Took persistence to stick with this but after a bit the novel reveals itself as an endearing love story. Brody has loved Lila since high school. She returns to the small town and he has to win her again. It really is as simple as that, but it is touching. The title is a bit of an oddity.

One reason why it was hard to click with the novel was the email narrator, Chelsea Hatfield. She is high pitched and very young ( )

3.5 stars

The first book in Carolyn Brown's Happy, Texas series, Toughest Cowboy in Texas is an entertaining second chance at love romance.

Twelve years ago, Lila Harris left Happy, Texas with a broken heart courtesy of her secret boyfriend Brody Dawson. Now a well-respected school teacher, Lila returns to Happy to sell her mama's cafe but she cannot escape the town's long memory. Considered the town's "wild child" because of her fun-loving, spirited antics, the townspeople still refer to her by her former nickname and she is the object of an awful lot of mean-spirited gossip. And woo whee! Two of the Lila's biggest detractors are Brody's mama and Grandma and they are hoping he stays far away from her while she is in town.

Brody's life changed direction dramatically due to circumstances beyond his control and he now has his hands full running the family ranch with his brother Jace. He harbors quite a few regrets for the way he treated Lila while they were dating and as an adult, he is quick to apologize for his mistakes. Brody is also ready and willing to fight for her once he realizes he is still attracted to her.

The sparks fly between Brody and Lila once they are reunited but there is plenty of internal and external conflict to prevent them from acting on their attraction. With the townspeople convinced she is nothing but trouble, Lila cannot wait to leave Happy again. She is also rather reluctant to trust that Brody will not break her heart again. Brody knows that Lila is the woman for him, but his mama and grandma are dead set against them becoming a couple. Will Brody fight for Lila no matter what his family thinks? And will Lila be able to work through her reservations about living permanently in a town where she is nothing but fodder for gossip?

Although Brody and Lila are likable characters, their relationship has a bit of an insta-love feel to it. The townspeople are rather judgmental and quick to think the worst of Lila despite the fact that they really do not know her. It is also rather frustrating that both Lila and Brody's families are dead set against them seeing another. The reasons are ridiculously overblown and have absolutely nothing to do with either Brody and Lila.

Toughest Cowboy in Texas is a sweet yet steamy small town romance with a cast of eclectic but likable characters. While there are a few frustrations with some elements of the storyline, this first installment in the Happy, Texas series is an enjoyable read that I recommend to old and new fans of Carolyn Brown. ( )

If the rest of the books in this new series from author, Carolyn Brown are as good as this book turned out to be, then, I am in for a good time. Instantly, I connected with the characters and the town. It was like things had never changed between Lila and Brody. Only that they grew up. It felt natural when they instantly connected. The reason I say this is because I have said it before that I am not always a fan of insta-love. Yet, in this case it was right.

Brody's mom and grandmother had me laughing. They way that they were still trying to control Brody's love life. In turn it made Brody revert back to a teenager, where he would try and stuck off with Lila. However, the ones that stole some of the spotlight from Lila and Brody where Brody's nephew and niece, Emma and Rustin. They were so funny as they were honest. As they say, kids say the darnest things. Brody never got around to writing that note to Lila as the George Strait song, "Check Yes or No" goes but readers have an good idea of which box Lila would check. Toughest Cowboy in Texas is filled with heart-warming characters, smiles, and an all around good time! ( )