Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Review - - Lone Wolf Cowboy


Lone Wolf Cowboy
by Maisey Yates
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    





Will Gold Valley’s most reclusive cowboy finally find a reason to heal?

As a former EMT and a wildland firefighter, there’s no one Jacob Dalton can’t rescue—except himself. Since his best friend’s tragic death, Jacob has isolated himself…until Vanessa Logan returns to Gold Valley. He saved her life during a medical call years ago, and he’s never forgotten her. The instant jolt of heat between them takes him by surprise, but he knows that giving in to it would only end in disaster…

For Vanessa, returning home was about healing, not about exploring her attraction with Jacob. He is the guardian angel from her past—with strong, capable hands and an irresistible mouth. A temptation she knows she can’t afford. Until the chemistry between them explodes, and unites them in a way they could never have imagined…


My thoughts:

It's double the dysfunction as Maisey Yates pairs the black sheep daughter of the Logan family with the emotionally unavailable middle son of the Daltons in this newest installment of her Gold Valley series. Having read Smooth-Talking Cowboy (Vanessa's twin, Olivia's book), I thought I already knew Vanessa and what I knew wasn't very appealing. But only a few pages into Lone Wolf Cowboy, I remembered that I'd never actually met Vanessa on the page and everything I knew about her had been told from Olivia's perspective. And, as they say, there are always two sides to a story. How appropriate then that the character I was curious about, but thought I'd be least likely to like, turns out to be my favorite of the series.

Jacob Dalton is an emotional hermit, holding himself apart from his family, living on the surface, determined to never accept - or offer - love, his life course determined by a tragedy in his childhood and further reinforced by the death of his best friend as an adult. A death for which he feels responsible. He's up for a physical relationship with Vanessa - and, boy howdy, do they have chemistry - but nothing more. Life, however, has a few lessons in store for Jacob. 

I'm a sucker for emotionally wounded characters who turn their lives around and Jacob and Vanessa really spoke to me. I appreciated that Yates took her time with their growth and didn't give them any easy answers. They each had to heal at their own pace and in their own way and, only then, could they explore the possibility of healing together. I was with them every step of the way, especially with Vanessa who showed incredible strength and courage in facing, and conquering, her demons. 

The rich secondary cast adds texture and depth to their journey, especially the at-risk boys Vanessa teaches. Both Vanessa's and Jacob's families have critical roles in their story but it was those boys, one in particular, who were pivotal to Jacob's transformation...and stole my heart in the process.  

If you're looking for a western, contemporary romance filled with second chances, sizzling chemistry, family dynamics, emotional growth, and a hard-earned happy ending, go no further than Maisey Yates's Lone Wolf Cowboy

This book can be read on its own but in order to understand the full scope of Vanessa's family dynamics (which are a huge part of her journey), you might want to read Olivia's book, Smooth-Talking Cowboy, first. 


6 comments:

  1. Thanks for your review. Haven’t read a MY story I’m awhile.

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  2. I love your review. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that starts reading a book with not liking one of the main characters.

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  3. Thanks for the review.
    A new to me author. Sounds like a good book.

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  4. I love Maisey's books and look forward to reading this one. Thanks for the review PJ.

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  5. I recently discovered Ms. Yates and have read several of her books, really enjoyed them.

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  6. I started to read Maisey's books earlier this year. I've swiftly devoured her Copper Ridge series and now her Gold Valley series. I will look for LONE WOLF COWBOY.

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