I needed a book that was different than I have been reading and this book was perfect. I love historical romances that take place in the west. I loved how sassy and headstrong Lily was in this book and how Cody is so patient with her. Lily has lots of friends in this book, that I am sure we will see in future books. My only issue was the book moves slow and I really had to make myself finish the book. I am glad I did because the ending was wonderful.

Such a good book. I love a good sassy heroine and stern lovable hero. Cody and Lily definitely fit into those categories. Lily is not afraid to stand her ground for who and what she believes in. Cody on the other hand is as level headed and lovable as it comes. I could not put this book down. I had to know what happened next. I was a little disappointed that figured out the ending before I got there but the book was so good it didn't matter. I am new to Anna Schmidt and will definitely read more of her works.

Quick wit woman meets by the book lawman and you have an explosive romance. This book was full of push and pull love and want. Why did she marry her ex in the first place? She was trying to prove something and dang if it didn't backfire. Now her sexy sheriff has to help her out of this bind. She didn't bargain to fall in love in the process.

I received a free copy of Renegade in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I enjoyed Lily and Cody's story. The author did a great job developing their relationship, and included a lengthy courting period, while keeping the reader engaged. I would recommend this book to friends and family.

He’ll protect her reckless heart No matter the cost… Lily Travis may be a Harvey Girl, but she’s a rebel—and a romantic—at heart. Too bad her impulsive nature led her to marry a man who promised a life of ease and prosperity, only to disappear the very next day. She’s kept her secret as best she can, and now she’s convinced she’ll never find true love…not even with the handsome local sheriff she can’t get off her mind. Cody Daniels knows Lily isn’t the right woman for a by-the-book lawman with political ambitions. She’s brash, headstrong…and entirely too tempting. But when Lily’s past catches up with her and the villain she married threatens everything she holds dear, Cody is determined to defend her honor and show her the future they could have together.
This was a pretty decent book. Both characters were well written. It had a good plot to it based on a place I’m familiar with (thank you Judy Garland!). I felt like I was watching a Western play out on the tv. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling and engaging romantic journey that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Heart pounding dangerous twits and action packed passionate turns make this a exciting reading experience.

RENEGADE gives us another story of these famous ladies with Lily Travis this time around. We met Lily, along with the others in the first story in this series. She’s running not only from an abusive father but from the man she might have married who disappeared almost immediately. Now she’s carving out a life for herself far from all she’s known, and maybe there might be a handsome sheriff who has caught her eye. But – she’s married, right? There is nowhere any flirtation can go between them. Yet everything is not as it seems when Lily’s past makes an appearance and causes chaos in her new life.

I loved Cody and Lily together. It’s obvious the chemistry is there between them, yet Lily’s past, her headstrong ways, and her personality don’t quite mesh with what Cody sees as his future. As they spend more time together dealing with Lily’s scoundrel of a maybe spouse Cody will not only defend her honor but can’t imagine a future that doesn’t keep her at his side.

Anna Schmidt always delivers a heartfelt story, a couple that I can believe in, a touch of danger and a completely enjoyable Romance. If you love a good Western Historical Romance then you’ll want to check out RENEGADE or TRAILBLAZER in the Cowboys & Harvey Girls series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really enjoyed this book! I love the history of the Harvey Girls. I liked the mystery with it and the little romance! I will be searching for more of Anna Schmidt's books!

I think newcomers can start with this book as the pertinent details of the previous one are sprinkled where they’re needed to explain things. Of course as soon as Lily revealed her Dark Secret to her friends who have been trying to match make her with the Sheriff, I knew he’d show up. At first, Victor Johnson is merely oily and annoying but he quickly shows his true colors. Lily wonders what she ever saw in him but given what she tells her friends and then Cody, I can understand why she allowed herself to be caught in his net.

Lily has had horrible luck with the men in her past except for her beloved father and it’s the memory of her parents’ love that keeps her even thinking of finding her own love one day. It’s not surprising that in that day and age, Lily would be loaded with guilt over what happened to her. Lucky for her that Cody is a sweetheart with a mind frame probably ahead of his time. Their romance progresses slowly but surely with only a few steps back for Lily as she grows to accept her blamelessness and the love of a good man.

She is headstrong so it also didn’t surprise me that she would insist – no, I insist – on taking part in trying to figure out who was threatening her friend and then later tracking down the outlaws. Despite all Cody’s pleas for her to stay put so he won’t have to worry about her, she does end up in the thick of it. I will give her credit in that she does use her intelligence and calmly saves the day. The way that Grace and her husband Nick are brought into this book is well done too.

I liked the way that the rest of Lily’s past is dealt with as well as having my questions about Grace’s parents answered. But the chapters that wound up the book after the villain is brought to justice did tend to drag a little. Still it’s nice to see women working in a western though I wish that I hadn’t seen most of the plot coming ahead of time. B-

Renegade is the second book in Anna Schmidt’s Cowboys and Harvey Girls series. I read Trailblazer, the first book in this series and loved it, so when I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net Galley, to read and review, I took the opportunity. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Renegade is an engaging romance with endearing characters and a unique plot. The pacing is good and kept me enmeshed in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical details involving the Harvey Girls. I also enjoyed, not only the main characters, but the secondary ones as well. It was particularly lovely to learn more of Grace and Nick, the hero and heroine of book 1, along with the rest of the engaging members of the Harvey staff at the Palace.

Lily Travis is part of the trio that forms a strong friendship when they met on the train bound for their first placement as Harvey girls. Her character was as entertaining as Grace’s. She is a feisty young woman who learned at a young age that life was not always fair. Abused by her step-father then bamboozled by a smooth-talking man who marries her and disappears the morning after their wedding night. She’s not willing to give her heart again, not even to the handsome and kind sheriff.

