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The Sweet Spot (Sweet on a Cowboy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Laura Drake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 176 ratings
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A Love as Big as Texas . . .

Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together.

James "JB" Denny doesn't stay where he isn't welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can't work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance?
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Sweet on a Cowboy
  2. Print length
    324 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Forever
  6. Publication date
    May 28, 2013
  7. File size
    830 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Emotional, southern, and a love story you'll remember long after you put it down." (NYT Bestselling author, Cristie Craig on THE SWEET SPOT)

From the Author

To introduce you to Charla Rae Denny, the heroine of The Sweet Spot, I thought I'd share with you her list of life lessons:
  • Before you throw your Ex off your ranch, be sure you know how to run it.
  • A Goth-Dolly Parton look-alike can make a great friend. And dumpster monkeys are helpful, too.
  • Next time, start a hardware store instead of a bucking bull business - the stock doesn't try to commit suicide every few minutes.
  • Never trust a husband too far, nor a bachelor too near - Helen Rowland
  • If you're the subject of the latest gossip-fest, stay away from the Clip-n-Curl.
  • Life is full of second chances, if you can get over yourself enough to grab them.
  • To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner is you -- Louis B. Smede
I hope you'll enjoy The Sweet Spot, and look for JB and Charla in the next two books in the series!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00A6GWJJI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forever (May 28, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 830 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 176 ratings

About the author

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Laura Drake

Laura Drake

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'Ordinary women on the edge of extraordinary change'

Laura Drake is a New York published author of Women's Fiction and Romance.

Her romance series, Sweet on a Cowboy, is set in the world of professional bull riding. Her debut, The Sweet Spot, won the 2014 Romance Writers of America® RITA® award. She’s since published 11 more Romances. She's also written 4 Women's Fiction: Days Made of Glass, The Road to Me, Amazing Gracie and For Roger.

Laura is a city girl who never grew out of her tomboy ways, or a serious cowboy crush. She realized a lifelong dream of becoming a Texan and is currently working on her accent. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write full time. She's a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
176 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joyce Shaughnessy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2015
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The Sweet Spot is so much more than an ordinary romance book. The reader first meets Char and Jimmy "JB" Denny after they have lost their son in a tragic accident and divorced. Char can't forgive or forget that Jimmy was with a young girl after they separated. She must learn that she must forgive herself for turning him away before she can forgive him.

There are many serious and challenging issues which are dealt with in the book - Alzheimers disease, forgiveness, death, addiction, and love. This story was both sad and happy. I learned about the typical life on a Texas bull ranch as well as in a small town, but the real story revolved around Char and Jimmy.

I loved it when Char made an unlikely friend in Bella, a New York transplant, and then paraded her before all of her gossiping friends.I also loved it as I watched Jimmy show Char how much she meant to him and ultimately, when Char accepted him back into her life.

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how they were perfectly suited to them. This book is definitely not a typical romance novel, and it was better for it. Laura Drake is a truly talented writer, and I am looking forward to the sequels of this book!
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Smitten with Reading
4.0 out of 5 stars B+ rating...
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
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My Review:
I have to admit, I bought this book several months ago and went into reading it without re-reading the cover copy so I had no idea what the story was about. As a result, I was astounded at how close this book hit to home. It's about JB and Charla who got divorced a year ago after 22 years of marriage in the aftermath of grief from their 7 year old son's accidental death. They have a ranch in the Fredericksburg, TX area.

(And this is an aside, but it explains how much this book hit me emotionally. I live 2 hours from Fredericksburg so that's an area I know very well since we visit there regularly. I've been married to my hubby for 22 years and we have an 7 yo daughter. It's so easy to put myself into these characters' place just because I'm right there and as such, I spent a lot of this book crying. I can't imagine how hard this situation would be. Honestly, I don't want to imagine it. Any of it.)

So, you know, this entire story starts with the death of a child and the emotional impact that it has on this couple. You know going into it that it's going to be emotional and it definitely was. I spent many scenes crying right along with Charla or JB. Obviously they are both devastated and instead of turning to each other in their grief, they let it cause a huge divide between them...one that ended with them divorced. Now they are trying to pick up the pieces of life a year later.

