"A good romantic romp"

After obtaining an MBA, Lacey Wellington wants to prove to her older brother Wade, CEO of Wellington Restaurant Corporation, that she can do the job. Lacey insists Wade give her no preferential treatment so he sends her to turn around their weakest property, their Uncle Jasper's restaurant- Amazatorium.

When Jasper's six foot snake escapes, cowboy Max McLane assists Lacey in rounding up and capturing Monty. Lacey feels out of character as she immediately wants the ranch hand to make love to her and Max feels obsessed to do so though he tries to not give into his feelings. Max is a close friend of Wade and is doing him a favor by watching over Lacey. He hopes that when she learns the truth that he is an accountant and not a cowboy he can persuade her that they belong together in spite of his deception.

THE COWBOY FLING is an amusing contemporary romance but requires the reader to accept Lacey wanting to do it on her own, choosing a family property with a "safety net". The story line is fun as Lacey and Max want one another but his fears of how she will react when she learns he is a CPA makes him try to keep his distance. Though written many times before, Dawn Atkins provides sub-genre fans with an amusing romantic romp that will provide several delightfully mirthful and sexy interludes.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted March 10, 2002

Summary

Lacey Wellington is out to change her life. And sexy cowboy Max McLane is the perfect man for the hot fling she has in mind. Problem is, he seems to be the noble kind and is resisting her advances. She'll just have to prove that she likes footloose and fancy-free cowboys. Funny thing, though, the more she knows about Max, the less cowboylike he seems.

Max would rather wrangle a spreadsheet than a steer. And he'd give almost anything to never see another saddle again. But he gave his word to her overprotective brother that he would keep an eye on Lacey and keep her out of trouble. So somehow this former accountant has to pretend he's the cowboy he's not...while keeping his hands off Lacey!