HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY (The Murphys of Meadow Valley 1) by AJ Pine-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 29, 2022

Second chances at success―and at love.
Childhood sweethearts who broke each other’s hearts and are now determined to be friends. Not so easy.
Finding out how to do whatever it takes to live the life you want.
Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy had a bright future together until tragedy tore them apart. Now, more than a decade later, the beauty school dropout runs Meadow Valley’s family tavern and steers clear of the boy who once stole her heart―no small feat in such a small town. When Casey’s car breaks down on the way to an important interview, she’s rescued by none other than Boone himself―on what was supposed to be his wedding day…

Boone Murphy was finally going to put Meadow Valley in his rearview mirror, even if that meant selling his business and leaving his family’s horse ranch behind. It also meant leaving Casey Walsh. Except when it came time to say “goodbye” to his hometown and “I do” to his new life, he couldn’t do it. Now he’s back home and his only dream is winning back the girl he’s always loved…

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REVIEW: HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is the first instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary adult THE MURPHYS OF MEADOW VALLEY romance series-a spin off from the author’s Meadow Valley series. This is thirty year olds, rancher/mechanic Boone Murphy, and Casey Walsh’s second chance story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Casey and Boone) HOLDING OUR FOR A COWBOY follows the rekindling romance and relationship between former childhood sweethearts turned lovers turned enemies Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy. Approximately twelve years earlier Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy’s lives imploded pulling apart our story line couple. Fast forward to present day wherein Boone Murphy, having waited his entire life to rekindle what was, forged a new path towards a future, a future he knew wasn’t for him. An accident, an stranded motorist, and a flash back to the past finds Boone facing the woman he still loved, the woman who never knew the truth about what happened or why. Hoping to rekindle their love, Boone begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a woman who continues to move forward, refusing to look back. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Boone and Casey, and the potential fall-out as Boone and Casey continue to struggle with what as and what will never be.

Boone Murphy has some issues of mental health that often affect his day to day life but a required regimen and therapy aids in our hero’s fight towards gaining control but sometimes life throws Boone a curve and a hook, and Boone struggles to keep moving forward. Casey Walsh refuses to dwell on the past, so much so, she is unable to talk about what happened or why. With her head buried in the proverbial sand, Casey keeps her eye on the prize, often forgetting their was more than herself affected by the heart ache and pain.

The relationship between Casey and Boone is one of second chances; a rekindling romance and relationship destroy by by secrets, misunderstanding, grief and loss. Working together towards of new future, Casey continues to have issues of trust, especially as it pertains to the man she once loved. The limited and low heat level $ex scenes are passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include many of whom we met in the original MEADOW VALLEY series including Casey’s best friend Ivy and Carter (Cowboy to the Rescue ), Delaney and Sam (My One and Only Cowboy ), Charlotte and Ben (Make Mine a Cowboy), Jenna and Colt (Only a Cowboy Will Do), as well as Casey’s parents, Boone’s brother Eli; Boone’s ex Elizabeth.

HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is a story of love and loss, grief and misunderstanding, second chances and fate. A ‘Gift of the Magi’ kind of scenario where each will sacrifice for the person they love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken yet determined-the heroine’s inability to address the past is the cause of the most of the story line conflict.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy