What do you think?
Rate this book
Dry Creek Ranch #1
Cowboy Up
“Stacy Finz delivers a fantastic tale of cowboys, cattle rustling and the power of love and family in the California gold country.” —Kate Pearce, New York Times bestselling authorCash, Jace, and Three cousins sharing an inheritance of five hundred acres of prime California ranch land—and a whole lot of surprises . . .Cash Dalton is no rancher. He’s an FBI agent—or at least he was, until he left a haunting case behind him and a load of guilt in front of him. Now it turns out he’s also a father—to a twelve-year-old girl he didn’t know he had. Clearly, it’s no time for a new romance, especially not with Aubrey McAlister, who’s renting the cottage on Dry Creek Ranch. She doesn’t even seem to like him. Still, there’s nothing wrong with looking . . .After calling off her wedding, Aubrey is trying to focus on her interior design career and avoid the fact that she’s the center of small-town gossip. Clearly, it’s no time for a new romance, especially not with brooding Cash. Though she does find him sexy as hell. And he has softened since his daughter arrived—enough for Aubrey to help decorate her room—and even try to get Cash to open up about the chip on his shoulder. Once he does, both their hearts might just follow—but will their futures sync up as well? . . .PRAISE FOR STACY FINZ “Sweet humor, well-defined and appealing characters, and just enough adventure sports and fashion detail make Finz’s print debut, and series launch, a delightful read.”—Library Journal on Need You
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2019
About the author
Stacy Finz
31 books524 followersStacy Finz is an award-winning former newspaper reporter. After more than twenty years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She is the author of the Nugget Romance series (Kensington/Lyrical Press) about a small mountain town that has a strange way of giving people unexpected reasons to start over--and find the most irresistible chances to fall in love. Look for her Garner Brothers series (Zebra) in 2017.
Visit her website www.stacyfinz.com.
Join her newsletterhttp://eepurl.com/bCEHeT
Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/sfinz?lang=en
Visit her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Stacy-Finz-A...
Visit her website www.stacyfinz.com.
Join her newsletterhttp://eepurl.com/bCEHeT
Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/sfinz?lang=en
Visit her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Stacy-Finz-A...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
February 20, 2022
Another cowboy romance novel but not one I fell in love with. The writing and characters are fine but this is just okay for me in terms of plot. 3 ⭐.
July 24, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I was so excited when I learned that Stacy Finz was starting a new series. Not that I don't love her other ones but I couldn't wait to see what she was going to come up with next.
I'm happy to say that she hit it out of the park for me. I just loved Cowboy Up. It gave us a new set of characters to love and a slightly different setting.
In Cowboy Up we meet the Cash and his cousins. I just love them. They are great, funny guys who protect their own. Cash's story is first and it's so good. I totally loved how he reacted to finding out he has a daughter. Not only does he find out about Ellie he's left with taking care of her without prior knowledge of her.
I think that's some of the best parts of this book. I enjoyed how Cash learned to be a father. Which Ellie didn't make easy. I got why she didn't, she's at the age of wanting to be independent but is way to young yet. Even with her resisting him he kept trying to make her feel safe even when she didn't feel that way.
Aubrey was so wonderful. Of course, how the town treated her is f*cked up. I mean, they knew her just as long as the a**hole so they should have known how they both were. It will take me a while to forgive them if ever. I have a long memory.
Now together Cash and Aubrey are wonderful. Yes, Cash is an idiot and doesn't see it right away but he gets a clue. Sometimes people have to be hit over the head to understand what they have. I liked how these two worked out their issues and how Cash always stood with her against the town.
It might have taken these two a bit to figure out what they wanted but I'm happy to say in the end it was love. What more can any of us ask for!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
I was so excited when I learned that Stacy Finz was starting a new series. Not that I don't love her other ones but I couldn't wait to see what she was going to come up with next.
I'm happy to say that she hit it out of the park for me. I just loved Cowboy Up. It gave us a new set of characters to love and a slightly different setting.
In Cowboy Up we meet the Cash and his cousins. I just love them. They are great, funny guys who protect their own. Cash's story is first and it's so good. I totally loved how he reacted to finding out he has a daughter. Not only does he find out about Ellie he's left with taking care of her without prior knowledge of her.
I think that's some of the best parts of this book. I enjoyed how Cash learned to be a father. Which Ellie didn't make easy. I got why she didn't, she's at the age of wanting to be independent but is way to young yet. Even with her resisting him he kept trying to make her feel safe even when she didn't feel that way.
Aubrey was so wonderful. Of course, how the town treated her is f*cked up. I mean, they knew her just as long as the a**hole so they should have known how they both were. It will take me a while to forgive them if ever. I have a long memory.
Now together Cash and Aubrey are wonderful. Yes, Cash is an idiot and doesn't see it right away but he gets a clue. Sometimes people have to be hit over the head to understand what they have. I liked how these two worked out their issues and how Cash always stood with her against the town.
It might have taken these two a bit to figure out what they wanted but I'm happy to say in the end it was love. What more can any of us ask for!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
May 26, 2019
- Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review -
4.5 stars.
A quote (from ARC):
“If you let her go, you’ll be sorry. For once in your life, let your heart lead you instead of your insatiable need to save the planet. Take a chance on love and cowboy the fuck up.”
I was completely absorbed by “Cowboy Up”, it’s a wonderful story about ordinary people facing extraordinary and unexpected events with strength and aplomb. This is my second time reading Stacy Finz and I find her writing style utterly engaging and this story was a pleasure to read, with its riveting characters and dialogue and subtle sense of humor.
Cash, Aubrey and Ellie are wonderful characters, real and multidimensional, I just felt connected to them and to Cash’s family. Cash and Ellie’s relationship is something unique and tender.
I loved our “rough-around-the-edges” and a bit tortured hero who yet is so gentle with his daughter, and Aubrey, our assertive and mature heroine. It was lovely to watch them go from friend-with-benefits to lovers and even the sex scenes weren’t the fastidious kind you have to skip. And the honesty between them and the lack of silly drama is so refreshing.