It's not an easy book, but it is one filled with hope. Hope that things do get better. I can't imagine anything worse than losing your entire family which is basically what happened to both of them. They are having to rebuild a base for the rest of their lives, but without one another. Something that was unfathomable to them before their child's death. Because they always had a good marriage, but grief is such a complex emotion and everyone reacts differently in their handling of it. The way that both of them handled it felt true, even if it was very difficult to read and experience through their story. But in going through that pain with them, it made their ability to overcome it that much sweeter.

The book does have a happy, well-earned and deserved ending. Both characters learn and grow so much although I personally enjoyed Charla's character arc more. Like her, I had a really hard time with the way JB reacted with his grief so it was more difficult to empathize with him. But it's an incredible story of hope and healing in the face of the worst trauma. I'm happy that I read it and immediately got online to order the other two books in the series because Laura Drake has a great writing voice.
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Lynne M. Spreen
5.0 out of 5 stars Get the Kleenex
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2018
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Wow, what a premise: a love story between two people who divorced in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy. They're both 40, which was wonderful; they've got some hard miles on them. Can they start again? This is the second book I've read by Laura Drake, who I recently discovered. I began with book 3 and then bought book 1, and reading them out of order did not in the least diminish their stories. I absolutely love this writer. She really tugs on the heartstrings, I like her humor, and she's tuned in to the most powerful human themes. I'm going to buy book 2 in the Sweet on a Cowboy series next. What an enjoyable way to spend the evening--but keep the Kleenex nearby. (My husband, who at 71 has become a fan of the late-1800's-era western-themed romance genre, was eyeballing the "Sweet on You" paperback. "Do you think I would like this?" He actually never likes anything I read, but this could be the ticket. I'll report back.)
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G.Boris
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm not a romance reader, but...
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014
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I'm not a romance reader, but this book hooked me from the opening paragraphs. It was immediately clear that the protagonist was a flawed, forty-something, who was dealing with real life issues. No buxom, hair-blowing-in-the-breeze, beauty who fights back with spunk when raped by a rapturous rouge but secretly enjoys it stuff here. I could relate.

The cast of characters were all too human. Their emotions were written simply, beautifully, and authentically. You know you've got a winner when you think about telling the main character to cut her ex-husband some slack while you're driving, then realize she can't listen even if you could call.

My only issue with this book is I want a sequel! What happens next Laura Drake?
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Darlene C. Hancock
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Love Story of Real Life Issues
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2020
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What can I say? Wow, what a powerful story.
Ms. Drake weaves a story that is sad, painful, yet loving--about real-life issues.
JB and Charla Denny's lives were destroyed when their son was killed in an accident, leading them to divorce and deal with their pain in separate ways. Such a true-to-life story and so much more than just a romance. I couldn't stop reading.
I can't wait to read another one of her books.
The only down-side to the book is there are no separations between the point of views, which was confusing, at times. You'd be reading in Charla's pov and, suddenly, you were in Jimmy's (JB) head. But, the story is so good that I still have to give it the 5-star review it deserves.

