Member Reviews
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are my own. With everything going on in the world, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Personally, I find myself gravitating towards feel-good reads, and Cowboy for Hire by Victoria James is a great contender if you’re also in the market for just that. Cowboy for Hire is a sweet, small-town romance. Sarah Turner finds herself needing help to run her family’s ranch, and Cade Walker steps in hoping to prove himself. I enjoyed Sarah and Cade’s chemistry together and their determination to prove themselves. Sarah wants to prove that she can run the ranch despite the fact that she’s female, lived a sheltered life, and has some medical issues. Cade is desperately trying to prove his worth to everyone despite his past. The push and pull between the two of them as their relationship grew was fun to read. Victoria James did a great job creating these two characters. As a reader, I felt like I understood both of them and connected with them. So when they made their mistakes, I understood where their hearts were when the mistakes were made and just wanted them to forgive each other and themselves. The story did feel a tad slow in the middle, but overall, Cowboy for Hire was a really good small-town romance. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good read and enjoy these sorts of romances, I’d highly recommend Cowboy for Hire by Victoria James. |
Wioletta S, Reviewer
Sarah had perfect family and in one moment that chanced, she grew up sheltered from life. Now she has to take care of the ranch her parents left her and she needs foreman to run that ranch and teach her. Cade got a job as foreman at Sarah's ranch, he is attracted to her, but he knows he is not worthy of her. Wonderful sweet story. |
I liked this story it was super cute, emotional and a fun read. I liked Sarah my heart broke for her and everything she faced, but she was a fighter and nothing was going to hold her back from getting what she wants. Oh my goodness Cade I think I have a dislike/love relationship with him in this story. Sometimes I wanted to smack him and then sometimes my heart broke for him, I think in this story you will find two heroes not just one. I also really enjoyed the other characters in the book they are all a fun group of friends and the author made you feel like you were right there hanging out. I can't wait to see what adventure the author takes Dean and Hope one, or at least that's what I hope the author is going for next. :-). Overall this was a fun read. |
Reviewer 367529
For the past 15 years Sarah has lead a restricted life with parents who struggled to function normally. Now she wants to learn how to run the ranch that is her legacy and break free from the constraints previously placed upon her. She hires Cade as both her new foreman and instructor, not knowing (or caring) that his early life was one of poverty and strife. Being in constant daily contact they soon develop feelings for one another but Cade’s insecurity as to his worth may torpedo any relationship between them. An enjoyable, clean romance but a bit overlong for my liking. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. |
Tender, sweet, clean romance Sarah is ready to come out of her sheltered life by learning to run her ranch and taking on the world. For the first, she sets out to hire a ranch manager. A cute mix-up with her ad copy sends a lot of the wrong kind of cowboys to her door, but finally a qualified foreman shows up with all the right credentials. Sarah has a lot to learn, and even more to overcome, but her determination and sense of humor were delightful to see and demonstrated a resiliency that few suspected she had. Cade is looking to make his own way in the world after learning the ropes on the ranch owned by his best friend, whose family stepped up and gave him a home when he had no where else to go. Cade believes that he has nothing to offer to anyone, but he'll work harder than everyone to earn his place at the table. This is a slow-burn romance with plenty of tension and even more emotional complications. Both Cade's and Sarah's back stories will break your heart and have you rooting for them from the start. The HEA was sweet and satisfying, even if a tad bit predictable. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. |
This is a sweet and lighthearted romance drama. I really enjoyed reading it and loved all the characters. Cade and Sarah seemed to be meant for each other and I absolutely adored their interactions right from the start. I think this book is a must-read for the fans of contemporary fiction. |
A sweet romance. Kade has felt unwanted his entire life. Sarah had lived a life of great tragedy. Two hurting and broken people find their way to each other. It takes opening up and the interference of friends to show them how right they can be for each. It’s a story of trusting in your self worth and coming out better on the other side. |
I enjoyed the concept of this book however there was something missing. Sarah inherit the family ranch after her parents death. After years of living a very sheltered life as a result of withnessing her brothers death. Sarah is determined to take control of her life, that includes the ranch. Problem is she has no idea where to start. Better hire a cowboy then! Cade needs a change of pace in his life. Seeing the ad looking for help at a different ranch, Cade couldn't say no. Cade the hired help/ cowboy is sweet and protective of Sarah. Sarah on the other hand had an extremely sheltered life. As a result she is extremely needy and at times can be quiet childish and unbearable. She tries to come across as strong willed and determined however she came across as stubborn. "Its my ranch" ok, we get it!! Cade's friends are sweet and probably the best thing about this book. This book is part of a series. I haven't read the previous books and I felt it didn't make a difference really. I didn't feel lost and there is an introduction to all of the previous characters. |
