HOT COWBOY NIGHTS is Book 2 in Carolyn Brown's Lucky Penny Ranch series set in Dry Creek, Texas. After reading HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, I want to go back and see what I missed by inadvertently skipping the previous book. I like the unusual premise, in HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, taking two people who had a strictly physical relationship and have it morph into something more. Usually I read about friends who decide to take their relationship to a more intimate level, rather than having a story start out with the hero and heroine sexually involved. Within the first few pages of HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, Lizzy Logan is contemplating breaking off her red hot fling with equally hot cowboy Toby Dawson. Little do Lizzy and Toby suspect that the convoluted circumstances that lead them to have a faux courtship only heralds some unexpected trouble with some fun and sexy times thrown in for good measure.

Even though their relationship isn't particularly deep at the opening of HOT COWBOY NIGHTS, I love how Lizzy and Toby always manage to keep things friendly and stick together -- even at the risk of incurring the wrath of persnickety self-righteous church ladies. Carolyn Brown breathes life into these characters and makes the reader invested in their stories. Even secondary characters on the periphery of this story snared my interest. The tight family relationships exhibited by Lizzy and Toby's extended family are phenomenal and add greatly to my overall enjoyment of this story.

The friendship and fun flirtations between Toby and Lizzy make their evolving relationship entertaining. Carolyn Brown manages to create a romance that's steamy, light and fun, while also a relationship with substance and heart. Lizzy is flawed and real, as well as likable. I love the wild things she says when her detractors come into her store with the express purpose of harassing her. I like a woman who can stand up for herself. Although Toby has a reputation with the ladies, I like that he is affable and pretty straightforward. The magic Toby tries to spin as he woos Lizzy is a delight after her controlling and sanctimonious ex-fiancé. The sexiness is expertly balanced with the moments of levity and tenderness.

HOT COWBOY NIGHTS is a character-driven delight for romance fans. I like this story is told from alternating perspectives, because the reader is able to see how caught by surprise Lizzy and Toby both are by love creeping up on them. I love how the majority of characters in HOT COWBOY NIGHTS are pragmatic and know how to enjoy life. I look forward to the next Lucky Penny Ranch book by Carolyn Brown.

Book Summary

LET'S GIVE 'EM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT . . .

If gossip is the lifeblood of a small town, then Lizzy Logan has been its beating heart. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, she could have decided to crawl under a rock. But no, she'd rather really set tongues wagging by "moving on" with one of the hottest cowboys in Texas, who happens to live next door at the Lucky Penny Ranch. Those busybodies don't have to know it's actually all pretend. And just because Lizzy has no aim to tame her wild, blue-eyed neighbor doesn't mean she can't enjoy the ride of her life.

Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy's pretend boyfriend? They'll put on a show for a few weeks and be done. Yet the more he gets to know Lizzy-really know her-the harder it is for him to keep his hands off of her in private. Soon this rough-and-ready cowboy is hoping to heal Lizzy's bruised heart and turn their fake affair into a true romance . . .

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