A Cowboy for All Seasons by Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm, Maisey Yates, Jackie Ashenden

Spring by Caitlin Crews
After the death of their grandmother, four women are tasked with staying at her house, each of them for one season. The first is Keira Long. Keira was raised by a con man father and a mother who thought that he was everything leaving no room for anyone else. The only place Keira felt loved was at her grandmother's. And then with Remy West. But his parents didn't approve and Keira felt like she needed to find out who she was on her own so she left when he proposed. That was five years ago. And now she's back, living in her grandmother's house on the same land the Remy lives on, helping with the cattle. Could it be that both of them of matured into people who can be together?

This was the best story of the four. We got to know both Keira and Remy. Was Keira a little bit more adult about them being together? Yes. But we got to see that both were human. Four stars

Summer by Nicole Helm
JJ is back for the summer and has promised to fill in for her grandmother, caring for Cade Mathewson's two girls. She remembers Cade from visiting her grandmother in the summer; he was the only boy that didn't get upset when she beat him at footraces. She is falling in love with the girls but can't deny that their situation (their mother decided to leave and hasn't seen them since) mirrors her own. It brings up a well of emotions that help her heal and maybe bring her to the life she wants to have.
I wish we had seen more of Cade realizing why JJ was so good for him. Of course, this is a short story so we don't get to see a lot but it was an okay story. Three stars.

Fall by Maisey Yates
Lila isn't sure why she's sticking around. It's not like she's organized enough to help run the Red Sled Holiday Bazaar but for some reason, that's what her grandmother asked her to do. And it's being run on Everett McCall's land. Yes, the same Everett that Lila confessed her love to when she was 17. At his engagement party. He's the whole reason she hesitated coming back to Jasper Creek, even ten years later. But working on this together might be a way to finally show the man that she's loved for so long that she is worth loving too.
I never did connect to Lila. She didn't get the closure with her mother that I was hoping for. An okay story but not one of Yates' best. Three stars

Winter by Jackie Ashenden
Bella is the last of the four cousins. She stopped coming back to Jasper Creek when her mother decided that it wasn't worth going. Now, after having all of her money stolen (and why wasn't there more follow-up on this? The bank can't just tell her that they won't replace her money), selling her grandmother's house is her last hope for opening up a cafe. But she has no money, no clothes, and little hope when she comes to the house. Luckily, her ex-stepbrother, Noah is keeping an eye on her. The same stepbrother she always loved. And he offers to help her get the house ready for sale while she... draws her cafe ideas? I guess that was supposed to show that he was helpful and dedicated but it would have been nice to see Bella make more of an effort. There are definitely going to be readers who want to read about a man taking care of a woman like that but I prefer more of a equal relationship. Two and a half stars'

Three stars
This book came out February 25th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Rancher's Wild Secret by Maisey Yates

Holden McCall wants one thing from Emerson Maxfield; the means by which to revenge his sister's honor. Emerson is going to inherit a chunk of her family's winery upon her marriage and Holden wants to use those shares to get revenge on Emerson's father. So he seduces her and then blackmails her into marrying him. There's... not a lot else to the story. But it was still an entertaining read, setting up stories for sure for Emerson's sisters, Wren and Cricket.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 5th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Desire and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates

Caleb Dalton fell in love with Ellie Bell the day he met her. Too bad she was always fated to marry his best friend, the eminently better man. But her husband died fighting fires and now Caleb is Ellie's rock and his family is helping her to raise the daughter her husband barely knew she was carrying. Without him, Ellie would have been lost. But now she's finally starting to come back to life, to feel as if she deserves something more. She's got a new job and she's ready to start dating. Or at least have sex. It comes as a huge surprise when Caleb is the one man who makes he feel lust. And while Ellie is coming to terms with falling in love with her husband's best friend, Caleb still has some things to work through.
I didn't love the last Big Misunderstanding - I didn't feel like it was consistent with Caleb's arc- but overall a nice Christmas read.

