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Alex Bishop is your typical cowboy.
Charming, sexy, and wears a panty-melting smirk.

Working on the ranch helped build his solid eight-pack and smoking body. He's every girl's wet fantasy, and he knows it too. Alex doesn't follow the rules of your typical playboy bachelor. After wining and dining his dates and giving them the best night of their lives, he always sends flowers and calls the next day—even if it's to say, let's just be friends. His mama taught him manners after all, and his Southern blood knows how to be a gentleman. Still, that isn’t enough to tame the wildest of the Bishop brothers.

River Lancaster has finally met the man of her dreams. Too bad after six months of romantic bliss, she finds out he's married. With a broken heart and blind rage, she books herself a ticket to Key West, Florida. Tired of cheaters and liars, she’s set on escaping to forget he ever existed. Who needs a man when there's an all-you-can-drink margarita bar, anyway? That's what she tells herself until she bumps into the right guy who can make all those bad memories disappear.

Even if it's only temporarily.

Two weeks on the beach is what they both need. No strings attached, no expectations, no broken hearts. Too bad the universe has other plans—one that'll change the entire course of their lives in just nine short months.

This is book 1 in the Bishop Brothers series. Each book features a different brother and can be read as a complete standalone. HEA guaranteed!
**Not suitable for readers under 18 due to adult language and sexual content.

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2018

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About the author

Kennedy Fox

72 books5,738 followers
Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors under the USA Today pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. Their characters will make you blush and your heart melt. Cowboys in tight jeans are their kryptonite. They always guarantee a happily ever after!

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5 stars
3,025 (37%)
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3 stars
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124 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 903 reviews
Profile Image for ❤️ Nanda ❤️.
733 reviews404 followers
August 30, 2020
I'm going to give 4 stars because I really enjoyed the first part... So I would give to it 5 stars, but I did not like the second part, so for it, I would give 3 stars ...

The moments shared in the first part are fun and exciting, and you can feel the real connection between River and Alex. And with a side bonus that we can also see Natalie and Dylan too.

All this changes in the second part. I found it dull and repetitive.
Where not even remember the chemistry that the protagonists have with each other. And River was so boring and annoying, that I almost give up!
I mean... They're so so so in love, but expend months in a lot of none! Like pages and pages of nothingness (but hey... They winks and squeezes hands three times!) That's sucks.

By the way, I think everyone in this book winks at everyone! I was so tired of reading "wink", that I did a search on the Kindle to find out that it was spoken 64 times !!
So yeah ... It was really tiring.

But the story is cute ... It could have been better developed in the second part.
Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,212 reviews1,282 followers
January 29, 2018
description

description

Alex is one of the four Bishop siblings. He's the first one to get his own book. We already heard his sister's story in the 2nd #CheckmateDuet.

Alex is happy with his life. He's working very hard at his parents ranch - he and his brothers will one day take over.

And in his private life .... he only does one night with a girl. But he's always very kind about it - telling them that he's not ready for something serious.

River is a pediatric nurse in Wisconsin and she just broke up with her boyfriend - who is married! Which she only found out after six months of dating.

Both River's and Alex's best friends booked/won a trip to Florida and asked them to join.

Off to Key West we go!

But what starts as a no-strings, fun, holiday romance .... Let's just say WHAT HAPPENS IN FLORIDA DOES NOT ALWAYS STAY IN FLORIDA - or Wisconsin as the case may be. ☺

What will happen to River & Alex?
Will they meet again after Florida?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!!!! ☺

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description

That was adorable!

And funny. And sexy!
But also a bit moving and sad.
Great cowboy romance!

Or rather a sexy & cute & fun Florida Holiday Romance in the first part and a great Cowboy Romance in the second part. - I really enjoyed reading it!

Alex is a really great guy. A real family person.
(A tiny little bit too much for my tastes. The way his mom first reacted? I would've left and never come back! She's a 50 year old person living in the 21st century, not a 80 year old grandma in the sixties stuck in her ways! Jeez!)

I had a few more problems with the book .... but please don't listen to me. I'M VERY WEIRD when it comes to books. NONE of the following will probably bother anyone but me, so please don't worry, and PLEASE don't be offended KF!

I started reading and ... I know I read an ARC which was probably not edited. BUT - even an unedited book cannot/should not contain the mistakes I found. The most hilarious but also one of the saddest things I found was PHOTOGENIC MEMORY! I couldn't believe my eyes. I know it was probably just a typo and will be fixed before the book comes out, but what if it's not? What if the authors don't know the difference between PHOTOGENIC and PHOTOGRAPHIC/EIDETIC? Scares me a bit. (But of course I'm almost 99% sure that it was just a typo!!! But I had to mention it. It was just so funny!)

The book was a bit too long for my tastes. There was too much stuff that was just redundant. Too much that didn't interest me at all. I wanted to read about Alex and River and not so much about the sister and the hay and the weather and the best friend back in Wisconsin ...

And through all that long story I always kept waiting for something HUGE to happen. Something dangerous or exciting or super amazing. But nothing does. The story just blubbers along completely predictable. It would probably make a great tv show with a bit more excitement thrown in! I would totally watch that. Hot cowboys!

