Judith’s review of One Hot Cowboy Wedding (Spikes and Spurs #4) by Carolyn Brown.
The will said Ace would keep the ranch if he had a wife and stayed married for a year. Jasmine was just helping him out until Ace’s kisses left her longing for a true cowboy husband. It was supposed to be a secret wedding followed by a quiet divorce. But when they won a contest in the little wedding chapel, the secret marriage is exposed to the national media and all hell breaks lose.
With each of the books in this series I was convinced that it was not possible to keep the fun and games going, but I was wrong. When I finish one, I just can’t stop chuckling and wondering how one author can infuse so much good stuff into one book. So it is with Ace and Jasmine, two best friends–truly best friends–who have been meeting and sharing their days over good food in the kitchen of Jasmine’s restaurant. They are such good friends that Jazzy is willing to take it in the neck for Ace–help him secure his inheritance to his ranch–and they can do so quietly and without anyone knowing all about it. Oops!! and I do mean a really big Oops!! Imagine planning an elopement, one that will be a very well-kept secret, only to find out that you have walked into a pre-planned celebration that ends up plastering your wedding photos all over the TV and internet.
That’s just the start of the fun, and when you have a sassy bride like Jasmine–a former business woman who just wants to own her own restaurant, and a very handsome and personable rancher like Ace, you have the beginnings of a romance that will most certainly be unusual, to say the least. Add in Ace’s family–a rockem sockem collection of people who have no problems just saying it like they think it, and then you add in Jazzy’s mom who is bound and determined to give Jasmine the biggest Texas wedding she can put together–she’s been saving for this since the day Jazzy was born–and you have the makings of a whirlwind circus the like of which is seldom encountered in romance fiction.
In the midst of all the fun, though, are two people who really want to find their “one and only,” who may have enjoyed the “companionship” of others in the past, and like Ace, have books filled with names and addresses of potential partners. Yet these two are really good friends, and since they have to be married for a year in order to satisfy the will, they begin to realize that their now-public marriage requires them to sleep together. We all know where that leads! What they are least prepared for is any kind of deeper emotional attachment, and at the heart of this story is the struggle these two have to maintain their friendship while dealing with those new feelings, stuff they really weren’t prepared to encounter.
I have loved every novel in this series and this newest one continues with the joyful and delight-filled antics of the people of this community. Some friends from previous stories continue to make an appearance now and then by doing so continue that sense that each of these people, all with their own stories, are nevertheless connected and continue to need one another’s friendship. I am so glad I was privileged to read this newest book in Ms Brown’s series, and can’t recommend it highly enough. You’ll read with a smile on your face, that’s for sure!
I give it a rating of 5 out of 5
The Series:
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.
I love Carolyn Brown’s books so I can’t wait to read this one.
You made me feel like I need to read this. NOW
It just sounds so fun!
Can I read ‘it as stand alone?
There’s a wedding idea that would’ve been useful back when we were tying the knot. If anything, that would’ve made for some pretty interesting shots by our london wedding photographer.