Four stars
This book came out September 24th
Follows Lone Wolf Cowboy
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my love

Tis the Season to Read Maisey Yates Sampler by Maisey Yates

A nice glimpse of two of Yates' upcoming books.

Cowboy Christmas Redemption

Caleb Dalton fell in love with Ellie Bell the day he met her. Too bad she was always fated to marry his best friend, the eminently better man. But her husband died fighting fires and now Caleb is Ellie's rock and his family is helping her to raise the daughter her husband barely knew she was carrying. Without him, Ellie would have been lost. But now she's finally starting to come back to life, to feel as if she deserves something more. She's got a new job and she's ready to start dating. Or at least have sex.

Came out September 24th

Rancher's Wild Secret

Holden McCall finally has the last piece needed for his plans and it involves Emerson Maxfield. The beauty wants nothing more than to earn her father's love but Holden thinks she should be working toward something more... 

Comes out November 5th

Stay tuned here for full reviews!

Comes out November 5th

Samplers provided by Harlequin and NetGalley

Lone Wolf Cowboy by Maisey Yates

How much do the scars of our past affect our current relationships?
Vanessa Logan has been mentioned in past books. Her twin Olivia was the perfect child while Vanessa was the one who descended into drugs, alcohol, and debauchery eventually leaving home when she was a teen. Five years ago, she managed to pull herself into sobriety and now she's back in Gold Valley working with at risk kids.
On the other hand, Jacob Dalton is burying his own guilt from spending the day in bed with a one-night stand while his friend covered a wildfire shift and died. He's using alcohol. His family are the ones who set up the camp for the kids and he's being pulled in to just be in the classroom so that the teen boys don't decide that Vanessa is fair game.
One night, Jacob and Vanessa are each dealing with their own dragons and hook up. Neither is very proud of themselves but it does lead them to opening up with each other about their past. It also leads to them being linked in ways that they never expected.
I... didn't love the last half of the book. And I can't articulate why. Possibly because Major Plot Point (MPP) came out of left field for me. More because MPP made it so that everything was fast forwarded and I like a little more relationship development in most of my books.

Three stars
This book came out July 30th
Follows Cowboy to the Core
Followed by Cowboy Christmas Redemption
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Cowboy to the Core by Maisey Yates

The youngest Dodge sibling, little sister Jamie gets her HEA in this story from the Gold Valley series. In previous books, we've gotten to see that she is restless. Growing up without a mother, she is positive that she couldn't miss what she never had. There's been nothing that has made her want to be a girly girl or become "pretty," she's just beyond ready for a change in her life. Ready to take charge of her own life and become a barrel racer. To do that, she's accepted a job taking care of retired rodeo horses at the Dalton place.
Gabe Dalton never wanted to be a bronc rider. Rather than going into the rodeo, he wanted to be a rancher. He saw how his father, also part of the rodeo scene, cheated on his mother and how unhappy it made both of them. Short-term? Sure. Can he do that with one of his employees? He's sure willing to try. Surprisingly (okay, this is a romance so maybe not SO surprising), something that's supposed to be just physical starts helping both Jamie and Gabe grow in ways they never expected.
I really wish Ms. Yates would branch out from the innocent young virgin and overly experienced older man. Like, Gold Valley is somehow populated with pristine young ladies but yet the male population has enough other women to be so practiced they probably should be getting tested even years later.  Good Time Cowboy had a woman who was previously married but that's the only one I can recall. Would be nice for more of a shake-up.

Three stars
This book comes out June 18th
Follows Unbroken Cowboy
Followed by Lone Wolf Cowboy
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions expressed are my own

Unbroken Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Before a bull tap danced all over him, Dane Parker was a successful bull rider. Before that he and his sister were struggling to stay afloat in a trailer park. Now she's the owner of a winery and he's struggling to move every morning. And everyone keeps giving him these pity-filled looks. Even Bea, his sister's former sister-in-law. But is she just considering him another one of her wounded animals?
Beatrix Leighton has had a crush on Dane since his sister married her brother. But she hasn't been able to articulate that. She's just not that good with other humans. Slowly, however, she learns to be like that with Dane.

