Can't Buy Me Love (Crooked Creek Ranch, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Molly O'Keefe (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 26, 2012

In Molly O’Keefe’s captivating new contemporary romance, a woman with a past and a man without a future struggle to find a place where they belong.
 
A girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Tara Jean Sweet knows that opportunity will never knock; she’ll have to seize it. Elderly Texas rancher Lyle Baker has a dying request: He will give Tara Jean a stake in his leather business in exchange for a little family subterfuge. All Tara Jean has to do is play the part of a gold-digging fiancée to lure Lyle’s estranged children home. The mission is soon accomplished.
 
Now Lyle’s gone—and his ridiculously handsome son, Luc, an ice hockey superstar sidelined by injuries, is the new owner of Crooked Creek ranch. He’s also Tara Jean’s boss. But being so close to sinfully sweet Tara Jean does crazy things to Luc’s priorities, like make him want to pry her deepest secrets from those irresistible lips. But when Tara Jean’s past demands a dirty showdown, will Luc stay and fight?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Interview with the Authors
Contemporary Romance Authors Susan Andersen and Molly O'Keefe, took to social media to discover what fans really want to know about cover art, characters, and how they get the job done.

Do you get to choose the picture that goes on the cover of the books? And does it then match the idea YOU had in mind for your characters? -- Pamela Lowery
SA: I’m consulted on cover art—then I pretty much get what I get. I’ve had both horrid and great covers, but only on Bending The Rules did I look at a model and say, “Yes, that’s my hero!”

‘Course, when you end up with a model like Scotty Too Hotty (Burning Up) who cares if he’s not the image you had in your head? ;-D

MOK: The abs on the cover of Can't Buy Me Love, are exactly the abs I pictured on Luc Baker! Joking aside, I get my say in cover art, too. And I love my covers. Especially Can't Hurry Love, the details are so rich and I love his wrinkled shirt. Totally fits my hero.

I would love to know your routine. Is it structured? Different everyday? And how do you flesh out a story? -- Kristi's TeaRoom
SA: I outline just enough to sell on proposal. In truth, I don’t have a clue what will sputter from my fingertips until I plant my butt and start typing. I make deadlines by building books a day at a time. I sooo wish I wrote faster, but I have come to accept that this is my process. I also write largely by correction, laying down the bones, then fleshing ‘em out more with each new pass.

MOK: Routine? I'm unfamiliar with that word. I have two young kids at home (both will be in school full time next year!) so every day is pretty different for me. I do a lot of thinking and planning and brainstorming while playing Barbies or building Legos, and then, when I sit down, I write like someone is chasing me. I like Susan's answer so I'm going to steal it—I write by correction as well.

How do you keep the ideas coming for new characters/conflicts? -- Louise Groarke
SA: I’m character-driven: each book starts with a hero or heroine scratching at the back of my brain. In the case of That Thing Called Love, half-brothers Jake and Max Bradshaw—who grew up hating each other’s guts—were first to agitate for a story. Then my brainstorming partner and I tossed around ideas for Jake’s heroine and their conflict (Max had to wait, since he’s not primary until Book 2), and it went from there.

MOK: Can't Buy Me Love was totally inspired by NHL superstar Sidney Crosby and his concussion a few years back. I was fascinated by the idea of a man so physically fit, at the top of his game, having to walk away because of potential brain trauma. I had all these questions about the emotional impact that would have on someone, so I had to write the book to answer the questions!

SA: And trust me on this, Molly’s Can’t Buy Me Love will Knock. Your. Socks off!