I was sure that I had read the first part of the Wishing River Series as well. Because the blurb reminded me of a book a had read. But it was Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas of Soraya Lane. It was perfectly fine to read Cowboy For Hire as a standalone though. We meet Cade Walker, who answers to the (hilarious) add of Sarah. She is in need of a foreman, because she has inherited the family ranch, but she really doesn't know how to run the business. Cade has been betrayed by a former boss, therefore he is suspicious when his new boss doesn't seem to know what she is doing. However, she tries to learn. When her aunt warns Cade that Sarah is ill and he mustn't let her work on the ranch, Cade is torn. Should he keep her from the job and risk losing his own job? What a dilemma, especially when sparks are flying between Sarah and Cade. How will this play out? Find out for yourself in this wonderful read. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc. |
Cowboy for Hire by Victoria James is the second book in her Wishing River series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I really loved the first book in the series and while this has the same writing style and clean wholesome vibe it just didn't land the same way with me. It has moments that will tug on your heart strings and situations you can't help but chuckle at but the whole story felt to scripted. The character , while individually were nice, lacked chemistry. I wanted them each to find their happy but I didn't need it to be with each other. That big aspects and the fact that I felt the hero needed to do a whole lot more groveling than he did at the end left me giving this only 3 stars |
Sherri B, Reviewer
Cade and Sarah both are damaged people. They are both striving to make their lives better. Sarah needs help running her ranch and Cade wants a change and applies for the job. I love reading the journey of these two people. Reading about how they over come their past and learn to work together. How they learn to love and to trust each other. For me this was a really incredible read. Thanks NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review. |
I liked this book but it had some problems that I had difficulties overlooking. The book is about Sarah Turner who just lost her mother and inherited the family ranch. She has lived a very isolated life since her brother died in an drowning accident when she was ten. Since he died the family fell apart and closed of all communication with people all around them and she was homeschooled. She wasn’t allowed to do anything that could hurt her. Now she has lost both her parents and she can do anything she wants including running the ranch, go on cattle drives, have friends and maybe go on dates and fall in love. Her big problem is that her ranch foreman left without warning so now she needs a new foreman who will teach her everything about ranch life. Cade Walker gets the position but is he willing to take her on cattle drives and teach her about the ranch business when he finds out that she has a medical problem that she will not tell him about? Cade has been a ranch hand on the neighbor ranch for years and now he is ready to stand on his own for the first time in his life. He was the boy from the wrong side of town but was rescued by the owner of the neighbor ranch. Can these two very lonely and troubled people find a common ground and understanding in the work of a ranch in trouble? And what happens when they fall in love but he doesn’t find himself good enough for the owner of a ranch? I liked the story plot and I hoped I would love the story but I had big problems liking Sarah who seemed very entitled and spoiled and every time he tried to be levelheaded and say no she through a hissy fit and said “I am the owner I can do what I want”. So when she grew stronger and more mature, he became annoying and immature. The writing was also very repetitive. Watch I liked was their friendship and that he really wants to help her and some of her growth throughout the book. I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much. |
This is my first book by the author and I was excited to try out a new author and I found the story line intriguing from the start. I really loved Cade from the beginning. Despite his troubled beginning and difficult family life, he didn't let it stop him in life and if anything it made him work harder, though it made his interpersonal relationships a bit more challenging. Sarah was an interesting character in that she seemed greatly impacted by her family life but in a much different way, and she was much more sheltered than Cade. I think Cade was great for Sarah because he was pretty much amazing throughout the book, but I think the small amount of angst/conflict in the book was really just an over exaggeration and more dramatic than it really needed to be. I wasn't really feeling the chemistry between them though, and I feel like more needed to be done with regard to their relationship and developing various aspects of the book to make it flow a little better and have some depth. I think the story line was there, but the execution fell flat for me unfortunately. |
