The Sweet Spot

Sweet on a Cowboy, Book 1

By: Laura Drake

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

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?

©2013 Laura Drake (P)2014 Recorded Books

Good narrator made the story even better!

This is the first time I've listened to this author; it won't be the last!

Beautifully written and performed!

Laura Drake weaves a story that is both heart wrenching and heart-affirming. She skillfully brings her characters to life - makes us love them and ache for them. The evocative way in which she paints ranch life and the people living in the small Texas town makes the reader feel like they’re right there. As for the narrator, Susan Bennett perfectly captures the characters’ personality in their voices. I listened to it once, then I listened to it again right away. I simply didn’t want to leave the story’s world or people. A beautifully written and performed book!

Captivating

Such a good story. The authors ability to describe her characters in such detail makes me feel like I know them personally. Caution, the story is so good it will keep you awake until you finish the book!

A marriage restored.

Nice story merging grief, guilt, a little jealousy and addiction. Even Alzheimer's was dealt with in a gentle perspective as all of these issues reared their ugly heads forcing Char and Jimmy to face the loss of their son. In doing so they slowly evaluated themselves and slowly restored the marriage that they had allowed to crumble.

good book

I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I thought it was going to be a not so loved book when i started it, but I was totally wrong. I really loved it. I wish there was more to their story. this book had heartbreak and love and it was so good. It made me want to cry and laugh. I am so glad that I kept on going with it. I cant wait to read more from this author.

Hits All Emotions!

This was the first book I had experienced from this author and it won’t be the last. I loved it! I laughed, I smiled, I cried! The narrator did a great job! If you have experienced the death of a child, this might be too emotional!

would recommend

this was a great book. I found it hard to put down. my kind of reading.

Too slow and somewhat predictable

The narrator was good but this story seemed to drag on and on. It seemed like the main leads barely interacted with each other for the first few hours of the book. I could appreciate the journey they took away from each other then back again but the book was predictable and I found myself wanting to fast forward. I should have because I probably wouldn’t have missed anything critical.

Forgiveness and coming home

This is a well written novel about real life - the good and the bad. It is also about forgiveness - of oneself and others. And it is about love. I enjoyed the setting; bull riding in a small western town and a ranch that raises rodeo bulls. A child dies and so does the marriage, leaving the divorced wife to run a ranch, care for a father with Alzheimers, and deal with the knowledge that her husband lived with a girl half her age after they separated. Although the story is based on a sad situation, it begins well after the child's death and after the husband's time with the young woman and is mostly a sweet romance. Both husband and wife are still dealing with their grief, feelings of betrayal, and the loss of a marriage that was filled with love before the loss of the child. The story focuses on how they find their way back to one another. I noticed that some of the reviews mentioned that this is a Christian novel. I see how it might be classified as such but I think most any romance reader will enjoy this story.

Exquisite

The author Laura Drake sprinkled this poignantly sad book with real, natural humor in keeping with the characters who say and think the lines--a rarity to find genuine humor this good--and necessary with the wrenching theme of loss throughout this ultimately triumphant tale. A thorough depiction of ranch life adds depth and grit to the tale, but the sheer beauty in this storytelling is as good or better than Jody Picoult and Kristen Hannah. Faith elements felt natural and cultural. The chapter quotations added to the story without distracting. Susan Bennett's representation of the two distinct accents of east Texas and the Bronx is hilarious and subtle, without overkill. Her voice performance throughout is pitch perfect. Simply splendid. Highly recommend.