The cover - not my thing. The body is totally ok...not too much muscle. But the guy's face looks a bit like a pimply 15 year old. And he also looks a bit Chippendal-ish. Ew. No offense buddy.

And back to the writing. Just like with all other Kennedy Fox books, I had my problems with the way those ladies write. I have no idea why. I was thinking that it's a local dialect kind of problem - but Brooke and Lyra are from different places! I know I'm weird with my book problems, but ... some expressions are just strange or wrong and ... no idea. I can't explain it. But when I finished this book and started my next one, I immediately noticed the difference in the writing - the new book just flowed so much better for my weird brain. No offense B+L - I love your books and will keep on reading them. I'm just so very weird with many book things!!!

BUT - all that doesn't mean that the book sucked! Nooo - it's just my weird weirdness when it comes to books. Or maybe I just had an off day! PLEASE DON'T LISTEN TO ME - READ THE BOOK!

Also, I'm really excited to see what brother number two will have to tell us next!!! ☺☺☺

TAMING HIM was an adorable & funny & sweet cowboy romance! Can't wait to read about the 2nd brother!


description






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Profile Image for Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora).
2,170 reviews293 followers
October 8, 2019
Rate: 5+ southern stars

Cowboy romances isn't something I usually read or even appeals much to me but when this series was first announced, I knew I had to read them because 1- it's written by these two ladies and I haven't read anything by them that I haven't LOVED and 2- these are Courtney's brothers we're talking about here, so of course I was going to read this if it meant I could get a glimpse of my babies again, which I did and ahhhhh I miss them!

Anyway, yeah I guess you could say I'm not much of cowboy girl, I mean I admit they are sexy and all with that southern accent and cowboy hat, tight jeans and the boots...but it's not something I'll jump to read but let me tell you... these two ladies sold me on cowboys!

Alex Bishop, well more like ALL the Bishop Brothers (even Dylan aka Alex's best friend) they sure got me going and I'm gonna jump to read all 3 books remaining in this series because GOD DAMN, all Bishop Brothers have so many promise and I'm super excited to read about them all! Evan is next and omg it already sounds so good! I bet it's gonna be filled with banter and super funny. I'm so damn excited! Also, I'm super excited for Jackson, I found him the most asshole-y and playboy-ish but I think he's the one I'm most curious about, I'm dying to find out more about the whole best friend thing. Can you tell how much I love best friend to lovers romances? Yeah, I bet you can.


Getting back to Alex.. Oh my Lord he was perfect y'all.. perfect! That dirty mouth combined with southern gentleman will melt all your panties. He was first introduced as a playboy but soon, at the first glimpse of River he was tamed. It was so amusing to read their first encounter. Alex met his match in River and I seriously loved these two from the start. Their relationship starts as a one week vacation rendez-vous and as they spend more time together, feelings start to grow but time is ticking and after the one week, how could they ever be more?

River having just been through a nasty breakup and having watched her parents relationship fall apart when she was little, she doesn't trust easy and overthinks everything. So, she knows there's no chance that they could be more with Alex living the ranch life in Texas and she living so far away. What neither of them counted on was her showing up in Texas a couple months later with some huge news - Alex hadn't just treated her well and fucked her good while helping her check things off her vacation bucket list - he also left a bun in her oven.

From that point on wards, it is so damn sweet to read about them getting ready to have a baby and building a solid relationship on trust and love, and not on sex and lust. I swear this book was the sweetest book Kennedy Fox has ever written! And I loved it! Alex turned out to be such a sweetheart, he had me swooning all the darn time. I loved him and River together! They were seriously so sweet, it was so wonderful to read.


Taming Him was laugh out loud funny, heartwarming-ly sweet and oh so so good! I seriously recommend you save a horse and ride this cowboy! I loved Alex and River's story to pieces! Even if you're not much of a cowboy fan, you should give this one a try, I have a feeling KF will sell you on them like they did with me!

And the promise of the other three Bishop brothers will have you dying with anticipation. Evan is coming in the beginning of April, he's going to be my early birthday present; what more can a gal ask for?!

➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.

➳ #PREORDER and get the book early on your device! Coming January 30th!
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Profile Image for Andrea.
567 reviews
October 6, 2018
Likeable-ish characters, but OMG such a predictable and so long!!!! Felt it was dragging!! So unnecessary!!

Not sure if I will read the other books about the Bishop bros!
Profile Image for book bruin.
1,269 reviews335 followers
February 3, 2018
Are you ready to meet the Bishop brothers!?

description

We first heard about these hilarious and swoony brothers in Checkmate: This is Reckless and This is Effortless, but now the brothers are front and center in their own spin off series! Taming Him is the first book in this new standalone series and features the wildest Bishop brother, Alex.

I will admit that I was a little worried about whether I would like Alex or not since the manwhore hero is my least favorite. I was so very wrong though and found myself pretty smitten with him after just a few chapters. Honestly, had his history not been mentioned, I wouldn't have thought him wild at all! His mama definitely taught him manners and almost everything he did and said had me smiling and giggling. Everything else he did pretty much had me like this

description

Alex and River have wonderful chemistry and I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship. It may not have started in a conventional way, but it made for some very hilarious and sexy times! Throw in some amazing secondary characters (I'm looking at you Benita!) and the promise of more Bishop brother goodness to come and this was a solid start to the series! That epilogue has me biting at the bit to see what Kennedy Fox has in store for us next!