Review

“Molly O'Keefe delivers addictive and sexy romance at its best: irresistible and satisfying . . . a terrific read.”—New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery
 
“Molly O’Keefe is a unique, not-to-be-missed voice in romantic fiction . . . an automatic must-read!”—New York Times bestselling author Susan Andersen

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (June 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440423074
• ISBN-13: 978-0440423072
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Molly O'Keefe is a RITA-Award winning author with 20 Harlequin novels in publication. She's won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Flipside in 2005 and Best Superromance in 2008. The third book in her Crooked Creek series will be released in January 2013. A digital only prequel to Crazy Thing Called Love will be included in the holiday anthology Naughty and Nice out in November 2012. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her family and the largest heap of dirty laundry in North America.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Soap Opera July 10, 2012

By D. Salvagin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I never got into the characters. I just couldn't find much to like about Tara who lamented her trashy background but continued to act trashy and Luc was in denial about everything for the entire book, made me just want to smack him. Vicki,Luc's sister, was screwed up and, just in case we didn't have enough melodrama, Vicki's sick son, Jacob, is there to have an asthma attack at dramatic moments. Eli was walking around with a pout on most of the book and I can't see him as a hero in the next book. I found the authors way of presenting dialog, without indicating the speaker, to be confusing and irritating.

Okay...it is safe to assume this book was not my cuppa tea, too much whining, too much drama, too little common sense and hard to believe a million dollar business came out of that greenhouse. This was a soap opera.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book!!!! June 4, 2012

By Krista Lyn VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

What a nice surprise Can't Buy Me Love turned out to be! I was laughing out loud for the first couple of chapters thinking that this was going to be a light, fluffy, romantic comedy, and then things changed quickly! Can't Buy Me Love was an incredibly deep, emotional journey that had the power to elicit strong feelings throughout.

Luc Baker:
Professional hockey player, ripped body, handsome as all get out, protective of family, tormented, and disciplined...what more could a girl ask for? However, there was definitely more to Luc than what the eye could see. It's hard to imagine what professional athletes must go through as their bodies begin to break down and they are unable to continue to play the sport that has defined them and given them their identity. Luc struggles with this throughout this book and it is a heartbreaking thing to watch.

Tara Jean Sweet:
Knockout blond with a big chest and seductive ways. She has set her sights on Luc's elderly father, and intends on marrying him (for his money), but again...things are not always as they appear. Tara Jean was a truly tragic character. Raised by a horrifically abusive and neglectful mother, Tara learns early that her only resource is to use her beauty (and her body) to survive. Her past is littered with poor decisions and a horrific ex-boyfriend who exploited her. She struggles with deep shame and does not like herself.

Although the attraction is immediate, Luc and Tara begin as adversaries. Luc's negative impression and beliefs about Tara cause him to treat her cruelly at the beginning of this story, but as they come to understand one another, an unlikely friendship develops that was believable and very sweet. Both Luc and Tara begin personal journey's towards acceptance, healing, and the hope for a new tomorrow.

I loved this romance and had a very hard time putting it down. The writing is excellent, witty, and clever. The characters are three dimensional and real, and the plot is very engaging. What more could a reader ask for?

Victoria Baker:
Luc's sister and the heroine for O'Keefe's next book Can't Hurry Love. Honestly, I did not like this character at all for most of the book, but towards the end, this spoiled, weak, insecure woman starts to change her life. I can't wait to see what's next for this character and the tall, sexy, silent cowboy that oozes sex appeal!

I highly recommend this book, and can not wait for the sequel which is out in July!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars At least I finished it July 10, 2012

By Online Mama

Format:Mass Market Paperback

In order to like a book, I really need to like the characters. The leading man in this one was fine, but I never clicked with the female. She was not likeable. I understand she had a troubled past that was supposed to make her complicated, but she was just a bitch that wanted security in life. She was rude, even to children, and only gave vague warnings to fellow characters about the villain instead of the hard facts that would have armed them against him-- she did not say "I used to be his partner in crime and he had me beat up when I crossed him," but only "He is not what he seems."

Tara Jean's only asset seemed to be her looks- besides her appearance I never saw what drew Luc to her. They never seemed to bond on any level other than sex. I kept waiting for her to grow on me, but she never redeemed herself. She did get somewhat nicer, she still didn't inspire me to LIKE her. Her past "crimes" seemed inconsequential when compared to her current lack of redeeming character.

I did enjoy Luc's struggle with his career, and I liked the secondary character of Eli, who appears to be the protagonist in the next book.