. It's his confusion that provides the humor and delight , which sucks you right into The Reluctant Cowboy!

To new beginnings. The Reluctant Cowboy is the start of what looks to be a promising journey of healing for three brothers. The road to being united may be long and paved with painful secrets and hurt feelings but the reward at the end is worth the price. Chase has an easygoing charm that fools the outside world but he still grapples with the heartaches of a painful youth. January is a woman with a lot of ambition but a tender heart and Chase along with his family are in need of some her tender loving care. Can she win over their trust? Am looking forward to more with this complicated bunch.

My first read by Kate Pearce was enjoyable. I had a problem starting this book for some reason. I didn't care for Chase too much in the beginning but he won me over. Chase & January had good chemistry together but it wasn't written as the hot steamy kind, it was cute & sweet, even though they spent a lot of time exploring each other. With so many secrets around the ranch the fledgling friendship is tested a few times. The past comes back for both of them & they both need to be strong to get through what it's bringing. I found this book had quite a bit of humour as well. January had a bit of a sarcastic wit about her & Chase brought it out in her in spades & his brother Blue & grandma Ruth were also fun loving characters. Good start to this series.

This is the beginning of a very interesting saga. I read book 2 first, which was a little better than this, but this sets up the background of the storyline. Chase is a man obsessed with his business, and getting rid of the Morgan Ranch, when he comes home for the first time in years. January is on the ranch helping Ruth Morgan run the it, and writing her thesis. Them being at odds over what is to become of the ranch, while fighting their attraction, makes for some dramatic and entertaining scenes. A lot of background is revealed in this book, but not all of the mysteries. You don't have to read this first to enjoy book 2, but it makes for a more complete story. And you miss out on Chase becoming human again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion of it.

The Reluctant Cowboy by Kate Pearce
Book #1: Morgan Ranch Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

Lately, I have been loving the whole cowboy thing and Kate Pearce certainly fed into my current reading obsession with the first book in her Morgan Ranch series, The Reluctant Cowboy.

Chase Morgan’s memories of home are very rarely pleasant. His mother and baby sister mysteriously disappeared when Chase was just a kid, his father drank himself into a stupor over the disappearance and when he was just sober enough to do so, left Chase and his three younger brothers without a look back. If it weren’t for Chase’s grandmother, Ruth Morgan, there would never be a need to return to Morgan Ranch. But, Ruth Morgan is a tiny little force to be reckoned with and when she wants Chase home, she knows how to make it happen.

With nothing more than a cryptic message about needing Chase to come home, Ruth hatches her plot to get Chase back where he belongs. Her secret weapon? January Mitchell, a young grad student looking to complete her graduate work while helping Ruth revive Morgan Ranch and reinvent it as a working ranch tourist stop. As an outsider looking in, January can see the appeal of Morgan Ranch and is fascinated by the site’s history. Her intentions are good and true, but convincing the uptight Chase Morgan of the validity of her plan is going to be one long and arduous uphill battle. Good thing she’s smart, persuasive, and attractive 

January’s goals align perfectly with Ruth’s, revitalize the Morgan Ranch and expand on all it has to offer. Chase’s goals, at least in the beginning are markedly different from the two women currently in his life. Chase’s life is now in Silicon Valley where he is a wildly successful businessman. Chase knows what it takes to run a successful business and he has no interest in running a successful ranch. The long hours, the back-breaking work, and a place that evokes mostly painful memories aren’t what Chase sees in his future. What he does see is getting Ruth all squared away, ensuring she is cared for, and trying not to think about January naked and spread beneath him. Thoughts like that only suck him deeper into Ruth’s plan and Chase just isn’t sure he has any cowboy left in him.

To be sure, Chase’s only problem isn’t just a scheming granny and a hot newcomer. There’s also the issue of the reappearance of one of his younger brother, Blue, issues related to his missing father, mother, and baby sister, and the nagging feeling that his business partners are trying to push him out. Chase has more than a plateful of problems and the only person he finds who can soothe all his worries is his quasi-enemy, January. Staying away from January is the right thing to do as she comes with her own set of problems and issues, but Chase just can’t seem to make himself avoid her.

The Bottom Line: This is probably the most sexually tame book by Kate Pearce I have ever read, and you know what? It’s still a really good book! There’s a lot of meat to this story with January and her past, Chase and his entire family’s past, the current and future situation with the Morgan Ranch, and Chase’s future. There is so much struggle in this read and the very real need for several of the characters to let go of the past and focus on what could be, a very happy future. That struggle plays out across the read while alluding to the future of the series. The naughty bits are steamy, but as I mentioned above, not quite as steamy as what I’ve read from Kate Pearce in the past. What’s important to know is that naughty bits are appropriate to this read and to the characters and enhance the read rather than taking it over. This one is all about the characters with a solid and interesting plot, and enough secondary characters to continue the series for some time to come. YAY!!! More hot cowboys!!!!