3.5 stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
Profile Image for Heather❀Kiss The Pages❀.
710 reviews296 followers
October 11, 2019
4.5 Stars

Audiobook Review

Such a fun, sexy and emotional romance! Alex Bishop is the ultimate playboy. Aiden Snow narrates with the smooth and sexy southern accent that had me basically swooning non stop. He and River had amazing chemistry. Neither of them were looking for something long term when they met on vacation but they both feel a pull and know they have something more special than a one night stand. This romance unfolded with the best surprise and my heart was so full watching these two fall in love. I fell in love with the whole Bishop family and I'm excited for the other brothers' stories.
Profile Image for Wendy ⏃: ✦Nerdy Book Reviews✦.
928 reviews294 followers
February 1, 2018
4.5 COWBOY STARS!

Filled with sweet and sexy southern charm, Taming Him is a swoon worthy cowboy romance that will leave you wanting to visit Texas. Yee-Haw!!

Each book in this new series by the talented and sassy ladies, known as Kennedy Fox are spin off standalones. They follow the Bishop Brothers, book one centering around the youngest, Alex.

Alex Bishop is what I call a 'smooth operator'. He'll charm your panties off with his sexy smirk and his impeccable manners. A hard working rancher who can't be tamed until he meets River that is.

River Lancaster is the epitome of strength. From a young age she's faced many struggles that has made her the woman she is now. Guarded yet passionate and caring, River goes on an adventure of a lifetime where she meets an unexpected beautiful cowboy.

While vacationing in sunny Key West, Florida River and Alex indulge in a no strings attached affair... But where there's fun in the sun, there's bound to be emotions involved.

Kennedy Fox hit the nail with this. With amazing sceneries described perfectly, angst filled moments, and small town charm, Taming Him sets the tone for this series just right. The Bishop Brothers will leave you breathless! Now, give me my bae, Evan #yaasss 💃

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*** I own none of the rights to the images in this collage. ***


*AN ARC WAS KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.*
Profile Image for Raine.
2,466 reviews49 followers
March 29, 2018
So boring!!!

The beginning part was the most interesting and it was wasn't all that great. And from there it just went downhill. This is the second book in a row that has not held my interest and was boring as all heck!
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,234 reviews14.7k followers
January 31, 2018
When I heard about this series coming out, I was so freaking excited to get my hands on it. I mean, you can't go wrong with some yummy cowboys!

Alex Bishop lives and breathes the ranch life. He's a real-life cowboy, boots, hat and all. When he has the chance to take a two week trip to a luxurious beach with his best friend, those two cowboys are ready to hit up the sun and sand. The last thing Alex expects to find there is an amazing woman he can't stop thinking about. River Lancaster has dedicated her life to caring for sick children as a PICU nurse and is much need of a vacation with her best friend and her best friend's boyfriend, especially after the breakup she just went through. When she meets Alex, she's shocked how much she likes him. When they put an expiration date on their relationship, they're both dreading the end and don't know how they could ever say goodbye.

Going into this book, I definitely didn't expect the timeline we got. The first part of this book takes place when they meet on the beach and their chemistry ignites. The second part of the book is after that when they try at a real relationship in the real world. The beginning was all fun and games while River tries to fight her feelings for Alex because she knows nothing could come out of it. I loved how charming Alex was and how much he really wanted to get to know River more than he has ever wanted to know a woman before. He is definitely the quintessential charming, southern cowboy and I loved him. It was also fun watching him plot with River's best friend to see exactly what she had right in front of her.

Moving onto the next part of this book where our characters are back in reality, we see them try at a relationship in the real world. I loved getting to know the Bishop family after that small glimpse in Courtney's book in the Checkmate series. They all have such intriguing personalities and it was fun seeing River fit in so well with their family. There was still so much hesitation on River's part to become a part of Alex's life, but Alex was so swoon-worthy in this book in how much he wanted to show River he was the guy for her. Forget about bad boys; give me a charming cowboy any day!

In the end, this was such a fun read with a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. I loved seeing the Texan life that River finds herself falling into and watching two people who weren't meant to find each other fall for one another.
Profile Image for Alaina.
6,541 reviews214 followers
March 29, 2018
I loved everything about River and Alex in this book! They were such a cute couple with basically no drama. Okay, there was a tiny bit.. but seriously.. they were adorable people.

Taming Him was a pretty addictive book. I obviously wanted River to have a happy ending.. especially after that dramatic punch to the guy Kennedy called a prologue. Hot damn. Hitting me with a death so early on. What if I wanted to like that damn character? WHAT IF KENNEDY?

