Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 Stars)
Title: To Tame A Wild Cowboy
Author(s): Lori Wilde
Character(s):
― Tara Alzate: 32 years old, Black
― Rhett Lockhart: 28 years old, Brunette, Brown Eyed
Setting: El Paso, Mexico
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s):
― “Things don’t have to be smooth. Wrinkled is fine with me.”
Overall Opinion:
How I managed to make it to the end is a mystery within itself. The blurb drew me in and I expected this to be entertaining than it was but I was left bored with the plot and characters. Let's also mention Tara altitude is off putting and throughout the series, I found it hard to like her despite understanding her feelings in taking full custody of Julie. I'm not sure how Rhett was able to stay in the presence of her but I guess love works in mysterious ways. Overall, okay read and nothing to brag about.

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When I first starting reading I was a little annoyed that we have yet again another man-ho and him with a woman that had nothing to do with the story, again annoyed. That being said I got why the author did it, she did to explain how Rhett was and why Tara felt the way she did. I am thinking that there are some previous books to this family since they were mentioned in the story and I wondered about them, not that I was lost because I wasn't but just after some of the things that were mentioned I will check into it. Tara annoyed me with her self righteousness and her snappy attitude, I got where she was coming from but after a while I was thinking all right time to chill with it, of course after the back in forth with her thinking and being stuck with the same mindset she finally decided to give Rhett a chance and were able to have a life together. I didn't understand why author would have her have an operation and then she would be ok, I didn't think the story needed and realistically not everyone would have it work out and wish it would have stayed that way and not enter wonderland.

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions ( )

Good book. In previous books, Rhett has been the laid-back, fun-loving bull rider who flits happily from rodeo to rodeo and buckle bunny to buckle bunny. Commitment is not a word in his vocabulary except when it comes to his bid for the bull riding championship. He gets the shock of his life when he finds out that one of his one-night stands resulted in a baby girl who has been abandoned by her mother. He fell hard for little Julie, and though uncertain of his abilities, he was determined to be a good father to her. A potential obstacle to his plans is the baby's foster mother, Tara. Tara is the NICU nurse who cared for Julie while she was in the hospital and became the baby's foster mother. Tara wants to adopt Julie herself and isn't so sure that Rhett is up to the task.

I loved Rhett, even in the earlier books. There was no meanness in his avoidance of commitment - he always made sure the women he was with knew the score. He could have given up his rights and just walked away, but he didn't. My heart melted during the scene when he first held Julie, and you could see her grab his heart in her tiny fingers. I also liked that he wasn't too proud to admit that he needed Tara's help.

I had a little harder time liking Tara, especially at the beginning. She came across as very judgmental of Rhett and his life, even though he wasn't hurting anyone. She seemed far more interested in doing what she could to keep Julie for herself instead of being with her father. I wasn't sure if she was going to help Rhett or try to sabotage him, so I was happy to see her do the right thing. I did ache for her and the reasons she wanted Julie so much.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Rhett and Tara. Because of their long history, they knew each other pretty well already. Once they came to grips with Rhett's intention to raise Julie himself, they formed an excellent working relationship. Neither of them expected the attraction that flared between them. When obstacles are placed in Rhett's way during his attempt to gain permanent custody of Julie, Tara proposes a marriage of convenience. This will keep her in Julie's life and allow Rhett to continue to follow his dreams. I had to laugh at the way the marriage of convenience part didn't last past the wedding night. The attraction between them was too strong for a platonic relationship to have a chance at succeeding. I loved seeing them settle into happy family life, though both of them tried to deny the feelings that were growing between them. I ached for them both when their custody of Julie was unexpectedly threatened, and they believed that she was all that held them together. It took being apart for them to realize what their feelings for each other were. I loved Rhett's self-reflection and look at his future without Tara and decide that wasn't what he wanted. I loved the shock of the people around him as he took the only action he could. Tara had already accepted her feelings for Rhett but thought she was doing the right thing by letting him go. I loved seeing her best friend read her the riot act and give Tara the push she needed. Their reunion was awesome, and it was followed by an unexpected and very welcome surprise. The epilogue was great.

I enjoyed most of the secondary characters. It was great to see characters from previous books, especially with the way that the two families have intermarried. I loved Granny, and her stories of the humming heard when you kissed The One. Like her sisters before her, Tara didn't believe until it happened to her. My least favorite character was the judge. I couldn't believe her attitude about Rhett's career of bull riding. Would she do the same to a father who was a cop, soldier, firefighter, etc.? And then her actions regarding Julie's mother made it even worse. Someone needed to bring her into the 21st century. ( )

To Tame a Wild Cowboy has it all. A sexy, powerful bull rider named Rhett. An abandoned premie baby named Julie with 4 possible fathers, one of whom is Rhett’s win at all cost competitor. A foster mother, Tara, who was the baby’s NICU nurse & is a person from Rhett’s past. Lori Wilde takes all of these scenarios & crafts them into a well written love story. Rhett has taken advantage of his fame & the women who flocked to him. He’s determined not to get serious about anyone. Until he gets caught. A DNA test proves he’s the father & suddenly he’s on the ride of his life. Tara dislikes Rhett & his attitude but agrees to help him out while he petitions for custody. The more time they spend together, the more they see through each other’s shells & the more the attraction grows. What happens when the baby at the center of this is suddenly yanked away?

Each of the Cupid Texas stories are set in the same area & involve many of the same characters. However each story is designed to be a stand alone following the relationship of one couple. The common backstory & family connections give a depth to each story that is often missing. The familiar settings & characters add character definition & strength. The addition of Julie’s mother & Rhett’s fiercest competitor add a sense of inevitability & mystery. To Tame a Wild Cowboy is an entertaining story to read. ( )