This was a bit of a different take on Marietta. Ali and Adam are both wounded souls who need protection, in different ways. Also, Ali's relationship with the town and its people is rather tenuous and so is Adam's.

The suspense of it - Ali's backstory and storyline - is particularly unusual for our not-so-small small town Marietta and it feels almost intrusive in some ways. Bad things aren't supposed to happen here and yet, they do (see a couple of earlier books). This one though, is less personal and more romantic suspense in that way.

Adam's wounds, on the other hand, are very personal and quite sad. I felt deeply for Adam and his niece. They have had a very rough go of it and they both deserved a happy ending to soothe their wounded hearts. But Ali brings danger to their doorstep even as she brings joy and love to them.

Overall, I liked the story even though it felt rather out of place both for Marietta and for the people connections. It was sweet and emotionally healing for all involved.

A Beauty & the Beast theme with a twist, A Cowboy to Keep is a book to be read in a lazy weekend afternoon or better yet on a holiday weekend. A fast and easy read, it’s a feel good book that makes you believe that even in this topsy-turvy world we live in, dreams still do come true.

And yes, this is a romance, which basically guarantees a happy ending. Still Barbara Ankrum added some exciting elements that made for an interesting read. I just wish that the book was little longer so that the subplot could have been developed more. Nevertheless, "A Cowboy to Keep" is a very enjoyable read and once again, Barbara Ankrum did not disappoint her fans.

A Cowboy to Keep is Rated M for Mature due to some violence and some sexual content.

Ali Thibeaux has been on the run-hiding and evading a man who is out to get her and extract his revenge. Hoping beyond hope to meet her half-sister, Olivia, she finally makes her way to Marietta, Montana. She has no plan to reveal herself to Olivia and just wants to finally see and meet her.
Hocking her only prized possession of a valuable camera in order to be able to work and stay in Marietta, she finds it has been sold by a shady pawn dealer before her time was over. An employee of the shop lets Ali know who bought it and wishes her luck.
Adam Wolfe, the buyer, is a man of solitude who is trying to raise his teenage niece and having a very hard time of it. He mistakes Ali as an applicant for a cook/companion for his niece, Cassie, when Ali goes to try and get back her camera.
The deal Adam and Ali make works well for them and for Cassie. That is until Ali's past catches up to her.

I’m a little all over the place with this series, not realising the correct reading order, but this book very enjoyable. I will go back and read them correctly at a later date, but for now I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far.

A Cowboy to Keep is city girl Ali Thibeaux and rancher Adam Wolfe’s story, which is filled with unexpected events, a little deception and a whole lotta angst. Ms Ankrum writes easy to read tales of emotion, conflict and love, and I for one keep coming back for more.

I am going to start off by saying, I am a city girl. So, I wasn't sure I was going to like a cowboy story, but I gave it a go! I am so glad I did because I really liked this story!!

Ali Thibeaux is on the run and fearing for her life. She ends up in Marietta, looking for her half sister. She has a string of bad luck, so she sees her camera to a pond shop. When she goes to get it back, she finds out rancher Adam Wolfe has purchased it. And there starts their love story. He needs a housekeeper and help with his niece and she can get her camera back if she helps him. Good deal?? Great deal.... with a side of falling in love!!

This was a great afternoon by the pool book! Loved the setting and the characters. My only regret was not reading the other books in this series first!

Ali and Adam captured my heart early on in this story. The author wrote a smooth story that jumped right in and flowed at a great pace. I enjoyed the interaction between Ali and Adam and that there passion was not instant and didn't fall into bed right away with one another. The camera angle that brought them together was really cute and I enjoyed the niece and Ali's relationship and watching her come more out of her shell. The thing that left me a bit disappointed with this book was the quick wrap up ending. We spend so much of the book waiting for this other shoe to drop and for Ali to be discovered and then when it actually happens it is wrapped up so quickly and Adam and Ali get back to "good" again without any struggle at all. This is always my favorite part of a romance and this one was just wrapped up way too quick and tidy for my liking. Still a light, fun and enjoyable quick read though.

4.5 stars
The beauty of this book lies in its simplicity, in how characterization, dialogue, plot and setting are crafted to build a romantic story that is sheer perfection.
The main characters are complex and carry physical and psychological scars. The heroine is a strong, generous and courageous woman. Her expertise in photography is superbly written throughout the story. The hero is wounded, distrustful and yet very caring. The side characters are compelling too.
The romance is slow, more sensual than sexy. It makes sense to be that slow. The dialogue is great and the setting gorgeous.
It was such a pleasurable read, I loved every moment in it!

This book was kinda terrific and I really loved it. The writing was great, plot kept me very interested and I really loved the characters. It even had a thriller aspect and it was a real nailbiter.

This story starts with a camera. Ali is broke, living in her car and goes to the pawn shop to get her camera she hocked back when she finds it was sold to Adam. Adam bought it for his orphaned Niiece and when Ali wants to buy it back, he refuses unless she agrees to work for him as a housekeeper/nanny (his niece is ateen).

She does and thats how they get to know each other and fall in love. BUT Ali has some really big secrets and well they finally explode well thats really when this book gets extra terrific. This was well written and so fun and romantic. Adam has a sad past and its a little beauty and the beast in that Adam is scarred..

What an outstanding book! Full of mystery about Ali's past, this story had me guessing what would happen practically to the end. Love both Ali and Adam's characters, which the author developed masterfully. The others in the story (some four-legged) only further cemented the theme.

Ali Thibeaux returned to Marietta, Montana to redeem her pawn ticket before running again. She has been on the run for years from a vindictive well connected cop. She helped convict his brother and he wanted revenge.
When she arrives a day late to find it's already been sold, she goes to the buyer....hoping he'll sell it to her, only to find the huge profit the pawn shop made put an end to that hope.
Reclusive rancher Adam Wolfe needs a housekeeper, but has had no luck in finding a good fit....enter Ali, with whom he makes a bargain and finds more than he ever thought possible.
I requested and received this heartwarming tale of good people overcoming adversity to find love from NetGalley to peruse.

I truly wish I had come into this series prior to this last story. I'm overwhelmed with the heart that the author put into her characters. Imbedded within the seriousness of the plot, were characters who pulled through adversity with determination and fierceness...and with humor to balance out the darkness brought out by Ali's flight for her life.

Case in point was the fire ant scene, it was priceless...not that encountering fire ants is humorous in and of itself...just how it was cleverly written with Carrie coming to Ali's rescue, I could see it all unfolding in my mind's eye. The same was true about so many other aspects of the story, the visuals the author presented were so very lifelike in their fluidity.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the story and the author's writing...she is now on my watch list. This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.