River was a really likable character. She didn't annoy me or try to be vindictive towards anyone. She was genuinely a nice person and actually cared for Alex. I get that she was afraid to tell him that she was pregnant but she overcame that said fear and told him about it. Now I give mad props for Alex as well. He took being pregnant as the happiest freaking news ever. He didn't try to deny it at all. I really liked that about him. Then again he also didn't act vindictive or petty towards her. Yeah he was upset that she just randomly left him without a word or a reason.. but once he found out he definitely accepted it and moved on.

Now I loved their relationship. I also really liked how his family just accepted her. They were all so freaking adorable. Then the baby being named RILEY! OMG! I was so happy and I kind of figured out if she did have a kid.. that she would use that name.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next one because I can already see it being funny or a hot mess. Bring it on Emily and Evan!
Profile Image for RentasticReads.
699 reviews183 followers
January 31, 2018
A wild, charming Southern gentleman who’s in need of some taming, but with a huge heart and so much love to give.

A nurturing, passionate woman who’s in need of love and a break from getting cheated and left behind.

An electrifying, earth-shattering chemistry between two strangers and an unforgettable, life-changing getaway in paradise.

Taming Him introduces us to the sexy cowboy brothers of Courtney Bishop who we met in Checkmate Duet #2 ( This is Reckless & This is Effortless ), but it focuses on the youngest playboy of the bunch—Alex Bishop. This guy had me absolutely melting and eating at the palm of his hand. He’s the perfect, dirty-talking cowboy you sit, staring at the ceiling, daydreaming about or fantasize about at night. One who gets down and filthy and knows how to work for it. Alex may have been a party boy and heartbreaker with a wild streak, but I love that he isn’t afraid to show his vulnerabilities—his soft, sweet side—either. No matter how much ribbing he got for them from his brothers. He just had me swooning all over him since that first moment he met River.

River Lancaster is a devoted pediatric nurse who works her butt off, not because she needs the money, but because she loves what she does that much and it’s her passion to help kids as much as she can. She may not be my top favorite heroine, but I can’t deny how much her selflessness, dedication and strength left me in awe. And after her unfortunate battles with love and relationships, she deserves to be cocooned in the comfort and arms of a man like Alex. Someone she had that instant spark and connection with the moment their eyes landed on each other. Someone who’d care for her and make her his entire world.

I’m keeping this review short and sweet since a major part of the tale is a huge, blaring spoiler and I surely don’t want to ruin the twist and surprise this book has in store for you. Just know that when you dive into this, you better brace yourself and hold onto your panties. Because these Bishop Brothers—this pack of Southern charmers—won’t only give you the ride of your life in their hometown, but they will steal hearts and destroy ovaries like there’s no tomorrow!

If you’re looking for a smooth-sailing, almost angst-free read with drool-worthy cowboys and are willing to be sucked into the Bishop vortex, better pick up Taming Him and start the series with a bang. You’ll have to ride the wave of the swoony, flirty feels this book will give you. Trust me. And I bet when you reach that ending, you’ll already be craving for the next book, Needing Him .


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Profile Image for Hanna's Book Obsession.
582 reviews63 followers
January 30, 2018
{I received this as an ARC in exchange for an Honest review}
        Alex and River have stolen my heart! This book is so amazing!!! It is my favorite Kennedy Fox Book!  You guys this book is so freaking wonderful!!!  Oh my gosh I love it so much!!! This is split in two parts and I usually will have a favorite part in books like these but I don’t have a favorite part I love both parts so freaking much!! Alex and River are so special. They are such an amazing couple!! You can feel the intensity and the connection and love with these two.
“The connection we shared was almost too much. It’s intoxicating and feels like it will completely swallow me whole or break me- I’m not sure which one it is yet.”

This book was so much fun to read!! I loved every minute of it! The writing is phenomenal like my heart was breaking at the end of part one even though I knew that they would get back together in part two my heart was still breaking for them. Part two had my heart soaring. This book just brought out so many strong emotions. I love it!!  This book was truly fantastic with amazing characters  that have a wonderful love story!!
I am so in LOVE with Alex Bishop!! He is such a gentleman! Oh my gosh he is so sweet!  Plus he is SEXY AS HELL!! I was expecting a jerk playboy type of guy but I was so wrong. He may be a playboy but he is no jerk. The way he falls in love with River is everything. He was just looking for some fun he was not expecting to end up actually liking/loving someone.  Alex is the best I am so in love with him! He is one sexy cowboy and the perfect book Boyfriend!! Can I have my own Alex? Pretty Please!!
I love River! She is such an amazing character!! She as been through a lot but she never lets any of it hold her back. She goes for what she wants with a little help from her bff. She is so fun and so amazing!! She is definitely one of my favorite female characters!! I love her!!
“River baby. I don’t need easy. Hell, I want crazy and everything that it entails. As long as it’s with you”
They were only looking for a fling they never expected to find love. Alex and River are my new favorite couple!! They’re my OTP!! This book is so amazing!! I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep I didn’t want to stop reading this. Seriously you guys this book is so wonderful, it’s so  sexy and so heartwarming! You will fall in love with these characters!! I can’t wait for the rest of the Bishop Brother Series! Oh and by the way Alex is MINE!! I love him so much!!
“She’s here, and she’s mine.”

Profile Image for Shayna.
1,813 reviews614 followers
January 28, 2018
“Why are you so perfect?”
“Trust me, I’m not. But you make me want to be.”