Now I’m waiting for Jace and Sawyer’s stories.
4.5 stars.
A quote (from ARC):
“If you let her go, you’ll be sorry. For once in your life, let your heart lead you instead of your insatiable need to save the planet. Take a chance on love and cowboy the fuck up.”
I was completely absorbed by “Cowboy Up”, it’s a wonderful story about ordinary people facing extraordinary and unexpected events with strength and aplomb. This is my second time reading Stacy Finz and I find her writing style utterly engaging and this story was a pleasure to read, with its riveting characters and dialogue and subtle sense of humor.
Cash, Aubrey and Ellie are wonderful characters, real and multidimensional, I just felt connected to them and to Cash’s family. Cash and Ellie’s relationship is something unique and tender.
I loved our “rough-around-the-edges” and a bit tortured hero who yet is so gentle with his daughter, and Aubrey, our assertive and mature heroine. It was lovely to watch them go from friend-with-benefits to lovers and even the sex scenes weren’t the fastidious kind you have to skip. And the honesty between them and the lack of silly drama is so refreshing.
Now I’m waiting for Jace and Sawyer’s stories.
June 1, 2019
I had the privilege of reading an early version of this story, and it's so, so good!!! Full of great banter, complex characters, and sexy fun. I've read a lot of Stacy Finz's books, and this one is her best so far. I was sucked into this new Dry Creek world she created, populated by sexy cowboys and quirky small town characters!
September 3, 2019
ARC REVIEW
Dry Creek Ranch #1, New series I'm so happy. This was a good read, just like so any other Finz stories you have witty banter, complex characters with enough baggage in their past and present to make them interesting, quirky side characters, and hunky cowboys. This is a great start to the series with wonderful character introductions and vague background on the other two cousins who live on Dry Creek Ranch.
Jace, Sawyer, and Cash are cousins who inherited the ranch from their grandfather, the Ranch was already starting to go belly up when they got it now they are arguing about keeping it or selling the main bulk of the land off. Jace and Sawyer are against it Cash on the other hand is being realistic about the three of them running the ranch. Jace who is also Sheriff with two boys, Sawyer who is also a writer, and Cash former FBI and just recently moved to one of the cabin on the property. He needs to fix up the cabin to liveable conditions because he just found out he has a daughter, Ellie, from a one night stand 12 years ago.
Across the creek from Cash's cabin is another cabin which is occupied by one of Jace's best friends, Aubrey, who walked out on her fiance two weeks before the wedding. Aubrey is now the town pariah, apparently her ex-fiancee is covered in teflon because shit don't stick to him it's "all her fault" and now rumors are going around that her and Jace had an affair and that's why she left. Aubrey isn't telling the truth about what really happened because she doesn't want to hurt a very dear friend who came back from his military service without his legs, the truth that his wife was the one cheating with Aubrey's fiance and she caught them. Aubrey is having to deal with snide remarks, vandalism, and clients canceling jobs.
Aubrey and Cash don't start off on the right foot but soon he has her coming over to help decorate his daughter's new room to make her feel more at home in her new home. While Aubrey and Cash do this slow seduction friends to lovers thing Cash is also trying to build a relationship with a preteen Ellie who thinks he never wanted her in the first place and keeps thinking that she will be going back to Boston. There is also some funny business going on around town that has pulled in Cash to help investigate.
Overall, another great story from Stacy Finz. I liked the romance between Cash and Aubrey and the building of a relationship between father and daughter. I look forward to the other books in the series.
Dry Creek Ranch #1, New series I'm so happy. This was a good read, just like so any other Finz stories you have witty banter, complex characters with enough baggage in their past and present to make them interesting, quirky side characters, and hunky cowboys. This is a great start to the series with wonderful character introductions and vague background on the other two cousins who live on Dry Creek Ranch.
Jace, Sawyer, and Cash are cousins who inherited the ranch from their grandfather, the Ranch was already starting to go belly up when they got it now they are arguing about keeping it or selling the main bulk of the land off. Jace and Sawyer are against it Cash on the other hand is being realistic about the three of them running the ranch. Jace who is also Sheriff with two boys, Sawyer who is also a writer, and Cash former FBI and just recently moved to one of the cabin on the property. He needs to fix up the cabin to liveable conditions because he just found out he has a daughter, Ellie, from a one night stand 12 years ago.
Across the creek from Cash's cabin is another cabin which is occupied by one of Jace's best friends, Aubrey, who walked out on her fiance two weeks before the wedding. Aubrey is now the town pariah, apparently her ex-fiancee is covered in teflon because shit don't stick to him it's "all her fault" and now rumors are going around that her and Jace had an affair and that's why she left. Aubrey isn't telling the truth about what really happened because she doesn't want to hurt a very dear friend who came back from his military service without his legs, the truth that his wife was the one cheating with Aubrey's fiance and she caught them. Aubrey is having to deal with snide remarks, vandalism, and clients canceling jobs.
Aubrey and Cash don't start off on the right foot but soon he has her coming over to help decorate his daughter's new room to make her feel more at home in her new home. While Aubrey and Cash do this slow seduction friends to lovers thing Cash is also trying to build a relationship with a preteen Ellie who thinks he never wanted her in the first place and keeps thinking that she will be going back to Boston. There is also some funny business going on around town that has pulled in Cash to help investigate.
Overall, another great story from Stacy Finz. I liked the romance between Cash and Aubrey and the building of a relationship between father and daughter. I look forward to the other books in the series.
May 12, 2019
Enjoyed!
I love contemporary western stories! In this story you have surprise 12 year old daughter reveal, cheating, lying and gossip, cattle rustling and love.
I love contemporary western stories! In this story you have surprise 12 year old daughter reveal, cheating, lying and gossip, cattle rustling and love.
