Winning the Cowboy's Heart
(Rocky Mountain Cowboys #5)
By Karen Rock
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 379 PagesBy Karen Rock
Contemporary Romance
February 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Jewel Cade wants two things—
One is Heath Loveland
The Rocky Mountain cowgirl has her heart set on becoming range boss of the Cade ranch. But first she has to accompany the son of her family’s longtime enemy—and her off-limits secret crush—on a cattle drive across Colorado. Discovering Heath shares her attraction only makes for a rockier road. Because Jewel has a sneaking suspicion that if she drops her guard, the cowboy might ride off with her heart.
My Thoughts
“In the end, you only regret the chances you didn’t
take.”
– Jewel
Winning
the Cowboy’s Heart is an excellent story, as is the whole Rocky Mountain
Cowboys series. It’s well written, highly entertaining, almost impossible to
put down, engages the emotions, and is clean. Each story stands alone, but I
recommend reading the whole series for the most benefit. Whichever book I’m
reading at the time seems like my favorite, but there’s something special about
Heath and Jewel’s story.
Karen Rock has created a memorable cast of characters
in the Cade and Loveland families – two families who work hard, care about each
other and the community, but are enemies because of a long-standing feud. That
enmity weakened ever so slightly with the marriage of two senior family members
in a previous story, then a little more when the feud’s origins proved false,
but still remained firmly in place when Jewel Cade began helping the Lovelands
on a cattle drive.
Jewel and Heath are engaging, well developed, and
relatable characters. To Heath’s thinking, Jewel “preferred horses to people
and was as approachable as a cactus” – but that hard edge soon reveals a softer
side. I quickly connected with Heath’s musical ability, but wanted to shake
some sense into him for always trying to please others instead of following his
heart. In the words of his sister, Sierra, “He’s so used to making others happy
and playing the role of knight in shining armor that he doesn’t know how to
save himself.”
Woven throughout this story is the off-the-charts
chemistry between Heath and Jewel, with some kissing scenes guaranteed to leave
you weak at the knees, but there’s also tons of atmosphere, character depth and
relational drama. I loved how Jewel and Heath cared for their cattle and
learned interesting things from Jewel’s knowledge, such as the benefits of
freeze branding in order to reduce stress. And a cattle-drive scene during a
rain storm will hold you spellbound.
Both Jewel and Heath had to learn not to let other
people control how they felt about themselves, something we can all easily
relate to. And the Cade/Loveland feud reminds of how natural it is to hold a
grudge, even when the basis for it is proven to be false. I also thought Sofia
spoke truth about love when she told Jewel…
“Falling in love isn’t really falling, it’s more like
two
people bending until they meet in the middle.”
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this series and hope
for more stories to come. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Prism Book
Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Other Books in the Series
And coming in April 2019...
About the Author
When she’s not writing, Karen is an avid reader who also loves cooking her grandmother’s Italian recipes, baking and having the Adirondack Park wilderness as her backyard, where she lives with her husband, daughter, dog and cat who keep her life interesting and complete.
Learn more about her at http://www.karenrock.com or follow her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5.
Tour Giveaway
- 1 winner will receive signed, print copies of the first four books in the Rocky Mountain Cowboys series (Christmas at Cade Ranch, Falling for a Cowboy, Bad Boy Rancher & A Cowboy's Pride) - US Only
- Ends February 13, 2019
I really enjoyed the description of the book. Sounds like a great read, looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteHallo, Hallo, Carole,
ReplyDeleteYour parting words on the review mirror my own - I find each story in the series simply enriches the time we're able to spend with the Cade's and Loveland's!! I am so dearly attached to this series and the characters, it feels like such a special blessing & gift to be able to read a new chapter in their conjoined lives!
I am coming through the blog tour route - as I happily shared my joyfulness in reading this title on Tuesday. Isn't that the truth!? Once your inside each new installment, it feels like no time has escaped us since the last time we were able to spend time with them! I love that aspect of the series, too.
I love how you've talked about the families, the characters and how this series has truly touched your bookish heart. I can so relate to that reaction!!
You can find my own thoughts and musings on my review, drop by if you have a chance, I'd love to see if we share similar takeaways after reading this one!