Get ready for some sweet and sexy southern charm coming your way! TAMING HIM by the ladies of Kennedy Fox is book one in their brand spankin’ new Bishop Brothers Series! Reading this book felt like I was being wined and dined by the best of em’. Alex Bishop is one SWOONY COWBOY you will NEVER forget! And River Lancaster is a heroine that you can easily bond with and relate to. Alex and River together? Pure romantic chemistry, right there! I couldn’t get enough!

TAMING HIM is divided up in two parts, which will make much better sense when you start to dive in. It’s dual POV, so we get a chance to bask in the minds of both River and Alex. It flowed nicely and it was a great mix of sweet, sexy, funny, and romantic.

I think ya’ll will FALL head over boots for the Bishop family, just like I did! We start off with the youngest, that being Alex. Then there’s the twins - John and Jackson. The only sister of this rowdy group is Courtney, who if you are familiar with Kennedy Fox, you know exactly who that firecracker is! Last but not least there is Evan, who I’m a BIG fan of! In fact, the next book in the series, NEEDING HIM, is Evan Bishop’s book and it is coming April 10th! I’m SUPER excited for this one! Hell, I’m ecstatic to see where Kennedy Fox goes with all of these amazing characters!

So, that’s the rundown, but you MUST experience this family for yourself! If you love contemporary romance with a western edge, you will LOVE this book! I can’t wait for people to start swooning over the delicious Alex Bishop!

Taming Him Teaser

ARC Tag
Profile Image for Erin.
322 reviews332 followers
April 19, 2018
For more of my reviews, visit my blog As the Book Ends or follow me on Bookstagram!

Taming Him

Howdy book worms! Who loves a super sexy southern man? Manners, a southern drawl, tight jeans and a cowboy hat get me every time! Why do y’all think I really live in Texas? It sure as hell isn’t for the weather folks. Have you ever forgotten to eat while reading a book? I’m not even kidding, I started Taming Him when I got home from class yesterday and finished at 8:30pm without even realizing that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. If that isn’t a ringing endorsement for Taming Him, I don’t know what is. I LOVE food and eating…trust me.

Alex Bishop was the perfect Bishop brother to kick this series off. He’s my favorite type of male lead in romance – a player. He had the manners of a properly raised southern gentleman and a dirty mouth. A panty melting combination to be sure.

River was such a fun character to learn about. She was sweet and slow to trust. I was able to easily connect to her as a narrator because the girl overthought everything. She had a rough past with men and was cautious and careful. She was also sassy as all hell and not afraid to stand up for herself. All wonderful traits in a female lead.

Alex’s relationship with River started out steamy as hell and developed into something sweet and tender. Taming Him was actually a sweeter romance than I’m used to seeing from this writing duo. It wasn’t all steamy sex and witty banter. I loved getting to see the relationship develop between River and Alex as they navigated their relationship post vacation. Their story actually featured an all time favorite trope of mine! I won’t share it because I want to avoid spoilers, but it was so well done and I absolutely loved it.

The best part of this book though? The Bishop family. I absolutely LOVED the entire family. Particularly the Bishop brothers. Kennedy Fox has set up such an amazing series, I’m already dying to read Jackson, John and Evan’s books. The epilogue has me so so so hooked and ready for their next release Needing Him. Trust. Me. It promises to be an epic book and features another of my favorite tropes. I am so excited!

My Takeaway: Taming Him started out hot and heavy and developed into a sweet and loving romance story that hooked me. The set up for the rest of the Bishop Brothers series was wonderful and I CAN’T WAIT for Evan’s book in April!
Profile Image for bookmarkbelles.
324 reviews56 followers
January 31, 2018
3.5/5 stars.

I love KF's writing and after reading Courtney's book, I had a feeling that the Bishop Boys would be my ruin.

I love a good cowboy romance and I was anxiously waiting for this series to be written. Sooo of course I had high expectations going into Taming Him. I tell myself time and time again to never do that, but I've never been good at listening to reason *Smacks head*

The story started off strong with an emotional chapter that left me choked up and on the verge of tears.
After that we meet Alex and Dylan and I immediately loved their banter and easy going friendship. I was giddy at this point... It was looking like this was going to be a phenomenal read.

Then Dylan and Alex take a trip to Key west and thats where Alex meets River and thats where it started to fall apart a bit for me.

I felt like their relationship was too easy. I know they only had two weeks together, so of course it would be some sort of an insta love story, but I guess I was looking for some push and pull between them for a bit before they fell into bed together. It was just so hard to relate and connect to their relationship for me.

Without giving anything away Alex and River come together in Texas and then it starts to feel like this book is the Cowboy Romance that my heart was wanting. The Bishop family is all together, theres horses and a ranch and FOOD! Lots and lots of FOOD *Drool* I loved and adored every single Bishop Brother but my heart wispered "Mine" when it came to Jackson. I really loved the last half of the book but couldnt ignore the way I felt about not connecting with Alex and River when they were on vacation that I had to give it a 3.5/5.
It could also just be me,and im sure thats the case since I seem to be in the minority with my rating.

