Review: He’s No Prince Charming by LuAnn McLane

Rowena’s review of He’s No Prince Charming by LuAnn McLane.

Hero: Trace Coleman
Heroine: Dakota Dunn
Grade: 3.75 out of 5

 

At sixteen, Dakota Dunn was America’s Pop Princess. Now twenty-five, she’s all grown up-and definitely washed up. She decides to head to her parents’ lakefront retreat in Tennessee, fixing to write songs and transform her image from squeaky clean to kickin’ country.
Turns out her folks have handed things over to sexy, if cranky, cowboy Trace Coleman-a former bull riding champion benched by injuries. He’s none too happy about Dakota’s arrival-and makes no secret of it. But though Trace is rough around the edges, Dakota feels a pull of attraction she can’t quite shake. For all his brooding, Trace has an animal magnetism that may just lead Dakota to dig in her heels and hold on tight…

This is my third LuAnn McLane book and it was another book that had me smiling like a loon. I enjoyed the storyline as a whole and though it wasn’t my favorite book by McLane, it was still a delightful read.

The story follows a fallen pop singer who goes back to her family’s fishing camp to find her country roots and write some songs to put her back on the map. She’s not America’s Pop Princess anymore and she needs another hit record to put her back on track and she needs some peace and quiet to get it done. When she arrives, she meets the man that’s been keeping the camp together, ex professional bull rider, Trace Coleman. Trace has a stick up his ass the size of the Titanic. He was thrown from a bull and the incident ended his character. His leg is busted to shit and his face is scarred. Along with losing his career, he’s lost all of the buckle bunnies that came with being the star bull rider. The buckle bunnies didn’t appreciate his scary looking scar on his face so that’s made Trace bitter when it comes to women. He’s not happy to see Dakota back and messing with his peace of mind. He’s finally content with the simple life he’s created for himself and Dakota is like a thorn in his side that he can’t get away from both physically and mentally. Her cabin isn’t too far away from his and she’s so accident prone that he spends a great deal of time out at the cabin, making sure she’s still alive and when he’s alone, she’s still there…in the back of his mind, driving him insane.

Watching this story unfold was fun. The more I got to know Dakota, the more I wanted to be her friend. Trace was a good hero, one of those tortured by his past heroes that I didn’t particularly understand but didn’t exactly hate either. I thought some of his issues weren’t a big deal but he came around and I softened toward him. However, as much as I liked Trace for me, it was all about Grady. I loved Grady and Sierra’s story and wanted more for them.

I enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between Sierra and Dakota. I loved how they were able to help each other out. The first time those two hit the bar scene and Dakota steps in the middle of the bar fight, oh man it was hilarious. McLane excels at writing the kinds of red neck scenes that will have you laughing out loud. Overall, I enjoyed this book but it didn’t have the same laugh a minute scene action that I’ve come to enjoy in her books. I liked getting to know to the characters in this book even if I wish that I got more Grady and Sierra action, I did enjoy this book and think others who enjoy a good ol’ country contemporary will enjoy it as well.

This book is available from Signet. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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