January 28, 2020
Cowboy Up
It's been a while since I've read a Stacy Find book, and I have missed them. Cowboy Up is a great story. Love how Cash works so hard to get Ellie to respond favorably to him. Aubrey is a pretty good heroine too. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
It's been a while since I've read a Stacy Find book, and I have missed them. Cowboy Up is a great story. Love how Cash works so hard to get Ellie to respond favorably to him. Aubrey is a pretty good heroine too. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
January 17, 2021
Bella storia, con dei punti commoventi e altri in cui avrei preso a pugni alcuni personaggi secondari. Sono restata in sospeso sul fatto se i tre cugini riusciranno a salvare il ranch, ma temo che per saperlo dovrò aspettare l'ultimo libro della trilogia.
July 24, 2019
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. Cash trying to now figure out where his life is going after leaving the FBI and learning after twelve years he has a daughter come into his life. Then Aubrey who has grown up in Dry Creek has to overcome a rumor she knows isn't true because she doesn't want to hurt a good friend she grew up with. A twist takes a turn you don't see but easy to follow along. A great start to this series.
May 11, 2019
“Cowboy Up” by Stacy Finz
I received a copy of this novel from my friends at Net Galley and the publisher. I have never read anything by this author before, but I have read my fair share of Cowboy Romance novels to be able to compare.
Firstly, there are many options for continuation of the story, as Swayer and Jace’s stories have potential to develop more. That being said, the characters (both major and minor) were well developed and all had their own unique style and personality. The plot of the book was meticulously laid out. There was never a dull moment and the varying perspectives throughout the novel allowed the reader to see the point of view of different main characters.
So, on to our main characters and a synopsis of the overall book. The two main characters are Aubrey and Cash (could you think of a more country name…) who have found themselves sharing space on Cash’s family’s farm. The farm has been in the Dalton family for generations and Cash’s cousin, Jace lives in the main house with his two boys. After Cash finds himself without a job, the former Special Agent of the FBI high tails it back to family farm for some R&R. There’s no place like home, although I suspect he underestimated the drama a small county can have.
Aubrey is best friends with Cash’s cousin, Jace. She and Jace have been friends since childhood and her fiancee, Mitch was also a part of this click of friends. However, the friendliness dwindles when Aubrey finds Mitch screwing someone else a couple weeks before the wedding. Mitch, being the charmer that he is, spreads rumours through the small county that Aubrey was unfaithful and was having a relationship with Jace (the acting Sheriff). No one questions the “golden boy” who is the royal prince of the town as he owns the local construction company. By all accounts, Mitch is a class A douchbag with the moral compass of a lion.
Aubrey ends the relationship and her friendship with Jace allows her to move into a cabin on the farm — right next to where Cash has taken up residence. They share some banter back and forth about his shooting bottles at 6 am and his apparent drinking problem. Eventually, they come to develop a rapport. When Cash finds out he has a long lost 12 year old daughter he has never met, everything changes. Ellie’s mother dies of breast cancer and it is only at that point that Cash becomes aware of her existence. On top of everything else that is happening with the main characters, Stacy adds another complexity to the story. Ellie is a typical 12 year old, who hates the man who has now identified himself as her father and she is torn between developing a relationship and feelings of betraying her mother’s memory.
There is no doubt that there is a lot going on in this book, but at no point do I feel as though I am unable to keep up with the plot. Stacy is obviously a skilled author as she has managed the complex plot and it did not take away from the story. I felt connected with the characters and was never bored. It's usually a good sign when I don’t roll my eyes throughout the course of a book. Stacy, girl, you knocked it out of the park and I look forward to reading more on the Daltons in the future.
I received a copy of this novel from my friends at Net Galley and the publisher. I have never read anything by this author before, but I have read my fair share of Cowboy Romance novels to be able to compare.
Firstly, there are many options for continuation of the story, as Swayer and Jace’s stories have potential to develop more. That being said, the characters (both major and minor) were well developed and all had their own unique style and personality. The plot of the book was meticulously laid out. There was never a dull moment and the varying perspectives throughout the novel allowed the reader to see the point of view of different main characters.
So, on to our main characters and a synopsis of the overall book. The two main characters are Aubrey and Cash (could you think of a more country name…) who have found themselves sharing space on Cash’s family’s farm. The farm has been in the Dalton family for generations and Cash’s cousin, Jace lives in the main house with his two boys. After Cash finds himself without a job, the former Special Agent of the FBI high tails it back to family farm for some R&R. There’s no place like home, although I suspect he underestimated the drama a small county can have.
Aubrey is best friends with Cash’s cousin, Jace. She and Jace have been friends since childhood and her fiancee, Mitch was also a part of this click of friends. However, the friendliness dwindles when Aubrey finds Mitch screwing someone else a couple weeks before the wedding. Mitch, being the charmer that he is, spreads rumours through the small county that Aubrey was unfaithful and was having a relationship with Jace (the acting Sheriff). No one questions the “golden boy” who is the royal prince of the town as he owns the local construction company. By all accounts, Mitch is a class A douchbag with the moral compass of a lion.
Aubrey ends the relationship and her friendship with Jace allows her to move into a cabin on the farm — right next to where Cash has taken up residence. They share some banter back and forth about his shooting bottles at 6 am and his apparent drinking problem. Eventually, they come to develop a rapport. When Cash finds out he has a long lost 12 year old daughter he has never met, everything changes. Ellie’s mother dies of breast cancer and it is only at that point that Cash becomes aware of her existence. On top of everything else that is happening with the main characters, Stacy adds another complexity to the story. Ellie is a typical 12 year old, who hates the man who has now identified himself as her father and she is torn between developing a relationship and feelings of betraying her mother’s memory.
There is no doubt that there is a lot going on in this book, but at no point do I feel as though I am unable to keep up with the plot. Stacy is obviously a skilled author as she has managed the complex plot and it did not take away from the story. I felt connected with the characters and was never bored. It's usually a good sign when I don’t roll my eyes throughout the course of a book. Stacy, girl, you knocked it out of the park and I look forward to reading more on the Daltons in the future.