Does this mean I wont be continuing with this series? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! We may have hit a bump in the road but I still feel like the Bishop boys will be my ruin. Okay, maybe just one! Mmmmm Jackson....... *Day Dreams*
Okay, im back. Sorry about that. I couldnt help myself. You would understand if you read TH!

We already know that the next book will be Evan's since his story has already been set up at the end of TH and let me tell you.. The way it was set up had me intrigued and left me wanting more, so I cant wait. But who comes after? My fingers are crossed that will be Jackson's cause my heart wont be able to handle the slow and torturous wait.
Profile Image for Jac K.
2,194 reviews296 followers
July 13, 2020
2.45 ZZzzz 😴Stars
The book blurb lays it out; Alex and River hook up while on a 2-week vacay, and reconnect 3-months later. I found this one SUPER boring. It’s the first in the series, so a lot of the page time is dedicated to introducing the secondary characters, and the rest is slow moving fluff. After reconnecting, River wants to start over as friends, and lays down several “rules” which to be fair… is the mature way to build a relationship, but it makes for a BORING ass read.

There’s hardly any drama, we’re told NUMEROUS times about the wicked ways of the man-whore, but we're shown a lovesick momma’s boy. You’d think for a cowboy Don Juan there’d be a line of bitchy castoffs, but we get one scene with a snarky ex-hookup and it’s pretty uneventful. There was an attempt made to be funny, and even had the Grey’s Anatomy Izzy, TAKE.OFF.YOUR.PANTS!! scene, but it just wasn’t enough for me.

I knew from reviews that Alex would “fuck up” so I was a smidge apprehensive.

The pain shifts from my back directly to my heart. How could Alex do this to me? This is what I’ve been afraid of since the start. Completely heartbroken.

When “it” happened I almost laughed about what all the fuss was about. Huh?? That was the BIG drama to break up the snoozefest?

Bottom Line- I need a little something to keep going, and this one had like zero obstacles then it got super cheesy. It was also really long almost 400 pages for fluff. It's totally safe, both MC's are faithful during the separation. Even man-whore Alex stayed true despite being dumped & blown off by River.
Profile Image for Shelby.
1,135 reviews704 followers
March 14, 2021
Texan playboy Alex leaves his family ranch to spend 2-weeks in Key West with the hopes of unwinding, enjoying the sights and enjoying the vacationing ladies even more. But when he arrives, Alex meets River, a pediatric nurse from Wisconsin. River decided on a whim to tag along with her friends to Key West after a terrible breakup. She has no plans to entertain male company, but Alex makes her reconsider.

They end up having a whirlwind romance over the span of 2-weeks. Alex & River spend as much time in the sheets as they do checking off adventure bucket list items together. When the 2-weeks are over, neither of them is ready to say goodbye. But 3-months later, River lands on Alex’s doorstep, changing both their lives forever.

Taming Him is book 1 in the Bishop Brothers series. Accidental pregnancy isn’t one of my favorite tropes, but I’ve read this trope before from Kennedy Fox and I think the author duo tackles it well. My favorite part of the story was the first half where Alex & River are in Key West. Their chemistry was fire and I loved watching their relationship form there. Although the time in Texas was sweet, I felt like the story slowed down a lot/became predictable at that point. Nothing dramatic or crazy happened, just Alex & River trying to figure out their relationship and becoming new parents. I love the Bishop family and can’t wait to read about the rest of the brothers! 4/5 stars.
Profile Image for Carlene Inspired.
968 reviews265 followers
August 14, 2018
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.

Alex Bishop works at his family ranch and parties it up in the small town with his brothers and best friend. He's known for being a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy, so he jumps at the opportunity to have a fun-filled weekend in Key West. Plenty of alcohol and even more women to choose from, at least that's his plan. Then he meets River and all his usual intentions of being just a one-night kind of guy go out the window.

River is a pediatric nurse in Wisconsin nursing a broken heart and burnt on the idea of love and happily ever after. Her best friend knows the only way to cure the blues is Key West and finding a new guy to get under. She doesn't even want to find a man, but Alex Bishop is convincing and soon a no-strings attached romance begins. Then they go home and it turns out it might not be no-strings attached after all.

Cowboys, drinking, and romance...Taming Him's blurb promised a wild ride and Kennedy Fox gave readers just that. It was hilarious and sexy, featuring two characters who have no desire for love and find it anyway. Of course, it's not a typical romance it isn't just Key West and a no-strings attached romance that turns into something more, that's what makes it so fun. The two return home, but what happens on vacation never stays on vacation, we all know that by now. It turns into a romantic story, with the two discovering they share more than just lust and alcohol-fueled hook-ups. The glimpse of true-romance that they share in Key West just scratches the surface of the connection they build upon once River gives in and makes her way to Texas and the Bishops brother who rocked her world.

Taming Him was far longer than I expected, there's a lot fit into the pages and while some of it was redundant and not engaging for me, the majority of the novel kept my attention. Both Alex and River have some serious reservations about relationships, but they fall into one another easily. I enjoyed how their relationship was built upon, especially with Alex's party boy ways falling away finally allowing him to be a good partner to River. Each goes through a lot of changes, their characters developing as the story progressed. There are also some fantastic secondary characters mixed in to the beautiful ranch setting and traditional Bishop brothers wildness.