Three stars
This book came out April 23rd
Followed by Cowboy to the Core
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and publisher
Opinions are my own

Need Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Levi Tyler was in prison for five years because the police believed he killed his wife. But said wife has suddenly turned up alive. So Levi has been released. And he is ready to face the world.
Faith Grayson is the sister of former heroes of this series. She is a young architect, one who feels like she is supporting her family. As a former child prodigy, she was the one on whose they rest all their hopes. But she's secretly taken on designing Levi's house. Even though she knows that her brothers would be irate.
Though each knows the other is All Wrong, they are still drawn together. It's almost
It's another of Yates' stories with a young heroine and older hero. They're sort of starting to bleed together for me. This one was a bit different in that Faith's brothers are involved. Faith was beyond naive and the ending was a bit too short and saccharine for me. I may start sticking to Ms. Yates other series.

Two stars
This book came out April 2
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Want Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Another Grayson sibling is about to fall. Isaiah is ready to get married and decides the best way to do that will be to place an ad like his father did for his brother. After all, his brother found someone to love. He instructs his assistant Poppy to make it happen.
Poppy has been in love with Isaiah for years. Even while he was dating her foster sister. Even through all of her time being his assistant. Why won't he look t her? But then he does.
I didnt feel like we ever got to know either Poppy or Isaiah that well. Poppy definitely had issues leftover from being a foster kid but we didn't really get to see her work through them. And I wish we had seen a little more struggle. It all just seemed magically solved by Twu Luv.

This book came out November 6
Three stars
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley; opinion is my own

A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates

McKenna Tate isn't looking for a handout. She's looking for her family. That's the only reason she's in Gold Valley. Her mother died when she was young, McKenna grew up in foster homes. She's recently found her birth certificate and it seems that she might have some blood relatives in the Valley.
Grant Dodge is known for one thing. He married his high school sweetheart even knowing that she was going to die. He loved; he lost and on one lets him forget it. Except that McKenna doesn't know who he is. The look in her eyes is different. It may be a fling... but it may be something more.
This one was not my favorite Yates book and the short story with this one (Chloe's and Tanner, step siblings decided to take their family relationship to the next level) was about two and a half stars for me.
I am ready for Beatrix and Dane to get together but I have to admit I am a little nervous about it as well. Will be interesting to see how it happens.

Three stars
This book came out September 25
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates

The first two books in this series introduced Lindy Parker. She owns the local vineyard having gained ownership when her former husband cheated on her. While many townspeople think of her as a gold digger (she grew up on the "wrong" side of town), his sisters have stuck with her. Also sticking with her, at least in one sense, her ex's best friend, Wyatt Dodge.
Wyatt was struck by Lindy's beauty the first time he saw her. But she was his best friend's wife. His former best friend. Now Wyatt and Lindy are trying to work together to boost both their businesses. Too bad Wyatt doesn't actually own the family ranch. Especially bad since his father is holding it over his head. So much going on in his life and now... he and Lindy seem to be getting closer personally.

I think regular Yates readers will be pleased. I was a little disappointed by the book being somewhat repetitive. It could have been about 30 pages less and a pleasurable read.

Three stars
This book came out August 21
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Untamed Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Kaylee Capshaw knows why she's always had trouble with men. He's a gorgeous pile of best friend named Bennett Dodge. But he barely acknowledges that she's female. They even work together at the Gold Valley's veterinary clinic.
Suddenly, Bennett's life is turned upside down. He has a 15-year-old son that he never knew about. And he turns to his best friend to help him out.
Regular Yates readers won't be disappointed. This is definitely a nice addition to the Gold Valley series. I didn't love Kaylee and Bennett's whole story but overall enjoyed the book.