Great work!
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Renee C.
3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Romance without Sex
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2014
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A gave this book a 3 not because it was a bad book but because I like romance books to have some sexual heat. It was a good, interesting story, with likable characters. I don't regret the time I invested to read it but I wouldn't choose another book from this author. Just not my style.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Australia on March 5, 2018
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Enjoyed it,
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Samantha L. Dickson
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my most favourite and most treasured books!!!
Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2013
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If your a fan of bull riding or the PBR you will LOVE THIS BOOK! Their are references to some of the best bulls and riders all through out the read! If your not a fan of the PBR however, you will still love this book as the love story between Charla and Jimmy is one of the most heartfelt and touching stories I have ever read. Let me be clear here, I am NOT the type of women who loves Romance novels, I bought this book because Jimmy's initials were JB (JB MANUEY REFERENCE EVERYONE!) and Jory Markiss who is another of my favourite PBR riders was promoting this.
When I started reading however, I fell in love with this story by about page 3. I found myself cheering these two on, hoping, praying they would get back together. I also would like to thank Laura for creating a STRONG FEMALE LEAD! Even though Charla has issues she remains a strong independent women who learns to not rely on anyone for help. Its about time we started seeing romantic literature where a women stands on her own two feet and doesn't rely on a man to do things for her or boss her around!
Ultimately, the reason this book resonates with me is that is uses bull riding and stock contracting as a way to help Charla and Jimmy heal old wounds. Moreover, Drake sums up so perfectly the passion that all bull riders have for this sport and she accurately describes the equipment and mental attitude a person must have in order to ride an animal much bigger and stronger then they are. Some of her statements in this book are likely going to stay with me forever and are something I will remember and recite to myself every time I am about to climb on the back of my own steer. THANK YOU LAURA DRAKE!!!! Looking forward to book two!!!!
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Sharon Maas
5.0 out of 5 stars delightful and wise
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2014
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a gem of a book, which tugged at my heart strings all the way through. The story of a couple, separated, who have reached rock bottom. After their. beloved son was killed in an accident, Charla and Jimmy escaped their grief in different ways: she in Valium, he in an affair with a girl half his wife's age. They work through grief to find the true love buried in the dish of their hearts. It's set in a world totally foreign to me - bull riding is NOT my thing at all! - but it drew me in and I found admiration for the way Charla struggled to get back on her feet and Jimmy fought to win back her trust and her love. Very well written, as well.
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Steve
3.0 out of 5 stars Nett - aber nicht überwältigend
Reviewed in Germany on November 12, 2013
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Ein bisschen schwierig war der Einstieg ins Buch. Es geht sofort los und es gibt nicht viel Gelegenheit sich mit den Charakteren vertraut zu machen, bevor man mit vielen Emotionen konfrontiert wird.
Wenn ich ehrlich bin, dann hat mir das ein bisschen den Start des Buchen erschwert und ich brauchte ein bisschen, bis ich ganz „im Buch war“. Trotzdem habe ich nicht einmal darüber nachgedacht das Buch nicht zu Ende zu lesen. Die verschieden Charaktere wachsen einem schnell ans Herz und die Geschichte zieht einen zügig in ihren Bann.

Charla Rae und JB sind beide 40 und haben vor kurzem ihren einzigen Sohn verloren. Beide versuchen die Katastrophe zu überleben – jeder auf seine Art und Weise. Während Charla halt in Medikamenten sucht und sich von der Welt abschottet, sucht JB Trost in den Armen einer Frau, die gerade einmal halb so alt ist wie er.

In diesem Buch findet man keine „perfekten“ Menschen, wie sie so oft in anderen Büchern vorkommen. Charla Rae und JB sehen nicht aus wie griechische Götter und kämpfen mit ihrem Alter und ihren Fehlern genauso, wie jeder andere von uns tut. Ich konnte mich schnell mit ihnen identifizieren und mit ihnen mitfühlen. Etwas, das ebenfalls sehr schön an diesem Buch ist, ist, dass sich die beiden Hauptfiguren schon ewig kennen. Sie sind knapp 20 Jahre verheiratet, bevor das Unglück passiert. Dies merkt man an ihrer Vertrautheit und sorgt in manchen dunklen Momenten des Buches dafür, dass sich die Stimmung wieder aufheitert.

Liebenswert sind außerdem die Nebencharaktere. Besonders Bella, Travis und Ben haben es mir angetan. Die drei lockern das Buch deutlich auf und verleihen ihm einen ganz eigenen Charme.

Das Buch ist gut geschrieben und lässt sich flüssig lesen. Einzig einige abrupte Kapitelübergänge haben mich manchmal etwas irritiert. Dafür waren die Zitate, mit denen jedes einzelne Kapitel anfängt sehr passend und schön!
Das Buch ist streckenweise sehr traurig, was sich bei dieser Thematik wohl kaum vermeiden lässt. Trotzdem hatte ich nicht den Eindruck, dass man völlig erdrückt wird der Thematik, oder, dass sie einen auch dann noch verfolgt, wenn man das Buch zur Seite legt.

Am Ende ist es ein Buch, das davon handelt, wie Charla und JB versuchen mit ihren Leben zu Recht zu kommen und ganz langsam erst wieder auf die Beine und dann zueinander finden, als ein romantisches Buch.

Insgesamt ein solides Buch, das mich nicht vom Hocker gerissen hat aber mich – vor allem – mit seiner Thematik sehr berührt hat.
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Lakefront Muse
5.0 out of 5 stars When's the next one out!
Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2013
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I recently discovered western-themed books and find them a wonderful escape into a world I know so little about. I learned a lot about professional bull riding and had no idea it is such a big thing! I thoroughly enjoyed Charla. She's a strong character. JB is a good caring man and I found myself rooting for them to work things out. Drake's writing is very strong and I look forward to reading more of her in the future.
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