Name: Loving Cara
ISBN: 9781476759005

Kristen Proby

When his 12-year-old nephew Seth is dropped off on his doorstep, rancher Josh King, who knows how to run a multi-million dollar business, but knows nothing about adolescent boys, hires former classmate and teacher Cara Donovan to tutor Seth and learns a valuable lesson in love. Original.

Loving Cara

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️ 

 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂 

“You take me to a place that no one else can. You own me.”

Loving Cara was such an adorable read and I had such fun with this one. I was recommended by a Bookstagram friend, to try out Proby's other Montana themed books and I really had a fun time. If it wasn't for how the third act was done, it probably would have resulted in a higher rating. The story between Josh and Cara was beyond endearing. The ways in which their relationship develops was poignant and full of sweet charm which is what you want to get from a cowboy romance. And this author definitely knows how to write wonderful atmospheric reads. We also see the ways in which this author brings in the plot dealing with the nephew and it was so impactful! 

“You destroy me, Cara.” Just like that, I’m thrown. I can only stare up at him as he tries to pull his thoughts together. “You. Destroy. Me.” He swallows hard and cups my face gently in his hands. “I love you and respect you so much.”

The cell phone on my belt vibrates against my hip, and I pull it from my holster, register my dad's name on the called ID and answer. 

Josh King is the head of his family in running their family ranch in Montana. He is the leader and the one that makes all the tough decisions. When his nephew arrives on his doorstep, with his mother abandoning him and hating his father, Josh is determined to connect with his nephew and prove to Seth that family takes care of each other. But Seth is struggling in ways that Josh can't help him on. So he hires on the school teacher, for the summer, to help tutor Seth and hope that her soothing nature will be able to connect with Seth. But along the way, Josh and Cara build a connection and chemistry together and Josh wants to prove to Cara what a great team they make together....

Its too much. Its not enough. Its this moment.....It's everything.

So many aspects of the story I fell hard for. The first was how engaging this book was. Both the book itself and the audio narration captivated me from the beginning and I just sped through it because I just didn't want to put it down. Then we have the actual stories in here that we see develop. There are two important plots that will really tug at your reader's heart. The first was the plot dealing with Josh's nephew, Seth. This poor boy, you see how horrible his mother treats him, his father being away fighting war in Afghanistan and battling his only family trying to help him. Josh is so patient with him but determined to connect with him. Cara really adds so much to the table in assisting Seth, and she bonds with this boy who just needs some firm but kind and patient. 

"It seems anywhere you are is my happy place. These days, so I thought the person who makes me happy to my happy place. "

Then we have the actual romance that builds between Josh and Cara. And boy these two...they have such powerful chemistry from the beginning. Proby is always so talented in writing such beautiful connections but this one might take the cake. I just loved how they interacted with each other. They didn't fight their attraction at all, they truly embraced it and it had such a refreshing air about it. And even though there was a grovel needed, it was just right. It wasn't overkill. (which is what I like about older contemporaries, they aren't so focused on the grovel, but the relationship itself) They have so many sweet smexy moments and love the ways they bond with each other and fight for each other in simple small ways but are so impactful to the overall intimacy in the relationship. 

My eyes are glued to his lips and I’m mortified to realize that I want him to kiss me.

And not just a sweet thank-you-for-teaching-my-nephew kiss, but a long, slow kiss that lasts forever and I can’t even remember to breathe.

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review. 

 Book Evaluation: 
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻🦸🏻‍♀️ 
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂 
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

 
“You take me to a place that no one else can. You own me.”
 

First Impressions
Loving Cara was such an adorable read and I had such fun with this one. I was recommended by a Bookstagram friend, to try out Proby's other Montana themed books and I really had a fun time. If it wasn't for how the third act was done, it probably would have resulted in a higher rating. The story between Josh and Cara was beyond endearing. The ways in which their relationship develops was poignant and full of sweet charm which is what you want to get from a cowboy romance. And this author definitely knows how to write wonderful atmospheric reads. We also see the ways in which this author brings in the plot dealing with the nephew and it was so impactful! 

 
“You destroy me, Cara.” Just like that, I’m thrown. I can only stare up at him as he tries to pull his thoughts together. “You. Destroy. Me.” He swallows hard and cups my face gently in his hands. “I love you and respect you so much.” 

First Line 
The cell phone on my belt vibrates against my hip, and I pull it from my holster, register my dad's name on the called ID and answer. 

The Main Protagonists 
 The Hero: Josh King 
 The Heroine: Cara Donovan 

Summary 
Josh King is the head of his family in running their family ranch in Montana. He is the leader and the one that makes all the tough decisions. When his nephew arrives on his doorstep, with his mother abandoning him and hating his father, Josh is determined to connect with his nephew and prove to Seth that family takes care of each other. But Seth is struggling in ways that Josh can't help him on. So he hires on the school teacher, for the summer, to help tutor Seth and hope that her soothing nature will be able to connect with Seth. But along the way, Josh and Cara build a connection and chemistry together and Josh wants to prove to Cara what a great team they make together....

 Its too much. Its not enough. Its this moment.....It's everything. 

What I Loved 
So many aspects of the story I fell hard for. The first was how engaging this book was. Both the book itself and the audio narration captivated me from the beginning and I just sped through it because I just didn't want to put it down. Then we have the actual stories in here that we see develop. There are two important plots that will really tug at your reader's heart. The first was the plot dealing with Josh's nephew, Seth. This poor boy, you see how horrible his mother treats him, his father being away fighting war in Afghanistan and battling his only family trying to help him. Josh is so patient with him but determined to connect with him. Cara really adds so much to the table in assisting Seth, and she bonds with this boy who just needs some firm but kind and patient. 