May 16, 2019
Cash Dalton is back in Dry Creek, and back on the family ranch, after leaving his job at the FBI. He is dealing with the fallout from that and the fact that he has a 13-year daughter that he didn’t know about. Aubrey McAlistar is living in the cottage next to Cash after she broke up with her fiancée and in the process alienating herself from most of the town. Cash’s cousin, Jace, knows her reasons for leaving Mitch, and he is helping her even though everyone in town think they are a couple now and the reason for her broken engagement.
Aubrey is struggling to keep her job going and her life together, since Mitch is making things difficult for her in town. Right from the start there is chemistry between Cash and Aubrey and they decide to use their attraction to redirect the gossip.
Aubrey is a feisty, stubborn woman, who is not going to give up in the face of all the opposition from her former friends and acquaintances. She is keeping a potentially explosive secret that is preventing her from explaining the real reason why she broke up with Mitch. She is pretty remarkable and strong. Despite all the snide remarks, sideways looks, and bullying from the townspeople, she keeps her head high, she continues doing her thing, and she isn’t letting it get to her.
Chase is a good man, for whom family means everything. He has made it very clear that he does not intend to stay in Dry Creek or become involved in law enforcement again, but he gets sucked in anyway, because he just can’t turn a blind eye.
I liked Chase and Aubrey together. Chase’s daughter, Ellie, was an interesting addition to the story. Overall, I really enjoyed experiencing the relationship between Chase and Ellie, and Chase and Aubrey. The cattle rustling added an exciting element.
There were some things that I didn’t like. It seems that in this town where Aubrey has lived her whole life, she doesn’t have her own friends. Once she broke up with Mitch, pretty much everyone in town turned their backs on her. I find it a bit hard to believe that there wasn’t a single person, apart from Jace and the unfortunate Brett, who didn’t side with her. Through Aubrey we know that there is a lot of animosity between her and Mitch, but there were very few confrontations between them, and at the end there was no resolution between them. Mitch just disappeared there at the end in the excitement of solving the mystery of the stolen cattle.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book, and have read a lot from this author before. I will continue to read her books.
I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Aubrey is struggling to keep her job going and her life together, since Mitch is making things difficult for her in town. Right from the start there is chemistry between Cash and Aubrey and they decide to use their attraction to redirect the gossip.
Aubrey is a feisty, stubborn woman, who is not going to give up in the face of all the opposition from her former friends and acquaintances. She is keeping a potentially explosive secret that is preventing her from explaining the real reason why she broke up with Mitch. She is pretty remarkable and strong. Despite all the snide remarks, sideways looks, and bullying from the townspeople, she keeps her head high, she continues doing her thing, and she isn’t letting it get to her.
Chase is a good man, for whom family means everything. He has made it very clear that he does not intend to stay in Dry Creek or become involved in law enforcement again, but he gets sucked in anyway, because he just can’t turn a blind eye.
I liked Chase and Aubrey together. Chase’s daughter, Ellie, was an interesting addition to the story. Overall, I really enjoyed experiencing the relationship between Chase and Ellie, and Chase and Aubrey. The cattle rustling added an exciting element.
There were some things that I didn’t like. It seems that in this town where Aubrey has lived her whole life, she doesn’t have her own friends. Once she broke up with Mitch, pretty much everyone in town turned their backs on her. I find it a bit hard to believe that there wasn’t a single person, apart from Jace and the unfortunate Brett, who didn’t side with her. Through Aubrey we know that there is a lot of animosity between her and Mitch, but there were very few confrontations between them, and at the end there was no resolution between them. Mitch just disappeared there at the end in the excitement of solving the mystery of the stolen cattle.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book, and have read a lot from this author before. I will continue to read her books.
I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 23, 2019
Cowboy Up by Stacy Finz
Dry Creek Ranch #1
Cash Dalton and his cousins have inherited their grandfather’s ranch and though would rather sell the ranch to pay off back taxes his cousins, Jace and Sawyer, would rather keep it. How they will manage financially is a mystery in this book and remains a mystery at the end BUT with at least two more books for the cousins and perhaps one for someone named Angie a solution may be found before the series ends.
In this book we learn a bit about all three men but this story belongs to Cash. What do we learn about him?
* He had a big career in the FBI until something happened
* He just found out that he has a twelve year old daughter, Ellie, that he will be responsible for rearing from here on out
* He has a sense of humor
* He believes in “the truth”
* He is someone who has not put down roots
* He is HOT
* He is conflicted about a number of issues
* AND that he might fall for his neighbor, Aubrey McAllister
What do we know about Aubrey?
* She just broke off a long-term relationship with her fiance, Mitch
* She is considered to have wronged Mitch by all and sundry in their small town
* She is an excellent interior decorator-designer
* She knows what she wants
* She is spunky
* She gets along with Ellie
* She thinks Cash is HOT
Ellie is in a bad spot emotionally and really would prefer to stay in Boston so quite a bit of the story revolves around her feelings and how her new life in Dry Creek impacts her and others. We meet her cousins, Travis & Grady, Jace’s sons and she seems to like them well enough. She has a friend back in Boston she keeps in touch with. She misses her mother – a LOT. She is not warming up to Cash. AND she does a bit of soul searching before the end of the book. She also is sometimes wiser than her twelve years might expect her to be.
In addition to setting the stage for this series there are some secrets, a cattle rustling operation to suss out, decisions to be made by more than one, a romance, some secrets exposed, crimes perpetrated, libel, job futures to figure out and a few other issues that crop up.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes
Do I want to read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical-Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Dry Creek Ranch #1
Cash Dalton and his cousins have inherited their grandfather’s ranch and though would rather sell the ranch to pay off back taxes his cousins, Jace and Sawyer, would rather keep it. How they will manage financially is a mystery in this book and remains a mystery at the end BUT with at least two more books for the cousins and perhaps one for someone named Angie a solution may be found before the series ends.
