Review - - Help Wanted, Cowboy

Help Wanted, Cowboy

by Nan Reinhardt

Juniper Falls Ranch, Book 3

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: July 7, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

When a family emergency brings cowboy Rory Pearson home to Marietta, he hires on to Juniper Falls Ranch for seasonal work. He’s hoping to explore an intriguing family legend. Armed with research and his grandfather’s stories, Rory thinks he’s ready, but nothing goes as planned. Then a sweetly sexy nurse propositions him.

Nurse Millie Sparks is tired of playing it safe. She’s been too focused on her education and career and romance and adventure have passed her by. Staying on the ranch to care for a patient with a tricky pregnancy, Millie’s interest in Rory is immediate. He offers to teach her to ride, and she wonders if the lessons could extend to something else she’s been hiding.

It’s a game of flirtation and fun. Feelings can’t be serious. But as the clock ticks down, hearts interfere, and saying goodbye just got way more complicated.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sweet Western romance with plenty of plenty of heart. Nan Reinhardt's new series is building another community of characters I'd be happy to hang out with, on paper or in real life. I love how realistic they all are, with charm, flaws, and believable life challenges. I laugh with them, shed tears with them, and experience those deep emotional connections that keep me coming back for more.

Help Wanted, Cowboy brings readers the story of Rory (a bull-riding, kitchen-savvy cowboy) and Millie (a midwife working for Rory's boss). What fun these two are! I fell hard for Rory. He's such a sweet, honorable, family-loving guy who falls first and hard. Millie's journey take a bit longer (she doesn't believe in love) but is all the more satisfying for it. The banter and flirting between these two is pure gold.

Secondary characters are spot on, filling in the story with humor, wisdom, and emotional depth. There's even a bit of a mystery surrounding a lost family heirloom that may be fact or fiction. It all weaves together to form a story brimming with friendship, romance, and heart set on a working ranch under the vast, blue Montana sky. I'm all in and already looking forward to the next installment in the series. 

 

 

 

Review - - Lonesome Ridge

Lonesome Ridge

by Maisey Yates

Rustler Mountain - Book 3

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Good guys and bad guys . . . myth and legend . . . gold and ranching. That’s what historic Rustler Mountain, Oregon, is made of, complete with feuding families descended from outlaws and lawmen. A century later, their grudges still hold—but for a new generation, when opposites attract, it might be time to surrender . . .

From killers to courtesans, the Hancock family has what might be called an eclectic history. But they’ve managed to leverage it into something respectable, creating the popular Hancock Wild West Show. The event features reenactments and trick riding—the latter performed by clever, charismatic Jessie Jane Hancock.

Jessie is usually unflappable, but lately something’s needling her—and it’s not just her annoying attraction to exasperatingly sexy Flynn Wilder—whose great, great, great, great, great grandfather was betrayed by Jessie’s just-as-many-times-great grandfather. It’s the upcoming mayoral election. Specifically, the unopposed candidate: Danielle LeFevre, mean girl, all-around awful person, and Flynn’s not-so-beloved half-sister. Jessie wants to keep Danielle from winning . . . and the only person who bothers Flynn more than she does is Danielle.

“I want you to be my first man.” Jessie Jane is hot enough to make him hallucinate, but her request is very real. Jessie wants to run for mayor, and she wants him by her side, as her fake boyfriend. A Hancock dating a Wilder. An outsider against the status quo. A drama their town will devour. Flynn always knew Jessie was a wild card, but bringing down his corrupt stepfamily is a temptation he can’t resist. Just like the vexing spark between him and Jessie. And once that fire catches, the real showdown begins . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Rustler Mountain is turning out to be one of my favorite Maisey Yates settings. I love the outlaw vs lawmen vibe and the way it frequently gets turned on its head. These characters are much more than the label they've been given by the townspeople...and by history. 

I wouldn't say Jessie and Flynn are enemies, exactly, but they sure aren't besties either. Their families have done their best to maintain the status quo of the multi-generation feud between them. While Flynn and Jessie have never done anything to disrupt that or get to know one another - until now - the fact remains that these two have been aware of each other since high school. 

