Cowboy's Challenge by Susan Laine

17791760Title: Cowboy’s Challenge

Series: Cowboys Of Snow Lake 04

Author: Susan Laine

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboy/Western

Length: Novella (151pgs)

Publisher: Siren-BookStrand (4th May 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Simon Westfield is the owner of a stud farm in Wyoming. He’s recently lost his brother in the army, and has become the guardian of two young children, Dale and Allie. After a while, it’s clear he needs help.

Enter Tristan Markham, a professional live-in male nanny, or manny.

Though great with kids, Tristan is as strong-willed as Simon, and their points of view on everything are polar opposites. Where Simon is closeted, reserved, and introverted, Tristan is an out and proud liberal pacifist.

Clashes are inevitable.

But they can’t deny their growing attraction, so a deal is struck. Casual sex only. But when things start to go wrong—Simon’s mother dying of cancer, the kids’ grandparents suing for custody, and Simon being thrust out of the closet—it’s time for them to work together, or lose everything they have.

Because despite their differences, they are a family. And families stick together—no matter what.

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/cowboys-challenge

Review: This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Simon has recently become guardian to his brother’s children, Dale and Allie. But, juggling the children’s needs with his work on his horse ranch is becoming harder to cope with and his friend, May, recommends a nanny. Tristan is a manny and he loves his job. dealing with the Westford family should be just routine, but he clashes with Simon quite often with their opposing views. Their attraction won’t be denied and a deal is struck. But, they start to become close as they face what life throws at them. Simon’s mother is dying and Dale and Allie’s maternal grandparents threaten to sue for custody. Tristan and Simon must pull together as a family to keep their family together.

This story is a great sexy rancher novella with cute kids and a sexy manny. Simon needs help with his brother’s children. It’s bad enough that his brother died, but the children’s mother has become unstable and unable to look after the kids. Enter Tristan the manny, who realizes it isn’t only the children who need help. As Tristan and Simon become close and enjoying their secret relationship, Tristan becomes a rock that Simon didn’t know he needed. They become a family that they have to fight for and coming out of the closet isn’t the hardest thing to do.

I really enjoyed this story and its development. The relationship between Simon and Tristan doesn’t happen overnight and when it does start it’s hot and explosive. They keep it on the quiet and then everything happens all at once. Simon’s mother doesn’t have long to live and then there’s the custody threat. Tristan is a brilliant character and he clashes with Simon at times, but only when Tristan thinks he is right. Simon is more ridged in his thinking and Tristan smoothes down his rough edges. They make a very interesting couple and make great parents and you root for them to vanquish the threats against them.

I will recommend this to those who love cowboys, mannys, family stories, compromise, finding love, hot sex and a very happy ending.