In this book we learn a bit about all three men but this story belongs to Cash. What do we learn about him?
* He had a big career in the FBI until something happened
* He just found out that he has a twelve year old daughter, Ellie, that he will be responsible for rearing from here on out
* He has a sense of humor
* He believes in “the truth”
* He is someone who has not put down roots
* He is HOT
* He is conflicted about a number of issues
* AND that he might fall for his neighbor, Aubrey McAllister
What do we know about Aubrey?
* She just broke off a long-term relationship with her fiance, Mitch
* She is considered to have wronged Mitch by all and sundry in their small town
* She is an excellent interior decorator-designer
* She knows what she wants
* She is spunky
* She gets along with Ellie
* She thinks Cash is HOT
Ellie is in a bad spot emotionally and really would prefer to stay in Boston so quite a bit of the story revolves around her feelings and how her new life in Dry Creek impacts her and others. We meet her cousins, Travis & Grady, Jace’s sons and she seems to like them well enough. She has a friend back in Boston she keeps in touch with. She misses her mother – a LOT. She is not warming up to Cash. AND she does a bit of soul searching before the end of the book. She also is sometimes wiser than her twelve years might expect her to be.
In addition to setting the stage for this series there are some secrets, a cattle rustling operation to suss out, decisions to be made by more than one, a romance, some secrets exposed, crimes perpetrated, libel, job futures to figure out and a few other issues that crop up.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes
Do I want to read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical-Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
July 14, 2019
When Aubrey catches her fiancé cheating, she’s fortunate her old friend Jace Dalton lets her rent a cabin on the ranch his grandfather left to him and his two cousins, Sawyer and Cash. And it becomes even more fortunate when her fiancé twists things, turning the entire town of Dry Creek against her. Even though the ex has blackballed her from working as an interior designer in town, at least the Dalton cousins are on her side. She'll just have to ignore her pesky little attraction to Cash since they both have much more important issues to deal with.
This is my first book by this author, and I love the Dalton cousins. Cash's challenges with his daughter were heart tugging and poignant and really brought out the emotion of the story. I really liked Aubrey's character and easily felt her struggle between doing what she felt was right and dealing with the town's treatment of her. And I must say, it was rewarding to see her ex get what he deserved.
The drawback for me was some extraneous narration, character supposition and introspection. It became repetitious and I found myself skimming through paragraphs to get back to the meat of the story. I’ll admit to being a bit of an impatient reader, so this may not be an issue for some, but I found it detracted from moving the story forward. Otherwise, the storyline was interesting and the characters were engaging and endearing, and I'm interested in reading the other cousins' stories when they come out.
*I reviewed an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.
This is my first book by this author, and I love the Dalton cousins. Cash's challenges with his daughter were heart tugging and poignant and really brought out the emotion of the story. I really liked Aubrey's character and easily felt her struggle between doing what she felt was right and dealing with the town's treatment of her. And I must say, it was rewarding to see her ex get what he deserved.
The drawback for me was some extraneous narration, character supposition and introspection. It became repetitious and I found myself skimming through paragraphs to get back to the meat of the story. I’ll admit to being a bit of an impatient reader, so this may not be an issue for some, but I found it detracted from moving the story forward. Otherwise, the storyline was interesting and the characters were engaging and endearing, and I'm interested in reading the other cousins' stories when they come out.
*I reviewed an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.
May 15, 2019
I have read every single book written by Stacy Finz and am so excited for this new Dry Creek Ranch Series. There is nothing that I love more than a good western small town with its amazing people and their love for family, friends, gossip and scandals. It is all there in Cowboy Up from beginning right until the end. You will not be disappointed. Join Cash and Aubrey on their journey as they rebuild their lives. Aubrey was engaged to the town hero who is involved in a cheating scandal that spreads rumors of her and the town's acting Sheriff together only for her to be completely smitten with her new neighbor Cash. Cash is back on Dry Creek Ranch after inheriting the land with his cousins from their grandfather after leaving the FBI after because he is unable to prove the proper killer guilty because of his colleagues. On top of all that, Cash finds out that he has a 12 year old daughter that he never knew about. He falls smitten with his new neighbor and together they help each other out of their tough times and fall deeply in love and turn their lives completely around. I promise you will fall in love with their story and will not be able to wait for the next book in this series.
September 5, 2022
Really enjoyed reading book. Hated to put it down. I hated to put book down. The story between Cash Dalton and Aubrey is well... amazing. Both hold a secret but what happens when the secrets are out? To find out the answer go and read the book. I highly recommend it. Will read again and have.
March 31, 2020
Good book.
August 14, 2019
A Mixed Bag
A western romance is a “twofer” in my book - two for the price of one, and I was ready for some light reading. So “Cowboy Up” seemed like it hit all the right notes. The primary characters, Cash Dalton and Aubrey McAlister, are neighbors. He’s a former FBI agent living on the ranch he loved where he spent his summers as a boy. Aubrey was engaged and mere days away from her wedding when she caught her fiancé “in the act” with a married woman. When Cash finds out he’s the father of Ellie and Ellie is the result of a one-night stand 12 years ago and she’s just lost her mother to cancer, everyone’s life just gets even more tangled.
More complications arise when all the townspeople shun Aubrey and she loses business because she jilted Mitch, the town’s favorite son. Making everything even messier, Aubrey and Cash have an undeniable mutual attraction yet both feel like the timing couldn’t be worse. And Ellie is acting out and being a typical 12 year old brat. Even knowing how cliquish a small town can be, the idea that it could turn on one woman sufficiently to run her out of business is tough to swallow.
How the situation gets resolved and the interpersonal relationships that spring up around it is the basis for the plot. It’s entertaining and mostly amusing, occasionally melodramatic and as unpredictable as a 12 year old pre-pubescent princess. The writing style is fresh but author Finz should either replace the current copy editor or get better acquainted with her dictionary and thesaurus. A good copy editor should’ve caught the first of the four instances of misuse of the idiom “to LED on” vs “to LET on”; perspective vs prospective; stranglers vs stragglers. Not to be confused with typos, these blatant misuses wouldn’t be forgiven in a high school freshman English class.
