FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY by AJ Pine-review

FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY (The Murphys of Meadow Valley 2) by AJ Pine

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

Nothing mends the heart quite like a cowboy.
Dancer Beth Spence finally gets a shot at her dream—auditioning for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. But her audition concludes with a torn Achilles tendon and possibly the end of her dance career. When her sister, Delaney, flies her to Meadow Valley, California to recuperate, she is reluctant to go, but out of options. Beth has no idea that Delaney has set her up with a job managing widower Eli Murphy’s veterinary clinic while staying in the guest house on his ranch. Beth and Eli’s attraction is undeniable, but Beth has every intention of making a full recovery and heading back to New York. Eli has no intention of loving and losing again. Too bad their hearts have other plans.

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REVIEW: FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY is the second 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 old professional dancer Beth Spence, and veterinarian / widower Dr. Eli Murphy’s story line. FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Beth is Delaney’s sister (MY ONE AND ONLY COWBOY-MEADOW VALLEY #1), and Eli is Boone’s brother (HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY 1).

Told from omniscient third person perspectives (Beth and Eli) FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. Three years earlier Dr. Eli Murphy lost his wife to an accident on the ranch, and has struggled to move on with his life. Working the ranch in Meadow Valley, California brings Eli up close and personal with his future in the guise of dancer Beth Spence, a thirty year old woman struggling with a potential career ending injury, and the woman with whom Eli will fall in love . What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eli and Beth, and the potential fall-out as Beth’s time in Meadow Valley comes to a close.

The world building focuses on loss and recovery as Eli continues to struggle with the guilt of his wife’s death, and his inability to let go but all is not well, as Eli begins to suspect a possible poacher is threatening the ranch. Meanwhile Beth is worried about the end of her dance career, and an injury that is struggling to heal but falling in love was never in the future until Beth meets a man who is battle his own demons.

The relationship between Beth and Eli begins acrimoniously as Beth is ‘forced’ upon Eli as his new office assistant. Beth thought she was going to Meadow Valley to aid in her recovery, never expecting to find herself the face of Eli’s busy veterinarian facility. Eli continues to struggle in the wake of his beloved wife’s death but meeting Beth stirs something long thought dead in our story line hero. The $ex scenes are passionate but fade to black or are mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and dynamic secondary and supporting characters, many of whom were introduced in the previous series: 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), Casey and Boone (Holding Out for A Cowboy).

FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY is a story of loss and grief, acceptance and moving forward, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is honest and impassioned; the romance is charming and seductive; the characters are spirited and charismatic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY

Copy supplied for review

reviewed by Sandy

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HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY by AJ Pine-a review

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

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /

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

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