Taming Him wasn't my usual romance read, it lacks the angst I usually love but makes up for it with smooth-talking cowboy Alex and immune-to-love River. It's the sort of romance that provides you an escape, the kind that's comforting, yet still funny, and definitely worth the read. I enjoyed Taming Him and can't wait to spend more one-on-one time with the other Bishop Brothers.

Arc provided.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,741 reviews1,322 followers
February 1, 2018
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***

4 Dirty Cowboy CROWNS

Well, well, well, the first Bishop brother certainly lived up to the expectations I had for him. I swear he could charm the pants off of anyone with that southern accent. Every single time he said darlin' or sweetheart or hit River with the perfect line, I just wanted to crawl inside the screen and cuddle up to him.

Alex Bishop is the perfect blend of southern gentleman and dirty cowboy. He is guaranteed to have readers swooning with this confidence and gentlemanly nature. His charisma draws you in and his fun-loving nature makes you want to stay. Plus, like all the other Kennedy Fox heroes, this man is the perfect amount of dominant in the bedroom, and his skills only make him that much more delectable. He is the total package, and he rivals their other male characters for my favorite KF hero.

I adore River's personality. She has the right balance of snark and sweet. Although she sees herself as being stolid, readers don't really see that. A majority of the novel is spent with her best friend, and the rest of the novel is spent with Alex, who is able to pull emotions out of her. When she is with him, she is adventurous and fun-loving. There are moments when doubts creep in for her as result of past experiences, but her relationship with other characters in the novel help to see her through. Her reward is finding the group of people she can call family.

In typical Kennedy Fox fashion, the chemistry between their hero and heroine is off the charts. Their time on vacation is filled with some of the hottest scenes (I seriously want to know if the water scene can actually happen, because WOW), and they also had insane banter, which makes them so much fun to read about. What is missing for me was the signature Kennedy Fox angst/suspense. There are so many opportunities for it, but these conflicts are quickly introduced and resolved. I wanted them to be bigger and to test the strength of the relationship between Alex and River. The story is still fun and incredibly entertaining with the antics of the Bishop brothers and the electricity that always seems to hum when Alex and River are together, and the resolution is the happily-ever-after that Kennedy Fox always delivers.

Taming Him is another great start to the new standalone series, The Bishop Brothers. Kennedy Fox once again delivers characters are lovely, a relationship that is scorching, and the plot entertains readers. It definitely makes me crave more time with the Bishop family in Texas.
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ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Imani Blake (Enamored Reads).
307 reviews113 followers
January 26, 2018
5++ Save a horse, DEFINITELY ride a Bishop Stars!

Ok look. First off, I may live in Texas, but I DON’T DO Cowboys. And the fact that I rated this book more than 5 stars 100% means Kennedy Fox shut me up REAL QUICK when it comes to my aversion to anything cowboy related. I SERIOUSLY FLOVEDDDD Taming Him and everything Alex Bishop. That man y’all. I can’t. If you look up the word “SWOON” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of him wearing a cowboy hat and that sexy as sin smirk that never leaves his face.

Kennedy Fox has seriously stolen my southern heart with this one. Taming Him has just as much grit as it does sweetness, along with just as much courage as it does long-lasting love! River and Alex are THE southern couple of 2018 (I say that now but I have a strong feeling that’ll change with each brother in the Bishop Series as their books release).

Alex Bishop is the type of character that knows what he wants. He’s the type that’s grown up with that tight knit southern family and doing his rightful duty working on his family’s ranch, sun up to sun down. He’s also what I like to call the Gentleman Player. I shouldn’t have to explain what that is. Trust me...

River Lancaster seriously just needs more ups in her life. She’s the sweet girl who’s dealt with more than enough downs a person should have to go through in life. One thing she does have in common with Alex though, is her grind.

Two workaholics could 100% use a vacation. So when Alex and River cross paths one early morning, sparks flew instantly.

Some shameless staring and one bad pickup line have them entering into an agreement that should be no problem at all to follow through with...

But what happens when two weeks isn’t long enough?

It gets extended to nine months.

Only time will tell if a whole new lifestyle neither character is prepared for, if they can adapt and be there for one another in a way they’ve never had to before!

Get ready to laugh, swoon, and cheer on this cute and cheeky couple. Oh, and don’t forget to save a horse and ride an Alex Bishop!
Profile Image for Maria.
496 reviews79 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 16, 2023
Not for me. Manwhore hero, sleezy flirting, drunken nights. 🤮 These people acted as college students, while they’re not. With the rest of the brothers being equal manwhores I will pass this series ⛔️
Profile Image for Courtney.
1,707 reviews199 followers
January 29, 2018
Taming Him is a great start to Kennedy's newest series, Bishop Brothers. If you know me, you know I really do not care for the southern or cowboy vibe when it comes to my reading. I don't get all flustered with their looks or charm - it's a waste on me. However, I love how Brooke and Lyra (the duo of Kennedy Fox) made this a better read for me.