In giving a rating, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the multitude of mangled sentences and their overall impact on this reader. Some will no doubt think me too harsh. However, when you join the big leagues, you should be prepared for the resultant criticism. Three stars.
A western romance is a “twofer” in my book - two for the price of one, and I was ready for some light reading. So “Cowboy Up” seemed like it hit all the right notes. The primary characters, Cash Dalton and Aubrey McAlister, are neighbors. He’s a former FBI agent living on the ranch he loved where he spent his summers as a boy. Aubrey was engaged and mere days away from her wedding when she caught her fiancé “in the act” with a married woman. When Cash finds out he’s the father of Ellie and Ellie is the result of a one-night stand 12 years ago and she’s just lost her mother to cancer, everyone’s life just gets even more tangled.
More complications arise when all the townspeople shun Aubrey and she loses business because she jilted Mitch, the town’s favorite son. Making everything even messier, Aubrey and Cash have an undeniable mutual attraction yet both feel like the timing couldn’t be worse. And Ellie is acting out and being a typical 12 year old brat. Even knowing how cliquish a small town can be, the idea that it could turn on one woman sufficiently to run her out of business is tough to swallow.
How the situation gets resolved and the interpersonal relationships that spring up around it is the basis for the plot. It’s entertaining and mostly amusing, occasionally melodramatic and as unpredictable as a 12 year old pre-pubescent princess. The writing style is fresh but author Finz should either replace the current copy editor or get better acquainted with her dictionary and thesaurus. A good copy editor should’ve caught the first of the four instances of misuse of the idiom “to LED on” vs “to LET on”; perspective vs prospective; stranglers vs stragglers. Not to be confused with typos, these blatant misuses wouldn’t be forgiven in a high school freshman English class.
In giving a rating, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the multitude of mangled sentences and their overall impact on this reader. Some will no doubt think me too harsh. However, when you join the big leagues, you should be prepared for the resultant criticism. Three stars.
July 24, 2019
Cowboy Up is I believe the first in author Stacy Finz’s new Dry Creek Ranch series. I say I believe because there’s nothing at the end of the story nor on the author’s website to tout the next book in the series. But the book does show under the header Dry Creek Ranch, this book ends not necessarily with a cliff hanger but definitely with some questions about the future and with two of the three Dalton cousins Cash, Jace and Sawyer unattached. So I have to believe there’ll be two more books for Jace and Sawyer. There is a fourth female cousin Angie, Sawyer’s sister who is mentioned as living a risky lifestyle and not been able to be located. I don’t think she’ll get her own book but finding and perhaps saving her could be part of Sawyers story? Just conjecture on my part.
The author is not new to me but it has been quite some time since I’d read anything by her. She tells a good story. This one contains drama, romance, sex and some suspense. Cash Dalton has recently been fired as a special agent for the F.B.I. for disagreeing with his superiors as to how they handled an investigation which he feels resulted in the unnecessary rape and murder of a young woman. He feels personally responsible for not doing more to prevent her death. Aimless he returns to Dry Creek Ranch which was left to him and his three cousins by his late grandfather. Due to the drought that has plagued California for several years the once prosperous ranch has fallen upon hard times. His cousin Jace who is local sheriff lives in the big main house with his two young sons. Jace’s ex-wife left him and his sons a couple of years ago. Jace was raised by his grandfather after his parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident when he was a little boy so Dry Creek Ranch is the only home he’s ever known. Also living on the ranch is their younger cousin Sawyer a professional writer. Sawyer who is wealthy has remodeled one of the barns on the property into a loft for himself. Cash is living in a dumpy two bedroom cabin next to Dry Creek. He spends his days drinking and taking target practice. Cash has just learned he has a twelve year old daughter Ellie when her mother who is dying of cancer contacts him with the news literally days before she dies. Cash had a one night affair with the woman (a Boston police detective) when they both attended a law enforcement seminar years ago and had never heard from her since. Now Cash who has always been a loner must fly to Boston to attend the woman’s funeral and bring back his daughter to raise. Cash is a fish out of water trying to father a twelve year old girl who is a complete stranger to him. Your heart bleeds for poor Ellie who has lost her mother, the only parent she’s ever known is now relocated from urban Boston to a rundown cabin on a ranch in California to live with a father she doesn’t know. Ellie first doesn’t know and then when told doesn’t believe that her mother kept her a secret from her father and blames him for never being a part of her life. She believes Cash has only taken her in out of a sense of responsibility and doesn’t love her. She desperately wants to return to Boston and the life she knew.
Our female lead is Aubrey. Aubrey has just broken up with her fiancée Mitch, whom she’s lived with for ten years and was supposed to be marrying in two weeks when she catches him banging Jill, the wife of Brett, one of their best friends on his desk at work. Aubrey is not real broken up about the broken engagement as she realizes she never really loved Mitch. Why it took her catching him cheating on her after being with the guy for ten years is a mystery I don’t understand. Problem is Aubrey also worked for Mitch handling the interior decorating area of his planned community construction company. Now she’s not only out of work but Mitch has black listed her and bad mouthed her all over town telling people she left him because she was having an affair with Jace who was also one of Mitch’s best friends. Not only can’t Aubrey find work in her chosen profession but she can’t even get served at the local businesses and her car has been vandalized as it seems the entire town of Dry Creek has turned against her because of Mitch’s lies. Because she does not want to destroy Brett she can’t defend herself and tell her side of the story. Although their relationship has been completely platonic since they were children when Jace allows the jobless Aubrey to move into the cabin across the creek from Cash it only adds to the local gossip that she and Jace are involved.