Two people who have a pretty broken past work together to find a new brighter future together. That is the moral of this story and it is a great read. You get the past, the present, and a view of what the future will bring. The main characters are likable and Sara isn't a naive girl who just needs rescuing. Overall a great read if you want something not completely fluffy but still has a Happily Ever After. |
3.5⭐ Cowboy for Hire is the second story in Victoria James Wishing River series and focuses on Cade a cowboy whose got no real family and who decides to leave the only home he has ever known to take on the job of foreman at the neighbouring Joshua Ranch for sheltered ranch owner Sarah. Who has recently inherited her parents' ranch and needs someone to not only help her run it but show her how. And it was a nice story with some moments of sweetness and fun as well as being easy and uncomplicated which certainly helped make it more engaging. But it did lack depth and the romance between Cade and Sarah unfortunately didn't ignite the page. Still, it was enjoyable and there's no denying these two troubled characters did grow as the story progressed. **I was kindly provided with an ARC via Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review** |
Sarah needs help. She’s finally going to step outside of the dark and watching life pass her by and run the family ranch. However she really has no idea what to do. When she places an ad for help things go a bit sideways. Cade can’t help but leave his current job. He’s great and always welcome at the ranch but things are just not right for him anymore. It’s why he applies for the ad position. But little did he know that the stunning sheltered woman determined to run the ranch would change his life forever. Growing out of their shells and past these two will have quite an epic journey and be full of ups and downs and firsts. I enjoyed this book without reading the first book and sort of now what to read Tyler and Laineys book. Can’t wait for more. |
I had high hopes for this book but at best all I can say is that it had it's moments and then at times it was sunk in a lot of repeated memories. It left me with mixed feelings. Oh, there's nothing wrong with them having their own painful emotional memories but at times it felt repeated a bit too much. In fact, at times it felt like it kind of drowned out some of the romance between the two. Because I often wasn't feeling it. Both Sarah and Cade were good people, no mistaking that. Cade carried the pain of always having to prove his worth to someone or else he was kicked to the curb. Sara was kind of like a young woman who was so overprotected that she was stunted. The only person who really had cared for her was the family's longtime housekeeper. Who by the way, I really disliked for a very long time. Yes, yes I know her actions were because she loved Sarah like a daughter. So I guess the final answer is yes, I enjoyed some of the humor, and Cade's friends but it was just missing something. "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” |
Second book in the the Wishing River series, although it can be read as a standlone, "Cowboy For Hire" is a moving story where two characters who have suffered a lot in their past , they're both damaged but yet they will find in each other the will and want to be better, to find joy in life. I liked both Sarah and Cade, I thought they well written. After tragedy stuck her life Sarah pretty much grew up isolated from the world, so there's much she doesn't know or that's new to her but I liked her determination to prove that she can do it. Cade also had his fair share of baggage , though he's made a lot of effort so that no one really knows his past but one can't help but feel for him, specially cause he was so sweet and caring towards Sarah. The story can feel slow at times but it's a very easy read. You have your fair share of drama, angst and romance and it's all worth it in the end. I look forward to reading more from this series. |
Samantha S, Reviewer
Interesting storyline that kept me wanting more. While I enjoyed this book, it definitely left me with a lot of questions and wishing there was more backstory and explaining. After tragedy has continued to strike Sarah’s life, she’s finally getting to a point where she’s on her own and works towards making a life for herself that she had planned with her brother. Cade has a rough past of his own, and when he sees an ad in the paper he responds looking to further his career. This pair navigated their feelings towards each other as well as their individual feelings of personal and professional growth and fought the relationship for a good portion of the book. While I enjoyed the book, I was left really wanting more because I felt like I was missing something or was just getting surface information where I wanted more details. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. |
Sarah has led a very sheltered life. When her parents pass away, she has to learn to manage her family ranch and to do that she needs a foreman. Cade is looking for a new place to put down roots and Sarah’s ad couldn’t come at a better time. But when he meets Sarah, he learns that he not only has to manage the ranch but also teach Sarah, all the while trying to fight the attraction he feels for her. This is a story about two damaged individuals who learn to enjoy life together. It is a sweet and at the same time a sad book but it managed to keep a tight grip on hope throughout. A lovely addition to the series |