Four stars
This book comes out June 19
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Claim Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates

It all started with an ad...
Joshua Grayson's father wants nothing more than for his son to fall in love, get married, and have babies. So he puts an ad out into the world and now Joshua is getting all sorts of unwanted attention from women he doesn't really want to connect with. So Joshua puts out his own ad. One for a thoroughly disreputable woman. One who will get his father off his back. And the woman who answers his ad is perfect. Danielle Kelly is too young, too poor, too hipster, and too-carrying-an-infant for his parents to attach. Except that Joshua seems to be ready to attach...
Danielle grew up the child of a teen mother. Her mother was dirt poor but would drag Danielle around as she moved from man to man, trying to find stability.
I never really connect with characters in the "New Adult" category, even ones who are super-mature for their age.  And I never really felt like Danielle and Joshua connected (well, beyond the sex). Would have loved to see more scenes where the two connected outside the bedroom. Regular Yates readers will probably be satisfied but I'm looking forward to a better story in the next book.

Two and a half stars.
This book comes out April 3
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
Follows  Smooth-Talking Cowboy

Smooth-Talking Cowboy by Maisey Yates

We met Olivia in the last book of the Copper Ridge series and she helps to bridge over to the Gold Valley series. She is the prototypical "good twin." Her sister went deep into the dark side so Olivia did her best to always conform to expectations. When she didn't, her parents laid down the law. She's always done what's expected of her.  At least until she broke up with the perfect boyfriend. The impetus was not so much that he didn't propose as he didn't think he was going to do it any time soon. Frustrated, she ended things hoping that he'd see how much he missed her. So far that plan's not working and now she has a flat tire. And who is it that (reluctantly) stops to help her? Her ex's nearly-brother, Luke, the man with whom Olivia has such an antagonistic relationship.
Luke doesn't much like Olivia. She's a golden girl who has never known hardship and has always gotten everything she wanted. He grew up with an alcoholic mother and was more the parent than the child for most of their life together. He just doesn't see what they would have in common. Except that he wants to buy a piece of land her father listed but refuses to let go to just anyone. And Olivia needs some help prompting her ex. Fake relationship? Sure. Except it doesn't stay that way for long.
This was a good book except that Olivia was a little too good. Not good at what she does (wish we had gotten to see her more at work) but goody-two-shoes. And it causes a lot of angst. Like, a lot of angst. And Luke is patently unmovable... until he's not. A pretty good book and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out February 20
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
Followed by Claim Me, Cowboy

Christmastime Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Sabrina and Liam have a past. One that ended badly and scarred both of them for years. It even spiraled to the point where Sabrina is estranged with her father. She now works in the family's vineyard... which no longer belongs to the family since her brother cheated on his wife. Sabrina sided with her (not the reason for the estrangement but it certainly isn't helping since her brother is the family's golden child.)
Liam's family is trying to branch out their dairy program and think that partnering with the vineyard will be a perfect way to do so. Unaware of her past with Liam, Sabrina's boss assigns her to work with him.
Watching these two get back together was interesting. Liam didn't exactly sleep with Sabrina and then discard her but he was still an asshat, even thirteen years later. I didn't love the end of Sabrina's storyline with her father but it was overall a sweet book that regular Yates readers will enjoy.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out October 24

Wild Ride Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Clara Campbell has been hard-hit recently. Both her parents are gone, her brother died in combat, and now she finds out she doesn't even own her family's property. At least not for another year. Instead, Alex Donnelly is the person who has been, by dint of her brother's will, put in charge of the property and, effectively, her. All she wants to do is ogle to cute guy at the coffee store and live her life. Instead, she has to deal with a brooding ex-soldier.
Alex is in Copper Ridge for two reasons. One is to help Clara and the other is because he inherited a portion of his grandfather's ranch. He wants to fulfill his friend's wishes, especially since his actions saved Alex's life.
I read the first chapter of this in the previous book in the series and immediately wondered if I would really enjoy this book. One of my pet peeves in books is the alpha male who feels he has to save the "little woman" and then there's the false "problem" of my-best-friend's-sister. But I generally enjoy Ms. Yates' books and thought she might be able to overcome my dislike of these tropes. But, unfortunately, Alex was as much of a "me big man, you little woman" as I thought he would be. And Clara is so young. So young. It's not just an age thing, not just a virginity thing, but an overall life attitude that made it hard for me to connect with her.
I will not give up on this series because Yates really is one of my go-to contemporary authors. This book, for me, was just one of her rare missteps.

Two stars
This book comes out August 29

Down Home Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Both Alison and Cain are familiar to regular Copper Ridge readers but I don't think you'd need to have read the whole series to dive into this book.
Alison was introduced as having been helped out of an abusive relationship by some of our previous H/H in the series. In subsequent books, we learned about her opening a bakery and reaching out to help other women in similar circumstances. This time, she's helping out the daughter of one of the Donnelly brothers. Violet's mother left her and Cain without a word and Cain then moved his daughter from Texas to Oregon. She's been sullen and withdrawn (few teenagers aren't) but Cain is only just starting to realize how much she's acting out.
Even though Cain and Alison agreed to have a no-strings affair, Violet and their own emotions are getting in the way. Can they
I didn't love the ending and there were some other plot points that bothered me but I really appreciated the adult conversations (the main characters talked to each other? No way!)

Four stars
This book comes out June 27
Follows Slow Burn Cowboy

Slow Burn Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Lane Jensen has only just figured out that Finn Donnelly is a man. Well, she knew, but she didn't know he was A MAN. After being burned as a teen, she has never really considered that love could be something that she could have. And now that she's finally figuring out that Finn could be everything she's ever wanted, but will she be too late?
Finn has trained himself not to want more than Lane can give. But he's done. He's done rescuing mice, he's done being the handyman. Basically, he's done being the boyfriend who doesn't get the sex. So... he and Lane start having sex. All while his life is falling to bits. Well, sort of. All of his brothers have moved back to the family ranch since their grandfather left it to them equally. Even though Lane is the one who's been there, taking care of everything. Now he has to share with the brothers he hasn't seen in years; the brothers who all left Copper Ridge.
It was an interesting book trying to continue a series while bridging into a new set of siblings. The romance between Lane and Finn suffered a little because of it but overall I think Maisey Yates' readers will enjoy.

Comes out tomorrow
Three stars
Followed by Down Home Cowboy

Seduce Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Hayley Thompson has been the good girl for her whole life up to and including working as her father's secretary. In the church where he was the pastor. Everyone knows who she is. Everyone knows what to expect of her. So when she decides to answer an ad to be the assistant to a man she doesn't know, life changes drastically.
Jonathan Bear owns a successful company but doesn't feel like he is successful. Instead, he feels like the town bad boy (although we never really see that in this book, maybe it was better built up in previous books in the series?). When Hayley Thompson replies to his ad, he doesn't think she'll stick. But when she does, he becomes attracted to her. And though he tries to stay away, he just can't.
This book, even at over 200 pages, felt really fast. The relationship never really had time to develop. I did enjoy the fact that this story was for Hayley and Jonathan without too many "pop-ins" from previous people in the series.

Three stars
This book came out March 7

Hold Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Madison West made a mistake when she was seventeen; she had an affair with a married man. He, of course, turned it around on her and made her a pariah among the horse community. It's been  a long time since she's had sex with anyone else and she's ready. She's made plans for a no-strings-attached weekend with a sales rep in a cabin far out of town. Too bad it's snowing so hard. And now her cabin has lost power. And the person in the other cabin is none other than Sam McCormack.
Sam doesn't like Madison. He's dated women like her before and it didn't end well. Too bad he's so attracted to her.
They make an agreement for one night. An agreement that leads to twelve nights. They'll break up at Christmas. But what if they both want more?
There was a Big Misunderstanding that was disappointing and I'm not a huge fan of the fast and furious romance but I mostly liked both Madison and Sam and their growth in this book.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 8