GRR Reviews Buck (Rope 'n Ride Series Book 1) by Em Petrova

Buck (Rope 'n Ride Book 1) is a "reluctant lover" story mixed with "reality TV" and cowboys. The FMC was ambivalent toward the MMC. She wanted to leave but was forced to stay by circumstances. It's way too angst-y.

Channing loved Buck, who's a real-life cowboy that swept her off her feet. But Buck and his family, the Calhouns, are on a quest to buy out their ranch from their cousin who wants to exploit its alleged mineral rights, and they have no time for romance. Channing had just made up her mind to leave... Just as a reality TV show swept in with an intriguing offer: The Calhouns are going to star in a reality TV show called Rope n' Ride, and that bargain includes Channing, as the audience expects a wedding at the end of the series. Channing reluctantly agrees to stay on and pretend to be Buck's fiancee, even as her life started to unravel as her brother got into some bad **** with some nasty individuals and owed a lot of money... and Channing and Buck, of course, can't keep their hands off each other despite her attempt to leave. And is there a way for Channing to help Buck with the ultimate end-run, helping them keep the ranch forever? Maybe she'll get the man and the ring after all...

Frankly, I *still* don't understand why she wanted to leave in the first place! The Channing was just way too... stoic? Passive? in accepting what comes. She's more acting like a "buckle bunny" (cowboy-speak for groupie who wanted a star cowboy for just one night of fun) She's not really struggling for something except when a sudden inspiration struck her and she came up with a way for the Calhouns to keep the ranch after all. All she does is sit in the background and join the temporary waitstaff at the venues. Really? That's her extent of abilities? Uh... Some parts are good, but I can seem to summon any sympathy for the FMC.

Category: Contemporary / Western

Primary Plot: Woman tired of waiting for a ring from cowboy reluctantly agreed to stay to help him and his family to win back their ranch from evil cousin

Tropes: reality show, on the rocks, disguise, sibling problem, ranch, evil relatives (cousin)

Overall Rating: 3/5