Alex Bishop is a damn sweet and charming cowboy. He is the youngest of the Bishop boys - and they are pretty damn likeable. He comes across as a playboy - and he is, don't get me wrong. But he's a not douche playboy. He wines and dines them but also lets them know what is to be expected. Alex rarely gets a vacation because he is constantly working on the family farm. So when his best friend delivers a vacation of a lifetime, it's hard for him to pass up.

River is nurse in the PICU unit of her hospital. River had me from the get-go. I loved her from the start and want her as my best friend. River, like Alex, works nonstop. She loves her job and commits herself to her patients. She recently had a horrible breakup and really doesn't want to jump back into the dating pool. River's best friend sees that she needs a vacation from her life and begs her to go on vacation with her (and her boyfriend). As much as River feels like she will be a third wheel, she jumps at the chance to get away for a bit.

River and Alex are not what either expected to find while on vacation. They both went away with the mindset of have fun and relax. What they ended up finding was a connection that is only granted once in a lifetime. And that's all you are getting from me on that one. LOL

I love how this story plays out. It's all about having fun and letting go in the beginning and then everything blossoms into this sweet romantic story. There isn't any angst (which is surprising that I still enjoyed this book) and just brings a smile to your face.

Kennedy Fox definitely brings on the sexy steamy with sweet romance with the perfect addition of wit and humor splashed in.

I am looking forward to more from the Bishop Boys!!
Profile Image for Lindsey (Linz Readz).
1,110 reviews39 followers
January 28, 2018
5+ Stars!!

Alex and River are everything!

I could not put this book down! Whenever I pick up a book by this amazing duo, I always tell myself to take it slow and savor every word. I will admit, I failed at the taking it slow part but I enjoyed the heck out of it! I might have read this story quickly but I promise I savored every single part of this amazing story!

I was smiling like a fool while reading this story and that smile hasn’t left my face since I read the last sentence. Part 1 had me wishing I was in Key West with the group, having a blast on the beach. Then Part 2 hit, and I was more consumed than I thought possible. I wanted to be with these characters, living life right alongside them.

I said it in the beginning and I’ll say it again, Alex and River are everything! Their relationship was so amazing to watch begin, struggle, and grow. Alex is the southern boy who was raised right by his mama. He has manners but also has a dirty mouth; a combination to die for. River was a sweet and amazingly strong character. She doesn’t put up with crap and having been burned in the recent past, she’s slow to trust this new attraction.

When one of my favorite tropes of all time is wrapped up with everything else I loved about this story, it was a surefire hit for me. I won’t tell you what that trope is as I always avoid spoilers. Watching River and Alex nagitate through their relationship and the bumps that are thrown in the road was amazing and SO fun!

I absolutely love that we get a cameo from Courtney & Drew! Even though her brothers are front and center now, I hope that continues in the books to come. I can’t wait to read about the other Bishop brothers! Bring them on!

If you’re looking for a romance, that’s filled with sweet, southern charm, laugh out loud moments, and some steamy scenes you have to pick this one up!

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Profile Image for Heroesinbooks.
1,084 reviews312 followers
November 24, 2018
3 Stars
This is the first book in the Bishop Brothers Series and it laid a lot of the groundwork for the future books. This one focuses on Alex Bishop and River Lancaster who meet up on vacation. They both thought it would end there but fate has other plans.
This is a very sweet book with some sexy times , lots of fun and very likeable characters. I felt like it dragged a little in places but I also think that the first book in a series must be the hardest to write because it has to introduce so many elements and characters.
HEA? Yes, very sweet.
Cheating? No
Angst? No
Profile Image for Terri Handschumacher.
381 reviews20 followers
January 28, 2018
I'm not one that is big on the Cowboy Romance, but after reading this I will definitely be reading more from this series.
Alex was perfect. In fact I want myself an Alex in my life. His mama raised him right. And his brothers are looking to be great characters for future books in this series.
River is a character that has her insecurities when it comes to life and love. And you find yourself pulling for her to see that what she has been missing is a southern gentleman.
The chemistry between Alex and River is perfect. But, I don't expect anything less from the duo that is Kennedy Fox.
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,208 reviews520 followers
June 29, 2018
Our hero is a womanizer and our heroine just ended a relationship where the guy was married.
The two are on vacation and connect not only with sex but with more depth.
As they separate, they keep thinking about each other.
Each one away from the other but not able to move on. The two celibates after meeting.
He just thinks and dreams about our heroine and talks about her to his family. His family is already fed up with him. And the best friend wants him to move on. When he decides to let her go, she comes after him.
Hence an event makes our heroine seek our hero.
The story was interesting and being the first book in the series we are introduced to family and friends of both.
His best friend is hilarious and her best friend is very crazy.
I liked it and read it to the end.

“Everyone with a tight pussy and big rack step right up!” he hollers, raising his arms up for emphasis. “Come and get a ride on the Wild Stallion, Alex Bishop! Six-foot something, dirty blond hair, and a smart mouth to boot! He may be a cocky son of a bitch, but don’t worry, his mama taught him right. He’ll wine and dine you before fucking you till you forget your own name! Now ladies, who’s first?”
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