 " You brought me to your happy place. "
"It seems anywhere you are is my happy place. These days, so I thought the person who makes me happy to my happy place. " 

Then we have the actual romance that builds between Josh and Cara. And boy these two...they have such powerful chemistry from the beginning. Proby is always so talented in writing such beautiful connections but this one might take the cake. I just loved how they interacted with each other. They didn't fight their attraction at all, they truly embraced it and it had such a refreshing air about it. And even though there was a grovel needed, it was just right. It wasn't overkill. (which is what I like about older contemporaries, they aren't so focused on the grovel, but the relationship itself) They have so many sweet smexy moments and love the ways they bond with each other and fight for each other in simple small ways but are so impactful to the overall intimacy in the relationship. 

 My eyes are glued to his lips and I’m mortified to realize that I want him to kiss me.

And not just a sweet thank-you-for-teaching-my-nephew kiss, but a long, slow kiss that lasts forever and I can’t even remember to breathe. 

What I Struggled With
The only thing I struggled with was how the third act was handled. Just wasn't a fan in some of the misunderstandings that happened. And the heroine completely running away and especially what it does to Seth, I just didn't care for that aspect of the story at all. I get that Josh hurt her, as he lashes out in a way he doesn't realize he does, but she should have been patient and not run away when things get tough especially with what we see is happening with Seth who is still very vulnerable. 

Narration 
AMAZING! I can't recommend this narration enough, it was so so good. It really delivered and it sucked me immediately into the story. So much so that I didn't want to do anything else but listen to it. 

Overall View 
Loving Cara is an impactful romance that will dig deep into your heart. Its a poignant but sweetly sexy in a very endearing way that left me with a soft smile on my face! A TRUE WINNER! 

 “What I feel for you is so big, Cara. No more doubts.” He tips my chin up to look me in the eye. “You’re with me because there’s nowhere else I want you to be. Got it?” 

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Alpha Male, Teacher Heroine, Cowboy Hero 
Themes: Small Town, Groveling Hero, Heart/Emotional, Western
Tropes: Instant Love Connection, Forced Proximity 

Book Perspective 
Duo Pov 

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict---Lower end 

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Samantha Youong 
Melissa Foster 
Laura Pavlov 

Song This Book Inspires
At the Beginning-Cartoon Band 

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes but you can read these as a standalone 

Steam/Spice Explanations 

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. 

Narrators: 
Deacon Lee, Elizabeth Louise

Raya

This book was really great!! I loved the romance, chemistry, Josh, Cara... everything! 

(view spoiler)[I can't say anything bad about this book, only the fact that the reason why Cara went away was ridiculous. I mean she knows that Josh loves her, so when she heard what he was saying she could have just go to him and tell and ask him if he was talking about her. I kind of understand why she didn't but it wasn't a reason to leave the state  (hide spoiler)]

So if you read the little spoiler, you are maybe thinking why I gave this book 5 stars, even if I would have done things differently at the of the story, I still liked how everything ended!!!

So if you ever read this Kristen Proby, and I know it will never happen, I LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!!

Ana Matti

Not really into the whole ~insta love~ stories but I felt that this story actually worked for me.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


Can someone please tell me why I haven't read more of Kristen Proby's books? Seriously? They're just so... swoony and sexy and perfect. Loving Cara's been on my bookshelves for ages. I honestly wasn't sure it would be for me because Western romance reminds me an awful lot of the books my mom used to read when I was growing up. I've been proven wrong. These books ARE for me. Maybe it's because it's contemporary Western? Maybe it's because Kristen wrote it? I have no idea, but I loved it. And I want MORE. 

While Loving Cara isn't really a second chance romance, I loved that the hero and heroine knew each other prior to being put face-to-face in this book. Josh was super swoony and sexy and rugged. He definitely made me want to find a rancher of my own. I just don't think there are many of them over here on the east coast. Cara was a great heroine. She was smart and kind and easy to like. The chemistry between the two of them was immediate and, of course, slightly messy because she was tutoring his nephew, Seth. Thankfully it never really proved to be a problem. If anything, she actually helped the situation with sullen Seth. This kid's story broke my heart. It also led to major feels once his father, Zack, was back in the picture. 

Loving Cara was a fun, sexy and mostly drama free read. And, because you know I like my romance with some feels attached, I have to say that while there really wasn't MUCH drama, I did feel like I'd been punched in the feels a time or two. (And I liked it.) It was wonderful to escape into the world Kristen built here. I absolutely adored the characters and plan to devour each book in the series as quickly as possible. 

FAVORITE QUOTES

  Jesus, we breed hot men in Montana.

"Because this isn't a one-night stand for me, Cara. I don't know where this will go, but it's not a quick fuck against the wall by your front door."

"I need to feel alive. I don't need soft and slow. I need to remember that I'm alive and I need you to fuck me."

“What I feel for you is so big, Cara. No more doubts.” He tips my chin up to look me in the eye. “You’re with me because there’s nowhere else I want you to be. Got it?”

Jacelyn

Joshua King is so so hot as describe in the book! 

Aww... Kristen Proby - thanks for the book, you have successfully making Joshua King a very dreamy guy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️