After a rough early start Aubrey and Cash become friends as Cash, despite his reservations can’t resist her charms. Aubrey does her best to help Cash build a relationship with Ellie and gives Ellie a woman to confide in. They begin a friends with benefits relationship agreeing that because neither has a job which means either could be moving at any time and because Cash needs to focus his attention on Ellie and Aubrey is just getting out of a long term relationship it will never be more than a friends with benefits relationship for as long as it lasts. Of course they both fall madly in love with one another despite trying not to. Cash being a guy has to nearly lose Aubrey before he can Cowboy Up and acknowledge he loves and needs her so they can live their happily ever after. By the end of the story Cash, Aubrey and Ellie are a happy family with both adults finding satisfying careers that allow them to continue to live on the ranch. It’s clear that while they aren’t married it’s definitely in their future. No big spoiler here unless you’ve never read a contemporary romance before. What’s left in limbo besides the love lives of single father Jace and Sawyer is how they turn the ranch into a profitable operation and pay the hefty taxes on it, and where is the missing Angie. To be continued!
The author is not new to me but it has been quite some time since I’d read anything by her. She tells a good story. This one contains drama, romance, sex and some suspense. Cash Dalton has recently been fired as a special agent for the F.B.I. for disagreeing with his superiors as to how they handled an investigation which he feels resulted in the unnecessary rape and murder of a young woman. He feels personally responsible for not doing more to prevent her death. Aimless he returns to Dry Creek Ranch which was left to him and his three cousins by his late grandfather. Due to the drought that has plagued California for several years the once prosperous ranch has fallen upon hard times. His cousin Jace who is local sheriff lives in the big main house with his two young sons. Jace’s ex-wife left him and his sons a couple of years ago. Jace was raised by his grandfather after his parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident when he was a little boy so Dry Creek Ranch is the only home he’s ever known. Also living on the ranch is their younger cousin Sawyer a professional writer. Sawyer who is wealthy has remodeled one of the barns on the property into a loft for himself. Cash is living in a dumpy two bedroom cabin next to Dry Creek. He spends his days drinking and taking target practice. Cash has just learned he has a twelve year old daughter Ellie when her mother who is dying of cancer contacts him with the news literally days before she dies. Cash had a one night affair with the woman (a Boston police detective) when they both attended a law enforcement seminar years ago and had never heard from her since. Now Cash who has always been a loner must fly to Boston to attend the woman’s funeral and bring back his daughter to raise. Cash is a fish out of water trying to father a twelve year old girl who is a complete stranger to him. Your heart bleeds for poor Ellie who has lost her mother, the only parent she’s ever known is now relocated from urban Boston to a rundown cabin on a ranch in California to live with a father she doesn’t know. Ellie first doesn’t know and then when told doesn’t believe that her mother kept her a secret from her father and blames him for never being a part of her life. She believes Cash has only taken her in out of a sense of responsibility and doesn’t love her. She desperately wants to return to Boston and the life she knew.
Our female lead is Aubrey. Aubrey has just broken up with her fiancée Mitch, whom she’s lived with for ten years and was supposed to be marrying in two weeks when she catches him banging Jill, the wife of Brett, one of their best friends on his desk at work. Aubrey is not real broken up about the broken engagement as she realizes she never really loved Mitch. Why it took her catching him cheating on her after being with the guy for ten years is a mystery I don’t understand. Problem is Aubrey also worked for Mitch handling the interior decorating area of his planned community construction company. Now she’s not only out of work but Mitch has black listed her and bad mouthed her all over town telling people she left him because she was having an affair with Jace who was also one of Mitch’s best friends. Not only can’t Aubrey find work in her chosen profession but she can’t even get served at the local businesses and her car has been vandalized as it seems the entire town of Dry Creek has turned against her because of Mitch’s lies. Because she does not want to destroy Brett she can’t defend herself and tell her side of the story. Although their relationship has been completely platonic since they were children when Jace allows the jobless Aubrey to move into the cabin across the creek from Cash it only adds to the local gossip that she and Jace are involved.
After a rough early start Aubrey and Cash become friends as Cash, despite his reservations can’t resist her charms. Aubrey does her best to help Cash build a relationship with Ellie and gives Ellie a woman to confide in. They begin a friends with benefits relationship agreeing that because neither has a job which means either could be moving at any time and because Cash needs to focus his attention on Ellie and Aubrey is just getting out of a long term relationship it will never be more than a friends with benefits relationship for as long as it lasts. Of course they both fall madly in love with one another despite trying not to. Cash being a guy has to nearly lose Aubrey before he can Cowboy Up and acknowledge he loves and needs her so they can live their happily ever after. By the end of the story Cash, Aubrey and Ellie are a happy family with both adults finding satisfying careers that allow them to continue to live on the ranch. It’s clear that while they aren’t married it’s definitely in their future. No big spoiler here unless you’ve never read a contemporary romance before. What’s left in limbo besides the love lives of single father Jace and Sawyer is how they turn the ranch into a profitable operation and pay the hefty taxes on it, and where is the missing Angie. To be continued!
June 18, 2020
Cousins who seem to share a predilection for law enforcement. Cash comes home to the ranch he shares with Jace and Sawyer after leaving the FBI. That he’s doing target practice with a glock dates the story in the modern era. And of course there’s Aubrey the recently unattached gal who moved in across the creek. A 500 Acre ranch isn’t big enough for the two of them.
Dry Creek is small town, small minded and gossipy. When Aubrey found her fiancée sleeping with another woman she ditched her marriage plans and lost her job at the same time. Cash is headed to the funeral of a girlfriend he never married who failed to inform him of a 12-year old daughter, Ellie, before dying of cancer.
The book had sex scenes. Not as graphic as some I’ve encountered but close enough. No profanity though. Otherwise a good read.
Dry Creek is small town, small minded and gossipy. When Aubrey found her fiancée sleeping with another woman she ditched her marriage plans and lost her job at the same time. Cash is headed to the funeral of a girlfriend he never married who failed to inform him of a 12-year old daughter, Ellie, before dying of cancer.