Cody Daniels has plans bigger than a career as a small-town sheriff. His character is ambitious, but in a completely honorable way. I loved his strong, yet gentle strength, which endeared me from the start. He is clearly smitten with Lily and intrigued by her. I adored his careful courting and determination to earn Lily’s trust.

The story includes the villain who supposedly married her and deserted her the following morning. Is he the gentleman as he presents to the world or a thief? Cody is suspicious of the man and the whole marriage debacle. If what he suspects is true, and the marriage wasn’t real, he is determined to prove it.

Lily is petrified when her husband shows up at the Palace. Harvey girls cannot be married nor have a blemish on their past. He could ruin her if he tells her manager. Enters her close friend, Jake, a man who loves her, but she only sees as a close friend. Jake runs interference between Lily and the villain and pays dearly for his decision.

Cody is determined to discover if the scoundrel, Johnson, Lily’s supposed husband, is behind the attack on Jake and truly married to Lily. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery that needs to be solved to keep Lily safe. I want to be careful to not include any spoils. Let’s just say, Cody discovers things that makes him believe Lily is not wed, and all though she might not be the perfect candidate as wife of a man who has aspirations involving a political career, he still wants her.

The romance between Lily and Cody progresses carefully, but is enjoyable nonetheless. It’s clear they love each other from early on, but the complication of a husband, does keep their relationship from developing to fast. This reader was certainly praying she was not legally married to the villain.

If you enjoy a story with plenty of complications that must be resolved before the hero and heroine can find their happy ending, and one with a dash of mystery and suspense, then you will love Renegade. I enjoyed this second book even more than the first. I can’t wait to read the next romance in this exciting series. Happy reading!

Renegade is the second book in Anna Schmidt's Cowboys & Harvey Girls series. Though both lead characters were introduced in the first book, this story stands alone just fine. It was very interesting to read about Fred Harvey and his restaurants and how they helped settle the American West. A strong theme of friendship wove its way throughout the entire book.

Lily Travis fled from Chicago to New Mexico and now works as a Harvey Girl. She left home to escape from an abusive stepfather. She married a man (or did she?) who immediately disappeared after one night, but she now is self sufficient in her career as a Harvey Girl. She has dear friends in Grace, Emma and Jake. Something is missing from her life, though. Could it be Cody Daniels, the handsome sheriff with cute dimples who seems to be drawn to the feisty Lily? When the man Victor from Lily's past reappears, Cody plans to discover why he suddenly shows up in Juniper. More importantly, he vows to protect Lily at all costs.

The romance between Cody and Lily is very sweet and touching. I loved her relationships with her best friends, especially Jake, who has an unrequited love for Lily but understands they can have nothing more than friendship. My only real issue with this story is that I felt it was very slow moving. Things didn't seem to really start jumping for me until I was over halfway through the book. Still, it was worth reading. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series. Fingers crossed it's Emma and Aidan's story.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
All Harvey Girls have a story.
And Lily Rogers is far from the exception to that rule.
Where both she and her story differ from the others however.
Is that the demons of her past are proving a little harder than most to escape.
Particularly when the most feared of them all becomes a flesh and blood presence in both her town, Juniper, New Mexico.
And much worse...
The very hotel in which she and a great many of those she loves both work and live.
Fred Harvey's Palace.
And the consequences to all involved could prove deadly.

Enter Sherriff Cody Daniels.
Juniper's dashing young lawman. Determined to do all that he can to maintain law and order in the burgeoning town. With a fair hand and an open heart.
Not to mention flashing eyes and a dimpled smile. Which he seemes to reserve with much greater frequency for a certain fair-haired spitfire. Whose emerald green gaze holds an answering blaze of its own.
A blaze that is suddenly and unexplainably banked in the presence of the mysterious stranger that seems to pose a threat to both Juniper, and more importantly, to Lily.
The one woman that he can't seem to get out of his mind or his heart.

Victor Johnson is a master of quite a few skills. If you consider lying, thievery, and manipulation skills.
And now it seems that he is bound and determined to put said skills to very bad use in Juniper.
What he has no way of knowing however is that Lily Travis has made this town her home. And she has come a long way from the innocent girl that he once knew.
She is now a fierce and independent woman.
A woman who has worked hard to build a fulfilled and happy life.
A woman willing to stare down and vanquish this very really demon from her past.
Hopefully before he has the chance to completely decimate her future.

This second book in Anna Schmidt's <i>Harvey Girls</i> series has everything that lovers of romance in the Old West could want.
Handsome heroes, vile villains, murder, mystery, and of course romance. All wrapped up in the big hearted and very rough and tumble ambiance the is early America.
Lily is such a free spirit. Unafraid to act in the name of the causes and people that she believes in. But not quite so trusting of her own heart.
She is a woman who readers can't help wanting the best for. Even though, or maybe due to the fact that she can't bring herself to reach for that best.

Leading man, Cody is all the best things that a white Knight can be.
Patient, kind, understanding, and honest. He is a balm to Lily's tortured soul.
Someone willing to love her. Warts and all. A very heady combination. That gives rise to more heartwarming moments than should be allowed in one book.

When one adds the undeniable chemistry that these two create both alone and together on each page that they appear. To stellar cast of increasingly delightful support cast. And a plot so thick and juicy that it could give KFC a run for their money.
What you have is a story that could best be summed up as nothing less than absolutely fantastic.

Reviewer's Note: Though <i>Renegade</i> is the second book in this closely related series. It can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with the title on which the above critique is based. My opinion is in no way influenced by the publisher, author, or any agents thereof.

. This is a Historical Western Romance. Cody and Lily are endearing characters with great chemistry. They are both stubborn and set in their ways but, they realize that together they can have the life that they have always wanted. It has romance, suspense, danger and a wonderful cast of characters.