This book is everything that frustrates me about young adult romances. And yet...I wasn’t able to put it down.

Charleigh and Josh were high school sweethearts, madly in love, with an unspoken expectation that after Josh finished college and veterinarian school they’d get married, move away from the small New Mexico town where they grew up, and start a family. But an ill-timed discussion about the future has them both saying things they regret, and results in the demise of their relationship.

Now, after six years, Charleigh has moved back to town so her son can inherit the ranch her former father-in-law left to Derrick. The only catch is that she has to live on the ranch for one year and that the man who broke her heart is in charge of making sure she knows how to run the ranch.

As I said, this book had so many of the things I don’t like about NA/YA stories. For starters, there was the big fight, followed by stomping away and slamming doors, and then not talking to each other... for six years. There is a big misunderstanding about something Charleigh thought she saw (could have been solved by saying something), a person who is all too happy to aid and abet Josh and Charleigh’s break-up, and the ridiculous situation that brings them back together.

The ridiculousness continues once Charleigh and Josh are forced to work together. Charleigh, in an attempt to get away from a dog, scrambles across the bench seat in Josh’s truck and somehow manages to end up straddling him in the driver’s seat. How would that even be possible? Land in his lap, sure. But straddling him, with her nipples in his face? Yeah, no. And speaking of her nipples...good grief it must be embarrassing to have them all hard, and achy, and pointing at Josh all the time. For goodness sakes, woman, wear a padded bra so at least no one can see them standing at attention all the time. And back to the bench seat of the truck...Charleigh kept bouncing and sliding from her seat into Josh’s side. Why the heck isn’t she wearing her seatbelt? Besides solving her problem of being too close to Josh, it’s also not safe! (We later learn his work truck “doesn’t have seatbelts.” What kind of truck doesn’t have seatbelts?! Unless it was from the 1950s, the truck would have belts.)

The ridiculousness continues. Charleigh calls her son “Puppy” as a nickname, because when he was little he used to pretend to be a dog. I’m sorry, but that’s...ridiculous.

One thing this book did having going for it is that, for once, the reunited couple didn’t jump back into bed together within days. They used their anger and caution to keep their distance until they could get to know each other again. Also, there could have been a lot more other woman drama than there was. With as much drama and angst that was in this book, it actually surprised me how little problem the other woman was.

But then, we’re right back to ridiculous with the NOT TALKING to each other. I just wanted to scream at them. Every time they’d start to work through their past, they’d get in a fight, one of them would push the other away, the other would stomp away. DID YOU PEOPLE LEARN NOTHING FROM WHAT HAPPENED SIX YEARS AGO?!?!? And it went all the way until the very end. It was just so irritating how stubborn and unkind Josh was towards Charleigh, and frustrating how stubborn and not forthcoming Charleigh was with Josh. These people deserved every single day of heartbreak they had because they did it to themselves over and over and over.

Which begs the question, “why did you keep reading, E-Reader Addict, if there was so much that bugged the crap out of you while reading this book?”

I really don’t know. All things considered in this story, I shouldn't have liked it. But Ms. Ryan has a way of writing that drew me in and kept me engaged, despite my not liking how the characters behaved. I am a total sucker for second-chance love stories, though, so I’m gonna chalk it up to that.

*thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Second chances for love, secrets revealed and new future together. Enjoyed the story line and liked the character interaction. A new author for me and will be reading more of her books.

Ebook from Net galley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

A Cowboy's Forgiveness is an emotional second chance romance.

Charleigh and Josh were young and in love but something tore them apart and both have spent the last 6 years apart, missing each other. But now she's coming back home, with her young son in tow, and Josh is in charge of whether or not her son inherits what's rightfully his.

While I loved the premise, I ended up disliking both Josh and Charleigh so much that I couldn't connect with them or their story. Both were so stubborn and wouldn't budge. She wouldn't admit she was wrong for keeping a huge secret from him and he wouldn't admit he was the reason she ran off in the first place. You'd think, being that Derrick (her son) was in their lives, that he'd be a reason for them to be the mature adults they supposedly were, but nope, they acted like they were 17 year olds with grudges and throwing tantrums and icing each other out. Sigh...I just read an NA romance where the heroine was in her early 20s and she was a lot more mature than either Charleigh or Josh, who were in their 30s.

If only Josh and Charleigh had been as adorable and mature as Derrick, then I might have seen my way to giving A Cowboy's Forgiveness 4 stars, but as it's written, I couldn't go higher than 2 stars.

Sophia Ryan writes a complex, heart wrenching story. I went through every emotion in this book as did the characters. This is the story of Charleigh and Josh as they relive mistakes from their youth and pain they manage to overcome to achieve their well deserved HEA that feels as their story is not completely told. This story did not disappoint!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sophia Ryan knows how to weave a great story. I could not put this book down once I opened it. This book shows the real characters that one can relate to on every level from the flaws to love. I enjoyed every page of this book!

This book was OK. All based on the “Big Understanding”.

3 1/2 Star Review....

A Cowboy's Forgiveness is a story of second chances; but along the way it makes for an emotionally intense, heart wrenching and deeply tragic read.

In their past lives, Charleigh was so alone, and vunerable to the big bad world, while Josh had a sweetie with a huge heart, but focused on his path ahead. Circumstances and betrayal tore them apart, but what will it take to bring them back together?

I truly enjoyed this story with all its many facets and the rollercoaster ride of emotions. However, I did fins it hard to warm to Charleigh’s character.

This is an intense, emotional, heartbreaking and tragic story. When Josh was young he was sweet and romantic, but focused on his career. As an adult, he is hard, cold and unfeeling. When Charleigh was young she was vulnerable and alone. As an adult she's tough, determined and protective. Betrayal and hurt broke them up, bribes and need brought them together again. But neither is willing to forgive the other. It's dramatic and entertaining when Josh interacts Charleigh, and sweet how Josh interacts with Derrick. Derrick is a character, he's bright and bold determined. The story made me laugh and cry, feel angry, sad and frustrated. The more I read, the more I was drawn in, I couldn't put it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I received an ARc from Netgalley. All I can say is wow! CC and Josh have a breathtaking love story, one of stubborn love, forgiveness and hope of renewed love. I could not put this book down. I did feel some of the topics were a little too much to be discussing with a five year old but overall the book had a great message of love and forgiveness.

This is my first book by Sophia Ryan.

What I liked:
The writing style
Standalone
HEA

What I didn't like:
Charleigh

I voluntarily received this book for free from NetGalley.

One heck of a story about love's second chances, filled with strong emotions...some bringing smiles and laughter, some bringing heartache and tears. Overall a story that is meant to be read to remind us what is most important in our lives.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

At least she's young, which will make the birth easier.

I can't decide if I like Will or not.

Poor girl's just a booty call to this boy.

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message 3: by Negar - added it Dec 01, 2017 09:33PM
Negar Arvanaghi What's wrong with Halloween?

He's going to throw away college to work at a tattoo parlor?

A pull-out couch? Gee, Will really made something of himself.

She kept the shirt, and he kept the truck.

He's giving his son valuable life lessons, and he doesn't even know it.

Err...well, the boy is certainly getting an education, that's for sure.

Beth is such a sore loser.

That was so scary.

Men are so stupid sometimes.