I love the complexity of the characters in this series and, in particular, this book. There are so many layers - something Yates does well - revealing more and more of the true nature of the main characters as the story progresses. I enjoy being surprised by characters and both Flynn and Jessie surprised me as their story unfolded. I felt my understanding of and empathy for each of them deepening as they learned more about each other and I learned more about both of them. 

The humor and chemistry in the book is well balanced by the emotional depth, especially as related to complicated family dynamics. I found myself laughing in places, tearing up in others, and fully rooting for Jessie and Flynn, both individually and as a couple. I appreciated the evolution each of them underwent, bringing them to a point where they were unapologetically their true selves and at peace with their places in their families, each other, and life.

This is the third book in the Rustler Mountain series. It certainly can be enjoyed as a standalone though I'm glad I read the books in order as there are several characters whose relationships, and personal growth, evolve throughout the series. Wherever you decide to jump in, all three books have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - The Cowboy's Comeback

The Cowboy's Comeback

by Nan Reinhardt

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: January 29, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

It’s an enemies to lovers showdown between the cowboy who can’t trust and the cowgirl who won’t forgive.

Injured rodeo cowboy, Bo Kennedy, takes a job as a horse trainer at a Montana ranch. His skills training cutting horses are in high demand, but he’s holding out hope his days of competing aren’t over. Then his first client arrives, desperate for help with her mare. One problem, she’s his ex.

When World Champion barrel racer Cassie Franklin needs a new horse quickly, her last hope to rebuild her career is to switch to cutting competitions. She brings her new mare to Juniper Falls Ranch, hoping the highly hyped horse whisperer can help. She’s stunned to see Bo. They haven’t spoken in five years after he wrongly accused her of sabotaging his horse when he saw her flirting with his fiercest competitor.

Working together seems impossible, especially as the chemistry still sizzles. Will one of them finally lower their guard and admit they were wrong?

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm enjoying this new western location of Nan Reinhardt's. Set under the wide open sky of Montana, she brings to life the everyday ups and downs along with the characters who call Juniper Falls Ranch home, if only for a short time. 

In The Cowboy's Comeback, sparks are flying between Bo and Cassie. These two are a classic lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers pair. They walk a tenuous line of  "I'll never forgive you...but you still make my heart flutter...but how can I trust you...but you're my only hope of reaching my goals...but, whoa, pesky feelings" and I bought into it, hook, line, and sinker. Everything unfolds gradually, organically, with plenty of push and pull as both Bo and Cassie work through complicated feelings. I was glad to see them each grow during the process and especially happy when they each took ownership of their own parts in the misunderstanding that ended their earlier relationship. By the end of their book, I was fully on board with them as a couple. 

If you enjoy western settings with second chance romance, strong character growth, a terrific supporting cast, horses (I do love horses), emotional depth, and happy endings, check out The Cowboy's Comeback.  

The Juniper Falls Ranch is owned by Del and Beth (Forever Cowboy-Click for review) who have a strong presence in The Cowboy's Comeback. If you read their book, you'll no doubt enjoy seeing them post-HEA in this newest story but if you're new to Reinhardt's Montana books, know that The Cowboy's Comeback stands well on its own. 

 

Review - - Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 12

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

A favor owed. An Off-limits romance. Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen.

Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father’s death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they’re grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King.

Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father’s illegal activities caused her father's death. So when Sheena rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, Denver can’t say no. He’ll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

PJ's Thoughts:

Could Sheena Patrick and Denver King, the two black sheep loners of Pyrite Falls actually be a perfect fit for each other? Not without a whole lot of introspection and growth, thankfully something at which author Maisey Yates excels. 

This final book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series brings plenty of sizzle, snappy banter, and emotional depth, exactly what I would expect from these two main characters. Yates has a knack for writing dysfunctional families and, boy howdy, do Sheena and Denver fit that vibe. Considering their history, the actions of their fathers, and the life-changing events that shaped both of their lives from a young age, I didn't know how Yates was going to pull off a happy ending for these two. She does - of course, she does - but you'll have to read the book to discover how. 

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series is the many layers of the characters along with the emotionally complicated journeys they travel. It's a gradual process, often with a fair amount of push and pull, as the main couples work individually and together to sort through their emotional baggage and find their way forward. That is certainly the case with Denver and Sheena. Of course, they don't accomplish such a monumental task on their own. We have siblings and their partners on both sides more than ready to step in and meddle when necessary. 

As someone who has read the entire Four Corners Ranch series, it was fun to watch favorite couples from earlier books jump into the fray to help Denver, the last man standing, find his HEA. For readers who are new to Four Corners Ranch, be aware that while this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, there may be confusion due to those supporting characters and references to events that have already occurred. For me, however, Cowboy, it's Cold Outside was a heart-tugging way to wrap up this series with a hard-won happy ending and an epilogue that had me grinning with happy, touched-my-heart tears. 

Review - - Forever Cowboy

Forever Cowboy

by Nan Reinhardt

Montana's Rodeo Cowboys - Book 4

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: September 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

It was supposed to be just a vacation fling…

43-year-old Beth Dykeman’s life is spiraling—her 20-year marriage is over as is her career in Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce. Now back home in River’s Edge, Indiana, she’s grieving the end of her dream to have a family. Hoping to restart her life, she books a relaxing long weekend at a spa in beautiful Montana. But Beth arrives only to discover she accidentally booked a stay at a working dude ranch in the middle of Marietta’s 87th Copper Mountain Rodeo celebration weekend.

When he’s not competing, 36-year-old bronc rider Del Foster works at the Aspen Springs Ranch. He’s ready to hang up his spurs. This rodeo will be his last competition before he finally settles down and buys his own small spread to train cutting horses.

Their instant chemistry shocks them both, and on her last night, Beth indulges the attraction, knowing she’ll never see Del again. But fate has a way of changing plans and challenging assumptions. Can Beth and Del both have what they never knew they always wanted?

PJ's Thoughts:

Whether the book is set in charming River's Edge, Indiana or under the wide open skies of Montana, if it's written by Nan Reinhardt it's on my must-read list. Sometimes, a mistake isn't just a mistake. Sometimes, it's an opportunity to take a new path. Beth is adrift after the end of her 20-year marriage. Del is struggling with a close friend's devastating rodeo injury as well as when - and how - to end his own successful rodeo career. A booking error lands them together on a Montana ranch and a journey of healing, growth, self-discovery, and love follows. Reinhardt packs this book with an immersive setting, multi-layered characters, relatable issues, and a realistic happy ending. I laughed and cried (this author's characters always tug at my heartstrings) before turning the final page with a happy, heartfelt sigh. If you're looking for a feel-good western romance with heart, humor, and emotional depth, give Forever Cowboy a try. I hope Nan Reinhardt has plans for more Montana books because while I love her River's Edge community (and fingers crossed for more books there), I am all in with her new Montana community of characters too!

While Forever Cowboy is listed as book four, it's a standalone story in a multi-author series. You'll be fine jumping in here or at any other point in the series. 

Review & Giveaway - - That Cowboy Charm

That Cowboy Charm

by Pam Mantovani

Cowboys of Burton Springs - Book 8

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Best-selling author Londyn Fitzgerald has a career to die for—until she learns she's acquired a stalker. After months of terrifying emails, she decides to get out of NY and a trip to Burton Springs, Montana, sounds like just what she needs. She can visit her best friend, do a bit of research, and work on her newest book. The gorgeous setting is sure to distract her from what’s going on at home. And talk about a distraction…

Cowboy Jacob Reece can't help but be intrigued by the newcomer in town. She's adorable; she's feisty, and being around her makes him remember how much he loved being a rancher, back before family responsibility weighed him down. But with her at his side, everything seems easier. Until…

When Londyn's stalker makes a reappearance, suddenly, she's not the only one at risk. Jacob's vowing to keep her safe, but at what cost? Should she leave before someone gets hurt? Or could she stay under Jacob's protection, knowing that there's so much more to him than just his cowboy charm…

PJ's Thoughts:

I haven't read this entire series yet but I have enjoyed each visit that I've made to Pam Mantovani's Burton Springs, Montana. In That Cowboy Charm, we're treated to a page-turner of a story featuring emotional depth, a bit of spice, some humor, and a suspense thread that kept me guessing right up until the reveal. 

I enjoyed Jacob and Londyn's romantic journey. They seem an unlikely pairing on paper: he's country/she's city, she's fiercely independent/he's overly protective. As their story plays out, however, we soon see how well they complement one another. Now if only they are able clue into that.

The balance of suspense and romance in the story is good, offering opportunities for Londyn and Jacob to spend time together as their relationship evolves. It also results in growth and compromise on both sides. I appreciated that Londyn's internal strength did not diminish in the face of Jacob's protectiveness while also learning that it's okay to accept help as well as Jacob's evolution as he realized the importance of standing beside her and supporting her but not calling the shots for her. 

Mantovani has populated Burton Springs with intriguing characters who add humor and heart to the stories without detracting from each book's lead characters. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy catching up with some couples from earlier books while reading That Cowboy Charm while those new to this series should have no worries about jumping in at any point.

Do you enjoy western-set romances?

Have you read Pam Mantovani yet? 

Have you ever lived on or visited a ranch?

What are you reading this week?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, July 11 will receive a signed print copy of That Cowboy Charm.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Small Town Hero

Small Town Hero

by Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

The towns may be small, but the hearts of the cowboy heroes in this duo of romantic novellas are as outsized as the rugged land that surrounds them . . .

ONE LONESOME COWBOY
by Linda Lael Miller
When a family crisis brings web designer and part-time house flipper Susannah Holiday to Arizona to care for her young niece, she’s soon juggling work, childcare—and her growing feelings for local paramedic and horse whisperer Ian McKenzie. They have more in common than meets the eye—including being cautious when it comes to love. But when a disturbing revelation from Susannah’s past surfaces, Ian is there to comfort her, and they both find their longing hearts opening to a better future—together . . .

COWBOY, TAKE ME AWAY
by Maisey Yates
After Birdie Lennox, daughter of a notorious cattle rustler, gets caught stealing a horse off Gunnar Parsons’ land, she ends up bunking in his barn to work off her debt—plus her daddy’s. But Birdie hardly has patience for Gunnar’s moralizing. The man inherited his ranch and has always hated her family. Still, it beats prison. Maybe. What neither anticipates is discovering they have more in common than they dreamed possible. Even more unexpected is the spark between them—and the love it might ignite . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Fans of Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates should enjoy diving into new stories by these well-known western romance authors. For readers new to one or both, these quick reads are a great way to sample what both Miller and Yates have to offer. 

In "One Lonesome Cowboy," Miller explores love, family, community, trauma, and healing with a dash of mystery in a slow-burn romance that's both charming and heart-tugging. The characters drew me into their lives almost immediately and had me rooting for their happy endings.

Maisey Yates is known for her emotionally rich stories, often featuring characters with harsh or traumatic life experiences. "Cowboy, Take Me Away" features Birdie Lennox who may be one of the most wounded characters she's featured though she hides it well under a brash exterior. I really enjoyed watching Birdie and Gunnar slowly break down walls and open hearts in this enemies-to-lovers story of healing, redemption, community, and a hard-won happy ending. 

If you're looking for a quick, satisfying western romance with relatable characters, strong community, family dynamics, and heartfelt happy endings, add this duology to your summer reading list. 

Review - - Rustler Mountain

Rustler Mountain

by Maisey Yates

Rustler Mountain - Book 1

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Every year, thousands of people come through Rustler for the rodeo, historic home tours, old-fashioned candy making demonstrations, sharpshooter shows—and to see the site of the 1800s shootout in which notorious outlaw Austin Wilder was killed by Sheriff Lee Talbot. Now Millie Talbot, the sheriff’s descendant, wants to bring back the town’s Gold Rush Days. But she needs the current Austin Wilder’s support to make her dream a reality. . .

The Wilders are rumored to be as true to their last name as their ancestors. Nonetheless, Austin is agreeable to helping Millie. But he wants something in return. Austin is working to clear his family name by writing the true history of his outlaw ancestors and Millie might just hold the key.

When Millie wrangles Austin into helping plan Gold Rush Days, he figures it’s a chance to get to the truth of the past. . . . But when sparks start to fly between this bad boy and good girl, will either of them come out of it unscathed?

PJ's Thoughts:

Maisey Yates launches her new series with an enemies-to-lovers, good-girl-bad-boy romance that had me happily turning pages from start to finish.

I've always found it hard to resist a fictional bad boy. Make him a bad boy with a well-used library card, a burning desire to uncover the truth about his much-maligned ancestor, and write a book about it? Oh, and for bonus points, give him a soft spot for the good-girl librarian? It's safe to say that the present day Austin Wilder has me well and truly hooked. 

And then there's prim and proper Millie Talbot, the quiet librarian who has never quite been able to reach the high standards set by her family...or the town. It's so much fun to watch Millie fall for Austin as she slowly embraces her own dreams and desires (a little spice in the stacks, anyone?) and comes to grips with uncovered truths about her family while also battling her nemesis and her ex to resurrect the town's Gold Rush Days. 

Rustler Mountain shows that perception is not always the truth. Yates has created a small town filled with intriguing characters, plenty of complications, and a revered claim to fame that revolves around one particular historical event that two generations later still colors how the present-day descendants are viewed. But what if those plaques at the town limits and the widely attended Gold Rush Days got it wrong? 

I am all in for Maisey Yates' Rustler Mountain and already looking forward to book two, Outlaw Lake, a friends-to-lovers story that I can't wait to get my hands on. Bring on the Wilders!

Review - - Hero for the Holidays

Hero for the Holidays

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 9

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

When Landry King shows up at Four Corners Ranch with Lila, the teenage daughter no one ever knew he had, it sets the gossip mill churning. Landry’s daughter has lost her adoptive parents and is in desperate need of a new family. So this Christmas, the untamed cowboy is finally getting the chance to become the father he could never have been when Lila was born. Even if it means dealing with his other biggest regret…

Fia Sullivan hates Landry King. That’s how it’s always been. At least, that’s how it’s been since their dramatic teenage love affair ended in a way that shattered their hearts and left them with wounds that never healed. When Landry dredges up her most agonizing secret, Fia’s devastated…and also overjoyed at the possibility of the new life they could have. But there’s only so long she can be near Landry before their simmering desire reignites. Can they finally overcome their past pain to find new love—and new family—this Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

Maisey Yates is an author I turn to for complex family dynamics and deeply emotional romance with a western flair. I like some of her books more than others but she’s an author who has never let me down. Her newest novel, a second-chance, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story with deep emotional underpinnings just may be my all-time Yates favorite.

Everyone on the Four Corners Ranch knows Fia Sullivan and Landry King can’t stand each other but nobody knows why. Those of us who have been reading this series don’t know why. Hero for the Holidays opens with that reason and, boy howdy, it’s a doozy. What follows is a roller coaster of emotions as Fia, Landry, and Lila navigate the life-changing events that have been thrust upon all three of them.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the evolution of these characters, both individually as well as a family unit. I like how Yates leaves no stone unturned in the development and evolution of Fia and Landry as she guides them through a present-day reflection of the turmoil of their teens, something they had never talked about, helping them forge a new understanding of decisions made at that time through the more mature lens of the people they are today. It’s a gradual process, with ups and downs, as is to be expected when you’ve spent years believing you’re 100% in the right about something only to realize maybe you shoulder some of the blame. Their individual growth paves the way for forgiveness, understanding, and a chance to rekindle an old love in a more balanced, mature, and enduring, though no less fiery, way. These two have chemistry!

Lila offers another layer of emotion, complication, sarcastic humor, and hope as only a young teen whose life has imploded can. She’s authentic, relatable, and has a firm grip on my heart, as she does with Landry, Fia, and the entire King and Sullivan families. She’s the heartbreaking - but ultimately healing - catalyst for the changes that are long overdue in Landry’s and Fia’s lives. I laughed with her, ached for her, loved her. She’s one of my favorite characters of this entire series. 

Hero for the Holidays is the ninth book in the Four Corners Ranch series. While several characters and couples from earlier books are featured in this book, Yates has written the story in such a way that it can be enjoyed as a standalone. I’ve read all of the books and it’s fun to catch up with other characters but I don’t think starting with Hero for the Holidays would lessen the emotional impact of Fia’s and Landry’s story. It might, however, make you curious enough to pick up the other eight books. ;-)