The book had sex scenes. Not as graphic as some I’ve encountered but close enough. No profanity though. Otherwise a good read.
February 27, 2022
Pretty good cowboy romance
I'm pretty sure I've never read anything by this author. She's good at establishing distinctinctive characters quickly and neatly. You like or dislike them fast without feeling like you're being manipulated. Trust me, it's a good talent for a writer to have. I find myself looking forward to the series. My only quibble would be the overwhelming nastiness of an entire town on the word of one man, when the sheriff says he's wrong. I've found the stupid nasty rural townspeople in other cowboy books, and I don't care for this trope. It's hard to believe that everybody would agree on anything, especially holier-than-thou judgmentalism. But I'm a San Franciscan; what do I know?
I'm pretty sure I've never read anything by this author. She's good at establishing distinctinctive characters quickly and neatly. You like or dislike them fast without feeling like you're being manipulated. Trust me, it's a good talent for a writer to have. I find myself looking forward to the series. My only quibble would be the overwhelming nastiness of an entire town on the word of one man, when the sheriff says he's wrong. I've found the stupid nasty rural townspeople in other cowboy books, and I don't care for this trope. It's hard to believe that everybody would agree on anything, especially holier-than-thou judgmentalism. But I'm a San Franciscan; what do I know?
April 28, 2023
Overall I liked this story however the way that Aubrey handled the situation between Mitch, Jill and the townspeople really annoyed me. Aubrey was suppose to be a smart woman and yet she allowed people to trash her character and reputation. The things these people did and said to Aubrey was unbelievable and yet when the truth came out they all were nice to her and she let it all go. These are people you watch very closely and never trust.
Also, the way the criminal activity was handled at the end was absurd. I certainly wouldn't want to live amongst these people.
I liked Cash, Jace, Sawyer and the kids. I feel that kids bring more life to a story.
Also, the way the criminal activity was handled at the end was absurd. I certainly wouldn't want to live amongst these people.
I liked Cash, Jace, Sawyer and the kids. I feel that kids bring more life to a story.
July 24, 2019
Disappointing
I cant believe this mess is by the same author whose work I have enjoyed so many times in the past.
I hated the ugliness of the storyline with Mitch. The ugliness of the townspeople and their actions were childish and reprehensible. A whole town of people behave like this? Farfetched
I didn't feel a connection with Cash. And I didn't see a connection between Aubrey and he.
It seemed as if the author threw in every ugly thing she could imagine to make this story work. It didn't work for me
I cant believe this mess is by the same author whose work I have enjoyed so many times in the past.
I hated the ugliness of the storyline with Mitch. The ugliness of the townspeople and their actions were childish and reprehensible. A whole town of people behave like this? Farfetched
I didn't feel a connection with Cash. And I didn't see a connection between Aubrey and he.
It seemed as if the author threw in every ugly thing she could imagine to make this story work. It didn't work for me
May 17, 2019
A new series by Stacy Finz and it promises to be another great one. Cash is learning how to be a single father to a 12 year old he knew nothing about, Aubrey deals with being ostracized by most of the town who sides with her ex, and both try to navigate small town gossip and unexpected chemistry. Emotion, suspense, drama, cattle rustlers, cowboys, and romance. I look forward to reading more of the series!
February 7, 2020
An incredibly sweet, romantic and interesting story. At first I thought it wasn't my type of book as I felt I'd jumped in the middle of a story, not knowing or understanding the characters. I checked to be sure it was book one of the series. I am glad I persevered, however, because the story came together and the characters came alive to me. I loved it and look forward to the next story of Dry Creek Ranch.
February 3, 2024
So the book started off a little slow, and like I missed some info or like info was missing. But it quickly picked up and I actually really enjoyed this book. Has romance (got a little sexy there which I wasn't expecting), mystery, cursing, country vibes and kept me on the edge of my seat sometimes. Was almost too much for the book with all the different themes going on and the ending was almost a little too rushed but im probably going to read the series.
May 12, 2019
I won this book from Goodreads. I really enjoyed this story of a man find love with his neighbor and 12 year old daughter he did not know he had. It was well written and believable. His relationship with his daughter was not a fairy tale relationship. I am looking forward to other books in this series.
July 29, 2019
This book is all about the cowboy code “honor, integrity, truthfulness, and defend the weak” and of course with romance!!!! I love the characters, you feel like you really know them and that you are part of Dry Creek. I love the family dynamic and how Cash develops into the best daddy!!!! The ending is so heartfelt and you can feel the emotion jumping off the pages.
March 29, 2020
Overcoming heartache leads to happiness
All the characters in this book are interesting. I look forward to seeing how they develop in the next book. The relationship between the father and daughter is very heart warming. I found the family dynamics was what made the story so touching. A very pleasurable read!
All the characters in this book are interesting. I look forward to seeing how they develop in the next book. The relationship between the father and daughter is very heart warming. I found the family dynamics was what made the story so touching. A very pleasurable read!
May 2, 2020
Cowboy up/finz
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of cash , ellie, aubrey, and the Dalton cousin, jace and sawyer. I couldn't put the book down, it was a story about betrayal, friends,second chances and overcoming obstacles that could hinder relations when you feel you have nothing to give. Very well written, had some depth to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of cash , ellie, aubrey, and the Dalton cousin, jace and sawyer. I couldn't put the book down, it was a story about betrayal, friends,second chances and overcoming obstacles that could hinder relations when you feel you have nothing to give. Very well written, had some depth to the story.
May 26, 2019
The truth always come out
This story has a lot going on,but it all fits together perfectly. Cowboy up is a great title although I think the ladies also cowgirl up. Everyone grows throughout the story Cash, Aubrey and Ellie find what they need most in the end.
This story has a lot going on,but it all fits together perfectly. Cowboy up is a great title although I think the ladies also cowgirl up. Everyone grows throughout the story Cash, Aubrey and Ellie find what they need most in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews