THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS (The Murphys of Meadow Valley 3) by AJ Pine-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 11, 2025

A washed-up country music cowboy on the run, a songwriter without a song, and a double-booked ranch guesthouse with both their names on it… What could possibly go wrong?

Ash Murphy sneaks home to the family ranch to escape the scandal that follows his successful country music career everywhere. He plans to rest up, get in his fair share of work on the ranch, connect with the new horses his brothers have taken in, and lay low for as long as it takes for the newest tabloid interest to blow over.

Except when he arrives, his brother’s guest house isn’t empty; its current occupant is none other than Willow Morgan, country singer on the rise, hoping to finally finish the last song on her sophomore album―the one her label says must be a hit. But her small problem with writer’s block is nothing compared to her large problem: Ash Murphy broke her heart once before, and if she’s not careful, he just might do it again.

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REVIEW: THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS is the third 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 twenty-nine year old, country singer/song writer Ash Murphy, and rising country star Willow Morgan’s story line. THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Willow is Colt Morgan’s sister (Only A Cowboy Will Do / Meadow Valley 3).

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Ash and Willow) THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS follows the frenemies to lovers relationship between Ash and Willow. Willow is on a two month hiatus, struggling to find her writing muse, staying at the Murphy family ranch in an effort to remain behind closed doors but the arrival of Ash Murphy, a man running to escape a scandal finds our couples working together in an effort to fix both of their careers. Ash and Willow are no strangers to one another, a one-night stand while on tour, four years earlier, ended in humiliation and Willow walking away but Ash Murphy never forgot about our story line heroine, a woman who has starred in his dreams and his songs.

The world building focuses on the rekindling relationship between Ash and Willow; the look back at what happened and why; and Ash’s struggle to make everything right. Willow spent the past four years under a dark cloud, a cloud not of her making.

The relationship between Ash and Willow is one of second chances, of a sorts. Four years earlier, a one-night stand ended with Willow on the run, but Ash is determined to make amends for the humiliation and betrayal at Willow’s expense. The $ex scenes are passionate but fade to black.

There is another large ensemble cast of colorfui, familiar and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the previous story lines and series characters.

THE COWBOY OF MY DREAMS is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, forgiveness and acceptance, family and love. The premise is captivating and emotional; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Holding Out for a Cowboy
Finally Found My Cowboy

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy