This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance
Published by St. Martin's Press
Released on November 26, 2019
Pages: 287
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The Delight
The family legacy of helping each other through danger and difficult relationships continues much to my book-loving joy in this fourth of the series. I was expecting someone else to get their story, but was gladly mistaken when I realized it was the stalwart family friend, Sheriff Danny Oldman.
Review
A Cowboy Like You is the fourth of the Heart of Texas series and is a series of connected standalone stories.
Danny has watched his friends find love and is truly happy for them, but that blessing hasn’t seem to come his way. He has his work as county sheriff which he loves because he loves helping and protecting people, but it doesn’t do a thing for the loneliness when he’s off duty.
Then, one night while eating his take-out dinner at a quiet highway rest strop, he is on hand to prevent an assault. The victim turns out to be his former high school crush, Skylar Long, who admits that she’s running away from an abuse situation.
Doing his duty, Danny takes care of the angry jerk who would have killed her most likely and gets Skylar into a safe place with Clayton and Abby out at the East Ranch. Then he learns the identity of Skylar’s abusive ex boyfriend. Danny knows he’s going to need more than the law on his side. calls on his friendship with Clay, the Harpers, and their former military buds, Cooper and Jace because they’re now up against big money who will do whatever it takes to protect one of their own.
Skylar doesn’t know how she became the abuse survivor of a man who lied to her all along. She wants to wallow and give in to fear especially since Matt and his family’s tactics to get her to give up her case get vicious. But, Danny is there to hold the fear at bay and she’s made some strong supportive friends of her own now while staying out at the ranch as the East-Harper clan readies for the Christmas season. She always thought this small town was not for her and she was a big city girl, but the big city pales after her time with Danny and seeing the loyalty and love these people here have shown during her crisis. Dare she hope that Danny is starting to want her as much as she wants him?
Abusive situations are always heartbreaking, but I do love cheering on the survivors who can get away and reboot. Skylar had been in the sadistic hands of a pro who lied, gaslighted, made promises, but ultimately needed to control her and her life inflicting pain. Later in the book, his motives are there between being the loser in his own family, but also just being an angry narcissistic fiend who had the money and enablement to do his thing. I was definitely cheering on Danny and the guys to stop him and see Skylar fully get her own back.
The romance moves swiftly and is mixed in with the suspense plot so that both move along together which is how I most like it to go when I read romantic suspenses instead of seeing the focus swap back and forth. Both were good people, mature, and knew what they wanted even if they hesitated because they had ideas of what was best for the other person. Danny was the true blue treasure and Skylar recognized this when she saw him in the context of his job and place in the county though Danny was too humble to realize how integral he was to so many people. I loved seeing him find his way to his own happiness. I could have wished for a tad more relationship development particularly in regard to their future plans, but I was still satisfied with what I got.
The big climax scene was intense and pulse-pounding. I’ve come to anticipate this moment in the series books and it didn’t disappoint. Now, I’m left eager for more from this Heart of Texas series and not even caring which person gets their story next. Those who love their cowboys and small town life mixed in with some good suspense should definitely give this series a go.
I rec’d this book through Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #168
HoHoHoRAT #5
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I love her Heart of Texas series and this is on my recovery read list and thanks to your review just went up a rung or two 🙂 Thanks Sophia Rose
LOL, love it.. recovery read list. 🙂
I enjoyed this one and have been enjoying the series and friends we have made along the way.
Same here. I was startled that it was Sheriff Danny’s book, but not disappointed. 🙂
It’s an author I heard a lot about but that I haven’t tried yet
I still need to read her dragon books. 🙂
I agree, abuse situations are sad but this sounds like it was a good book.
Yes, the author painted the heroine as banged up, but a survivor. I loved seeing her life change for the better and Danny get his romance. 🙂
Oooo! Intense! I’ve been itching for a cowboy book. I pulled one from my shelf after reading this review! 😀 Not the same book, but any cowboy will do! lol
Glad to put some giddiyup in your gallop, Carole. 🙂
I have got to get back to this series. I absolutely adored the first book and have picked up at least one more. This is one that I definitely want to read. Great review!
Yes! They are all great installments and fun to see each family member and friend find love. 🙂
I love it when the girl finally sees the good guy and falls in love. Sounds like Sylar had enough of “bad boys” at this point. Her ex sounds like a real piece of work!
Yes, she always had a thing for Danny in highschool, but she wanted out of her small town for the big city so it was neat to see them get a chance now that she’s been there done that. 🙂