Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Maisey Yates)
This novella is a prequel that sort of introduced readers to Copper Ridge, Oregon, and its inhabitants, which will be the setting of upcoming series from Maisey Yates. This is the first time I read anything by Yates. However, I really am growing interest again in small-town contemporary M/F romance since last year and this series caught my attention. So I thought I'd give the novella a try, to taste her 'writing sample', so to speak.
Since it's a novella, I try to close my eyes on some things. Usually, because of the length, the fall in love part will happen quite fast. Although it helps here because Jake and Cassie has history, sort of. Back when they were teenagers, good girl Cassie used to mentor bad boy Jake. They had 'a moment'. But then Jake left Copper Ridge for the past 15 years and never returned until the present time, when his father died, and Jake is forced to take care of his father's property. While he was gone Cassie had been married and now divorced and trying to rebuild her life by owning a small coffee shop business.
I have to say that I felt both characters and storyline to be a little bit bland. For a novella, I was a bit bored in the middle, and that was not exactly a compliment. Maybe because I thought some of Jake and Cassie's inner monologues to be quite repetitive.
For example (Jake's perspective)
Yeah, I got it, it RUINED things. So you see, repetitive thoughts like that.
However, as a prequel, I think it did a nice enough job. The characters that will be the main heroes and heroine in the trilogy, the Garrett siblings (Eli, Connor, Kate), all quickly appeared by interaction with Cassie. So I think I'll follow-up with the series novel.
Since it's a novella, I try to close my eyes on some things. Usually, because of the length, the fall in love part will happen quite fast. Although it helps here because Jake and Cassie has history, sort of. Back when they were teenagers, good girl Cassie used to mentor bad boy Jake. They had 'a moment'. But then Jake left Copper Ridge for the past 15 years and never returned until the present time, when his father died, and Jake is forced to take care of his father's property. While he was gone Cassie had been married and now divorced and trying to rebuild her life by owning a small coffee shop business.
I have to say that I felt both characters and storyline to be a little bit bland. For a novella, I was a bit bored in the middle, and that was not exactly a compliment. Maybe because I thought some of Jake and Cassie's inner monologues to be quite repetitive.
For example (Jake's perspective)
Hell, he was actively moving toward ruining her life. Which was no surprise, because that was pretty much what he did. Whether he meant to or not. He ruined things. He ruined people.
.... (a couple of paragraphs later)
He’d dismissed the thought almost immediately. Kissing a girl like
her would ruin her. No doubt about it. Not because of who she was,
but because of who he was.
Yeah, I got it, it RUINED things. So you see, repetitive thoughts like that.
However, as a prequel, I think it did a nice enough job. The characters that will be the main heroes and heroine in the trilogy, the Garrett siblings (Eli, Connor, Kate), all quickly appeared by interaction with Cassie. So I think I'll follow-up with the series novel.